The blade-like petals, swirling through the air like falling cherry blossoms, surged toward Byakuya Kuchiki once more.
Unable to dodge in midair, Byakuya was struck again.
At the sight, the Kuchiki Clan servants felt their hearts sink.
In their eyes, Senbonzakura was an unblockable Zanpakuto. Not even their own clan head could deal with it.
Renji Abarai now understood just how dangerous those beautiful, beguiling petals were.
Rukia knew Gilgamesh was standing up for her. Watching the battle before her, she felt a warmth in her heart, and the sorrow that had sunk deep into her soul eased a little.
Only Yoruichi Shihouin, nestled in Rukia's arms, narrowed her eyes slightly at the sight of Byakuya being struck. "That's..."
Before anyone could react, Byakuya appeared beside Gilgamesh, his Captain's Haori gone. He raised a hand toward Gilgamesh and, without an incantation, called out, "Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!"
Six beams of light suddenly appeared and shot toward Gilgamesh, restraining him from six directions.
But it wasn't over. Gilgamesh's hands were still free.
Byakuya wasn't about to give him a chance. Keeping his raised hand aloft, he again cast without an incantation. "Bakudō #4: Hainawa."
At his words, a yellow cord of Reishi shot straight toward Gilgamesh and bound his hands.
Only after doing all this did Byakuya leisurely start walking toward him.
The others hadn't even had time to react. They couldn't understand how Byakuya, despite being struck by Senbonzakura, had suddenly appeared somewhere else.
And he had no new wounds. Clearly, Senbonzakura hadn't hit him.
What had happened?
They were baffled.
But Yoruichi understood.
Byakuya had just used an advanced Flash Step technique: the secret movement art Shunko's third form, Utsusemi.
It worked by moving so quickly that a visual afterimage made the enemy think they had been struck, when in