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The four of them moved through the dense forest.
The change in the nature of the situation caused them to shed their previous relaxed demeanor, their expressions becoming grim.
Ishikawa Katori placed his Zanpakuto across his waist, thinking about how he should respond if he encountered a battle while on the move.
Currently, he was not suited to participate in high-intensity combat. Although he had retrieved his Zanpakuto from the Supervisory Team as a precaution, it might not play a significant role in the upcoming battle.
Current Experience Points: 5172.
This was all the experience Ishikawa Katori had accumulated in a week.
Of this, 3200 came from Yachiru's '14' points of affection, built from scratch. Of the remainder, 1920 came from Soi Fon's recent 6 points of affection, and the extra 52 points were obtained from ordinary Squad Members and Rukongai residents.
His experience points were quite ample, but no matter where he invested them, they couldn't immediately improve his physical condition.
Ishikawa Katori glanced at Ikkaku Madarame beside him. If necessary, he could only rely on this one, provided he didn't pull any 'rather die than Bankai' stunts…
"How much further is it?"
As if sensing Ishikawa Katori's gaze, Ikkaku Madarame asked.
"The location I previously scouted is probably near that distinctly protruding ridge."
Ishikawa Katori didn't hide anything, pointing out the approximate location to the three, and continued, "Our arrival will very likely be detected by the other party, so from now on, no matter what, do not split up."
Ikkaku Madarame said, "Don't worry, I'm not confident enough to solo a Captain yet…"
Ishikawa Katori's pupils contracted, and a warning sign appeared in his heart without warning.
Almost the instant the warning appeared, he lunged at Ikkaku Madarame, who was walking alongside him, like a mad beast, using his body as a ram.
Ikkaku, completely unprepared for Ishikawa Katori's sudden charge, was sent flying sideways. Before he could understand what was happening, a blade tip, like a venomous snake that had been lying in wait, sliced through the air, narrowly grazing Ishikawa Katori's shoulder.
This scene caused Ikkaku's pupils to contract.
Because, if he hadn't been knocked away by Ishikawa Katori just now, that blade would have directly pierced his heart.
Ishikawa Katori's lunge was incredibly fast. Since they had been using Shunpo to travel, both of them lost their balance upon impact and went tumbling away.
"Oh!"
A surprised gasp was heard.
Following that were the roars of Ayasegawa Yumichika and Abarai Renji.
"Bloom, Fujikujaku!"
"Roar, Zabimaru!"
Almost a second after Ishikawa Katori and Ikkaku were sent flying, both of them simultaneously released their Zanpakuto, striking at the approaching figure.
The sound of straw sandals rubbing against the ground was heard. Before his body could stop, Abarai swung his Zanpakuto.
After Shikai, Zabimaru's snake-fang-shaped blades split section by section, and the blade body whipped out like a long whip, interposing itself between the assailant and Ishikawa Katori, preventing any further pursuit.
And Kiyone, with a stomp of his foot, turned and, forming a pincer attack with Abarai Renji, struck at the figure with the claw-shaped blade in his hand.
Sizzle, sizzle—
On the other side, Ishikawa Katori, after tumbling once, quickly adjusted his posture, using his feet for support, burying his left hand's five fingers into the soil, stabilizing his body while his right hand pressed on the sword hilt.
Almost at the same time he stopped, Ikkaku Madarame, who was nearby, also stabilized himself.
Both of them looked towards the center of the field, only to see a figure completely enveloped in a black cloak and wearing a mask, standing where they had been. One hand held Zabimaru's blade, and the other wielded a sword, blocking Kiyone's attack.
Not a single trace of Reiatsu was leaking out!
The inside and outside of the black cloak were like two different worlds. Not to mention Reiatsu, not even a wisp of spiritual energy was emitted.
Ikkaku Madarame glanced at Ishikawa Katori, and seeing that only his clothes were torn, he grinned. His fighting spirit surged, and he charged directly towards the center of the battlefield.
Thanks, obviously, were not something to be said during a battle. After surviving, he could thank him however he wanted!
"Extend, Hozukimaru~!"
With his Zanpakuto released, the long spear pierced through the air, and Ikkaku Madarame moved with the spear, instantly reaching the side of the black-cloaked figure.
Ishikawa Katori did not follow, but his mind was rapidly working at that instant.
The target of the attack was Ikkaku Madarame!
If it wasn't a coincidence, then it meant the opponent knew Ikkaku very well, even knowing that he had hidden his strength, which was why they chose to ambush Ikkaku.
Plus…
That black cloak that could conceal all traces of Reiatsu.
The opponent's identity…
It wasn't hard to guess!
…
At the same time, in the Human World, Urahara Shop.
When they saw the black-cloaked figure appear on the screen, the man and the cat, who had been relaxed, both changed their expressions simultaneously.
"Kisuke, is that…"
"Yes, it's the black cloak I developed. Once worn, it only requires a small amount of Reiatsu to completely hide the user's Reiatsu and presence."
Urahara Kisuke stood up, taking a deep look at the screen, and said, "I need to go to Soul Society."
"I'll go with you!"
…
Very strong!
Ikkaku Madarame blocked a strike, his body sliding backward.
Both the Reiatsu and the Zanjutsu were undoubtedly Captain-level.
All three of them had released their Zanpakuto with Shikai, but they still couldn't do anything to the opponent.
There were no superfluous movements. It was unclear if there were countless eyes behind that dark iron mask, but no matter where the three of them attacked from, the ordinary long sword in the opponent's hand could block their attack path in the first instant.
It was fluid and graceful, yet the force of each strike was astonishingly powerful.
Ikkaku Madarame took a deep breath, stomped his foot on the ground, and charged forward again.
Clang—!
The long spear was blocked. Ikkaku's Reiatsu surged, restraining the blade, and he sneered, "Although you are very strong, attacking us with an ordinary blade is a bit too arrogant, or rather…"
"Are you afraid that your Zanpakuto will expose your identity?"
A strong gust of wind howled. Ayasegawa Yumichika appeared behind the black-cloaked figure, swinging his Fujikujaku horizontally like a paper fan.
"Bakudo No. 30: Shitotsu Sansen."
A bizarre double melody emerged from the black cloak's mouth, a sound like speaking into a fan, giving off a chillingly eerie sensation.
Bang!
A circular shield appeared out of thin air behind the black cloak, blocking Ayasegawa Yumichika's attack.
At the same time, Renji's Zabimaru blade split section by section, using the speed of the split to strike the mask on the cloaked figure's face with its topmost blade.
The black-cloaked figure tilted its head, dodging the attack, but the dark iron mask covering its head was directly scratched, forming a crack.
"Hmm?"
Ikkaku Madarame, who was closest, subconsciously looked into the crack, but before he could clearly see what was inside, a layer of bone-white mask suddenly appeared from under the crack in the dark iron mask.
This scene caused Ikkaku Madarame's pupils to contract, because the bone mask under the dark iron mask was very similar to a Hollow's mask.
The next second.
A massive pressure erupted. Although there was no Reiatsu leaking out, all three of them couldn't help but tremble.
Hum—
A sound like a noise-reduced sonic boom rang out. The three of them saw a flash, and the black-cloaked figure instantly vanished from its original spot.
"Renji!!"
Ikkaku Madarame's pupils contracted, and he immediately shouted a warning.
However, it was still too late…
Without warning, a cold, gleaming blade rapidly expanded in Renji's pupils.
Too fast!
Only this thought had time to flash through his mind. Renji didn't even have time to retract his sword to block, he could only watch helplessly as the blade drew closer and closer, feeling the sharp gust of wind blowing towards him.
And just at this critical moment, six light fragments suddenly formed around the black-cloaked figure, fixing it in place in front of Renji.
"Bakudo No. 61: Rikujokoro!"
After the six light fragments restrained the black-cloaked figure, Ishikawa Katori's soft chant only then came from afar.
Crack, crack—
However, the six light fragments only hindered the black-cloaked figure for an instant before cracks appeared on them, and they began to collapse!
"Chariot of thunder, gap of the spinning wheel. This object has light, divided into six!"
The timely Post-chanting slowed down the collapse, causing the six light fragments to repeatedly oscillate between collapsing and repairing.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Renji's gaze was somewhat dazed; he had never been so close to death as he was just now, even feeling the illusion that he had already died in that instant.
With a flash, Ikkaku Madarame appeared between the cloaked figure and Renji, his long spear held horizontally across his chest.
"Don't space out!"
The voice in his ear brought Renji back to his senses, but before he could make a move, he heard a 'crack', and the six light fragments that had restrained the black-cloaked figure simultaneously exploded.
Clang—
The whistling sound of the blade cutting through the air was incredibly heavy, and it instantly struck the long spear that Ikkaku Madarame held horizontally across his chest.
Whoosh—!
Blood splattered before Renji's eyes. Ikkaku Madarame's long spear, held across his chest, broke into two, and his body was sent flying backward like a kicked ball.
"Mr. Ikkaku!"
Renji's pupils contracted, completely breaking free from the fear of impending death. He gave up on retracting his sword and instead swung it horizontally.
With a muffled thud, the black-cloaked figure actually restrained Zabimaru's blade with just one hand. No matter how hard Renji tried, he couldn't pull his Zanpakuto back.
What on earth happened to him?
Why did his killing power suddenly increase so much after the dark iron mask cracked?
Clang—
With a crisp sound, the black-cloaked figure held its blade horizontally above its head, blocking Ayasegawa Yumichika's downward strike.
"The bones of beasts, scattered like stars, pagodas, crimson crystals, and wheels of steel! Movement is wind, stillness is void, the clash of spears echoes through the empty city…"
The chant rang out again. Accompanied by the chant, terrifying Reishi gathered like a tsunami, and dazzling lightning exploded like a bolt from the clear sky.
"Hadō No. 63: Raikōhō!"
Roar—!
A deafening roar. Lightning traversed the void. The three people within the lightning's range simultaneously retreated, even Kiyone and Renji, because the attack covered both of them.
Rumble—
A violent explosion followed, and endless soil shot into the sky, the impact spreading out with scorched dust.
"You bastard, are you trying to kill us too?!"
With a flash, Ayasegawa Yumichika appeared on the outskirts of the battlefield. As soon as he appeared, he cursed at Ishikawa Katori in the distance with a dark face.
Ishikawa Katori ignored him…
If these two guys had held on a little longer, his Raikōhō might have hit.
Although, even if it hit, the opponent might be fine, but Kiyone and Renji would likely be severely wounded.
However…
Ishikawa Katori shifted his gaze, looking at the black-cloaked figure who had also appeared outside the Kidō's range.
He hadn't intended for this Kidō to hit; it was merely to attract attention and cover the sound.
"…Hozukimaru!"
The roar came almost simultaneously with the falling thunder… No, more precisely, the roar and the thunder sounded at the same time, but the roar was covered by the thunder until the thunder stopped, only then reaching everyone's ears.
The tsunami-like Reishi that had gathered with the Raikōhō did not disappear with its cessation; instead, it intensified.
The black-cloaked figure also noticed this, suddenly raising its head and looking into the sky, its body trembling slightly. For the first time since the battle began, it showed an emotional fluctuation.
A huge crescent shovel descended in a straight line from above the black-cloaked figure's head, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.
That was…
Ikkaku Madarame!!
At this moment, Ikkaku Madarame was no longer holding a long spear, but a large broadsword in his left hand, a crescent shovel in his right, and an axe blade with a dragon pattern connected to his back.
—Bankai: Ryūmon Hōzukimaru.
How could this be?
The black-cloaked figure was not surprised that the opponent could use Bankai, but Ikkaku Madarame had taken a direct hit from him to protect Renji and was already severely wounded.
Why could he return to the battlefield so quickly and immediately release his Bankai?
But the attack from above didn't give him time to think further. The huge crescent shovel instantly smashed down.
Bang~
Amidst a massive explosion, with the point where the crescent shovel landed as the center, trenches spread out in straight lines to both sides. The earth itself seemed to be split in two at that instant!!
"Did Mr. Ikkaku use Bankai?"
Seeing this, Renji's eyes flashed with anticipation.
Ayasegawa Yumichika, on the other hand, looked towards Ishikawa Katori on the outskirts of the battlefield.
This guy…
He's truly versatile!
Although he hadn't seen the specific process, from the time Ikkaku was injured to his reappearance, only a little over a minute had passed. In this short minute, the deep, bone-exposing wound on Ikkaku's chest had already scabbed over.
And this minute also excluded the time spent casting Raikōhō to provide cover for Ikkaku's Bankai.
"Cough, cough—"
Ishikawa Katori coughed, his brows slightly furrowed. His physical condition was worse than he imagined. Just standing on the outskirts of the battlefield, using Kaido, Bakudo, and Hado to assist the three, still caused signs of spiritual power stagnation within him.
If it were just physical injuries, it would be fine, but Ishikawa Katori's injury was to his Spirit Core, which was the core of a Shinigami. Every time he used Reiatsu, it would worsen the injury to his Spirit Core.
In such a state, participating in such high-intensity combat would only make him a burden to the other two, just like Renji, who lacked combat experience!
Bang—
Just then, in the center of the battlefield, two figures simultaneously retreated.
The black-cloaked figure slightly turned its foot, sliding several meters sideways before stopping. The ordinary blade in its hand was already broken, and even its arm that held the blade had a large scar cut into it.
Releasing its grip, the broken blade was casually discarded. The black-cloaked figure looked at its arm.
Sharp!
After Bankai, Ikkaku Madarame's Reiatsu increase wasn't significant, but the three distinct giant blades were all incredibly sharp, sharp enough to cut through its Hierro.
However…
It wasn't much trouble.
The black-cloaked figure moved its arm, and the scar on it healed in the blink of an eye.
This scene caused everyone's pupils to contract.
Super-fast regeneration?
What kind of humanoid creature was under that black cloak?
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter