Just as Hirako Shinji and the others were momentarily stunned, the giant Hollow approached.
At that moment, they finally saw the Hollow's appearance.
Everyone was stunned again.
Even though its size had increased several times, even though white, bony armor had grown on its arms, and its face was completely covered by a white, square bony mask.
But Hirako Shinji, Hōjō Tōjūrō, Aikawa Rōjūrō, and Yachiru Kusajishi still recognized the Hollow before them.
"It's Kensei?!"
"But this Reiatsu...this mask...it's clearly a Hollow!"
"Is that really Kensei?"
The expressions of the few people instantly froze, their faces filled with disbelief.
Although they didn't want to believe that the Hollow was Kensei, the white captain's haori and the two black "69" numbers on his chest and abdomen already revealed his identity.
"Whether it's Kensei or not, we must draw our swords!" Hirako Shinji gripped the Zanpaku-tō in his hands.
The Hollow resembling Kensei also erupted with terrifying Reiatsu.
Battle was imminent.
Seemingly remembering something, Yushima Ririchiyo warned loudly, "Be careful, Hirako, the current Kensei is very strange..."
After the battle began, Hirako Shinji understood what Yushima Ririchiyo meant.
While Kensei could not use his Zanpaku-tō now and had no rationality, his bony armor had astounding defense, and his strength was immensely powerful; a single punch delivered astonishing destructive power.
Facing a former comrade with whom he had a good relationship, Hirako Shinji was also unwilling to go all out.
Therefore, he was hesitant and restrained during the battle.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Aikawa Rōjūrō and Hōjō Tōjūrō also stepped forward to help.
The three captains combined their efforts, but they could only barely hold back the rampaging Kensei.
Then, at that moment, Kunanba, who had disappeared for a long time, came out from the side.
At that moment, Kunanba's legs, like Kensei's, were covered in white bony armor, and his face was also covered by a black and white mantis mask.
His Reiatsu had become incredibly violent and incredibly powerful, it was definitely not the Reiatsu a vice-captain should possess.
The group of Shinigami were once again surprised.
After the shock, Yachiru Kusajishi also drew her sword to help.
Yushima Ririchiyo, having suffered severe injuries, was already lying on the ground, unable to move.
Thus, the four Shinigami fought against Kunanba and Kuchiki Kensei, who looked no different from Hollows.
However, despite being four against two, it was the Shinigami side that was gradually falling into a disadvantage.
Fortunately, at this time, the vice-captain of the Onmitsukidō, Yushima Ririchiyo, finally arrived.
After a fierce battle, everyone assisted him in using the ninety-ninth forbidden technique, "Bakudō," to finally trap Kunanba and Kuchiki Kensei.
However, after the great battle, Hirako Shinji and the others were all covered in wounds.
No one noticed that Yushima Ririchiyo's condition was unusual at this time.
Her consciousness became increasingly blurry, increasingly chaotic.
After surpassing a certain limit, Yushima Ririchiyo suddenly erupted with a violent, cold Reiatsu, a hideous black and white mask concealing her face.
Her rationality was also concealed along with it.
Facing Yushima Ririchiyo's sudden change, Hirako Shinji, who had the best relationship with her, exclaimed in shock:
"Ririchiyo?!"
Hōjō Tōjūrō, Aikawa Rōjūrō, and Yachiru Kusajishi also looked at Yushima Ririchiyo, who seemed to have become a Hollow, with faces full of shock.
However, at this moment, the curtain-like darkness fell.
In an instant, the four Shinigami and Yushima Ririchiyo's hearing, sight, smell, and even spiritual perception were all lost!
...
"What the hell is going on?! Hirako, Rōjūrō, Lisa!" Surrounded by endless darkness, Aikawa Rōjūrō gripped his Zanpaku-tō tightly, desperately calling out the names of his comrades, but no sound came out.
His surroundings were chaotic...no light, no sound, nothing.
Cold sweat soaked through Aikawa Rōjūrō's already exhausted body.
At that moment, a sharp pain came.
By the time Aikawa Rōjūrō reacted, a cold blade had already pierced his chest, blood gushing out.
The darkness receded, and Aikawa Rōjūrō lay down weakly on the ground.
Beside him, Hirako Shinji, Hōjō Tōjūrō, and Yachiru Kusajishi were all spared, all lying on the ground, seriously injured.
At this moment, the faces of the four Shinigami were filled with shock and despair.
In the broken space, Uehara Shirayuki opened another bag of homemade potato chips.
At this moment, only the fifth division captain, Hirako Shinji, could barely maintain consciousness.
He struggled to look up.
When he saw the appearance of the person who had attacked, Hirako Shinji's pupils constricted, once again falling into shock.
The man in front of him was wearing a white, plain mask, and the blade in his hand was continuously dripping with blood.
More importantly, this person was wearing the ninth division's uniform.
After the shock, Hirako Shinji roared angrily, "Tōsen Kaname! It was you who attacked Kensei! Why, why did you do this? Why did you betray us?!"
"He did not betray, Kaname, has always been my man." At that moment, a gentle voice came from behind Hirako Shinji.
The moment he heard this voice, the fallen Hirako Shinji's body trembled, and he turned his head to look.
Then, he saw the man he had been wary of for a long time - Aizen Sōsuke!
Behind Aizen, standing prominently, was Gin Ichimaru with a smile on his face.
After Aizen appeared, Tōsen Kaname also bowed respectfully to Aizen, "Aizen-sama!"
...
At the same time, in space, Uehara Shirayuki was also invigorated.
The main players have arrived, time to get to work!
...
Facing Aizen, who had suddenly appeared, Hirako Shinji gritted his teeth, his face full of anger, "I knew you were suspicious, which is why I kept you by my side and kept an eye on you!"
Aizen, with the fifth division vice-captain's badge on his right arm, looked at his own miserable captain with calm eyes, and said softly, "Then, when did you begin to know?"
"Since you were in your mother's belly!" Hirako Shinji laughed disdainfully.
Aizen didn't show any anger, remaining very polite, "I see, you are indeed a very perceptive person, but unfortunately, you didn't notice that it wasn't me who had been following you for the past month?"
"That's impossible?" Hirako Shinji's pupils rapidly contracted, and an abnormal energy within his body also became active.
At this time, Uehara Shirayuki, in his Hollowfied state, had already arrived at a hidden location, quietly observing the scene, while also adding a few more Kidō to conceal his Reiatsu and presence within the space.
On the other side, Aizen, after introducing his ability, Kyōka Suigetsu, deliberately provoked Hirako Shinji.
Hirako Shinji was filled with anger, but then he discovered that a lot of white, foreign matter was flowing from his mouth, solidifying into half a hollowed Hollow mask.
At the same time, Aikawa Rōjūrō, Hōjō Tōjūrō, Yushima Ririchiyo, Yachiru Kusajishi, and Yushima Ririchiyo, who had fainted on the ground, also let out painful screams.
They underwent the same transformation as Kensei and Kunanba.
At this moment, Hirako Shinji realized that they were merely experimental subjects for Aizen.
After recording some experimental data, Aizen drew his Zanpaku-tō, looked down at Hirako Shinji, who was kneeling on the ground, and calmly said:
"It seems that the time for Hollowfication is not only related to emotions, but also varies from person to person.
Thank you for your participation, you have provided me with a lot of useful data.
As an experimental subject, you are very useful.
But now, you are no longer useful, so I apologize..."