Espada Introduction

The Espada are the King of Heuco Mundo's most powerful warriors. They are chosen for their power and their skill
and rule over the lesser Numeros. There are ten Espada, each with a number based on their overall power, tatooed somewhere on their body/ The numbers range from 0-9 (zero being strongest, nine being the weakest.) They
were created to rival the Captains of the Shinigami and each have their own tower within Las Noches and a group of Fraccion, which serve as their subordinates.

To the Espada, strength means everything. It is not uncommon for them to rise up and challenge each other for higher ranks. Most are aggressive and quite often act on on their own, plotting and schemeing ways to gain power. However, when the King of Heuco Mundo speaks, they listen--as fear is the only thing that keeps them in line and working together.

Histoy

The history of the Espada begins with the King of Heuco Mundo, known as The Gorgon. Having ruled over Las Noches for countless eons, he began to grow bored with his reign. It was too easy for him. All were loyal. He began to wonder if there was a means to gather power beyond what he currently had. It was then he was visited by a mysterious Shinigami, who told him that there was powers beyond a Hollow. He challenged this Shinigami and was defeated in combat, but the Shinigami spared his life. He whispered into his ear, the secret of this power and left, vanishing into the desert.

The Gorgon tore off his mask, with a scream of agony that resounded across Los Noches and inflicted fear upon all of his subordinates. The tearing began to change him and soon he had evolved into something better than a Hollow, an Arrancar as he became known. His most loyal subjects began to tear off their masks as well, until he had an army of Arracnars under his command. With this new found form, also came a clearer mind, as he was no longer driven by the base insticts of his Hollow form. He was able to organize his army, train then, and recuit powerful menos such as the Vasto Lordes, to serve as his elite force--which he aptly named The Espada.

Despite his vast power, he knew that he needed more if he were to ever conquer the Living World and Soul Society, to become the King of All Existence. So, he decided a harvest of souls was needed and gathered his Espada, launching a
violent attack on the Living World.

The Espada were met with stiff resistance from the Gotei 13. The battle raged, with many Arrancar and Shinigami dying
violent deaths. The King of Heuco Mundo grew frustrated with the lack of progress, and realized that he had underestimated his enemy. He withdrew his forces back to Las Noches, to rebuild, especially the Espada, which had taken many casualties.

But, it would not be long before an enemy set upon Heuco Mundo to ravish the broken ranks of Arrancar. The Vandenreich, an army of Quincies arrived. The King of Heuco Mundo battened down the hatches and reinforced Las Noches, but an invasion never came. Instead, the Vandenreich remained on the outside, abducting and picking off Arrancar, and somehow transforming them into loyal subordinates. Before the King could launch an counter-attack, the Vandenreich and withdrew, and started their assault on Soul Society.

Currently, the Espada are rebuilding their ranks, waiting for powerful Hollows to fill the gaps.