Abilities After Becoming an Arrancar

Apache lowered her head and said softly, "Even if I'd torn off my mask, it wouldn't have helped."

Tearing off her mask might have brought her up to Mila Rose's level, but Cangya's Reiatsu had trapped Mila Rose at the time too.

He reached out and affectionately stroked the top of her head. "You did well."

"Hmph."

Sun-Sun's snakelike tongue flicked out and licked the eggshell, then licked Cangya's cheek.

"They taste about the same."

Mila Rose burst out laughing. "So Skull really did become a 'mom.' Who's the kid's father, then?"

Cangya covered his mouth, feigning shock. "Could it have been our kiss? I... you have to take responsibility for this."

Mila Rose was speechless for a moment, her mouth hanging open.

She had meant to use the egg to get the upper hand, but Cangya had turned the tables on her so easily.

Sun-Sun poked Mila Rose's face with her tongue.

"I warned you it was useless. You can't beat a powerhouse like me, Cangya. Weaklings should admit defeat and bow their heads to us."

"You..." Mila Rose tightened her grip on her sword. "I'm going to kill you!"

"Oh my. Don't get violent."

"Aaah!"

Sun-Sun slithered out of the dark cave, Mila Rose close behind with her Zanpakuto raised.

Tirutī followed them to make sure Mila Rose didn't actually kill Sun-Sun.

"They haven't changed at all," Cangya muttered, shaking his head.

"Just so we're clear, I was joking. I'm still a man. I'm talking to you, Tier Harribel. Don't treat me like a girl."

"I know. I know..." Tier Harribel sighed softly. "I don't join in your teasing, but I understand your sense of humor."

They had seriously underestimated her powers of observation.

"What does it matter?" Apache asked. "Man or woman... she's just as good to us either way."

Cangya's face twitched.

Apache knew perfectly well he was interested in Tier Harribel, yet she had asked such a strange question.

That was like stirring up a hornet's nest. He was too tired to deal with her right now.

Before he could respond, Tier Harribel stepped in.

She patted Apache on the back with the arm holding her sword, the loud smacks echoing through the cave.

"Let him rest. Get outside."

"Hey, stop hitting me!"

Tier Harribel kept patting Apache's back, driving the little deer outside.

She looked back and sighed. "Cangya, don't spoil Apache too much... let her learn to walk before she runs."

Cangya tilted his head and waited for her to explain.

Tier Harribel left the cave without another word.

"What did she mean by that? Come to think of it, she still hasn't told me what that favor was."

Tier Harribel was quiet and observant. She rarely shared her feelings and kept her thoughts to herself most of the time.

"I'll think about it later."

Cangya collapsed onto the cold sand, the mysterious egg pressed tightly against his chest.

He checked his status to see if he had any new abilities.

[Basic information]

Name -- Cangya

Gender -- male

Race -- Hollow (Hueco Mundo Menos Grande Arrancar)

Reiatsu level -- Senior Captain-level (above Captain-level)

Alignment -- neutral evil

Affiliation -- Nameless Faction

...

Racial abilities

[Cero: Reiatsu attack skill

Proficiency level -- high]

[Sonído: movement skill

Proficiency level -- high]

[Garganta: limited spatial distortion skill.

Proficiency level -- basic]

[Iron Wall: Reiatsu defense skill.

Proficiency level -- basic]

[Resurrección: Zanpakuto release.

Proficiency level -- none]

[Sensing: sensing skill.

Proficiency level -- none]

Innate abilities

[Ginrei Kuchiki's Voice]

[Pressure (Aspect of Death ability)]

[Shattered Heart (Hollow form)]

[Regeneration]

Acquired abilities

...

"The Phoenix Mark, an absurd self-healing ability, and now an egg."

Though he looked like a demon, all the signs suggested he possessed powers like those of the mythical phoenix.

At least I have decent clothes, he thought, focusing on the positive side of his evolution, as was his nature. And Iron Wall and Sensing too.

In his Hollow form, Cangya had possessed exceptional control over his Reiatsu thanks to the innate power of his Hollow mask.

His human form had no such advantage.

He used his rest time to carefully refine his control over his Reiatsu, keeping it from leaking out and concealing it—a skill that would be very useful in the World of the Living.

After training for just a few hours, Cangya grew bored and left his resting place.

"Tier Harribel, protect this egg while I'm gone. Tirutī, let's go."

Tier Harribel held the egg and gently patted it with her left hand.

Her tender gaze was just like a mother's. "I'll protect your child with my life."

Her serious words, coupled with her motherly expression, left Cangya speechless for a moment. "Tier Harribel, this is our child."

Tier Harribel stared at him with wide eyes, then looked as though she had suddenly understood.

Her intuition about Cangya had been right all along. "This is only your child."

Tirutī drew a line in the air and opened a Garganta as easily as Cangya. "You can talk about it later. Let's go."

She jumped in, and Cangya followed her without hesitation.

Suddenly, a surging storm of Reishi swept across the vast void, pushing Tirutī into Cangya's chest.

Instinctively, Cangya spread his wings—now twice as large as before—and steadied them on a platform formed from Reiatsu.

"Whew, that almost swept us off to who knows where."

The opportunistic Cangya wrapped an arm around her waist.

He reveled in the delicate sensation of her feathers brushing his skin, and in her warmth.

He leaned forward and kissed the back of her neck.

"Don't worry. You're in the safest place in the world right now. Even if we get transported to some hellhole like the Middle Ages, I'll protect your chastity... from everyone but me, of course."

Tirutī jabbed him in the chest with her elbow, but it had no effect on his Iron Wall defense.

With no other choice, she pushed him with her shoulder. "Cut it out. Why are you always so lustful? There's more to life than chasing women."

Hollows, creatures that acted on instinct, showed hunger rather than lust for her Reishi-filled body.

From his interactions with his "friends," she had noticed that Cangya was one of the few Hollows who indulged in carnal desires.

"Well..." Cangya paused dramatically. "Having a head full of hormones is really a nuisance. Did I mention I was only born a month ago? Newborns are always curious."

He blamed his desires on this new body.

"Baraggan won't care whether you were born one month ago or ten. Stop fooling around and focus on training your new abilities."

"No way. I want to live an interesting life, even if I suffer for it later."

Tirutī clenched her fists. "If every Hollow were as carefree as you, Hueco Mundo wouldn't be an abyss of despair."

Sadly, most Hollows were driven by instinct, which made Hueco Mundo the most desolate place, perhaps with the exception of hell.

She dispelled those depressing thoughts. She would never give in to despair before eliminating the sources of her hatred—Baraggan and Szayelaporro.