Challenge Accepted

"So, what exactly was that? Why are there Quincy here? Is this something Aizen planned?" After the cleanup was finished, Shinji came over bombarding Orihime with questions. She stared off into the distance and thought about the next part of the plan. When Hiyori and the Espada came over she began to explain.

"According to the memories I extracted, this was a forward scout force to recruit the Arrancar to joining the Quincy's cause. It turns out they were not eradicated a thousand years ago in the war between Soul Society and Quincy. There are hundreds of soldiers at this level, dozens at the level of lieutenant, and a handful stronger than a captain.

Additionally, their leader is a black-haired man with a strange mustache. He calls himself the true god and seems to want to dominate the world. I am sure the captain-commander would know more about this. As for Aizen, he should have no connection with the Quincy, but I believe he may have been aware that some survived, just not to this extent. We came here specifically to investigate this."

"We need to report this to the captain-commander immediately. Let's return, I'm sure he would want to hear this personally instead of through a hell butterfly..."

Shinji was interrupted by the bodies turning to a pile of bones as their skin had vaporized and disappeared. Orihime frowned and saw that there was nothing. Not a single piece of evidence survived.

"It's too late, they already know what happened here. I will go to the world of the living to seek out the surviving Quincy that defected from this group. Hiyori, return to Soul Society and report everything that happened here. Shinji, stay here with the Arrancar and defend against the next attack. I'm sure that they will attempt to wipe out the Arrancar since they won't be recruited any time soon."

Hiyori left and Shinji went to higher ground to keep a lookout. Meanwhile, the three Arrancar under her came over to discuss plans, but Tier interrupted them before they could begin. Orihime had already noticed her pensive look and was trying to get her Soul Reaper entourage to leave so she would approach.

"There is a problem. When they first arrived, an Arrancar named Asguiaro Ebern joined them immediately. The Quincy, as you call them, may already be aware of you and your followers."

"I see, thank you. Grimmjow, I want you to come to the world of the living with me. Nelliel, you stay with Ulquiorra and try to keep him from using his powers until he recovers—"

Tier steps in front of Orihime, blocking her from her subordinates. She has a frustrated look which causes Orihime to smirk.

"Was there something else?"

"I gave you useful information, shouldn't you compensate me?"

"You want compensation? That's strange, I don't recall soliciting anything from you. That's like a stranger walking up to me, putting a leek in my hand, and then asking for payment."

"What do you want…?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? But I have a guess already. The price is joining under me. You will be last in the pecking order, and must listen to anything your seniors say. Are you still willing?"

Tier became angry and the idea of having to not only serve the Soul Reaper in front of her, but people who had previously been equal or under her in status. She gritted her teeth under her mask and nodded. Once she received confirmation, Orihime immediately impaled Tier with her hand.

Tier let out a surprised moan. The feeling of someone rummaging through your soul was strange and invasive. However, she could feel an immense power spreading throughout her body. Once Tier got used to the feeling, she closed her eyes and let it fill every corner of her body. Before she knew it, she was unconscious receiving the benefits of the hogyoku. Orihime was surprised at how incomplete her form was. Aizen must have used the hogyoku on her first amongst the Vasto Lorde.

Orihime was reminded of something when she felt the hogyoku get a surge of alertness, awakening further. She turned to Nelliel and Grimmjow and gave them the command to gather all of the Arrancar that Aizen experimented on. She regreted not being able to absorb the power of hogyoku from Baraggan before, but would not pass up this chance again.

After a long time, they return with several Arrancar that Orihime recognized. Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia, who were healed by Orihime previously, stood nervously at the side. Gantenbainne Mosqueda and Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio were fairly calm and stood together as triple digit Arrancar. Pesche Guatiche and Dondochakka Birstanne stood with Nelliel, since they were still her Fraccion. Roka Paramia, the Arrancar nurse, stood on her own. And a large group of Arrancar stood separate from the rest, Rudbornn Chelute and his Exequias.

"I'll only say this once. Those who wish to serve under me along with Grimmjow, Nelliel, Ulquiorra, and Tier step forward."

Naturally, Pesche and Dondochakka had already chosen to serve under her. Gantenbainne and Dordoni were next to step forward. Loly and Menoly eventually decided to step forward, although they did not dare to look up at Orihime. Roka Paramia did not have an opinion, but seeing so many having stepped forward, she follows as well. The only ones to not step forward were Rudbornn and his Exequias.

"We only recognize Lord Aizen as our leader. However, we will not interfere with you, Soul Reaper."

"Heh, did I ever say that was an option? This is my first command to the newcomers. Kill all of them!"

Orihime shouted, pointing at Rudbornn and his group. His mask hid his expression but she could imagine what he was thinking. She gave an evil grin and watched the battle. Hollows were used to battling amongst themselves, so the show was very carnal. Knowing Orihime wouldn't let either side off, they fought with fervor. Eventually, all of Rudbornn's Arrancar were slain and he stood alone panting with a missing arm.

Orihime walked forward herself and faced against him. He had released his Resurreccion and was able to defend using his endless army of skulls. All of the Arrancar in his group was actually his ability. Now that he exhausted himself, Orihime lit up using Shunko and appeared in front of him. She gave him an uppercut which tore his skull from his head in one swift motion.

The strand from him was huge. It was at least twenty times the size of the strand she received from the last Arrancar all those months ago. She surmised this was because his power was heavily influenced by Aizen's hogyoku. Once she absorbed it, the remnant will hit her in several waves, but her mind was hardened from how powerful she had become.

However, she was brought to her knees by a deep pain from her soul. The hogyoku had reached the next milestone in awakening and a pulse of energy spread through her. It felt as if her soul was being torn apart and repaired a hundred times. Her followers would have been worried, but they were completely knocked into a daze by the intense scent she released at that moment. It felt as if being near her was the ultimate reason for their existence.

Orihime's hair turned jet black and her usual orange Reiatsu turned purple. It leaked around her with such a thickness that it created a fog. Her mind was expanding due to another floor of the Akashic records opening for her. All Kido known to this world was being copied into her mind. The only information she did not have access to was related to the Soul King and Yhwach.

Within her soul, her Hakusui was expanding many times its original size. The spiritual power within wasn't changing nearly as quickly, but it started to become a world of its own instead of just a small pocket within her soul. The dense spirit particles of Hueco Mundo flooded into her and filled the large vacuum of space she created. Her spiritual power broke through the forties and approach fifty. She had previously examined Yamamoto and estimated him to be in the sixties in terms of spiritual power.

The purple Reiatsu suddenly came back and surrounded her like a chrysalis. It wrapped around her body and condensed the rapidly expanding spiritual power, preventing her soul from collapsing. The new dimension created within her soul began to draw in spirit particles passively once the purple shell broke. Her endless strengthening technique was further increased with a near limitless capacity.

Her hair began to turn back to orange and pain subsided. Her muscles and bones creaked so she stood up to stretch. This experience had caused her to advance to a whole new level. Orihime saw the path to get stronger that no other Soul Reaper, not even Aizen, had discovered. She smiled and looked into the sky.

"So, you want me to come up there? Sure, I'll come willingly, but don't regret it once I'm there."