"Come on! Come on~"
Ichigo knew it wasn't a provocation, but he couldn't control his anger. He wasn't intimidated, absolutely not! As long as he was faster...
And so Ichigo disappeared. Byakuya remained surrounded by countless flower petals. Simultaneously, Ichigo's location became Byakuya's target, and the amplification from his Spiritual Power senses naturally included an amplification of his perception.
Dozens of flower petals shot out, facing the equally fierce Getsuga Tenshō. Ichigo dodged repeatedly, unleashing Getsuga Tenshō as if he didn't need any Spiritual Power.
Each Getsuga Tenshō was blocked by a petal shield, which wasn't difficult for Byakuya. Many of the petals that had been laid out on the ground had already risen into the air, appearing to be piled up to block the Getsuga Tenshō. Therefore, Byakuya himself was somewhat open.
The black blade was obstructed by the petals. Although it pierced through the obstruction, Byakuya only needed to retreat slightly to render the attack futile. One hand was aimed at Ichigo's position. Ichigo tried to draw his sword, but found that the petals tightly bound his Tensa Zangetsu, and more and more petals were joining in. Then, one hand was aimed at him.
"Ahhhhh!" Ichigo roared in anger, a massive Explosion of Spiritual Power erupting from his body. Tensa Zangetsu had greatly enhanced Ichigo's Spiritual Power, allowing Ichigo to frequently create such Spiritual Power Explosion.
This Explosion of Spiritual Power shattered the countless petal blades that were enveloping him, but millions of petals continued to converge on Ichigo. Finally, Ichigo drew his own blade and charged towards a certain spot, amidst continuous Explosions and slashes, managing to escape the Killing Formation.
However, a knife suddenly appeared, withstanding the force of the Spiritual Power Explosion but slashing his calf. Ichigo turned around, and a knife flew towards him. He swung his knife to deflect it, Ichigo wondering why a knife had appeared.
Dozens of swords shot towards him, and even as Ichigo deflected them with his continuous slashes, he was constantly being pushed back. The power within these swords was incredibly strong, far surpassing that of flower petals.
"Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo unleashed Getsuga Tenshō once more. This was a Getsuga Tenshō that had been slightly charged up. Because of the enhanced Spiritual Flow energy of Tensa Zangetsu, the power of this slightly charged Getsuga Tenshou was significantly greater than before.
Byakuya realized this as well, but it was merely a matter of forming a larger petal shield with more petal blades. This didn't stop Byakuya from setting up something else. "Annihilation Scene! Annihilation!"
On the ground and in the air, the dozens of swords that had just been launched at Ichigo coalesced into nearly 150 swords from six directions, all aimed at Ichigo's location, and then shot out.
Ichigo tried to parry and move away, but then realized this wasn't working. The continuous attacks contained hidden sword techniques, and the direction from which they came felt like someone was actually fighting Ichigo in close combat.
However, a problem arises: Ichigo's Zanjutsu isn't strong. He's only been using a sword for less than six months and has never formally studied Zanjutsu. Even if Ichigo possesses Zanjutsu talent surpassing even Kenpachi Zaraki, he still couldn't possibly surpass any Soul Reaper in Zanjutsu.
Moreover, he didn't have the means. Under these circumstances, facing Byakuya's well-planned flying swords, Ichigo to cope. This outcome was definitely not what he wanted, but he had no other choice.
In this way, Ichigo can't even attack Byakuya; he can only use Shunpo to manipulate the swords. But he has to move his body, while Byakuya only needs to move the swords. That's how Senbonzakura works.
Ichigo knew this wasn't a solution. He didn't even have time to unleash Getsuga Tenshō; the incoming blades could ignore his Spiritual Power Explosion, since it was just an emergency Explosion, far too rudimentary.
"This is unbearable!!" Ichigo was truly at his wit's end, so he had no choice but to rely on another power.
Ichigo gathered ominous, dark Spiritual Power in his hands, and with a sudden pull from his forehead downwards, a Horned Mask with Black-Red Markings and White appeared on his face, bringing a sense of exhilaration.
The shouts were accompanied by electronic music, "Ah~!"
Explosion of pitch-black Spiritual Power erupted, fundamentally different from the Explosions Spiritual Power. The Reiatsu more than tripled, and Byakuya's flying swords lost their aim under the influence of this Explosion.
"What is that?" Byakuya didn't ask the question aloud; it remained a question in his mind. At the same time, countless flower petals enveloped Byakuya —the best way to deal with the unknown.
However, the black blade pierced through the nearly five-meter-thick petals. Byakuya could feel his petal blade being forcefully pushed aside. It turned out that the Spiritual Power explosion wasn't the strongest Reiatsu; the Reiatsu of his protective Spiritual Power was, and it was actually able to push aside his petal blade.
In this situation, Byakuya's petal blades are completely ineffective against Ichigo, just like when Kuchiki Ginrei faced the Scorpion Vasto Lorde during that war.
However, Ichigo is different from that Scorpion Vasto Lorde, the biggest difference being speed. Byakuya and Ginrei Kuchiki are also different; Byakuya doesn't have as many flower petals as his grandfather, and there's a gap in the accumulation of time.
So the next moment, the black blade pierced halfway into the blade again, in the same spot. Byakuya knew this was Ichigo's attack after he had suddenly left and then returned. However, before Byakuya could think any further, the same attack occurred again, this time with the blade completely embedded in the blade, less than a foot away from Byakuya.
With a tremor of his hands, Byakuya appeared outside the petals. Countless petals anticipated his arrival, and Ichigo, also anticipated, plunged headfirst into the sea of petals.
Byakuya was somewhat disheveled at this moment, because the speed at which the petals moved was no match for his Shunpo), and he still suffered dozens of cuts from them. However, this also gave him an opportunity to attack.
"Ultimate Scene!" Byakuya unleashed his strongest killing scene, even more powerful than the original "Gokei." While "Gokei" is an arena for Byakuya to fight his enemies, "Ultimate Scene" contains only enemies, granting him the power of life and death.
"Destroy!" His hand clenched tightly, and countless blades within the Ultimate Scene began to fly towards the center, then the area began to shrink, with blades constantly filling the gaps until finally, the enemy was brutally killed.
However, to Byakuya's surprise, his Ultimate Scene suddenly trembled as it shrank, the violent force causing the entire Ultimate Scene to loosen somewhat. Fortunately, the Ultimate Scene did not shatter.
However, before Byakuya could even catch his breath, the second tremor arrived, in the same location but with even greater intensity. This reminded Byakuya of the moment when the black blade pierced through the petal-shaped protective shield.
"How can there be such a ferocious guy!" Byakuya didn't know whether to admire or feel helpless, because the third attack had arrived, Byakuya could see with his own eyes that Ultimate Scene's stability was being shattered.
Inside the Ultimate Scene, Ichigo's face twitched, but he was powerless to stop it; another fully charged Getsuga Tenshō was unleashed.
"Don't try to control my body!"
"Are you an idiot!? If you don't do this, you'll die here like a moron!"
In the midst of the argument, another Getsuga Tenshō.
"This is my body!"
"I don't want to die with you!"
"Get out of here! I clearly had five minutes of stable time!"
"Five minutes?! That's only because I'm letting you have it. If I weren't, you wouldn't get a single second. Quiet down, you piece of trash!"
The final Getsuga Tenshō created a gap in the Ultimate Scene. Ox-Head Ichigo immediately charged towards the gap, deflecting dozens of incoming blades along the way. He then slashed at the gap with his sword, unleashing a Getsuga Tenshō at point-blank range, finally shattering the gap and bursting out despite the Spiritual Power.
"You bastard!!"
"Hmph~, go ahead and play with it~"
"Huh?"
Ichigo froze, then saw countless petals instantly surround him again, and Byakuya's hand was also aimed at him. Ichigo immediately Shunpo get away, but this time it wasn't Ultimate Scene, but...
"Final Scene: Modified, White Emperor Sword"
Countless petals formed a gigantic lightsaber, much like Sajin Komamura's Shikai Tenken, the massive blade slashing out. However, even the Tenken Myōō was no match for the White Emperor Sword's power.
Ichigo had just regained control of his body and was desperately trying to dodge the sword strike, but a sudden force blasted him away. Not only did Ichigo avoid the attack, but he also used the opportunity to rush towards Byakuya.
Only in his mind did Ichigo hear that incredibly mocking "trash~", but there was no time to care now; defeating Byakuya was the priority.
Byakuya abruptly pulled his outstretched hand back, "Annihilation Scene! Return!"
Ichigo around, and the massive lightsaber shattered into countless blades, which then rained down upon him like a storm.
"Whoa~ Ahhh!!" Six figures leaped off Sōkyoku Hill. These were the six onlookers from before: Kaien and His Wife, and the four Vice-Captains who had blocked their way. They were just watching peacefully, but who would have thought this battle of gods would injure innocent bystanders? It looks like they're going to tear Sōkyoku Hill down!
But while they could run, Ichigo couldn't. At that moment, Ichigo sudden inspiration struck Ichigo. Ignoring the myriad swords behind him, he charged straight at Byakuya and unleashed a devastating slash.
Byakuya had few flower petals left; most had been used to create the White Emperor Sword. He could only condense a single blade to clash with Ichigo, but he was clearly no match. Ichigo to back down, unleashed a Getsuga Tenshō at point-blank range.
Byakuya also tried his best to counter with his Spiritual Power, but he was no match for him and was blasted away by a single strike.
From afar, all those watching the battle atop Sōkyoku Hill could see the towering black Spiritual Power, and at its foot, a much shorter white hill. Then, the black mountain collapsed, completely engulfing the white hill.
As the Spiritual Power dissipated, Byakuya's body was tattered and broken, his Kenseikan was shattered, and his hair was completely disheveled. He looked just like Renji in the original story, completely battered and bruised. His right arm hung limply, broken into countless pieces.
"Cough cough~", Ichigo collapsed to his knees, seven swords embedded in his body. His right shoulder was pierced by a bullet, two swords crossed over his abdomen, his calves were pinned to the ground, and there was a sword on each of his left upper and lower arms, as well as a sword on his right arm, though it only cut him in the upper part.
"Ah~!" Ichigo, in his Bull Visored form, actually possessed a Hollow power within him, deflecting the sword that had struck his right arm, though he spat out a fair amount of blood. He then released Tensa Zangetsu and slapped the sword off his shoulder.
Ichigo screamed in pain again, but this only fueled his ferocity. Before he could even reach for the remaining swords, they flew out of his body. Ichigo looked around; blades were flying everywhere on the ground.
"Hey~ Can you take another stab from me?" Seeing this, Ichigo's anger flared. What? This isn't over yet?
However, Byakuya suddenly knelt down. His right arm was completely severed, and he couldn't support himself, falling to the ground and crushing the severed arm. The pain was excruciating; Byakuya gritted his teeth, but he couldn't move.
"I won~", Ichigo appeared before Byakuya and removed his Hollowfication Mask.
Byakuya lay on the ground and sighed, "Ah~, you won."
"Well, I don't understand grand principles either, but I obey the law in the World of the Living because it's right. But are the laws of Soul Society really right? Rukia only gave her power to someone else in a desperate situation, why should she die for it?"
Byakuya closed his eyes. "That's probably it," he said.
Ichigo helped Byakuya up. "I still need to find Rukia. Find someone to treat you yourself. See you later."