Nel stared at Ulquiorra. Szayel was lost in the joy of science, but Nel heard something much more ominous in the term second stage. Murciélago was a nasty piece of work, one of the nastiest among the Arrancar, and to say they were all Hollows, and Hollows by definition were nasty pieces of work.

Murciélago would not just hand over new power to Ulquiorra, not so easily, not under duress. Would it?

She nearly asked Ulquiorra what it had cost him, but she swallowed the question and bit her lip. That wasn't a question for right now. That was something to ask him in private.