Zaraki's combat instinct is all about the thrill of cutting.
He himself being cut… thrilling!
He cutting others… thrilling!
If it were Zaraki who faced that move of Kyoya just now, he probably wouldn't have defended. Instead, he would have used his own body to take the hit.
Or, extended his hand to directly grab Kyoya's Zanpakuto to trade blows.
"However, Ichigo, if you think Aizen is only this much, you're underestimating him too much."
"That move I just used… Aizen could perform [Senka] three times consecutively."
"In other words, Aizen can perform six rotations with Shunpo in an instant!"
Kyoya raised three fingers towards Ichigo, saying this to him.
This statement wasn't Kyoya trying to bluff Ichigo.
In the battle of Karakura Town, after Yamamoto was taken out of the fight, multiple Captains besieged Aizen.
In just an instant, Toshiro, Yadomaru Lisa, Kyoraku, Aikawa, Shinji, and Kensei were severely injured.
Six flashes in an instant was the limit of the number of people Shinji and the others had, but not necessarily Aizen's limit.
Upon hearing this, a few more beads of cold sweat appeared on Ichigo's forehead.
He had blocked that move just now relying on his combat instinct.
But if it came two or three more times consecutively, could he still block it?
This was a question even Ichigo himself wasn't sure about.
"But, Ichigo, don't think this is the limit of Aizen's base form."
Kyoya retracted his finger, saying solemnly, "Aizen Sosuke is a genius."
"Currently, the one with the strongest swordsmanship level in the entire world is me!"
Kyoya's voice wasn't loud when he said this, but it shocked Ichigo once again.
Ichigo had truly never seen someone who dared claim they were the strongest in a certain field.
But strangely, when Kyoya said this, no one around refuted it.
In fact, Ichigo could even see the 'as it should be' expressions on the faces of Kisuke, Yoruichi, and Tessai.
As if Kyoya being the world's strongest in swordsmanship was the most natural thing.
"A [Swordsman] is someone skilled at wielding a sword in battle."
"A [Great Swordsman] has reached a certain degree of mastery in swordsmanship and can casually unleash flying slash attacks."
"A [Master Swordsman] has forged their own path and stands at the pinnacle of swordsmanship."
"And Aizen's swordsmanship realm has undoubtedly stepped into the ranks of Master Swordsmen."
"Ichigo, be careful."
"Next, what I'm going to use is the slashing attacks of Aizen in his current form."
Raising the Zanpakuto in his hand high, Kyoya then slashed down forcefully—
Boom—
A white slash was launched by Kyoya, rushing towards Ichigo.
Sensing extreme danger, Ichigo's expression changed drastically. Reiatsu from his body rapidly poured into the Zanpakuto in his right hand, which he swung at the incoming slash.
"Getsuga… Tensho!"
The black crescent collided with Kyoya's white slash. Instantly, white and black occupied the entire space within the barrier, leaving only these two colors in the eyes of the spectators.
Boom—
A powerful shockwave spread outwards from the center of the two slashes' collision. The barrier set up by Kisuke and Tessai felt somewhat shaky, on the verge of collapse.
"Hey, Urahara."
Yoruichi's eyebrows twitched. "The barrier you set up didn't cut corners, did it?"
"How could that be?"
Kisuke said, "Yoruichi-san, no matter how unreliable I am, I wouldn't joke with everyone's lives."
"The defense of this barrier Tessai and I set up is no less than a fully incanted Danku!"
Danku was the strongest defensive Kido.
Its power could perfectly defend against attacks from Hado below #90.
The reason it's said to only perfectly defend against Hado below #90 isn't because Hado above #90 could break Danku's defense.
But because Hado above #90 aren't single-directional attacks, they are large-area attacks. Danku, which can only defend against attacks from one direction, cannot perfectly defend against such attacks.
The fact that Kyoya and Ichigo's attacks could cause the barrier set by Kisuke and Tessai to shake proved that the intensity of their attacks at that moment had reached the power level of Hado above #90.
After the dust settled, the figures of Ichigo and Kyoya once again appeared before everyone's eyes.
Compared to before, Kyoya now showed no change. Even the shockwave from the collision of the two slashes merely lifted the hem of Kyoya's clothes.
In contrast, Ichigo's expression was much graver.
Although his Getsuga Tensho did indeed block Kyoya's slash just now-
But Ichigo remembered that Kyoya had already said earlier: a Master Swordsman is someone who can unleash powerful flying slashes relying on their own swordsmanship skills.
In other words, such slashes could be casually performed by Kyoya whenever he wished.
And what about Getsuga Tensho?
That was Ichigo's strongest attack technique, using Zangetsu's ability to transform his Reiatsu into a slash.
Each use of Getsuga Tensho consumed a considerable amount of Ichigo's Reiatsu.
He hadn't yet reached the level where he could use Getsuga Tensho as a normal attack.
Moreover, more importantly, Ichigo hadn't sensed Reiatsu in Kyoya's earlier slash.
This meant that if Kyoya used Reiatsu, the power of that slash could be even stronger!
"It seems you've guessed something."
Golden Reiatsu erupted from Kyoya's body, condensing onto the Zanpakuto in his hand.
Pointing his Zanpakuto at Ichigo, Kyoya said, "Because Kyoka Suigetsu's ability doesn't enhance his own attacks much, so barring any surprises, my next attack will be Aizen's current strongest attack."
Hearing Kyoya's words, Kisuke and Yoruichi both focused intently.
Blue-white Reiatsu also erupted from Ichigo's body.
Boom—
A slash directly flew from Kyoya's Zanpakuto towards Ichigo. After this slash was launched, a powerful air pressure suddenly erupted behind Kyoya.
It was as if the surrounding air had been pierced by Kyoya's earlier slash, causing air from both sides to collide.
It felt as if even space had been torn apart by Kyoya.
Facing this move from Kyoya, Ichigo didn't dare hold back. He poured all his Reiatsu into the Zanpakuto in his hand. The short sword in his left hand drew a line of golden Reiatsu in front, while the long sword in his right hand slashed down forcefully—
"Getsuga… Jujisho!"
Boom—
Getsuga Jujisho was Ichigo's currently strongest attack technique.
Although it seemed like merely the combination of two Getsuga Tensho, it was actually a higher-level attack formed from the fusion of Quincy power, Shinigami power, and Hollow power.
As for Kyoya, the fusion of Reiatsu with a Master Swordsman's slash wasn't as simple as 1+1=2.
The two slashes collided. Invisible shockwaves spread. The ground within the barrier was directly destroyed by the powerful shockwave. Apart from the ground under Kyoya and Ichigo's feet remaining intact, everywhere else was cracked and shattered.
Boom rumble rumble rumble—
Amidst the roar, the barrier set by Kisuke and Tessai began to show ripples like water waves.
This impact was clearly stronger than the previous one.
But fortunately, the barrier only withstood the aftershocks of Kyoya and Ichigo's battle. So although it shook considerably, it wasn't actually destroyed by the battle's shockwaves.
Boom boom...
The impact forces of the two slashes were evenly matched. In their final collision, they used the sky and ground as channels to vent their power. Golden currents spiraled upwards, breaking through the barrier's ceiling, piercing through the underground training ground's roof, causing a minor earthquake around Urahara Shop.
The soaring slash directly dispersed the clouds in the sky, revealing a clear blue hole, with only a crescent moon remaining alone in the starry sky.
"That Reiatsu… it's Ichigo and that guy!"
In the abandoned building of the Visored, Shinji and the others watched the slash soaring into the sky, their expressions grave.
However, after identifying the two Reiatsu fighting, they felt somewhat relieved.
"Captain Kyoya having such strength doesn't surprise me."
"But Kurosaki Ichigo actually being strong to this extent is truly shocking."
Kensei looked at the cloud layer pierced by the slash and sighed.
"If it's Kurosaki Ichigo, perhaps he really can..."
Hearing Kensei's words, the others also showed smiles on their faces.
Although the purpose of their Visored existence was to take revenge on Aizen.
At the same time, they also knew their strength was far too lacking compared to Aizen's.
Not to mention, when fighting Aizen, they would constantly have to worry about whether their five senses had already been controlled by him, whether what they were attacking was the real Aizen or just what Aizen made them see.
In reality, were they just killing each other?
But this was the sole purpose of their existence.
The stronger Ichigo was, the higher their possibility of revenge.
"Kensei, don't place all hope on Ichigo."
Seeing everyone like this, Shinji said solemnly, "Although from the strength Ichigo has displayed now, there's a high possibility he can defeat Aizen."
"But don't forget, Aizen's Zanpakuto ability, Kyoka Suigetsu."
"For Ichigo to have the qualification to fight Aizen, he must not see Aizen's Zanpakuto release during battle."
"Otherwise..."
When Shinji said this, everyone in the Visored fell silent.
Yes, Aizen's strength wasn't just his own power, but also his Zanpakuto's nearly invincible ability.
Once you've seen Aizen's Zanpakuto release, your five senses would thereafter be under Aizen's control.
A big reason they placed their hope for revenge on Ichigo was also because Ichigo had never seen Aizen's Zanpakuto release and wouldn't be affected by Aizen's ability.
But not being affected now didn't mean he wouldn't be affected in the future.
"Then what should we do?"
With Shinji exposing this hidden danger, everyone in the Visored now frowned.
In a Shinigami's battle, releasing one's Zanpakuto was the most normal thing.
They couldn't base Ichigo not being affected by Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu on Aizen himself.
After all, they couldn't possibly ask Aizen not to release his Zanpakuto during battle, could they?
"I need to go to Urahara's place."
After a while, Shinji said solemnly, "Since Ichigo has such ability, we must do our part and guide him properly."
"Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu only takes effect at the moment of release."
"In that case, we'll train Ichigo to fight in a way where he doesn't need to look at his opponent's Zanpakuto!"
"Not looking at the opponent's Zanpakuto?"
"Is there such a method?"
Kuna Mashiro asked curiously.
"Not before, but there will definitely be one in the future!"
Shinji looked at Kensei. "Kensei, you watch things here for now. I'll go to Urahara to think of a way."
"Alright."
Kensei nodded.
He didn't actually have much obsession with revenge.
For Kensei, Mashiro was the most important.
But everyone were comrades, gathered together by 'revenge', so Kensei naturally wouldn't back down either.
"Ichigo's side is up to you."
"Mhm."
"How is it? Ichigo."
Looking at Ichigo panting heavily, Kyoya gently flicked his Zanpakuto with a finger. The blade vibrated, emitting a 'humming' sound.
"That attack just now is roughly the peak of Aizen's current level."
"But you need to know, after fusing with the Hogyoku, Aizen's Reiatsu will undergo a transformation, ascending to a higher dimension."
"By then, Aizen's strength will receive a huge boost."
"In your current form, you might be able to fight Aizen after his second transformation."
"But, Ichigo, under the Hogyoku's ability, Aizen can transform five times in total!"
"Moreover, each transformation will raise his strength another level higher than before."
"Want to see?"
Ichigo steadied his breathing, his expression grave.
He knew Aizen was strong.
If he weren't strong, Kisuke and the Captains of the Gotei 13 wouldn't pay him so much attention.
But being strong to this extent truly exceeded Ichigo's expectations.
"Yeah, I want to see!"
Ichigo nodded. "I want to know just how big the gap between me and Aizen is."
"Alright then."
Kyoya nodded.
"If you don't know and go fight Aizen in your current form, you'd probably really die at his hands."