Boom!
Crack, crack...
A powerful shockwave shot from "Ailin's" index finger, shattering the single horn on Hiyori Sarugaki's mask, then breaking the mask itself before striking her forehead and blasting her away.
"Hiyori!"
Hirako Shinji, who had been following close behind Hiyori Sarugaki, roared.
He had never expected that being just one step behind Hiyori would result in her being injured by that bastard.
Still, what somewhat reassured Hirako Shinji was that Hiyori's spiritual pressure had not weakened by much.
"Aizen!"
Gripping his Zanpakuto with both hands, Hirako Shinji slashed down at "Ailin."
Clang!
Sparks flew as a shockwave erupted from where "Ailin's" Zanpakuto collided with Hirako Shinji's.
"My, Captain Hirako. We haven't met in decades, yet the strength behind your blade has weakened."
Though "Ailin's" words sounded casual, they set off a storm in Hirako Shinji's heart.
Over the years, Hirako Shinji and the others had defeated the Hollows within them with Urahara Kisuke's help and mastered the power of Hollowfication, allowing their strength to increase greatly while Hollowfied.
However, among the eight of them, aside from the carefree and thoughtless Hiyori Sarugaki, who enjoyed such power, the other seven all harbored fear toward the Hollows within them.
Amid that fear, they had gradually begun to fear battle itself.
Under normal circumstances, this would not show.
But whenever they faced combat, the fear would surface in their hearts—fear that they might be devoured by the Hollow within them during battle.
Under such circumstances, they would unconsciously use part of their strength to suppress the Hollow within them. Outwardly, this manifested as a drastic drop in their power.
"Could it be that I've grown so much stronger over these decades that Captain Hirako's strength now feels weaker to me?"
"Damn it!"
Seeing the dead-serious look in "Ailin's" eyes, Hirako Shinji