With an ordinary attack, the greater its power, the more obvious its Reiatsu becomes, making it that much easier to detect.
Orihime Inoue's Koten Zanshun was different. Its destructive power came primarily from the barrier's deployment.
Before the barrier opened, its Reiatsu signature was extremely faint. So faint that even Ririn, with her abilities, could conceal it with an illusion.
On top of that, Ririn could imitate Orihime Inoue's Reiatsu and create a second image to confuse Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki.
The illusion was torn apart by Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki's attack, while the real Koten Zanshun struck the arm Reigai Sajin Komamura had wrapped around Nozomi Kujō without meeting any resistance.
The next instant, Tsubaki opened his barrier, rejecting the bonds between the matter inside and outside it.
A brilliant light flashed like the first rays of dawn.
The armor covering Reigai Sajin Komamura's arm proved completely useless. Trailing a stream of golden light, the circular barrier passed through his arm as though nothing stood in its way, then continued through his body without slowing in the slightest.
His massive body split in two and toppled in opposite directions. Before either half struck the ground, it dissolved into Reishi.
Having witnessed the terrifying power of the attack at close range, Nozomi Kujō stared wide-eyed toward Orihime Inoue in disbelief.
Even Ririn, who spent every day at Orihime Inoue's side, was shocked by its devastating power.
Orihime Inoue hated hurting others, so she rarely used Koten Zanshun for its intended offensive purpose.
She had used it once in Hueco Mundo, destroying part of Las Noches with astonishing force.
But that had only been an inanimate structure. The Reigai before them were powerful opponents who had just defeated everyone, yet Orihime Inoue had eliminated one of them with a single strike.
Only after watching Reigai Sajin Komamura disappear did Orihime Inoue finally come back to her senses.
"I..."
"Be careful." Retsu Unohana gently squeezed Orihime Inoue's shoulder. "Stay focused."
Almost the moment Reigai Sajin Komamura vanished, Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki sent a storm of cherry blossom-like blades toward Orihime Inoue.
With no time to think, Orihime Inoue thrust both hands forward.
"Shiten Kōshun. I reject!"
Tsubaki-oni, Hinagiku, Baigon, and Lily appeared simultaneously, forming a rectangular golden barrier in front of Orihime Inoue and blocking Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki's attack.
The barrier completely absorbed the force of the cherry blossom blades, then released it all at once, scattering a vast swath of petals.
Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes remained cold as he raised his hand to attack again.
Reigai Tōshirō Hitsugaya moved even faster. He raised Hyōrinmaru and thrust it forward.
"Ryūsenka!"
Cross-shaped pillars of ice expanded violently toward Orihime Inoue.
Orihime Inoue moved her hands slightly, and the barrier before her transformed from a flat rectangle into a three-dimensional triangular pyramid.
It absorbed the force of Reigai Tōshirō Hitsugaya's attack and released it from the tip in a concentrated burst, instantly shattering the entire pillar of ice.
The remaining force tore through the air and carved a massive wound across Reigai Tōshirō Hitsugaya's shoulder.
"What?!" Reigai Tōshirō Hitsugaya raised a hand and sealed the wound with ice. "It can actually..."
While he was still stunned, the real Tōshirō Hitsugaya launched his attack without hesitation.
"Hyōten Hyakkasō!"
Brilliant white snow began falling from the gloomy sky, and a torrent of ice and snow poured down.
Wherever the drifting snowflakes touched, crystalline ice flowers bloomed at once. Not even Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura escaped.
After Bankai, Senbonzakura produced a terrifying number of blades. In exchange, the Reiatsu within each individual blade was reduced to the limit. They could not withstand Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Hyōten Hyakkasō, forcing Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki to release his Bankai and defend himself against the freezing cold.
"Impossible..." Reigai Tōshirō Hitsugaya swung his sword, forcing back the wind and snow. "How could you use this technique so quickly?"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya held Hyōrinmaru aloft.
"Hyōten Hyakkasō takes a long time to gather power, but only when I'm the sole person controlling the weather."
The power released by Reigai Tōshirō Hitsugaya was also affecting the weather, drastically shortening the time Hyōten Hyakkasō needed to gather strength.
"Then I can do it too..." Reigai Tōshirō Hitsugaya raised Hyōrinmaru and tried to disperse the ice and snow, but nothing happened. "Damn it!"
"Looks like you finally remembered..." Tōshirō Hitsugaya's gaze turned cold. "This is a power even I can't control."
"Whoa, how frightening!" Reigai Gin Ichimaru narrowed his eyes. His figure flickered, and he fled into the distance.
"Now that's more like it!" Reigai Kenpachi Zaraki's savage Reiatsu surged into the sky. Grinning viciously, he charged toward Tōshirō Hitsugaya. "Let's have ourselves a proper fight... Hmm?"
Sensing something wrong, Reigai Kenpachi Zaraki reached for the eyepatch over his eye.
Bang!
The instant his hand touched it, the black eyepatch exploded, blowing his head apart.
"Compared to Mayuri Kurotsuchi's technology..." Kisuke Urahara staggered to his feet. "The things Inaba reproduces through his Reigai clearly aren't reliable enough."
As the first Captain in Soul Society who did not know Bankai, Kenpachi Zaraki lived for battle. To enjoy his fights more, he normally wore a special eyepatch created by the Research and Development Institute.
The eyepatch continuously suppressed and consumed Kenpachi Zaraki's Reiatsu, allowing him to lower it to a level comparable to his opponent's.
To make that possible, the Research and Development Institute had spent an enormous amount of time testing countless materials. They needed to ensure the eyepatch was reliable enough not to burst under the pressure of Kenpachi Zaraki's terrifying Reiatsu.
It broke down the Reiatsu it absorbed, allowing it to continue functioning indefinitely. However, if Kenpachi Zaraki released Reiatsu faster than the eyepatch could process it, the eyepatch would automatically detach and destroy itself before the stored Reiatsu reached a critical level.
The imitation produced by the Reigai clearly could not perfectly reproduce the Research and Development Institute's design. With Kisuke Urahara's interference added to the equation, the eyepatch became a deadly bomb the moment Reigai Kenpachi Zaraki unleashed his Reiatsu.
Reigai Jūshirō Ukitake raised Sōgyo no Kotowari. Enduring the pain in his body, he absorbed the wind and snow, then swung his sword and redirected the freezing current toward Kisuke Urahara.
"La Muerte!"
Yasutora Sado broke free of the ice restraining him and swung his white-armored fist. A tremendous force collided with the freezing current and drove it back, twisting into the shape of a skull as it hurtled toward Reigai Jūshirō Ukitake.
Reigai Jūshirō Ukitake tried to absorb it, but instead coughed up a mouthful of blood. His body swayed, and he collapsed.
Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki shifted his footing. His figure had barely vanished when it was forced back into view.
Taking advantage of her superior speed, Yoruichi Shihōin kicked away Reigai Byakuya Kuchiki, whose movements had been slowed by the cold of Hyōten Hyakkasō. She then accelerated toward Nozomi Kujō.
"I truly can't afford to underestimate you..." Reigai Shunsui Kyōraku chuckled, grabbed Nozomi Kujō, and vanished into the shadows.
Kageoni, one of Katen Kyōkotsu's games.
Through this game, Shunsui Kyōraku could hide within shadows and conceal his presence.
Reigai Shunsui Kyōraku chose not to fight. He prioritized the objective of their mission and escaped with Nozomi Kujō.
...
"By now, it should already be over." Reigai Suì-Fēng used the small Suzumebachi to deflect Myōki's attack, then used the power of Shunkō to scatter the spiritual ink closing in around her. "Nozomi Kujō should already be in Soul Society, beginning her fusion with Inaba!"
"If everything has gone the way you claim..." Muten Natsu opened his eyes slightly. "Then I no longer need to worry about holding back. Bankai, Rin'en Bokukō!"
A ferocious black head burst from the waterfall of spiritual ink and lunged at Reigai Suì-Fēng.
"Do you honestly think such a clumsy attack could hit me?" Reigai Suì-Fēng's figure flickered. With her overwhelming speed, she appeared beside Muten Natsu and drove the Suzumebachi on her fingertip toward the Hōmonka on his cheek. "Your body stiffens for an instant when you release Bankai!"
"I know." Muten Natsu tilted his head. "And I'm not the only one who knows."
"Some no mai, Tsukishiro!"
Rukia Kuchiki swept Sode no Shirayuki through the air, and a circular pillar of ice surged toward the heavens.
The battle between Muten Natsu and Reigai Suì-Fēng was moving too quickly for Rukia Kuchiki to intervene directly, but that did not mean there was nothing she could do.
Muten Natsu knew Rin'en Bokukō was unlikely to strike Reigai Suì-Fēng. He also knew releasing it would leave his body briefly immobilized, yet he had done so anyway.
That in itself was a signal.
A signal meant for Rukia Kuchiki.
Once she understood it, what she needed to do was simple.
The instant Muten Natsu released his Bankai, Rukia Kuchiki was already prepared to use Tsukishiro.
If Reigai Suì-Fēng wanted to attack him, she would have no choice but to move closer.
The towering pillar of ice froze them both at once.
Although they were trapped within the same pillar, their expressions could not have been more different.
Amusement shone in Muten Natsu's eyes, while Reigai Suì-Fēng's face twisted in alarm.
Reflected in her wide eyes were the Hell Flames, blazing ever more fiercely.
Boom!
A terrifying force erupted, completely engulfing Reigai Suì-Fēng.
The enhanced Reigai could resist the Hell Flames to some extent, but even she could not survive such a devastating impact at point-blank range. Her body was blasted to pieces.
Muten Natsu landed on the ground, picked up Rukia Kuchiki again, and raced toward the Research and Development Institute where Kagerōza Inaba was located.
...
"That Reiatsu..." Rangiku Matsumoto, confined within the 10th Division, sensed something unusual and looked worriedly out the window. "It's Muten!"
If Muten Natsu had come here, the problem should soon be resolved. At least, that was what Rangiku Matsumoto hoped.
Then she would no longer have anything to worry about.
Her thoughts returned to the earlier battle while guarding the Ōin.
A slash of light had come from an enormous distance. Tōshirō Hitsugaya had failed to react in time, yet she had accurately predicted its trajectory.
Everything pointed to a single name.
Gin Ichimaru.
Rangiku Matsumoto was not surprised that Gin Ichimaru had appeared. After all, she had personally watched him leave.
During the Great Battle of Karakura Town, Gin Ichimaru had been gravely wounded by Sōsuke Aizen and left on the brink of death.
Fortunately, Orihime Inoue had arrived in time. With her treatment, Gin Ichimaru managed to survive.
Considering the way Central 46 handled such matters, however, Gin Ichimaru had chosen not to remain.
Like the Visored, he had gone into hiding in the World of the Living.
But why would Gin do something like that?
No matter how much Rangiku Matsumoto thought about it, she could not understand.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya must have noticed the same thing. That was why he had concealed his Reiatsu and chosen to investigate the truth alone.
Rangiku Matsumoto lowered her eyes.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya constantly scolded her, but he had never truly blamed her for anything. He always indulged her and even handled work that should have been completed by his Lieutenant.
Now, because of Gin Ichimaru, someone she cared deeply about, Tōshirō Hitsugaya had even chosen to bear the charge of treason.
Yet she could only remain inside the 10th Division, unable to do anything.
"Rangiku."
A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I've come to save you."
"Gin?!" Rangiku Matsumoto looked up. Standing before her was Gin Ichimaru, the man everyone else believed to be dead. "How did you...?"
"It took a little time," Gin Ichimaru replied with his usual smile. "But everything has been taken care of. Come on, let's go."
Rangiku Matsumoto instinctively rose and followed him. After only two steps, however, she abruptly came back to her senses.
"Wait, Gin..."
She stared at his back.
"Why did you steal the Ōin?"
"What do you think..." Gin Ichimaru did not turn around. "What do you think the reason was?"
"I..." Rangiku Matsumoto bit her lower lip. "I don't believe you would do something like that! There has to be more to this..."
"That's enough, Rangiku." Gin Ichimaru turned his head toward her. "That alone is enough."
Was it really enough?
Rangiku Matsumoto's eyes trembled. She reached for his wrist, but her fingers faltered and curled back into her palm.
"Gin, this is our best chance. I just sensed Muten's Reiatsu, and Central 46 isn't the same as it used to be. Muten can influence their decisions. Let's ask Muten for help together. No matter what happened, there must be a way to resolve it. As long as..."
"Are you saying this because of Hitsugaya?" Gin Ichimaru interrupted her, opening his eyes slightly. "Because you don't know whether he's alive or dead, you..."
"...Yes." Rangiku Matsumoto met Gin Ichimaru's gaze. "He is part of the reason. I don't want you to bear any more sins alone. Even if there are sins that must be borne, let me bear them with you!"
"I was thinking the same thing." Gin Ichimaru smiled and beckoned to her. "Come on, Rangiku. Let's go meet someone. Muten will be there soon as well. It's time to bring this to an end."
Rangiku Matsumoto followed him.
"Meet someone? Who?"
"You'll know soon enough."
Gin Ichimaru led Rangiku Matsumoto around the Seireitei patrols and into a secluded area.
Someone was already waiting for them.
"Welcome, welcome." Kagerōza Inaba lightly clapped his hands, greeting her with a smile. "Welcome to witness this sacred moment."
"You..." Rangiku Matsumoto stared at him. "Who are you?"
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