Byakuya raised his hand, and one of the countless swords arrayed in the air suddenly flew out and landed in his grasp.
"Ha!"
With a light shout, Byakuya gathered his Reiatsu and slashed towards Toshiro.
Toshiro held his Zanpakuto horizontally in front of him to block Byakuya's strike.
Clang!
Step, step, step-
Although Toshiro blocked the attack, the force pushed him back several steps.
After Byakuya's Bankai, his Reiatsu was significantly stronger than Toshiro's Shikai state. A direct clash was highly disadvantageous for Toshiro.
Toshiro sighed helplessly, "Yare yare, there's no other way, it seems. I guess I'll have to let you witness my Bankai as well."
Hearing this, Byakuya's pupils constricted, his expression turning grave, 'Finally going to use Bankai?'
"Bankai! Daiguren Hyorinmaru!"
Boom!
A powerful surge of Reiatsu erupted from Toshiro's body, sweeping out in all directions.
Clink, clatter-
The whirlwind stirred by the surging Reiatsu caused the space enclosed by Byakuya's countless swords to tremble violently.
Toshiro's right arm was encased in ice crystals, resembling a divine dragon. The Hyorinmaru originally held in his right hand now seemed to be clenched within the dragon's maw. A pair of massive frost wings unfurled behind him, large enough to almost envelop his entire body.
Three lotus flowers, each with twelve crimson petals, appeared behind him.
After Bankai, the handguard of Hyorinmaru also transformed from its original four-pointed star shape into a six-pointed star.
Feeling the immense power coursing through his body, for a moment Toshiro felt as if he were omnipotent.
Toshiro pointed Hyorinmaru at Byakuya, his tone detached as he declared, "I won't waste time. One move! I will defeat you in one move! Therefore, Kuchiki Byakuya, in the next move, resist with all your might!"
Byakuya couldn't help but feel anger. "Hitsugaya Toshiro, you are far too arrogant!"
"Endscape: White Imperial Sword!"
Instantly, the countless swords arrayed in the air turned into petals, converging along with all of Byakuya's Reiryoku onto the blade he held.
Boom!
The blade emitted a blinding radiance. A white pillar of Reiatsu shot skyward, then transformed into a pair of spread wings manifesting behind Byakuya.
Although he felt Toshiro was arrogant and looked down on him, the mere Reiatsu and pressure released during Toshiro's Bankai activation had almost scattered the space enclosed by [Senkei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi]. Therefore, Byakuya knew he likely wasn't Toshiro's match.
Facing an opponent stronger than himself, Byakuya unhesitatingly unleashed his ultimate technique.
"Truly an impressive technique. But it ends here."
Toshiro stated coolly.
"Ice Dragon Flash!"
The high-density Reishi within Toshiro's body poured into his Zanpakuto.
The Zanpakuto glowed with a dazzling blue light.
"Ha!"
"Ha!"
Simultaneously, both of them gave a single powerful beat of their wings, their bodies shooting towards each other at extreme speed.
Boom!
Their attacks collided like two great dragons clashing.
Yet there was no stalemate, only overwhelming force.
Toshiro's slash obliterated Byakuya's attack with devastating ease.
Crack!
The blade in Byakuya's hand shattered once more, turning into cherry blossom petals that drifted to the ground.
At the final moment, just before the slash would have struck Byakuya, Toshiro instantly altered its course. Hyorinmaru grazed past Byakuya's body and struck the ground beside him.
Crash!
A bottomless chasm appeared right next to Byakuya.
The two stood facing each other. Neither had fallen, yet victory and defeat were already decided.
Then they both released their Bankai simultaneously.
"Kuchiki Byakuya, you lost."
Toshiro looked at Byakuya and stated.
Byakuya's expression remained unchanged. "I know. I already anticipated my loss the moment I was forced to use Bankai first."
Byakuya wasn't surprised. Both could use Bankai. He was no match for Toshiro in Shikai, and he couldn't defeat Toshiro immediately after using Bankai. Once Toshiro activated his own Bankai, Byakuya's defeat was inevitable.
"However, why... why did you divert your attack at the end?"
Byakuya stared intently at Toshiro.
Shing!
Toshiro sheathed Hyorinmaru at his back.
"It was just a spar. It's not like we were trying to kill each other," Toshiro explained.
Although Toshiro didn't want Rukia to enter the Kuchiki Clan, ultimately, he and Byakuya bore no deep-seated hatred.
Furthermore, Byakuya was, after all, the head of the Kuchiki Clan, the foremost of the Four Great Noble Houses. Killing him without any justifiable reason would not be condoned by Yamamoto, and Toshiro would face severe consequences.
"Kuchiki Byakuya, since you lost, let's drop the matter of adopting Rukia."
Toshiro urged.
Byakuya's face showed displeasure. "When did I ever say that losing to you means I would stop adopting Rukia? Do not presume to decide for me."
Toshiro frowned. "Such matters require mutual willingness. Otherwise, Rukia won't be happy. I only hope that if Rukia refuses, you won't force her. After all, even the head of the Kuchiki Clan cannot forcibly adopt someone."
Hearing Toshiro's words, a hint of a smug expression appeared on Byakuya's cold face. "What if Rukia has already agreed?"
"What? Rukia has already agreed?!"
Toshiro couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Toshiro remembered that in the original work, when Byakuya first went to the Shin'o Academy to propose adopting Rukia, she didn't immediately agree.
Later, after Byakuya left, Rukia told Renji about the Kuchiki Clan's wish to adopt her. Renji's subsequent words hurt Rukia deeply.
It was only after her disappointment with Renji that Rukia agreed to become a foster child of the Kuchiki Clan.
Byakuya nodded. "That's correct. Shortly after I left, Rukia caught up with me and agreed to the matter."
"Now, what reason do you have left to stop me?"
Byakuya looked at Toshiro and said.
Toshiro frowned, remaining silent. His original plan was based on Rukia not having agreed yet. He intended to have Renji explain things clearly to Rukia and persuade her not to accept Byakuya's offer.
The reason he fought Byakuya was precisely out of concern that if Rukia refused, Byakuya wouldn't give up easily.
So Toshiro displayed his strength, hoping to deter Byakuya from persisting.
Toshiro's plan was good, but he never expected Rukia had already agreed. Now, Toshiro had no further grounds to oppose it.
"Are you absolutely determined to adopt Rukia?"
Toshiro asked somewhat reluctantly, unwilling to give up entirely.
Byakuya's expression was resolute. "I apologize, but Rukia bears a striking resemblance to my late wife, so I-"
"Don't feed me such a ridiculous lie."
Toshiro suddenly cut off Byakuya's words.