Chapter 92: Hope

Why are you still standing there? Aren't you going to attack?" Hiyori Sarugaki looked at Yamahiko in front of her, somewhat puzzled.

Yamahiko looked at her and said, "Senior Hiyori, please draw your Zanpakuto. Otherwise, you won't be a match for me."

Hiyori chuckled in frustration, replying, "To think you could defeat me—what are you even considering? I could beat you with just my hands."

Shinji Hirako's lips curled up as he chuckled, "It's not a good idea to provoke Hiyori."

Upon hearing Hiyori Sarugaki's words, Yamahiko's body suddenly disappeared. The next moment, he appeared behind Hiyori, his left hand aiming at her neck.

"So fast."

Hiyori's expression changed, instinctively dodging. However, as her body moved back, it touched a cold object from behind. "Senior Hiyori, you lost."

Hiyori turned to look, and Yamahiko appeared behind her, holding a strange short spike in his right hand, pressing against her waist.

If she continued to retreat, and if the opponent didn't hold back, in just an instant, she would be defeated.

How is this possible?

"So fast Shunpo," Love Aikawa exclaimed in surprise.

Kisuke Urahara smiled and said, "Didn't he say he's from Onmitsukidō?"

Yoruichi laughed and said, "The Onmitsukidō is still impressive."

Hiyori Sarugaki felt a bit embarrassed to be defeated so easily but also understood that her Shunpo was not as good as his. She gritted her teeth, drew her Zanpakuto, and slashed it backward.

Yamahiko's short spike lifted, and with a clang, it blocked the Zanpakuto.

Clang, clang, clang.

Hiyori slashed wildly. Despite her small stature, she was extremely agile. However, no matter how she attacked, she couldn't break through the short spike in Yamahiko's hand.

Hiyori Sarugaki, seeing this scene, realized that the opponent's strength was indeed surpassing hers. So, she no longer held back and shouted, "Chop Cleanly, Kubikiri Orochi!"

[Hiyori Sarugaki's Shikai - img]

The next moment, the blade in Hiyori Sarugaki's hand suddenly enlarged, turning into a massive cleaver with serrated edges, slashing towards Yamahiko's head.

"The speed has increased."

While Hiyori Sarugaki's Zanpakuto's Shikai special ability wasn't revealed in the original work, it appears to have gained a speed enhancement now.

Yamahiko's Shunpo and Hakuda skills were superior to Hiyori Sarugaki, but they were still insufficient to defeat her Shikai release.

So, a blue light surged within Yamahiko's body, gathering on his hands and feet.

Boom.

Hiyori Sarugaki's strike missed, hitting the ground and creating a deep trench that extended into the distance.

"The power has increased as well. It seems that relying solely on Shunpo won't be enough."

At this moment, Yamahiko had already appeared behind her, his arms and legs radiating blue light. Zanpakutō unsheathed, he aimed for Hiyori Sarugaki's neck.

Clang.

In the split second before the strike, Hiyori turned around and raised her longsword, the two blades colliding.

"Ah! Such immense strength."

Hiyori was pushed back a step by the tremendous force, and Yamahiko also unavoidably stepped back. The surrounding dust rippled from the powerful shockwaves.

"What is this?"

From a distance, Yoruichi's eyes widened. Even though it was an incomplete version, it was undoubtedly Shunkō. How could he master it?

Hiyori Sarugaki swung her Zanpakutō, relentlessly striking at Yamahiko, but he effortlessly blocked her attacks.

Yamahiko's speed was even slightly faster than Hiyori Sarugaki's, but due to her reckless and life-threatening style, he had to restrain his own speed.

"Go into Hollowfication."

Unable to hold back, Shinji stood up and shouted. He knew Hiyori Sarugaki wasn't a match for Yamahiko, but he wanted to understand the extent of Yamahiko's strength.

"Got it, baldy."

Hiyori shouted impatiently, taking a step back. She pulled her left hand across her face, revealing a Hollow Wide skull mask with a prominent horn.

[Image]

In the next moment, Hiyori Sarugaki's reiatsu surged, and with a stomp of her feet, she disappeared from sight, rushing towards Yamahiko.

"So fast."

Yamahiko only saw a blur. Just as he raised his Zanpakutō, Hiyori swung down with a powerful strike, causing him to retreat several steps.

"Come on, let's see what else you've got."

Hiyori Sarugaki's movements became faster, and her strength increased. It became increasingly difficult for Yamahiko to resist, and with a loud impact, he was sent flying.

"After Hiyori's Hollowfication, Yamahiko is no longer a match for her. How will Yamahiko choose—Hollowfication or Shikai release?"

Love Aikawa asked, regardless of the choice, Yamahiko could defeat Hiyori Sarugaki. However, Yamahiko's strength was now revealed, and whether he Hollowfies or releases his Shikai, he would be half a level stronger than the Hollowfied Hiyori.

However, if he were to simultaneously enter Shikai and Hollowfy, he would be one and a half levels stronger than Hiyori Sarugaki.

This was a simple conversion of abilities.

But what was the reality?

To fully unleash his power, how formidable would Yamahiko become? Previously, he was comparable in strength to Kenpachi Zaraki without his eyepatch. What about after Hollowfication?

On the battlefield, Hiyori Sarugaki swung her blade at Yamahiko. He gripped the hilt with both hands, lifting it diagonally to block Hiyori's strike in front of him.

Yamahiko's body sank as he barely withstood Hiyori's slashing attack.

In that moment, an electric arc extended along the blade and instantly reached Hiyori.

"What is this?" Shinji squinted his eyes.

Kisuke Urahara's eyes lit up as he said, "Hadō #11. Tsuzuri Raiden, without incantation."

[Hadō #11. Tsuzuri Raiden - img]

Lisa Yadōmaru added, "But low-level Hado has weak power, posing no threat to Hiyori in her Hollow state."

However, Urahara smiled and said, "Not true, because..."

Just as Lisa described, Hiyori's body only slightly hesitated and then resumed her attack.

But at that moment, explosions echoed around, and with a resounding blast, Hiyori Sarugaki was enveloped in a massive burst of flames.

Yamahiko's signature combination of Kidō attacks - Kyokkō, Shakkahō, and Fushibi.

Hiyori burst out of the explosion, and with the enhanced physical attributes of her Hollow state, she didn't suffer any significant injuries. However, the moment she emerged from the explosion, six beams of light bound her limbs in place.

Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō (Six Rods Prison of Light). [Image]

The non-incantation version of advanced Bakudō, while the easiest in terms of difficulty among advanced Bakudō, achieving this is already commendable.

This iteration of Rikujōkōrō (Six Rods Prison of Light) had a much greater power compared to the one that restrained Lamierez, but despite the increased potency, Hiyori's immense strength allowed her to break the rods with a few twists of her body.

"The restraint force is relatively weak, but there's still room for improvement."

Hachigen Ushōda nodded with a smile, his eyes showing a hint of admiration.

However, in the moment when Sarugaki Hiyori was immobilized, Yamahiko flashed forward, appearing in front of Hiyori with his Zanpakutō thrusting toward her face.

Hiyori's body was fixed, unable to react in time. But just as the blade was about to strike, she suddenly opened her mouth.

A red light shimmered inside her mouth, and in the next moment, a massive crimson beam shot towards Yamahiko, enveloping his figure.

[For ref. - img]

When the Cero dissipated, Hiyori landed slowly, exhaling heavily. The mask on her face gradually disappeared.

In the intense battle, her reiaryoku was heavily depleted and became challenging to sustain.

"He won't die, will he?"

Sarugaki Hiyori straightened her body, looking at the empty space and the fan-shaped grooves on the ground, furrowing her brow.

"No."

Kisuke Urahara spoke softly. Beside him, Yamahiko, wearing a Hollow mask, stood there.

Seeing this, Hiyori remarked, "You are indeed strong. Even in this state, I couldn't harm you. You didn't even need to use Shikai."

Yamahiko dispersed the mask and said softly, "But you did force me to use my Hollowfication."

Without Hollowfication, Yamahiko wouldn't be able to evade that Cero by increasing his speed. Judging by Sarugaki Hiyori's strength, he should be able to defeat her with Kidō and Shunpo, without the need for Hollowfication and Shikai, reaching the pinnacle of captain-level strength.

However, having to resort to Hollowfication disappointed Yamahiko. It suggested that he still had a long way to go to bridge the gap and match Aizen's level. Kisuke Urahara then inquired, "Is Aizen truly that formidable?"

Yamahiko nodded and said, "He can release high-level Kidō without an incantation, even the Hadō #90. Kurohitsugithe(Black Coffin), can instantly take down me in Shikai state with a single move. Not to mention, everyone present has also been hypnotized by his Zanpakutō."

Hearing Yamahiko's words, everyone's faces turned grim. Yamahiko's strength was already formidable, yet he could be taken down in an instant. Adding Aizen's Zanpakutō into the mix, they had no chance of winning even if they joined forces.

The reality was just that. In the battles that followed, Aizen single-handedly faced Shinigami and the Gotei 13, demonstrating a terrifyingly overwhelming strength.

Love Aikawa sighed and said, "Is he really that powerful?"

Yamahiko replied, "However, if I now control my Hollowfication, I should be able to endure for a while."

Yoruichi suddenly asked, "Kid, have you been hypnotized?"

Yamahiko shook his head and said, "No, I haven't seen his Kyōka Suigetsu."

Lisa Yadōmaru smiled and said, "Then, accept our special training to help you become even stronger."

Hachigen Ushōda stared at Yamahiko and said, "You have a talent for Kidō. I can teach you Kidō, including forbidden Kidō."

Love Aikawa chuckled and said, "We'll help you master Bankai."

Kensei Muguruma said, "I can accompany you during Hakuda training."

Yoruichi smiled and said, "I can teach you the complete version of Shunkō."

Urahara Kisuke looked at Yamahiko and said, "With this, you should have the strength to defeat Sōsuke Aizen, right?"

Forbidden Kidō, Bankai—though Yoruichi's Shunkō: Raijin Senkei may not be applicable, he needed to complete his own Fūjin Shunkō. In addition, the enhancements from the Hierro(steel skin) brought by the magnetic field and the improvements in the four abilities.

Perhaps he could really defeat Sōsuke Aizen?

Yamahiko's eyes lit up, seeing a glimmer of hope.

Love Aikawa laughed and said, "If it's not enough, I can lend you my manga; it's super funny."

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi said, "I can play music for you to help soothe your mind."

"Everyone."

Yamahiko felt touched. They were willing to help him become stronger, even though the goal was to deal with Aizen. Their willingness to share their knowledge and skills showed that they had accepted him.

But at this moment, a voice sounded, "If it's still not enough, I can lend you some books."

The speaker was Lisa Yadōmaru, looking at Yamahiko through the lenses of her glasses.

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi cleared his throat and said, "Let's forget about that."

Love Aikawa also said, "He's still a kid; don't corrupt him."

Books from Lisa Yadōmaru?

Maybe it's better to decline!

~End of the chapter~

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