Even he himself could not escape this vortex.
But as long as one survives, a new life will surely come.
With this sincere blessing, Inoue Orihime sent the little girl's spirit to Soul Society.
Rukia, who had been quietly observing, watched the entire process and said with relief, mixed with a hint of undetectable complexity, "Inoue, you're becoming more and more like a Shinigami."
"Oh, it's all thanks to Miss Kuchiki's excellent guidance."
Orihime smiled shyly.
Her Shinigami attire and the large sword in her hand clearly indicated her current identity.
— "Substitute Shinigami."
"After all, I gave you my power and forced you to take on the responsibility of protecting Karakura Town when I lost my strength, so teaching you is natural. But your rapid progress truly surprised me."
Rukia raised her chin, her expression serious, with an indescribable maturity.
"Normally, for someone like you who became a Shinigami from a human, being able to fight Hollows is already remarkable. However, with your current abilities, even ordinary Shinigami are no match for you."
"In this situation, teaching has been much less troublesome. Of course, the most important thing is your good personality. If it were some arrogant, unruly, spiky-haired teenager like you, I'd have a headache."
Orihime's face flushed from the praise, and she said shyly:
"Miss Kuchiki is also very kind. She didn't hesitate to use her power to save my life and helped me resolve the misunderstanding with my brother. I owe you too much. I don't know when Miss Kuchiki's power will recover. I really want to fight alongside Miss Kuchiki."
"Although Miss Kuchiki says I'm amazing, I always feel uncertain when fighting alone."
"Fighting alongside each other, huh... I also don't know when my power will recover."
Rukia's delicate brows furrowed; speaking of this, she really started to get a headache.
Two months ago, while pursuing Inoue Orihime's brother, Inoue Hao, Orihime herself was accidentally caught in the crossfire, and Rukia herself was severely injured. She had no choice but to give Orihime half of her Shinigami power, turning her into a "Substitute Shinigami."
Although the outcome was indeed a desperate turnaround, leading to a satisfactory resolution of the incident, for some unknown reason, after switching to a Gigai sold by Urahara Shop, not only did her lost Shinigami power not gradually recover over time, but even her remaining power was slowly disappearing.
This change plunged her into a dilemma.
If her power recovered, it would be fine; she could pretend nothing happened, and Orihime could just hide. But her power hadn't recovered, so she couldn't perform her duties normally, nor did she dare return to Soul Society.
She could only maintain the status quo for now, waiting for a turning point.
Out of a sense of responsibility, Rukia hid her anxiety very well, deliberately putting on a fierce expression.
"Is that so? Then we'll focus on that for special training. If you don't train well, no desserts."
"How can you!"
Orihime's eyes widened.
— "Hmph."
The sudden cold sneer startled Rukia.
"Who's there!?"
She looked sharply at the shadow not far away.
Accompanied by calm footsteps, a white figure entered her field of vision.
There was no intention of hiding at all.
In fact, there was a forceful aura, as if trying to overpower her presence.
"I apologize, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, but if I may be frank, you two, as Shinigami, have given me a great surprise."
"You are... Ishida Uryū?"
"Kurosaki? Why are you here, and dressed like that?"
Neither Rukia, who had transferred to Karakura First High School, nor Orihime found the newcomer unfamiliar.
"Do Shinigami nowadays not even recognize a Quincy's attire? It seems I shouldn't have spoken so subtly; I should have been more direct..."
Ishida Uryū adjusted his glasses, his eyes cold, his tone full of belligerence.
— "You truly disappoint me completely."
"With just you, with the current Shinigami, can you truly protect this world?"
..."You said Quincy... I think I've heard that name before, but more importantly, what exactly do you intend to do?"
Although Rukia had lost her power, she clearly sensed the other party's ill intent.
"Don't worry, although I harbor resentment towards Shinigami, I won't attack you... That being said, for me to do nothing is also impossible."
Ishida Uryū took out a silver cylinder the size of a fingernail, smiling calmly and proudly.
"This in my hand can attract a large number of Hollows."
"Let's have a competition. Let's see whether Shinigami or Quincy are superior, and which side... is more qualified to protect this world."
"Wait!"
Rukia's pupils contracted. She couldn't stop him in time, nor did she have the ability to stop him from scattering the silver powder.
The sight of the dust dissolving into the air inexplicably made her uneasy, and a chill continuously emerged.
"Miss Kuchiki...!"
Orihime's face turned slightly pale, and her fingers trembled.
Because in her ears, or rather, in her perception, she heard the cries of Hollows.
And this cry was rapidly intensifying at a terrifying speed, forming a massive shriek.
Crack!
Cracks began to appear in the space above the park, one after another. Hollows of various forms emerged, hovering over Karakura Town.
"Well then..."
Ishida Uryū summoned his spirit bow, just about to unilaterally announce the rules of the competition.
Suddenly, without warning.
Many of the broken cracks further expanded, eventually connecting to form a gigantic fissure that stretched between heaven and earth.
Half the body of a colossal creature squeezed out.
Boom!
"?!"
Ishida Uryū's expression froze, and he abruptly turned his head to look behind him.
A black body, a pointed nose.
Like a giant draped in a black cloak.
"How is this possible... Can even a Menos Grande... even a Gillians be attracted?! Ishida, did you consider the consequences of what you're doing!"
Rukia's face was completely drained of color.
"No... No, wait... The bait I prepared doesn't have such a strong effect!"
Indeed.
Rukia also had to admit this point.
Because after Ishida Uryū loudly retorted, even more cracks further expanded. With the wide view from the park, they could clearly see multiple Gillianss descending upon Karakura Town in the distance.
The bait was undoubtedly effective, but at most, it only served as a trigger.
At least, it shouldn't attract prey far exceeding the strength of the bait's user.
"Miss Kuchiki, what should we do now?"
Orihime asked anxiously.
Rukia opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
What to do? She also wanted to know the answer to that question.
At this point, it seemed there was nothing to do but wait for reinforcements from Soul Society.
Boom!
It wasn't the heavy footsteps of a Gillians, nor was it an explosion.
But its scale was no less, as multiple spiritual pressures erupted in a concentrated manner somewhere in Karakura Town.
"Is this... reinforcements from Soul Society?"
Rukia's body trembled, and she instinctively looked into the distance.
Did they really arrive so quickly?
Rukia wanted to ask why the Soul Society reinforcements arrived so quickly.
Shimiya Zun also had a question.
"Are Soul Burial internships now combat training sessions with Hollows, and even Menos Grande, as targets? I'm fine, but for others, isn't it a bit too hardcore?"
Karakura Town, Yumizawa, a corner of the mixed commercial and residential area.
Dozens of academy students, forming a Soul Burial internship team, had just passed through the Dangai and arrived on the top floor of an abandoned old building. From the height of the building, they saw dense Hollows flying in the sky, and mountain-like Menos Grande slowly moving on the ground, exuding immense pressure.
For a moment, many people forgot to breathe.
Until... they heard Shimiya Zun's remark and couldn't help but turn their heads, speechless.
"Hardcore your head! Stop with your gallows humor! This isn't a Soul Burial internship; something's clearly gone wrong!"
Swish!
Amidst the shouts, Ichigo rushed out of the crowd, grabbed the shark-fin-like zanpakuto on his back, and swung it down, slaying a Hollow that had spotted them.
Before everyone could react, another figure leaped into the air, swiftly kicking the head of a gigantic Hollow almost as tall as a building, then using the recoil to return to the rooftop.
"Kurosaki-kun is right, we've indeed encountered a big problem! Everyone, be careful, and quickly use your Denreishinki to inform Seireitei... though I doubt this can be kept a secret anyway."
Although Yūshirō's attacks were swift and demonstrated extraordinary power, he seemed completely unconcerned. His attitude towards the current situation was less solemn and more one of displeasure.
It was as if the appearance of these Hollows had disrupted his original plan... The other two sixth-year students, having received the instruction, reacted by hastily pulling out their Denreishinki to contact Seireitei.
As for the other first-year students.
Just as they should have been feeling uneasy and terrified, the shock brought by the sudden burst of spiritual pressure overshadowed the anxiety caused by the Hollows.
Shimiya Zun's clothes billowed, and his spiritual pressure, visible to the naked eye, burned like a raging flame around his body.
He stepped forward unhurriedly, and the people around him unconsciously made way.
Clang.
He reached the edge of the rooftop, jumped onto the rusted iron railing, and looked down at everyone.
"You all, stay here and don't go anywhere. Set up a defensive position on the spot... Hachihara, Rindo, let's go take care of those Menos Grande."
"No, wait..."
"You..."
The two sixth-year students tried to say something, but Shimiya Zun's glare choked the words back into their throats.
The meaning of that look was clear.
"This is not your place to speak."
Although rude, their bodies, stiff and sweating from the spiritual pressure, wouldn't allow them to object.
Moreover, in the next instant, a figure shot out, interrupting their thoughts.
"Oh, oh, oh! Menos Grande, these are the Gillianss from the textbooks, right? So many of them! This is going to be a fight! I wonder how they compare to Adjuchas; if they're too weak, it'll be boring."
Hachihara leaped onto the iron railing, raised his hand to gaze into the distance, his face full of excitement.
His spiritual pressure, no less than that of a high-ranking seated officer, also overflowed with his enthusiasm.
Pat-a... Pat-a...