Alfred stared intently at Toshiro, then suddenly let out a loud shout.
"Gran Rey Cero!"
Alfred's Reiatsu converged like a vortex towards his mouth, its imposing force far surpassing his previous Cero.
'How is this possible! Gran Rey Cero is an exclusive skill of the Espada!' Toshiro was shocked.
What Toshiro didn't know was that Gran Rey Cero was indeed a skill unique to the Espada.
However, Alfred had once been subjected to Aizen's attempts to transform him into an Espada, though the process ultimately failed.
Despite the failure, the technique of Gran Rey Cero was inherited by Alfred. However, because it was incomplete, its power was far inferior to a true Gran Rey Cero.
'This move is too powerful! A direct hit would mean death or severe injury at the very least!'
Toshiro's sensory abilities were screaming warnings.
Toshiro was about to use Shunkuho to dodge, but in the moment he turned, he saw behind him… the students who had taken shelter behind him to avoid being caught in the battle.
Although they were a considerable distance away from Toshiro and Alfred, Toshiro, knowing the power of a Gran Rey Cero, had no doubt they would be obliterated without a trace.
Whoosh!
In the instant Toshiro hesitated, Alfred's Gran Rey Cero was completed.
'Hmph! Since I can't dodge, I'll just have to block it!'
"Bakudo #81, Danku!"
Boom!
Alfred's Gran Rey Cero instantly crashed against the barrier created by Toshiro's Danku, the two forces locked in a stalemate.
Crack!
Several fissures appeared on Toshiro's barrier.
"Damn it! Hold!" Toshiro shouted.
He increased the output of his Reiatsu, and the Danku barrier finally stabilized, not shattering for the moment.
However, the Reiatsu within Toshiro's body began to drain rapidly. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before it was completely exhausted.
Crack! Crack!
Before long, more and more cracks began to spread across the Danku barrier.
Fortunately, the power of Alfred's Gran Rey Cero also began to wane.
Finally, Alfred's Gran Rey Cero vanished.
Bang!
The Danku barrier Toshiro had erected completely shattered.
Thud!
Alfred fell to his knees, then swayed unsteadily as he tried to stand up.
Using Gran Rey Cero had been too great a burden for him. Even though it wasn't a complete Gran Rey Cero, he himself was not a complete Arrancar either.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Toshiro gasped for breath heavily.
Although Toshiro had just blocked the attack, his Reiatsu consumption had been enormous.
'This is my chance! Now!' Toshiro thought to himself.
Toshiro absolutely could not allow Alfred to stay alive any longer. Who knows what other desperate moves he might have?
If something else went wrong, Toshiro would truly be in a tragic situation.
"Die, Alfred!"
"Hado #88, Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho!"
Toshiro pointed his hand towards Alfred. A pillar of blue lightning formed before his palm and roared towards Alfred.
In his current battered state, Alfred was completely unable to dodge. He could only gather Reiatsu on the surface of his body and raise his remaining right arm to block in front of him.
Boom!
A violent explosion resounded.
As the dust cleared, Alfred stood there, his entire body charred black, his life force faint.
[Shunkuho!]
"Ice Dragon Flash!"
Toshiro used Shunpo to appear in front of Alfred.
Due to his depleted Reiatsu, his speed wasn't actually very fast. Unfortunately, Alfred in his current state couldn't evade it either.
Then, Toshiro concentrated all his remaining Reiatsu into his Zanpakuto and unleashed his final blow!
Squelch!
Hyorinmaru's slender blade pierced Alfred's heart and then ran completely through his body.
Instant death!
With his heart pierced, even if Alfred possessed high-speed regeneration, he could not escape death this time.
Alfred looked down at Hyorinmaru piercing his body, his eyes filled with boundless hatred.
Then, his lips moved slightly, as if he said something.
Toshiro felt a wave of surprise in his heart, but his face showed no fluctuation.
The hatred Alfred had just revealed was not directed at Toshiro.
Because the words he had tried to say were: "Thank you. Be careful of Aizen Sosuke."
He had deliberately looked down at Hyorinmaru piercing his body.
Because Alfred was tall and Toshiro was comparatively short, only Toshiro could see Alfred looking down and his lips moving slightly.
Even if Aizen was hidden somewhere observing, he wouldn't be able to see it.
The immense hatred Alfred showed at the end was directed at Aizen.
Alfred was originally a person of proud temperament. Defeated and enslaved by Aizen, reduced to a test subject, and a failed one at that… finally used as a disposable pawn by Aizen.
Because even if Alfred killed Toshiro and completed Aizen's task, he would not escape death.
Aizen would later appear as a hero, kill Alfred, and put on a show of saving the students.
Therefore, Alfred hated Aizen to the core.
Toshiro killing him also meant liberation for him, which is why he thanked Toshiro in the end.
Revealing that Aizen was the mastermind might have been out of gratitude, wanting Toshiro to be prepared early, or perhaps hoping that Toshiro, who killed him, and Aizen, who enslaved him, would destroy each other.
'Heh, Aizen, you didn't expect this, did you? Even if I didn't know about your schemes before, you'll be exposed this time.' Toshiro couldn't help but mock Aizen in his mind.
Then, Toshiro pulled Hyorinmaru out. Alfred's body fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
Thump!
Toshiro's body couldn't hold on any longer either, and he fell to one knee, using Hyorinmaru to support himself.
Toshiro's Reiatsu was completely exhausted.
The previous battle had consumed a significant amount. To defend against Alfred's Gran Rey Cero, he used up most of his remaining Reiatsu.
Then, using an 88th Hado almost drained him dry. Finally, the last of his Reiatsu was concentrated into Hyorinmaru for the killing blow.
However, Toshiro didn't dare relax, not knowing if Aizen might still have some contingency plan in motion.