Intense Battle

The battle continued to rage on.

Swish!

Madarame Ikkaku gripped his spear tightly. As he swung it with full force, the fierce winds that followed were wild and untamable, resembling the presence of an undefeated war god. After readjusting himself, the bald-headed warrior quickly regained his aura.

"Saikyō, can you feel it? The roaring fighting spirit inside me!" Ikkaku declared, as he brandished his red-tasseled spear and, in a flash, charged forward like lightning.

Having suffered a setback earlier, Ikkaku immediately launched a fierce counterattack.

"He's fast..."

Though Saikyō had mentally prepared himself, he was momentarily taken aback by the speed at which Ikkaku disappeared from sight. His opponent's swiftness surpassed his expectations.

But Saikyō quickly regained his composure. Without changing his expression or position, he remained still, showing no signs of dodging or evading.

"You're not even going to move? Saikyō, should I call you brave or reckless?" Ikkaku's voice rang out unexpectedly. His spear tip glistened as it cut through the air with great precision, aiming directly for Saikyō's head.

"Madarame Ikkaku..."

"I have to admit, your strength is impressive. But in battle, raw strength alone doesn't always guarantee victory." Saikyō spoke calmly, despite the impending danger.

As the tip of Ikkaku's spear neared his head, Saikyō swiftly recited, "Carriage of Thunder, gap of spinning wheel, this object has light, one divides into six! Bakudō 61, Rikujōkōrō!"

With the chant, several radiant beams of light materialized around Ikkaku, trapping him within their grasp.

The sudden display of Kidō shocked everyone present.

"That's...!"

"The full incantation of Rikujōkōrō!" Ayasegawa Yumichika, observing from the sidelines, exclaimed in disbelief.

Though familiar with Bakudō, Yumichika was astonished that a mere student from the Shin'ō Academy could execute such a high-level Kidō with such precision and power.

The spear, halted a mere meter away from Saikyō, hovered in the air as Ikkaku struggled against the bindings.

"I said before, brute force alone isn't enough to win a fight," Saikyō remarked, his smile growing.

"Hmph! You brat! Don't think you can lecture me!" Ikkaku gritted his teeth. Despite his fierce attempts, he found himself unable to break free of the light prison.

Both Ikkaku and those watching were perplexed by the strength of Saikyō's Kidō. Even Yumichika, along with the spectators, was filled with doubt.

"Madarame Ikkaku, why not just admit defeat? You're powerless right now," Saikyō said, smiling as he watched the bald warrior struggle.

"Shut up!" Ikkaku's face turned crimson with frustration, his Reiatsu surging as he resisted the light prison's hold.

Crack!

Saikyō's eyes widened slightly as cracks began to form on the light prison. "He's breaking through..."

Ikkaku, through sheer will and Reiatsu, was forcing his way out of the Kidō. Saikyō couldn't help but admire the strength before him.

At that moment, Saikyō released the spell of his own accord.

After witnessing Ikkaku's indomitable fighting spirit, he realized this wasn't a battle he wanted to end just yet. A rare opponent had appeared, and Saikyō intended to enjoy the fight to its fullest.

"Ikkaku, you think I'll let you go that easily?" Ikkaku misinterpreted the situation, believing he had broken the Bakudō by his own power.

With a loud roar, Ikkaku charged again, spear glinting with deadly intent. But Saikyō, effortlessly, intercepted the attack mid-air with his Asauchi, neutralizing the blow.

"That was a powerful strike, but...," Ikkaku muttered. Despite his countless battles, the force behind Saikyō's strikes was unlike anything he'd ever felt.

Though Saikyō's blade appeared ordinary, it concealed an array of unpredictable elemental forces—lightning, fire, water—that flowed seamlessly together, amplifying the power of each slash.

With another wave of energy, Saikyō sent Ikkaku flying once more.

"Madarame Ikkaku, do you understand now who's in control here?" Saikyō called out confidently.

Ikkaku, undeterred, refused to back down. His pride as a warrior of Northern Rukongai would not allow him to fall until he had given everything in the fight.

Yumichika, watching intently, was forced to acknowledge Saikyō's overwhelming power, as he muttered to himself, "His Hakuda, Kidō, and now even his swordsmanship... this guy is a force to be reckoned with."

---

As the fight continued, the tide of battle had become clear: despite Ikkaku's relentless fighting spirit, he was slowly being overwhelmed.

"Don't lose, Ikkaku! We can't let him defeat us like this!" Yumichika shouted, desperate for his friend to hold on.

"No need to tell me that!" Ikkaku grunted as he readied his spear again.

Despite his injuries, Ikkaku's resolve never wavered. He lived by the belief that a battle wasn't over until the last drop of blood was shed.

"Madarame Ikkaku, if you have nothing left, this fight is over!" Saikyō declared, raising his Asauchi, ready to end it.

But Ikkaku, refusing to surrender, charged again with everything he had. However, Saikyō had already seen through his attack.

With a sudden surge of Reiatsu, Saikyō chanted, "Hadō 73, Sōren Sōkatsui!"

A double lotus-shaped fireball materialized in Saikyō's hands, unleashing a scorching wave of destruction. The flames roared as they exploded forward, engulfing everything in their path.

"A Sōren Sōkatsui...! How can he know such advanced Kidō!?" Ikkaku's eyes widened in shock.

The massive blast sent Ikkaku hurtling through a sea of flames. Even Yumichika, watching from afar, felt the intense heat.

When the flames subsided, Ikkaku emerged—battered, burned, but still standing.

"You're... stronger than I thought, Saikyō..." Ikkaku said, blood dripping from his wounds, yet his eyes gleamed with excitement.

Despite being on the verge of collapse, Ikkaku's fighting spirit remained unbroken.

"I won't fall until I've fought Kenpachi!" Ikkaku grinned through the pain.

Saikyō raised an eyebrow. "The Zaraki District?"

As Ikkaku mentioned his goal, the atmosphere shifted subtly.

"Looks like we might have more in common than I thought..." Saikyō murmured, a small smile playing on his lips.