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Although Byakuya Kuchiki's expression remained unchanged, the sleeve of one of his arms had disappeared, and blood was still dripping from it.

"What happened?" Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni asked, looking at Kuchiki Byakuya's current condition.

"Nothing's wrong." Kuchiki Byakuya didn't say much, and stood at the end of the line with his eyes closed, as if he wasn't the one who was injured.

Chapter 1086 Kurosaki Ichigo

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni glanced at Kuchiki Byakuya and then said nothing more.

That's right, that's the rule.

Even under these circumstances, they still abide by the rules of Soul Society and the Seireitei.

Even without being told, it's clear how those injuries were inflicted.

Since that's the case, there's nothing more to ask.

"Rukia Kuchiki, do you have any last words?"

......

"Hmm... Am I still alive? I..." Renji Abarai opened his eyes...

He had already mastered Bankai, but even so, he still lost to Byakuya Kuchiki.

If there's anything different about this compared to previous failures, it's that my fangs finally managed to barely touch him.

what...

Actually, this kind of thing is quite natural.

After all, he wasn't the only one who could use Bankai; Byakuya Kuchiki could as well.

......

Ryougi Kazuya glanced at the injury on Kuchiki Byakuya's arm. That... must be the result of Abarai Renji's efforts.

After the Baboon King Zabimaru transformed into the Double King Zabimaru, he went from being completely unable to hurt him to being able to inflict injuries on him... which is already quite good.

After all, in Ryougi Kazuya's view, Renji Abarai's later power-ups were partly due to changes in his Bankai, but more importantly, they were due to his training in the Zero Division.

At that time, even in his Shikai form, he was able to catch punches that even in his Bankai form, Kensei Rokusha couldn't catch.

This isn't a change in the Bankai part.

Feeling the scorching heat in the air, and looking at the bipolar flames suspended in mid-air.

Are we just going to do nothing next?

Ryougi Shiki shielded her eyes from the light of the flames with her hand and said.

"Ah, we don't need to do anything. Of course... if you see someone who's really strong and want to fight them, that's fine too." Ryougi Kazuya smiled. "We came here just in case Kurosaki Ichigo doesn't make it... Now that we're here, there's no need for anything else."

The Hogyoku really needs to be in Aizen's hands to reach its full potential.

Aizen's goal is to become the Soul King, isn't it? Well then... let him have that wish fulfilled.

The important part is what happened after that—

"Sigh...Is that so?" Ryougi Shiki smiled and said, "Then, you help me hold off the others, I want to fight Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Yes, yes, I understand. Then let's leave it at that." Looking at Kurosaki Ichigo, who had already destroyed the Sogyoku and thrown Rukia toward Renji who was rushing over, he said, "Then... I'll hold off the others for you."

“You guys…” Kuchiki Byakuya frowned as he looked at Ryougi and Miyabi.

"Haha, did you hear that... I've tried to keep my voice down as much as possible. How about we make a deal? We'll just sit here and watch the show, and Shiki will handle Kurosaki Ichigo."

“It’s alright.” Kuchiki Byakuya said, turning around. “Then, I’ll go after Renji.”

"Hey, this is getting boring." Ryougi Kazuya's lips twitched slightly. "In Soul Society... I don't think Renji can get anywhere here. Don't worry, okay?"

"What are you daydreaming about, big guy? Go after them! Vice-captain, all of you go after them!"

Watching the vice-captains run off one by one, Byakuya Kuchiki said, "Aren't you a vice-captain too...? Why don't you go after them?"

“That was an order from the Second Division. I’m from the Eleventh Division, so there’s no reason for me to obey it, is there?” Ryougi Kazuya smiled. “Besides, the Shiki has already passed. How about we just watch from here? Or… do you want to play around with me a little?”

Kuchiki Byakuya narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Ryougi and Miyabi.

Indeed, if he were to fight Ryougi and Mi now, he would likely lose... His right hand is already immobile.

Although the injuries inflicted on him by Renji Abarai were not fatal, they were still quite serious.

Furthermore, his spiritual pressure has been significantly depleted, and he is far from being at his peak. In this state, it would be the same whether he were facing Ryougi Kazuya or Kurosaki Ichigo.

but--

Byakuya Kuchiki drew his Zanpakuto with his left hand, blade down, and said, "This is the last time, get out of the way."

"This...that's impossible."

"Is that so... Well then." Kuchiki Byakuya said, about to release his grip and use his Bankai.

Fighting Ryougi Kazuya left him no time to think, especially given his current injuries; without using Bankai, he had no chance of winning.

brush--

Ryougi and Miya grabbed Kuchiki Byakuya's arm: "Then, if you want to fight, let's find another spot. This battlefield isn't big enough for four people to fight at the same time!"

......

clang--

As their blades clashed, Ichigo Kurosaki, turning around, paused slightly in surprise: "It's you? Captain Ryougi—? Aren't you our comrade? What are you doing... you!"

"It's simple, I want to fight you!"

Kurosaki Ichigo's lips twitched slightly. Facing her now, he felt as if he were facing Kenpachi Zaraki once again.

Glancing sideways, he saw Kuchiki Byakuya already being taken away by Ryougi and Miya. He wanted to shout, "Don't go! Your opponent is me! Kuchiki Byakuya! Come back! I want to fight you!"

"What are you looking at?"

Kurosaki Ichigo was startled. The pressure on his arm suddenly increased, causing him to retreat several meters away in an instant.

After gripping the sword with both hands and pointing it at Ryougi Shiki, Kurosaki Ichigo shouted, "Why—why now of all times!"

"If not now, when?" Ryougi Shiki said, looking at the sword in her hand. "I've seen Kenpachi Zaraki's sword many times. This time, I want to see yours."

"Huh? Then why now of all times—" Kurosaki Ichigo shouted, "Any other time is fine, as long as it's not now, I'll fight you whenever you want!"

"No, only now." Ryougi Shiki pointed her sword at Ichigo Kurosaki, unleashing her killing intent without reservation: "If you lose, I'll capture Rukia Kuchiki and kill her. Of course, you'll die here too. Fight with that kind of pressure, and then—let's see what kind of power you can unleash under these circumstances!"

boom--

"Ugh..." Having blocked Ryougi Shiki's sword, Kurosaki Ichigo kept retreating, his arms and legs trembling.

'So heavy...heavier than Kenpachi Zaraki's sword—no...no, it's not her sword that's heavy, it's that I...have become weaker.'

That's right, Ichigo Kurosaki knew perfectly well that after several days of training, he hadn't become stronger, but weaker. However—

"Hah—!" Kurosaki Ichigo, who had stopped, gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, if that's the case, then let me defeat you here—!"

Chapter 1,087 Swastika

Ichigo Kurosaki took a deep breath.

I clearly felt the gap between myself and Ryougi Shiki from the battle just now.

"My previous battle with Kenpachi was because Zangetsu lent me his power, and the result was simple... the power was too strong; my body simply couldn't handle it! Although I've trained for a while now and should be stronger than before... but... excluding Bankai, just how much stronger am I now?"

"Is that all, Kurosaki Ichigo?" Ryougi Shiki sheathed her sword. "If that's all, it's incredibly disappointing. This kind of battle doesn't even qualify as a warm-up!"

"Ah...right." Kurosaki Ichigo said, slightly out of breath, "As expected, fighting you like this is a bit too much. Well then, I'll use my full power—Bankai!"

boom----!

"Oh..." Ryougi Shiki smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the spiritual pressure emanating from Ichigo Kurosaki.

The current level of spiritual pressure is roughly equivalent to when Ichigo Kurosaki unleashed his spiritual pressure and fought Kenpachi Zaraki while he was wearing an eyepatch...

So, his previous outburst did increase his power to some extent...?

indeed.

Zangetsu sealed the power that had been unsealed before back into place, but this time he didn't seal it all; he left some of it outside.

Then, after Kurosaki Ichigo's Bankai with ten times the spiritual pressure, the current effect was finally achieved.

"Drink it—!"

boom--!

As the dust settled, Kurosaki Ichigo instantly rushed behind Ryougi Shiki, thrusting his Tensa Zangetsu at her.

clang--

"Varied--"

Kurosaki Ichigo's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at Ryougi Shiki, who had blocked his attack with one hand while holding her Zanpakuto behind her back, and said in disbelief, "No way... You didn't even release your Zanpakuto... Or is your Zanpakuto in its normal release form?"

Sizzle—

Countless sparks flew between the blade and the tip of the sword. Before Ryougi Shiki could even exert any force, Kurosaki Ichigo had already created distance and was watching her warily.

“No, it’s just that I haven’t released it yet. I can use both Shikai and Bankai.” Ryougi Shiki turned around and said, “But if this is all you’re capable of, there’s no need to use it at all.”

Perhaps, as Abarai said, she is a genius.

Although the initial period of intense spiritual pressure bursts has passed, the rate of spiritual pressure growth has slowed down.

However, she continued to grow steadily until now. Even without using her Shikai spiritual pressure, she is no weaker than Kenpachi Zaraki without his eyes. Therefore, she defeated Retsu Unohana and threw the title of 'Kenpachi' back to her.

She is just Ryougi Shiki, not some Ryougi Kenpachi!

"Is that so? Then how about this one—!" Kurosaki Ichigo raised his Zanpakuto high and said, "Getsuga—"

"I've already said it, it's too slow."

"—!" Kurosaki Ichigo's eyes widened as he swung his Zanpakuto backward, tearing the sky apart with a black crescent moon.