At that moment—
while Gin Ichimaru was still hesitating about whether to gamble on this once-in-a-lifetime chance and assassinate Aizen inside the Dark Travel Technique barrier—
the real drama unfolded below.
At the very center of the darkness.
As the caster of the technique, Bai Chen's vision remained unaffected.
Moving calmly through the darkness, he approached Hollow White.
Then—
he raised his arm.
His blade flashed.
The Flame-Extinguishing Fan swung down with brutal force.
"Slash!"
A Reiatsu-wrapped strike tore through the thick black armor on White's chest, leaving behind a massive blood-stained gash.
Blood burst outward instantly.
Even though White's five senses were suppressed, the pain still triggered the creature's primal instincts.
"ROOOOOAAARRR!!!"
The furious roar shook the entire darkness.
Driven purely by instinct and killing intent, the special Vasto Lorde raised its arm blade and unleashed a terrifying slash toward Bai Chen.
A blade of power capable of tearing the sky apart.
But—
White didn't realize something important.
This was exactly what Bai Chen wanted.
From the moment Bai Chen attacked, he had deliberately adjusted his position.
Behind him—
was Tōsen Kaname.
Which meant—
as long as Bai Chen simply dodged—
the terrifying slash aimed at him would instead strike Tōsen.
Bai Chen sneered.
"In a world where the five senses are sealed…"
"Tōsen has no chance of reacting."
"Even if he instinctively tries to defend…"
"He'll still be heavily injured."
And then—
just as the massive slash filled his vision—
Bai Chen moved.
"Flash Step."
Because he controlled the battlefield completely, dodging was effortless.
His figure vanished instantly.
The attack that had been aimed at him now continued along its original path—
straight toward the unaware Tōsen Kaname.
The Moment of Impact
Inside the massive darkness barrier, everything unfolded exactly according to Bai Chen's script.
The climax had arrived.
"Time to expose yourself forever."
"You won't get to hide like a rat anymore."
Bai Chen stood calmly, watching.
The enraged strike from Hollow White slammed directly into Tōsen.
"BOOM!!!"
Reiatsu exploded.
The slash detonated violently.
The air itself was torn apart by the impact.
Only Bai Chen could clearly perceive everything happening in the darkness.
And just as he had predicted—
Tōsen sensed danger at the last second through pure instinct.
He raised Suzumushi to block.
But the time was far too short.
And Hollow White's power was far too great.
"CRASH!"
The defensive stance shattered instantly.
The shockwave tore through Tōsen's clothing.
His Shihakushō and captain's haori were ripped to pieces.
Deep blood-red cuts spread across his body.
Within seconds—
Tōsen was drenched in blood.
But the worst damage was yet to come.
From the torn sleeve of his uniform—
a horrifying sight emerged.
Half of his arm—
was gone.
Completely shredded by the slash.
Even though he had tried to defend—
the power difference was too great.
In the darkness, unable to perceive the attack—
Tōsen had lost an entire arm.
The Traitor Revealed
"My arm…!!!"
"AAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Tōsen screamed in agony.
The pain twisted his face into a grotesque expression.
The black cloth covering his eyes burst apart.
His pale face was completely exposed.
But in his pain—
he didn't notice something crucial.
The black cloak that had concealed his identity had been destroyed.
His presence—
his face—
his identity—
were now fully exposed.
And Bai Chen wasn't finished yet.
At that exact moment—
he cancelled the Dark Travel Technique.
The enormous darkness barrier began shrinking rapidly.
Then—
it disappeared.
Light returned to the sky above Karakura Town.
And the first thing everyone heard—
was Tōsen's agonized scream.
Every gaze instantly turned toward him.
And what they saw shocked them all.
Tōsen Kaname—
standing in midair—
covered in blood—
with one arm severed.
For a moment—
everyone froze.
Aizen.
Gin.
Isshin.
Even the nearby Soul Reapers.
No one had expected such a scene.
The traitor—
had been dragged into the light.
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