Just when the mysterious Shinigami was about to fall, Neliel acted—intervening decisively.
A Hollow helping a Shinigami.
Such a thing defied all logic.
For eons, Hollows and Shinigami had been natural enemies. Countless battles, centuries of bloodshed. And yet, here and now, in the dark depths of Hueco Mundo, one of the Hollow kind had stepped in to protect a Shinigami.
But Neliel Tu Odelschwanck was no ordinary Hollow.
As a Vasto Lorde-class Menos, she possessed intelligence and self-awareness equal to or exceeding most Shinigami. She was capable of rational thought, of compassion. In fact, among the Menos, her kindness was legendary—almost anomalous.
She remembered how Tsunayashiro Tokinada, alongside Nnoitra, had once ambushed her. There was no doubt—he was an enemy.
And now, this lone Shinigami stood against him.
The logic was simple: the enemy of my enemy is my ally.
Neliel understood that if Tokinada succeeded in killing this Shinigami, she would be next. Alone, she had struggled. Together, they might have a chance.
She made her choice.
The Shinigami, stunned by her intervention, looked at her with wide eyes. But he didn't question it for long.
After all, he'd lived in the Forest of Menos for years. He understood that not all Hollows were evil. Time had taught him that exceptions existed—Neliel was one.
With that, an unspoken alliance was born.
The cooperation between a Hollow and a Shinigami was unprecedented, but against Tokinada, it gave them a fighting chance—even if only marginal.
⸻
Meanwhile, earlier—
The massive surge of Reiatsu released from Neliel's Cero did not go unnoticed.
Even deep within Hueco Mundo, the shockwave of spiritual energy was impossible to ignore.
Gosuke Shigure and Yoruichi Shihōin sensed it clearly.
"That was Cero," Shigure muttered, sharp eyes narrowing. "But not from a regular Hollow. This is something else… At least an Adjuchas—maybe even higher."
Yoruichi nodded grimly. "Could it be… a Vasto Lorde?"
The idea alone sent a chill down her spine.
In Soul Society's records, Vasto Lorde were legendary Menos capable of rivaling—if not surpassing—Captain-class Shinigami. Extremely rare, immensely dangerous.
Shigure remained calm. "Either way, this isn't a random blast. A Menos of that level wouldn't use Cero without reason."
"Something happened," Yoruichi finished.
Without another word, the two blurred into motion.
The Forest of Menos was vast and shadowed, its towering trees and choking darkness disorienting. But vision wasn't everything. Shinigami didn't rely solely on their eyes.
They followed Reiatsu signatures—spiritual beacons blazing like torches in the night.
Like how Tōsen Kaname, though blind, operated fully through spiritual perception.
The blast from the Cero had left a clear trail of dense spiritual energy. Shigure and Yoruichi followed it with perfect clarity, their steps growing quicker.
Yoruichi, scion of the Shihōin Clan, was famed for her Shunpo. Known in the future as the Flash Goddess, she had already reached exceptional mastery.
Shigure, though more renowned for his swordsmanship, was no slouch in speed.
They raced neck-and-neck—but Shigure edged ahead slightly.
On the way, Hollows occasionally wandered into their path. Under normal circumstances, they might stop to deal with them.
Not this time.
These creatures were mere distractions. What lay ahead was far more important.
Moments later, they arrived at the edge of the blast zone.
Yoruichi slowed, eyes widening. "That power…"
Trees were felled. The white sands were scorched to black. The epicenter of the Cero's impact was obliterated—nothing but ash remained.
The devastation was immense.
Even knowing the destructive potential of Cero, Yoruichi had never seen it at this scale. Her gaze slid toward Shigure, who had reached the scene first.
Despite her reputation as the fastest, she'd trailed behind him. That stung.
But this wasn't the time for ego.
Her eyes shifted to the center of the destruction zone. "You feel it too, don't you?"
Shigure nodded. "Shinigami Reiatsu… It's Tsunayashiro Tokinada."
Exactly what she had suspected.
"Well, isn't that a surprise," Yoruichi murmured, eyebrow raised. She was beginning to understand why her teacher had insisted on venturing here.
Shigure, however, said nothing. His mind was elsewhere.
Because what he'd felt moments ago—what had pulled at his soul—was now undeniable.
That presence.
That familiar resonance.
His heartbeat quickened.
It couldn't be.
"…My Zanpakutō?"
That was impossible.
Logically, when a Shinigami dies, their Zanpakutō perishes with them. Its spirit fades back into the cycle, lost forever.
But the energy he sensed here—it was his Zanpakutō. There was no mistake.
Could it be tied to his reincarnation? Had his Zanpakutō somehow returned with him?
It defied reason.
He forced the thought aside. With Yoruichi nearby, he couldn't afford to lose focus.
Whether it was truly his Zanpakutō or not, he had to see it for himself.
"Let's move."
The two Shinigami accelerated, heading straight for the heart of the ruined battlefield.
⸻
At the center, things had only grown worse.
Even with Neliel and the exiled Shinigami fighting in tandem, they were still outmatched.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's power wasn't just in his strength—it was in his Zanpakutō's malevolent ability. Its exact nature remained unclear, but its effects were devastating.
The twisted energy it emitted had consumed countless souls in the Forest of Menos. With every victim, its power surged anew.
Against such a foe, Neliel and her temporary ally were overwhelmed.
Blood trickled from their wounds. Their breathing grew labored. Tokinada advanced with sadistic calm, savoring their suffering.
They were reaching their limit.
Defeat loomed.
And unless something changed—death was next.