The World's "Strongest"

[Serraph Quarrere]

Rio Demonliogalgo, Quinta Espada. Serraph had heard rumors of that particular man’s incredible wrath. In an armory of refined blades, he would stand out as one of the more blunt ones. A blunt force weapon could be useful if turned in the correct direction, otherwise, however they were a detriment to all forms of progress Serraph could conceive. He had seen it first hand during his time as a fresh-eyed hollow. Naturally groups of beings derived from humans would naturally form bands, armies, and organizations. Most of these were to be short lived as it was an almost certainty that one member would give in to the overwhelming instinct to consume. For those whose aspect is closely aligned to the baser hollow instinct, the result would be horrifying.

Serraph’s time under the Crimson Queen was one such incident. Her power itself allowed her to influence the instincts and the minds of others, allowing her amass a sizable force of followers. However great her power, it would not be enough for some beings. They would usually be put down upon signs of open rebellion, hollows were not usually subtle creatures. Serraph was an anomaly, remaining largely independent despite her influences, but he would keep that to himself, her left hand man, however, was not so subtle.

Bismark was a monstrosity. A gillian formed from the souls of those who sank alongside the defeated battleship in which it obtained its namesake, Bismark truly believed it was the soul of that very same ship incarnated in this monstrous form. He might as very well had been, given that a ship is nothing without its crew. Serraph had hypothesized that the like minded fervor of the crew that comprised Bismark led to the stability and independence of the end result. Such a thing was truly frightening.

How could a mere Gillian stand before scores of adjuchas and a vasto lorde that led them? Serraph could only speculate. The monster was of the same size of the battleship of old, with the strength of a hollow to boost its firepower. When he rebelled, he alone reduced the Queen’s section of Hueco Mundo to glass and destroyed the reishi rich oasis that the Queen relied upon to keep her strength. It was only through her army of brainwashed slaves that he was able to triumph over the nearly unstoppable beast. To this day his corpse is still degenerating on the fringes of Hueco Mundo, untouched by beings passing through, not that they’d know any better. Many would assume it was an ancient structure of some sort.

Those fools. It was a corpse.

The rumors following the name of Rio reminded Serraph much of what he had experienced in the past. He couldn’t assume that even though he was a fellow Espada, that he wouldn’t be antagonistic to Serraph and the others. The betrayal of Bismark was born on the back of assumptions. Serraph would not make that same mistake. It is for this reason he chose to meet with every Espada individually and make his own intentions known. He had hoped to make allies of his comrades. He had been successful with Shiki, or so it seemed, but Serraph knew not all hollow-kind can be so reasonable. It may take time, but in the end, Serraph hoped that this one would be sensible.

The Sexta Espada made his approach on the fellow Espada’s palace, but such a visit would not be an unknown one. He had not made his spiritual pressure hard to feel by any means. He had also sent ahead one of his servants with a message detailing his intent to visit. He had not seen his servant since, even though the Sexta hadn’t been actively searching for him. It didn't matter. Such a thing would not stop Serraph.

[Rio Demonliogalgo]

Rio's abode was not at all hard to find or anticipate in the halls of Las Noches. The Quinta Espada was not one for tidiness and didn't much care about messes. Many of the white stone columns had been shattered, and there were large craters in the holes in the wall-- side effects of the Espada's mood shifting towards anger or violence. And the number of times Rio wasn't angry or violent could probably be counted on one hand. The Quinta had very, very few servants overall. Though he had accepted a Fraccion or two in the past, they had not lasted long under Rio, and the arrancar's violent temper and destructive tendencies kept most others away. More than just his powers and ability, Rio represented the aspect of Destruction right down into the very essence of his being. An oncoming storm that laid devastation in its wake wherever it went, whether it be the human world, Soul Society or right here at home in Las Noches.

And yet for all his destructive tendencies, and lack of forethought, it was a fact now, that besides Cain, and ignoring Asuka's frequent flights and returns to the ranks of the Espada, that Rio held the longest tenure of all Espada. He had seen other Espada come and go, and still the Quinta held his vigil. Countless faces, countless names. Lucitide, Cierro, Baocao, Kashmir, Kuroi, Myza, Zeruel, Yuki, Cero, Adolf, Schultz, and others still. Many Espada had claimed the rank, and many Espada had fallen or disappeared. Only Rio remained. It was a mercy that Rio was not the reflective sort, else he might have become saddened or disappointed in that. Thankfully, Rio had developed a marvelously simple view of the world, based on the core tenets of Las Noches. Only the strong ruled. If they died, they weren't strong enough after-all. If they couldn't handle it and left, then they also were not strong enough. Such a inanely simplistic view of the world, born of a man whose life had been marked by nothing less than countless battles, and endless conflict.

Even before his days as a Hollow, Rio had known only war. Born a Spartan soldier in life, war and battle had been his creed since the beginning. The strong thrived and the weak fell. A mentality fit for the life of a Hollow. Fit for the life of an Arrancar. Others disagreed with Rio, that the battle was all there was. Rio broke their skulls, proving their mentality had left them too weak to stop him.

Rio sat in the halls of what he called his home, atop a collapsed pillar. Rio's skill at sensing Reiatsu was only mediocre at best, so although he could detect a powerful reiatsu approaching, he could not make out the details of it before Serraph got closer. Rio had heightened, animalistic senses, befitting his canine resurreccion. He caught Serraph's scent. Rio hadn't associated much with Serraph, but he still took his time to familiarize himself with the new Espada in the order. He did know at least who Serraph was. Or well. What he looked like anyways. He didn't know how Serraph fought, what his ideals were, or anything to that effect. This would be an interesting meet 'n greet.

As Serraph emerged into view he'd see Rio seated on his rubble as if it were some throne and he were a king of old. "Well, well. Our new number six comes to my abode. What brings you here, Serraph?" Rio asked, standing as he saw Serraph approach. Rio too had once been the 6th Espada, and there was a small amount of attachment to the rank. He hoped that Serraph would do the rank proud. Rio began to walk towards Serraph to meet him partway.

[Serraph Quarrere]

 "Since I've awoken after being made Sexta, I have only met the Fourth. I had hoped to meet the Espada who forced this Number upon me,", he'd mention with the slight cock of his head. After scanning the Quinta he'd chuckled to himself and shake his head. "I see you are not one of them. Maybe I slept longer than I had intended..."

 His left hand left his other to stroke at his chin in thought. The longer one lived the more the mind becomes numb to the passage of time. He also knew that injured souls could sleep for quite sometime as their bodies repaired themselves. Serraph's body experienced such trauma when he released in the past, so perhaps such a thing took longer than normal to heal, keeping him in some strange coma-like state? In his mind it felt like only days prior when the sigil of the Sexta became emblazoned on his midriff. How much time had really passed?

 Serraph stopped his train of thought before it moved any deeper lest he waist any more of the Quinta's time standing there staring off into the distance. "I guess those questions are irrelevent for now. I wanted to meet my brothers-in-arms. As stated prior I have met Shiki already. You... are much different than he, that much is clear, no?" The man would laugh mildly at this comment. "This is, of course, no offense to either of you, but merely an observation.~"

[Rio Demonliogalgo]

Awoken? Was this guy sleeping for so long? Well, it wasn't too surprising. Hollows and Arrancar lived long lives. Rio supposed it wasn't unlikely for some to while away the centuries by hibernating. "Only way I'd have forced that number on you is if you blame me for having held it once." Rio replied to Serraph, as he met the new Sexta halfway. He took a look at Serraph's build. Build didn't always mean everything. Rio himself had been among the physically strongest of the Arrancar, and until recent years had adopted a very slight build. He'd only changed and bulked up to reflect the true terror and ferocity befitting his strength.

"Well. It's nice to see another Espada who likes to socialize." Rio replied, seeming more amiable towards Serraph than he was to most. Maybe he was just in a good mood? Stomping two of Uzaki Enterprises best into the ground, and leveling a neighborhood only a few blocks from the company's front door would do that to the man. Rio loved battle, and more importantly, loved triumphing over his enemies in battle. But it would be a lie if Rio's better, more friendly mood didn't have anything to do with Serraph being an Espada, and one of the few Rio actually saw as an equal. Serraph remarked about Rio's differences to Shiki and the Espada shrugged. "No idea. Unlike you, that fucker hasn't come to say hi." He replied. "Heard there was some shit that went down between him and Myza though. Well whatever. Not my shit, especially with Myza having disappeared."

When Serraph commented about not intending offense, Rio only gave a second shrug. "We're Espada. We are the strongest in Las Noches. Who gives a fuck what our personalities are like? So long as you don't disgrace the position like Cierro did." He replied. Rio didn't care about Cierro's despicable, perverted personality. He despised Cierro for Cierro's weakness, and that personality leading to Cierro fleeing from battle rather than facing it. A trait that mercifully, no other Espada since had shared. "We've got weirdos like the Segunda, we've had fighters like me, we've had schemers like Myza. Whatever Shiki's like, he's strong enough to rank above me, so I got no beef with him." Rio replied. "What about you, Sexta? Who are you?" He asked.

[Serraph Quarrere]

 Rio came off as very old-schooled. Brandishing a body of rippling muscles and a physique to endure the ages, Rio gave Serraph only a mild clue of the era he was from. If Serraph had to guess, he'd say that he was at least a few centuries old, but it was likely he was even older. His voice held the weight of a soldier's wisdom and given his position in the Espada, Serraph could not contest this man's martial prowess. Such solid backup would undoubtedly have reassured the new Espada, should he have doubted his own strength, but alas he did not. "Knowing each other's personalities will allow us as comrades to work with each other's strengths and weaknesses. Hollowkind can be quite narrow minded when it comes to their aspects, and such a thing would allow certain, seemingly harmless things to illicit a substantial response. For those of weaker flesh such as I, knowing these things of my more durable companions would give me the tools I need to ensure I will not be ousted. It's a tough world out there, that I'm sure you understand clearly.", he'd laugh with the wave of his cane.

 His other hand would stroke again at his chin as he began to pace, the other question stirring a train of queries within his mind. He was indeed Serraph Quarrere, Sexta Espada and self-proclaimed Lord Librarian of Los Noches, once betrayed and betrayer of one. He was once a devourer of souls left on the battlefield and consumer of arts left unattended in the chaos of war. Still, his true name or names were lost to time, the melding of minds and hearts making it nigh impossible to retain or recover. He'd shake his head and turn to his comrade, shifting the crimson hair aside revealing the once hidden smooth-bored hole in his forehead. "I am a Librarian, collector of all things knowledge and lore. As our lord's humble servant, my collection is to be shared to all of my comrades.", he'd answer, shifting his hair back once again. "Knowledge is beneficial to all, and important to the development of Los Noches if we are to ever properly rival the Shinigami as a society."

 The Sexta would pause and smile. "I pray that is a sufficient answer as any?"

[Rio Demonliogalgo]

If Rio came off as oldschool, it's because he was. A traditionalist and oldschool indeed. Rio wasn't just one of the longest running Espada, he was one of the oldest arrancar in Las Noches. To his knowledge, only Cain and the previous Tercera Espada, Zeruel, had been older than he was. There were probably a few more, but Rio was still looking pretty ancient at over four millennia in age. Not that his physical apparel showed it, having all the appearance of a man in his late twenties, or early thirties now. But rambling aside, yes. Traditionalist. Old-school. Those were very good words to describe Rio's mindset. Rio liked Las Noches and the arrancar as they were-- Social Darwinist society, where you earned your place through strength, and strength alone. Strength could take many forms, but the weak didn't last long here. Sure, you might take out someone stronger than you with a backstab while their guard was down, or weary from a previous challenge, but you couldn't hope to hold that position against the next challenger.

Serraph mentioned that knowing how they were would help them work together and compensate for weaknesses. Rio grinned. Or maybe he was snarling? With this man it was hard to tell. He was showing a lot of pointed teeth though, and his lips were curling upwards at least. "Weaknesses? That's an interesting word." Rio replied. "As I see it, any Arrancar with a true "weakness" never made it this far in the first place. Sure. Some of us aren't as strong as others in certain areas. You, for example, probably can't compete with my strength." As if to demonstrate, Rio lifted a piece of rubble from the floor in one massive hand, and crushed it in his grip as if it were an egg. "But that doesn't mean your strength is a weakness. If you had a true weakness, Sexta, you wouldn't be standing here today." Rio mentioned. "Whatever failings you think you have, you've clearly learned to compensate for. You've adapted and survived. You've evolved." Rio suggested. "Just like all of us have."

As far as Serraph's comment about it being a tough world out there, Rio nodded. "It is a tough, fuckin' world out there. But you're talking about your companions giving you the tools to make sure you're not... what word did you use? "Ousted"? Hate to break it to you, but that's not my job." Rio replied. "Yeah, I'll fight by your side against anyone who comes up against the forces of Las Noches. I'll be a diversion when you need it, the hammer to your anvil, or the shield to your spear. But what I won't do, is help you hold your own weight. You are the Sexta Espada. Look to that tattoo. That number." Rio threw open his jacket to show the number "5" emblazoned on his stomach. "You and I both understand what these numbers mean. We are the 5th and 6th strongest Arrancar in Las Noches. If someone comes along to take it from us, it's on us to protect that title. If you need someone's help to protect that number, it just means the person trying to take it from you deserves it more. Like you said. It's a harsh world, and if you're not strong enough to stand it, then it doesn't give a flying fuck." He stated. A blunt view, but perhaps fairly normal among arrancar. Their lifestyle had a tendency of breeding minds like that.

Serraph mentioned he was a Librarian, and a collector of knowledge. Rio gave him a curious expression, which turned slowly into a glare as he declared himself Kouhai's humble servant. "So you're one of those kind, huh?" Rio said, his mood soured immediately. "Another one of Kouhai's lapdogs?" Sonken Kouhai-- much as Rio was loathe to admit it, technically deserved his place in the hierarchy, at the top. Rio would rage to the heavens, and show utter disdain and hatred for the Shinigami King of Las Noches, but at the end of the day, Rio also knew he couldn't knock Sonken off that throne. None of them could. It was a disgrace, it went against everything Rio stood for, but it was by the book and ran according to Rio's own creed. The strongest should rule. But that didn't mean that Rio didn't absolutely despise that fact, and show nothing but disdain for arrancar that willingly bent the knee to a Shinigami.

"It's a very sufficient answer. You're just like Cierro and Zeruel, huh?" Rio growled out, his displeasure clear. "Freely and happily bending the knee to Shinigami filth." He snapped. It was clear that Kouhai's rule was a very sore spot for Rio. Indeed, it was only Serraph's rank that shielded him from the full brunt of Rio's wrath and anger. Any Fraccion or Numeros that spoke as such would probably have been struck by the Quinta for uttering something like that within the halls of Rio's own palace. The Espada were free to hold whatever views they wished, so long as they were strong enough to back them up. That did not mean they had to agree on everything, or indeed on anything, nor like the opinions of each other.

[Serraph Quarrere]

 Serraph felt a bit of unease from Rio's tone. Serraph's words were admittedly not arranged correctly, but this did help to prove his point. Hollows were volatile, and though Arrancar are less so, they trade this with an aspect their soul follows quite closely. This means that aspects opposing those could likely make an enemy with each other, at least over time. Serraph did not want this, not in the slightest. Slaying the former Sexta, or perhaps an arrancar posing as such, forced him into this position from an onlooking position, but Serraph always had options. Serraph chose to take the mantle of Sexta

 "Perhaps my words were not the best chosen, I apologize.", he'd say with a sigh. "Ultimately, this collection is meant to enhance my knowledge and understanding and those around me. I chose to become Sexta, you are right about that, but my allegience is to Los Noches, not necesarily to Kouhai himself." He admittedly almost felt a little guilty in the way he went on about his goal. One needed to be secure in order to flourish. In a world like this, his goal would be impossible without that security. One would become angry, saddened, or perhaps even jealous of what would build and would destroy everything he worked for. 

 "I could have turned this position down. Aye, I would likely be made an enemy, but those who brought me here couldn't hope to catch me if I so desired.", He'd explain softly. "I never fight a battle that has no hope of winning. To do so is to throw everything away for the sake of nothing." He felt like a child being scolded by his elder, but such feeling was possibly accurate, given Rio's age. "My desire could benefit other factions. I am diplomatic enough to potentially survive elsewhere. Whether it be the Quincies, the Soul Society, or the human world, my goal to collect knowledge is valuable enough alone, yet I chose this place. This place in the middle of an endless desert of death in a city among those who wear the mask of a human, but are barely human in soul."

 "These are our people. By the end of the day i'll see my selfish desire to know as much as I possibly can benefit us Arrancar.", his eyes brightened and his posture straightened with pride summoned within his chest. His devotion was indeed completely voluntary. It was why he wore his uniform in all manners of business as an Espada, and kept the jagged "6" on his midriff open for all to see. He couldn't doubt Rio's support to Serraph as an Espada, this much was clear, but if there was any sour taste in that man's mouth, Hollow nature could turn that taste into something disastrous down the road.

 "It doesn't sit well with me that Kouhai is who he is. This is indeed our realm, but what can we do about it? I've never met him, but the only thing that lets me know he exist is his presence we feel", He continued, glancing in the direction he thought he felt him. He hoped his defense of Rio's accusation would be enough, as he didn't know what else to say without potentially angering further. By wearing these numbers they were all Kouhai's dogs, lap or not. A mutt on a chain isn't much better than one eating from its owner's hand. At the end of the day a mutt is a mutt. "You keep mentioning names. Who are Cierro and Zeruel?"

[Rio Demonliogalgo]

Rio's scowl didn't completely abate, but it did shrink a little bit, in the face of Serraph's explanation. "Is that it? Huh. If you say so." The Quinta replied, letting the dust from the crushed stone fall to the floor. "I find that sorta thing boring and pointless, but like I said. You're an Espada. Nobody can tell you what to do anymore. I mean, a higher ranked one like me could but it'd be more trouble than it's worth. If you want to go with your book-keeping that's your thing." He replied with a shrug. Serraph said a few more things that piqued Rio's curiosity.

"Enemy of who? Who're you talking about "that brought you here"?" The Espada asked, more in a bothered tone of voice, than an angry or truly inquisitive one. His comment about never fighting a battle he didn't have hope of winning, however, calmed Rio just a hair, though for different reasons than he might have expected. The large man shook his head. "How can you tell before you square off?" Rio asked. "There're guys that put on a big show, and suck ass. There're guys that look weak and can snap your head clean off. Hell, even once the battle's begun you can never be sure. A guy you're pummeling might just be a slow starter, or leading you on. Someone who's pummeling you, might just have that one trick, or they might not be able to keep it up. A fight's never decided until the last blow is struck." Rio replied. Despite his thuggish behavior, Rio did have a keen mind when it came to battle, and exploring all the possibilities.

His line about the arrancar being their people did make Rio grin/snarl again. "Now that's well said, Sexta." He agreed. "I'll do what I can. To see the Arrancar restored to their rightful rule." Rio spoke casually. One day he'd overthrow Kouhai. It was hardly a secret that the Quinta longed to see Kouhai hurled from the throne. Preferably onto some very sharp rocks after a long drop. There was no question that Kouhai was aware as well. Rio was kept in check by Kouhai's power. A power that the Espada knew he could not hope to contest at this time. Today at any rate. But who knew what tomorrow would bring? Serraph's line about Kouhai allowed Rio to nod again. "Kouhai's strong. Stronger than a Shinigami has any right to be. I've been watching him for a long time now. One day, he's gonna falter, and that will be the day for arrancar to reclaim what is rightfully ours." Rio impressed. "I've been patient, waiting for that day. Until such a day, I'll keep fighting the war against Soul Society. Not for Kouhai, but for myself. With or without him, I'd be battling Shinigami anyways." Rio commented.

Finally, Serraph asked about the previous names Rio had mentioned. "Old Espada." He answered. "Well. ....One of them was an Espada. Zeruel was the former Tercera. Never knew the guy too well. Cierro..." Rio spat the name like a curse. "Cierro's a fuckin' bitch who got the rank of Octava by sucking up to Kouhai and being good at running away." He snarled. "I'm glad he's dead."

[Serraph Quarrere]

 "You bring up a good point", Serraph responded in reaction to his bit about those putting on a big show. "Truth be told, my memory of the event is a bit hazy. I was a newly made Arrancar after all. I remember approaching Los Noches, meeting with this man who'd tasked me with slaying a recluse hollow warlord in the fringes of Hueco Mundo. I remember releasing and slaying the man and waking up in what would become my palace. Those who were with him could very likely be fabrications of my still fragmented mind." He'd sigh and stretch his shoulder. "You are correct. You never know what happens until it happens."


 That was something Serraph could respect. Sure, he lacked the bloodlust many of his equals had, to an extent. His other fulfilled that particular role while he handled all the deplomacy. Still, his soul was resilient and he was no fool. His flesh may be rather weak, but he did hold a certain amount of strength, enought to be an espada. Everyone had their roles and Serraph played his. "Lord Kouhai will falter as any other would. No flame burns forever. Eventually his will dim. I can't say I won't gain a certain pleasure from his downfall. It'd make a good subject for the history books. Such an event deserved to be immortilized on paper and works of art, not unlike the downfall of Julius Caesar".

 "Good at running away huh", Serraph answered idly, forced to think on how he fought. Every engagement he fought hinged on the element of surprise. His spiritual pressure wasn't that impressive nor was his physical ability or his durability. However, if there was something he had a talent for was using his natural charisma to gain information, being able to speed across the battlefield, and know his way around a Cero. Every victory he gained was through the used of that technique in conjunction with his release. Still, he recognized  his candle burned out quick during his combat. Granted, he did utilize his superior speed to disengage, but such things were a purely tactical decision. He could no longer fight at all if he were dead, so why stay and throw his life away. He would keep this to himself. There were many who would view this as cowardice.

 "Such nuisances will inevitinably weed themselves out. If I happen to not meet the mark of Sexta, then another will come by and take my place. I am a relatively new Arrancar. I lack valuable experience in battle. Surely one would take advantage and rip this tattoo from my hip.", he'd laugh and pat his his tattoo before pacing a bit, tapping his cane along the subtle grooves between the tile work. "I can gaurantee you that I'm no Cierro. I am a Librarian, not a coward. You've the experience to make such a judgement. I'm curious, at first glance and through our interactions, what would you think of me?"

[Rio Demonliogalgo]

Rio had much more patience for Serraph than he would have had for most. An Espada was at least deserving of his time, and so he gave it with no malice or grudge. Certainly Serraph wasn't the sort of Espada Rio would likely choose to spend time with-- the bookish and scholarly sort. Just like Ailene. Rio preferred the company of warriors. Of Adalo and Kuroi. Peerless killers who reveled in their might. Still. Serraph bore the number "6" and for that, his strength had to be acknowledged. Acknowledged and respected.

Serraph's comments about Kouhai only cemented that for Rio. Serraph spoke of the future of their people so clinically. That Kouhai's rule and passing would be mere notes in history. To some extent, maybe he was right, but it was too.... sterile a view for so charged a moment. "Yeah. Well. I'm gonna fuckin' revel in it. While you're writin' down his biography see if you can figure out how a freak like him comes to be." Rio muttered in answer. "A Shinigami has no right or reason to be that strong. Doesn't make any fuckin' sense."

He let Serraph absorb his commentary about past Espada, and noted the comment about Cierro. The question he had of Rio though, took the Espada momentarily offguard. He asked what Rio thought of him? The Quinta's brow was furrowed at the question. "That's a dumb question." He retorted. "Shouldn't matter what I think of you, you've proven yourself, you've been deemed the sixth strongest Arrancar alive. In all the three worlds, there are exactly five arrancar that shouldn't be kneeling to you, to say nothing of Hollows. Just because I'm one of those five, doesn't mean even my opinion should mean shit to you. You're the Sexta Espada, you can do what you want, think what you want. That's the privilege you've earned for getting that number tattoo'd on you. And the only obligation you have is to maintain that strength." He added.

"If you want to call yourself "Librarian" that's fine, but you don't earn that tattoo by reading books all day. You have that tattoo because you can annihilate the people who tell you that book learning's stupid. You earned that tattoo by making the punks that tried to take your books away from you regret it." He added. A guess, to be sure, but one Rio was confident in. "That's the reward you get for your power. The power to do what you want, and not care what anyone else thinks about you." Hmph.

"So if you want what I think, I think you're too green, and too absorbed in your academic knowledge to realize that. But so long as you're strong enough to back up your rank, I don't really care."

[Serraph Quarrere]

The sixth strongest arrancar. Such words made the young Arrancar reflect, as many things often do. What would Lady Seris say in this situation? Would she be proud that one that partook in her blood could attain such power and recognition? Serraph could guess what she would feel. She wouldn't be that impressed. Those who drank of her blood became their servants, lovers, children, anything so long as they were hers and hers alone. The tattoo didn't mark him as loyal to Kouhai, and no doubt the shinigami knew that he wasn't, not truly. He belonged to only one in this world, the same hollowed queen he had been tricked into devouring.

 It has been his only regret. In the thousands he had devoured and slain in this realm or the battlefields of the second World War, no loss ever quaked his composure and demeanor.  Serraph had desperately sought a place in Los Noches for it was a beacon of hope of sorts for certain hollows with ambition and desire. He had been sent to to befriend and betray his Queen, the Crimson Queen Seris. He had fought for her, killed for her, and he repayed her by releaving her of her suffering.

 Now she exists inside of him. It is through the influence of her still living soul that his physical traits were the way they were. His left eye was crimson, the same as his hair, but is only so due to her influence on him. She still lived, sharing his body but slept. Would this make her Sexta Espada as well? Would this tattoo dissapear should he pass the reign of his body over ot her? These were questions he'd have to answer another time and not in the presence of such a seasoned and valuable warrior.

 "I treasure your insight, but I do disagree slightly", he'd respond, his hands folding over one another on the pommel of his cane. "As you say, I am easily lost to my work, to my thoughts, to my search for answers. I am inexperienced and lack the skill necessary to push back against his 'Aspect of Death' as some like to call it." He'd bring a gloved hand up, lifting up his blood-red bangs, revealing the hole burrowed through his head. "For one like me, a child compared to you, such feedback helps me see the importance."

 "If I were to say, strike you. How much of a dent do you think I could inflict upon you? If I were to take this weapon of mine and stab you, do you think it'd break flesh?", he'd muse, tapping the metal tip of his can along the stone floor. "The answer is no, it couldn't, and that is a problem." He'd let his hair down, covering his hollow hole once again and rested that hand on his hip. "We haven't been speaking that long, but I have to thank you. You've shown me that I need to get stronger and hone my skill if I intend to survive further."

[Rio Demonliogalgo]

Rio shrugged his shoulders. "We had a Cuarta Espada, who was a gibbering idiot, who couldn't string two words together and didn't know how to throw a punch." He answered in response to Serraph's comment about his inexperience. "But Baocao was so stupid strong he didn't need to. A blithering moron that wouldn't know tactics if it danced in front of him, but got that rank because it didn't fucking matter, because if you got in front of him, he'd crush you under raw power." Rio replied. "Now it's obvious you ain't got that overwhelming power, but if you're wearing the Number 6, it's because you found a way to make your power work. There isn't an Espada that's worn a tattoo that's been weak. 'Cept for Cierro, he was a fuckin' disgrace, but even that shit knew how to use the few pathetic tools at his disposal, and even he could gut a Shinigami if he was ordered to." The venom in Rio's tone, even to give as limited praise as that to the former Octava conveyed just how much the Quinta had loathed Cierro.

"Maybe you're as green as you say, maybe you're as weak as you look, but if that's true then you earned that "6" another way." Rio replied. "Maybe you got some insidious power. Or maybe you're lying to my face, and you're actually way stronger and more experienced than you let on." He shrugged. "Tricking someone's a kind of power. It's a bullshit power, but if you can keep doing it enough to hold that rank, I told you I ain't going to screw you over it." He'd probably shit-talk him behind his back, sure, given Rio was very much in favor of external, outward, and very visible strength. But not to his face. Cierro alone was the only Espada whom was deserving of Rio blatantly disrespecting to their face.

Rio saw Serraph's question and shrugged again. "I'm the Quinta. #5 to your #6. It's natural I can kill you." He replied. "But like I said, that rank of yours says it'd be more trouble than it's worth to do so, and besides, I'd be depriving Las Noches of one of its best. There's no reason to kill you." A moment of contemplation, more than Rio usually provided. "And besides, if your blade's dull you kill people in other ways. I don't know how the fuck you do it, only that you did. Power comes in a lot of forms, but power is power. And if you're Espada #6, you have power. Else you're not Espada #6 for long."