Bleach is a series that follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who becomes a substitute Soul Reaper and battles evil spirits called Hollows. Along the way, he meets many allies and enemies, some of whom are also Hollows who have evolved into humanoid forms called Arrancars.
One of the most lovable and powerful characters from Bleach is Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, also known as Nel Tu or simply Nel. She is a former Arrancar and the former Tres (three) Espada, one of the strongest members of the villainous organization led by Sosuke Aizen. However, she is also a kind-hearted and childlike character who befriends Ichigo and his friends.
In this blog post, we will explore Nel’s personality, history, abilities, and role in the Bleach story.
Personality
Nel has two distinct personalities that correspond to her two different forms: a child form and an adult form. In her child form, Nel is cheerful, innocent, naive, and playful. She loves to follow Ichigo around and call him “brother”. She is also very loyal and protective of her friends, especially her adoptive brothers Pesche Guatiche and Dondochakka Birstanne.
In her adult form, Nel is calm, mature, wise, and noble. She has a strong sense of honor and justice, and she despises those who harm the weak or innocent. She is also very confident and courageous in battle, and she does not hesitate to use her full power against her enemies.
History
Nel was once the Tres Espada, one of the most powerful Arrancars under Aizen’s command. She was respected and feared by her fellow Espadas and Fracciones. However, she was betrayed by Nnoitra Gilga, the Quinto (five) Espada at the time, who ambushed her and cracked her mask. This caused her to revert to a child form and lose most of her memories and powers.
Nel was then found by Pesche and Dondochakka, her former Fracciones who remained loyal to her. They decided to protect her and pretend to be her brothers. They also adopted a giant worm-like creature called Bawabawa as their pet. Together, they lived in the desert of Hueco Mundo, avoiding other Arrancars and Hollows.
Abilities
Nel is a very powerful character who possesses various abilities as an Arrancar. Some of these abilities are:
- Cero: Nel can fire a powerful blast of spiritual energy from her mouth. In her child form, she can only fire a weak Cero that she calls Cero Doble. However, in her adult form, she can fire a powerful Cero that rivals those of other Espadas.
- Sonído: Nel can move at high speeds by creating sound waves. In her child form, she can only use Sonído to run away from danger. However, in her adult form, she can use Sonído to dodge attacks or launch surprise attacks.
- Hierro: Nel has a high degree of durability due to the iron-hard skin of Arrancars. In her child form, she can withstand minor injuries or attacks. However, in her adult form, she can withstand serious injuries or attacks that would normally be fatal.
- Zanpakuto: Nel’s Zanpakuto is called Gamuza (Spanish for “Chamois”). It takes the form of a large lance with a green blade and a white handle. She can use it to slash or stab her opponents with great force.
- Resurreccion: Nel’s Resurreccion is called Gamuza (Spanish for “Chamois”). It is activated by the command “Declare” (宣告せよ). In this form, Nel’s appearance changes to resemble a centaur-like creature with green fur and horns. She also gains enhanced strength, speed, agility, and endurance. She can also use two special techniques:
- Lanzador Verde (Spanish for “Green Lancer”): Nel throws her lance at her opponent with tremendous force and speed. The lance then explodes on impact, creating a huge blast of green energy.
- Cero Espada (Spanish for “Zero Sword”): Nel charges up a Cero on the tip of her lance and then slashes it at her opponent. The Cero then follows the trajectory of the slash, creating a large arc of green energy.
Role in the Story
Nel first appears in the Hueco Mundo arc as a child who runs into Ichigo and his friends while they are infiltrating Las Noches, Aizen’s fortress. She quickly attaches herself to Ichigo and calls him “brother”. She also helps him and his friends fight against various Arrancars and Hollows along the way.
Nel later reveals her true identity as the former Tres Espada when she encounters Nnoitra, who has become the Cuatro (four) Espada. She transforms into her adult form and fights against him to protect Ichigo. She manages to overpower him, but she reverts to her child form before she can finish him off. She is then severely injured by Nnoitra, but she is saved by Kenpachi Zaraki, who arrives to fight Nnoitra.
Nel later recovers from her injuries and reunites with Ichigo and his friends. She also meets Orihime Inoue, whom she admires and calls “sister”. She then follows Ichigo and his friends as they escape from Hueco Mundo and return to the Human World.
Nel reappears in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc as an adult who co-rules Hueco Mundo alongside Tier Harribel, the former Tres Espada who has become the ruler of Hueco Mundo after Aizen’s defeat. She helps Harribel fight against the Wandenreich, a group of Quincy invaders who have attacked Hueco Mundo and captured Harribel. She also helps Ichigo and his friends fight against Yhwach, the leader of the Wandenreich and the main antagonist of the arc.
Conclusion
Nel is a lovable and powerful character from Bleach who has a dual personality and a tragic past. She is a loyal and brave ally of Ichigo and his friends, and she plays an important role in the Bleach story. She is also a fan-favorite character who has appeared in various media related to Bleach, such as video games, novels, and movies.
