Gusts of wind from the aftermath of the attack scattered the sand on the cliff, and in the center, Lei stood over the prone figure of Byakuya. Taking slow steady breaths, Lei deactivated the curse seal on his back. Under his uniform, the tattoo tendrils over his back slowly shrank to half their current size back into their original form.
That turned out about as well I could hope
Lei had activated his curse seal during his spars with Zaraki and solo outings to the human world before, but this had been the first time that he had fully leaned into the enhanced strength and speed that a first-stage curse seal release gave him. Even when casting the kido, he could feel his Reiatsu was significantly more wild and hard to control. As his turbulent qi cooled down, Lei ignored his fallen opponent and turned around. Meeting his sight was Ichigo who was stammering at his sheer speed and lethality.
"What? Ho - how did you do that?"
"Haha - don't worry, he's still alive." Taking the question as a concern for his opponent's well being, Lei flashed a winning grin to Ichigo to help calm his nerves. In response, Ichigo started and put himself in a defensive, ready position.
"..."
* Cough* "Sorry, I thought I saw something..." Ichigo sheepishly put his sword down.
In a slightly awkward, disapproving stare, Lei gave Ichigo a once over to make sure the protagonist hadn't lost too much blood before redirecting his attention to a more important matter: preparing to face Aizen. Walking around, he began surveying the area.
"Yes - this place will do nicely." Placing his hand into his robes, the Asian man pulled out a thick stack of talismans and positioned them on the ground in a hexagonal manner. Repeating the steps throughout the field, the series of paper in his hands gradually dwindled.
"Lei Zhang."
A voice broke the silence. Laying on his back, staring at the sky in a lost manner, the now awakened Byakuya asked a question. "How did you get so strong? And with such strength... how can you be so capricious in your behavior in resisting the execution order?" The question was for Lei, but the strain of his own restraints bled through — the honor he swore and struggled by.
I should probably NOT say that this is a fantasy world, and I obtained my powers through a cheat code...
Pausing, Lei didn't know how to answer correctly. In the end, he opted to ignore the entire first part of the question. "Instead of saying that strength is constraining, it's more accurate to say that with great power comes great responsibility." Lei couldn't help but look back at the person that inspired his changes, "And to me that means that I should be even more courageous that I'm doing the right thing. Regardless of what others say."
At the simultaneous consolation and advice, Byakuya wasn't rash in responding. Only after a weighty contemplation, did he defeatingly mutter: "Yeah, I guess you're right." Pushing himself off the ground, stride still wobbly from his injuries, he staggered down the hill, his silhouette desolate and a sharp contrast to the open sky above.
"...Ichigo, go down with him." Staring at departing his back, Lei turned to the last person on the cliff and demanded. Without even looking at the other man, Lei knew that he had to explain. "The next fight, you won't be able to help in."
There was a strangled silence behind him for a moment, but eventually, Lei heard the sound of a body moving away. Fortunately, his display of strength did leave an impression and was convincing enough to keep the high schooler away from the coming conflict. Settling down in a strategic position, Lei closed his eyes and silently rested until the moment arrived.
----
It came in a flash. One moment he was resting — the next, two small tornadoes exploded into existence, only to vanish just as abruptly. At their dispersal, they revealed two distinct groups: Tosen, Renji, and Rukia were in the first while Aizen and Gin were in the second. Upon arrival, the latter two scanned their surroundings and were clearly surprised to see Lei at the location. Gin frowned at the surprise and adjusted his stance, remembering Lei's capabilities from their altercation several days ago. Aizen, however, glanced past the Lieutenant Captain and focused on his immediate goal: the Hogyoku waiting inside Rukia.
"Ah finally. Renji, please hand over Rukia." Even if a pretense, Aizen had once charmed all of Soul Society with his charisma, his warmth disarming. Now, that kindness was gone — his voice calm, arrogant, and laced with a quiet, chilling disdain.
Goosebumps rose on Lei's skin at the condescending tone, but he forced himself to relocate to a more advantageous position.
"Captain Aizen?" Out of shock at Aizen still being alive or the immensely out-of-character voice, Renji questioned the directive.
With quiet intensity, Lei's curse seal activated across his back, and his kido flow thrummed in rotation.
Before Aizen responded, a wave of spiritual power swept through the cliff. "This is 4th division Lieutenant Captain Isane Kotetsu and 4th division captain -"
THOOOOOM
Launching himself at Aizen, swinging his sword, Lei hoped to take the man by surprise. Unfortunately, the captain reacted immediately, pulling his sword out and easily blocking the blow, the clash between the two blades creating a giant wind that blew the surprised Renji away.
"Ah. Lieutenant Captain Lei. I take it the spiritual wave was a communication?" Behind the two swords struggling against one another, Aizen nonchalantly remarked. In the face of the responding silence, his face took on a sense of fake concern before he continued in schadenfreude, "It's unfortunate what happened around my fake death. I didn't mean for you to get caught up in it. It's double unfortunate that we meet like this, as opposing forces."
"The feeling is mutual. If anything, I would have hoped to never face you."
"Oh? Then why get involved?"
"Unfortunately, my goals require making contributions to the Soul Society, and in this story, you. Are. The. Villain!" At the last word, Lei made a concerted effort to push Aizen. He barely threw the captain back 6 feet. Fortunately, however, he managed to give himself the reverse force to move away in preparation for his next big move. Since his epiphany from Ichigo, Lei had felt his connection with his Zanpakuto deepen to a previously untouched level, and now was time to let loose.
"Bankai! SUPER SMASH - Mega Mewtwo Y!"
A violet explosion tore through the air, rippling with distortion as spiritual pressure surged outward. Oppressive waves crashed, thick and smothering, warping the very atmosphere around him. In his bankai form, Lei's hair took a purple hue and grew to the length of reaching his lower back. His original Zanpakuto gauntlet transformed into a sleek indigo glove, the gemstones removed from the now smooth surface. Wine dark cracks in the air formed from the sheer weight of Lei's Reiatsu, bending and breaking space. Power filled every limb in his body, bolstering his confidence and giving him a new confrontation plan.
Looking at the opponent in front of him, a rare flicker of surprise broke through Aizen's composure. "Ah, I didn't realize how much potential you had." The shock shifted towards his signature fake, condescending concern, "Take care not to die, I would be sad to be the one to snuff out this candle... Unfortunately, it's hard to not crush an an-"
"Special Bakudo 1 - Six Red Yang Formation!"
Lei didn't wait for Aizen to finish. Controlling one talisman trap silently with his bankai, he discreetly activated it. Six red walls rose up from the surroundings, trapping Aizen in a hexagonal format. Immediately realizing something was wrong, the villain shunpo'ed to one of the walls, throwing a full force swing. Under the strain, the barrier precipitously bulged out before bouncing back into shape. Two of the six talismans making up the formation noticeably dimmed from the impact. But more importantly, it held. Aizen prepared himself for another swing, but a few seconds were all Lei needed.
"Teleport! BANKAI - FINAL SMASH - PSY! STRIKE!" Appearing directly above the trap formation, enunciating every syllable, a massive orb of dark spiritual energy blazed to life at Lei's glove. It smashed downwards like a malevolent god's judgement. The impact slammed into Aizen with a thunderous force, detonating in a violent explosion that rocked the entire cliffside. Dust and energy erupted skyward, the blast wave tearing into the sky like a black sun gone supernova.
"Dumbass! Talking isn't a free turn!"