Chapter 9
Zera's P.O.V
After entering Hueco Mundo, everyone got some rest by sleeping in my cave. There were a few complaints at first, but after a little 'conversing', everything was settled. Everyone slept quietly, but I stayed up most of the night without telling anyone. I was too busy thinking about what I was going to do once morning comes, which it did quickly. It looked like Ichigo and Rukia were the first to wake up.
"Zera? You're up already?" Ichigo said while rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah. So, did you two sleep well?" I asked.
"We slept on piles of sand in a cave." Rukia said.
"I'll take that as a yes." I said, ignoring her sarcastic tone. After that, the three of us waited for everyone else to wake up.
"Good. You're all awake. Now listen up, I must be going somewhere." I said.
"Where?" Yuzu asked.
"If all goes well, I'll tell you when you when I come back. But, until I do, none of you can go out on their own unless you have someone with you since Hollows, big or small, all have a unique powers or ability." I explained.
"Zera, can't one of us go with you?" Karin asked.
"No. It'll be safer and quicker if I go on my own. You guys don't know this place enough yet." I said.
"I guess that's true, but still, you're not giving us many details." Uryu said.
"That's all you need to know. I'll be back soon." I said, walking out of the cave.
I would've told them where I was going and what I had planned on doing, but then they would probably want to come along no matter what I said. It would've been too dangerous for them. Besides, for me, it wouldn't be too dangerous. In a way, I was just paying a visit to an old friend.
It took awhile to cross the sands of Hueco Mundo, but with my speed, I easily found Barragan's throne in no time. As usual, he was surrounded by the strongest of Adjuchas, possibly a few Vasto Lorde there too. Even with a skull for a face, I could tell he wasn't exactly happy to see me.
"Barragan. I see you're still doing well." I said.
"Zera. I'm surprised you actually showed your face around me, even after all these years." Barragan said.
As much as he may dislike me, I had to come here. With our plan, we need to be in charge. So I either need to convince him now to help, or I'll need to kill him. I hope the first option, I mean, he is still one of my own. Not to mention he knows how to rule this place.
"Look Barragan, I'm not here to pick a fight. I'm here to talk." I said.
"Oh? And what is so important that you actually come and talk to me personally?" Barragan asked.
"I plan to attack the Soul Society. I've had it with them, so a few others and myself have started a plan to destroy it. But, in order to do that, my friends and I must rule Hueco Mundo. So I was hoping you would not only step down from your throne, but also help us." I explained, sounding as serious as I could.
"Me stepping down from power and an attack on the Soul Society? Hahaha! You certainly have spirit to even suggest that, but that alone won't persuade me." Barragan said.
Should've figured. This guy is probably the only person more stubborn than me. Guess I've got to give him more persuasion. With that in mind, I reached into the clothes I had on and took out something that will definitely interest him, the Hogyoku.
"Then what about this? Would this persuade you?" I asked, holding it up or him to see.
"What is that?" Barragan asked.
"It's called the Hogyoku. With it, I can turn you into an Arrancar." I explained.
"What!? Well then, hand it over." Barragan said. I knew that would work. He's been wanting to become an Arrancar for centuries now, all so he could kill me and finally be the strongest in Hueco Mundo.
"I won't use it on you until I get nine other Arrancars first." I said. Like hell I was gonna turn him into an Arrancar, not right away at least. I'm not stupid, so I know he's not someone to be trusted with power.
"Hm, very well. Let's make this quick." Barragan said.
Even if I hated being ordered around, I knew he was right. So, like he said, I picked out the nine strongest Vasto Lorde present and changed them into Arrancars. They all had to take time to adjust to their new bodies, but they all seemed to pick it up very easily. They all told me their names. There was Yammy, Stark, Nelliel, Ulquiorra, Harribel, Nnoritora, Grimmjow, Zommari, Szayelaporro, and Aaroneiro. I could already tell they each had their own special abilities just based on their appearances now and previously. Also, they all had their own swords which probably held the power of their Resurreccion.
"Now, you have your nine Arrancars. Now do as you said and turn me into one as well." Barragan said. Hearing him say that, I just laughed.
"What's so funny?" Barragan said.
"You really are dumb. Only a fool would give you that kind of power." I said.
"How dare you! Do it, or else I'll order the remaining Vasto Lorde and the Arrancars you made to kill you." Barragan threatened. That just made me even laugh harder, it took me a minute or two to recompose myself.
"Go right ahead." I said.
Then he did just that. But, only the three remaining Adjuchas present attacked me. I really don't want to do this, but I can't just leave them alive since Barragan will just order them to attack me over and over again. Even as I was thinking this, all three of them jumped towards me at the same time. But, I easily jumped up faster than them, allowing me to kill all three of them quickly. The attack literally only lasted ten seconds.
"Damn you! All of you, kill her!" Barragan ordered. This time, however, not a single Hollow did as he said.
"Looks like no one's listening to you, Barragan." I pointed out with a smirk.
"What do you all think you're doing!? I gave you an order!" Barragan said.
"Just shut up." Grimmjow said.
"What!?" Barragan shouted.
"You are a Vasto Lorde, while we are Arrancars. Meaning, we are stronger than you and no longer need to obey you." Ulquiorra said.
"Aw, they grow up so fast, don't you think?" I said sarcastically to Barragan.
"You insolent brat! I will then just kill you myself!" Barragan shouted, coming at me with his weapon.
Looks like I have no choice but to fight. He has some major speed himself, I'll give him that, since in a slip second he was right in front of me and swung his weapon down right on top of me. Luckily I was still quicker with my reflexes and I made the blade of the axe land on my arm, even though the cut was deeper compared to any cuts from our previous fights. Pushing away his axe, I jumped back. I charged at him myself, jumping above him to be able to land a kick on his head. His skull had visible cracks on it after my one kick. But when I took the time to make distance between us again, the cracks on his head were already healing. That kind of process continued for who knows how long.
"Dang. You really have gotten stronger over the years, huh? Not to mention your ability to regenerate is faster." I said.
"Hmph. Save your petty praise." Barragan said, charging at me again.
I can't keep playing around like this, so I guess I have to use my ability after all. When Barragan swung his axe at me again, it appeared like the blade of his axe landed directly on my head where my mask was located. But, just as he was about to say something, the me he thought he hit suddenly vanished.
"What!?" Barragan exclaimed. Before he could react, I punched him hard enough on his back to create a small through his entire body.
"Gah! What, how did you get behind me!?" Barragan exclaimed as he moved away from me.
"I may have used it so rarely you've forgotten, but I still have my ability to control your senses, Barragan." I said.
"Damn you!" Barragan said.
I continued using my power against him as we fought. When he though I kicked him in the head from behind, I actually punched him in his chest in front of him. If he thought he landed a hit on me, I was actually right behind him. That kind of pattern continued until I finally seemed to be wearing Barragan down.
"You cursed brat!" Barragan said.
"Say what you want. But I'm ending this and claiming Hueco Mundo." I said. Just as I was about to do what I said, something slammed against the side of my head, sending me skidding across the sands.
"Jeez! What the hell was that!?" I exclaimed. Once I got back onto my feet, I was able to see where I just standing. And what I was really surprised to see was that it was Grimmjow who hit me.
"Grimmjow, what was that for?! Are you siding with Barragan now?" I asked.
"Tch, of course not. I just think I'm the one who should be king." Grimmjow said.
"What? You're insane!" I said.
Even if I said that, that didn't stop him from charging at me again. This time, he took out his sword and tried slashing me with it. I jumped back from the blade, but that put me too close to Barragan and he cut me across my back. This time, I moved away from both of them, but they both came after me this time. If I dodged one of them, the other one hit me. And I don't have enough time to use my power. Damn, if I hadn't wasted so much energy on Barragan before, these two wouldn't be such a problem. It may take more than what these two are doing to kill me, but I'm not making any progress either. If I hadn't wasted energy on Barragan earlier, these two wouldn't be a problem. Looks like I have no choice. I jumped further away from the two of them than any time before.
"What, running away?" Grimmjow said.
"Heh. Sorry. But I have no plans on losing this." I said.
With that, I began to use my Resurreccion. Using it destroys my clothes, so I try not to use it that often, but it can't be helped. When I use my Resurreccion I technically grow fur, although it's not really fur. It's bone that can pierce the hierro of any Arrancar, but it won't if they hit me in a place, like my face and lower stomach where my hole still is. I also grow a fox tail and my fox mask gives me fox ears that I can use to hear miles away. Finally, I grow fangs and claws that can rip through the hierro of an Arrancar even if they're in their Resurreccion form.
"What the?!" Grimmjow exclaimed.
"It's her Resurreccion." Barragan said. I can understand why he's also surprised. He hasn't even seen it.
"You guys made me ruin my clothes. Now you're really in for it!" I said, moving even faster than before.
Just like that, the fight became completely one sided. I moved too fast for either of them to even land a hit on me. Or if they did, I didn't feel it. Soon, Grimmjow and Barragan were lying on the ground, to beat up to move. Even Barragan's regeneration power wasn't helping him now. I silently walked past Grimmjow and, before reaching Barragan, picked up his giant axe.
"Well, Barragan, it's over now. And something tells me you still don't want to be involved with what's to come since I beat you. Not to mention you won't be becoming an Arrancar." I said.
"...Hehe. You aren't as stupid as you seem." Barragan said.
In all honesty, I really don't want to kill him. He may have wanted to kill me and we may have not gotten along at all over all these years, but still, he is one of my own. I actually even had some fun fighting him over all these years. But, this will be for the best.
"If that's what you want..." I said. I gripped his axe with both of my hand and lifted it above my head. Barragan doesn't even try to move or beg. He has honor in the end, I'll give him that.
"...Goodbye, Barragan." I said, brining his axe down, making it land right on his head, splitting it in two. Soon, his entire body began to disappear into the wind until it was completely gone. I decided to not touch his axe after that, to leave as a marker or something.
"Well, that settles it." I said. I walked over to Grimmjow, who still hadn't gotten up yet.
"Need a hand?" I said, just getting his attention. I already was putting his arm over my shoulders and helping stand as much as I could.
"You're helping me? Even after I attacked you?" Grimmjow said.
"Of course. Besides, I already had to kill some of my own, I don't plan on losing anymore today." I said. That seemed to keep him quiet. I moved with Grimmjow as close to other Arrancars as I needed to.
"Alright, we're leaving." I said.
"And just where would you be taking us?" Harribel asked.
"I need to return to my friends. Besides, Grimmjow needs to be healed." I said.
"Why would we listen to you?" Yammy asked.
"You guys don't know how to control your powers yet. I could end any of you if you so much as try something." I said. I didn't exactly mean that, but I needed to say something to keep them in line.
"Any more complaints?" I asked.
"None from me." Stark said. The others seemed to agree with him.
"Alright, then let's get moving. My friends are probably sick of waiting." I said.