Looking at Asano Kiyoshi, who was now on the brink of desperation, Tōsen Kaname furrowed his brow slightly. With some confusion, he turned to Aizen and asked:
"Lord Aizen, why are you paying so much attention to a student who hasn't even graduated yet? We're at a crucial stage of the current plan—if something like this gets discovered by the Twelfth Division, it could ruin everything. Moreover, Asano Kiyoshi seems to have some kind of connection with the Head Captain. Isn't this a bit too reckless...?"
But before Tōsen could finish, Aizen interrupted him. That scholarly face of his behind the glasses maintained its ever-gentle smile, and in his light brown eyes, the image of Asano Kiyoshi reflected clearly.
"That child's Zanpakutō is strange—unlike any other in the history of the Soul Society. Aren't you even a little curious about such a Zanpakutō? And haven't you noticed? His control over spirit particles... it's unusual."
Hearing Aizen's words, Gin Ichimaru narrowed his eyes and looked in Asano Kiyoshi's direction. Tōsen remained silent. He couldn't see—and he was glad he couldn't. His arm trembled slightly under the cloak, and a bitter smile crept to the corners of his lips as he muttered in his heart:
"Justice…?"
Forcing himself to stay calm in front of the two fallen and incapacitated enemies, Asano Kiyoshi bit his tongue hard. The intense pain kept his mind alert, while the strong metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. His palms, cold from tension, were bleeding from gripping the rough hilt of his blade too tightly. Scarlet blood ran down the sword and dripped to the ground.
Asano Kiyoshi drew his Zanpakutō. A dark spiritual pressure surged forth like an apocalyptic tidal wave from the dawn of time, turning everything around into a pure, untainted black.
A blood-red pavilion rose from the blackened ground. White bones twisted and encircled it—wailing, singing, worshipping—as they gathered around the boy. His clothing turned into a black-and-red traditional Chinese robe.
The dark spiritual pressure quickly engulfed the pig-masked Hollow. Aizen watched with growing interest, a slight smile playing at his lips. Gin's eyes, which rarely opened, suddenly widened—like starlight dancing in the Milky Way, filled with awe. But only for a moment. His face soon returned to its ever-present, indifferent grin.
Tōsen felt the spiritual pressure. Though shocked, he did not show it. He had never cared about the size of one's power—only whether their heart held justice.
Gin's voice, tinged with surprise, rang out:
"What terrifying talent. Only two months into the academy, and he's already mastered such a powerful Shikai. Lord Aizen, I'd say this test subject is probably going to die."
Aizen didn't look back. He just gave a calm smile and said:
"No matter. Mass-produced things are meant to measure the world's dimensions. It has already fulfilled its purpose."
The three of them floated high above, silently watching the battle between Asano Kiyoshi and the pig-masked Hollow.
At the Gate of Hell, surrounded by swirling scrolls, Asano Kiyoshi looked at the attacking Hollow with a face tinged with fear and madness. Raising his arm slightly, spirit particles coiled between his fingers as he chanted:
"Bakudō #21 – Sekienton (Red Smoke Escape)"
As his words fell, a thick red mist rose between him and the Hollow. The dense fog, brimming with chaotic spirit energy, obscured vision and disrupted the Hollow's spiritual perception. Within the mist, Asano Kiyoshi's voice echoed from all directions:
"Bakudō #30 – Shitotsu Sansen (Beak-Piercing Triple Beam)"
Three blinding flashes of light suddenly pierced through the fog. A whistling sound followed. Three beak-shaped beams of energy pinned the Hollow's neck, waist, and right ankle firmly to the ground.
The Hollow was slammed to the floor by the surprise attack and began thrashing violently. Its muscles slammed against the beams, causing visible cracks to appear.
Without pause, Asano Kiyoshi continued his assault:
"Destroy yourself, black hound of Rondanini! Leap forth and burn completely! Sever your own throat! Bakudō #9 – Hōrin!""This binding spell shares a chant with 'Strike,' but its power against individual targets is over twice as strong."
Yellow spirit particles rapidly assembled mid-air, then shot toward the Hollow like a venomous snake. The speed created sharp noises in the air.
The spirit rope coiled around the Hollow's other leg. With a tug from Kiyoshi, the Hollow—just as it was about to rise—was yanked back to the ground.
Seeing the creature fall once again, Kiyoshi didn't hesitate and chanted:
"Hadō #4 – Byakurai (White Lightning)!"
A pale blue light gathered at his fingertips, unstable and violently sparking. A blinding white beam shot through the red mist, striking just below the Hollow's hole, burning a scorched wound into its flesh.
With a howl of pain, the Hollow collapsed, motionless, seemingly dead. Yet Kiyoshi remained cautious. Emerging from the mist with his Zanpakutō in hand, he used Shunpo to appear before the Hollow, ready to deliver the killing blow.
But at that moment, the seemingly lifeless Hollow stirred again. Its muscles bulged, breaking free from the bindings of two kido spells. A massive hand swung toward Kiyoshi.
Facing the incoming attack, Kiyoshi didn't panic. He took a deep breath, a dark aura rising around him—precast before exiting the mist:
"Bakudō #8 – Seki (Repulse)!"
Even so, the tremendous force struck him hard, sending him flying. A cracking sound echoed—his defensive kido shattered under the impact, and he coughed up blood. Clearly, his internal organs had suffered serious damage.
Yet looking at the now-exposed Hollow, Kiyoshi smiled, wiped the blood from his lips, and shouted:
"Bakudō #26 – Kyokkō (Curved Light)! Hadō #31 – Shakkahō (Red Flame Cannon)!"
In the instant he finished chanting, a Red Flame Cannon cloaked in invisibility revealed its fanged face and exploded toward the wound left by his earlier attack.