"It's over, Rukia Kuchiki!"
Grimmjow, now in Resurrección, looked like the panther king of old. His severed Zanpakuto was gone, replaced by sharp claws.
For Hollows, a broken Zanpakuto was not a fatal injury. They could reabsorb it into their bodies, unlike Shinigami, for whom a destroyed Bankai was catastrophic.
Grimmjow saw Rukia close her eyes, and attacked!
"You dodged the previous two times, but this time... this is your end!"
He tore through the air—in an instant, he was before Rukia.
So fast!
Rukia, eyes closed, sensed his power and swung her sword to block, but she was a step too slow. Grimmjow dodged Sode no Shirayuki and delivered a fierce kick, sending her flying.
Rukia rolled across the ground. As she tried to stand, Grimmjow attacked.
"Panther Hook!"
Emerald green projectiles shot from his claws, like bone-like hidden weapons. Rukia dodged, but one pierced her abdomen.
"Ugh!"
She spat blood—a hole drilled through her. No blood flowed, since her insides were frozen by Absolute Zero, but the strike nearly scattered her reishi.
Her suspended animation state was almost broken. If she lost it, she'd be the first to be consumed by Absolute Zero.
Grimmjow pressed the attack, giving her no chance to breathe. Another slash left a deep scratch on her body—her Hollow Mask barely saved her face.
At that moment, Rukia let out a massive roar.
Her eyes turned blood-red, bull horns appeared on her head, and white substance surged from her body. She erupted with new, powerful strength.
Even Grimmjow was shocked.
"What is that? How do I not know... Shinigami have this kind of ability?"
In the blink of an eye, Rukia was enveloped in a bull-headed shell. She gripped Sode no Shirayuki.
"Don't just say you. Even I am using this for the first time. But I knew I could do it!"
She realized—this wasn't a parasite Hollow at all. This was the Hollow White from back then. The parasite Hollow was a fake.
Now, she had to find out why the Bull-Head Hollow entered her body, and only Yoshio could answer that.
She had to see him! No one could stop her!
If using Hollow powers could get her there, she wouldn't hesitate.
Grimmjow wasn't impressed.
"Don't get cocky just because you've gotten stronger!"
"Panther King's Claw!"
He extended both hands, reishi forming blue light marks.
A panther and a bull clashed—Grimmjow pierced Rukia's chest, tearing a huge gash in her.
Intense pain exploded through her. Rukia gritted her teeth and counterattacked, slashing off Grimmjow's arm.
Both were in agony, but neither would quit. Grimmjow lunged, biting off a piece of Rukia's shoulder; Rukia gripped his arm and flung him away.
Grimmjow crashed into a distant building.
Rukia began to condense a Cero on her bull horns, chanting more words.
"Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens! Hado 73: Sōren Sōkatsui!"
Boom!
The Cero and Kido fused, forming an even more terrifying blast.
From the ruins, Grimmjow wasn't finished. He unleashed another Gran Rey Cero.
The two attacks collided, devastating the area, shattering ground and buildings. At first, they were evenly matched, but Rukia's power soon overwhelmed Grimmjow.
Her energy engulfed his body, just as he had engulfed hers before.
Boom!
A massive explosion. The reishi rippled outward, sensed even by Ichigo far off.
When the smoke cleared, Rukia stood over the heavily scarred Grimmjow.
Cero and Kido—neither were good for killing. Grimmjow was still alive, but could barely stand.
"You..." Grimmjow gasped. "You..."
"It's over, Grimmjow," Rukia said softly, raising Sode no Shirayuki.
"Don't think it's that simple!"
Grimmjow launched his final charge. Even with one arm, barely able to stand, he attacked like a desperate panther.
But will alone could not create miracles.
Rukia slashed down, leaving a deep wound—Grimmjow fell, his last claw just brushing her geta.
"...Pfft!"
As Grimmjow collapsed, Rukia knelt down as well. The bull-head shell faded, her cells reactivated, and all the wounds from Absolute Zero reappeared at once.
Blood gushed from her chest, staining her uniform crimson. She pressed one hand to the ground.
I cannot... fall!
She gritted her teeth, forcing herself up.
Suddenly, another pair of small feet appeared before her.
Before she could react, a familiar voice said:
"This is as far as you go."
Rukia looked up—it was Lilynette, the three-digit Arrancar who had appeared in the Death Tower.
Had she come too?
Rukia's breathing quickened. Was this the end?
"Rest for a bit," Lilynette said softly, placing a hand on Rukia's forehead.
Rukia's pupils dilated. In the next moment, reishi surged through her brain.
She lost consciousness and fell to the ground.
"...You showed mercy."
Another man appeared beside Lilynette—not Starrk, but the Seventh Espada, Zommari.
He looked at Rukia.
"Showing mercy to enemies is not a good habit."
"Why are you here?" Lilynette asked.
"That question is flawed. Las Noches is Espada territory; I can appear here. You, as a three-digit, should not."
"So you're here to claim the spoils of others?"
"People in this world are destined to slaughter each other. It is truly painful," Zommari intoned, raising his sword over Rukia.
Lilynette watched, but didn't interfere.
Suddenly, someone grabbed Zommari's hand.
"I don't recall killing Hollows being a painful thing for Shinigami," a new voice said.
A man appeared—Captain Kuchiki Byakuya of the Sixth Division. On the other side, Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya of the Thirteenth Division emerged from a Garganta, standing before Lilynette.
More figures followed—not just Shinigami, but Quincy as well.
Members of the Sternritter!