Battle Against the Three-Digit Arrancar (I)
In the vast emptiness deep within Las Noches, moonlight streamed through unknown cracks, casting a silvery halo over the three massive stone pillars and the figures standing atop them. The atmosphere was heavy; a battle was imminent.
Upon hearing Liu Hao's arrangement, Renji Abarai immediately showed a displeased expression. He took a step forward, his tone laced with complaint. "Hey, hey, Liu Hao! Why didn't you arrange an opponent for me?"
Liu Hao turned his head, looked at him, and calmly asked, "Do you have any new abilities you want to test?"
Renji Abarai scratched his head, his imposing manner immediately weakening. "No... but my strength has increased quite a bit, too."
Liu Hao nodded, his gaze returning to the three figures. "The three of them need to adapt to their newly acquired power. It's good to let these former Espada members test and adapt to their new power. After all, our future opponents will be the real Espada, and their strength is worlds apart from these few."
These words silenced Renji Abarai. He watched the backs of Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora Sado, and finally just nodded and stepped aside.
Ichigo Kurosaki has approached his opponent— Dordoni Alexandria Socaccio, the 103rd Espada. This horned Arrancar leaped down from the stone pillar and landed in front of Ichigo Kurosaki, a confident smile on his lips.
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at him, his tone pleading. "Can't you really just let us through like this?"
Dordoni shook his head, his smile unchanged, "No way, buddy."
Ichigo Kurosaki sighed and simultaneously drew his two brand-new Zanpakuto from his waist and back—a long sword and a short sword, their hilts wrapped in white cloth strips that gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
"In that case, I'll have to offend you."
Dordoni's gaze fell on the two swords, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "Are these your new Zanpakuto? I know you Grimmjow Zanpakuto these. But—"
He paused, a hint of provocation in his voice. "I'd rather see you wearing a mask."
Ichigo Kurosaki's expression remained unchanged; he simply replied calmly, "Then I'm sorry, I'm afraid I cannot grant your request."
Dordoni drew his Zanpakuto, its blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight. "Is that so? But I'll force you to wear it."
Before he finished speaking, he had already moved.
Dordoni was incredibly fast, reaching Ichigo Kurosaki in the blink of an eye, his Zanpakuto sweeping across. Ichigo Kurosaki raised his longsword to parry, and sparks flew as the blades clashed.
But Ichigo Kurosaki's expression remained calm. He didn't even use his short sword; he simply held the long sword in one hand and easily blocked all of Dordoni's attacks.
One slash, two slashes, three slashes— Dordoni's attacks grew faster and fiercer, but Ichigo Kurosaki remained calm and composed, as if strolling in a garden.
Dordoni finally realized the gap in skill. He leaped backward, creating distance between himself and Ichigo Kurosaki, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.
"It seems I'm no match for you in my normal state," he muttered, then gripped his Zanpakuto. "In that case—"
He Zanpakuto high above his head, his Reiatsu rising rapidly. "Spin, Baron of the Storm!"
The moment the words of liberation were uttered, a violent whirlwind erupted from his body. The whirlwind spun around him, faster and stronger, until it completely engulfed his figure.
As the whirlwind gradually dissipated, Dordoni had completed his Resurrección. Several whirlwinds were wrapped around his feet, each with a sharp, dangerous white beak-like tip. His body was covered by a thin layer of armor, and he exuded Reiatsu several times stronger than before.
"Take this!" Dordoni raised his leg, making a kicking motion. As he moved, the whirlwinds wrapped around his feet seemed to come alive, rushing towards Ichigo Kurosaki. Each whirlwind carried the power to tear everything apart, leaving a sharp whistling sound in the air.
Ichigo Kurosaki watched the oncoming whirlwinds with a calm expression. He flashed forward, using Shunpo to easily dodge all the whirlwinds' attacks. The whirlwinds crashed into the stone pillar behind him, leaving deep grooves in the pillar.
As he dodged, Ichigo Kurosaki swung his long sword, and a golden crescent moon flew out from the blade— Getsuga Tenshō.
The golden light instantly shattered the pursuing whirlwinds, its momentum undiminished, heading straight for Dordoni.
Dordoni's expression changed, and he hurriedly kicked out repeatedly, releasing more whirlwinds in an attempt to block it. But those whirlwinds were as fragile as glass in front of the golden crescent moon, shattering at the slightest touch.
Getsuga Tenshō struck Dordoni head-on.
Boom--
A burst of golden light erupted, and Dordoni's body plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily to the ground. His Resurrección state automatically deactivated, and he lay amidst the rubble, panting heavily.
Ichigo Kurosaki walked up to him, sheathed his twin swords, and looked at him.
Dordoni used his Zanpakuto to support himself and barely managed to stand up. He looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, his eyes filled with complex emotions—resentment, disappointment, and a hint of relief.
"I didn't expect..." his voice was hoarse, "That I couldn't even get you to use your Bankai or that Hollow mask. It seems I've really fallen behind."
Upon hearing this, Ichigo Kurosaki scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile.
"Actually... I'm stronger now than I was in my previous Bankai and Hollowfication states. And right now, I can't use Bankai or Hollowfication."
Dordoni's eyes widened, and he asked incredulously, "Why?"
Ichigo Kurosaki's expression turned serious. He looked down at the twin swords in his hands, his tone thoughtful. "Before, I was like a child holding a sword, only knowing that the sword could hurt people, but not knowing where the sword came from. Now, at least I know where the sword came from, and I can forge my own sword with my own power. It's just that I can't fully use this power yet, so I can't unleash its full potential."
Dordoni fell silent. He looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, at the young Soul Reaper, and after a long while, slowly spoke, "I see..."
As soon as he finished speaking, his body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, completely losing consciousness.
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at him, nodded slightly, and then turned and walked back to Liu Hao's side.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield...
Uryū Ishida stood before Tirute Sandervich, his expression calm and his gaze focused. The female Arrancar, number 105, looked down at him from a stone pillar, a contemptuous smile playing on her lips.
"Oh?" Tirute's voice was laced with sarcasm. "Did they send you here to die?"
Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "It's still too early to tell who will emerge victorious."
Tirute laughed, a hint of mockery in her smile, "Young man, confidence is a good thing. But too much confidence is not good."
She raised her hand, and a peculiar weapon appeared in it—a yo-yo shaped device with a saucer-shaped disc at the front, connected by a thin thread. With a flick of her wrist, the disc seemed to come alive, shooting straight towards Uryū Ishida with a sharp whistling sound.
Uryū Ishida immediately activated his Hirenkyaku, his body shifting several meters to the side in an instant to avoid the attack. At the same time, he raised his right hand, and Reishi condensed in his palm, quickly forming a brand new Reishi Bow.
The bow glowed with a blue light, its main body composed of intersecting long and short crosses and octagons, its shape ancient and mysterious, radiating a powerful Reiatsu.
Ginrei Kojaku – A new power that Uryū Ishida gained after removing his Sanrei Gloves.
Without hesitation, he immediately fired two arrows at Tirute. The blue Reishi arrows drew two graceful arcs in the air, aiming straight for Tirute's vitals.
Tirute tugged at the threads in her hands, and the saucer-shaped disc instantly flew back, blocking her path. The Reishi arrow struck the disc, emitting two bursts of light, but the disc remained intact.
Uryū Ishida didn't stop attacking. While maintaining his distance from Tirute, he spoke with a hint of confidence in his tone, "Since returning to the World of the Living world from Soul Society, my father has required me to no longer participate in any battles involving Soul Reaper and Hollows. Instead, I've been undergoing Quincy training in a specially made room at home."
He raised the Ginrei Kojaku, displaying it fully before Tirute: "The Ginrei Kojaku in my hand is a new Reishi Bow I created after I was able to completely remove the Sanrei Gloves, gaining a tremendous boost while controlling myself to avoid being devoured by that power."
Tirute's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her sneer, "So what?"
A faint smile appeared on Uryū Ishida's lips, "My Ginrei Kojaku can fire 1200 shots in a row. So, from now on, you'll be overwhelmed by my attacks."
Tirute was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, Uryū Ishida had already raised Ginrei Kojaku again.
Instantly, a dense rain of Reishi arrows erupted from the Ginrei Kojaku, covering all of Tirute's dodging space like a torrential downpour.
Tirute's expression changed drastically. She immediately activated her Sonído, and her body vanished in an instant, reappearing on another stone pillar. She looked back at the spot where she had just stood—the huge stone pillar had been shattered into pieces by the rain of Reishi arrows, with fragments scattered all over the ground.
"It seems this young man's strength is indeed not to be underestimated." Tirute's voice held a hint of seriousness, but even more so, excitement. "However, I hope you can maintain this level of performance."
She gripped her weapon tightly, her Reiatsu surging rapidly. "Sever it— Golondrina!"
The moment the words of liberation were uttered, a whirlwind enveloped her. The whirlwind grew stronger and denser, until finally two enormous wings emerged from it—wings like those of a moth, covered with strange patterns.
As the whirlwind subsided, Tirute had completed her Resurrección. She transformed into a half-human, half-moth form, her enormous wings flapping gently, each flap generating a high-frequency vibration that caused the surrounding air to hum.
"Handsome boy," Tirute's voice came from her new form, tinged with a dangerous laugh, "I hope you won't be torn to pieces. Severed Wing!"
She suddenly flapped her wings, and countless black, feather-like blades flew out from them, densely packed like a black storm, rushing straight towards Uryū Ishida.
Uryū Ishida immediately used his Hirenkyaku to dodge, while simultaneously unleashing a dense rain of arrows at Tirute. However, Tirute simply raised its wing and lightly blocked, deflecting all the Reishi arrows without leaving a trace.
Tirute laughed, a laugh filled with smugness, "This kind of attack is truly meaningless."
She flapped her wings again, and another swarm of black blades flew toward Uryū Ishida.
As Uryū Ishida dodged, he tried to use his Reishi arrows to block the incoming blades. But to his astonishment, the Reishi arrows were shattered the moment they touched the blades.
Tirute's laughter grew louder. "My wings vibrate constantly, generating immense destructive force through high-frequency vibrations of 1.2 to 1.3 million times per second. And when your Reishi arrow touches the feather, its Reishi structure is instantly shattered by the feather's vibrations. So—"
She looked down at Uryū Ishida, her tone declaring victory. "Your Reishi arrows can't harm me at all. So you've already lost."
Uryū Ishida stopped in his tracks. He looked at Tirute, his expression remaining calm.