Rukia rushed into the room and was stunned by the sight of the black-haired boy furiously punching the Hollow.
"Idiot, stop! That's not something you can fight!"
Her face turned pale as she shouted.
But then she saw the massive Hollow that had been about to break into the room get beaten back by the boy's fists.
No matter how it roared and struggled, he didn't let it advance an inch.
"You've got to be kidding me!?"
Rukia was dumbfounded.
Cole pulled back his bloody fists, glanced at her, and grinned.
"What was that you were saying?"
Only then did Rukia realize—this black-haired boy was the same human from earlier, the one who had nearly killed a Hollow with a single punch.
"I didn't think a human could be this strong…"
She thought in shock, then stepped forward with a smile.
"Human, leave the rest to me!"
"Alright, I'll leave it to you!"
Cole chuckled, shaking the blood from his hands as he stepped aside.
With the Kurosaki sisters safe, there was no need for him to keep fighting. After all, he truly wasn't a match for this Hollow.
As Rukia moved through the hole in the wall, Ichigo finally crawled over.
"Cole, are you okay?"
He stared nervously at Cole's bleeding fists.
Cole waved it off. "I'm fine. It's just a Hollow. My hands got a little scraped, that's all."
Then, glancing at Ichigo, he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"What, you finally realized humans have limits, so you decided to stop being human and become a worm instead?"
Ichigo's face darkened. Gritting his teeth, he tore the binding kido from his arms with sheer force.
Once done, the two of them stepped outside through the broken wall.
The street was dimly lit, only faint glimmers of the streetlamps shining.
Rukia stood facing the Hollow. Gripping her Zanpakutō with both hands, spiritual pressure surged around her.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
In an instant, cold spiritual power burst forth, flooding the entire street.
The ancient blade turned pure white.
As it brushed against the ground, white ice spread in its wake.
Chilling mist filled the air.
Cole and Ichigo, just stepping outside, immediately felt the freezing cold.
"C-Cole…"
Ichigo stammered, pointing at Rukia in shock.
The release of a Zanpakutō… Cole's eyes burned with envy. He wanted to become a Shinigami too, to wield such a magnificent blade.
The Hollow roared and charged. Rukia traced the blade lightly across the ground.
"Some no mai, Tsukishiro (First Dance, White Moon)!"
"Crack! Crack!"
A circular pillar of white ice surged up, instantly encasing the Hollow's body.
In the next instant, the towering pillar shattered, the Hollow's form shattering along with it.
"It's over."
Rukia slowly lowered her sword.
...
On the Kurosaki Clinic rooftop, Urahara Kisuke watched, hiding his smile behind a fan.
"My, my, the Hollow was slain just like that. Captain Kurosaki, looks like your plan failed."
Beside him, Isshin sighed, staring at Rukia, Cole, Ichigo, and the sisters.
"This… I never saw coming."
The Hollow Rukia had just slain was one he had captured himself, one that had devoured over seventy of its own kind.
And yet, Cole had somehow managed to punch it out of the clinic with nothing but his fists.
"So, what now?"
Kisuke's eyes gleamed mischievously.
Isshin scowled. "What else? We'll have to bring in more Hollows. You still have bait, don't you?"
Kisuke nodded cheerfully, pulling a pill from his sleeve and crushing it between his fingers.
"I'm quite looking forward to it… the thing inside Kurosaki Ichigo."
...
"What!?"
Rukia's face paled as she looked up at the night sky.
"There's more Hollow reiatsu coming? One, two, three… a hundred, three hundred…"
"No way. This many… over three hundred Hollows—that's a Hollow tide…"
Cole and Ichigo's foreheads were dripping with sweat as they looked around.
From the sky, the alleys, the streets… Hollows poured out of black rifts.
This is insane… Cole licked his lips nervously. Even if Ichigo became a Shinigami, could he handle this many?
"Damn it, why are there so many!?"
Rukia clenched her teeth, forcing down her fear, her white blade flashing as she charged.
"Some no mai, Tsukishiro (First Dance, White Moon)!"
"Tsugi no mai, Hakuren (Next Dance, White Ripple)!"
"San no mai, Shirafune (Third Dance, White Sword)!"
Each swing unleashed ice and frost, the entire street's temperature plummeting.
But still, more Hollows roared and charged.
Rukia faltered, one Hollow sinking its teeth into her shoulder before she killed it. Pale-faced, she dropped to one knee.
So she still got bitten on the shoulder… Cole thought grimly, then rushed to her side.
"Shinigami girl, are you okay!?"
Panting, Rukia looked bitterly at the endless tide.
"I'll manage… but I can't take this many Hollows alone. There's no time to call for reinforcements…"
If left unchecked, Karakura Town would be drowned in death.
Cole's eyes lit up at her words. His chance had come.
He strode forward, standing before her with firm resolve.
"Wait, you're too close…" Rukia's face flushed red.
"Shinigami girl, is there any way for me to become a Shinigami too?"
Cole's gaze was unwavering.
Rukia froze, then her blush faded, her eyes growing serious.
"There is… but it's dangerous."
"I don't care!"
Cole grinned. "Just tell me what to do."
Rukia hesitated, then at last steeled herself. She aimed her Zanpakutō at his chest.
"You must let this sword… pierce your heart!"
"I understand!"
Ignoring the blood trickling from his palms, Cole grabbed the blade and pressed it against his chest.
"My name is Cole. Please take care of me!"
Rukia's heart stirred. She had never seen a human like this. Never seen a man like this.
Smiling, she replied:
"I'm not just some Shinigami girl. My name is Rukia!"
The next moment, they thrust the blade into his heart together.
At the same time—
Ichigo, sensing danger, struggled to run toward them.
"Cole, calm down! You don't even know if she's telling the truth. If your heart is pierced, you might really die…"
"Take this!"
From the rooftop, Isshin fired a kido spell.
Ichigo screamed as he was blasted forward, crashing into Cole's back. Together, the two were run through by the silver-white blade.
"Boom!!!"
Spiritual power exploded skyward.
......…
......…
(End of Chapter)
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