Two Furies Chapter 8

El Dia. Somewhere in the jungle. 747 years after Aizen Incident.

Xenethis had been running through the jungle after the Vizard for over an hour. Ranma Kurogami told him that the first stage of his training was to adapt to El Dia’s spirit pressure, and he would have to do so faster than the other Espada. To do that, the Vizard charged Xenethis with catching him while running through the jungle.

The rules were simple. Xenethis was allowed to use any means to catch Ranma save for Sonido. Ranma would not fight back nor would he use any technique to avoid capture. This was his seventh day chasing after him, and he was nowhere closer to catch him than the first.

Barely a minute ago he had crashed into two of the Espada while in pursuit of the Vizard. But he had no time to concern himself with their well being. His prey was getting away.

His muscles were screaming as his body fought against El Dia’s spirit pressure.  The upper half of his uniform hung from his waist so that the rush of the air around him would cool his sweat drenched body. He endured as the desire to become stronger pushed him forward.

The Vizard ran from Xenethis on all fours like an animal as he traversed the jungle. One would think that doing so would slow him down, but he moved through the trees and undergrowth with speed enough to evade Xenethis.

Xenethis drew closer to Ranma. It was the closest he had ever come to catching the Vizard. He drew his Zanpakuto from its sheathe in order to swipe at him. With it, he would be able to end the chase. But as he was nearly a foot away from the Ranma something caught his ankle and pulled him into the air. As he ascended, he lost his grip on his Zanpakuto and watched it fall to the ground.

Xenethis now found himself hanging upside-down from a snare twenty feet in the air. He tried to fire a Cero to destroy the vine holding him, but he was unable to raise his arms to do so. His body had become completely numb not long after his sudden elevation up into the trees. He closed his as he slowly began to pass out.

“That is the thing about El Dia’s spirit pressure,” an elderly voice said. Xenethis awoke to find a large set of yellow glowing eyes staring at him. They belonged to a Hollow who was hanging upside-down from a branch in front of him with its talons dug deep into the wood. “The higher you go, the greater it becomes.”

“Who are you?” Xenethis asked weakly. The Hollow’s appearance was much like an owl’s with its large eyes and flat mask which possess a short beak and a well defined brow. The Hollow itself was short at least a third Xenethis’ height. It also appeared to have something strapped to its back.

“I am Aldarius,” the Hollow said. “And you must be the Guardian’s guest.” The Hollow reached back and grabbed a black metal staff from his back with feather-like fingers. The staff was slightly shorter than the Hollow, and was topped with a red orb that glimmered in the moonlight. He reached out with it and ran the orb end across Xenethis’ mask.

“I’ve never seen an Arrancar before,” Aldarius said. He pushed against Xenethis’ face with his staff as the Hollow closely examined him. “The Guardian describes your kind as being Hollows who have shattered their masks and gaining the powers of a Soul Reaper. But your mask is…” He stopped when his staff reached Xenethis’ chest. Aldarius was quiet for a moment as he saw no hole was present. “I see,” he said. “So that’s what happened.”

The Hollow’s comment confused Xenethis. Aldarius spoke as if knew something about him that he was oblivious to him. “What do you mean?” Xenethis asked.

Aldarius shook his head. “I take it you’ll be wanting down from here,” he said. He aimed his staff at the vine holding Xenethis, and a small beam fired from the orb and severed the vine. Xenethis began to fall. He hit several branches before hitting the ground. Aldarius unhooked his talons and descended after him. He spread out his winged arms and landed on a tree stump.

“You need to be careful in these parts,” Aldarius said using his staff as a walking stick as he hopped over to Xenethis. “The Inferno Tribe set many traps in this area to catch wild Hollows. You’re lucky that I’ve been watching you.”

Xenethis began to feel the sensation in his limbs return. He slowly stood up and looked around for his Zanpakuto. Upon finding it, he returned it to his sheathe. “Why have you been watching me?” he asked the Hollow.

Aldarius chuckled. “Why would anyone watch over something they know nothing about?” he said. “Curiosity. I am curious about you and why the Guardian chose to train you. At the moment I have made one important observation so far.” He pointed his staff at Xenethis. “You have no knowledge whatsoever of your potential.”

A rustling nearby turned their focus to a bush to their right. Xenethis quickly grabbed for his Zanpakuto ready for what emerged. The Hollow stood still staring at the bush as a masked figure stepped forward. It was the Vizard.

Ranma Kurogami’s eyes glowed red as he looked at Xenethis with frustration to why he had to come back to find him. It was then that he noticed the small owl-like Hollow standing next to him. “Wise One,” he said with a raspy voice. “It’s not often I see you on the surface.”

Aldarius gave a slight bow of his head. “My Lord Guardian,” he said. “I thought I’d come to see the Arrancar that you spoke so highly of to the rest of us.” He hopped over Ranma and looked up at him with his large eyes. He raised his hand and waved for Ramna to come closer.

In response to Aldarius’ request, Ranma knelt down to the Hollow and brought his head close to hear what he had to say. He whispered to him words that made the Vizard chuckle. He stood back up looking down at the small Hollow. “I appreciate you helping Xenethis Wise One,” Ranma said. “But we must proceed.”

“Very well Lord Guardian,” Aldarius replied. “Then I shall leave you to it.” With a bow farewell, he placed his staff on his back and spread his winged arms wide. Aldarius hopped into the air and flew away leaving both Xenethis and Ranma alone.

Ranma walked toward Xenethis. He reached out and placed his hand on his shoulder. “I thought I lost you brother,” he said.

Xenethis was still very uncomfortable with the Vizard referring to him as brother. Nevertheless, he appreciated his concern.  “You might have if it wasn’t for that Hollow,” he said. “The two of you seemed to know each other very well.”

“Of course,” Ranma said. “He is one of five chieftains of El Dia. Aldarius the Mind Breaker he’s called, and he’s taken an interest in you.” He patted Xenethis’ shoulder. “Break’s over,” Ranma said as he began to walk away. “The day has only just begun.”

“Wait,” Xenethis said. The Vizard stopped walking and waited. “What was it that he whispered to you that was so funny?”

Ranma started to laugh but quickly calmed himself. He turned around to look at Xenethis. “Aldarius said that you reminded him of me when I started training here.”  A moment of silence passed between them. “Come on!” Ranma yelled suddenly as he ran away. He turned back to see Xenethis chasing after him again. Ranma was smiling beneath his mask.