(Squad 1 Barracks: Captain's Office)
Yamamoto was in his office, drinking tea and going over battle strategies. It was a given that Aizen would bring his Hogyoku with him and that it would make him stronger. The obvious solution would be to strike him with overwhelming force, like Zaraki and Unohana working together. Something both made clear would never happen again after they double teamed Ichigo. Another possibility would be for Urahara to fight him with Tessai and Yoruichi as backup with him using his Hogyoku, but he stated that he himself is unable to use it. The final readily available option would be for him to crush Aizen personally, but he'd probably have something ready to counteract the Captain Commander. On top of that, almost everyone that could fight him could easily be trapped by Kyoka Suigetsu. That only left holding off that madman until Ichigo returned from Hueco Mundo, not even considering the possibility that his student was wrong and Aizen did have something that could kill him. He was soon brought out of his musings as a Garganta opened in front of his desk, a small part of him hoping that Ichigo made the smart decision by returning, but was not too upset when his student didn't return.
"Ichigo, you better come back soon." The old dragon grumbled to himself as three cloaked figures appeared before him, two Arrancar and one Shinigami. "Listen well you three, you'd best explain yourselves before I remove you from here." The Soul Reaper stepped forward, almost as if he was unsure of where he was.
"Captain Commander sir," The man said as he slowly regained his confidence, "Ashido Kano finally reporting back in. After three centuries of being MIA in Hueco Mundo." That struck a cord with the old commander, of being told that a team of Soul Reapers followed a group of retreating Hollows through the portal they used. Attempts at rescue where made, but they never really managed to open their own Garganta as the Research and Development Institute was not even a thought in anyone's mind yet. "Within the first week of entering Hueco Mundo, my entire team was slain after being swarmed and exhausted. I spent centuries killing as many Hollows as I could in an attempt to quell their numbers, only to meet with failure after Aizen took control. This year I met with the two Arrancar you see behind me and we came across 4th seat Ichigo Kurosaki who ordered me to return to Soul Society."
"I see." Yamamoto said, processing the information. A Soul Reaper that seemed on friendly terms with Arrancar and that same Soul Reaper having centuries of survival and combat training under his belt. Surprise additions, but not sure how useful at this point in time. "Did Kurosaki have anything else to add?"
"Just that I should resign and become a teacher, and to give you this." Kano said, offering up the letter Ichigo gave him earlier. Genryusai took the paper and sure enough, it was Ichigo's handwork. All those calligraphy lessons ensured the man would memorize his particular writing. It said the same thing that Ashido said and the reasons why he should teach a survival and Hollow combat course, but also that the Arrancar Yin and Yang offer more credibility to plan 16. "If I may ask sir, what is this plan 16?"
"A squad within Hueco Mundo itself," Yamamoto responded writing down orders on a new sheet of paper, "one made up of Arrancar." The trio gasped in surprise as Yama gave Ashido the paper. "Urahara proved the possibility of non-Shinigami being capable of purifying souls like Soul Reapers with a few Quincy, so there may be a possibility with Arrancar since they are supposed to be similar to Shinigami. To really test this, however, we needed test subjects. Something we've been unable to gather because we needed to focus on the war with Aizen. But with Ichigo in Hueco Mundo, and if Hollows truly respect and obey power, then I imagine we'll have plenty of volunteers for the future squad. Now go, I have more pressing matters to attend to." He ordered, making the trio move as they went to find a guide to the SRDI, where Urahara was now waiting for them.
(With Ichigo's group)
"Well, I can't say that I'm too surprised." Uryu said as the group came upon a room with five separate paths. "Just really annoyed."
"Five paths and nine of us," Bazz-B pointed out as the group scanned the doors. "If we had one more that would make this much simpler. We could just form pairs and go on from there."
"I'll be the one to go alone." Rukia said, already picking out her door. "No offense, but I'm still not ready to trust any member of the Vandenreich." She sent a small glare at her supposed allies, who had to concede that she made a smart choice on that.
"I'm heading forward alone as well." Ichigo declared, killing any protests before they began when his Reiatsu took visible form around him. "I'm not stopping or slowing."
"Understandable." Uryu conceded. "Bazz-B, you're with me." The Heat shrugged as he went to Uryu's side.
"Sure you're alright with the enemy?" He asked, almost curious on the other Quincy's stance.
"The moment you turn on us, I'll kill you." The teen responded with no hesitation. "That simple."
"I guess that leaves the four of us ladies and the big guy over there." Bambietta said, pointing to Chad. The same Chad that was already at his door and waiting for the signal to go. "And he doesn't want to pair up either."
"That's okay," Orihime said with a smile, "we'll be a group of four." The female sternritters joined the martial artist and the Exorcist at their path.
"So which one takes us out if we turn on you?" Candice asked, positive that the two didn't stand a chance. Tatsuki cracked her knuckles and gave a scowl that would impress Ichigo.
"Guess." She said as the team got ready to charge forward. But not before Ichigo gave one last reminder of their goals.
"Fight to win. They get one chance to live and if they reject the offer, then they die." He dispelled his Reiatsu as the silent signal that prompted everyone to run forward, ready to face the challenges of Las Noches.
(With Ichigo)
The hybrid charged down his chosen path, neglecting to use any of his speed techniques out of concern he may go past some random door that would lead him to either Aizen or his sisters. As he ran, he became aware of the Arrancar that was following him from above. Not as strong as Grimmjow when they first fought but still strong for an Arrancar. He stopped running to let the Arrancar speak his piece and said Arrancar did come down, after tripping and falling in front of him.
"Would you like a do over?" Ichigo asked, not quite phased after dealing with the colorful characters in his life. The Arrancar rose up, covered in dust and pointed at Ichigo through the smoke.
"There's no need." He said with a thick Spanish accent. "I am-" He then started coughing after inhaling some of the dust cloud. After he finished posing and coughing, he was finally revealed. Black hair with stylized horns with a mask headband with similar horns, a van-dyke style mustache and goatee. His outfit was the standard white but he had shoulder pads in his shirt with fringes on his sleeves and a red sash on his waist. "I am Dordoni Alessandro Del Soccacio, Arrancar 103, and I will defeat you Ichigo Kurosaki!" He declared, gaining no reaction from the hybrid.
"What's with the number?" Ichigo asked, knowing better than to judge by appearances. "All we have on the Arrancar is that the Espada are ranked by power and the rest are in the order that they were created. I honestly doubt that there are over a hundred successful Arrancar in Hueco Mundo."
"All of which is true niño." Dordoni admitted, continuing with the extravagant movements. "However, those of three digits are known as the Privaron Espada. Having lost our place among the current Espada, we are under them in strength." He said, finally settling into a combat stance similar to savate. "Though, I must admit that I am defying orders right now challenging you Ichigo." The hybrid raised an eyebrow as the Arrancar continued. "Lord Aizen made it clear that only those of rank 5 and on of the current Espada are to fight you."
"So you're challenging me in hopes of proving yourself and taking back your place among the Espada?" Ichigo guessed, not even going for Zangetsu. "I hope you understand why I won't be using my full power in this."
"If Aizen is concerned about you, you must indeed be incredibly powerful." Dordoni returned, already behind Ichigo with a kick ready. That kick was stopped when Ichigo caught his ankle and slammed him into the ground before throwing him further down the corridor. Dordoni tumbled for a bit before getting back on his feet, with Ichigo right in front of him. The Arrancar jumped back and got back into his stance.
"Not going to release your Resurreccion?" Ichigo asked before dashing forward too fast for Dordoni to retaliate and punched him through the wall and into another room. "I understand. Proving your strength or gaining more strength by fighting with a handicap is something I've done often. But if you're only doing this fight to take back your place as an Espada, then go all out and prove to me you are worthy of that rank." Dordoni forced himself to his feet and glared at the hybrid. "After I kill Aizen, I'm going to need my own court of Espada." Ichigo said, surprising the former Espada.
"What do you mean niño?" Dordoni asked, completely shocked.
"When Aizen is dead at my feet, I will claim the throne of Las Noches." Ichigo clarified. "After doing so I will need my own court of Espada. Even now, Soul Society is experimenting with the possibility of creating a squad comprised of Arrancar. Their duties would be to monitor Menos Grande and hunt down any extremely dangerous Hollows that flee to Hueco Mundo." As he spoke, Dordoni was filled with a mix of disgust but also curiosity. If he took that deal, he'd be at the top again, but was he willing to whore himself in such a manner? Was the kid someone he'd follow? "Know this Dordoni, I've been taking this fight seriously from the beginning." Ichigo said, earning a look from the Arrancar. "Just because you haven't seen me release my Shikai, doesn't mean I'm holding back. I've been on guard since the moment I entered Las Noches. So show me your power and prove to me you are worthy!"
"Don't underestimate me niño." Dordoni said, resting his hand on his sword hilt. "Show me why you should be my king. Whirl, Giralda!" He called out, creating a tornado around himself before being revealed. He had horns on his shoulders and armored calves that had small exhaust horns that generated his controlled wind. He sent bird headed serpents made of wind at the hybrid, only for them to disintegrate as soon as they got close to Ichigo and a crushing pressure slammed him into the ground. Dordoni struggled to get up but he could not even get air into his lungs as Ichigo slowly walked up to him. Just as he was about to pass out, the pressure released and he collapsed, gasping for breath.
"You get the point, I win." Ichigo said, helping Dordoni back up. As the Arrancar got to his feet, he threw a knee at Ichigo which the hybrid caught. "If you want to convince me that kindness toward my enemy should be cast aside, I only consider Aizen my enemy here." Ichigo opened a Garganta. "Now, do you take my deal or no?" Dordoni looked down the empty chasm, then back to Ichigo. He thought back to when he was an Espada kneeling before Aizen, and felt that somewhere along the line he would eventually be kneeling before Ichigo in much the same way. In Hueco Mundo, the strong reign supreme. And this niño, no, this king would truly deliver the promise of a new future.
"I await your command, mi rey." He said before going through the portal. With his business here done, Ichigo continued his run deeper into Las Noches.
(With the girls)
The quartet were making their way through their chosen path, not talking but watching their surroundings and each other. Tatsuki and Orihime were made aware that they were allies for now but also of the Quincy army that would eventually come as their enemies. Uryu himself told them that the Sternritters are rebelling against Yhwach out of personal interest and just like the Quincy/Soul Reaper himself, they had to be ready to end them if they become enemies. The Sternritter ladies themselves were also aware of their gaze and were unwilling to do anything that would eventually jeopardize their future survival. They reached the end of the corridor and into a room full of columns with a spinning disc coming down at them. They managed to dodge that but then they were almost crushed by two giant tentacles each. After avoiding those, they all settled on top of a separate column to get a look at their opponents. A girl in a white frilly gothic lolita outfit with wings, her mask resembling a spiked hairpin in her purple hair, and purple teardrop tattoos on her cheeks. The other was Luppi, already in his Resurreccion state that seemed roughly patched together.
"Looks like you were too slow Luppi." The female Arrancar said, bringing the disc of her weapon to her side.
"Shut up you bitch." Luppi growled back, glaring at Tatsuki. "There's only one person here I want to kill, so bother yourself with the rest Cirucci."
"Piss off you-" The now named Cirucci was saying before noticing Candice in front of her.
"You got dirt on me you bitch." The Thunder growled before unleashing several million volts of electricity into the Arrancar, filling the room with unearthly screams of agony. Luppi himself was shocked by the sudden attack on his ally.
"You should really pay attention to your own fight." He heard Bambietta say as balls of Reishi sank into his clothes and Resurreccion limbs. "It could be over in a flash." She quipped before a tentacle began popping like firecrackers. His screams of agony almost drowned out Bambietta as she continued. "Or one could enjoy the fireworks show." She said as another tentacle blew up in a set of larger explosions. The Arrancar lost his footing and fell to the ground, another explosion on his back stopping him from slamming into the ground from the fall and causing more damage. Bambietta had to choke down the sadistic pleasure she was deriving from this, despite knowing this was their enemy she still wanted to be a better person. She decided to finish it with one last explosion that engulfed him and barely left him conscious. "I'm done here! What about you Candi?" She asked her fellow Quincy, who was holding a charred and unconscious Cirucci.
"I've been done." The Thunder said, dropping by the Explode while Orihime and Tatsuki joined them. "She's still alive... I think."
"Candi hates it when her look is damaged in the slightest." Bambietta explained setting the Arrancar next to each other, Orihime covering them in her healing field.
"Don't bother with Luppi Orihime." Tatsuki said, doing something that Ichigo and Yoruichi always advised her in battle. Trust her instincts. "I've got a bad feeling that he'll just try to stab us in the back."
"How does that power work anyway?" Bambietta asked, knowing that they shouldn't kill Luppi after she touched him with her Reishi and, by extension, Yhwach's Reishi. It would only make the man stronger in the end.
"I can 'reject' certain events or factors within the boundaries of the Souten Kisshun." Orihime explained.
"Can you reject my Reishi inside his body?" Orihime looked at the Quincy and considered it while listening to Shun'o and Ayame explain the possibility.
"I'll try." Orihime closed her eyes as she focused on her task, resulting in Bambietta feeling the disconnect of her bombs on him. "Any luck?"
"Yeah. Now do we kill him or leave him?" She asked as Tatsuki dropped a flaming ax kick that created a towering geyser of flame. It apparently woke Luppi, if the hellish screams were any indication, as his body was quickly burnt away into ash, moments before Cirucci herself woke up.
"What's going on?" She asked, slowly getting more startled and pissed. "What's happening?!" She sat up and was met with a blade to her face.
"Here's the abridged version." Bambi said, keeping the blade pointed at the Arrancar's neck. "We spared you to give you this one time offer. Join us or die. Ichigo will become the future king of Hueco Mundo and he'll need a new court of Espada. This is your one chance." She shot a ball at Cirucci's chest that sank into her but was shortly dispelled by Orihime's barrier. "If you say yes, that is incentive to make sure you behave. Otherwise." She shot another ball at another pillar, causing it to explode magnificently and getting the point across to the Arrancar. "Well?" Cirucci glared at her captors, not seeing a way out.
"Fine, I'll join." She growled out reluctantly. As Orihime continued to heal the Arrancar, Candice noticed that Tatsuki was away from the group. She went to the tomboy's side and saw the puddle of sick that Tatsuki made, just as she released another stream of vomit.
"Don't ever let it get easy." Candice said, patting the martial artist's back. "When that happens, you stop being a person. You don't recognize the thing you see in the mirror. It's something else, something you'll never forgive yourself for being." Tatsuki let out a few final coughs as her stomach settled.
"I'll keep that in mind." Tatsuki said as the group got together, Cirucci now joining with them. "Let's go." She said as they continued their charge.
(With Chad)
Chad made his way deeper into Las Noches until he came upon a dimly lit room, the only source of light coming from a series of evenly spaced square holes in the ground giving off a faint blue light. Standing on the other side of the room was an Arrancar with a large orange Afro in a form fitting white outfit that exposed his chest down to his naval with large frills on the collar and thighs with his mask fragment resting on his forehead like sunglasses with a star in the middle. Chad stopped running and stood across from the Arrancar.
"Yasutora Sado, 4th seat of squad 15." The Fullbringer said to the Arrancar. He nodded and got into a fighting stance which Chad soon did as well.
"Gantenbainne Mosqueda, number 107. Let's have a fair fight." He said before the two charged at each other, Gantenbainne with Sonido and Chad with Bringer Light, and began exchanging blows. Each side trying to gain the upper hand in the bout of fisticuffs. At the moment, it was pure martial arts and continued with that until they jumped away from each other. The Arrancar brought out his punch daggers that were attached to his wristbands while Chad activated his Fullbring. They charged at each other once more and threw the first serious punch, resulting in Chad's energy blast blowing the Arrancar through the wall and into the next room. He readied his shield arm and entered the next room.
"Tell me something!" He said as he entered the room to find Gantenbainne in an armadillo like shell that covered his arms and he was charging an attack. Chad brought his shield in front of him as the blast hit him, digging his feet into the ground to avoid being completely blasted away. During that blast, he gauged the strength of the attack and threw it aside. The look of shock on Gantenbainne's face was enough to give him a window to speak. "My friend, Ichigo Kurosaki, is going to conquer Las Noches. When he does, he'll be needing a new court of Espada." He offered, surprising Gantenbainne. Once that wore off, he pondered the offer.
"On one condition Yasutora Sado." The Arrancar said, making his decision. "I will fire my strongest attack at you. If you manage to block it, then I'll side with you. I'm not without honor and I only want to fight on the same level as my opponents, and I feel you've been holding back."
"I'll take that bet, but I must correct you." Chad said, bracing himself for the attack. "My power, Fullbring, is a constantly evolving power. If there is another level to it, we have yet to truly awaken it. So I constantly give every fight my all until I do awaken that next level." He then gestured Gantenbainne to make his attack, to which the Arrancar nodded. He brought his dragon maw fists together and began to charge his attack, pouring almost all of his energy into it.
"Rugir del Dragon!" He roared before firing, the energy taking the form of a Chinese dragon. The energy slammed into Chad, pushing him back by an inch, as he readied his left arm. Once his left arm was charged, he reached out and grabbed onto the blast before crushing it in his hand. Gantenbainne was gasping for breath, Chad stood strong as he walked over to the Arrancar. "My loyalty to the next king of Hueco Mundo." He said as he knelt before the man. Chad held his own hand out for the Arrancar, who took it and stood back up on shaky feet. Sado then stopped, sensing someone coming from behind, before blowing a hole through the wall and dashing through it with Gantenbainne struggling to follow.
'This guy is much stronger.' He thought, referring to the Arrancar that was currently following him.
(With Rukia)
Rukia activated her Shikai as soon as the group separated, choosing to be proactive rather than reactive in the case that she comes across an enemy. Soon she found herself in what appeared to be outside of the giant fortress, with a sunlight bright sky with clouds and a spanning town beneath her.
"Did Aizen create his own sky within Las Noches?" Rukia wondered, going the only direction left to her, forward on the narrow walkway. She heard someone appear behind her and speak in a high pitched, childish voice.
"Would you like me to explain it to you?" She turned her head to nothing before continuing down her path. Where a figure in white appeared.
"Come with me." It said in a dark, heavy tone, completely unlike the earlier voice. Preparing herself for battle, Rukia followed the being into the building that her path led her toward. Once inside, she was trapped in darkness before a dim lighting came up to offer some visual in the room. A greenish blue was the predominant color with the walls being cylinders stacked side to side. "Good, I can finally relax now." She heard it speak, turning to finally see the figure for herself standing on the level above her. "Sorry, but I simply cannot stand the sunlight out there. It does not reach inside the palace." It wore a dress that covered its entire body, with a noble's jacket that had a large frilly collar. The most defining feature of the Arrancar would have to be its head, a symmetrical cylinder with four holes on each side.
"Allow me to take off my mask and greet you properly." It said in that childish tone again as a hand rose to the bottom of its mask. That's when its tone changed again, this time to something all too familiar to her.
"My name is Aaroniero." He said, revealing a face very much like Ichigo's but with black hair. The face of her former mentor. Kaien Shiba. "Aaroniero Arruruerie, Arrancar number 101." He just gazed down at Rukia while the girl tried to process what she was seeing.
"Is that really you?" She asked, telling herself that Kaien couldn't be here, that she killed him long ago. The words of her husband ringing in her head that she had to consider everyone here an enemy, that they would do try anything to kill them. And psychological warfare was a specialty of Aizen's.
"It's good to see you again, Rukia Kuchiki." The man said as he dropped down. Rukia took a moment to steel herself and focus, listening to her instincts. "Hey, what's with that look on your face?" The man demanded. "Aren't you glad your beloved Kaien Shiba is alive and well?" He said, looking annoyed at the doubt on the current lieutenant's face.
'He can definitely pass for lieutenant Shiba, I'll give him that much.' Rukia thought to herself while Shirayuki spoke to her.
"Do not be fooled lady Rukia. Even for a trap, why would lord Kaien side with Aizen without trying to contact you the moment you came into Las Noches." The Zanpakuto said to her master.
'Right. Chances are that this is an illusion that he uses to disguise himself.' The ice user thought, examining her surroundings. 'He wanted us to get out of the sunlight, so that must make him vulnerable. I have an idea.' She slowly walked towards her mentor, reaching out with one hand. "Lieutenant Shiba, how is this possible?" Kaien walked toward the girl, slowly closing the gap.
"Easy Kuchiki, just sit down and I'll-" He said before noticing a line of frozen air between himself and one of her hands.
"San no mai, Shirafune." She said, creating a blade of ice that pierced through Kaien's side and began to spread its frozen touch. He tore himself away from the blade, but the ice still spread. "It was clever to try and disguise yourself as Kaien, but I've long since made my peace with his passing." The man glared at her while the Soul Reaper pointed at him. "Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Bakudo #63, Rikujokuro!" She chanted quickly, trapping him in place. "Some no mai, Tsukishiro!" She drew two circles before trapping him in a pillar of ice, but unfrozen. "I guess this is where I offer you the chance to join Ichigo's court when he kills Aizen, but impersonating my mentor is unforgivable!" She growled venomously before putting on her Hollow mask and shocking the man in front of her. She pointed her blade upward and began charging a Cero. Just as the trapped man broke free of the kido, Rukia unleashed her blast of energy. Destroying the ceiling and the walls, letting light come down all around them. She watched as the face of Kaien Shiba melted away and was replace by a large glass tube with balls inside, each with a face and Hollow mask.
"How stupid are you?" The darker voice returned. "If you actually attacked us, you may have hurt us!" The Arrancar blew a hole through the ice as Rukia left the building area.
"Now die Rukia!" The child voice screamed as Rukia threw a Bala and shattered the Hollow's side, making it fall. As it began screaming in pain, the other head looked down to see that it's initial stab wound was still spreading its ice.
"My third dance freezes anything it pierces and all of the surrounding area, eventually." She explained before pointing her blade at him and repeating that technique, stabbing each of his joints. "You lost this fight the moment you thought I was still clinging to my past." She said, leaving the Arrancar to scream in rage and pain as ice slowly consumed it. Until silence remained.
(With Uryu and Bazz-B)
The final two Quincy were going down their own path, no words were exchanged as they felt the battles going on around them. Or lack of in some cases, their own being the best example. They felt their allies get into battles but they themselves have yet to encounter anyone. What made Uryu more uneasy was the sense that hallways were turning. It wasn't what he saw, it was what he felt. That each hallway turned when they went halfway through it. The musing was cut when a hole appeared beneath their feet and they fell, the hole closing as they went through it.
"Looks like we'll get to see the enemy soon Uryu!" Bazz-B said as they went down the slide. "Think I can fight if you land the killing blow?" Instead of giving an answer, Uryu asked a question.
"Bazzard, what do you feel ahead of us?" The teen asked the older Quincy, who took the chance to analyze the various Reiatsu signatures they felt.
"One that really stands out among a group of weaklings. Why?" The Heat responded as they reached the end of the slide.
"It's what I don't sense that's the problem." Uryu returned as they hit the ground rolling before readying their bows. "Come on, be ready for... any.... thing...." Uryu said, slowly becoming horrified by what he saw.
"What the hell are those?" Bazz-B asked as the figures noticed them. All were bone white with pitch black skull masks and various states of deformity. Oversized limbs, crooked jaws, extra body parts, gigantic and tiny, but none of that was the worst. Uryu saw them, but he couldn't sense them. As if they had no souls. The first began to move toward the Quincy and Uryu immediately shot it between the eyes, something that proved ineffective as it released a blood curdling screech.
"Shoot them." Uryu ordered, switching bows to pure Quincy mode. "Shoot them Bazzard! I can't sense their souls!" Bazz-B immediately brought out his crossbow and began shooting, his shots proving just as ineffective. Once the abominations closed in, they jumped away. Initially using Hirenkyaku, but the Reishi became too thin to use and settled for Blut enhanced jumps. The Hollows kept chasing them around, trying to eat the Quincy, as Uryu tried to come up with a plan.
"Any bright ideas!?" Bazz-B yelled out as one of the deformed Hollows almost bit him, making the Quincy slam his fist into the creature's face and sending it back. "Well that worked." He said as he and Uryu watched the creature regenerate and continue attack. "Okay, how is that fair?" He complained as the two noticed all the Reishi in the area was being absorbed into the Hollows.
"Well, we know they're immune to Reishi attacks but not physical." Uryu surmised as they continued to dodge. "Think your Heat can handle this?" He asked as they got back to back.
"I'll need more Reishi than what's in this room." He responded as the freaks got closer.
"Think you can punch through the ceiling?" Uryu asked, both Quincy activating their Blut Vene and Arterie. "You might as well find out." He said as the Hollows swarmed the two, the pair barely managing to get any breathing room. Bazz-B eventually jumped off the ground and spring off one of the Hollow's heads to reach the ceiling. He buried his fists into the stone and began to tear through it as fast as he could. Uryu, being left on his own, was currently very grateful that Yoruichi was so insistent that he take up martial arts. And the asskickings he received in his training gave him the endurance to power through while Hollows dug their teeth into his flesh. Bazz-B punched his way through to an area outside of the Hollow's absorption range and activated his Schrift.
"Burner Finger 3!" He called out, reducing the stone structure to melt into lava. The molten rock poured on top of the Hollows, burning them away faster than they could heal. With more Reishi, Bazz-B quickly dived down to grab Uryu before filling the room with his most intense heat. The white abominations were destroyed and Bazz-B got Uryu out of that room as fast as he could. He set the teen down as his veins began bulging, the weakness against Hollows coming to haunt the Quincy. Uryu, on the other hand, pulled out a silver tin with small black capsules. He tapped one, which was absorbed into him, and soon the Hollowfication faded.
"Prototype medicine for Hollowfication that Urahara was working on." Uryu quickly explained. "Never thought I'd get that desperate."
"And most fascinating." They heard someone say. They turned to see a man in glasses with pink hair, dressed like a scientist, walking toward them. "Sorry I couldn't entertain you personally, but I wanted to study your and the other Quincy's abilities. Nice to see my suspicions were correct on how to counter your kind though."
"Who are you and what were those things." Uryu growled, pushing himself back to his feet as Bazz-B got ready for another fight. The Arrancar bowed in an over the top gesture.
"I am the 9th Espada, Szayelapporro Granz." He answered, before looking them in the eye. "And what you were fighting were lord Aizen's failures."
"Failures?" Bazzard asked, wondering how such pains were only 'failures'.
"Yes, Ichigo Kurosaki does warrant a good amount of concern." The Espada continued. "Enough that lord Aizen would like to have something ready to kill him." That left a bad feeling in the Quincy, as Szayelaporro gave heavy hints that there was a successful monster ready to devour Ichigo. "I feel alright with telling you this, since you wont be leaving here alive." They all dropped into another room, with the Arrancar unsheathing his blade. "I have all the data I need to kill you."
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers)
Chad's Greatest Obstacle
'This is bad, I don't know if I can win this.' Chad thought while looking at his opponent, Gantenbainne. 'How can I beat him? He's got an Afro!'