DxD: Chapter 233/234

Chapter 233: So Cute?!
"Nelliel…"

Deep within the depths of Hell.

The moment Lynn saw Nelliel on the virtual screen, he instantly recognized her.

After all…

There were only a handful in Hueco Mundo qualified to be called peerage-worthy talents.

And Nelliel was definitely one of them.

Originally, Lynn had planned to visit Hueco Mundo someday to scout.

But this was even better.

She showed up on her own.

However...

Lynn narrowed his eyes.

If he remembered correctly, Nelliel should be residing somewhere near Las Noches, right?

Her appearance here…

Could it mean Las Noches is actually close to where Kikyo and the others are stationed?


---

Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo.

Midoriko looked helplessly at Nelliel, who was flailing about, and tried to reassure her gently. "Don't worry. We're not here to capture you."

This little one...

Did she escape from somewhere?

When she noticed the scar on Nelliel's face, a trace of sympathy appeared in her eyes.

Who in the world would hurt such a cute little girl?

Even a child isn't spared?

Of course—

Midoriko's anger was mostly stirred because of Nelliel's innocent, childlike appearance.

Still...

The hidden spiritual pressure emanating from her small body was far from ordinary.

Midoriko stayed cautious.

"Huh?"

Upon hearing Midoriko's words, Nelliel paused in her struggle, blinked curiously, and asked, "Really?"

Midoriko nodded firmly. "Really."

Nelliel's eyes sparkled. "Yay! Big sis, you're a good person!"

"...."

She believed that way too easily!

Midoriko looked conflicted.

But Nelliel paid no attention to her expression. Tugging at the sleeve of her miko uniform, she tilted her head and asked with curiosity, "Big sis, did you come from far away?"

Midoriko collected her thoughts and replied in a coaxing tone, "Why do you say that?"

Nelliel tapped her lips with a finger and answered matter-of-factly, "Because Nelliel's never seen Big Sis before!"

Midoriko: "…"

Nelliel's expression suddenly turned serious.

"Big Sis, don't go any farther. There are bad people ahead!"

"Really, really bad people!"

She frowned as she spoke.

"Bad people?"

Midoriko and the others exchanged glances, then asked, "What kind of bad people?"

"Umm…"

Nelliel made a face, then spread her arms wide and described, "It has two big horns, and it's really tall…"

Listening to her description, realization flashed through their minds.

A human-shaped Hollow...

That had to be their current target.

"I understand," Midoriko said, crouching down and placing Nelliel on the white sands, gently patting her head.

Though…

It was a bit hard to the touch.

After all, her head was more bone than flesh.

This little one...

She was probably a human-type Hollow too.

Was this the Arrancar that Lynn mentioned?

Midoriko fell into thought.


---

Elsewhere, not far from Las Noches in a well-hidden area...

Dondochakka Birstanne and Pesche Guatiche exchanged glances before shouting in unison, "Where is Lady Nel!"

Realizing something, they quickly panicked. "Quick, we need to get Lady Nel back! If Nnoitra Gilga finds her, we're doomed!"

At the same time.

Unaware that someone was desperately searching for her, Nelliel proudly marched forward with Midoriko and the others.

With every little step, her tiny feet left footprints in the white sands.

She tilted her head and asked, "Big sis Midoriko, will you protect Nelly?"

Midoriko patted her head, smiling. "Of course. If anyone bad tries to take you, I'll beat them all up!"

"Mm!"

Nelliel nodded enthusiastically, pumping her tiny fists. "Beat up the bad guys!"

Midoriko smiled warmly at the sight.


---

After a brief discussion, the group decided to press on.

Nelliel eagerly volunteered to lead the way.

Even though she warned them about bad guys ahead…

There was clear excitement in her eyes the moment they decided to keep going.

That palace—

She'd wanted to sneak in and explore for a long time now!

Of course—

Midoriko and the others weren't just charging ahead recklessly.

They still planned to hunt a few Adjuchas along the way to level up.

So, their pace wasn't particularly fast.

And with Nelliel guiding them, it became quite easy to find an Adjuchas.

Well...

It was basically leading them into a trap.


---

Meanwhile, deep in the third level of Hell.

After defeating the last Hell Guardian, Soi Fon finally allowed herself a moment of relief.

Clap clap clap!

Suddenly.

A crisp sound of clapping echoed.

Soi Fon's muscles tensed instantly.

"Who's there?!"

A lazy voice responded.

"You've made impressive progress over the years."

That voice.

Soi Fon's eyes widened. Her pupils contracted, and her body began trembling.

She slowly turned her stiff body around in disbelief.

And saw.

A tall, mature woman with dark brown skin, a high ponytail, and orange tights standing behind her.

"Shihouin…"

"Yoruichi!!"

The moment she saw her clearly, Soi Fon clenched her fists tightly, her voice shaking with anger and pain.

In an instant, her expression twisted in fury.

"Why are you here?!"

Yoruichi remained calm, shrugging. "Ah… shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"

Then her expression grew serious.

"Soi Fon, why are you in Hell?!"

If they were in the real world or even Soul Society, Yoruichi might have just ignored her spiritual pressure.

But this was different.

This was Hell.

More specifically…

Hell now under Lynn's control.

She feared that Soi Fon might recklessly provoke Lynn.

If that happened, there might not even be a chance to regret it later.

After all...

She had watched Soi Fon grow up. How could she not care?

But hearing Yoruichi's words left Soi Fon stunned for a moment.

She instinctively replied, "The miasma from Hell started leaking into the Soul Society. The Captain-Commander sent me—"

"Wait!"

She suddenly caught herself, gritted her teeth, and snapped, "Why should I explain to you?!"

Ah…

But she had already done it.

Yoruichi chuckled teasingly. "You're still so cute, Soi Fon."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 234: Too Easy

Huh? Cute?

Soi Fon felt dizzy.

Yoruichi's words had completely thrown her off, making her lips twitch involuntarily.

Did Yoruichi just call her cute?

Soi Fon stood there blankly, cheeks slightly flushed. Her mind short-circuited.

It took her a full minute to process what just happened.

No!

No, no, no!

She shook her head violently.

Why am I happy over Shihouin Yoruichi's praise?!

She was going crazy!

How shameful. How pathetic!

The woman in front of her was a traitor!

Soi Fon forcibly calmed her surging emotions, stared at Yoruichi with a blank expression, raised her hand, and pointed her golden finger ring at her.

"I don't care why you're in Hell. But since we've met here, then…"

She paused, eyes narrowing.

"Today is the day you die."


---

Silence fell over Hell.

But Yoruichi didn't even react to Soi Fon's declaration.

She was busy processing something Soi Fon had let slip.

The miasma of Hell...

It had actually reached the Soul Society?

Yoruichi recalled the moment when Lynn's spiritual pressure exploded.

That pressure… had penetrated Hell itself and affected the Soul Society?

Thinking about it, Yoruichi clicked her tongue.

Lynn's power was still beyond anything she could have imagined.


---

Meanwhile, seeing Yoruichi lost in thought, Soi Fon clenched her teeth.

"You..... are you looking down on me?!"

"Ah…"

Yoruichi snapped out of her thoughts, scratched her head, and gave a bright smile.

"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't paying attention just now. What did you say?"

"Say that again?"

Soi Fon's face twisted in anger.

"You're not even worth repeating it to!"

With those words, she vanished!

Feeling the sudden gust of air behind her, Yoruichi's lips curled slightly.

"Soi Fon…"

"Have you forgotten my title after a hundred years?"

As soon as she finished speaking, her figure vanished as well.

Only an afterimage remained, pierced by Soi Fon's golden glove.

When the illusion disappeared, Soi Fon's cold expression twisted. She turned toward where Yoruichi had reappeared.

"…Flash Master, Yoruichi."

"So you haven't forgotten."

Yoruichi shrugged.

"Tch."

Soi Fon sneered. "A hundred years is more than enough for me to surpass you!"

She tore off her sleeve, revealing her black uniform.

"The Captain's attire…"

Yoruichi's gaze lingered on her clothes. She looked a little nostalgic.

"I will take your other title too!" Soi Fon declared.

Boom!

A terrifying burst of spiritual pressure exploded from behind her.

But in the next moment, that immense power was compressed into a single point.

Shrrrk—!

The sound of space being shredded echoed, and the area behind her twisted unnaturally.

Soi Fon grinned, turning back to Yoruichi.

"This is the result of a hundred years of training. Let me show you what it's become."

She stepped forward.

The white stone beneath her exploded.

Her speed surged to the limit. In an instant, she was in front of Yoruichi.

Her expression was calm. She raised her hand and swung, the corners of her mouth already curling with victory.

But...

Yoruichi calmly extended her hand before the attack landed.

Buzz—

An energy wave identical to Soi Fon's spiritual pressure radiated from Yoruichi's palm.

Crash!

Their forces collided.

Soi Fon's tightly condensed energy was neutralized on contact.

Yoruichi said indifferently, "This level of power is too early for you."

Soi Fon's eyes widened in disbelief.

"And…"

Her golden eyes gleamed coldly as spiritual pressure erupted behind her.

"This technique is called... Shunko."

Soi Fon stared, stunned. Her lips trembled.

"You… you've already mastered that technique?!"

"Mm."

Yoruichi brushed her hair back lazily.

"About a hundred years ago?"

One hundred years ago…

From her casual tone and refined movements, it was obvious she wasn't lying.

And there was no need to lie about something like this.

"Damn it!"

Why?!

Even after a hundred years, why was Yoruichi still stronger?

Why…

Why could she only follow behind her?

Frustration twisted her expression.

"I'll never accept this!"

Soi Fon roared and lunged again with her golden gloves.

But Yoruichi gently swayed to the side, dodging every strike with ease.

Soi Fon's speed, which she once took pride in, looked like child's play compared to Yoruichi's movement.

Bang!

Suddenly, Yoruichi reached out, grabbed her wrist, and said softly:

"Are you done venting?"

Soi Fon tried to pull her hand back.

No movement.

She could still launch other attacks, but…

She didn't.

She simply glared at Yoruichi.

"You think I'm just venting?"

"I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye," Yoruichi said seriously.

"...."

Soi Fon's eyes widened. Her heart skipped a beat.

She froze.

Stopped struggling.

A long silence followed.

Eventually, she lowered her head and muttered, "What's the point of saying that now…"

"Sorry."

Yoruichi pulled her into a hug.

"Mmm…"

Soi Fon hadn't expected this at all. Her eyes widened, and her face turned red.

"Y-you… you…"

Wasn't she afraid Soi Fon might take this chance to hurt her?

She really trusted her that much?

Soi Fon felt something warm in her chest.

Maybe...

This healed the gap left by the century she lost.

What hundred years?

Yoruichi was just out collecting folk songs!

Feeling the warmth of Yoruichi's body, Soi Fon convinced herself.

She even gave her an excuse.

Seeing this, Yoruichi's lips curled slightly.

Soi Fon… you're still so easy to comfort.

Good.

The plan worked.

After a while, Yoruichi gently asked, "Soi Fon, do you want to come with me?"

(To be continued.)