Sacrifice Gives Rise to

Dordoni's eyes widened. "Even an Arrancar's Resurrección gets cut apart when it comes into contact with my sharp winds. What technique are you using to protect your body, Cangya? Why are your clothes completely undamaged?"

"My clothes are special."

His shirt and jeans had stayed that way ever since he came to this world, aside from the bloodstains on them.

He had cleaned his shirt with Reiatsu again and again, but there was no denying its durability.

"I see, Cangya."

After that strange exchange, the two resumed fighting.

Unable to penetrate the many tornadoes, Cangya chose to fire Cero beams from a distance.

Dordoni was covered in wounds, but he kept on fending off every one of Cangya's attacks. His tornadoes did a great deal to keep Cangya from getting close and to block the Cero beams.

However, he couldn't keep it up forever.

Eventually, his ability depleted his Reiatsu, and his Resurrección ended.

Though Dordoni had gained a great deal of Reiatsu after becoming an Arrancar, he couldn't match Cangya's astonishing rate of Reiatsu recovery and powerful regenerative ability.

Cangya's stamina was unmatched among Hueco Mundo's Menos Grande at the Vasto Lorde level—which was also the main reason his strength had risen so quickly over the past month.

Cangya sneered. "Now we're on equal footing."

Dordoni held his purple-hilted Zanpakuto and traced a cross in the air.

"Not even close, Cangya. Your spatial awareness is mediocre. You can barely tell a feint from a real attack."

"And you're terrible at hiding your intentions. In short, Cangya, compared to an experienced Espada like me, you're far too inexperienced."

The corners of Cangya's mouth rose in amusement. "Sorry for being so young. If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to be a Menos Grande of Hueco Mundo—a Vasto Lorde—who was born only a month ago either."

"One month?! Cangya, you were born only a month ago? That's impossible. It takes decades to evolve from a Gillian, the lowest class of Menos Grande, into an Adjuchas, an intermediate Menos Grande... unless you were born that way."

"A natural-born Menos Grande of Hueco Mundo—a Vasto Lorde? That's right, I'm one of those anomalies."

"No wonder you beat Tirutī so soundly. She was no match for someone with your potential."

Cangya chuckled, then appeared before Dordoni in an instant with a sonic boom.

The trick-playing Arrancar didn't hesitate to swing his notched Zanpakuto at Cangya's neck.

Cangya reached out and caught the blade with his bare hand.

The blade cut into his palm, but failed to sever it completely.

Blood streamed down like a red waterfall.

His Regeneration tried to heal the wound, but the Zanpakuto lodged in his palm prevented it from closing completely.

He had the protection of the Pain Resistance skill; otherwise, the pain would have left him in a miserable state.

"Dordoni." Cangya called his name with an evil smile as blue Reiatsu poured from his injured hand. "Say goodbye to your Zanpakuto."

Before Dordoni could take back his Zanpakuto, Cangya activated his "Aspect of Death" ability.

An Arrancar's Zanpakuto contained the power they had possessed as a Hollow before becoming an Arrancar.

It also sealed their Hollow attributes, allowing them to possess human-like emotions.

One could say that a Zanpakuto was as important to a Hollow as it was to a Soul Reaper, perhaps even more so.

Despite a Zanpakuto's extraordinary abilities, the blade in Cangya's hand was a physical object.

With the power of "Pressure," he could manipulate any physical matter, provided he understood its nature or forced it to obey with powerful Reiatsu.

Dordoni gripped his Zanpakuto tightly. Cracks spread across the entire blade, and then it broke in two.

Dordoni stood motionless, holding the hilt.

After a tense silence, he lowered his head. "I should have been more careful when I saw you toy with Tirutī."

Dordoni had fallen victim to his own wealth of experience.

A true warrior would cut down an enemy without hesitation, and it was that very impulse that had led to the destruction of his Zanpakuto.

"I've been had... Your ability, your Reiatsu, can change the physical properties of anything it touches."

"That's right. I made your Zanpakuto extremely fragile."

Despite his defeat, Dordoni threw back his head and laughed.

"Well done, Cangya. You might really be able to cause that old king some trouble... I sincerely hope you can."

"Well, before you go anywhere, you'll have to conquer me first... As long as I have a breath left and my body can still move, I'll keep fighting. That's what a warrior should do, Cangya."

Unwilling to let Cangya win so easily, Dordoni charged forward, displaying his sharp fighting skills with a fierce barrage of punches and kicks.

Cangya stood his ground and skillfully blocked every one of Dordoni's attacks, making sure not a single blow struck his body.

After what seemed like several minutes, Cangya found an opening and hit Dordoni in the face, sending him flying toward the ground.

Cangya caught up to Dordoni with Sonído and kicked him hard, sending him toward a nearby mountain.

Dordoni gasped for breath, blood spraying from his mouth.

Cangya appeared beside the battered Dordoni as a blur, his fingers gripping the defeated warrior's hair tightly.

A faint smile touched the corners of his mouth.

"That was a truly wonderful fight." His voice held a trace of admiration. "I hope you won't try to deprive others of their freedom in your next life."

Dordoni gave a weak, raspy chuckle, coughing blood onto his lips.

"You defeated me, Cangya. But be careful... Baraggan is coming. Devour me, Cangya. Inherit my Reiatsu and grow stronger."

Cangya kept his gaze fixed on Dordoni, his thoughts racing.

Though he had spent a month in Hueco Mundo, he had never devoured a Hollow's flesh—that is, its soul.

Dordoni's powerful Reiatsu tempted him.

"You provoked me into ending your life," he said quietly. "What's your ultimate goal, Dordoni? Why are you so eager to die?"

Dordoni's killing intent was far less genuine than Tirutī's.

Tirutī had truly wanted to kill him, while Dordoni had only pretended to bear him ill will.

If he had really wanted to kill Cangya that badly, he could have taken Apache and Mila Rose hostage.

He was like a knight in shining armor, noble and chivalrous.

"Sacrifice gives rise to..." Dordoni forced out the words, reaching toward something in the distance.

"Don't let it go to waste... Kill Baraggan, or he'll kill you... Become a demon, Cangya."

Cangya paused and gazed intently at Dordoni.

He recalled Dordoni's role in the story—through a twisted choice, Dordoni had shown Ichigo the cruelty of Hollows, then sacrificed himself to buy Ichigo time.

His "Aspect of Death" must be "Sacrifice," just like Tier Harribel's.

Realization dawned on Cangya, but it was already too late.

Unlike Tirutī's Zanpakuto, Dordoni's had been completely destroyed, and his body was damaged beyond repair.

Even if he survived, he could never regain his former strength, much less surpass it.

Cangya clenched his fists.

"How stupid... I'll kill Baraggan for my own desires. You didn't have to tell me any of this... Let me end your suffering."

He used his "Pressure" ability to accelerate Dordoni's heartbeat.

Thump, thump, thump. Dordoni's heart stopped beating under the pressure.