A.N: Now we're at the second chapter of part 4. What you are about to read is the first meeting of Halibel and Benito as well as how certain individuals became Espada.

Chapter 2: New Espada

When Benito, Ulquiorra and Alondra arrived, they weren't surprised to see that the other Espada had already gathered. Considering the amount of time Benito and Alondra spent talking to one another, it was no surprise that they arrived a bit later than everyone else. Severo Urbano glared at the trio upon their arrival. "Where the hell were you two?" He asked angrily. "I was starting to think Ulquiorra had chickened out."

Benito chuckled. "I can assure you, Ulquiorra is not one to run from a fight."

Benito looked towards Ulquiorra. "Report to Sōsuke and prepare for battle, Ulquiorra."

Ulquiorra nodded. "Yes, Master Benito."

Severo looked at Ulquiorra as he walked away from the two of them. He then gave Benito a small glare. "I suppose I should go as well. You better pray I don't kill your subordinate, Benito." He said threateningly.

Benito shook his head. "I don't do much praying Severo...but I suppose I can make an exception today. However...I think I'll pray for your safety instead."

Severo growled at him and walked away. Neliel walked up to Benito. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" She asked, worriedly. "Severo is pretty strong in spite of his rank. You're putting Ulqui' in a lot of danger by doing this."

Benito shook his head again. "I stand behind my decision. Don't worry too much Neliel Ulquiorra has surpassed me."

Once again a lie, but nobody needed to know that. "Now then, why don't we join the others? Come on, Hermana, lets go with Neliel."

Alondra nodded and the three joined the other Espada and the Numeros that chose to show up.

In front of the crowd, Ulquiorra and Severo faced one another, both glaring. Aizen looked at them both. "Are you two ready?" He asked.

Both men nodded. "Very well, do not hold back. Deathblows are allowed but the fate of your opponent shall remain in your hands."

Aizen stepped back. "Begin!"

Severo quickly took the initiative and drew his blade. "Maul, Bestia!"

Ulquiorra sighed as Severo took on the form of his Resurreción, a large hairy beast with long and sharp claws. He then remembered one of his master's first lessons. Only a fool would reveal his entire hand in the beginning of a fight, he had told him. You must first analyze your opponent's fighting power and develop your strategy accordingly. Don't waste your power on opponents who aren't worth the effort. This is especially true when you are in a war and must fight continuously.

Ulquiorra quickly drew his blade and blocked the charging Severo. "Lucky block." Severo growled at his opponent.

Ulquiorra scowled at the beast that was Severo. Severo leapt back. "Try this, Cero!" He shouted, charging a dark-orange colored Cero.

Ulquiorra raised his right pointer finger. "Cero." He said in retaliation.

Ulquiorra's green colored Cero collided with Severo's Cero, canceling out the attack, much to everyone (except Benito's) shock. "That kid's doing well." Baraggan noted.

"Bah," Adolfo scoffed. "He probably had to draw on most of his power to keep Severo from completely overwhelming him. He's done for now."

Benito chuckled. "Denial is a terrible thing, Adolfo." He said, narrowing his eyes. "Why don't you just watch and see the fruits of Ulquiorra's hard work."

The smoke from the colliding attacks cleared out. Several of those present were surprised to see that Ulquiorra had the same expression as he did before. He didn't look winded at all. Severo was now both angry and annoyed. Angry that this boy still seemed confident he could win. Annoyed that he wasn't getting the easy win he expected. Roaring furiously, he lunged at Ulquiorra once more, swinging his claws at him like a madman. Ulquiorra calmly blocked each strike.

Benito looked at Adolfo, who had a look of shock on his face. "He's always had the potential," he said smugly. "He just needed a mentor to draw on that potential."

Flashback: 12 years before this point

Benito and Alondra calmly moved through the desert. It had been yet another attempt to spread the message of peace across Hueco Mundo. Once again, many did not take their words seriously. Alondra was upset, but once again, Benito soothed his older sister and reassured her that one day they would realize their dream.

Benito then noticed something off in the distance. It was a tree, but there was something different about that tree. He could sense spirit energy from it. "Hermana." He got his sister's attention.

Alondra turned to him. "Yes, Hermanito?"

"I need to take a closer look at that tree. Something's...different about it."

Alondra giggled. "Silly Hermanito, it's a tree."

Benito shook his head. "I can sense spirit energy within it. The energy feels powerful, yet dormant. It's as though its potential hasn't been unlocked yet."

With that, Benito ran towards the tree. Alondra soon followed. He then approached the tree. Is this a trap? He thought. Am I going to be attacked by a predator next?

What happened next surprised him. A being emerged from the tree. Benito's eyes widened in surprise. "Who are you?" He asked.

The being, an Arrancar with blood on his face (a clear sign of the mask being recently torn off). His jet black hair was smeared with blood. "I am...Ulquiorra Cifer." The Arrancar said hesitantly.

Benito looked at the tree. "Why...why were you in the tree?" He asked.

"I was...drawn to the tree. It was different, like I am." Ulquiorra replied.

Benito was surprised by Ulquiorra's strange reply. "You feel nothing but emptiness when you are alone. You could only imagine how...happy I was when I found a tree that was different like I am."

Benito thought over his next words. "Emptiness is a bad thing." He said. "But emptiness also enlightens you."

Ulquiorra was surprised. "When you've experienced a period of loneliness and emptiness, you understand how important it is to fill your life with something you discover to be important. Like how discovered that tree to be important to you."

Benito smiled lightly. "But besides material objects, there is something even greater you can fill your life with: A purpose."

Ulquiorra looked at Benito. He then asked something that's been on his mind since the beginning of this conversation. "How did you discover my presence?"

"I sensed your spirit energy." Benito replied. "You've got a great deal of potential to be a powerful warrior in the future. It just needs someone who can help find that potential."

Benito looked Ulquiorra square in the eye. "How would you like to become my subordinate and my student. I can give you that purpose you need in your life. I can put an end to that emptiness you feel."

Ulquiorra looked at Benito. He then suddenly saw man who could possibly free him from the emptiness he felt. He then nodded to Benito.

End Flashback

Adolfo scoffed. "Potential means nothing." He said. "Only a fool would place stock in potential. An intelligent man would ask for results now, not later."

Benito looked at Adolfo. "I say it again, just keep watching. Sometimes it's the project and not the finished product that pays off the most."

Ulquiorra leapt backwards to dodge a downwards strike from Severo's claws. This is getting annoying. Ulquiorra thought. This man is weak, he's trash. I don't know how he's ranked higher than my master.

Ulquiorra looked to Benito. Benito, who knew what Ulquiorra was thinking, nodded. Ulquiorra nodded as well. He then looked Severo straight in the eye. "I'm tired of you looking down on me trash." He said disdainfully. "It's time I show you the true difference in our power."

Severo gave off a feral grin, realizing what was about to happen next. "Imprison, Murciélago."

Ulquiorra soon vanished within a burst of black and green spiritual energy. The energy split down the middle, revealing that Ulquiorra had grown out two dark wings. "Whoa, that's the first time I've ever seen Ulqui's Resurrección." Neliel noted.

Benito nodded. "This fight is as good as over." He said confidently.

Ulquiorra then formed a light-green lance in his hand. "Luz de la Luna." He said.

Severo prepared to defend himself. "It's over, trash." He said scornfully.

With that, Ulquiorra disappeared via Sonido. Severo's eyes widened when he realized he couldn't keep up with Ulquiorra's movements. His shock caused him to drop his guard. A big mistake, because at that moment, Ulquiorra struck and impaled Severo, incapacitating him, but not killing him.

Severo gasped and collapsed. "You are a fool, you have no right to call yourself an Espada. So, I am taking that title from you."

Amidst the shocked silence, there was the echoing sound of applause. Besides that applause, one could hear a pin drop. Benito applauded his student, pleased with the results. Aizen soon joined in. "Well done, Ulquiorra Cifer. From this moment on, you are the new Espada 6."

Aizen looked to Severo. "As for you, you will be healed and placed among the Privaron Espada."

Several Arrancar nurses rushed to Severo and took him away. "And now for our final match. Our current 4th Espada, Gaspar Odalys, against the bright prospect I found, Tia Halibel."

Benito's eyes widened, he looked at Neliel. "This girl must be pretty strong." He said. "It looks like you might have some competition Neliel."

"Ha, you don't know the half of it."

The two looked behind them to see a girl of average height with tanned skin and shoulder length blonde hair. "Who are you?" Benito asked.

"I'm Palmira Halibel, nice to meet you handsome." Palmira said flirtatiously.

"You were saying?" Neliel asked.

"I'm Tia's sister, I might not have been with her as much as her friends were, but they told me stories about how strong she is. She can kill a Vasto Lorde with no problem at all."

Palmira grinned. "Your comrade is in for a world of pain."

Benito and Neliel looked at Palmira. "Did I do well Master?"

Benito spun around to see Ulquiorra back in his original form. Benito nodded. "You did great, Ulquiorra." Benito said. "In fact, I want to celebrate your accomplishment later on."

Benito turned to Neliel. "You in, Neliel?" He asked.

Neliel nodded. "You bet."

"Don't you ignore me!" Palmira screamed.

The others looked at Palmira in surprise. "I am terribly sorry, Palmira. We were just excited about our comrades success." Said Alondra.

"I don't give a damn!" Palmira shouted, waving her arms wildly. "You don't just ignore someone when they're talking to you!"

"Palmira."

Everyone turned to the sound of the feminine voice. Benito's eyes widened when he saw the speaker. "Stop behaving so immaturely." Halibel said. "You're embarrassing yourself."

Palmira looked down. "Sorry, Sister." She said.

Benito was speechless at the beautiful figure standing before him. She had the perfect figure, one that the majority of women would be envious of. What truly captured Benito's gaze, however, was her beautiful green eyes. Her eyes had been trained on her sister, and were showing a strong, authoritative gaze, but at the same time a gentleness as well.

"Don't make me send you back to stay with the other girls. I don't want to, but I will." Said Halibel.

Palmira grimaced. Apacci, Mila Rose and Sun-Sun had been arguing again, forcing Halibel to punish them by isolating them in her quarters. Why she did that, Palmira didn't know. It never worked, those three were born to argue with one another.

"Halibel," Aizen called out. "Are you ready?"

Halibel walked back to Aizen and stood before Gaspar. "I'm ready, forgive me Lord Aizen I had to lecture my sister again."

Gaspar licked his lips. "Perhaps I can make her my own personal whore right along with you."

Halibel glared at him. "You are trash." She said spitefully.

"Ooh, you're feisty." Gaspar said. "As much as I love that, you're going to have to learn your place."

"Begin." Aizen suddenly said.

"Fine with me!" Gaspar shouted, lunging at Halibel with his blade drawn.

Halibel dodged the strike with ease. She then drew her own blade. "You wish to enslave me?" Halibel asked angrily. "Let me show you why that's not going to happen!"

Halibel's spiritual pressure then skyrocketed. "Hunt, Tiburon!"

Halibel was suddenly surrounded by water. She then reemerged in a very revealing outfit that consisted of a bone-miniskirt and a top that barely covered her large breasts. Benito suddenly found himself wiping blood away from his nose. Neliel noticed this and scoffed. "Pervert, she chided playfully.

Neliel then noticed nosebleeds from some of the other male Arrancar. She sighed. "There's just no hope."

Gaspar glared at Halibel. "Am I supposed to be impressed?" He asked spitefully. "I am Gaspar Odalys! I am the Fourth Espada! Now, laugh in the face of death, Demonio!"

Gaspar's black wings and long black claws emerged. "Like it or not, you'll be my slave!"

On the sidelines, Benito shook his head. "His spiritual pressure is half of what that Halibel has. It's easily on the level of the top 3 Espada."

Neliel nodded in agreement. For the longest time, the top 3 Espada were simply on another level compared to the others. Adolfo, Baraggan and Neliel were simply that powerful. If someone like Halibel was at their level, that could mean the standards of the Espada were about to be raised. Gaspar roared and charged Halibel. Halibel responded by raising her blade. "La Gota." She simply said.

A blast of water shot towards Gaspar, colliding with his chest. Gaspar cried out and was flung backwards. "Ugh," he groaned in pain. "My...my ribs!"

"Water may seem weak," Halibel explained. "But at the right force, anything can shatter before its might."

Halibel walked over and placed the blade to his neck. "I'll give you a choice. Either sacrifice your rank, or your life. I'm normally not a killer, but I did not appreciate your words."

Halibel narrowed her gaze. "A man with your kind of personality could become a danger to the people I care about." She continued. "That being said, I'm still giving you a choice. which do you wish to sacrifice?"

Gaspar was a prideful individual, and he knew that the loss of his rank would be the end of his pride. But he also believed in revenge, and knew that if he was patient enough, he could get his revenge on this bitch one day. "I concede." He muttered angrily.

"Good." Halibel replied. "Because even after everything you said, I still didn't want to kill you if I didn't have to."

With that Halibel walked away. Palmira soon followed her. Slowly, everyone dispersed. As Benito and Ulquiorra prepared to walk back to their quarters (soon to be just Benito's), Benito found himself thinking of Halibel and how impressed he was by her protectiveness of the ones she cares about.

As the eventful day winded down, Neliel eventually came and dragged off Ulquiorra to what Benito could only assume was a celebration of his promotion. Neliel had tried to bring Benito as well, but Benito told her he would join them shortly, as he had important training to take care of.

Said training was on the outskirts of Las Noches, where Benito was currently training to reach a level greater than any other Arrancar. He had begun this ritual after Aizen shared with him his dream of surpassing 'the limit' as he had called it. After that conversation, Benito realized that there is no such thing as a limit, meaning that in spite of the fact that he had reached Segunda Etapa ten years ago, he could still improve his skills. His power would not end at Segunda Etapa. It couldn't end at Segunda Etapa. Not if he wanted peace in Hueco Mundo. If order was the key to peace, Benito would bring himself to brink of death just to become strong enough to become the ultimate ruler. The one who would bring order.

The Espada collapsed to his knees, panting. A satisfied smile was on his face. "Good," he muttered. "It's still improving."

Benito forced himself to his feet. "But still, it's not good enough." He continued. "If there truly were limits I would've stopped growing stronger after achieving Segunda Etapa."

Benito suddenly sensed a familiar spiritual pressure nearing. He quickly resealed his powers within his number 10 tattoo. He was surprised when he saw that it was Halibel appearing before him. He had known that it was familiar, but he didn't expect it to be Halibel. "I know you," Halibel said. "You're one of those men Palmira had been speaking to."

Benito nodded. "I'm Benito. Benito Muerta, Espada 10."

Halibel nodded. "Tia Halibel, Espada 4."

Benito couldn't help but smile. "That was an amazing fight you had. I never thought I'd see anyone other than Neliel beat the crap out of Gaspar the way you did."

Halibel nodded again. "Thank you for that compliment." She said stoically. "I'm glad not all men here are pigs."

Halibel narrowed her eyes at him. That same piercing stare she gave Gaspar. "Unless you're..."

Benito shook his head. "I can assure you, I'm sincere in my words. Hermana had drilled sincerity into me when I was younger."

Halibel was surprised. "You have a sister as well?"

Benito nodded. "Alondra Muerta. She was with us when Palmira was talking to us."

Halibel then remembered. "Yes," she said. "That one woman with the black hair did look a bit like you."

"That's her."

Benito then changed the subject. "I'm surprised that Sōsuke put you out on assignment so soon." He admitted. "You should be celebrating your accomplishment."

"Celebrating?"

Benito nodded. "Getting into the Espada is no easy feat. Especially receiving such a high rank right off the bat."

Halibel sighed, Benito could almost see regret in her eyes. "The girls wanted to celebrate," she admitted. "But I felt my duty to Lord Aizen came first."

Benito shook his head. "It's probably not my place to say this, but I'll say it anyway. Just because we were brought together to be Sōsuke's most powerful servants doesn't mean we have to cater to his every whim."

Halibel was surprised. "I like to think that we were brought together to serve a purpose greater than what he intended for us."

Benito smiled. "Beings with our kind of power can make a difference here. With the ten most powerful Hollows gathered together, we could finally bring some stability to our world. Our duty may be to help Sōsuke with whatever goal he intends to accomplish, but we also have a duty to our people."

Benito turned back to Las Noches. "So don't shut yourself off to everyone else for Sōsuke." He said.

Halibel shook her head. "We've had one conversation," she said. "And I can already tell you're an interesting individual, Benito Muerta."

Benito grinned. "Come on," he said. "Neliel's celebrating Ulquiorra's accomplishment. Why don't you come with me? That way, we can celebrate both"

Halibel smiled under mask. "Fine, I suppose spending time with my fellow Arrancar can take priority over Lord Aizen just this once."

The two started walking back to Las Noches. "By the way, Benito." Halibel suddenly brought up. "What was that massive spiritual pressure?"

"That?" Benito inquired. "No idea, maybe there's some seriously strong Vasto Lorde out there somewhere."

Halibel wasn't sure if she believed that answer, but she admittedly enjoyed herself at the celebration her superior had planned, so she didn't care.

A.N: Another one down and the gears of fate continue to turn. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. ND2014 signing off.