The next person who walked up caused Ben's face to immediately light up, as he looked at the woman in front of him.
She had dark, exotic skin with blonde hair and green eyes.
Her shirt covered the upper half of her body and even her mouth, but it didn't completely cover the one thing that was making Ben's little brother stand up.
The lower part of her chest was more than half exposed and Ben was trying hard to stare at her measuring size of it. He felt so pleased, but it was all hidden by his normal reaction.
"Tia Harribel," the woman said in a calm voice. "The 3rd Espada. It is comforting to meet someone who has manners, Ben Tennyson."
Ben nodded, and shook his hand with her feeling her soft hand, then Harribel walked back to her seat. Nnoitra scoffed at her as if he thought she was inferior, despite the fact that she was the higher ranking.
The second to last person was an old man with something that looked like a star-like crown on his head. A scar ran down one of his eyes. He looked at Ben as if he was a gum wad that had gotten stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
"Barragan Luisenbarn," the old man said gruffly and uncaringly. "2nd Espada."
He shot one last look of contempt at Ben before sitting down. Anger boiled within Ben and he seriously considered going Rath on the old guy. But his attention was drawn to the last guy. He had shoulder length brown hair and a faded goatee. He also had a look between boredom and sleepiness on his face.
"Coyote Starrk," the man said drowsily. "The Primera Espada. Sorry about this, but I'm exhausted right now."
Ben raised an eyebrow. This guy was supposed to be the number one Espada? He looked like he was gonna collapse and fall asleep any minute. Ben watched as Starrk took his spot next at the table.
"Now, Ben," Aizen spoke. "You have been introduced to all the Espada. Now it's your turn."
Ben raised an eyebrow at Aizen. "Huh?" he asked.
Aizen smiled at him. "I would like very much to see all the things that you can turn into."
Silence.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then Ben smirked. "Why?"
The single word hung in the air, instantly shifting the atmosphere. A few Espada frowned. Others looked amused.
Ben didn't care.
He crossed his arms, eyes sharp. "You want me to show everything I can do… just like that?"
Aizen remained calm, but there was a flicker of interest in his gaze.
"I see you still have trouble trusting me, Ben."
"Trouble?" Ben chuckled lightly. "No… I just don't see the point."
He stepped forward slightly, green eyes locked onto Aizen. "You had everyone introduce themselves, sure." He shrugged. "Names, ranks… titles."
Then his smirk widened. "But I don't remember anyone showing their powers."
That made the room go quiet. Even the Espada shifted slightly.
Ben continued, voice calm but edged with arrogance. "Why should I reveal mine… when none of you did?"
His gaze sharpened further. "I don't even know what you can do, Aizen."
A few Espada reacted immediately.
"Watch your tone," Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez growled.
Ben didn't even look at him. "You done barking?" he replied casually.
Grimmjow's eyes flared, but before he could move.
"It's fine," Aizen said softly.
Instant silence.
Ben noticed it. One word… and they all stop. Interesting. Very interesting.
"I understand your reasoning," Aizen continued. "However, you have nothing to fear from us."
Ben almost laughed.
Nothing to fear? Images flashed in his mind, Runuganga, Dordonii, Yammy attacking him without warning. Yeah. Sure.
"Benjamin," the one named Tosen said. "When Aizen says you are safe, that means you are."
Ben couldn't figure Tosen out. But he sure felt better around Tosen than that other guy Gin. Tosen was the only person he was certain did not look down on him. Seeing as how there was no way out of this, Ben looked at Aizen.
Still… that didn't mean trust.
"There's no such thing as 'safe'," Ben said lightly. "Just people who think they're in control."
That line lingered.
For a second, even Aizen's smile deepened slightly.
"Aizen-sama," Szayelaporro Granz suddenly spoke, excitement in his voice. "Simply showing us transformations would be dull. Why not test them… properly?"
Ben sighed, rolling his neck.
"Of course…" he muttered. "Here comes the mad scientist."
"Not a bad idea," Grimmjow smirked. "Let's see what the kid can actually do."
"His battle with Yammy showed some level of capability," Ulquiorra Cifer added calmly. "Though it was only Yammy… he may possess minor potential."
Now that really burned Ben up. Ulquiorra was looking down on it, but admitting that there was a chance that Ben was slightly more than dead weight.
Yammy was ticked off too, but for an entirely different reason than Ben. "He got lucky!" Yammy roared. "I didn't expect the kid to turn into that Humungo whatever he called it."
"I believe Ben referred to the transformation as 'Bad Humungousaur', Yammy," Szayel told him.
Yammy just snarled at Szayel.
"Well, Szayelaporro Granz," Sōsuke Aizen said calmly. "I agree with you. I'd like to see what young Ben is capable of. A demonstration of his powers would be an excellent idea."
Be let out a quiet breath, tilting his head slightly as if bored rather than bothered. "So you want me to fight more people?" he said, with a faint amusement, like he already found the idea predictable.
That alone made a few of the Espada frown. This wasn't fear, nor was it obedience. It was indifference.
"Don't worry, Ben," Aizen continued smoothly. "I only wish to see your forms in action. I will intervene before anything serious occurs."
Ben's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't answer immediately. The memory of Yammy attacking him earlier was still fresh, and Aizen had done nothing then.
"Yeah…" Ben muttered, a faint smirk forming. "You don't really look like the 'intervening' type."
A subtle tension spread in the room.
Yammy suddenly stood up. "Aizen-sama, I'd be more than happy to crush this runt myself."
Ben slowly turned his head toward him, completely unfazed. "Didn't you already try that?" he said lazily. "Pretty sure I was the one beating you down as Humungousaur."
Yammy's face twisted in anger. "You got lucky! That's all it was! I'll smash you into nothing this time!" He stepped forward, spiritual pressure rising.
Ben didn't move. Not even an inch. He just looked at him… like he wasn't worth the effort.
"Please sit back down, Yammy," Aizen said calmly.
Instantly, Yammy froze. The pressure vanished. He glanced at Aizen, clenched his teeth, and then slowly returned to his seat.
Ben noticed that. One sentence… and he stops again.
His smirk deepened.
"Now," Aizen continued, as if nothing had happened, "the question is, who should test Ben? We know he can handle the Privaron Espada. However, it is still unclear where he stands among you, my Espada. At the very least… he can contend with Yammy."
Ben let out a quiet chuckle.
"'At least'?" he repeated under his breath.
Then he looked up, eyes sharp and confident.
"You're all thinking about this the wrong way," he said.
A few Espada glanced at him, irritated by his tone.
Ben casually raised his wrist, the Omnitrix faintly glowing green.
"You're trying to figure out where I rank," he continued. "Like I'm supposed to fit somewhere under you."
His smirk turned colder. "That's not happening."
A faint pressure began to build.
"I'm not here to be tested," Ben said calmly. "If anything… I'm the one deciding how far this goes."
His gaze shifted across the room, briefly passing over each Espada before landing back on Aizen.
"So pick whoever you want," he added casually. "Just don't expect me to play fair… or hold back when I get bored."