Chapter 549 - 549 Your Dignity?

"Wh-what?! S-swallowed it!!"

Seeing his Cero swallowed whole by Nel in Toshiro's arms, Dordoni was stunned speechless.

"Mmm, mmm, mmm..."

Nel in Toshiro's arms had her little face puffed up, as if stuffed full, only able to make 'mmm' sounds.

"Pwah—!!!"

As if she had eaten too much, Nel spat out the Cero she had swallowed, shooting it back at Dordoni at great speed. The reflected Cero seemed even slightly more powerful than Dordoni's original.

Boom—!!!

A loud explosion echoed. Dordoni was directly hit by Nel's reflected Cero, his entire body blasted into the wall, buried under collapsing rubble.

"Pant, pant, pant..."

Nel in Toshiro's arms panted heavily, but her expression was extremely serious as she shouted loudly, "I won't... I won't let you hurt Toshiro!!"

"Nel..."

The two tornadoes had dissipated without Dordoni's control. Toshiro pulled his hands back and held Nel tightly in his arms.

Tap!

Toshiro landed from mid-air holding Nel.

"Thank you, Nel. But you have to believe in my strength. Whether it's this uncle Arrancar or any other enemy, none of them can match me. So don't do something so dangerous again."

Toshiro said, both touched and slightly scolding.

But Nel pouted her little lips and said, "Toshiro, Nel won't let anyone hurt Toshiro..."

Humm—

Before Nel could finish, another Cero came. This time, the attack was specifically aimed at Nel, not just because she was in Toshiro's arms.

Seeing the incoming Cero, Toshiro didn't dare let Nel act again. He quickly swung his palm.

Boom—!

Aside from not using Reiatsu, Toshiro used his full physical strength. The air seemed unable to bear it, letting out an overloaded boom. An invisible shockwave directly dispersed the incoming Cero.

"Hey, you bastard! Isn't this a battle to prove the 'three-digits' honor? Why are you attacking a child like Nel? What happened to your dignity as a 'three-digit' Arrancar!!"

Toshiro roared at Dordoni.

Dordoni attacking Nel had undoubtedly angered Toshiro completely.

On the other side, Dordoni had crawled out from under the collapsed rubble and walked towards Toshiro. Blood gushed from his forehead, and a piece of his mask was broken. He was clearly hurt badly by Nel's reflected Cero.

"A child? She swallowed my Cero, reflected it back, and injured me. I've never seen a child that powerful."

Dordoni retorted.

Then Dordoni looked at Nel in Toshiro's arms. "Little girl, I don't know where you came from, but blocking my released Cero is impressive. However, this is about the dignity of us 'three-digits'. Isn't it a bit naughty of you to interfere?"

Having said that, Dordoni kicked out with his right leg. A huge tornado once again howled towards Nel in Toshiro's arms.

Swish!

Toshiro flickered, avoiding Dordoni's tornado while holding Nel.

Then Toshiro looked coldly at Dordoni. "Attacking Nel repeatedly... it seems you're tired of living."

"Nel, close your eyes."

Toshiro pressed Nel's little head tightly against his chest with his left hand, preparing to finish off Dordoni. But he didn't want Nel to see the upcoming bloody scene.

Hearing Toshiro's words, Nel obediently closed her eyes and hid her head in his chest.

Then Toshiro placed his right hand on the Zanpakuto at his back. This was the first time Toshiro had prepared to use his Zanpakuto since entering Hueco Mundo. Clearly, Dordoni repeatedly attacking Nel had completely angered him, and Toshiro had no patience left to waste on Dordoni.

"Feel honored, Arrancar! You have indeed made me draw my sword. But that also means your life is about to end!"

Toshiro said in a deep voice.

Then Toshiro bent down, arched his back, bent his knees, and placed his right foot on the hilt of the Zanpakuto at his back, preparing to launch a thunderous strike to end the battle.

"Iaido!"

"Giralda!"

Toshiro and Dordoni attacked simultaneously.

Whoosh—

Dordoni's tornado howled and arrived in an instant, directly dispersing the figures of Toshiro and Nel.

"An afterimage!"

Dordoni exclaimed in shock.

"Correct!"

Toshiro's voice sounded quietly beside him.

Swish—

A flash of sword light, like the dawn of the universe, like the sudden appearance of lightning! Instantly engulfed Dordoni's figure!

When the sword light faded, Toshiro's figure appeared not far behind Dordoni, standing back to back with him.

Shiing—

Toshiro sheathed his sword.

Schlick—

Blood scattered like heavy snow. A huge wound appeared on Dordoni's body, from his left shoulder to his right waist, nearly cutting him in two. The long horn on his left shoulder was also severed by Toshiro's slash.

Thud—!!

Dordoni's body crashed to the ground.

"Toshiro..."

Perhaps sensing the battle was over, Nel opened her eyes again.

"Sorry, Nel, for scaring you. I should have finished the enemy from the start, not dragged it out."

Toshiro said apologetically.

Originally, Toshiro had wanted to break Dordoni's confidence, destroy his inner pride, and then, when his will wavered, interrogate him about the whereabouts of the Expeditionary Force and Nel's companions.

That's why he had constantly taunted his opponent, dragging out the fight with a Captain-class Arrancar.

But now, whether Dordoni's will had wavered was unknown. Nel, however, had been frightened by the battle.

"Ahaha... Amazing! What an earth-shattering, brilliant, incomparable, and extremely beautiful slash!! To witness such an amazing technique, this life of mine was worth it!!!"

On the other side, Dordoni, lying on the ground, suddenly laughed weakly. "Thrilling! So thrilling!! To be able to duel with a great person like you, I am truly honored!!!"

"Hmph, Dordoni, you disappoint me. Attacking a little girl repeatedly, have you no shame? What about your 'three-digit' dignity?"

Hearing Dordoni's laughter, Toshiro couldn't help but question loudly.

As for Dordoni still being alive, Toshiro showed no surprise.

Because in that earth-shattering slash, Toshiro had ultimately held back. He didn't kill him, only left him unable to fight, severely injured and collapsed on the ground.