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Feeling the sudden weight on his shoulder, Ichigo Kurosaki waved his hand and was stunned for a moment as he watched the girl step back.

"Hey...hey, you little dwarf over there, who are you?"

"Me? I'm Kusajishi Yachiru, the fourth seat of the 11th Division. Nice to meet you."

"Fourth seat?" Kurosaki Ichigo was stunned.

Based on what I felt just now... it's clearly impossible that he's only a fourth seat or something, no... no, this guy named Zaraki is far from being a third seat or anything like that.

If he only has three seats...

"Hey, here's a piece of advice for you."

Hearing the voice beside him, Kurosaki Ichigo was startled, his pupils shrinking slightly. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice that Madarame Ikkaku had come to his side at some point.

“Almost everyone in our Eleventh Division is a monster. Zaraki is only the third seat because he's in the Eleventh Division. If he were in another division, he would definitely be a captain. No... even the captains of other divisions might not be his match... Ah, just think of yourself as facing a captain.”

"Varied--!?"

Kurosaki Ichigo's pupils contracted. So... is this guy on the same level as Kuchiki Byakuya and Ichimaru Gin?

Oh right, he asked that from the very beginning.

Who was that guy who escaped from Gin Ichimaru before?

If you can't even do something this simple... then you're not even qualified to fight him?

"Oh, so you're ready?" Kenpachi Zaraki chuckled, opened his shirt, and said, "How about it? I'll give you a handicap."

"what?"

"I'll start with you, let you take the first hit." Kenpachi Zaraki said with a smile, "Choose a place you like and just go ahead and chop away."

"------!"

......

"It seems like it's about to end."

As they headed towards the Eleventh Division, towards the location of Ichigo Kurosaki's battle, Ryougi Kazuya remarked with some emotion, "What are Ichigo Kurosaki's chances of winning against Kenpachi Zaraki at this time?"

"Who knows..." Ryougi Shiki did not answer.

"I remember... the last time I fought him, his spiritual pressure was already very strong... If he breaks the seal two or three more times and faces a few powerful enemies... he'll probably break it all. Right now, Kenpachi Zaraki, let alone Ichigo Kurosaki, even with Bankai and Hollowfication, would definitely be no match... unless he evolves again beyond that, or..."

boom----!

"Ah...that's it, maybe."

Ryougi Kazuya paused slightly, looking at the soaring spiritual pressure that surpassed that of most of the captains of the Gotei 13, and said, "It's this..."

......

"Impossible, this is—?" Yoruichi, who had transformed into a black cat, stopped in her tracks and quickly ran towards Ichigo Kurosaki. "This spiritual pressure is undoubtedly Ichigo Kurosaki's, but... why does Ichigo have such a powerful spiritual pressure right now?"

Compared to before... just how much has it expanded?

I simply can't believe it.

But... if this is true, then the chances of success for this operation have greatly increased!

......

"That was... that guy's spiritual pressure just now?" Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika also stopped chasing Shiba Ganju. They were both stunned as they looked at the spiritual pressure coming from behind them, completely unable to imagine it.

How did Kurosaki Ichigo, who was previously trembling under Zaraki Kenpachi's eight sword strikes, manage to become so much stronger in such a short time?!

Not just them, but the entire Seireitei.

All the Grim Reapers felt the immense spiritual pressure that surged into the sky.

They looked incredulously at this place, completely unable to believe that this was a power possessed by a wandering monster.

......

"Ichigo...take my power."

Zangetsu said this to Ichigo Kurosaki, but in reality, he secretly released the seal on Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual pressure.

In fact, Ichigo Kurosaki and Kenpachi Zaraki are somewhat similar in their situations.

Their true spiritual pressure was sealed.

However, the difference is that Kenpachi Zaraki was unaware that he had sealed his spiritual pressure, because he had suppressed it in the past because he enjoyed fighting.

Meanwhile, Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual pressure was consciously suppressed by his Zanpakuto, Zangetsu.

Right now, the spiritual pressure that Kurosaki Ichigo is using in battle is a fragment of power. Zangetsu is using his own power to suppress the remaining overflowing power of Kurosaki Ichigo's Shinigami power... This is the power he is using now, the power he has been fighting with all along.

This power already makes Ichigo Kurosaki stronger than most vice-captains. If he learns Bankai, he will immediately become a captain-level figure.

but--

Even so, even with such spiritual pressure, he was far from being a match for Kenpachi Zaraki.

With no other option, Zangetsu had to come out himself and gradually release the suppressed spiritual pressure on Kurosaki Ichigo until it was comparable to, or even slightly stronger than, that of Kenpachi Zaraki.

It only stopped at this point.

'It's already over 50%...'

As Zangetsu watched Ichigo Kurosaki fight Kenpachi Zaraki, he thought to himself that he had already unleashed more than 50% of Ichigo Kurosaki's power.

Even so, he's only slightly stronger than Kenpachi Zaraki...

What kind of monster is this?

The spiritual pressure is incredibly strong...

and...

We're nearing our limit.

Ichigo Kurosaki's limit.

Although he became the Grim Reaper, he had only had this power for a short time, and his body simply could not withstand such immense power.

Suppressing him is also a form of protection for him.

"Ichigo, finish this quickly." Zangetsu said to Kurosaki Ichigo, "Your body can't withstand this power right now... it will explode if you continue."

"Ah, I know." Ichigo Kurosaki nodded, but...

Why can't I kill him?

Why hasn't it fallen yet?

No matter how many blows he struck, no matter how many wounds he inflicted on Kenpachi Zaraki, he could still continue fighting, continue fighting, without stopping...

Why? What kind of monster is this?

"Hahaha—I haven't felt this exhilarating feeling since Ryougi stopped fighting me!" Kenpachi Zaraki laughed, placing his hand on his eyepatch. "If it were you, it seems like I could fight with all my might!!"

The next moment, Kenpachi Zaraki unleashed a spiritual pressure even stronger than Ichigo Kurosaki's.

Chapter 1079 Sunbathing in the Wild

'What...this guy...'

Zangetsu was also stunned...

Kenpachi Zaraki's sudden burst of spiritual pressure surpassed Ichigo Kurosaki's. To raise Ichigo's spiritual pressure further...

It's not that it's impossible; in fact, Ichigo Kurosaki has only released a little over 50% of his spiritual pressure so far...

Zangetsu estimates that he could defeat Kenpachi Zaraki at least 80% strength if he were to unleash his full power.

However, Ichigo Kurosaki's body couldn't withstand it.

Just like when Ichigo Kurosaki faced that Hollow, although the powerful spiritual pressure that erupted for a moment shattered the Hollow's Cero, in reality, if it weren't for Uryu Ishida's help, that spiritual pressure would have been enough to burst Ichigo Kurosaki's body apart.

Although with the help of Kisuke Urahara, the Shinigami's body was restored and became much stronger than before, able to withstand more spiritual pressure.

But this is the limit now.

Ichigo Kurosaki's movements are already starting to feel a little unnatural.

I could feel a burning pain all over my body.

If we keep increasing... but if we stop here, we might... die.

The Grim Reapers are getting closer and closer. We must end this battle as soon as possible, or the outcome will only be worse. So... should we trust Ichigo Kurosaki?

I believe he can withstand this spiritual pressure...

Did they retreat quickly after defeating Kenpachi Zaraki...?

No, wait, this spiritual pressure...

Zangetsu, sensing a rapidly approaching spiritual pressure, appeared behind Ichigo Kurosaki and said, "Ichigo... you can feel it, right? Your body is reaching its limit."

"Ah, my body feels so heavy..." Ichigo Kurosaki gritted his teeth and said, "I'm sorry, Zangetsu, but I can't handle Zangetsu's power right now..."

“That’s right,” Zangetsu said. “Both the blood from your wounds and your body are at their limit. I will continue to give you power until your body reaches its maximum capacity. Ichigo, do you trust me?”

"Of course, I'll leave all my power to you to handle as you please. Now, give me your power—"

"Um..."

boom----

The spiritual pressure expanded once again.

Ichigo Kurosaki's skin was slightly red, as if he was about to collapse from the strain.

"It's so swollen... my whole body feels so swollen..." Ichigo Kurosaki gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, looking towards Kenpachi Zaraki; "This is... the power of Zangetsu? I can't take it anymore... no, I can't take it anymore."

"Oh, so it's come to this point, and you can still increase your spiritual pressure? Interesting!"

"It will rise. I'll fight alongside Zangetsu using its power... For someone like you who only wants to fight on your own, you absolutely won't lose—" Kurosaki Ichigo said through gritted teeth, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth...

No more.

Now even speaking is difficult for him.