Chapter 59: Rebirth
<span style="font-weight:400">The atmosphere was thick with tension as everyone watched Sung-Sun undergo her transformation. Even Yoruichi, who was known for her yful nature, looked on with a level of fascination she hadn''t expected to feel for a Hollow. The determination and worry of Kazuya and his friends had somehow reached her, making her silently cheer for the snake Hollow.
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya and hispanions had changed her entire outlook on the Hollow race in one single day. That Hollows could be just as human as Shinigami.
<span style="font-weight:400">She finallyprehended fragments of Kisuke’s obsession with the Hollow race.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s almost done…” Api muttered. “Sung-Sun, show yourself already!”
<span style="font-weight:400">As the luminescent pink glow surrounding Sung-Sun receded, everyone held their breaths. Sung-Sun appeared in her Resurrión form, just like M Rose had done following her transformation.
<span style="font-weight:400">While M Rose was strikingly alluring, Sung-Sun exuded a certain elegance. Her face was youthful and her hair, a dark shade of green that looked almost ck, was styled in a ssic hime cut with long side bangs framing her face. A fragment of her shell-like mask rested on the right side of her head, and the three pink dots on either side of her face added to her overall charm.
<span style="font-weight:400">Her Resurrión form was significantly smaller than her original form. She was now a stunning young woman with the lower body of a snake — amia.
<span style="font-weight:400">Upon emerging from her transformation, Sung-Sun''s pale pink eyes immediately focused on Kazuya. She surged forward, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace. Her thick tail coiled around him possessively, as though she had no intention of ever letting him go. Her grip around him was akin to vice but he barely felt a thing with his Hierro.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re back,” she squealed, excitement dripping from her voice. “Thanks for saving me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">M Rose huffed quietly, looking away from the scene with a bit of a sulk. She felt a tinge of annoyance at Sung-Sun forpletely overlooking her role in all of this. Meanwhile, Api watched the disy with a sharp gaze. She was d for Sung-Sun''s survival, but it also filled her with a sense of mncholy. The stark reality was beginning to hit her—she was the only one among them who hadn''t assumed a humanoid form yet, despite yearning for it the most.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘I’ll be a Vasto Lorde first then Arrancar.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Her eyes briefly scanned over the two fresh corpses on the field—one a Vasto Lorde and the other an Arrancar of Adjuchas rank. She firmly believed that consuming them would elevate her rank.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Be patient. Don’t look desperate in front of Kazuya.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">She had to be careful not to tarnish her image in his eyes. With M Rose and Harribel already wrapping his heart around their fingers, she couldn''t afford to give him more reasons to overlook her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya, meanwhile, smiled at M Rose and Api whileforting Sung-Sun with gentle strokes on her back. He would have been filled with regret if anything had happened to her due to his decision to leave them. “I don’t deserve more credit than Ciri and M Rose. Breaking your mask was Ciri’s idea. I just acted on it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Ciri smirked, pleased at his deep trust in her. He hadn''t hesitated for a second and had immediately acted upon her advice. Her smugness was quickly reced by surprise when Harribel snatched the egg from her hands.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I wasn’t going to eat it,” she grumbled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course. Of course. I could sense everyone’s worries. Every concern should be med on Evanya.” Sung-Sun separated from Kazuya and cast her gaze on Evanya''s lifeless body a few meters away. With a look of distaste, she spat in the direction of the corpse. “Trying to enve my mind, Baraggan’s ve.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun felt a pang of disappointment that she hadn''t been the one to end Evanya''s life. She wasn''t one for physical torture, but she would have relished the opportunity to make Evanya suffer in every possible way. She decided to devour Evanyater — a small constion for all the suffering.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, she will reunite with her master in Hell,” he said with a chuckle, gaze drifting to the dead Evanya. Baraggan’sst curse didn’t work out. “We are finally free from the Democles hanging over us in the Hueco Mundo. What a relief.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Everyone, except Yoruichi, looked shocked by this revtion. Api, however, had mixed feelings about the news of Baraggan''s demise. Assisting Kazuya in killing Baraggan would have been a prime opportunity to demonstrate her growth to him. But even that opportunity had been taken away from her, adding to her mounting frustration.
<span style="font-weight:400">She huffed. “Didn’t you say you have nothing to counter Baraggan’s unique ability?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What does that matter now?” M Rose shrugged. “We didn’t get to witness the downfall of God King.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Harribel’s gaze softened. “You worked really hard.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I did.” He nodded seriously. “Lap pillowter?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Sure.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun released Kazuya from her grip and turned to Yoruichi. “Kazuya, would you kindly introduce us to this ck kitty who is oozing a Shinigami’s Reiatsu? I feel a little off about her eavesdropping on our private conversations.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun’s question brought everyone’s attention to Yoruichi. Even Kazuya had forgotten about her — she was way too silent, aplete opposite of her talkative demeanor when they were alone on the surface.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi let out a hearty chuckle. “I am Kazuya’s friend from the Living World. Don’t worry about me cleansing you. I’m no longer serving the Seireitei as a Shinigami.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her deep, masculine voice immediately triggered M Rose. “This cat is a he?”
<span style="font-weight:400">"Do you have a problem with my gender?" Yoruichi asked, amused. “Assuming a cat’s gender from their appearance is sexist.”
<span style="font-weight:400">"No, I didn''t," M Rose quickly replied. "I just assumed you were a girl. It’s impossible to imagine Skull keeping a malepanion."
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kazuya didn’t tell me all of his Hollow friends were women…” Yoruichi looked at Api, whose gender was impossible to guess from eyes. “I presume you’re a girl.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I am!”
<span style="font-weight:400">While Yoruichi was busy introducing herself, Ciri stealthily approached and pounced at her. But Yoruichi nimbly jumped away, leaving Ciri to fall t on her face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ha! You can''t catch me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her taunts only fueled Ciri’s desire to catch her and pet her.
<span style="font-weight:400">…
<span style="font-weight:400">Api snuck away from the group, slinking toward Evanya''s lifeless form. The dense Reiatsu still clinging to the body was a heady, intoxicating scent that sent her senses reeling. The scent tantalized her predatory instincts, coaxing a pool of ravenous desire.
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly, Sung-Sun slithered onto the scene, her movements quick and graceful. Her delicate hand yfully masked her mouth. “Don’t steal my game, Evanya is mine to eat.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Api’s eyes narrowed to mere slits, her Reiatsu ring against her will. “Let me…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun looked between Api and Evanya. “Alright… You can eat her. But you will owe me one for this.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Being Sung-Sun’s regr victim, Api knew Sung-Sun could get very handy with her requests.
<span style="font-weight:400">A tense silence hung heavy between the two Hollows as a sh of will ensued. Sung-Sun didn’t blink, unwavering in her request. “Deal or not?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Api nodded her head, unable to resist the promise of an evolution. “Deal.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Api wasted no time then, throwing herself at the feast of Reiatsu before her. Each bite she took was filled with a desperate ferocity, a battle of survival and ambition. It was a sight that held an eerie beauty, an act of raw, primitive nature unfolding in its most visceral form.