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Before the Gillians had fully emerged, Rukia quickly explained to Ichigo:
"This isn't an ordinary Hollow. This is a Gillians — a giant Hollow formed by the fusion of hundreds of ordinary Hollows! Only lieutenants or stronger can normally handle them in the Soul Society!"
"Ichigo, run! You can't fight this thing! It's on a completely different level from something like Grand Fisher!"
But Rukia's words didn't change Ichigo's mind at all.
Shouldering Zangetsu, Ichigo watched the Gillians slowly emerge from the Garganta, carefully sizing it up.
"Mm... Not bad. A Hollow born from hundreds fused together — really impressive," he said.
Meanwhile, Ishida's expression was far less calm.
Even though the Gillians hadn't completely stepped out yet, the spiritual pressure it radiated already made it hard for Uryū to move!
"Damn it! How could my bait attract something of this level?!"
Cold sweat poured down Uryū's face as he stared at the giant creature, experiencing true despair for the first time in his life.
"Good! Fighting something like this — now that's what makes it fun!"
Ichigo's expression grew more and more excited.
He could feel it — this Gillians was a worthy opponent!
Hoisting Zangetsu over his shoulder, Ichigo turned to Rukia and grinned,
"Rukia, wait for me here. I'll be right back after I slice this thing down!"
With that, he Shunpoed straight toward the Gillians.
Uryū just stood there in a daze.
He simply couldn't understand —
Where did Ichigo find the courage to face something like that?
"Is he really just that ignorant of how dangerous it is?" Uryū gritted his teeth and followed, though he didn't dare get too close.
"Ichigo!" Rukia shouted his name and tried to run after him to stop him.
But Urahara Kisuke simply pointed a finger at her, and instantly, Rukia was immobilized — as if she'd been bound by an invisible spell.
She collapsed onto the ground, unable to move, unable even to speak!
"How... how is this possible?!
How could that shady shopkeeper have such powerful Kidō?!"
Rukia stared at Urahara in disbelief.
Only now did she realize —
She had never seen through this man at all!
By now, the Gillians had fully emerged from the Garganta.
"ROAR!"
Unlike the roar of ordinary Hollows, the Gillians' roar was infused with spiritual pressure!
Anyone with low spiritual energy was instantly crushed to the ground by that roar, unable to move.
Even Uryū was frozen in place for a few seconds before he could move again!
But for Ichigo — the Gillians' roar might as well have been a gentle breeze.
It had absolutely no effect on him!
Ichigo looked up at the Gillians, then leapt into the sky, his small figure standing proudly in midair, facing the monster with Zangetsu in hand.
Watching from below, Rukia silently prayed,
"Ichigo... you must win! Even if you can't... you must come back alive!"
Tatsuki, Orihime, and Chad were also watching nervously.
"Is that Ichigo?"
Chad, who was usually not very talkative, asked.
"Yeah... that's definitely Ichigo!"
Tatsuki said, worry written all over her face.
"How can Kurosaki-kun possibly take on such a huge monster by himself?"
Orihime's concern overflowed in her voice.
And it wasn't just the living world —
In the Soul Society, certain individuals were paying close attention to this battle too.
In one hidden location, a refined-looking middle-aged man with glasses watched the confrontation through a surveillance screen with great interest.
At that moment, a fox-like man sauntered over.
"Ara ara... Captain Aizen, you're watching something so minor? It's just a Gillians.
Is it really worth your attention?" he said mockingly.
But the man called Aizen wasn't offended at all.
Instead, he turned to the newcomer with a warm smile.
"I found a very interesting little one, Gin.
Want to watch with me?"
"Eh, no thanks, Captain Aizen. You know I'm not interested in things like this," the man called Gin said, hands in his pockets, his tone carefree.
"That's too bad,"
Aizen said lightly, before turning back to the monitor as if he were gazing upon some rare treasure.
Meanwhile, Ichigo faced off against the Gillians.
"Tch. Your spiritual pressure isn't even that impressive,"
Ichigo said casually.
But strangely, the Gillians didn't respond at all.
"Huh?
Maybe because it's a fusion of so many Hollows, it lost its individual consciousness?
It's just a beast now?"
Ichigo sighed, slightly disappointed.
"I thought it'd be an interesting fight...
Looks like it'll just be boring!"
Without another word, Ichigo pointed Zangetsu straight at the Gillians.
With a flick of his foot, he launched himself forward, slashing directly at the Gillians' head!
Despite its massive size, the Gillians was surprisingly fast.
It raised its huge hand to try and block Ichigo's attack with brute force!
Ichigo snorted coldly.
He tightened his grip on Zangetsu, channeling even more strength into it.
"HAAH!"
With a single slash —
he cleaved through half of the Gillians' hand!
The force of the blow even made the giant creature stumble backward!
Witnessing this, Rukia's pupils contracted sharply.
She had known Ichigo was strong —
but she hadn't realized he was this strong!
While technically a lieutenant could handle a Gillians, that didn't mean just any lieutenant could defeat one!
(Just look at Ōmaeda... he'd probably struggle to take one down!)
"ROOOAAAR!!"
With its hand severed, the Gillians roared in pain and rage.
For the first time, it sensed a real threat from the tiny human before it.
It immediately began gathering spiritual energy for its strongest move—
A Cero!
Only Menos-class Hollows could use such a devastating attack!
A red glow gathered in the Gillians' mouth, building rapidly.
Ichigo simply smiled when he saw it preparing to fire.
He didn't interrupt.
He didn't dodge.
Instead, he raised Zangetsu above his head, letting its blade point straight to the sky.
He waited.
Down below, Rukia was almost hysterical.
"Don't give it time to fire! Just finish it off!"
But Ichigo couldn't hear her desperate thoughts.
The Cero was fully charged—
and fired!
It shot straight toward Ichigo!
Everyone held their breath as the crimson beam roared forward.
Ichigo merely smiled.
With a sweep of his right arm, he swung Zangetsu downward and shouted:
"Getsuga Tenshō!!"
(End of Chapter)
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