Everyone was stunned.
The Arrancar army was completely broken.
Savage, cruel, blood-soaked killers who treated slaughter and devouring as daily routine—
now they sat frozen like frightened rabbits.
Some gaped with mouths wide, others' eyes flickered uncontrollably.
All were shaken to the core by the scene before them.
"It looks like…"
"Zommari is about to die."
On the high platform, Starrk spoke first, sweat on his brow.
As Primera Espada, one of Aizen's strongest weapons,
even he was rattled.
Earlier,
he had indeed witnessed the grandeur of Byakuya's Bankai,
and admitted Senbonzakura's power.
But never had he thought…
that power could actually threaten an Espada's life.
That was hard to swallow.
And not only him.
Harribel, the sole female Espada,
her golden eyes reflected Zommari's bloodied, staggering body.
Her voice betrayed surprise:
"It seems… we all underestimated the Shinigami Captains."
Then she glanced aside,
at Zommari himself trembling in rage, his future humiliation laid bare.
Her shock deepened.
Zommari was not weak.
Ranked seventh among the Espada,
his abilities were bizarre and troublesome,
his speed reputed to be the fastest among Arrancar.
Unless one's strength towered above his,
how could Byakuya possibly chase him down
and carve him apart?
It was unthinkable.
"And this is only the Tenth-ranked Zanpakutō!"
"If the rankings climb higher, who knows how terrifying the Captains' true power will be!"
Beside Harribel, her Fracción Sung-Sun gasped.
Though normally dreamy-eyed, ready to swoon over handsome men—
she nearly melted just staring at Byakuya's cold, beautiful face—
the grisly ruin of Zommari snapped her back.
The romantic haze shattered like glass.
Reality was brutal:
Byakuya and Senbonzakura might very well claim the first Espada kill,
executing an Arrancar before the eyes of the entire world.
Meanwhile, on the screen—
"Damn it…"
"What did you just do? Why did my ability fail? Why reject the love I bestow?"
Zommari's pumpkin-like body thrashed wildly,
his many cursed eyes squeezed shut, bleeding purple light,
struggling in futility.
But—
BOOM!!!
The dark seals crashed uselessly against barriers, unable to pierce.
And then Byakuya's cold voice cut him down:
"Give it up, Arrancar…"
One hand on his sword, posture poised.
Byakuya's icy composure stood in stark contrast to Zommari's hysteria.
Lifting his gaze, eyes full of cold arrogance and pity,
he delivered the last words:
"You wasted all that effort to defeat me…"
"Such delusions are wasted. Nothing more than empty wish."
His tone was winter itself, chilling to the bone.
The next moment—
Byakuya vanished.
So fast even the camera failed to follow.
SHING—!!!
A side slash.
The blade of Senbonzakura ripped across Zommari's body,
a massive wound cleaving from crown to core.
Blood geysered skyward.
One strike.
One kill.
"So strong!!!"
"When did Byakuya's cuts become so sharp? Damn, even I'm jealous!"
In the 11th Division, Zaraki Kenpachi scowled, displeased.
He was known as the King of Plain Slashes.
But Byakuya's strike nearly stole that title.
Kenpachi felt challenged.
"Even if not as flashy as before, Byakuya just cut down an Adjuchas-class Arrancar."
"That hasn't happened in a hundred years."
Ikkaku's voice was tinged with awe.
Watching Byakuya's composed victory, envy filled his eyes.
If only he too could strike down an enemy like that,
before the whole world…
What glory it would be.
"Heehee… stronger each time. Abarai-baka, you see? Byakuya's just as manly as Ken-chan!"
Yachiru giggled, bouncing on the sofa.
Even she saw it.
Future Byakuya had become far stronger,
his power inseparable from Senbonzakura.
But not all were awed.
In the 1st Division, Yamamoto's face was clouded with confusion.
"Chōjirō…"
"That battlefield just now—it was Hueco Mundo, wasn't it?"
Hands resting on his cane, voice heavy.
"Yes, Hueco Mundo." Sasakibe nodded, then frowned.
"But… it didn't look right. Not like the Hueco Mundo I remember."
As one of the few Shinigami over a millennium old,
he had marched in expeditions long ago.
His memories were clear:
Hueco Mundo was nothing but darkness under a pale moon.
Bleak. Dead.
But on screen just now—
blue skies, white clouds, even sunlight.
"Indeed…" Yamamoto's brow furrowed.
"In the past Hueco Mundo was nothing like this! Where did the sun come from?"
His tone grew dark.
"Chōjirō, contact Kurotsuchi Mayuri immediately."
"Whatever it takes, investigate this. Find out who tampered with Hueco Mundo."
"Who remade an entire world in secret."
(End of Chapter)
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