When Nelliel appeared before Kurotsuki Renya, her transformation was complete.
Curved antelope horns rose from her head, and in her right hand rested a double-ended spear, its spiritual pressure sharp and refined. Armor wrapped her collarbone, shoulders, elbows, and palms, while her lower body had transformed into that of a powerful antelope, covered in thick, flowing fur that moved naturally with every breath.
"So this is your Resurrección…" Renya said quietly.
He walked a slow circle around her, studying the structure of her form with the eye of a combatant rather than a spectator. The fusion of Hollow instincts and Shinigami discipline was evident in every detail.
"Yes," Nelliel replied, her expression calm but composed. "This is my Resurrección—Gamuza."
Renya nodded thoughtfully, reaching out to confirm the density of her reiatsu. The fur was soft, but beneath it lay compressed spiritual power, tightly controlled.
Nelliel stiffened slightly and shot him a warning look.
"…Don't test my patience."
Renya withdrew his hand immediately and coughed lightly.
"Ahem. Understood."
She snorted once, then steadied her stance.
"Now that you've seen it, shall we continue?"
"Yes," Renya replied seriously. "Use this state to fight me."
"Very well."
Nelliel rotated the spear smoothly around her arm. Her front hooves lifted
And in the next instant, her figure vanished.
Whoosh.
She appeared behind Renya, thrusting forward in a clean, decisive strike.
"So fast!"
Renya barely twisted aside, but the spear's haft clipped him, sending him skidding across the sand before he regained balance.
Nelliel smiled faintly.
"Don't underestimate Resurrección."
Renya grimaced, rubbing the impact point.
"…That speed is on par with Sonído at its highest level."
"Then you should draw your Zanpakutō," Nelliel said lightly. "Otherwise, you won't keep up."
"That's fine."
Renya smiled.
His hand rose to his face
Boom.
A Hollow mask formed instantly as his reiatsu surged. His body vanished in a blur of motion, closing the distance in a flash.
Clang!
His Zanpakutō struck the spear head-on.
"So this is your masked form?" Nelliel asked, pushing back with raw strength.
Renya didn't answer.
His left fist drove toward her core
But Nelliel caught it with one hand.
In the same motion, her front hoof lashed out.
Boom!
Renya was kicked skyward.
Before he could stabilize, Nelliel appeared beside him midair, spear already aligned
But Renya twisted violently, compressed wind erupting from his back as he spun and kicked.
Boom!
The kick struck the spear, blasting both of them apart.
Renya stepped on air, repositioned, and slashed.
Nelliel's spear rotated around her arm, its opposite blade intercepting his Zanpakutō perfectly.
At that moment
Crimson light gathered along the jagged edge of Renya's mask.
Nelliel's eyes lit with recognition.
"A Cero?"
She opened her mouth.
Zi!
The crimson beam fired
Straight into Nelliel's mouth.
Renya's eyes widened.
The next instant
A far more intense beam erupted outward.
"Cero Doble — Bala Resonancia."
The combined blast engulfed Renya's position, vaporizing sand and leaving scorched glass beneath.
Far away, Renya reappeared, body wrapped in spiraling airflow.
"Ha…" he exhaled. "That was close."
At the last moment, he had escaped using high-speed displacement layered with his masked state.
But there was no time to recover.
A spear was already in front of him.
Renya raised his Zanpakutō with both hands and struck downward.
BOOM!
A massive explosion tore through the desert, shockwaves rippling outward.
Renya was thrown back again, arms burning from the recoil.
"Lanza Verde," Nelliel said calmly.
"My strongest technique in Resurrección."
Fast. Concentrated. Devastating.
Yet even so, Renya had not suffered critical damage.
"…I still can't force your full release," Nelliel said quietly, lowering her weapon.
Renya turned his head slightly.
"My masked state isn't inferior to Shikai," he said. "But against you, it's still not enough."
Nelliel studied him.
"But you can stack this with Shikai… and even higher forms, can't you?"
"Yes," Renya admitted.
Layering multiple states strained the body and devoured reiatsu. Even then, it couldn't rival the overwhelming dominance of his highest transformation.
Nelliel exhaled slowly.
"Then I'm at least two levels below you."
"One is already enough to decide the outcome," Renya replied.
He sheathed his blade.
"But I can help you grow stronger. It will just take time."
Nelliel nodded.
"Shall we continue?"
"No," Renya said. "I've learned what I needed."
Nelliel released her Resurrección.
Her lower body returned to human form, armor and horns dissolving into light. The spear condensed back into a sealed Zanpakutō.
She stepped beside him.
"Let's go back."
Renya turned away, removing his outer garment and handing it to her.
"…Cover yourself."
Nelliel blinked, then looked down her face flushing as she tied the cloth around her waist.
"…Thank you."
Renya sat cross-legged, averting his gaze.
"You go ahead. I still have something to do."
Nelliel tilted her head.
"What is it?"
Renya answered quietly, cheeks faintly red.
"…I'm going to return to the blade."