Chapter 143 - 143: The Ancient Arrancar

As everyone present gathered their bearings and I let go of the pressure, they all breathed in and out. I walked towards Ichigo and a panic filled Orihime, as she desperately tried to heal him. Her powers were temporal in nature so her healing was more effective since she can make the wound as if it never happened. I let her heal him instead but she looked like she was going to pass out so I gave her a Senzu to revitalize her. After seeing what transpired I had Unohana's attention. The Senzu Bean here gave more than just energy back to the consumer, it gave back Ki, Reiatsu, Haki and magic energy, but that is if one uses those energies like myself.

I never wanted to belittle the Old man Genryusai, but he died pathetically when he thought he killed Ywach just to find out it was just a double. If I make him realize that there are stronger people than him in the world he might wise up faster and be better prepared for Ywach, even though he still might die. Hopefully, like me, he learned something from our bout.

As everyone gathered their injured and helped wherever they can, the Sokyoku hill was left empty. I stayed there awaiting the emergence of Arturo Plateado. Since the story will continue to the Arrancar arc soon I might as well get rid of Arturo before he adds on to Aizen's army. Arturo absorbs the spiritual energy of those he defeats adding to his own strength and since theres no way he can beat me he can't get stronger. The land shook as Arturo made his exit from the seal.

Arturo: I am finally free! Those Shinigami will pay for my imprisonment!

Sage: Yeah, but you won't be living for long.

Arturo quickly turned to me.

Arturo: Who are you? Don't you know in whose presence you are in?

Sage: Yeah a dead man or dead spirit. I kinda forgot what you are.

Arturo: Many before you have said similar words only to add to my power. You will be no different.

Arturo didn't bother taking out his Zanpakuto as he tried to engage me. Since he didn't at least give me that curtesy I wasn't going to use mine either. If any other opponent that knew me it is unwise to attack me barehanded. Arturo gave me a simple chop to my left shoulder. The impact made a slight noise but nothing deafening, the area around me was pushed back by the air from the impact. Arturo didn't need to wait for the dust to clear to be surprised as his attack did nothing to me. When Arturo pulled back I brushed my left shoulder then looked at him.

Sage: Okay, my turn.

I flashed in front of him and with the same motion and attack as him, I chopped Arturo's left arm off. Blood gushed out of the where his arm used to be. A howl of pain was heard throughout Soul Society.

Arturo: YOU BASTARD!!!!!

Arturo finally grabbed his Zanpakuto and used his Resurrecion. Arturo yelled out…

Arturo: FENIX!!!!!!

Arturo's Zanpakuto was bladeless and used Reiki to form an energy blade much like a light saber from Star Wars. The transformation merely gave Arturo wings made of Reiki as well but no changes too drastic. I shook my head as I took out Shinigami. I used Sokyoku to get used using a halberd but it was similar to a Bo staff or Enma when he transforms. I unsheathe Shinigami from her Saya and show a flawless, reflectionless white blade to Arturo.

Arturo: You think you can kill me with a Sakabato?! Fool!

Sage: Dumbass, how old are you for you to not know to not judge by appearances?

The fight won't take long because Arturo has just woke up and had no chance to steal energy from any defeated enemies. I will let him feel the power of my Zanpakuto before he fades to dust. Arturo went into the sky and swooped down towards me at high speed but it still meant nothing to me. I timed my slash with his but I aimed at the Tsuba of his Zanpakuto and cut cleanly through it. The blade of energy instantly died out as it rolled on the floor. Arturo could not believe it as he looked at his hand that held his Zanpakuto then at me.

Sage: Now you ask? What a rude opponent.

Arturo: There was no one like you many years ago. Taking your strength will make me invincible.

Sage: That's assuming you can beat me. If I could do that without releasing my Zanpakuto, do you really think that you could really handle my full power?

Arturo was a little shaken when he heard me but regenerated his Zanpakuto quickly as it was one of his specialties. It will not do him any good anyway because he was far weaker than me. Compared to the rest of the Shinigami here, not including Division Zero, he is stronger than Genryusai as well. Since I want the Arrancar arc to kick off I will kill Arturo now.

Sage: Let's end this. Claim his life, Shinigami!

My beautiful white blade turned pitch black, still reflectionless and longer. Since I already told him that I will finish him off I flipped my blade and imbued it with energy. I used one of the techniques that belonged to Shinigami, Reaper's Touch. Because of the name, I have to be in contact with the recipient of the technique but with my speed and power this is much easier done as well as said. I used a normal slash at Arturo, which he tried to block but dodged at the last minute when my Zanpakuto sliced through his energy Zanpakuto.

When Arturo remade his Zanpakuto he quickly noticed that the energy that made the blade was significantly smaller.

Arturo: What did you do?!

Sage: Nothing much, just used my Zanpakuto's ability.

Sage: Not quite. As a reaper, Shinigami here is true to her name. She takes all of you, your vitality, Reiatsu, body and soul. Since I only hit your Zanpakuto's energy blade that was all that was taken. Now let's see how it does when I slash your body.

I flashed in front of Arturo and slashed him in half horizontally from the waist. Arturo was surprised as he didn't see me coming and all he saw was his legs plummeting to the ground. He tried to regenerate but it was taking way too long. Arturo gave up trying to regenerate his legs and flashed to the ground to reattach his lower body. Once he was done, Arturo was drenched in sweat and gasping, trying to catch his breath. I landed in front of him and looked down on him with condescending eyes.

Arturo: I…(gasp)…will…KILL…(gasp)…YOU!!!

Sage: (Sigh) Literally, stop wasting your breath.

I slashed at Arturo multiple times cutting him down into chunks on the floor. With his life force and Reiatsu completely drained, Arturo could not regenerate. I used Ten Hashira (Heavenly Pillar), creating a beam connecting the sky to the ground, obliterating him on the spot. After the fight I headed to Ichigo and the rest.

Ichigo: Hey Sage-san, what was that beam of light?

I looked at the Gotei 13 captains and the only ones that knew what was going on were Genryusai, Ukitake, Unohana and Kyoraku. Their eyes were full of surprise.

Sage: Nothing just cleaning up after ourselves. Don't mind it.

I smiled and nodded at the flabbergasted captains as Ichigo, Orihime, Sado, Ishida, Yoruichi and I went through the Senkaimon back to the living world. Let the Arrancar arc begin.