Arrancar - Chapter 37

The Captains eventually followed along, “So I Heard this Espada Cero nearly killed the Arrancar that almost killed us, he sounds strong, tell me more.” Kenpachi says as he walks through the sands of Las Noches.

“First off Espada Cero is a SHE, I don’t know why the fuċk you men think everyone powerful has to be male. To be frank, it was 100% my fault. When Lady Layla and Lady Nel along with Lord Hexxius returned to Hueco Mundo. At the time I was Espada Number 5, I felt as if I was the Strongest and my ranking was inappropriate. I remember exactly what I said at that time.”

“Who are you?” Flashing back to the time when she was an Adjucha, “At that time I was disgruntled that my title as an Espada was stripped from me just like that. As time moved on slowly Las Noches started to get busier as many Hollow were brought in. Slowly we were turned into Higher tiered Hollow using a Special method that only Lord Hexxius knows. She made all the Privaron Espada Vasto Lorde, While the Espada became Arrancar. At first, I was proud of my newfound power but then I grew jealous of the power the Arrancar possessed yet at the time there was nothing that I could do.” Izanami paused, then looked at Ulquiorra.

“Ulquiorra was tasked with using the Hogyoku to turn the other Vasto Lorde and below to Arrancar. When it was my turn I felt the power flowing through my body and thought I stood a chance at getting my revenge on the one that stripped me of my Lofty title. So I called her out, “Espada Cero, I challenge you for your rank.”

“It was one of the most foolish things that has happened in Las Noches, not even Grimmjow would do something like that.” Ulquiorra chimed in.

“Pssssssh Nah that’s a death wish for us, Izanami, or should I say Jupiter at the time got off lucky. Due to the fact, none of the other Arrancar have ever gotten personally trained by her, she lets a few things slide, but if an Espada did that they would end up like the Former Number 6.” Grimmjow said as he looked into the distance.

“It wasn’t even a fight, I released my Zanpakuto. As they said Jupiter was in control who is a notch lower than I but still immensely powerful. We were in the Throne room in front of Aizen, Lady Layla was seated in her usual spot eating a cookie of some sort. She accepted Jupiters Challenge after saying ‘You are larger than me in stature, but when it comes to power you are nothing more than bacteria stuck to my boots too insignificant to notice but you have your uses.’ Jupiter was furious, while we may inhabit the same body I am always baffled by how insatiable he is emotionally. He infused his Lightning into a Cero and fired it at her, however, one of Espada Cero’s abilities is Cero Doble.”

“It was brutal, she ate the Cero. Or at least it seemed like she ate the Cero, then she added her power onto it. The Cyan Cero ran through everything while She allowed her residual spiritual pressure to come down freely, it was horrifying.” Grimmjow said as he started breaking out in goosebumps thinking back on it which didn’t escape the Captain’s eyes.

‘Espada Cero is so powerful the mere thought of her Fury elicits this sort of reaction in the Espada? Grimmjow is reported to be even stronger than Captain Hitsugaya without even showing his resurreccion. Just how deep is Espada Cero’s power?’ Captain Unohana fell into thought as she followed the Arrancar through Las Noches. She Looked around at the Magnificent Palaces, The Arrancar that were training in the fields, she could see some of them communicating with their Zanpakuto as their Spiritual Pressure fluctuates.

“The Cero Doble of Espada Cero destroyed a large portion of the Main Building and destroyed the lower portion of my body. In fact, the only reason I’m Alive is that she used her power to keep me alive. She walked towards my disfigured body, kneeled down, and whispered in my ear. She said ‘In the future, there will be many like you who will forget the Terror of Espada Cero and do stupid things like you have today. You will remind them that I am not so weak.’ It was the most memorable thing in my life.”

A Large Garganta opened in the world of the living flanked by four smaller Garganta. Using flash step the various captains, and seated officers of the 13 Court Guard Squads arrived in front of the Garganta.

“Seems like we made it in time,” The Head Captain said as he stood at the forefront of the Captains looking up at the 3 Defectors Aizen, Gin, and Kaname. His eyes remain seemingly closed as he displayed the poise and dignity befitting his position.

“Made it in time? You misunderstand, I am well aware that the Town below us is just a replica while the real one is in the Soul Society. Then we will just kill you here and create the oken in the Soul Society.” Aizen stepped forward as he looked into the Eyes of the head Captain.

Out of the Smaller Garganta Espadas, 0-3 stepped out, flanked by their Faccion. Layla sat down on a stone throne that was carried by 4 Arrancar, her face unbothered by the numerous eyes that gazed upon her as she placed her arm under her chin. Her Cyan eyes peered out and inspected the Captain’s present, ‘It would seem my intervention changed a few things. Similar to the original The Captains of Squads 4, 6, 11, and 12 are headed to Hueco Mundo, it would seem that the Vacancies of Squads 3,5, and 9 have been filled. The power of the Arrancar caused the Head Captain to think about the current combat ability of the 13 Court Guard Squads.’

The individuals that were once known as Visords now stood proudly among their peers, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi the Captain of Squad 3, Shinji Hirako the Captain of Squad 5, Kensei Muguruma The Captain of Squad 9. The Visords were reinstated, those that agreed anyway which bolstered the prowess of the opponent.

The Head Captain drew his Zanpakuto and created a wall of flames that sealed Gin, Kaname, and Aizen within. Yet what happened next overturned his understanding of the Arrancar chain of command, there was no blind fighting yet the calm voice of the Arrancar seated on the Stone Throne. “Nel, Hexxius, Tier, we seem to be outnumbered but no matter. Send the Faccion out to destroy the four pillars erecting this barrier.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Yammy, Baraggan, Stark, and Charlotte Chuhlhourne each headed in four separate directions. “It is highly likely that there are defenders on the Pillars however it shouldn’t be an issue for those four.”

“How Impudent! A Mere Hollow thinks it is superior to the 13 Court Guard Squads!” The Head Captain said that as his Spiritual Pressure came crashing down on Layla and the Surrounding area, this was to probe the strength of the elegant Arrancar seated as if everything the world was beneath her feet.

Taping the armrest of her Throne lightly a surge of Spiritual Pressure was released, the Cyan pulse wave clashed with the Head Captain’s bringing the surrounding individuals to their knees before canceling each other out. The Head Captain opened his eyes and his Red-Eyes met with Layla’s Cyan ones before he spoke, “It would seem that there are far more powerful Arrancar than we thought! You must be Espada Cero!”

Layla’s eyes contained a hint of surprise before she looked at Hexxius, when the small Arrancar felt the gaze he grew increasingly nervous as he rubbed his small hands together. Turning his head to face the powerful inquisitive gaze of Espada Cero he spoke in a small voice, “The Arrancar that went to the world of the living must have mentioned you.”

“It would seem my Espada need more Mental Training allowing such information to slip.” Ignoring Hexxius’s shudder Layla looked at the head captain but Didn’t seem to be interested in responding as her short exchange with Hexxius should have confirmed her identity.

The Head Captain noticed she didn’t speak nor move, he made a low hum of acknowledgment as he gazed at the flame barrier, since she was not yet prepared to take action he had no reason to expend too much energy focusing on her. However, the other captain’s felt an extreme sense of dread.

Captain Hitsugaya looked at the delicate Arrancar seated on the Throne that seemed to have the entire battlefield under her control with a complex expression, “Every Arrancar I encountered mentioned the one that sat above all with far more reverence than when they spoke about Aizen. They spoke about her actions as if they were divine intervention, and spoke about her words as if they were gospel. Yet before today I always Imagined Espada Cero to be far more intimidating than this woman before us. Actually, with that strength, she is far more impressive than I had imagined.”

The Arrancar looked at Lady Layla who seemed disinterested in the Captains, they already knew where her focus was as they each gazed towards the Flames keeping Aizen at bay. “Well, we are here to fight, not to stare at each other.”

When these words fell the area grew tense as eyes locked onto the nonchalant figure seated upon her Throne. “Go.”

“Yes Ma’am!”