The DisturbedDragon: I figured that since Aizen used Hogyoku making them Artificial Arrancar, this would be my way of showing a 'natural' evolution with a twist. Power levels will come in later to be sure.
jjlol: That'll be amazing. Probably throw a few omake's in.
LordGhostStriker: That's amazing, you please me.
Chaos Breaker: Thinking about Muramasa, more on that later.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, more character shit, more fighty stuff, more Sosuke-kun.
Start!
A Week Later
Putting Starrk and Lilynette through bootcamp was a good bit of fun, as was convincing the two newly made Vasto Lordes to actually eat something!
Yeah, Harribel had given him quite the dressing down for that, but he stood by his decision and ultimately she backed off, as he hadn't forced anything and then end choice was the girls. They were obviously hungry, morality or not going so long surviving only on excess reiatsu put out by the powerful Hollows around them, it had done irreversible damage to Sung-Sun and Mila-Rose.
That didn't explain why Mila had teats easily as prodigious as Harribels.
It probably explained why Sung-Sun used to be so goddamn snappy all the time though.
They'd changed up their outfits as well!
Menma's own attire hadn't changed that much really, though he did start wearing underwear again, and he'd changed his pants, going from baggy jeans to baggy hakama, still white. And he still almost refused to wear shoes, as the sand of Hueco Mundo would just get in them anyway.
Even though there clothes were technically made from the sand. It was the principal of the matter, he didn't want sand in his shoes, it was the worst.
Starrk wore a longcoat with a furred collar and sleeves, with a humle t-shirt underneath, a pair of jeans on his legs and black, pointed toe shoes on his feet. Also he had a sword sheathed at his hip, Menma wasn't exactly sure where he'd got it, then again he probably just didn't notice it with everything that had happened.
Lilynette wore a white singlet with a black x-pattern in the cloth, along with baggy pants much like his own, which was quite endearing, along with small little booties for her small little feetsies.
Ulquiorra's only change was that she had a white overcoat on along with black and white, pointed boots.
Apacci's had followed a similar trend, but requested a v-cut in her shirt, to 'rock the cleave' as Menma mentally put it, her shirt cut off to show her midriff. That couples with her own coat gave her the whole 'Troublemaking delinquent look.
Harribel had a white belly-shirt similar to Apacci though she also wore a white jacket with long sleeves and a high collar, though her pants also showed off the sides of her thighs, Menma was unsure why she'd picked this kind of style but didn't really comment as it looked good on her, along with her high collar was a black scarf it would appear old habits die hard, though he was infinitely amused she didn't wear shoes either. Her sword sheathed across her shoulders.
Mila, now in the form of a beautiful young woman with dark skin and chocolate brown hair, an almost literal mane draped down her back a pair bright green eyes, alert, aware. She wore a white, double-breasted coat with black buttons, and white hakama pants and boots. That seemed to be the go-to if someone couldn't come up with anything. Her fragments were a golden band resting in her hair, holding her mane back, and a pair of golden earrings.
Sung-Sun, a fair skinned little wisp with dark hair that had a green sheen in the right light, a trio of purple-pink dots down each side of her mouth from her cheekbones and alabaster, pale skin. She actually wore a dress, it had the sides from the thighs down cut off, but she wore pants as well, her sleeves were quite exaggeratedly long, and she did this rather adorable thing where, whenever she was flustered or something of the like she'd hide her mouth behind her sleeve. Her fragments were a small, hair-clip sized swoop in her hair along with a pair of snake bites in her bottom lip.
Becaaaaaaause puns.
The biggest discovery by far, came from his new sword, Sol. A towering knight with armour swathed in a veritable firestorm, and a sword the glowed with the heat and intensity of the sun itself, a shining presence in this desolate place. Menma knew what he was, what they all were.
Arrancar.
Hollows who have truly stepped into the next stage of existence, obtaining a new form, a new body, and new powers. It seemed his theory that all their lives are connected is true, Hollows, with Shinigami powers, Shinigami reiatsu, he felt vindication so profound that none could truly grasp it.
His existence. The existence of his kin.
They had as much, if not more, right to exist than those fucking monsters in black.
Fzzt
Lilynette and Starrk were 'playing' Sonido-Tag, drawing from his thoughts. Whoever won didn't have to spar with Menma. Neither of them liked doing so, Starrk less-so as it appeared he was exceptionally lazy. Sloth was his unfortunate 'sin'.
The group of transformed Vasto Lordes walked through the seemingly endless desert towards Barragan's castle. Menma was more than ready to put this little trouble to rest, honestly he fancied the idea of being King himself, ruling the Hollows and dragging his mad kin to civility. Obviously there would be compromises, one does not change a species over night. But it's the crazies who make the first push that are always remembered.
Fzzt
Now that he thought about it, maybe he could structure it like Arthur did his Knights. It seemed somewhat fitting all things considered.
Fzzt
Then again, Arthur only had a Round Table, they didn't really serve a purpose as a ruling body. Menma rubbed his forehead for a moment before thinking it out, "So I'll be King, I'll need someone in charge of training new Hollows, someone in charge of keeping order, someone in charge of research and development, someone in charge of border control and someone to deal with 'domestic' disputes." He thought getting a very rough idea of his new Kingdom to be.
"I'll also need someone in charge of checking for Garganta's to the living world. I'm going to tame a species of cannibalistic monsters." Menma looked up into the crescent moon and sighed to himself.
Fzzt
"You seemed troubled, Menma-sama." Came the voice of Mila-Rose, standing behind him and Harribel, Ulquiorra and Apacci on his other side, Sung-Sun walking next to Mila.
This little comment drew attention.
"Just trying to think what I could do to even begin to make the Hollows less reprehensible. Nature or not, we cannot continue down this path, all of us are capable of something so much greater than being some Shinigami Academy students first kill, or the bane of a Captain... we cannot be defined by them. And yet, I'm not sure I have all the answers." Admitted the man frostily, looking ahead as a Vasto Lorde's presence entered his own sensory radius, he almost groaned but kept his expression firm.
"Anything is better than Barragan, Menma-sama." Assured Sung-Sun. Her nose wrinkling in disgust, "That... creature, is beyond redemption. Sitting in his little castle and ordering the weak about like he's some kind of god."
"He will die." Ulquiorra said simply, blankly.
"Indeed he will, my liege." Agreed a voice in his head, the voice of his second sword, Sol.
"Ufufu, ever the attentive Knight, Sol-san." Teased Mugetsu, Menma idly noted the contrasting nature of his Zanpakuto.
Harribel placed the back of her hand on his chest as she stopped, the taller being looked to the woman questioningly, "A pack. Approaching from that direction." Said the sea-green eyed woman as she pointed to the right.
Fzzt
"Well I suppose we should..." Menma said drawing Sol as preparation, only for once again, Harribel to stop his hand.
"Ooh so physical lately." He teased with a grin, Tier merely tapped his cheek with her fingers and gave him a 'Not now' point with her finger.
Ulquiorra laced their fingers together, starring at the blonde woman intently. Apacci fingered her own Zanpakuto and stilled intently as the reiatsu washed over her, it wasn't anything new, bloodthirsty, hungry, proud.
Mila and Sung-Sun stilled.
Fzzt-Fzzt-Fzzt
Menma looked as the duo appeared, he followed them as they disappeared and the reappeared with them in his former standing place, holding them both by their wrists, "Hollows approaching. Lilynette, stay with Sung-Sun and Mila-Rose." Menma ordered, pushing Starrk to the front with him whether he liked it or not, the man groaned but kept a hand on his sword, Harribel and he stood at the forefront of the group, they all knew by now their strengths.
Apacci was a berserker, kept in reserve to swoop in and ravage the battlefield to either give the warriors time to recover, or to close a flank. Starrk, Menma and Harribel were the warriors, the fighters with the ability to keep going, they had the attrition front, much to Starrk's dismay, and could pull out the big guns if necessary, Starrk moreso due to the sheer amount of reiatsu he pushed out with a measly Bala, let alone a Cero.
Ulquiorra was the hit and run assassin, able to take down a mark with her trademark Cero's from miles away. Mila and Sung were the guardians, they could defend until the moon crumbled, Lilynette was the baby still, though. So they all had to protect her.
Fzzt-Fzzt-Fzzt-Fzzt
A small horde of Hollows appeared before them.
A muscular bull with a flowing blonde stream of hair, rather out of place for the intimidating mask he bore.
A... Gillian?!... alright fine, whatever. A Gillian Menos with a mask vaguely resembling a worried skull.
A lanky creature wing a long tail from the back of its skull and almost an almost completely alien appearance given its long, thin limbs and oddly misshapen armour.
Another was much simpler to look upon, a giant grey, worm-like Adjuchas with a hammer-head-esque mask and another mouth on its stomach, it did have a blue cloth wrapped around one side of its mask, covering on of its eyes.
Next was a large creature with two towering arms a tuft of red hair poking out the top of its otherwise completely white, armour covered body.
Finally, a rather simple, in comparison to his compatriots, panther-shaped Hollow with electric blue eyes and a chip on his shoulder from the looks of it.
The panther took in their looks, he felt loads of powerful Hollows, but these were... not Hollows.
"Take a picture it'll last longer." Drawled Menma, opening the floor for conversation.
"Or I could just rip your face off and eat you." Threatened the cat, at Apacci's scoff he snarled, "Got something to say, bitch!?" Demanded the Adjuchas.
"Run along little kitty, you'll just get hurt." Ordered the Satyr Arrancar with a wave of her hand, the panther visibly bristled at that.
"Apacci. Menma. Not helping." Scolded Harribel, slapping his chest and giving her a look, the dark blue haired, girl waved her off with a shrug. Menma just smirked. "Are you here to fight? Because we're just passing through." Ever the diplomat.
"You'll be passing through my stomach in a goddamn second woman!" Snarled the worm-creature.
Harribel didn't even blink at the comment and kept a stern, unwavering stare on the panther. The Gillian howling in the back.
Menma leant to Harribel's ear and whispered, "I'm gonna try something, don't freak out." He requested as he stepped forward, the panther's eyes on him at all times, Menma swaggered forth, hands in his pockets and stood a good five or so feet away from his group.
"Name." Menma questioned.
"What, wanna know your killers name?" The worm creature once more, "Lame! Just take 'em out already, King." Groused the cloth-wrapped Hollow.
"Zip it Di Roy I'm the one running this show!" Snarled the Adjuchas Panther, looking back at the... human? As he stood calmly, then again... those horns. "Grimmjow Jeagerjaques. My turn, where's your Hollow Hole?" Demanded Grimmjow.
Menma moved himself and pulled the reiatsu away from his shirt, letting it crumble into the sand, two small holes rested on each of his shoulder blades, another minor effort and it reformed, "I forget about them a lot, I don't really spend much time looking at my own back."
"Two?" Questioned the Panther.
"I'm special." Menma responded glibly, only earning a snarl. "You might find it interesting, but we aren't your average Hollows, we're Vasto Lordes who've broken their masks and evolved beyond. We're Arrancar. Hollows with a human shape and Shinigami powers on top of our inborn ones."
"Inborn?" The tall one questioned.
"Aye, inborn. For instance, when I was my primary way of drawing in prey was to emit particular aroma's from vents on his shoulders, I can still do it nowadays but, like I said, I forget about 'em a lot." He jerked a thumb casually over to Sung-Sun, "She can shed her skin and vanish. Though obviously as she's no longer a mere adjuchas she doesn't shed her skin." Now it was more akin to leaving a fragile clone behind.
Now, this was a calculated risk, then again the risk was minimal, them knowing two little side-show tricks was peanuts compared to everything else they could do. All that was needed now was for them to take the bait.
"How does one become an.. Arrancar, was it?" Questioned the lanky one again.
"At the moment, the best method we've got it breaking your mask against my hierro, my energy seeps into the assaultee and the evolution begins." Menma explained simply.
"Breaking out masks, are you insane?" Questioned the bull Hollow, before quickly adding "Yylfordt Granz by the way, pleasure." Menma replied with a nod in kind.
"Menma Uzumaki, Cazador of the Menos Forest, Second Natural Born Arrancar." Menma introduced, bowing at the hip with a hand on his chest and his left leg out somewhat, the Gillian released a scream at that and waddled back somewhat, orange-red eyes glinting with menace.
"Second? I thought you said we'd needa break out masks on your hierro for it to work." Questioned the redhead giant.
"Mhm, as of now that's the case. Starrk here was the first. But he lost his memories in the process." A little white lie, but one that was quite believable all things considered. "Ulquiorra, Apacci, Harribel, Mila-Rose and Sung-Sun all kept their memories after the process, taking a slip of my power and evolving, simple as that."
"Bullshit!" Snarled Grimmjow leaping at the Arrancar, Menma's lips quirked into a smirk, as though time stopped Grimmjow felt himself become weightless and then his head crashing against the chest of his victim-to-be.
Menma grabbed the cat by the scruff of his neck, like an owner does any naughty kitten, and slammed the blue eyed Adjuchas' head into his chest. Their eyes met for a moment, and in that moment, Grimmjow knew true fear.
A great, inferno of a beast towered over the man before him, its sword blazing like with the intensity of a million Ceros.
Menma leaked a good portion of power into Grimmjow, he'd not turned an Adjuchas yet, now was the time for SCIENCE!
The group of Arrancars were shocked to see this, but the tell-tale shaft of light, smaller than usual one should note, signaled an evolution.
Menma looked at the man that lay before him, wild blue hair with streaks of green from each temple, A crest of bone at the Arrancar's hairline, Grimmjow's eyes had a shadow of green, the same tone in his hair. Overall Menma would call this a great success, Grimmjow's Zanpakuto lay next to him.
Menma pulled the naked man up and gave him a once over, no defects to be seen, all normal. "Can you stand?" Menma questioned roughly.
Grimmjow grabbed his head and wobbled on his feet, "What the fuck was that for!?" Snarled the man furiously, before looking town, toes twitching... was that a penis!?
"Cool your jets skippy." With a snap of his fingers Grimmjow was clothed, white jacket and hakama with a black belt, loops included. "I'll have to teach you how to do that, I don't do shoes." Menma noted idly. "What's your name?"
"It's Grimmjow you ass, you know that!" Snapped the man, only to blink when Menma's toe dug under the sword in the sand and kicked it up at him, it smacked him in the nose but he caught up, "Son of a bitch!"
"Do you feel hungry?" Menma questioned, seemingly at random.
Grimmjow paused, "No..." His face wrinkled with confusion.
"Any cramping? Discomfort?" Menma prodded further, getting a simple shake of the head in response, Menma hummed in thought.
"Well, I'll say this Grimmjow, you came outta this looking alright. Good for you, your handsome." Menma commented, giving him another once over, Grimmjow rose a brow.
"Uhh... thanks." Was the awkward response of the newborn Arrancar, looking back to his comrades. "Shawlong, you're the best at sensing, what's your read?"
The insectile, thin creature paused for a moment before almost stepping back in shock, "You are... stronger than any Vasto Lorde I've ever sensed, my King."
Grimmjow grinned widely.
"I have a proposition if you would listen." Menma posed this question, "I'm going to go kill Barragan. You and your little crew here came upon us on our way there, so as I've just evolved you, your debt to me involves a stay in my employ for a short time." Grimmjow gave him a searching look, "I'm saying you're a conscript."
Grimmjow stared at him blankly, "The fuck is a conscript?" Demanded the blue haired man.
Menma's gaze turned apathetic, "I'm taking you into my military force, you don't get a choice. I'll abuse the current system until I can fix it. Might makes right." Menma's reiatsu surged from his body, Sol's ghostly visage nearly solidified as the ground around the Arrancar hissed and turned to glass, Grimmjow, his comrades, even some of the Arrancar group found it increasingly hard to breath.
Grimmjow was forced to his knees, looking up at the shadowed face and glowing red eyes of the older Arrancar, within his body, within his very soul. Grimmjow felt fear. Daring a glance over his shoulder he saw his comrades all down, especially Nakeem, the Gillian.
All of a sudden the weight in the air vanished, Menma stood the casually scratching his jaw, "Hmph, get up Jaegerjaques. It's pathetic for a King to bow." Trying to appear less desperate that he felt at the moment, Grimmjow paused for a moment before rising to his feet, Menma's lax face twitched into a smirk.
"Conscript or no, stick with me and you'll have your own little Kingdom." Offered the black haired Arrancar, Grimmjow's gaze narrowed and turned suspicious.
"Yeah see, I just thought of it. Why have only one Kingdom in Las Noches, when we could set up multiples? Then if we ever get invaded, we can cage our foes in. Not a bad idea, eh? You get to be a King, and I get my protected Hueco Mundo." Menma lifted one hand, his 'white' hand, and offered it. "Deal?"
Grimmjow didn't really have much of a choice, all things considered.
"I don't have to call you King do I?" Questioned the Arrancar quietly.
Menma shook his head as their hands separated, "Nah, just Menma will do." Assured the black haired man, eyes peeking over Grimmjow's shoulders to the Hollows behind him. "They'll get their chance after they're stronger." He assured.
"We will be unable to, we each gave Grimmjow a piece of our masks, so we would not regress." Informed Shawlong.
Menma looked to the ex-panther, "Charming." He commented, getting a grin in response. "Even the Gillian?" He asked directly.
Said Gillian just screamed again, as the worm, Di Roy answered, "Yeah. Even Nakeem. Waste if you ask me, shoulda just eaten the fucker." Grumbled the creature.
Harribel bristled in disgust but kept herself calm, Starrk frowning visibly.
"Hmph." Menma scoffed, amused. "Quite the little group you have, Grim."
"That's not my name." Pointed out the blue haired man with a narrow stare.
"Aye, but what's a nickname between friends. C'mon, walk with us. I'll fill you in on your new body as we go." Menma said, gesturing with his head, the others saw that the two had similar mannerisms in their stride, both of them walking with their hands in their pockets and the slightest of swaggers to each step.
Ulquiorra and Appaci appeared on his left, Grimmjow on his right, the other Arrancar walking to catch up, Grimmjow turned with a frown to the Hollows, "Fall in!" He ordered, they did so without question, the Gillian being the only one to give any trouble.
Menma had a passing sense of smugness as Starrk and Lilynette could stand within the same zip-code as a Gillian and it wasn't dead. Training, kids. That's all it takes.
"So, first off, introductions. Menma Uzumaki, Tier Harribel, Coyote Starrk." He pointed to the three fighters Grimmjow looking at the other two, eyes on Harribel for a moment before he snorted.
"Is there something amusing, Grimmjow-san?" Asked the woman icily.
"No... nothin' at all." He rumbled in response.
"Ulquiorra Cifer and Emilou Apacci, I've been with these two since I was an Adjuchas." He shared with a small smile on his face.
"Running your own little coven here or something? How come you've only got one other guy?" Grimmjow questioned, leaning forward slightly.
"Ulquiorra I met in a tree, she was perpetually taciturn at the time." At his blink of confusion Menma rephrased, "Mute." Recognition coloured Grimmjow's face as Menma continued, "We traveled together for a time, mostly just me speaking with her and her listening. We both met Apacci when a big'ol Hollow was gonna eat her."
"Pfft, couldn't defend yourself?" Grimmjow barbed.
Only to cop a blow to his head, Apacci had flickered for a moment and kept walking like nothing happened, groaning he rubbed his sore skull, "To be fair, it was a giant, two headed lizard. And I was a deer." She explained disinterestedly.
"First time I've seen her this standoffish. Woulda figured she'd just huff and beat him into submission." Menma contemplated for a moment before putting that to the back of his mind, "Cyan Sung-Sun and Mila-Rose Fraceska were Harribel-dono's followers before our groups merged not that long ago." He said gesturing to the Lioness and the Hebi-Onna.
"Well, you have an eye for companions. I'll say that." Commented Yylfordt.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Was the rather relaxed response of Mila, Yylfordt chuckled, moreso rumbled, and nodded his head.
"Such was my intent." Menma could hear the grin in his voice, and privately smirked whilst casting a glance over his shoulder to Harribel, the woman shot him a steady stare. Obviously they would have words after this.
Sung-Sun rolled her eyes and kept quiet.
"Finally, aside from yourselves. Starrk and Lilynette Gingerback, joined us last week. We've been Arrancar for about the same amount of time." Finished up Menma, before looking over at the Hollows behind them.
"Ah, Introductions, yes of course. I am Shawlong Koufang, a pleasure to meet you, Menma-sama." The insectile creature did a showy bow and gestured for his comrades to follow his example.
"Di Roy Rinker." Was the bland introduction of the hammer-head. If Menma was bothered by this he didn't appear to be, but he was facing them all now, walking backwards, hands in pockets. Despite the casual, almost friendly look on his face, each of the Hollows knew just how dangerous it was to trifle with the man who not only subdued their King, but also changed him so radically.
"Edrad Liones, a pleasure to meet a group of strong warriors such as yourselves." Greeted the tower-armed, redhead.
"Still Yylfordt Granz. Shot in the dark but have you ever met my brother Syzael?" Questioned the bull curiously.
"Can't say I have, what does he look like?" Menma asked in return, apparently since no one else in his little group wanted to speak he was the mouthpiece.
"Kinda like a butterfly and an overly sexual octopus had a baby."
"Well that's... vivid." Mumbled Starrk, eyes widening slightly as the image surface in his mind, "Gross."
"That's a negativo on that one good buddy." Menma said, before turning on his heel and walking properly.
"The Gillian is Nakeem, like we said earlier, ain't got a last name since Menos Grande don't talk." Informed Grimmjow, Menma nodded idly.
"So, basically. As an Arrancar, you've gained Shinigami powers. Your sword has a soul, a name and a release." Menma lectured, Grimmjow looked at the sword in his hand and his eyes widened, "Along with that comes general stuff, enhanced speed, healing to the point of regeneration if you've got the energy for it, your hierro should be stronger, physical strength. The usual goodies that come with some kind of transformation."
"Bitchin!" Was the enthused Grimmjow's response to this news.
"Indeed." Menma replied distantly, "Aside from looking more human, you should find controlling your reiatsu easier. Also manipulating the reishi in the air is pretty easy. The sand is stuff with it, that's why it's the easiest thing to make clothing from."
Grimmjow just had a grin affixed to his face.
"I'm not so sure on the long-term though. As we've had such a short length of time to really figure most of this out, so you'll have to wait for that kinda stuff." Menma finished his explanation with a small frown, they'd entered the outskirts of Barragan's domain, his reiatsu was in the air.
"Sounds fuckin' rad." Admitted Grimmjow, "Must be pretty satisfying to show up to a Shinigami with a sword like theirs, eh?" Said/asked the panther-man.
"I imagine it would be. The last Shinigami I interacted with was about a month or so ago at this point. At that point I was still a very mute, Vasto Lorde." Menma cracked his neck, "We've got company."
In a flash of Sonido a sabertooth tiger appeared, the Hollow mask was its upper jaw and the top of its skull, the mane was a swathe of raven hair, at the end of its tail was a flat tipped blade, the visible fur on its body, the shins of each leg and its underbelly, was a dull yellow colour with white stripes.
"State your business... human?" Questioned the Sabertooth, bluster falling away to incredulity.
"Arrancar." Menma informed, tapping Grimmjow's Hollow hole, making him slap the offending hand away, "Hollows, but better. I'm here to challenge your king."
"Like you could defeat Barragan-sama! Don't make me laugh." Spat the Sabertooth.
"Look, what's your name?" Menma asked, dark hand in his pocket.
"If you must know, Ggio Vega."
"Nice to meet you, Ggio. My name is Menma Uzumaki. I don't know if it means anything up here, but I was the Cazador of the Menos Forest, I'm here to challenge King Barragan and ask that you respect that decision, your personal beliefs aside." Explained the Arrancar civilly.
Ggio wasn't used to someone being polite, and kind of floundered to regain his fire. Most Hollows who challenged the God-King were bloodthirsty and would outright engage any of the guards that approached.
"If I say please will your brain explode?" Menma asked, seeing the wide range of confusion across his new acquaintances face, Ggio frowned a flicker of human emotion rising in his chest, embarrassment.
"Zip it." Growled the saber-cat.
"He's like Mila!" Observed Lilynette, jumping onto Menma's back, apparently the first to get out of the funk that had settled over the group since Grimmjow's explosive introduction. Apacci smirked, Mila shouldered to the front and peered out between Menma and Ulquiorra.
"Nah, I was bigger." She said goadingly, Ggio bristled visibly. "He's bigger than Grimmjow was though." Now it was the panther's turn to bristle, both the male cats growling at the she-lion.
"Is it a cat thing?" Starrk questioned Harribel, who shrugged, not exactly sure. "People are weird." He decided.
"I concur." Agreed the Sharkess, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
"Maybe they'll start pissing on the ground to mark their territory." Jabbed Apacci with a chuckle, only to feel all three of them glare at her.
"I believe that is dogs, Apacci-san." Sung-Sun informed, "Then again I am not surprised a brute like yourself has forgotten something so simple."
"Prrreeeety sure Eileen used to wiz on stuff that she didn't want anything to touch." Menma said, adjusting his hands to hold Lilynette up, idly noticing that she was guzzling up his excess reiatsu. "So piggy our way to puberty it is!" He thought, amused.
"Who's Eileen?" Questioned Mila, looking at him like the curious kitten she was.
"She was my pet cat when I was human." Informed the Arrancar, getting an 'Oh' in response. "Giant pain in the ass."
"What colour was it?" Questioned Ulquiorra.
"Black." Menma answered.
Ulquiorra stared at him, and nodded, "Good."
She was adorable.
Ahem.
"Oh, Ggio? When did you get back?" Questioned Apacci.
"I never left." Growled out the saber-tooth.
"Really? Huh... I guess you're just really easy to overlook." Shots fired!
"You bi-!" A wave of heat washed over Ggio, he felt the air in his wetness of his mouth dry up and his throat clench painfully.
"May we please see the King now?" Menma questioned, a smile on his face-menacing!-as his eyes glowed.
"Y-yes of course I'll alert Barragan-sama of your challenge immediately!" Ggio vanished in a burst of Sonido.
"So when did you decide to go intimidator?" Questioned Starrk. Admittedly he hadn't known his new friend for long, but he knew well enough that he was a good, honest man. This was a... stark contrast to his usual nature.
"To be blunt?" Menma offered over his shoulder at the man as their walking began once more, "I'm kind of losing my patience with this, I've put it off long enough. At this point I just wanna get it over and done with."
"How interesting." Said an unfamiliar voice, the gathered Arrancar turned to see a...
"Shinigami." Spat Grimmjow with almost visible venom in his voice. Menma slid Lilynette of his back and almost twitched with repressed rage, yet another interruption.
The man stood with a kindly smile on his face, short brown hair tousled about in the winds of Hueco Mundo, he wore a black shukakusho under a white haori. "A Captain." Informed Mugetsu.
"I can't say I've ever had the pleasure of meeting a natural born Arrancar as of yet." He commented further, small smile never shifting no matter the killing, bloodthirsty intent of Grimmjow, "And so many of you."
"Speak your piece, Shinigami. You obviously want something, your smug persona is offensive to my eyes." Snapped Ulquiorra, inwardly Menma balked, that's probably one of her longer sentences in a good while.
"Oh indeed you are correct, you see my name is Aizen Sousuke and I had intended to build up a small army of Arrancar through means at a later date, imagine my surprise when some of Soul Societies feelers in Hueco Mundo had picked a sudden, sharp increase in Vasto Lorde births."
"And if you do not get to the point, you'll find yourself at the business end of a dozen Ceros." Growled Apacci.
Aizen nodded and held up his hands placatingly. "Menma-sama, his sword... it oozes superiority. Do not let him release it, I don't want to give that little slattern the satisfaction."
"You can sense smugness in his sword? How?" Menma questioned, thankful that thoughts could go past in heartbeats so he didn't miss conversations.
"All Zanpakuto can get a base read on one another at a distance, my Lord. Though most are not so well connected as we three. So their knowledge is null and void." Supplied Sol.
"Indeed, most Shinigami have a sort of... sixth sense when two Zanpakuto collide, they're able to read their opponents heart through the Zanpakuto." Informed Mugetsu, in his inner world she flicked her hair off her shoulder with a huff, obviously not pleased with the idea of touching Aizen's sword.
"Now now, I mean no harm. I thought you'd appreciate knowing that Soul Society is watching."
"And in turn wouldn't they be seeing you, warning us." Menma countered.
Aizen smirked slightly and adjusted his glasses, "I had the pleasure of taking this recon mission, the feelers are pulled back during such, so as to reduce the chance of exposure drastically."
"Said the fly to the spider." Muttered Ulquiorra.
"My, such a way with words." Praised Aizen lightly, "Though I would like it if you would spare me some of your time, after your bout with King Barragan of course, I can see you're rather intent on doing so." He asked pointedly, at Menma.
"And the idea of conversing with any of the others in the meantime is so displeasing to you?" Menma asked, hand on his hip, dark hand in his pocket. "What if I Dark Hand'd his sword? Would it disrupt the release?"
"I imagine if you had enough of a grip you could drain the spirit of its power, preventing release semi-permanently. It would regain its lost power, but Zanpakuto rely on their masters in the same way you rely on us for power-boosts, we need you to restore our powers." Informed Mugetsu, ever the helpful little moon-baby.
"I wouldn't mind that at all, but I assumed you would prefer to know what I have to say first hand, your power denotes that you are the leader, are you not?" Was the sly compliment Aizen gave to sway his point.
"Flowery words are nice and all, Sosuke-san." Menma began, stretching out, Sosuke's eyes darted to the black clawed, furred hand. "Oh, apologies... it is rather unsightly isn't it?" Menma commented idly, Aizen frowned.
"I wouldn't say that, you have an odd feature, think of it as unique." Assured Aizen with a smile.
Menma returned it with a smirk, "You really think I'm just some dumb animal you can play with? You have no idea how dangerous this place has made me, Sosuke-san." The Arrancar took a few steps towards Aizen who didn't seem to even bat an eye at the movement, Menma offered his white hand, it'd be too suspect if he offered his dark, "Menma Uzumaki."
Sosuke took the hand and shook it firmly, a flicker ran through his body, "He is powerful... more powerful than I had anticipated. No matter. Kyoka Suigetsu will be his undoing, as it has been so many others."
"Before you go into your battle, might I see your swords they intrigue me. I'd be happy to show you mine in return." Offered the Captain amicably.
"Truly? Truly you suspect him to be so foolish?" Ulquiorra kept her disgusted snort in check, her Menma-sama was more than capable of dealing with this situation.
"What kind of idiot does the Shinigami take him for?... Tsk, cunning Menma-sama I know that look all too well." Apacci, inwardly smiled, keeping her face blank and near-glaring at the Shinigami.
"Tread carefully Menma-dono." Was all Harribel could think.
Menma whipped out Sol and Mugetsu, the orange blade giving off wisps of smoke, the black katana seeming to absorb light itself. Menma staked Sol and Mugetsu into the sand, as Aizen drew his blade, accepting it's grip as Aizen tested Menma's own blades.
"A good balance." Commented Aizen, his fingers holding Mugetsu who was deathly silent.
"Sharp edge." Menma commented holding the blade in his hand, he gave it a few test swings as he quickly sapped it dry of energy with his dark hand, thankfully no exploding shadow-arms grew to join in.
"Oh my, this is quite the deadly looking weapon." Said Aizen as he looked at Sol's longsword form. "Is the blade quite hot?" He questioned, not daring to touch it.
"Indeed. Though in his resting state, Sol is quite cool in comparison to his release state." Menma said, spinning Kyoka Suigetsu in between his dark fingers, any reiatsu the blade had previously was gone, the spirit was thoroughly exhausted.
"If you say anything, I'll rip your spirit out, and do unspeakable things to your body." Menma thought idly, the spirit moaned in despair as its body let it do little else, "This was enlightening Sosuke-kun." Menma said with a small smile on his face, "Your not so bad after all, your sword. It speaks well of a man that he looks after his Zanpakuto so well." Menma held the blade as he handed it back to the man, who accepted it back.
"Yours as well, Menma-kun. Hmhm." Aizen allowed himself a small chuckle at the terror the spirits radiated when he held the blades. "Though it seems they do not like leaving your hands."
"They're quite attached." Menma provided simply, sheathing them both, "I'll speak with you more afterwards, Sosuke-kun." Menma turned and waved over his shoulder, "What a fool."
"Hmph, touching my blade only prevents the illusions after the release command. This farce will end with my army, and a pack of prodigious Arrancar is a marvelous starting point."
"Come on, everyone. We've got a King to slay."
Las Noches Propper
Flat slates surrounded by four pillars were the 'castle' Barragan had chosen for himself. The skeleton clad in a dark purple and black robe need never adjust the golden grown fused to its cranium. Before it appeared a small pack of interlopers, Barragan didn't even move in his throne.
"The challenger has arrived, Barragan-sama." Hollows began pouring out of the woodworks all to see and observe this exercise in folly.
The skeleton grunted, resting its cheekbone on its knuckles, "So... 'Arrancar' you come to claim my throne?"
"To be blunt I came to claim a castle, I see your... dominion is rather flat." Menma jabbed idly.
Barragan scoffed, "Hueco Mundo is my domain, I need no walls, and the sky is my room. Placing stone between myself and it would limit my domain, not expand it. Simpleton."
"Ah, so blind arrogance and narcissism. Good to know." Menma said, nodding to himself. Getting a furious rumble in return, "Look, lord bones. I've been thinking about killing you for quite a time now but more important things keep popping up. Like breathing, that's a biggy, eating kind of important, gathering people to my banner, which has yet to be designed but I've got some ideas. See I've been super busy." Menma said, wiggling three fingers. Now, skulls weren't really capable of expressions, but Menma could swear that skull was glaring at him.
"So, here's the deal." Menma said, a smile on his face as his group Sonido'd away to a safe distance, given a wide berth in the enormous crowd of gathered Hollows. "I'm going to, firstly, kill you. Then I'm going to build a castle, because of course I am. Then I'm going to drag this fucking species out of its own grave." Menma's iris flared an angry red, his voice booming, with each words spoke a thrum of reiatsu pulsed in the air.
"I'll not allow your shortsighted idiocy rob us of what we could become, Hollows, Arrancar, all of those born under the moon of Hueco Mundo, in the nestled corners of the Menos Forest, in the far reaching abyss of the Pit. The Hollows, deserve better than you." His voice quieted, but the deathly silent atmosphere still allowed his voice to carry.
"You preach weakness boy." Rebuked Barragan.
There was that hot, heavy wave again, "I PREACH SURVIVAL YOU FUCKING TRASH HEAP!" His chest almost heaving with the fury in his non-existent heart, "Hollows are hunted like animals by the Shinigami, we're permanently destroyed by those vile Quincies, and on top of it all we eat one another! Have you even attempted to remedy any of these problems!? Of course not because you in your infinite wisdom see nothing wrong, you see nothing are blind Barragan Louisenbairn, blind and foolish." Menma spat on the ground, his reiatsu sucking back into his body.
Barragan was silent, the Hollows were silent waiting for a rebuttal to the verbal lashing. "A Hollow with a heart? Hmph. You are the sickness boy, not I."
Menma pulled Sol from his sheath, raising the sleeping blade and pointing it at the King, "I, Menma Uzumaki, Cazador do so challenge thee, Barragan Lousenbairn. To the winner goes the crown, to the loose, death." Declared the Uzumaki, eyes near bursting with barely restrained flames.
"I accept you challenge, may you die with honour, Usurper."
The King of Hueco Mundo, stood up.
He clocked in at an imposing five foot five.
Watch out boys.
Barragan lifted a boney finger, his golden bangle jingling with the movement, a red orb of reiatsu forming.
Menma responded by twitching his Dark Hand, the armour formed up to his shoulder, tattered strips of cloth drifting in the winds of Hueco Mundo, armour made of bones clinking against itself as he lifted his arm.
"Cero."
"Cero Oscura."
The god-tier beams of energy slammed into one another causing an an explosion that could make an atom bomb blush, red eyes cut through the darkness a conjured wind blew the smoke away, Barragan flicked a wrist and a large, black battle axe with long, curved blades appeared, a golden chain linking to a skull in the center of the crescent.
"You've already done better than most opponents I've faced in recent years." Praised Barragan, Menma's response was to hold his longsword perpendicular to his face, the edge facing himself and Barragan, with a twist of his wrist his reiatsu exploded.
"Enterrarlos en llamas, Sol."
A great pillar of flames erupted, sending the first give lines of Hollows whom had come to observe back, the outer parameter of the battle now outlined by a wave of molten glass. From the flames emerged a Knightly Hollow, his armour had smooth plates that each ended in edged points, his legs and arms having layered, segmented plates, his boots ended with vicious looking hooks whilst his fingers had honed, claws. His helm was near featureless in nature, bearing no expression, as the mask was one smoothe layer, though from the back of his helm a plume a fire flickered and crackled menacingly.
Menma's entire form was shrouded in flames, his armour glowing an intense red as the plates on his body emitted a heat so intense even those behind the newly formed barrier were backing away. In one hand was a shield consisting of three thick, pointed rods that hung on his arm a thick shunk sound, ushered in their spreading, reiatsu gathering in the gaps to form the shield in completion.
A thick, plated tail ending in a tridents head slammed into the ground behind him in his hand remained the hilt of his blade, with a flick of his wrist it blossomed into a roaring blade of flames, in the centre was the 'metal' edge that glowed with an endless, all consuming heat.
Taking a breath, no he didn't know how it worked either, the Knight slammed the flaming blade against his shield, "Go time." Menma leant forward and disappeared, leaving behind a magma stained ground in his wake.
"That's what the swords do?" Demanded Grimmjow in amazement.
"That's what his sword does." Replied Starrk, "I think he explained it that... his reiatsu already released more heat than normal, so Sol was born from the 'fires of his passion'. Or something like that." The Coyote grumbled, to be frank he wasn't really listening when the younger Arrancar was explaining his Sol.
"'Fires of his untapped rage'." Amended Apacci, "It happened a few times when he was an Adjuchas and sometimes when he was a Vasto Lorde. Basically he'd become an all-consuming, all destroying force of nature. Usually he'd calm down after he killed whatever pissed him off."
"He's really givin' it to the old bastard." Commented Yylfordt.
"Ideals clashing, Barragan's frail grip will wither and die before Menma-sama." Ulquiorra stated firmly.
"I am cautiously optimistic, to see how his rule will pan out." Murmured Sung-Sun.
"Jeeze, that overwhelming faith is really crashing down on me." Mila drawled, crossing her arms.
"I simply mean, that given Menma-sama's goals there will be a great amount of resistance. Every Hollow alive on this day will have their fates decided for them, not all are so receptive to change as us." Explained the snake woman quietly.
"A fair point." Shawlong agreed.
Back down at the clash of Kings.
Menma slammed his flaming blade through the air, Barragan parried with his axe. "Feel that sluggish sensation, boy? That is my Time Dilation Field. A true King can rule all within his domain, even time itself."
He was right though, Menma's movements were much, much slower than he was used too, this was further proven when Barragan bat him away with the flat of his axe, he rolled but managed to steady onto his feet, Sol hissed angrily.
"Honourless knave! A match between men is but swords and raw power! Not this meaningless sorcery!" Ranted the Honour Bound Knight.
"Not all are as forthcoming and honest in their combative style as you, Sol-san." Reminded Mugetsu. "Master, might I suggest attacking at range, see the extent of this techniques capabilities."
"A fair plan." Menma agreed, raising his shield arm, the rods were pointed at Barragan, the ends split as reiatsu gathered in them like a jets engine humming to life, each rod consumed a third of the shields mass and fired off, Barragan scoffed holding up a hand, each of the rods stalled in the air, with a snap of his free hand the rods exploded, filling their immediate area with fire.
Menma drew Mugetsu from her sheath, "Ohh~! Master, hold me tighter!" She pleaded with a cheshire grin.
"Not now." Scolded the Knight.
"Cast them into the abyss, Mugetsu." Spoke the Sun Knight the sword began to drip with black energy, the energy gathered before it could touch the ground, the darkness began to spin about the katana and grow, until it became a large, nearly unwieldy cleaver with a tip that curved back in on itself. The centre of the blade was abyssal black, and the edge was a luminous platinum.
"Getsuga Tensho!" Holding the black out horizontally and then swinging it inward, a great gout of black reiatsu spilled forth, creating a great tidal wave of black, edged with white that flew towards Barragan.
"I believe we should attempt to develop more techniques in the future, Master. All 'Getsu blades know the Getsuga Tensho." Suggested Mugetsu.
"Not now!" Snapped the two males, getting a huff in response.
Rushing forward to follow the attack, the smoke from the flames still clearing, Menma leapt into the air twisting and kicking off his reiatsu formed platform and shot straight down onto Barragan, both of his weapons surging with energy.
"Gestuga Tensho...Luciernagas!" Another tide of black formed on Mugetsu, and a swarm of white fireballs began growing in Sol's flames, the fire swathed knight slammed down onto Barragan with the force of a gods fist.
The crater that formed tanked all that stood of Las Noches.
"Is... is he dead?" Questioned Edrad tentatively.
"No. Barragan survived." Reported Harribel, the less experienced sensors gave her a shocked look.
"But the power in those attacks-" Started Lilynette.
"Wasn't enough." The blonde cut off, "If it were so simple someone else would have dethroned Barragan long ago."
"Damn this is good." Said Grimmjow, excitement oozing from every pour of his body.
"At least someone's enjoying it." Starrk muttered, a frown on his face.
In the crater Menma stood, calm and stoic with his swords held loosely in his hands, the smoke had cleared, Barragan stood uninjured.
"Quite the attacks." Commented the King.
Under his helm Menma frowned, "Truly I had not expected such prodigious power from you, Arrancar." Barragan continued, lifting his axe.
"How?" Menma questioned, his layered voice echoing on itself.
"Yet another ability any King should have, I can accelerate the age of all that I deign to. That includes energy, all things die. Especially that which is created by something else." Explained the King.
Menma wanted to groan, "I'd call it OP but I'm walking around in a Resurreccion and a Shikai. I have no room to comment."
Mugetsu's only response was to pull a memory from his mind, "Are... are you playing music in my head?"
"Master I have no earthly idea what you could be talking about, if you have a memory surface that just happens to pump you up with enough gusto to rip this simpleton to shreds, I have no control over it." Menma chuckled at that, the sound somewhat chilling to the ear.
Invincible – Adelitas Way, a good choice all things considered. Mugetsu had good taste.
"All things die, hmm?" Menma asked, spinning Sol in between his fingers, a dark hand exploded out, a shadowy limb grasping his sword, black energy began to pour off his Dark hand. "What happens when death is consumed I wonder?"
"Excuse me?" Questioned the King.
"Gimmie your energy!" As his fingers touched the black miasma his, fingers glowed with a sinister purple energy, Barragan's eyes widened before he sent another wave, the force of which managed to send the Sol Knight tumbling back, his armour chipping and cracking in various places.
Within his inner world, Sol screamed in agony, Mugetsu wailing and crying out. Menma rose to his feet, his, cracked in his armour forming chunks falling off, revealing one furious red eye a flake of armour on the side of his head near his temple falling away letting more flames lick out and hiss.
"Forgive me, my liege..." The armour broke away revealing the Arrancar beneath, Menma's chest was heaving, his Dark Hand crackling and sparking with dark purple arcs, the Arrancar looked to be visibly aged, his jawline was sharper. His hair was slightly longer and shaggier, eyes shining with a dark, ominous violet.
"Ma...ster?" Was the gasp that came from Mugetsu, driving rage into his heart.
He rose his hand, "Verlacion De Cero." A thing wave of energy shot through the crater with enough speed to create a sonic boom that thrashes apart the already loose sand. Menma followed up by shooting, forward and grabbing, Barragan's decaying body.
Energy, dominon over death and entropy itself flushed into his body.
Menma looked at his sparking, hand and thrust the energy down into the sands of Heuco Mundo itself, slowly at first, the ground under him began to rumble, quake and shuddered until rapidly, a tower began to rise under his feet.
This tower rose, and rose, and rose!
30 Kilometres tall.
Four towers rose around the giant monolith, each of the towers were roughly ten kilometres in height, then walls began to form sliding off the side of each tower, between each. Then a ceiling sliding from the top of each outer tower towards the giant monolith in the centre.
Palacio Del Sol.
Palace of the Sun.
Why?
Because of the giant flaming orb of reiatsu burning in the sky.
HE MADE A FUCKING SUN!
End Of Chapter.
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Raxychaz!