How Good is the Newbie?

[Sargon Denumic]

Sitting atop on the of massive red pillars of stone that graces Las Noches bright sand desert was the Tercera Espada who at the moment focused inwardly on himself. So many voices and so much fun they were all having within him. Despite being their king, despite being the one that they all lived within, he was the bored one. That always seemed to be the case. He found himself more often in the last few years traveling within himself to enjoy a bit of entertainment than giving the dimension that he resided in any of his time. So often now he found entities known to be powerful who simply were found to be weak in comparison to the entities of old.

The last Espada that had been appointed was the Noveno and Sargon had taken a personal interest to see why Kouhai had appointed him the position. After testing most aspects of the Noveno Sargon had found that as an Arrancar he was lacking in most aspects. He lacked the raw power and variety to be classified in Sargon's eyes as someone of true power, but he wasn't without potential. He knew how to utilize his zanpakuto well enough. He had decided that waiting to see how much he could claim of his potential might be worth it. Now it was time to do the same once again with the new Espada that had just been appointed yesterday. The Sexta. Sargon had sent a message through one of the Arrancar servants to the chambers of the Sexta to meet him here in the desert around this time. Now it was just a waiting game to see if the Sexta could pass the first test.

[Atlas Osore]

 Atlas 
"The CONTINUOUS rise of my will and ambition is what makes me better than you. It's simple."

Sargon Denumic

Atlas was the newly appointed Espada. He was the Sexta Espada. That meant that most likely, all eyes would be on him. This could be considered a good and a bad thing, depending on how one looked at it. Right now was the best time to make an impact on Hueco Mundo, and namely Las Noches. His only question was the question of exactly how to make an impact. He wasn't exactly interested in climbing the ranks just yet. If he ever even wanted that, he would first study his fellow Espada.

At the present moment, Atlas lay in the sands of Hueco Mundo, eyes on the sky. With nothing to do yet, he was bored. And he hated boredom. A cigarette held in his right hand was pulled from his mouth just before a plume of smoke exited it. His left hand was behind his head. A cloud covered half the moon before his eyes. A fight. That was what he wanted. He lusted for a good fight.

What were his options? He had no interest fighting an Espada that held a lower rank than himself. There would be no point to that. Even the Sexta position was considered somewhat low, so Atlas highly underestimated the lower ranks. He only wanted a fight with Espada number five and up. If he were to beat a member ranked lower than him, it would be expected and no respect would be placed beside his name. On the other hand, beating an upper class member..

As if to grant his wish, a servant appeared in front of his feet. "Hm? What's this?" The servant told him of Sargon's request to see him. Although Atlas was not quite sure who Sargon was. He gave the location as well. I've got nothing better to do.. I guess I'll go see who this Sargon guy is. I'm assuming he's important if he's got servants carrying messages to and fro for him. How enticing.

It wasn't long before Atlas showed up to the fortress, standing before the pillar Sargon sat on. Atlas looked up and studied the his unknown upper classmate. What came to his attention first, was the silver colored hair atop his head. It was similar to Atlas' own and he felt a sense of annoyance already at that. He believed himself to be unique according to his hair, and seeing another with similar hair cancelled that out.

Now, Atlas beckoned for Sargon to come down. He was eager to figure out just who this guy was. When Atlas was recruited by Sonken Kouhai, he was given no introductions aside from the man himself. That was another thing he disliked about that Shinigami. The only reason Atlas had complied and accepted the offer in the first place was to give himself a place of stature and make his name known. When he came face to face with Sargon, he spoke. "Yo. Who're you and why'd you send for me?" Atlas said plainly with his hands behind his back.

[Sargon Denumic]

To the outside world just sitting high above the desert with sunlight blazing down upon him Sargon looked to be doing nothing more than possibly meditating. It wasn't completely wrong yet although Sargon could barely sense reiatsu and his senses were't anything in this current state to be proud of he could tell someone new was approaching his body. Pulling him attention from within himself out to the dimension of Heuco Mundo. It didn't take more than a minute or so for Sargon to hear the sound of someone new calling for him to come down.

That was enough to prove that whoever this was more than likely was new to Las Noches. No one would address him in such a way if they knew who he was or if they had already been giving their one free warning. Instead of dropping down from the red pillar that he had been sitting on for the last few hours to meet who he assumed to be the new Sexta he stopped at the edge of the pillar. He could see the Sexta down on the desert floor below. Hair similar to his own was the first thing seen and the only thing in much detail.

The Sexta was the first to speak questioning who Sargon was and why he had sent for him to meet here. Naive. Ill-informed. The first two real aspects of the Sexta that Sargon was shown. "I am the Tercera. I sent for you so you may be tested." Sargon stepped forward allowing himself to fall downwards from the pillar until after a few moments he slammed into the sand. The cloud would conceal him from sight as Sargon stood from the squatting position that he had landed in.

Walking forward out of the cloud of sand Sargon would approach the Sexta stopping only once he had gotten within roughly twenty feet. "This will be a test to determine just how powerful you happen to be." Sargon flexed his reiatsu allowing it to emanate over a vast distance of Las Noches almost like a tsunami moving through an ocean. The sand beneath him burned into glass and after a few moments the Sexta would begin to hear the roars of far off Hollows. "Your test will begin shortly."

[Atlas Osore]

 Atlas 
"The CONTINUOUS rise of my will and ambition is what makes me better than you. It's simple."

Sargon Denumic

He twisted his foot in the sand a bit, satisfied with the texture. That was something he found both delight, and annoyance in. The sands of the hollow world. The sands were nice to the touch, however unforgiving when it came to movement. A powerless human being or any powerless being would find it difficult to tread in the sands. 

Observing as Sargon dropped from his post at the top of Las Noches, Atlas frowned. Was he trying to be flashy or what? There was something about try hard people that Atlas found displeasing. After he had dropped, and the dust cloud had dispersed he listened as Sargon began to speak. Atlas only picked up the fact that Sargon was the Tercera Espada.

Atlas completely disregarded it the first time Sargon mentioned a test. "Oh so its you who's the Tercera. That's interesting. I guess you already know me, the newly appointed Sexta." As he spoke, he used his hands making gestures often. A fight was inevitable, Atlas knew this. First he wanted to test out the waters. See if Sargon was somebody he could respect.

The second time Sargon brought up the test, Atlas picked up on it. He also picked up on the Reiatsu flare that Sargon sent out. Again, Atlas frowned. Now he was sure that the Tercera must be showing off. What a bother. So he would be one of these? Atlas just hoped that he would put up a good fight and not talk too much. 

Knowing that he would engage in battle with an Espada three ranks above him didn't effect Atlas one bit. He was more excited than scared. This would be his first gauge on how much strength his faction really was in possession of. If he was able to beat, or even simply go on par with Sargon, Atlas would indeed be disappointed. There was no reason for Atlas to be able to match Sargon in terms of strength.

That being said, Atlas was not expecting to come out of this fight with a victory. No not at all. Of course, the fact stood in place that Atlas has a dislike for losing. But when he did lose, he knew how to lose. One should always take the mistakes and errors from a loss and use those to better themselves. Otherwise a loss has no purpose aside from shame.

"A test you said? Look bro I'm not really into the senpai and student shit.. I mean we could spar and get a feel for each others strength, but besides that I'm not interested in calling you master. I don't take people talking down to me lightly." Atlas refrained from flaring his own Reiatsu, and kept all of his abilities hidden, not wanting to give Sargon any indication of his strength. 

[Sargon Denumic]

He had only just started to see the Sexta for the first time and in those first few moments already Sargon was forming an opinion of him just as the Sexta was doing the same. This Arrancar waved his hands around in what Sargon could only assume as introduction or perhaps importance of his ranking. He wasn't quite sure yet he wasn't one to praise any rank, but one. Although he was the Tercera he had stayed the ranking He had been given simply because the Espada since he had joined lacked entertainment. It was a pale imitation of what it once had been and there was no point in claiming any sort of position in such a group. So far this meeting was bland.

Allowing his reiatsu to wash over the desert of Law Noches brought a frown to the face of the Sexta. Such an expression wasn't beyond what Sargon had seen in the past. What was questionable though was why this entity chose to frown. Did he believe Sargon to be weak? Perhaps he wasn't quite getting what this test would entail. It mattered very little though. It didn't take more than another few moments for the Sexta to open his mouth revealing that he was indeed one from a newer generation. The way in which he spoke was annoying yet not as much as the meaning that each word possessed. It seemed that the Sexta believed Sargon would test him directly right from the beginning. Foolish.

"You're not a Fraccion. You're not one of MY Fraccion. I am not here to train you. I am here to test what your capabilities are at this moment. Arrogance. You will not be sparring against me. A child is not tested by a legend. You will be surviving long enough to prove you're worth my attention." Sargon spoke with poison filled lungs as each word that left his mouth carried with it enough ill content that the Sexta would know he'd definitely pressed more than a few buttons.

As if on cue though before the Sexta would be able to respond the sand around them both began to tremble. Something was coming. The Sexta had believed that Sargon had simply revealed his reiatsu to him moments ago as a sign of strength when in reality it had been something else. It had been bait. A way for whatever was now coming after them to find them. Before the Sexta could do anything Sargon would vanish execute Sonido to reach the top of the pillar once again as the sand beneath the Sexta began to rise.

Only a moment had passed and already the Sexta along with every bit of sand he had been standing on was suddenly high in the air. The sand broke apart from itself though to reveal a massive serpent like Hollow below him. The creature was massive easily forty feet in length with its full body still out of view and twenty feet perhaps more in width. The size of its head was easily three times that of the Sexta. Opening its massive mouth the Hollow would attempt to swallow the Sexta right from the beginning and the test to see what the new Sexta could do began.

[Atlas Osore]

 Atlas 
"The CONTINUOUS rise of my will and ambition is what makes me better than you. It's simple."

Sargon Denumic

For first impressions, Atlas was not getting good vibes from Sargon. He was able to decipher that Sargon was one of the cocky types. Those were the ones that Atlas hated most. They could either be cool and friends, or they could be rivals in a competition of strength. In all honesty, Atlas would prefer the latter. Unless they could find something common to agree on, Atlas sensed they would not be friends.

Atlas did not want to play games. He did not want to have a friendly conversation, or force a positive relationship only because they were both Espada. The only reason he had come here in the first place, was because he was in search a good fight. Now if Sargon was not interested in that, Atlas would simply take his leave. Beating around the bush didn't appeal to him.

What Sargon said next, was clearly not what Atlas wanted to hear. He spoke with a commanding tone. Atlas wouldn't stand for it. "The hell? Listen up Tercera. Listen GOOD. You won't be ordering me around. You won't be talking down to me. Now do you want to fight or nah? God damn. 'PRoVe yOU'rE woRtH mY ATteNtioN'" Atlas mocked Sargon. He was irritated at what was said. 

After he had finished his response, Atlas felt the ground shifting beneath his feet. Immediately he activated Sonido and rushed at least twenty feet away from the point he was conversing with Sargon. He observed that Sargon did the same, only he did it before Atlas. Which meant that this could only be his doing. "Rivals it is.." Atlas sighed after the s came off his tongue.

He watched as an enormous serpent erupted from the sand below, were he still on the spot the serpent could have potentially devoured him in its wake. "What're you doing bringing your pets into this? Too fearful to take me in a one on one? I'm not playing your games. We either do battle or I leave." Atlas got straight to the point in an aggressive manner.

Concluding his mini speech, Atlas playfully shot a Bala at the serpent wanting to see how it reacted. He was surprised to see that a hollow could grow up to such immense sizes while not being a Menos Gillian. He was not quite sure what type of Gillian this hollow was, but it didn't quite amuse him either way.

[Sargon Denumic]

Giving the Sexta barely any attention after he had finished speaking proved to be just what was needed . . for the Sexta to keep existing in his current form. Sargon's patience along with what he typically would allow anyone to get away with in terms of disrespect was more than reached. He made a habit of allowing anyone a fair chance at first so issued all a first time warning. The Sexta though hadn't just used up that fair warning. He had stepped over the line multiple times in only a few moments with only a few dozen words. Wisdom wasn't a trait that Sargon would ever use to describe this entity if he wad ever asked to do so. Obliterating the Sexta was crossing Sargon's mind just as the ground began to shake. It would only take an instant to fire off a cero strong enough that the Sexta's body would be reduced to mere ashes. Experience was something that Sargon possessed though due to his long life mostly. Containing himself enough that he could continue forward with his test he executed Sonido.

By the time he reached the top of the pillar in order to use it not only as a safe haven, but as a vantage point for the test he could see that the Sexta had also utilized Sonido to evade the massive Hollow that was now positioning itself high up while focusing down on the Sexta. The Sexta continued to mouth off stating that he wouldn't take part in this form of test and that if he was going to fight Then they were going to do it now. "Such words coming from someone who has yet to even learn of those around him. So naive to believe that this basic creature could be a pet of mine. No you infant. You will face down this Hollow and prove your worth at least the consideration of being given the title of Espada. You believe that you're above being given orders to then prove it."

The Sexta fired off a bala quickly at the Hollow having no interest in proving that he could face down such a creature just to prove himself to the Tercera. As the bala hit the massive serpent Hollow though the small orb of reiatsu would bounce off the surface of its white scales back towards the Sexta. This Arrancar seemed to be of the type that simply believed because he was of a higher evolution he was guaranteed to be the victor. Oh how do many had been proven wrong before him. As the bala rushed back towards the Sexta the Hollow would open its mouth and begin to charge a cero that would then be fired off after a few moments directly at the Sexta.

[Atlas Osore]

Atlas
"The CONTINUOUS rise of my will and ambition is what makes me better than you. It's simple."

Sargon Denumic

Atlas clicked his tongue a few times and whistled in anticipation. What would be the serpent's next command? Would it go for a head on attack or maybe fire from a distance? Atlas glanced towards Sargon. What a bothersome man the Tercera Espada was. He didn't seem all too different from Atlas himself, but with the differences that did come, there was disapproval from Atlas. Why does he have to be so provocative? I wanna go full power and beat this dude to a pulp. He's mad irritating. I came here for a fight and he's tryna toy with me.. Bastard.

The thought of beating Sargon down lit a fire in Atlas. It seemed he had two options.. He could either one: play Sargon's games until Sargon decided he would fight Atlas himself.. Or two: he could directly attack the Tercera in hopes of hastening the oncoming battle. Hm.. I'm most definitely not the type of person to submit to others.. Especially in cases like this. But if I directly attack him right now, I'm willing to bet he'll just evade and hide behind his pet snake some more. I guess I'll make an exception to my rules this time..

After hearing Sargon talk his talk about tests some more, Atlas simply shrugged. This was one of the types of people he hated most. He had now locked his mind onto the vision of Sargon falling before him. Beating him after he had said all these sorts of things would make the victory all the better. "If you say so. Last chance, put your pet back in it's cage before it gets hurt. You wouldn't want that now would you Mr. Tercera? Nah actually scratch that. It'll be a light warm up. Watch and learn bastard."   

As his very own bala came rushing back to him, followed by a freshly fired Cero, Atlas activated sonido again, dodging to the side. His bala was significantly faster than the Cero of the hollow, however he hadn't put much into it so it wouldn't do much damage to him regardless. As for the Cero, it was simply too slow to meet its mark. A Cero of that caliber could never come close to being the end of Atlas. He stopped a good distance from the hollow, then charged and began firing a Shoji Cero. AKA the never ending cero. It zoomed at the large serpent's head and would do a continuous amount of high damage if it connected.

[Sargon Denumic]

The Sexta simply continued to display that he wasn't one to learn from the situation. So far it seemed that he was the type of individual that would form good opinions based on what he saw and then stick to those conclusions. So naive to believe that the truth is simply what is seen and not possibly beyond sight. He still believed that this mere Hollow was a pet. Such a lowly creature with barely enough power to even be fit for this test could never hope to gain such prestige by being accepted by Sargon as a pet. So far even if the Sexta kneeled as someone of his display should he couldn't hope to be accepted as a lowly pet. To Sargon the Sexta so far was a mistake on the part of Kouhai to be accepted into the Espada.

It wasn't much so far though as Sargon was basing this decision only on what little he had seen so far and knew that despite his attitude the Sexta had yet to showcase any noteworthy technique or release his zanpakuto. He would reserve his true conclusion until this test was finished. Perhaps he should have brought Zegram . . no Aurura would be far more fit to deal with someone of this stature. It was a shame yet one that only plagued Sargon's consciousness for a brief sliver of time. He wasn't here to give the Sexta a challenge. He was here to see just what the extent of the Sexta's power happened to be.

The Sexta so far though as he vanished executing Sonido to evade the rebounded Bala had displayed nothing beyond a loud mouth and the ability to execute the step technique of their race. The massive cero that the Hollow was currently firing against the sand where the Sexta had been standing was causing a massive cloud of dust concealing the area in front of the Hollow from view. It wasn't until the Sexta's reiatsu spiked once again that the Hollow's body moved turning to look towards the Sexta. In the moment that followed the Sexta would execute the Shoji Cero. Being a master of the technique himself Sargon knew what the Sexta had been charging prior to its execution. Now though as the reiatsu beam was released did the Hollow act and the Sexta might begin to realize that his own abilities were what was in question here not Sargon's.

The attack against the Hollow wouldn't be as simple as the Sexta may have expected. It wasn't due to the scales of the Hollow which had been the cause for the bala rebounded off of it back towards the Sexta himself. That aspect of the Hollow while useful wouldn't work against a technique the caliber of the Shoji Cero. Instead as the beam began to be released with the dull hum of most cero the sand below the Sexta would suddenly burst forth from below. The serpent Hollow raised its tail from below ground lifting and the sand beneath the Sexta which would cause him to be sent flying upwards through the air flipping randomly from the force of the Hollow. As he was sent flying the Hollow would take aim and fire a bala of its own the size of a usual cero that would converge on the Sexta only a few moments after he had been sent flying if he couldn't manage to somehow alter his course.

[Atlas Osore]

 Atlas 
"The CONTINUOUS rise of my will and ambition is what makes me better than you. It's simple."

Sargon Denumic

In the few seconds that came to pass in between the next interval of the "battle" Atlas let his mind drift away a bit. It was not required that he be on good terms or even terms at all, with his fellow Espada members. Right? And in the case of the white haired Tercera, Atlas judged that no matter the end result of this interaction, it would not be for the better. As it would seem, Sargon was looking down on him with inferiority. If he considered them equals then it would make sense to engage in a true battle rather than sending large hollows his way and putting him through a "test". Atlas felt indecisive, at one point wanting to fight, and at another, irritation and boredom welling up within him. Perhaps it was in his best interests to simply walk away. Reflecting on what had been seen and said before, the personalities of the two were those that would clash and possibly get out of hand. Atlas felt it was not the right time or place for those types of things. 

Atlas was jolted from his inner thoughts as once again, the ground erupted from beneath him. He had underestimated his opponent, a consistent flaw of his. Knowing that the foe at hand was a hollow, he immediately felt assured of his victory and triumph and also put disregard towards the possibility the hollow could have some intelligence and wit. And so as a result, Atlas was caught off guard. He launched into the air by the tail of the serpent. The Sexta smirked, entertained by what was birthed of his own carelessness. While he traveled through the air, he knew not to panic. He surveyed the hollow, and annoyance made itself known through his face. The hollow was charging another blast of Reiatsu. Quickly taking note of this, he aimed his Shoji Cero to his left directing himself out of it's path, and then forward at the hollow again, which also pushed him backwards through the air. 

He had landed in a crouched position, one hand touching the sands beneath him. After this, he deactivated his persistent Cero attack and directed his focus, once again, to Sargon. Acknowledging the distance he had knowingly put between them, he raised his voice slightly wanting the sound waves to reach the ears of the Tercera. "Yo, Tercera. I'm feeling kinda impatient today and the only reason I showed up here was for a 1 on 1. I'm not at all interested in showing you my strength unless it's against you. I'll no longer be participating in your test. I think I'll take my leave." Atlas said, however now much more vigilant towards the hollow or any other oncoming assault. 

[Sargon Denumic]

Over the course of the next few moments the newly appointed Sexta was flown through the sandy air by the tail of the giant Serpent Hollow who now charged a bala to be fired at the Sexta. Sargon watched the standard bored expression unchanging from his features. So far the Sexta hadn't shown him anything to prove that he was worthy of being appointed as a member of the Espada. At this point even the Noveno had shown some skill in utilizing his zanpakuto against multiple opponents. The fact that the Sexta hadn't figured out how to eliminate the Hollow or simply overpower it yet was disappointing. In the moment that came though he got was he was expecting as the Shoji Cero's course was altered by the Sexta who used it to shift his own course through the air while also attacking the Hollow. The bala that was fired from the serpent's mouth was overrun by the cero of the Sexta which then rushed over the serpent as well burning the skins from it's body causing it to roar in pain.

If the Sexta had kept up his Sjohi Cero he could have simply killed the Hollow yet as he gave it a moment to think the serpent rushed back down through the ground causing yet another tremor that gave off the feeling of an earthquake. After a few moments the shaking ceased and it became apparent that the Hollow had fled for fear of the Sexta who had just managed to overpower it's scaling and nearly kill it. Now as the Sexta began to look up towards Sargon the Tercera would vanish executing Sonido once again to appear in front of the Sexta roughly seven feet away. He allowed the Sexta to speak yet as he did Sargon's eyes narrowed in an angry manner. "You simply don't know how to speak. The mind of a ungrown infant chasing after a shiny object. Your test will continue as you've proved you're enough to handle a seated officer of Soul Society. Now try to keep your young mouth shut or else I may simply kill you for your lack of respect." Sargon stood giving the Sexta the move to attack. He had seen that the Sexta knew at least one powerful technique yet what would he do against an enemy who had yet to draw his weapon.