Scolding heat surged into their veins as plumes of black smoke erupted violently from their bodies. The Xuanyuan Sword pulsed with pure, righteous humanity, a power that brooked no darkness.
Yet, this was not a simple erasure. Much like the Black Serpent Knights who had been washed by the power of the Ley Lines to become something new, the Arrancars were undergoing a fundamental reconstruction. Their "Evil Spirit" physiology was being distilled into pure spiritual essence.
Under the relentless torrent of power, Tier Halibel was the first to falter. She felt as though her very soul were fracturing into a thousand shards. "Spare me... no more... let me find peace..."
Her plea went unanswered. Instead, the intensity of the light increased.
In that moment of agony, Ulquiorra recalled Su Han's words: The essence of your power will remain unchanged. A flash of insight struck him.
"Compress your power! Fold it all inward... now!"
"You mean—? Fine! I understand!" Starrk roared, catching onto the strategy.
The two stopped resisting. Instead of fighting the holy light, they used its crushing pressure to condense their overflowing spiritual pressure into their cores. The darkness no longer leaked outward; it was being forged. The process was torturous, but slowly, the searing pain began to ebb into a rhythmic, cooling pulse.
Halibel, seeing their success, followed suit.
Ten minutes... twenty... half an hour passed.
Ulquiorra was the first to emerge. The black markings and the hollow hole in his chest had vanished. In their place was a clean, pale human form. He looked at his hands, his expression one of quiet shock. His body, once cold as ice, now carried a faint, living warmth.
"The mask is gone," he whispered. His power had dipped in quantity, but his spiritual pressure had crystallized. In a real fight, he felt he would be far more lethal than before.
"The strength has decreased, but a new power has taken root," Starrk remarked, looking at Lilynette, who was also glowing with a newfound vitality. "Lilynette... how do you feel?"
"Whoa! It's amazing! I feel so much lighter!"
Halibel, too, had changed. Her previously fierce, shark-like features had softened, and a profound clarity filled her mind. Hollows were creatures of instinct and slaughter; even as Arrancars, the core of their being was violence. Now, her head was clear—unburdened by the primal urge to consume. It was a sense of freedom she had never known.
Kaedehara Kazuha approached them. "It seems the purification is complete. Once you sign the contracts, you are free to move. But remember: do not initiate slaughter. If provoked, you may defend yourselves, but do not bring chaos to this land."
"Rest assured," Ulquiorra said flatly. "There is no meaning in fighting the weak."
"I agree," Starrk added, looking at the city. "This place is so... vibrant. I'd like to take Lilynette to see it."
"Of course," Kazuha said, handing them each a bag of Mora. "This is ten thousand Mora for your initial expenses. If you run out, you'll need to work for more."
Nelliel's New Life
Back at the Jade Chamber, Su Han received word of their successful integration. He turned to the green-haired girl beside him. "Nelliel, come here. I have something for you."
"What is it? What is it?" The small girl ran over. Her tattered rags had been replaced by a cute, emerald-green dress chosen by Mona, making her look like a precious porcelain doll.
"Open wide."
"Ah..."
Su Han dropped a small white orb into her mouth. Nelliel chewed tentatively, and her eyes suddenly lit up with stars. "I want more! More!"
"No," Su Han chuckled. "Only one a day."
"Uwahh! Please! Please! Nel wants one more!"
Su Han felt a headache coming on. She had only been hanging out with Klee for a short while and had already mastered the art of the "adorable tantrum." Soon, the other "littles" of the Jade Chamber—Sayu, Diona, and Klee—swarmed him, their eyes fixed on the white orbs.
"Brother, I want candy too!"
"Klee wants some!"
"This isn't candy," Su Han explained patiently. "It's a soul-mending pill for Nel. Her spirit was damaged, and she needs this to recover."
The girls pouted in unison. Logic mattered little; if she got one and they didn't, it was favoritism. Resigned, Su Han used some medicinal petals and honey to refine a batch of "tonic sweets" for the rest of them. Order was finally restored.
Yae Miko stood nearby, giggling behind her sleeve. "Tired of the 'dad life' already?"
"You could have helped, you know," Su Han grumbled. "You just stood there watching me struggle."
"Oh, I don't have your charm," the kitsune teased. "Only Sayu listens to me. The rest only have eyes for you. Tell me... do you like daughters that much?"
She leaned in closer, a playful glint in her eyes. "Why don't you have one with Ei? I'll even volunteer to be the babysitter."
"Even if we did, I wouldn't let you near them. You'd just treat them like toys," a calm voice interrupted.
Raiden Ei appeared in a flicker of lightning, taking her seat directly on Su Han's lap. She looked at Miko with a flat expression. "In no time, the child wouldn't even recognize their mother; they'd just be making 'ehehe' noises all day like you."
Miko rolled her eyes and huffed. "Fine! Be that way. I'm going out to play."
The Sovereign's Promise
Once Miko had departed, the atmosphere between the two grew warm and quiet. Ei leaned her head against Su Han's shoulder.
"Do you really like children?" she asked softly.
"Mhm. I was quite lonely growing up, so I always wanted someone to be with. Back then, I could only spend my time lost in manga and stories."
Ei's gaze softened. "Then... let me bear a child for you. I want to be the mother of your firstborn."
Su Han paused, then sighed gently. "Let's wait a little longer."
"Why?"
"I don't want our child to be born into an age of war. We've already declared war on the heavens. If a conflict breaks out while you're carrying, we lose our strongest combatant. Ei... I'm moved by your words, truly. But our strength isn't quite enough yet. Once we defeat the Heavenly Principles, we'll make it happen."
"I understand," Ei replied, hugging him tighter.
Through their twin swords, their hearts were linked. She understood his caution. If the tragedy of five hundred years ago were to repeat itself, she would need to be at the front lines.
As evening fell, Su Han returned to the Shennong Ding. He began a massive refinement session, tossing in soul crystals, spirit gems, and Sacred Sakura petals. Within ten minutes, a batch of silver-white pills with a soft pink glow emerged. These were the refined soul-mending elixirs—far more potent than direct crystal consumption—and they were the final key to restoring those who still slumbered.
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