This is the final chapter of the Another Story sub-arc! I hope you guys enjoyed it despite not having any of your OCs in it. Hopefully, you guys enjoyed the appearances of canon characters, to which there will be more in the future.
Review Corner:
-Barrett M107 (Ch. 8): Heh heh. I've decided to do some things that no OC author has done before, since the canon characters will eventually make a large impact in this story. I'm glad you like this chapter!
-JJun (Ch. 8): Thanks a lot!
-BMACBOO (Ch. 8): I needed someone to question Juuda's currently philosophy so that he wouldn't be a walking stiff that communicated with no one during the course of this story. I thought a baby kid would do.
-ZxZ Fic Hunter (Ch. 8): Ha. I thought that it was too obvious after I gave his physical description.
Ch. 9 Another Story: The Final Interview
Opening: "Seasons' Call" by Hyde
"Captain-Commander. I sense the Arrancar's Reiatsu coming closer."
"Yes, I know."
"Will you test him?"
"Yes, I will."
"Hmm..."
"Why? Do you want to take my place in fighting him?"
"No, though I long to. Will you destroy him?"
"Of course not. I need to allow him to live so that I may recruit him to our army."
"...Are you afraid that he might defeat you?"
"Hmph! These youngsters still have a long ways to go before they can reach my level."
"Arrogant today, aren't you?"
"You're the same."
Only stories of Las Noches abounded in Hueco Mundo since it had been destroyed several centuries ago during the war between a Hollow uprising and the Arrancar rules, which is why there isn't much factual information. The only thing known was that in the epilogue of the battle, said Arrancar and Hollow destroyed each other.
It took another week of following the path the white-haired Shinigami laid out, but Juuda and Hopus could finally see the remains of Las Noches. Hopus stiffened upon seeing the wrecked buildings, worried that the war would start all over again with the pair in-between the battle. His tiny hand gripped Juuda's pants. Juuda glanced at the tiny Arrancar, then continued forwards.
Suddenly, the area started to rumble. Juuda gently pushed Hopus away, sensing some Hollows in front of them. Sure enough, three Gillians sprouted from the sand, ambushing them. Ceros were already prepared in their mouth.
Hopus yelped in fright, but Juuda quickly used his Sonido to grab the top of their masks and pull them upwards, causing them to fire their Ceros into the sky. Before they could bring their heads down to face the Arrancar, Juuda stabbed the three one at a time in quick succession straight through their masks.
After jumping back to the ground, Hopus asked, "Juuda. What are you going to do when you achieve satisfaction?"
"I never thought about it," Juuda responded. "Don't know. I guess I'll find out when I fight a powerful opponent."
Eventually, the two reached the entrance of the main building of Las Noches. Hopus continued to waddle forward, but Juuda stopped him with his leg. The kid frowned, then blinked in surprise upon seeing an old man standing in front of the building.
Like the white-haired Shinigami, this old man wore white, but his was in the shape of a robe that covered his entire body, save his hands and head. He had an 'X-shaped scar on his forehead, with low-curved eyes, white eyebrows and beard. He held a wooden cane in his right hand.
"Another Shinigami?" Juuda said. "And that they would send an old man for this 'final interview?'"
"Hmph! Your youth is made obvious from your arrogance," The Shinigami replied. "I will shut that arrogance from your being."
"Hopus, get back," Juuda said.
"Why? He's just an old man," Hopus replied.
The old man lowered his eyes and immediately an enormous Reiatsu came over the area. Hopus was smashed straight into the sand in front of him and even Juuda was forced to his knee. He grabbed the sand with his hand and pushed himself up, clenching his teeth at the Reiatsu that was overwhelming him.
"You are correct," The Shinigami said. "I am Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, and I am your final opponent. Come, you rascal, and show me your skill!"
"Hopus, get out of here," Juuda ordered.
"Y-Yes, Juuda," Hopus said worriedly, jumping to the top of one of the towering obelisks near their battlefield.
Juuda drew his Zanpakuto. "Will you fight me with that cane, Shinigami?"
Yamamoto scoffed. "This cane is my Zanpakuto."
"What is the point of this fight?" Juuda demanded, switching to a ready stance.
"I am looking for a powerful Arrancar to join the Nuevo Espada," Yamamoto explained. "If you can possibly pose a threat to me, I will allow you to join."
"Thanks for the offer, but no thanks!" Juuda yelled, using Sonido to appear in front of him. The old Shinigami glanced up and brought up his cane to block. Juuda was shocked to see that he couldn't cut through the cane.
"I told you that this cane is my Zanpakuto," Yamamoto said. "You won't be able to cut through it."
Juuda used Sonido to appear right behind him, but Yamamoto quickly turned to block with his cane. The two met weapons a few times before Juuda grabbed his cane with his unoccupied hand and retracted his blade to stab him. But as he did so, he realized that Yamamoto had also retracted his fist to punch him. He attempted to stab first, but his surprise at Yamamoto's action caused him to miss. Yamamoto made contact with his target, sending Juuda flying through an obelisk.
"Tch! That was nothing!" Juuda yelled.
He jumped off the obelisk and flew straight towards Yamamoto. The old man grunted and pushed himself toward the Arrancar. Much to Juuda's shock, Yamamoto came fast with his fist flying towards him. The Arrancar barely shifted his head away from the attack, barely getting scraped by the old man before flying into the wall of Las Noches' main building.
"Come on, youngster," Yamamoto taunted. "Is that all you've got?"
'His fists barely do anything to harm my skin because of my Hierro,' Juuda observed. 'But that doesn't change the fact I can't touch him!'
Juuda used Sonido to appear in front of him, then quickly stepped back to dodge Yamamoto's punch. Then he lunged forwards to strike him, but forgot that Yamamoto's other fist was coming towards him. He was struck back and landed in the sand.
"I wonder how Ichimaru had such trouble with an opponent of your calibur," Yamamoto said.
Juuda got into a battle stance, holding his sword in front of him. He eyed the Shinigami, waiting for him to make the next move. Yamamoto sighed and used Shunpo to appear in front of him. Juuda was about to come forward, but froze as Yamamoto released his Reiatsu, forcing him to kneel on the sand. The Shinigami calmly walked towards Juuda, the latter unable to do anything as he suffocated from the extreme spiritual pressure, and kicked him down.
"Juuda!" Hopus cried.
"With power like this, it makes me wonder how you managed to fight a Vasto Lorde and survive," Yamamoto said. "I wonder about the youth these days. Spoiled brats, they are."
As soon as he concluded his sentence, he felt a familiar spiritual pressure come down on him, just as suffocating as his own. Because of Yamamoto's own Reiatsu, he managed to stay up by deflecting his spiritual pressure at the other. But his eyes widened as Juuda easily stood up after having been kicked down.
"Unfortunately for you, I've barely tapped the surface of my potential," Juuda said, calmly staring at the Shinigami. "Prepare yourself."
Juuda immediately appeared behind Yamamoto. The old man turned to block again, but Juuda anticipated that and whacked his cane away with the side of his blade. Yamamoto blinked in surprise as Juuda lunged forward and stabbed him in the shoulder. Juuda pointed his fingers at Yamamoto and said, "Cero," unleashing a gold blast of spiritual energy at point-blank range! A huge explosion occurred on contact, but Juuda managed to get out of it in time.
When the dust disappeared, Juuda was surprised to see Yamamoto coming out virtually unscathed. His clothes were tattered and his face had a few scratches, but other than that, there wasn't any significant damage done to him.
"That tickled a bit," Yamamoto said.
Juuda had already leaped towards the Shinigami after seeing him, using Sonido to appear next to him. Juuda fired a Bala from his fist at point-blank range again, causing Yamamoto to slide back, but it virtually did no damage to him.
"Your attacks are very interesting, but I'm afraid it does no harm to me," Yamamoto said, holding up his hand. "Allow me to show you my magic. Hado #54, Haien!"
He unleashed a violet ball of spiritual energy that came at Juuda at high speed. Fortunately, Juuda was faster, dodging the attack. He turned to see the ball make contact with the sand, causing a huge explosion of flame! The explosion's impact was so great that it sent Juuda flying into the air, but Yamamoto used Shunpo to appear behind him. Juuda blocked his cane's strike and slid his blade down it to strike him, but Yamamoto grabbed his katana with his bare hands!
Juuda released one hand from his katana and pointed two fingers at Yamamoto. "Cero Espiral!" He unleashed a spiraling Cero in the shape of a drill, once again at point-blank range. This time, Yamamoto was forced to release his grip on Juuda's Zanpakuto and blocked the attack with his bare hand, catching the drill, but it was too great and he got out of the way.
As he backed up, Juuda appeared from the smoke his Cero had caused and fired another Cero Espiral. Yamamoto announced, "Bakudo #81, Danku!" A white wall of spiritual energy appeared in front of him, completely blocking the attack and negating it's drill effect.
"For an old man, you're quite durable," Juuda remarked.
"Young people like you have a long way to go before you can reach my level," Yamamoto replied.
"Oh no, Juuda..." Hopus nervously whispered as he watched on top of the obelisk. "Juuda has never struggled in a fight before! Everyone he's fought would always lose to him! Is he really gonna lose?!"
He quivered a bit before hugging himself to calm down. 'It's okay! Juuda still hasn't used his Resurreccion! He still has a chance if he uses it!'
In the distance, three Shinigami watched the fight. Besides the white-haired Shinigami, Gin Ichimaru, two watched the fight with great intensity.
On Gin's right was a black man with lavender dreadlocks and white goggles to hide his blind eyes. He wore a sleeveless white robe that stretched down to his ankles and a Zanpakuto with a tear-shaped tsuba hanging on a string at his side. He was the former captain of the 9th Division, Kaname Tosen.
On Gin's left was a pale-skinned woman with her long, black hair braided into one long braid at the front of her body that stretched down her neck. Like Yamamoto, she wore a white robe that covered her entire body. Her Zanpakuto, a nodachi with a red hilt and oval tsuba, was strapped behind her shoulder. She was the former captain of the 12th Division, Retsu Unohana.
A surge of Reiatsu passed through the air, causing Kaname to shudder. "This battle is quite fierce. Though, I suspect the Captain-Commander isn't giving his all yet."
"It's true that the Captain-Commander has the overwhelming advantage," Retsu said. "He hasn't even released his Shikai yet. However, that Arrancar has yet to release his Zanpakuto."
"If he releases his Shikai, this battle will be over," Gin said, his grin still sinister as ever. "I'm not worried at all."
"You're just mad he made you release your Shikai," Retsu retorted.
Gin's smile turned into a frown.
"Cero Espiral!" Juuda yelled, firing another drill-like Cero at Yamamoto. The Shinigami, now used to the attack, took his cane and swung at the Cero like a baseball, reflecting it's attack off to another obelisk. Juuda clucked his tongue after landing on the sand.
"Arrancar, your antics are putting an old man like me to sleep," Yamamoto said, yawning.
Juuda sighed. "Very well, gramps. You've tested my patience long enough. It's about time I showed you my true power."
Yamamoto opened one eye. "Pardon?"
"Though forgive me if I cut you into shreds," Juuda said as his Reiatsu began to fill the area. He placed his hand on his sword and he announced, "Strike, Emperador!"
A huge gust of wind surrounded his body, causing his sand to come up and envelop his body as well, keeping Yamamoto from seeing his transformation. That, combined with his intense Reiatsu, caused the entire area to quake. Hopus had to grab the edge of the obelisk to keep himself from flying off. Even the three former captains were surprised by the intensity his transformation was causing.
The winds eventually died down, revealing Juuda's new form. Juuda's black hair has grown so long that it went down to the back of his knees, with the top of his hair resembling a lion's mane. His armor was colored bronze and black, jagged blades on his shoulders, elbows, and knees. His fingers and toes grew sharp nails. In each hand, he wielded a scimitar with a gold hilt.
"Hmm?" Yamamoto hardly seemed fazed by his transformation. "That's it? Hmph! You look pretty more than anything else-"
Without any warning, Juuda appeared right next to him. Yamamoto barely reacted a second late as Juuda slashed his shoulder, bloodying his arm. The Shinigami managed to get away before Juuda could do any further damage.
"So, your Zanpakuto gives you added speed. As if you weren't fast enough," Yamamoto remarked.
"Speed is everything," Juuda said, appearing behind him again.
Yamamoto blocked Juuda's strike before he could get an attack in, but to the Shinigami's shock, he managed to produce a crack in his cane. Juuda leaped forwards and struck Yamamoto's body with his other scimitar, opening his robe and revealing a long scar.
"Not again..." Yamamoto muttered, unconsciously putting his hand on his scar. He couldn't care for it for long, as Juuda appeared in front of him and unleashed a barrage of sword strikes. Yamamoto blocked them all, but each strike produced another crack in his cane. He was eventually forced to get back, but Juuda relentlessly pursued him.
Yamamoto used his Shunpo to get a far distance away from Juuda and brought up his hand, announcing, "Hado #33, Sokatsui!" He unleashed a giant blast of red spiritual energy straight at Juuda.
"Cero Espiral," Juuda responded, unleashing his golden Cero. His Resurreccion magnified the blast to make it twice as fast and powerful, piercing through Yamamoto's Sokatsui and straight at the Shinigami! The old man quickly shifted to the side to dodge the attack, but before he knew it, Juuda appeared right behind him and slashed his back!
"Rrgh!" Yamamoto winced, flying into an obelisk.
"What do you think, old man?" Juuda taunted. "This is the power of my Zanpakuto, Emperador. The speed it grants me is so overwhelmingly fast that even I have trouble maintaining it sometimes."
"Not bad, young rascal," Yamamoto said. "I acknowledge your strength."
Juuda frowned. "What do you mean?"
"It means that, in your current state, I consider you my equal," Yamamoto replied, cracking his wooden cane to reveal a katana underneath. "However, I'm about to show you the true power of my Zanpakuto. Now, show me if you are still my equal."
"What?" Juuda said. "You're Shikai?"
"Reduce all creation to ash, Ryujin Jakka!" Yamamoto bellowed, engulfing his blade in flames. He waved it in the air, causing the sky to darken even more and the entire area burst into flames. Juuda grimaced as he was affected by the flames, causing him to bend his knees in subjection.
"Arghh... it's so hot..." Juuda groaned.
"Prepare yourself," Yamamoto said, holding up his blazing sword. "Here I come."
Using Shunpo, Yamamoto appeared in front of him and slashed at Juuda. The Arrancar, still incapacitated from the flames of Ryujin Jakka, rolled to his side, but felt his hair singe at the blade's fire. Juuda quickly got up and blocked Yamamoto's second strike, cringing at the flames' power. Juuda jumped back into the sky.
"Cero Espiral!" He threw his swords into the air and shot a gold, spiraling beam of spiritual energy towards Yamamoto.
Yamamoto replied by swinging his flaming blade at the Cero, slicing it in half. Juuda gasped, but quickly got over it and Sonido'd behind Yamamoto, striking him in the back. Or at least he thought he did, but flames arose from the ground and blocked the attack. He jumped back a bit to see Yamamoto's frightening face. The Shinigami waved Ryujin Jakka at him, unleashing a huge inferno towards Juuda. He easily dodged it by simply taking back to the air.
'This is bad. We're equally matched now...' Juuda thought. 'But his flames are exhausting me faster than I'm exhausting him. It looks like I have to finish him off now.'
Yamamoto looked up to see Juuda raising both swords above his head, then combining them to from one golden-light sword. "Final del Reinado!"
"Hohhh?" Yamamoto rose one eyebrow. "Is this your last stand?"
It will be enough to defeat you," Juuda said. "Final del Reinado creates a golden sword of spiritual energy that can slice through anything. Added with my speed, it can hit anyone. The drawback is that it is usable for only one strike. So, I must finish you off in one last attack."
"Cocky, aren't you?" Yamamoto said. "You explain your entire area to me and you believe that you can defeat me in one attack?"
"This is the end, old man," Juuda said.
Yamamoto waved his blade once more, producing an inferno that came towards Juuda. "Taimatsu!"
Juuda came down at an extreme speed, passing straight through the inferno! Despite the flames burning his body, he continued to head straight down to a surprised Yamamoto and roared as he slashed through his body! The impact of his landing combined with the flames on his body caused a huge explosion. It's magnitude caused the entire area to shake. Smoke and dust spread through Las Noches, enveloping the entire area.
"Oh no... Juuda!" Hopus screamed.
When the dust cleared, Juuda was laying on the ground, coughing up blood. His Resurreccion had deactivated, returning his sword back into his sheath. His body continued to burn as Ryujin Jakka's flames still spread over his body.
He looked up in despair when he saw Yamamoto standing, triumphant over him. Despite Yamamoto having a large, bloody sword wound straight through his body, the cracked white barrier in front of him indicated that he had casted a protection spell right before contact that shielded him from his attack's real power.
"Congratulations. You've managed to strike me," Yamamoto said. "You've passed the interview."
"Hmph..." Juuda painfully laughed.
"My elite soldiers, the Nuevo Espada, need a soldier like you. Someone who doesn't give up in the face of danger," Yamamoto said. "We need you to carry out our plan. Will you join us?"
Juuda grunted, unable to say anything audible. However, despite his flaming body, his determined face already showed his answer.
Yamamoto looked to his right, leading Juuda's eyes to follow. With his failing vision due to his losing consciousness, he couldn't see them clearly. However, he could make out their white clothes, and assumed they were also part of the Nuevo Espada. One of them grabbed him and flung him over the person's shoulder, dragging him into the main building of Las Noches.
Juuda closed his eyes and smiled. 'I finally found one. A strong opponent who could truly satisfy myself.'
"Juuda?" Hopus said aloud after the Nuevo Espada dragged him into the building. Hopus attempted to follow, but they sealed the main entrance with a large black block.
Hopus frowned worriedly and said aloud, "Juuda lost! What if they're gonna do bad things to him?"
He walked away from the entrance, then looked back. "What am I going to do now?"
"I think there are plenty of ways to feel satisfaction! Just look at me!"
"I know! While I wait for Juuda to get out, I'm gonna make friends with other Hollows!" Hopus resolved. "That way, Juuda will have other happy buddies to be with when he gets out!"
He began waddling out of Las Noches. After he did so, he turned around and waited for about an hour. After he realized that Juuda wouldn't be coming out, he looked down with tears in his eyes, and walked into the desert by himself.
Ending: "Alumina" by Nightmare
That concludes the Another Story sub-arc! I hope you guys enjoyed it! Unfortunately, it was a sad ending, but it prompted the resolve of both characters, so I think it was good enough. Just one more chapter until the end of the Beginnings Arc! Make sure you readers get your OCs in!
Alright, now let me explain Juuda's Zanpakuto.
EMPERADOR: The true form of Adjuchas Arrancar Juuda Tsubaki's Zanpakuto, it is released by the phrase, "Strike." He grows a large lion's mane on his head and gains bronze and black armor, claws, and two scimitars. It grants Juuda super-Sonido, fast enough to avoid an Arrancar's Pesquisa. Juuda Tsubaki's scimitars can combine to form a golden blade, called "Final del Reinado," that can cut through virtually any substance, however can only be used for one slash. After which, it deactivates Juuda's Resurreccion.