Bleach: The Shinigami Who Inherited Hashirama

"...What?!"

"You're kidding me… it's that weak?!"

Hidden within the curtain of rain, the three figures observing the battle were stunned.

They had expected Hollow White to lose eventually.

But they had never imagined such a humiliating opening exchange.

The terrifying slash that White had launched with full power—

not only failed to injure Bai Chen in the slightest—

it had been violently reflected, sending the monster flying across the battlefield.

For a moment, even the ever-composed Aizen couldn't hide the flicker in his eyes behind the reflection of his glasses.

This was the first time he had personally witnessed the power of Bai Chen's weapon.

And the result shocked all three of them.

The Threat of the Flame Fan

Gin slightly opened his eyes beneath the hood of his cloak.

His usually playful expression was gone.

"Captain Aizen…"

"I have to admit… that fan of Bai Chen's is terrifying."

He stared at the massive Flame-Extinguishing Fan with unmistakable caution.

"I clearly remember when he fought the Captain-Commander before."

"That 'reflection' ability never appeared back then."

Gin clicked his tongue.

"So he was hiding it all along."

Coming from someone as scheming as Gin himself, the remark carried weight.

Because if that attack had been his instead of White's—

if Kamishini no Yari had pierced forward at that moment—

the outcome would likely have been the same.

The strike would have been reflected back instantly.

And even the arm wielding the blade might have been injured by the recoil.

Gin suddenly realized something chilling.

The Flame Fan wasn't just powerful.

It was the natural enemy of physical attack types.

And his Zanpakutō—Kamishini no Yari—was one of the most famous pure strike-type blades in the Gotei 13.

Even if the Bankai's deadly poison blade fragments could dissolve cells—

that only mattered if the blade could actually land a hit.

And judging from what he had just witnessed…

Landing that hit on Bai Chen might be impossible.

Aizen Remains Calm

Despite the surprise, Aizen quickly regained his composure.

He adjusted his glasses slightly and spoke in a calm, measured tone.

"Relax, Gin."

"There's no need to panic."

"You seem to have forgotten something."

"The core of Hollow White contains the newest module I installed."

"High-Speed Regeneration."

Aizen's voice remained completely steady.

"That means White is different from ordinary Hollows or Arrancar."

"Even if it receives serious damage…"

"…it will regenerate instantly."

And just as Aizen finished speaking—

the battlefield confirmed his words.

Regeneration

Hundreds of meters away, White finally stopped its flight.

Using its arm blades, it stabbed into the ground and halted itself within the rising smoke.

Its black armor had been cracked and burned by the reflected blast.

Deep wounds split across its body.

But the next moment—

those wounds began to close.

Flesh reformed.

Cracks sealed.

Blood evaporated.

Within seconds, Hollow White stood again—

completely restored.

"ROOOOAAARRR—!!"

The beast threw its head back and roared violently.

The sound carried raw killing intent, releasing the fury it felt from being blasted away earlier.

Then it prepared to charge again.

Its arm blades lifted—

ready to resume the savage assault.

Kidō Suppression

But Bai Chen had no intention of letting it attack again.

Before White could move—

Bai Chen calmly raised a hand.

"Bakudō No. 61."

"Rikujōkōrō."

No incantation.

No preparation.

Just a quiet command.

And instantly—

the empty air around White exploded with light.

Six massive pillars of radiant energy appeared around the Hollow.

They locked into place like a cage of divine spears.

Binding.

Suppressing.

Freezing.

White's body locked in place mid-motion.

It was as if an invisible prison had materialized around it.

The monster couldn't swing its blades.

Couldn't move its limbs.

Couldn't even lift its arms.

In a single instant—

all of its mobility was stripped away.

Desperate Resistance

White roared in rage.

It struggled violently, muscles bulging as it tried to tear free from the Kidō restraints.

But the more it struggled—

the tighter the glowing pillars compressed.

The pressure continued draining its brute strength.

Watching from the safe distance, Isshin's eyes widened in disbelief.

"First he reflects the attack…"

"And now he suppresses it with Kidō…"

Isshin couldn't help muttering.

"Bai Chen is completely controlling the battle."

"It's like he's playing with it."

Just minutes earlier, Isshin himself had been forced into a desperate defensive fight against White.

But now—

the situation had flipped completely.

However…

just as Isshin was beginning to feel relieved—

something unexpected happened.

The Horned Cero

"SHAAA—!"

White suddenly tilted its head upward.

The sharp horns on its skull angled forward.

Pointing directly at Bai Chen.

A crimson glow began gathering at the tips.

Energy condensed rapidly—

burning brighter and brighter.

Even though its body was immobilized—

White had found another way to attack.

If it couldn't move—

it would fire from a distance.

A massive Cero began forming between its horns.

A terrifying crimson sphere of destruction.

And the next moment—

the battlefield was about to witness something even more terrifying.

The Horned Cero.

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