Chapter 5: Ermac and the Tres Bestias
Three days. It had been three days by his account that he had last come into contact with another living thing. The last thing he met was Nel and while Ermac dismissed their meeting from his mind he did keep her words in thought.
The Tres Bestias. The Guardians of this land surpassed only by their master, feared by all others. It didn't matter to Ermac who or what they were, so long as he stayed out of their way and they out of his. That would be if this was a perfect world but sadly it isn't.
His dreams were still haunted so he got very little sleep. In his traveling he tried to make sense of everything but could never find any answers.
Ermac was wondering about his way alone, but it wasn't long before he had company. He looked out before him seeing nothing but darkness and sand. Then suddenly right before him was a woman, not one but three.
Mile Rose, Apacci, and Sung-Sung stood next to each other with Ermac wrapped up in his cloak several feet before them. Ermac grunted at himself at having been caught, this now put a dent in any of his plans.
He had done well in keeping out of their way. Although he didn't know it they were much closer than he thought. But because Ermac did not know the layout of the land very well he ended up going in circles. This confused the women who were on his trail and if it hadn't been for Sung-Sun they might never have caught up to him. It was Apacci who spotted him first and seeing no danger from him they decided to engage him.
But it was Ermac who spoke first.
"The Tres Bestias we presume." He said.
"Oh it appears our reputation precedes us." Commented Mila Rose.
"Yea that's who we are." Said Sung-Sun stepping up." And you're coming with us." Ermac picked up his head, his eyes shining out at them.
"We disagree." He said. The ladies were not shocked by this, however they did play along.
"What was that?" asked Apacci with her hand to her ear." I couldn't hear you."
"We mean you no harm." He told." Just let us pass and we won't have any trouble." And this was true he meant no harm and he knew if they got involved with him and there was a battle it would not bold well for them. Ermac knew the greatness of his power and skill and after many great battles he had honed his skills greatly. And he planned to hone those battle skills for his fights with the warriors of Outworld, not of Hueco Muendo. Whoever the people of Hueco Muendo were was no consequence to him, Ermac just wanted to stay out of their way.
"We, us." Repeated Mila Rose." Are there any more of you."
"No." Ermac said in one breath.
"There's already trouble." Said Sung-Sun." And it ends when we bring you in dead or alive." Ermac cocked his head and observed all three of them. This certainly was going to be harder than he thought.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way." Said Apacci cracking her neck and knuckles." Please take the hard way."
"We take neither of your choices." Ermac replied" Let us pass.". Apacci sighed.
"Then come with us." Answered Mila Rose.
"Can't do that."
"Then we're gonna have to take you in." said Sung-Sun. The Three women prepared themselves for a fight. Ermac knowing that it couldn't be avoided knew now there was no other way.
The Three looked at him and noticed that he his body language didn't suggest that he was giving up, they could see his arms shuffling underneath his coat.
"Take him!" ordered Mila Rose. Apacci was the first one into battle as she lunged forward and swung her blade at Ermac.
Ermac just rolled his shoulders, his cloth lifting up to reveal his leg and running across it and he stuck out his arm and grabbed Apacci's when she lunged at him. She stood there a few seconds trying to gain some foothold against him but Ermac was both tall and strong, much more than Apacci was. So the little woman stood no chance in driving back her foe.
But Ermac did not assault he just stayed there with his hand holding her arm. But then Ermac's attention was drawn up as he felt a cloud come over him. He looked up to see Sung-Sun coming down towards him bearing a trident.
She swung her arm forward, the points of her weapon aiming for Ermac's eyes. But Ermac raised up his hand and caught the trident, the pointed parts sliding between his fingers. Then with the forced he added he brought Sung-Sun onto the ground.
Now both his arms were preoccupied, one holding Sung-Sun in place and the other keept Apacci at bay. But there were three Tres Bestias not two. Ermac picked his head up and saw Mila Rose coming at him wielding her own sword.
She ran forward and prepared to swing her sword, cutting off Ermac's head. But Ermac jolted back with Mila Rose's blade nearly bypassing his head. He let go off Sung-Sun and Apacci as he retreated.
Not only that but when he jumped back his coat fell off his body and fell forward. Mila Rose cut it in half but still the cloth flung forward and covered her face. He stumbled around trying to rip it off her face but found the cloth to be never-ending.
But she managed to rip it off and then slam it to the ground without the help of her comrades. She looked over to see them standing close by.
"Thanks." She said sarcastically.
"Don't mention it." Replied Apacci in the same tone. Mila Rose looked around and noticed that nobody was fighting and that Ermac had seemed to disappear." Where'd the man get off too?"
"We don't know." Said Sung-Sun." He just vanished into thin air."
"What?" she exclaimed looking around." Find him! Search everywhere!" Then the three split up and began their search.
Ermac however was not far off and had made himself a hiding place behind a rock. He crouched down even so that his entire body was hidden behind the piece of earth. He heard the three women's banter a small distance off. So he decided that now was the better time to make his escape. So he rose to his feet and with nothing to protect him from the elements he continued on his lonely journey. Or so he thought.
When he took a step forward he felt something strange in the sand. His gaze slowly moved downward to see something move across his right foot. He concentrated his vision only to fell something go across his other foot. He shot his head over and noticed that something was moving all around him.
He had little time to react because before he knew it a whole next full of white snakes jumped out from the sand and at him. They jumped up and latched onto him, their sliming bodies running all over his. He swung his arms trying to remove the foul creatures but it had little effect, then he managed to stumble over onto the ground. Most of them were small but there was one that was bigger than the rest. It slithered up his leg and around his torso. Ermac looked down at his chest to see all the little snakes part ways as a big white head with two little red eyes come towards him.
And there was the big snake with its face only inches apart from Ermac's, it's little red tongue sticking out just enough to brush his chin. But then his attention was called to something else.
"I found him." Called Sung-Sun who stood on a nearby rock. Mila Rose and Apacci were at her side in less than a second. Looking down they saw the sight of Ermac wrapped up in snakes. Ermac looked forward and saw the big snake before him open it's open and snapped at him. But Ermac was able to lift his arm up and grab the snake, then he held it at bay struggling against it. But while Ermac was in distress but the Tres Bestias found the sight rather amuzing.
Apacci let out a laugh." HaHa sucks to suck." She laughed and pointed at Ermac. And Sung-Sun and Mila Rose also appeared amused with the sight.
Ermac continued to struggled against the advancing snake, his eyes darting between the beast and the laughing women. It was all happening so fast, their laughter, his distress, and his heart began to pound like a drum in his chest. Then the anger set in, the anger that settled deep down inside him. The anger he felt at being alone, at being betrayed, about wanting to be killed by everyone for reasons he couldn't understand.
Ermac then let out a mad roar and with all his strength he pushed the snake off him. The Tres Bestias watched as a light flashed and then a sudden gust of wind. They covered their faces from the incoming wind and sand and when they looked again they saw a very new sight.
There was Ermac in no distress at all. In fact he was standing up with all the little snakes fleeing from him except for the big one which he held in his hand. He looked different from before, somehow his muscles had grown in size giving him an even broader look. But it wasn't just his body ,his eyes had changed too. They were still green but inside his eyes was a dim green flame.
And as he looked across the sand to see the women standing there his eyes glowed bright green. His body increased once more, his chest puffed out, his shoulders stretched, and his hand crushed the giant snake in his hand killing the creature.
The three women stood back as the snakes slithered past them and to the safety of Sung-Sung's dress. The three looked over to see Ermac standing there a grim look on his face.
He had seemed kindly before acting as if he wished to avoid conflict but now was different as if fighting and killing were all he knew. With a grim face, a squinted brow and his eyes burning like fire he starred out at the three. This new air about him was chilling but they had a reputation to uphold.
"You." Said Mila Rose stepping up." You think we're afraid of you?" Ermac aimed his view at her."We are the Tres Bestias, Guardians of this land." Her speech seemed to bring some fight back into Apacci and Sung-Sun if only a little." We are not afraid of you. We-" He stopped suddenly as Ermac disappeared and then reappeared like the wind right in front of her.
"You should be." Was all he said. A sudden fear came over the three of them. Then Mila Rose in a dire attempt to protect herself swung her sword but and down at Ermac, aiming for his head. But Ermac just casually raised up his hand and surprisingly caught the blade, it didn't appear to even have phased him.
Mila Rose looked past her sword and into Ermac's scowling face as his bright eyes shined down at her. Then Ermac grabbed her arm and swung her behind him, her landing in the sand behind him.
Apacci attacked next, wielding her two blades. Ermac swung around and blocked Apacci as she swung her leg out at him. Then when she came in with her two blades Ermac ducked down and then shot up hitting her with a head-butt.
She fell back into the sand bleeding from her nose and forehead. Ermac turned his head over to the last one Sung-Sun who was standing several feet away. She pointed her arm out at Ermac and he watched as a purple glow came from her hands.
Then Sung-Sun shot a cero from her hand. It flew through the air headed straight for Ermac, but he did not falter and allowed the cero to hit him. Against his muscular hid it dispersed on the touch. Sung-Sun stood back shocked while Ermac prepared for a similar move.
He pointed his arm towards her and extended his index finger. Then a sharp green blast shot out of it. It traveled fast must faster than Sung-Sun's cero. She saw him extended his finger a quick green flash and then she felt a burning sensation in her chest. Looking down it was clear enough he'd shot a small hole straight through her, on the right side of her chest.
Sung-Sun fell down onto the ground, feeling all life being drained from her. And when her body hit the ground something happened. The dark Ermac who had stood there before vanished and the original came back. He saw Sung-Sun's body and shuddered knowing it had been his doing. But upon further analysis he realized she wasn't dead much to his pleasure.
"Do you not know who we are?" said a voice form behind him. Ermac turned around to see Apacci struggling to her feet." We are the Tres Bestias." Ermac took a step forward and walked towards her." We are our Master's Elite." She turned her head and noticed Ermac plant his feet right next to her.
"You are not so fearless." Said Ermac as he stood over her. Apacci looked past Ermac and saw Mila Rose had gotten up and was preparing to attack from form behind. So Apacci used her head for once and decided to keep Ermac's attention.
"It doesn't matter if you kill us." She said." Even if we fall more will stand in your way. And there are even more powerful fighters than the three of us. Our master Halibel, will cut your head off form your shoulders with a single stroke." She sat herself up onto her knees. Behind him Mila Rose crept closer and closer Ermac didn't seem to notice." You will never leave this place alive."
"We are not going to kill you." Said Ermac. At this point Mila Rose jumped up and swung her blade at Ermac. But he must have known she was there and swung his arm around and caught her blade once more. Then he flung her around and onto the ground on top of Apacci.
The two tried to move, try to continue the fight but Ermac stopped them. He walked over and placed his hand on Mila Rose's back much to her discomfort.
"Don't touch me!" she yelled. Despite just his hand being on her it was apparently more than enough to keep her in her place, for although she struggled Ermac's strength was too much. But he ignored her and continued with his message.
"We not going to kill you." He said." We don't want to fight."
"You killed Sung-Sun." said Apacci." She is dead because of you."
"No." he shook his head." She lives. She can still be saved so long as you leave us." Ermac rose to his feet and took a step back. The two women scrambled to their feet, arming themselves and standing several feet away." You can save her, at the price of letting us go." He pointed to Sung-Sun's body." If she is not treated she will surely die." Mila Rose and Apacci flashed their eyes between Cyan and Ermac, who stood there crossing his arms.
It was Mila Rose who acted first and sheathed her sword.
"What are you doing?!" hissed Apacci.
"We have to get Cyan out of here. And go back to the palace." She said walking over to her body.
"But what about him? We can't just leave him."
"We can and we will. Master Halibel would rather we save one of our own than fight a losing battle." Apacci flashed her eyes over to Ermac who stood there with his arms crossed and chest puffed out.
"This isn't over." Said Apacci as she walked over to Mila Rose. Ermac watched as the three women came as quickly as they arrived. One second they were there and the next they were gone.
In their aftermath Ermac looked down at his hand, the one he'd caught Mila Rose's blade with. There was a long red mark across his palm and out of it came blood. Ermac shook his hand and began wrapping it.
Meanwhile the Tres Bestias traveled back to the palace of Hueco Muendo. Mila Rose and Apacci rushed through the doors and quickly began the search for the first living thing. As it happens the first ones they came across were Menoly and Loly.
"Did you get him Menoly?" quickly approaching them." Did you make him suffer?"
"Shut up." Said Mila Rose. She tilted her body and Sung-Sun rolled off and into Loly's arms." Get her to the infirmary now."
"Is she hurt?" asked Loly." What's happened?"
"Don't question us." Barked Apacci." Go Now!" Then with the yell in her voice the two hurried off with their comrade. Then she and Mila Rose turned to each other. They knew now what they had to do, they had to go find Halibel and report their failure to her. They knew this next part wasn't going to be easy but they had to do it.
They walked into the throne room single file with Mila Rose leading the way. They walked with great caution into the room, observing all their surroundings very carefully.
They looked up at the throne to see their master not there, but several feet behind the throne she was. She looked up at the only window in the room which shined the only natural light onto her.
"The intruder master." Said Mila Rose as they came to the bottom of the stairs. Halibel's body flinched slightly at hearing them but she kept her back to them." We were unable to subdue him." Halibel turned one foot around and her body followed facing the two fully.
"Did you kill him?" she asked taking a step forward.
"N-No." replied Mila Rose.
"No?" repeated Halibel.
"No." added Apacci." He was too strong, too strong for the three of us." It was now that Halibel noticed something, there were only two of the trio before her.
"Where is Sung-Sun?" she asked.
"Wounded." Replied Apacci." During the battle the intruder wounded her." Halibel opened her mouth slightly as her eyes shifted around the room, taking in the information.
"We had a choice to save her or continue to find." added Mila Rose." In the end we choose her life."
"You choose wisely." Said Halibel as she walked about her throne. Silence overtook them as Halibel considered her next move." Go." She said." Go and get yourselves look at."
"Yes Master." They said. Then they stood up and made their way to the door.
"And." Halibel's voice called out. Mila Rose and Apacci turned to see her resting in her chair." Send Gontainbine to me."
"Yes Master." They said again. Then they turned and headed out the door.
Halibel sat in her chair and sighed. Who was this stranger wandering her lands? Where did he come from? What did he want? These were important questions she needed answers too. She was about to contemplate over the situation when she had an unexpected guest.
She sat in her throne and then felt two hands on her shoulders. They were large and rough and she knew immediately who it was. She sighed an annoyed sigh and spoke.
"What do you want Grimmjow?" She cocked her head to the left to see the man in question step out of
the shadows. He was Grimmjow 6th Espada, 2nd strongest in all Hueco Muendo, and by his own definition the King of Hueco Muendo. And in Grimmjow's definition he thought that gave him exclusive right to Halibel but despite the circumstances it wasn't that simple.
"I just thought I'd come and check on you." He sat himself on the armrest and put his arm around her. Halibel rolled her eyes and pulled himself from his grip. She knew what he was getting at and now off all times wasn't the time to annoy her.
"Go away Grimmjow." She ordered." I'm not in the mood."
"Something troubling you?" he asked.
"Yes." She turned and faced him once more." There's a stranger trespassing on my land." Grimmjow grimaced slightly at her not saying 'our' but he let it go.
"So? Send the Tres Bestias."
"I have." She said matter of factly. She knew it wasn't his fault he hadn't been present for earlier events but anyway she could bring him down a notch which was okay by her." And they've failed."
"They've failed?!" he asked in confused surprise. Halibel nodded as she moved her tongue around inside her mouth." What's our next move?"
"I'm going to dispatch Gontainbine to deal with this intruder." Told Halibel.
"The Privaron?!" exclaimed Grimmjow." That freak has fallen from the graces of Hueco Muendo. He is a banished Espada who fell out of Aizen's rankings-"
"But Aizen isn't here." Said Halibel with a commanding tone in her voice as she stood up and faced him. And Grimmjow knowing Halibel's strength was greater than his own he back away." This is my world now, and I will do what I will with my subjects." She turned and sat back down in her chair." Now leave me, I'm want to debrief Gonatainbine in private." But despite her order Grimmjow did not leave. He had thought of it seeing the mood she was in but he picked the wrong option and walked towards her. He stopped only when Halibel turned her head and glared at him.
"You're in a mood I can tell." She just rolled her head back into it's original position." Your under a lot of stress." She strummed her fingers along the armrest, waiting for him to leave." So in order to relieve some of this stress for you I will personally go out and destroy this intruder."
"I'm sending Gontainbine-"
"The Privaron and I will team up on this job. That way we'll cover more ground. Sound like a plan?" Halibel didn't have the time to answer because Grimmjow just turned around and exclaimed." Good, it's all settled." Then he headed out the door of the room and on his way through the halls found his fellow arrancar." Privaron." He said pointing to him." Follow me we're on a mission." He said it so quick Gontainbine knew not what to do but after a few seconds he collected himself and followed Grimmjow.
The two made their way outside.
"What are we doing?" Gontainbine asked.
"We are going to track down this intruder." Told Grimmjow." You know what he looks like?" he asked turning to his partner.
"I've got an idea."
"Good." Said Grimmjow." You search over there." He pointed to the endless looking area behind the palace." And I'll search here." Then Grimmjow took off in the opposite direction. Gontainbine just sighed and began his search in the opposite direction.