Aizen's elite team, the Eight Hollow Swords, have been bested. Ulquiorra is the only member that's still standing. Aizen still had Gin and Kaname, but for how much longer? In the tower, Ulquiorra has used his power and beaten Muramasa and Nel with them on the ground. Grimmjow and Ichigo were breathing hard as they were still standing. Orihime watched the horror that was happening that was happening right in front of her and couldn't take it anymore.

"Pathetic." Ulquiorra said. "You four are suppose to be spirit slayers, but you can't even beat me."

"We're far from done." Ichigo said.

"It does bring up the question on how you're so powerful." Grimmjow said.

"It's simple. I'm not held back by emotions." Ulquiorra said. "I discarded those useless features a long time ago and traded them for power. On top of my logic, I know how to counter your attacks simply by looking. Unless you do the same, you'll never have the kind of power I possess."

"We don't want that kind of power." Grimmjow said.

"Ulquiorra, you've got a lot to learn." Ichigo claimed. They might be beaten down, but their spirits are far from broken.

"Silent Realm"

"What do you mean, Ichigo?" Ulquiorra asked.

"Emotions aren't a weakness. They give us strength." Ichigo said. "You don't see that because you put logic and power over feelings of the heart. When you follow your feelings that is never the wrong choice."

"It's also the reason we're here and still fighting." Grimmjow said. "We're not just here because we know of what's to come. We're here because we feel we can win."

"Nonsense." Ulquiorra said.

"You're not going to prove us wrong." Ichigo said. "You might be standing at the top. You might have run things, but that's it. We're not going to lose to you!"

"You're reign of terror is over before it begun!" Grimmjow said. Both of them attack from both of Ulquiorra's sides, but Ulquiorra grabbed both of their fists and blocked them.

"It would seem that speaking to fools like you is meaningless." Ulquiorra said. "Those are words of those who haven't witnessed despair. If my words won't teach you, my actions will." Ulquiorra unleashed his power and blasted the both of them. Orihime turned away from the horror.

"I can't take this anymore." Orihime said as she was in tears. "Someone, please make it stop."

"I'm afraid I can't." Ulquiorra said. "I sensed that the other members of the Eight Hollow Swords have fallen. That means, for Lord Aizen, I have to give it all I have. You were right earlier about one thing, Ichigo. This IS where it's going to end."

…..

Sting and Rogue

To the outside world, it looked like the area the two dragon slayers that are fighting Kaname is a big black dome. Both of them remained trapped in the strange spell Kaname cast. Inside neither of them could see, hear, nor even smell anything. However, Kaname was unaffected it by it. He was torturing the two of them until he can deal a fatal blow.

"What's going on? Why can't I see that bastard?" Sting said.

"Sting, where are you? I can't see anything." Rogue called out. Both of them were trying to find the other or Kaname, but nothing was helping them.

"You two can yell all you want, but you're in my world now." Kaname explained. "Reino Silencioso, otherwise known as silent realm, is a powerful magic. Anyone except the caster in this area is unable to use their senses of hearing, sight, or touch. Not even light can be seen here. It can only be cast by someone that has one of their senses. I just need to find an opening to deal a final blow." While Kaname stayed back, Sting and Rogue were trying to find some way to counter this magic.

'This is bad.' Sting thought. 'I'm using my magic, but I can't see my own light. It doesn't seem like Rogue is able to eat this thing away either. So how are we suppose to fight this Kaname guy?'

'This magic is powerful. I'm unable to pick up on anything.' Rogue thought. 'I can't even sense any magic power.' Kaname tried attacking again and ended up slashing against the both of them and the two of them really felt it. 'I still have my sense of touch, but how can that help?'

"These two are indeed strong. I shouldn't have expected anything less from dragon slayers." Kaname said. "How much more can the two of them take before they are claimed by death?"

"Quit hiding! Rogue, where the hell are you?!" Sting shouted. Sting and Rogue tried to stay on guard. Both of them couldn't tell they were slowly backing into each other until their backs actually pressed against each other and they could finally see and hear each other.

"Oh no." Kaname said.

"Sting?" Rogue said.

"Rogue?" Sting said. Both of them backed away from each other, but lost trach of the other again. "Rogue, where did you go?" He felt someone grab his arm and could see Rogue again.

"That's it. I think I've finally figure it out." Rogue said.

"Figured what out?" Sting said.

"How this magic works." Rogue said. "This magic blocks out three of the senses. Our opponent is clearly unaffected by it since he can tell where both of us are. However, we still have our sense of touch. After all, we can still feel his sword piercing and slashing against us. It would seem that as long as we stay in physical contact with each other, the spell has no effect on either of us."

"That's great and all, but that doesn't help us against this guy." Sting said. "We need to touch this guy for us to hear and see this guy."

"I'm aware of that." Rogue said as he positioned the both of them. He had them back to back and linked their arms together. "We're still unable to see, hear, or smell him, but we're still dragon slayers. We were raised by actual dragons. Our dragons taught us to use our instincts. Our abilities are limited, but that doesn't mean we can't win."

"You're right. We've got to trust our instincts." Sting said. Kaname kept a close eye on them and readied his next attack.

"Trying to sense my next attack?" Kaname said as he held up his sword and ready for another attack. "Let's see if that can actually work." He swung his sword down and there was no reaction. The sword started form a cut on them, but Rogue and Sting acted fast and kicked him right in the stomach. They were able to see Kaname for a few seconds before he was slid back and they lost him again.

"We had him." Sting said.

"Right. We just need to try harder." Rogue said. Kaname hanged back and tried to figure out where he should strike before the two of them can react.

"Interesting. They could feel my attack and tell where I was." Kaname said. "That's not entirely relying on your instincts, but your reaction timing is impeccable. I'll have to go with a different method." Kaname walked around and positioned himself. "With your bodies in that positioned, your arms won't be used as defense. That leaves the positions of your hearts exposed. I'll strike the both of you down." Kaname stood right in front of Sting and held up his katana. "This is where it ends." Kaname charged right for Sting with his sword aimed to impale his heart and there wasn't a thing Sting could do about it.

"There!" Sting said and that was a surprise to Kaname. Sting rose his foot and struck Kaname right in the gut. Sting kept his foot there so they can fight him. "It worked. I was able to sense where he was coming."

"This cannot be." Kaname said.

"Let's show him what Sabertooth got." Sting said and banged his head against Kaname. Of course Sting had to grab him with his teeth so they wouldn't lose him again. Rogue rolled backwards and slammed his foot against Kaname. Sting rolled forward and did the same thing.

"Grab him before we lose him." Rogue said. They unlinked their arms and grabbed a hold of Kaname's arms.

"It's not possible. No one has ever bested me after I use this spell." Kaname said.

"Looks like we just did." Sting said.

"This is where it ends for you." Rogue said. Sting and Rogue unlinked their other arms. Since both of them had a hold on Kaname, all three of them were still able to know where the others were. Both of them held their spare arm back and formed an orb of their own element. Two of them merged together to form a mixture of light and darkness.

"This form of magic I'm sensing….light and darkness together?" Kaname said. "I wish I could see that beauty for myself."

"Holy Shadow Dragon's Flash Fang!" Both of them shoved the mixture and pressed it against Kaname. A mix of light and dark was shot out and carried Kaname with it. The force blasted its way out of the dome and caused it to shatter away. Kaname was blasted through and slid against the ground and was heavily damaged from an attack like that.

"Nice work." Sting said.

"Glad that's over with." Rogue said, but both of them felt all the fatal sword strikes Kaname laid on them. Both of them dropped down to one knee from all of it.

"Alright Fairy Tail, you started this and I know you can end this." Sting said. Now, one of the generals of Noches Espada has been defeated.

…

Toshiro

Toshiro was down on his knees from his fight with Gin. Gin's Piercing Magic was a challenge. I was breaking through all of Toshiro's ice attacks and striking Toshiro directly. He has proven to be a real challenge for Toshiro.

"Are we done yet? It looks like you've used up all your tricks." Gin said.

"We're far from done." Toshiro said. "I'm determined to beat you…for Rangiku."

"Rangiku? Why would you want to defeat me for her? Aren't you doing this to save that Orihime girl?" Gin asked.

"That is true, but I'm fighting you for Rangiku as well." Toshiro said. "You were her childhood friend. I happen to know for a fact that she cared deeply about you. I can see you feel the same as she does, but you were still set out to kill her. What's wrong with you? If you really cared about Rangiku, why would you ever want to do that to her?"

"It's really none of your business." Gin said.

"Perhaps, but the fact is that you hurt my friends." Toshiro said. "I'm a proud member of Fairy Tail and that's unforgivable." Toshiro was able to stand again with him releasing his magic power as he was covered in a blue aura. The ice and wind flowed around him and you could actually see the dragon around him.

"Very well." Gin said as he had a white magic aura around him. "You're one of the newest dragon slayers in the world. You got some pretty big shoes to fill, junior. Let's see if you have the strength like one." One general down and another to go. Can one of the newest of dragon slayers fight like the rest?

…

Ichigo: Toshiro is a second generation dragon slayer. That means he has a dragon lacrima within his body. Yet it was for that reason that people avoided him before and he became as cold as the ice he makes. That was until he came to Fairy Tail and the ice that surrounded his heart was melted and had him grow like a flower.

Next Time: Blooming Ice Flowers

Ichigo: Even in winter, flowers are able to blossom.