Awaken (Open)

[Nero Metora]

The infinitely vast sands of Hueco Mundo stretched out in all directions, illuminated by the bright crescent that was the moon. Los Noches was distant, visible on the horizon. A lone adjuchas strode along the sands, exploring the area. It was a small one, freshly turned from its Meno's form. His new form resembled a small sloth, complete with the large claws on its hands as well as a slow and clumsy body. It explored the dunes but it was also hungry...searching for any meal it could.

Unbeknown to this adjuchas, it was approaching an unnaturally formed blackened glass cave which contains another adjuchas...one far bigger and far older than it was, hibernating within the confines of the cave. The sloth adjuchas couldn't see the cave where he was, it was at the bottom of a very large sand dune however an extremely faint sliver of reitsu could be felt emanating from the cave...it piqued the curiosity of the sloth adjuchas as it climbed the dune.

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

Kyoshin Agotar, Second in Command over the Espada, was walking through the desert. He had left his chambers feeling too excited to sleep, but needing to kill time, so there he was, taking an aimless stroll through Hueco Mundo. He sensed the Reiatsu of an Adjucha in the distance, and thinking it was as good a time for a meal as any, he followed the scent until he was but a hundred feet of so from his prey.

But as he neared, he picked up a new scent. It was very faint, yet had a strength to it that implied its belonging to a stronger Adjuchas. Realizing things were not as they seemed, Kyoshin found a safe dune to watch from, and concealed himself.

[Nero Metora]

As the arrancar drew near, the sloth adjucha became spooked and turned around. Fearful grunts could be heard from the adolescent adjucha as it backed away, further up to the top of the dune. It stopped when it got to the top of the dune, just one more step would cause it to tumble backwards, down the other side and into a very thin portion of the glass wall...which was actually the mouth of the cave.

At the top of the dune it scanned the horizon, then flared its reitsu out as both a sort of lure and warning...however it wasnt that high of a reitsu level.

(Side note: The grunts and sounds this sloth is making...think of the noises grunts make on halo . Also, reitsu level for the sloth is around 90 just in case you were wondering.)

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

(I'm one of the few guy out there that hasn't played Halo, but wants to. )

Seeing he had scared the Adjucha, Kyoshin backed up a bit, knowing the Sloth-hollow-thing was close to toppling off the dune but not knowing about the hibernating Hollow the sloth would wake if it fell. "It's okay, I'm not going to eat you," he lied, grinning and opening his arms wide, as if to show he wasn't armed. Karzan had been discouraging him from eating Hollows in Hueco Mundo, as they were a precious resource, but Kyoshin found it so hard to curb his hunger sometimes...

[virgil]

Virgil watched Kyoshin play with the adjucha, a small cackle leaving his mouth as he watched. He had followed him outside of Los Noches for awhile and had watched him, perhaps some might consider it spying...he was surprised the espada had not noticed him yet. He approached quietly like a snake would, moving across the dune on all fours before reaching near its peak to get a better view of what Kyoshin was doing. He laid in a more relaxed position to see what the espada planned to do.

It annoyed Virgil some what that Kyoshin even wanted to eat such a weak creature...there was no power to be gained from it, the thing was too stupid to even realize that Kyoshin planned to devour him."...Is such a creature worth your time, Commander...?" Virgil's lazy voice announced to Kyoshin to get his attention finally, his tail swaying in a tired like motion. "Surely it is not strong enough to use, nor large enough to sedate any hunger." he yawned out, looking at the weak adjucha like it was barely even there before turning his head back to Kyoshin. A light burning was felt on Virgil's chest as he stared at the second in command, reminding him of the training they had, It caused the segunda to give him a crooked smile.

[Nero Metora]

The sloth was now horrified, trembling at the sight of the two espada members. So much so that it wasnt paying attention to its footing. "S-s-stay back! Im not worth eating!" It held its hands up before him, charging a cero. However it took a step back and stumbled down the sand dune, the cero firing up into the air, missing either arrancar by quite a margin. "Oof oof oof." Is all that would escape out of the clumsy adjucha's mouth as it careened down the dune.

A loud crashing sound would resonate throughout the area. The espada would surely hear the glass breaking sound...then a second, quieter cracking sound would follow a few seconds after the crash. The sloth adjucha had broken through the glass-like wall at the mouth of the cave and stood up slowly at the mouth, dazed and a bit confused but very much fearful...it was completely dark in the deep interior of the cave it found itself in.

[Karzan Zaraki]

Karzan came up behind his two subordinates, just as the sloth like Hollow lost its footing, and looked down lazily at the two Espada.

"What are you two doing?" Karzan said in an slightly agitated tone, "You're supposed to be making preparations to leave for the World of the Liv..."

Karzan cut his sentence short, as he noticed the 4th presence in the area, coming from the direction where the Sloth Hollow had been before it had lost its footing. Smiling slyly, Karzan now ignored his two subordinate, and walked over to one of the many stone "trees" that littered the landscape, and hopped to the top of one, and looked down into the mouth of the glass cave, his smile widening.

"Well isn't this fun," Karzan said laughingly, "it seems the rumors are true...there really is a dragon's cave out here."

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

"Segunda." Irritated that Virgil had followed him all the way out, and was now criticizing his behavior, Kyoshin turned his head to the Segunda and spoke in a cold voice, "Eating isn't the only thing on my mind, Virgil, and that isn't the only Adjucha present. Can you not sense the other? It is close-"

He stopped when he saw the freaked-out Hollow disappear behind the dune, and heard the resulting crash as it broke through the glass. The fourth Reiatsu he had sensed started to pick up, and as he was about to investigate, the Lord of the Deep found them and sensed the Reiatsu, too. As Karzan got to a higher vantage point to look into the cave, Kyoshin ran up to the dune the Hollow had fallen from, stopping soon enough to see the pitch darkness that had swallowed the sloth-thing. Quite pleased with this new development, he looked up at Karzan and asked, "A dragon-cave?" He turned back to the cave entrance, peering into the darkness, trying to discern any shapes.

[virgil]

Virgil's face showed one of utter boredom even as the second in command seemed irritated at his presence. Kyoshin begin to explain his reasons for being outside Los Noches to the segunda but was cut off as the crash of the Adjucha's fall was heard. The espada brought himself back onto two feet and walked up to where Kyoshin was to try and get a better look as to what happened. "Hmm...yes, I do sense a fourth power. My apologies..." He answered the second in command as he began to feel for the power, though it was doubtful he was being sincere in his apology.

As the two stood there Karzan made his presence known to the two, clearly having noticed the two had stepped out of Los Noches instead of following orders and preparing themselves to leave. "...Ah, forgiveness, Lord of the deep. I was merely curious as to what our new arrancar was up to." After the quick reprimanding Karzan gave the two he also joined in the little investigation. He remained quiet and waited to see what would come from these events, he was unaware of any dragon cave be it here or otherwise, but Hueco Mundo held many secrets even from the arrancar.

[Nero Metora]

The sloth was tense... his eyes couldn't pierce the darkness of the cave's interior... he looked out of the cave, up at a figure on a tree and realized who it was. "L-L-Lord of the deep!...Why me!" He took a few steps back into the cave, terrified at the fact that there were three arrancar waiting for him outside. "What do they want with me!? Why...wh-" A slight shuffling sound would freeze the small adjucha's blood in fear as a set of crimson eyes opened slowly behind the sloth.

Slowly, millimeter by horrifying millimeter, the sloth turned his head to see a sight that would push the small adjucha to the brink of insanity... a newly reawakened dragon. It attempted to run out of the mouth of the cave, screaming in horror. It was about to clear the mouth of the cave and start up the dune when a long, silver tail shot out and impaled the sloth in the stomach. Blood sprayed all over the sand as well as pour out of the wound. All the adjucha could do was scream for help as it was quickly pulled back into the cave. The screams of agony were followed by tearing and munching sounds, then silence after a few moments. The espada at this point would notice a sharp spike in the level of reitsu being emitted from the cave.

The cave began cracking, then, with an unknown number of years worth of pent up energy, exploded in a wave of fire that enveloped the surrounding dunes. The espada wouldnt be harmed from the fire since they werent within range of the explosion but they would hear an incredibly loud roar along with the blast (Normal roar). Out of the flames, an incredibly large silver dragon, walking upright and up what was left of the dune straight at the three arrancar. From the espada's point of view, all they would be able to make out was the dragon's silhouette and two burning crimson eyes staring at them.

It stopped just in front of them and continued to stare down at the three arrancar. This thing was enormous, towering over everything around him at 20ft tall from feet to head on his hind legs.

[Karzan Zaraki]

Howling with laughter as the Sloth was devoured, Karzan grinned wildly as the cave exploded, and the great beast revealed itself.

"This beast you see is one of the few legends of this desert I have never seen before," Karzan said to Kyoshin, "quite an oddity of a Hollow as well...this Grand Dragon."

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

"Just remember, Virgil," muttered Kyoshin as he looked into the darkness. "'Our new Arrancar' is your superior..."

He trailed off as the Sloth was devoured, and the Dragon emerged from its slumber. Peering with interest at the unusual new Hollow, the Second in Command grinned slightly, then turned to Karzan.

"Espada material?" he asked, "Or do we keep it as a pet? Maybe we take it to the World of the Living with us."

[virgil]

"Yes, commander, of course." He gave a light nod towards his fellow espada as he heard the roar of the creature below them. To the chimera's interest, and as Karzan had predicted, a large dragon-like creature landed before them, staring down at them with its immense size. The creature's eyes burned red as it looked over at the three, who despite their power were fairly small compared to it. It didn't matter, Virgil nor his fellow arrancar seemed phased by its sudden appearance.

The chimera listened to the others talk of the creature like it was some sort of exhibit, his face showed only enthusiasm for the appearance of such a beast, but truthfully he felt disdain as the talked about the creature. When Virgil looked at the dragon he saw a hollow with much history behind it, this hollow must have been something to have been sealed away. He was curious to its existence, sure. But this hollow deserved more respect than a "pet." "...You have been freed from that prison, whether it be intentional or not...Does the sealed one have a name?" He spoke up to the dragon's ears so that it may hear his voice, after the other two had spoken.

[Karzan Zaraki]

"Why would I turn such a magnificent thing into an Arrancar, or even think of caging it," Karzan said to Kyoshin, "Even were it weaker than us, just the size of it would strike fear into our enemies...he would not be a pet but an ally if willing."

[Nero Metora]

"Silence!" The dragon's voice roared throughout the desert (Think of the voice that the cave of wonders had from the original Aladdin for reference.) He was a bit agitated and was getting his bearings on the location. The sands had changed much since he first went into hibernation, evident when he now could see Los Noches on the horizon in front of him. It looked around for a brief moment, then looked back down at the three arrancar and heavily dropped his front arms down to be on all fours. This would cause the sands to rumble, attesting to the creature's weight and strength as it would be very difficult to do so on sandy terrain.

Nero took note of how the three before him spoke, to each other and to him. He determined that Karzan was the leader, Kyoshin was 2nd and Virgil was 3rd in this trio. "Arrancar.... nothing changes." He spoke out. Even without roaring, his voice was loud. He looked to Kyoshin and spoke in a highly agitated tone. "I have never and will never will be a "pet"... or has your arrancar power diluted your memory as just another hollow?" It turned its head to Karzan. "Either the Lord of the Deep or the Lord of this Trio... which shall I call you?" It then smelled the reitsu coming from the three, sniffing the air and smelled something off about the third arrancar... Virgil. "You are unique... I smell wisdom...anger...fatigue... equally as strong. I am Nero." Nero stretched his limbs, his great wings stretched out a great deal. As he yawned, a plume of flames was ejected out of his mouth and into the night sky, traveling a great distance before it dissipated.

"You three are a long way from Los Noches and have awoken me from my slumber... I am grateful for the meal you brought but...what is the meaning of awakening me? I cannot imagine the arrancar sinking to the level of chasing small game far out in the sands." Nero refereed to the sloth as he spoke again. "And what do I call the three of you?"

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

"Forgive my insolence," spoke Kyoshin, looking up at the hulking dragon with a mocking grin. "My name is Kyoshin. I was just wandering these sands, when my two... cohorts here followed me, and our... joint efforts awoke you."

[virgil]

The segunda espada held his arms upward to shield his eyes from the sand kicked up from the dragons massive weight smashing into the ground. "...Your words carry truth to them Nero, I am as you described." Virgil's called out with a calm certainty as he examined the hollow more closely. He was clearly far along the adjucha path, farther than Virgil was when he had been turned into an arrancar, and he could respect that. "The name we chose for this body was Virgil Elysium, the segunda espada." He revealed his name and rank, placing the his right hand to his chest.

"I wish I could say there were a better reason for our presence here, though I was merely following my...commander, " He motioned to Kyoshin, pausing a moment as he spoke. "...keeping an eye on him, anyway." a low laugh commented, as if it were from another person. Virgil sighed afterward to himself before continuing, "Regardless it seems our approach has unintentionally removed the seal that kept you imprisoned...quite a fortunate outcome."

[Karzan Zaraki]

"I am indeed the Lord of the Deep," Karzan said to the mighty dragon, "my name is Karzan Zaraki, known to many of the hollows in this desert as the Massarcre Fang...but you are quite the famous one...Nero was it?"

As Nero and Virgil spoke, Karzan just continued to smile, thrilled that such a being was in his presence. When the Segunda had finished speaking, Karzan stepped forward to address Nero.

How would you like to join us?" Karzan said in a serious tone, "The halls of Las Noches are strangely empty, the Espada that once stood under the banner of my Lord Anubis have been scattered, and myself left to rebuild. You would be welcome to remain as you are, and still contribute to our cause. I only ask that you work under my command...willingly, and with a high rank among my men...you will be treated as one of the Espada would."

[Nero Metora]

Nero narrowed his eyes at Karzan. "Fame... being well known... out here, being famous only works to paint a bulls-eye on yourself... however you wish to tame that which has never been tamed." Nero spoke after listening to Karzan. "Loyalty does not come simply by asking for it...it must be earned. Only through a trial by fire shall this loyalty be yours and only yours." The dragon walked through and past the group. It only took a handful of steps past the three arrancar. It then turned its hulk back to face the three and stood up on its hind legs again.

"Lord of the Deep...Karzan. If you successfully climb up and hold on to the crest of horns at the top of my neck and head, despite everything I throw at you and despite your injuries for 15 minutes...then my loyalty shall be yours. You may try as long as you can. Should you fail because of your wounds or exhaustion... you shall be consumed. Attempt to subdue me by pressing down with all your reitsu and you shall fail... Virgil and Kyoshin shall not help you with this endeavor nor shall they attempt to tame me. The right to ride a fiery steed of my magnitude is one reserved to be earned only by the Lord of the Deep. A suitable source of entertainment shall be provided to the Lord's underlings." The dragon stared into the eyes of Karzan.

"Do you accept...or yield?"

(Note: Kazan... to pass, you must remain on Nero and essentially ride him for 3 of your posts in succession. If you should fall off but can still keep going, then this shall continue. You can only fail if you flee the area or are too exhausted or wounded to continue. This is reminiscent of what Naruto had to do in order to gain the ability to use his giant toad thing. As much as I hate Naruto, the concept is sound and I thought it would be great to spin that into this thread. I also thought it would be a great change from the normal "Before you join, lets fight a little and see what you can do" scenario. And dont worry... Ill take it easy on ya )

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

Kyoshin folded his arms as the other two Arrancar conversed with the dragon, rolling his eyes to himself as Virgil accepted Nero's compliments and gave his own. He thought Virgil was flattering Nero, and didn't appreciate Virgil's obvious disdain of the Second of Command. He wasn't about to say anything he would regret, however, and held his tongue as Nero challenged Karzan.