How did Cole discover that materializing a zanpakuto could counter the medallion?
Honestly, it was a coincidence.
Because whenever Cole messed around with her, he would always use Sode no Shirayuki's shared senses to bully her as much as he wanted.
So she had no choice but to beg Sode no Shirayuki to temporarily return to the inner world.
And then that brat actually pulled out a medallion, trying to snatch Sode no Shirayuki away—only to discover this point.
What made her the most embarrassed was that Sode no Shirayuki didn't resist Cole's actions at all.
She'd been bullied miserably by the two of them.
Byakuya, however, didn't care about any of that. His attention was completely focused on the materialization of the zanpakuto.
But after communicating with Senbonzakura for a while, he couldn't help but frown.
"No good…"
Although Senbonzakura was willing to cooperate, relying on his own power, he simply couldn't complete materialization.
And when he subconsciously glanced at Sode no Shirayuki, his brows knit even tighter—because that was something that couldn't be replicated.
They couldn't possibly drag Squad Zero down here just to force zanpakuto materialization.
If they did, the Wandenreich would probably laugh themselves to death.
Seeing her nii-sama's worries, Rukia said softly:
"Nii-sama, it's alright. Cole already has a method. As long as we hold on a little longer, we'll be able to ignore the medallion."
But Byakuya still didn't relax. His gaze was heavy as he looked toward the fluctuations of spiritual pressure within Seireitei.
So many vast surges of spiritual power were enough to prove just how fierce the war inside Seireitei had become.
Not only ordinary Soul Reapers and Quincy—many captain-level fighters were also participating.
If they couldn't use Bankai in a short time, the consequences would be enough to determine Seireitei's fate in this war.
If they waited any longer…
There might not be time at all.
At the same time.
Across the other battlefields of Seireitei
Captain-level Soul Reapers, facing members of the Sternritter, were almost steadily retreating.
Of course, this didn't include Kenpachi—because he didn't even have Bankai. Right now was his strongest state.
By his own strength alone, he was practically chasing the Sternritter down and beating them.
Among all the captains, Hitsugaya was nearly the most miserable—already covered in blood, gritting his teeth as he struggled against the Quincy before him.
And the one facing him was none other than the Sternritter with the code "M," one of Yhwach's four royal guards—Gerard Valkyrie.
This member of the Sternritter laughed with fanatic delight.
He hadn't even entered his Complete Holy Form. With just Blut Vene and Blut Arterie, he fired Holy Arrows to toy with Captain Hitsugaya.
Hitsugaya had almost no ability to retaliate. He could only keep dodging or avoiding the attacks.
Yet his injuries kept piling up.
"What's wrong? What's wrong? A dignified Soul Reaper captain, and this is all you've got? Soldiers of this level can't kill me, you know."
Gerard Valkyrie burst into laughter.
Across from him, Hitsugaya felt like he was about to bite his teeth apart, staring unwillingly at Gerard Valkyrie.
"How can someone be this strong…"
In Hitsugaya's eyes, this Quincy was outrageously powerful.
This wasn't about whether he could use Bankai.
Because the Quincy in front of him also hadn't used Complete Holy Form either—his absolute strength was simply greater than Hitsugaya's.
As Gerard Valkyrie fired another arrow—
Hitsugaya's left shoulder was pierced through, and his body was brutally nailed to the wall. Blood poured out, staining his left arm red.
He almost couldn't keep hold of Hyorinmaru.
Seeing this, Gerard Valkyrie didn't press his advantage. Instead, he stood there and mocked Hitsugaya.
"What, that's it? Weren't Soul Reapers supposed to be strong? This is your level? Hurry up and use your zanpakuto's Bankai."
At this point, Gerard Valkyrie suddenly slapped his forehead as if realizing something, then grinned and pulled out a medallion from his chest.
"Oh, right, right—are you afraid I'll use this?"
Hitsugaya's face turned extremely ugly.
That's right—he was wary of that thing, which was why he didn't dare use Daiguren Hyorinmaru.
In the next second
A cracking sound rang out.
Hitsugaya's eyes widened in shock. He stared at Gerard Valkyrie in disbelief.
"Are you insane!?"
That powerful Quincy had actually crushed his own medallion.
Gerard Valkyrie laughed loudly.
"If we don't play like this, it's no fun. Come, Soul Reaper—show me how strong your so-called Bankai really is."
Hitsugaya's expression turned even uglier, and his heart plunged into fierce hesitation.
Should he use Bankai?
Could this be some kind of trap?
Did he really not have another medallion on him?
Seeing Hitsugaya still hesitating at a time like this, Gerard Valkyrie grew more and more impatient, and said coldly:
"Trash. Still hesitating now?"
As he spoke, he suddenly fired an arrow—its target was Hitsugaya's forehead.
Hitsugaya's pupils shrank. He tried to dodge immediately, but Gerard Valkyrie's arrow was simply too fast.
Just as Hitsugaya was starting to despair
Beside him, space tore open into a gloomy black rift, and Soi fong's voice came from within:
"Hitsugaya, you're getting beaten way too badly. And you still dare call yourself a captain of Seireitei?"
With a clang of metal
The incoming blue arrow was cut apart by Soi fong with a single slash of her zanpakuto.
"Another one!?"
Gerard Valkyrie's eyes lit up, a trace of delight flashing through them.
But that delight quickly turned into disgust.
"What, it's a woman? Does Seireitei not have men anymore?"
Among the Sternritter, he was the most chauvinistic—he believed women were all useless trash.
So after Soi fong arrived, the first thing he cared about wasn't her strength, but the fact that she was female.
Soi fong didn't waste words with him. With a cold snort, she released her zanpakuto into Shikai.
In the next second
From the still-unsealed black rift, a wildly unrestrained laugh echoed out.
"You bastard—though you're an enemy, you're thinking exactly like me. So-called women should just stay obediently to the side."
Nnoitra stepped out.
In his Resurrección, six arms swung six crescent scythes.
Soi fong couldn't help clicking her tongue, annoyed with herself—why did she have to come to Seireitei with this guy?
If she'd known, she should've chosen Nel or Tier Harribel instead.
"Hollows!?"
Gerard Valkyrie froze for a moment, but quickly reacted. Still wearing that arrogant, disdainful posture, he laughed loudly.
"You Soul Reapers are really getting more and more trash—actually choosing to cooperate with those Hueco Mundo beasts. But whatever."
"All of you… come at me together!"
Gerard Valkyrie laughed, drew his weapon and charged at the three without fear.
At the same time.
Within Seireitei, countless black rifts appeared out of nowhere, and Arrancar Hollows stepped out from within.
Grimmjow scratched his head, looking impatiently at the heavily injured Komamura.
"Seriously… without Bankai, you Soul Reapers turn into useless trash? Get lost and give me this guy."
He didn't even care whether Komamura agreed. In an instant, he released his Resurrección and entered his Panther King form, staring at the excited Sternritter member opposite him with feverish intensity as he swung his blue claws.
"Hey, Quincy—are you prepared?"
"..."
"Ahh…"
Starrk stepped out of a black rift, lazily scratching his head as he looked at the one-eyed, badly wounded Shunsui.
"Shunsui… you're in a pretty miserable state."
Shunsui saw him, froze, then let out a breath of relief.
"Can't be helped. Without using Bankai, these Quincy really are a step stronger than me."
"Then obediently hand the place over to us!"
Lilynette shouted in twin-gun form.
Starrk sighed, then looked toward the Quincy on the opposite side.
"I actually like Shunsui. Hey, kid—how about I be your opponent next? Let's slack off together, yeah?"
"..."
"ROAR!!!"
A fanatic laugh erupted.
Yammy—his body massive like a mountain—forced space itself to crack as he squeezed out from a rift, laughing excitedly:
"Quincy! I'll be your opponent!"
After shouting that, he suddenly froze, staring in shock at the Quincy corpses scattered all over the ground. He looked around.
"Huh? Where are the enemies!?"
He had been planning to earn merit in this war—Cole was still thinking about punishing him.
So why were there only corpses and no living enemies?
Who stole his opponents!?
Kenpachi strode over with his zanpakuto slung on his shoulder, three Quincy corpses skewered on the blade, and said bloodthirstily:
"That's a shame. The enemies over here were all handled by me alone."
Yammy wasn't scared—he was furious. With dinosaur-like legs, he stomped forward.
"Damn it, Kenpachi! How the hell did I get sent to your place!?"
"..."
"Quincy… enemies of the world…"
Nel stood in front of the heavily injured, dying Isane, expression grave as she entered Resurrección and raised her green lance.
"How embarrassing, Soul Reapers."
Tier Harribel appeared in front of Ikkaku, cold and aloof, leveling her boiling-water-flowing zanpakuto at the Quincy.
"Stay far away. Come back and help once you've recovered your Bankai."
"..."
As wave after wave of spiritual pressure rose, the Soul Reapers in Seireitei shuddered.
They looked toward the directions those spiritual pressures came from—faces filled with shock and joy.
"It's the Arrancar from Hueco Mundo—they came too!?"
"They're allies, right?"
"Of course they're allies. Captain Soi fong's, Captain Unohana's, and Yoruichi-sama's spiritual pressures appeared at the same time!"
"Great! Brothers, push harder—kill these Quincy bastards!"
The Soul Reapers who had been at a disadvantage instantly saw their morale explode.
Somehow finding strength from nowhere, they began to slowly turn the tide.
On the other side
Watching Byakuya and Rukia talk so brazenly
As Nödt's rage climbed to the extreme.
"You two… you two bastards!!!!! I'll make you feel what true fear really is!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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