I woke again to the rapping sound on the wooden trapdoor. Going about my morning routine, I suddenly realised that I hadn't taken a bath or shower in weeks! I guess dead people don't need personal hygiene. I clambered up the ladder, and was surprised to see Mistress Harribel standing in front of me, as well as her Fracciones.
"We think it's time you start working on your abilities of combat." Miss Harribel stated "We have heard reports of intruders in Las Noches, and now we must have everyone in Las Noches capable of taking on one of the intruders. This includes you."
"Intruders?" I asked 'These must be the friends that Orihime was talking about.'
"Yes, and these are very dangerous intruders at that. Three soul reapers, a human, a Quincy and four defected Arrancars"
"Soul Reapers? They sound dangerous." I said
"They are. Pray you never meet one." She nodded "That is why we will be teaching you how to keep yourself alive in battle. Sung-Sun will be teaching you some basics of Sonido, Apacci will assist you with your unique Cero development and Mila Rose will sharpen your weapon skills."
"Right." I nodded "So when do I start?"
"Now." said Apacci "Let's go. I haven't got all day."
Down at the firing range, I had shot off several Ceros already, breaking around three of the five targets put in front of me at various ranges.
"I think I'd better explain these targets a bit better." Apacci said, sitting on a nearby bench "Those targets are designed so they have the same strength as a Soul Reaper Assistant Captain. From the looks of things, if you hit one of them with your basic Cero from about fifteen feet, it'll be fatal."
"That's oddly scientific of you to say that." I said
"Keep your big mouth shut and keep blasting targets!" she yelled in response
"Alright, alright."
"I think it's time for you to try out that Cero Humana on that reinforced target over there." She said, pointing to a large target, bound by thick iron bands "That one over there is used mainly for the Espada, 'cause their breaking point is that of a captain. But since you're a special case, I suppouse you're allowed to use one. Try to blast through it."
I readied my hands and focused my energy into my palms.
"Cero Humana!"
The white beam screamed through the air, and as it hit the target, it shook dust from the ceiling. The target itself was dented in the middle, the thick iron bands at the front broken open, revealing the grey stone underneath.
"Wow." Apacci whistled "I think you're getting pretty good! Not enough to be one of Lady Harribel's official Fracciones, obviously, but you'd probably give us a run for our money!"
"Yeah." I yawned "the downside is that I probably wouldn't be awake at the end of it, either way."
"Here. You look like you can use some sleep." Someone said, handing me a pillow
"Hey, thanks. I'm gonna go to sleep now."
"Don't mention it."
"Cero."
A monstrous noise filled the air as I jumped from the bench.
"WHAT THE HELL?! WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" I shouted
"Relax. It's just me." Said the man who gave me the pillow
"Wha-What was that just now?!"
"That was my Cero." He said, jerking his thumb at the target.
The target itself had been dramatically reduced in size, leaving only a one or two millimetre thick band of rock from the target remaining! As was the target behind it. And the one after that. And the other three after that one.
"Who- Who are you?!" I asked, mouth wide open in horror
"Coyote Starrk. First Espada." He said, extending his hand "I would like my pillow back."
"First Espada?! I can see you live up to your rank." I said shakily as I handed back the pillow.
"Yeah! Starrk's the number one around here! So you'd better not mess with us!" shouted a short green haired girl appearing from behind Starrk.
"Could you be a little quieter Lilynette? You're giving me a headache."
"Ah, shuddap Starrk! You're too lazy for your own good anyway!" the small girl shouted, beating her tiny fists on Starrk's head, which he barely even registered.
"I have a question. For Lilynette if that's okay." I asked
"Sure. Ask away." Starrk sighed
"Why are you wearing enough clothing to cover roughly one fifth of a person?" I asked "I mean, I know it's hot in Hueco Mundo, but why a little girl is wearing something you'd normally find in a…"
I was about to continue when an ominous purple aura appearing around her and a dangerously throbbing red tick mark appearing her mask.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE?!" She shouted as she lunged for my face, sending us both crashing to the floor
"I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me!" I pleaded, but they were ignored as I felt her small fists bury into my face time and time again as Apacci fell to the floor in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.
"Lilynette, stop that." Starrk said lazily. Getting no response, he sighed "She's impossible when she's like this…"
After meeting with the first Espada, I was shaken. How was I supposed to get out of here with people like him wandering around the corridors?! Also had to watch out for his Fraccion. That little girl… She couldn't read minds, could she?!
"Hey! Come on Sirviente! Mila Rose is waiting!"
I picked up the pace and ran into the arena. Inside, Miss Mila Rose was leaning on her broadsword with a bored expression on her face "What took you so long?"
"Sleepy here had to take a nap." Apacci said "That Cero Humana of his is damn powerful, but it pretty much turns him into Starrk."
"And I'm still tired."
"Well tough. You've got combat training with me." She said, pulling her sword out of the ground "Ready?"
I nodded as I unsheathed Hierro Yaburu from my back, holding it in front of me.
"No, no, no! That's not how you should hold a double edged spear!" she shouted, walking over to me
"Huh?"
"If you hold it like that, I can just do this!" she said, grabbing my wrist and shoving my spike down through my leg as I screamed in agony.
"Big baby. If you don't at least know how to wield it, why are you using that as a weapon?" she said bluntly "Apacci, can you get someone over here to heal him?"
I looked down at my leg and saw that the bleeding had stopped. Looking closer at my leg, I noticed that it was if I had never been stabbed at all!
"Never mind that." Apacci said as I got up "I think he's just learned how to regenerate."
"I… I guess so." I said shakily
"Fantastic. Now find a better stance."
I stood knees bent slightly, with Hierro Yaburu angled so the spike wouldn't go into my leg again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice however…
"Much better. Now try to attack me!"
I charged in, spear held to my side in both hands, and swung at her. Lazily parrying the attack, she pushed me away with her off hand.
"Remember, it's not just an opponent's weapon you should be looking out for. You've got to be resourceful if you want to win."
Nodding, I charged in again, this time thudding Hierro Yaburu into the ground and sliding into her legs. As she fell, I readied my fist and slammed it into her gut, but was shocked to find my hand throbbing in pain. Damn those Hierros! Then as I glanced upwards, I realised the fatal flaw of my plan.
Mila Rose fell heavily on top of me, her breasts suffocating me. I tried to scream for air, but to no avail. After a few minutes of thrashing around, I eventually fell unconscious from nose bleeding and lack of air.
After regaining consciousness and being kicked into walls for a while by Mila Rose while Apacci just rolled on the floor laughing her ass off, I headed off to Sung-Sun. Hopefully she wouldn't give me any new broken bones to regenerate.
I was walking down the corridors when I ran into Menoly again.
"Oh. Hello Miss Menoly."
"Hmph. It's you. Honestly, I'm surprised you've lasted as long as you did around here. Though looking at all the bruises on you, you're not doing so well." She said "Though I've heard talk about you having some kind of unique Cero?"
"Yeah."
"Though a human being able to do a Cero still sounds ridiculous."
"I think it's the clothes doing most of the work." I sighed, tugging at my bandolier "Sometimes I feel like they have more power and authority than I do."
"Well at least they don't have a mind of their own." She laughed
"Yeah." I replied "I need to go now, I'm sure Miss Sung-Sun is waiting for me."
"Alright. Goodbye Sirviente." She said, and promptly disappeared
"Goodbye." I mumbled
"The basics of Sonido are simple. Just concentrate your Reshi into your legs and feet and imagine yourself taking an elongated step as to where you want to go." Sung-Sun explained, teleporting in front of my face and back across the room "It's as easy as breathing."
"Alright, let me give it a go." I said, slightly unnerved at the speed at which she moved. She had set up two pillars in the air for me to Sonido between. Putting my energy into my legs, I pushed off from the pillar and was slightly surprised to feel myself carried over to the other pillar!
"Impressive. On your first try too." Sung-Sun said, covering her face with her overly long sleeves.
"Yeah!" I said smiling at my small victory.
Suddenly, I heard alarms ringing and a loud announcement
"To all residents of Las Noches. Intruders have been detected within the walls. All those capable of combat are to locate the intruders and destroy them."
I was about to unsheathe my weapon and charge off to look for the intruders, but Sung-Sun put a hand over my wrist "I would not do that if I were you. These intruders are experienced fighters. You are not."
I sighed in relief as I put Hierro Yaburu back in its sheath "I am so very glad you said that Miss Sung-Sun."