Silas hadn't forgotten what he said to her in their last faithful encounter. Not only had Halibel rejected him, she had also remained stern.
So he said, "Have you trained and grown stronger since we last met, or can you still not feel my spiritual pressure?"
Those words struck through her. Sensing her hesitancy, Nel stepped forward, her gaze resolute. With newfound strength in her tone, she said, "Halibel, I understand your concerns. But I… I need to do this. I need to face what happened."
Halibel's eyes softened as she met Nel's gaze. These six years spent with Nel had truly affected her. She understood the depth of Nel's pain and her yearning for justice. She could deny her friend this chance for closure, but deep down, she knew it was what Nel needed.
With a sigh, Halibel conceded, saying, "Very well, Nel, if this is the path you choose, then I will stand by you."
Silas offered a curt nod, his expression betraying nothing. He wasn't surprised by their initial resistance., having anticipated their loyalty being won by a combination of fear and opportunity.
"Do you forgive Nnoitra?" he asked.
This was an unexpected question, but Silas knew Nel's personality more than anyone in all of Bleach.
A spark of defiance flickered in Nel's eyes—one directed at her past. Silas had offered her a chance for closure. And while the thought of returning to Las Noches stirred a mix of emotions, gratitude bloomed within her.
"Ichigo," she said with a softer tone. "I do forgive him."
Silas's remained solace, knowing she would have. In the story, she still wasn't willing to kill Nnoitra after she had her powers temporarily restored. Nel, for all her childish charm, possessed a surprising depth of character. And Silas was, by all means, going to manipulate it.
"Well said," he announced. "You have immense power, Nel. Waste it not on a lonely existence. Las Noches needs your strength, and more importantly, Nnoitra needs to face the consequences of his actions."
Nel's eyes gleamed with a newfound ferocity. She yearned to face him, not out of hatred but for a sense of justice and closure.
"I can assure you that you will be redeemed," Silas added.
His words offered Nel a sense of comfort. She blindly trusted Silas.
Halibel, who had been silently observing the exchange, understood the unspoken agreement between the two. The idea of serving another king wasn't appealing, but the prospect of stability for her fracción and a chance to witness Silas's adventures intrigued her.
"I have something to say," Halibel addressed. "If this Espada position you speak of allows me to ensure the safety of my fracción, then I… I would be willing to consider it."
Nel was the one to say that the Espada position came with many benefits. Some of which included the protection of her fracción. Halibel found this more interesting.
Sensing her agreement, he wasted no time departing with them to Las Noches.
• • •
Inside the fortress.
Nel, already familiar with Las Noches, made her way towards her vacant lot, a sense of nostalgia washing over her. Halibel, however, stood with her fracción, gazing upon the imposing structure with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.
They had much to learn.
Silas led them towards a hidden chamber within the palace walls so as to avoid any prowling eyes. If word spread that newcomers were inside, it would anger members like Nnoitra.
"Here," Silas announced. "This is where your true power will be awakened."
He gestured towards the second Hōgyoku. One by one, he turned each member of Halibel's fracción into Arrancars, imbuing them with the immense powers of a Soul Reaper while still retaining their Hollow mask.
Since Nel was already an Arrancar, she didn't need to undergo the same procedure.
As their transformation subsided, Halibel watched her fracción with a critical eye. Francheska, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun all stood tall, their new Arrancar forms radiating power. Francheska's mask resembled a pair of stylized fangs bordering her jawline; Mila Rose wore a stylish domino mask; and Sung-Sun's mask resembled a pair of stylized horns framing his face.
Each Arrancar retained their distinct personality, but their bodies now mirrored the powerful Hollows they once were. A sense of awe crossed Halibel's features. Her fracción were no longer the ragtag group of Hollows she had known, but powerful Arrancar, with their loyal bond still remaining.
Silas, having completed his objective, went to the corner to give each of them their original garments. They had been prepared in advance, with Silas expecting their arrival.
"These are your new attire," Silas announced, handing it to them. They all put them on, finding them appealing.
"How did you know I liked this kind of style?" Francheska inquired with glee.
"Yes, this fabric is to my liking,' Sung-Sun agreed.
Next was Halibel's turn. Because she was a Great Hollow, the process took a lot longer and used more of Silas's spiritual pressure to reactivate the Hōgyoku.
Halibel was quite tall, striking, and statuesque. Her olive skin and piercing aqua green eyes were framed by short, messy blonde hair, accented by three distinct braids. Fragments of her Hollow mask remained, tracing along the sides of her face, mouth, and down her neck.
By the time her transformation finished, she stood there naked.
Just as she was about to contemplate her initial unease, Silas surprised her. He stepped forward and, with a swift, practiced motion, used the carving tool to place her signature number three on her curvaceous bosom.
Francheska let out a low whistle. "Whoa, rank three?! Looks like someone's got a soft spot for the new leader," she teased with a suggestive smirk.
Mila Rose giggled as her eyes twinkled. "Maybe Halibel's got a thing for strong, mysterious guys."
Sung-Sun added to the mischief by simply grunting in agreement.
Halibel, however, was not moved in the slightest. Instead of blushing or looking flustered, and despite being naked, she met his gaze with a resolute expression.
"I must admit," she said with unexpected amusement. "I find the concept of hierarchy oddly… stimulating. It provides a clear path to advancement and a way to measure one's strength."
Her gaze then moved toward the clothes in Silas's hand. It was the exact same thing she wore in the series, but less provocative. Her Arrancar uniform had a high collar that draped over her lower face, while the long-sleeved jacket didn't show any cleavage.
"Have you been preparing for this day or something, Ichigo?"
"…"
"What's the matter?"
"You're an Espada now under my fortress…"
There was an awkward silence until it finally registered in her head. When she understood the severity of things, she kneeled and said, "My apologies, lord Ichigo."
