"Nelliel?!"
Tier Harribel's eyes flashed with surprise. She turned to Nnoitra Gilga, frowning. "Are you sure?"
Nnoitra's face was grim. "I got kicked back by her."
Baraggan Louisenbairn suddenly burst out laughing. "Now this is getting interesting!"
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and the others looked at Nnoitra and Szayelaporro Granz with mocking smiles.
Clearly…
Everyone already knew about what happened between them and Nelliel.
Grimmjow smirked. "Looks like that woman, Nelliel, is here for payback."
"Tsk, tsk…"
"Some people better start worrying~"
Grimmjow's voice echoed loudly, as if he wanted all of Hueco Mundo to hear him. "Those who only dare sneak attacks with backup, do you even have the guts to face the wrath of the Third Seat head-on?"
Nnoitra glared. "You bastard!"
But…
The angrier he acted, the guiltier he appeared.
He knew full well the gap in strength between him and Nelliel.
Just like how he had never taken Grimmjow seriously as the Sixth Seat.
The gap between him and Nelliel, the Third Seat, was just as overwhelming.
Damn it!!
That woman!
Did she regain her former power?
No… her current aura was even more terrifying than before!!
Thinking back to her cold gaze just moments ago, Nnoitra shivered involuntarily.
Even worse than him was Szayelaporro Granz, who had also taken part in ambushing Nelliel.
He clenched his fists, face pale, a trace of regret flickering in his eyes.
He never should've taken chances!
What now?
Nnoitra was stronger than him, and even then they needed to gang up just to bring Nelliel down.
If it came to a direct fight, what could he, the Eighth Seat, possibly do?
Ulquiorra Cifer didn't gloat. Or rather…
He simply didn't care.
He asked calmly, "Is the enemy the former Espada?"
Coyote Starrk and Tier Harribel exchanged glances, then murmured, "I'm afraid so…"
"It's not just that…"
There were others behind her, with spiritual pressure they couldn't even detect.
And…
The attack earlier wasn't anything like what they remembered from Nelliel.
As they spoke—
Whoosh!
A strong gust swept through.
Sensing something, Starrk and Harribel looked up into the distance.
Soon…
A flash of green came into view, growing rapidly, and a crushing spiritual pressure blanketed the entire area.
The next moment—
Nelliel appeared before them.
Her expression was icy, amber eyes sweeping across each of the Espada, finally locking on Nnoitra.
"!"
The moment Nelliel looked at him, Nnoitra's entire body tensed. His muscles locked up, and an overwhelming sense of danger hit him like a tidal wave.
I'm going to die!!
In that instant, Nnoitra came to a terrifying realization.
That woman…
She really had grown stronger!
Judging by the speed of her kick earlier, he had a bad feeling in his gut.
Now—
It was confirmed.
Damn it…
Nnoitra gritted his teeth.
Right now, he wished more than anything that his instincts were wrong.
How did it come to this?!
Nelliel, who had completely lost her power after their ambush, not only regained her strength…
She even broke through her previous limits!
He couldn't win before, and now…
He probably couldn't even escape!!
Starrk narrowed his eyes and greeted her lazily, "Hey, long time no see."
Nelliel glanced at him but didn't respond. Her gaze shifted to Tier Harribel instead. "Congratulations."
Tier shook her head. "The way you said that makes it sound like I took advantage of you to become the Third Seat."
Although…
That might be true.
Tier's expression was complicated.
If it weren't for the rumors about Nelliel's fall…
She wouldn't have been promoted so easily.
And…
Tier was silent for a moment, then said, "You…"
"Have become stronger than before."
Anyone could sense the pressure Nelliel now exuded.
She might even be worthy of the Second Seat now.
What on earth happened to her during her disappearance?
Nelliel replied calmly, "Yeah… I've been through a lot."
She thought of Lynn, and a rare softness flickered across her cold gaze.
Everything…
Was a gift from Lynn.
Meanwhile—
Starrk: "…"
Lilinette: "Wow, I got ignored~"
Starrk shook his head. "You talk too much."
He wasn't bothered by being ignored by Nelliel, but…
She clearly wasn't here with good intentions this time.
If it were just a personal grudge between her and Nnoitra, that would be fine.
But…
Nelliel wasn't alone.
And—
They had already attacked Las Noches!
That wave of seawater earlier had been a declaration of war!!
Just in case, Starrk asked, "So… is Nelliel planning to rejoin our big family of the Ten Espada?"
Hmm…
If she had no other plans, he could go back to being lazy.
Although…
Even just saying "big family" made him cringe a bit.
Clearly.
There was nothing "family" about the Espada at all.
Even Tier beside him gave him a strange look.
Big family?
This place was full of sarcasm, hostility, backstabbing, betrayal, and zero humanity…
Organization?
How did he even say that with a straight face?
Nelliel gave a cold laugh. "Yeah…"
"I just came to send some warmth to this so-called family."
Starrk: "…"
Ah…
That backfired, huh?
"So…"
Starrk tried to negotiate. "How about… we don't do that?"
Nelliel answered coldly, "No."
As the words fell—
Boom!!
A surge of emerald-green spiritual pressure exploded from Nelliel's body!
The sheer pressure felt like it had torn through the sky!!
Buzz—
Under the impact of her terrifying energy, the space around them seemed to tremble violently!
Gulp…
Watching this unfold, Nnoitra and Szayelaporro felt their throats dry up.
(To be continued.)