It's over!
No matter how you look at it, this guy is actually enjoying this?!
The moment this realization struck, Nelliel's brain short-circuited in sheer disbelief, her gaze frozen in shock.
No!
This can't be happening!
Are Shinigami really such terrifying creatures?!
If I'd known even Vasto Lordes weren't safe…
For a brief moment, the innocent Antelope Knight—who had fought for centuries in Hueco Mundo—wished desperately that everything she was experiencing was an illusion.
But alas, the cheers from the crowd only reinforced the scene, searing this humiliating moment into her memory as if demanding she never forget it, even a thousand years later.
"Move! Why aren't you moving?!"
"I came here to see the centaur girl dominate the sword slave's son! Hah!"
"Dammit! If you won't do it, I will!"
"I wanna see the centaur girl eat a hot dog—YEAAAAH!"
"RIDE HIM! RIDE HIM!"
Even though Nelliel knew this was all fake—just part of the script—the spectators' frenzied expressions, deafening roars, and sky-high hor○mones traumatized the pure-hearted Antelope Knight more than getting hit by a truck.
[What are you waiting for?]
The sword's playful, slightly unhinged voice whispered in Nelliel's ear like a tiny demon tempting her to sin.
[If all your spiritual pressure gets stolen by this Shinigami, you know what'll happen, right?]
[But now, you have a chance!]
[As long as you charge across this sword slave's plains like a true knight, you can steal his spiritual pressure just like he stole yours!]
[Drain him dry, and you'll be the true victor!]
[Then the script will end!]
Cold. Trembling.
Nelliel felt her resolve waver with every word, her gaze locked onto the Shinigami mere steps away.
[Do you want to know the meaning of victory?]
[Do you want… to escape this dungeon?!]
[Yes/OK]
By the time the final prompt echoed in her mind, the last thread of Nelliel's rationality had stretched to its limit!
The righteous Antelope Knight suddenly stood, her hooves carrying her step by step toward Fujimiya.
Somehow, from her drained body, she mustered the last dregs of her spiritual pressure, bowing her head slightly.
Her delicate face was shadowed by the antelope skull mask.
"No! This is wrong!"
Nelliel suddenly raised her lance high, her eyes burning red as she glared at the Shinigami—as if resisting the temptation to succumb to depravity!
This marked her defeat in the contest of moral bankruptcy.
The one with the lower limits… was Fujimiya all along!!
Yet despite knowing this—
Nelliel chose to remain true to herself.
Even if it meant her spiritual pressure would be drained, her life stolen… as a Vasto Lorde, there were lines she would never cross!
The Antelope Knight was a true knight at heart!
Her gaze locked onto the number above Fujimiya's head.
[5]
This was the only way to escape the [Script]—without resorting to lewdness!
Allowing rule violations…
Was part of the rules themselves!
"...Sorry."
With a whisper, she thrust her lance toward his chest.
Yet Fujimiya's lips curled into a smirk of triumph.
"THUD!"
The bone lance pierced his heart in an instant.
The Shinigami, shackled to the ground, lay in a pool of his own blood.
The moment the lance struck—
The frenzied spectators froze, returning to their original, lifeless states.
As if some unseen force had stolen away time itself.
Their cheers, roars, and screams were preserved on their faces and bodies, leaving them as pale, puppet-like statues.
Nelliel bit her lip, pouring every ounce of strength into the strike.
At the same time, a disappointed sigh—like a child denied a good show—echoed in her ear.
[Role: Centaur ♡ Love Gladiator]
[Rule Violation: Third Offense]
The instant the words faded—
Nelliel's body suddenly withered, her spiritual pressure draining at an alarming rate. Every last drop was scraped away, leaving her completely exhausted.
The numbers above their heads shifted.
[1] → [0]
[5] → [6]
The chains binding Fujimiya shattered.
Simultaneously, the sword's cheerful voice rang in their ears:
[Violation limit reached!]
[Script concluded!]
[World of Pleasure: Ultra Battle ♡ Love Colosseum!]
[Winner: Host]
As the announcement finished—
Fujimiya stood, the weakened lance still embedded in his chest. Gripping the shaft, he pushed Nelliel back, laughing smugly.
"Heh heh heh… HAHAHA!"
"That's right!"
Did you think I was some kind of scum who'd do anything to harass a centaur girl?!
What I wanted… was your power!
Victory in the script didn't mean true victory.
After all…
The script always ends.
Fujimiya's voice was calm as he looked down at Nelliel:
"Don't blame me for being underhanded."
"Neliel."
"This is just how Shinigami and Zanpakutō abilities work."
By now, the Antelope Knight had collapsed, her spiritual pressure drained. She stared blankly at the Shinigami, barely able to maintain her spiritual form.
Watching this, Fujimiya couldn't help but feel a victor's pride.
Though for some reason, it also felt like… he'd won the script but lost at life.
Probably just his imagination… right?
The next moment—
The dual-layered heart patterns in their eyes glowed pink.
The colossal colosseum faded as the script ended.
...
When everything cleared—
Fujimiya and Nelliel were back in the wasteland.
The wind, sand, dust…
Nothing had changed.
As if the entire script had lasted less than a second.
Nelliel collapsed, her eyes wide as she took in the surroundings. Even the bisected Bucha still lay nearby.
But realizing this, the Antelope Knight froze.
"I… didn't die?!"
The only abnormality was her spiritual pressure.
Feeling the extreme weakness in her body, Nelliel suddenly looked into the distance, as if realizing something.
As a Vasto Lorde, her existence was unique.
Their immense spiritual pressure—accumulated through endless consumption—was usually too vast to control finely, often crushing weaker beings around them into dust. This made it impossible to approach anyone they wished to be close to.
And that was for Vasto Lordes.
So what would happen if a far weaker being suddenly gained that kind of power?
Gazing into the distance, Nelliel felt a faint glimmer of hope.
"BOOOOOOM—!!"
The next instant—
A violent, overwhelming surge of spiritual pressure erupted from Fujimiya's body, shooting straight into the sky like an inverted waterfall.
Yet Nelliel could also see clearly—
Fujimiya's already battered body was being torn apart by the colossal energy, wounds splitting open grotesquely.
His eyes shimmered, every muscle in his body strained to the limit. Blood gushed from his injuries as his body struggled to heal under the crushing pressure—only to be ripped open again.
An ordinary person would have lost their mind from the pain.
But Fujimiya remained standing.
[Wall of Lamentation]
[Your will remains eternally fixed at its strongest point until death.]
Only in true life-or-death moments did Fujimiya understand just how crucial the "will" Old Man Yama had taught him from the beginning really was.
His body trembled violently.
Gritting his teeth, he raised his Asauchi, pointing it at Nelliel.
Facing death, he had no room for thoughts about original plots, centaur girls, or wanting to be ridden like a horse.
His gaze locked onto the Antelope Knight.
The spiritual pressure he'd stolen from her was unleashed without restraint.
His Shunpo, swordsmanship, and physique all ascended to new heights under the terrifying energy.
Amid the agony of his body tearing itself apart, only one thought remained:
Strike her!
Expel all of it!
The moment Fujimiya's eyes landed on her, Nelliel felt an overwhelming sense of danger.
Then—Fujimiya took a step.
"CRACK—!"
The ground beneath his foot cratered, soil exploding outward like a small mountain as his figure vanished.
Back in the real world, Nelliel could once again feel the terrifying power of a Vasto Lorde—able to manipulate spiritual particles with a thought.
A bone lance formed in one hand, while the other conjured a shield, bracing against the coming attack.
But it wasn't enough.
After losing the script, the Antelope Knight was far too weak!
At this moment—
Even Fujimiya's extraordinary will was reaching its limits.
Every step tore his muscles apart, only for them to heal and rip again. His bones groaned, his tendons snapping and reforming endlessly.
All he could do was pour every ounce of spiritual pressure into this single strike!
Into the Antelope Knight before him!
His will, spirit, and body had all reached their peak.
[Third Form: Piercing Star]
Like a shooting star, a flash of light.
The blazing spiritual pressure seemed to pierce space itself—unstoppable.
"BOOOOOOM—!!"
The loudest sound is silence. The grandest form is formless.
A pure white shockwave radiated outward, flattening the earth, dust, and clouds for miles—leaving only clear skies.
His blade shattered the lance, pierced the shield—
And plunged straight into Nelliel's chest.
Blood gushed from Nelliel's mouth as she stared into the Shinigami's hollow eyes.
He had already lost consciousness after "firing."
Yet in the depths of their minds, a familiar voice echoed:
[Requirement: Before I drive my blade into your heart, neither of us may die.]
[Pact Sealed.]
As the words faded—
Their pupils shimmered pink once more.
A third heart-shaped layer formed around the existing two.
Then quietly faded into their eyes.
Vanishing without a trace.