"Wood that pierces the heavens!
Earth that shakes the ground!
Wild winds of nature!
Forests that move the clouds!
Unleash the power of nature… Muryū!"
One hand on his blade.
Momentum erupting.
Bai Chen's voice struck like a hammer—
Its force overwhelming even the thunderous roar of dozens of Cero, brutally suppressing the entire battlefield!
"This is…!"
"True-name release of a zanpakutō!!!"
Frozen in place—
Hisagi Shūhei's eyes reignited with hope.
He didn't know why.
But the instant he heard that release chant—
He could clearly feel it.
The spiritual state that had been on the verge of collapse from fear and despair—
Recovered in a single moment!
It was as if—
Even the prelude to Bai Chen's zanpakutō release radiated a heaven-defying vitality—
A life essence so intense it could make everything around it burst back into bloom!
"This is unbelievable…"
"What kind of power could influence such a wide area?!"
Immersed in that indescribable sensation—
Hisagi Shūhei wore an expression of pure shock, awe mixed with uncontrollable anticipation.
His instincts told him—
Once the true-name release was complete—
The Menos Grande swarm surrounding them would be erased in an instant.
And indeed—
Hisagi's intuition was right.
What followed was even more shocking than he'd imagined.
BOOM!!!
Brilliant green light exploded across the sky!
Emerald radiance surged like an inexhaustible fountain of life—
Dense, heavy, and endlessly expanding!
At the same time—
Within the storm of green reishi—
The zanpakutō in Bai Chen's hand completed its transformation.
After unleashing the power of all creation—
It became a blade of thorns.
Bai Chen gripped the sword—
Turned his body slightly—
And swung.
The thorned blade sliced through the air—
Leaving behind a glowing green scar suspended in the sky!
In that very instant—
The suffocating pressure created by nearly a hundred Cero beams—
Was effortlessly dispelled by the presence of Wood Dragon alone!
"Just a single swing…!"
"And the momentum was completely reversed?!"
"This zanpakutō is insane!!!"
When Hisagi saw the crimson Cero light visibly dim—
His heart shook violently.
His gaze toward Wood Dragon was filled with disbelief.
He knew—
That swing hadn't been a technique.
Bai Chen hadn't activated any ability at all.
Yet even so—
The battlefield's dominance flipped instantly.
That alone proved one thing:
Wood Dragon's power was on an entirely different level.
Menos Gillian weren't even qualified to challenge it.
"But still…"
"'Wood Dragon'… and that overwhelming life essence just now…"
"That's extremely rare…"
"Could it be… a wood-type zanpakutō?"
Hisagi frowned slightly.
Based on everything he knew—
Zanpakutō classifications, including his own Kazeshini, generally fell into a few common types:
Wind.
Lightning.
Fire.
Ice.
Physical.
Kidō-based.
But wood-type zanpakutō?
He'd never heard of such a thing.
And traditionally—
Wood and forest-based abilities were associated more with support than raw destruction.
Not overwhelming offense.
So even though—
He deeply felt Wood Dragon's terrifying presence.
Even though—
He trusted Bai Chen's strength without reservation.
A question still surfaced in Hisagi's heart.
With only Shikai…
Could Bai Chen really annihilate nearly a hundred Menos Gillian at once?
Fifth Division — Underground Facility
At the same time—
The chaos unfolding in Karakura Town was being broadcast in real time across countless surveillance monitors.
Bai Chen's dramatic entrance—
And his zanpakutō's release—
Were clearly reflected on the screens before Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen.
"Oh my, oh my~"
"Aizen-taichō, your plan really worked flawlessly."
"Using a Menos swarm to ambush the sixth-years—"
"Forcing Bai Chen to reveal himself and release his zanpakutō."
"Everything is proceeding exactly as you intended."
Gin Ichimaru spoke with his usual smiling eyes—
His gaze fixed on one monitor that showed Bai Chen's back.
"Gin… did you notice?"
Behind black-rimmed glasses—
Aizen's eyes reflected Bai Chen holding his blade with one hand.
Though his expression remained calm—
His voice carried unmistakable interest.
"Just the moment of release alone…"
"The pressure emitted from the zanpakutō completely overwhelmed over a hundred Menos."
"That means this new zanpakutō possesses at least Adjuchas-tier offensive power."
From an observer's standpoint—
Judging solely from the footage—
Aizen gave Wood Dragon an extremely high evaluation.
"Oh?"
"So you're saying…"
"That all the Gillian will be instantly wiped out—"
"And only Adjuchas-level Arrancar would even be qualified to challenge Bai Chen?"
Gin's eyes flickered.
Adjuchas-class Arrancar were already officer-level.
Above them—
Were the Espada.
Which meant—
In Aizen's eyes—
Ordinary Menos were nothing more than expendable bait.
Tools to force Bai Chen's hand.
The real cards were still hidden.
"Otherwise…"
"Why do you think I ordered you to open another Garganta at the gathering point as well?"
Aizen asked calmly.
Gin's lips curled.
"So that's it…"
"You anticipated Bai Chen's connection with Matsumoto Rangiku."
"So you created an even deeper crisis on her side—"
"To further test Bai Chen's combat potential."
Gin shifted his gaze to another screen, amusement dancing in his voice.
"If I'm not mistaken…"
"Adjuchas-class Arrancar will descend next."
"And probably more than one."
"And under sealed spiritual pressure—"
"Even a vice-captain like Matsumoto Rangiku would be hunted down."
"With communications blocked…"
"The only chance of survival…"
"Would be Bai Chen's rescue."
In just a few sentences—
Gin laid bare Aizen's entire scheme.
Despite being childhood friends with Rangiku—
Despite their deep bond—
At this moment, Gin showed not the slightest hesitation.
To him, she was simply a disposable piece.
"Tōsen…"
"Should we head to the Human World now and observe more closely?"
The usually silent Tōsen Kaname finally spoke, bowing slightly.
Aizen shook his head.
"No."
"Not yet."
"Wood Dragon has only just been released."
"Unless it shows power worthy of surprise—"
"There's no reason for us to move personally."
The implication was clear:
If Wood Dragon wasn't strong enough—
Bai Chen wasn't worth their attention.
But if it was—
Aizen would act immediately.
Back in Karakura Town
Just as Aizen and Gin predicted—
Not only Bai Chen's location—
But the gathering point for the Soul Burial Internship—
Was also being overrun by nearly a hundred Menos Gillian.
Destruction spread everywhere.
"Nagasawa! Asai! Fukada!!!"
"Have you contacted the Research Department yet?!"
"The number of Menos keeps increasing!"
"We're completely surrounded!"
"There's no escape anymore!!!"
Holding her zanpakutō Haineko—
Matsumoto Rangiku shouted anxiously.
Her golden wavy hair framed a face tight with fear—
She had to grit her teeth just to keep her voice steady.
Her response came instantly—
And it crushed her heart.
"Vice-Captain Matsumoto… we've tried everything!!!"
"But the moment a signal is sent, it's forcibly intercepted!"
"It looks like the entire All communications were jammed and tampered with!"
The 10th Division members behind her trembled violently.
They were real Shinigami.
And they even had a vice-captain with them.
But facing Menos converging from all directions—
Towering monsters blotting out the sky—
Every ounce of courage evaporated.
Despair and terror they'd never known in months of duty consumed them.
"Damn it!!!"
"Communications forcibly blocked?"
"This isn't an accident!"
"Who could possibly deceive the Research Department and set up something like this?!"
Rangiku clenched her teeth.
Her sharp mind immediately ruled out internal sabotage.
She knew Kurotsuchi Mayuri too well.
Arrogant. Unhinged. Brilliant.
But since becoming 12th Division captain—
He had devoted himself entirely to Soul Society's advancement.
She didn't believe he had any motive to betray them.
"So who is it…?"
"Who in the Gotei Thirteen has the power to secretly collude with Hueco Mundo?!"
Before she could think further—
BOOM—!!!
The already shattered sky tore open again.
But this time—
What emerged weren't massive, grotesque Gillian.
They were only slightly taller than humans—
Yet radiated ferocity on an entirely different level.
Matsumoto looked up—
And the moment she saw them—
Her mouth fell open in horror.
"These are…!"
"Adjuchas!!!"
"And they've already evolved into Arrancar?!"
A crushing pressure descended.
Rangiku felt the world spin—
As if the sky itself were collapsing.
Elsewhere — Bai Chen's Battlefield
While chaos erupted everywhere—
Bai Chen's battle had fully begun.
"Hisagi Shūhei."
"After I finish off these Menos—"
"You immediately gather the other sixth-years."
"Make sure everyone survives."
Bai Chen spoke without turning around.
Then—
Before Hisagi could respond—
Bai Chen gripped his sword tightly and poured spiritual pressure into Wood Dragon.
"Twist. Hell's Turmoil!!!"
He roared.
Without any visible motion—
Wood Dragon erupted with a terrifying, nearly tangible green radiance.
BOOM!!!
The emerald light crushed outward violently—
Its sheer pressure and energy—
Pierced straight through the incoming Cero beams and erased them head-on!
The attack that had filled Hisagi and the others with endless fear—
Was annihilated in the most brutal, straightforward way imaginable.
Hisagi stood frozen, eyes wide, swallowing hard.
No words could describe the shock in his heart.
And this—
Was only the beginning.
BOOM—!!!
As spiritual pressure poured down—
Every inch of ground touched by the green light shook violently.
KKarakura Town's streets split apart—
Endless fissures tearing open.
Massive thorned vines—
Even larger than Menos Gillian—
Formed from condensed spiritual pressure.
They surged upward like serpents—
Reaching the Menos' height—
And wrapped around their black bodies.
"Thorned Execution!!!"
At Bai Chen's will—
Countless vines tightened simultaneously.
A chain of explosive sounds rang out like fireworks.
The Menos swarm—
Vanished completely.
The sky—
Shattered and torn—
Was now veiled in blood mist.
As the Menos burst apart—
Blood rained down.
Giant thorned vines stood like pillars—
And a crimson downpour fell from the heavens.
This entire region—
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