THEHUNT [yets]

The Espada's arms moved to cross his chest, not one of arrogance but to instead give him a sense of comfort. Slowly a smile coursed his lips, the Captain appearing before him a mere 16 feet away; his eyes rarely deceived him when it came to understanding where he stood in reference to others. Even as he spoke, a silence following, he studied the appearance of the man. His eyes had the conviction he had been searching for, yet an anger and malice so deeply rooted that not even an Espada could compare to them. "The view is not lost on those without hearts," he said simply in reply, no sarcasm or anger lacing his words instead an honesty even the captain could see.

Ao's eyes narrowed.

"And what of you, Xiānshēng? Of all the things I'd imagine one of your prestige to be doing, here you are, skulking the stree- err, skies of NY." Even with each word that left his lips, his eyes never the left the man, prepared to stop a midst the slightest breathe to defend himself; honor sometimes didn't exist in those you would expect. As if in respect for the man before him, he allowed his reiatsu to flow out, breaking glass beneath him and bending metal. If the man before chose to strike, he would find this Espada no easy challenge. And that? Well, that idea alone put a grin on his face.

The Espada's own reiatsu encased him in the glow of cerulean - like the name Cerulean Lion implied - as if to rival the mans own. His own was pale in comparison to the Captain, yet even so, the idea didn't strike fear in the man nor intimidate him. If he was entirely honest, the strength the man before him possessed gave the man a thrill; blood rushing through his body like a Niagara Falls.   Was he the one to finally best the warrior? Heh.

The grin turned into a half frown, the eyebrow (of his good eye) raising as if in questioning of what he said.  "Leave? Why would I leave?" Head turning slightly, about 45 degrees, he continued. "We both do not belong, Shinigami. Do not treat me as if I am the only one who is trespassing." The Espada increased the pressure of his reiatsu, the concrete beneath him beginning to crack, some pieces breaking off. "If you're here to threaten me; feel free. But do not think you can stand above me. I will not stand for it."

Had the Espada been able to read minds he would have struck the Shinigami down before him in mere seconds. To call the Lion cowardly? The very idea would have sent a shiver down the mans spine and a blade through the captains. I suppose you could call the man before him lucky, with all things considered. Ears perked at the threat - or rather information - detailing that this would not be his fault, but rather the Espada's. He held back laughter. So it was the fault of another you raise your blade? How childish. His words were cold. Even as if he finished speaking, the gaze he held was one of the very same conviction he noted earlier. One that wanted the Espada dead. "So be it, Zōngshī."

The Espada was moving as he spoke. Only a fool would allow his opponent ample time to do as he wanted. As he went about casting the torrent of wind upwards, he was above him, about 4 meters, opening the Arrancar's maw. Forming forth in front of it, a glow as beautiful as the blue sky silhouetted by a sunrise, was a incredibly dense blue orb.¹ Within' a second it fired, aiming to consume the Shinigami in it's incredibly powerful wake. The beam would only grow wider with distance, destroying any building below, and even causing extensive damages to the streets as well. Not enough to kill, most likely, but enough to have you regret your choices. But, like the Captain unbenounced to him, he was merely testing the waters.

To play it safe he moved once again, hovering above the crumpled mess of the Empire State building, now the top in bits and pieces caused by the wind.

---

Cero¹

The Espada's own cero had met it's mark, consuming the death reaper in it's brilliant glow. Few could say they've stood up to the par with a cero from that of an Espada and have lived to tell the tale, but judging by the man's lack of reaction, or care, he would be one of the few. Yet, even so, Ao didn't expect the man to actually transverse the distance between the two, still consumed in the bask of the Cero's power. Surely he was suicidal or his defenses were that strong? The Espada's eye opened wider, more in surprise rather than fear, as his mouth was covered in the hand of the Captain. Recovering quickly he looked at the eyes of Sojiro and noted his bloodlust. A smile would have formed if he could, before he found himself flying through the air.

Upwards he went, the cold air and dense pressure of the air meaning absolutely little to the Lion. He stopped within' seconds, gaining his foothold, though he was upside down in comparison to the Captain. His awareness peaked then, understanding that the man before him would not wait to strike, even if it was to boast. He too was born in blood and battle. A relic of war? That was a child compared to the Espada, though, if he was to be brutally honest he found himself impressed by the Captain. Reaching down towards his hilt, he effortlessly pulled the closest blade out to him (center of the left holster) and centered it low to his chest. The boy had shown talent with, and as such, had earned the right to bear witness to at least one of the six blades. And if he was a Master with all six? Well, was there even a word for his skill with one?

The slightest effort of push from his muscled legs sent him forth¹ to cross blades with the man. Had he wished to use the technique from earlier, he could, though the blade of an Espada was not one so equally nulled by mere power alone. The way Ao handled a blade would put even the Cero Espada unease, should he ever have the glory to witness it. Even as he crossed the distance and rose his blade in a downward slash, carried by the momentum of his Sonido and as one of the fastest Hueco Mundo had to offer, he was made wary of any Hado techniques. Those were something even he must be wary of.

---

Sonido¹

Like the Espada expected, the Shinigami raised his zanpakuto in defense, blades clashing in wait for the struggle of the two strengths. A smirk danced across his lips on contact, a trickle of blood from the corner of his lip sliding down the pale skin of the one eyed lion. The man before him was no novice, that was correct. The idea that he would simply clash blades with the Espada, one that wielded six blades nearly every day, was a preposterous one. Thus far he has shown prominence in kido, so, why wouldn't he again? Luckily for him, he was correct.

The Captain was fast, undeniably so, but Ao was among the fastest Hueco Mundo had to offer. In a swift motion he released (using his left hand) his grip on the blade and shot it out, grabbing the finger of the man as he aimed it and pulled it up. The desired effected would be to either break the finger or completely cause the attack to otherwise miss. Inside his maw, the energy began to built¹, infusing itself with his blood. The man before him was about to get a nasty surprise..

---

Gran Ray Cero (building)¹

The single eye of the Espada, the one that had seen so much yet learned so little in this short fight, opened wide with surprise. Smoke from the holes in his abdomen, the lightning jutting forth through his backside like the waters from a dam. The blood he had poured into his mouth was lost as he opened his maw involuntarily, shooting forth and potentially spilling on the other mans face, as a swift kick came and planted itself heavily against his forehead. Once more he found himself flying, but this time it was more difficult to stop himself.

Grasping the hilt of the blade, now upright by the other mans standards, he leaned heavily against it, struggling to stand as paralyzation rooted itself in his limbs. The cero he was once forming, dissipating in the struggle, leaving him defenseless against any further onslaught. Was this how the lion would succumb to death? Weak and fragile like the many he had slain before him? "Heh," he said, blood pouring from his bottom lip, falling to one knee. "I appeared to have underestimated you, Shinigami." Ao did his best to keep his words as coherent as possible. "You have bested me." Hearing the words, well, he could barely believe it.