Chapter 49: The Reason for Craving the Title of "The Strongest"
Whether cutting a Soul Reaper or a Hollow, the tactile sensation upon impact is usually exhilarating; one can clearly feel the resistance of the enemy's skin and flesh as it is cleaved. However, what had just occurred was diametrically opposite.
In that fleeting second, Ichigo Kurosaki had discarded all wariness and defense. His skin and flesh had embraced the incoming blade with the tenderness of a lover or a kinsman.
Kenpachi Zaraki had never cut such a "gentle" enemy! It was a gentleness so eerie it made his skin crawl.
Kenpachi didn't have time to dwell on it further. His vision suddenly spun; the world's colors faded into a monotone black and white. A shockwave of white vapor exploded in his sight, followed by a thunderous roar in his ears...
"What... happened!?"
Confusion filled Kenpachi's heart. Then, the urgent cries of a pink-haired girl reached him:
"Kenpachi! Kenpachi-chan! Are you okay!?"
"Yachiru, shut up!"
Kenpachi grumbled, finally regaining consciousness. He found himself sprawled dozens of meters away from Ichigo. It was only then that a delayed, agonizing pain flared across his face—a pain so intense he suspected all his teeth had been knocked out. Fortunately, it was an illusion; his teeth were intact, though his gums felt significantly loosened.
"Awake? You seemed to black out for a moment. I almost thought I used too much force again. Luckily, your body is a bit tougher than I expected."
Ichigo still had his left hand in his pocket. His right arm hung naturally at his side, though wisps of un-dissipated smoke still curled around his right fist.
"You don't seem to understand what just happened, so let me explain. I clenched my fist and utilized the supersonic movement principle of a whip. Using my arm as a lever and a whip, I transmitted power through flesh and bone to the fist—the tip of the whip—and delivered a supersonic whip-punch to your face. That's the theory. What I'm really trying to say, Mr. Kenpachi Zaraki, is that combat shouldn't be so casual. Focus. It's a matter of respect for both you and me!"
Pausing, Ichigo added:
"I hope you understand. After all, I really don't want to have to ask an enemy: 'Did you forget to eat today? Put some weight into it!'"
Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Kenpachi stood up. His gaze landed on Ichigo's chest; the sword wound from earlier had already healed. He realized Ichigo's mockery wasn't just talk.
"Ryoka kid... I have to admit, the peaceful environment of the Seireitei has indeed made me a bit careless..."
Kenpachi knew that if he continued to swing his blade like that, the outcome would be ugly. He reached up, gripped his black eyepatch, and ripped it off.
Beneath the eyepatch lay not an eye, but a bizarre mouth filled with fangs! (Note: A stylistic choice of this 'Purity' universe's art shift).
As the eyepatch fell, Kenpachi's Reiatsu exploded. A brilliant pillar of light erupted from him, vaguely manifesting as a ferocious beast's face.
"This is a trinket from the Department of Research and Development that constantly devours and suppresses my Reiatsu. Now that it's off, I can start putting in some real effort..."
Facing a "Second-Stage" Kenpachi, Ichigo gave the most direct response: Step, lunge, punch!
The air shattered. Sonic booms rang out one after another, followed by high-pitched screeches. Kenpachi's pupils contracted; he felt he could sense it, see it, and cut it...
That thought lasted until he saw the continuous chain of shockwaves and felt himself being blasted backward again.
Extreme speed and power often share the same roots. Ichigo wasn't just capable of supersonic whip-punches; he moved at supersonic speeds, even changing direction and rhythm mid-dash.
"Mr. Kenpachi, I think if you were truly serious, you wouldn't be holding that piece of scrap iron. I don't know Zanjutsu, but I know that a Soul Reaper's Zanpakuto should be an extension of the limb—a medium for power and will. That thing in your hand is neither. It's just a metal bar you're holding loosely. Its value is lower than your fingernails; at least your nails wouldn't leak so much of your power..."
Ichigo's gaze was cold and sharp. Kenpachi was disappointing him.
Such magnificent battle intent and fierce strength should have been a "Blissful Feast," but paired with a casual, lukewarm attitude, it felt like eating leftovers.
No freshness. No heat. And certainly no Purity.
Tasteless to eat, a pity to discard!
Ichigo's own battle fever began to cool, and he felt the urge to simply turn and walk away. But he endured. He remembered himself—how he looked during his first encounters with Fisher. He hadn't been much to look at then either. It was only later he understood Purity, struggle, and slaughter.
Perhaps now, he needed to be like Fisher and give Kenpachi some "encouragement" as an opponent.
"Mr. Kenpachi, do you know why I came to the Soul Society? It's simple. The world is facing destruction. Of the vast material world, only one city remains. All other humans and cities have become a dream of nothingness. When I first learned this, I was devastated... because I could do nothing..."
Ichigo spoke with unshielded sincerity. The truth of the world being devoured by the Void had been a massive blow to him. He could have stayed a bystander, but his hot-blooded nature and the will to protect born from his kindness wouldn't allow it.
But what could he do?
"I don't have the wisdom of a scientist or the eloquence of a strategist. I'm just an ordinary sixteen-year-old high school student and a martial artist. Against the global crisis of extinction, I was powerless alone. But luckily, a mysterious guy woke me up with a plan that sounded like total nonsense. I still don't know who he is, but I think his words make sense..."
Should he study the Void like Urahara? Impractical. Should he use eloquence to unite the Soul Reapers? He lacked the connections and the silver tongue.
But Mo Yu's "Wandering Ark" plan gave him hope. Through constant thought, he formed his own conviction. Urahara and the others didn't realize that Ichigo hadn't become the "Strongest Creature on Earth" just by beating Fisher; it was the realization that he needed to be the strongest to act.
"In the face of calamity, I am not useless. I have power. And with this power, there are things only I can do..."
His eyes burned with an unspeakable resolve. Coming to the Soul Society was never a whim.
"To save the world, one must reach the Soul King Palace. So I came. I didn't know the way, so I looked for someone who did. If he won't talk, I'll use this power to beat him until he does. Whoever stops me, I will beat them until they submit and follow me. I crave to be the strongest, because only the strongest will and power can realize everything I've said..."
Ichigo clenched his right fist, walking step by step toward the reeling Kenpachi.
For Ichigo, there was only one reason to be the strongest: To crush every difficulty, every dead end, and every "impossible" with his iron fist. And then, as Mo Yu often said...
Like a powerhouse, use one's own will to describe how the world should be!
"Mr. Kenpachi, I brought this power, this will, and this resolve to the Soul Society. And you greet me by pulling your punches for fear of killing me? Do you think that's appropriate?"
Amidst the increasingly violent radiance of his Reiatsu, Kenpachi Zaraki stood up again. He spoke coldly:
"Chirp, chirp, chirp. Do you plan to talk me to death? Come at me!"
Ichigo's gaze fell on Kenpachi's right hand. In that moment, Kenpachi's fingers uncurled. His Zanpakuto hit the ground with a clang. Then, he balled his hand into a tight fist!
Seeing this, Ichigo smiled:
"Mr. Kenpachi, I see you have the talent of a Martial Artist—to prey on everything to grow. Are you interested in swinging your fists with me to save the world?"
Kenpachi didn't answer. He was lost in thought.
Ichigo didn't wait. He lunged with god-speed and threw a simple punch. Unexpectedly—or perhaps, exactly as expected—Kenpachi tilted his body slightly. With the minimum possible movement, he evaded Ichigo's direct strike. As they crossed paths, he unleashed an uppercut aimed straight for Ichigo's chin!
The right fist missed. Ichigo's left hand finally left his pocket, blocking the uppercut. The smile on Ichigo's face transformed into a full "Face Acting" mask of madness. His body swelled violently, rugged muscles filling his frame!
"Excellent, Mr. Kenpachi! Now you and I can finally speak our minds without restraint! KEKEKEKE! LET US PLEASURABLY DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER!!!"
His cooling battle intent rocketed back to the point of explosion! No more lunging, no more dodging. Within a square inch, Ichigo unleashed a barrage of god-speed punches!
End of Chapter
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