Eiji Maruyama ran quickly through the woods, the tree tops flying past his head as the moonlight pierced through the leaves in the nighttime sky. There had been reports of a disturbance at the edge of Seireitei and Eiji was sent to investigate. Up ahead, the trees began to part and led him to a clearing where the ruins of an old temple still stood. There was a partially destroyed wall surrounding the large area, while a large temple with a collapsed roof stood at the center. Eiji leaped into the air, first landing on the wall and then leaping once more to a roof of one of the several huts that surrounded the temple. It was very quite, except for the low cricket noise he heard in the background. A few fireflies lit up near old bhuddist statues, casting soft green luminescence on their stone faces. Eiji peered around the site, trying to discern any recent activity.
Rozeluxe Meitzen heard the siren of Hama Town go off causing him to leave his training a bit early to go into town. "I will be back soon Satonaka-sama. Thanks for the help and training, I'll try to make a good use of it. " Running towards the outskirts Rozeluxe through out a small ball causing a senkaimon gate to open into the Soul Society. After travelling for some time, he appeared near the far end of the Sereitei looking around before spotting a strange figure in the distance. "Could they be the cause of the disturbance?"
Eiji suddenly felt a shift of spiritual pressure off in the distance. Not wanting to be seen out in the open, he quickly jumped down and hid behind the hut. He pressed his back against the wall, gripping the sheath of his sword. He inched closer to a spot in the wall that was cracked and a piece missing. Eiji slowly peaked through the hole, towards the direction of the spiritual pressure, making sure to remain unseen. "I hope they didn't see me..." he thought to himself.
Walking foward toward the opening of the broken temple Rozeluxe looked around the empty carapace of what looked to be once a grand shrine. "Hm. I could've sworn that I saw a figure standing around in here. But now there's nothing." He sighed as he leaned down picking up a rock before tossing it into the brush across from him. "Hm. Then why can I still feel spiritual energy but can't see who is producing it. Odd."
Peering through the crack, Eiji watched as the figure came into sight. He didn't recognize him, nor did he recognize the man's clothing. He didn't bear any markings of a shinigami or squad division. "Who is this guy?" Eiji thought to himself. Still gripping his sword, he placed his other hand on the handle. Eiji slowly stepped closer to the corner of the building, keeping his back against the wall. He carefully placed each foot in front of the other, trying not to make a sound. When suddenly, Crack. A small branch covered by shadows snapped in half. "Oh... crap," he whispered to himself as he closed one eye and paused instantly.
Looking toward the direction of the noise Rozeluxe stood as he began inching his body foward in an attempt to spot the source. "I definitely know that someone is there...but who?" Smiling to himself Rozeluxe grabbed a hold onto the hilts of his blades. "I know how to shed some light on the situation....hopefully." Taking in a deep breath he began shouting "I KNOW YOU'RE THERE!! JUST COME ON OUT ALREADY!!"
"Way to go, Eiji.... idiot." He rolled his eyes at himself. "Maybe if I stay very still and not do anything, he won't check it out." He felt a sudden sense of relief which was immediately followed by disbelief, "Really, Eiji? THAT'S going to happen?" Eiji continued to argue with himself in his head, apparently losing track of his immediate surroundings.
Walking around the area Rozeluxe stopped as he noticed a figure moving behind a wall. "Oh ho ho. What do we have here?" Turning along the wall, then hopping on top of it where a slight part of it had crumbled away, he looked down at the stranger speaking to himself. "So you're the disturbance in the area. I don't know what you're up to but could you cut it out?"
Startled, Eiji quickly looked upwards towards the young man staring down at him. There was no sense in trying to hide anymore. Eiji just closed his eyes and smiled, "Well, I guess you found me." He took a few steps out into an open area to better see the newcomer, crossing his arms across his chest. "I don't know what games you're trying to play here, stranger, but I ask that you kindly leave this place."
"Leave this place? So you can go crazy and let loose? i don't think so." Rozeluxe took a seat upon the top of his stone perch as he placed as he placed his hands upon the hilts of his blades once more. "I heard an alert from my town and was led to this place. Then I find you here, that can't be any mere coincidence. If you look at all the signs, its obvious to see that you're the cause of it. So just give up the act already ok?"
Eiji continued to smile, "Yet I could say the same thing about you." and he let out a little chuckle. "I was sent by the Gotei 13 to investigate this place after hearing reports of hollow activity here. So as much as you want to play innocent here, I have they're backing, and as such, duties to uphold." Eiji rested his palm on the hilt of his blade. "I would rather not resort to any sort of violence... but at the same time I can't have you running freely here. So what do we do?" Eiji asked calmly, looking up once more at the man sitting on the perch.
"Gotei? Is that some kind of police force? Bah! All of that is a bunch of humbug to me. How do I know you aren't an arrancar?" Rozeluxe jumped down from his seat as he began drawing his blades. "If you're the enemy then I really don't have much choice and I'm going to have to cut you down. I'm sorry but Satonaka-sama requires I do that, and I refuse to let him down. So just state the truth or prepare yourself for combat." He shrugged as he continued to draw his blades and point them at Eiji.
"In one ear and out the other, huh?" He closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly, letting out a deep sigh. The smile never leaving his face. "I'm not one for fighting, but if you keep persisting then I will have no choice but oblige you." Eiji fell very silent after that last statement, but remained with a laid back expression on his face. He made no movements to grab his weapon, nor ready himself in any stance.
Releasing his blades slightly, and crossing his arms Rozeluxe had a puzzled look on his face. "Hm? You're not one for fighting? Then why carry those blades in the first place? And the fact that you were hiding with your hands on its hilt clearly show the mark of someone that fights." Smiling as he sighed Rozeluxe raised his swords once more. "Well if you aren't going to explain yourself then I suppose we don't really have a choice in the matter." Walking toward Eiji, Rozeluxe prepared to launch the first strike.
"This blade is a weapon, yes, but it's also an instrument used to defend oneself and the values that they uphold." Eiji continued to stand motionless, making no gesture to grab his blade, waiting to see what his opponent would do.
"Values to uphold huh? That sounds like a lot of effort to me." Rozeluxe shrugged as he coontinued on "Well how about this? Why don't you just leave this area and we act like this whole thing never happened. Sound good? That way I can go take a nap and you can go do whatever it is you do. Hahaha"
"Now, now. No need to be rude." Eiji said shaking his head. "I can see that neither of us are going to leave this place by our own accord. So why not resolve this the way you can understand." With that, Eiji brought one foot back and gripped the sheath of his sword with his left hand, which rested on the left side of his hip. He casually placed his right hand on the handle. He gazed steadily at his opponent and bent his knees slightly. "Wait... Before we go any further. What is your name? I find it disrespectful to not know the name of my opponent. Even if they are my enemy."
"A fight huh? Now that I might actually be able to get into. My name...hmm...well you can call me Yun. What would I call you, intruder?" Rozeluxe grasped a hold upon the hilts of both of his blades as he sidestepped slowly to the left of his upcoming opponent in order to size him up.
"You can call me Eiji." he said with a smile, his eyes watching each step Yun made. "So who shall make the first move?" Eiji asked aloud. He flexed his fingers on his blade, thinking of possible attack patterns in his head, or proper counter attacks.
Smiling Rozeluxe shot foward with his blades drawn in an attempt to cleave Eiji's chest in two. "I guess this would answer your question huh?"
Eiji instinctively lept up into the air to avoid the attack, twisting his body until he was upside down directly above Yun. He gripped his sword and in one fluid motion, drew his blade in a wide arc aimed at Yun's neck.
Leaning back Rozeluxe swung his second blade towards Eiji's causing a shockwave to echo through the area as their zanpakutos collided. "Not bad stranger...you seem to have some skill with the blade. Sad you had to be someone I have to take care of. But I'm sure whatever organization you're working for is glad to have you along."
While still pressing his blade against Yun's, sparks flicking off their surface, Eiji landed on his feet and pushed against Yun. "Two swords, eh? And I see you have some skill in using them. Phew, You're going to be awfully tricky to fight." Eiji said aloud calmly. Quickly he grabbed his sheath with his left hand and drew it out of his sash in an attempt to strike Yun's midsection.
Suprised by the technique, Rozeluxe sucked in some air to brace for the impact as the sheath hit him quickly yet firmly causing him to fall to the ground. "Gwah." Looking up with a smile Rozeluxe rose to his feet as he pointed his blades back at Eiji. "You aren't bad yourself stranger, come at me again. I can promise you that you won't take me off my guard again. Engarde!"
Spinning the sheath in his hand to grip it like another sword, Eiji watched his opponent carefully, trying to judge which attack and direction he should go for. He raised both hands, pointing back at Yun. His smile continued on his face and he took a slow step forward. With each step, his speed increased until he pounced on Yun. Eiji fired a volley of sword strikes and sheath strikes from multiple angles to keep is opponent on the defense.
Blocking each swing with one of his own Rozeluxe started to smile a bit as the battle intensified. "Looks like things are finally starting. I needed a bit of a warm-up this time around. Heh. Oh well." Rozeluxe swung his second blade around Eiji's sheath using a fencing technique he learned from his teacher."Looks like that came in handy after all." Rozeluxe used his momentum to shift his body back around Eiji's glancing his oponent's shin with his blade.
Eiji flipped his body, using his blade to hold himself up as he cartwheeled away from Yun. After another flip, he jumped up to the roof of a nearby hut. "Whew, that was a bit too close." Eiji said as he tucked his sheath back into his sash. "I guess I should probably take this more seriously, huh?" and Eiji brought his other hand to grip his blade. "Normally I prefer to hold back and not have to kill my opponents if it can be avoided. But you seem like someone who I shouldn't underestimate, so...." and with that Eiji vanished instantly. He reappeared on Yun's right side launching a powerful wide arc aimed at Yun's midsection.
Rozeluxe sidestepped and instinctively placed his left blade in the path of Eiji's swing. "Have you forgotten that you're dealing with two blades? This won't be as easy as you think. You want to kill me? Well all I desire is for you to just leave allow me to get back to my training. If that isn't good enough for you then I suppose I will have no choice but to cut you down." Rozeluxe then flipped his right blade behind him as he pulled it across in an attempt to strike Eiji's chest.
Eiji brought his blade to block the attack, but the force knocked him back, causing his feet to slide on the ground. "Never said it was going to be easy. I said I wouldn't underestimate you." and Eiji quickly raised his left hand, pointing at Yun. Bakudō # 9. Hōrin (崩輪, Disintegrating Circle) and an orange hued tendril with spiraling yellow patterns fired from the tip of his finger in an attempt to entangle one of Yun's blades.
Rozeluxe had his eyes closed as he smiled "Its called a joke pal. Learn to loosen up a bit." Charging foward to attack, Rozeluxe was yanked back causing him to open his eyes to see that his blades have been trapped in a binding spell. "Feh..." He sighed as he tried cutting at the kido to no avail. "Oi! Why don't you drop this spell so I can continue fighting you? Wouldn't it be better if I had two blades instead of one?" He smirked as he continued tapping the binding spell.
Eiji yanked on the spell in an attempt to pull the blade out of Yun's hand. "As much as I do enjoy a good fight, I was still given a task to do. And I would rather you come back alive to answer some questions."
Rozeluxe kept ahold of his blade by holding onto the chain that kept the two together. "Come back for questioning? Hm...I'm not sure how much help I can be to a group of evil doers but nevertheless you will have to beat me first."
Eiji gave out a little chuckle and smile. "Beat you, huh? Well I'll give it a shot." And he placed his blade on the kido rope. This would be the first time he actually tried to combine these two Kido spells. Hadō #11. Tsuzuri Raiden (製本雷, Bound Lightning) and an electric current surged through the orange hued tendril, mixing with its's yellow arcs of energy as it rushed towards Yun.
"AAAARAARAGH!!" Rozeluxe let out a scream of pain as he was electrocuted throughout his entire body. Wobbling, he used his sword to prob himself up and keep steady. "Heh. You sure know how to get to a man."
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Again, I would rather not fight so how about we call this a draw and try to resolve this misunderstanding through discussion?" Eiji asked politely as he waved his hand to disperse the kido spell. He flicked his blade before sliding it back into his sheath.
A white haired figure suddenly appearead between the two men as he smiled and sighed "Now now. Why have you two interrupted my meditation?"
Eiji instantly gripped the handle of his sword and readied himself. "Jeez, another one? I guess this is a popular place." Eiji felt something different about this man. His spiritual pressure was far more intense, like claws digging into his very being. This was probably the cause of the disturbance. Great... Eiji thought to himself as he widened his stance to be ready for anything. "Who are you?" he asked the white haired figure calmly.
The man shrugged as he looked quickly at both people in front of him "Who am I? You intrude on my land yet don't give your own information? I sense a hint of disrespect coming the both of you. I prefer not to fight but if you don't leave I will be forced to cause you harm."
Rozeluxe loked over the man with intense focus "Tch. This isn't you're run of the mill guy here."
"What's with everyone and giving ultimatums?" Eiji said aloud as he stared at the man. "But you're in luck. Me and that guy over there just happen to be two very stubborn guys. And we've already tussled over who gets to leave, who gets to stay, blah blah blah." Eiji said as he continuously made a talking gesture with his right hand. "So I suppose harm it'll be." he said grinning at the white haired man.
"Eh....you sure? I'd much rather slee-er..meditate than fight right now." Moving his hand the number 3 could be een briefly. "But if its a fight you desire I'm afraid that you may die."
Jumping to EIji's side Rozeluxe whispered "Hey Eiji. That's the tercera espada. That guy is as serious as can be about trying to kill us. Heh. I say we can take him. What about you?"
While focusing on the tercera espada, Eiji whispered back to Yun. "Fight against the tercera espada with someone who was trying to kill me about a minute ago? Sure, how could this NOT be a good idea." Eiji said sarcastically. "But taking on the espada alone would be suicide." Eiji began stepping to the side, "...so I guess we go with your plan for now. Ready?"
"My plan? Attack head on and hope for the best. This is an espada we're dealing with here." Rozeluxe spun his sword in hand as he thought. "On the otherhand we could try to overwhelm him with sheer force."
The white haired man sighed "Oh? Are the two of you done yet? I could go take a nap again and kill you later if the two of you want to go finish your little date off."
"I can tell already that you're going to be a pain in the ass." Eiji said to the white haired man. "But I guess you're right. No sense in wasting anymore time with the inevitable." And with that, Eiji quickly raised his free hand, generating an orb of intense crimson red energy in it's palm. "Hadō #31. Shakkahō (赤火砲, Red Fire Cannon)" and the orb fired through the air like bullet, directly towards the white haired man. Eiji didn't think this attack would have any lasting damage against him, but hopefully distract him enough to provide Yun with an opening.
Jumping over Rozeluxe, the white haired man grabbed him and tossed him into the path of the Kido attack. "Haha. I see you were planning a group attack. Ah...I how I enjoy fighting people of your caliber. It makes me feel as if I just woke from a deep slumber."
Reeling from the blow, Rozeluxe stood witha shaking in his body. "Hey Eiji, this guy is for real! Let's charge him together!"
"Alright, well then I guess there is no sense in holding back." Eiji gripped the handle of his sword with both hands. Dust around him began to swirl at his feet as a faint red glow permeated from his body. It grew in size and intensity as the air became dense. As he pushed his spiritual pressure higher, he stared at the white haired, knowing full well he was not impressing him. But then again, he wasn't trying to impress. Eiji just wanted to fight. And he knew holding back against him would spell his death. "Breath...." The blade of his sword began to glow a bright crimson red, "RYUKAZE!" and his sword erupted into flames like an exploding pyre. The release sent out a wave of crimson energy, kicking up dust and debris as it pushed everything away from Eiji. When the wave dispersed, Eiji's sword had taken on it's new form. Red embers fell all around them like fireflies as Ryukaze's blade glowed orange-red, smoke rising up from it.
Amazed by Eiji's release, Rozeluxe smiled. "Looks like you were holding back on me. I think I'll let you take him on for now." Jumping back to land on a pillar Rozeluxe sat down. "Don't mind me, I think I will wait till I'm actually needed."
Eiji Vs The Espada[]
The white haired man fluffed his hair "Oh? You released you zanapkuto? And then that one goes to sit down? That must mean you're pretty powerful. No matter, I care not which one of you I crush first as this is just a warm up for the war coming up. Be prepared as it will be nothing like you ever imagined." Spitting on the ground he looked up quickly firing a bala in EIji's direction "The name is Zeliel. Not that it matters as you won't be able to repeat it to anyone after today."
The bala came at him with speed almost imperceptible. Eiji dipped low to avoid the attack as the energy projectile streaked directly above him, it's speed blowing the hair on his head as he barely avoided it. Wasting no time, Eiji spun his leg to whip himself around, the other stepping forward to complete the circular movement. "Kamisorikaen (剃刀火炎, Razor Blaze)" He scraped his blade across the ground, its tip slicing through the dirt and rock as it glowed bright orange. In one quick movement, a thin disc of condensed flame shot out of the blade. It flew towards Zeliel as it cut a trail through the floor at amazing speed.
Bracing himself for impact, Zeliel allowed the flames to impact against his hands. "GUUWAHHH!!" Getting pushed back, he began to smile before firing a cero through the flames. "Ah. The power behind that attack was good. But it will take more than that to defeat me. I hope you do plan on getting serious."
Seeing as he couldn't avoid the attack at that range, Eiji gripped his sword with both hands and struck the cero head on with the blade. The attack split down the center as energy trails blew to each side of him. He felt as if he was in a furnace while he braced himself against the attack. Just as the last bit of it blew by, Eiji lost his footing and was pushed backwards as he landed on his back. He gritted from the fall and threw his legs over his head as he rolled back to his feet. He knees bent and legs coiled as he prepared himself for a counter attack. A plume of smoke shot up from the ground where his feet were as he propelled his body with tremendous speed, his sword gripped tightly in his hand. Ryukaze grew red hot now, signifying an increase in its attack power and swung the blade in a downward slash in an attempt to cleave Zeliel down the center.
Drawing his own blade, Zeliel smiled as he blocked the attack as he was pushed back toward a wall. "Oh? Looks like the boy has some strength after all. Looks like I have to go on the offensive more." Picking up his legs, he pressed them against the wall behind him. Using his legs as a spring He pushed hiself foward with Eiji, using his sword as a buffer. The wo landed near the clearing of the battlefield causing a large explosion of energy resulting in the two warriors being sent apart.
The force sent Eiji backward, his feet digging into the ground to halt his speed. He held his blade across his chest as smoke lifted off it and himself. Taking deep breathes, he recovered slowly. Eiji knew he was strong, but not as strong as the terceira espada. He would need to formulate some kind of plan to give him the advantage. C'mon, Eiji, think... The words repeated in his head. He couldn't think of anything at the moment, so he would have to resort in holding Zeliel off until something came to him. With that, Eiji sprung forward, closing the distance between himself and Zeliel and just as he was a sword's length away from him, Eiji vanished in an instant. Eiji was a proficient user in Shunpo, and even knew of it's higher level techniques, but he wasn't a master and didn't think his Senka (閃花, Flash Blossom) would work. He just needed to be able to judge Zeliel's speed and reaction time. Eiji reappeared to back left of Zeliel, his sword in a reverse grip, ready to impale him in his back.
Taking the sword into his back, Zeliel smiled as he spat out blood. "Oh? You want to draw first blood. Very well. I shall show you just how futile your effors truly are." Pulling himself off of Eiji's blade, Zeliel stood there as his body began healing rapidly. "This is the power of the new espada!" Turning his blade in his hand, Zeliel prepared a massive downward strike. "I will break you- mind, body, and soul!"
Shocked by the espada's recovery time, Eiji raised his sword almost an instant too late, its blade starting to burn red again. Eiji raised his blade to meet Zeliel's and the moment they connected, a gyser of dust and dirt erupted around him. The impact of the attack had tremendous force behind it, releasing a wave of pressure that shook the ground they stood on. It almost had seemed as though Eiji had been completely pulverized from the attack as the cloud lifted into the air. And within a few moments, Eiji used his Shunpo to reappear a few yards away. He clutched his shoulder, his hand covering the bloody gash he recieved from Zeliel's attack. He breathed heavily, Dammit... I couldn't stop it. He thought to himself, staring intently at Zeliel. "Figured at one point or another, one of your hits would connect. Didn't think it would've been so soon." Eiji composed himself, seemingly ignoring the wound. He needed to be strong, or he wouldn't survive this fight.
"Come now. I grew to this power thanks to you. You were the one that coerced me to wake up. I think you should let me face everything that you have in that puny blade of yours! Let the full force of your power set upon me!" Zeliel shook with laughter as he made a frown on his face. "Or is it that you are frozen with fear and don't know what to do next? If that's the case I suppose I have no choice but to make this swift." Using sonido, Zeliel quickly closed in on Eiji. "Pop goes the weasel." He chuckled as he threw a fist toward Eiji's torso.
The force of the punch knocked the wind out of Eiji as his feet lifted off the ground. His body was sent flying through the air and collided against a tree at the edge of the clearing. The impact shook the tree, causing leaves to snap from the branches and rain down on him as his body fell to the floor. Eiji curled his body, his arm wrapped around his stomach.
"Do you want to cry? If you grovel at my feet I think I can let you off with a warning." Zeliel smiled as he walked toward Eiji.
It seemed as though Eiji was paralyzed on the floor before suddenly hopping back up to his feet with a bounce in his step. "Whew, that was a good one. I'll give you that." He said as he adjusted the sash around his waist. He patted his stomach, his eyes closed seemingly lost in thought. "I may be tough but I got to admit you're one of the strongest opponents I've ever faced." Eiji opened his eyes, gazing back at Zeliel. "I'm not much for groveling or crying so I guess you're out of luck." Eiji crouched with his sword grasped firmly in his hand. It's blade began to burn orange-red again, the heat distorting the area around it. He brought his sword back and swung it with determination. Three crimson red disc shaped projectiles shot out of the sword and tore through the ground as it moved closer to Zeliel with amazing speed.
"Pathetic, you should have just stayed down." Zeliel smiled as he fired a cero down into the ground to counter the crimson discs. Watching as the discs broke through his cero, he jumped back. "What!? Did he get an incrrease in strength?" Wiping the worried look off of his face, Zeliel turned to fire another cero but paused. "Tell me worm. What is it you're fighting for?"
"Oh, me? I'm just a little ol' shinigami trying to do the right thing." Eiji carefully stepped closer to Zeliel, formulating some sort of plan in his head on how to take down the Espada. He's been lucky so far to hold some equal ground with Zeliel, but if the fight continued on, he wasn't sure if he could keep this up forever. He had already been hit twice by Zeliel: a gash on his shoulder and bruised ribs. But one thing that he was taught was to never show your opponent that you're hurt. If you keep getting up when knocked down, you can switch the fight from physical to mental. Although this sounds good in theory, Eiji didn't want to push it too far with the Espada. With the next step, Eiji vanished once more with Shunpo, though he was slightly slower than before. Most likely due to his damaged ribs causing short bursts of pain to shoot up his body as he moved. He appeared once more on Zeliel with a serious of alternating sword attacks.
"You're slowing down. This doesn't bode well for you, young shinigami. I believe you may have a bit more power left in you than you're letting on." Zeliel spoke as he was being pushed back by EIji's rapid attack. "See? I knew you had it in you." Hearing a noise Zeliel turned and looked up
"HAAARAAAHHH!!!!" Rozeluxe was jumping down from his perch with his sword drawn in order to split Zeliel in two. "Gotcha you Espada!"
Grabbing Rozeluxe, Zeliel twisted his opponent's wrist and tossed him into Eiji causing them both to go crashing into a wall, watching as it collapsed on the two. "Hmph. Did you expect that to work on me?"
Removing the rubble from the top of him and his ally, Rozeluxe helped Eiji up "Sorry Eiji. Looks like I miscalculated that one."
Padding the dirt off him before in pain as he clutched his side. "Better late than never." Eiji replied. "I thought I could hold him off a bit longer, but my cracked ribs are starting to take its toll." He held his side lightly as he looked back over towards Zeliel. "I can keep up with you for a bit longer, but you may have to take over the offense while I give you some cover." He turned towards Zeliel and whispered to Rozeluxe, "I'll throw a binding spell to trap him and give you an opening. From there, I'll offer whatever cover I can." He crouched slightly, readying himself. "But if things get too hairy for us, we retreat." Although Eiji and Rozeluxe fought previously, he understood now that their fight was a case of mistaken identity. He didn't trust him entirely, but trusted him enough to know that they didn't want to die out here. And working together is a better alternative to dying alone. "Ready?" Eiji asked.
Enemies Team Up?[]
Watching the pair, Zeliel readied himself for anything that they might throw at him. "Come now! Don't keep me in suspense! Show me what you have in store for me!! I want to feel your strengths!" "Ok. So I will charge him after you bind him in place? Hopefully we can get a good one going if we combine or abilities." Rozeluxe glanced at his opponent before continuing to whisper to Eiji. "I don't think we will be able to kill him at our level. At best I think we will be able to just drive him away."
"What? You don't want to die out here like a true warrior?" Eiji said with a chuckle. With that, Eiji rushed forward trying to close the distance between himself and the Espada. He knew he would only have one shot at this and for it to work, Eiji needed to give Zeliel as little time as possible to dodge. About half way between where he started running from to where Zeliel is, Eiji bent his knees and then lept high into the air. He stretched out his free arm while the other grasped his sword tightly. "Bakudō #62. Hyapporankan (百歩欄干, Hundred Steps Fence)" Suddenly, a pale blue rod formed, extending from the center of his palm. He gripped the solid energy, spun his wrist and threw it like a spear towards Zeliel, and as the rod flew closer to its intended target, it suddenly split into dozens of similarly shaped rods. It's speed picked up and rained down onto Zeliel in an attempt to pin the Espada down with enough time for Rozeluxe to have an opening.
Running behind Eiji, Rozeluxe watched as the Espada was pinned down by the rapid Kido assault. "Got him!" Slashing across Zeliel's chest Rozeluxe smiled as he swung the blood off his blade watching the arrancar lay motionless on the ground. "Do you think we actually got him?"
Eiji walked up to Rozeluxe as he looked down at the seemingly lifeless arrancar. The rods from his previous kido spell had begun to dissolve all around them. "Hmmm, guess that was easier than we thought." Eiji said cheerfully as he let out a little chuckle.
Patting Eiji on the back, Rozeluxe smiled as he began to speak. "Heh! That was easy! I was expecting something like an epic battle to push us to our limits and beyo-" Suddenly, blood sputtered from Rozeluxe's mouth as he look down spotting a sword piercing through his chest. Turning to look behind him, he spotted Zeliel standing as the wound he inflicted began healing.
"Pathetic." The Espada smiled as he tossed Rozeluxe's body from the blade into a clear area.
"Son of a bitch!" Eiji instantly lept towards Zeliel with a fierce downward slash in an attempt to cleave the arrancar in two.
"Temper. Temper!" Zeliel raised his blade to block the attack, with the pressure form the attack pushing him down into the ground. "Not bad. With more training I think you could actually defeat me. I look foward to that day. But right now shouldn't you attend to your friend?" Charging a cero, Zeliel fired it in Rozeluxe's lifeless body's direction.
Eiji gasped as he watched the cero fire from Zeliel's finger tips and streaked towards Rozeluxe. "No..." and Eiji instantly vanished. He used whatever speed he had left to reappear in front of the cero with his blade reeled back. Knowing what the outcome was going to be, he brought his blade to meet the energy attack head-on. The second it connected, there was a great explosion, engulfing Eiji completely. Dirt and rock were propelled into the air as a wave of force pushed Rozeluxe back. A plume of smoke rose up into the sky as debris came back down like rain drops all around the warriors. There was no sign of Eiji. He had been engulfed in the explosion, but managed to stop the attack before it could reach Rozeluxe.
Standing while holding the gaping wound in his chest, Rozeluxe grabbed his zanpakuto. "E...iji. Where are yo..u?"
"Why are you looking for that rat? He died a pest's death and will be written ot of this story in due time." Zeliel said as he marched foward triumphantly
Turning around with fear in his eyes, Rozeluxe exhaled deeply as he began wiping the blood form his body "I don't like you Zeliel, I may not get along well with Eiji, but at least he knew what was right and what was wrong. I will avenge his death with everything I have!!" Spinning his blades in his hands, he began to suck in deeply causing a mass of souls to congregate around him. "Heiki" The souls, spun around him before creating a kimono on Rozeluxe's body with a large armament of bladed weapons behind him. "Eiji...I hope you see this"
Bracing himself, Zeliel looked on in amusement. "Oh? What's this? SOme new stall tactic you have planned for me to defeat?" Preparing his sword Zeliel charged foward.
"This isn't some toy!" Moving his hands foward, the weapons shot forth from behind Rozeluxe at frightening speed. Each of the weapons tore at Zeliel's skin at a rapid pace causing his healing to slow, but not enough to cause him any great harm.
"Was that it flea?" Zeliel laughed as he swung his blade downward with his sonido enhancig his alrady powerful strike.
Smirking, Rozeluxe brought his sword up to meet his opponent's "Not at all...you arrancar!" Rozeluxe's sword was suddenly aided by the appearance of multiple weapons that slashed at Zeliel causing him to go flying back into a wall. "I told you, I'm not using some child's toy." Charging at the now fallen arrancar, Rozeluxe, swung his blade again causing multiple piercing weapons to appear.
Shouting from where he crashed Zeliel began to speak, "Playtime is over for you and your friend. Despidida, Nebulosa Bailarina!" Zeliel stabbed his hand with his zanpakuto as he rose from the rubble causing a large burst of spiritual energy to spring forth pushing Rozeluxe and his weapons away from Zeliel.
Suddenly, from the smoke where Eiji had been standing, a red hot chain shot out with its dagger tip flying towards Zeliel.
Before he could finish releasing, Zeliel noticed the chain coming towards him. Unable to move, the chain wrapped around his body before the dagger dug into his body, burning him all the while. "Ugrhh!!"
"You honestly didn't think I was out of the fight, did you?" Eiji's voice echoed out from the smoke where the chain originated from. The wind picked up and like a curtain rising to expose the actors, Eiji stood there. His robes singed slightly as he held his sword in one hand, and the chain in the other, connected to bottom of Ryukaze's hilt. Eiji merely grinned at the sight of Zeliel entangled in the chain. "Bakuhatsu (爆発, Explosion)" and a stream of energy surged through the chain, racing across it towards Zeliel.
The explosion hit Zeliel, causing a massive plume to erupt from his location. Rozeluxe looked up at Eiji as he shouted "Booyah! That nailed him!" Suddenly his eyes froze on the plume as he looked on in horror.
A wing shot out from the smoke as it flapped clearing the air around it. "Did you two think that wold actually be enough to stop me? I'm afraid you both are in for a massive surprise." A smile could be seen on Zeliel's face as he appeared from the smoke and the explosion with just apart of his arm an wings missing.
"Oh, c'mon! What does it take to keep you down?!" Eiji shouted as he pulled back the chain and wrapped itself around his arm, the tip dangling from his palm. "We tried skewering you, we tried burning you, we tried impaling you, we tried blowing you up. What about..." Ryukaze's blade started to change color, but instead of the fiery orange-red, it glowed a pale blue. A cool wind began to eminate from the blade as it began to swirl around it. "... I cut you to a hundred pieces?" And he slashed the air, releasing a series of transparent blue strings that tore through the ground and rushed towards Zeliel.
Flying into the air, Zeliel felt the wind around him pick up as it began slicing him all around causing the regeneration not to be able to catch up.
Rozeluxe noticed this as he shouted to Eiji, "Keep that up!! His regeneration isnt fast enough to heal after rapid attacks! This si how we're gonna take him down!" Firing his weapons once more, Rozeluxe smirked as a cluter of axes came foward slicing all around Zeliel's body.
"ARRRRGGUUUUHHHHRRRR!!!" Slashing with his hands to break free of the assault, Zeliel sat in the air bloodied. "Heh...looks like you two have more than just brute force. I was mistaken in not taking both of you seriously." Forming a large star in the sky,Zeliel began to smile "This is the end for all of you, I hope you're ready!"
"Where do you think you're going?" Eiji yelled out towards Zeliel as he swung the chain in his left hand around before finally launching it towards the Espada.
Looking own, Zeliel spotted the chain coming toward him and wrapping around his body, incinerating him on contact as he was ragged down to the ground below. "Gr. When did you get so powerful!?"
Using all his strength, Eiji pulled back on the chain in an attempt to force the Espada to come crashing down to the floor below.
"Translate, Zen'no Seiji!" Rozeluxe released his blade as he charged foward slashing the falling Espada across both arms. "You've been struck by my blade. Its over for you. Stop healing."
Zeliel looked up in confusion at the strange words. "Stop healing? What are you an idiot?" Suddenly a surge of energy ran through his body as his regeneration began to slow and then completely stopped. allowing the chain to begin to burn through him.
Eiji looked at Zeliel and took the opportunity to end this fight before he could get the chance to heal again. He gripped his chain tightly and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared. There was a whooshing noise and Eiji reappeared in mid air with his sword reeled back. His eyes gazed into Zeliel's as everything seemed to move in slow motion. And with one quick swipe, Eiji swung his sword directly towards Zeliel's neck in an attempt to take the Espada's head off.
"Hahaha." Zeliel laughed as he pulled down the sun's rays to create a solar flare in order to blind Eiji, allowing for Zeliel to barely dodge Eiji;s attack. "I control the cosmos. This place is all under my domain." Creating a mini meteor in his hands, Zeliel fired it toward Eiji gut in an attempt to have it pierce through his body.
"What do you think you're doing?" Rozeluxe jumped up between the two slicing through the meteor causing it to disperse into fragments and fall to the ground. Slicing into Zeliel's arm, Rozeluxe smiled. "Heh. Looks like you're under my control now. Hmph. Time to play with the Espada Eiji."
Eiji began to run circles around Zeliel, wrapping the chain further across his body. He called out to Rozeluxe to clear the area and Eiji yanked on the chain with all his strength, spinning the Espada like a top. "Bakuhatsu" and another surge of energy fired through the chain directly at Zeliel, causing another great explosion.