A.N: And now we're back to the real action. Thank you all so much for bearing with me throughout the flashback chapters. Now that we're back, we're going to jump right into the action. Enjoy...

Chapter 7: Sentencía

Cortez Orgulloso sighed in anticipation as he awaited the order to engage the enemy. He would not fail in his mission. He had the best defense in all of Los Retazos, he wasn't going to let any of them through. "Master Cortez."

Cortez' Fracción, Vasco Xuan, had joined him in his solitude. "The enemy has arrived, they are 300 meters away from Las Noches." Said Vasco.

Cortez nodded. "Then the sands of Hueco Mundo will turn red very soon." He replied grimly.

"We don't have to worry too much, sir." Said Vasco. "Sentencía will destroy them."

"Do not underestimate the enemy, Vasco." Said Cortez. "I refuse to make the same mistake our predecessors made."

Cortez turned to his longtime subordinate. "Ready the men, we will destroy anyone who escapes their judgement."

Vasco pushed up his glasses. "Yes Sir." He replied.

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez shook in excitement as he awaited the man he despises with every fiber of his being. "He'll survive." Grimmjow grinned maniacally. "As strong as Sentencía is, it won't kill him. And when he survives, I'll crush him myself."

He had awaited his rematch with Ichigo Kurosaki for months. No, years. In that time, he had spent countless days and nights training. Long, grueling days and nights of killing and destroying. There had once been a point where he killed a hundred Gillians, another where he killed thirty Adhuchas, he even went head to head with two Vasto Lordes and came out the victor.

There was a knock on the door to Grimmjow's quarters. "General Jaegerjaquez, would you like some tea?"

"Sure, come on in."

A female servant entered Grimmjow's quarters. "You seem awfully excited, General. Forgive me if this is out of line, but why are you so excited?" She asked.

Grimmjow chuckled as he took the tea from her tray. "Don't worry, woman, you're not out of line at all."

"So then..."

"Why am I so excited?" Grimmjow finished. "I always get excited when I'm close to a great battle."

"Forgive me, General," said the servant. "But from what I've heard, the invaders won't even make it inside Las Noches, thanks to His Majesty's plan."

Grimmjow chose his next words carefully. "His Majesty's plan is a great plan," he said reluctantly. "But I have a hunch there's going to be at least one man who survives Sentencía."

"Oh? And who is this man, General?" The servant asked.

"Ichigo Kurosaki."

The servant's eyes widened in surprise. "Ichigo Kurosaki? Sir, I have heard other rumors that His Majesty considers him one of the only two threats to his plan. How do you expect to beat him when even the king is wary of him?"

Grimmjow glared at her. "You're out of line now, Woman. Leave before I kill you."

The servant's eyes widened. "Ah, I'm sorry General Jaegerjaquez!" She shouted.

The servant ran out as fast as she could to avoid Grimmjow's wrath. "Stupid woman," he growled. "I'll crush that prick, and I'll show him my superiority."

Meanwhile, several other servants were wondering why Raoul Arcano was looking as calm as always. Especially considering that they were this close to the 'final' battle. However, each servant was afraid of approaching one of the top members of Los Retazos. There had been tons of stories about how frightening he could be at times, which greatly contrasted his polite and mild mannered appearance.

One of them eventually became brave enough to approach Raoul and curiously asked. "Umm...sir, why aren't you preparing for the invaders?" He asked.

Raoul smiled at the servant. "I am prepared."

"Sir...you don't seem..."

"Benito has no reason to use me just yet. If Grimmjow and Cortez are as powerful as they claim to be, I have no reason to involve myself in this war."

"But Sir, what if, and I'm saying this hypothetically, what if General Orgulloso and General Jaegerjaquez fail?"

The servant's eyes rolled back into his head as his head fell from his shoulders. The other servants cried out in surprise as Raoul sheathed his blade. I didn't even see it drawn. One servant thought, his eyes wide in fear of Raoul.

"If they fail then I'll be ready." Raoul said, as if nothing happened.

He looked at the headless corpse of the servant. "I can forgive one stupid question. Two...well, just be glad I gave you a quick death, boy."

Raoul looked at the remaining servants. "Would anyone else like to ask me anything?" He asked calmly.

The servants scrambled away. "Keep this in mind," Raoul continued. "I have no interest in fighting an enemy that can't beat those fools. Keep that in mind before you question my actions."

"Your majesty."

The Royal Fracciónes entered the room. They all instantly bowed in respect for their master. "The armies are ready. It's time we moved underground." Said Fielhombre Guardia.

Benito Muerta nodded. "Very well. I'm going to make a detour to the Coms Room first." He replied.

"The Coms Room, sir?" Fielhombre inquired.

Benito nodded. "I wish to speak with our enemies. More specifically, Neliel. I'm sure she would love to have a conversation with an old friend of hers. Even if it is before she dies."

Akio Yamamoto led the way as the invasion force rushed towards Las Noches. "We're almost there, keep moving!" He encouraged his team.

Everyone was anticipating a difficult fight. In fact, to a degree, they were looking forward to it. These enemies of theirs, the Los Retazos, they made it personal when they attacked their comrades. No longer were they going to take this.

Akio looked to his most trusted friend, who had been thought dead a while back after an encounter with the enemy's leader. "Ichigo, do you remember any of the layout of Las Noches?" He asked.

Ichigo sighed. "Sorry man," he said. "I've got nothing for you. We were all too focused on saving Orihime at the time."

Akio turned to former Espada, Neliel Tu Odelschwank. "What about you, Miss Neliel, do you remember the layout of Las Noches?"

Neliel thought it over. "I do," she said. "However, there could be a chance that the area was changed after I left. When Szayel Aporro Granz first joined Aizen, Aizen assigned him to design a system that could allow them to change the area inside Las Noches at any time they want. It was an effective defense. Especially when the enemy was practically sent into a death trap."

Ichigo grimaced upon hearing this. Did Aizen do that while we were rescuing Orihime? It would certainly explain why we were always running into an enemy. He thought.

"Captain Yamamoto."

Akio turned to Nemu Kurotsuchi. "Something is appearing on the top of Las Noches." She pointed upwards.

Akio motioned for everyone to stop. He then took notice of what was forming at the top of Las Noches. It was a blue rectangle. He looked at it curiously. "What the hell is that thing?" He wondered out loud.

An image then appeared on the blue rectangle. Ichigo and Renji immediately glared at the face that appeared. Neliel looked at it with sadness. "Welcome, dear invaders." Benito Muerta said cordially.

"Benito!" Ichigo shouted angrily.

Akio narrowed his eyes in anger, Rukia Kuchiki did the same. So this is the man that almost killed Ichigo. Rukia thought angrily.

Smug bastard, Akio thought. He's mocking us.

"I must say," Benito continued. "When I sent Armando, Tia, and their Fracciónes into the Menos Forest to fight you. I expected them to manage to kill a few of you. The fact that they didn't was...irritating to say the least."

The King of Hueco Mundo smiled slightly. "Yet at the same time, I'll admit that I'm quite impressed." He said. "The fact that you managed to win against lieutenant and captain level Arrancar without a single casualty speaks volumes about your skills. And for that you have my respect."

Benito looked down at Akio. "It also speaks volumes about the man leading you in this foolish endeavor."

Akio was taken aback by Benito's statement. He finally replied to Benito, blushing. "Oh yeah?" He shouted. "Like I'd take a compliment from someone like you!"

"Then why are you blushing like you appreciated the compliment?" Ichigo asked in annoyance.

"Oh shut up!" Akio shouted.

Benito chuckled at the antics of his enemies. He then looked down at Ichigo. "Ah, Ichigo, it's good to see you again." He said. "How have your injuries healed?"

Ichigo glared at the man who almost killed him. "Don't mock me you bastard," he said. "I'm not losing to you again."

Benito chuckled again. "Big words coming from a man who's about to die, but I'm getting ahead of myself at the moment."

Benito then took notice of Renji's presence. "Ah, and Captain Abarai is here as well. You know, after that little stunt you pulled back in the World of the Living, you'd make a better member of Los Retazos than a member of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

"Up yours!" Renji shouted. "Do you know how many lives you almost destroyed?"

"Not nearly as many as I'm going to destroy once we level the Seireitei." Said Benito.

The invaders glared at Benito upon hearing him say this. "We won't let that happen!" Akio shouted at the king.

"You're in no position to be making such confident statements, Captain Yamamoto," said Benito. "I hold all the cards at the moment."

"Benito!"

Everyone looked at Neliel in surprise as she stepped forward. "Neliel," Benito said. "It really is a shame you have to fight with them, it's a waste of skills."

"It doesn't have to be this way, Benito!" Neliel shouted. "What happened to everything you and Alondra used to preach and believe in? What possessed you to throw all that away?"

Benito didn't respond. "Haven't you ever once considered how Alondra would feel about all this?" Neliel continued. "She would be disgusted to see her own brother preparing genocide."

Benito had a sister? Ichigo thought in surprise.

Ichigo was then further surprised when he saw Benito show seething anger for the first time since he had first met him. "Don't you dare tell me what Hermana would think, Neliel!" Benito shouted angrily. "She died at the hands of the people you're fighting with. Who'd be disgusted with who?"

"Benito..."

"I've had enough of this." Benito cut off his old friend. "It's time to put an end to you all. You're all going to die right here, right now."

Everyone was curious as to what Benito meant. "If you think sending more of your soldiers is going to stop us, you've got another thing coming, Benito." Said Akio.

"I'm not foolish enough to waste my soldiers on you," said Benito. "Especially not when I have something just a bit more effective than regular soldiers."

"And what is more effective than soldiers?" Akio asked mockingly. "Do tell."

Benito chuckled. "I'm so glad you asked." He said. "Otherwise, the introduction wouldn't have been as...dramatic as I would've wanted it to be."

The ground started shaking. "What the hell is happening?" Hiyori Sarugaki asked.

"Is it an earthquake?" Tetsuzaemon Iba wondered out loud.

"Earthquakes never happen in Hueco Mundo." Said Neliel. "It's something artificial, something manmade!"

"As smart as ever, old friend." Said Benito.

Las Noches then did something that surprised everyone. The giant palace actually sunk into the ground. "What the hell happened to Las Noches?" Renji asked in surprise.

"As I'm sure you all know, Mayuri Kurotsuchi is a man with an excellent mind." Benito's voice still sounded out even though the screen had vanished with Las Noches.

Nobody could argue with that. "And when he joined our cause, construction of two important additions to my plan were sped up."

"The first addition," Benito continued. "Was a new headquarters fit for a new, greater rule. That and I simply could not allow you to know about the area we reside in."

A giant then tower than rose up from out of the ground. Everyone's eyes went wide as they watched this happen. "I give you, La Torre!" Shouted Benito.

"Oh man, they did this in two years?" Ikkaku Madarame was in shock.

"Now then, the second addition is what you really have to worry about." Said Benito.

An area on the top of La Torre opened. A giant cannon then came out of the compartment. "I give you Sentencía!" Benito introduced the weapon.

"Crap, they were anticipating this!" Love Aikawa said as realization dawned on him.

Akio's eyes went wide upon hearing this. He had led his friends...no, his family into a deathtrap. "There's no escape from Sentencía." Said Benito. "It's blast radius reaches further than you can run in such a short time period. And sadly for you, it's ready to fire."

True to his word, Sentencía started charging energy. "Captain, what do we do?" Momo Hinamori asked in fear.

Akio looked at everyone. "I'm...so sorry everyone." He said sadly.

The giant cannon was almost done charging. Akio then noticed someone Flash Step in front of him. "Mighty god, come forth and defend your humble servants. Bring forth your power and protect them from harm!"

Hachi was preparing a Kidō barrier. "Bring forth the ultimate defense, the defense from the heavens!" Hachi continued to chant.

Sentencía fired. "Kamidate!" Hachi shouted.

A.N: Did Hachi do it? How powerful is this ultimate defense? Will it be enough to save everyone? Find out next chapter. This is ND2014 signing off.