Chapter 524 - 524 It's Our Turn to Protect You!

Border area of Las Noches' sphere of influence.

Generally speaking, the closer to Las Noches, the stronger the active Hollows become.

The border area of Las Noches' sphere of influence is at the junction between Las Noches' territory and the rest of Hueco Mundo, bordering Las Noches itself. Although the Hollows in this area are not weak, none dare to cause trouble at the doorstep of Las Noches.

So, the public order in this area is actually surprisingly good.

Nel, Pesche, Dondochakka, and their pet Bawabawa were active in this area precisely for this reason.

"Waaah... please don't eat Nel..."

Nel ran ahead crying bitterly, while Pesche and Dondochakka chased closely behind. Clearly, Nel and the others were playing their endless chase game again.

"Waaah... ah?"

After climbing over a sand dune, Nel suddenly stopped.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Nel? Why did you stop? Are you tired? Let's take a break then."

Pesche, Dondochakka, and Bawabawa caught up.

"Pe-Pesche... lo-look..."

Nel suddenly pointed ahead, her whole body trembling.

Pesche and Dondochakka looked in the direction Nel was pointing, and then they also shuddered.

"To-Tosen-sama!"

Pesche exclaimed in surprise.

Not far ahead, Tosen and a group of people wearing skull masks and standard white uniforms were standing there, blocking Nel and the others' path.

Although Nel had amnesia, because she, Pesche, and Dondochakka had been active near the border of Las Noches' sphere of influence for years, they were familiar with the members of Las Noches, such as the Espada and Aizen's other subordinates.

So, Nel and the others recognized at a glance that the ones blocking their path were Tosen, the Espada Supervisor of Las Noches, and members of the Exequias.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Tosen and the Exequias members walked directly towards Nel and the others.

"Hey, Pesche, Dondochakka, Tosen-sama isn't coming for us, is he?"

Nel crouched down with Pesche and Dondochakka to whisper and discuss.

"How could that be? Tosen-sama is the Espada Supervisor, a great person. Why would he come for little bugs like us?"

Pesche said, puzzled.

"But Tosen-sama is indeed walking towards us."

Dondochakka said.

"Maybe Tosen-sama is just passing by, and we happen to be blocking his path. So, if we just move aside, surely Tosen-sama won't care about little bugs like us."

Nel guessed.

Having said that, Nel ran a few steps, crouched beside a nearby rock, hugged her head, and played ostrich.

Pesche and Dondochakka looked at each other, seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.

They felt something was wrong, but didn't have any good ideas. So, they could only join Nel by the rock, hugging their heads and playing ostrich, praying that such a 'great person' wasn't looking for 'little bugs' like them.

"You can't see me, you can't see me, you can't see me..."

They muttered while playing ostrich.

Unfortunately, some things can't be avoided just by burying your head in the sand like an ostrich.

Tap, tap, tap...

The footsteps stopped right in front of Nel and the others.

"You can't see..."

Hearing the footsteps stop before her, Nel looked up instinctively and saw Tosen looking down at her.

But as Nel had been muttering, Tosen indeed 'couldn't see' her, because Tosen was blind.

"This Reiatsu, although very weak, is unmistakably that of the former Tres Espada, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck."

Although Tosen couldn't see, his other sensory abilities were very sharp. Moreover, as the Espada Supervisor, he had dealt with Nel, a former Espada, many times. So, Tosen immediately recognized Nel's identity.

"Tres Espada, Nelliel? Who is that? Nel doesn't know such a great, important person."

Nel trembled, speaking weakly.

"Why are you playing dumb, Nelliel?"

Tosen frowned with displeasure.

"Tosen-sama."

At that moment, a member of the Exequias walked to Tosen's side and explained quietly: "Before we came, we inquired with Szayelaporro-sama. According to him, the former Tres Espada, Nelliel, seems to have lost her memory long ago."

Back in the day, Nnoitra, with Szayelaporro's help, had ambushed and severely injured Nel. So, Szayelaporro knew quite a bit about Nel's situation.

"Is that so?"

Tosen pondered. "Well, that doesn't matter. Nelliel, according to a report from a member of the Exequias, you know Hitsugaya Toshiro, the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and Captain of the 10th Division. Is that true?"

"Nelliel? Are you talking about Nel?"

Nel pointed at herself with an innocent and cute expression. "Although Nel isn't this Nelliel person, I do know Toshiro..."

"Oh dear! Tosen-sama is joking! While we have indeed heard of Hitsugaya Toshiro, how could insignificant little bugs like us possibly know such a great, important Shinigami as Hitsugaya Toshiro?"

Pesche suddenly interrupted Nel, trying to laugh and joke their way out of it.

"Hmph! Spare me the excuses!"

Tosen sneered.

Tosen didn't believe Pesche's nonsense at all. From Nel's earlier answer, Tosen had already confirmed that Nel and the others indeed had a connection with Toshiro.

Even if Nel hadn't shown any abnormality, Tosen wouldn't have believed her. He had only asked casually, not expecting to get anything out of it.

"Alright, since you truly do know Hitsugaya Toshiro, then by capturing you as hostages, along with those of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, Soul Society will surely send Hitsugaya Toshiro leading a force to Hueco Mundo to rescue them, won't they?"

Having said that, Tosen waved his hand and ordered: "Men! Capture all of them and take them back!!"

Nel was no longer the former Tres Espada. Her weak Reiatsu didn't even give Tosen any desire to fight. So, Tosen chose not to act personally but to have his Exequias members do it.

"Dondochakka!"

Pesche suddenly shouted.

"I know! Brother!"

Dondochakka responded loudly and immediately, without hesitation, stood in front of Nel together with Pesche.

"Back then, Nel-sama always protected us. Now it's our turn to protect Nel-sama!"

Pesche's tone was serious as never before, completely lacking his usual silly and funny demeanor.

"You two are Nelliel's Fracción?"

Tosen barely remembered Pesche and Dondochakka's identities now.

"Bawabawa! Protect Nel-sama well! Leave the enemies to us!!"

Pesche instructed loudly.

Although Bawabawa was nominally Nel and the others' pet, his true identity was a type of combat spirit insect kept inside Dondochakka's body, possessing not inconsiderable strength.

Hearing Pesche's instruction, Bawabawa immediately coiled his large body into a circle, like a snake coil, protecting Nel inside.

After shouting to Bawabawa, Pesche immediately charged towards the Exequias members together with Dondochakka.