"It hurts… what just happened?"
Kurosaki Ichigo, blood streaming down his face, stood frozen in shock.
How could he be overwhelmed like this—especially right after activating Bankai?
Akira hadn't even used his full power yet. The fusion of his flame and lightning techniques hadn't been applied, and yet Ichigo had already taken a devastating blow.
What Ichigo didn't realize was that after Akira awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, even though he hadn't gained Tsukuyomi, the enhanced hypnotic illusions he wielded were even more potent. Even someone with overwhelming Reiatsu like Ichigo could be caught off guard in an instant.
"Damn it…! There was never such a huge gap before!"
Ichigo's eyes burned red with frustration, his spiritual pressure flaring wildly.
Clutching Tensa Zangetsu's hilt tightly, he prepared to swing—only for a sudden surge of electricity to shoot through his entire body.
"A-Aaaaghhhh!!"
He screamed, his body paralyzed as the shockwave spread through his limbs.
"I never said you could move. Who told you to move?" Akira remarked indifferently.
In mere seconds, Ichigo had been rendered incapable of even lifting his blade.
But in the next moment, an ominous red-black Reiatsu surged from his body.
"Oh?"
Akira raised an eyebrow—just as a Getsuga Tenshō erupted from Ichigo, slashing toward him in a crescent arc.
"Damn… Damn it… DAMN IT!"
Akira leaped back, distancing himself. Ichigo had risen once again, but what truly caught Akira's attention wasn't his resilience—it was the source of his newfound power.
Ichigo's Substitute Shinigami Badge was glowing, continuously radiating spiritual energy.
"This is… Fullbring?"
Akira's eyes narrowed in intrigue. Since when did Ichigo unlock his Fullbring abilities?
Why did Ginjō Kugo and the others reach out to him so early?
Ichigo, equally surprised, stared at Akira. "How do you know about Fullbring?!"
As their eyes met, a sudden dizziness overtook Ichigo—his body stiffened involuntarily.
When he snapped back to awareness, his fingers instinctively clenched—only to realize his Substitute Shinigami Badge was gone.
"W-What!?"
Akira's voice echoed behind him.
"So this is your 'new ability'? Why did XCUTION approach you so soon?"
Ichigo whirled around in shock—Akira stood there, casually examining the badge in his hand.
"W-When did you—!?"
The realization sent a chill down Ichigo's spine. Just like before, he hadn't even noticed when it happened!
"You—how do you know about XCUTION!?"
"I ask the questions. Don't answer with another question."
Akira's foot struck out in a powerful kick—but this time, Ichigo was ready.
With the enhanced speed of his Bankai, he crouched low, dodging at the last second.
Just as he prepared to counterattack, a sudden purple light flared around Akira.
"Boom!"
A massive Susanoo fist materialized from nowhere, slamming into Ichigo mid-dash.
"Urghh—!!"
Ichigo was launched backward, crashing through dozens of gravestones before skidding to a halt.
Smoke and dust settled around him as he gasped for breath.
"...I'm getting destroyed out here…"
Rukia had already covered her face, feeling as though she had faded from view.
She didn't interfere because she believed Akira was calculated and wouldn't kill Kurosaki Ichigo over such a minor conflict.
However, something felt off—Ichigo had suddenly frozen several times during their brief exchanges.
It was as if a mere glance from Akira had the power to overwhelm him, leaving him on the verge of being cut down in an instant.
"Bastard… what the hell kind of trick is that?!"
Ichigo groaned, struggling to push himself up—only to be met by an incoming attack!
Whoosh!
A high-speed arrow shot toward him. He barely managed to intercept it, slashing it apart with Zangetsu, but the impact sent a loud shockwave rippling through the air.
Before he could recover—
Whoosh!
Another arrow was already upon him!
"Wha—?!"
Ichigo gasped in pain as the projectile pierced through his shoulder, pinning him to the ground.
Each manifestation of Susanoo bore a distinct weapon with unique abilities. Akira's Susanoo wielded an enormous bow—its greatest trait was overwhelming speed.
Its arrows were relentless.
Even Danzo, with all his experience, had been too slow to react. He had been forced to rely on Izanagi to survive after being struck. And now, even Ichigo couldn't keep up.
"The same question. I won't ask again."
Akira, from within Susanoo's massive frame, drew back the bowstring, aiming another arrow at Ichigo.
"So, if you don't want to suffer—answer me."
Ichigo glared up at him, his eyes blazing with defiance.
"Like hell I'm answering you, bastard…!"
Akira exhaled sharply. Without hesitation, he tossed Ichigo's Shinigami substitute badge aside. Susanoo's bowstring tensed—he was about to release another shot.
Rukia's eyes widened in alarm.
"Wait! Aki, you've already gone too far—just stop here!"
Her voice, however, came a fraction too late.
Whoosh!
The arrow streaked through the air. Ichigo's pupils constricted. But—
It didn't hit him.
Instead, it struck a seemingly empty space beyond him.
BOOM!
Five figures were forcibly ejected from the shadows!
As they landed, their forms became clear—each was clad in dark green garments and armor.
A woman among them, her brow damp with cold sweat, exhaled sharply. She was the one who had intercepted Susanoo's arrow—though at a cost. The chained twin blades in her hands had shattered, and the arrow had slightly punctured her abdomen.
"I didn't expect to be discovered," she muttered. "Captain, you're impressive. You even saw through the Ryūdōji family's concealment techniques…"
Akira's voice was cold and indifferent.
"No matter how advanced the technique, trying to deceive me is pointless."
The woman gritted her teeth.
"Hah! You talk big. But in the end, your surprise attack was still—"
Before she could finish, Susanoo's arrow was suddenly engulfed in searing black flames.
"Wha—?!"
An instant later, the black flames erupted across her body.
She screamed in agony as the relentless fire consumed her.
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