Ichigo: They can steal Bankai?!

(Y/N): But how? Wouldn't that be like... I don't know... stealing a part of someone's soul?

Akon: I'm hesitant to believe myself. But there's no room for doubt. This information from the captains of Squads 2, 6, 7 and 10, who all have had all their Bankai stolen from them.

(Y/N): No way... That would mean Soi-Fon, Captain Byakuya, Captain Komamura and Captain Hitsugaya are fighting at a disadvantage.

"I can tell you a little more about the enemies' abilities."

(Y/N): Mr. Urahara?

Urahara had joined the phone conversation somehow.

Urahara: During you and Kurosaki's battle, I tried to gather as much information as I could about your opponent. You did the same, haven't you (Y/N)?

(Y/N): I did my best.

Urahara: The very first is Vollstandig. This ability produces the most obvious and striking changes to their fighting capabilities and appearance. But there's little I can say about it beyond what you've already experienced. The second is the ability your enemy referred to as "Blut". By releasing Reishi directly in their veins, they can drastically increase their offensive and defensive abilities. It doesn't seem like they can increase both at the same time though.

(Y/N): I overheard that Quilge guy saying that he needed to "advise his Majesty to adjust their Blut". Whatever that means.

Urahara: That is something to keep in mind as we gather more information. It could be important later. Lastly, the third ability that these Quincies possess is "Bankai Plundering". Just as you heard from Mr. Akon, they are able to steal an enemy's Bankai using these metal plates that they carry upon their person. Precisely how this ability works, I intend to determine through careful analysis of the plate your opponent was carrying. But the important thing right now is that both you and Kurosaki's Bankai alone seems to be completely unaffected.

(Y/N): That's an interesting thought. What makes us different from everyone else?

Urahara: I don't have any explanation for this just yet, beyond wild speculation. But I do suspect that the enemy chose this timing to launch the invasion of Soul Society specifically because you and Kurosaki were occupied in Hueco Mundo and unable to go to their aid. The enemy sees you two as a threat more than anyone else. And that's why it is important that you go to Soul Society.

(Y/N): A threat, huh?

~~~~

Quilge: The Daten that His Majesty gave us included information about you. You were listed as a "Special Threat" that we should prioritize dealing with!

~~~~

(Y/N): *thinking* Why did they go out of their way to target Hueco Mundo just to get our attention? They could've easily sent a bunch of soldiers to the World of the Living and we would've defended the place with our lives...

!!!

(Y/N): *thinking* Of course, to kill two birds with one stone! Their natural enemies are the hollows. They could take over the Hollow's stronghold while luring their "Special Threats" into their new territory.

Wait a minute... Hollows, Natural enemies, Bankai stealing...

(Y/N): Mr Urahara, I have a theory.

Urahara: Really? And what might that be?

(Y/N): Perhaps the reason why our Bankai wasn't stolen is because we're a hybrid. A Hollow hybrid in particular.

Urahara: You're suggesting Quincy's spiritual pressure rejects the hollow reiatsu in both of your Bankai. That would make sense why they chose two specifically to isolate from everyone else. Regardless, this is a dangerous battle. I'll join you two as soon as I'm able. Please do be careful not to take on more than you can handle.

Ichigo: Sure thing.

(Y/N): Understood.

Just then and a beam flew past Ichigo and (Y/N) and clashed with the exit of the portal. The exit then started to seal away.

Ichigo: The exit! Urahara, what's going on!

(Y/N): Were there issues on your end?

*no answer*

From the other side, back in Hueco Mundo, Quilge was practically holding his body together with strings made of reishi.

Quilge: I won't let you just stroll out of here to Soul Society! My orders from His Majesty were to delay Ichigo Kurosaki and (Y/N) (L/N), even if it cost my own life!

Quilge then shot two beams towards (Y/N) and Ichigo respectively. The two boys tried to block the attack but instead of damaging them, they were encased in a cage made of reishi.

Ichigo: What is this?

(Y/N): I don't-

~~~~

Quilge: Well, if you insist. My name is Quilge Opie of the Jail. It's a pleasure to meet you.

~~~~

(Y/N): So that's what he meant. I thought "the Jail" was his way of saying he was the warden that kept the hollows and arrancars from escaping. He was holding onto this Jail ability in the chance that he failed.

From the other side of the portal, Quilge let out a psychotic laugh.

Quilge: How frustrated you two must feel! Just a little while further, and you would've been able to fight! Yet, now you cannot so much as escape from the cage that binds you! You both have lost. There is nothing else for you to do but wait in your prison as Soul Society gets destroyed.

(Y/N) watched as the entrance that they came through was sealed shut.

(Y/N): Damn it, how did he survive?!

Ichigo: Worry about him later!

(Y/N): Right! I'm sure Wiz can handle that guy! Right now we need to break out and get to Soul Society!

(Meanwhile) in Soul Society.

War was raging.

The Seireitei was in shambles. Buildings were turned to rubble. Blue flames and dead bodies covered the ground. The air was filled with the smell of blood, dust and smoke.

However, the news that every shinigami was about to receive was pivotal for morale.

"To all captains, lieutenants, and squad members of all ranks within the Seireitei! Substitute Shinigamis, Ichigo Kurosaki and (Y/N) (L/N) are heading to the Soul Society! Their Bankai cannot be stolen by the Quincies!"

This had many shinigami in high spirits, however in the Department of R&D, Akon noticed something.

Akon: Something's wrong. Ichigo Kurosaki and (Y/N) (L//N)'s Spiritual Pressure in the Garganta... It disappeared. Look into it right away. And also send the Secret Remote Unit to the Senkaimon exit!

R&D Member: Yes, sir!

(Back in the Garganta)

Ichigo was attacking the cage with his zanpakuto however it didn't budge. Meanwhile, (Y/N) tried to absorb the reishi from the cage, however it felt like a pit of energy that he could find an end to.

(Y/N): What the hell is this? If Ichigo's strength can't crack it, and I can't weaken it, how do we get out?!

Ichigo, who held the phone in his hand, tried to reach out to Akon.

Ichigo: Sorry! I don't know how, but we got trapped...

Unfortunately, Ichigo didn't get an answer as he heard explosions and screams from Akon's side.

(Y/N): What's going on?!

Ichigo: What's happening, Akon?!

Just then, the phone started to play the sounds of many different shinigamis currently fighting.

"Help... Somebody help us!"

"Help!"

"I'm going to kill you, bastards!"

"No! I can't take this anymore!"

"You call yourselves members of the 13 Court Guard Squads?!"

"It hurts... It hurts!"

"Don't give up...!"

Ichigo and (Y/N) could hear the screams, and the anger from every shinigami. The reality of the situation became more and more darker. But there was one voice that the two shinigami knew all too well.

Rukia: We must stand our ground! Ichigo and (Y/N) will come... I know they will!

Both (Y/N) and Ichigo knew that they couldn't stay confined any longer than they already have. Ichigo fired a Getsuga Tensho inside of his cage, but his efforts were futile as he did no damage.

Ichigo: Damn it... Even with Getsuga... I can't break this thing even with Getsuga Tensho?!

(Y/N): Absorbing this cage feels nearly impossible! Damnit, what can we do!

(Y/N) had to try something different. He was racking his brain for an idea. How do you escape something that's nearly indestructible? There had to be something he could do.

!!!

~~~~

Baraggan: Do not waste your time with Kido spells. All living things eventually die, so all things they create will eventually die as well.

~~~~

(Y/N): *thinking* That's it! It might not be a kido spell but the principle still applies!

(Y/N): Ichigo, keep hitting the cage! It's strong, but it isn't indestructible!

Ichigo was confused but trusted (Y/N) nonetheless. (Y/N) then concentrated all of his energy in summoning Baraggan, who grabbed onto one of the bars of the reishi prison. (Y/N) then held onto another bar. In conjunction, (Y/N) absorbed the reishi from the cage while Baraggan slowly decayed the cage.

(Y/N): As long as that Quilge guy isn't immortal, then his cage can be destroyed by Baraggan's Senescencia. With both of our abilities, the process will be quicker!

Slowly but surely, (Y/N) saw the cage start to show signs of weakening.

Seeing (Y/N) slowly work his way through the cage reaffirmed him that they could escape. With his newfound courage, Ichigo furiously chipped away at the cage in front of him.

Ichigo: Break, damn it! I won't let you die... I won't let any of you die...! I'm going to... No, we will protect you all!

(Y/N): We don't have the choice of surrendering or failing. If we do, everyone we love and care about will die! So, I'm going all out.

Both Ichigo and (Y/N) rose their powers to their peak and broke through their respective cages. The moment they did, The exit to the Garganta reopened as Akon managed to find a way to open it through the Soul Society. As (Y/N) and Ichigo stepped foot into the Soul Society, they were met with an injured Akon doing his best to stay conscious.

Akon: Sorry, I wanted to open it sooner from this side, but things never seem to go the way we want.

Akon then fell to the ground as (Y/N) saw 3 arrows in his back.

(Y/N): *thinking* He put his life on the line to get us here...

(Y/N) looked up and saw another Quincy in front of him.

(Y/N): Ichigo, start without me. I'll handle this guy.

Ichigo only nodded as he broke a hole through the wall and left.

"Huh? Who the hell are you? Whatever, I'm SternRitter, Shaz Domino! The power I was given is–"

(Y/N): Baraggan.

No other word was needed as Baraggan made his way towards Shaz and grabbed him by the throat. Shaz immediately turned into bone as Baraggan used Senescencia to rapidly age the Quincy.

After making quick work of Shaz, (Y/N) started to heal Akon. While he did that, (Y/N) started to sense the spiritual pressure of anyone he was familiar with. The first person he tried looking for was Soi-Fon. Luckily, he didn't sense anything particularly wrong despite her loss of Bankai. The same could be said for Unohana. However, he felt Rukia and Renji's spiritual pressure and it was rough. Lastly, he felt a fleeting spiritual pressure coming from Byakuya.

(Y/N): No way... Is he dying?

*cough*

(Y/N) looked down to see Akon slowly opening his eyes.

Akon: We're sorry to always drag you two into our problems...

(Y/N): No, it's alright. Even if you hadn't asked, I would've found a way to help you guys. And those guys decided to drag me into this anyway.

Akon: You, who goes out of his way to make friends, is forced to make enemies simply because you made the decision to ally with us. What right do we have to ask you to help us again when the circumstances that led to this situation were caused by us.

(Y/N): I'd never say no if I found out you guys were in trouble.

Akon: We truly don't deserve this, but if I feel like I should ask this properly... (Y/N) (L/N), will you help us defend Soul Society?

...

...

...

(Y/N): Of course I will.

(Y/N) activated Resurreccion alongside Bankai, taking the same form he did when he fought Aizen. (Y/N)'s spiritual pressure could be felt by everyone in Soul Society.

(Y/N) took off to catch up to Ichigo.

To be continued.

(Y/N) is absolutely pissed. Between watching people around him being enslaved and his friends going missing, he also has to worry about his friends potentially dying in war. (Y/N) went as far as to kill someone without giving them a chance to surrender. He practically knows at this point that they wouldn't listen to him.

Next chapter is the battle with Yhwach.