Chapter Four: Aureniero Ascendant

Tendrils rose around Ulquiorra, as eyes appeared on the walls. There were also gaping, sharp-toothed maws that opened up. Ulquiorra wondered as to their purpose as he walked on, hand on sword. "Aureniero, you are far more advanced than the last time we clashed."

"We have chosen our moment well," said Aureniero, voice shifting and changing pitch. "The hollows needed us, and we grew strong. Now they need Orihime, and she has ordered me kept alive. We will live on until we are strong enough to assimilate all."

"A meaningless effort," said Ulquiorra. "Assimilation on such a scale will merely make you a target to all other races."

"Those two shall be brought into the fold," said Aureniero. "But, it shall start with you!"

Then the tendrils struck. Ulquiorra cleaved them in half, moving away from their attacks. Turning around, he sent balas to tear through several. Even as he did, however, the mouths began to spit balas of their own at him, and he was forced to duck and weave. A tentacle grabbed his ankle, holding him in place as others came at him.

Thinking quickly, Ulquiorra surged energy into the limb, then cut it off and leaped back. As he did, the leg exploded and destroyed many of the tentacles. More came at him as he fell to one knee, fighting to stay unimpeded as his leg regrew.

Finally, it was done, and he sprinted down the hall, leaping over a tentacle with a claw at the edge and cutting it off. As it landed on the flesh, it was devoured by mouths. Several times Ulquiorra nearly put a leg into one of the maws.

This was... problematic.

Rushing into an open area, he found every door shut. Blasting it with a bala, then a cero, he found nothing could breakthrough. The tentacles came at him from all directions. No matter how many balas he fired now, he could not keep them back indefinitely.

Then two grabbed his arm from behind. Before he could hack them off, his other was grabbed. More tentacles came forward with acid dripping maws on them.

"You will not be able to gain any further aid from other areas of this facility," said Aureniero. "I have established my limbs across all of it, and even now, I am growing in power."

"Warning: Core temperatures rising," said Nemu's voice. "Core temperatures returned to normal."

Ulquiorra ripped his own arms off, rolled away, and focused on swift regeneration. Ulquiorra raised a leg and fired a cero, turning it to reduce large numbers of tentacles to ashes. It bought him time to regrow his arms and snatch up his sword.

"You will not escape us, Ulquiorra," said Aureniero. "The human's technology gives us power beyond measure. No matter how many tendrils you can destroy, we will regrow."

And then, suddenly, Aureniero shrieked. The flesh on the walls began to shudder as some of it burned away. Thousands of voices began to scream around Ulquiorra as the door slid open, and some of the lights went back on.

"In through the door, quickly, you simpleton." snarled Kuroschutchi's voice.

Ulquiorra obeyed quickly and came into a large, circular room. Ahead of him was a console with a computer screen. On it appeared Mayuri Kuroschutchi, though his face looked like a mask. He was sitting in a chair as the door shut behind him. "Well, it would seem you need us after all," said Kuroschutchi. "I confess, it was a troublesome affair getting those emergency measures in place. Right now, the Aureniero specimen is being eaten alive by nanites. I kept them dormant in the walls for just such an eventuality."

"Master Mayuri, my analysis of Aureniero's systems is complete," said Nemu's voice. "It seems that we have only temporarily regained control of the complex. He will soon adapt to the nanites."

"Of course he will, you stupid girl!" said Mayuri. "If they had been capable of eradicating him immediately, I should have chosen them at once.

"Men of science must pick their moment well.

"Now then, the barbarian." He turned back to Ulquiorra.

"How is Aureniero gaining such strength?" asked Ulquiorra simply.

"Aureniero is a fascinating species of parasite," said Mayuri Kuroschutchi. "The things I have learned from observing him in action are truly breathtaking. One of his qualities is the ability to convert the energy of all kinds into his own.

"When Specimen Inoue released the specimens, she made a calculated risk. She put Aureniero's larval form into the reactor, into the foundry. She then utilized her unique ability to bond him to it. From there, she set the foundry to overload. Thus he is able to draw on immense amounts of power.

"Of course, I had already devised a facility wise failsafe. It was designed to purge this facility of the Aureniero parasite in such a situation. I can activate it at any time. At the moment, Aureniero is the only thing keeping the facility from a total overload. If an overload occurs, it will result in the destruction of everyone within this place.

"As such, the Inoue specimen has prevented me from responding.

"Restore the coolant systems to normal power, and the threat will be ended. Then I can initiate my systems. Nemu, grant him the rank."

Nemu's image appeared. "You are now designated a Sergeant in the Facility Security Forces.

"You should be aware that time is of the essence. My systems indicate that Aureniero may adapt his cells to resist the nanites. And once he has defeated them, he will likely undertake a search for other such systems."

"Yes, yes," said Kuroschutchi, as a door opened behind him. "Move quickly, barbarian. We've wasted enough scientific specimens on you already-"

Ulquiorra blasted the screen.

"...Destruction of Squad resources is not necessary," said Nemu automatically.

"Are you?" asked Ulquiorra as he walked out.

On he walked through the halls, hands in his pockets. Yet, oddly enough, Ulquiorra saw little action from the tendrils. He saw signs of life returning to them, but none arose to oppose him in the bleak, bloodstained hall. Tuning with his hearing, he heard the sounds of battle many doors away and getting closer. He could sense Aureniero's energies focused there.

"I see," said Ulquiorra. "Although Aureniero can act virtually anywhere, his consciousness must remain focused. As such, he may not be aware I've left."

"All of you move in, Lord Barragan wants his prize. And we're going to get it for him." said a young voice through the door.

Ulquiorra opened the door and walked through, hearing a big voice speak next. "What's the hurry?"

"You know the hurry, Poww!" said the voice. "That bitch, Circucci, and will be moving in soon! We've got to get there first..."

Ulquiorra was walking over a walkway, and the air was bitterly hot here. Far below, he could see unending tides of molten mettle. Some of it was pouring out of holes in the wall, while platforms rose out of it. His memories reminded him of the purpose of this room. It was to process more traditional materials for the colony.

Working here was considered nearly a death sentence. In the shielded area beyond the doors, one worked in a safe environment. But that was reserved for officers from the Thirteen Security Squads. Everyone else endured endless heat, long hours, and constant risk. Several instances where someone tripped and fell into the metal came to mind. Others, where when working the factory elements, someone was caught in the gears and died.

There was always a steady stream of new 'recruits.' And disposing of them permanently was regarded as a service.

Ulquiorra found that moderately contemptible, actually. It seemed humanity was rubbing off on him.

And then Ulquiorra came within sight of the speaker. He was a thin, black-haired man wearing a helm like a tiger on his head. With him was a massive whale of a man with green markings. And then there was the dark-skinned, girly haired man behind them. And the blonde one, long hair.

Ulquiorra had not killed these ones.

They must have been from one of the cycles that he did not participate in.

"Ggio, we have a problem." said a huge blonde man, wearing a helmet with elephant tusks.

"I noticed, Nirgge," said Ggio, taking a stance.

"...Ulquiorra." said one with long blonde hair one thoughtfully.

"Step aside," said Ulquiorra. "I have neither the time nor the patience to contend with you at the moment."

To his surprise, the blonde one drew his sword and motioned. "Exactly!

"And we, likewise, have our own pressing purpose. One wonders what the right answer is, then."

"Findor, do you have to-" began Ggio.

"What is your meaning?" asked Ulquiorra, curious.

"Life is about getting the right answers at the right time," said Findor. "We want to get his majesty, Barragan his prize. So the question is, what do you want?"

"To deactivate the generator," said Ulquiorra, wondering where he was going with this.

"Exactly!" said Findor. "You seek that because you desire to stay alive! Just as you kill all those around to neutralize them as a threat?

"But why do you have that?"

This was an interesting exercise in thought, wasn't it? "To prevent my own cessation of existence."

"Exactly!" said Findor. "But is existence an end in itself? Even if you kill every one of us, sooner or later, the stars will go out, and you'll die. Your goal is impossible to attain. And even if it was possible, what benefit would it gain you?

"How would you pass meaningless ages when all other beings have been destroyed? You pursue the extermination of all creatures, not as a goal, but as a hobby.

"Wipe us all out, and you'll have no further purpose. And your goal shall fail nonetheless."

"Perhaps." mused Ulquiorra, seeing the logic. Perhaps he should seek more information. "Why does Barragan desire Orihime Inoue?"

"Exactly! Orihime is our prize!" said Findor. "His majesty desires her as a consort. The God, Barragan Luisenbarn, has total dominion over all of time and space. There is nothing that he cannot destroy. All the universe may age to nothingness, and he shall remain.

"And yet the power of creation is beyond his reach.

"Yet the girl possesses a power similar to his own. She may reject things as they are and make them as she desires."

"Indeed, and she has an inner beauty to her that far surpasses her already gorgeous outer layer!" said the tan-skinned one. "Truly a worthy consort for his majesty!"

"Drop it, Charlotte," said Ggio.

"In her, Lord Barragan has, at last, found his other." said the elephant tusked man. "Using her power, he may at last break the only boundaries that remain in the face of his infinite power."

"Nirgge is right. You should join us, Ulquiorra," said Findor. "Even you will never be able to defeat Barragan. But with your power, Barragan would surely triumph with even greater ease. And we would stand as immortal gods over infinite universes! You would be among his greatest subordinates! None would be above you save Barragan himself."

Ulquiorra blinked. "But, presumably, I might also harness the woman's powers to achieve the same goal for myself."

Findor suddenly looked a bit less confident. "...Exactly."

"I find the idea of eternity with the woman preferable to eternity you," admitted Ulquiorra. Then he drew his sword. "Once I have eradicated all of you, I will investigate her powers for herself."

Instantly they drew their weapons and took stances. The air flared with power, sending a wave of heat toward Ulquiorra. It washed over him as he took a stance of his end, keeping his power control and contained.

"...Wrong answer," said Ggio, smiling. "Sic em!"

They sprang to action.

Ggio and Findor surged forward. Ulquiorra found himself parrying a flurry of blades. As he did, Charlotte and Nirgge came and fired ceros. Ggio and Findor ducked aside as Ulquiorra leaped upward. But Poww was above him and brought down a double-handed fist. Ulquiorra twisted aside from the blow and kicked him in the face. Behind, Ggio and Findor came at him again. Parrying their thrusts, he summoned his power. Spinning backward over the molten mettle, he descended like a bat.

Seeing a lower platform, he directed his fall. Landing there, he turned to see them assembling for a massive cero. Raising his own one, he fired a strong cero against their combined power. The two met in midair, exploding above them and rending the air. The whole foundry shook, as Nirgge and Power descended toward Ulquiorra out of the smoke.

He narrowly avoided their fists before springing off a railing and surging into the air. His sword came down to cleave a skull and then-

Blades in the shape of feathers shot toward him from above, and he abandoned the attack. Even as he landed, Findor, Charlotte, and Ggio surged at him from three directions. Spinning, he turned aside their blades and brought around a leg to kick away Charlotte. Springing off him, Ulquiorra sent forth a hand to stab at Findor, nicking him along the cheek as he dodged.

As he did, he brought up a finger to point as Ggio, firing a bala that his enemy caught on crossed arms. The explosion sent him flying away. Even as Ulquiorra pursued; however, a new enemy appeared, with wings of iron.

Hurling another barrage of the feather wings, Ulquiorra was forced to halt and parry them. His hands moved in a flurry, parrying a neverending tide. With each feather Murcielago knocked away, it was impaled into the metal below. Already he could see the molten flames below.

"Nice work, Abirame!" said Ggio as he and the others raised their hands. "Blast him!"

A combined cero was charging. Ulquiorra could parry the arrows and be obliterated, or block the cero and be impaled. His regeneration might save him, but he would be easy prey in such a state.

The solution presented itself.

Taking one hand off Murcielago, he lowered a hand and fired a bala into the floor while blocking. The distraction caused a feather to impale his shoulder, but the floor gave out as the cero descended. Falling from the air, Ulquiorra looked up as the floor he'd been standing on was blasted apart above him.

"We got him!" said Ggio as Ulquiorra fell. "We killed Ulquiorra!"

"Exactly!" said Findor. "Lord Barragan shall reward us for this!"

Grasping ahold of one of the supports, Ulquiorra pulled himself to a halt. He could feel his flesh burning, even as he sliced through the beam. Kicking off it, he sliced through one support beam after another. The entire platform groaned as it began to break.

"What the hell!" said Ggio.

Even as he spoke, Ulquiorra shot over to the far side of the falling platform and gripped it. Summoning his full power, he poured it all into strength. Despite himself, he found his body straining, his mouth letting out a roar of effort. With all his might, he tore the platform up and turned it around. The fraccion looked up in horror for a moment before falling toward the molten mettle below.

Some managed to right themselves in the air, and then the platform crushed them down. A ripple of flaming mettled splashed over the lower regions.

Victory was his. But, it had nearly killed him. If he met these in the next cycle, he might go straight to his second form.

Ulquiorra managed to make his way to a walkway and stumbled gradually up it. As he did, he felt their energies flowing into him. Looking at his burned hands, he realized he had been trembling. Although he was restored to health, he'd very nearly burned himself out against them.

Obviously, the Hollows had advanced a great deal during the cycles.

Ulquiorra would have to be cautious.

"My thanks for destroying those nuisances, Ulquiorra," said Aureniero. "We await you in the reactor room. We'll settle things there."

Ulquiorra ignored him.

Author's Note:

So, some of you may have noticed that Ggio and pals did a lot better than Yammy here. Why? Because Ggio and pals didn't overstay their welcome. They were a quirky miniboss squad that provided a challenge for the heroes and did their job. And they had enough personality that I could see them being used for more.

In contrast, Yammy is an utterly generic brute who's only unique selling point is his pseudo friendship with Ulquiorra. If Tite Kubo had done his job, Yammy would have had a rematch with Chad and been killed by him. Thus giving Chad's arc some actual payoff by having him kill one of the Espada.

Then have Nnoitora beat Chad when he is completely exhausted from killing Yammy. This both keeps Chad's credibility as a fighter, establishes Nnoitora as a combat pragmatist. And it also saves HOURS worth of filler which could be used to give, say, Aizen a proper final fight.

Where was I?

Oh right. Ggio and pals have enough personality that I wish they'd been used for more before being killed off. Yammy was a character I was sick of after his first fight. So the former were allowed to provide important exposition and push Ulquiorra to his limit. And the latter was one-shotted.