Author's note: So sorry for the lack of updates. Anyway, I'd just like to point out that,as well as releasing this, I've slightly tweaked the last few chapters. Arc's Fullbring is no longer called 'Chivalry' and is now called 'Noah's Ark'. Read on, and you'll find out why.

Chapter 20: Evolution

The teenage Fullbringer stared up at the figure in the sky in horror. His long blond hair blew in the wind and his hands, which once confidently swung a black and gold longsword adorned with jewels, were now shaking in fear.

Above him hovered another man, with short black hair and blood red eyes. He wore a white robe-like outfit and on his waist was a sheathed katana. Through his chest was a gaping hole, showing the emptiness of his body, with no heart or other internal organs. He appeared to be wearing an eyepatch made of bone. This was the mask fragment of this particular Arrancar.

"Do you remember my name?" the man asked in a cold, yet humorously high pitched voice "Or didn't I tell you way back then?"

"No…You never told me your name that night" said Arc. His throat was dry and he struggled to find the words, but he managed to force them out in the end. Images of that terrible night flooded back to him. His parents. The rain. The blood. The monster. The pain. "But I did my research. You are the Hollow called Breaker!"

"Hehehe, that's right! That's right!" laughed the Arrancar called Breaker. "And you're the scared little kid with no mummy or daddy. My, how they tasted good! I can't wait to see how good your hatred tastes!" he laughed, licking his lips as a second horde of lesser Hollows appeared from behind him and dived down to the forest clearing, where Arc stood his ground and doubled the grip on his sword.

Meanwhile, Lloyd and Date made their way through the forest, towards the sight of the battle in the clearing, albeit slowly due to Lloyd's wounds.

"That kid's strong" grunted the Shinigami, who was being carried by Date.

"Indeed. I see now why you took a liking to him before" said Date "Do you think he is one of the five?"

"Perhaps" muttered Lloyd "The prophecy did say that there would be a Fullbringer among the five, and they aren't exactly easy to come by." Explained Lloyd "I'd bet my Zanpakutou that it's him"

Arc cleaved another Hollow in two before turning to face another. Neither side showed any sign of wearing down in this gruelling death gauntlet. Neither Arc's strength and stamina nor Breaker's numbers wavered.

"That's it! Keep fighting! Keep killing!" laughed the insane Arrancar from above "I want to eat your soul when you feel helpless! When all your strength has been drained! When you're on your knees, begging me not to eat you like your parents all those years ago"

"The kids got a lot of potential, I'll give him that" said the Quincy as the two veteran warriors trudged further through the woodland

"Indeed, perhaps his powers will evolve further?" suggested Lloyd "I recall reading in the 12th Squad Research notes that a Fullbringer's power will increase with the user's experiences and knowledge."

"How Interesting" grumbled Date as he continued to hoist the Shinigami along

"Oh, I'm sorry. I should be able to walk now" chuckled Lloyd , taking the hint as he began to limp ahead on his injured legs.

As time went on, the battle of wills began to take its toll on Arc, who was now panting, struggling to lift his blade. Regardless, he still continued to cut down Hollow after Hollow until he could no longer stand. At this point, Breaker floated down to the exhausted teenage boy, surrounded by Hollows

"Mmm…I've been waiting for this" hummed Breaker "Let me taste your hatred…Your resentment…Your Soul!" he laughed, reaching out for the boy.

Right before the Arrancar could touch the teenager, the Hollows around them suddenly disappeared. They were purged by a rain of lightning and arrows. From the edge of the forest just behind Arc, Lloyd and Date stood fully armed, wielding the Double Bladed Sword and Spirit Bow respectively.

"We'll take the small fry!" said Lloyd as he engaged the remaining Hollows "This fight is important to you, right? Then go ahead and take him out!"

Arc suddenly tapped into a well of unknown strength and found his second wind. He reached out and grabbed the hovering hand of the distracted Arrancar and gripped it tightly, breaking the Arrancar's fingers. A flickering green light appeared by his feet as Breaker recoiled in pain. He lifted his heavily adorned blade and held the flat side out towards Breaker as he kicked off the ground. The blade's flat side slammed into the Arrancar, sending him flying back into the woodland. Without stopping or losing momentum, Arc kicked again, against the air this time, allowing him to jump again, higher into the air to meet the Arrancar, who pulled himself up from the fallen trees and flew into the air. Arc rocketed towards Breaker again, this time, aiming to strike with the sharp end of the blade.

However, this time, Breaker was ready. He drew his own sword and blocked the attack, quickly countering with a slice to the arm, which cut deeply, but no enough to sever it. Arc fell to the ground, breaking several bones from the height he fell from, but slowly got back to his feet.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this!" moaned Breaker from above with his ridiculously high and cackling voice "I was supposed to devour you when you were scared! You won't taste good If I break you!"

"…Tough luck…Life…ain't that easy…" spluttered Arc, who was coughing up blood "I learned that lesson from you!" said the teenager. As Arc spoke, his entire body began to glow green, the same colour as the 'Bringer Light.' "I vowed to kill you and avenge my parents. For that purpose I have tempered my sword and sharpened my skills. Now that the day is finally here, I refuse to back down!" he roared. At that moment, the light reached it's peak around Arc and the boy was cloaked in it's light completely. When he finally emerged, he was clad in a stunning set of black and gold armour, like his sword

"Look! His powers did evolve!" remarked Lloyd after killing the last of the minor Hollows. The boy clad in gold wordlessly dashed towards Breaker, even faster than before

"Wh-What!? How can you move so fast in such a heavy set of amour!?" asked the now Panicking Arrancar, who tried to stab the boy with his sword

"I don't know" replied Arc, who instinctively moved his own sword "It's strange, but despite it's size, it feels as light as a second layer of skin"he replied, before swinging his sword at a blinding speed, severing Breaker's right arm from his body, causing the Arrancar to drop his sword along with his limb. The black blade moved so fast that the humming noise it made while cutting through the air was not heard until after the Arrancar's arm was removed and the blade had stopped.

"My arm! You cut off my arm!" wailed Breaker "It freakin' hurts! IT FREAKIN' HURTS!" he cried, grabbing the bleeding stump attached to his right side, where his arm used to be.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt when you're dead" said Arc calmly through is golden helmet's visor, pointing his blade at Breaker "You can't beat me now, not while I wear this Golden shell; 'Ark'." He said, punching his own chest with his left fist "Or while I wield this Black Blade; 'Noah'." As he said this, the large red Ruby, which was located on the Sword's blade began to glow along with the Sword's blade. Eventually, the once solid black blade had become a glowing red beam and had extended slightly.

"…Rot in Hell, you murderous scum" Arc muttered under his breath as he rushed within slashing distance of the Arrancar. He swung his sword ten times, each time dividing the Arrancar into more and more pieces

"Ten Commandments!" said Arc as the Arrancar's body finally disappeared, as if his soul dispersed.

Later, the three warriors stood on a street corner in the orange glow of the sunset.

"I…don't think I have any right to say this after what I did and said…" muttered Arc, who looked up at the two men. "But…Thank You! If you hadn't shown up, I would have died for sure"

"I understand." Said Lloyd "It helps to ease the pain if you can find someone to blame. I hope you've found peace with that Arrancar's death"

"I think I have…" sighed Arc "I'm in your debt" he said. At that point, the Shinigami and the Quincy both looked at each other and grinned

"Then come with us." Said Lloyd "Destiny dictates it!"

"Is that so?" asked the blonde haired boy "Sounds interesting, why not!" he laughed

"Actually, we never introduced ourselves properly, did we?" asked Lloyd "I am Lloyd Akashi, Captain of the Gotei 13's 7th Squad"

"Date Shashu. Quincy" said Date. Both men shook Arc's hand.

"I see. My name is Arc Destiny" said Arc, with surprisingly good manners "Pleased to make your Acquaintance, you bastard Shinigami and Quincy!"

To Be Continued