Seireitei, 6th Division.
Whoosh!
Vast amounts of deep-blue chill surged through the 6th Division barracks. Two women faced off against each other. One, dressed in a Shihakusho, was none other than Kuchiki Rukia.
The other woman looked somewhat uncanny. She wore white, and her hair was as white as snow. Her beauty was breathtaking, but her entire being radiated a coldness like the depths of winter.
Even the drifting snow inside the 6th Division seemed nowhere near as cold as she was.
"Some no Mai: Tsukishiro."
Sode no Shirayuki's eyes flashed. She abruptly pointed the tip of her blade forward, and a blue-white circle appeared beneath Rukia. Boundless chill surged up from it!
Kuchiki Rukia knew the move all too well. The moment she sensed the blue-white circle beneath her feet, she felt danger closing in. She pushed off the ground and shot backward in a dark arc, while spiritual pressure gathered in her palm.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
As the incantation ended, her spiritual pressure formed a blazing-red cannonball. With a scorching roar, it shot straight at Sode no Shirayuki below.
Sode no Shirayuki's expression turned cold. She tapped the ground and darted backward. At the same time, she pointed her blade at empty space. Blue light burst forth, and she conjured frigid snow with a casual flick, sending it billowing out like a blizzard!
Boom!
The freezing storm collided with Shakkahō, and a violent shock wave erupted. The ice crystals, vaporized by the heat, gave off clouds of mist. But under that terrifying cold, Shakkahō ultimately became a frozen sculpture of flame.
The freezing storm continued to spread fiercely in every direction. Without pausing, it swept farther back and reached Rukia in an instant.
Rukia's expression changed dramatically. She held her Zanpakuto across her chest as spiritual pressure poured