Episode 35: Vengeance

The large man wraps his armoured arm around my cero blades. Uryu slides past and aims for my left side. All I can do is charge a cero and hopefully free myself from this Goliath's grapple.

But something is not right...The cero blades are actually dissipating. The spiritual particles are being drained from my body and absorbed into his arm.

Shit now I'm defenceless.

"Before I kill you I'd like you to answer some questions for us." Uryu begins interrogating me with his arrow. I struggle to escape the larger man's grip. "It's useless, Sado's arm absorbs spirit-based attacks, you will cooperate with us now so we can save Rukia."

"What do I care, she was the one who gave that stupid boy powers in the first place."

"What boy?" Ishida pressed.

"You know that stupid Shinigami substitute, Kurosaki Ichigo."

Sado's grip grew tighter. "You bastard what did you do to him?"

"Oh so you must all be his classmates from Karakura huh?" A wicked grin donned my face. "I remember him very well, that punk with the orange hair, he thought he could beat me when I was a young hollow."

Orihime is currently healing Mitzuki's wounds but overhears the conversation. "Ben-san...please don't tell me you were the one who..."

"That's right Orihime, I was the one who ate your best friend, and your darling brother Sora. They were both very delicious." I lick my lips further enraging her.

Rings form under her eyes and a vicious look appears on her face. This is not the kind of reaction I was expecting. Her hair flies frantically as she powers up just like the first time we met. "You killed Kurosaki-kun and Sora-chan...UNFORGIVABLE...UNFORGIVABLE...UNFORGIVABLE!"

"Inoue-san please don't get involved you must heal the injured." Uryu tries to calm down his berserk friend.

"Orihime you mustn't let him get to you." Sado's brief distraction allows me to free myself from his grasp."

"HAH. Now I can fight you on my own terms."

Orihime calls out her cutting weapon. "KOTEN ZANSHUN...I REJECT."

I grow overconfident. "Do you still think that little fairy can cut me?" I try and catch the sprite with my flattened hand but it cleanly cuts through the armoured hand. I curse and try to snatch it with my claws. She can control the movements of it with her hairpiece. I have to destroy it.

Sado gets in the way and aims an uppercut to my chin. I dodge by a centimetre but even the air behind the punch is enough to knock me back. Extending my claws, I try to aim past his bulk of a body but he uses his arm as a shield and takes the bladed claws without a flinch. I yank the claws out leaving bloodied holes across his forearm.

"This next one's for the girl...HYAH!" But my arm is suddenly paralysed. One of the Quincy's energy arrows runs through my arm.

Ishida explains towards the side. "I knew that by striking the peripheral nerves of your arm you would be unable to use that clawed attack you base all of your attacks on."

"Shit..." I curse under my breath. My other arm is still useful though. I swipe away Sado with my claws of death and am now able to strike Orihime. However she has other plans.

"SANTEN KESSHUN...I REJECT" She quickly forms that annoying shield but it shatters when my claws finally strike.

"Your heart is what's holding you back Orihime...Your mind is clogged with vengeful thoughts...that is why you humans can never match up to the power of a hollow, especially an Arrancar." I was unaware that her cutting device was orbiting behind me. It was only when I felt a surge of pain in my black and blood fountaining over my body that I realised the extent of the damage it could cause. I was foolish to let that little thing cross my mind.

"The reason I will win is because I have passion for my friends, and a will to fight for those who need protecting." She stands tall over my fallen body. She has transformed into a powerful warrior with the fighting spirit that rivals the strongest Shinigami. "Ichigo taught me how to be strong after my brother's death and thanks to him I have something important to protect in my life."

I sigh as I accept defeat. "What if I were to tell you your friend is still alive."

She gasps and seemingly reverts back to the worrisome schoolgirl. "Are you telling the truth?"

"Yes...I devoured his body but eventually he took over my body and escaped in a different form."

Sado is vexed. "So now we can find Ichigo...But first we must rescue Rukia."

"What will you do with me then?" I ask whilst still on the ground.

Ishida aims his bow right next to my eye. "You will no longer be of any use to us hollow."

Orihime tries to stop him. "Don't do it, he might know where Ichigo is."

"Can't you tell he's bluffing? He killed Ichigo and now he must die."

"NO!"

SPLASH. A white figure descends and slashes across Uryu's entire body. My saviour turns his head revealing the 'V' shaped mask fragment.

"About time you showed up Adopheles."

Reinforcements...The battle has not quite turned on our favour as of yet, we are still outnumbered...Can we still win against these spiritually aware humans? Don't miss the next exciting chapter!