Chapter 93: The Eater versus the Protector


    <span style="font-weight:400">Stepping into the space between them, Sung-Sun announced, “I’ll be the referee then. Standing on this corner is Api. And on the other side is… What’s your name?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. You can call me Nelliel,” Nelliel said. “Or Nel tu.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Nel tu,” Sung-Sun repeated with a tone of appreciation. “Such a sweet name.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nelliel’s brow furrowed behind her mask, unsure if Sung-Sun’s praise was genuine or dripping with sarcasm. “Can we… not fight? Fighting out of pure desire topete will make you look animalistic… and childish.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun had already rified that Api wouldn’t eat her, making this whole conflict unnecessary. They had no reason to fight anymore.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m an animal,” Api said with augh. “You’re not fighting forpetition. You’ll be fighting for your life and those Hollows you want to protect.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The mention of her cherishedpanions brought a surge of intensity to Nelliel’s gaze. Her resolve was clear — she would do whatever it took to protect them. “I’ll never back down from a fight if it is to protect what I hold dear.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">This courageous statement struck a chord with both Api and Sung-Sun. After all, everyone in the Inverse shared this sentiment about putting loved ones above their own selves. Except for Ciri, who had no love for the aspect of sacrifice.


    <span style="font-weight:400">With a determined roar, Nelliel wielded hernce towards Api’s face, a wind of raw power howling in its wake. Api retaliated with a fierce swipe, parrying thence, before using Sonído to appear above Nelliel andunch a downward kick. Nelliel employed her own Sonído, her figure blurring as she evaded the assault. Even for someone who detested violence, her mastery of Sonído was striking, rivaling even Api’s own.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Feeling Api closing in on her, Nelliel retaliated with a powerful kick using her hind legs. Api was forced to cross her arms in defense. The immense force sent her skidding backward, leaving her with numb arms.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Fuck, what are those legs?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api wasn’t given any reprieve as Nelliel galloped towards Api, hernce enveloped in pink Reiatsu. Regaining herposure, Api skillfully weaved around Nelliel’s onught of vicious strikes. Nelliel’s centaur-like form gave her formidable strength, her kicks more powerful than her arms. So her attacks were not as threatening but Api still couldn’t afford to take them head-on.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Given their physical disparity, Api relied heavily on her intuition to avoid Nelliel’s attacks.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Beneath this overwhelming barrage, Nellielunched a well-ced kick, sending the Arrancar skidding back. In the realm of closebat, Nelliel’s instincts reigned superior.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Annoyed, Api reached for her cuffs, but paused mid-motion. She wasn’t using her Zanpakutō against an Adjuchas who wasn’t even an Arrancar. “Where did you get that weapon?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“In one of the ruins,” Nelliel responded, her eyes reflecting a fierce determination. She was far from daunted by the ongoing sh. “Thenceplements my fighting style.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">After their brief exchange, the pair shed once more. Nelliel’s fighting style was all about precisely striking an opponent’s vitals with hernce and using her muscr legs to deliver punishing blows. Api, without her Zanpakutō, adopted a more brute force approach, like that of a brawler.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Despite boasting higher Reiatsu and raw power, Api found herself on the back foot. Nelliel’s superior technique kept her on the defensive, preventing her from mounting any offense. It wasn’t a matter of battle experience but pure skill. Nelliel, despite herck of battle experience, was simply outssing Api.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The future #3 Espada showcased a natural talent and a keen intuition for battle that was absolutely mesmerizing.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun could hardly believe the scenario ying before her. “Woah, Api. She is destroying you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya’s enhancements, precious souls of a Vasto Lorde, and then being enhanced by Hōgyoku — yet Api couldn’tnd an attack against an Adjuchas who wasn’t even particrly fond of battles. She could destroy Nelliel if she used her Zanpakutō and Resurrión but without them she stood no chance at beating Nelliel.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was utterly humiliating.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“H-Hold up.” Flustered, Api called for a pause, the heat of embarrassment searing her ears. She stepped back and threw a murderous re at Sung-Sun. “I was just testing her.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Suuuuuure.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nelliel eyed her opponent. “Do you wish to continue?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“We’re just getting started, Nel.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">A red light started to gather on her forehead horn as she amassed an enormous amount of Reiryoku into a Cero. She unleashed the Cero Ray with a growl. This was her most powerful Cero in this form, second only to the enhanced Cero she could produce in her release state.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nelliel calmly stood her ground as the devastating Cero approached. To the astonishment of Sung-Sun, who was preparing to intervene, Nelliel opened her mouth and swallowed the entire Cero Ray. A small burp echoed in the aftermath, as though she had simply digested the energy.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What in the…?” Sung-Sun gasped. “Hey, that’s illegal.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api was left shocked. Even more when Nelliel opened her mouth and fired a pink Cero Ray that was more destructive than Api’s Cero. Api had no choice but to use Sonído to get out of its path, else she’d have been severely injured.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nelliel turned her head to Sung-Sun. “Cero Double is one of my abilities. I eat Cero, enhance it with my own, then attack my opponent.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api blinked her eyes, still processing what just happened. “How did you learn that?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I didn’t. I sort of knew it the moment I opened my eyes as an Adjuchas.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api had neverpared herself to Kazuya due to his anomaly status. But witnessing an Adjuchas effortlessly counter her powerful Cero attack was a harsh reminder of the world’s unfairness. Api’s Resurrión form only allowed her to fire an enhanced Cero, whereas Nelliel had the unique ability to turn her opponent’s Cero against them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Moreover, Nelliel hadn’t even removed her mask yet. A chilling thought crossed Api’s mind; if Nelliel ever became an Arrancar, she was unsure if she could defeat her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Gritting her teeth, she shot Nelliel a menacing re. “You—”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She paused and so did others. They could feel a Reiatsu amidst Kazuya’s overwhelming Reiatsu. A Reiatsu that belonged to a ss superior to Adjuchas — a Vasto Lorde.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nelliel broke into a charge without a second thought, rushing to the cave.


    <span style="font-weight:400">—Herpanions were in danger.