The materialized Hyorinmaru wore a blue palace-style dress, with slender eyebrows and phoenix eyes. She was entirely blue, even her hair and eyes were ice-blue. Although female, she exuded a sense of majesty and authority, exactly the same as Toshiro had seen in his inner world.
However, Hyorinmaru always resided in Toshiro's inner world and rarely appeared outside in materialized form. Now, under Muramasa's power, she had appeared outside again. But Toshiro felt no joy.
"Hyo... Hyorinmaru? Could you have been bewitched by Muramasa too? How... how is this possible!"
Toshiro looked at Hyorinmaru, who had suddenly appeared, in shock.
Just moments ago, he had been thinking that Hyorinmaru couldn't possibly be bewitched and controlled by Muramasa. Yet in the blink of an eye, Hyorinmaru had appeared under the influence of Muramasa's power. This slap in the face came too quickly!
"Hahaha..."
Looking at Hyorinmaru's majestic expression and feeling her Reiatsu, which made space itself tremble, Muramasa couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"What immense Reiatsu! As expected of the Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto. Truly, only you, only you can..."
Realizing what he was about to say, Muramasa quickly stopped mid-sentence.
Then Muramasa spread his arms wide and called out loudly: "Come! Hyorinmaru! Welcome to the family of Zanpakuto, become our companion. Join us in overthrowing the rule of the Shinigami and liberating all Zanpakuto from their slavery!!"
"Hey! Hyorinmaru! Don't joke around! How could you possibly be controlled by a guy like Muramasa!!"
Toshiro grabbed Hyorinmaru's arm and shouted loudly.
Smack!
Hyorinmaru slapped Toshiro's hand away, glanced at him expressionlessly, and then, to Toshiro's despairing gaze, walked towards Muramasa.
"No... impossible. Hyorinmaru couldn't possibly betray me..."
Toshiro murmured, pale-faced, as if suffering a major blow.
Step, step, step...
Hyorinmaru walked forward lightly, like a noble and elegant celestial maiden.
Watching Hyorinmaru approach him step by step, Muramasa couldn't help but smile and say, "Hello, Hyorinmaru. I am Muramasa, the one who liberated you from Hitsugaya Toshiro. I..."
However, to everyone's surprise, Hyorinmaru walked right past Muramasa, completely ignoring him.
Embarrassed and angry, Muramasa turned around and said, "Hyorinmaru, do you even understand? I am the one who liberated you from Hitsugaya Toshiro. Without me..."
"Silence!"
Hyorinmaru looked at Muramasa coldly.
Hyorinmaru's voice was clear, cold, and full of majesty. After being rebuked by her, Muramasa dared not speak again for a moment.
Then, Hyorinmaru gently walked over to Sode no Shirayuki.
"Ice-type, right? I remember your name is..."
Hyorinmaru gently lifted Sode no Shirayuki's chin like a frivolous man.
"Hyorinmaru-sama, I... my name is Sode no Shirayuki."
Sode no Shirayuki trembled all over, utterly unable to defy Hyorinmaru's command.
Sode no Shirayuki could feel a strange power within Hyorinmaru that filled her with fear and awe from the depths of her soul. It was like an insignificant ant facing a supreme deity, making her dare not disobey Hyorinmaru's will in the slightest.
Just now, Sode no Shirayuki had felt a similar power from Toshiro. However, this power within Hyorinmaru was even stronger.
"Truly beautiful. I remember you're called the most beautiful Zanpakuto in the Soul Society, right?"
Hyorinmaru gently stroked Sode no Shirayuki's cheek.
"I... I wouldn't dare. Hyorinmaru-sama is the most beautiful and noble Zanpakuto..."
Sode no Shirayuki replied tremblingly.
"Heh, sweet talker. I like it."
Hyorinmaru chuckled lightly.
"Hmm... you're quite good. Pretty and sweet-tongued. Stay by my side as my attendant."
Hyorinmaru said in a tone that brooked no refusal.
Sode no Shirayuki hesitated: "B-But... what about Muramasa-sama's side..."
"Hmm?"
Hyorinmaru's expression stiffened.
"Yes. Sode no Shirayuki is willing to become your attendant, Hyorinmaru-sama, and follow you."
Sode no Shirayuki said fearfully.
"That's good. Then come with me. Since I've finally completely broken free from shackles, it would be a waste not to take a good tour of the entire Soul Society."
With that, Hyorinmaru prepared to leave with Sode no Shirayuki.
"Wait!!"
Toshiro suddenly shouted loudly.
"Hyorinmaru, why... why are you leaving me? Did I do something to displease you?"
Toshiro looked sadly at Hyorinmaru's retreating figure.
Hearing Toshiro's words, Hyorinmaru's figure trembled slightly. She stopped in her tracks.
"No... I have no displeasure with you."
Hyorinmaru said with her back to Toshiro.
"Then why... why are you leaving me?"
Toshiro asked.
"There is no particular reason..."
Hyorinmaru was silent for a moment, but ultimately gave Toshiro an ambiguous answer.
"Hyorinmaru, I won't let you leave. Even if I have to use force!"
Whoosh!
Toshiro's figure flickered and vanished, instantly reappearing behind Hyorinmaru. He reached out to grab her shoulder. His speed was so fast that no one present could react, but that did not include Hyorinmaru!
Facing Toshiro's attack, Hyorinmaru instantly turned and struck out with her palm.
Bang!
Fist met palm. Toshiro and Hyorinmaru's figures each retreated.
Then Hyorinmaru raised her hand. With a flash of ice-blue light, a Zanpakuto identical to the one in Toshiro's hand instantly appeared in hers.
"Sit Upon the Frozen Heavens!"
Boom!
Powerful Reiatsu instantly erupted.
"Roar!"
A frost dragon, dozens of units of length long, instantly appeared and quickly flew towards Toshiro.
Bang!
Toshiro, pushed back by Hyorinmaru's palm strike, was off-balance and couldn't dodge in time. He could only hold his Zanpakuto horizontally in front of him. However, under the impact of the frost dragon, Toshiro was directly pushed back, then with a bang, he was smashed into a small mountain.
The frost dragon directly transformed into an iceberg, sealing Toshiro and the mountain inside.
"You are no match for me now, Toshiro."
Hyorinmaru said with a complex tone.
Then Hyorinmaru wrapped her arm around Sode no Shirayuki's waist, lightly stepped, and using Toshiro's unique technique, Shunkuho, instantly vanished without a trace.
The Gotei 13's members and Muramasa's group looked at each other, all with equally bewildered expressions.
Faced with this inexplicable turn of events, whether it was the Gotei 13's members or Muramasa's group, everyone was utterly confused. They didn't know what to make of Hyorinmaru's situation.
If Hyorinmaru had been bewitched and controlled by Muramasa, she should have sided with him and helped him deal with the Gotei 13.
But if Hyorinmaru hadn't been bewitched and controlled by Muramasa, then why did she suddenly materialize and abandon her master, Toshiro, even turning her blade against him?
And the most bizarre thing was that Hyorinmaru ended up forcibly abducting Sode no Shirayuki as her attendant, leaving everyone bewildered in the cold wind.