Fight to the Death Without Retreat (Combined 4000-Word Chapter) Seeking Recommendation Votes

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Sparks bloomed under the night sky as two figures collided and separated in an endless rhythm.

Kurosaki Ichigo stomped his feet hard against the ground, his gaze locked onto the Zabimaru that Renji held in its Shikai form.

Renji's face, however, was filled with gravity. During their initial exchange, the boy before him had been no match for him at all, but just as he prepared to deliver the killing blow, a terrifying spiritual pressure had erupted from within the boy.

That level of spiritual pressure was at least close to that of a third or fourth seat, and when vice-captains or captains like him arrived in the Human World, four-fifths of their spiritual pressure was sealed to avoid causing too much of an impact.

In other words, despite having only one-fifth of his power, he was actually losing to this amateur Soul Reaper.

"How did you end up over there!" A mocking smile spread across Kurosaki Ichigo's face as his spiritual pressure surged once again. Under this terrifying pressure, Renji felt as if he were trapped in a quagmire.

How is this possible?

Didn't his spiritual pressure come from Rukia? This level of power is definitely not just Rukia's!

"It's over!"

Before the words had fully left his lips, Kurosaki Ichigo leaped into the air, his Zanpakuto held high above his head, and swung it directly down toward Renji.

Renji was startled and instinctively tried to dodge, but he found that under the weight of Kurosaki Ichigo's spiritual pressure, he felt as if he were carrying a mountain on his back. He couldn't move an inch and could only watch helplessly as the blade drew closer and closer!

It's too late!

Kurosaki Ichigo landed instantly in front of Renji, slashing straight down...

The next moment, there was no spray of blood as Kurosaki Ichigo had expected, and his Zanpakuto felt strangely off. When he looked down, his pupils constricted, for his massive blade had... been reduced to nothing but the hilt.

The blade had vanished the very instant it had descended.

"What?"

The Zanpakuto... broke?

Kurosaki Ichigo felt a sense of disbelief at what he saw, and he instinctively looked at Renji, only to find that Renji's face was just as stunned as his own.

Clearly, the destruction of his blade was not the work of the man before him.

Then...

Kurosaki Ichigo turned his gaze toward Byakuya Kuchiki, who stood over twenty meters away. When he saw the half-blade held in the man's hand, Kurosaki Ichigo's mind went blank for a split second!

This is impossible!!!

Seeing Kurosaki Ichigo's gaze, Byakuya Kuchiki tossed the blade fragment aside and slowly gripped the Zanpakuto at his waist. Before Kurosaki Ichigo could even raise his guard, Byakuya Kuchiki had already vanished from his field of vision.

When Byakuya Kuchiki's figure reappeared, he was already behind Kurosaki Ichigo.

Squelch--

Blood sprayed from Kurosaki Ichigo's body. He felt a sharp, stabbing pain, followed by an inexplicable sense of powerlessness washing over him. It felt as if the channels for his spiritual power had been torn apart by that single strike, making it impossible to draw upon his spiritual pressure.

Blood instantly stained the ground red as Kurosaki Ichigo struggled to lift his head to look at the man with such terrifying speed.

"Ichigo!!!"

In the distance, Rukia let out a scream and rushed toward where Kurosaki Ichigo had fallen, but she was pinned against a nearby signpost by Renji, who had scrambled to his feet.

Renji could no longer afford to feign coldness as he had before; his voice was filled with nothing but... pleading: "Don't you understand yet? Your power was 'forcibly taken.' If you go over there and touch him now, your crimes will only be compounded!"

"Red-haired mongrel, get your hands off me!"

Before Rukia could answer, a heaven-shaking roar filled with ferocious intent erupted from afar, causing everyone present to freeze for a moment. In that very instant of hesitation, a loud boom echoed from Renji's chest, and he was sent flying like a cannonball.

After being knocked back a hundred meters, he crashed through a wall before finally coming to a stop. Blood spewed from his mouth, and he clutched his chest, unable to stand for a long time. The single blow had left him severely wounded, and he looked on in horror.

He discovered that where he had been standing—right in front of Rukia—a strange figure had appeared. It was none other than Wu Biao.

At this moment, veins were bulging all over Wu Biao's body, and his eyes glowed with a crimson light. Although he stood in front of Rukia, his blood-red eyes were fixed on Kurosaki Ichigo, who lay in a pool of blood behind Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Was it you?" Wu Biao lifted his head to look at Byakuya Kuchiki, his expression twisted with madness and ferocity.

Byakuya Kuchiki frowned slightly; clearly, Wu Biao's previous speed had caught him off guard. "Who are you?"

"I said..."

Wu Biao lifted his right foot and took a step forward. The ground shattered with a thunderous boom as Wu Biao's figure surged through the debris, appearing before Byakuya Kuchiki with eyes full of murderous intent and madness!!!

"Was it you?"

As he spoke, Wu Biao's fist smashed toward Byakuya Kuchiki with terrifying force. The air hummed as his fist tore through it, clearly indicating that this strike was fearsomely powerful.

A flash of surprise crossed Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes. Without any wasted movement, he stepped back, and a silver light shimmered in the night as his blade was drawn from his waist.

Clang--

The collision of fist and blade rang out like metal striking metal. Invisible ripples spread outward from where they clashed, the terrifying spiritual pressure and immense physical strength colliding repeatedly.

Boom--

Another explosion followed as the blade and fist separated, both figures sent flying backward more than ten meters.

This scene left the only two remaining spectators completely stunned.

A draw?

In the distance, Renji, who had just staggered to his feet from the ground, was filled with shock and horror. Who exactly was this human before him to be able to force Captain Byakuya Kuchiki back?

Even with his power restricted to only one-fifth, a captain still possessed spiritual pressure at least on the level of a lieutenant, not to mention terrifying combat techniques. Yet, he had fought this person to a standstill?

Did this not mean that even in his own prime state, he might not be a match for this person?

"He's become stronger again!" Rukia whispered in disbelief. When they faced that Gillian yesterday, Wu Biao's power definitely hadn't been this terrifying. In just one day and one night, what had this monster gone through?

To think he could fight a captain of the Thirteenth Division to a draw—how... how was this possible!!!

"Your name!" Byakuya Kuchiki asked once again, though this question was vastly different from his previous one.

Asking who someone was is usually just a casual inquiry; whether Wu Biao answered or not, he wouldn't have cared.

But when a man as aloof as Byakuya Kuchiki asked for a name, it meant that Wu Biao had earned his respect. If one had to put it into words, a certain phrase fit perfectly: he would not kill an unknown person under his blade!

Wu Biao did not answer, instead flashing to Ichigo's side.

"Brother... Biao..." Ichigo, who had not yet lost consciousness, looked at Wu Biao crouching beside him, his lips curling into a faint arc: "Take... Rukia and run..."

Hearing Ichigo speak, Wu Biao felt a sudden sense of relief, but looking at Ichigo's miserable state, he felt endless rage rising in his chest... He didn't care at all about Rukia's life or death.

All Wu Biao cared about was the Kurosaki family. Because when he first arrived in this strange world, it was their family that took him in. In Wu Biao's heart, they were all his family.

Ichigo, who called him Brother Biao every day, was his younger brother, yet his brother was now lying in a pool of blood, begging him to take others and run.

How could this not make Wu Biao angry? How could it not make him... go mad!

Anger and madness both needed an outlet, and the target of that outlet was, without a doubt, Byakuya Kuchiki!

Thump—

A sound almost too faint to hear rang out. There was no explosion, no shockwave; Wu Biao's figure simply vanished from where he stood, as if using Shrinking Ground to Inches, traversing space and time itself.

Byakuya Kuchiki's expression tightened slightly. He held his Zanpakuto vertically before his chest and whispered in a cold, clear voice: "Scatter! Senbonzakura!" The moment the words left his lips, the blade disintegrated into countless tiny blades invisible to the naked eye, refracting light like individual cherry blossom petals.

All of this seemed to take a long time, but in reality, it happened in an instant. The blades, now transformed into petals, appeared above Byakuya's head!

Bang—

A dull, heavy thud followed. Wu Biao's figure appeared above the sea of flowers, and the punch he had thrown was actually blocked by those petals that looked as if they would scatter at the slightest breeze. Even Wu Biao's pupils couldn't help but constrict at this sight.

"The Captain (Big Brother) actually released his Zanpakuto?"

The situation on the field had changed in an instant. Rukia and Renji, who were watching from afar, only just reacted, yet they both felt as if they were in a dream.

Because both of them knew Byakuya Kuchiki well; he was a very decisive man. If it were any other captain, they might not have chosen to release their Zanpakuto at this moment, as the opponent was, after all, just a human.

But Byakuya Kuchiki was different; he hated wasting time on meaningless things. There was only one reason Byakuya Kuchiki would release his Zanpakuto: he knew that without releasing it, he could hold his own against Wu Biao, but he could not defeat him.

Rather than trading blows with Wu Biao for a while and then releasing it, it was better to avoid wasting time and release the Zanpakuto immediately to end the fight quickly!

Byakuya Kuchiki slowly raised his head to look at Wu Biao above him. Without any visible movement, those petals acted like living things, surging upward, poised to envelop Wu Biao entirely within the sea of flowers.

Wu Biao's face darkened. The sensation of being sliced under his fist had already made him realize the power of these petals. Being enveloped by them would surely lead to a grim fate, so he didn't hesitate to hammer his right fist downward, using the force to propel himself away.

But after he launched himself, the petals pursued him relentlessly, following close behind at high speed.

As the sea of flowers danced, it drew closer and closer to Wu Biao. These petals formed a scoop shape; the moment they touched Wu Biao, they would wrap around him completely, wantonly slicing every inch of his skin.

Wu Biao's eyes flashed. In the midst of his charge, he landed his right foot and pivoted, spinning his entire body.

The sea of flowers arrived right on time, but as Wu Biao spun, a dense flurry of fist shadows emerged, slamming into every petal that sought to cage him.

Bang, bang, bang, bang...

The roaring sounds were incessant, and Wu Biao's fists were sliced with streaks of blood by the petals.

The scent of blood grew stronger!

But Wu Biao's punching speed grew even faster. Every time he threw a punch, blood sprayed into the night sky.

"Get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost, scatter for me!!!" Red light appeared in Wu Biao's eyes, and as he roared, his speed increased further.

The fist shadows were overwhelming, sweeping outward!

The petals that were attacking from all sides without pause were actually scattered by his blows, though they re-aggregated in just an instant.

But that instant was enough. Using that moment, Wu Biao's figure broke out of the encirclement of the sea of flowers and lunged directly toward Byakuya Kuchiki.

Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes flashed with cold light. He actually raised his palm and waved it through the void toward Wu Biao.

The speed of the sea of flowers behind Wu Biao surged violently. Before Wu Biao could react, he was buried, and sounds of slicing and the stench of blood emanated from within the sea of flowers.

From inside, the muffled groans of Wu Biao's pain could be heard.

"Let's go."

Byakuya Kuchiki slowly withdrew his gaze and said in a cold, detached tone.

Renji and Rukia behind him froze, only then realizing that these words were directed at the two of them.

"Ah, oh!"

After Renji reacted, he stumbled, but he endured the intense pain, slashed his Zanpakuto through the void, and the Senkaimon appeared.

Seeing this, Byakuya Kuchiki prepared to retract his petals, as in his eyes, the human was no different from a dead man under such dense slashes.

"Hm?"

However, a sound of surprise immediately escaped his lips!

BOOM—

A deafening roar erupted, and the sea of petals shattered. A figure covered in the stench of blood charged directly toward Byakuya. Although his face was as pale as paper, his expression was ferocious and savage.

"Endless!" Looking at Wu Biao's battered body, a flash of surprise crossed Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes, followed by a hint of coldness as his spiritual pressure began to gather.

"Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro!"

Six beams of bright yellow light instantly bound Wu Biao in place, and he offered not the slightest resistance.

"This is..."

Renji and Rukia only then realized that Wu Biao's state was clearly wrong. After being bound by Rikujokoro, he didn't even attempt to dodge or resist. Although his fierce eyes were filled with killing intent, they also revealed a sense of emptiness and... deathly stillness!!!

"Has he already fainted?"

Renji stated Wu Biao's current state in disbelief. The moment he charged out of the sea of petals, he had clearly already lost consciousness, yet his body had still lunged toward Byakuya Kuchiki!!!

What terrifying willpower.

It was precisely because Byakuya Kuchiki realized this that he did not manipulate the sea of petals further, but instead directly deactivated his Shikai.

Click...

Accompanied by a crisp sound, the Rikujokoro dissolved back into spirit particles.

Yet, Wu Biao stood tall where he was, without the slightest sway. His vacant eyes still stared fiercely at Byakuya Kuchiki, his dauntless aura fully exposed!

"Let's go."

Byakuya Kuchiki took a long look at Wu Biao, engraving the face of this human into his memory, before turning and walking toward the Senkaimon.

Renji was still in a state of shock and only snapped back to reality following Byakuya Kuchiki's reminder, following behind him.

Rukia cast a worried glance at Wu Biao, Ichigo, and Uryu before stepping into the Senkaimon.

As the Senkaimon faded away, the area fell back into silence.

Leaving behind only two boys lying in pools of blood and... Wu Biao, drenched in blood yet still standing tall in place!!!

The new book ranking is fifth; I'm asking for recommendation votes to help Xiao Jiao climb a few more spots.

This chapter was uploaded a bit late. I wrote and deleted, deleted and wrote, and before I knew it, it was this late. I originally wanted to upload a two-thousand-word chapter before midnight.

But I personally feel that cliffhangers are super annoying, so it's better to release two chapters together so you can enjoy reading without interruptions.

Please vote for recommendations! Wuwu, the trial promotion didn't come through, so everything depends on book lists and the new book ranking to increase exposure. In short, thank you all.

It seems the new book ranking period ends on the 19th. With only three days left, help Xiao Jiao give it one last push. Even if I can't take first place on the new book ranking, I still want to charge into the top three before falling off the list!!!

(End of chapter)