Although Rukia Kuchiki said she was fine, the changes in her body made it clear that her condition was extremely dangerous.
"Sōten..." Orihime Inoue forced her exhausted body to keep moving and released Shun Shun Rikka. "Kisshun."
Both the healing from before and restoring the Hōgyoku to its original state had drained a tremendous amount of Orihime Inoue's power.
The golden, spindle-shaped barrier was visibly dimmer than before.
The wounds on Rukia Kuchiki's hand healed rapidly, but at the same time, cold air spread from her body, freezing and shattering Sōten Kisshun.
Shun Shun Rikka could no longer maintain the barrier and returned to the form of a hairpin.
Orihime Inoue tried to use Sōten Kisshun again, but her body went limp, and she collapsed against Muten Natsu.
"Don't move." A gentle voice sounded as Retsu Unohana appeared beside Rukia Kuchiki and lightly placed her hand over Rukia Kuchiki's right hand. "Raku Zetsu."
Retsu Unohana's spiritual energy intertwined with the spiritual energy Rukia Kuchiki was releasing, turning into layers of red bandages that wrapped around Rukia Kuchiki's entire right arm. The spreading cold immediately receded.
Muten Natsu's panicked heart settled at once. "Captain..."
"You two really do have a habit of using powers that hurt yourselves." Retsu Unohana's fingers shifted slightly as she adjusted her Reiatsu until it matched Rukia Kuchiki's. "Don't rush. Slowly draw your power back. It's normal for this to happen when you carelessly use a Bankai you haven't mastered yet. Of course, your Bankai itself is extremely dangerous, so you'll need to be very careful with it from now on."
"Yes!" With the help of Retsu Unohana's Reiatsu, Rukia Kuchiki began to release her Bankai little by little. "I'll remember that."
Orihime Inoue, exhausted to the point of collapse, leaned weakly in Muten Natsu's arms. Muten Natsu held the powerless Orihime Inoue, and both of them looked at Rukia Kuchiki with concern.
"Why are you two looking at me like that? The Captain is here. I'm definitely going to be fine." Rukia Kuchiki's pale lips parted slightly, and the white mist she breathed out grew fainter and fainter. "You, on the other hand..." Her gaze turned to Muten Natsu with a hint of a smile. "It looks like you've finally gotten a taste of how I feel."
Muten Natsu's face went stern. "Focus."
Rukia Kuchiki gave a soft huff, steadied herself, and concentrated on releasing her Bankai.
She knew very well that this was not the true form of her Bankai.
It was only a portion of its power, barely released in a moment of crisis.
But even that small portion had taught her a great deal.
Through this precious experience, she had gained a clearer understanding of the power she possessed.
As Zanpakutō of the ice and snow type, Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Hyōrinmaru had the power to manipulate moisture in the air, and its control over ice was as precise as moving his own limbs.
It also possessed Tensō Jūrin, the ability to command everything in the sky.
By comparison, both Tsukishiro and Hakuren had poor control over water and ice. Even White Dew, which could manipulate ice blades, only formed simple blades to stab the enemy and used cold air to seal their movements.
Of course, Rukia Kuchiki also wanted to control ice freely, and she had always been working toward that goal, but she had never quite found the key.
Only after using this incomplete Bankai today did she realize that, unlike Hyōrinmaru, which dominated everything in the outside world, Sode no Shirayuki's power was more about releasing cold from within.
Although she had yet to fully master the power of Bankai, Rukia Kuchiki had finally found the direction she needed to pursue.
Isane Kotetsu arrived a step later and, under Retsu Unohana's instructions, began treating Uryū Ishida and Yasutora Sado.
"Tch..." Mayuri Kurotsuchi's golden eyes shifted. "Another troublesome one, ne."
A massive dark-brown hand smashed through the wall. The giant beast, its head wreathed in red flames, had teeth as large as a person. It fixed its gaze on Retsu Unohana, who was treating Rukia Kuchiki. "Finally... I found you!"
"The 10th Espada..." Byakuya Kuchiki had read the battle records from the World of the Living. "Yammy, is it?"
Ichigo Kurosaki stared at the strange flames on Yammy's body, black on the inside and blood-red on the outside. "But the Gates of Hell have already been closed. Why..."
"They can't keep absorbing power from Hell. That doesn't mean the power they already absorbed will disappear right away," Mayuri Kurotsuchi snapped. "Do I really have to explain something that simple? If the cafeteria closes, do you drop dead from hunger on the spot?"
Ichigo Kurosaki: "..."
"The 10th Espada?" Lava flowed over Yammy's outstretched giant claw. "After my release, I am the 0th Espada!"
"I don't recall allowing you to reach out." Byakuya Kuchiki controlled Senbonzakura, gathering the drifting cherry blossom petals into the shape of a long blade in his hand. More petals connected to it, flowing like mist around Byakuya Kuchiki's body, spreading outward and then returning. They gradually lost their pink color and turned a cold snow-white, forming wing-like shapes and extending into white jade-like rings that floated behind him. "Shūkei, Hakuteiken!"
The sharpness of countless blades compressed to its absolute limit, bursting into dazzling white light. Byakuya Kuchiki struck Yammy back with a single blow, then leaped into the air and pursued him.
Retsu Unohana sensed something and reached out toward Muten Natsu. "Give Orihime Inoue to me. I'll replenish her Reiatsu. I'll leave the rest to you."
"Mm." Muten Natsu handed Orihime Inoue over to Retsu Unohana. In a flash, he appeared in front of Nell.
He cut the yellow cold light apart with one strike. When Nnoitra appeared again, his single eye was bloodstained, and his battered body was rapidly regenerating.
After dealing with Grimmjow, Nnoitra, who had not forgotten his original goal, attacked Nell once more.
"Muten..." Nell looked at Muten Natsu's broad back and called out weakly.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore, Nell." Muten Natsu turned back and gave her a small smile. "Leave the rest to me. I'll protect you, just like you protected me."
Concern surfaced in Rukia Kuchiki's eyes, now restored to their deep purple. "Muten, he..."
Nnoitra still held power from Hell within him. His strength could not be underestimated.
Muten Natsu had already used up a great deal of power. Facing an enemy like this would likely be very dangerous.
Orihime Inoue nervously bit her lower lip. Fortunately, in Retsu Unohana's arms, her power was recovering quickly. Even if Muten Natsu was injured, she was confident she could heal him right away.
"Big talk!" Nnoitra swung his arm blade. "I'll defeat you, just like I defeated her!"
Ink spread in front of Muten Natsu, and black energy surged in the depths of his eyes. "You're not the only one who gained power from Hell."
As Myōki swung, it broke free from the pitch-black ripples, severed Nnoitra's arm blade, and tore a bloody wound across his chest.
["Save a Shinigami?! Are you insane?"] Nnoitra had sneered the first time he heard about Muten Natsu. ["Maybe one day, you'll be killed by the Shinigami you saved!"]
["Maybe one day..."] Nell had answered calmly. ["I'll be saved by the Shinigami I saved."]
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