11 Chapter 11. Ulquiorra Cifer

After the cylinder of his head was destroyed, the two heads of Aaroniero was yelling, and soon the silence enveloped him.

Even though Rukia won, she accumulated too much injury and was at the door of death. Her facial expression was sour as remembering her friend Orihime who was being prisoned here. Soon her eyes closed without her noticing, collapsing on the ground unconscious.

***

Ichigo who defeated his enemy was on his way to rescue Orihime accompanied by Nel.

Suddenly before them, a certain pale man appeared. The Arrancar was fairly short compared to the Arrancars from earlier. He was slender yet muscular. He had short, messy black hair, a black upper lip, green eyes with small slit-shaped pupils, and teal lines descended from the lower part of his eyes. The remains of Hollow consists of a Hollow hole located around his throat and a broken horned helmet like bones located on his top left side of his head. He was the Espada number 4, Ulquiorra Cifer.

Upon meeting, Ulquiorra taunted Ichigo by telling him Rukia was dead after sustaining wounds from her fight.

Ichigo who didn't believe him began to leave.

Ulquiorra asked if it was the right choice to leave without killing him which Ichigo stated he had no reason to kill him nor fight him as well as Ichigo stated though he may be the enemy, he has yet to harm any of his friends.

Ulquiorra asked if Ichigo would change his mind if he told him he is the one who kidnapped Orihime Inoue and brought her to Hueco Mundo.

Upon realizing that his belief that Orihime did not go to Hueco Mundo of her own free will was correct, Ichigo attacked and was blocked by Ulquiorra, who found it strange that her friends would come to save her even if they had doubts about her loyalty.

Ichiro scolded Ulquiorra for causing Orihime to be branded as a traitor, Ichigo, stated they should go all out because he had no time to deal with him and activated his Bankai.

After that Ichigo released a huge Getsuga Tensho.

Initially unimpressed, Ulquiorra was shocked by the sight of Ichigo wearing a Hollow mask. When Ichigo fired an enhanced Getsuga Tensho at him, Ulquiorra blocked the attack with his forearm. The attack pushed him back, sent him flying through several pillars.

On the other hand, Ichigo gathered spiritual energy to launch an attack of his own, fired another Getsuga Tensho at him, and claimed the fight is now over.

Pushed back a considerable distance by the force of the blast, Ulquiorra, who attempted to stop the blast with his bare hands was enveloped by it.

Assuming he had won, Ichigo moved to leave with Nel, found out Ulquiorra was not only alive but was barely scratched by the attack.

Ulquiorra asked him if that was all of his power. As Ichigo did not respond, Ulquiorra realized that he was right.

Ulquiorra then fired a Cero at Ichigo sending him flying through a huge hole, which the Cero had created, in the wall and out to the desert.

As Ichigo, got up run to see if Nel was okay Ulquiorra appeared right beside him then kicked him sending him flying a considerable distance, into a large pillar.

Once again Ulquiorra appeared before him, Ulquiorra asked Ichigo to surrender. Ichigo was being Ichigo unwilling to give up and stabbed the shoulder of Ulquiorra.

Ichigo then stated that Ulquiorra being top Espada and if he defeats him, the war would basically end.

Unfazed by the attack Ulquiorra, grabbed Ichigo's sword, pulled it away from him to the side which caused his coat to rip open revealing he was only number four.

Ichigo couldn't believe his eyes, asked Ulquiorra if he really was the number four.

Upon hearing this Ulquiorra then stated he was the Cuatro Espada, Ulquiorra Cifer, and among the Espada, his power was only ranked fourth.

Ulquiorra then impaled Ichigo through the chest with his bare hand, told him he cannot defeat him, and even if he did, there were three more Espada above him, stated there was never be any victory for either him or his friends, sealing the battle.

As Ichigo was laying on the ground severely wounded, Ulquiorra expressed his disappointment for overestimating Ichigo's abilities and left.

Then suddenly Grimmjow who regained his position after killing Luppi as well as his lost arm appeared carrying Orihime Inoue.

As Orihime noticed Ichigo was laying on the ground, wounded she run to him and began to heal him.

Soon Ichigo opened his eyes recognizing Nel and Orihime. As they were expressing happiness at his revival, Grimmjow, stomped his foot, said to heal him instead of talking.

When Ichigo asked why he was with Orihime, Grimmjow revealed he was only having him healed so he could settle his score with him at full strength.

As Orihime realized why he was having her heal him, Grimmjow, told them to get a move on stating Ulquiorra would realize what happened and come here. Unfortunately at that moment, Ulquiorra appeared behind Grimmjow.

Then Ulquiorra asked Grimmjow what he was doing, Ulquiorra asked why he was healing the injuries of an enemy he has defeated which Grimmjow stayed quiet.

Realizing Grimmjow was not going to answer, Ulquiorra stated Orihime had been placed under his care by Aizen and ordered him to hand her over which Grimmjow refused to do.

When Ulquiorra asked him what he just said, Grimmjow charged at him. When Ulquiorra blocked the attack, Grimmjow fired a Cero at Ulquiorra.

After that Ulquiorra, appeared above Grimmjow charged his own Cero which Grimmjow responded to by charging another Cero and putting his palm up to Ulquiorra's outstretched finger. As the resulting explosion destroyed the section of the tower they were standing on.

Ulquiorra moved away to only find out Grimmjow was standing behind him. Then Grimmjow released a small cube into Ulquiorra's Hollow hole.

The cube started to emit a large amount of light, then Ulquiorra vanished alongside the light.

After this Grimmjow stated he and Ichigo were going to have a death-battle.