After retrieving Dordoni, I immediately head to Momo-chan Lab's Garganta and respectfully piggyback-carry him to the living world hideout. His chin stubble tickling the bare shoulders of my dress shihakusho feels ticklish, but I'll allow it just for today.
After entrusting Dordoni to the waiting attendant Arrancar, I make a quick return to Cirucci's location. Right now one of the series' most stylish battles is unfolding there. I absolutely must go watch. Nnoitra's watching for an opening to interfere at Gantenbainne's side, so I'll leave retrieval to the Exequias to avoid getting in the way.
Returning to Cirucci-chan's room at Tres Cifras. Unlike Dordoni, she and Gantenbainne are Privaron who were Espada until just recently. Incidentally, their successors are Nnoitra and Zommari, reawakened by Urahara's Hogyoku.
"—If you don't understand, I'll explain. There's more than double the difference in spirit particle vibration frequency between your wings and my Seele Schneider."
Sneaking into the colonnade space, I find Ishida-kun and Cirucci-chan just revealing their trump cards to each other.
Oh, this scene...!
"...I see. In other words, my wings won't work on you anymore?"
"Yes, that's right."
At the merciless young man's declaration, Cirucci takes a small deep breath.
"...Okay."
Right after she nods, her massive form separates with a clunk. Broken wings and giant hands roll carelessly on the floor as the female Arrancar transforms into a humanoid form retaining only wild, renza-lion-like long hair and a tail.
"...I didn't think that released state could be detached so freely. Are all you Arrancars like that?"
Cirucci answers Ishida's question with a bitter smile. The cold sweat running down her forehead is painful to see.
"...It's not freely detached. I discarded them.
—I can never return to normal."
At her words, the Quincy's eyes widen.
"We Arrancars' zanpakuto seal our Hollow's original attack abilities in sword form. Discarding them from Resurrección state without resealing them into the original zanpakuto is like burning off your own arms."
"What...!"
"My Golondrina has terrible fuel efficiency. So if these arms and wings won't work on you, I'll discard them all and..."
Then Cirucci raised her own tail heavenward.
"—Concentrating that spiritual pressure into one point is better."
At the forked tail's tip, spiritual pressure solidifies fan-shaped. Unprecedented power density—her glinting eyes manifest her firm resolve. Overwhelmed by that desperate resolve sparing no self-sacrifice, Ishida involuntarily raises his voice in sorrowful indignation.
"...Is this battle something you must win so desperately?!"
The female Arrancar finds the young man's question absurd and exasperating.
"Are you stupid or something? If we didn't need to win, wars wouldn't start in the first place!"
Obviously. Something even the naive child Ishida can understand. To the grimacing spoiled brat, Cirucci puts her pride into words.
"Arrancars are soldiers. Espada are their leaders. Even 'former' ones—that responsibility and pride don't change."
"...!"
"Beings born to kill enemies and win. Permitted defeat..."
Then, brandishing the blade of ultra-high-density concentrated spiritual pressure, the female Arrancar threw her life to fulfill her role.
"—Doesn't exist anywhere!"
...Haaaaah, so cool. You're so cool, Cirucci-chan.
A stylish self-sacrificial power-up that reverses all the negative elements—her previous gal-like cocky attitude and the gag space's falling face-dive leading to enraged sword release—into positives.
Even OSR police me can't help but smile.
Same with Dordoni, but veteran Arrancars who've watched Yon-sama for so long seem to have many stylish people. Especially this world's Cirucci-chan has circumstances of being saved from potentially regressing from intermediate Menos Adjuchas to lowest-class Gillian by Yon-sama's Arrancarification. Being able to sacrifice her body like this must be thanks to gratitude and loyalty. Truly stylish.
However. Unfortunately, that self-sacrifice tactic is a somewhat cliché method the enemy before her has already used in the past...
"You're slightly misunderstanding. The Seele Schneider's essence isn't a weapon but a support tool. It makes stealing spirit particles from cut spiritual bodies easier."
"What—my spiritual pressure...!"
Well, as expected, Cirucci as an opening act character can't beat Ishida Uryu who unleashed that famous copypasta.
He's one of the series' strongest, taking the ultimate fighting method of "Quincy who fights with OPB," and personally I think he's overwhelmingly more formidable than talent-spec-dependent Ichigo.
Quincy final form Letzt Stil, Sprenger, Seele Schneider, etc... Just being German makes it stylish, yet his usage of those techniques and tools is divinely stylish. His eloquence and provocative vocabulary are also excellent, and above all, he's a saintly character with deep respect spirit who struggles properly each time and creates showcases for enemies. To beat him, you either set up NTB like Szayelaporro or Haschwalth, or just overwhelm with spiritual pressure like Ulquiorra.
Honestly, I initially wanted to reference these Ishida-glasses' [Enemy Respect-Type OPB]during combat to make original characters shine, but... maybe fusing with the Momogyoku prioritizing Shiro-chan was slightly premature...
"Sorry. My victory. Victory truly was in the reach difference."
"Damn it..."
Afterward, same as the original—shot through the chain link with arrow-form Seele Schneider, Cirucci-chan's regretful defeat.
As in canon, Ishida Uryu's stylish victory.
***
"—Thank you for your hard work, Cirucci-san."
Some time after battle's end.
After Ishida-glasses, who won't kill even enemies on principle, and Pesche left the colonnade hall, I revealed myself before my proud subordinate who magnificently fulfilled her destiny.
"...Lady... Hinamori?!"
"It's been a while. I watched from midway, but it was a very splendid fight befitting an Espada."
Sending sincere praise to the shocked Cirucci-chan. As expected of that stylish group's former member. That battle just had genuinely bad opponent matchup, so don't worry.
But when I try to console her, Cirucci-chan suddenly starts crying.
"...I'm... so... sorry...! Showing Lady Hinamori... such a pathetic fight... sob..."
"Cirucci-san..."
W-was it that frustrating?
No wait, sorry—you're right. From my perspective, it's like sacrificing Tobai-chan with Ichigo's Mugetsu-type technique and still losing. I need to properly follow up.
"It's alright, Cirucci-san. Your wounds, spiritual power, the sacrificed Resurrección—I'll definitely restore everything."
"Ah..."
"I won't let a woman as noble as you die as a warrior. Hehe, I'd like to make Nnoitra-san, wandering around disobeying standby orders, drink your toenail clippings as medicine."
Seriously, you mantis who can only swagger with spiritual pressure against the weak. You should learn from your predecessor Quinto Espada and become more stylish.
However, even with my consoling, Cirucci-chan won't listen, falling into self-loathing with "please forgive me" and "pathetic" sobs. Can't be helped—I'll carry her on my back like Dordoni.
"L-Lady Hinamori...?!"
"Rest quietly. I'm taking you to the infirmary now."
"For someone like... me... to receive this..."
Moved by the big breasts touching my back, I hurry toward Momo-chan Lab's Garganta. Even losing her chain link, if I have Loca repair it, there's still plenty of time. If not, I'll just smack the Momogyoku's butt again.
"You'll aggravate your wounds. Sleep for now."
"Hina... mo..."
Gently putting her to sleep with Hakufuku, I entrust her to the miscellaneous Arrancar waiting at the Garganta to the living world hideout, and breathe a sigh of relief.
I reflect on that vs. Ishida Uryu OPB earlier.
Mm, Cirucci-chan lost. I think she had good momentum at one point like in the original, but... she's still a few steps short of becoming an OPB master.
Immediately discarding wings and arms cleanly upon learning they're ineffective is certainly stylish, but she should've drawn it out more and inserted [Past Flashback] under disadvantageous circumstances to earn more OSR value. Her overly decisive warrior and organization member resolve somewhat resembles vice-captain mode Izuru, creating an unavoidable sense of disappointment.
Above all, that gaudy purple makeup and creepy released state are major appearance point negatives! Wasting the positives of [Strong Woman] and [Appearance: Glamorous Beauty].
Even that Yon-sama couldn't overcome the OSR value negatives of that infamous kamaboko-fication & Yuzuru Hanyu pose and creepy fairytale butterfly wings in Hogyoku transformation. Those who don't value appearance points absolutely miss victories in OPB.
I have several images in mind, but I need to carefully select my Momogyoku transformation design for this afternoon's Karakura Town final battle too...
Now then. Back to my room.
If it's dirty before the final battle, it's OPB-negative, so first I must change from clothes sticky with subordinates' blood from carrying them.
This outfit's fishtail dress upper body is troublesome, but it's the type I can change alone if I try hard. It's shihakusho after all.
Loosening the choker and corset, removing the tube top chest area and hakama.
Reflected in the mirror is Hinamori-body in underwear. The pure white bridal lingerie-like tube bra strongly recommended by Charlotte aniki-aneki is super embarrassing, but I must endure. Female appearance/clothing OSR values are severe. Yes, this too is for the ultimate "Hinamori!"...
(B-but it's fine, right? Surveillance and such...)
Even for brainwashing NTR moves, I really don't want male allies seeing such intensely motivated underwear. Worried, I look around the room's ceiling area. That Yon-sama probably won't peep on women changing, but... I've been feeling a gaze for a while now—just what...?
Somehow shaking off suspicions, I finish changing into the same Shiro-chan clouding shoulder-baring shihakusho replacement and sneak out of the changing room.
Finishing various preparations, I flash step GO back to Las Noches main palace. Just moments ago, the protagonist group and Espada's first clash caught our spiritual pressure sensing.
The original battles finally begin...!
(So much to choose from. I'm really torn which to spectate in person...)
Ah, what a luxurious dilemma for a Bleach fan. As expected of five densely packed in-story hours serialized over one year five months. I must carefully organize the order and timing of rounds to collect famous scenes and lines.
"—Oh my, Momo-chan. You came to watch because you were curious too?"
To grasp the specific situation, I enter the central surveillance room overlooking everything, and Ichimaru on surveillance shift duty greets me. Ulquiorra's also here, having been right during original events.
...Yeah. Ichimaru also wouldn't peep on my changing with this stylish Arrancar here. Just my imagination.
It's my imagination, right? (intimidating)
"There were traces of Aaroniero-san's palace corridor being moved. Captain Ichimaru's doing, right?"
"Hey now, 'doing' sounds bad. Those kids said they wanted to fight the Espada, so I just meddled a bit."
"Wow... as expected. If an opportunity arises, can I reference that excuse too?"
While exchanging banter, I quickly check the surveillance room screens. Right—Szayelaporro's palace is 081, Aaroniero's palace is 091, Gantenbainne's room exterior vicinity is 147, the grand staircase area where Ichigo fights Ulquiorra is 235—this one's after Rukia mutual-defeated Aaroniero.
Order-wise, first watch Aaroniero vs. Rukia and Nnoitra vs. Chad, then Ulquiorra vs. Ichigo's opening battle, then Szayelaporro vs. Renji. After those four finish and Ishida joins, when Szayelaporro goes to change, I'll return to this surveillance room to confirm the situation.
Having decided the schedule, I immediately turn heel toward Aaroniero's palace.
"What's this, Momo-chan—already returning to wounded soldier treatment work?"
"Yes, I'm worried about Aaroniero-san."
"...Huh, surprising. You evaluating a Shinigami besides Captain Hitsugaya."
Ichimaru grins, asking "You believe in Rukia-chan?"
What's that—trying to dominance move me with that? Absurd, trying to play OPB games with this NEW Momo-chan who just fought a close 1-2 match against that Yon-sama (getting cocky)
"...No."
I deny Ichimaru's question and stylishly turn my face toward the surveillance screen. As if prompting his attention to the footage.
'—Yo, you're first?'
'—!'
—Quinto Espada—
Nnoitra Gilga
VERSUS
Sado Yasutora
─── ───
'—I'll take off my mask and greet you.'
'—What?! You're...!'
—Noveno Espada—
Aaroniero Arruruerie
VERSUS
—Thirteenth Division Member—
Kuchiki Rukia
The Shinigami substitute Kurosaki Ichigo's faction who fought the Gotei 13 in Soul Society and reclaimed their companion. The Espada—supreme among Arrancars who devoured tens of thousands of brethren to reach and transcend species limits. Thus the actors bearing both sides' opening battles were assembled.
"...I'm not believing in Rukia-san, Captain Ichimaru."
And to the smiling Ichimaru Gin, I smiled back with a full smile.
—I believe in this world, BLEACH itself.
***
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