The Hollow Queen

The Privaron Espada

The long hallways of Las Noches are thick with ice on every surface, the ambient spirit particles that normally would be in the air had been frozen. However, it has proven to be a bit of an advantage when it comes to speed. While Renji, Grimmjow and Byakuya choose to float over ice on the floor, Ichigo and his friends glide across the ice as if they were wearing skates. Using reishi control to force their spiritual pressure underneath their feet into the form of Ice skates. Orihime keeps close pace with Ichigo and Uryu, the spirits of her powers continuously healing Nel as they slide against the ice. Behind them, Pesche figures out how to do the same technique with his spirit energy, but Dondachaka slides against the ice on his belly. "The interior of the walls are basically a maze. Aizen thought this place might get discovered while he was a part of the Gotei 13. It's meant to slow down anyone who gets inside here so that the other arrancar can take care of them." Grimmjow explains. "Before Aizen completed his Hogyoku and helped evolve the current espada and myself, there was another set of Espada that are now wearing the triple digit numbers. They were created with his half of the Hogyoku, while they're weaker than the espada, they're stronger than the other arrancar as well as most of the fracciones. They're called the Privaron Espada."

"Anything else we should know before the fighting starts?" Renji asks, his hand resting on his sword's handle as they sprint down the hall.

"Yeah, I haven't been inside the outer wall like this," Grimmjow says as the group runs into a large room with ten identical corridors on all sides of the room. "Well this is just perfect."

"We're going to have to split up," Uryu says, rather obviously.

"If we're going to split up, we're going to do this wisely." Byakuya adds, "Ichigo is the most important person in this group when it comes to defeating Aizen. I believe Orihime Inoue should go with him."

"I can regenerate with my hollow powers, but it saps my spirit energy reserves so if we have issues her healing will be really useful." Ichigo responds, Orihime walks towards him as the two head towards one of the hallways directly in front of the one they just exited from.

"I will be fine on my own. Lieutenant Abarai and Grimmjow should go together with Yasutora and Ishida going with each other as well. What were your names again? Dondachaka and Pesche?" Byakuya asks, prompting the two hollows to nod. "I recommend going with Yasutora and Uryu."

"We're former arrancar, just as skilled and just as powerful as any of the others. You'll be in good hands with us." Pesche declares confidently, though Uryu just deadpans at them.

"Alright, then it's settled. Stay safe and meet us in the desert outside the fortress in three hours if we can't find you." Ichigo says as he turns to begin his journey down the separate hallway.

"Don't start with that crap. We're warriors and it's insulting to care for a warrior's safety on the way to battle." Renji says, "I get that you're my friend and all and that you care for each of us, but when you speak like that it makes it seem like you don't have faith in our abilities. So instead, there's something I'd like to do before we split up. It's an old tradition that the Gotei 13 used to do before large battles." Renji says as he extends a hand outwards. "Join hands, and if I can do it then you can too Strawberry."

"Yeah yeah whatever." Ichigo groans, complying with Renji's request. Each of them places their hands in the center of a small circle, except for Grimmjow. "Sooner you put your hand here the sooner you go fight shit Grimmjow." Ichigo says, causing the former espada to groan and comply.

"As we approach the battlegrounds, believe that our blades will not shatter, have faith that our resolve will not weaken, though our paths are splitting apart, know that even if the world is ripped asunder know that we will return here alive." The moment Renji finishes speaking, each of them throws their hands down breaking the circle before turning and running down their respective hallways to the battle to come.