A simple battle plan was what Cheshire had proposed for phase one of their plan.
One where they try to earn as much time as possible rather than trying to actually take the bastard out for good; since the latter was still (most likely) impossible with his Judgement still existing somehow.
Cheshire had thought about asking them if they have any idea how someone could seemingly have the powers of a shinigami, hollow and something else… But they clearly had no clue. If they did they wouldn't be so shocked at how he had so many abilities when she explained what he probably had.
Eiterhway, to summarise, the battle plan was essentially to have Yourichi Shihoin run distraction with constant hit and runs. They won't do much damage but they just want to run his stamina out. As such this kind of person was perfect as long as she could prevent getting caught.
However Cheshire only knew one person who could be called "perfect" so her plan already had contingencies for that eventuality. Essentially she would distract the bastard while the blonde fob would run in to save his captain. Then that brutish hunk would get slapped around the bastard.
Earning enough time for Yoruichi to recover enough to continue to annoy the bastard.
It wasn't honourable but neither was she nor Navy.
"Well this could be going worse chehehe~!"
That cockney kitty stood on the side of the building with her zanpakuto back in the form of a cane, hers both resting atop of that, with her mask scrunched up on account of her smile. The place was a lot sparser than when those shingami first appeared. Thankfully due to a mass retreat rather than Navy himself.
None of those captains left were the type to sacrifice their subordinates in the line of fire. As such - so as soon as they knew their squads wouldn't even be able to slow down the irregular hollow - they had them all run back with tails between their legs. Of course that didn't mean they were faring any better.
The brute force of the kenpachi simply couldn't overcome the skill of the monster.
The speed of the Shihoin couldn't keep up with that of the monster.
And the mop head's genius simply didn't have time to counter the monster.
She thought as she looked at the shaggy haired 2nd division 3rd seat; having learned enough through osmosis to be able to form a general structure of their organisation.
Nodding her head as she moved one hand to stroke her chin like the old lady she was.
Although she seemed to be just sitting there doing nothing that wasn't completely the case - she was preventing the foolish brats from getting themselves killed. A role she has had for just about as long as her unfathomably wise mind can remember. It was simply in her nature to study, though.
Watching as that girl with medium length purple hair used a decent enough flash step in an attempt to sneak up behind Navy.
Yet Cheshire could only shake her head with a sigh.
"Tsk you have to at least be as fast as me in my Cornered Cat art to catch him unaware!"
She "helpfully" lectured the girl as she opened her eyes in surprise as she actually found her face within the smooth but horrifying hand of the monster. Never before had she been apprehended mid-motion even when she was learning. Without a doubt she was a genius when it came to her body & speed.
So…
Unable to comprehend how she could be caught so lacking; of course they knew this monster was the most powerful thing she had run into in her brief time as captain of the second but… By this much?
Obviously Cheshire hadn't left them in the lurch, informing them briefly about the abilities she knew that he possessed and could potentially have, so they knew he became scarier very quickly. Yet that was apparently in relation to how many weapons were around him. And currently…
He had none.
That cocky bastard had sheathed his weapons in the ground claiming they weren't worth it and she could hardly argue with him now.
Fortunately she wasn't by herself.
Just as that monster was preparing to throw her over his shoulder and slam her head first into the floor (all the while yelling something about planting a tree) help arrived. A bullet of concentrated spirit energy impacted the brute in the face. Causing him to actually stumble while she was halfway in the air.
Following that her best friend & third seat swooped in to her rescue; thrusting his broad bladed sword into the hollows wrist to loosen his grasp on her. Catching her with his free arm. She heard some kind of groan as he flickered back out the way just in time to see kenpachi swing his axe down onto the monster.
But even that series of actions did nothing to phase him - he merely chuckled while using a finger to swat aside any of the powerful blows that kenpachi's first release/shikai allowed him to make.
She couldn't help clicking her tongue in annoyance until she noticed that the hollow held something.
"What is that bas-?"
Turning to ask her friend if he knew what that monster was holding but, instead of his usual warm if slovenly smile, she saw a strained smile. His face was pale and it was obvious to anyone why. He was currently lacking his right arm with blood leaking from under his robe.
"He really has sticky fingers."
Instantly the princess of the Shihoin froze as she didn't know what to say for the first time in her life.
"Oh stop your slobberin'; we'll slap some cool patches on it and you'll be fine~!"
That crone's voice swiftly brought her out of her stupor as she couldn't help find some anger rising toward the lackadaisical cat. Escaping from Kisuke's grasp to whip her head toward that woman. Pointing a finger towards her with accusation clear.
"Why don't you lose an arm and come back from it!"
To her surprise… That cat just laughed in a good natured manner.
"Oh you don't know the half of it, right, let me tell you a story about this disciple of mine in the past who had this weird fetish around removing peoples arms. As it stood she ended up becoming a bit of a tyrant so it was an inside joke for her about disarming people. Anyways so one day I-."
She froze then looked down at her sword while both Kisuke (who was resting a glowing green palm on his wound to stem the bleeding) and Yoruchi could only watch in befuddlement. At first they believed that the cat was joking when she hyped up her age. Yet that kind of waffling could only come from an old lady.
"Tsk I thought you were meant to be my sword spirit? What nonsense are you talking about? There is always time for a good ol' tale, otherwise we old folk can't pass on our wisdom to youngin's!"
Never had either of them witnessed someone having a very verbal argument with their sword spirit.
<
Both of them thought at the same time.
Unfortunately they didn't have much longer to think as that cat suddenly flashed from her position only to appear between them and the ongoing fight. Her foot raised as it impacted kenpachi as he flew towards them like a cannonball. Following after was Kisuke's stolen arm that still held his shikai.
That sword, hidden in the shadow of the kenpachi, was clearly heading straight for Cheshire as if he had already known she'd intervene. Hardly shocking as she already had - it wasn't the first time she had interrupted Navy with a well placed bullet of spiritual energy. Yet she predicted his prediction!
Merely having her hand fall from the top of the cane to instead grab its side; pulling that walking stick up to impact the blade and send it flying above her.
Once again her actions were seemingly effortless.
"Tsk men these days have no stamina but I guess old bastards like you also don't~!"
Teasing the monster who stood there with a crimson mist seeping out from his masked face - silently tilting his head as if studying them like a beast does its prey. That intimidation began to work until its mind games were cut off by the elderly cat. That back of the five foot figure was surprisingly all encompassing.
Yoruichi thought as she clenched her hands till her knuckles became white.
"You really are a bitc-"
"Pussy my dear friend; I am a pussy cat~!"
The three of them (including Kenpachi who crawled out the ruins of a ransack house that fell on him when he crashed through) could only be bewildered. If they didn't know better they would full heartedly believe that the cat's shit talk had used up more stamina than their combined attacks. It was disheartening.
"Jehehe~ lets stop with the jokes and you can show me that new sword of yours~♪"
"Oh~ whatever do you mean~?"
Placing that cane back on the ground as she leaned forward using it to prevent herself from falling flat on her face; one didn't need to see her mouth under the mask to "see" the massive grin she had.
"I believe they call it a shikai, when you release the seal on your sword spirit, giving some uber powerful ability like mine did. We can all see you talking to that sword and you may do so with more clarity than these three fools. So show me your power~♪"
Before he had lost his motivation as his "sane" mind was still in control… Yet now it became clear that his bloodline did more than simply enhance his strength as time went on. As he got stronger his intense instincts as a beast slowly took over and made him crave a fight worthy of his might.
Yet he was destined to be disappointed since Cheshire was not obsessed with fighting like her ilk.
"Eh~ afraid I can't~."
"You… Can't?"
That monster that was prowling forward on all fours like a wolf froze up at her words as he seemed to be truly confused by her words.
"Yea the poor thing doesn't think she's worthy due to her ugly blade when sealed!"
Shaking her head with a long drawn out sigh.
Mumbling about "what a shame" it was as well as "how confidence is found within" like the old grandma she didn't even pretend that she wasn't
<<
Once again the shingami trio simply couldn't understand her despite her words being quite clear; neither can they be blamed for that.
"What kind of bullshit…"
This time the reason they didn't move was due to the cold sweat as that monstrous hollow unleashed so much killing intent that they realised just how much of a monster they were dealing with. His desire for bloodshed so deep that they couldn't fathom the corpses that littered his path. Truly a monster.
But that cat stood uncaring.
"My unfortunate little Anakisuto Heiwa just needs a makeover, don't worry~!"
Trying to "alleviate worries" that the bastard may have over her "unfortunate sword" and what was shocking is something that made them doubt her words a lot less…
She knew the name of her zanpakuto!
Eventually that beast stood up from his prowling position making him seem more human than his personality made him. Turning around while shaking his hand. Seemingly fed up with the nonsense that the cat was spewing at him as he moved to grab his two "main" weapons from the ground.
Hoisting the large blade to rest on his shoulder with a dexterity that made it clear he was already very well versed in said blades usage.
"This isn't worth the headache and killing you without you being at full power would be boring so let's just end this here for now…"
His jovial nature was replaced with something cold and unfeeling as he tried to simply walk away.
"Phase two it is~!"
At least until they circled around to stop him making his mental brow twitch in annoyance.
"Your mind games won't work on me chehehe~!"
"Ohoho~ kitty has claws but I had to try~♪"
Those flaming eyes narrowed as he turned his head to look at those who stood up to challenge him.
"But do they share your bravery~?"
Not waiting for an answer as the massive blade on his shoulder was suddenly swung upwards into seemingly empty air. Confusing them until they saw the moon in the sky. For a second their confusion grew stronger as they saw a black "hair" on the celestial body.
At least until that "hair" began to grow wider to reveal the sky behind; making them realise just what that monster had done with fear present in every one of them.
"How are we meant to fight something like that…?"
Neither of the usual chatty members of the second could reply as they could only silently stare with their mouths open wide.
But fear wasn't the domain of Navy Indigo; primordial of the end.
As they were about to find out.
Abruptly a feline pupil, encased in crimson, peered through the crack in the moon to look down on the poor little mortals below. At that point even Navy froze up as he began to shake his head. Two clawed paws with elongated metallic nails slowly cusped around the two halves before pushing them together.
Like putting the two halves of a toy capsule back together after peeking in on what was inside.
"I forgot about her…"
He mumbled softly only for thousands of crimson threads to shoot from out of seemingly nowhere to trap him in a cocoon where his fate would be decided.
Seemingly it wasn't only the monster from the night sky who wanted him, though, as two massive doors decorated with golden skeletons on either side soon appeared.
"The gates to hell?!"
"I suppose it's not exactly hard to believe he'd be imprisoned there…"
However, even what little they understood was torn away.
"No, he isn't being imprisoned but protected… Phase three!"
Shocked over her words yet understanding her urgency they didn't hold back as that cat holding the moon in place seemed very displeased. A massive tail appeared from nowhere to slam into those gigantic gates and actually managed to dent one of the skulls. Though they still opened and tried sucking the cocoon in.
The pressure whipping off from that single attack sent all four of them flying but they were more than willing to take advantage.
Wiping the blood from their lips as they escaped to the only place they'd be able to truly escape to.
Soul society.