Hitsugaya wasn't going to take any unnecessary risks on this. He didn't often resort to so strong a measure here, but this was no time to concern himself with holding back so much.

"Bankai. Daiguren Hyourinmaru."

The surrounding temperature dropped considerably, and in a gust of cold air, the icy wings, tail, and claws formed around his body. Instinctively, he folded one of the wings in front of him as a shield, just in time for it to take the brunt of the scythe's assault. The ice shuddered, but held.

And he knew that Frau had an extreme weakness to the cold, but whether this new form shared it, he could not be certain. He would be prepared either way.

"So this is what happens when you lose control of it."

It was an observation, not a question. Questions would be useless now; Frau was obviously too far gone for that.