Chapter 186
The monster with a single eye and a mouth that spewed a black waterfall filled with countless Gillians was called Ferrer. He appeared to be a dangerous opponent, but he was swiftly killed by Kunanbai's kick.
When Muguruma Kensei was still the Captain of the 9th Division, Mashiro Kuna had served as his Vice-Captain.
From appearance alone, Mashiro Kuna looked like a petite girl. She wore a jumpsuit-like outfit along with a scarf tied backward behind her neck, giving her the look of having two inverted rabbit ears, a strangely cute appearance for such a violent fighter.
Despite her outward cuteness, her attacks were brutal.
The force of her kick was devastating-when she struck Ferrer's body, a massive hole tore through the Hollow's back. The entire Hollow was ripped apart and crashed to the ground with blood spilling everywhere.
She kicked again, this time against the ground, and the impact cracked it apart. Her body launched forward like a bullet as she rushed Wandaweiss, engaging him in an inconclusive fight. At some point, Mashiro's Hollowfication ended unexpectedly, leaving her vulnerable. Just as Wandaweiss was about to strike her down, Love Aikawa intervened, pulling Mashiro away to safety on a nearby rooftop before engaging Wandaweiss himself.
"Alright… time to begin. The Gotei 13… and you half-baked Arrancar," Aizen Sōsuke said, hands in his pockets, his voice calm and deliberate. "It's time you understood what true strength really is."
Sarugaki Hiyori glared at him from below, her breathing sharp with tension.
"Don't rush in recklessly," Hirako Shinji warned firmly. "With Aizen's ability, one wrong step could be your last."
Though Shinji's gaze was fixed elsewhere, his words were directed at Hiyori.
"You really do care about your subordinates, Captain Hirako," Aizen said lightly as wind stirred his hair, his tone unshaken. "But you're mistaken about one thing."
"You claim that approaching me recklessly would mean certain death. That is absurd." His eyes lowered slightly as he spoke.
"Because whether you approach me recklessly, carefully, from near, from far-your end is already decided."
"My words are not about your future, but the fact that your end was sealed in the past."
"This is a provocation-don't fall for it!" Shinji shouted immediately, his tone sharp.
But Aizen smiled faintly. "On that night, a hundred years ago, you were already dead."
At those words, Hiyori lost her composure. She lunged forward with furious resolve.
In the very next instant, something happened that stunned her completely.
Gin's Zanpakutō extended in an instant; from hundreds of meters away, Ichimaru Gin's strike sliced through Hiyori before she could reach Aizen.
He narrowed his eyes and smiled. "That makes one already dealt with."
Hiyori's eyes widened in disbelief as the reality sank in. Though she had gained Hollow powers, she was cleaved apart with terrible ease. Her entire lower body-her legs and pelvis-were gone. Pieces of blood and flesh scattered through the air as her body plummeted downward.
"Hiyori!"
Shinji cried out, his voice breaking as he leapt into the air to catch her before she struck the ground. He held her trembling form tightly and descended to the earth.
The thud that followed was her lower half falling to the ground separately.
Her chest heaved with painful effort, every breath sounding like it might be her last.
"Shin…ji… I'm sorry… I just… couldn't… hold back…"
Retsu Unohana rushed forward, immediately kneeling beside her to begin treatment. But the injuries were far too severe-far beyond what healing Kidō could manage.
At that moment, Inoue Orihime also hurried over. She placed her hands forward and spoke with determination: "Sōten Kisshun-I reject."
Her rejection activated, wrapping Hiyori's body in its shimmering barrier. Before their eyes, Hiyori's lower half was miraculously restored, seamlessly rejoining her body.
"This…" Shinji blinked in shock before quickly bowing his head deeply. "Thank you."
Orihime smiled gently. "My name is Inoue Orihime. If you want to thank someone, thank Yuta-san. If it weren't for him, I would still be trapped in Hueco Mundo."
Unohana's eyes lingered on her healing technique. "This is… what kind of ability?" She noticed the remains of Hiyori's lower body that had been left on the ground earlier were now gone entirely.
If this ability was pure healing, why did the severed half disappear completely?
Although she could not yet grasp the principle, Unohana could tell that Orihime's ability surpassed Kaidō itself.
From afar, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni narrowed his eyes, his expression grave as he registered the significance of Orihime's Sōten Kisshun.
Shinji looked toward Hideki Yuta in the distance. Though Yuta was locked in combat with Baraggan at that very moment, Shinji silently expressed gratitude from the bottom of his heart.
If not for you, Hiyori would have died here. Yuta… I owe you a debt I cannot forget.
Orihime's gaze also turned toward Yuta, worry flickering in her eyes as she saw him facing down Baraggan's Respira. She wondered desperately how he could possibly endure such an ability-and prayed nothing would happen to him.
Meanwhile, Ichigo Kurosaki had returned from Hueco Mundo. Exhausted from his battle with Grimmjow, he was recovering his spiritual pressure on the sidelines.
Kuchiki Rukia stood ready to move, but just then, Yuta placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You've already used Bankai. Even if your body feels fine now, the truth is that your tissues are frostbitten from being exposed to absolute zero. Stay back and watch for now."
Rukia glanced at Yuta before slowly stepping back, choosing to trust his words and remain at the battlefield's edge. She kept her eyes on him, though, her thoughts unspoken-if danger truly comes for you, I won't hesitate to act.
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