Higher than the Moon Part V: The Dark Night Seems Endless

As Neliel bounced out of the way, Ichigo’s attempt to rush to her aid was thwarted by Nnoitra, who then informs Ichigo that he will die here. A surprising turn of events though: instead of finishing Ichigo himself, Nnoitra chooses to allow Tesra to do the honours now that Ichigo has been beaten down. With that, he and Nnoitra quickly switch places, and Tesla releases to better with Ichigo. It seems the meek face Tesra has put forth was a facade, for here his Hollow form shows his real personality.

For as much as Nnoitra values strength, we can see why he has kept Tesra with him when we look at this form. The sheer muscle mass bespeaks exactly how strong Tesra is as he effortlessly crushes Ichigo’s feeble attempts to fight back. As Nnoitra informs Orihime, she is expected watch while the man she has placed her hopes in dies. The end of chapter sketch shows the same “fight” kanji that appears as one of the Vizard training end of chapter sketches, indicating that all of Ichigo’s instinct to fight has been beaten to a bloody pulp. Clearly if Tesra normally followed his instincts, there would be a river of blood from here to the edge of Hueco Mundo.

Since we can see that Tesra has no trouble dealing with Ichigo, the question arises of why Nnoitra did not allow him to fight or otherwise help with the battle sooner. Indeed, it is an odd bit of foreshadowing that while this battle occurs, this notion is reinforced by Szayelaporro during his battle. His opponents will not win their battle with the technique they showed because they did not use it the moment the battle began.

As Tesra moves to finish Ichigo, Nnoitra remarks to Orihime that this is the end for Ichigo. His shadowed and sorrowful expression is reminiscent of when he make an excuse of why he will not finish killing Chad. How odd that someone termed a “beast” could so dislike killing. First he keeps showing mercy, and now this. These are distinctly human traits. Perhaps Nnoitra has grown truly more human over the years? Can this be why Tesra is permitted to fight now, because Nnoitra has no stomach for it?

The final blow to Ichigo is rudely interrupted by the arrival of Zaraki Kenpachi in 298 to save Ichigo’s life. Nnoitra’s response to Zaraki’s arrival can only be described as horrified. Over the space of five pages — an infinitely elongated second of story-time — we see that he has the appearance of one whose worst fear is coming true right before him as he watches Tesra rush in to confront Zaraki. We see in this eternal instant precisely why Nnoitra was given the form of Pesquisa he has: it’s for this one moment to determine the reiatsu difference between Tesra and Zaraki. Nnoitra’s actions bear a striking similarity to those of Tesra earlier when Nnoitra was hit by Neliel’s cero: he throws Orihime aside and panics. Nnoitra finally manages to react, to scream for Tesra to run — just as Zaraki’s sword swings down.

And thus we discover that Tesra lacks the Hierro that most Arrancars have, as easily as he is cut down. Ironically, if they were the heroes in our story, they would have been fighting side by side to protect each other. The strength of Nnoitra’s Hierro would have been sufficient to deflect Zaraki’s attack, allowing Tesra to overpower Zaraki while Nnoitra shielded him. Alas, they are not the heroes here, and Nnoitra’s insistence on remaining aloof and apart from Tesra has brought them to this end. This may be Nnoitra’s breaking point that he’ll publicly acknowledge his feelings for Tesra, but it’s enough for Tesra that Nnoitra screamed for him. He turns and calls out to Nnoitra as even he falls defeated.

Nnoitra’s expression as the scene shifts back to him is heartbreaking; he honestly looks like he’s about to cry. Zaraki has callously cut down Tesra and now turns to deal with Nnoitra. Tesra’s worst fear therefore threatens ominously: if he does not protect Nnoitra, something will happen to him.

We are not shown what happens with Nnoitra immediately after this point, though his expression suggests that grief is threatening to overwhelm him. The next eleven pages of panels are devoted to an explanation of the captains’ arrival. Nnoitra’s eventual response is a burst of blind rage, an abrupt attack on Zaraki that is almost casually blocked. In a last flicker of sanity, he asks Zaraki’s name. As their names are exchanged, a madness creeps into Nnoitra’s expression that mirrors Zaraki’s face.

Their battle begins in 299 and continues through the end of 312. As it progresses, it becomes clear that the Nnoitra who could not kill Ichigo, who was merciful to his opponents, is gone. In his place is a Nnoitra who is indistinguishable from any Hollow in Hueco Mundo. He is heartless and cruel and determined to kill Zaraki by any means possible. The humanized Nnoitra died the moment Tesra was cut down, and we therefore see that it was Tesra who made him human. Without Tesra, he is empty and soul-less enough to kill; he is Hollow. The difference between a Hollow and a human is the heart, and thus we know just what Tesra is in Nnoitra’s view of the world: his heart. As Mayuri observes while overhearing their battle, both Zaraki and Nnoitra are at the level of beasts, the very beast Nnoitra never wanted to be.

Lost in the mires of beast-like instinct, Nnoitra forgets the strength of his Hierro when Zaraki grabs him and forces him to the ground. In his panic he dodges Zaraki’s attack instead of facing it head on. This proves to be his undoing as Zaraki realises that Nnoitra can in fact be cut, if only he is slashed hard enough.

In rapid succession, Zaraki stops Nnoitra’s attack barehanded and thrusts his zanpakuto through Nnoitra’s left eye. It is then that we discover the reason for the eyepatch: Nnoitra’s Hollow hole is through his left eye socket, and his mask fragment surrounds the hole to give the appearance of an open mouth.

After this revelation of Nnoitra’s Hollowness, Zaraki does in fact succeed in cutting Nnoitra. His shocked expression echoes the fact that his own mortality is now staring him in the face. All tatters of his pride in the strength of his Hierro are cut away. The situation grows grim as Zaraki begins to cut him more and more, tosses a cero aside barehanded, and finally slashing him so badly by the beginning of 309 that he fears dying.

This image of utter defeat is mirrored for the chapter cover, the only page where we see Nnoitra’s true Hollow form. The mountain of Hollows he has destroyed is similar to what we see later with Starrk and Lilynette. The force of Nnoitra’s instincts, alone in the wilds of Hueco Mundo, is too much for most to bear, and his loneliness is almost unbearable for him.

Even a cornered animal will fight for its life in battle. His head bowed, streaming blood onto the sand, Nnoitra chooses to rely on instinct to stay alive: he releases, and we finally see what Nnoitra’s true personality is. Now we see just why his mask fragment surrounds his Hollow hole; in this form, he is nothing but the need to consume. This is his instinct, and this is why as a Hollow he destroyed those who got too close to him. Only the strongest would be able to be near him without being swallowed up.

I must say as well, the amount of fanfare resulting from this release makes me wonder just what Kubo originally intended for Nnoitra. A smokescreen is one thing, but the image of the horned moon appearing before him is a little over the top if he was really intended to be a minor character.

He and Zaraki resume their battle. Nnoitra presses the slight advantage enough to cut down Zaraki, and turns to deal with the others as 310 opens. In this form, he is truly Hollow to kill another person so easily and even think of killing others who weren’t threatening him. The humanized Nnoitra would never have contemplated continuing the rampage by attacking Yachiru. Fortunately, Orihime managed to throw a shield in front of Yachiru, drawing Nnoitra’s comment about her powers of protection.

In the mean time, Zaraki recovered himself enough to rise and resume battle as 310 fades into 311. During that time Nnoitra demonstrates that he still possesses both regeneration and an additional pair of arms while in his Hollow form. This seeming advantage wavers in the face of Zaraki’s delight in battle, and Nnoitra falls prey to despair in his inability to seriously injure Zaraki. He continues to hack away in despite.

The end of chapter sketches bear out the nature of the battle as the two beasts hack away at each other. This is a glimpse into Nnoitra’s personal hell: an eternal struggle of useless battles. Without the one who makes him human, life is meaningless and empty.