And so back again with a new chapter, I had been tip toeing around this one for nearly a week trying make sure it was as best as I could make it.
Well am sorry for any of you who where waiting patiently and I especially hope you all enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters
"Talking"
"Thinking"
"Zanpaktou speaking"
"Zanpaktou thinking"
'Zanpaktou/Kido techniques/Hollow attacks/Quincy attacks'
All the Divisions along with all scattered soul reapers within Seireitei where battling as hard as possible to fend of the overwhelming horde of corrupted souls. But the task was proving more and more difficult as the horde just kept proving vast and unending with more and more rips in space continuing to appear, with the next always seeming bigger than the last letting more hollows stream out like a river that just seeks to senselessly devour what's ever in it's path. As the soul reapers grew beaten and weary the hollows themselves just continued to grow and thrive like a vicious cancer, eating away at Soul Society and filling the men's and women's hearts with despair and sorrow at the sight of their cause beginning to appear in vain.
But luckily for them the hordes interest appeared to be shifting over to the Sokyoku Hill where the scent of very potent spiritual energy was beginning to fill the air of Seireitei, something only the Hollows themselves could pick up on. The soul reaper themselves were perplexed by this and assumed it was because of the huge captain level spiritual pressures that were emitting from the hills direction, but never the less they were relieved that large amounts of the hordes where leaving and giving them some room to breathe and recover.
There had been much damage done all over The Court of Pure Souls, buildings damaged, (a quarter of which are thanks to the combined efforts of both Ichigo's group and Captain Zaraki) lives lost or in serious danger of being so. Many of the weak minded where becoming distressed and overwhelmed, some already becoming traumatized by the horrors that were emerging from within Hueco Mundo, they where the kind of stuff that no amount of simple training could prepare them for.
All that anyone could hope for is that some kind of miracle would happen that will put an end to this ever flowing river of devouring beasts.
13th Division
At the 13th division things were doing better than most, with the 13th being one of the more quieter division alongside the 4th (when the 11ths regulars weren't causing the medics trouble), they were not attracting that many hollows because of the fact that the squad didn't have the best spiritual pressures along with scents either, especially with the 13th being a more humble squad.
Captain Ukitake himself was not having much of a problem with the masked souls even with his ever growing poor health, neither was Lieutenant Nao whose assistance was still more than appreciated by the white haired Captain and his squad as a whole. Most of his squad was doing excellently with only a few injured and even fewer in any sort of life or death condition.
Yep everything was going great for the 13th, but suddenly the two highest ranking individuals began hearing a lot of racket coming from the forest area that surrounded the barracks main building, which was also being followed by the sound of falling trees and then the fearful wails and howls of hollows. Suddenly a big blurry projectile came bursting through one of the forests outer trees and would have impacted with the 13th captain had he not flash stepped out of the way on instinct, though the downside to doing this was that instead of him being hit by the blur it instead crashed straight into his barracks.
The sickly Captain and the glasses wearing Lieutenant looked over to where the blur had landed and saw that it was in fact a very badly beaten and cut up hollow, that looked to be already going through death's door rather than just waiting at the doorstep. They turned their gazes over to where the hollow had come from and visibly paled when the they saw who had delivered the pretty much dead at this point hollow. Coming out from within the forest was none other than the 11ths very powerful and also very very lost Captain Kenpachi Zaraki and his little pink haired sidekick Yachiru."god dammit Yachiru look! where no where near our barracks and the hollows here are even weaken than the ones we killed getting here, I mean come on most of the pests here look like they would die if I just stared at them hard enough" complained the eye patch wearing man to the little girl on his shoulder.
Yachiru pouted at this "I'm sorry Kenny but I thought for sure we were going the right way….oh look Kenny! it's glasses and snow head!" pointed out the child soul reaper in an overly excited manner. Said targets of these nicknames deadpanned, one of them because she was sick of hearing the name from all the times her president had call her that, while the other stared because of it being his first time hearing his own "if mines snow head than what's young Toshiro's?".
Kenpachi looked over to them with no look of real interest, he looked around to all the other soul reapers that were battling against various hollows with no real trouble with even less interest, before turning back to his fellow captain and the assisting Lieutenant. Kenpachi held a bored gaze with his fellow Captain "well this is awkward, but do you know the way back to the 11th, Captain Ukitake?" Zaraki inquired in a bored tone while he was getting insulted shouts of protest from his pink haired companion, who he silenced by putting his huge hand over her entire face allowing only muffled yells through.
Ukitake quickly came out of his stupor, while Nao went into an even deeper one "how can they not know how to get back to their own barracks? are they really that terrible at navigating around the city that they have been living in for over a century?" she inwardly questioned to herself already feeling a headache coming on. Ukitake chuckled kindly, finding it humorous despite the swarms of hungry masked death that didn't cease to stop no matter how many the Shinigami purified. "Well sure all you need to do is..." and so the snow white haired captain went onto give directions to the battle hungry captain and his child companion, both nodding and seeming to understand. After the direction where given the pair from squad 11 shot off down the road leaving the white haired captain and his squad behind.
Nao walked up to the Captain a question hanging in the air around her "um captain Ukitake do you really think they will follow your direction correctly? if past events are anything to go by" she stated professionally as she shot a Shakkaho at a distant hollow and completely taking off it's head.
The humble captain chuckled heartily at her question "well I'm not really sure if they will but.." he paused for second to look at the damage done from when the battle manic captain rocket delivered a hollow into his barracks and sighed remorsefully; it was the only real noticeable damage his barracks had received all day "it's better than letting him stay here" he finished with a tone of relief. Nao saw what he meant and nodded in understanding, Kenpachi was famous for not just his power but also his long list of excessive public damage from any time he 'trained'.
Kenpachi and Yachiru were currently standing at a split road, the Captain look to his right shoulder and to his little lieutenant "hey did he say to go right or left?" the spiky haired man asked plainly to which the little Yachiru began taking a thinking pose and was now humming in thought "welllll…." she began.
12th Division
At the 12th division Mayuri was now about ready to start setting up the device needed to help clean the air of all the Hollow bait, the device itself strongly resembled that of a mortar launcher only more smaller and compact in form. The captain and his artificial daughter where currently sprinting up the stairs which led to the 12ths roof. The pair busted out onto the roof, the double metal doors nearly bursting of their hinges from the force in which they where opened "Nemu set that up imminently!" the make up wearing captain order to his 2nd in command who nodded obediently. The artificial woman placed the launcher on the roof and began unfolding it and started aiming it sky high and with an angle so that it was aiming at the centre of Seriete right above and in between both the 1st barracks and the Sokyoku Hill. Mayuri nodded in satisfaction at the aim "perfect Nemu, now move out of the way this part if delicate" the mad captain stated.
After the stoic woman had moved herself a distance behind her master/father/captain moved in to the side of the launcher and removed a silver box from his haori, he then opened up the box carefully and reached in with one of his skinny pale hands and pulled out a black fist sized ball which he let gently roll down the barrel of the launcher. The captain let out a breath and moved to the other side of the launcher "okay just got to set the distance to which it would be best to let the anti-bait detonate and spread out for the best resullllltsss….annnnnd there" he confidently stated, and pressed the launch button and watched with a big madman grin as the dark ball fired off into the direction of the 1st and the Sokyoku Hill.
Sometime ago Sokyoku Hill
Tier was using the flat side of her weapon to block the offending blade while using her spare hand to add extra support at her blades back. Tier was sending a heated glare at the woman who had dared make an attempted on her precious followers life "you are going to pay for what you have done here to my comrades" she declared sounding calmer than she actually was. Tier flared her spiritual energy and began radiating a golden aura to which she then forced Soifon back.
The silver eyed soul reaper was sent back with enough force that her feet where skidding on the ground and kicking up a trail dust in her wake, but still she didn't seem the least bit knocked off balance anywhere through her little trip. Soifon looked on appearing bored but was inwardly impressed by the hollows power "wow two Vasto Lordes in one day, quite a surprise" commented the Bennet to herself low enough so that the new arrival wouldn't hear her. "So what's your deal, you here just to defend them out of the kindness of your heart or do these three actually mean something to you?" asked the silver eyed woman nonchalantly and she stud in a calm and laid back fashion.
The Vasto Lorde narrowed her emerald eyes at the woman and her attitude to the current situation "that's none of your business" she bit out getting into a fighting stance with her surf board like blade pointed forward at Soi.
Soifon smirked, her interest becoming peeked "oh I see not much of a talker, well if you don't want to chat then I guess I will have to do it with someone who might want to, oh! and would you look at that seems those two sleepy heads over here have decided to finally come to" she said pointing with her thumb back to Mila and Sun Sung.
The high level hollow looked over and behind the Soul Reaper, her eyes visible widened when she noticed that it was her two other followers who were piled up behind the pure soul. When Tier arrived she didn't have time to take in all her surroundings, she was much too focused on saving Apacci to notice but now that she knew that they were there and behind the enemy no less she was now growing more deeply worried. Tier ground her teeth and scowled hatefully at the female Soul Reaper "you stay away from them or I will kill you" she threatened malice clear in her voice.
Soifon snickered at the threat getting it was serious and was already liking this one, she had spine in Soi's option "those are some big words, but tell me do you think you really have the nerve and strength to see them through" she taunted leaning her head to one side and smirking more smugly. Soifon was intrigued by the hollows attitude in the way she tensed when she saw the two behind her, the way she became emotional, and mostly the way she threatened her if she dared to go near them, it's true that Soifon was not letting all of her power be sensed but still this hollow must be able to tell that she wasn't some simple everyday kind of Shinigami.
Tier narrowed her eyes and readied herself "not big words just a warning, if you let my followers go you and me won't have to fight, I promise we will leave peacefully, we have no interest in the business of you Soul Reapers" Teir proposed in a cool calm tone, hopping that the woman would just take her offer. It was at that moment it struck Soifon "she said her followers" her gaze shifted over to the downed form of Apacci who was now free of Soi's piecing spiritual pressure and was now just looking up at Tier with sheer awe and admiration, almost reminding her of how she would use to look up to Yoruichi. It now made sense to her the Adjuchas true loyalties never laid with each other it was to this Vasto Lorde, Soifon felt her disgust for Apacci lessen greatly but she still felt the hollow should have at least tried to help her fellow followers.
Soifon seemed to think on the hollows deal for a second "well umm..I'm sorry I don't believe you told me your name?" Soi asked simply. Tier thought about whether or not she should exchange names, but given the position her followers and herself where currently in she felt she shouldn't be rude in case she set the woman off "Tier Halibel" introduced the vivid blonde. Soifon smiled at this "why I must say that's quite the lovely name you have" complemented Soi brightly her eyes softening just a little before rehardening once again "Soifon Bennet" she returned in kind.
Tier was kind of surprised at being compliment on her name, she can't remember even getting a comment like that on her name before and she was further bewildered by the woman's own name it was...well...simply put odd. The golden haired hollow rehardened her own eyes and this time firmly pointed her weapon at her might be opponent while her spiritual pressure began to rise in preparation for if this all goes south "I appreciate the compliment Soifon Bennet, but will you or won't you let my followers go?" she asked again seeking to get back to the topic at hand.
Soifon smirked at this and shook her head "nope sorry, you see you may not want to fight me but..." she paused as her eyes took on a deadly gleam and briefly flashing sunny yellow "I want to fight you" she finished excitement leaking into her voice. Tier looked at the woman surprised at her reasoning, it baffled Tier on why someone would just want to fight like this, she looked at Soifon with a questioning stare wondering on why she would need to keep her followers hostage in order to get a fight out her. "I guess you must be wondering on why am keeping your followers.." spoke out Soifon knocking Tier out of her thoughts and surprising her as if she just read her mind. "Well you see it's like this, beings fight better when they have something to fight for and with me keeping some of your little entourage hostage it should hopefully motivate you to give me your best performance" she explained in a cool calm tone as she leaned on her blade as if it was a cane.
Tier now got it "and after our fight is done you will let them go?" she asked hopping to get a better answer than the last one. Soifon smiled not a nice sweet or kind smile this one was more malicious in nature "sure I will if you don't die or prove to be no fun" stated the raven and blueish haired woman to the now thunderstruck Vasto Lorde and her very terrified Adjusters. Soifon didn't really mean what she said but she felt that she had better make the stakes seem much higher than they really where to help motivate this apparent kind hearted hollow, she was also interested to see how far this Tier was willing to go for those dear to her, it wasn't everyday that a hollow like this appeared.
Tier looked on horrified at hearing this "so it would seem sacrificing myself if not an option, if I let myself die here than so will Apacci, Mila and Sun Sung I can't let that happen I must beat her" where Halibel's thoughts before hardening her resolve "very well then" she stated her voice now like ice. Soifon smirk at the fact her lie was working perfectly she could feel the resolve and killing intent in Tier's spiritual pressure, but not the urge to fight "oh well I'm sure I can draw that out of her" shethought before she sheathed her sword, erected a protective barrier around her two still dazed hostages who began trying in a weak attempt to get out, before settling into her own fighting stance. Tier felt kind of insulted at seeing the woman put her sword away but decided to not look a gifthorse in the mouth.
Apacci on the other hand was deeply scared for her Master, despite her Mistress being on the highest rank in terms of hollow power, evolution and currently being the one with a weapon in hand; or as her hand, she still wasn't sure if her Master could actually beat this opponent, her power was much more overwhelming than her Mistress's and that's saying something.
Tier was currently feeling pretty confident, she had yet to meet a Shinigami or Hollow who could beat her or even match her, with the exception of Barragan, she could feel that her opponent before her was stronger than all those who came before and given how her opponent was acting she also appeared to be pretty arrogant given how she was thinking she could beat her bare handed "well she will regret that decision". With no further thoughts feeling needed Tier shot off at her black haori wearing foe with her large weapon reeled back, when Soi was in range the blonde launched her blade forward looking to run the other woman right through the her chest. Seeing this ahead of time Soi leaned to the side and out of the way of the blade then jumped further back in order to avoid the following slash to her neck. Tier jump in and followed in her momentum, and spun around preforming an angled slash seeking to cut the other woman in two but failed when Soi fell back avoiding the cut and out of her sight.
When Tier shifted her eyes down she saw her enemy going to kick her legs out from under her but could not react fast enough to counter, so when the blonde was falling she used her weapon to block the following kick aimed for her stomach just in time. The kick packed enough force to send the spiky blonde flying back while also remaining a few inches of the ground, she used her only non weapon hand to dig into the ground and slow down her motion, and reconnecting her with the dusty dirt below.
When the emerald eyed hollow came to a stop she refused to take her eyes off her enemy and cautiously got back to her feet frowning from the feeling she got from that one lowly kick "am lucky I blocked that if that had hit me, theirs no telling how much damage I would have taken" she thought. The blonde let her gaze shift quickly to her weapon and when she saw the spot where the kick had connected her eyes widened in fright, there was a crack, it didn't appear deep nor was it big but it was the fact that it was their in the first place, her weapon had been damaged, her a Vasto Lorde someone at the top of the food chain in Hueco Mundo, her weapon had just been damaged by one single bare handed attack. For the first time in her life as a Vasto Lorde Tier Halibel was now beginning to question if her own strength was actually gonna be enough for this.
Tier fought to clear her head of her doubts, she couldn't let herself have get distracted by her own doubts or else she could get herself killed and if that happened her precious followers would follow the same fate. When Tier looked back to where Soi was she found that her foe was not their and began frantically looking around "MISTRESS BEHIND YOU!" called out a panicking Apacci. Acting on impulse Tier spun around in an arc seeking to bisect her enemy, but when she did see her target Soi had swiftly flipped over her blade and used the flat of it to then perform a second flip over an astonished Tier. When Soifon was behind Halibel and still in mid air she delivered a powerful kick straight to the back of the Hollows neck that might have knocked her blonde foe clean out if it was not for the sharks luck of having that long spine, tail fin thing cushioning the blow for her; the tail broke off shortly after due to the kicks power. Tier stumbled forward clearly in pain from the blow she just received, fighting to stay conscious and not let darkness take her into it's sweet embrace.
Soifon jumped away to give the blonde some room while also using the space to avoid any sort of ruse that could get her a surprise attack and waited to see if Tier would pull through. After a few seconds it looked like the Hollow had fully recovered and cracked her neck to work out a few kinks, and didn't seem all that bothered that her mask edition was now gone "proabably now that it's gone" thought Soi . "So you better now or do you need me to kiss it better for you" taunted Soifon with a subtle undertone of flirting as she sent a cocky smirk in the hollows direction. Tier clearly didn't pick up on the undertone as she just glared harder at the woman like she wanted to see her drowned or something, though said target of the glare wasn't the least bit affected by the hollows angry gaze.
Tier saw that their was nothing behind Soifon but open space that led to the edge of the hill, so seeing no one would get harmed by her next attack the blonde hollow lifted her blade high above her head, making Soifon cock a curious eyebrow while bracing herself for whatever the Hollow may have in store for her. As Soi watched carefully she could feel that the Vasto Lorde was gathering her spiritual energy and could see the woman's blade becoming shrouding in a golden aura, 'Cero' called out the blonde in her icy tone as she brought down her surf blade letting loose a huge arc of spiritual energy that rushed towards a surprised Soifon. When the attack struck the wave of energy expanded into an intense golden beam which shot out over the hill and barely missing a small black blur that was shooting off into the sky between the hill and the 1st division.
Currently at the roof of the 12th
"oh wow that was quite close, if it was a meter or so lower all the anti-bait would be nothing but atoms" commented a relieved Mayuri who actually became slightly frightened their for a second. It was all the anti-bait they had and sure he could make more but it would take more time than they currently had to spare, plus it had been a long time since he had last created any so he could be abit rusty in it's creation.
Nemu nodded stoically "yes it is fortunate that you picked that angle, if you had picked a lower one all the anti-bait would have been gone and our last hope along with it" replied the artificial soul in an even tone.
The captain huffed at that "don't be silly Nemu, hope if nothing but a foolish ideal if that had not worked then I would have simply come up with an alternative method to stopping these masked savages" retorted the captain before walking past the girl and back inside with her following close by him with the launcher in hand.
Back at the Hill
Tier was standing looking over the destruction her Cero had done, their was a huge gash in the ground heading into the dust cloud that was caused by the initial explosion, she could sense no spiritual pressure nor see any movement coming from within the dust. The female Vasto Lorde let loose a relieved sigh and began making her way over to the others "oh and why have you turned your back on me Tier Halibel?" whispered the amused but deadly voice of Soifon straight into the ear of Tier who was frozen stiff in horror, but she could also feel that another part of her was becoming a little thrilled. Tier couldn't understand why, she never liked battle's or fighting in general, but maybe she never enjoyed it because it was always boring, dull and easy, nothing and no one ever gave her any form of a challenge in this form and when someone like that did her comrades were always in danger, sucking all the possible fun out of it but what was making now any different?.
Moving fast Tier disappeared from Soifon leaving a booming static noise ecowing in the air and reappeared some distance away looking surprised, not at Soifon but at herself "what was that move I just pulled? it doesn't matter whatever it was it helped me move faster and right now that can only be a good thing" reasoned Tier, not noticing that she was cracking a small smile under her mask. When Halibel looked at Soifon's current state she did not like what she was seeing, their was not a scratch on her and right now she could see quite a lot of her, given that she currently had her coat removed and hanging around her waist showing her beautiful unmarked skin and well honed body to the elements.
Soifon herself was impressed by the sudden burst in speed displayed by Tier and was becoming amused by how the hollow was now just staring at her "what's the matter Tier like what you see or something" Soifon said gesturing to herself and doing a playful spin to give her a full look. Tier twitch at being found out that she was staring and having it misunderstood, but now as she got a slightly better look she could easily say that the silver eyed girl had an amazing bo… "no no no bad thoughts, bad thoughts!" she thought to herself now fighting with her wandering mind and scowled at Soul Reaper "will you take this seriously! am trying to kill you!" she gritted out her cool breaking for a moment.
Soifon seemed to laugh superiorly at that "oh yeah this was meant to be a fight wasn't it? well you're not really proving to be that much of a challenge, soooo maybe I should do something that might actually be fun" she said directing her stare to Mila and Sun Sung who stiffened in terror when her now cold and malicious stare landed back on them. Tier tensed at seeing this and began growing mad "you stay away from them!" the blonde harshly exclaimed as she charged her blade up and thruster it forward, shooting off a large golden energy dart.
Soifon saw the fast incoming projectile and decided to drew her sword and destroy it with her blade "I will admit that was an alright move, but if this is seriously all you have to offer than I might as well just get this over with Tier" Soifon stated in a tone of disappointed and boredom "but I do hope am wrong about you" she finished pointing her blade at the emerald eyed hollow with stern expression.
Apacci who had remained silent watching in both awe and fear for her mistress finally spoke out, finding the strength to stand once again "mistress please stop!" called out the deer like hollow, gaining both the combatants attention along with both Mila and Sun Sung's making her feel very scared being under both of the superior fighter heated gazes. The deer regathered her nerves before speaking "you don't have to do this! save yourself! there's no point in you risking your life for use!" the hollow cried out tears falling down her mask. Mila and Sun Sung were shocked at seeing Apacci being the first of them to say this but never the less they felt the same way "yeah Mistress don't worry about use, save yourself you done enough for use already!" roared out Mila her tone dead serious like her deer comrade, while Sun Sung nodded in agreement with both of them.
Soifon almost cracked a smile at this, now seeing that her theory was true and that their loyalties all truly lied with Tier now the remaining question was what would the blonde do?. "No" was what was heard leave Halibel's masked mouth "I will not sacrifice….no I refuse to sacrifice any of you, you all mean too much to me to do that, so I will give all of myself to this fight in order to save all of you" stated Tier her spiritual pressure rising as she went on. Tier followers looked at her in disbelief at seeing that their Mistress was willing to keep fighting for them even after they asked her to save herself, they new she cared for them but they never knew that care ran so deep, it brought unwilling tears to all their eyes, even Sun Sung couldn't stop the flood of tears that where leaving her eyes even as she tried to stop them. Soi inwardly smiled at this her respect for this hollow growing as she got to see more and more of her tenacity. Tier sent back her gaze to the ex-lieutenant who hadn't moved this whole time "you know you had more than an enough of an opportunity to just kill me while I was talking" Halibel pointed out.
Soifon smirked at this and shrugged uncaring way "well it would have been a shame if I had ruined such a beautiful moment like that, plus I would just hate myself for ruining what might just be your last moments with them" she said carefreely but with a sinister edge in her voice. Tier scowled at this and charged a full Cero into her blade and sent it at Soifon in a vertical arch cutting into the ground as it travelled. Soifon frowned at that and decided to counter rather than dodge, Soi held her blade up which began emitting sunny yellow light 'Sting, Suzumebachi' she called out before the sword became shrouded in light while she brought it down in a bright arch which sent of an intense wave of sunny spiritual energy that was hurtling towards Tier's Cero.
The two attacks met in the middle between the pair both fighting and struggling for domination, the battle between the two waves where generating powerful gales of wind, that where blowing dust up and away while also ripping the leaves right off any nearby trees, while Apacci stayed low to avoid being knocked over or worse blown away. In the end both attacks cancelled each other out and erupted into a powerful blast that created a cloud of dust that was immediately being dispersed by a strong gust of wind coming in from the east.
Tier tisked at seeing that her attacked failed and kept her senses sharp in case the soul reaper tried to sneak up on her again, she was certain that the Bennet wouldn't fail a second time if she got the jump on her. When the dust cleared it showed Soi standing exactly where she was before the blast, her coat back in place on her person and her sword in hand only it now looked different. The blade's colour was now light gold with the blade now being much more slender from the base to the tip which now curved into razor sharp point, making it appear more suited for a rapier, but while the blade changed the guard and hilt remained the same.
Tier grew fearful at this, back in her days before becoming a Vasto Lorde while she was still on her hungry rampage, she had come across soul reapers whose swords changed form and suddenly could do all sort of tricks, each seeming to be unique and on some accounts nearly coming close to slaying her. Now seeing an opponent of this calibre releasing hers is sending chills down her spine not all of them unpleasant, in fact it was kind of getting her blood rushing and her heart pumping to the point she could hear it in her ears. Soifon could see this as clear as day no matter how well Tier was hiding it, her spiritual energy was an open book to Soifon and she could feel that Tier was beginning to enjoy the fight and that made Soifon crack predatory grin.
Tier had no time to question Soi's vicious smile because the girl suddenly disappeared and reappeared directly in front of the Vasto Lorde with her blade thrusting toward her neck, Tier was able to smack it away from her with her giant surf board like sword. But the action left her open to Soi's close quarter skills, the pure soul aimed a high kick to Tier's chin who barely leaned back in time to avoid it but leaving the hollow a little off balance. Soi followed into her movement and drew her still high leg back in and sent it back out to hit the blonde in her abdomen, Tier luckily managed to shielded herself a second time from the kick by using the flat side of her bone blade but also like the last time she was sent back but this time more violently and was rolling back from the force of the strike.
Tier finally came to a halt lying on her back but had no time to assess the condition of her blade because she immediately had to roll to the right or get nailed to the ground by Soifon's Suzumebachi, which ran right through the ground like it was as soft as butter. Using her momentum Tier rolled onto all fours and jumped away to gain some distance, when she landed she saw Soifon was already hot on her heels grinning at Tier as if this was some sort of game which a part of Halibel was actually seriously beginning to enjoy. Not wasting a beat Tier hurrying charged up her blade and fired off a weak energy wave, which the ex-lieutenant flashed away from. Tier this time found herself able to follow Soi's movements and Sonido after her to seeking to catch her by surprise.
Soifon was actually a little startled by the Vasto Lordes ability to catch up with her even if she was greatly holding back, but she was still never the less impressed. Soifon angled her arm and moved her blade over her head and to her left side in order to guard her head from being bisected by Tiers surf blade creating sparks from the struggle of the two weapons. "So have you been holding back on me Halibel or have you just been improving as this fights been going on?" asked Soifon smirking deviously before breaking the lock and forcing Tier back and herself apart. This fight was growing more and more interesting for Soifon she was even starting to think that Tier maybe be worthy enough to receive a little gift from Soifon, but that's a BIG! maybe "Dad would rip me a new one if I just went and did that to just anyone" thought Soi shivering at the thought of her father scolding her.
Despite the situation Tier lightly chuckled, she was seriously beginning to have fun "it's more the latter, I never knew I could move that fast until today, In fact I have never had to move that fast back where I come from, over their am what you might call a top dog or a heavy hitter of sorts I am sure their are more Vasto Lordes like me out their in Hueco Mundo but it is a massive place, an endless desert shrouded in eternal night, so even if a hundred years or more passed it would still be highly unlikely that two of my rank would just simple bump into each other" Tier explained, trailing off as she spoke finding it surprisingly easy to talk with her opponent at this point into their fight.
Soifon hummed at this bit of knowledge "and what of the Arrancars? are they not strong or something?" asked Soifon curious to learn a bit more about the barren waste land from one of it's occupants perspective.
Halibel shook her head "no they are pretty weak, that is why those three refuse to become Arrancars themselves despite my insistence for them to do it, at least that way they would not have to live with the fear of regressing back to Meno's, it's rough out their male hollows prey on females because they seem like easy targets to them" Tier replied her voice carrying disgust at the mention of the male hollows. Tiers eyes took on a solemn look "I swore that I would protect them if they became Arrancars but they always refuse, they desire to one day become as strong as me, I just want to be able to protect them and now seeing that people like you exist am beginning to doubt I can do that anymore" Tier admitted honestly, shame and sorrow seeping into her voice as she finished.
Soifon looked at Tier with genuine respect, she was willing to let her followers become weaker in order keep them safe from regression, and her respect for the blondes followers also grew at hearing this about them. The ex-Fon chuckled at this getting a questioning look from the blonde "how very admirable, you looking out for them and them wanting to be able to do the same for you, you have my utmost respect Tier Halibel, but we are not done here" Soi said her briefly softened gaze becoming hard and cold once again.
Tier narrowed her green eye hoping for a second that this fight was over and her comrades could be let go "oh I see I was hoping you were satisfied their for a second" she commented in a slight tone of irritation, but was somehow feeling proud to have earned her opponent's respect.
Soifon smiled sheepishly "well yeah sorry, but am far too into this now to just let it end so suddenly" she confessed and somehow electing a humoured laugh from Halibel who found Soi's small embarrassment amusing. The ex-lieutenant expression shifted from one of humour back to dead serious "tell me Tier what lengths would you go to in order to become stronger?" Soi questioned out of the blue, it was a question Soi had been waiting to ask for a while but was just waiting for the right moment.
Halibel was taken aback by that sudden question it was one she had never really thought about until today and was also one she was not expecting to be asked today. Back at home she assumed herself to be someone who could not be matched by someone outside of Hueco Mundo but today that was proving differently. Soifon was going easy on her she was not blind to that anymore and if she wanted to she could easily kill her when even she wished, the blonde had been wondering why she hadn't but again she decided not to look a gifthorse in the mouth. Tier thought on it for second not taking her eyes off Soi, not willing to assume that she wouldn't just attack her if she got too deep into thought "I would sacrifice anything if it meant defending those three" said Tier her tone like steel and gesturing to Apacci, Mila and Sun Sung.
The silver eyed woman hummed at that "so you are willing to sacrifice anything huh, sacrifice that's noble but how much do you think you can give before you hit the end of what you can spare to sacrifice, it's a very self destructive path and can easily take away so much from you that what you gain from it can become meaningless unless you have the heart left to value what you are given through your sacrifice" Soi spoke wisely, surprising Tier with her words. "so then let me asked you a different question, what would you be willing to take in order to become stronger?" she asked her silver eyes piercing into what Tier felt was her very being.
Halibel really had to think on that question but as she did she kept coming up blank "I don't know, what I do know is that I won't eat anymore hollows or any other other souls for that matter even Shinigami" the blonde swore sternly and with disgust at the thought of eating anymore helpless souls to fulfil that horrible endless hunger that was once driving her insane. She downright despised the thought of doing it again for such a thing as power, because the cause to her wouldn't even in the slightest justify the means.
Soifon looked at Tier blankly "okay, but am not talking about taking others life's, here let me ask you this instead would you either be willing to take immense pain that would easily make most people beg for death? or would you take the help of someone who you know might very well back stab you? all in order to become leagues better than what you currently are" asked Soifon with knowing glint in her eye.
Tier stared neutrally after hearing those questions and both had a risk to them, but which one was the best choice? "I guess I would take the pain, because at least that way am not putting myself at risk of getting betrayed" the blonde answered firmly. Soifon nodded in understanding it's the option she herself would have picked and was all she needed to know currently. "I see, brace yourself" was the only warning given by ex-lieutenants before she suddenly leaped at Tier with new speeds while sending dozens of sword thrusts at the high ranking hollow, who was doing everything in her power to block and avoid them while trying to not lose her footing in the process.
Tier eventually found herself with enough room to leap back out of the reach of raven heads blade giving her a chance to go on the offensive and aiming to strike with her own blades superior reach and seeking to slash Soifon at her stomach, but missed when said bluenet back flipped out of the way. Immediately after Soi was back on her feet she rushed back in at Tier and when she was just within her opponent's reach of attack she flashed stepped out of the way fasten than the blonde could see while also avoiding her foe's vertical swipe, to then final appear behind the surprised hollow. Soifon nimbly placed her left hands first index finger on the emerald eyed womans left shoulder blade and whispered out 'Byakurai', immediately after that a piecing thin stream of pale lightning shot clean out of the hollows upper chest electing a pain cry from the still shocked blonde and worried scream from her followers.
After the attack died down Tier immediately Sonido away and turned in mid flash so she could face her opponent, there was now a small smoking hole in the Vasto Lordes upper left chest and back with the victim standing but twitching occasionally with her breath now coming out heavily and more sluggish. Tier was currently scowling at Soifon not liking the stinging feeling that her wound was giving her "that was K-Kido right?" asked Tier her words now seeming somewhat struggled as she tried small talk to by time to adjust to the pain, Soifon nodded at the question but didn't say a word.
Tier was about recovered enough to attack again until she heard a familiar scream, her emerald eyes shot over into the direction from where the frightened scream was emanating from and saw that it was Apacci and that she was being attacked by an unfamiliar hollow, but this one didn't seem to be ravenous she could tell because it seemed like it was laughing sadistically. Tier started running over, intent of killing the hollow that had the nerve to attack her comrade but stopped when a small golden gleam shoot past her head cutting a few strands of her hair and chipping off a piece of her masks forehead section off, but that was not what had Tiers attention it was the fact that the golden dart hit the unknown hollow dead on, piecing clean through it's head and killing him before he could even realize it.
The blonde turned around expecting to see Soifon but saw that said woman was no where in sight, Tier was made to turn back around at the sound of the missing souls voice "well I guess we can't just have you out in the open anymore huh Apacci? or else your Mistress may keep getting distracted worrying about you" said Soifon who was now standing next to the scared stiff deer like hollow who was looking at Soifon like a real deer in the headlights. Before Tier could react the ex-lieutenant had already grabbed one of Apacci antlers and flashed stepped away with her, Tier was barely able to follow the lightning fast movements and found them reappearing at the top of the barrier containing both Mila and Sun Sung. Soifon smirked at the Adjucha in her grasp before letting go of her antler and after that Apacci seemed to fall through and into the barrier like it's walls where made of water "now you stay there and play nice now, while the adults go and have some fun" she teased in a suggestive tone before she flashed back over to Tier.
Soifon reappeared a distance away from Tier her sword held lazily in her right hand. Halibel was giving Soi a hard look as if she was trying to figure out some puzzle that was just not fitting together how it should, "if you keep staring at me like that you might actually burn a hole right through me you know" joked the Bennet smirking cheekily.
Halibel eyes only narrowed further at this, she was now beginning to question Soifon's actions and purpose in fighting her. She already had two of her followers captive and Soi was already prepared to kill Apacci before she had even got here so why save her? was it to simply have a new captive? or was it so Halibel wouldn't be distracted like she said? or was that just a cover for something else?. Halibel was seriously beginning to rack her brain in trying to figure this woman angle out "what is she really up to?" "why did you save Apacci?" asked Tier her voice stern and serious, Soifon just gave her a confused look with a cocked eyebrow, but it was clearly fake "why save her, you already had Mila and Sun Sung and you were ready to kill her before I stopped you so why save her?" rephrased Halibel her tone growing more suspicious.
Soifon inwardly cursed at seeing Halibel's growing suspicious of her but kept a calm demeanour "well I didn't want you getting distracted like that again, so I just decided to add one more to my group of hostages and maybe now with all three of them as my captives you might start giving a slightly better performance, honestly you seem to be getting abit sloppy if that new hole I gave just you is any indication" Soi stated nonchalant while smirking at her little jab. Soifon was impressed on how Tier was reading her actions and studying her behaviour so carefully. Tier looked Soifon in her molten silver orbs with a not entirely believing gaze but decided to accept her reasoning, "very well" Halibel whispered out before she suddenly disappeared in a sonido.
Soifon swiftly spun around and blocked the blondes humongous surf blade lazily with Suzumebachi in a single handed guard but was surprised when Tier parried her blade up, to then follow in with a kick to Soi's abdomen. Soifon smoothly counted that by blocking the assaulting leg with her own to which she then followed up by wrapping it around the blondes offending limb, trapping her and pulling her in a bit closer. Tier was in a much more awkward position in comparison to her raven haired foe as she was stuck leaning while her porcelain skinned opponent was standing perfectly straight and had her leg in a hold that she imagined could be used to break her leg and probably would have by now if Tier wasn't fighting back in the grip, keeping her leg tensed and being covered in armour to boot that was now visibly cracking under the pressure of Soi's strong leg grip "seriously what the hell is with her legs? They have been doing nothing but chipping away at my armour".
Tier attempted to free her right leg by thrusting her long weapon at Soifon but Soi smirked at this and stopped that by using her free hand to catch the blonde's weapon like it was nothing, making both Tier and her comrades breath hitch in astonishment. Soifon gave a small smirk "well would you look at that your wide open" she commented before she thrusted her blade into Tier's right thigh electing a hiss of pain from the blonde before Soi loosened her grip to which the hollow used to instantly Sonido away to regain some precious distance. Tier looked at the injury to her right leg and saw some thin lines of blood running down the armour of her thigh. The wound wasn't wide nor did it feel that deep either, so the green eyed woman wasn't worried that it would start slowing her down in anyway. The armour of her right leg also now had cracks running all over it as the results of the iron grip Soi previously had on her with some chips falling off and showing she had skin fitting white and light blue clothing underneath, which looks to be the same as that which covers her torso and arms.
Tier narrowed her eyes and shot off at Soifon in a another Sonido as she was halfway towards her opponent something went wrong with her right leg, it seemed to lose control of it spiritual energy making Tier loose her footing and focus for a brief second. As she was still moving Halibel spotted a small golden gleam out in front of her and when she returned her gaze back forward she saw that it was Soi's sword being thrusted straight towards her face. Tier was barely able to shift head out of way in time to avoid the certain death strike and luckily only received a light chip to the other forehead section of her mask, along with a slight hair cut as the blade past by her as she Sonido away to safety.
Tier came to a rough stop having to dig her free hand in the ground while being in a crouched position in order slow herself down, this time during her speed technique her right leg overcharged and almost caused her to topple over. Tier was trying to steady breathing as fast as possible she was really close to losing her life that time, "if she had gotten me that time I would surely be dead right now, but I know she can move fast than that so is she just toying with me now?" the blonde inwardly questioned before she shifted her gaze over to her injured leg, the leg that had nearly just gotten her killed "the wound I got from her sword is that what's causing me to have problems with my movements right now?" she inwardly guessed.
The emerald eyed hollow could barely even feel the injury at this point, but when she preformed her speed technique their was this brief feeling that shot through her leg not pain, it was more like a spasm not in her muscles but in her spiritual energy. "So I see your already beginning to figure it out" called out the voice of Soifon who was briskly walking over to Tier as she swatted Tier's blood off her golden blade smirking slightly smugly all the way. Tier gazed neutrally at Soi "the wound on my right leg the one your sword dealt, it's messing with my control over my spiritual energy, right? and that's also why I'm having difficulty in controlling my speed technique, is it not?" Halibel questioned, as she was trying to workout how to undo the effects her leg was under.
Soifon gave a one sided smile at this and nodded "you are correct, Suzumebachi here can put a special type of poison into a being's body from the tip, which messes with said targets control over their spiritual energy in whatever limb I choose to strike" she revealed as she pointed the gleaming blade at Tier, which glowed and gave off a small thin string of reddish spiritual energy emanating from the tip and showing the poison.
Tier was surprised to here the ability of Soi's sword, but the hollow now inwardly berated herself for not guessing it sooner she knew their was a lot of noise and chaos during the release of the pure souls sword but she still heard it. Tier had an idea, now that she knew it was poison based and that it was only in her leg and not all through her body she could by chance remove it. Tier began focusing her senses and energy on her right leg, she was finding it quite difficult to do since she never really needed to practice on fully controlling her spiritual energy, and what control she did have was just naturally there from the start, not mastered or honed. What was visible of Tier's face began to scrunch up from the sheer concentration of her task but didn't remove her gaze from Soifon who cocked a raven eyebrow at seeing the blonde looking so focused and struggled. The ex-Fon instantly work out what she was up to but didn't move to stop her out of interest in seeing if she would actually succeed in removing her poison.
Tier began to feel something out of place in her right leg and began zeroing in on the source which was around the wound, Halibel tried focusing as much spiritual energy as she safely could on that one small spot, "grrrrrr!" she gritted out, clenching her teeth from the amount concentration it was taking to push the foreign energy out of her body. Soifon spotted that the injury on Tier's leg began to glow with both a golden yellow and a reddish light that was now beginning to be carried out of the blondes wound by some freshly leaking blood. Soi was greatly impressed that Vasto Lorde was actually doing it, she was actually pushing out her poison "am amazed, I must say I wasn't expecting you to be able to remove my poison on your first go" complimented the silver eyed woman genuinely.
Tier was now getting seriously weary and was now panting trying to draw in as much breath a possible. It had cost her more spiritual energy than she initially thought it would to remove the poison plus the mental focus it took to keep the energy concentrated was not easy either, add to it the fact that she has been the only one getting any injuries during this whole fight while Soifon didn't have so much as a scratch or a bruise on herself. Halibel was eventually able to gather enough breath to give a reply "t-thanks I ha-have (gasp) never had too focus that m-much on controlling my sp-spiritual energy before (huff)" the blonde admitted her eyes looking like they were having a tough time staying open.
Soifon smirked at this "oh then I must really congratulate you on doing so well on your first try" praised Soifon brightly. The raven bluenet got back into a stance with her sword held in a thrusting position as her warmer expression went back to hard and cold "now ready yourself Tier Halibel unless you wish to die and seal the fate of your comrades" Soi warned in a stern tone before she shot off at the blonde.
Soi went in and started attacking with greater force and speed than before, Halibel was barely reacting in time to block let alone hold of the hits but by some miracle she was hanging in there even if it was barely. Tier blocked a left, a right, a thrust another thrust and spun around as fast a possible to parry Soi's blade after she flashed behind her, and hurriedly lifted her free arm up to lessen the impact of the following kick that still sent her soaring back despite her best efforts to stay rooted to the ground.
Tier gritted her teeth as she work to position herself properly and gradually brought her legs down to the dusty ground and started to slow down, while kicking up dust and breaking the grounds rock from the speed and force in which she was skill skidding back at. The blonde was now seriously beginning to get burned out her arms were shifting back and forth from feeling numb to burning. Her breaths where coming out in deep gasps but despite her current state their was still that part of her that was somehow enjoying this feeling of being pushed to her very limits like this. "Here I come!" exclaimed Soifon as she rushed the Vasto Lorde, Tier reacted as fast as possible using her superior reach and aiming to cut Soifon across her chest.
Unfortunately the move failed and the bluenet completely vanished from the blondes view until she noticed that her out of view weapon suddenly felt heavier. The hollow snapped her head around to look at her still lifted weapon and come face to face with her missing foe who was crouched on the flat of her blade "got'cha ya" was what she said with sass before she thrusted her golden sword deep into the blonde's right bicep. She then hopped up and followed up with a devastating roundhouse kick to the female hollows face which sent her rocketing off and breaking through a near by tree at the beginning of the forest.
Apacci, Mila and Sun Sung watched in dead silence with held breaths waiting to see if their Mistress would get back up but as the seconds past and their was no signs of her moving that hope began to grow dimmer. "Well it would seem this fight has come to close then" spoke Soifon as she turned to look over to her 'hostages' as she began to waltz over to them, making them shrink in on themselves in fear of the woman as their imagination worked against them as they thought of what Soifon possible might have planned for them.
The ex-lieutenant smiled at them in a genuinely kind way but only served to come across as more sinister to the three terrified Adjuchas who saw her as their grimm reaper. "Well I guess it's time..." she started getting ready to let them go before her senses kicked in and told her to move. Soifon jumped into the air and only just missed getting struck by a golden yellow Cero beamthat shot between her and the barrier. Everyone moved their gazes to the direction in which the beam had come from and saw standing their with her left hand stretched out was a beaten and tired looking Tier. She was supporting herself on her bladed arm that was dug into the ground in front of her, her mask was heavily damaged on her right side showing a dark blue marking in the shape of a lightning bolt on her exposed tanned cheek, finally their many other section of her bone armour that where heavily damaged from the impacted with cracks all over and chucks missing.
Tier currently felt like she was standing on nothing but her willpower alone, she could barely even feel a part of her body that wasn't screaming in pain, she was lucky she even had the sense left to know not to use her bladed arm to fire her cero, "no telling how badly that would have gone with the poison currently in my right arm" mused the beaten and bruised Vasto Lorde. Tier glared at Soifon "you s-stay away from, grrr!, them you..(gasp,gasp)...and me aren't done yet" wheezed out the badly injured blonde as she shakily forced herself to stand on her feet without support and heaved up her blade, which felt it weighed a tone. Soi was amazed by the blondes display of sheer will and her unwavering desire to protect the three she promised to save, it almost enough to make Soifon break out into a gleeful smile "yeah I think she is deserving of a little gift and I know dad would agree with me, but I better make one last check just to be absolutely certain" thought Soi.
The young Bennet chuckled "well I must say am impressed not many would be able to get back up after something like that" commented the raven bluenet, "and you really are serious about protecting these three but I wonder..." she paused as her tone grew colder and more foreboding making everyone tense at where she might be going with this. Soifon's free hand began crackling with yellow spiritual energy while her Suzumebachi ignited in flowing sunny yellow spiritual energy, she aimed her crackling hand at the barrier 'Bakudo 4: Hainawa' she whispered out. Multiple ropes of spiritual energy shot out of her hand and into the barrier tightly tying the helpless comrades together making it so that they couldn't move at all, the barrier then dispersed leaving the Adjuchas exposed to the elements. Soifon turned back to the now terrified blonde " if you truly are willing to throw your life away for them" she finished darkly as she lifted her roaring blade up, before shooting it back down releasing an intense cut of spiritual energy that began travelling towards the three helpless captives.
Time seemed to slow down for Halibel as she watched the attack slowly travel to her companions, all her pain was forgotten in that moment only her instinct to protect those dear to her being the only thing remaining. Feeling reinvigorated Tier took off in her fastest sonido yet and appeared right in between her comrades and the approaching wave that looked like it would surely kill her if she took it on, she put her still cracked weapon into a guard position right in front of her as fast as possible.
When the wave hit Tier gritted her teeth and pushed back against the offending wave as much as possible. She could hear the panicking screams of her followers all shouting for her to save herself but she refused they meant too much to her for her to cower out now, she was content with dying if it meant they would live another day. Halibel saw cracks forming all over her blades back, chips falling and snapping noises piecing their way through the roars of her opponents attack until 'KKRIISHHH!' Tier's weapon shattered into millions of pieces, revealing her other arm and hand as the wave now hit her directly.
The blonde Vasto Lorde watched as her whole life flashed before her eyes as she felt the wave of raw power beginning to swallow her. She began remembering all the souls she had devour over her many life times, the unending hunger and misery that came with everyone she devoured without sense, the guilt and despair she was filled with day after day until she finally made it, until she reached the top and the safety of becoming a Vasto Lorde, no more hunger, no more fear of being weak and vulnerable to other hollows ever again. As time pasted she realized she was now lonely, no one to talk to, no one to use her great strength for and that was when she met Sun Sung then Mila and then Apacci they gave her purpose, they gave her company and they filled the lonely void.
Now there was today she had learned a lot about herself and the world outside of Hueco Mundo, that their were those out their truly beyond her strength, that she herself had untapped potential that she was too ignorant to discover and that she truly for once in her life was enjoying a battle. Tier released a tranquil sigh "today has been an interesting day" where her final thoughts before the wave completely engulfed her.
Thus The Shark Queen fell to The Queen of Hornets and Bees.
End of Chapter
Well quite alot of action in this chapter, not that it was anywhere near what I have planned for future battles I hope I will be able to write them well, just have to wait and see. And wow! am already nearing the 100,000 words mark! Jesus!.
Haelen: "and still you have yet to get me out of this blasted suit! Author!"
Soifon: "yeah! come on man haven't we been waiting long enough!"
Yoruichi nods: "yeah I think so too, am curious on weather or not he look as creepy as his suit makes him out to be"
Haelen deadpans; well...as best a masked man can anyway: "yeah that coming from the cat lady"
Yoruichi smirks completely unaffected: "meow,hiss, hiss, puuuur" she did mockingly
Soifon: allows her imagination to run wild and picturing Yoruichi as a 'cat lady' and finds she can not handle it and passes clean out, beat red in the face but with a happy smile.
Ichigo: "huh she seems out cold" he said looking down at her
Haelen: "oh my daughter what was it that your mind thought up this time?"
Soifon: "zzzzzzzz" no responce
Ichigo: "so about this guys um 'freedom' "
Haelen:"yeah! so about that"
Silverknight: "Haelen, Haelen my man be patient you'll get your turn soon I promise it's coming very soon"
Haelen crosses his arms and huffs: "fine, I guess I will just go back to playing with my ball and cup or maybe practice my guitar"
Silverknight gave him thumbs: "yeah that's a great idea am sure it will help pass the time" Haelen walked away, making Silverknight release a sigh of relief "well see you all on the next chapter which I think I will call..."
Haelen: "it better be A Knights Freedom or something like that or you are so dead!"
Silverknight: "..."
Everyone present: "we're waiting!"
Silverknight sighs in exasperation "fine, next chapter: A Knights Freedom"
Please Review and see you next time