Bleach: Awakened — Chapter 48 - The Eve of What Is Coming

Watching the beast charge at him again, Ichigo was getting annoyed. This kind of opponent seemed like it would revive infinitely unless you killed it outright, and every time it came back it was a little stronger, though the gains were so modest that who knew how long it would take to reach a level actually worth fighting.

"Way of Destruction, Number Thirty-Three—Azure...!"

Ichigo Shunpo'd to Byakuya Kuchiki's side and drove a kick straight into his gut, forcing the rest of the Kido incantation back down before it could finish.

BOOM!

"If you're out of energy, stay down."

Byakuya Kuchiki hit the nearby wall like a cannonball and crumpled into the rubble. He tried to struggle upright, but without spiritual pressure to protect him, that kick had left his entire body screaming in pain, and he couldn't rise.

"WRAAAAAAAAAH!"

The beast had already closed the distance, roaring. Ichigo raised his blade once more, steel met steel, and the beast's eyes burned with pure madness as it swung in a relentless frenzy, the clashing ringing out in a sharp, rhythmic beat.

"That's about enough." Ichigo tucked the short blade back at his hip. "Think you can walk all over me?"

Under Kenpachi Zaraki's disbelieving gaze, his battered, broken sword was caught bare-handed by Ichigo.

Just like that. Bare-handed.

"You're still not enough. Not yet."

Blut Arterie running at its limit, thin lines of blood seeped from his fingertips. Even at Ichigo's current level, catching Kenpachi Zaraki's strike bare-handed was pushing it.

"Come find me again when you've found your true self." His gaze sharpened. He lifted the long blade high and smiled. "When that day comes, don't be the same as you are now."

SHHHK,

The blade swept across. Blood sprayed. Kenpachi Zaraki's eyes went blank, and the spiritual pressure that had been struggling to reignite guttered out, injuries too severe, body unable to bear it.

"And that still isn't fatal..."

Muttering, Ichigo flicked the long blade to scatter the blood from its tip, then settled it across his back once more.

"Hey! You over there! Take them back!"

"On it!"

Before the words had fully faded, a small figure with pink hair came bounding out of a nearby shadow. She looked for all the world like a young child, guileless smile and all, but the wooden tag on her left shoulder marked her as a lieutenant.

"Thank you, Ichigo!" She gave him a quick bow, face full of that innocent smile. "Kenpachi had a great time! Thank you!"

"...A great time?" Ichigo's mouth twitched. "You call that a great time? If someone had beaten me that easily I'd have gone and found a block of tofu to smash my head into."

"It really was a great time." She smiled. "It was a crushing defeat, but he had a great time."

"First time I've ever run into something like this, no matter how many times you cut it, it feels like it just won't die; no matter how much stronger it gets, it still doesn't feel like enough... Kenpachi will get even stronger! When that time comes, please fight with him again!"

"Ugh..." First time Ichigo had ever faced this particular situation. It took him a good moment before he managed: "I don't mind... but if it's the same as this every time, I'll get bored of it."

"It won't be!" The small figure turned serious. "Kenpachi will get even stronger... stronger and stronger."

"Then I'll look forward to it!"

The pink-haired girl hoisted Kenpachi Zaraki onto her back and headed off toward Squad 4. Byakuya Kuchiki's injuries were light, once his spiritual pressure recovered he'd be able to move again, and his mind was still clear enough even now.

"Ichigo Kurosaki..." Byakuya Kuchiki said softly. The ornament in his hair had come loose, leaving it falling freely around him, none of the cool composure from before. "Do you intend to face all the Captains of the Gotei 13 like this tomorrow?"

"Of course." Ichigo said. "Counting the two of you, five Captains have already been defeated by us. Add the two we sparred with, and that's seven, more than half the Captains have lost to us already. Do you still think you have a chance?"

"I don't know who those two are, but since you say it, I take it that it is so." Byakuya Kuchiki said slowly. "However, do not take the Captains lightly. Several of them are stronger than I am, and by a great deal. A very great deal."

"Especially the Soul Reaper who commands the Gotei 13. The strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years. His power defies all common sense."

"Ah, we can talk about that tomorrow." Ichigo waved a hand, completely unconcerned. "Never mind how strong he is, I've already decided to protect them, and I'm not the type to quit halfway."

"Is that so..." Something unreadable moved through Byakuya Kuchiki's tone. "Rukia Kuchiki... has made a good friend..."

"Well..."

The blunt words actually made Ichigo a little embarrassed. He called out to Orihime Inoue and walked off. Renji Abarai's injuries had already stabilized, and the rest could be left to the medical staff.

And with that, the battle was over.

Karakura Town's strongest, Ichigo Kurosaki, vs. Squad 6 Captain Byakuya Kuchiki and Squad 11 Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.

Ichigo Kurosaki. Overwhelming victory.

Night. In an underground space near the site of the Sokyoku, the World of the Living team regrouped. This had once been the training room used by Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara. After Yasutora Sado had gone down, they'd brought Sado here to rest, and with Orihime Inoue's healing, Sado was back on both feet and full of energy.

"Let's go over tomorrow's tactics." Yoruichi Shihoin, in human form and the only adult in the group, took charge. "The Captains still available as combat strength are Squad 1, Squad 2, Squad 4, Squad 8, Squad 9, Squad 10, Squad 12, and Squad 13, eight Captains in total."

"Of those, the Squad 1 Captain—and Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13—old man Yamamoto is the strongest. Aside from Ichigo, anyone else who faces him will be wiped out almost instantly."

"Hold on." Ichigo cut in. "Toshiro Hitsugaya of Squad 10 shouldn't move against us. Right now Hitsugaya is investigating Sosuke Aizen."

"Because of Isshin Shiba, I take it." Yoruichi Shihoin nodded and continued. "Squad 4 Captain Retsu Unohana likely won't make a move either. Squad 12 Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi probably won't do much at first, but after gathering enough intelligence, may act when the battle is entering its final stages. Some of Mayuri Kurotsuchi's technological creations are beyond even Kisuke Urahara in certain respects."

"Damn it!" Uryu Ishida said, reproaching himself. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have let Mayuri Kurotsuchi walk away yesterday!"

"It's fine." Ichigo waved it off. "That type won't cause any real trouble. Don't worry about it."

"Squad 8 Captain Shunsui Kyoraku and Squad 13 Captain Jushiro Ukitake may not necessarily act either. I've dealt with both of them before, they're smart. More likely than not, they'll choose to wait and observe."

"That leaves Squad 2's Sui-Feng and Squad 9's Kaname Tosen." Yoruichi Shihoin's expression turned serious. "The latter is on Sosuke Aizen's side!"

"Is that right... no wonder I never heard anything about Kaname Tosen. Probably been busy working behind the scenes." Ichigo smiled. "If that fox-face wasn't already stone dead, Kaname Tosen probably would've come out to make an appearance by now."

➤ Next: A Day Destined for the Annals of History