A.N: Hey guys, here we are with chapter 14 of Endgame. With the announcement that I have several side projects that I want to work on while working on Five Worlds War, I want to get this story done soon. Of course, I intend to make this as good as possible as well, no need to worry. Here's the conclusion of Tōshirō vs Armando.

Chapter 14: A Matured Flower

Benito Muerta sighed as another Spiritual Pressure became non-existent. Fielhombre Guardia immediately knew what had happened. "It appears that General Tentadora has fallen in battle." Fielhombre said. "What disturbing news."

"One that I won't lose much sleep over." Benito admitted. "Her obsessive love and admiration for me made her loyal and useful, but it also made her far too dangerous to be kept around after the war."

"You intended to execute her?" Fielhombre seemed surprised at the notion.

"She's not as subtle as she thinks." Benito responded. "I've always known of her murderous intents towards my queen, and Tia knows of them as well."

"Do you disagree with my decision, Fielhombre?"

"No, Your Majesty." Fielhombre said loyally. "I've always been concerned of her hatred towards Queen Halibel, but I never imagined that she would actually intend to kill her. I'm surprised that you actually caught onto her intent. You are as amazing as always, Your Majesty."

Benito chuckled. "Though it appears I'm not omnipotent." He admitted. "There is one thing that has actually surprised me greatly."

"The growth of one Rukia Kuchiki. I knew that after I faked Ichigo Kurosaki's death, she'd be motivated to improve, but I never imagined that she would actually achieve Bankai in such a short time."

"It appears that Ichigo Kurosaki's influence over her has increased her own growth as a warrior." Fielhombre noted.

"Such is the result of people who surround someone like Ichigo." Benito noted. "What truly makes that boy a threat is his ability to improve those around him simply by existing and being himself."

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Your Majesty." Fielhombre admitted.

"Ichigo has a very simple personality with simple morals." Benito explained. "And because of that simple personality, he has a greater understanding of how the world should be than even the wisest most seasoned living beings."

"It sounds like you admire him, Your Majesty." Fielhombre pointed out.

"In a way, I suppose I do. Such power is meant to be admired." Benito shrugged. "But in reality I'm more wary of him for that ability. The ability to improve those around him physically and mentally; it is a truly dangerous ability. And we've now seen the results of that ability through the power of Rukia Kuchiki."

"That is why you are so intent on killing Ichigo Kurosaki." Fielhombre realized. "Not because he is the one who defeated Aizen, and not because of his continued growth as a warrior, but because he has the ability to make other people evolve because he shows them how they should act."

"Exactly," Benito nodded, "those who say that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto is the lynchpin of the Soul Society are wrong. While it is an educated guess that certainly has a ton of merit, it's absolutely wrong."

"The true lynchpin of the Soul Society, as things stand, is Ichigo Kurosaki." Benito admitted. "What he has grown to mean to this world cannot be understated. As long as that boy exists, there will always be hope in the Soul Society."

Which means that once everything has fallen into place. Once I've completed every phase of my plan. I must crush that hope once and for all."

"You speak as though Ichigo Kurosaki is going to escape La Torre." Fielhombre pointed out. "Won't General Arcano be able to stop him?"

"Ichigo Kurosaki did not return from Hueco Mundo with Renji Abarai." Benito pointed out. "That means one of two things."

"It either means that he is currently fighting Raoul," Benito said, "or he's undergoing a sort of metamorphosis to make himself stronger for our upcoming battle."

"If he is already fighting Raoul, then it is already over. I won't have to lift a finger." Benito said. "However, if Ichigo is undergoing his own changes than there is no doubt in my mind that we will eventually fight."

"How is that possible? General Arcano is the strongest of our generals and the third strongest in Loz Retazos behind you and the queen."

"Raoul's abilities are dangerous." Benito admitted. "But if Ichigo is making himself stronger, then even I must doubt whether Raoul can truly defeat him. I suppose we'll simply have to wait and see."

Benito then sensed another battle commence. "My my," he smiled, "it appears that another part of the Seireitei is about to become a frozen hell."

"The girl is fighting once again?" Fielhombre was surprised.

"No, it appears that Tōshirō Hitsugaya is furious. Oh Armando, I do hope you are prepared to counter Hitsugaya's chilly rage."

(Tōshirō Hitsugaya vs. Armando Brizna)

The Squad 10 Captain stared down his new nemesis with a cold gaze that a lesser foe would actually be able to see his own death in. However, Armando Brizna was not a lesser foe, and Tōshirō knew this. He simply raised his twin Zanpakutō into the air and readied himself for battle.

"Oh, how I've waited for this, Tōshirō Hitsugaya." Armando admitted. "Ever since our battle in the Menos Forest, I have so waited for the opportunity to pay you back for the injuries you dealt me back than."

"They scream at me," Armando revealed, "scream at me to pay you back tenfold!"

Tōshirō scowled. "Funny you should mention that." The young prodigy said. "I can hear the screams of my dead subordinates."

Tōshirō pointed his Zanpakutō at Armando. "They scream at me to avenge them. To kill the Arrancar who took their lives."

"It appears we both have voices in our heads at the moment, Armando Brizna." Tōshirō noted. "So what do you say we get things started to see who can silence those voices forever."

Armando chuckled at this. "So you want to get down to business right now, eh? Splendid! I too do not wish to waste time!"

Armando took his usual stance, one leg forward and one leg back with one blade raised in the air and the other lower; both pointed straight at his opponent. "I came here to kill as many Soul Reapers as possible before King Benito goes on his little rampage and takes all the fun!" Armando declared. "And I promised myself that you'd be one of them!"

Tōshirō raised an eyebrow at Armando's words. Rampage?

Isn't Benito Muerta already in the Seireitei? Shouldn't he already be on this rampage that Armando is talking about?

"Armando, what is this rage you mentioned? What is Benito Muerta planning?" Tōshirō demanded.

Armando laughed at this. "I thought you wanted to get right down to business?!" He pointed out. "Sorry, I have neither the time nor the patience to answer questions now that you've told me you're ready for battle!"

Tōshirō frowned. I should've figured he would have no intention of answering my questions. He thought, somewhat ashamed of himself for thinking Armando could be reasoned with. Whatever, I'll just get my answers from the king himself after I defeat his flunky!

"Now, time to die!" Armando yelled as he Sonido'd towards Tōshirō.

Tōshirō gritted his teeth. "Reign over the frosted heavens!" He chanted. "Hyōrinmaru!"

Amando grinned maniacally as one of his two blades clashed against Hyōrinmaru's. He only laughed even harder when he saw his blade freeze in a block of ice. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" He yelled happily. "You've improved as well!"

"You are truly a worthy rival!" Armando said gleefully as he raised his other blade in the air. "I'm going to enjoy this!"

Tōshirō Flash-Stepped away from Armando before the General could cleave his head in half. Armando then took a moment to wave his frozen sword around, breaking the ice with sheer force. "Yeah, with His Majesty planning on taking all the fun once he's ready, it's up to me to have as much fun as possible before that happens!"

"Ha!" Armando yelled as he sent out a flurry of Balas by waving his twin Zanpakutō around.

Tōshirō's eyes widened slightly. So many! He thought to himself, trying to quickly decide whether he should try to dodge or block the attacks.

I'll just freeze them all! He decided, swinging Hyōrinmaru out in front of him.

Armando's eyes widened in slight surprise as his attacks were frozen. "Whoa, I didn't even realize that you could freeze Spirit Energy. Very impressive, but I guess that's to be expected if your Hyōrinmaru really is the strongest Ice Zanpakutō in the Soul Society!"

Tōshirō narrowed his eyes. "I don't think I can emphasize this enough, Armando." Tōshirō said to him. "I'm not the same Soul Reaper you met back in the Menos Forest."

"Ooh, that's definitely true." Armando said eagerly. "You are definitely on a completely different level than you were back than. It looks like fighting your way way through La Torre has made you even stronger."

"And that's fantastic! That's utterly splendid!" Armando declared. "After all, the how a warrior survives, how he adapts, that is how he's going to be judged when he finally leaves this world."

"The ones that stay alive, adapt and become stronger. They're the ones who are judged as the strong. The ones that stay stagnant and die, however, are weak. It's that simple." Armando explained.

"And I suppose you consider your race the one that adapts and becomes stronger?" Tōshirō inquired with gritted teeth.

"Indeed, and you're the stagnant weaklings that need to be wiped out."

"The strong survive and thrive while the weak die out and are forgotten, that is how the universe operates." Armando explains. "You've thrived for long enough. Now, you are weak and need to be destroyed."

"But, that doesn't mean I want to have fun while conducting the order of the universe." Armando said with a sadistic smile. "Transform, Tōshirō Hitsugaya! I want you to give me a hell of a show with your Bankai!"

Tōshirō scowled. "I suppose it was inevitable." He noted. "You are by far the strongest enemy I've ever fought, Armando Brizna. To use anything less than Shikai would be suicide on my part."

"Then why hold off for so long?" Armando inquired curiously.

"Simple, I have been hailed as a prodigy all my life. But even prodigies can still learn." Tōshirō explained. "And I wanted to simply see how much I've learned!"

"Bankai!" Tōshirō yelled. "Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"

Armando watched as the wings of ice sprouted from Tōshirō's body. "Splendid!" He declared. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

"I want to enjoy myself before His Majesty takes all the fun away!" Armando reminded Tōshirō. "Now that you've shown me yours, I'll show you my full power!"

Tōshirō narrowed his eyes as Armando crossed his two blades together into an 'x.' "Sting and Claw!" He yelled. "Escorpio!"

Tōshirō watched as black armor covered Armando's body and the blades fused into his body, creating what appeared to be claws. A stinger grew out of his back. Armando Brizna had transformed into a humanoid scorpion

"So this is the power Halibel had stopped you from using." Tōshirō noted. "I have to say, I'm glad she did. If you had used your Ressureción on me back than, you would've killed me instantly."

"I'm still going to kill you now! That hasn't changed!" Armando promised. "And I promise you, it's not going to be instant. It's going to be slow and painful, just the way I like it!"

With that, Armando charged Tōshirō, clicking his claws together. "Time to die, Tōshirō Hitsugaya!"

Tōshirō responded by swinging his sword. "Tensō Jurin!" He yelled as almost instantly, the moisture in the area around Armando froze, encasing him in a frozen prison.

Tōshirō smirked. "This is not a power I normally use in Bankai, because at the time I was unsure of whether I could keep my allies from being caught in it."

"However, my allies are not here." Tōshirō pointed out. "Not only that, but my powers have matured to the point where even if my allies were in the vicinity, I have no reason to worry."

Then, the ice shattered, much to Tōshirō's surprise. The stinger stretched forward and pierced the Squad 10 Captain in the shoulder. "Gah!" Tōshirō cried out in surprise.

"That was cold." Armando complained. "But still, that was pretty impressive. I actually had to exert myself a little to break out of that ice."

"But, not good enough." Armando taunted. "I've got enough strength to break through your ice. That's bad for you. And now, I've stung you with my stinger. That's bad too."

Tōshirō felt his arm go numb. "What did you do?" Tōshirō demanded.

"Why, don't you know, Captain?" Armando sadistically inquired. "Scorpions are infamous little creatures, mainly due to their various poisons. This stinger is coated with a paralysis agent that can easily make a person's arm go numb. And when you combine that with my Spirit Energy, that paralysis is permanent unless you see a doctor."

"Is that so," Tōshirō said, "you really are worth defeating, Armando."

With that, Tōshirō's Spiritual Pressure became like an aura around his arm. Armando raised an eyebrow as after a brief moment, his arm started to move again. "Huh, what's that all about?" Armando wondered.

"A little trick I picked up recently." Tōshirō explained. "I isolated the foreign elements in my bloodstream and froze them with my Spirit Energy."

"I'm afraid you're going to have to do better than that, Armando."

Armando frowned for a moment before laughing maniacally. "Splendid!" He yelled happily. "Truly splendid! You keep dragging this out for me, Tōshirō Hitsugaya! Make this as enjoyable for me as possible!"

With that, Armando charged Tōshirō, clicking his claws in the process. "Guncho Tsurara!" Tōshirō froze water into ice and then launched several pointed icicles and launched them at Armando.

"Ha!" Armando gleefully yelled as he tore each icicle in half with his claws.

Tōshirō then flew into the air and avoided Armando's next attack, which was intent on tearing his head off. "You can't run from me!" Armando yelled as he leapt into the air, creating a crater in the process.

"Who said I was running?" Tōshirō inquired.

"Hyōryū Senbi!" Tōshirō yelled swinging his sword and forming a crescent of ice.

Armando narrowed his eyes. "Zekku!" Tōshirō sent the ice downwards towards Armando.

Armando held out his claws and caught the ice with them. He then scissored them forward and snapped the ice in half. "Running or not, I intend to catch you!" Armando yelled, holding his stinger over his head as it started to shine brightly.

"Cero!" Armando yelled, firing the signature attack of the Arrancar from his stinger.

Tōshirō easily flew away and avoided Armando's Cero. "Guncho Tsurara!" Tōshirō yelled, firing more sharp icicles at the General.

Armando narrowed his eyes in slight annoyance as he swiped his tail and shattered the icicles. Tōshirō frowned slightly. "That tail of yours should have some wear and tear from my attacks." He noted.

"Another thing you should know about scorpions, Hitsugaya." Armando taunted. "Scorpions have a very tough body. In fact, they are so durable they can even survive nuclear explosions. Your paltry ice means nothing to my body, it's second to the recently deceased Cortez' defense, making my very flesh the second strongest defense in Los Retazos."

"We can spend all day doing this and you wouldn't be any closer to killing me." Armando revealed. "However, where's the fun in that? I mean, dragging things out in a bloody manner is one thing, but without blood? That isn't fun at all. Not when there's no blood and gore involved.

"I will tear your body to pieces with my claws and my stinger, but if only you'd stop flying away like a little bird!" Armando yelled maniacally.

"Guncho Tsurara!" Tōshirō attacked him again with icicles.

Armando knocked the icicles away with ease. "I already told you, that won't work!" He yelled. "I am a mighty General of Los Retazos, you fool!"

With that, Armando Sonido'd towards Tōshirō. "Now stand still!" He demanded, clicking his claws and readying his tails.

"I will tear you to pieces!" He yelled, flying towards Tōshirō with Sonido.

"Hyōryū Senbi!" Tōshirō created another ice crescent. "Zekku!"

Tōshirō launched the crescent at Armando. Armando flew underneath it and avoided the attack. "Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention." Armando grinned as he launched his tail at Tōshirō.

Tōshirō flew away from Armando's tail, only for it to extend further, much to his surprise. "I can extend the length of my tail with my Spirit Energy! You can't run from me forever!"

Tōshirō's eyes widened as the tail started to gain speed. He's too fast. He quickly realized as the tail dug into his stomach.

"Gah!" Tōshirō yelled in pain.

"Ha! I got you!" Armando taunted maniacally. "I'll carve this truth into your body if I have to! You cannot defeat me, Tōshirō Hitsugaya!"

"Even using your powers to freeze the poison in your bloodstream would be a moot point. After all, the more of your body you freeze from the inside, the more you run the risk of slowing down your body. You're a dead man no matter how you put it!"

"Now come on, scream for me!" Armando dug his stinger deeper into Tōshirō's stomach, driving him downwards into the rooftop of a building.

Satisfied with his work, Armando retracted his stinger and tail. He laughed cruelly at his opponent's state. "That was fun." He said. "But a bit disappointing in the end. You were unable to put a single scratch on my body, unlike last time."

"Now than, accept your fate and let my paralysis agent run through your body." Armando said cruelly. "But if you wish to drag things out any further, by all means, freeze the poisons in your bloodstream. Just remember that you'll only slow down your body. Making you more vulnerable to my next attack."

"By all means though, freeze it all and drag this out further. More pain for you means more fun for me." Armando said sadistically.

Armando frowned slightly, not hearing a response from Tōshirō at first. However, he then heard the Squad 10 Captain speak. "The last ice petal has fallen."

Armando raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"The last ice petal has fallen." As a silhouette of someone who did not look like Tōshirō Hitsugaya got to his feet. "And now, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru has matured."

"You…are you still Tōshirō Hitsugaya?" Armando wondered. "Something about you…seems different."

Tōshirō ignored Armando as he continued to speak. "Because of my young age, I have never been able to use my Bankai to its fullest potential. As a result, I've been hindered in battle. But after the battle with Aizen, I trained extensively to mature my Bankai. However, I needed to find a method to use my matured powers to the fullest."

"Eventually, this is the solution I found. And so, when the last ice petal falls, my Bankai matures…" An adult-looking Tōshirō was revealed. "…and my body becomes like this."

Armando's eyes widened in slight surprise. "Whoa, now that is a surprise." He said. "I guess a brat like you would be full of surprises."

"I am even more surprised that you'd be moving around though. Did you seriously freeze the poison in your bloodstream?"

"That I did." Tōshirō responded.

"Ha! Dumb move!" Armando shouted. "You may have increased in power, but without any mobility, what's the point?"

"I don't need to move around to beat you anymore, Armando." Tōshirō responded. "As I am now, I can end this fight in four seconds."

Armando's eyes widened at the sheer arrogance behind that statement. One. Tōshirō began to count mentally.

"Four seconds? Four seconds?!" Armando screamed furiously.

Two…

"How dare you underestimate me like that! I am Armando Brizna, a general of Los Retazos!"

Three…

"I'm the one who can end this fight in that amount of time! And I'll do it right now!" Armando prepared to pounce on Tōshirō.

Four…

"Times up, Armando." Tōshirō told him.

Armando's eyes widened. "What…" He began before he was suddenly encased in ice, along with the entire area around him.

"Shikai Hyōketsu!" Tōshirō yelled as he flash-froze the entire area around him, including his nemesis.

"While I acknowledge that you are much stronger than Halibel when I fought her, she was still the superior opponent. And that is because she did not respond to any taunts meant to anger her." Tōshirō told Armando as the frozen body shattered, ending the life of the general.

"Farewell, Armando Brizna."

Tōshirō then dropped to his knees. "Damn," he cursed, "between the injuries I sustained in this fight, freezing the poison in my body and taking this form, I'm practically a walking corpse…minus the being close to death part."

"I'm…definitely going to sleep well for the next few days."

"I'm sorry everyone, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave the rest to you." With that, Tōshirō Hitsugaya fell forward and lost consciousness.

(Meanwhile, in La Torre)

Akio Yamamoto and Raoul Arcano panted as they found themselves locked in a stalemate. "I must say, I'm actually kind of impressed." Raoul admitted. "You are by far putting up a much better fight than most of my victims."

"Yeah?" Akio grinned. "And beneath all that smart-ass personality of yours, there's a real fighter."

"Indeed," Raoul chuckled, "but I'm afraid it's time we end this dance."

Akio narrowed his eyes. Is he going to do it?

Raoul sheathed his Zanpakutō. "Blind them," he chanted, "Ilusión."

With that, Raoul vanished as a massive fog appeared, enveloping Akio. "What the hell?" Akio was surprised. "A mist?"

Akio then immediately caught on. I get it now, this is an assassination based Resurreción. That must've been how he got the others. Calm down, Akio, you can handle this.

Akio then smirked confidently. He's about to have a bad day.

No sooner had he thought that, Raoul appeared from the mist behind the Squad 5 Captain and raised his Zanpakutō in the air. Grinning, Akio spun around and delivered a devastating lightning-imbued roundhouse kick to Raoul's face, flooring the man instantly.

"Gah!" Raoul cried out in pain.

"A little something I forgot to mention." Akio said. "I'm dating the best damn assassin in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Did you honestly think that with all the time I've spent with her I haven't picked up on how to fight assassins?"

"You…you bastard…" Raoul said as he coughed and died.

Akio grinned as the mist dispelled. "That took longer than it should've." He muttered. "I need to get back and help Dad."

Akio then noticed the Senkaimon Gate. "Excellent, looks like Nemu and Hiyori have managed to keep it maintained."

Akio quickly ran towards the gate as it opened up. He ran across the path for awhile and was soon at the door to the Soul Society. "Awesome, I'm back!" Akio yelled with glee, eager to help the people at the Seireitei.

However, when the Senkaimon opened up, Akio was greeted with a horrific sight. The entire Seireitei had been burnt to the ground. Corpses were strewn everywhere. The Los Retazos had won the war.

Akio's eyes widened in sheer horror. "What…what the hell happened?!" He demanded.

A.N: Tōshirō has beaten Armando through the use of his matured Bankai and Akio has stumbled into a living nightmare. Just what has happened and can Akio survive it? Until next time, everyone. Peace out!