"Sorry for the trouble."
A powerful gust spread out from where the blade and hilt connected. Wherever it passed, the outer shell seemed to peel away, transforming it into a long spear clutched in Ikkaku Madarame's hand. "But I'm sure you won't mind me using my Zanpakuto, right?"
"Of course."
Duan Mu nodded. Thunderous lightning crackled around him, tearing away the last strips of cloth covering his upper body and revealing his powerfully built physique beneath the black work clothes.
If he had a choice, he would have preferred to continue fighting Ikkaku Madarame with wooden swords.
But his Zanjutsu was still too weak. He already struggled just to resist Ikkaku Madarame before Shikai, let alone Ikkaku after Shikai.
Duan Mu did not attack immediately. Instead, he carefully observed Ikkaku Madarame's Shikai. He had known for a long time that Zanpakuto could be released, but this was the first time since arriving in Soul Society that he had seen someone release a Zanpakuto before his eyes. The change in the blade was extremely bizarre.
Shikai was the first-stage release form of a Zanpakuto. Although it did not greatly increase its wielder's spiritual pressure, the released Zanpakuto possessed different abilities. In fact, Duan Mu felt that rather than calling it a release, Shikai was the Zanpakuto's true form.
Ikkaku Madarame's Zanpakuto did not possess the various strange abilities of other Shikai, but it was still not to be underestimated. After releasing their Zanpakuto, every Soul Reaper would develop the combat style best suited to them based on its released form.
"Your first time seeing one?"
"Yeah."
"Then open your eyes and watch carefully!!"
Ikkaku Madarame laughed heartily. He no longer held the spear in one hand, but gripped it with both hands and spun it in a flourish. "I gained an