Neliel's control over her Sonido was, strangely enough, way stronger than usual. It seemed as if the boost that his majesty had given her was quite vast indeed.
She, however, needed to report back to her king.
She had the culprit. It was time he faced judgment.
POV Change
The throne room was silent.
Starrk barely acknowledged Neliel's return, lazily glancing up from his chair with a yawn. Mind you, he was the only Hollow who could act like this.
He was strong. If you had a problem with his attitude, come and deal with it—unless your name was Gabriel, you would lose that fight. Badly.
Gabriel made his way toward the man causing trouble for his empire. Goddamn Hollows.
He wondered if he could use him for research purposes. Hmm. He had the potential to be a strong Arrancar, but he swore when he looked at the Hollow, he saw a bald man.
Hmm.
He looked at the praying mantis.
On one hand, the mantis was strong and would be a good soldier... on the other hand, he didn't want no mad dog in his army.
With a look of mild disinterest, Gabriel tilted his head. "So, this is the insect causing trouble in my kingdom?"
Nnoitra groaned, struggling to push himself up.
For some odd reason, he felt as if death itself was pressing down on his neck.
Gabriel's boot pressed down on his skull, forcing him to kiss the floor. Gabriel had the floor done a while ago.
So he wasn't eating Hueco Mundo sand.
"Tell me," Gabriel said coolly, his voice carrying an unsettling calmness. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Despite his position, despite the overwhelming power pressing down on him, Nnoitra still had the audacity to laugh.
He was maybe, just a bit insane.
"Tch—those weaklings deserved it," Nnoitra sneered, his voice hoarse but defiant. "The weak have no rights. They exist only to be devoured by the strong."
So this was this guy's philosophy, huh?
Starrk looked at the ceiling, tossing his gun and catching it. He could tell that this Hollow would die soon.
The man looked at his ring. He really did not want to be a Horseman. The Sloth title was so good.
He slept for 14 hours straight, and no one bothered him. This was the life.
But now... Gabriel probably had plans to make him train that Neliel girl because she had potential.
He had nothing against it. Gabriel had kept his promise. He found strong people here, found some comrades, and even some drinking buddies.
Though he would rather stay 10 feet away from Lilith. He saw what she did to the Sin of Greed. Man looked empty.
How the fuck does someone manage to do that to someone like that?
Back to Gabriel
Gabriel stared at Nnoitra, his expression unreadable. His foot pressed down harder, forcing Nnoitra's face deeper into the ground.
Then, he smiled.
"Oh?" he mused. "Well, to me, you're just a bug."
And with a snap of his fingers—
Fire.
A black inferno erupted from Gabriel's palm, consuming Nnoitra's body entirely. The flames were not ordinary—they were Hellfire. They burned not just flesh but soul.
"AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
A bloodcurdling scream of absolute agony tore through the throne room. Nnoitra thrashed, convulsed, his soul being scorched to its core.
Neliel stood still, her body rigid.
Even with all she had seen in Hueco Mundo, this was different.
This was true, inescapable suffering.
This was gruesome.
The Hollow soldiers present lowered their heads, some visibly trembling.
Even they could feel that soul-crushing suffering. It caused them fear.
And just as Nnoitra's soul was on the verge of being completely erased—
Gabriel healed him.
The flames vanished. His body regenerated. The pain remained.
"How many Hollows were in that shelter?" he asked, turning around to look at Neliel.
"...Two hundred," Neliel eventually said.
"Well then... let's count, shall we?"
With another snap of his fingers—
The flames returned.
Nnoitra burned. Again.
And again.
And again.
"Hey, maybe if you survive this, I might let you leave," Gabriel said with a smile.
'Liar,' Starrk thought to himself. That was bullshit. He saw the sadistic look on Gabriel's face. He was just testing out a new move while making an example of that poor Hollow in front of his subordinates so they knew what happened to them if they betrayed him.
None of his business, though.
Each time, the body was healed, only for the fire to consume him once more.
200 times.
By the end, Nnoitra was barely conscious. His mask was charred. His mind was shattered. The arrogant, bloodthirsty Hollow who had once sneered at the weak now lay broken and trembling at Gabriel's feet.
"Please... I..." his voice was barely a whisper. "I took my punishment... I can leave now... right...?"
Gabriel grinned.
With a sadistic smile on his face, he would open his mouth and say—
"Did I promise you that?"
Nnoitra's breath hitched. "You... You said—"
Gabriel chuckled darkly, crouching down to meet his terrified gaze. "Oh? My bad." His eyes gleamed. "I changed my mind."
Nnoitra's face twisted in horror. "THAT'S NOT FAIR—!"
Gabriel's hand shot forward, grasping Nnoitra's skull.
"Didn't you say it yourself?" he whispered, his voice dripping with mockery. "The weak have no rights. Who am I to listen to a bug like you?"
Nnoitra's final scream echoed through the throne room as his soul was transfigured.
The Hollows watching shuddered. Even the most bloodthirsty among them felt a chill creep up their spines.
Their king was terrifying.
DO NOT FUCK WITH THE KING.
Once done toying around with his soul, Gabriel transfigured it. He didn't prolong the beast's suffering and just turned it into a ball of power.
Yes, the misogynistic man was going to be used in order to strengthen a woman... truly a fitting end for him.
Gabriel walked to Nell before saying—
"Here," he said, tossing the purified remains of Nnoitra's soul to her. "Your prize."
Neliel blinked. "You... want me to consume it?"
Gabriel shrugged. "I purified it in Hellfire. It should help you reach the next stage of evolution."
Neliel looked down at the glowing fragment of what was once Nnoitra. She could still hear faint echoes of his screams.
She had never believed in unnecessary cruelty. But she had also never seen justice in Hueco Mundo before.
Without another word, she consumed it.
And with that—her evolution began.
A/N I forgot to add....Starrk did not split himself yet when Gabriel found him.