Chapter 562 - 562 Nel's True Identity

"D-damn! What... what immense Reiatsu! It's not at all weaker than that bastard Aizen!"

Under the pressure of Toshiro's powerful Reiatsu, Nnoitra felt as if ten thousand mountains were pressing down on him. He couldn't even move.

Swish!

Just then, Rangiku's figure reappeared on the scene.

Originally, Toshiro had been moving with Nel and Rangiku. However, after sensing Ashido fighting Nnoitra, Toshiro had sped ahead, carrying Nel, whose saliva had healing properties. Rangiku, unable to keep up with Toshiro's speed, had fallen behind and only now arrived.

"Captain!"

Rangiku called out as she came to Toshiro's side.

"Rangiku? You're just in time. I'm about to deal with this guy who hurt Ashido. You watch over Ashido and Nel for me."

Toshiro withdrew his Reiatsu and said to Rangiku.

Nnoitra was, after all, the Quinto Espada, a peak Captain-class existence. Although that level of strength was still insignificant before Toshiro, he wasn't arrogant enough to continue holding Nel like he did during the fight with Dordoni.

If Nel were caught in the crossfire during the battle, Toshiro would regret it forever.

"Yes, Captain!"

Rangiku acknowledged, then turned to Nel and said in a coaxing tone: "Come here, Nel. Captain is about to fight the enemy, so let this big sister hold you for now."

"Hmph! Nel doesn't want some old lady like you to hold her!"

Nel pouted her lips and refused defiantly.

Although Nel had only known Rangiku for a short time, she didn't have much liking for her. To be precise, Nel didn't have much liking for any woman around Toshiro.

For example, when Rukia, Renji, and the others had rendezvoused with Toshiro earlier, Nel had shown an inexplicable hostility towards the newly met Rukia.

"..."

Hearing Nel call her an old lady, Rangiku's mouth twitched, and her face was covered in sweat drops. She wanted to retort but couldn't really argue with a little kid. She could only look at Toshiro pitifully: "Captain..."

"Alright, Nel. I need to fight the enemy now. So, behave for a while and let Rangiku protect you. Otherwise, I'll be worried about your safety and won't be able to fight properly."

Toshiro tried to reason with her.

"Oh."

Nel nodded reluctantly, then said: "Then be careful, Toshiro. Don't get hurt."

"Don't worry. A guy like this can't hurt me."

Toshiro said.

After hearing Toshiro's words, Nel glanced fearfully at Nnoitra, then obediently walked over to Rangiku and let her hold her.

For some reason, although Nel felt that as a 'little bug' like herself, she should fear a 'big shot' like the Quinto Espada Nnoitra, whenever she actually saw him, she would unconsciously feel scared.

With Rangiku temporarily watching over Nel and Ashido, Toshiro could finally let go of his concerns and fight freely.

Although Rangiku's strength was far inferior to both Toshiro and Nnoitra, she should be able to barely block some of the battle's aftershocks.

"So, are you ready to die, Nnoitra?"

Toshiro looked coldly at Nnoitra.

Nnoitra, however, had a strange expression on his face as he looked at Nel, held in Rangiku's arms, and said: "Just now... you called her Nel, right?"

Hearing Nnoitra's words, Toshiro's heart stirred. He knew Nnoitra had recognized Nel's identity.

"Hmph! What does calling her Nel have to do with a dead man walking like you?"

Toshiro snorted coldly.

But Nnoitra, unfazed by Toshiro's words, looked even more certain: "It's definitely her! She is Nel! I remember that facial marking!!"

The purple-red facial marking on Nel's face was very striking. Toshiro had blasted Nnoitra away as soon as he appeared earlier, so Nnoitra hadn't had a chance to look at Nel. Only when Toshiro forced him out just now did he have the opportunity to notice Nel with him.

Then Nnoitra saw the marking on Nel's face, and combined with Toshiro mentioning her name, he was now very certain of Nel's identity.

"Yo, how did you end up in this state? When your two useless Fracción were mentioned as being held hostage in Las Noches during the Espada meeting, I guessed you'd definitely come here to rescue them. I was wondering why I hadn't seen you. Turns out you've become like this. You almost made me fail to recognize you."

"Oh, right, does your broken mask still hurt? Ahahaha..."

Nnoitra looked at Nel and laughed wildly and triumphantly.

Although his own situation was very dangerous, seeing the person he hated most in such a miserable, pathetic state, Nnoitra couldn't help but laugh joyfully, completely oblivious to Toshiro's increasingly cold expression.

"What... what's this? From your tone, it sounds like you know Nel?"

Rangiku looked at Nel in her arms in surprise, then at Nnoitra.

"What? Didn't you bring her here? Don't you even know her true identity?"

Nnoitra retorted.

"What do you mean by that?"

Rangiku's expression turned somewhat ugly.

Rangiku had only met Nel through Toshiro and hadn't known her for long. She didn't know much about Nel. So, seeing that Nnoitra seemed to know her, she couldn't help but feel some suspicion towards Nel.

"Then let me tell you!"

Nnoitra sneered mockingly: "Her name is Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. She is..."

"— a former Espada!!"

Hearing Nnoitra's words, aside from Toshiro, both Rangiku and Ashido were greatly shocked.

"A f-former Espada..."

Cold sweat dripped from Rangiku's forehead. Looking at Nel in her arms, she suddenly felt as if she were holding a ferocious beast.

"That's right! Did you really think she was just an innocent, harmless little kid? Fools! You've all been fooled by her!!"

Nnoitra mocked.