Chapter 35: Farewell Blaze Kagayaku

Blaze pushed his bankai into the ground to prevent himself from moving due to Korrens Energy, though struggling, Blaze still tried to move forward to deliver a lethal blow to Korren.

“You forced me to resort to neither Hell 'nor Heaven!” Korren's voice exclaimed and his energy surged outwards to cause Blaze to topple and roll against the ground. “I am now the reaper who walks along the narrow path to death...allow me to assist you on your journey” Korren's energy that pushed outwards now began to pull back in and gravitate sand, shards of ice, debris...and Blaze.

Blaze rolled backwards and dragged along the ground just as he had moments ago. Blaze looked to the frosted sands of Hueco Mundo only for a brief second until a dark shadow covered the light from Hueco Mundo's skies. Blaze attempted to lunge forward...but his body slowed to a halt...his skin becoming painfully sensitive and feeling oh so fragile; frost began to form on his helmet and face. Blaze managed to look upwards to see Korren's true form presenting itself as it hovered in front of Blaze Kagayaku.

“I told you...you Shinigami will kneel before a god” Korren's voice sounded distorted...far yet oh so close.

Korren hovered with his frosted black wings, his chest and left arms having ice spiked up and they emitted a light blue light. Korren's hair was long and white and was held back by two long horns that curved backwards and down, the same structure flowing down his jawbones aswell. Korren lowered his left hand to Blaze. “I will grant you a slow an painful departure” Korren stared into Blaze's black eyes with his ominous blue eyes.

Blaze watched Korren's arms. Korren's left arm was encased in shards of glowing spikes of ice until his arm ended in a large claw with razor sharp talons. Korren's right arm was jagged in armor that was coveted by a shimmering axe that shone with the glow emmitting from within Korren's lower half of his pants. His pants were now seperated into a gown of black fabric and cold blue energy, Blaze now taking notice to this energy being the reason he was beginning to freeze.

Korren slowly hovered over to the side of Blaze, his head upwards and his nape of his neck open to Korren's access. “I would like to thank you for allowing me the honor...this execution is one I won't forget” Korren positioned his axe across the back of Blaze's neck, lifting his axe high in the air. As Korren was about to drop his axe down onto Blaze's neck; Blaze slowly began to push his body up off the ground. Korren watched as Blaze slowly shook and his skin cracked...bleeding. “Y-you should not be moving! My Aura doesn't permit this!” Korren's energy from his cloth began to surge down on the ground and completely close in around Blaze...the blood on Blaze's body began to thicken and freeze, only the lower half of Blaze where his Black flames began to calm and flicker.

“You will freeze...your execution is mine for the taking, feel grateful that you lasted this long against an Arrancar GOD!” Korren's eyes glowed brighter with intensity and his fog of ice which surrounded him now thickened and the spiritual energy from Blaze attempting to resist and Korren's powerful will...the energy from these two caused an enormous crater in the floor of Hueco Mundo. The sand around both Korren and Blaze was now a large cylinder with a flat floor and yet a circular-deep wall surrounded th two. Blaze Kagayaku in his Black Flame form was now frozen, his body encased in both frost and his flames in a dead halt.

Korren drew up his left hand, tapping his claw on the frozen helmet of Blaze Kagayaku.

“And so you're flame has finally extinguished” Korren's axe once more rose high above his head and it's sharp edge glistened with a blue hue of energy.

“NO!”

Korren looked high above his head to the top of the large walls that surrounded Blaze and Korren. One by one; silhouettes of people began to surround the walls of the deep crater caved in by Blaze and Korren. “Ah yes...an audience” Korren looked back down to Blaze Kagayaku, solid in his body of ice. “How nice of them to help me out...I no longer have to seek the shinigami out of their hiding spots” Korren turned up to the surrounding spectators.

A gap in the shillouette of shinigami had Squad 14's lieutenant make his way to the edge of this crater. Kuro looked down at his Captain... then his eyes glanced over to the lifeless body of Kibo Kyuryu who also happened to fall down within the crater.

“YOU BASTARD!” Kuro screamed, pushing through shinigami that attempted to hold Kuro back.
Korren turned away from Blaze to meet his challengers when suddenly his left wing was gripped and held in place. “N-no” Blaze held onto Korren's wing, his body beginning to thaw out and his flames coming back into fruition.

“Come on let's go help him!” Kuro exclaimed and looked over to Head Captain Yamamoto who stood near other familiar shinigami. Yamamoto shook his head to let Kuro know that he was not to attack.
“This was never our fight to begin with” A dark-blue haired shinigami appeared next to Kuro. Kuro looked at his Captain Haori. “Drazon Fukashi, never thought I'd agree with you” The mysterious shinigami that Kuro knew as Mathew Suraisa spoke while he walked over to stand alongside Kuro and Drazon.

“You know your Captain better than anyone else...how do you think this will end?” Shinigami Amadalia Moonsong which Kuro had met on several occasions walked over to question him. “I-I...I just-” Kuro foundhimself without words while he looked down into the deep crater and watched as Blaze who was no longer frozen was being thrown about as if he wasn't even conscious anymore.

Blaze's Bankai had reshaped into his original Bankai blade and his body now back to his normal form...yet being battered and beaten into a bloody mess. Blaze panted face down onto the ground. “Blaze Kagayaku is found guilty of crimes against your new god!” Korren opened his arms and began to slowly ascend into the air from deep within the crater. Korren looked around at all the shinigami and the waves of black and white that surrounded not just the edges of the crater. “All those who step away may be given a pardon...providing that they bow to my reign and their acts of treason are reasonable!” Korren's shards of ice that sheathed a majority of his body began to emit a bright glow.

“We will never bend to such a pathetic excuse for a god!” a short blonde haired girl yelled out to Korren, her glasses fixed halfway down the bridge of her nose. Korren looked down to this girl and he started to raise his arms tot he skies overhead. Dark clouds began to materialize all the while a heavy snowfall began to exert from the clouds. The ground of Hueco Mundo began to vibrate as if an earthquake were occuring. Surrounding the interior of the crater that contained Blaze and Kibo Kyuryu were 8 pillars of dark blue ice that rose high into the sky and well above the crater walls.

“Everyone back away!” Yamamoto called out and instructed and the seas of white and black shinigami pushed away.

Korren stood high above the middle of all of these pillars. The pillars of ice ended each in an arching point; their ice embedded with clearly visible black symbols and text that made no sense to anyone that took notice to them.

“Judgment will pass on the shinigami Blaze Kagayaku” Korren yelled out to the surrounding crowd of Shinigami, his left claw gsurrounded by a foggy white mist of energy. Everyone watched as Blaze's limp and bloodied body was being carried into sight by a foggy white energy from Korren's command.

“JAULA DE PERDON!”

The 8 pillars that surrounded the Crater walls had begun to draw up a large amount of blue energy from within the bottom of the pillars; only to have the energy reach the tips of each pillar. In unison everyone watched as a bright white light from each of the pillars shot out a continuous beam of white energy that constantly channeled it's way into Blaze.

“This cage will hold no forgiveness for you, Blaze Kagayaku” Korren smiled and watched his show unfold.

Blaze's body was turning light blue and into a shade of white. “My energy will fracture your very existence into oblivion! You have been judged!” Korren yelled at Blaze. With his head hung forward, his face hidden by blood and his hair slanted forwards. “There will be nothing left of you...or those who don't bend to their new god” Korren spoke to himself, softly.

{Blaze's Zanpakuto spiritual world}

Blaze opened his eyes to see black and gray clouds, flashes of red light appearing in and out of the skies. Blaze sat up and looked around...this place was unfamiliar to him.

“You and I have had a good run” A voice spoke out to Blaze who immediately turned around to see a familiar face. Kewashii Furea stood with his arms crossed and faced Blaze. Blaze looked all around and noticed that there was nothing but dark clouds overhead and a seemingly never ending flat terrain of desert floor. “What is this? Where are we?” Blaze asked Kewashii Furea.

“Well the place is a little....less, seeing as how you're dying and what not” Kewashii Furea informed Blaze and there was no surprise...Blaze could recall being battered and beaten by Korren Septimus. Blaze looked to Kewashii who began to hold his head down to the ground. “Kewashii....” Blaze spoke trying to make sense of what was to happen next.

“Blaze... I think we both know what will happen next” Kewashii looked up to stare into Blaze's eyes, revealing in his hands to Blaze a rolled up piece of paper.
Blaze opened up the document and knew exactly what it was. “The doctor that you fought earlier...his zanpakuto met with me and knew just what kind of a monster I am” Blaze began to put his arms and the piece of paper down. “You have been no monster, you have been much more than even a zanpakuto to me!” Blaze smiled. “There's that trademark smirk of yours....but he was right...me and my wagers, bets and games were childish...and I made you make that bet with me” Kewashii noted the significance of the paper that Blaze held.

“If you were to ever use this again, the pain and strain it puts on both our souls...its unworldly...I would cease to exist” Kewashii folded his arms and looked to Blaze more serious now than ever. Kewashii's glowing eyes stared to Blaze, a feint breeze pushing his long black hair over to his right. “But now we are put in a situation where you either die...and we both reach the end of existence, or you sign that contract...I win, you win...we all win”

“You don't win though dammit!” Blaze yelled out in frustration. “You won't be my zanpakuto anymore, you won't be my friend anymore!” Blaze exclaimed in frustration...hatred flowing through his body at Korren for putting him into this position. “Blaze...that hatred must be met with what is the right mindset. All you need to do now is meet in the middle...remember all those people who came to watch your battle with Korren, their worries and beliefs!” Kewashii Furea grabbed the paper from Blaze's hands and stretched it open.

“Find the balance within you...sign this contract that allows me to assist you-”

“Kewashii!”

“Become him once more, Blaze Kagayaku”

{Hueco Mundo}

The enormous gathering of Shinigami watched in horror as Blaze Kagayaku was being taken from them...most shinigami questioning why they werent taking any action, all the while others questioned what could they even do? This Arrancar was here attempting to claim himself as a god.

“This is it....I can't take this anymore!” Kuro Doku yelled, whipping his zanpakuto out and closing his eyes. Kuro began to channel his spiritual energy. “I will not let you destroy my family!” Kuro yelled his eyes glistening with tears. Korren turned his eyes over to Kuro Doku. “Hmm...you don't shut up, do you boy?” Korren lifted his axe-arm and it began to shine a light blue. “Begone” Korren spoke and he motioned to swing his arm when all of a sudden a feeling began to come from underneath Korren's body.

Blaze Kagayaku who was still being concealed within the constant beams from Korren's Jaula de Perdon; was now consumed in black roaring flames.

“What is this?” Korren glared in complete confusion and astonishment. “Why...why don't you just DIE!” Korren's eyes began to glow, with his anger the beams of energy from Jaula de Perdon intensified to twice the size.

Everyone watched as the black flames that surrounded Blaze turned to a blue color.

“You are going to seek out oblivion!” Korren's kept glowing brighter and his beams growing in size over each passing second.

Kuro just as everyone watched in confusion at what was happening...Blaze was now being completely covered in both blue...and black flames. Korren's eyes began to fade in color...his disbelief getting the best of him as his beams from Jaula de Perdon no longer were making connection with Blaze's flames...the beams from Jaula de Perdon seemingly refused to touch the black and blue flames that surrounded Blaze Kagayaku.

(Hmmm...So this is what happened to Guily Kasashi) Yamamoto thought to himself, knowing just what Blaze was beginning to do. A smile drew across Yamamoto's face when the blue and black flames began to flow into one another...Blaze now concealed within a lavender colored flame.

“This spiritual pressure...what is this? I-It's incredible” Kuro stuttered as he spoke, lavender glow reflecting in his eyes.

Korren began to descend from being high up in the air, he was now standing only a few feet away from the lavender flames...just enough that the heat from these flames weren't too painful for Korren. “How...how are you able to survive my Jaula de Perdon?” Korren asked quiet enough...knowing full well that Blaze Kagayaku could hear;

“Because”...and that he could answer.

In a ear breaking bang, the lavender flames that surrounded Blaze vanished...yet their disperse had burned spiritual energy so quickly; the beams of Jaula De Perdon dispersed. A shockwave rippled out over all of the Shinigami; aswell as through Korren's ice pillars....shattering them as if they had been made of snow, not ice.

Everyone looked on to Blaze Kagayaku, this form of his not shown to more than a handful, during the fight between Guily Kasashi. “I have a will” Blaze narrowed his eyes to Korren Septimus.

Blaze's hair was now drastically longer as it had once been, the once faux-hawk hairstyle was now flowing down his back, it's fiery red color still prominent. An underlining of dark purple cloth held tight to Blaze's muscles and provided the newly found weight of a silver stunning armor that decorated Blaze's chest; the armor not known what material it was...but his shoulder spikes arched in style with his Bankai's appearance.

Purple glistening plates hung outwards from Blaze's waist, the same steel as his chestplate yet with a lavender plating. What seemed to most to be an extension of a Captain's haori could be seen draping along Blaze's front and back of his legs....the symbol unrecognizable to everyone.

Blaze held his right hand up to the sky and a lavender flame came into existence, gracefully sitting and flickering around Blaze's hand.

“This form...this form is the embodiment of my flames, Kewashii's flames” Blaze opened his eyes, looking extremely serious towards Korren. “This is the final flame, every burning ember within the flames of Kewashii Furea...and as I promised Korren Septimus” Blaze didn't even blink as the flame on his right hand widened in length and begin to intensify...taking shape.

“I will kill you...not out of anger...not out of a sense of righteousness...but because-”

As Blaze was speaking, Korren drew back his axe arm and it formed a massive scale of itself made of raw energy.

“Because I must kill you” Blaze finished his sentence so non-chalantly.

Blaze's flame that expanded overhead now dispersed to show him weilding a large weapon by it's centre. Blaze gripped onto a ring made of the same material that his armor was made from, yet the handle curved in an elegant design to have two massive blades expand outwards and each identical in shape...yet the right side was red and the left side was blue. “You can't be strong...my Jaula de Perdon has stripped you of-”

Blaze had brought down his right hand and his blade had followed suit. The crowd fell silent in curiosity to why Korren stopped talking. The top left half of Korren's wing began to slide off of Korren's body, the crowd along with Korren watched as this piece of Korren's Seguna Etapp fell down to the floor of the crater...bursting into lavender flames before even reaching the ground.

(Wh....what is this?) Korren Couldn't understand what had just happened...Korren not being able to fathom how he was not only attacked in this form of his, yet Blaze Kagayaku cut off one of Korren's wings without any effort at all. “This form of mine won't last long, you are right Korren” Blaze began to slowly spin his blue and red Bankai in his hand, ever so slowly. “Which is why I need to kill you in within the next minute” Blaze's hair began to sway with the energy that encircled his body and Korren's.

“You talk a good talk, but I know you won't land another attack on me...as punishment for that cheap shot you just did...all of your friends and comrades will be allowed to watch me slowly chip your frozen flesh from your body!” Korren started to breath heavy in a psychotic manner.

Blaze turned his head and he only looked to one person...Kuro Doku. “Kuro...I couldn't save Tessa, or Kibo” Blaze dropped his eyes to look at the ground beneath...seeing Kibo's body.

Kuro threw his zanpakuto to the ground, this concerning others around him and Blaze immediately bringing his eyes up to Kuro. “I don't give a shit, Blaze. That guy-” Kuro yelled with his finger pointing to Korren Septimus. “He did all of this to us, there wasn't anything you could do then...but...but now you can” Kuro gripped his hands into fists, tears falling from his eyes and he now looked to the ground and away from Blaze, his friend...his captain.

Blaze turned his face away from Kuro. A smile spread across Blaze's face and it struck fear into Korren. (H-how is he laughing? That fucker!) Korren began to dash towards Blaze. “This form of mine, it is called Saishu-Tekina Futan...it doesn't mean final flame. The translation is Final Burden” Blaze stared directly into Korren who was quickly approaching. “This fight is mine, It's time we take this fight elsewhere” Blaze vanished from sight and so did Korren, all that was left was a breeze of wind from their sudden departure.

“What was that....teleportation?” A Shinigami spoke out as the crowd spoke among themselves.
(No...that was a flash step) Kuro said in his own thought, wiping his eyes and he began to descend into the crater where Kibo's body lay.

In the far horizon of Hueco Mundo were there was nothing in sight besides sand, a tiny spec of white began to grow in sight and size. In a sudden instant this image was Korren Septimus being hurled into the sands of Hueco Mundo and a tidal wave of sand kicked up with Korren's abrupt landing. Quickly Korren whipped his body around to hover back straight up...his chest panting...his wing cut wide open. “H-how long....*huff* how long can you keep up this tough guy act?” Korren moved his axe arm up and across his face...a cut beginning to emerge. A tiny purple image grew rapidly in size and Blaze stopped in his tracks immediately, meters away from Korren. The sudden stop from Blaze caused the backtrack of sand behind Blaze's momentum to pass by his body and sting into Korren's body.

“We're running low on seconds Korren” Blaze drew his left foot forward...his right foot back and his Bankai beginning to twirl in his hands. “What makes you think you're going to live after fighting me?” Korren narrowed his eyes and he held out his axe arm and claw; both extending his arms outwards.

“I'm not sure” Blaze replied without emotion.

As Blaze began to spin his Bankai around, lavender whips of flame began to rippled outwards and lavender flames began to surrounded and circle his feet. Korren's axe and giant claw began pulsingf with cold blue energy. The energy around Korren's arms erupted into a powerful distortion of blue energy that rippled back from Korren's body while he leaned forward. “I have searched far and wide, awaiting for someone of superior strength to fight me...I must thank you Blaze Kagayaku” Korren's face contorted and Blaze could only assume under his mouth-less face...Korren was smiling.

Blaze's blade was blurring in speed, now only held onto Blaze by just his right hand. Blaze stood up straight and looked past his lavender flames that clung onto both his Bankai and began climbing up and around Blaze's very body. “I will not permit your existence, Korren Septimus” Blaze began to walk, his flames clinging around his body at chest-height now; while his Bankai could still be seen in it's spinning motion and his footsteps leaving charred sand in their wake.

“You cannot defeat a god, Blaze Kagayaku” Korren replied and began to walk forward to Blaze aswell.

The two locked eyes and ran towards each others, Blaze's flames completely engulfed his body and he roared across the sand as an enormous mass of lavender flames. Korren Septimus darted forward and the distorted waves of blue energy surrounded Korren's entire body with viscous pulses.

The two masses of energy collided and pushed against one another, lavender flames rolled over a powerful forward pulse of blue energy. Back and forth these behemoth sized masses of power began collide and erupt into a blinding light. The blinding mass of light shot upwards into the skies. Far south the giant gathering of Shinigami watched as a pillar of light surged upwards to break through the dark clouds of Korren's presence. Standing inside the pillar of white light were two black silhouettes that were staring in the same direction. Each man held could be seen holding onto a long thin object. Blaze could be barely seen by Korren, he was standing with his zanpakuto and his body appearing bloodied and bruised...his body was just as he looked before his final flame was ever initiated. Standing inside the light pillar was also Korren Septimus, Korren was back in his original Arrancar state...his horns now chipped and cracked; while his body too was cut up and bleeding.

“Where do you get your strength from?” Korren septimus asked quietly... no strength in his tone but rather blood spilling down his chin. Blaze looked up to Korren with his body exhausted; “I fight for more than myself...You are my final burden” Blaze fell to his knee and used his zanpakuto to keep him from collapsing. Korren Septimus swayed in his stature but refused to fall to the ground. The light surrounding Korren and Blaze faded from sight, allowing both Blaze and korren to regain their blurry eyesight.

Blaze pushed off of the ground with his zanpakuto, his arms wiggling without strength. Blaze looked to his zanpakuto and saw it as it's dormant state...it's new permanent state. “Kewashii, before you leave my zanpakuto...before you leave me” Blaze looked into the shine of his zanpakuto and saw nothing but his own reflection. “Please, help me end this all!” Blaze pushed himself up to stand, his zanpakuto stained in his own blood that dripped down from his hands. Blaze looked across to his enemy, Korren looked just as exhausted as Blaze was.

Both Blaze and Korren leaned forward as they let their weight carry their bodies with what little strength was in their bodies. Both Blaze and Korren ran along the sandy floors of Hueco Mundo and as they ran across to one another, sand kicked up with their feet...both men feeling the muscles in their legs on fire and throb in painful strain. Blaze cocked his left hand back, holding his zanpakuto. Korren dove forward, his sword curving inward as he closed in on Blaze.

Blaze and Korren collided with each other. Blaze stared into Korren's tired eyes...the blood dripping faster from his mouth. Blaze stared at Korren with an exhausted expression. Korren's back began to pour out blood, Blaze's blade piercing directly through Korren's chest. Korren Septimus looked down at Blaze's zanpakuto as he pushed his body away from Blaze and watched Kewashii Furea slide out from his body....Blaze watching as Korren did this....Blaze watched as his blade left Korren, Korren begun to disintegrate. Korren's body dispersed into shards of ice until there was nothing left. In an exhausted breathe, Blaze scoffed and with a smirk he fell to his knees.

“It's...about time-” Blaze smiled and blood dripped down his lips just like Korren. Blaze looked down to his chest, Korren's sword had pierced Blaze's chest...right where his heart was. Blaze stared at his would for only a couple of seconds, his veins around his heart began to turn a dark blue and black color, his chest feeling cold as ice. “-That I get to rest” Blaze finished his sentence and slowly began to slouch back on his knees, his zanpakuto sliding out from his grasp before falling to the ground. Blaze was in a position where his body was on it's way of falling over and he could see the skies of hueco mundo...a light snowfall began to fall ever so softly, rather than a violent storm from Korren.

Blaze could hear muffled voices that seemed to be closing in on where he was, just before his vision completely faded he saw two people standing over him. Both had long hair, though one was much bulkier while the other short and petite.

“We're so proud of you, Blaze”.