The white frost descended like a divine judgment, heralding winter's arrival.
Hope reignited among the Gotei 13 as—
Crack!
The temperature dropped below freezing, and the high Reishi concentration of Silbern, built on the Soul King's Palace's foundation, froze solid.
Gerard's colossal body became a stationary target, encased in ice in a flash.
The scene sparked an uproar.
"It's… Captain Hitsugaya!"
The Gotei 13 erupted in cheers as Tōshirō Hitsugaya appeared, standing atop the ice, his youthful features replaced by a mature, hardened expression.
Though he had appeared before, this was different. After the brutal losses to Gerard and the Schutzstaffel, morale had hit rock bottom. Tōshirō's arrival was a beacon of hope, a savior in the darkness.
"Captain…" Matsumoto Rangiku's expression was complex. "The timeline's finally connecting. It looks like you and Captain Kuchiki are holding off this giant Quincy until Kenpachi arrives."
She barely recognized the mature Tōshirō on screen. He had grown into a true hero of the final battle.
"Finally, I've lived up to my potential," Tōshirō said, clenching his fists, his emerald eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I wonder how far Hyōrinmaru has evolved…"
His previous fight against Harribel had showcased Hyōten Hyakkasō. What new ultimate technique awaited?
The answer came quickly.
---
"Captain Hitsugaya…" Byakuya said gravely, eyeing the fading purple ice flowers behind Tōshirō. "Can those ice flowers sustain this battle?"
Only the two of them remained standing. Byakuya, with his enhanced Senbonzakura and refined Shunpo from Zero Division training, was confident he could hold out.
But Daiguren Hyōrinmaru's time limit was well-known—once the ice flowers wilted, Tōshirō's Bankai would end.
The situation was dire.
"You've got it wrong," Tōshirō replied, his eyes resolute. "The wilting of the ice flowers doesn't mean the Bankai ends—it means Hyōrinmaru's power has fully matured!"
As he spoke, the remaining ice flowers wilted faster, as if responding to his will.
"What?!"
In the Tenth Division, Tōshirō was stunned. "The ice flowers wilting means the Bankai ends—that's what I've always said! Why would my future self contradict me?"
Something was off.
Before he could ponder further, Rangiku gasped, "Captain… look! You've… turned into an adult!"
Her jaw dropped as the frost around Tōshirō dissipated, revealing a transformed figure.
No longer a boy, Tōshirō stood tall, his features sharp and mature, gripping an icy blade. His white fur cloak billowed in the freezing wind.
In an instant, he had transcended time, shedding his youthful form to become a seasoned ice hunter, perfectly attuned to Hyōrinmaru.
His mere breath froze the air, manipulating absolute zero without swinging his blade.
"Amazing!"
"This is Captain Hitsugaya's true form—beyond cool!"
"No wonder Hyōrinmaru is the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō!"
The Shinigami's spirits soared. Tōshirō's transformation rekindled their hope, proving the giant Quincy wasn't invincible.
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