Chapter 98: Praying Mantis
A vibrant turquoise flame erupted from Pesche's form, quickly enveloping his blade with a toxin-like glow. Caught off guard by this unexpected transformation, Szayelaporro's eyes widened with a mix of curiosity and fascination.
"Hey, hey! What is this?" he exclaimed. "There are no traces of Reiatsu present. This is quite remarkable!"
Szayelaporro's expression shifted to one of maniacal excitement, akin to a scientist on the verge of a groundbreaking discovery. "I suspected as much! Fiander has been investigating the powers of various systems for some time now. They requested permission from Master Aizen to explore the souls of Shinigami and Quincy long ago, but this phenomenon is utterly remarkable!"
The Octava Espada's gaze burned with an unbearable, cat-like itch to understand this new power. "What could this possibly be? To be truthful, I have no idea, but won't you allow me to experience it myself?"
Before Szayelaporro could react, Pesche's figure blurred, appearing behind the Espada. Green flames streamed from the dark green sword, yet strangely, Szayelaporro felt no warmth emanating from the blade's surface.
"Any final words, Szayelaporro?" Pesche intoned, positioning the long sword near his adversary's neck. As the blade pressed in, Szayelaporro's flesh yielded like soft tofu. "The Espada's steel skin is remarkably fragile at this moment."
A thin line of crimson trickled from the wound, and the dark green flames infiltrated Szayelaporro's neck. "What a shame, just a farewell!" Pesche lamented, swinging the sword again and cleaving across the Espada's back.
"Fantastic!" Szayelaporro exclaimed, an expression of intense pleasure crossing his face in the final moments before his body was consumed by the surging green flames. Within moments, his form was reduced to ashes.
Ishida, supporting the mirror frame, approached Pesche. "While I don't fully grasp your issues, I still appreciate your assistance!"
"Don't mention it. My actions were purely for my own benefit," Pesche replied, signaling Ishida not to worry. "Given my formidable strength, you may wonder why I didn't intervene earlier. The truth is, a direct confrontation would not have been any easier than this surprise attack."
Ishida remained somewhat perplexed. "Why did you rush over at this moment? Wouldn't it have made more sense to follow us from the outset if you seek revenge?"
Pesche furrowed his brow. "The reason for our arrival now is that Ichigo has returned with Nelliel-sama. Have you not encountered him?"
"He got a head start on us." Pesche exclaimed, a sudden realization dawning on him.
"Kurosaki? I ran into him shortly after Sado and I parted ways, and I didn't observe Kurosaki trailing us at all."
Ishida quickly inquired, "What transpired?"
"It shouldn't be the case; Ichigo was right in front of us, and Dondachaka and I were just behind him." Pesche bowed his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Given Kurosaki's speed, he should definitely have reached the destination before us. Did something happen en route?"
"Should we turn back and search?" Ishida asked, his concern for Ichigo's well-being evident.
"That's out of the question," Pesche replied. "To track your presence, Dondachaka and I extended our spiritual awareness and monitored the way. The sole access point to the Night Palace is through ..."
Just as Pesche was about to continue, a long sword suddenly pierced through his body, draining most of his spiritual energy. "Pesche!" Ishida exclaimed, swiftly turning to see the assailant, only to be left astounded by the sight.
Simultaneously, Sado and Dondachaka tensed as an overwhelming Reiatsu approached, revealing a partially decayed Nnoitra, his face a horrific mix of raw, scarlet flesh and skeletal visage.
"So... none of them will perish?" Nnoitra rasped, coughing up a mixture of black blood and viscera. Suddenly, he raised his arms, contorted with glee. "Then... let's progress to the second round!"
With that, Nnoitra lifted his Zanpakutō and mockingly proclaimed, "Pray, Holy Weeping Mantis!" The yellow Reiatsu immediately enveloped him, his head adorned with a crescent-shaped horn and cross-patterned markings appearing on his face.
In a flash, Nnoitra's wounds healed, and he sprouted an additional two pairs of arms, wielding four crescent-shaped scythes. Sado and Dondachaka gazed upon the seamless Nnoitra, the prior destruction inflicted upon him now mere fantasy.
"I believed I could eliminate him outright, how naive." Dondachaka admitted, the seriousness in his expression evident as Nnoitra's revival elevated him far beyond Dondochaka's capabilities.
"Hey, don't freeze up; keep hitting me with that trick you just performed!" Nnoitra regarded Dondachaka with disdain, the four enormous scythes swirling effortlessly, as if weightless.
Noticing Dondachaka had expended considerable energy using the recent technique and would require time to recuperate, Sado suggested, "Do you want me to stall for you?"
"No, you'd die if you intervened!" Dondachaka replied, his black flame transforming back into an iron axe as he approached Nnoitra.
"Bring it on!" Nnoitra grinned, extending a scythe to effortlessly block Dondachaka's attack. "Did you skip meals? You shouldn't display such weak blows!" he taunted, flicking his scythe and sending Dondochaka airborne. "I offered you a chance to counter with your previous move; this is your final opportunity!"
Nnoitra projected the demeanor of a hunter toying with its prey, his revival elevating him far beyond Dondachaka's capabilities.
Meanwhile, within the Night Palace, Ichigo hurried forward with Nell tucked under his arm, navigating the seemingly endless corridors. Nell's desperate pleas for him to stop and rest fell on deaf ears.
"Ahhh!! You can't run anymore; stop and take a break!" she cried, tears and snot streaking her face as she flailed her short arms and kicked her legs.
"I can sense Ishida and Sado's Reiatsu nearby, yet I still can't locate the exit!!" Ichigo's irritation escalated, his Reiatsu feeling erratic.
The tale began one hour earlier, when Ichigo, racing down the path to aid his friends, was abruptly pulled into a black portal, landing in a solitary dark corridor. Regardless of which way he turned, escape proved unattainable; the shadowy passageway remained the only path before him.
After an uninterrupted hour of running, Ichigo's entire body had hit its breaking point. Encountering yet another barrier, he was forced to set Nell down, his frame only sustained by his Zanpakutō keeping him balanced.
Nell's concern etched in her gaze as she urged, "That's enough! If you keep this up without finding an exit, you'll endanger yourself."
"I understand, Nell, but I cannot stop; Sado and Ishida are in danger!" Ichigo lamented, sinking to the ground and leaning against the wall. Pressing his palm against his forehead, he whispered with regret, "It's entirely my fault they were caught in this turmoil. If something happens to Inoue..."
Ichigo found himself unable to continue, the weight of his failures bearing down upon him. After battling for over ten hours and drawing on the hollow's power, he felt akin to a small boat riddled with leaks, wholly incapable of enduring another fight.
Meanwhile, in the confinement where Inoue Orihime was detained within the Night Palace, a man with short blue hair stealthily incapacitated the guards outside Inoue's cell before entering the chamber.
"Time for you to step up, woman!" Grimmjow declared, clasping a black cube and fixing his icy gaze on Inoue Orihime.
The fate of Ichigo, Ishida, Sado, and the others hung in the balance as the battles continued to rage on across the sands of Hueco Mundo.
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