(Davian's P.O.V)

"Loathe as I am to admit it, you're right."

Rama Kushna sighed.

"As you are now, even with your new ability to erode time, you wouldn't survive an encounter with a real god."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Oceanus was a Titan, something that preceded the Olympians. It took the 3 strongest Olympian deities to kill Kronos, a Titan. And yet I killed him. Underestimating me is the biggest misstep you can take."

I countered.

She laughed.

"How ferocious. And yet, you forget something. Faith."

She emphasized.

"Faith and belief dictate how powerful deities are in the physical world."

She paused to pour more tea in my cup. It was a wonder my bladder was still holding up.

"Just as less worship can diminish a god's power, the opposite is true."

I rubbed my chin, seeing the logic in her words.

"...Oceanus exists in the minds of historians, record keepers and learners. The common man knows of Poseidon as the god of the seas."

"Which means the Oceanus you faced was considerably weaker now than during the Titanomachy. Take into account his essence was further weakened by being fused with another soul and..."

Rama Kushna hit me with a serious look.

"...You're lucky you survived. Let alone won."

She took a sip.

I couldn't deny that she had a point. Still...

"I can take anyone on. Gods, Titans...fuck. Even the Devil. I don't care. Anyone who tries to fuck with me will realize I'm not a pushover."

The goddess blinked in surprise at my outburst.

"I can't tell if you're brave or simply dumb."

She finally relented with a shake of her head.

"It's s a conundrum to me as well."

Chase said with a sigh.

'traitor.'

"Regardless. You have a long and arduous journey before you."

The goddess said.

"I would like it if..."

She paused, frowning while looking to the side.

Then with a grim expression on her face she turned to me.

"I'm afraid you are needed elsewhere. One of your companions is in danger."

Cheshire.

I immediately got to my feet, sheathing my Zanpakuto.

"Chase, can you feel the connection you made to Cheshire's mask?"

I enquired.

It only took a second for him to answer.

"No."

Fuck. That's not good.

They had found her.

Cheshire was still a volatile element. I didn't know if I could trust her but, I had sworn she would be under my protection.

I might be an aggressive, stubborn asshole but I never broke my word.

"Apologies."

I bowed to Rama Kushna.

"I appreciate the hospitality but I have a promise to keep."

She nodded gravely, getting to her feet.

"I have foreseen this battle, Great Spirit..."

Then she stepped closer to me. Her head barely reaching my chin, calling to attention that she was actually shorter than I had expected.

Her palm came to rest above my chest. Right on my Saketsu. Then she stood on her toes and kissed me on the cheek.

A brief warmth surged up from where her palm lay.

Rama Kushna stepped back with a strange look on her face. Her eyes were heated, her ample chest slightly heaving. I blinked and the hunger in her gaze was gone.

"Remember...when all else fails... open your eyes."

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Then I was falling. Falling through a portal that had appeared at my back.

"Farewell...Death-kun."

The last thing I saw was Rama Kushna waving her hand and then, I was moving through the sky, headed towards the ocean as the wind blew past me.

It was an easy matter to create a platform of spirit energy under my body. I landed on it, blowing strands of my loose hair away from my face in a huff of frustration.

"That was sudden. Didn't even get to ask why she was using Japanese honorifics. I thought Rama Kushna is Hindi?"

I complained a bit.

"That's what you're focusing on? Not that you've been teleported right on top of enemy territory?"

Chase asked in a slightly exasperated tone.

I didn't think I still had it in me to feel embarrassed, but I did.

I simply chose to ignore it in favor of focusing on more urgent matters.

An island. One that gave off a nasty aura. Something...twisted was there. Something that made my soul agitated. Like an itch you can't scratch.

And along with it was Cheshire's soul, it's vibrations weak. On top of that, a few more familiar souls appeared in my Reikaku.

Lady Shiva... Cheshire's dad, sportsguy or something and...oh now that's interesting...

"Chase, how about we say hi to our hosts?"

I made an offer I was sure my Zanpakuto would not refuse.

Before he could answer however, something unexpected ruined the cool moment.

"Aaahhhhh!!!"

Deadman screamed as he fell through the air.

I stepped to the side and watched as he dipped past me with a perturbed expression on my face.

"Oh...I can fly. Thank god. Thought I was

going to die...why teleport someone when they're asleep!!??"

Deadman yelled, grumbling as he floated to join me as I unsheathed my sword.

I chose to ignore his antics.

They had dared take someone under my protection. I smirked. Back in the day, I wouldn't allow such disrespect. You mess with mine and I would respond. Harshly.

"Brand. Come here."

I called out.

Deadman immediately stopped grumbling, staring at me with a confused expression.

Still, he floated over.

"What can you feel?"

I asked...in part to see the potency of the abilities he was acquiring while in close proximity to me, but also to confirm what I could already feel.

Deadman blinked.

"I feel Cheshire down there. They caught her huh?"

"Yeah. I need you to get her out while I deal with the rabble."

I told him and his face twisted in distaste.

"There's someone stupid strong down there Davian. You sure about this? We should call in some help."

My lips stretched out into a smile.

A flex of my power and Shikai activated. Of course, I knew there was someone powerful down there.

Someone who could kill me infact. Someone stronger than Barragan. However...my palms tingled and my soul trembled with excitement.

Battle lust.

"Just get Cheshire out. I'll deal with the rest."

I informed him, homing in on the training yard that was quickly getting crowded by the forces of the Island.

He looked like he was about to argue but sighed instead.

"Good Luck."

Deadman said, then disappeared into the nothingness, concealed in spirit form.

The island was beautiful. The dying light of the sun set hit the water surrounding the lone piece of land perfectly, giving it a vacation spot feel.

Too bad it was going to get destroyed once I was through.

I pulled on my substantial Reiryoku and covered my form with a purple aura.

Then I flew down, blazing like a second sun in the late evening air.

The sand shook below me as I neared the ground.

One second there was only the shadows patrolling the area, then the next, an alarm sounded out across the island once I was spotted.

My enemies knew I was around.

"Chase you ready for this?"

I enquired from my Zanpakuto. I was surprised he hadn't given me a speech on my recklessness.

"Are you?"

He quipped back.

"Now that's just insulting Chase."

I shook my head, touching down before what was hundreds of Ninjas, gathered in some sort of training yard.

I frowned, noting some discrepancies.

Not all of them were League of Shadows.

"Are those guys wearing suits of armours?"

I wondered out loud.

"An upgrade. The last time we saw each other, I promise d you I would be prepared."

Lady Shiva said, standing at the head of the group.

This time she had a red leather jacket and black pants that hugged her frame perfectly. Her Katana was strapped to her hip, one hand on the handle.

She had a cold look on her face. Oh, someone's still mad I beat them last time.

"This..." She motioned behind her.

"Is my response. We have Jade. Come quietly or give me a reason to ply that weapon from your dead cold fingers."

She declared, eyes trailing over Chesha Neko.

I shivered, clapping my hands slightly. I couldn't lie, I was Impressed.

"Now that's how you do a villain monologue."

Then I wound my sword arm back and swung it.

"Getsuga Tensho."

None of them, least of all, Lady Shiva were expecting such a sudden attack. Not to mention high profile as well.

The goal was to cause a lot of noise. Enough noise that all the forces in the island would be pulled here.

The air screamed, a path getting torn out by the black colored arc of spirit energy, easily about tens of meters long and thick.

Lady Shiva showed off her crazy instincts by dodging fast.

She strafed to the right. Then ducked behind a few practice dummies on the edges of the attack that were sturdy enough to remain rooted to the ground.

Even as my skill shredded everything else in its path.

Screams and cries of pain rang out, filling the air with a certain dread.

My legs stretched out as I walked calmly towards the groove on the ground created by the sudden attack.

The distinct sound of mechanical whirring, hydraulics shifting and servo motor hum, brought into attention the suits of armors which had quickly taken to the sky before my attack landed.

The half a dozen armors landed on the ground around me.

Now that I got a good look at them. I couldn't help but notice how batman-inspired they were. The long ears were a dead giveaway.

Full metallic chassis with small gaps at the joints, nodes of energy spread out across the armor and the gray and black color. They weren't even trying to hide it.

"Scarlet Devil, in the name of Justice and the law, stand down or we will be forced to employ lethal means."

One of them called out in a synthetic voice.

Whaaa?

How in the hell would anyone think they were on the side of good while serving the League of Shadows?

It's arm shifted, deploying a Canon that glowed with a red light. The warning was clear.

I twirled my sword.

"I rather like lethal means."

I stepped towards them and immediately, the arm canons started firing. Red thermal energy lancing out towards my body.

I slipped into Shunpo, swinging out my sword and splitting apart the first suit, before deflecting another energy attack and retaliating with a thunderous kick that deformed the suit and the man inside.

The armor was blown clean through the wall around the training yard.

The rest of the suits immediately took flight in a controlled motion but I spun, not intent on letting them get away.

"Leaving so soon?"

My statement was punctuated by a thrust of Chesha Neko.

The sword unravelled into dozens of strings that ensnared the foot of one armor.

I pulled it down while simultaneously taking a leap. My fist made the air thrum on it's way towards the head of the armor.

Blood splattered out as I shattered the helmet and the pilot's head, then I lunged over his body, using it as a springboard to get closer to the retreating Batmen.

"Wait..."

Chase called out.

I immediately stopped. Right on cue, a red dome of energy rose up to cover the whole island, trapping all of us inside.

The itch in my soul intensified.

My eyes widened as I felt something change.

Instantly, I lost the connection to my Reiryoku.

The platform of energy I had created below my feet disappeared suddenly and I hurtled towards the ground, arms flailing.

"Now!"

Came an order from the lead Batman Armor. In one motion, they turned their weapons on me and started firing.

Fuck. It was a trap.