The crystal tower that Aizen has sought out has been unsealed in Karakura. However, Fairy Tail has arrived to stop them and rescue Orihime. Noches Espada's soldier intercepted them. Both sides were fighting hard to stop the other.

"Keep pushing through. We have to make it to that tower and destroy it." Erza ordered. "Watch each other's back, but if you see an opening, go for it."

"Remember to watch out for the Eight Hollow Swords. They Noches Espada's best team." Lucy said.

"Don't forget about Aizen himself with his two generals." Gray said.

"Everyone, fight on!" Erza shouted as all of them continued to fight. Some of them were intercepted as a large object crashed into the ground.

"Insects should be scurrying around for their lives. Not to the exterminator." Yammy was the object that crashed into the ground. "Looks like I'll have to show you all that." Yammy's magic power build up around him and he was growing. His top was ripped off as his body grew and showed his red mark on his left shoulder. He turned to a giant that towered over them.

"Towering"

"A giant?! Is he one of the Eight Hollow Swords?" Toshiro said.

"He uses the same magic as Makarov did." Gajeel said. Yammy laughed as he looked down on the insects he saw as those people.

"I'll end this now by crushing over you." Yammy said as he raised his foot. However, a wave of pink petals attacked his other foot and made him lose his balance as he fell backwards. Everyone looked up to see Byakuya was using his magic to keep him in the air and he was challenging the big guy.

"Brother!" Rukia called out.

"All of you keep going. I shall handle this one." Byakuya said.

"So you're the wise guy." Yammy said as he pushed himself off the ground. Then, he was struck by some blasts of lightning. He looked over to see Laxus on one of the rooftops.

"Back off, Byakuya. I'm going to bring this guy down." Laxus said.

"Why should I? I was here first?" Byakuya said.

"This guy is using the same kind of magic my grandpa did and it disgusts me." Laxus said.

"Forget about who will fight me? I'll crush both of you." Yammy said. He tried to crush Laxus with the building he was on and tried swatting Byakuya, but both of them were too quick for him.

"Keep moving. Laxus and Byakuya can handle this. We need to find Orihime and end this madness Noches Espada has brought." Erza said and everyone kept moving.

….

Orihime

Orihime with Ulquiorra and Sayelaporro continued their journey to Karakura so they can give her to Aizen. That journey came to an end as they stood over a small cliff and Orihime could see the tower.

"Is that the crystal tower?" Orihime said.

"That's it. Beautiful, isn't it?" Sayelaporro said.

"It seems the fireworks have already begun." Ulquiorra said. They looked down and heard explosions were coming from the city. "Figures Fairy Tail would get in the way."

"Ulquiorra, you promised me that you wouldn't attack them." Orihime said.

"Fairy Tail came here on their own choice and they attacked us. We're just defending ourselves this time." Ulquiorra said and that caused her to be silent. "Szayelaporro, you go and join the battle. I will make our way to the tower. If you are able to, tell Lord Aizen we will be waiting for him inside."

"As you wish. This stage is just too brilliant to be ignored." Szayelaporro said as he jumped off the cliff and made his way to the battlefield. Ulquiorra grabbed Orihime's wrist and started to pull her to the side.

"Don't try to resist. Remember what I told you." Ulquiorra said.

"But my friends are down there." Orihime said.

"They will just be remade in the new world we will create." Ulquiorra said. "If they are going to die, it will be a result of their choices and we can just bring them back. There's nothing you can do." She knew he was right. She agreed to come with them and there's nothing she can do to help Fairy Tail.

…..

Natsu's Team

Natsu was with Erza, Lucy, and Gray as they continued to push through Noches Espada's forces.

"Natsu, I'm worried about the kids. Do you think they're going to be alright?" Lucy said.

"You don't need to worry. Lilly and Igneel are with Nagato and Nagato would never let anything happen to them." Natsu said.

"On that subject, take away parenting points for letting your kids take part in this battle." Gray said.

"What are you saying? I'm a great father." Natsu said as he got up in Gray's face.

"Says the guy who let his kids take part in the war." Gray countered. Erza pushed their heads apart.

"Focus. Fight the enemy, not each other." Erza said.

"How have you survived this long when you all fight each other like that?" All four of them looked ahead and was faced with Aizen again.

"Aizen. I was hoping to run into you sooner than later." Erza said.

"You four really want to face me a second time?" Aizen said. "You weren't a match for me in Magnolia. What's about to happen is inevitable. While your determination is an admirable trait where most might have given up, the new world will make sure all your efforts were for nothing."

"I don't understand this. Why are you trying to destroy the world the way it is now?" Lucy said. "This world is beautiful the way it is. So how come you're using that tower to change it."

"First, that tower is called God's Renewal. Second, you think things such as war and depravity is beautiful?" Aizen said. "The world I plan on creating won't have any of that."

"Don't try to change your accusations with meaningful purpose." Erza said. "The world you plan to create will be one with people seeing you as their ruler and the only reason there would be no war is because our minds will be on you, filled with fear to stand against you. Fear is just another source of fuel for depravity with people becoming corrupt and wicked. So what purpose do you have for any of this?"

"At the top lies an empty seat." Aizen said. "Not even the gods themselves. I plan on filling that vacant seat."

"What is this guy even talking about? Is there a chair or something he's looking for?" Natsu said.

"Not exactly, but I don't get what he's saying either." Gray said.

"It is said that from the beginning of time, worlds were created by gods." Aizen said. "We're all subjugated by the gods, but I refuse to be. With my keen intellect and great power, I should decide how the world should be."

"So that's it. You feel that ever since the beginning of history, we humans have been conquered, made the way we were suppose to by gods." Erza said. "You simply refuse to live like that so you're hoping to gain absolute freedom from it by changing the entire world."

"You'll never create the world in your own image." Gray said.

"That's just what Zeref tried to do by restarting time and that didn't work out for him." Natsu said.

"It will be different." Aizen said. "As powerful as Zeref was back in his day, he made the mistake of not eliminating everyone in his way. Even under the curse I heard he was under, he hated that he took lives. I have no such trait to hold me back." Aizen's ideal is acknowledge to be similar to Zeref and he has no hesitation for taking life like Zeref did.

….

Ichigo

"Tell me where Orihime is?!" Ichigo demanded as he held a soldier. Ichigo knew they needed to bring that tower down, but his first priority was to find Orihime.

"Look who we have here." Ichigo dropped the soldier and saw another member was coming his way. That person was Nnoitora and that creepy grin on his face.

"Who the hell are you?" Ichigo said.

"My name is Nnoitora. I ask for your name, but you won't be around long enough to remember it."

"I don't have time to deal with you. Tell me where I can find Orihime or Ulquiorra and get out of my way." Ichigo said.

"What? Am I not good enough for you?" Nnoitora said. "Too bad. You're stuck with me." Nnoitora tossed his weapon at Ichigo, but Chad came out of nowhere, grabbed that weapon, and tossed it back. "Who's this?"

"Chad?! What are you doing?" Ichigo said.

"Look pal, you're interrupting our fight." Nnoitora said.

"Ichigo, keep going." Chad said.

"What? You want me to leave you to fight this guy alone?" Ichigo said. "I can't do that. Chad, you can feel his power, right? It looks like he's one of the Eight Hollow Swords."

"I know, but you want to save Orihime. If you wish to fight Ulquiorra, you're going to need all your power to defeat him." Chad said. "You have to keep going and avoid guys like him. Go to her, Ichigo. Orihime needs you." As much as Ichigo wanted to stay and fight, he did need ll his power to fight Ulquiorra and save Orihime.

"Alright. You just promise me that you don't die." Ichigo said as he took off.

"Get back here." Nnoitora said as he was going after Ichigo, but Chad cut him off. Chad used his magic and tried to pound him, but Nnoitora blocked it with his weapon and he didn't even move back.

'What?! He's a scrawny guy, but he's so strong.' Chad thought as he was stunned his attack didn't do anything.

"Is that it?" Nnoitora said. He didn't look interested in Chad at all "How boring. Your friend was stronger. I'll just get you out of the way." Nnoitora raised his weapon to slice Chad down. Chad might be bigger, but Nnoitora is the one towering over Chad.

…..

Rukia

Rukia continued to push through enemy forces with her ice. She kept going to the tower in hopes of finding Orihime and rescuing her.

"Hang on, Orihime. I'm on my way." Rukia said as she ran towards it.

"I'm afraid not." Rukia heard a strange voice and looked around to see where it came from.

"Who's there? Show yourself." Rukia said.

"I'm up here." Rukia looked up to the buildings and saw the mysterious masked man known as Aaroniero.

"Who are you? Are you one of the Eight Hollow Swords?" Rukia asked.

"Indeed, I am." Aaroniero said as he jumped down to ground level. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aaroniero Arruruerie."

'This guy is already starting to creep me out. What's with the change of voices? He starts with deep voice and then goes into a high pitched one.' Rukia thought.

"Based on the information Ulquiorra gave us, you are Rukia Kuchiki." Aaroniero said. "You use Ice-Maker Magic and you're the apprentice of Gray Fullbuster. I'm afraid we can't let you go any further than this."

"Bring it on." Rukia said. "You're not going to scare me away. As a member of Fairy Tail, I'm going to take your challenge." Rukia has stood her ground against the mysterious masked member of Noches Espada. What secrets does he have behind his mask?

…

Ichigo: Rukia has been a part of Fairy Tail since she was a young girl. Gray took her on as his apprentice where she learned how to use her magic. Now, she stands against a man behind the mask. She'll have to use all that Gray taught her to defeat this enemy.

Next Time: Rukia vs. Aaroniero

Ichigo: A delicate snowflake stands in a tough battle.