Desperation

As the battle progressed Grimmjow's already wild combat style only seemed to grow wilder and wilder. Though this made the battle more frantic it actually became a little easier to keep up since it made him more predictable. His default action had become to attack after all. Even feints were becoming infrequent which made Hisashi question what was making Grimmjow so determined to take him out as quickly as possible.

Their clashes had flattened most of the surrounding forest they passed through and though Grimmjow didn't seem to have learned his special claw attack yet they were plenty dangerous already. The only part of him strong enough to resist them was his blades as they sliced through anything else they came in contact with.

"Hahaha! Yes! More!" Grimmjow laughed and yelled in excitement his breathing growing haggard.

Hisashi kept doing his best to block what he could and get some counter strikes in where he could, but he was still getting pushed back by Grimmjow's relentless onslaught. It was like Grimmjow couldn't even tell he was getting equally cut up in his fervor.

Eventually Grimmjow took inspiration from Hisashi, cutting his palm and infusing his blood into his Cero to form his own Gran Rey Cero like Hisashi had. The forming Cero looked unstable stretching and shifting. It appeared like it could blow up any moment, but either due to his ridiculous talent or plot armour Grimmjow actually managed to form and maintain the Gran Rey Cero despite it being his first attempt and fired it successfully. Grimmjow smiled victoriously.

Between switching to Gran Rey Cero and unleashing his Resurrección the power of his Cero was completely unlike before. Hisashi did his best to form one of his own to counter. When they came to a violent clash in the middle Hisashi managed to hold on for a few moments, but eventually Grimmjow's Gran Rey Cero seemed to win out. It slowly started forcing back Hisashi's closer and closer.

When the two clashing Cero reached Hisashi it slowly started disintegrating his blades and arms while continuing to try resisting the blast with what was left of his own and by pumping all leftover energy he could into Blut Vene. He did manage to slow down Grimmjow's Gran Rey Cero, but the crazy amounts of heat it was giving off at such a close range was evaporating his arms regardless.

 The Cero worked its way through his blades and arms until they were gone completely, but Hisashi had succeeded in countering most of the energy it contained. After negating his Cero and evaporating his four arms it didn't have enough strength left to do the same to his torso.

At the current rate Hisashi had only managed to delay the inevitable. Grimm how might have expanded most of his energy creating the attack, but Hisashi had done the same to block it and was now down 4 arms. They had already started to heal, but it would still take a while before that made any useful progress. Ignoring the amount of pain that would continue distracting him until they had recovered.

 "Hitashi!" He heard a young girl's voice yell desperately.

Both him and Grimmjow immediately turned towards the yell with entirely different emotions.

Hisashi was finally relieved. It seemed Nel Tu had indeed found the hideout and brought all of them to help him.

Nel Tu's face was a mess with tears, snot and drool staining it. "Hitashi! Please help him!" Nel Tu cried out in desperation.

Panting heavily Grimmjow's eyes darted between the newcomers and Hisashi, his rapidly healing arms in specific, nervously.

As soon as Harribel saw what was going on she dashed ahead of the group reaching beside Hisashi to support him.

"You look like you could use a hand," she said. Had it been anyone else he would have taken that as a dig at his current state. She seemed calm on the surface, but Hisashi could tell the underlying worry in her tone.

Grimmjow looked between the two of them hesitantly. He seemed rather frustrated to have the fight he had been searching for for so long interrupted.

Like someone put the most delicious plate of food in front of a starving man and right as he is about to dig in taking it away again.

He could sense he wouldn't be able to beat Hisashi if Harribel joined the fight though from the levels of spirit pressure she was giving off. It was already a pretty even fight before she got there after all and now he saw no way for him to succeed on his own. Let alone if the other seven also decided to join in.

"I didn't know you were such a coward!" Grimmjow tried to taunt Hisashi.

Unfortunately for Grimmjow, Hisashi wasn't some kind of shonen protagonist. He cared about his own life, he also had friends he needed to protect and family to eventually return to. Dying was not something he would risk for a thrill of a battle, his pride, or something else insane like that. If someone was on or beyond his level he would happily gang up on them instead if it meant he and those with him could survive another day.

Hisashi could only shake his head at Grimmjow's naivety, pissing him off even more in the process. On some level he seemed to sense that Hisashi had disdained him.

Seeing his attempts weren't succeeding Grimmjow crouched and disappeared into the distance. Hisashi could chase him, but the rest wouldn't be able to keep up which would just put him into the same situation the two of them had been in before.

All he could do is continue building his strength so hopefully next time he would be able to stand up against Grimmjow all by himself. At least now that Grimmjow had already become an Arrancar he shouldn't see any sudden jumps in power from him, unless something unexpected happened at least.

Nel Tu ran up launching herself into Hisashi like a cannonball. He would complain about the tears, drool and snot being wiped on him, but he didn't have the heart.

-X-X-X-

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Writing Soundtrack: Fame On Fire - Various Tracks