Chapter 78 Shinigami from 273 Years Ago—Koral
"Swing it! Skysuck. "
As the incantation concluded, the Shinigami's sword sliced effortlessly through the air like a delicate ribbon.
"What is this. . . Zanpakutō? "
Before Ichigo could reply, the enemy grabbed their Zanpakutō and proclaimed, "Swing ~ Swing! "
In an instant, Ichigo felt an unexplainable compulsion to focus on the opponent's blade, his gaze locked against his will on the Zanpakutō that was in the hands of his foe.
"What strange power is this! "
Ichigo desperately tried to redirect his attention, but in the blink of an eye, the enemy's Zanpakutō was suddenly at his face.
"Puff——"
Carrying Nell made Ichigo's movements awkward. Even as he utilized Shunpo to avoid the crucial blow, his right sleeve was still cut.
Blood seeped from the wound as Ichigo scowled at the shinigami, placing Nell down, ripping off the damaged sleeve, exposing his bare arm.
"Nell, stay hidden with Bawa Bawa; he is aiming for you."
"Understood, Nell will be extra careful. "
Just as Nell prepared to flee, the shinigami launched another surprise strike, showing a complete lack of honor.
Snap—
Ichigo seized the opponent's arm with determination, coolly stating, "I may not fully grasp your past,"
"But I will not excuse your ambush on my ally! "
With that, Ichigo lifted his elbow and struck hard at the bridge of the enemy's nose.
Puff
As blood gushed uncontrollably, the the shinigami's already intimidating look intensified, becoming even more fearsome.
"Hehe, Shinigami, you actually consider Arrancar your ally? "
"Then, does that make me your adversary? We have tirelessly ventured to Hueco Mundo for the Soul Society. Thirty-seven of us, lie buried here, what of the Shinigami slain by the Arrancar? "
Suddenly, the shinigami appeared furious, a fiery glint igniting in his eyes as he directed his Zanpakutō toward Ichigo, declaring, "You, are unworthy of the Shinigami title,"
"You shall pay dearly——————"
Boom! !
The blue Reiatsu surged upward, matching that of a typical captain.
"Skysuck- draw body"
Instantly, the enemy's Zanpakutō locked on to Ichigo, causing his entire body to move involuntarily toward it.
"Not just sight, but my body can be manipulated too? "
Ichigo held back his thoughts, lifting his Zanpakutō and shouting passionately, "Bankai! Tensa Zangetsu! "
The combination of red and black Reiatsu formed into a massive blade slash that cleaved directly toward the opponent.
However, the attack strayed from its mark.
"Bankai, huh? Well, you're clearly more than worthy of disdain! "
"Skysuck- Outsight "
No sooner had the enemy executed a new maneuver, Ichigo found himself unable to visually track the opponent's whereabouts. Regardless of where he looked, fleeting shadows obscured his sight entirely, preventing clear recognition.
Utilizing Shunpo to lift himself off the ground, Ichigo closed his eyes and engaged his spiritual senses to sense the opponent's presence.
The opponent's strength seems to arise from his Zanpakutō, merging spiritual and regulatory powers. He would have been a captain with his strength.
Suddenly, Ichigo was assaulted from all directions at once, yet the assailant's speed was no match for Ichigo's own.
A dark afterimage zipped past, dodging the opponent's attacks, resulting in Ichigo finding himself positioned behind them.
"Getsuga tenso! "
The crimson and obsidian crescent wrapped around Tensa Zangetsu, striking the enemy at dangerously close proximity.
The explosion triggered by the Getsuga tenso created tremendous plumes of smoke, and shortly after, Ichigo landed, a peculiar expression on his face.
He distinctly felt the impact of his close-quarters strike, yet his instincts insisted he had not hit the target.
"Is it an illusion? "
As the smoke dissipated, the opponent emerged completely unharmed.
"Huh. . . ? "
"So close? "
Ichigo's eyes expanded in surprise as he surveyed the scene before him.
At that moment, the opponent's voice rang out again.
"Truly, that was powerful—slash! But compared to that bastard, it's significantly inferior! "
Suddenly, the shinigami's expression shifted dramatically; his formerly white eyes turned a deep crimson, akin to those of a ferocious beast.
"Who are you? " Ichigo swallowed nervously and asked his question.
"Me? Who am I? "
Suddenly, the shinigami transitioned from a flat tone to fluent speech.
"I am the third captain of the expedition from Soul Society, two hundred seventy-three years ago! "
"I'm Shinigami, Koral! And you are nothing more than a traitor who has betrayed the trust of Shinigami and allied with an Arrancar! "
"I represent Soul Society, and you shall face the repercussions! "
While speaking, the Shinigami named Kolar revealed half of a white mask along with his incomplete face. The mask featured various patterns reminiscent of human traits.
"Hollow? Are you becoming Hollow too? "
"No, this seems to be beyond just Hollow; the Reiatsu has become severely muddled. "
Ichigo covered his face with his hands, bowed his head, and whispered, "If that's the case, then I must go all out. "
As a red and white mask emerged on Ichigo's face, the two locked gazes, one airborne while the other stayed on the ground.
Nell and Bawa Bawa hid behind the large white tree, nervously watching the clash unfold.
"I'm going to give it everything I've got this time, so feel free to employ your trick to evade my strike again! "
"Escape? "
Koral laughed contemptuously, replying, "You seem to have misunderstood the situation entirely. I merely stood still without hiding at all because.
Your attack completely missed me! "
"Is that so? Then perhaps you should consider not moving! "
Ichigo held Tensa Zangetsu tightly with both hands, the red and black Reiatsu streaming along the blade like a blazing fire.
"Extreme Getsuga Tenso! "
With Tensa Zangetsu drawn back, Ichigo leapt into the air, aiming towards Koral.
"Bankai? You're not the only one with such powers, kid! "
"Such hubris! "
As Ichigo approached, Koral gripped his Zanpakutō with one hand, lifting it into the air, and declared, "Refraction between the arcs of the sky, Sky Devourer !''
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