Chapter 37: Angel of Death
Rico Nataniel was floating above his opponents, with his arms folded across his bare chest. Unlike many other Arrancar, Rico wore no shirt, as he had a pair of pitch black wings that sprouted from his shoulder blades. Being as Arrancar could fly naturally, there was no need for him to flap his wings.
Nelliel and Pesche floated up into the air, one on either side of him. Rico drew his massive two handed sword and tossed his sheath off to the side. Suddenly he flung himself down at Nel, swinging his sword down at her head. The former Espada blocked his colossal weapon with her Katana. Rico smirked, "only the strongest of opponents can block my Tripas. Good job, former Tercera."
Just then Pesche tried to slash at him from behind with his reishi sword. Without even taking his eyes off of the opponent in front of him, Rico's wings flexed and slammed hard into the former Fraccion's side. The young man was sent hurtling through the air, which briefly distracted Nel from her opponent, which earned her a headbutt.
"As someone who served as an Espada, you should know not to take your eyes off your opponent," Rico shook his head, "honestly, it's not that hard of a concept. That guy went into this battle knowing that he'd get hurt. Why bother worrying about him when you should be worrying about your opponent?"
"You shut your mouth!" Nel growled as she rose to her feet.
Rico smirked, but said nothing.
"You wouldn't know anything about worrying about your subordinates!"
"Why would I? Worrying makes one weak. You proved that a moment ago when you got so easily distracted by being worried."
Nel silently glared up at him.
"Come on," Rico laughed, "I heard that the former Tercera was a formidable opponent! But if you keep letting your emotions cloud your judgement, you'll be easier to beat than I thought!"
Master Nel normally wouldn't allow this guy to get under her skin. Pesche thought. He's only getting to her because he's threatening me... He rose to his feet, brushing sand off of himself. Compared to the beating I got from Master Starrk, this is nothing. I have... to show Master Nel that I'm stronger now! Pesche lifted his hand and began to charge up a golden cero. Rico watched carefully from above, but didn't bother to react yet.
Pesche released the attack, which Rico effortlessly dodged. But as he did so, he went right toward a stab to the side from Nel. This time, the young man didn't bother to dodge. Instead, he slashed down at her. Go ahead and stab me, Espada. Your blade might stab through me, but my slash will severely wound you, and it might even kill you. Do you want your little friend over there to see you die?
As if she could read his mind she lifted her sword and his blade connected with her guard. She tried to continue on with her stab, but he wouldn't allow her to push his sword back in the slightest. Despite having such a massive weapon, he won't budge an inch. He's seriously powerful.
Just then, Pesche charged at him from behind, stabbing his Reishi sword at his back. This time, the wings slammed into his stomach and sent him flying back down toward the ground. Nel disengaged with Rico and flew over to catch her friend.
"You never learn!" The Arrancar howled as he soared down at her while swinging his sword at her exposed back. But Pesche stopped the attack by stabbing into his sword before he could reach maximum speed.
He's smarter than he looks. He knows I'd cripple his sword if I got to my maximum speed. So he stopped me right as I was beginning to build up momentum, rather than after I've already gotten it. This time, Rico was the one to disengage. He floated a little higher than the two.
"Did you see it, Master Nel?" Pesche asked. "No matter what he thinks, I wasn't just attacking blindly. When I fired my cero at him, he could have blocked it with his wings. But he chose to dodge it instead. When you slashed at him, he could have blocked your sword with his wings so he could stab you. But he didn't. He saves his wings for a defense for his back. So the best route of attack..."
"Would be for both of us to attack his front at the same time," Nelliel realized.
Pesche grinned behind his mask, "precisely."
Wonderweiss and Matthias fighting together made it quite difficult for Ichimaru to fight. While either were especially fast, they were both quite strong. If he got hit with any attack, it might slow him down enough for one to get a finishing blow.
Ichimaru dodged a slash from Matthias, and then flash stepped out of the way from a wild strike from Wonderweiss.
I can't dodge them forever. Ichimaru thought, taking a few steps away from them. I'll need to take one of them out soon if I'm going to have a chance at surviving this battle. He dodged another two attacks from them. The only problem is, if I attack one of them, it'll leave me open for the other to attack me.
Ichimaru looked around the area, taking in his surroundings. Nothing but sand for as far as the eye could see. It would take a while, but Las Noches might have been a decent spot to fight. They wouldn't be able to use their herculean strength against him without bringing the roof down on their heads.
"I think it's time to change places. Let's fight in Las Noches, shall we?" And with that, the Soul Reaper vanished.
"Damn it!" Matthias growled as he Sonido'd after him. Wonderweiss followed suit.
Solomon leaned his glaive against his shoulder. In front of him stood a pale man with long black hair. In his hands he held a long black two handed sword with a chipped blade. The butt of the handle had a chain attached, which he had wrapped around his waist. Massilo grinned, slashing his sword down at him.
Solomon took a step away from him and trust his weapon onto Massilo's. The blades connected, but Solomon's leverage forced the sword into the air. "Your longer sword would give you an advantage in a sword fight. But now you're up against a polearm and not a sword. That means you can't defeat me. If you stand down now, I'll let you leave unharmed."
Massilo laughed and jumped away from him. "Who said anything about defeating you? I couldn't care less about that!"
"Why are you on Baraggan's team?"
"I only joined up with him because his team approached me first. His reasons, ethics, vices... they mean nothing to me. As long as I can have a good fight..." His grin broadened, "I couldn't care less who I serve or don't serve!"
"You are a real piece of work, swordsman." Solomon mumbled, putting himself into a low stance. "Tell me your name," he ordered, his voice laced with disgust.
He smirked at his opponent's distaste for him. "Massilo. Pietro Massilo."
"My name is Perrault Solomon. I'd say it's a pleasure, but that wouldn't be true."
"Oh, don't worry!" He gripped his sword with both hands once again, and began to build up spiritual energy all around himself. "I'll have enough fun for the both of us!" He lunged forward, swinging his sword down at him.
Solomon switched to a mid-stance and thrust his polearm into the blade, the same as the last time. And just like the last time, he forced the blade upward. But this time, Massilo hurled his weapon at Solomon's forehead, and caught the polearm with his chain.
The sasquatch dove out of the way, pulling his weapon with him. Massilo yanked his chain, which pulled his sword back to his hand.
Shakars and Daliza were standing in front of Donn, preparing to battle. "Come at me." Donn ordered, pointing a club at his opponents.
The two Arrancar on Harribel's side lunged at their opponent. Donn swung his club at them like a bat, which prompted Daliza to blitz off to the side to avoid the attack and made Shakars to leap off of her partner's back to jump over the weapon.
Donn began to swing at her again, but Daliza was fast enough to catch the weapon before it picked up any speed whatsoever. Shakars nailed Donn hard in the jaw, which sent him flying backward.
Donn landed in a large mound of sand, with the gray substance pouring all over him. His head bent awkwardly into the sand, as if he was already unconscious.
"So... is it over?" Daliza asked. "Could it really be that simple?"
"No. Use your pesquisa." Shakars mumbled with a dry throat.
Daliza momentarily closed his eyes then they shot open. A powerful energy was emanating from Donn, and it was growing stronger and stronger.
Suddenly, the sand around Donn was being separated from him by a silver energy. "RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" He roared as he rose to his feet. And then he flung himself at his two opponents.
Shakars vaulted off of Daliza's chest, which sent the boy into the sand and sent her into the air. That possibly saved both their lives, as Donn nearly crushed them with his club, but with Daliza beneath him and Shakars above him, his weapon hit neither. But they could both clearly hear the swing.
He swung it down at Daliza, who threw a handful of sand in his eyes and rolled away. Donn roared again, blindly swinging his club around. Shakars suddenly dropped on top of him, stabbing him in the shoulder repeatedly with her javelin.
Donn hurled her off of him with an immense blast of spirit energy.
Daliza gripped his hand axe with one hand, and got ready to dodge again. Shakars gripped her javelin with both hands, preparing to stab Donn in the chest, should he get too close.