Nelliel vs. Nnoitra

Kenpachi Zaraki slung his Zanpakuto over his shoulder, his gaze sweeping over Nnoitra before turning to Liu Ziyun, his brow furrowing slightly. "Hey, Liu Ziyun, let me handle this guy. It's been a long time since I've encountered a worthy opponent."

Liu Ziyun shook his head. "No rush."

"No rush?" Kenpachi Zaraki's voice was tinged with dissatisfaction. "I'm so bored I'm practically going moldy! We finally have someone who looks like they can chop you up, and you're making me wait and wait? How long am I supposed to wait?"

Liu Ziyun ignored his complaints and turned to look in another direction—there, Yachiru Kusajishi was skipping and hopping towards them, her small figure standing out against the white sand. Her face was adorned with an innocent and carefree smile, as if she were on a picnic rather than on a battlefield.

"Leave this opponent to me!" The voice was childish yet sharp, carrying a strength and determination beyond its years. Liu Ziyun the voice and saw Nel jumping down from the top of the Stone Pillar, her small body drawing an arc in the air.

Then— the Miracle happened.

Nel's body began to change in mid-air. Her tattered green cloak fluttered in the wind, her body began to grow, her limbs began to stretch, and her face began to mature.

Her short, emerald-green hair was growing and flowing, shimmering like jade in the Hueco Mundo of light. The mask on her head was also changing; the two round ram horns began to glow, to grow, and to become longer and more elegant.

When her feet touched the ground, the person standing there was no longer a seven or eight-year-old girl, but a graceful young woman.

Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck.

She was more than twice as tall as before, with a slender and well-proportioned figure, exuding strength and beauty. The once-large cloak now clung perfectly to her body, outlining her elegant curves.

Her face was exquisite and beautiful, and her green eyes no longer held the innocence of a child, but were filled with the firmness and determination of an adult. The mask on her head had completely changed—the two ram's horns stood like a crown, emitting a faint light, making her look like a forest goddess from mythology.

What's most awe-inspiring is her Reiatsu. The power emanating from her is strong, pure, and profound, like a bottomless abyss, like an endless starry sky. That's not the power an ordinary Arrancar could possess; it's the power of Espada, and one of the Espada at that.

Nnoitra Gilga's expression became incredibly interesting at that moment.

His eyes were wide open, his mouth slightly agape, and the muscles in his face twitched, a mixture of shock, disbelief, anger, and an indescribable, almost frenzied excitement.

"Nelliel... Nelliel?!" His voice was hoarse and trembling, as if he were seeing a ghost that should have been dead for many years, "You actually... you've come back?!"

"Mr. Liu," her voice was gentle yet firm, carrying a reassuring strength, "Leave him to me; we have some old scores to settle."

Liu Hao looked at her and nodded with a smile.

Nnoitra finally recovered from his shock. He looked at Nelliel and at her conversation with Liu Hao, and suddenly burst into a maniacal laugh.

"Haha! Nelliel! You've actually turned back!" His laughter was sharp and piercing, echoing in the void.

His laughter abruptly stopped, and his expression instantly shifted from ecstatic joy to grimness. His eyes narrowed to slits, his gaze sharp as knives as he stared at Nelliel, his voice low and dangerous. "But do you think you can defeat me?!"

Nelliel didn't answer. The next moment, she appeared in front of Nnoitra. In her hand, a Zanpakuto appeared—an elegantly designed sword with a long, curved blade like a crescent moon, its hilt wrapped with a bright green ribbon that fluttered gently in the wind.

A flash of light.

A deep wound appeared on Nnoitra's shoulder, gushing blood that appeared almost blackish-red in the Hueco Mundo light. He staggered back a few steps, his expression shifting from grim to disbelief—he hadn't even seen Nelliel's movements.

But Nelliel's attacks did not stop.

Her figure moved swiftly around Nnoitra, leaving a trail of afterimages with each movement, each afterimage accompanied by a flash of blade. Her attacks were elegant yet deadly, like a dance of death.

Nnoitra tried his best to block, but his speed was far from keeping up with Nelliel. Each block was half a beat too slow, and each half-beat too slow left a new wound on his body.

One cut, two cuts, three cuts, four cuts, five cuts--

Nnoitra was soon covered in wounds, his robes soaked with blood, leaving horrifying trails of blood on the white sand. His breathing became rapid and erratic, and the madness in his eyes was replaced by pain and rage.

"You—" he gritted his teeth, his voice filled with hatred, "When did you become so strong?!"

Nelliel did not answer. Her attack continued, still elegant, still deadly.

Nnoitra was driven to desperation. He knew that if things continued this way, he would be hacked to death by Nelliel. He had to fight back, he had to use his greatest strength to turn the tide.

He abruptly retreated, creating distance between himself and Nelliel. Then he raised his hand, and blue light began to gather at his fingertips— Cero! A powerful Cero formed at his fingertips, hurtling towards Nelliel with an aura of annihilation.

Nelliel didn't dodge. She simply raised her hand to block Nnoitra's Cero, opened her mouth to suck the Cero in, and then spat it out violently.

A burst of two-colored Cero shot out from Nelliel's mouth, blasting him away.

He rolled several times on the ground before barely managing to regain his balance. His body was covered in burns and abrasions, and his robes were ripped to shreds, but—he wasn't seriously injured. Nelliel's Cero Doble, though powerful, wasn't enough to kill him.

Nnoitra stood up from the ground. "Cero Doble, I had completely forgotten about your unique ability."

Nelliel frowned slightly as she watched Nnoitra get up from the ground. She knew that if things continued like this, the battle would become a stalemate. She needed greater power, and she needed to deliver the fatal blow to Nnoitra before he fully recovered.

She Zanpakuto horizontally in front of her and Shikai—

"Sing praises!"

Before she could finish her Release Phrase, a hand reached out from behind her and gently placed on her shoulder.

"Alright, Nel."

Liu Ziyun's voice was calm and gentle, yet it carried an undeniable power. He had somehow walked up behind Nelliel and was now standing beside her, his gaze passing over her and looking at Nnoitra in the distance.

"You've just recovered; it's not suitable for you to Resurrección now." His tone carried a hint of caution. "Leave the rest to Captain Zaraki."