A Bloody Battle

"Fight?" Grimmjow stretched his almost rusty body. Ever since meeting Tsuna and the others, his desire to fight hadn't been as strong, but that didn't mean he was a reason for some random stray dog to bully him.

His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists, twisted his neck, and tilted his head back with a fierce look on his face. "I'll kill you!"

"That's more like it, let's fight!"

Ikkaku became even more excited; Grimmjow's reaction pleased him even more. A timid coward was not his type.

He stepped forward, spear in hand, and appeared in front of Grimmjow with Flash Step, thrusting his Grimmjow towards him.

Grimmjow didn't even try to dodge; he simply flicked out his claws and pressed down on the tip of Hozukimaru's spear, letting Hozukimaru graz his head.

"Is that all? Then die!"

Grimmjow conjured Cero with his other hand and fired it at close Ikkaku, the beam instantly shattering the building at his feet.

"This is really dangerous. As expected of a Hollow of the Espada level, that's what makes it so interesting!"

Grimmjow was an opponent that Ikkaku actively chose. Originally, according to the tactical arrangement, it would have been easier for Ikkaku to fight two against one, but his respect for the battle made him want to finish the fight alone, even if it might cost him his life.

"Go all out!" Ikkaku held Hozukimaru horizontally in front of him and shouted, "Bankai!"

A substantial spiritual pressure, resembling blood and qi, swirled around Ikkaku. Hozukimaru split into three sections, transforming into three enormous axe blades that appeared on Ikkaku's left and right hands and shoulders, respectively.

At first glance, it doesn't look much different from the Ryumon Hozukimaru, but the dense aura of blood around it hints at a difference from Ikkaku past.

Blood energy coiled around the three axe blades, gradually revealing the shape of three blood-red dragons. There was nothing special about it; this was simply the change after Ikkaku stopped hiding Hozukimaru's restored abilities.

"Dragon Blood Hozukimaru." Ikkaku said with a serious expression; he was absolutely serious when it came to battle.

"This spiritual pressure..." Grimmjow drew his Zanpakuto. Ikkaku's spiritual pressure was already enough to make him feel some pressure. "Playing around with it won't be bad. Let it creak, Pantera."

Zanpakuto 'Grimmjow Resurrección to its original Gillian form, his long blue hair and close-fitting armor barely appearing before Grimmjow claws were already slashing at Ikkaku's face.

The claws slashed across the axe blade with a piercing sound. Ikkaku was not distracted by the noise of Grimmjow's Resurrección, but remained fully focused on the battle.

Grimmjow's figure kept flashing around Ikkaku, each time he appeared he would launch a claw attack at Ikkaku, Ikkaku was always on the defensive.

"Choosing me as your opponent is your misfortune!" Grimmjow's face gradually broke into a smile, his previous frustration slowly dissipating during the battle. "You are completely countered by me!"

Ikkaku did not launch a verbal retaliation. He had already considered this from the moment he chose Grimmjow as his opponent. It was only a brief moment of forbearance before his blood boiled and he began to act.

Grimmjow didn't notice that with each attack, the blood energy leaking from Hozukimaru had already wrapped around his body like plants.

Seizing the opportunity, the blood energy swirled around him instantly, just as Grimmjow flashed into view of Ikkaku.

"A great opportunity!"

A smug grin spread across Ikkaku's face as he swung his axe, a crimson aura illuminating the blade, and brought it down fiercely towards Grimmjow.

When it comes to action, it goes all out. Once fully accepted, Dragon Blood Hozukimaru doesn't need to be awakened like Ryumon Hozukimaru; it's at its peak from the moment it reaches Bankai.

Grimmjow seemed to see a giant Dragon Mouth tearing at him, but his body was bound by blood energy and he couldn't move. In his haste, he could only shoot Cero from its mouth to defend himself.

The crimson strike forcefully broke through Cero Grimmjow and landed on Grimmjow from the pillared palace with a single blow.

"What a pity, but that's what makes it interesting!" Ikkaku's face was full of the pleasure he felt from the battle. He walked to the edge of the palace, jumped, and chased after Grimmjow in the direction he had fallen.

That last Ikkaku was aimed at Grimmjow's neck, but it was deflected by the Cero, moving from his neck to his chest. This means Grimmjow will definitely still be able to fight.

"Damn it! You've successfully angered me!"

Grimmjow stood up, clutching the wound that had spread from his shoulder to his lower abdomen. He had almost lost his Hollow Hole along with the attack from Ikkaku, so of course he wouldn't hold back anymore.

Looking at the Ikkaku that had fallen from the sky, Grimmjow gathered ten azure spiritual pressures in his hands, which transformed into extremely sharp claws and firmly fixed them to his hands.

The Pantera Claw, but this time Grimmjow didn't throw out all ten claws at once. Instead, he used them as extensions of his claws, gathering power in his hands.

Before Ikkaku could land, he saw sharp claws attacking him. As usual, he used Hozukimaru to block, but as soon as they made contact, Ikkaku realized something was wrong.

The sounds emanating from the claws and Hozukimaru were far too shrill; Ikkaku even sensed Hozukimaru trembling.

"Tremble, Bleach," Grimmjow said softly as he appeared behind Ikkaku. His earlier attack hadn't been entirely in vain; in the intense clash, he had discovered Ikkaku's Zanpakuto's weakness.

This knife doesn't seem very sturdy.

Claws crisscrossed over Hozukimaru. Grimmjow no longer used his speed for ghostly attacks; he directly confronted Ikkaku, his extra-long Pantera Claw granting him mid-range attack capabilities.

However, Ikkaku was outmatched. Unlike Zabimaru, his Hozukimaru couldn't extend, and with the added weight of the equipment, it only worked properly in his hands. Judging from the situation, he was once again being suppressed by Grimmjow.

However, Grimmjow failed to notice that Ikkaku's lips were always turned up, and he showed no signs of anxiety despite being suppressed.

Ikkaku was well aware of Grimmjow's purpose and knew Hozukimaru's weaknesses all too well. Even so, Ikkaku had no intention of using his spiritual pressure to protect Hozukimaru.

Because once Ikkaku fully accepted Hozukimaru, Hozukimaru's weaknesses no longer needed protection.

Another, even more piercing sound rang out, followed by a cracking sound, and the axe blade on the right side of Dragon Blood Hozukimaru shattered instantly.

Grimmjow laughed and flung out the Pantera Claw. Ten sharp claws combined to form a dense net of attacks, shattering the axe blade in Ikkaku's left hand.

"Bleach, without your weapon, you have no chance of winning," Grimmjow said arrogantly.

"Haha!" Ikkaku laughed instead of being surprised, grabbed the axe blade on his back and said seriously, "My name is Ikkaku Madarame, you, remember that!"

The dragon pattern on the middle section of the axe blade of the Dragon Blood Hozukimaru shone brightly. As Ikkaku of the axe blade rotated, two blood dragons shot out from the connection points on the left and right sides. The shattered blades transformed into sharp Dragon Scales scales that clung to the dragons' bodies, becoming their strongest weapons.

This is Ikkaku's Bankai after fully accepting Hozukimaru: Dragon Blood Hozukimaru. Dragon Blood is the core of this Bankai. No matter how many times Hozukimaru is shattered, it can be restored to its original state by relying on the connection of Dragon Blood.

Similarly, Ikkaku can also rely on Dragon Blood as the main weapon in battle, attaching fragments of the axe blade to it for attacks.

This is the Dance of the Blood Dragons, Ikkaku, along with two others, attacks Grimmjow.

Grimmjow was fearless, and once again conjured the Pantera Claw, occasionally spitting out Cero from his mouth, as he unleashed his full power.

The two clashed fiercely, the blood dragon's scales leaving scratches on Grimmjow's body, Grimmjow's Cero also managed to find an opportunity to hit Ikkaku with a shot.

The two men were sustaining more and more injuries, but their ruthlessness remained undiminished. Both were battle maniacs, and their fighting strength was now extremely close. They both understood that whoever relaxed first would be the loser in this battle.

Eventually, someone will be the first to give in. The probability of a lose-lose situation is extremely low, and Grimmjow was the first to lose his temper.

Rather than saying he couldn't hold back his anger, Grimmjow was more likely to want to unleash a torrent of curses.

That's so unfair! Absolutely so unfair!

When Grimmjow saw the blood and sweat dripping from the Dragon Blood Hozukimaru Blade onto Ikkaku his body, he finally lost his composure.

Grimmjow couldn't believe his eyes; the blood on his Zanpakuto was actually healing Ikkaku of its wound!

What happened to the plan for the two of them to exchange wounds? How Ikkaku Madarame not only exchanges wounds but also has self-healing abilities? The first drop of blood stopped the bleeding from the wound, the second drop scabbed over it, and the third drop completely healed the wound.

Grimmjow to inflict injury on Ikkaku Madarame with his own wounds failed; his momentum was waning, while Ikkaku grew stronger with each battle.

Seeing Grimmjow's devastated face, Ikkaku couldn't help but feel a surge of pleasure. It was exactly that expression; he had the same look when he had the chance to fight Captain Unohana back then.

He finally managed to inflict some damage on Captain Unohana, but once the blood pool passed, Captain Unohana recovered completely, while Ikkaku had exhausted both his spiritual pressure and willpower.

That devastating sense of relief was Ikkaku understood very well, which is why he only revealed his Bankai's restorative abilities when the battle between the two sides had reached its climax.

After getting caught in the rain, of course you'd want to break someone else's umbrella, especially if that person is your rival.

I'm sorry, Grimmjow, but in the despair of seeing no victory, you are defeated!

Dragon Blood Hozukimaru returned to its original three-section form, with three giant dragons the Roar and unleashing their three blades simultaneously. The three dragons bared their fangs and claws, lunging at Grimmjow.

At this point, the protective net woven from the Pantera Claw, now exhausted, was like a tattered fishing net, utterly useless. This battle would ultimately end with Grimmjow being killed by Ikkaku bite.

Having lost three of his limbs, Grimmjow lay on the ground without struggling. The belief that only the victor would survive and the loser would be eaten was the guiding principle that sustained him.

But why is Ikkaku Madarame's spiritual pressure starting to recede?

"Why? Why not kill me?" Grimmjow asked, his voice tinged with emptiness. Was he not even worth killing?

"I'm having a blast! What do I care if you live or die? My mission is to reclaim Las Noches, not to kill people!"