When Ikkaku Madarame called out his Zanpakuto's name, Ichigo Kurosaki had already raised his guard inwardly.
Sure enough, after Ichigo used Zangetsu to block Ikkaku Madarame's Kidōmaru, Kidōmaru instantly split down the middle from its spear form, the two halves connected by a chain.
Nunchaku?
The broken end whistled through the air toward Ichigo's head.
Clang!
Ichigo raised his left hand and blocked that half of the spear shaft.
"I mean..."
Ichigo looked up at Ikkaku Madarame.
Did this guy think he was deaf?
He had so obviously said, "Split," just now. Anyone could have guessed something would change.
But before Ichigo could finish, his pupils suddenly contracted.
Clack...
The chain rattled. The second section of the spear shaft that Ichigo had blocked with his left hand suddenly came apart, another length of chain appearing in its middle.
The transformed Kidōmaru was not nunchaku at all, but a three-section staff!
The third section, tipped with a spearhead, shot toward the left side of Ichigo's head.
Slice!
Blood sprayed out and scattered across the ground.
Ichigo threw his head back to the right, and a wound seven or eight centimeters long appeared on his left cheek.
Even now, Ichigo's eyes still held lingering fear.
Fortunately, the third section had not been long enough. After he dodged, it had only cut a shallow gash.
Otherwise, half his head might have been sliced off.
This guy was really going for the kill?
"Hey, Ichigo Kurosaki..."
Retracting his three-section staff, Ikkaku Madarame grinned wickedly at Ichigo. "Are you looking down on me?"
"Or did you think breaking into the Seireitei was just some kind of game?"
During his second battle with Ichigo, Ikkaku Madarame had discovered Ichigo's greatest weakness.
Ichigo had no killing intent when he fought.
The last time had been fine. Ikkaku