The video continued.
At this moment, Hitsugaya had already completed the Shikai release of Hyorinmaru. His domineering presence filled the entire battlefield.
He then raised Hyorinmaru high into the air and shouted sharply, "Gathering Ice Pillars!"
As his voice fell, countless ice spikes as thick as arms formed around him. With a single swing of his blade, the spikes shot forward like a flock of birds, bombarding the cloaked man.
Whoosh!
The cloaked man lowered his head and exhaled using a strange breathing rhythm. At the same time, he slowly drew the blade at his waist and spoke in a deep voice, "Flame Breathing, First Form: Rising Scorching Sun."
With an upward slash, a crescent-shaped orange-red flame surged forth, carrying scorching heat that instantly blocked Hitsugaya's attack.
Fire and ice collided, creating a massive cloud of steam that obscured their vision.
Even though their sight was blocked, the two fighters moved in perfect synchronization, continuing to attack without pause.
High in the sky, Hitsugaya swung his arm with force, sweeping Hyorinmaru forward as he spoke in his deep, steady tone, "Ice Dragon Whirlwind Tail!"
A freezing wave surged forward, and everything in its path was instantly frozen solid.
On the ground, the cloaked man widened his eyes. His powerful legs exploded with force, shattering the ground beneath him as he used the recoil to leap upward. He roared, "Flame Breathing, Second Form: Unknowing Fire!"
In an instant, his figure shot upward with a thunderous boom, flames engulfing everything in their path as they devoured the ice. The blazing blade came dangerously close to slicing Hitsugaya in half.
Hitsugaya reacted immediately. His wings flapped violently, lifting him higher into the sky, narrowly avoiding the strike.
After dodging, he glanced at his slightly singed hair and felt a chill run through him. If that attack had been just ten centimeters closer, he would have already been decapitated.
He exhaled cold air slowly, murderous intent rising in his heart.
Meanwhile, the cloaked man, having lost his forward momentum, began to fall.
Even while descending, his hand remained firmly on the hilt of his sword. He knew this was the moment when he was most vulnerable. His opponent would surely seize this chance to strike.
As expected, in his field of vision, Hitsugaya dove toward him at high speed, blade raised.
At the same time, behind him, a massive ice pillar surged upward from the ground, closing in from both front and back.
In that instant, he was caught between two killing blows.
Just as the viewers thought he would die, the camera zoomed in. Only then did everyone notice that he was not panicking at all. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips, as if everything was under control.
"Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!"
With a roar, he twisted his body mid-air using his waist strength. Flames erupted from the tip of his blade, forming a blazing vortex.
Not only did it force Hitsugaya back, it also shattered the massive ice pillar behind him before he landed steadily on the ground.
This precise and brilliant technique drew unanimous praise from the viewers.
After landing, the cloaked man inhaled deeply again using that peculiar breathing method. Before Hitsugaya could stabilize himself, he thrust his blade forward with full force, speaking in a low voice, "Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger."
As he spoke, the flames from his blade transformed into a ferocious tiger that leaped toward Hitsugaya.
Hitsugaya cursed under his breath and swung his blade, gathering dense cold air in front of him to form a thick wall of ice that blocked the flaming tiger.
Crack!
A faint cracking sound echoed across the battlefield.
Though insignificant, it made Hitsugaya's expression change drastically. He quickly glanced behind him at the ice flower petals.
Originally, there had been three.
Now, only one remained.
At that moment, his face turned grim. He understood that time was running out. He had to end this quickly.
Without hesitation, he soared into the sky again, hovering above the battlefield. Gripping his blade with both hands, he roared, "Heavenly Hundred Flower Funeral!"
As he shouted, Hyorinmaru unleashed an overwhelming surge of cold energy. The frigid aura shot into the heavens, blowing away the clouds themselves.
The cloaked man looked up, shock filling his eyes. The clouds parted, and what followed was an avalanche of enormous snowflakes pouring down like a collapsing sky.
If those snowflakes touched the ground, he would instantly be frozen solid, with no chance of survival.
"Accept your defeat peacefully. This is the best outcome for you," Hitsugaya said coldly from the sky.
Hearing this, the cloaked man raised his head and roared, "Don't joke with me! I am the Flame Hashira! Even if I die, I will never surrender!"
In the next moment, flames erupted from his body, soaring into the sky. These flames were different from before—deep crimson, so intense that even the air began to distort.
"Flame Breathing… Secret Technique… Ninth Form: Rengoku!"
As he spoke, the flames surged again, blasting away his hood and revealing fiery yellow hair that resembled burning flames.
It was none other than Kyojuro Rengoku.
With a powerful step, he shattered the ground and shot forward at a speed akin to teleportation, appearing directly before Hitsugaya. The scorching heat forced Hitsugaya to retreat instinctively.
He attempted to use his wings to ascend further, widening the distance between them.
But this time, his plan failed.
As he retreated, he realized that Rengoku had not fallen. Instead, flames continuously burst from beneath his feet, acting as propulsion and allowing him to remain airborne.
Damn it!
Hitsugaya cursed inwardly. He knew he had been too confident earlier.
Now, there was no time to think. If he didn't act immediately, he would truly be split in two.
Crack!
At that exact moment, the final ice petal behind him shattered.
His anger exploded.
"Very well. You've completely enraged me. Are you ready to die?"
"Bankai."
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