Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami, Hitsugaya Toshiro

Seeing his attacks shattered by Toshiro's single hand, Chad didn't give up. Instead, he continued to launch attacks relentlessly.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Chad used El Directo one after another, firing off blue Reiatsu pillars towards Toshiro.

Toshiro merely swatted away Chad's attacks casually, as if batting away balls.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The attacks swatted aside by Toshiro exploded with loud booms, creating craters in the ground.

"Hmm, not a bad shot. Keep going," Toshiro said leisurely while deflecting Chad's attacks.

"Huff... huff..." Chad panted heavily.

Continuously using El Directo drained his stamina and Reiryoku significantly.

'Swatted away again...' Chad thought anxiously.

'Except for the first attack, which he shattered with one hand... all the subsequent attacks were casually batted away...'

'Not a single attack harmed him. All attacks were ineffective...'

'The female Shinigami I fought earlier claimed to be a Lieutenant, just one rank below Captain...'

'Just one rank, yet the difference in strength is so vast...'

'Are Captain-level individuals really this strong...?' Chad wondered to himself.

"Hey! Chad, you should really give up. You should understand clearly. Your strength is indeed impressive... fast, powerful, destructive force greater than many Shinigami..."

"But... your attacks are completely useless against me. To be honest, if I weren't worried about ruining my clothes, even if I stood there and let you attack freely, you couldn't harm me."

"Continuing this fight, the outcome is obvious. So, why not come with me obediently?" Toshiro advised.

"Thank you for the advice, but... I cannot retreat!" Chad said with firm determination.

With that, Chad threw another punch.

Thump!

Toshiro casually batted away Chad's attack again.

Just as Chad stubbornly prepared to continue attacking, Toshiro took light steps, and his figure instantly vanished.

"Where?!" Chad's heart tightened.

"Stop, Chad. You should understand that techniques are divided into two types: those that 'cannot be used once consumption exceeds the limit' and those that 'can still be used by pushing beyond the limit at the cost of one's life'. Obviously, you belong to the latter," Toshiro's voice suddenly came from behind Chad.

"You've already exceeded your own limits. Every attack you launch now will cause severe damage to your body. If this continues, you'll lose your life," Toshiro frowned.

The reason he wanted Chad to come to the 10th Division was to avoid encountering other powerful individuals in the Soul Society, preventing life-threatening situations.

But now, Chad was being so stubborn. Toshiro hadn't counterattacked, only defended. Yet Chad was pushing himself to death.

However, Chad paid no heed to Toshiro's words. Instead, he turned and threw another punch at Toshiro.

Thump!

Toshiro casually batted away Chad's attack again.

"You really are a headache!" Toshiro looked at Chad and said helplessly.

Chad staggered towards Toshiro, wanting to attack again.

Thud!

Before Chad could reach Toshiro, he suddenly collapsed to the ground.

"Huff... huff..." Chad lay on the ground, gasping heavily. He felt dizzy and weak all over.

Earlier, Chad continuously used El Directo, exhausting his strength. Then, despite knowing it would damage his body, he forced himself to attack again. So, Chad's current condition wasn't good.

Even so, Chad struggled to get up.

"I... I still have to... rescue Rukia..."

Thud!

Chad struggled, trying to stand, but ultimately fell back to the ground powerless.

Seeing Chad collapsed and unable to fight, Rangiku, who had been nearby, walked over.

"You said you want to rescue Rukia?" Rangiku asked in surprise.

Rangiku didn't have much interaction with Rukia, but she knew Rukia was Toshiro's friend from the same Shin'o Academy year and the adopted daughter of the Kuchiki Clan.

After Rukia was sentenced, even the Kuchiki Clan didn't try to save her. Apart from feeling some pity, Rangiku couldn't do anything… more accurately, there was nothing she could do. But she never expected these Ryoka had come to rescue Rukia.

"However, didn't Rukia only disappear in the Living World this spring? Such a short time, your friendship with her can't be that deep, right? It shouldn't be worth dying for her," Matsumoto Rangiku said, puzzled.

Lying on the ground, Chad spoke intermittently, "Indeed... I don't know Rukia at all... There's no need to risk my life for her..."

"But... Ichigo wants to save her!"

"Ichigo has already staked everything for this."

"That's enough. For me to risk my life... that's the best reason!" Chad said with firm determination.

Hearing Chad's answer, Rangiku was also moved by the friendship (or perhaps 'bromance') between Chad and the 'Ichigo' he mentioned.

Then, supported by his indomitable will, Chad actually trembled as he stood up again. Staggering, he walked towards Toshiro, wanting to continue fighting.

"Yare yare, what a troublesome guy. For Kurosaki Ichigo to have a friend like you... it's truly something to envy," Toshiro sighed lightly.

"However, this battle ends here," Toshiro said with a serious expression, looking at the swaying Chad now before him.

Clang!

Toshiro drew the Zanpakuto from his back, then swiftly swung it at the back of Chad's neck.

Seeing Toshiro's Zanpakuto coming at him, Chad wanted to dodge, but his body, long past its limits, didn't obey.

'Sorry—'

'Ichigo—'

'I'm going... to fail...'

'... Probably will lose my life...'

'If I survive this time, it'll be my turn to make a vow...'

'The same promise as back then, the same words as back then...'

As Toshiro's Zanpakuto approached, Chad's mind flashed through memories of his time with Ichigo since they met...

Seireitei, a certain corner.

Ichigo was engaged in an intense battle with Ikkaku.

However, right as the battle reached its peak, Ichigo suddenly stopped.

"Chad's Reiatsu..."

"It's gone?!" Ichigo exclaimed in shock.