The masked Shinigami were pushing back the massive arrancar army, with their superior strength and speed. Aizen sat on his throne and happily watched the slaughter of the arrancars and the triumph of the Shinigami. "Soon, everything will come together; I will rule over all of the worlds, every plain of reality will fear my power." As the battle in the desert escalated the battles in the fortress were just beginning.

(Elsewhere) Hichigo arrived at the back entrance of the fortress and began focusing, trying to find the intruders within the darkness. He suddenly opened his eyes and charged into the darkness, he slammed his sword down onto another blade. Its wielder was a mystery. As their swords were locked a projectile came out of the darkness and it was heading for Hichigo's head. He was able to dodge, but this allowed the other fighter to cut Hichigo across the chest.

Several projectiles were then fired from the darkness; Hichigo rapidly spun his sword in a circle and blocked the shots. Then he opened his mouth and fired a cero into at the source. With the pitch black darkness surrounding him, Hichigo couldn't see if he hit his target and he also couldn't sense him. Then a sharp pain was felt, Hichigo felt a blade being forced through his back and heard as the warm blood drip down a cold blade as it exited through his chest.

"I promise I'll protect you," images of Nel flashed through Hichigo's mind, "I won't let anyone hurt you." A pain surged through Hichigo's body, the pain grew. "Ichigo, you weak little bastard, is this anyway to fight, you think I'll let you lie down and die, get up!" Hichigo's black cloths slowly faded into pale white, Zangetsu went through the same change. Over the white clothes, Hichigo grew black armor with similar designs to his mask. "You will fall to the power of the dark side," Hichigo's mask materialized on its own.

(Elsewhere) Nel sat alone on the bridge that connected the rest of Las Noches to Aizen's throne room. She quietly read a book while she clutched her blade, she couldn't bear to watch the massacre of the arrancars. Suddenly she heard a few people running up the stairs of the tower; Nel placed her book down and drew her sword. Kisuke, Soi Fon, and Byakuya arrived at the bridge. "One arrancar, this will be easy," "now Soi Fon, you can't underestimate her, you're something very special, aren't you young lady."

Nel slowly lifter her shirt and turned around revealing the large "One" printed onto her back. "Just as I thought, leave it to Aizen, *whispers* Byakuya me and Soi will handle this, when she's distracted, head over to Aizen's throne room." Kisuke fired a blood wave, which Nel easily dodged and then used Sonido to appear behind the three Shinigami. The Kuchiki made a run for it while Soi Fon attempted a kick onto the Primera; Kisuke created a shield and blocked Nel's cero.

"Sorry we had to trick you like this, but Aizen must be stopped and Ichigo must be brought back to the light." Nel widened her eyes, "what, you mean; you don't want to kill him?" Kisuke nodded and smiled, "of course not, he's my student and my friend and even though he's done some horrible things lately, I believe I can open his eyes. But in order to do that Aizen must be stopped and I also have to locate Ichigo first, there are some who do want him dead, so please let us through."

Nel thought for a moment, but her expression change to a killing intent, "I'm sorry, but you stand against Lord Aizen and his apprentice Darth Hichigo and as much as I want him back, I won't allow you to interfere." Nel kicked Soi Fon through a wall and attacked Kisuke with powerful sword strikes, Nel sonido-ed behind Kisuke and cut into his back, it was shallow but he was still hit. Soi Fon returned and was able to land one strike with Suzumebachi, but was then hit by a bala.

The Espada was overwhelming the two Captains, Kisuke fired another blood wave, but this time followed up with a sword strike. Nel blocked the wave, but the sword cut into her arm, causing blood spill, it also made her left arm useless. Soi Fon kicked Nel's skull and crack a bit of the mask, Kisuke fired another, wave and this one hit Nel, she was thrown onto the ground with a large burn mask on her leg and stomach. While she was down Soi Fon hit her a second time with Suzumebachi, two strikes same place.

"That's the end of you Espada." Nel slowly stood up, "did you know that I never liked killing, I never found a reason for it, until I wanted to make someone pay for hurting a loved one. And now I found another reason, I must kill you to keep Ichigo from getting hurt." Kisuke looked at her very concerned, "Ichigo is going to suffer either way, there's no way to prevent that and even now as you look at death there isn't much you can do." Nel held her sword out in front of her and placed her hand on the blade as it began glowing pink she yelled, "Declare, Gamuza!"

"I'm not going to die, I can't die yet, this is my release and just like any arrancar I heal from injuries when I release." The smoke cleared and revealed Nel, her release was much different than before. Her lance was longer and not double sided, she also had a large shield on her other arm. "A Shield that can't be broken and a Lance that can pierce through anything, this is my release." The rietsu radiated off Nel destroyed the bridge and caused the three of them to fall down to the sands.

(Elsewhere) Love and Rose arrived up on the platform where the General was standing. "Aw the Vizard had arrived *cough, cough* this is where you make your last stand." Love raised an eyebrow, "so Kensei's attack really messed you up, well I can't blame you." Rudobon drew his sword, "my strength may have been cut in half, but I can still take you weaklings *cough.*" Rudobon pointed his two swords at the Vizards, "Grow Arbol, Spread Raiz." Love and Rose were confused and surprised, "two release commands!?"

"I'm the only Espada who put his power into two zanpakuto, which also gives me even more god-like abilities." Tree braches began wrapping around Rudobon's body. But this time something different happened roots began burying themselves into the ground coming from Rudobon's legs. This caused several trees to sprout from the ground, fully grown and having thick branches sticking out in all directions. "My powers are god-like I can give life and take it away," another pair of arms suddenly sprouted out of Rudobon's body like plants.

Each one was gripping a long curved sword. Rudobon slowly sunk into the ground. Something suddenly pierced both Rose and Love; they looked back and saw Rudobon sticking out halfway on a tree. "This entire area is my release and there is no escape," The tree braches, grew sharp thorns and combined into a huge cage that allowed no escape.

(Elsewhere) Hitsugaya, Lisa, and Hiyori got into the fortress, but they had no idea where to go, there was only one other door, but it was located on the floor. Hitsugaya attempted to open the door, but it was locked, so he began looking around trying to find a way out. Hiyori was getting impatient, so she summoned her mask and fired a cero at a wall. But before it hit a figure appeared and stopped it with a punch; that also sent the cero back at Hiyori, Lisa countered it with another cero.

(Elsewhere) Kensei threw Grimmjow through the roof of the highest tower and then entered it himself. Grimmjow slowly stood up and Kensei prepared himself, "you're the Espada who fought Shinji right, he pounded you into the ground didn't you." Grimmjow clenched his sword, "Shinji? Oh you mean that punk who Aizen killed; I saw his corpse being fed to a hollo-!" Kensei attacked Grimmjow with a fury of attacks before firing a blue blast from his knife; that hit Grimmjow's chest and severely burned him. "If you mention Shinji again, I'll rip your head off."

End of Chapter

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