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At the same time—
Just as things were becoming increasingly unpredictable, the countdown video kept playing, and Toshiro and Luppi's fight continued.
A sharp metallic clang rang through the air.
Encased in blue ice crystal, the massive Hyōrinmaru blade crashed hard against Luppi's octopus-like tentacles, cold surging out like a storm.
"Arrancar, I've already figured out your ability. That same piercing attack won't hurt me anymore…" With his icy wings spreading behind him, Toshiro gripped his Zanpakuto in one hand, speaking with full confidence.
"Tch, don't get smug! This fight is only just getting started!!!" Luppi snarled, eyes full of venom.
Aside from her opening sneak attack—relying on the surprise factor of her many tentacles—every assault afterward had been cleanly dodged by Toshiro.
Right now, the battle was clearly turning against her.
"No… you're overestimating yourself."
Toshiro lifted his gaze. Gripping his sword with both hands, he pushed an immense amount of spiritual pressure into the blade.
"Wait—something's wrong!"
Luppi's face twisted in alarm. Instinctively, she recoiled her tentacles. Whatever Toshiro was doing, it radiated danger on a level she couldn't ignore.
But—
"It's too late. Stop struggling. The moment you raised your guard, the fight was already decided."
With arrogant calm, Toshiro swung the great ice blade of Daiguren Hyōrinmaru. A tidal wave of cold erupted skyward.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
The sky whitened. Moisture in the air froze at once, and from afar it looked like a world-ending winter sweeping across the battlefield.
"Thousand-Year Ice Prison!"
Before Luppi could react, the cold condensed into towering pillars of ice, forming one after another around her.
"Damn it! I can't dodge this in time!!!!"
Gritting her teeth, she looked around in horror—every escape route had already been sealed off by walls of ice.
Even worse—
Her prized weapons, those huge venomous tentacles, were now nothing but dead weight. Their massive size made them perfect conduits for the spreading frost.
"N–no… damn it!"
"I'm a proud Espada! There's no way I lose to a brat like you!"
The moment she spat out those words, her grotesque face stiffened as the freezing cold overtook her.
When the last ice pillar solidified, Luppi's enormous Resurrección form was completely sealed within the Thousand-Year Ice Prison.
Her fate—uncertain.
Tenth Division
"Captain! That was beautiful! Clean and precise—totally wiped that Arrancar out!"
With her long wavy blonde hair bouncing, Matsumoto Rangiku cheered like an excitable big sister, genuinely happy for Toshiro.
"Rangiku, I told you already… Hyōrinmaru is one of the most promising Zanpakuto in all of Soul Society. Now do you believe me?"
Getting praised instantly inflated Toshiro's pride, his chin tilting upward like it was about to float away.
He was a young prodigy, after all. Being ranked on the list and showing Hyōrinmaru's overwhelming power in front of everyone—it was something he was very satisfied with.
But then Rangiku's expression shifted. After thinking it over, she said hesitantly:
"Still… that so-called 'Number 60' Arrancar didn't even look like an Adjuchas. Compared to Captain Kuchiki's battle, it feels… a little less convincing."
The implication was obvious: even if Toshiro deserved to be ranked, there was no reason he should be ahead of Byakuya Kuchiki based on this fight alone.
"Uh…"
Toshiro froze.
Then he sighed and admitted helplessly, "Yeah… you're right, Rangiku."
"As much as I hate to say it, judging from what the video showed, I'm not on Byakuya Kuchiki's level."
He pouted reluctantly.
Visually, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru's ability to freeze the sky and control the weather was more spectacular, sure. But—
Comparing their opponents made the difference obvious. One fought a Gillian-class Hollow. The other fought an Adjuchas.
Huge gap.
By that logic, Byakuya was clearly stronger.
Seeing Toshiro's mood sink, Rangiku stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
"That may be true, but don't get discouraged, Captain. The countdown isn't over yet. You might surprise everyone with an even better showing later."
Hearing that finally eased Toshiro's frustration. His eyes regained their spark as he clenched a fist.
"You're right. The ranking isn't done. I'll keep shining!"
The Human World
Urahara Shop
"Hyōrinmaru's Bankai, huh? Hard to believe… only a little over ten years and little Toshiro's already grown this much. Looks like I really did see potential in him back then!"
Before the transparent screen, Isshin Kurosaki smiled warmly as he watched the image of Toshiro spreading his crystalline wings.
About an hour earlier, right after ending his phone call with Urahara, he had rushed over and arrived just in time for the start of the third round of rankings.
As the former Tenth Division Captain—the one who guided Toshiro onto the path of the Shinigami—seeing his junior make the list filled him with pride.
Behind him, Urahara's playful voice floated over:
"Isshin, it seems Toshiro really is exceptionally talented. Your eye for people is pretty sharp."
"Of course!"
Isshin straightened his back, thumping his chest. "With Toshiro's potential, give him enough time and he'll surpass everyone someday."
"That may be… but don't you feel something's missing?" Urahara asked.
"What do you mean?"
Isshin's smile froze.
"This fight alone isn't convincing. To outrank me and Byakuya, he'd need to at least defeat an Adjuchas, maybe even a Vasto Lorde."
And Urahara wasn't wrong. He didn't think Toshiro deserved that placement either—not yet.
Isshin scratched his head, about to respond, when—
The screen flickered.
The dark image that had followed Luppi's freezing suddenly shifted to a new scene.
Frosty winds.Clouds swirling over Karakura Town.Cold pouring through the streets.
"Arrancar…"
Toshiro stood in full Bankai. But this time his expression was grim as he glared forward.
"With power like yours… you're only ranked third?!"
The camera pulled back, following his gaze.
Then—there she was.
A commanding figure, calm and deadly.
Espada No. 3—The Shark Empress, Tier Harribel.
Hueco Mundo
"That's… Harribel?"
The moment her face appeared, the once-silent Las Noches burst into life like a hive stirred with a stick. Arrancar shouted in excitement:
"Finally! One of the top four Espada!"
"It's our turn to strike back!"
"Lady Harribel, crush him!"
"..."
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