Chapter 8:Bankai

“Are you okay, Ganju?”

“I thought I was going to die……”

“You look fine.”

“More importantly, what’s that thing floating in the air?

It’s not the Shunpo that Shinigami use, is it?”

Ganju’s gaze went to the foothold under Ichigo’s feet.

At first glance, it looked like he was floating in the air, but a small platform had been created, allowing Ichigo to stand in mid-air.

Ichigo had used that platform to land safely and catch Ganju.

“This?

I learned it from a guy I know.

He called it Hirenkyaku, or something.

It would have been dangerous if I didn’t have it.”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t know.

I just learned it because I was told to.

And……”

Ichigo’s gaze moved downwards.

“It doesn’t look like we have time for a leisurely explanation.”

At the end of his gaze were two Shinigami.

Considering where they were and Ichigo’s objective, there was no need to explain who they were.

The two Shinigami smiled pleasantly as they looked at Ichigo and Ganju.

Ganju whispered softly to Ichigo.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Huh?”

“These guys’ spiritual pressure isn’t like the small fries we’ve encountered.

Don’t you know that it won’t do us any good to fight them recklessly?”

“So you’re saying we should run away without even trying to fight?”

“Idiot.

Don’t misunderstand your objective.

Did you come here to fight?

No, you didn’t.

You said your goal was to save that Shinigami girl.”

“Well, that’s true, but……”

He wasn’t wrong.

Ichigo’s objective wasn’t to fight.

In fact, considering the overall strength of Seireitei, Ganju’s suggestion to avoid unnecessary battles and focus solely on rescuing Rukia was the correct one.

You need to choose your battles.

However.

Clang.

Ichigo gripped Zangetsu and stood in front of the two.

“If you’re going, go alone.

I’m going to fight.”

“Are you crazy?!”

“I have my reasons, you idiot.”

“Ugh, I don’t care anymore?!”

With those words, Ganju fled.

One of the two Shinigami chased after Ganju, creating a one-on-one situation.

“What’s this?

Did you have a falling out?”

“Just a simple disagreement.”

“Hmm, then the one who ran away made the right call?

You didn’t come here not knowing where this place is, so avoiding unnecessary fights is the smart move.”

“Well, that’s true too.”

In terms of rationality, Ganju’s actions were correct.

After all, fighting every single Shinigami in Seireitei would be beyond foolish, it would be stupid.

“But if I run away at the first sign of trouble, I might not be able to stand my ground when it really matters.”

“Heh, that’s an answer I like.

Looks like I’m lucky after all.”

“What do you mean?”

“I get to fight an interesting guy like you right from the start!”

The Shinigami drew the sword at his waist, leaped into the air, and swung downwards.

Ichigo blocked the Shinigami’s attack with Zangetsu.

As they were locked in a contest of strength, the Shinigami who attacked Ichigo grinned belligerently.

“If we’re going to fight, we should at least know each other’s names, right?

I’m Madarame Ikkaku, 3rd Seat of the 11th Division.”

“Kurosaki Ichigo…!”

“Then, Ichigo, let’s have a good fight!”

“Hmph!”

The man who identified himself as Ikkaku attacked Ichigo with a relentless barrage of attacks.

Attacking with the blade, defending with the scabbard.

Simple, but strong because of his skill.

It’s easy to say, but very difficult to execute.

But.

“Is that all you’ve got!”

Having been beaten by White every day, Ikkaku’s attacks, while somewhat agile, didn’t make Ichigo feel a great sense of danger.

He quickly identified Ikkaku’s patterns and counterattacked, putting Ikkaku on the defensive.

Ikkaku blocked Ichigo’s attacks with his sword and scabbard.

Pushing him back, he muttered.

“You’re a strange one.”

“What now?”

“…You have talent.

I’ll admit you have skill.

But you’re severely lacking in actual combat experience.”

“…..”

“And it’s not just that you’re making up for it with talent.

There’s something different.

Yes, it’s like you’ve been taught by an excellent teacher.

Who’s your teacher?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“That’s a shame.”

Ikkaku shrugged and his eyes lit up.

“But it would be rude not to fight seriously against someone like you.”

“What?”

“Spread, Hozukimaru!”

The sword he was holding transformed into a spear.

There was no need to explain what that was.

Ichigo had a similar experience, so he knew what it meant.

It meant that his opponent was about to get serious.

“Now, pay attention and don’t misunderstand!”

“What do you mean, don’t misunderstand!”

“Hahaha!”

A thrust was fired.

It is said that a spear is three times stronger than a sword.

The reason is simple: the difference in reach.

The advantage of length creates a gap that is surprisingly difficult to overcome.

“I told you not to misunderstand!”

-Or so I thought.

What he thought was a spear split into three sections, the end of the spear whipping towards Ichigo’s face like a whip.

Ikkaku explains.

Hozukimaru is not a spear, but a three-section staff.

Ichigo wanted to argue that it looked exactly like a spear, but suddenly it became a three-section staff.

He had to use his right hand as a shield to defend against the unexpected surprise attack, and the wound was not light.

Looking down at his right hand, Ichigo asked Ikkaku.

“Hey.”

“What?

Are you scared and want to surrender?”

“You said you’re the 3rd Seat of the 11th Division, right?”

“So?”

“So that means there are at least two people stronger than you above you?”

“Heh.”

At Ichigo’s words, Ikkaku’s lips curled up.

“You could say that.”

“I see.”

“Why do you ask?”

“It’s nothing.”

Ichigo stanched the bleeding on his right hand and gripped Zangetsu with both hands.

“I just thought it would be bad if I struggled against someone like you.”

“You’ve got a big mouth, kid.”

“You told me not to misunderstand, so I’ll give you some advice in return.

Dodge, Ikkaku.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know how to control the power of this technique yet……!”

Ichigo raised Zangetsu.

Then, he explosively increased his spiritual pressure and swung downwards.

In a way, it was the most basic upward swing in swordsmanship.

It seemed like a foolish action to swing at the air when there was a distance between him and Ikkaku.

“Getsugatensho!”

“!!!”

But then, a massive slash attack shot out from the tip of Ichigo’s sword.

The attack carved through the ground and flew hundreds of meters.

Caught off guard by the sudden, deadly attack, Ikkaku extended Hozukimaru to block it.

“Ugh!”

But the huge slash attack shattered Ikkaku’s Hozukimaru, and furthermore, it inflicted a serious injury on Ikkaku himself.

If Ichigo hadn’t told him to dodge, he might have been killed.

“What was that…?!”

“A technique my Zanpakuto, Zangetsu, taught me.

Getsugatensho.

It temporarily feeds spiritual pressure to Zangetsu to create a massive slash.

I haven’t mastered controlling its power yet, so I tried not to use it, but you’re too strong.

That’s why I told you.

I told you to dodge.”

“Kuh, Khahahaha!

You’ve got the skill to back up your big mouth!”

“Are you going to continue with that injury?”

“Don’t say such disappointing things.”

Ikkaku grinned.

“The fight is just getting started!”

“Even though your weapon is broken?”

“Hozukimaru is broken………

Who said that?!”

A red spiritual pressure enveloped Ikkaku’s body.

It was clearly an explosive amount of spiritual pressure that would be rude to compare to what he had before.

And the owner of that spiritual pressure held the broken Hozukimaru in both hands and shouted loudly enough to make the heavens and earth tremble.

“Bankaiiiiiii!”

BOOOOM!

The spiritual pressure exploded, and a huge cloud of dust swirled.

Startled by the sudden explosion of spiritual pressure, Ichigo covered his face with both hands.

“What?!”

“Ryūmon Hōzukimaru!!!”

“?!”

“Let me introduce myself again, Ichigo.”

He shouted, showing off his enlarged Hozukimaru, no, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, with a bright smile.

“Ikkaku Madarame, 3rd Seat of the 11th Division, the man who will kill you!”