Episode 39: Despair I
SANDY PLAINS OF HUECO MUNDO:
"I can't believe Aizen made me tag along with you saps." I hear Nnoitra murmuring in behind us.
"That's Lord Aizen to you." Nel asserted her dominance as the higher rank.
"I'll call him whatever the fuck I want." I was getting fed up with this oafs attitude.
Shrieker decided to change the subject. "So Lord Aizen would like us to find the Vasto Lordes then?"
Nel nodded. "That is correct. If they are willing to join us that is."
I ask the stupid question. "What do we do if they don't want to join our ranks?"
Nel simply clicked the guard of her sword heavily implying the measures taken to those who refuse to follow Lord Aizen.
After walking for what feels like several days straight I notice a moving object on the horizon. It's quite large and round – in fact I'm not sure it's even a hollow. By the time we get close enough it appears more like a giant pumpkin with many eyes.
"Um...Hello?" I call over to the strange object. One of the eyes opens wide. I'm encapsulated by the dazzling yellow eye...it's almost...hypnotic...
"BANZAI LOOK OUT!" I hear Shrieker who rushes over and shields my vision from the strange pumpkin. "ARGH! MY ARM!" Shrieker curses as he raises his left arm in a threatening manner.
"Shrieker what are you doing?" I'm confused as our enemy is over there.
"BANZAI!" Nel pushes me aside and takes a blow from Shrieker's arm.
"SHREIKER!" I yell at him still confused at his strange behaviour.
He growls wildly and grabs his arm as if he's lost control of it. "Someone cut off this arm – ACK!" His other limb spasmodically pulls back and swipes in my direction. I'm able to dodge but now I'm really concerned.
"Bahawhaw! You Arrancar are so foolish you still don't get it!" The pumpkin laughs at us mockingly. "Your friend is under my spell now...I'll enjoy watching you all kill each other as punishment for disturbing me."
At that moment I knew this hollow was not playing nice. We'd have to stop him at all costs. I turn to find Nnoitra who's walking away from the battle. "Hey! Where are you going? You can't just desert us now!"
He shrugs his shoulders. "You can all rot in hell for all I care."
"BASTARD!" I cal out to him but I'm impaled by Shrieker's hand during the distraction.
"Sorry...Banzai...Please...Kill...me." he wrenches out his possessed arm and is about to strike with his other until Nel intervenes. I notice a strange symbol tattooed on both his arms. It must be some sort of charm.
"Banzai! I'll hold off Shrieker while you try and get that hollow...Don't let his eyes catch your body parts."
That's easier said than done... "Please don't kill him."
She chuckles as she parries him back with her sword. "I'll try not to...just hurry, we can still break the spell."
"It is useless...you will soon understand Zommari's love." The statement distracts me slightly but I retain my stance. I draw out my blade, releasing the razorwires of death.
"HAH!" I swing my razorwires as they wrap around his body. However before I can perform the next manoeuvre my arm becomes paralysed. "Oh no! He's got my arm now." My entranced arm releases the wires from his body before they can cause severe damage and are now coming towards me." I'm afraid I have no choice.
As blood sprays from my arm he laughs "So you are willing to sacrifice your own arm...your determination is strong...but you cannot escape my love!" More of his eyes open, soon he will posses my entire body.
However Nel Sonidoes over and stands between us. She falls to her knees and struggles to turn her head. "B-B-Banzai..."
"YOU WILL BE PUNISHED FOR THIS! JUCIO CERO!" My four robs of judgement burn away at several of his eyes. As he cries tears of blood I leap onto his body and stab another eye with my hand. I quickly yank it out and dig my feet into two more before they have the chance to hypnotise me. Finally I claw into another eye and pull it our. I've entered a trance of my own, lapping up the white humour as it seeps from the eyeball.
I hear him sobbing hysterically. "HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO MY BODY! YOU WILL LOVE ME!" His remaining eyes shine brighter than a thousand suns. I'm overwhelmed by the display, however I must fall back and escape its gaze. I peer down and noise the sun-shaped tattoo on my chest. "Now I can control your bodily organs...if you don't wish to be ripped to shreds I suggest you follow my orders..."
Oh no...I'm helpless now...If I try and cut him he will kill me...but if I do nothing he will only kill me anyway...what should I do...?
"Erase those thoughts from your mind..."
What?
"Remember you must not be afraid to cut his body...if you want to fight him you want to cut him...and when you cut him..."
'I want to win...'
"That's right keep coming...yes soon I will be able to devour your body without so much as batting an eyelid..." I'm now just centimetres from his body. A gaping jaw opens up with four large venomous fangs. "Don't worry boy...this is just a little love-bite..." As his fangs close in I shoot a bala through the roof of his mouth. He gasps in shock before I pull out his uvula* ( A/N that's the dangly bit at the back of your mouth...yes that's right!).In desperation he slams his jaws but I use the strength in my single arm to hold them up. I prop my legs against the sides of his fangs. As I curl the tips of my fingers against the mouth cavity I am prepared to deliver the penultimate sentence.
"Jucio Cero." In a predictable fashion his upper body explodes like a flesh volcano and rains flakes of charred gore on the crystal sands. The symbol on my chest dissolves and Nel and Shrieker return to normal.
"I owe you one Banzai!" Shrieker says exhausted.
"Could you lend me an arm then?" I joke. I should be able to produce another limb now that the battle's over. Soon enough my arm grows back.
Nel comments on my regenerative abilities. "That's amazing for an Arrancar."
"I was always able to do this...Isn't it normal for hollow to regenerate."
Shrieker interjects. "When we become Arrancar most of our hollow abilities are limited or even taken away, so we may be able to become more powerful. Usually we Arrancar lose the ability of instant regeneration, however it seems you have retained that ability at a cost to your overall strength."
"I s'pose I can't complain about that..." I speak in a larrikin manner. I may be an Arrancar but I'm still Aussie!
Nel responds. "Don't become too complacent though...you may be able to regenerate limbs but your internal organs cannot be replaced. That is your weak spot."
"Okay got it...Say where do you think Nnoitra ran off too."
Shrieker scoffs. "Who cares. That coward ran out on us when we needed him...We should just continue the mission ourselves."
Although are first encounter with a hollow was hostile we did come across a few willing servants. We found a giant humanoid hollow feasting on carcasses who agreed to join us as long as he had plenty of food to eat. He said his name was Yammy Rialgo and judging by his reatsu I estimated he was at least an Adjuchas-class Menos.
Later we found another Adjuchas that resembled a white armoured panther. He initially greeted us with caution, growling as we approached. But when we told whim about the notion of becoming more powerful he soon changed his mind.
"Sure I'll join you guys...Soon I'll be king and everyone will bow to Grimmjow Jagerjaques."
We had come across several more strong Menos who swore allegiance to Lord Aizen however we had yet to find a Vasto Lorde...That was until we met the green eyes of a rather melancholic hollow.
"What's your name?" Shrieker called out firmly. He curled his arm in preparation of a fight if necessary.
"What's it to you three?" He said monotonously.
Nel spoke calmly. "We are looking for recruits to join Lord Aizen's army of Arrancar...We would humbly appreciate it if you could join us...judging by your size and spiritual levels I would say you're a Vasto Lorde?"
"That is correct...And you are only an Adjuchas-class Arrancar...Such trash."
Nel was a little surprised at his observation but disregarded the 'trash' remark. He threw his eyes to Shrieker. "You on the other hand are a Vasto Lorde...but only beginning to develop your powers...you are also just trash. I began to shiver when I realised he was going to judge me next. However I his eyes didn't register the way I anticipated. He raised an eyebrow slightly but remained composed. "I'm not sure what to make of you...you are the weakest of the three, yet something about you bothers me..." After staring at my body for an anguishing five minutes he sighs. "Alright I suppose I'll pay this Aizen a visit..." He stretches the black wings on his black and flies into the eternal night, leaving a trail of sand.
Nel and Shrieker both look at me oddly. "He's right you know...but at least you've somehow convinced him to join us..." Nel smiles in a sense of accomplishment. "Now that we have found a Vasto Lorde we can finally call this mission a success."
"Hang on..." Shrieker interrupts. "We were sent out to find the Vasto Lordes" Emphasising the plural. "We should at least look for one more."
It's been several days since we last came across any hollow let alone a Vasto Lorde. We had explored the depths of Hueco Mundo and were now taking our search into the underground forest of Menos. The Goliath trunks seem even more intimidating when your this small.
After walking around for hours we reach a cliffed area. Boulders are spread across the ground floor as if there has been a landslide.
"Hang on...I remember this place..." But before I can recall fully I'm met with a rouge blade.
"I recognise that foul reatsu...So it seems we meet again lowly hollow." The masked warrior
I smile as I'm itching for a fight. "Seems so...pathetic Shinigami."
The Shinigami of the Menos Forest has returned... Not satisfied with his last defeat he must want a rematch. How long will he last this time? Or am I being too overconfident? Am I yet to see his true power? Don't miss the next epic chapter!