A/N I appreciate all the reviews but if you would like a PM response then please don't make it anonymous. Thank you and enjoy the latest chapter...

Episode 25: Arrival

Her blade presses slightly into my flesh before my reflexes kick in. I dash forward and evade another seemingly programmed strike by the shark. I slam my feet hard on the ground as I leap hundreds of metres in the air to avoid her attacks. However she follows me to the dark heavens.

She aims her lance and utters the command "La Gota" Suddenly I face a blast of highly pressurised water. It is enough to cut off my entire arm.

"BANAZAI!" I hear Shrieker call out from below. He begins to fly up and assist me until three other hollows appear and shield Harribel. One appears as a giant snake the other two a lion and deer.

They shout in unison. "We will protect you Lord Harribel!"

"Tch." I curse at this seemingly dire situation. Fortunately this little distraction has allowed for my arm to regenerate.

Shrieker calls over to my position. "I'll deal with these three and I'll let you go one-on-one with her."

"Got it." I just hope he'll be able to match up against three female Adjuchas, then again the others should help out too. For now the attention must return to the Shark empress.

"I see your three vassals have come to your rescue."

She crosses her arms. "I won't require their assistance to defeat you. I'll let them clean up the scrap below."

"For a shark, you talk too much/." I taunt my opponent and draw her in for the strike. She charges with her immense gauntlet to which I extend my claws. My range is further and she somehow manages to avoid being impaled. She uses Sonido to dash around me but I can match hers now. We exchange blows whilst in Sonido for some time until she arcs her sword, releasing a wide cero. I slip under the yellow cero ray and kick her upwards. I fly up further to reach her but she spins mid air and blocks with her heavy hand. Sparks brighten the night sky and nearly blind me so I parry her away and use my claw extending ability to skewer her. However she is too agile to fall for this relatively basic move. I was hoping to save my strongest attack for when I really needed it but I may need to resort to it sooner.

"Can you please show me your strongest attack?" I foolishly request. I decided I would observe her strongest attack which would allow me to gauge how strong she actually is.

She glances oddly at her pata (sword gauntlet thing) then responds. "If you wish to sacrifice yourself so needlessly...then I will grant you such a request."

I brace myself for what will definitely be a powerful attack. She raises her pata high above the air and speaks words of death to me. "Cascada"

A torrent of water spirals from her blade and beams towards me. If I stay I risk being crushed by the sheer weight and force behind this flow. If I try and dodge my subordinates could get caught in the fray.

I have no choice. I hope my own trump card will dissipate the torrent of water and grant myself victory.

I focus all my reatsu and energy into my eight appendages and call out the name of my signature attack. "JUCIO CERO"

The orbs of destruction fore away, boiling the water and vaporising it before it impacts my body. A mist develops and I wait in anticipation for the outcome. Did I win?

Her shadow still stands rigid past the mist. "You were hoping to measure the power of my strongest attack so you could counter it with your own."

Bitch read my mind...

"...I am gratefully disappointed now..." Her shadow disappears. I feel a sharp pain rise in my lower back. Before I know it, I have been impaled from behind. Dark rings surround my vision. Im fading in and out of conciousness. Could this really have been my demise?

"Steven...Steven...Steven! STEVEN! STEVEN!"

Brother?

"Come see me in Soul Society...you won't believe how awesome this place is until you've seen it with your own eyes."

I wanna see. Let me come with you.

"Come on Ben...hurry up your falling behind.."

Noooo don't abandon me again...

Another voice! "Please don't forget about me too monster..."

That girl? Hey please you have to help me out of here.

"Nuh uh...you can't rely on others to do everything for you..."

Please...

A third voice..."Still itchin' for a rematch kid."

Damn you Mitzuki!

The voices combine as one. "IT'S NOT YOUR TIME YET...YOU CANNOT DIE HERE...CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY AND FULFIL YOUR DESTINY..."

Before I return to my real hell the shady man whom I recall from a while ago disrupt my vision. He was the one who killed me and led me to this life. Once I reunite with my brother, I will find that man and take my revenge. For now I must return to the battle at hand.

But where has she gone? All I hear is a whooshing noise as if a giant explosion has occurred. All I see is a pair of feminine hollow legs. What on earth happened? Did I do this?

Her limbs slowly descend to the ground. Her three vassals may have grieved at their fallen leader's death but it appears they have been defeated by Shrieker and the others. They stare in complete shock and horror at the devastation I had just caused.

Something feels heavy on my other arm. I shake it violently until I notice something is skewered on my claws. It's Harribel...her head at least!

I shriek when I realise the extent of my own power. I had defeated a Vasto Lorde. One of the possibly few around Hueco Mundo.

The hunger returns, but this time I have more control. I throw the head of my defeated opponent to Shrieker. "Quickly devour her before she dissolves, if this doesn't make you a Vasto Lorde then I will grant you that initial request and eat a part of you."

He seemingly abides by my request (or order as it may seem) and devours the shark empress.

Nothing seems to happen...until Shrieker falls on his knees and retches white substances. His body is transforming like mine had previously. Once the transformation is complete he reveals his Vasto Lorde form. His mask narrows and shortens but wing like ears develop and stretch across his head like horns. A black marking stripes down his mask with jagged edges.

"I must thank you Banzai, your generosity is highly appreciated...Now let us continue to Las Noches."

We shake hands in a gesture of mateship. "Of course...comrade..."

After what feels like days we finally arrive at our ultimate destination. The palace which dominates the horizon of Hueco Mundo appears before my very eyes. Las Noches.

"Are you ready for this Banzai?" Shrieker sides with me.

"We cannot afford to turn back in fear now. Will we be granted the privilege of becoming Arrancar? It is up to them to dictate the final judgement."

"Who exactly?" Shrieker quizzes but I cannot answer.

"So you wish to become servants of my kingdom?" A deep voice of an aged hollow. "Or are you just a plague of vermin that needs to be exterminated?"

Torches light a path along the open hall which leads to a high throne. A corridor of loyal hollows kneel before this supposed king. He greets us with contempt. "I am Barragan, Ruler of this place and King of Las Noches..."

An immeasurable amount of time spent dwelling in the forests underground...Now I have foud the gem in the hollow realm, however we are not alone in our discovery. Will this king greet us withh open arms...or drawn blades? Let's find out in the next exciting chapter!