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Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!—
Sharp sounds echoed throughout the Seireitei's Squad barracks.
"Emergency alert! Emergency alert!"
"A Ryoka has appeared within the Seireitei and has now invaded the 7th District, attempting to attack Central 46. All Squads are requested to proceed immediately to provide support."
"Ryoka identity confirmed as Ishikawa Katori, a resident of West Rukongai, 38th District!"
"Repeat…"
"…"
The loud and urgent alarm caused everyone's expressions to change drastically.
"Ishikawa attacked Central 46?"
"The Ishikawa in the alert, it couldn't be Ishikawa from the Everything Store on Commercial Street, could it?"
"Who else could it be?!"
"…"
Fourth Division, Comprehensive Relief Station.
All the Fourth Squad Members gathered in the hall, their faces filled with tension, confusion, and worry.
Mr. Ishikawa attacked Central 46?
How is that possible!?
Just then, a commotion arose from the back of the crowd. The gathered Squad Members scattered to both sides, clearing a path.
Unohana Retsu and Kotetsu Isane emerged from the rear.
"Captain…"
"Come with me first."
Unohana Retsu interrupted Isane, turning to the Squad Members behind her. "Isane and I will proceed to the 7th District first. Third Seat Iemura, you are responsible for assembling all senior relief teams. Once assembled, lead them immediately to the 7th District to treat the injured."
"Yes."
…
On the street, countless figures moved swiftly between buildings.
At the very front, Soi Fon looked into the distance with a dark expression. After glancing back at the Onmitsukido behind her, she suddenly vanished from the front of the group.
What in the world is that scoundrel doing!?
Attacking Central 46, has he gone mad?
Soi Fon suddenly regretted not keeping a closer eye on that scoundrel during this time. However, there was one thing Soi Fon didn't quite understand: why did he notify her before the attack?
Looking at Soi Fon's disappearing back, Ōmaeda's expression was somewhat grim. To be honest, even though the news of 'Ishikawa attacking the Central 46' came directly from Captain Soi Fon, he still found it hard to believe.
Because he understood Ishikawa well; although he was a lunatic, he knew very clearly what should be done and what shouldn't.
Moreover, Ōmaeda suddenly remembered something he had said to Ishikawa a long time ago.
("Anyway, I've been a Shinigami for so many years, and I've never encountered a Level 1 alert state.")
At this thought, Ōmaeda's plump face couldn't help but twitch. He also fully activated Shunpo, shaking off the Onmitsukido behind him.
That bastard.
At the same time, Eleventh Division barracks.
"Wahahahahaha—"
Accompanied by maniacal laughter, a golden Reiatsu, almost solid, shot into the sky. Zaraki gazed excitedly at the equally soaring pillar of Reiatsu in the distance, then charged without hesitation in that direction.
However, as he left the Eleventh Division, a small pink-haired girl, as if long awaiting him, dropped from above and latched onto his back!
"Ken-chan, that's Katori-chan's Reiatsu."
"It's his, and it's much stronger than when he fought me last time. I don't know what he's doing, but if he's a Ryoka, then we can fight to our heart's content, right?"
"Ken-chan, it's this way, you're going the wrong way."
"…"
…
7th District.
Rumble—
Thunder rumbled as Ishikawa, enveloped in lightning, streaked like a bolt of electricity over the buildings of the 7th District.
Behind him, Nayura, strapped into a carrier, was surrounded by a faint glow. It was a barrier that automatically activated at such extreme speed, protecting her from the surrounding pressure.
Ishikawa's speed was simply too fast. Although there were many patrolling Shinigami on the streets, he would often disappear from their sight before they could even react.
And just as Ishikawa reached the latter half of the 7th District, the surrounding space suddenly became incredibly heavy.
The next second~
"Bankai: Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
Buzz—
The void trembled, and a giant figure appeared in Ishikawa's path.
This figure was a hundred-meter-tall giant black armored samurai, with his face below the eyes covered by a red cloth mask. Heavy armor covered his entire body, bound to his back by thick black ropes, and in his hand, he wielded a giant Zanpakuto several tens of meters long.
Ishikawa's brow furrowed slightly at the sight. His detection circuits immediately activated to their fullest, and his gaze instantly locked onto the lower left of the black-armored giant.
A figure wearing a wooden bucket-shaped mask stood atop a tall tower.
Although his expression couldn't be seen through the mask, the faintly discernible killing intent around him was firmly locked onto Ishikawa.
"The mischief ends here!"
A cold and steady voice, not loud, but clearly audible to Ishikawa, said, "Surrender now, and I can spare your life, handing you over to Commander Yamamoto for judgment."
Ishikawa did not reply. As he landed, he pushed off a building with force, and with a 'boom' of explosion, his speed surged once more!
Time was limited!
He absolutely could not stop here. Once he was held up by Komamura Sajin, Ishikawa would soon be surrounded, let alone reaching Central 46.
Seeing this, Komamura Sajin snorted coldly, then stepped forward, gripping his sword with both hands, and slashed horizontally.
Almost at the same moment he made this move…
Boom!
The hundred-meter giant took a step forward. The moment his foot landed, a visible shockwave swept outwards. As the shockwave spread, the buildings around his foot trembled and then collapsed with a roar.
The astonishing sight made a hint of solemnity flash in Ishikawa's eyes.
He realized he had underestimated his opponent. The power exerted by just this one step was already immensely powerful, and the ferocity of his subsequent attacks was already evident.
A fierce wind howled, and the several-tens-of-meters-long giant blade slashed horizontally.
Wherever it passed, it swept the air, causing the space to roar with a rumbling sound.
It was as if even space itself could not withstand the force within this single slash. The massive blade looked like a huge meteor, hurtling straight towards Ishikawa.
Ishikawa's eyes narrowed sharply, but there was no fear in them. Instead, a strong fighting spirit erupted at this moment.
In terms of Reiatsu alone, he naturally wouldn't dare to take this blow head-on!
But…
The current Ishikawa, in addition to the power augmented by Reiatsu, also possessed pure physical strength.
The power, defense, and self-healing ability brought by his top-tier physique allowed him to unleash extremely strong destructive power even without using Reiatsu!
Clang—!
As the black cloth bag shattered into countless pieces, the long blade was drawn.
The 1.6-meter long blade was held horizontally at Ishikawa's side with a reverse grip. Reiatsu and an eerie chill intertwined, surged, and emitted an incredibly sharp and terrifying aura.
Facing the giant's slash, Ishikawa surprisingly did not dodge. Instead, he pushed off the top of the building and charged out fiercely, transforming into a long rainbow that went straight towards the incoming slash.
He wanted to see just how strong Komamura Sajin's Bankai attack truly was!
Although he didn't have the same reckless love for fighting as Zaraki, it was undeniable that…
If he didn't restrain himself at all, Ishikawa was actually not much different from Zaraki!
Both his body and mind, as well as his soul, yearned for that kind of exhilaration, stimulation, madness… and the sense of impending death.
This scene was like the collision of a bright moon and a firefly.
Two completely mismatched figures simultaneously attacked each other, causing the Seventh Squad, who were watching this battle, to show expressions of fear mixed with shock, and they involuntarily stopped in their tracks.
At the front of the Squad, Izaemon Sho looked solemnly at the tiny figure charging towards the giant;
Although he had never met Ishikawa, he was not unfamiliar with him. When sparring with Ikkaku Madarame, he would often hear Ishikawa's name and knew that Ishikawa had once fought with Zaraki.
But no matter how vividly Ikkaku Madarame described it, it was far less shocking than the scene before his eyes.
The Reiatsu that made one's spirit tremble, the fearless expression, and the figure that charged forward without hesitation…
Everything seemed to illustrate his strength, to illustrate his fearlessness!!
He was far stronger than Ikkaku had described.
But Izaemon still didn't believe that Ishikawa could directly withstand Captain Komamura's slash!
Under his unblinking gaze, Ishikawa's figure, transformed into a long rainbow, suddenly collided with the massive blade.
Booming sounds erupted, instantly echoing throughout the 7th District and reverberating continuously in the sky above.
In this roar, Ishikawa felt as if a mountain had been slammed down on his head.
His palms, elbows, muscles, and even his internal organs…
All at that instant, emitted the sound of unbearable shattering, as if his entire being was being torn apart from all directions by countless hands.
Blood turned into a bloody mist, drifting in the void around Ishikawa.
Clang—
The spreading impact swept downwards.
Even with the two blades colliding in mid-air, when the spreading impact landed, it still caused the ground to crack, and houses were uprooted as if in a storm. Before they could even be swept away, they were torn into fragments by the rampant impact, and dust rose everywhere!
The next second.
Ishikawa, who had collided with the giant blade in mid-air, was sent flying backward.
This scene was not surprising.
Because anyone who saw the scene of their clash would not believe that the insect-like figure could win!
But…
Everyone who witnessed this battle, however, couldn't help but show expressions of disbelief.
Because, at the same time Ishikawa was sent flying.
The hundreds-of-meters-tall giant, enveloped in terrifying Reiatsu, its massive Zanpakuto, after a tremor, was actually bounced back forcefully;
And its even larger body took more than ten steps backward, each step causing the ground to tremble!!
"Repelled!?
How is this possible?
At the same time, Komamura Sajin, on top of the building, let out a muffled groan as the immense impact shattered the bucket-shaped mask on his head, revealing his true wolf-like face beneath.
Pfft~
He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and suddenly looked up, a look of shock in his eyes.
Without Shikai or Bankai, he was actually able to force him back and even inflict some damage.
This young man, whom he had only met once, was far stronger than he had imagined.
However, like Zaraki, he lacked reason and only knew how to blindly pursue excitement.
Perhaps that was why he committed such a crime!
Komamura Sajin gazed coldly in the direction Ishikawa had flown, then snorted and lightly swung his Zanpakuto.
But just as he was about to sheath his sword…
Crackling—
Thunder roared, and a pillar of light, a mixture of lightning and Reiatsu, shot into the sky.
This scene made Komamura Sajin's pupils constrict.
How could this be!!
Looking at the blood-soaked figure that once again rushed out from within the lightning, Komamura Sajin's eyes filled with disbelief.
He was certain that his previous attack, even if it hadn't killed him, would have been enough to severely injure the young man. Yet, in less than half a minute, he was once again charging towards Tenken Myo'o!
Moreover, judging by his state when he reappeared, it was as if he hadn't sustained any damage.
Though immense shock filled his heart, Komamura Sajin's hand reacted without the slightest delay. Almost the instant Ishikawa reappeared, he raised his Zanpakuto above his head.
Buzz!!
Amidst a heavy roar, a giant blade, dozens of meters long, descended like Mount Tai pressing down, smashing directly towards Ishikawa, who had just shot into the sky.
Boom—
The next second, Ishikawa, within the lightning, was firmly pressed down by the giant blade, crashing violently towards the ground.
"Why bother."
Komamura Sajin shook his head at the sight. Closely connected to Tenken Myo'o, he felt no obstruction in this attack.
This indicated that when Ishikawa rushed up again just now, he must have been at the end of his rope, simply unwilling to admit defeat!
"Hado #90…"
And just then, a faint incantation sounded without warning.
This voice instantly tensed Komamura Sajin's nerves, and its words shocked his mind.
Hado #90?
"Kurohitsugi!"
Darkness descended, and the air instantly became incredibly heavy, even showing visible pressure patterns. A powerful Reiatsu storm erupted from all directions, pinning Komamura Sajin in place.
Komamura Sajin looked incredulously at the distant void. Ishikawa, carrying Nayura on his back, had appeared in mid-air at some point, and only his inner garments remained, his black work jacket having disappeared at some point.
This made Komamura Sajin subconsciously glance at where Tenken Myo'o's blade had struck.
Before he could figure out how Ishikawa had dodged his attack, his vision was already enveloped by darkness.
Pitch-black coffins, like iron walls, surrounded him from all directions.
Humming——
Where Kurohitsugi stood, space distorted frantically, revealing streaks of dark patterns, as if even the midday sun was being devoured and distorted by it.
"Captain Komamura!!"
Cries of alarm erupted. The sudden turn of events left the Seventh Squad Members, who had been preparing to collect Ishikawa's body, completely stunned.
It was no wonder they reacted this way.
Hado #90, without incantation…
Just this alone was enough to shake the entire Seireitei, and most importantly…
The person who achieved this wasn't even a Shinigami!!
In mid-air, Ishikawa looked at Kurohitsugi, his expression still calm.
No matter how similar his essence was to Zaraki, he was not Zaraki.
Although that pure head-on collision excited him immensely, in a purely head-on confrontation, he could hardly defeat Komamura Sajin's Tenken Myo'o.
Moreover, now was not the best time to enjoy a battle; what he needed was a quick victory!!
"Ahhhhhh ah—"
A roar, mixed with anger and pain, emanated from Kurohitsugi.
Crack, crack, crack—
Almost simultaneously with the roar, cracks appeared on Kurohitsugi's surface.
Ishikawa saw this and was not surprised. A mere intermediate Kurohitsugi, and one cast without incantation, could probably only unleash a quarter of its intermediate power. It was impossible for it to incapacitate a Captain.
However, he hadn't intended to end the battle with this attack!
Bang, bang, bang!!
Explosions echoed from Kurohitsugi, and fragments fell away, revealing the blood-soaked Komamura Sajin within. As he destroyed Kurohitsugi, his eyes were fixed on Ishikawa, filled with irritation but also profound shock.
In truth, he only looked disheveled; Ishikawa's Kurohitsugi had not caused him any fundamental harm.
But…
Just the fact that Kurohitsugi was released without incantation was enough to make him feel incredulous, not to mention… this Kurohitsugi could actually harm him!
However, the next second, his expression changed drastically.
Looking ahead, Ishikawa, who had landed on a tall tower, suddenly plunged his Zanpakuto into the top of the tower, then clasped his hands together in front of him!
"Bakudo #75: Gochūtekkan!"
Boom—
As Reiatsu shot into the sky, five massive iron pillars instantly appeared above Komamura Sajin.
Komamura Sajin gritted his teeth at the sight, rotated his Zanpakuto, and was about to control Tenken Myo'o to attack Ishikawa in mid-air.
However…
"Bakudō #63. Sajō Sabaku."
Chains as thick as pythons appeared out of thin air, tightly coiling around Komamura Sajin, rendering him completely immobile.
Komamura Sajin's Bankai was indeed powerful, but its weakness was also extremely obvious.
Its mobility was severely lacking, and as long as the main body was restrained, Tenken Myo'o itself would be unable to move.
Boom—
Reiatsu surged from Komamura Sajin's body, causing the chains around him to rattle. Dense cracks appeared on the chain's surface, and it disintegrated in an instant.
However…
"Bakudo No. 61: Rikujokoro."
"Bakudo #62: Hyapporankan."
"Bakudo #79: Kuyō Shibari."
Ishikawa pressed his right hand downwards, and light fragments, light pillars, and pitch-black spheres shot out simultaneously.
Almost as soon as the chains disintegrated, they fell upon Komamura Sajin, giving him no chance to evade with Shunpo!
Frustration—!!
An indescribable frustration made Komamura Sajin's eyes turn red as he glared fiercely at Ishikawa on the distant tall tower.
The next second.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!
The ground shook as the five massive iron pillars finally crashed down, striking Komamura Sajin's chest and limbs, pinning him in a spread-eagle position.
The iron pillars were connected by chains, constantly absorbing surrounding Reiatsu to strengthen the binding force of the five pillars!
Ishikawa stood atop the tall tower, raising his hand to block at his ear.
"Bakudo #8: Seki!"
Clang!!
With a crisp sound, a Zanpakuto with a concave tip and a protrusion on its blade struck Ishikawa's hand.
Izaemon Sho's face sank. The moment his Zanpakuto bounced back, he distorted and turned, his blade moving with his body, swinging his Zanpakuto like a windmill and striking horizontally.
However…
The next second, he felt a sharp pain in his face.
A hand incredibly accurately clamped onto his face. Before he could understand what was happening, he felt an immensely powerful force emanate, and Ishikawa's slightly apologetic voice reached his ears.
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry."
Bang!!
In the others' view, Izaemon Sho rushed to Ishikawa's side, and after delivering one strike, he was slapped away.
His figure pierced through several buildings, disappearing from everyone's sight.
And Ishikawa, from beginning to end, never took his eyes off Komamura Sajin.
"Bakudo #81: Danku!"
A soft incantation emerged as Ishikawa pressed his hands down, and six transparent barriers appeared around Komamura Sajin.
Pseudo-Chant!
The six transparent barriers were not to defend against Komamura Sajin, but to prevent external attacks from breaking his Bakudo suppression.
After completing all this, Ishikawa stepped forward. The moment his foot landed, his figure once again shot towards the Central 46.
Time was running out.
Ishikawa could already feel several immensely powerful presences rapidly approaching.
The closest person was only about two minutes away from his current location!
Looking at Ishikawa, who had turned into lightning and sped away, Komamura Sajin's struggle paused slightly. He didn't understand why Ishikawa would abandon such a good opportunity, not attacking him but heading straight for the Central 46.
Moreover…
Earlier in the battle, because Ishikawa was shielded behind him, he had only seen Ishikawa carrying someone, completely protected within a barrier, and had not seen the appearance of the person he was carrying.
But just as Ishikawa left, he saw…
It was Amakado Nayura!
It was well known.
One of the confirmed Sages.
Kidnapping?
From her expression, it didn't seem like it; rather, it looked more like someone who stood with Ishikawa.
What was his purpose in going to the Central 46?
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