"CLANG!!!"
In a corner of Seireitei where many buildings stood, the clashing of blades echoed as loudly as a bell, like thunder rumbling, continuing endlessly.
The blade-to-blade confrontation between Kaiser and Kurosaki Ichigo had entered a fever pitch in less than a few dozen seconds, and their Reiatsu had turned into a storm, raging through this corner of Seireitei.
Golden Reiatsu swirled into a golden storm around Kaiser's body.
Blue Reiatsu surged into a blue tempest around Kurosaki Ichigo's form.
As the two clashed again and again, their respective Reiatsu collided with each impact of their vastly differently sized Zanpakutōs, reaching their peak conflict. Each clash of blades triggered shockwaves that affected the surrounding buildings.
"RUMMMMBLE…"
The ground trembled, and so did the air.
Buildings collapsed under the sheer force of these earth-shaking, shockwave-filled collisions—either shattered to pieces or reduced to rubble, like crumbling mountains collapsing in thunderous crashes, raising billows of dust.
Even among Captain-level Shinigami, such a ferocious battle was rare.
This was because the two combatants did not follow conventional battle principles—neither showing off skill nor casting wondrous spells. They simply, straightforwardly, swung their Zanpakutō at each other again and again, without a hint of flash, turning each collision into brute-force violence. The resulting aftershocks were nothing short of terrifying.
This was Reiatsu versus Reiatsu.
This was brute strength versus brute strength.
This was the most direct clash between Zanpakutōs—no tricks, no finesse, just raw and fearsome force.
"BOOM!"
With another clash of swords, the Reiatsu shock forced Kaiser and Ichigo apart.
The ground beneath their feet had already fractured in every direction, with no intact surface remaining. The terrain within dozens of meters was collapsing downward, nearly caving in completely.
"OHHHHHHHHHH…!"
With his eyes glowing blue from his Reiatsu, Kurosaki Ichigo became the center of a blue storm, roaring as he charged at Kaiser with his sword in both hands.
"CLANG!!!"
Kaiser's eyes flashed golden. The Reiatsu surging from him scorched the Reishi in the air, and his Zanpakutō, radiating an aura of regal brilliance, slashed forth with immense Reiatsu, colliding head-on with Zangetsu. The clash unleashed another deafening, bell-like clang.
Finally, the ground could no longer withstand the clash of such overwhelming Reiatsu and collapsed on the spot.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
Kurosaki Ichigo gripped Zangetsu tightly with both hands, panting heavily, clearly having spent much energy.
"What's wrong? Is this all?"
In contrast, Kaiser hadn't even broken a sweat—he still had the strength to speak.
"This can't be your full strength yet, can it? Show me more of your potential!"
As he spoke, Kaiser took the initiative for the first time, stepping forward and flashing in front of Ichigo like an apparition.
"CLANG!!!"
His Zanpakutō came crashing down. Ichigo raised his sword to block, but the tremendous force passed through the blades and bent his spine, nearly forcing him to his knees.
The ground beneath Ichigo's feet shattered again, collapsing into a crater.
"THUD!"
As Ichigo struggled to hold off the strike, Kaiser kicked his side, sending him flying.
"Damn you…!?"
Ichigo barely managed to stabilize himself, his feet plowing two trenches into the ground as pain throbbed in his side and twisted his expression.
But Kaiser didn't stop—he rushed forward like a berserker, not using Shunpo, not casting Kidō, not even employing refined swordsmanship. Just like the inexperienced, self-taught Shinigami Ichigo, he swung his blade in straight, brutal strikes.
Each clash made Ichigo's arms go numb. His feet retreated uncontrollably, leaving cratered footprints behind.
"So this is your limit, huh."
Kaiser continued swinging his blade wildly, each slash erupting in sparks and shockwaves, tearing apart everything nearby—and pressed a verbal assault as well.
"You think just having Captain-level Reiatsu is enough to save Rukia Kuchiki?"
"You're too naïve!"
"There are more than ten Shinigami like you in the Gotei 13—every one of them could kill you!"
With another strike, Kaiser forced Ichigo down to one knee, crushing the ground beneath him.
"If you want to save Rukia Kuchiki, you'll have to defeat each and every one of those Captains. You'll have to overcome the entire Gotei 13. You'll have to conquer all of Seireitei. Otherwise, your fate will be the same as hers—death!"
"Or do you think dying here wouldn't be so bad? That it would be your atonement to her?"
"Sure, she's being executed because she gave her power to you. If you can't save her, then dying alongside her might feel like redemption."
"But what about your companions?"
"If you don't give it your all, they'll end up just like Rukia—dead because of you!"
At those words, the blue light in Ichigo's eyes flared even brighter.
"SHUT UP!"
Ichigo shouted, and his Reiatsu swelled once again. He slowly rose from the ground, pushing Kaiser back as he lifted Zangetsu.
"I'm not dying here!"
With firm eyes and a resolute face, Ichigo yelled.
"No matter if it's Rukia or Chad, Inoue, or Uryū—I'll bring them back!"
"I won't let any of you kill my friends!"
"I'll defeat you all!"
With each declaration full of will, Ichigo's Reiatsu surged to an astonishing level.
That Reiatsu already surpassed that of an average Captain. It was on par with Kenpachi Zaraki after removing his Eyepatch.
Kaiser clearly saw it—behind Ichigo, a shadowy figure in a flowing black coat appeared like a ghost, placing a hand on his shoulder.
That semi-transparent figure—Kaiser recognized it instantly.
It was Zangetsu—or rather, Zangetsu's spirit.
"Well damn, he's actually managed to temporarily manifest his Zanpakutō through sheer will?"
Kaiser had to admit—Ichigo was totally a cheat character. He'd only just become a Shinigami, yet not only had he unleashed Captain-level Reiatsu, he'd almost completed the manifestation of his Zanpakutō in this battle.
And to manifest one's Zanpakutō spirit was the prerequisite to achieving Bankai.
Ichigo had done it unconsciously. Even if temporary, this was a critical step toward Bankai.
As for now—he was still far from actually using Bankai, but with Zangetsu momentarily manifested, Ichigo had unleashed its full power, stacking it with his own Reiatsu, becoming even stronger.
"Take this!"
Ichigo, eyes glowing to their peak, slowly raised Zangetsu high, pointing it at the sky.
"VMMM…"
A torrent of Reiatsu surged into the blade, its edge glowing blue.
"Sword pressure?"
Seeing this, Kaiser first assumed it was a Sword pressure strike.
But sensing the amount of condensed Reiatsu at Zangetsu's tip—dozens of times denser than a normal Sword pressure—he immediately discarded the thought.
"No! That's not Sword pressure!"
This was something far more terrifying.
Zangetsu, a rare always-released Zanpakutō, matched its user's direct and straightforward combat style. It had no flashy abilities.
As a direct-attack-type Zanpakutō, Zangetsu lacked elemental effects like Ryūjin Jakka or Hyōrinmaru. But it allowed its wielder to fully express their physical strength in close combat.
Most of Division 11's Shinigami also wielded direct-attack-type Zanpakutō—they were Soul Society's fiercest frontline warriors.
Ichigo's Zangetsu was one of them. Its sole ability was to fire a high-density Reiatsu slash from its tip—far exceeding ordinary Sword pressure in power and range.
Compared to Sword pressure, this technique more closely resembled a Hollow's Cero.
And this attack had a name famous across the entire fandom.
Its name was—
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Ichigo didn't originally know the name.
He didn't even understand what Zangetsu's true ability was. Having just recently achieved Shikai, he was even less mature than Tōshirō Hitsugaya and couldn't grasp his Zanpakutō's full potential.
But in this moment, driven by unwavering will and conviction, Ichigo unleashed his hidden potential, entering complete unity with his blade—and his Zanpakutō briefly manifested behind him.
And so, Ichigo learned its name—and grasped Zangetsu's true power.
"VMMM—"
Ichigo swung Zangetsu down. The immense Reiatsu gathered at its tip unleashed in a slash.
In that instant, true to its name, the slash took the form of a crescent moon—surging outward.
The crescent was as massive as a pillar of the heavens, dozens of meters tall, its destructive power incredible. As it advanced, it cleaved through everything in its path.
The ground split beneath it, spewing rubble and clouds of dust like a sandstorm.
Watching that giant crescent approach, Kaiser didn't retreat—instead, he grinned with excitement.
Who wasn't a Bleach fan at heart?
Who hasn't shouted "Getsuga Tenshō" after watching Bleach?
And now, the real Getsuga Tenshō was charging straight at him, tearing up the earth—how could Kaiser not be thrilled?
He felt his adrenaline surge. The long-forgotten thrill of battle coursed through his veins, setting his body ablaze.
"Then let me try your Getsuga Tenshō, Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Kaiser released all of his Reiatsu—golden waves surging like a tsunami.
The golden aura swept across kilometers, blowing away rubble and dust, shattering the earth and making the Reishi in the air cry out.
That golden Reiatsu condensed onto his magnificent Zanpakutō, which Kaiser raised high.
Then, he swung it down, releasing the gathered Reiatsu into a golden Sword pressure—a golden torrent—rushing forth to meet the approaching crescent.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!"
When the two collided, the heavens and earth shook with a deafening roar.
All of Seireitei trembled and swayed, prompting gasps from countless Shinigami. Many stared in stunned silence toward the explosion's source, their minds blank with shock.
"BOOM!!!"
The blue crescent and the golden Sword pressure clashed repeatedly, violently grinding against each other—each trying to crush the other. Shockwaves burst forth like nuclear blasts.
Under such terrifying pressure, every building nearby was doomed—toppled or obliterated, collapsing into the earth and turning everything into rubble.
This epic clash raged for over ten seconds.
And after that—they canceled each other out, neither overcoming the other. Both dissipated into blue and gold particles that scattered into the air.
"Hah… hah…"
Still holding his sword at the end of the swing, Kurosaki Ichigo panted heavily, his face drenched in sweat.
"They canceled each other out…?"
Kaiser stood tall and swung his Zanpakutō downward, its tip angled at the ground. A look of surprise crossed his face.
Judging by his expression, he hadn't expected Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō to actually nullify his Sword pressure.
But Ichigo wanted to scream—this was cheating.
He'd put everything into that Getsuga Tenshō—and it got canceled out by one Sword pressure?
How is that not cheating?
"What a… monster…"
On Ichigo's exhausted face, bitterness and frustration surfaced.
Moments later, having used up all his strength, he lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.