LOCK PLEASE.

[Dad]

Kiron sighed. "Why would this mere Hollow be able to handle the test? My test?" Kiron touched a finger to Jo's neck. "She is new to her transformation. I doubt it won't kill her," he said calmly.

 

"And it is because you let me down Kiron," he said whispering in the Segunda's ear. "That I may take your life. Luckily for you, Dura has planned other wise." Kiron stood up straight and looked to Jo. "If you're ready young one, I'll give you the examination," he said pointing out the window to Sougyoku Hill.

 

"Make your way there, in 0200 hours. Do not be late," he said firmly. And with that, Kiron vanished.

 

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The voice taunted Zaraki still. "Come now. You are the only one of your kind. I expected better." Zaraki felt like he had been fighting this spirit for hours, and yet, he couldn't scar it. "Quite your hiding and fight me like a man!" he taunted.

 

The voice continued to laugh. "When you admit that you are not the strongest, Shinigami. Then I will aid you." Zaraki gave a devilish smirk. "Tch. I don't need you," he said reaching for his right eye. "But I will draw you out," with a flick of his index finger, the patch was slung behind him, and hell began to break loose literally. "Come on. How would you like me to kill you?"

 

A shadow began to form before Zaraki, emitting the exact same amount of reiatsu as he did. But Zaraki wouldn't be out done. With the force of a thousand moving mountains, he leaked so much reiatsu that the walls around him began to collapse.

 

And as they did, the shadow's true shape began to reveal itself. It was indeed the most frightening thing Zaraki had ever seen. But he wouldn't let his mind be fooled.

 

The walls around him had dispersed, and he and the shadow stood atop an endless platform. Zaraki darted forward and slashed at the Shadow, cutting it in half. Unfortunately, it reassembled itself right behind Zaraki.

[Zexaeon]

Shina, feeling a bit whimsical, had decided to take a seat next to the seated Arrancar. "Of course I'm worried. She was my friend. Weather she's a Hollow or not makes no difference to me."

 

She was startled when the newcomer had announced that he would allow Jo to become an Arrancar. Even more so when he said that the test might kill her.

 

"Well...I see you don't take exceptional care of your subordinates...doesn't it bother you that she might die?" Shina asked, a tinge of attitude in her voice.

[Signosis]

"Why would this mere Hollow be able to handle the test? My test?"

 

Jo looked at him, her eyes squinting into slits to where the orange and scarlet hues glowed abnormally. Then he touched her a finger to her neck, which caused her to go ridged...not out of fear, nor shock....She just did.

 

"If you're ready young one, I'll give you the examination. Make your way there, in 0200 hours. Do not be late."

 

"Yes, sir," She said before he disappeared, then looked to Lucas, heaving a sigh somewhere between relief and strain. "Well, wish me luck."

 

Jo bolted out the window, landing on the ground at a...dead slither towards the hill.

[Zexaeon]

Lucas furrowed his brow in mild concern. He personally wasn't attached to Jo in the least - but Gran seemed to like her, and it was so rare for Gran Bel to make friends. Lucas cared more deeply for Mileya and Gran than he cared for his own life - it would break his heart to see either of them unhappy.

 

So it was for Gran's sake that Lucas walked to Mateo's bedside, patting his sleeping body on the shoulder. "I'll watch over her for you." he informed him, and thus he gave chase after her.

 

As long as she lived, Gran would stay happy. So naturally, Lucas should try and keep her alive.

[Dad]

Kiron was already waiting. From a distance, he could see the Hollow slithering it's way to Sougoyku Hill. "She's quite obedient. She's respectful and cunning. This is perfect. She's just as Dura said. . .perfect bait." At the top of Sougoyku Hill, Kiron held his Zanpaktou to the ground, under the large pillars, engraving strange symbols in them.

 

"Soon, the exam preparations will be complete."

[Signosis]

Jo hummed as she made her way to the hill, thoughts racing through her mind; what was the test going to be like? What would she be like if she did pass it? Would she...live?

 

'Of course you will, idiot!' Jo thought, hitting herself on the forehead. She wasn't aware of the Arranacar tailing her, nor what was in store for her in the road ahead.

[Guest]

Reitsu started to pour into the meditating Espada as he sighed, it seemed like Shina didn't think Jo was strong enough for the test. "She'll pass, she has a sheet load of potential as a Hollow and I want her to do this so she can tap into it faster. Hollows learn a bit faster when they are risking something, at least in the cases I've seen." The darkness in the room started to lighten a bit as reitsu continued to pour into Mateo, seeming as if he was going from a place of blankness to a dream.......

[Dad]

Jo had nearly arrived, and the preparations were complete. From anywhere in Seireitei now, large, death ridden, and chaotic walls could be seen around Sougyoku Hill. Inside, the smell of rotting corpses and terribly bad eggs added to the scene. "Excellent," Kiron said to himself. "Stage one is complete."

 

Eric sat atop the large metallic pillars on Sougoyku Hill, watching from above. "Boy, Lord Kiron sure is doing some damage," he said wiping his nose. "Or is that smell supposed to be there?" Kiron could make what Eric was saying, laughing aloud to himself.

 

"It is supposed to be there my son,," he called to Eric. "If you're going to e a witness to this crucible, then I suggest you be prepared for stray strikes." Kiron pointed to the walls of corruption, which began to vibrate madly, as several evil souls spread forth and ran throughout Soul Society.

 

"Don't let them get too far Eric. They can manifest into something far more dangerous if you do." Eric nodded, watching carefully with his eyes as the spirit corrupted whatever it touched. "Huh. That thing gives me the creeps," he said.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Shina and Mateo spoke quietly in the darkness, but for the two of them, it was not somewhere one wanted to be. A heavy breath swept through them, and a low growl caught their ears. As Mateo meditated, he began to feel hot; extremely hot. His face was saoked with sweat and his body began to shake.

 

A large red claw reached out and snatched Mateo as a whole, and pulled him through the 'floor'. As he crashed down many thousands of feet below, the darkness grew closer to him, and he began to experience a new type of fear.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The shadow cackled at Zaraki's futile attempt to destroy it. "You can't cut me Kenpachi. Without him, you're nothing!" Zaraki laughed. "Ha! Try me!" He swept around and kicked at the shadow, but his foot only phased through it. The shadow cackled again, and picked Zaraki up by the foot, slamming him down to the platform. And without giving him a chance to breathe, the shadow kicked him hard into the air, and drew it's own Zanpaktou.

 

The sound of it's release was muffled by the piercing winds, so Zaraki couldn't make out much, but he did manage to clash with the shadow's Zanpaktou as he fell. "Tch." Zaraki scoffed and kicked the shadow's Zanpaktou, to make sure it was actually there. "Okay then," he siad smiling.

 

Zaraki flipped himself around and the shadow's Zanpaktou as well, striking him with it. But only seemingly, as the shadow laughed again. "Nice try Kenpachi. But ya see, I told ya already, ya can't cut me! Especially not with my own sword! Heeha!" The shadow sliced through Zaraki's chest, opening a large gash, and bashing him to the ground.

 

Zaraki was bleeding heavily, his face to the ground, and he was being stabbed in the back literally now. He began to lose consciousness. He had never been overwhelmed like this before! Even emitting more reiatsu was hurting him.

 

"Grahh!" He screamed into the darkness. "I. . . plead with you," he called to the voice, still bleeding to death. "Lend me your strength, so that I may be. . . ." Zaraki began to pass out, and the voice reached out to him, speaking, "Victorious."

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

As the raging monster on Amago's Zanpaktou approached, Shiro readied himself. "Drain Them! Mokumoku Kitai!" His Zanpaktou shivered and screeched throughout the basement, coiling it's bottom teeth around Shiro's wrist, the others extending and turning inwards. Bracing the dragon, Shiro pushed it backwards and using Shunpo, attempted to strike from behind his 'enemy'. Amago was expecting this, as he swung Ryuu around to parry. "Don't be predictable Shiro! You can do better!"

 

Amago launched Shiro to the back-most wall of the basement, sending him crashing through several tables and large boulders. "Agh. I really felt that one," he said to himself. Just as he was about to search for the enemy, Amago surprised him with a punch to the chest, slamming him again against the back wall. "Get up."

 

Shiro looked up, rage in his eyes, as another shrapnel of the shard fell from his eye. "Three more to go, Shiro."

[Guest]

"What the Fucc......." The Espada was in panic as the giant hand grabbed and dragged him down to what seemed to be Hell. Sweat dropped from Mateo's jagged hair as he started to walk through the inferno surrounding him. "Hello? Who brought me here and why?" Lakes of fire seemed to engulf the plane the young arrancar was in, showing that this wasn't a place of candy and sunshine. A pain shortly pulsed in Mateo's head as he made it closer into the demonic hell hole.........

[Dad]

Dura chuckled as he read Mateo's thoughts. "You don't seem to be too comfortable at home Mateo," he called, hidden in the darkness. "Why don't you pull up a chair? But watch your bottom. I tend to keep the seats 'warm'," he said laughing. Mateo was sat down by force, as the chair scooped him up and pulled him forwards, closer to the hell hole, where Dura began to climb out, covered in spewing magma.

 

"I brought you here for business my son," he said melting the ground around him as he climbed out of the fiery pit. "You may not know it, but you pose a threat to Kiron. Not as an Arrancar, but as a Shinigami."

 

Dura turned to face Mateo, power and madness in his demonic eyes. "But Kiron will not allow it, nor will I. That is why I allowed you to become an Arrancar. Because once you have reached this state, you can never revert. For you see, Kiron will dispose of you soon, just as he attempted to do when you were a boy. Just as he dragged your family to me, he will drag your dead body to me soon as well."

[Guest]

"So I'm just a peon like I figured? Then maybe you can tell me about the purple reitsu I saw when I was fighting Alexander." The pain in the Arrancar's head started to throb in more pain then before, it maybe have been because of Dura's might or whatever that damn purple reitsu is. Mateo sighed, he knew that he was going to die from either Kiron or Alexander some day soon anyways but at least he set up a better chance for Jo. However before the Espada could ask another word of Dura the pain in his head became as if someone was stabbing a million holes through it, along with the gathering of the purple reitsu around his body.

[Dad]

"Why?" Dura said circling him. "You should already gather this power of yours. It is symbol of the shard of power. But you lost it at birth, when Kiron robbed it of you and crushed it. Or perhaps you'd like to believe something else? Either way, your strength is only gathering, and your transformation as an Arrancar is not complete, thus drawing out the remaining energy of the shard of power, and beginning your transformation once more."

 

Dura was amused. Mateo seemed to think that his death would be the last sign of his existence. Little did he know. . . .

[Guest]

Blood started to pour out of the Arrancar's head as the reitsu started to pour into his body at a faster rate, as if it was trying to kill him. "You realize I didn't plan on rebeling against Kiron..." Mateo grabbed his head with both hands because of the massive pain he was receiving, "We want the same thing to happen, the same goal, the death of the Shinigami!" But before he could ask again about why Dura cared so much the Espada's body started to pulse, something was happening and fast............

[Dad]

"You didn't have a choice Mateo! If it be my will, you were to rebel! Regardless, you no longer pose a threat to Kiron, And only in death will you gather your true power." Dura placed his palms around Mateo, and shoved him back above ground, sitting him against the darkness, in the the Sick Bay. "Awake now Mateo, and care for your friend's life. She will begin the trials momentarily.

 

Go now." Dura cackled as he faded back to hell, and the blackness around Mateo began to fade.

[Guest]

"But wait theres more I want to ask yo..... GRAHHHHHHH!" The pain seemed to rip Mateo apart as Dura sent him back into the Sick Bay. The Espada quickly sat up, eyes opening wide, to notice that his wounds were healed and that his reitsu had fully returned to him. //So I'm going to die either way..... does that mean my life is pointless?// Standing up out of the bed Mateo started to walk out of the Sick Bay, questioning the value of his existance and how long he had left. When he left the sick bay he quickly Sonido'd to where the trial was going to begin, bowing in front of Kiron. "King Kiron..... can I speak to you before you start the trials really fast?"

[Signosis]

Jo arrived, slightly out of breath, slowly creeping to her new King. There, next to him, was her Master.

 

"Waait! Didn't you...just...wha?" Jo stuttered, pointing back to where the Sick Bay was and then back at him, looking at him in utter disbelief. He was healed, fully healed, when he said that it'd take a few days, and his reitsu was at full. She stared at him in wonderment, her head turning to the side. "Nyaaah, I'm so confuuuused."

 

Then...the smell hit her nose, more like her forked tongue.

 

"GRAH! What the...what's that horrible smell?!" Jo whined, covering her mouth; but...what she felt under her instinct to gag...was hunger. She was hungry, and then she realized that she hadn't eaten in...who knows how long.

[Dad]

Kiron turned to face Mateo slowly. "What is it Mateo? Speak up, because your Hollow friend's trials begin soon." He toyed with the grooves on the chaotic walls and began to slowly close them. Jo had already arrived, and the smell of the walls crushed her senses.

 

"Ah, Jo, you're just in time," Kiron said greeting her. "That smell is that of the angry dead, who have suffered under Dura's rain for thousands of years. I have conjured them here as a part of your first trial." He chuckled as the walls sealed the three inside. "Now that you're here Mateo, you are to remain here. You'll be the witness." Kiron raised a hand, and above the three, the opening was sealed.

 

"Your first trial Jo, is the endurance trial. Unlike my father's '100 Hollow Barrage', you will endure true opponents. For 15 minutes, the souls of the damned will challenge you, both physically and mentally. It will begin slow, but I assure you, it will gain in intensity." Kiron tore open a portal behind him, stepping through, and sealing Mateo and Jo inside.

 

"Mateo. If you assist Jo in anyway, she will fail, and you will both be punished gravely." He nodded and closed the portal. "You may begin."

[Guest]

"Like he said I can't help you, I can only observe Jo." Mateo sighed, he wasn't able to ask Kiron if he had planned to kill the Espada but for now he had to focus on Jo's trials, if she succeeded she could become his Fraccion but at the same time Duras words kept ringing through his head.

 

"Kiron will dispose of you soon, just as he attempted to do when you were a boy...."

 

//If Dura is correct I should at least prepare Jo for when I die....//

[Signosis]

"Your first trial Jo, is the endurance trial. Unlike my father's '100 Hollow Barrage', you will endure true opponents. For 15 minutes, the souls of the damned will challenge you, both physically and mentally. It will begin slow, but I assure you, it will gain in intensity."

 

She nodded, her arms folded as the portal overtook her and her Master.

 

"Like he said I can't help you, I can only observe Jo."

 

"I understand," Jo said, grinning at him. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

 

Jo walked away from Mateo, looking around expectingly, awaiting their attacks.

She hated this, this fog that was around her head due to the smell.

[Dad]

Three of the evil souls broke themselves free from the wall, howling and hissing at Jo. "Perish. . .Hollow woman!" they cried, hurdling forwards and wrapping their oozing bodies around her. One of the three began to claw at the trapped Jo, attempting to rip her apart with their immense strength.

 

"Hmm. I'm surprised that they haven't begun forming their bodies yet," Kiron said watching.

[Signosis]

"Perish. . .Hollow woman!"

 

At the moment she glared at the oozing souls, they over took her. She didn't cry out, she didn't laugh...she kept her mouth closed, eyes closed.

 

There was always a solution out of something.

 

One of them decided to claw at her, and she hissed.

 

"Melt their ice, Obiki Kokutan!" Jo said, and her right arm was engulfed in blue flames, even though she didn't have her sword out. She grinned devilishly, swiping at the souls.

[Dad]

The souls hissed away at the sudden Shikai, backing away and regrouping. One at a time they began to mainfest, into those Jo once knew and loved. Waving his Zanpaktou freely, the first soul manifested into Kurosaki Ichigo.

 

"Jo. I hope you don't mean to hurt me. I wouldn't like that very much!" he said hurling a wave of energy towards her. The typical Getsuga Tenshou, was not typical at all. It's fiery presence ripped through the ground, and it's colors were purple and white.

[Signosis]

Jo grinned, unsheathing her large black sword. The grin faltered, though, she she saw Ichigo.

 

"Jo. I hope you don't mean to hurt me. I wouldn't like that very much!"

 

Jo hissed at him, moving out of the way of the wave of energy.

 

"Hell yeah I'm gonna hurt you! Ichigo wouldn't try to kill me, and he'd like a fight from me. Idiot!" Jo said, charging at him with her sword raised. She slashed down at him, hoping that that will be the end of that one....

[Zexaeon]

Shina was alone again. Before she could respond to what Mateo had said, she had felt an awful, terrible presence. And then Mateo had been gone. Impulsively, for reasons she couldn't understand, she reached her hand out at the arrancar, watching as he was dragged below.

 

This wasn't good. He was her enemy, but it still didn't feel right. She was alone in the sick bay, only the Arrancar's body next to her, still asleep.

 

"Can't believe I'm doing this..." she muttered. And she began to heal. Her kidou coursed through her astral self, xharging into the body beneath, healing the flesh wounds to normalcy, and even donating a generous portion of her Reiatsu to him.

 

"I don't get it... why am I trying to help him?"

 

It seemed to work, though, as he had woken up just moments later in a sweat, apparently fully revitalized. Shina wondered if he would even spare her a thought as he used his newfound health to race off after Jo.

 

And now she was alone, again. "Why am I even here?" she asked no one.

[Guest]

While all the high octane action was happening on the other side of the seireitei, Takashi woke up from his long nap in the Squad Two building. As the young soul got to his feet he had noticed that his chain that was connected to his chest had gotten smaller but at the same time he felt somehow stronger. "So I wonder how long I was out?" Takashi slowly found his way out of the Squad Two building and made his way to what seemed to be the Sick Bay. "Hello? Can anyone help me?"