BLEACH: TO FIGHT- REBORN ARC PART II
Gantier sits on a cliff edge with his katana resting against his back, looking out over the windy plains of Hueco Mundo.
"What was that feeling I had back there?" Gantier thought to himself.
He puts his hand on his stomach. "It felt like a pit was forming in my stomach," he thought.
Gantier gets up and starts to walk north.
"All my years as an Adjuchas, I never had that feeling before. So why did it happen then? Was it a sign of me becoming an Arrancar?"
Gantier stops and looks up at the Moon. "That has to be the reason. That feeling coincided with my transformation into an Arrancar. I don't feel that pit in my stomach anymore, haven't since I transformed," he said to himself.
Gantier continues on walking.
"Why did I have that thought of saving them though?" he asked himself.
*s*
Wenzol observes Gantier's footprints in the sand. "These tracks are still pretty fresh," he said, "It can't be too far. Stay on your guard."
"Yes sir!" responded the other Quincys.
The group continues to follow the tracks.
"Wenzol, sir," said a Quincy.
"What is it?" responded Wenzol. "How strong do you think this Arrancar is?"
"Well, it's hard to say," said Wenzol, "I would have to fight it before I could make a proper judgment."
"It would be nice to know," responded the curious Quincy
"Regardless, as long as we stick to the plan we use for all Arrancars, we will have nothing to worry about," said Wenzol.
"Yes sir," responded the group.
"What worries me is how much does this Arrancar know?" Wenzol thought to himself, "Andric and Baldur's spears didn't have any blood on them. That could mean two things; either the spears somehow couldn't pierce its Hierro or it knew the spears can pierce Hierro and did its best to avoid them."
Wenzol looks down at the footprints, "This Arrancar might be a tricky one to fight," he thought to himself.
*s*
Ivonel and Gerenn reach the top of a hill. They look down and see an active camp. They descend the hill and enter the camp.
A guard approaches the two, "Where is Captain Gerelina?" asked Ivonel.
"She's at Command Center," responded the guard.
Ivonel and Gerenn proceed past the guard and head straight for Captain Gerelina.
They are cut off by a group of Soldats leading four Arrancar whose hands and mouths are covered in shackles made of Reishi.
"That's all the other parties could muster?" said a disappointed Gerenn.
"The Seventh Jagdarmee has been in this region for weeks now," said Ivonel, "We pretty much have bled this region dry."
Ivonel and Gerenn enter the Command Center tent. They see a woman in her forties with mid-length black hair speak to an officer.
"Captain Gerelina, what is our next move?" asked The Officer.
"Captain Opie is currently making his way to Las Noches to combine The First Jagdarmee with His Majesty's forces. Take the Arrancar we have captured and join him," commanded Captain Gerelina.
The officer salutes the Captain and leaves the tent. Captain Gerelina turns and faces Ivonel and Gerenn.
"You two, I believe you are with Wenzol's party," said Captain Gerelina, "What is his status update?"
Ivonel steps forward and salutes her, "Ma'am, we have not found any suitable Arrancar for use. We have killed about seven Arrancars so far."
"So where is Wenzol then?" asked Captain Gerelina.
Gerenn steps forward and salutes the Captain, "Ma'am, two of our group members were killed by a newly birthed Arrancar. Wenzol and the rest of the group went searching for it."
"I see, where are they currently?" asked Captain Gerelina.
Ivonel points on a map, "They were last here and currently making their way north."
"You two are dismissed. Wait here at camp," said Captain Gerelina.
The two salute the Captain and exit the tent.
"A newly birthed Arrancar," Captain Gerelina said to herself, "and it killed two of our own right away."
Captain Gerelina looks at the map, "Wenzol must already have an idea about this Arrancar's strength. Six may not do," she said to herself with concern.
Captain Gerelina exits the tent, "Messenger!" she called out.
"Yes Ma'am?!" he responded timidly.
"I want you to gather Konrecht and Eris's group. Tell them to meet me at Command Center," she demanded.
"Yes Ma'am!" responded The Messenger as he runs off.
"The Jagdarmee were created for hunts like these," she thought to herself, "I just hope Wenzol is smart and doesn't engage with this beast."
*s*
Gantier sleeps against a dead tree.
Wenzol and his group quietly surround him.
Two of them flank Gantier and hold their spears up to his neck.
Three of them stand a couple yards away. They gather surrounding Reishi and create a standard bow and arrow. They aim and pull back on the arrow.
"Wake up, Arrancar!" yelled Wenzol.
Gantier slowly opens his eyes, "What the?" he said confusingly.
"You can't escape us. We have you surrounded," stated Wenzol.
Gantier looks to his left and notices a spear is pressed against his neck.
"I saw you awhile back killing some Arrancars," said Gantier, "Why did you follow me all the way out here?"
"Because you killed two of my men," Wenzol said angrily, "I can't let that fly."
Gantier sits there, staring at Wenzol and not responding.
"However, I'm going to give you two options," said Wenzol, "We either kill you right here, right now. Or, we bring you back to our camp and be forced to work for us."
"Why are you giving me a choice?" asked a perplexed Gantier.
"You must really be out of the loop," said Wenzol, "Let me give you a quick briefing on what's going on in Hueco Mundo. The Wandenreich are taking over Hueco Mundo and we are gathering any Arrancar strong enough to fight for us. If they are weak or not an Arrancar, we kill them. Once we're done here we are attacking The Soul Society."
"If that's the case, let me give you my answer," said Gantier.
Gantier clenches his right hand, it starts to glow a bright, crimson red.
"Watch out!" shouted Wenzol, "It's about to use its Bala!"
Gantier quickly punches the ground, creating a large cloud of dust.
"Don't let it get away!" shouted Wenzol.
The sound of metal clashing rings through the cloud.
"There's no way we can see it in this dust cloud," Wenzol thought. "Everyone! Out of the dust cloud, now!" he shouted.
Wenzol and three other Quincys run out into the open.
"Hold on, we're missing two," said Wenzol.
The dust cloud starts to clear out. They see Gantier's silhouette standing next to the two spearmen's lifeless bodies.
"I'm not interested in throwing my life away like you all are," said Gantier, "I think I'll be on my way."
Gantier quickly vanishes with his Sonído, but appears seconds later behind them and falls to the ground.
Wenzol turns around and sees Gantier bleeding from his right shoulder, left side of his abdomen, and left arm.
"Well, it looks like they got you before you killed them," said Wenzol.
Gantier slowly stands up and tries to use Sonído again. Wenzol suddenly appears in front of him and delivers a swift kick to Gantier's wounded abdomen. Gantier falls to the ground, writhing in pain.
"Nice try," said Wenzol, "You're not the only one that can move at high speeds."
Two Quincys grab the spears and walk towards Gantier.
"So you choose death," said Wenzol, "It wouldn't have mattered what you chose. You would die either way."
Wenzol grabs a spear from one of his men. He stabs Gantier straight through the stomach and quickly yanks the spear back out. Gantier pukes up some blood.
"How pathetic," said Wenzol, "I heard Arrancar are supposed to be these powerful monsters that have the power of both a Hollow and a Shinigami. All I have seen from you all is cowardice. I thought maybe you would be different, guess I was wrong."
Gantier struggles to stand up. "I need…my blade," he thought.
Gantier slowly reaches for his blade before Wenzol stomps on his hand.
"Tell me Arrancar, why did you decide to run off?" asked Wenzol, "Why not just fight us? You had the advantage with the dust cloud."
"Like I said," said Gantier, "I don't believe in throwing my life away like you all do."
Wenzol raises his spear high above him, "If those are your last words, so be it!" he growled.
"So it ends here," Gantier thought to himself, "Just as I became an Arrancar. Oh well."
Just as Wenzol begins to lunge his spear; a bright, crimson beam envelops the top half of Wenzol.
The beam dissipates only leaving Wenzol's bottom half.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" shouted one of Wenzol's group members.
Gantier starts to lose consciousness, "What's going on?" he thought.
Before he can look to see what is happening, he passes out.
*s*
Gantier wakes up and quickly sits up.
"I'm not dead?" he said to himself.
He looks around his surroundings, "A cave?" he thought.
He hears footsteps echoing from the tunnel. Walking in is a Vasto Lorde with long brown hair, wings on its back, and talon feet like a Falcon.
"Oh good, you're awake," said the female Vasto Lorde in a soothing tone.
"Who are you?" asked Gantier, "Where am I?"
"You are in a safe place for Arrancar like you," she said, "My name is Nimoore Harraine; guardian of this haven."
"Neem-Nim-whatever," said a frustrated Gantier, "What happened to those humans?"
"I took care of them," she said calmly, "There are others like them that have been going around Hueco Mundo killing and abducting our kind."
Gantier gets up but stumbles a little.
"Easy now," said a concerned Nimoore, "You've been out a while and are still recovering."
"How long was I out for?" he asked.
"A good week or so," she responded, "I did the best I could with your wounds. I also took the liberty and got you some clothes."
Gantier looks down and sees he is wearing worn down white pants and a beat-up, short white coat exposing his torso.
"They're not in the best of conditions," she said, "my apologies."
"It doesn't matter," he responded, "Thanks anyway, but I want to get going."
"Wait, stop!" said Nimoore, "You still need time to recover."
Gantier makes his way down the tunnel. He sees a light up ahead.
"There's still more we need to talk about," pleaded Nimoore.
Gantier exits the cave, he sees a small group of Arrancar outside.
"There are others?" he said confusingly.
"I told you," said Nimoore, "This is a safe place for others like you. I want to ask you a question."
"What?" said Gantier.
"Would you join us?" she asked him.