"Well— he is present. "
The massive Adjuchas beneath appeared to sense his Reiatsu, peeking its head from beneath the sand.
It resembled a dinosaur, with skin that radiated tremendous heat. This warmth extended for kilometers around it. It was far from what Tousen described; it was not just any typical fire-resistant Adjuchas.
"Damn it! Another weakling sent by the Night Palace? "
Recognizing Fiander's Reiatsu, the Adjuchas emerged from the sand and fled. Each stride left a deep, black imprint on the sand, a consequence of the heat emanating from its body.
"But it's true, if you wish to absorb Yamamoto's flames, this won't suffice. "
Noticing the Adjuchas fleeing without any hesitation, he maneuvered behind it, extended his arm, and recited: "Bakudō Seventy-nine Bind. "
Nine fireballs emerged from nowhere, instantly striking the Adjuchas' body and encircling it.
"Roar—"
The Adjuchas let out a roar, rendering the bakudō ineffective. As the nine fireballs neared the Adjuchas, they were immediately absorbed into its form.
"This is intriguing. I'm beginning to feel a surge of excitement. "
This opponent intrigued him like none he'd encountered before. Fiander darted through the air with Nell in his arms and proclaimed: "The Forest of Misty Smoke, the Wrath of the Dawn, the God of Flame racing through the mountains, roaring! Crush it! Bakudō's Ninety-Three · Lava Erosion! ! "
Using Shunpo, he landed atop the Adjuchas' head and recited the Ninety-Three Bakudō, conjuring a torrent of magma that fell like a waterfall, creating an entangling net that quickly enveloped the Adjuchas below.
Ninety-Three Bakudō · Lava Erosion involves infusing the spiritual particles in the atmosphere with heat, transforming them into a magma-like liquid that can be splashed onto the adversary, with the magma's shape being adjustable to the caster's desires.
Once the magma ensnares the target, it solidifies rapidly into black lava, rendering the opponent immobile. If the adversary is weak, the lava can instantly dissolve them upon contact.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh! ! ! "
As the Adjuchas cried out incessantly, it found itself immobilized on the ground by the solidified lava.
"You Bastard! ! "
"You're all bloody bastards! "
The Adjuchas' eyes flared red. The ground began to shake continuously, with white steam billowing upward from the surface.
Boom! !
Then came the second explosion, followed by a third, and soon the scalding white steam enveloped the entire battlefield. It seemed this Adjuchas had anticipated the arrival of pursuers.
Thus, it selected a strategically advantageous location.
"He at least possesses some cunning. "
The white steam swiftly filled the sky, obscuring Fiander's view of the situation below.
He attempted to probe the white steam, but the intense heat caused his skin to burn, turning it red in an instant.
Blue spiritual particles flickered rapidly, enveloping his fingers, and the burn healed almost instantly.
"In that case, show me what you can do! "
"Freeze it! Frosty Heavens! "
As he drew his Zanpakutō, an overwhelming gust of wind swept through, dispersing the steam, replaced by an icy mist that washed over the entire area. Finally, Fiander caught sight of the fleeing Adjuchas in the distance, its back scorched red from the magma.
He intended to use the terrain to ensnare his pursuer, but unexpectedly, he suffered significant injuries.
Just as the Adjuchas had covered a kilometer, a sudden formation of ice crystallized beneath its feet, immobilizing it.
"What is going on? "
Before it could respond, the ice crept upward along its limbs, swiftly encasing its entire body, rendering it helpless.
The scorching temperature surrounding them transformed into a cooler atmosphere as Fiander unleashed his Zanpakutō; the numerous icy mists in the air made the desolate desert aesthetically pleasing.
"Wow~oh~"
"Glistening, so lovely! "
Noticing the drop in temperature, he dismissed the spirit barrier, allowing Nell to leap off.
"This is truly quality material; I am quite pleased, Adjuchas. "
Approaching the Adjuchas now encased in ice, he extended his hand over it. The ice sculpture, which had initially exhibited cracks, became solid under the influx of his Reiatsu.
Honestly, among the various Adjuchas-level Menos Grandes, this one is the only one he truly acknowledges; even the presence of Grimmjow doesn't compare in his eyes.
Leaning against the frozen Adjuchas, he settled down slowly, observing Nell as she waved her hands, danced, and trotted in an attempt to catch the ice flakes drifting through the air.
"Nell, have you never seen snow before? "
He suddenly remembered something and queried Nell, who was reveling in the moment.
"Snow? What does that mean? "
She asked, confused.
Indeed, in the unchanging realm of Hueco Mundo, it has never rained. Nell, dwelling in Hueco Mundo, has never encountered the human world.
"Do you enjoy these ice flakes, Nell? "
He inquired softly.
"Yeah, they're shiny! Nell loves them so much because I've never encountered anything like this before. "
"Yes, they're beautiful. "
"Let me perform a magic trick for you."
Before Nell could ask what he meant, he lifted his Zanpakutō high and declared, "Days of snow! ! "
Blue Reiatsu shot upward, causing the temperature to plummet as snowflakes began to descend from the sky.
The temperature dropped to around minus 5 degrees. Under the gaze of the astonished little girl, ten minutes passed, and the ground became blanketed with a thick layer of snow.
As Nell cautiously extended her small foot to make the first footprint, she quickly followed it with her other foot.
Nell, who has spent centuries in Hueco Mundo, felt immense joy when she witnessed snow falling for the very first time. She sat there, blankly holding the snowflakes in her hand, as they soon adorned her shoulders and head.
"Nell… is very happy! "
In an instant, she dashed towards Fiander and leapt into his embrace. Gazing up at him with sincerity, she expressed, "Thank you, Fiander. "
"Thank you for looking after Nell; she truly feels joyful! "
"What a silly thing to say; isn't this what I'm supposed to do? "
Seeing such a naive and adorable little loli, he couldn't help but smile.
As the snow began to fall even heavier, Nell nestled quietly in his arms, speechless, simply taking in a sight that had never graced Hueco Mundo before.
"It's so beautiful! "
Fiander sighed genuinely, not just admiring the unprecedented snowy landscape in this barren land. It was the experience itself that had shifted his mindset. Often, what people truly need is just a shift in their mental journey.
Had he never encountered snow? Certainly, he had, countless times across three lifetimes, yet this occasion felt distinct. With Nell by his side, he experienced a newfound tranquility.
***
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