It wasn't just Matsumoto Rangiku struggling – Hitsugaya Toushirou was in the same situation.
After all, his past battle performances hadn't been stellar. In the Soul Society arc, he was instantly defeated by Aizen Sousuke. During the Zanpakuto Rebellion arc, he was beaten into the ground by his own Zanpakuto, Hyourinmaru, and only won because Hyourinmaru regained his senses. In the Muramasa arc, he was caught off guard by Kazeshini, who didn't even have Bankai.
Such a series of defeats made Toushirou seem incredibly weak.
However, Yamamoto-soutaichou, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Ukitake Jyuushirou all agreed to let him face off against one of the Espada.
After all, Soul Society couldn't always rely on the old guard. The new generation needed to grow strong enough to take their place.
Meanwhile, Rangiku's situation was dire. She was surrounded by Harribel's three Fraccións: Apache, with a unicorn horn and heterochromatic eyes; Mila Rose, a dark-skinned woman with long hair; and Sung-Sun, the snake-like woman.
Though they looked small and constantly argued, their bond was far stronger than it appeared.
Seeing them gathered together, Rangiku breathed a slight sigh of relief. Facing enemies from three directions was impossible, but if they grouped up, she could concentrate her attack.
The moment they clustered, Rangiku seized her chance. She drew her Zanpakuto.
"Growl, Haineko."
Instantly, her blade turned to ash, enveloping the three Fraccións in a swirling cloud. Haineko's power was essentially a weaker version of Senbonzakura.
Of course, the bigger reason for this was that Aizen Sousuke had removed a piece of the Soul King's finger from Rangiku's soul.
This left her soul incomplete, and so too her Zanpakuto.
Furthermore, she was among the rare Shinigami who could never reach Bankai. After all, with an incomplete Zanpakuto, how could she ever achieve a complete Bankai?
Encasing the three Fraccións in ash, Rangiku stood back, controlling her blade to slice Apache's left arm.
She snapped her fingers, creating a mini sandstorm with her ash, hoping to finish all three at once.
However, as Harribel's Fraccións, they weren't going down so easily.
All three fired Cero simultaneously, dispersing Haineko's ash storm.
Rangiku quickly used Shunpo to evade their combined attack, but her strategy had completely failed.
Once freed from Haineko's ash, the three Fraccións launched a relentless counterattack, quickly injuring Rangiku severely.
Although Haineko could deflect some blows, Rangiku was forced onto the defensive.
Within the fiery fortress, Ichimaru Gin sensed Rangiku's spiritual pressure fading rapidly and grew anxious.
"What a rare spectacle… I really want to go see it. But how do I break through this wall of flames?" he muttered impatiently.
Tōsen Kaname, however, remained calm.
"Gin, wait a bit longer."
Gin sighed, having no choice but to endure.
His silent prayer was soon answered – though not in the way he expected.
"Bloom, Tobiume."
Hinamori Momo had arrived.
Seeing her best friend in danger, she rushed to the battlefield without hesitation.
"Hinamori…?" Rangiku was shocked.
Everyone knew what Aizen Sousuke meant to Hinamori. Yet here she was, fighting without holding back.
"Rangiku, I've finally realized. This time, I'm fighting as the Vice Captain of Squad Five, not as Aizen-taichou's subordinate!"
But despite her words, Rangiku remained silent.
Even now, she still called him Aizen-taichou. It showed Hinamori had not truly let go of Aizen in her heart.
Within the fiery fortress, Aizen himself sensed Hinamori's spiritual pressure and opened his eyes slightly.
Clearly, he wasn't as heartless towards her as he pretended. If he were, he would have killed her long ago.
After all, it was Toushirou who was healed first after their betrayal, not Hinamori.
That meant Hinamori's injuries had never been as severe as people thought.
Back on the battlefield, as Hinamori and Rangiku exchanged words, Apache threw her ring weapon, scattering Tobiume's flames with a single strike.
But Rangiku reacted instantly, using Haineko's ash to block the attack.
Hinamori then stepped forward, deflecting Apache's ring with a fireball from Tobiume.
Despite being struck, the ring returned to Apache's hand unharmed.
Seeing Hinamori and Rangiku regrouped, the three Fraccións decided to end it quickly. Using their numbers advantage, they charged together.
But they fell right into Hinamori's trap.
As a Vice Captain, Hinamori's tactical mind was outstanding.
Otherwise, Aizen would never have kept her close while discarding Renji and Kira.
She had cast a combination Kido trap – merging Hadō #12, Fushibi, with Hadō #31, Shakkahō, then hiding it with Bakudō #26, Kyokko.
The result was an intricate orange net that trapped all three Fraccións at once.
It was a genius strategy.
Hinamori immediately activated it, igniting the entire trap with Tobiume's flames.
Ordinarily, this attack would have defeated them instantly.
However, at the last moment, all three Fraccións activated their Resurrección.
Their spiritual pressure surged, completely negating Hinamori's Kido trap as they emerged unscathed.
But Hinamori's performance left them wary. They realized they could not approach these two carelessly.
So they unleashed their ultimate technique.
Each severed their own left arm, merging the three into a glowing red egg.
From within, a monstrous creature was born.
A giant hybrid beast – deer horns, hooved legs, human torso, and a horrifying jaw.
This was a mindless monster created by their fusion, existing only for slaughter.
Despite its low intellect, the sheer spiritual pressure it radiated filled Rangiku and Hinamori with dread.
With a single blow, it shattered Haineko's ash defense and ripped out Rangiku's organs.
Instantly, Rangiku lost consciousness and fell from the sky.
"Hinamori shouted: Bakudō #37, Tsuriboshi!"
A white net caught Rangiku midair, saving her from death.
But before Hinamori could heal her, the beast appeared before her.
With a casual punch, it crushed her ribs and sent her flying.
Thankfully, Kira Izuru arrived just in time, casting Tsuriboshi to catch Hinamori.
"Wabisuke."
Not only Kira, but Hisagi Shuuhei also appeared.
As Kira set Hinamori down safely, he drew Wabisuke and slashed at the beast. Hisagi threw Kazeshini, binding it in his chains.
But for this creature, such chains were mere toys.
Instead of breaking free immediately, it grabbed the chains like a child playing with a string.
Seeing this, Hisagi thought he might have a chance.
"Kira, heal Rangiku and Hinamori. Leave this thing to me."
Kira nodded, using Shunpo to reach Rangiku and pulling her to Hinamori's side. He cast Bakudō #73, Tozanshō, encasing them both in a protective prism.
Then, he began using Kaidō to treat Rangiku's more severe injuries first.
Meanwhile, the monster still toyed with Hisagi's chains.
Hisagi launched an attack.
"Hadō #11, Tsuzuri Raiden!"
Golden lightning surged along Kazeshini's chains, shocking the beast.
But it only felt numbness.
Using that brief pause, Hisagi leapt high, dragging the creature into the air before slamming it back down.
Yet as with all beasts, it was unfazed.
Its head twisted 180 degrees to face Hisagi, who felt imminent danger and Shunpo'd away just in time.
The creature's massive arm smashed into the ground where he stood, cracking the concrete.
Then, with an eerie folding motion, it stood back up, tearing Kazeshini's chains apart effortlessly.
Only now did Hisagi realize – it had been playing with him all along.
Before he could react, the beast grabbed him like a toy, holding him tightly.
Opening its maw wide, it prepared to bite him in half.
Just then, Iba arrived, attempting to ambush it from behind.
But without even turning its head, the creature grew an eye from the mane on its back and fired a Cero backwards, blasting Iba away.
Then, with both hands, it slammed Hisagi into a nearby skyscraper, nearly killing him.
Blood gushed from Hisagi's head as he fell unconscious.
Seeing him no longer moving, the creature lost interest and tossed him aside like trash.
(End of Chapter)
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