Chapter 4: Stranger in a Strange Land
Reiko, Tanya and Li Mei continued their search for Ermac. But after long hours and finding nothing they knew he was long gone. Perhaps he had collapsed somewhere and died or maybe he just kept on running until the world ended, whatever the case it didn't matter. The three packed themselves up and headed back to Outworld.
They entered the Dragon King's throne room and found him sitting back in his chair looking as if he was in deep thought. In truth he had very little sleep over this current matter. While he was sure his warriors could handle Ermac he always left room for doubt just in case. Onaga picked up his head and saw the three of them enter, only three. He sat himself up and a malicious grin formed on his face.
"Welcome Back." His voice boomed and echoed through the halls. The three warriors kneeled at the feet of his throne. Onaga looked and saw that in Reiko's hand was the blade he'd handed to Ermac before their mission." I take it everything went according to plan?" he asked almost rhetorically, feeling his fear was now gone. Reiko turned his head up and faced the Emperor and since he didn't immediately reply that startled the Emperor." Well?" he asked in a harsher voice.
"Sir." Said Reiko." We were able to lure Ermac to the land of Hueco Muendo, but when we tried to kill him he resisted and fled." Onaga's red eyes opened wide in angered annoyance." But sir." Pleaded Reiko." We have his blade." He raised it up as proof." He has no defense, no one to help him. He's dead he's-"
"Silence!" yelled Onaga. Reiko shrunk back down while Li Mei and Tanya shivered." This sets back all my plans!"
"Sire please." Said Reiko." There's no way he could survive he's-"
"I will not base this off assumptions Commander Reiko." Said Onaga." If I had ordered Ermac to kill you, I would not be having this conversation with him, of that I'm sure." Reiko sunk down in shame as Onaga lumbered down and stood over him. He brought his large clawed hands up and placed them across his chest. Reiko shivered in fright of him." You will be back there by dawn won't you?"
"Y-Yes sir." Said Reiko.
"And you will do better this time?"
"Y-Yes, sire." Onaga said nothing but his body language indicated that he wanted them to leave. He gritted his teeth and the sharp nails on his toes dug into the ground.
So Reiko, Tanya, and Li Mei quickly left before they suffered anymore of the Dragon King's anger. Onaga turned and marched over to the balcony, which overlooked a vast amount of his empire but mostly it he could see trees. And he knew somewhere out there was Ermac, lost in a realm unknown to him. And that sent Onaga into a bigger rage for if anyone out there could hinder his rule it was Ermac.
His anger rose and he had to let it out. "I'll find you Ermac!" Onaga yelled to the sky." The world isn't a big enough place to hide!"
Meanwhile back in Hueco Muendo with Ermac.
He had kept on running until he felt his pursuers were far behind. Then he was finally able to sit himself down and think this all over. There were too many questions on his mind at the moment, as he thought over him arriving at this strange place. All his attention was drawn to Outworld and how he was betrayed by those he once considered his allies.
He became distracted for the next second the wind picked up, blowing sand and cold air at him. But Ermac stood unfazed, squinting his eyes as sand hit against his face.
He didn't know how he got where he was and at the moment he didn't care. All he knew was that the forces of Outworld would come and search for him, and that made him even angrier. But he couldn't stay where he was, he would have to find somewhere to stay and replenish his strength.
So he began walking forward into the desert, the sand and cold wind picking up once again. He didn't know where he was going or why, he just kept on moving. He was just a lost soul in this endless sea of sand.
His travels lasted for many days and night. Eventually he managed to make himself some cover for the harsh winds of the desert. Not that it really matter for neither heat nor cold bothered him nor lack of sleep, and sleep he got little of. For still he was haunted by the nightmares of faces he could not remember and yet he did. They called his name for a failure he didn't commit.
It was a three whole days before he came across another living being.
His attention was drawn to a voice he heard in the distance. At the prospect of contact with another being Ermac quickly hurried off in that direction, however he would come upon an awful sight.
He followed the voice and it led him to not one person but three! From what he could tell their two standing and another on the ground. But as he got closer Ermac heard many distinct voices shouting and yelling.
There were two women both wearing white, one with purple hair the other blonde. And the two stood over a young girl all covered in green.
"What are you doing here?!" shouted the purple haired woman." You know you're not supposed to be here."
"I'm sorry." Said the girl." Nel, Nel." She coughed in her throat.
"Well that's not good enough!" yelled the purple haired woman. Then she brought her leg up and kicked the girl. Ermac quickly tensed up at the sight of this while the two women seemed to laugh at the girls torment.
Now Ermac had done some things he wasn't proud of but there were some things he couldn't stand, and this was one of them.
"HEY!" he quickly shouted. His loud deep voice breaking through the air and startling the two women. The two jolted around and turned to see him there. The two were confused at the sight of him, being wrapped up and all. But two things they could easily make out were two green lamp-like eyes peering out from the hood of his coat.
"Well, well." Said the purple haired girl." What have he here Melony?"
"I don't know Loly." Replied Melony the blonde." It looks like a man."
"Indeed." Said Loly." You know your trespassing here man!" The little girl Nel continued to crawl around at their feet. Loly quickly turned and kicked her once more.
"We think she's had enough." Ermac said with authority in his voice.
"Enough!" yelled Loly." We're just getting started." Now she pulled a knife out and prepared to stab Nel.
However in no time at all Ermac was able to jump between the two, grabbing Loly's wrist and holding her there. His coat had been dropped to the ground and he stood in full view of them. Loly struggled but couldn't free herself from Ermac's grip. She pushed and pulled but he did not move as he held her there. So then with her free hand she swung up and punched him in the face. However it had a negative effect as Ermac was unfazed by her hit and continued to stare her down.
Ermac did not want to use such excessive force on her but she left him no choice. With the flick of his wrist he twisted hers. Causing her to drop her knife and break a few bones. Then realizing her hand he swung his hand forward and slapped her in the face.
Loly flew back onto the sand, holding her broken wrist. Then Ermac turned to Loly who was petrified with fear at the sight of him.
"Is that any way to treat a lady?" Said Melony trying to find some form of humanity in her attacker.
"That was no lady." Said Ermac gruffly." But we give you a chance now, take your friend and run. Go before we change my mind." And with a stern looked from Ermac Melony turned and grabbed Loly. But before they left they had this to say.
"Master Halibel will have your head." Ermac gave them a sideways glance and then watched as they disappeared. He paid their threat little mind, many people wanted him dead so adding another name to the list wasn't really a problem to him.
So then Ermac turned to the child. He walked over and bent down next to her.
"Child." He said kneeling down next to her." They are gone child, they cannot hurt you anymore." The little girl rolled over and looked up at her savior Ermac.
"You saved Nel?" she asked. Ermac expected some gratitude for what he did but he didn't expect what came next. The little girl jumped up and attached herself to his head, crying and shrieking 'You saved Nel!'
"Enough!" commanded Ermac grabbing a hold of her and tearing her off his head." If you are so grateful you will answer us, understand?!" Nel nodded." Where am we? And who were those people attacking you?" He rested her back on the ground so she could speak.
"This is Hueco Muendo." Told Nel holding her arms up. The realm of the hollows, governed by Master Halibel. Nel Nel." She coughed the last part. Ermac looked at her confused but continued the conversation.
"We know that but, where am we? Where does this desert end?"
"Desert no end? It goes on for miles and miles covering all land." Ermac just sighed his annoyance.
"Tell me about this Halibel." He said looking for more information. "We take it those two work for this Halibel?" He guessed, seeing as how they mentioned the name.
"Yes." Nel nodded." Mean and nasty they are. Like trespassers they don't. And now for what you have done, you will become a target."
"We'll handle it." Told Ermac as he stood back up. Hueco Muendo was the target of Outworld's next invasion. So he knew that his enemies would be there soon enough. And when they arrived Ermac would ride out and meet them, to restore the demons of his past.
Then he turned and began walking away from Nel.
"Wait!" she yelled after him." Where are you going?"
"Anywhere." Replied Ermac as he continued walking. But then Nel jumped before him blocking his path.
"But you can't just leave. Stick together we must, for the minions of Halibel will return."
"It's best we part ways." Told Ermac." Like you said 'We are a target'. So it would be best for you to stay away from us." He took that as the end of the conversation and he walked pas Nel, she turned and watched him go the whole time.
"WAIT!" she called out stopping him once more. Ermac turned around to see the little girl's form had melted away to reveal a beautiful young woman. She walked forward and stood before Ermac." There is more you must know." Having saved her she sought it best to repay him somehow. She said putting her hand on Ermac's face and having him face her." I must tell you of the Tres Bestias." Ermac looked at her confused but let her continue." They are three warriors who serve Halibel loyally and without question. They are second only to Halibel and regarded amongst all others. There are the enforcers of punishment and fight like demons. For what you have done they will come for you."
Ermac was silent as he took in her words and it was several seconds before he spoke. He brought up his hand and removed her hand from his face. Her sentiment was touching but hardly necessary." Like we said." He turned and looked her in the eyes." We'll handle it." Then he turned and walked away, grabbing his coat and throwing it over his shoulders as he left.
"Good luck." Nel said quietly in his aftermath. For she knew Ermac would need all the luck he could for soon he would become the enemy of all the world.
Meanwhile miles away in the fortress of Hueco Muendo.
Menoly burst through the door, carrying Loly as she did. There were very few living in the castle but their presence attracted the attention of some of them. But she continued into the throne room, kicking opening the door and entering. She didn't make it very far however for she was set upon by three women, in fact Tres Bestias.
"What are you doing here?!" yelled Apache as she jumped forward and stood before Menoly, intimidating the weaker woman but not outright striking her.
" Don't you know you're supposed to knock before entering the Master's Throne room?" added Mila Rose.
"I beg your indulgence Tres Bestias." Said Menoly." And that of our Master. But I have urgent news."
"What's happened to her?" asked Sung-Sun pointing to Loly. But before anymore could be said Gantenbainne appeared in the doorway.
"Hey now." He said as Menoly bumped into him." What's all the ruckus about?" Every eye of the women in the room turned to him, all glaring with the same threatening look. Gantenbainne quickly knew his place and backed away. For under the new rule of Hueco Muendo he was at the bottom.
"Menoly." Spoke a new voice.
All ladies all turned to large throne that used to belong to Aizen however these days it had a new owner.
Sitting in the throne was a dark-skinned blonde woman, leaning to one sit of the chair with her left arm propped against the armrest." What urgent news is there?" The Tres Bestias stepped aside as Menoly stepped forward, dropping to her knees and bowing after placing Loly to the ground.
"What happened?" asked Halibel wanting to cut to the route of the matter. Menoly glance back at Loly then back to Halibel." We were attacked." She told.
"By who?!" shouted Apache jumping forward, staring Menoly.
"A man." She replied." A trespasser."
"Who?" asked Mila Rose standing over Menoly." Where did he come from?"
"I don't know." Said Menoly frantically." He was only there for several minutes."
"And you ran?!" spat Apache. That is a crime punishable by death here." But before Apache could do anything Halibel spoke up.
"Enough." She said in a quiet voice but loud enough to silence any transactions." Tell us what you know of him Menoly."
"He was.. He was very tall." Said Menoly as she tried to remember the exact details of her attacker." He wore red and black garbs all around his body and black wrapping all around his head. And he had two flashing green eyes." She motioned to her own for emphasis. When it appeared that was all the fraccion turned to their leader.
"To enter these lands without permission is a penalty of death." Stated Sung-Sun.
Halbiel nodded her head." You know what to do." The three women smiled at each other and then in the blink of an eye were off, covering great distance as they moved across the sand.
"So a man has wondered into our territory huh?" said Apache.
"You sound like your surprised." Said Mila Rose." You know there are no strong enough men against us in this land."
"Of that we agree." Added Sung-Sun. Ermac would need all the luck he could for now the Tres Bestias were coming for him.