Boom!
The Cero exploded, stirring up a cloud of smoke that enveloped Toshiro and Momo, obscuring the view inside.
Then, as the smoke cleared, Momo saw only an ice wall standing before them. She herself was completely unharmed.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Suddenly, pillar after pillar of icy blue Reiatsu erupted from the ground, soaring into the sky, while countless dark clouds gathered above.
The darkened sky felt like the precursor to a storm.
"Roar!"
A tremendous dragon's roar echoed.
Momo looked toward the sound and saw a vivid ice-blue dragon, dozens of meters long, soaring through the sky.
Boom!
A powerful pressure erupted from the frost dragon, sweeping across the world. For a moment, even the sky seemed to dim.
An intense cold spread, freezing everything in the surroundings. Trees, grass, and stones turned into lifelike ice sculptures, yet the area where Momo stood was deliberately spared.
…
"Huh? Why did the sky suddenly go dark? Is it going to rain?" Countless residents of the Rukongai and Shinigami within the Seireitei looked up in confusion.
"Ken-chan, Ken-chan! Look, what's that?" Yachiru pointed excitedly at the sky and called out to Zaraki.
Zaraki stopped walking and looked up. Above the mountain ahead, at the center of the gathering storm clouds, pillars of icy blue light rose, and a blue frost dragon soared into the air.
At the same time, an immense Reiatsu erupted, sweeping in all directions.
"Oh, that's some impressive Reiatsu. I'd love to have a fight with that." Zaraki praised.
"Hmm, the Hollow is over there too. See? I told you I was going the right way." Zaraki bragged to Yachiru.
"Alright, let's head straight for the source of that Reiatsu at full speed!" Zaraki shouted.
…
Toshiro, who had been shielding Momo moments before, now stood proudly in the sky, encircled by the frost dragon as if he were the center of the world.
Hyorinmaru's basic ability, Weather Subjugation, made Toshiro feel as if the entire sky was under his command.
His usually slender figure now radiated a suffocating Reiatsu, appearing both sacred and majestic, like a celestial god.
The sword in Toshiro's hand, which had looked like an ordinary Asauchi, had now transformed.
The blade shimmered with an icy blue glow, as if carved from ice and snow. The guard had become a four-pointed star shape, and from the hilt extended a chain ending in a crescent-shaped weight.
The cold wind tousled Toshiro's silver-white hair, giving him a wild, unrestrained look.
"This feeling... it's truly amazing." Toshiro reveled in the sensation of power surging through his body, almost getting lost in it.
"Hyorinmaru, what level is my Reiatsu right now? Why do I feel like the Zanpakuto's power is much stronger than in the original story?" Toshiro asked in his mind.
"Your current Reiatsu already exceeds that of an average Third Seat and is approaching Lieutenant-level. If your combat experience, Shunpo, and other skills aren't too lacking, with my assistance, defeating a Lieutenant-level Shinigami wouldn't be difficult." Hyorinmaru replied.
"As for the increased power, that's because a Zanpakuto is born from a Shinigami's soul. The stronger the soul, the stronger the Zanpakuto's power. Your soul has merged with the original Toshiro's and the dragon pearl's power. And since I, originally the Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto, now might even be considered the strongest Zanpakuto overall." Hyorinmaru declared proudly.
Dragons are proud and majestic. After merging with the dragon pearl, both Toshiro and Hyorinmaru carried a sense of pride and confidence in their nature.
"Hinamori, stay where you are and don't move. I'll finish this Hollow quickly, and then we'll go home together." Toshiro said to Momo.
"Mm." Momo nodded instinctively.
Hearing Toshiro's voice, which carried an authority unlike his usual tone, Momo felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
"Alright, I'll play with you a bit and test my power at the same time." Toshiro said to the Hollow.
"Hyah!"
Toshiro leapt down from the sky. Without using his Zanpakuto, he simply kicked at the Hollow with his right foot, condensed with Reiatsu.
Bang!
The massive Gillian Hollow was kicked over ten meters away by the slender Toshiro. The left arm that was struck instantly froze and then shattered into countless ice crystals with a crack.
"Roar!"
The Hollow let out a pained roar and swung its remaining right claw at Toshiro.
Toshiro casually raised his left hand.
Thud!
The Hollow's massive right claw was easily blocked by Toshiro, not budging an inch.
"Too weak."
Reiatsu erupted from Toshiro's hand, blue light flickering as a piercing cold spread.
Crack, crack...
Ice crystals began to form on the Gillian's body starting from the arm in contact with Toshiro, rapidly spreading across its entire form.
"Roar!"
In terror, the Gillian hastily retreated.
Toshiro swung his right hand. In an instant, a flash of blade light… the Hollow's only remaining right arm fell.
"Is this all you've got? How disappointing."
Toshiro had originally wanted to properly test his strength, but it seemed that wouldn't be possible now.
"In that case, I'll finish you off." With a thought from Toshiro, the frost dragon circling above instantly charged at the Hollow.
Boom!
The Gillian collided with the frost dragon and, in that moment, transformed into an ice sculpture.
Without even glancing back, Toshiro turned and walked toward Momo.
Crack!
The ice sculpture behind him shattered into countless icy fragments, shimmering with a faint blue glow like diamond dust.
A real man never looks back at the explosion.