CHAPTER 59: Rebirth

The atmosphere was thick with tension as everyone watched Sung-Sun undergo her transformation. Even Yoruichi, who was known for her playful nature, looked on with a level of fascination she hadn't expected to feel for a Hollow. The determination and worry of Kazuya and his friends had somehow reached her, making her silently cheer for the snake Hollow.

Kazuya and his companions had changed her entire outlook on the Hollow race in one single day. That Hollows could be just as human as Shinigami.

She finally comprehended fragments of Kisuke's obsession with the Hollow race.

"It's almost done…" Apacci muttered. "Sung-Sun, show yourself already!"

As the luminescent pink glow surrounding Sung-Sun receded, everyone held their breaths. Sung-Sun appeared in her Resurrección form, just like Mila Rose had done following her transformation.

While Mila Rose was strikingly alluring, Sung-Sun exuded a certain elegance. Her face was youthful and her hair, a dark shade of green that looked almost black, was styled in a classic hime cut with long side bangs framing her face. A fragment of her shell-like mask rested on the right side of her head, and the three pink dots on either side of her face added to her overall charm.

Her Resurrección form was significantly smaller than her original form. She was now a stunning young woman with the lower body of a snake — a lamia.

Upon emerging from her transformation, Sung-Sun's pale pink eyes immediately focused on Kazuya. She surged forward, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace. Her thick tail coiled around him possessively, as though she had no intention of ever letting him go. Her grip around him was akin to vice but he barely felt a thing with his Hierro.

"You're back," she squealed, excitement dripping from her voice. "Thanks for saving me."

Mila Rose huffed quietly, looking away from the scene with a bit of a sulk. She felt a tinge of annoyance at Sung-Sun for completely overlooking her role in all of this. Meanwhile, Apacci watched the display with a sharp gaze. She was glad for Sung-Sun's survival, but it also filled her with a sense of melancholy. The stark reality was beginning to hit her—she was the only one among them who hadn't assumed a humanoid form yet, despite yearning for it the most.

'I'll become a Vasto Lorde first then Arrancar.'

Her eyes briefly scanned over the two fresh corpses on the field—one a Vasto Lorde and the other an Arrancar of Adjuchas rank. She firmly believed that consuming them would elevate her rank.

'Be patient. Don't look desperate in front of Kazuya.'

She had to be careful not to tarnish her image in his eyes. With Mila Rose and Harribel already wrapping his heart around their fingers, she couldn't afford to give him more reasons to overlook her.

Kazuya, meanwhile, smiled at Mila Rose and Apacci while comforting Sung-Sun with gentle strokes on her back. He would have been filled with regret if anything had happened to her due to his decision to leave them. "I don't deserve more credit than Cirucci and Mila Rose. Breaking your mask was Cirucci's idea. I just acted on it."

Cirucci smirked, pleased at his deep trust in her. He hadn't hesitated for a second and had immediately acted upon her advice. Her smugness was quickly replaced by surprise when Harribel snatched the egg from her hands.

"I wasn't going to eat it," she grumbled.

"Of course. Of course. I could sense everyone's worries. Every concern should be blamed on Evanya." Sung-Sun separated from Kazuya and cast her gaze on Evanya's lifeless body a few meters away. With a look of distaste, she spat in the direction of the corpse. "Trying to enslave my mind, Baraggan's slave."

Sung-Sun felt a pang of disappointment that she hadn't been the one to end Evanya's life. She wasn't one for physical torture, but she would have relished the opportunity to make Evanya suffer in every possible way. She decided to devour Evanya later — a small consolation for all the suffering.

"Well, she will reunite with her master in Hell," he said with a chuckle, gaze drifting to the dead Evanya. Baraggan's last curse didn't work out. "We are finally free from the Democles hanging over us in the Hueco Mundo. What a relief."

Everyone, except Yoruichi, looked shocked by this revelation. Apacci, however, had mixed feelings about the news of Baraggan's demise. Assisting Kazuya in killing Baraggan would have been a prime opportunity to demonstrate her growth to him. But even that opportunity had been taken away from her, adding to her mounting frustration.

She huffed. "Didn't you say you have nothing to counter Baraggan's unique ability?"

"What does that matter now?" Mila Rose shrugged. "We didn't get to witness the downfall of God King."

Harribel's gaze softened. "You worked really hard."

"I did." He nodded seriously. "Lap pillow later?"

"...Sure."

Sung-Sun released Kazuya from her grip and turned to Yoruichi. "Kazuya, would you kindly introduce us to this black kitty who is oozing a Shinigami's Reiatsu? I feel a little off about her eavesdropping on our private conversations."

Sung-Sun's question brought everyone's attention to Yoruichi. Even Kazuya had forgotten about her — she was way too silent, a complete opposite of her talkative demeanor when they were alone on the surface.

Yoruichi let out a hearty chuckle. "I am Kazuya's friend from the Living World. Don't worry about me cleansing you. I'm no longer serving the Seireitei as a Shinigami."

Her deep, masculine voice immediately triggered Mila Rose. "This cat is a he?"

"Do you have a problem with my gender?" Yoruichi asked, amused. "Assuming a cat's gender from their appearance is sexist."

"No, I didn't," Mila Rose quickly replied. "I just assumed you were a girl. It's impossible to imagine Skull keeping a male companion."

"Kazuya didn't tell me all of his Hollow friends were women…" Yoruichi looked at Apacci, whose gender was impossible to guess from eyes. "I presume you're a girl."

"I am!"

While Yoruichi was busy introducing herself, Cirucci stealthily approached and pounced at her. But Yoruichi nimbly jumped away, leaving Cirucci to fall flat on her face.

"Ha! You can't catch me."

Her taunts only fueled Cirucci's desire to catch her and pet her.

…

Apacci snuck away from the group, slinking toward Evanya's lifeless form. The dense Reiatsu still clinging to the body was a heady, intoxicating scent that sent her senses reeling. The scent tantalized her predatory instincts, coaxing a pool of ravenous desire.

Suddenly, Sung-Sun slithered onto the scene, her movements quick and graceful. Her delicate hand playfully masked her mouth. "Don't steal my game, Evanya is mine to eat."

Apacci's eyes narrowed to mere slits, her Reiatsu flaring against her will. "Let me…"

Sung-Sun looked between Apacci and Evanya. "Alright… You can eat her. But you will owe me one for this."

Being Sung-Sun's regular victim, Apacci knew Sung-Sun could get very handy with her requests.

A tense silence hung heavy between the two Hollows as a clash of will ensued. Sung-Sun didn't blink, unwavering in her request. "Deal or not?"

Apacci nodded her head, unable to resist the promise of an evolution. "Deal."

Apacci wasted no time then, throwing herself at the feast of Reiatsu before her. Each bite she took was filled with a desperate ferocity, a battle of survival and ambition. It was a sight that held an eerie beauty, an act of raw, primitive nature unfolding in its most visceral form.

***

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