The Last Quincy Chapter 33

Outskirts of Karakura Town. World of the Living. 4032 A.D. Fifty-five years after Cataclysm.

The snow covered wasteland to the west of Karakura Town was covered in numerous rock formations. They proved to be excellent cover for Czer and the other members of the Shattered Cross. Makeshift tents were set up between the plateaus housing the members who were waiting for the Takiyama battalion to arrive. Behind their tents were large objects hidden under tarps covered in powdered snow.

Czer, Rokuyo, Seito, Kujo, and Taihaku along with several other members stood around a map on a small table. “Right now we are currently fifteen kilometers outside Karakura Town,” Czer began. “If their current broadcasts are accurate that means that they’ll reach this location in one hour.”

“A single battalion consists of three heavily armed airships,” Taihaku said. “One hundred Soul Hunter to each ship plus a dozen techies flying them. I know we’re not focusing on taking prisoners, but if we can we should try to commandeer one of those ships.”

“Our primary objective is to keep the Soul Hunters from reaching Karakura and wipe out their forces,” Czer said. “We can’t focus on efforts entirely on sparing a single ship, but if we can we’ll try.”

“The Soul Hunters are one thing,” Rokuyo began. “But the question is, how do we deal with the ships themselves?”

“I may have a way to take care of that,” Czer said. “I know a technique that should have enough power to destroy one of their ships, but that depends on how much reishi is in the air when they pass by.” The Quincy knew that the engines of the airships would limit his abilities due their use of reishi in the air as fuel. Because of this he wouldn’t be able to use the Heilige Kruz until the ships were gone.

“I guess this is a decent enough plan,” Seito said putting his hands on the back of his head. “I’m going to let the other know that it’s time to load up. Come on Kujo.” The Vasto Lorde followed after the short red-headed Fullbringer.

“I’ll let my guys know too,” Taihaku said as he started to leave the tent.

Czer watched as Taihaku exited. “Old Man,” he said to Rokuyo. “Do you think it was wise for me to leave men back at Karakura Town?”

“If we fail someone needs to protect the others,” Rokuyo said. “But we aren’t going to fail are we?”

Rokuyo’s words made Czer think immediately of Mika. “Yeah,” he said shaking his head. “Prepare for combat! Everyone grab weapons and get to your stations!”

All of the Shattered Cross members began running around to the snow covered tarps removing the reishi rifles and heavy weapons from under them. They then gathered underneath the larger tarps seemingly blending in with the environment. Only one member was separate from the others.

Czer, now wearing his cloak, stood alone in the open waiting for the airships’ arrival. The wind blew cold air into his face that sent a chill through his entire body. He proceeded to close his eyes, and the world around him went dark. The sound of the wind disappeared and the cold along with it. When all of his senses faded from his consciousness only one remained. The feeling of the reishi around him. It flowed like a river as it moved in one direction parting as it met an obstruction only to come back together again. Czer stood motionless for what felt like an eternity. Then he felt a massive disruption in the flow of reishi above him. He opened his eyes and looked up to find three airships moving across the sky in a v formation.

The front of the ships were shaped like a horseshoe with an armored hull going over and to the sides of a smaller section. Two heavy rotating guns were under the front half of the ships while the other half housed two massive thrusters propelling it forward.

Czer’s hearing returned as the sound of the engines filled his ears. He raised his arms to either side and crossbows took form on each forearm from the reishi in the air. The Quincy then brought his arms in front of him and clasped his hands together. His right arm created a red vortex that started to circle around both arms, and a red and a blue reishi arrow appeared in both bows. Czer was nervous. He had only used this technique training in Hueco Mundo with a Quincy Bangle on his left wrist. Now he was using an actual Quincy Cross in a location with very little reishi in the air that was disappearing by the second. He aimed at the ship to the left taking into account its movement as well as the wind’s speed. With a yell he let loose both arrows and the vortex. As they flew, the arrows circled around each other within the vortex until both arrows fused together into one purple spear that accelerated toward the airship piercing its hull through and through. As it fell from the sky Czer turned back to the others who watched from under the tarps with gaping mouths. “COME ON!!!”

The Shattered Cross members came out of hiding and removed the tarps revealing multiple vehicles that were taken from the base. Thirty armored Humvees with mounted guns levitated in the air with the aid of propulsion jets under the chassis. They moved from their stowage and took formation in front of Czer. Taihaku jumped into the back of one of the vehicles and manned its mounted gun.

Rokuyo moved out on the back of a motorcycle with a similar propulsion system as the Humvees. He proceeded to put his goggles over his eyes. “Enhanced Fullbring,” he said and blue flames spread across his body turning his skin black and burning away his beard. His clothes and goggles remained intact and white plates with spikes formed on his shoulders. “Rider of the Searing Flame.”

Seito walked out removing the chain from his side and came up to Kujo. “Beast Tamer,” he said and the chain began to glow as he flung it toward the Hollow’s neck. “Steed.” Kujo’s body started to change posture as he went on all fours. His body began to morph resembling a jackal in more than his mask, but his body’s physical structure. Seito then climbed on Kujo’s back holding tightly onto the chain connecting the two of them. He looked at Rokuyo who nodded to him and then at Czer. “Sure you don’t want to ride with us?”

“I can manage on foot,” Czer said. The Quincy then focused his attention on all the members of the Shattered Cross. “We’re all here because there is something that we want to protect,” he began. “I have two things I wish to protect. First is the woman I love. Second is all that is not been consumed by the tyranny Takiyama. I, myself, have already lost so much. My family, my race, I’m all that’s left. And I’m not about stand around and let them do the same to others when I have the power to stop them. Two ships are left. If we bring them down we can ensure the safety of Karakura Town and its people. Are you with me?” Czer’s question was met with cheers of acknowledgement. He turned around to find the airships coming about toward them. “LET’S GO!!!” He ran at high speeds and the others followed behind him. Rokuyo rode his motorcycle alongside Czer’s right, and Seito rode on the back of Kujo to his left. He knew this fight, together with his comrades, was truly the first step towards freedom.