Repairing Nel's Mask

In the desolate Hueco Mundo Desert, the wind whispered like the murmurs of countless souls. Three Hollows huddled in the shadows of the dunes, warily watching the Soul Reaper clad in black Shihakushō before them.

"What do we do? He's taking us away, is he going to kill us?" Dondochakka said in a low voice, his eyes, hidden behind his mask, darting around anxiously.

Nel her head, her clear eyes devoid of the usual ferocity. "But he doesn't seem to have any ill intentions towards us."

Pesche clenched his fists, his bony tail sweeping uneasily across the sand. "Judging by his attire, he's definitely a Soul Reaper, our mortal enemy. Who knows if he's planning to gather information about Hueco Mundo first, and then deal with us?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out," Dondochakka echoed, leaning forward slightly in a defensive stance.

"But we're no match for him," Nel said softly. "Even if we don't go with him, he might still kill us right here."

As the three were whispering among themselves, Liu Hao, who had been standing quietly in front, turned around with a gentle smile on his face, "Have you made up your minds? Don't worry, I mean you no harm."

His voice was calm and sincere, but this did not completely dispel the three's doubts. They exchanged glances and finally nodded helplessly. Nel mustered her courage and peeked out from behind her two companions. "Alright, we'll go with you, but you can't hurt us, okay, Mr. Soul Reaper?"

Liu Hao's smile deepened, "Don't worry, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck."

The name, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirred ripples in the hearts of the three. Pesche and Dondochakka were startled, looking at Liu Hao in disbelief, then at Nel. Nel herself blinked, confused, "Are you talking to me? But my name is Nel!"

A glint flashed in Liu Hao's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Alright, Nel. Let's go, this isn't the place to chat."

He turned and walked into the depths of the Desert, his black robes swaying gently in the breeze unique to Hueco Mundo. Pesche and Dondochakka exchanged a worried glance, but ultimately protected Nel and followed. Nel, sandwiched between the two, occasionally glanced curiously at Liu Hao's back ahead.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the group arrived at a cave formed by wind erosion. Liu Hao stopped and gestured for the three to enter the cave. After they had all entered, he did not immediately follow, but stood at the entrance and slowly drew his Zanpakuto — the Imperial Sword —from his waist.

The moment the sword was drawn, a cold light pierced the dimness of the Hueco Mundo. Liu Hao lightly flicked the sword with his fingertip, and a crisp sound spread out like ripples. As the sound waves spread, the space around the cave entrance was subtly distorted, as if an invisible curtain had fallen, isolating the cave from the outside world.

After completing all this, Liu Hao turned and entered the cave, still holding the Imperial Sword in his hand.

Inside the cave, Pesche and Dondochakka saw Liu Hao approaching with a sword and immediately jumped up like startled wild beasts, firmly protecting Nel behind them. Their Reiatsu unconsciously increased, filled with vigilance and hostility.

Liu Hao simply smiled and shook his head, "Don't be so nervous. If I wanted to kill you all, why would I go through all this trouble? Why would I need to hide our hiding place?"

His words were calm and reasonable. Pesche and Dondochakka exchanged a glance, their tense muscles relaxing slightly, but they still maintained a defensive posture.

Liu Hao's gaze passed over the two of them and landed on Nel: "Nel, come to me."

Nel hesitated for a moment, glancing at her two protectors. After Pesche nodded slightly, she cautiously walked up to Liu Hao. Liu Hao crouched down, his gaze level with Nel's, and gently stroked the top of her head. His eyes carefully examined the shattered mask on her forehead and the hideous scar, a complex emotion flashing in them.

Then, Liu Hao stood up and did something that surprised everyone—he gently pressed the tip of the Imperial Sword against Nel's mask.

"What are you doing!" Pesche and Dondochakka roared simultaneously, instinctively wanting to rush forward.

However, in that instant, an overwhelming Reiatsu erupted from Liu Hao, pressing down on the two of them like an invisible mountain. They found themselves unable to move an inch, and even breathing became difficult. Sweat dripped from their foreheads, stinging their eyes, but they couldn't even blink, and could only stare at Liu Hao in terror.

Nel didn't feel the Reiatsu specifically targeting the two adult Hollows, but the cold sword tip pressed against her forehead made her tremble all over. She looked up at Liu Hao, her eyes filled with fear and confusion.

Liu Hao maintained his gentle smile, his voice soft yet authoritative. "Don't move, or you'll get a hole poked in your head."

Tears finally streamed down Nel's face. The Liu Hao she saw now no longer resembled the gentle Grim Soul Reaper from before, but rather a demon in human skin, ready to devour her at any moment. Yet, she was unable to move, forced to let fear spread through her heart.

Liu Hao slowly closed his eyes, his Imperial Sword remaining firmly in place. The cave was deathly silent, with only the faint sound of wind, characteristic of Hueco Mundo, drifting from the concealed entrance.

After an unknown amount of time, Liu Hao suddenly opened his eyes and murmured, "Imperial Decree, All Things Restored."

As he finished speaking, the Imperial Sword trembled slightly, emitting a deep and melodious sound. A soft white light emerged from the tip of the sword, as warm and full of life as the early spring sunshine.

The moment this power appeared, the atmosphere inside the cave subtly changed. Pesche and Dondochakka felt the heavy Reiatsu down on them quietly dissipate, replaced by a warm power that made them feel incredibly safe, like a fetus returning to the womb, enveloped by pure life force.

Nel also felt the warmth coming from the top of her head, flowing into her body like a warm spring, running through her limbs and bones. A strange itch came from her forehead, making her instinctively want to reach out and scratch it.

"Don't move, or you'll get a hole poked in your head," Liu Hao warned again, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery.

Nel immediately withdrew her small hand that was about to be raised, suppressing the tickling sensation, and stood quietly in place, her big eyes fixed on Liu Hao.

Pesche and Dondochakka watched in shock as the changes were happening to Nel. Before their eyes, the hideous scar on Nel's forehead was healing at a visible speed, the edges of the broken mask were reconnecting, and the cracks were gradually disappearing. Even more astonishingly, the original skull mask was changing shape—elegant spiral structures were gradually extending from both sides, like the horns of a argali sheep, circling around the edge of the mask.

As the last ray of light merged into Nel's body, Liu Hao slowly sheathed the Imperial Sword. The moment the sword tip left her forehead, Nel let out a long sigh of relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted.

Pesche and Dondochakka immediately rushed to Nel's side, examining her closely. "Nel, how are you feeling?" Pesche asked anxiously, his voice trembling with disbelief.

"Nothing much, just a warm, itchy feeling, but it's better now," Nel replied innocently, then looked at the two excited people with confusion, "Why are you two so excited?"

The two exchanged a glance, Pesche tentatively asked, "So, did you remember anything?"

"No!" Nel shook her head, her expression still innocent and pure.

The two turned to Liu Hao, their eyes full of questions. Liu Hao sheathed his Imperial Sword and explained, "I merely healed her injuries and, incidentally, altered the style of her mask according to my own aesthetic. Her lost power needs to be restored slowly."

He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at Nel: "As for whether she can return to her original form, that depends on her own will. Besides, she doesn't have enough power to maintain her original form right now; forcing her to revert would only hurt herself."

Upon hearing this, Pesche and Dondochakka knelt down before Liu Hao, their foreheads almost touching the ground. "Thank you, sir, for saving Nel," Pesche said, her voice choked with emotion. "If you ever need us again, we will do our utmost to help."

Dondochakka nodded solemnly. "We swear on our empty dignity."

Nel looked at the scene with confusion and asked, "What are you talking about? I don't quite understand."

Liu Hao smiled and walked up to her. With a flick of his finger, a water mirror appeared out of thin air. "Perhaps you'll understand in the future. Come and see your new look."

Nel closer to the water mirror, her eyes widening in surprise. "Wow, my mask is whole again! The scars are gone too." She reached up and touched the new spiral structure on her head. "But why are there two ram horns? They look so weak, not intimidating at all..." She tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Strangely cute."

Her laughter, like a clear spring splashing on rocks, broke the heavy atmosphere in the cave. Liu Hao, Pesche, and Dondochakka couldn't help but laugh along.

After laughing, Liu Hao walked deeper into the cave and sat down by the wall. "I need to rest for a bit," he explained. "That ability I used just now wouldn't have taken much to heal ordinary injuries, but Nel's injuries damaged her very essence, so it drained me quite a bit. You can wait for me here for a while."

The three nodded in understanding. Liu Hao sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state to begin recovering his depleted Reiatsu.

Nel sat down opposite Liu Hao, resting her chin on her hands, her large eyes fixed on him, seemingly deep in thought. Pesche and Dondochakka sat against the wall, their gazes never leaving Nel, as if afraid she might suddenly disappear.

Time flowed silently within the cavern of Hueco Mundo. After an unknown amount of time, a soft light suddenly shone beside Liu Hao, gradually coalescing into a human form—a woman dressed in a magnificent long dress appeared before everyone.

Pesche and Dondochakka immediately stood up alertly, assuming a fighting stance. Nel also widened her eyes in surprise and asked curiously, "Who are you? How did you suddenly appear next to him?"

The woman turned around, revealing a delicate and gentle face, her eyes like the all-encompassing deep sea. "I am a part of his Zanpakuto," she smiled as she walked to Nel, crouching down to look her in the eye. "My name is Imperial Princess. Hello, Nel."

The Imperial Princess reached out and gently patted Nel's head, the gesture natural and affectionate. Nel didn't flinch; instead, she felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she had known this woman who had suddenly appeared long ago.