Here it is...the long awaited rematch!

Episode 32: Retribution I

A fresh breeze sweeps the battlefield. I've never felt so tense before. Who will be the first to make a move. Both of us grip the handle of our swords. Should I initiate the attack? Why is he hesitating anyway?

"Humph."

"What is it?" I groan.

"Your reatsu still bothers me...It's something incomprehensible but not quite overpowering...I need to be sure of your strength before we can truly fight." He curls his fingers into his mouth and wolf whistles. A black ninja drops down and kneels to his side.

"Third Seat Sheehari do you request our assistance?" He speaks in loyalty.

He grins in an arrogant manner and says. "Not really, the boy just needs to warm up."

"Yes Sheehari-sama" The ninja leaps back onto the wall and summons a whole army of ninjas. They all swoosh down onto the surrounding walls creating a black blurry corridor. It's quite intimidating.

"I'm in charge of the punishment division of the covert squad, I have full control of the Omitskudo second only to my Captain Soi Fon..." He raises his arm forward as if he were really commanding an army. "...Kill the Ryoka..."

The ninjas dash around the courtyard at an amazing speed. It's much like the Sonido we Arrancar use except it's more like they plan their destination before initiating the flash step.

I close my eyes and use my Pesquisa to predict their locations in advance. I now know exactly where to strike. I produce a fist and jab one of the ninjas in the head. The others move around the fallen ninja and begin to attack me. I use my Sonido to evade their quick moves. Some of them impact but they don't seem to hurt. I capture one of them with my lag and twist, knocking down a few more in the process. Their too high in number to fight off with martial arts, I must use my sword.

My Zanpakuto transforms and I use the razorwires as I flail, cutting down scores of ninja. I fork the blade so it impales the remainder of them.

As my sword returns to its normal shape Mitzuki appears impressed. "You single-handedly defeated one-hundred of my greatest warriors, now I don't have to go easy on you." He opens his eyes which flicker blood red. They appear demonic as he charges for the attack. He hasn't even drawn his sword yet but I bring mine up to block. He kicks the blade then backflips. Once he its the ground he spin-heel kicks. I jump to dodge but he already anticipated I would do that. He pinches my wrist and throws me into the wall. I cough out dirt and mortar but I'm soon on the defensive again as he flies over with a side kick. I use my Sonido to avoid the kick of doom. The entire wall crumbles into powder from the impact.

As I gather my breath I shout out to my opponent who is hidden in the dust. "You said you weren't going to go easy...so why haven't you drawn out your sword yet?"

The shadow talks back through the dusty mist. "It's because you haven't used your true Zanpakuto yet."

"Dammit I don't have time for silly games just use your sword...I want to show you how much I have improved since we last fought.

Silver peers out from the dust as he finally emerges with his blade. The sound of clashing metal rips through the sky like lightning. This battles getting intense but I'm enjoying it. I lick my lips in satisfaction. A good battle feeds me more than a measly soul now.

"HAH!" I push him back with my blade and he drags his free hand along the ground to recover his stance. I slash with a vertical arc but he lifts his sword over his head. "Nearly took off your head..." I say light-heartedly.

"This head ain't goin' anywhere kid." He laughs back as he pushes me away. We are now in mid-air; he twirl kicks me into the other wall but I dash back out and return to battle.

"Your little sneak attacks cannot hurt me anymore. My skin is like armour." I boast. I am soon to eat my words as he slashes along my left shoulder.

"Heh! Your armour needs replacing then." He swoops down and slashes towards my legs. I block with my sword, moving his around in an arch before bringing it back to the centre. Our swords are locked in a battle of gods. They withstand unimaginable stress. I'm not one for sneak moves but since he's used a few on me I think it's about time we evened things up.

My sword transforms into thin but immensely sharp wires. They snake into formation and strike Mitzuki in several areas on his chest. He pulls back to avoid the worst of the attack but he's now looking a little more like Swiss cheese.

"Well done hollow, I'll give you that one, but don't get too cocky now" He slashes to the left and right. I use the wires to trap his sword and throw him onto the ground.

"HADO 4...BYAKURAI" With that incantation he produces a small lightning bolt which breaks the wires into pieces. My blade is ruined.

"Oh sheesh I didn't mean to ruin your awesome sword hollow, guess you have to do it eh..."

I raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"He disappears in a flash he's only millimetres from striking my critical organs. "I know you Shinigami-wannabes contain your hollow powers in your swords...I wanna see your Ressureccion." His sword swings past and cuts a few locks of my hair as I fall back to dodge. "Show me your full power dammit!" He insists as he performs small swipes with his sword.

"I don't know how." I cry out in frustration. All I can do is use the small bit of metal left on my sword to block his strikes.

"Pathetic." He kicks me in the sternum, the wind is knocked out of me and I hunch down in pain. My head is lowered – staring into the ground, the puddle of my own blood. I can see my own death. I feel the cold metal press against the side of my neck. I quiver in fear as I face defeat.

Why won't my body move? I'm gonna die if I don't move...MOVE...MOVE However it was clear that fear had paralysed my body.

"Humph, how ironic for a creature born of fear to fear death itself...In the end you really haven't improved...you always have and always will be...a lowly hollow."

"NOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Benson...Steven Benson...Can you hear me?"

Who is this?

"You should know...I'm your hollow powers...Otherwise known as Banzai Benendes."

What do you want?

"You must open your mind and soul...focus on your true desires...what is it you desire the most?"\

To meet my brother again.

"Are you sure? I can tell your soul does not fully emulate that? Tell me what is your one true desire?"

To get back at the bastard who made me into a hollow.

"That's more like it...now you can unlock your full power...Remember to call my powers out like this...Then you will have resurrected your true potential...your desires will be met..."

"Goodbye...lowly hollow..."

The guillotine has been raised, it will soon strike down upon me and take my life. However my true desires will not allow me to die in such degrading circumstances.

I whisper under my breath. "SEEK...JUSTO CASTIGO*"

The cold metal does not reach me. Instead Mitzuki is blown away by the explosion. I feel a lot heavier than before but at the same time a lot stronger. My arms are covered in thick white hollow armour and my claws seem to have returned and two spikes protrude from the sides of my wrists for extra protection. My knees and feet are also covered in armour and a bony cross extends along the front and back of my body. I notice in the blood puddle the mask fragments on my face have changed. The mask no longer conceals my face but rather it takes over my hair and forms a sort of helmet, similar to a Roman warrior. I flake my claws in delight. I have unlocked my true form – my Ressureccion!

Facing death...my powers have now awakened...the instict to survive prevails...Have the tables now turned in this battle? Let's find out in the next epic chapter!

*My Ressureccion is Spanish for 'Just Punishment' or 'Retribution' hence the name of this chapter.