Chapter Summaries

Halibel spared two Adjuchas and offered Nel a place with her, but Nel chose to stay with Asano Kiyoshi. After escorting Halibel home, Asano settled his group in a nearby cave and began turning it into a comfortable base, while Aizen examined the wounded Adjuchas.

• Halibel wounded the two defeated Adjuchas again and warned them not to attack her group in the future.
• Asano Kiyoshi revealed himself and thanked Halibel, who offered Nel a safe place with her, but Nel chose to remain with Asano.
• Nel invited Halibel to ride Bawabawa, and the group carried her to the cave where she lived.
• Three female Adjuchas emerged from Halibel's cave, lowered their hostility after she identified the visitors as non-enemies, and parted from Asano's group.
• Asano chose a nearby cave and used Twelfth Division equipment to transform it into a furnished, protected base, earning another Super Acceleration from Nel.
• Aizen examined the two bleeding Adjuchas with a faint smile.

Asano Kiyoshi cooked a meal for Nel, Ulquiorra, and the others in the cave, introducing them to unfamiliar ingredients and flavors. When he helped Nel pour the eggs into the pot, she blushed at his touch, but he mistook it for heat from the cooking.

• Asano Kiyoshi began cooking with the ingredients he had brought from Soul Society as Nel and the others watched curiously.
• Asano Kiyoshi had Nel stir the eggs while he prepared tomatoes, greens, seasonings, and noodles.
• Asano Kiyoshi encouraged Nel to pour the egg mixture into the pot, then steadied her hand when she tilted the bowl too far.
• Nel blushed and her heart raced as Asano Kiyoshi held her hand, but he assumed the pot had made her face hot.

Asano Kiyoshi shared noodles with his companions, and Ulquiorra discovered that he could enjoy food by absorbing its Reishi. Asano, Nel, and Ulquiorra brought more noodles to Halibel and her group, who gathered to share the unusual meal.

• Asano Kiyoshi fed Nel noodles and watched Ulquiorra turn his bowl into Reishi, which he absorbed and praised as the best food he had ever eaten.
• Asano Kiyoshi decided to bring noodles to Halibel and the others, and Ulquiorra offered to accompany him while Pesche, Dondochakka, and Bawabawa stayed behind.
• Asano Kiyoshi carried four boxes of noodles to Halibel’s cave with Nel riding on his head after she bargained not to read his adult book.
• Halibel welcomed Asano Kiyoshi, Nel, and Ulquiorra, then called Sun-Sun and the others out to share the noodles.
• Halibel touched the boxes, turning some noodles into Reishi as steam rose beneath Hueco Mundo’s moonlight.

A female Hollow recalled meeting Nel, Asano Kiyoshi, and their companions, then gradually growing close to them through shared meals and cooking. A month later, she cherished their peaceful routine and imagined it was what Heaven looked like.

• The Hollow saw Nel’s facial scar and invited her to come live with her, but Nel chose to stay with Asano Kiyoshi and his group.
• Nel returned to the Hollow with Asano Kiyoshi and a meal, and they shared the unfamiliar food together.
• Over the next month, Nel grew close to the Hollow and her companions, and they often visited Asano Kiyoshi’s home.
• Asano Kiyoshi cooked for them, while the Hollow and her companions helped prepare meals together.
• The Hollow treasured their peaceful days and hoped they could continue forever.

Aizen tested the two Adjuchas he had empowered, crushing their rebellion with his spiritual pressure and ordering them to attack Halibel’s settlement. Tiger and Bear reached the settlement, where Halibel faced them alone.

• Aizen observed Tiger and Bear’s evolution into pseudo-Arrancar and noted that the Hogyoku still needed refinement.
• Tiger and Bear showed insolence toward Aizen, who overwhelmed them with his spiritual pressure until they submitted.
• Aizen ordered Tiger and Bear to put on a show, then departed; the two Hollows realized they could not remember his name or appearance.
• Tiger and Bear traveled to Halibel’s settlement and threatened to devour her flesh and blood.
• Halibel sensed their approaching spiritual pressure, ordered everyone to stay inside, and went out to confront them.

Halibel fought the two Adjuchas she had spared a month earlier, who had grown powerful enough to match her and attacked her for revenge. After injuring her and forcing her to defend herself on several fronts, they transformed and charged at her together, leaving the battle at a critical point.

• Halibel recognized the tiger-headed and bear-masked Arrancar as the two Adjuchas she had let go a month earlier.
• Halibel and the two Arrancar fired Ceros at one another, and the resulting explosion battered the surrounding ruins.
• Halibel took a Bala head-on to prevent the Bear Arrancar from ambushing her, but his blow injured her arms and damaged her greatsword.
• Halibel wounded the Bear Arrancar's arm and used Scorching Sea Current to trap him, but the Tiger Arrancar interrupted her with a thrown boulder.
• The two Arrancar dodged Halibel's counterattack, transformed into beastlike forms, and charged her with greatly increased spiritual pressure.

Halibel struggled to hold off the two Arrancar until Ulquiorra arrived and tore away half of the Tiger Arrancar’s mask. As Asano Kiyoshi rushed to help Halibel, Sun-Sun and the others intercepted Runuganka, while Aizen watched Baji Taro and the others search for Asano.

• Halibel kept defending against the Bear Arrancar and the Tiger Arrancar while waiting for reinforcements, and they realized she was stalling.
• Halibel abandoned her defense against the Tiger Arrancar’s attack, allowing Ulquiorra to arrive and rip away half of the Tiger Arrancar’s face and mask.
• Ulquiorra fired a sphere of dark green spiritual pressure at the Tiger Arrancar, who struggled to advance through it.
• Asano Kiyoshi and the others rode Bawabawa toward Halibel, while Nel insisted on joining them despite her fear.
• Sun-Sun and the other two attacked Runuganka and told Asano to hurry ahead to save Halibel.
• Aizen sheathed his sword and watched Baji Taro and the others search for Asano Kiyoshi.

Asano Kiyoshi and Nel were ambushed by masked fighters while hurrying to treat Halibel, and Asano fought them despite being poisoned and wounded. Nel treated him as the attackers regrouped and launched a coordinated assault.

• Asano Kiyoshi left Sun-Sun and the others to hold off Runuganka and continued toward the battlefield with Nel.
• Masked fighters sprang from behind the rocks and attacked Asano Kiyoshi, who used Hyapporankan to wound several of them.
• A Fox Mask stabbed Asano Kiyoshi's shoulder while aiming for Nel, but Nel began treating the wound.
• Asano Kiyoshi released Yellow Springs, seized the Fox Mask's sword, and killed him with Byakurai.
• The Wolf Crested Beast Mask ordered the poisoned Asano Kiyoshi's attackers to press on, and they launched a coordinated assault with Bakudo, Hakuda, and Hado.

Asano Kiyoshi and his companions fought off ten masked attackers, but Nel was wounded while saving him. After capturing the last survivor, Asano tried to break his resolve for information, only for the man’s own mask to burn his face.

• Asano Kiyoshi used the attackers’ overlapping strikes to defeat most of them while Pesche and Dondochakka fought alongside him.
• Nel rammed into Asano to save him from a fatal blow, then collapsed after an attacker slashed her back.
• Pesche and Dondochakka charged the remaining attackers as Asano treated Nel and burned one wounded enemy.
• Asano bound the final survivor with Rikujōkōrō and demanded to know who the attackers were and whether more had come.
• Asano pierced the captive’s arms and tried to remove his Wolf Mask, which burst into flames and mangled the man’s face.
• Asano treated the captive’s pain and offered him a quick death for information, while the man began to resent being the only one suffering.

An injured Tsunayashiro Clan death warrior revealed that the clan had sent multiple secret teams to assassinate Asano Kiyoshi before dying by his hand. Asano healed Nel and headed to aid Halibel, while Pesche and Dondochakka stayed behind to hold off the approaching enemies.

• A dying Tsunayashiro Clan assassin told Asano Kiyoshi that the clan had dispatched many separate teams, then Asano gave him the quick, dignified death he had promised.
• Baji Taro sensed Asano Kiyoshi's spiritual pressure and led Maruya Naoto toward the battle site.
• Asano Kiyoshi treated Nel's wounds as Bawabawa carried them, and Nel briefly woke to ask whether he was safe before falling asleep again.
• Pesche urged Asano Kiyoshi to help Halibel first and then return with the strongest fighters to rescue him, Dondochakka, Sun-Sun, and the others.
• Pesche and Dondochakka jumped down from Bawabawa to face more than a dozen approaching spiritual pressures while Asano Kiyoshi continued toward Halibel.

Asano Kiyoshi tried to protect the injured Bawabawa when Nnoitra appeared and attacked them. Asano unleashed layered Kido against Nnoitra, ending the chapter with a massive explosion whose result remained unknown.

• Bawabawa rushed through the rubble at full speed, injuring himself, and Asano Kiyoshi healed him with Kaido.
• Nnoitra appeared behind Bawabawa and threw his massive weapon at him, but Asano Kiyoshi stopped it with Hado #58—Heavenly Storm.
• Nnoitra attacked Asano again, and Asano released his Zanpakuto and used Bakudo #75—Gochūtekkan to deflect the scythe.
• Nnoitra broke through the iron pillars and slashed toward Asano, who responded with Hado #73—Sōren Sōkatsui and Hado #1—Thrust.
• Asano's attacks swept dust and blue flames toward Nnoitra, and a blinding explosion erupted before Nnoitra could finish taunting him.

Asano Kiyoshi’s attack failed to stop Nnoitra, who unleashed a devastating Cero as Asano prepared to use the King’s Seal. Nel awakened and used Cero Double to swallow the attack, leaving Asano’s fate unresolved.

• Nnoitra survived Asano Kiyoshi’s combined Kido blast and emerged with minor injuries.
• Nnoitra fired a powerful yellow Cero at Asano as he fled with Nel.
• Asano began activating the King’s Seal but feared it would not take effect in time.
• Nel woke and, remembering her instinctive power, swallowed Nnoitra’s Cero with Cero Double.

Nel swallowed Nnoitra’s Yellow Cero and spat a powerful Pink Cero back at him, but Nnoitra stopped it and advanced on her. Asano Kiyoshi intervened to protect Nel, rejected Nnoitra’s taunts, and challenged him with Sword Mountain and Blade Hell.

• Nel swallowed the Yellow Cero and, at Asano Kiyoshi’s urging, spat a Pink Cero at Nnoitra.
• Nnoitra split the Pink Cero with his weapon and claimed that he had surpassed Nel.
• Nnoitra rushed toward Nel and raised his foot to strike her as she crouched in fear.
• Asano Kiyoshi caught Nnoitra’s foot and cut him before he could reveal what he claimed to know about Nel.
• Asano Kiyoshi stood between Nnoitra and Nel, declared that he understood her, and called out Sword Mountain and Blade Hell.

Asano Kiyoshi confronted Nnoitra to protect Nel, using Sword Mountain and Blade Hell to bypass Nnoitra’s Hierro. Though Nnoitra inflicted a devastating chest wound, Asano Kiyoshi feigned defeat and resumed attacking, leaving Nnoitra’s neck half-cleaved and his back drenched in blood.

• Asano Kiyoshi told Nel to leave with Bawabawa, then attacked Nnoitra and forced him to dodge a slash that cut his neck.
• Nnoitra struck back, shattered Asano Kiyoshi’s blade, and carved open his chest.
• Asano Kiyoshi endured the wound and pretended to collapse while Nnoitra believed he had won.
• Asano Kiyoshi suddenly straightened and slashed Nnoitra’s neck, cleaving it halfway through.
• Asano Kiyoshi continued striking Nnoitra’s back, spraying blood with each blow.

Asano Kiyoshi was overwhelmed by Nnoitra in Sword Mountain and Blade Hell, and Nel’s grief awakened her former form as Neliel Tu. Neliel demanded that Nnoitra remove his blade from Kiyoshi, while Nnoitra challenged her and mocked her former ideals.

• Nnoitra recovered from Kiyoshi’s attacks, severed one of Kiyoshi’s arms, and cut his right leg below the knee.
• Nel watched Kiyoshi fall and cried out for him, unleashing a powerful surge of pink spiritual pressure.
• Nel transformed into the tall, lake-green-haired Neliel Tu, whose spiritual pressure surpassed that of the others present.
• Nnoitra recognized Neliel and challenged her, but she ignored him and ordered him to remove his blade from Kiyoshi or die.
• Neliel released a terrifying wave of spiritual pressure toward Nnoitra.

Nel rescued Asano Kiyoshi and unleashed the spiritual pressure stored in her shattered mask to confront Nnoitra. She severed Nnoitra’s arm and vowed that he would pay double for injuring Kiyoshi.

• Nnoitra attacked Nel, but she ignored him and rushed to save the badly wounded Asano Kiyoshi.
• Nel used her power to move Asano Kiyoshi to safety, despite the strain her transformed state placed on Little Nel’s body.
• Nnoitra charged Nel, delighted by her intense killing intent as she drew her Zanpakuto.
• Nel severed Nnoitra’s arm with a single strike.
• Nel told Nnoitra he would pay double for cutting Asano Kiyoshi’s arm.

Neliel Tu overwhelmed Nnoitra Gilga in their duel, severing his remaining arm and crushing his Cero with her bare hand. As Nnoitra revealed a new power, Neliel began releasing Antelope Knight.

• Nnoitra charged Neliel, and she declared that she would sever his remaining arm and both legs.
• Neliel blocked Nnoitra's attack with her hand and cut off his only remaining arm.
• Nnoitra fired a point-blank Cero, but Neliel crushed it and slammed him into the ground.
• Enraged by his injuries, Nnoitra announced that he would reveal the power he had gained over the decades and invoked Holy Crying Mantis.
• Neliel recited, "Sing praises! Antelope Knight."

Nel and Nnoitra fought fiercely in Hueco Mundo while Asano Kiyoshi struggled to withstand their spiritual pressure. Nel smashed Nnoitra into the ground, but he recovered and declared that their battle was not over.

• Nel and Nnoitra charged at each other, and their clash unleashed a storm that pinned Asano Kiyoshi to the ground.
• Nel shielded Asano Kiyoshi with her spiritual pressure while Nnoitra grew more reckless and fought through mounting wounds.
• Nnoitra caught Nel's spear and revealed two additional arms as he attacked her vital points.
• Nel freed her spear with a surge of power and slammed it into Nnoitra's head, devastating the surrounding area.
• Nnoitra burst out of the ground and shouted that his fight with Nel was not over.

Nel defeated Nnoitra with her spear, but Szayelaporro interrupted her finishing blow by spreading poisonous gas across the battlefield. He approached the wounded Nnoitra and proposed cooperating again.

• Nnoitra charged at Nel, who threw her spear with the attack Pierce the Stars.
• The spear shattered Nnoitra’s weapons and tore apart both his legs, leaving him near death.
• Nel approached Nnoitra to finish him, saying he had hurt the person most important to her.
• Purple poison gas spread across the battlefield, and Nel used Sonído to rescue Asano Kiyoshi.
• Nnoitra recognized Szayelaporro’s poison and threatened to kill him once he recovered.
• Szayelaporro appeared beside Nnoitra and proposed that they cooperate again.

Pesche and Dondochakka fused their Cero into a powerful attack to drive off the Black Mask Gang, while Nel carried the injured Asano Kiyoshi onward. Asano used Rewind to heal his broken limbs and wounds, astonishing Nel.

• Pesche and Dondochakka saw Nel's spiritual pressure return and prepared to fight with everything they had.
• The Black Mask Gang retreated and attacked with Kido, but Pesche and Dondochakka fused their purple and yellow Cero and fired it at the fleeing figures.
• The fused Cero exploded in a huge blast, and Pesche and Dondochakka collapsed onto the sand, vowing not to be a burden again.
• Nel told Pesche and Dondochakka that they were family while carrying Asano Kiyoshi, who blushed and grew flustered in her arms.
• Nel worried about Asano Kiyoshi's injuries, so he used Rewind to heal his broken limbs and wounds, leaving her amazed.