Disclaimer: Ben 10 and Bleach do not belong to me.
Thank you once again, Vandenbz and Pyromania. Sorry for the hassle this chapter was.
I'm also sorry for the wait, everyone. A bit of a head's up, this chapter turned out a lot differently than I had expected. I'll explain more in my Author's Note at the end. For now; enjoy!
Karakura Town Battle
Part 2: Rise, Fall
If the atmosphere had been thick with tension before, it was practically suffocating now. Both sides had completely forgotten their battles as the current stars of the show stared each other down. Way Big flexed his fingers anxiously as he took in Baraggan's released state. It was different and drastic compared to all the others he had seen before. Did Starrk and Harribel have similar forms or was Baraggan special, just like with his time powers?
Baraggan took a step towards the To'kustar, and Way Big shifted to a fighting stance despite the limited space the buildings gave him.
"So you intend to fight me with such a colossal form?" Baraggan said, having seemingly calmed down now that he was in his released state. "Surely you'd prefer Diamondhead instead."
There was so much venom in his tone that if he could poison someone with it, they would instantly drop dead.
Way Big's eyes narrowed. "SO THAT'S IT. ALL THIS TIME, YOU'RE STILL SORE ABOUT OUR FIGHT AT THE OASIS." He couldn't resist a chuckle. "KNOWING THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMMUNE TO YOUR 'ABSOLUTE' POWER REALLY GOT UNDER YOUR SKIN. WELL, WHEN YOU HAD SKIN, ANYWAY."
Behind Baraggan, the female captain gasped. The Espada had been trashing her lieutenant and herself like nothing; and yet this boy had a transformation unaffected by the Espada's power?
"I have never and will never forgive you for the slight you dealt me, boy," Baraggan said as his boney fists trembled, rattling the chains of his armbands.
"YOU BROUGHT IT ON YOURSELF WHEN YOU ATTACKED THE OASIS, BARAGGAN," Way Big shot back. SO THIS WHOLE TIME YOU'VE BEEN BOTTLING UP YOUR ANGER AND SEEING WAY BIG BLEW THE LID OFF?"
"I will admit," Baraggan said almost casually, "Never once did we suspect you had such a form at your disposal. Szayel would've been salivating at the chance to study a being such as this 'Way Big.'"
Way Big scowled as he remembered everything Szayel had put him through.
"But Way Big alone is not what has made me decide to end you," Baraggan called out, lazily walking through the air as if his victory was already assured. "For if you kept a transformation such as him a secret, who knows what else you still have up your sleeve. Isn't that right, Tennyson?!"
Way Big was aware that everyone's eyes were on him as Baraggan's words sank in. The wheels in their heads were no doubt turning at the implications. Hopefully they would never find out about Alien X.
"So, Ben Tennyson," Baraggan went on, "It would be best to end you here and now. Respira!"
A black miasma suddenly erupted from underneath Baraggan's cloak. Way Big's jaw dropped as the miasma came in contact with some telephone poles nearby. The wires and pole itself rotted away.
"Do you finally see your folly now, Tennyson?" Baraggan said, his bony smile actually looking like a smirk as his Respira spread even further. "All that size and strength means nothing to my power."
The miasma moved even closer. Crouching his legs, Way Big leaped up in the air and seemed to glide backwards despite his size; putting as much distance between him and Baraggan as possible. He grit his teeth in annoyance as he felt his feet smash into some of the smaller buildings, the ground shaking under him. Baraggan had not yet moved, his eye sockets still fixed on the gigantic hero.
"Oh come on!" Omaeda couldn't help crying as he and his captain sped away from the Espada. "First the elephant guy and now him!? Things that large have no business being able to jump so high!"
His captain said nothing, her eyes fixed on the buildings that started crumbling the moment they were engulfed by the Espada's miasma.
Curious, Way Big picked up a large chunk of debris and tossed it at Baraggan. The skeletal being raised a hand and the Respira shot forward like a flame. The moment the debris came in contact with it, it started rotting away to nothing, creating a large enough hole for Baraggan to just walk through.
"Is this all your titan form is capable of, Tennyson?" Baraggan mocked. "Perhaps it would be better for you to switch to something else instead. Something smaller perhaps? Something weaker but more likely to avoid my Respira for as long as possible?"
Way Big clenched his teeth, immediately recognizing the goading tone in Baraggan's voice. He cocked an eye at the captains, many of whom seemed to be watching him intently. Frowning, Way Big shot away in another blur.
Baraggan laughed. "Yes! Yes that's it, Tennyson! Run as fast as you can! You cannot escape my power but I will enjoy watching you struggle in vain before you succumb to it!"
Despite Ben wanting them to be out of harm's way, Harribel's Fraccione were now standing on a rooftop to watch the battle.
"I don't get it," Apacci said worriedly. "Way Big's just a big target to Baraggan right now. Why isn't he changing into something else?"
"Can he risk it?" Sung-Sun said with narrowed eyes. "It seems the Soul Reapers realize just how dangerous Ben is."
Mila Rose clutched her sword. "They're probably hoping Ben and Baraggan will kill each other."
"Dammit! I hate this!" Apacci cried, her arm flailing wildly. "We should be helping him!"
"What can we do?" Mila Rose said forlornly. "Even if we still had Ayon, we wouldn't stand a chance against Baraggan's Respira."
Sung-Sun sighed. "All we can do is hope."
Apacci turned her head to where Way Big had come to a stop. Baraggan walked through the air at a leisurely pace, as if he was just taking a stroll through a park. "Don't die on us, Ben."
Harribel was gripping her sword so tightly that it was amazing the hilt hadn't snapped in two. She cautiously cast an eye over at Hitsugaya and Matsumoto. They were watching Baraggan and Way Big as if hypnotized. This was a perfect opportunity for her to attack them and yet, she looked back over at Way Big. He resumed another fighting stance as Baraggan edged closer.
"Ben," Lilynette whispered, her nails digging into her palms.
"Very bold of you to still fight me as Way Big," Baraggan said with mock politeness.
"LIKE I HAVE A CHOICE," Way Big said under his breath, though given his massive size, Baraggan still heard it.
Baraggan chuckled. "The Soul Reapers are suspicious of you now. If you turn into one of your smaller aliens, they might use that opportunity to attack you. Staying as Way Big, however, makes you a perfect target for my power. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. A perfect situation for a blasphemous ant such as you, Tennyson."
"YOU'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT TO BE RAMBLING LIKE THIS, BARAGGAN."
Baraggan straightened his posture and tilted his head forward a bit. "I said I wanted to make you squirm, Tennyson. I want you to spend your last moments regretting your insolence for ever having opposed me."
"I HAVE PLENTY OF REGRETS, BARAGGAN," Way Big said as he grabbed the top of an apartment building, "BUT STANDING UP TO YOU ISN'T ONE OF THEM!"
He broke the top of the apartment off and tossed it at the Espada, who flicked his hand and had his Respira begin rotting it away. Way Big then pulled his arms back wide.
Lilynette's eye widened. "Uh, is he going to—?"
A second was all everyone got as Way Big clapped his hands together just as when he would use Four Arms. Despite lacking extra limbs, Way Big's own size and strength easily caused a shockwave to blast through the fake town, shattering even more windows and sending debris flying everywhere. Baraggan, who had been busy rotting away the debris thrown at him, was caught off guard and flung backwards by the sheer force of the attack. Way Big couldn't help but smirk as the Segunda Espada crashed into a department store behind him, even as its structure began rotting away.
Despite standing in midair, Omaeda fell to his knees. "Forget the Espada. If Aizen had ten of those giants, Soul Society would be wiped out for sure!"
The next thing he knew, his face was caved in due to his captain suddenly backhanding him.
"Be quiet," she snapped at him as Omaeda pawed at his face frantically. Still, his words were uncomfortably true. "Why would he protect the Fraccione of one Espada, yet fight another? Whose side is he actually on?" She grit her teeth as she watched Baraggan emerge from the rubble, his Respira spreading around him once more.
"Those two are too dangerous, especially the one whose loyalties are not certain."
"Captain Sui-Feng?" Omaeda asked, rubbing his aching nose.
"The other captains still have the remaining Espada to worry about," Sui-Feng said with resignation. "It seems I have no choice."
"Captain?" Omaeda repeated, worried by the uneasy look on his captain's face. "What are you going to do?"
"You continue to be full of surprises, Tennyson," Baraggan snarled as he floated at eye level to the To'kustar.
Way Big put his hands on his hips. "YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET, YOUR HIGHNESS."
"Of that I have no doubt," Baraggan said. "But do you honestly expect to defeat me by clapping air? You are only delaying the inevitable."
Way Big gave no outward reaction but deep down he was wondering how he was supposed to beat the Espada. Baraggan flicked his wrist and in a flash of red light, a gigantic black axe appeared in his right hand. It was slimmer than the one he had been carrying previously and pitch black compared to the other's more elaborate design. Its blades were pointed and it had a large spike in the center instead of the original's pendant. Four golden chains were wrapped around the base of the axe, all attached to Baraggan's armband.
"Gran Caida," Baraggan said. "This is my guillotine and a fitting weapon for your execution, Tennyson."
Baraggan swung his axe with one hand, sending a force of wind at the alien hero's head. Way Big crossed his arms, blocking the blast. Before he could make a witty comeback, he realized that Baraggan was right in front of him. Way Big leaped back as Baraggan swung his axe again, this time sending his Respira at the To'kustar in an arc.
The moment Baraggan disappeared after that swing, Way Big turned to the side, cartwheeling his way through the narrow streets as he saw that the Segunda Espada had been right behind him. Chuckling, Baraggan swung his axe again, sending the Respira to the ground where Way Big's hand was pushing himself off the ground. The To'kustar had just enough time to rise to his feet and pull his hand out of the way. The Respira struck the concrete, corroding it away.
"Quite spry for such a large form, Tennyson," Baraggan said in amusement.
Way Big said nothing. As long as the former king continued toying with him, it might leave him open for one surprise attack. Would a point-blank assault be enough?
A surge of power filled the air, both Arrancar and To'kustar turning their heads toward a pillar of blue light that erupted between the buildings where Baraggan had been "battling" Sui-Feng and her lieutenant. Sui-Feng was standing on one of the rooftops. Beside her was some sort of long and narrow golden cylinder with black markings. The entire thing was twice her own size. Her arm was covered in golden plating similar to the cylinder, ending at a type of face shield beside the right side of her face. There was also a long white sash wrapped around her waist that dragged along the rooftop and down the other side of the building.
"Oh?" Baraggan said with some interest. "That must be her Bankai."
Way Big tilted his head. All the Bankais he had seen were completely random but this one stood out, even compared to the monstrosity that was Kurotsuchi's Bankai. "WHAT IS THAT? IT LOOKS KINDA LIKE A ROCKET LAUNCHER."
Omaeda was staring too, eyeing the cylinder up and down. "Captain? Is that seriously your Bankai? I've never seen it before. What is that even supposed to be? How do you fight with something like that?" He then noticed the sash wrapped around her waist. "Is that a Ginjoutan? Captain, why are you wearing something so heavy? How do you expect to move with that wrapped around you while carrying that… thing?"
Sui-Feng's eyes were focused on Way Big and Baraggan. "It can't be helped. I was hoping not to have to use my Bankai for this battle but it might be our only chance to take both of them out."
"Captain?"
She ignored him and went on. "Unfortunately it goes against my pride as a member of the Stealth Corps. It's so big that it can't be hidden. It's so heavy that I can barely move. And it's attack," she shifted her body so that the end of the cylinder was pointing at Way Big, a perfect target, "Is too flashy to be used for assassination." Fins popped out of the other end of the cylinder and flames erupted.
Way Big's eyes widened. "IT IS A ROCKET LAUNCHER! WHAT THE…?"
"Take this!" Sui-Feng cried as the rocket launched off the base right at the To'kustar. While stunned at seeing the Soul Reaper have a missile launcher of all things, Way Big crossed his arms in front of his face as the projectile came at him. Strangely, to the other participants at least, the hero crossed his arms into an "L" shape, with his right forearm vertical and his left forearm horizontal in front of the former along with the thumb edge of his hands facing his body. Suddenly he and Baraggan were engulfed in a blazing explosion of orange light that darkened the rest of the sky like a miniature sun.
"BEN!" Lilynette cried.
"No," Starrk whispered.
Harribel's breath hitched.
Her Fraccione felt their feet turn to cement as they shielded their eyes from the light.
Sui-Feng grit her teeth as the massive recoil from her Bankai made her feet dig into the ground. The wind roared in a way that reminded her of when the giant had clapped his hands earlier. Despite her attempt to resist, she found herself flung into the air. The sash she had wrapped around herself kept her anchored to the building that she had tied the other end around prior to firing. She could hear Omaeda scream nearby as the backlash of her attack sent him crashing into what she assumed was one of the buildings.
"I landed a direct hit," she said to herself. "And the Espada was too close to the explosion's range. I had to have gotten them."
Hearing a tearing noise, Sui-Feng looked down to see that the sash had gotten caught on a rooftop's railing. Even a sturdy sash like the Ginjoutan couldn't withstand the force of the explosion and the resistance from the railing. But she was unable to do anything about it as the sash ripped and she was flung further back. The whole world was spinning and she had no way to stop it except by crashing. As she tried to brace herself for the worst, she found her body strike something softer than rock before wincing at a sudden impact. As she collected herself, she felt hands on her shoulders.
"Are you alright, Captain?"
Sui-Feng cocked her head at the voice. "Is that you, Omaeda?"
"Yes, ma'am," grunted the ruffled lieutenant. "Look over there."
Sui-Feng looked ahead to spot a massive cloud of smoke from where she had struck the giant. She waited with baited breath and then, relief flooded her when she spotted the titan falling backwards, smoke rising from his body.
"You got him, Captain," Omaeda told her.
Apacci fell to her knees. "No…"
Mila Rose's sword clattered beside her feet as she felt her body become numb. "It can't be."
"Not like this," Sung-Sun whispered, her tail coiling around herself.
A single tear ran down Lilynette's cheek as she stared in horror at Way Big's collapsing form. "No!"
Way Big crashed into the buildings behind him, dust, smoke, and rubble flying everywhere as if trying to cover the titan in a makeshift mound.
Starrk nearly dropped his sword, his body still as a statue.
Slowly Harribel turned her head to where Sui-Feng and Omaeda were watching, both looking on with relief at seeing Way Big fall. Her spiritual pressure flared in a yellow aura as her fingers went to the zipper of her jacket and began lifting it upwards. As her jacket opened, more of her chest became visible, revealing a large black number 3 on the left side of her right breast. Hitsugaya and Matsumoto's eyes widened at this revelation.
"All that power and you're only the Third Espada?" Hitsugaya asked in disbelief.
Harribel turned back to the captain, who flinched at the glint in her eyes. "'All that power'? I don't believe I've shown you even close to the extent of my power."
There was something else that Hitsugaya spotted. Her body was radiating cold fury as she fully unzipped her jacket. Her mask remains were revealed, covering the entire lower half of her face and mouth, appearing like a row of vicious shark teeth. The remains also covered around her neck and extended to her breasts, covering her nipples. She eyed the captain and his lieutenant and both felt as if they were standing before a predatory animal about to strike.
"I'm ending this now." Harribel flipped her sword over in her hand so that the blade was facing downward. "Destroy, Tiburon!"
The moment she said her release command, a surge of water formed behind her in the vague shape of a heart. Hitsugaya and Matsumoto both gasped as the water engulfed her in a small cyclone.
"Bankai!" Hitsugaya shouted, flaring his own spiritual pressure. "Daiguren Hyorinmaru!" Ice formed around his body as it did when he fought Luppi.
"Growl, Haineko!" Matsumoto yelled. Her blade dissolved into a massive cloud of ash that swirled around her.
The two waited tensely as Harribel's makeshift cocoon surged and swirled viciously. Suddenly what appeared to be a gigantic tooth pierced through the water and sliced downward, cutting the water like a hot knife through butter. The water parted, revealing Harribel in her released state. Her mask remains and her clothing had completely changed: the former had turned into a simplistic collar with extensions that covered her nipples; the number 3 tattoo had noticeably disappeared as well. She also now had shoulder guards resembling shark fins with two long, ribbon-like protrusions.
A spine-like structure ran up her stomach, from her waist to the underside of her breasts. She also wore a mini-skirt made of bones lining a dark undergarment. Knee-high boots and elbow-length gloves covered her arms and legs. The large, tooth-like object was actually her sword, the hand guard now big enough to completely cover her hand. Along either side of the blade were gill markings, fitting her ensemble's shark motif. Her hair, now missing its braids, was loose and somewhat messy. Her cheeks each sported a blue, lightning bolt mark. The water her released state had created poured down on the street below them, creating a brief flood.
"So that is her Resurreccion," Matsumoto said, eyeing Harribel warily. "She looks different compared to the other Arrancar we've fought."
"Don't let your guard down," Hitsugaya warned her as Harribel lifted her sword, yellow energy gathering at the tip. "Regardless of her appearance, underestimating her would be–"
"Fatal," Harribel finished as she swung her blade without moving from her spot in the air. Matsumoto's mind blanked when she saw her captain's body instantly bifurcated from shoulder to hip.
"What–" was all Hitsugaya could say as blood poured from his split body.
"Captain!" Matsumoto screamed as her superior plummeted to the ground below, a stunned look frozen upon his face. Angrily she swung her bladeless hilt. The cloud of ash gathered around Harribel like a tornado.
"I see," the Third Espada said as she studied the ash. "This ash is your blade isn't it?"
"That's right," Matsumoto snapped her fingers and the ash closed up, leaving Harribel in darkness. "My blade turns to ash and then I cut wherever the ash has landed with one swing of my hilt. Even an Espada like you will have a hard time getting out of there. The moment you touch the ash, I'll start cutting!" Her voice held a bit of uncharacteristic viciousness in it.
"An impressive ability but…" Harribel lifted her sword again. Yellow energy once more gathered around the tip. "Cero."
She swung her blade in an arc, her wide Cero dispersing the ash with ease. Fear filled Matsumoto's face as she hastily shot higher into the air to dodge the attack. The moment it passed under her she became aware of Harribel's eyes watching her every move.
"Once I've dealt with you, that other captain is next," Harribel told her. Her head turned sharply at the sound of some animalistic cry to see a large fireball shooting towards her.
Ascending higher to avoid the incoming projectile, she followed the trajectory of its origin. Another Soul Reaper had joined the battle. A petite girl whose black hair was tied in a bun was now beside Matsumoto. In her hands was a straight-bladed sword sporting multiple prongs. The girl was wearing a similar armband as well, indicating she was also a lieutenant. Her eyes were watering and Harribel suspected why the girl had attacked.
Matsumoto stared at the newcomer in surprise. "Hinamori? What are you doing here?!"
Fire gathered around Hinamori's blade as she swung, the fire leaping off her blade into another fireball. Harribel noticed the peculiar sound the fireball made as it came towards her, like the cry of a bird. Unperturbed, she aimed her sword at the incoming projectile. Water poured out of the gill markings on her blade and gathered around the tip.
"La Gota!"
The water blasted off her sword, molded in the shape of a shark tooth similar to her sword. When her attack collided with Hinamori's, it triggered a massive explosion. Harribel turned her head to see that Matsumoto had appeared behind her, her cloud of ash shooting forward. Switching her sword to her other hand, Harribel struck the ash, causing the cloud to split in two separate directions. Matsumoto swung her hilt again and the ash started to gather around the Third Espada once more. As it converged, Harribel could make out Hinamori preparing another fireball. She fired another La Gota at the ash, dispersing it. Harribel then swung her sword, the water and ash mixed together and struck Hinamori's fireball the moment she launched it. The smaller lieutenant quickly backpedaled at her attack exploding so close to herself. In a blink of an eye, Harribel was right in front of her, sword poised to slash—
Only to duck, narrowly avoiding the blade of Captain Hitsugaya as he swung past where her head once was. Harribel swung her own blade but Hitsugaya leaped back, avoiding her slash by a fraction.
Matsumoto gaped. "Captain?!"
"Toshiro!" Hinamori cried in relief.
Harribel eyed the perfectly alive and intact captain. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I figured you would target me first since, being a captain, I was the more dangerous opponent," Hitsugaya said. "But even then I was not prepared for such a drastic increase in your speed and range just by entering your released state. It's a good thing I took precautions."
Harribel looked over to where his body had fallen. Her eyes narrowed when she saw that his body, or rather something that looked exactly like it, still floated in midair. The double's body began breaking and Harribel could make out bits of ice at the edge of where she had sliced it in two.
"An ice clone?" Hinamori asked in amazement.
Matsumoto whirled towards her captain. "When did you have time to set that up?"
"You were focusing so much on the Espada as she entered her Resurreccion that you didn't notice me preparing it," Hitsugaya informed her. "I didn't tell you in case she caught on and decided to attack you first. Normally I don't like using such a technique since I can only use it once but right now I'm glad I did."
Hinamori sighed in relief. "I'm glad you're alright, Toshiro."
Hitsugaya looked at her and his expression softened. "Momo. What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry, Toshiro. I meant to help you earlier but the other lieutenants were injured by the beast that the Espada's subordinates had summoned. They're alright now but they need rest."
"Momo," Hitsugaya said quietly, spotting her armband.
Hinamori smiled at him. "Don't worry, Toshiro. I put on my badge and came here today as the lieutenant of Squad 5." Her face hardened in determination. "But that only means that I'm acting as 'the one in charge of Squad 5' not as 'a subordinate of Captain Aizen'." The determination shifted to a saddened meekness. "For he is an enemy of Soul Society."
Hitsugaya and Matsumoto shared a look of concern. Of everyone in Soul Society, Hinamori had been hit the hardest by Aizen's betrayal, even to the point she rationalized that Gin Ichimaru had been the real mastermind and Aizen a victim. While her words now should have been comforting, both had noticed that she had referred to Aizen by his former rank.
"As long as you know that," Matsumoto told her.
The three then turned to face Harribel, who was watching them without a single change in her expression during their whole exchange.
"You two ready?"
Hinamori raised her sword. Matsumoto swung her hilt, the ash forming into a cloud beside her. If Harribel was concerned about the fact she was now facing three opponents, she didn't show it. All she did was ready her own blade. The three Soul Reapers all charged at her.
"Get up," Lilynette whispered at Way Big's still downed form. "Come on, Ben. Get up."
The white-haired captain's heart went out to her. Arrancar or not, she still looked like a young child and it saddened him to see a child so devastated. He wanted to say something in comfort but he wasn't sure if she would listen.
Starrk looked at his other half, the rest of the world nonexistent to her. Earlier he had sensed Harribel entering her Released State and turned to see her engaging the young captain and two lieutenants. His eyes locked with his own opponent who now had both swords drawn.
"Well," the captain said, "Aren't you going to use your Resurreccion now?"
"Why?" Starrk asked cautiously.
"Well, that lady over there released hers when Captain Sui-Feng attacked your friend, so I figured you would as well."
"Harribel no doubt believes the other captains will try to kill Ben like that woman did," Starrk leaned forward as he eyed the captain. "Will you?"
The captain chuckled as he tipped his hat. "When Captain Hitsugaya told us about the whole situation, I didn't know what to think. He said a 'reliable source' vouched that Ben would stand against Aizen. Befriending some of the Espada was never even considered, let alone brought up. Perhaps this mysterious source didn't know either."
Starrk's grip on his sword tightened. "Will that be a problem?"
"Well, he did want a ceasefire. And besides," the captain titled his head away from Starrk. "I like his style; a guy with so many lovely ladies concerned for him? He'd make a great drinking buddy."
Raising a brow, Starrk followed his sight and saw that Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun were standing in the air beside Way Big.
"Damn it, Ben!" Apacci shouted frantically. "You better get up right now! This-this isn't funny!"
"WHO'S LAUGHING?" Way Big muttered (they heard him, anyway) as he slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times with a shake of his head. All three girls sagged in relief as the hero started sitting up with a groan.
Captain Sui-Feng paled as she saw the giant rise, rubbing his head. He looked completely unharmed. Had her Bankai done nothing? Her body started shaking and she quickly scowled, as the shaking was coming from her lieutenant, who was still holding her.
"We thought you were—" Sung-Sun didn't need to go any further, all three girls becoming downcast at what they had thought happened.
Way Big stopped rubbing his head at their expressions. "SORRY TO WORRY YOU." Due to how close they were to Way Big, the sheer volume of his voice alone was enough to nearly launch them backwards. Way Big covered his mouth before giving them a sheepish grin.
"SORRY," he said in a lower voice. While the girls weren't pushed back, his voice still had enough force to make their hair flow in the wind.
"We're just glad you're okay," Mila Rose said.
"I'M FINE, JUST A LITTLE DIZZY," Way Big reassured them as he rubbed his eyes. "WHEN THE MISSILE BLEW UP, I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT LIGHTSHOW. IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE GAVE ME AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT THE SUN. THEN I, WELL, I…"
Sung-Sun's eyes narrowed at his suddenly sheepish expression.
"Ben," she said evenly. "Are you trying to tell us that you fell… because you tripped?"
"What?!" Apacci and Mila Rose shrieked in unison.
Way Big rubbed his head again and closed his eyes in embarrassment. "I WAS GONNA GO WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE DIGNIFIED, BUT… YEAH, I TRIPPED."
Captain Sui-Feng's bones felt like jelly when she heard that. Behind her, she could hear Omaeda whimpering.
Way Big opened his eyes when he felt something repeatedly poking his cheek. He saw that Apacci and Mila Rose were both punching his face, looking absolutely livid.
"You bastard!" Apacci wailed. "We were worried sick and it turns out you were just clumsy!"
"HEY, I COULDN'T SEE," Way Big tried to defend himself quietly so as not to blow them away. "I'M PRETTY SURE THERE ARE STILL SPOTS IN MY EYES."
"No excuses!" Mila Rose shouted as she started banging the flat of her blade against him.
"The moment you change back, you are in so much trouble," Sung-Sun warned him.
Way Big sighed. "I'M SORRY, OKAY? I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU ALL WORRY."
"Worry? Worry?! You scared us half to death, you jerk! And not just us!" Apacci yelled. "Lady Harribel went into her released state."
"WHAT?!" All three girls had to cover their ears at that outburst, which wasn't easy with only one arm each.
"Not to mention Starrk and Lilynette are probably devastated as well," Sung-Sun added once they recovered.
"WAIT, WHERE IS–"
"I had a feeling that attack wouldn't do you in, Tennyson."
The three Arrancar and the sole To'kustar all snapped their heads back to the cloud of smoke that still hung in the air. A completely unscathed Baraggan emerged, his cloak flowing in the wind.
Sui-Feng's mind went numb at seeing that not even the Espada had been hurt by her Bankai. What kind of monsters were they dealing with?
"You did something when you crossed your arms earlier," Baraggan commented. "Whatever it was made that bankai explode before touching you. What was that? What did you do?"
Way Big narrowed his eyes as the girls all gave him curious glances.
"Of course," Baraggan said, resting a fist under his bony chin. "More tricks. I will say this about you, Ben Tennyson: you're not the complete fool I had taken you for after all. Were you hoping to save that trick for me? Or were you saving it for Aizen?"
Way Big said nothing, but the silence only made the former king chuckle.
"Oh well, no matter," Baraggan lifted his axe again. "Shall we continue?"
Way Big's response was to grab a handful (by his standards, in reality he had picked up a large mound) of dirt and debris and then toss it at his opponent. Rising fully to his feet, he shouted. "YOU WANT ME, BARAGGAN? COME AND GET ME!" He quickly looked down at the girls. "I'M GONNA DRAW HIS ATTENTION. STAY HERE."
"What? What are you going to do?" Apacci asked.
"SOMETHING CRAZY AND NOT QUITE FOOLPROOF," Way Big admitted.
"So one of your usual plans then?" Apacci commented.
"MORE OR LESS." He started jogging away from them.
Baraggan calmly floated out of the rubble. "This again, Tennyson? Well, you seem to have some kind of plan in mind. And if it means drawing out what you did, then I suppose I can indulge you."
The sound of Way Big's thundering footsteps once again put a halt to the battle between Harribel, Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, and Hinamori. Matsumoto noticed Harribel's eyes were locked on the two combatants. Hinamori was about to attack when–
"Wait," Hitsugaya said. Hinamori staggered for a moment before looking at the captain.
"Wait, Toshiro?"
"You noticed it too, Captain?"
"As hard as I find it to believe," Hitsugaya said. "This Espada does care about Ben."
"I-it could be a trick," Hinamori suggested.
Hitsugaya shook his head. "No, when she attacked my ice clone earlier, I could tell that her anger was genuine."
"So you're hoping that Ben could somehow convince her to turn against Aizen?" Matsumoto asked.
"While I doubt the Espada will help us fight Aizen, Ben might convince them to stay out of our way."
"Will they listen, though?" Matsumoto asked.
"Ken had faith in Ben's abilities to turn things around," Hitsugaya replied.
"I don't think this is what he had in mind, though," Matsumoto pointed out.
Hitsugaya closed his eyes.
"And here we are once again," Baraggan said.
He had followed Way Big to one of the outer regions of the fake city. They were so far away that neither could make out the other Soul Reapers and Arrancar present. Even the fiery cage that held Aizen, Tosen, and Gin was not visible.
"So, Tennyson, what trick do you have in store for me this time? You'd better hurry though," Baraggan released his Respira once more. "As the saying goes: 'Time is not on your side'."
"DON'T REMIND ME," Way Big said, looking anxious at everyone else's location.
"You were wise to have Harribel's Fraccione stay behind," Baraggan said. "Of course, that doesn't matter since I will kill them after you."
Way Big's body stilled.
"Come now, Tennyson," Baraggan snickered at his body language. "Obviously Starrk and Harribel will try to avenge you and I will finally put them in their place for their own transgressions against me."
Way Big raised his fists even as the Respira inched closer. "NOT GONNA HAPPEN, BARAGGAN."
Baraggan threw back his head and let out a great bellow. "And how will you stop me, Tennyson? If you had truly had an alien that could defeat me, you would have risked turning into him by now; especially since we're too far away for the Soul Reapers to do anything this time. You're at the end of your rope."
"I'M NOT OUT YET."
"You are finished, Tennyson. You will die and then your friends will die after you. I will start by rotting away Harribel's Fraccione one by one as I make her watch. Then I will finally rot her, her spirit broken from seeing her subordinates beg her to save them and being powerless to do so."
Way Big grit his teeth as his body shook.
"As for Starrk; who should I end first? Him or Lilynette?"
"BARAGGAN, I'M WARNING YOU…"
"I think it would be better if Lilynette goes last," Baraggan said. "You and her are rather close, aren't you? I can savor the despair in her eyes as everyone before her is reduced to dust. As her own body crumbles away, will her final thoughts be of you? Of somehow hoping you will come to save her but knowing deep down that you can't?"
Way Big's body shook with so much rage, the ground under his feet began trembling.
"Go ahead, Tennyson. Attack me in vain and bring your demise so much sooner. At last, you will know the folly of opposing God-King Baraggan."
No words were spoken as Way Big zoomed away. When Baraggan made to follow, he realized that the titan was not running away from him–but around him. Yes, Way Big was running in a circle around the Segunda Espada. Any buildings that stood in his way were demolished with absurd ease, almost as if they were made of tissue paper. Debris, smoke, and dust were kicked up everywhere as Way Big continued his run.
"What do you think you're doing?" Baraggan asked in genuine confusion. "Are you trying to defeat me by making me dizzy?"
Way Big did not respond; he only kept running. Then he ran faster, and faster, and faster until he became a blurring ring of white and red. Once more everyone else turned to see the spectacle that was Ben Tennyson.
"Whatever it is you hope to accomplish, you will not-"
Baraggan was cut off as he realized the wind had begun picking up the moment Way Big increased his speed. The rubble and wreckage were lifted into the air by the sheer wind force. Baraggan's cloak, pendant, and chains rattled furiously, and the former king found himself having to hold onto his crown.
"What-what is this?!"
The Soul Reapers and Arrancar watched in awe as they saw Way Big was creating a massive vortex from where he was running.
"You think this will stop me?!" Baraggan shouted, his voice drowned out by the roaring wind. Even so, he found himself struggling to stay stationary as the remains of the buildings flew around him. Anything that got too close was eradicated by his powers. "A god like me will not be defeated by a trick such as this!"
A massive chunk of a wall flew at Baraggan. He shot his Respira and started rotting it away but because he had focused on the threat in front of him, he was unprepared when Way Big gained another burst of speed. The sheer force launched the fallen king higher up in the air, spinning out of control.
The moment he did, Way Big kicked off the ground and shot up after him. As the world spun around Baraggan, he gasped when he saw Way Big directly in front of him and his own momentum was carrying him right towards the giant! In a twist of cruel irony, Baraggan felt like time was slowing to a crawl as the closer he got to Way Big, the giant began crossing his arms in the same formation he had done earlier. Way Big glared down at his skeletal opponent.
"LONG LIVE THE KING."
No. Not like this. This couldn't be the end of him! No matter what powers Ben Tennyson had, he was nothing more than an ant! The God-King of Hueco Mundo couldn't die here! He still needed to kill—
A blast of blue light shot out of Way Big's hand and Baraggan was directly in front of it; the size, speed, and sheer proximity of the light was too much for his time powers to have any immediate effect!
"TENNYSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!" Baraggan screamed as he disappeared into the light.
Captain Sui-Feng's mind blanked at the spectacle she was witnessing; the giant's beam shot clear to the other side of the city, cutting through any buildings in its way with ease. Was her lieutenant's previous statement possibly true? Could Aizen have destroyed Soul Society with ten of those 'Way Bigs'?
Starrk brought a hand to his forehead. "Good grief," he muttered woozily. "He can even do something like that?"
His opponent chuckled shakily. "I was thinking the exact same thing."
"Wow," Lilynette whispered, mesmerized by Way Big's Cosmic Ray. "I think I know which alien's my favorite."
The white-haired captain's mouth simply hung slightly open.
"Did-did he actually do it?" Apacci asked as Way Big lowered his arms, cutting off the beam as he smashed back onto the ground, toppling the nearby buildings. "Did he beat Baraggan?"
"As crazy as it sounds," Mila Rose said, staring at the To'kustar, "I think he did."
"And I think by now we should accept that Ben can do the impossible," Sung-Sun stated, earning nods from her teammates.
"We're still getting back at him for making us worry, right?" Apacci spoke up.
"Oh, absolutely," Sung-Sun said, smirking behind her sleeve.
"Lord Baraggan… lost?"
"I really wish Ken bothered telling us just what Ben was capable of," Matsumoto said with slight trepidation after seeing Way Big's attack.
"Remember, he had no way of knowing which aliens this Ben had access to," Hitsugaya pointed out.
"And that Espada, Baraggan, implied that Ben might have other aliens like this," Matsumoto reminded him.
Hinamori gasped. "Are you saying he might have forms more powerful than that giant? But what could be more powerful than that?"
"If he should have such aliens," All three flinched when they saw Harribel eyeing them, an edge in her voice, "What would you do?"
"Ben!"
Way Big turned to see Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun beside him.
"You did it! You actually did it!"
"Did you…finish him off?" Mila Rose inquired.
"HARD TO SAY." Way Big looked over to where his Cosmic Ray had cut through the town. "ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE POWERS OF HIS."
"Well, I don't see him getting back up so I guess you won! You defeated Baraggan!"
"RIGHT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. YOU SAID EARLIER THAT HARRIBEL WAS IN HER RELEASED STATE?" Way Big held out his hands. "JUST POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION."
Nodding, all three landed onto his hands, Apacci pointing to where their leader was. "There!"
"HOLD ON!" Way Big shouted (making them cover their ears at the noise) before speeding off once again.
A bead of sweat dripped down Hitsugaya's brow as he, Matsumoto, and Hinamori kept their gaze on Harribel.
"Matsumoto, Momo," Hitsugaya said quietly, "I'll distract her. You two need to get Ben; if he can convince the remaining Espada to stand down, the only thing we'll have to worry about is Aizen."
Both girls' eyes widened. "But Toshiro…"
"She's convinced we'll try to kill Ben now that we've seen more of his abilities," Hitsugaya explained. "Considering Captain Sui-Feng's previous actions—"
"Even though Captain Sui-Feng failed to hurt him?" Hinamori asked.
"The fact she tried to is reason enough. Plus, now that we know more of what Ben can do, I'd rather not have him see us as enemies, too."
Matsumoto gasped. "He wouldn't team up with Aizen after all, would he?"
"More likely he would try to fight us and Aizen," Hitsugaya answered.
"Would he?" Hinamori asked.
Hitsugaya was cut off by another gust of wind, the Soul Reapers struggling not to be blown away. Looking up, all three gasped when they found Way Big looming right in front of them, Harribel's Fraccione standing in his open palm.
Way Big studied them carefully. Captain Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Matsumoto, and a third Soul Reaper he hadn't seen before. None of them seemed to have been harmed so hopefully that meant he had shown up just in time. But the moment he checked to see if Harribel was alright, his words died on the tip of his tongue.
Thanks to spending so much time with her group, Ben had more or less adjusted to Harribel's interesting choice of attire. While he had always been curious as to why she kept her face covered, he never asked both out of respect for her and to avoid upsetting her and/or her Fraccione. Yet as she turned around, her unbraided hair flowing in the wind, Way Big knew he was not prepared to finally see her face. While it was no surprise that she was beautiful, it was how beautiful that stunned him. None of his theories over how she might look did Harribel justice.
The hero then finally became aware of the rest of her released state. While his time spent with her prevented him from being too flustered by how much more skin she was showing than usual, her full ensemble made her look like an awesome, gorgeous, warrior queen.
Wow
"What?" Harribel asked.
Way Big froze, eyes wide and his cheeks heating up tremendously. Had-had he said "Wow" out loud?! Judging from the amused grin Matsumoto was sporting and the baffled looks on Hitsugaya and his other companion, yes, yes he had.
"A-hem!"
Flinching, Way Big slowly looked down at his palm to see Harribel's Fraccione—smirking at him?
Sung-Sun sighed dramatically. "Oh dear. Forgive him, Lady Harribel. It seems the great Ben Tennyson just cannot resist your beauty. It must be his one weakness."
Mila Rose snickered. "All this time, we thought you had better control than that, Ben. Shame on you."
"At least he didn't drool on us," Apacci snorted. "We'd probably drown."
Way Big gawked as his face got even redder. Instead of trying to kill him the girls were—teasing him? "A-ARE YOU THREE SERIOUSLY DOING THIS RIGHT NOW?"
"Hey!" Apacci pointed up at him. "After what you put us through, this is part of our payback!"
Way Big threw his head back before responding, his words nearly knocking them off their feet. "OH COME ON! I SAID I WAS SORRY! DO YOU WANT IT IN WRITING? WANT ME TO SIGN IT IN BLOOD? WAIT, DON'T ANSWER THAT LAST ONE!"
Harribel watched the interaction more in relief than anything else. Her Fraccione and Ben were safe, Baraggan could not threaten them anymore, and-and she could not deny feeling a bit of warmth at how captivated Ben had seemed. She could tell there was no lecherous intent behind his gaze and it was surprisingly flattering. Not to mention the sight of the imposing Way Big suddenly becoming shy and embarrassed was actually amusing. She quickly discarded the sensation, however, to address said hero.
"Congratulations on defeating Baraggan, Ben."
"THANKS," Way Big said, his face completely serious. "ARE YOU OKAY, HARRIBEL?"
"I am uninjured," Harribel replied. "Though I am relieved to see that you are alright as well. When that attack struck you…"
Way Big nodded before looking over at the Soul Reapers behind her. "CAPTAIN HITSUGAYA, LIEUTENANT MATSUMOTO. SORRY WE HAD TO MEET LIKE THIS AGAIN."
"Ben Tennyson," Hitsugaya said. "Tell me, you are against Aizen, right?"
"DEFINITELY," Way Big said with a scowl. "BUT ONLY AGAINST HIM AND HIS TWO CRONIES, NOT THE OTHER ARRANCAR HERE."
"Why?" Hitsugaya asked in all seriousness.
"STARRK AND HARRIBEL FOLLOWED HIM BECAUSE HE PROMISED THEM BETTER LIVES. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S RIGHT, BUT I CAN'T BLAME THEM WHEN THERE WAS LITERALLY NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO."
"Better lives?" Matsumoto repeated.
"Is it impossible for you to believe some Hollows don't want to partake in the constant killing and eating of Hueco Mundo?" Harribel asked as her Fraccione glared bitterly at the Soul Reapers.
"HARRIBEL," Way Big said quietly (well, as quietly as he could be) before eyeing Captain Hitsugaya. "YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU STOP AIZEN, AND I WILL, BUT I WON'T LET YOU OR ANY OF THE OTHER SOUL REAPERS HURT MY FRIENDS. YOU'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME FIRST."
"Ben–" Harribel started to speak.
"HARRIBEL," Way Big said softly (a rather loose term), "I CAN'T LET AIZEN DO THIS. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THIS "ORIGINAL SIN" OR WHATEVER CANNOT JUSTIFY MURDERING ALL THESE PEOPLE. EVEN IF AIZEN MIGHT BE TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT SOUL SOCIETY BEING CORRUPT, I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT THAT."
All the Soul Reapers looked at the colossal alien, for even when he talked softer, he could still be heard by all. The Captain-Commander's brow furrowed.
"REMEMBER WHEN I SAID THAT I'D FIND A WAY TO IMPROVE HUECO MUNDO? I'LL FIND A WAY TO PROTECT HUECO MUNDO FROM SOUL REAPERS TOO. PLEASE, GIVE ME A CHANCE TO TRY."
Harribel looked into his green eyes as he looked back at her pleadingly. "Ben," she lowered her head. "I—"
"PLEASE, HARRIBEL. TRUST ME."
"I trust you, Ben, but I can't trust the Soul Reapers. They tried to kill you even though you have done nothing to them."
"I KNOW," Way Big said, looking over at Captain Sui-Feng, who found herself flinching before the hero faced Harribel again. "THAT'S WHY I HAVE TO STOP THIS BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENS."
For all her usual cool-headed nature, the hero could see the conflict in her eyes. Another sign of just how good Aizen was in terms of inspiring loyalty from others. How much longer did they have before the Soul Reapers decided to resume the fight? Would Starrk and Harribel still wish to fight for Aizen even now?
"Ah, I see," the strawhat captain said, drawing Starrk's attention once more. "That's why you followed Aizen, huh?"
"What Ben's talking about refers more to Harribel specifically," Starrk said. "About not wanting for Hollows to eat and kill each other in Hueco Mundo. That–that wasn't something I really had to worry about."
"But what about you, Starrk?" the captain said. "I do believe your name was included when he said you wanted a better life, too."
Starrk slouched. "Sorry, not really in the mood to tell my life story again."
"Aw, why not?" the captain coaxed. "Obviously everyone's eager to see what Ben there will do next so the fighting's stopped. Why not take advantage of this while we can?"
"Let's just say I owe a debt to Lord Aizen and leave it at that," Starrk said, showing the slightest hint of being uncomfortable.
The captain sighed. "I see, I see. You're fighting because you want to repay that debt, that lady's fighting for a peaceful life and to no doubt repay Aizen for giving her the power to do so, and we're fighting to protect Soul Society and the Living World from Aizen."
"What are you getting at?" Starrk asked.
The captain had a sad smile on his face now. "No matter what debts you may owe someone, the moment you step onto the battlefield, both sides are in the wrong."
"Hmm," Starrk rubbed the back of his head slowly. "You may be right. But…"
"Hmm?"
"Since he wants to stop everyone from fighting, where does Ben fit into that belief?"
The captain chuckled. "Since he's trying to stop the whole thing, he must believe everyone is in the wrong. Or rather, he must believe that no one side is more right than the other."
"I see."
"The question is, however, how far will he be willing to go in order to stop both sides?"
"You should listen to him, Espada," Hitsugaya said, his blade still raised. "You and your fellow Arrancar are nothing but tools to Aizen. He will dispose of you once you have outlived your usefulness to him. Anything he offered you were just empty promises to ensure your loyalty."
Harribel and her Fraccione narrowed their eyes at the young captain. Hinamori became downcast, the grip on her blade loosening. Matsumoto gave her a sympathetic look and even Hitsugaya gave her a sad glance out of the corner of his eye.
"UH, APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, CAPTAIN, BUT I GOT THIS," Way Big told the Soul Reaper.
"What is he doing?" Sui-Feng asked incredulously. "If he wants the Espada to stay out of the fight, surely he could force them to. If one of them, especially one as powerful as that Baraggan was, lost then how could they stand a chance?"
Captain-Commander Yamamoto did nothing to break his gaze, studying the giant before him but otherwise remaining completely still.
"PLEASE, HARRIBEL," Way Big said, pleadingly. "DON'T FIGHT FOR AIZEN ANYMORE. PLEASE STAND DOWN AND LET ME STOP HIM."
Harribel looked up at Way Big's eyes and she could see the desperation for her to listen, the hope that she would, and the fear that she wouldn't.
"If you wanted to, you could easily stop me by force, couldn't you?" Harribel asked, her Fraccione looking at her in apprehension.
"I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT YOU."
"Neither do I," Harribel said, her expression softening. "Yet if we have no choice but to fight, would you?"
Way Big sighed. "JUST TO STOP YOU FROM GETTING HURT OR HURTING ANYONE."
"Good thing she only struck down your ice clone, captain," Matsumoto whispered to Hitsugaya, who frowned back at her.
"BUT I'M REALLY HOPING IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO FOR YOU TO STAND DOWN, HARRIBEL?"
All eyes were on the Tres Espada but her own were locked onto Way Big's.
If there's any sacrifices to be made, then I'll be the one to make them, not you.
Harribel tightened her free fist. Why had it come to this?
Harribel shook her head. No, deep down she knew it could only turn out this way.
"HARRIBEL–" Way Big started again, only to be cut off by a familiar sound. "A GARGANTA?"
Way Big glanced toward the sound, seeing a particularly massive Garganta opening up near Aizen's fiery prison. "IS ONE OF THE OTHER ESPADA COMING?"
When the Garganta opened up, and everyone waited to see who would emerge, a lone figure appeared in the opening. Way Big half-expected it to be Ulquiorra or possibly Grimmjow. Instead, gazing around with that same vacant look in his eyes as usual was—
"WONDERWEISS?" Way Big tilted his head. "WHAT'S HE DOING HERE?"
Starrk frowned. "Oh no."
"What?" the strawhat captain asked, Starrk's tone immediately putting him on edge.
"If he's here, then Lord Aizen can't wait any longer."
The sound of loud footsteps came from further in the Garganta. Wonderweiss looked over his shoulder at whatever was making that noise and smiled. As the footsteps approached the entrance, Way Big saw why the Garganta was so big. An enormous… thing appeared, its entire body touching the top and bottom of the Garganta. It looked like a big blob of gray, swollen flesh; a single yellow eye in the middle of what was its 'face'. It had hands but Way Big couldn't fathom what the rest of its body looked like.
"Hooler," Harribel said. "Wonderweiss's pet."
"THAT'S HIS PET?!" Way Big stared up at the creature. 'I'd hate to find out how he cleans up after him.'
Wondweiss took a breath and suddenly let out a loud scream that seemed to spread everywhere.
"WHAT IS HE…?" Way Big started to ask when Hooler's flesh shifted, creating a hole below its eye. It leaned down and blew a gust of wind at the fire cage. Way Big gasped as the flames started to disperse.
"Ugh, his breath stinks as usual."
"Agreed."
"Is this what they call "The Smell of Death"?"
"No need to worry about it, the smell is fine the way it is. The smell of death—how fitting for this occasion."
There they were: Aizen, Gin, and Tosen, finally free from their cage.
"Let's go," Aizen said. "Gin. Kaname."
With that said they disappeared.
Gin appeared in between Starrk and his opponent, shocking them both. Gin smiled at the other captain. "Long time now see, Kyoraku."
"Ichimaru," Kyoraku said tensely.
Starrk frowned. Why was Gin—
"Shoot to kill–"
Starrk's eyes widened.
"Shinso!"
Gin's blade shot out from behind him, tearing through his cloak to pierce Starrk.
Harribel and her Fraccione all gasped. Way Big's jaw fell in horror, his body becoming still as stone.
Starrk had brought his blade up in time to block the attack. The Primera Espada was shot through the air, too quickly to see if the blade had managed to stab him. Kyoraku stared in shock at Gin attacking one of his allies.
"Starrk?!" Lilynette cried out in fear. Just then Gin appeared in front of her, that grin wide on his face as he raised his blade. All the color drained from Lilynette's face as the horrible truth sank in. Despair filled her and her body lost all feeling.
"Sh—"
WHAM!
Way Big's fist slammed into Gin, sending him crashing through the window of one of the buildings.
"LILYNETTE!" Way Big called to her. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"
Lilynette was frozen in shock, still staring at where Gin had just been standing. He-he'd tried to—
Way Big tried to call to her when he suddenly heard a piercing screech right beside him. Crying out in pain, he turned to see Wonderweiss floating right next to his head, screaming at point-blank range.
Tosen appeared beside him, a disappointed look on his face.
"I'm sorry it's come to this, but it seems our views of justice are just too different. Don't worry, Ben, we shall not kill you. But we can't have you interfere."
"Ben!" Mila Rose called.
All turned when they felt someone else had joined them. Aizen.
Hinamori gasped, her body shaking so badly that her sword rattled in her loosened grip.
"Aizen!" Hitsugaya shouted, sword raised. Matsumoto gathered her cloud of ash.
Just as Harribel was about to speak, her words were cut short when, quick as a flash, Aizen slashed her across her torso, just under breasts. Her eyes widened as blood dripped down her body, followed by the Tres Espada falling backwards.
"LADY HARRIBEL?!" Her Fraccione screamed together, rushing to her aid as she weakly brought a hand to her wound.
"I was hoping you would have at least killed some of the captains before it came to this," Aizen said, that revolting smirk on his face as usual. "But thanks to that distracting yet entertaining show Baraggan and Ben put on, it seems he was able to prevent that. Of course, I never considered that Ben would have a form such as Way Big. To catch me by surprise; I truly must give him more credit."
"Aizen!" Hitsugaya shouted again.
Aizen looked over his shoulder at his former ally. "Remember the little talk Harribel's Fraccione had with Ben while he was in that barrier? Although Ben had said what I was doing was wrong, the girls never said "Can you expect us to betray Lord Aizen?" Surrender to the Soul Reapers, perhaps, but they never mentioned anything about betraying me. Deep down, they were already preparing to side with Ben. Considering Harribel's own hesitation in fighting him, I decided to make the decision easier for her."
Harribel looked up at Aizen as he turned away from her, even as her body felt like it was on fire from her wound.
"A pity the Espada that I spent so much time and effort gathering did not accomplish the purpose I made them for. But perhaps your deaths will prove more beneficial to me," He turned his head and his smirk seemed to grow. "Thank you for your sacrifice."
Rage filled Harribel's body. Lifting her blade, she shot away from her Fraccione and towards her former leader. "Aizen!"
Aizen turned around but it was too late as Harribel's blade pierced through him. Harribel glared at him but Aizen was completely unperturbed despite the fact that he had just been impaled.
"How tedious," he said calmly.
Harribel felt white-hot pain as a blade stabbed through her shoulder. Weakly she turned to see—Aizen?! The one in front of her shattered like glass. Of course: Kyoka Suigetsu. She grit her teeth in pain and fury but Aizen only gave her a look of annoyance.
"That's twice you made me swing my sword at you."
A short gasp was all Harribel could make as Aizen slashed from her shoulder all the way down to her womb. She began to black out from the excruciating pain as Aizen's blade finally left her body and she could feel herself falling.
Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun were petrified in shock and denial. Only as their leader began falling did they reclaim their senses.
"NO!" Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun all screamed, moving to catch Harribel as she started to plummet to the ground below. Aizen just sheathed his sword with a now bored look on his face.
Way Big too had been shocked when he saw Aizen actually attack Harribel, doing nothing to defend himself as Wonderweiss screamed over and over again while Tosen reached for his zanpakuto. But seeing Aizen wound Harribel for the third time, that condescending look on his face as he turned his back on Harribel and her Fraccione without a second thought before smirking at Hitsugaya and company; all the rage and hatred he had for Aizen returned back a hundredfold. He was ready to explode.
"NO MORE," Way Big said, his words somewhat drowned out by Wonderweiss's screaming. "NO MORE!"
Adrenaline surging through his body, Way Big swung his arm back, knocking Wonderweiss and Tosen away from him at top speed before dashing towards Aizen as fast as his legs could carry him. Hitsugaya, Hinamori, and Matsumoto all stared at the incoming alien, prompting Aizen to turn around. Before he could do anything, Way Big grabbed the treacherous Soul Reaper, a look of shock on his face that brought the titanic alien no small amount of satisfaction.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" He wound his arm back and threw Aizen down into the street below.
All the Soul Reapers watched in trepidation at Way Big's suddenattack on Aizen but the hero paid them no mind. The moment he threw Aizen to the ground, he brought back a colossal fist and slammed it down on the despicable mastermind. The ground shook and the area where Way Big struck was already breaking. Way Big poured all of his hatred towards Aizen into his blows.
"THIS IS FOR STARRK!"
WHAM!
"FOR HARRIBEL!"
WHAM!
"FOR LILYNETTE!"
WHAM!
"FOR APACCI!"
WHAM!
"FOR MILA ROSE!"
WHAM!
"FOR SUNG-SUN!"
WHAM!
"FOR ORIHIME!"
WHAM!
"FOR EVERYTHING!"
WHAM!
WHAM!
WHAM!
WHAM!
Way Big then clasped his hands together and with a roar, brought them slamming down on Aizen. All the buildings nearby toppled to ruin, the hero's blows shaking the town greater than any earthquake. The spot he had been punching was now a gigantic crater, smoke obscuring Aizen's no doubt smashed, crushed, and squashed body from view. Way Big rose up, taking deep breaths, and clasping his knees for balance.
The Soul Reapers were still stuck where they were, staring in amazement.
"Lord Aizen!" Tosen cried.
On top of the building where Way Big had thrown him, Gin watched the scene with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Did—" Omaeda stammered. "Did he just—?"
"Defeat Aizen?" Sui-Feng finished for him.
"Incredible," Komamura said, standing before an orange cube-shaped barrier where the wounded lieutenants were all resting.
Kyoraku slumped forward. "Now I'm certainly glad he wanted a ceasefire."
"Not wanting to get on Ben's bad side was a good idea, Captain," Matsumoto said meekly.
"Y-yeah," Histugaya muttered, somewhat in a daze.
Hinamori said nothing as she tried to get a look into the crater. There was still too much dust and smoke to make out anything.
Way Big glared at the crater before turning away. One flash of light and he was back to being regular Ben Tennyson. Quickly he started running down the streets.
"Apacci! Mila Rose! Sung-Sun! Lilynette! Starrk!"
"Ben! Over here! Hurry!"
Ben followed the call, dashing through the streets so fast that his legs were getting sore and he didn't care. As he rounded a corner, he found Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun gathered together in the middle of a street, around an unconscious Harribel. Ben's heart sank at the blood dripping from her body.
"How bad is it?" he asked shakily.
All three girls hung their heads, devastated; all the answer he needed. Quickly Ben activated the Ultimatrix again and slammed the dial. The moment Swampfire appeared, he ran over to Harribel and reached down. Vines sprouted from his body, wrapping themselves around her wounds as best as he was able. Once he was finished, he hit the dial again, turning back into his human form.
"I hope that can help. What about Starrk and Lilynette? Any sign of them?"
"Over here!"
Ben spun around to see Starrk and Lilynette walking towards them. Starrk was clutching a bleeding shoulder while Lilynette had a distant, empty look on her face.
"I managed to prevent Gin's attack from slicing my arm off but it still sent me flying," Starrk said. "He probably would've gone to finish the job if you hadn't…"
Ben went over to Lilynette, her face still in a state of shock. Gently Ben took his jacket off and wrapped it around the Arrancar. Although the look on her face had not changed, her hands slowly reached up to grasp his jacket, her fingers digging into the fabric as if her life depended on it.
"It's gonna be okay, Lilynette," Ben told her, rubbing her back.
"He," Lilynette's voice was cracked and broken, sounding as if it pained her to speak a single word. "He—"
Ben hugged her from the side. "I got him, Lilynette. I got him and he can never hurt any of you ever again."
"So we were nothing to him but tools," Starrk said bitterly.
"I'm sorry, Starrk."
"Don't be," Starrk said, shutting his eyes.
Lilynette shifted her body so that she was pressed up against Ben, who could feel her trembling. Gritting his teeth, Ben felt he should have punched Aizen at least fifty more times.
"We need to find a way to heal Harribel. I've just bandaged her wounds but I really doubt it was enough."
Starrk looked Harribel over and shook his head. "I'm sorry Ben, but with wounds that severe nothing short of a miracle can save her."
"Don't say that!" Apacci yelled, glaring at him alongside Mila Rose and Sung-Sun. "She's not gonna die!"
"That's right, Apacci," Ben said with determination. "A miracle, huh? That means Orihime can heal her. Can we risk moving Harribel to Hueco Mundo?"
"Not a good idea," Starrk said. "Not in her condition."
"Then some of us have to go and bring Orihime here," Ben said.
"There's still all those Soul Reapers trapped there," Starrk reminded him, "No offense to Ulquiorra but I have a feeling that they've claimed Las Noches by now. The remaining Espada are probably as good as dead. Besides, last time I checked that Orihime girl wasn't a fan of ours."
"I'll come along and explain things," Ben offered. "I'm sure I can convince Orihime to heal her. I know it's risky but we have to try!"
Starrk stared at him, the wielder of the Ultimatrix looking back at him pleadingly. Finally Starrk sighed. "Alright."
"I'll help, too."
Everyone turned to the new voice to see–
"Charlotte?!"
Charlotte Chulhourne emerged from around the corner, looking perfectly fine for someone supposedly dead.
"How?!" Mila Rose pointed at him. "We felt your spiritual pressure drop!"
"I probably would've died had I not taken one of the Oasis fruits with me before we left," Charlotte said. "I didn't use it till after the battle because, like my comrades, I underestimated my opponent. It was enough to save my life but I still passed out."
"What?! When did you get one of the fruits?" Apacci demanded.
"Since Lord Baraggan had tasked me with spying on your group's training after our loss at the Oasis."
Everyone glared at Charlotte; Starrk and Mila Rose reached for their swords but Charlotte raised his hands, shaking his head.
"No, I'm not your enemy anymore."
"You're not here to try and avenge Baraggan?"
"Even if I did, not that I stood a chance anyway, it wouldn't matter. The moment I lost to that Soul Reaper, I knew I would no longer be welcome in Lord Baraggan's presence. The only reason he kept us after our fight at the Oasis was because Aizen pressed him to. Besides, I want to help you."
Ben stepped forward. "Why?"
"Because the more I watched your group, the more I saw how genuine the bond you all had for each other was. How sincere you were in wishing to help all of us. I too found myself moved by your beautiful heart, Ben Tennyson."
"Um…" Ben took a step back as Charlotte closed his eyes and put his hands over his own heart dramatically. "Well, thank you for that, Charlotte… but right now we need help getting to Hueco Mundo and finding Orihime. We need her to heal Harribel."
Charlotte nodded. "I understand, Your Majesty. I'll stay behind and watch over Harribel and her Fraccione while you and Starrk go to that Orihime girl."
"Thanks. I've got an idea actually; I'll turn into Echo Echo and some of my copies can go with Starrk while I stay here and help, wait-'Your Majesty'?"
"You defeated Lord Baraggan in combat, something that no one has ever done before, not even Aizen. He simply tricked His Majesty with that sword of his," Charlotte said with a smile. "Speaking of which, you also defeated Aizen himself. By right, that means you are the king of Hueco Mundo now."
"WHAT?!"
Ben recovered first, shaking his head as everyone else gawked at Charlotte. "We'll worry about that later. Harribel is more important. Starrk, are you ready?"
Starrk sighed. "Yeah, I'm ready. Lilynette?" His other half slowly turned her head towards him. "Come on. In case the Soul Reapers do want to start a fight, we need to…"
A sudden pressure filled the air. An all too familiar pressure. Terror seized all their hearts.
Apacci staggered. "No way."
"I-impossible!" stammered Charlotte.
"No," Ben ran down the street and stared at the crater he had made. "No!"
Aizen's body began rising out of the crater. Ben's mouth went dry as he saw that monster's bent and broken body convulse and twist. Creaks, cracks, and pops came from his body as it seemed to be fixing itself!
"High-speed regeneration?!"
"No," Ben jumped to see Starrk standing beside him. "High-speed regeneration wouldn't be enough to heal what you did to him. This… this is something else."
As the pops and cracks died down, Aizen straightened himself up, looking good as new. He looked up at the sky with a look of wonder and elation.
"Amazing," he said in awe. "I honestly believed, for a moment, that I was going to die."
Ben leaned against the side of a wall, the world spinning as Aizen looked down at his hands.
"Had I not taken precautions before leaving—would I have died? Perhaps if Ben had used that beam attack he used on Baraggan, I believe I would have died."
Ben wanted to punch himself so hard. He should have used Way Big's Cosmic Ray. Even if he hadn't known about Aizen's healing trick, he still should've gone all out against this madman. And now—
"Never have I been so close to death. This experience, I cannot describe it as anything less than incredible. Through it, I am closer to achieving even greater potential." Aizen turned his head and smiled directly at Ben's horrified eyes. "Thank you once again, Ben Tennyson. As a sign of my gratitude, allow me to show you something: Hooler wasn't the only one who accompanied Wonderweiss. Perhaps they can accomplish what the Espada failed to do."
"They?"
Everyone's attention was drawn to the behemoth as Hooler shifted its body, the enormous creature looking down at something. Wonderweiss looked at the Garganta with an overjoyed smile, babbling excitedly.
Three figures appeared at the entrance of the Garganta. Ben's legs became weak as he recognized all three of them. "Oh, no."
"Did you really think that the prototype you met was Szayel's only creation?"
A Hollow-like version of Four Arms, just like the one Szayel had unleashed on him earlier. Standing beside him was a hollowfied version of Diamondhead: aside from his white head, lined with cracks, his entire body was pitch black. The third was a version of Swampfire. Instead of the actual Swampfire's dark green body, this Swampfire's body was dark with a decayed, rotting look to him. His mask looked like that of a demented Jack-O-Lantern and the foliage that made the "flames" of his head was a dark blue.
"The arms of Four Arms and Swampfire, the shards of Diamondhead," Aizen chuckled. "That, alongside the data Szayel had gathered as you trained with Harribel's Fraccione, was put to good use. I thank you for that as well, Ben."
The Hollowfied Four Arms, Swampfire, and Diamondhead all glared down at the Soul Reapers, who stared back up at them.
"This can't be happening," Ben muttered.
Aizen chuckled again. "Now then, shall we try this again?"
"Hold it right there!"
"Oh, now what?" Ben turned at the sound of the new voice.
Standing up in the sky was a new group of people. They weren't wearing Soul Reaper uniforms but most of them were armed with a katana. Apparently it was a group of Soul Reapers who preferred regular clothing.
"W-who are they?" Ben asked.
"No idea," Starrk answered.
The speaker was a man with short blonde hair, an orange, long sleeve shirt, black tie and pants, brown shoes, and a newsboy cap upon his head. He gave a toothy grin to Aizen, whose amused smile left his face at the sight of the strangers.
"Long time no see, Aizen."
In another section of the fake Karakura Town, where he had been blasted by Way Big's beam, Baraggan Louisenbarn lay alive but dreaming. Although his powers had enabled him to escape the full brunt of Way Big's attack, he did not make it out unscathed. Parts of his body, including his face, had been destroyed by the boy's beam. His crown was gone, possibly annihilated by the blast. Dreams of Ben Tennyson and Sosuke Aizen danced in Barragan's mind. The two people he hated most in existence were looking down at him, smirking at him, mocking him. Baraggan's body twitched as his dreams filled him with anger. One way or another, he would kill those who dared defy him the most, even if he had to die to achieve it!
To Be Continued
I am seriously kicking myself over how much hype I did in the previous chapter.
I was originally going to have an actual fight between Way Big and Baraggan in this chapter, but as I was trying to write it down: I realized coming up with a believable, drawn out fight between them was a lot harder than I thought.
The original fight was going to have Way Big's sheer size and speed allow him to land hits on Baraggan, who aside from his Respira, might have used some of his video game moves as well. Unfortunately, this constant hit and run type of battle just didn't seem right.
Eventually Baraggan was going to die by Ultimate Way Big but I realized that not only was busting him out a bit too soon, I also felt that Baraggan deserved a much better fight. So I decided that Baraggan will be incapacitated for now so I can give him and Ben that (hopefully) better battle later on.
Also, the reason Way Big's dialogue is in all caps is because Pyromania suggested it and I agreed that, since Way Big is, well–big, all caps would make his presence more prominent.
Also, Way Big's beatdown of Aizen was based off the episode Ken 10 from the original series where Ben 10,000 used Way Big to smack down Kevin 11,000.
What did you guys think of seeing more Hollow-Alien Hybrids? I was gonna include an Echo Echo one. The idea was that one of the Echo Echo bodies from the chapter where Ben met that jackal Vasto Lorde had been picked up by Ulquiorra and given to Szayel. However, I wasn't sure what would actually happen to any intact, dead Echo Echo clones when Ben turned back to normal, so I scrapped the idea.
Btw, anyone know some good names to give these Hollow Hybrids?
I also realized how badly I screwed up. See, this story takes place between Seasons 2 and Season 3 of Ultimate Alien, so episodes like Ben 10,000 Returns have not happened yet. Not only has Ben not fought Eon yet, he doesn't even know Clockwork exists, hence why he's never even been brought up in Ben's monologues.
Of course, you're all probably wondering: 'if this was supposed to take place between Seasons 2 and 3 then how is it that the crossover between Ben 10 and Generator Rex has already happened?'
While the Generator Rex crossover aired during Season 4 of Ultimate Alien; I honestly thought that, since the crossover wasn't tied to any specific episodes and wasn't even mentioned in the show proper, that it could practically take place whenever viewers wanted it to in the Ultimate Alien timeline.
Needless to say, I hadn't put nearly as much thought as I should have when I first began my story. If I had started back then knowing what I do now, I would've done several things differently. As such, I removed any mentions of Generator Rex from my chapters and decided that it hasn't taken place yet. Whether or not I'll do my own version of that crossover, I haven't decided.
Meanwhile, I know a lot of people are hoping to see Ben bust out Alien X against Aizen. As cathartic as that would be, I honestly want to save Alien X for the Thousand Year Blood War. Considering how broken some of the Vandenreich/Wandenreich' powers are, especially Yhwach himself, it feels more fitting for Ben to really bust out the big guns against them. I already have several ideas for how Aizen will be defeated in this version, but I'm gonna be as thorough as possible.
That's all I have for now. See you in the next chapter.
