Damn, That Was Close (8300-Word Chapter Delivered)

Chapter 42: Damn, barely made it (8300-character mega-chapter)

Western Rukongai, outside the Shiba residence.

Beside the towering cannon—or more accurately, a massive chimney—Ichigo and his group had gathered. The moment to invade the Seireitei had finally arrived, and a brutal battle was undoubtedly waiting for them.

Everyone wore a grave expression, and the atmosphere felt suffocatingly heavy.

Yoruichi paced out slowly, looking at these teenagers who were only fifteen or sixteen years old, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly: I wonder if it was truly right to drag these children into this.

But it was too late for regrets. Shaking off her guilt, Yoruichi swept her gaze over everyone before speaking: "Alright, is everyone here?"

"Wait!" Just then, a sharp shout came from afar. Looking toward the sound, they saw Shiba Ganju holding a small, folded notebook, breathing heavily. Part of it was from running in a panic, but the other part was the nervousness and fear of the decision he had made.

"What is that outfit?" Ichigo asked, eyeing the clothes Shiba Ganju was wearing.

Ganju gave a proud smile at the question: "This is Master Ganju's specialized combat suit. Pretty cool, right!"

Combat suit?

Hearing this, everyone present was stunned. Even Kūkaku Shiba, who was sitting cross-legged on the cannon platform, frowned slightly.

"Combat suit?" As the only person in the group who was only slightly smarter than Wu Biao, Ichigo was the last to realize Ganju's intent: "Aren't you just here to see us off?"

Ganju didn't answer. Instead, he walked step by step until he was in front of Ichigo, staring directly into his eyes as he said, word for word: "My older brother was... killed by a Shinigami!"

"Ganju! You bastard..." Kūkaku Shiba, standing to the side, could no longer remain silent and rose to scold him.

But before she could finish, she was interrupted by Ganju's roar: "Even if it's you, Big Sister, just stay there and listen to me!"

Kūkaku Shiba froze. It was clear that for Ganju, who had been terrified of her since childhood, the act of shouting her down was a massive surprise. However, after regaining her composure, she sat back down, wanting to hear what exactly Ganju had to say.

"My brother was a genius. He passed the entrance exam for the Shino Academy on his first try and possessed sixth-grade spiritual power. He was at the level of a Gotei 13 lieutenant. He finished the six-year curriculum in just one year, joined the Thirteenth Division, and became a lieutenant in only five years. But..."

Shiba Ganju lowered his gaze slightly, looking at Ichigo's Shihakusho, his eyes filled with sorrow and hatred.

"My brother was murdered. Murdered by a Shinigami who was once his comrade. I was just a little kid then, and I don't remember many things clearly. But I remember two faces vividly! The face of the Shinigami who killed my brother, and... the face of my brother, who was still happily thanking her at the very end of his life."

"Why would my brother do that? Why was he so happy? I still don't understand it to this day!" Ganju let out a long breath, calming his agitated emotions before continuing: "But I know that my brother never held a grudge against the Shinigami. I want to know why. By following you, maybe I'll finally find out the reason!"

The atmosphere among the group turned heavy. No one had expected this rowdy little punk to have such a history.

Ichigo grabbed Ganju by the collar, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth: "Then, I'll be counting on you!"

"You bastard..."

On the other side, Kūkaku stood up and slapped the side of the cannon, creating an opening large enough for one person to enter: "Since you've all talked it out, get inside!"

She didn't try to dissuade Ganju, because Ganju understood better than anyone else in the group just how dangerous the Seireitei was. Yet, he was going in without hesitation, which showed that this question had been festering in his heart for years.

Rather than letting him continue to suppress it, it was better to let him go and find the answer himself!

After everyone had entered the cannon, Kūkaku looked up at the sky. A faint white glow had already appeared in the far east; once morning arrived, it would be time to fire the shell!

"Listen, once you enter the Seireitei, do not split up. If you see a captain-level opponent, run immediately. Do not engage them in conflict under any circumstances!" Inside the cannon, Yoruichi gave her final warning: "Remember, no matter what, our goal is to rescue Rukia, and that is all. Do not take any unnecessary risks!"

The night gradually faded, and the sky grew bright. The incantation seals Kūkaku had drawn around the cannon finished with a final stroke.

"To the other side, the red-copper desire seeks control of thirty-six degrees, seventy-two pairs of illusions, thirteen pairs of horns, the monkey's right hand grasps the stars." Kūkaku pulled off the bandage on her head, wrapped it around her arm, lit it, and continued chanting as the fire caught, "Embrace the twenty-five wheels of the sun, the cradle of sand is bleeding, Second Shot—Kukaku-style Shooting Method—Bloom of Binding."

With Kūkaku's final explosive shout, she slammed her flaming right hand downward. The fire instantly engulfed the area around the cannon, and like a fuse being lit on a firework, it shot straight upward.

Boom—

With a thunderous blast, Ichigo and the others, who had already been compressed into a shell within the firing platform, shot straight into the sky, hurtling toward the distant Seireitei!

"Emergency alert, emergency alert. New intruders detected above the Seireitei. All divisions are to enter a state of high alert. I repeat..."

The moment the shell reached the airspace above the Seireitei, the 12th Division's observers issued another full-court announcement.

A captain's meeting was being held in the 1st Division, though not everyone was present. Captain Ukitake Jushiro of the Thirteenth Division was recuperating in his barracks due to illness.

Meanwhile, the captain of the 5th Division, Aizen Sōsuke, had gone missing the previous night and his whereabouts remained unknown.

As for Kenpachi... he was likely still sprinting through the northern part of the Seireitei under the guidance of a little girl!

"Intruders again?" Captain-Commander Yamamoto, sitting at the head of the table, frowned visibly. A killing intent flickered within his majestic eyes; clearly, the series of disruptions had infuriated this legendary old man.

"I hereby declare..." Captain-Commander Yamamoto tilted his head slightly to look at the ceiling. If the ceiling were removed, one would see that he was looking in the exact direction of Ichigo and his group: "The Level 1 Prohibition is lifted. Under special wartime orders, captain-level officers are permitted to use Bankai within the Seireitei!"

"Special wartime orders!"

"How is that possible? Has the damage caused by the Ryoka already reached such a level?"

"What else did you expect? There are already over 1,000 wounded in the 4th Division. Every division has suffered casualties among their rank-and-file members, and the casualty rate for officers below the rank of lieutenant has reached 40 percent. Hinamori Momo, lieutenant of the 5th Division, is currently receiving treatment in the 4th Division as well."

The one speaking was a massive figure wearing a straw hat, his hands covered in brown fur protruding from his sleeves.

"Oh my, things have really gotten out of hand, haven't they!" Beside him, a middle-aged man in a patterned haori adjusted his hat, a heavy expression appearing on his face.

"The most important thing, I suppose, is..." Ichigo Gin still wore his fox-like smile, his eyes narrowed so tightly that his pupils were invisible: "All of this was done by a single Ryoka. And now, that Ryoka's reinforcements have arrived. Even if they aren't as strong as that person, they must not be underestimated."

"You have no right to say that!" Tōshirō, standing to the side, looked grim. He stared straight at Ichigo Gin, recalling the last time he had encountered Aizen the previous day. He had been observing Ichigo Gin ever since Aizen spoke to him, and he vaguely felt that something was wrong with him.

"If you hadn't encountered the Ryoka and chosen not to strike, how could this situation have escalated to this point!"

"Ah, that is indeed my fault. But who could have guessed... that a mere Ryoka with no spiritual power would be so formidable? Did any of you present here take them seriously from the start?"

"..."

Everyone's breath hitched upon hearing this. After all, neither the first nor the second announcement had garnered any attention from these captains; they simply didn't care about a mere person with no spiritual power who had barely managed to defeat a Gillian.

Yet, no one could have predicted the current situation.

"Ahhhhhhh--"

Just then, a terrified scream suddenly erupted from outside the 1st Division, causing everyone present to freeze. They exchanged glances and walked out of the 1st Division barracks, Captain-Commander Yamamoto among them.

Everyone traveled via Shunpo. When they emerged from the barracks and reached the East Great Holy Wall where the screams had originated, even they... could not help but show shock and disbelief on their faces as they looked at the scene on the building's wall.

"Aizen?"

"How is this possible?"

"It seems the wartime special order can indeed be implemented!"

"..."

Ichimaru Gin looked at Aizen's corpse on the high wall, the fox-like smile on his face becoming even more pronounced.

So, the plan really did change?

He truly is that man, actually choosing to stage this scene in front of so many captains. It really is... arrogant!

However, is it really okay to do it this quickly?

In truth, he didn't know that even if Aizen hadn't wanted to change his plans, he would have been forced to. According to Aizen's original idea, he had intended to spend at least two more days playing a game of extreme malice.

For instance, turning certain people's gazes toward Ichimaru Gin, or leaving a letter in the barracks to make Hinamori Momo and Tōshirō turn against each other. But all of this had been unintentionally disrupted by Wu Biao.

As luck would have it, the first place Wu Biao arrived was the 5th Division barracks, and he had turned the place into ruins, forcing the entire division to relocate to the 4th Division barracks.

With such a commotion, he didn't need to bother going to the 4th Division for the sake of those malicious games.

After all, the 4th Division captain, Unohana Retsu, could be said to be... the only person he currently feared, aside from Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

It was better to get straight to the point and begin his own schemes.

The shock of the crowd did not last long before it was broken by an anomaly in the sky above the Seireitei, where Reishi Cannonballs were colliding with the Seireitei's defensive barrier, appearing on the verge of breaking through into the Seireitei.

"We shall discuss Aizen's death later. The immediate priority is to clear the Ryoka within the walls." Captain-Commander Yamamoto slowly turned around, a terrifying and extreme majesty faintly radiating from his body.

"Any Ryoka encountered... kill them without hesitation!!!"

In the western part of the Seireitei, within the abandoned 3rd Division barracks, Wu Biao suddenly opened his eyes.

"Has it started?"

Wu Biao straightened up, subconsciously wanting to fix his hair, but his hand paused mid-motion.

Right, I'm already bald...

"Damn it, I don't know when my handsome center-part will ever grow back."

Having rested for several hours, most of the wounds on Wu Biao's body had healed, and even some of the lighter ones had left only faint scars. Scratching his gleaming bald head, Wu Biao stood up and walked to the window, looking up into the high sky.

At a glance, he saw the extremely conspicuous ball of light in the air, his eyes bursting with starry radiance.

"Holy crap, now that is how a hero makes an entrance! So high-profile, so exaggerated. If I'd known, I would have come with them. Now it feels like... I'm the small fry clearing the path, and the hero is making his entrance at the very last moment!"

Just as Wu Biao's eyes were shining with excitement, the sphere in the sky suddenly shattered and scattered into four paths, crashing down toward the east, west, south, and north of the Seireitei.

It scattered?

This scene made Wu Biao pause slightly: "Are you kidding me? Where am I supposed to go now?"

But Brother Biao did not know that this was actually safer for Kurosaki Ichigo and the others.

You see... after Brother Biao's rampage last night, the majority of the Seireitei's forces had gathered in the west, which meant the other three directions were practically devoid of danger.

Conversely, those who landed in the west would likely be surrounded by a tide of Shinigami the moment they hit the ground!

In the sky above the western Seireitei, the only poor souls impacted and sent to the west were Kurosaki Ichigo and Shiba Ganju.

And the patrol teams that had been carpet-searching for Wu Biao throughout the west were all gathering toward the location where the two were falling at almost the same time.

Bang--

Accompanied by a dull thud, Ichigo and Ganju fell into the sand pit created by Ganju, kicking up a cloud of dust that rushed into their throats.

"Cough, cough, cough... thanks to that weird spell of yours, we saved our lives... uh..." Ichigo coughed the dust out of his mouth and said, still shaken, but he stopped mid-sentence!

"What do you mean by weird..." Ganju raised his head, about to retort, but when he saw the situation around them, his face instantly turned green: "Hey... did I fall into a hallucination?"

Ichigo ignored him, his mouth twitching as he looked at the dense crowd of Shinigami all around them: "Could it be that in a place like the Seireitei, Shinigami are everywhere?"

At this moment, all around them—whether on the rooftops or on the streets to their front, back, left, and right—there were swarms of Shinigami, an endless, black, oppressive mass... they had been surrounded the moment they landed.

"How is this possible..." Ganju's mouth twitched: "Even in the Seireitei, it's impossible for so many Shinigami to appear in the same area!"

Having said this, Ganju turned to look at Ichigo, his face full of sudden realization: "I get it now, you bastard Shinigami must be a mole! You must have sent word to these Shinigami in advance, otherwise how could it be such a coincidence that we were surrounded immediately!"

"How could that be, you idiot!"

"..."

The Shinigami surrounding them exchanged glances, their expressions turning incredibly grave. Although these two were clearly not the ones who had wreaked havoc in the western part of the Seireitei last night, they dared not underestimate them in the slightest.

"How lucky!"

Two figures stepped out from the crowd, and it was the bald one who had spoken.

These two were none other than Madarame Ikkaku, 3rd Seat of the 11th Division, and Ayasegawa Yumichika, 5th Seat of the 11th Division.

Kurosaki Ichigo frowned at the sight. Although Yoruichi had said before they came that their main goal was to rescue Rukia, but... whether they could even break through the encirclement now was a huge problem!

"Although you aren't the person we were looking for, the fact that you've fallen right in front of me... how lucky!" In the time it took to say that, Madarame Ikkaku stood on his tiptoes and paced back and forth for a long while.

Judging by his appearance... it was likely some kind of bizarre dance.

"..." This scene left not only Kurosaki Ichigo and his companion speechless.

Even the surrounding Shinigami couldn't help but twitch their lips; was this bald guy here to be a comedian?

However...

That person, perhaps?

Kurosaki Ichigo's face was filled with a bitter smile: "I think I might know why we keep running into so many Shinigami as soon as we get here!"

"Why?"

Kurosaki Ichigo shook his head: "I'll explain it to you after we break through!"

"Break through?" Ayasegawa Yumichika laughed loudly, as if he had heard a great joke: "Hahahaha, you two actually dare to talk about breaking through? Honestly... I feel like I'm being looked down upon."

"Just surrender. If you're with that man, you can serve as perfect bait!" Madarame Ikkaku sneered.

"This guy!" Kurosaki Ichigo's face showed irritation, but his eyes had already turned solemn. The difference in numbers... was simply too great.

But, so what!

He had already considered the possibility of encountering such a situation before coming here, and there was only one strategy: fight their way out!

"Get ready to break through!" With that thought, Kurosaki Ichigo didn't waste any more words. After alerting Shiba Ganju behind him, he gripped the hilt of Zangetsu. His spiritual pressure surged instantly, pressing down on everyone present!

Madarame Ikkaku's toe-tapping pace halted. He slowly turned his body, his gaze locking onto Kurosaki Ichigo, and a smirk curled at the corner of his mouth: "I see. It seems you aren't simple either!"

Shiba Ganju was now following Kurosaki Ichigo with a determined expression... of course, that was only because he was surrounded on all sides; otherwise, he would have run away long ago.

The facts proved that this guy wasn't stupid; he knew that if he wanted to survive, it was safer to stick to Kurosaki Ichigo like glue.

The Shinigami moved forward in unison, cold killing intent etched on every face. The night of pursuit had not only failed to capture the Ryoka who had caused such chaos in the Seireitei, but they had also seen many of their own defeated by him.

This left everyone with a pent-up frustration that had nowhere to vent, and these two Ryoka in front of them were undoubtedly the perfect punching bags.

Clang—

Kurosaki Ichigo and Madarame Ikkaku vanished from their spots almost simultaneously, and sparks erupted between them.

"Not bad, eh?" Madarame Ikkaku grinned viciously.

"Right back at you!" Kurosaki Ichigo sneered, though his eyes grew increasingly grave. He hadn't expected that even a random person here would be this strong.

If everyone here was like this guy, then they might really die here this time!

"Ahhh..."

"Watch out!"

"It's that person, that human!"

"..."

Just then, a commotion erupted from outside the encirclement. Kurosaki Ichigo and Madarame Ikkaku both used the recoil to leap backward simultaneously. Once they regained their footing, they both looked toward the source of the noise.

"Pegasus Meteor Fist!"

Suddenly, a long roar rang out, shouting a technique name that only Kurosaki Ichigo understood.

Kurosaki Ichigo covered his face. He didn't even need to think; even in the Soul Society, the only person who could shout such a ridiculous move name with such confidence was... Brother Biao!

The commotion didn't last long. It wasn't that the newcomer was blocked, but rather that the Shinigami in that direction were all sent flying. A wild, ferocious figure charged directly into the battlefield.

There, standing proudly before Kurosaki Ichigo and his companion, was a man with a bare chest and pants that had only one leg left, exposing half of his butt. His bare torso was covered in blade scars, and a beast-like, ferocious aura slammed into everyone's faces!

A few seconds later, the newcomer turned around and immediately struck a pose with both hands guarding his shoulders. With a passionate, hot-blooded expression, he shouted: "Wahahahaha! Disgusting, ugly baldies! Using numbers to bully people violates the rules of combat. Prepare to receive the judgment of justice!"

"..." Kurosaki Ichigo and Shiba Ganju!

"..." Veins bulged on Madarame Ikkaku's forehead, and Ayasegawa Yumichika's expression turned bizarre!

"..." The Shinigami all stared at the top of the newcomer's head.

The scene fell into an instant silence. Brother Biao held his pose for a long while without getting a response, and the corner of his eye couldn't help but twitch twice.

Is it awkward?

It's awkward, right?

Why is no one saying anything?

Could it be that they are stunned by my heroic posture?

Brother Biao blinked, slowly lowered his arms from his chest, and awkwardly scratched his exposed butt cheek: "Hey, I'm talking to you guys, didn't you hear me?"

"..."

Still, no one paid him any mind. Finally, Kurosaki Ichigo stepped forward and tapped Wu Biao lightly, whispering, "Brother Biao, your hair..."

"Hair? What hair?" Wu Biao was stunned for a moment before it clicked, his expression shifting instantly: "That's right, I'm a bald guy too, damn it!"

So you only just realized that now!

Many Shinigami couldn't help but complain in their hearts...

Brother Biao slapped his own head, his eyes turning bloodshot as he glared at the Shinigami, roaring in fury: "You bastards set me up! You actually sent a bald guy to trick me into insulting myself. What a scheme, how insidious, how shameless!"

"..."

Madarame Ikkaku felt the urge to use his Bankai right then and there. Can this guy be killed? Where on earth did this idiot come from?

"Are you that Ryoka who caused such a ruckus in the west?" Ayasegawa Yumichika asked from the side.

Hearing this, Wu Biao looked over, his expression freezing as he stared unblinkingly at Ayasegawa Yumichika.

The intensity of the gaze made Ayasegawa Yumichika feel a chill, and cold sweat began to drip down his temple.

Is this guy obsessed with my beauty?

Of course, Brother Biao had no interest in men. In fact, he didn't have much 'interest' in women either, or he wouldn't have committed those outrageous acts against Hinamori Momo.

To be precise, what Brother Biao was looking at was the top of Ayasegawa Yumichika's head—his hair—and he said with an envious look: "That's a really nice hairstyle!"

Is he complimenting me?

Ayasegawa Yumichika instinctively fiddled with his hair, which was parted on both sides, and said with immense pride: "That goes without saying. Because the beauty I pursue is perfection!"

"Give it to me!"

"..." Ayasegawa Yumichika's hand froze, and he roared in indignation: "How is that even possible, you bastard!"

Brother Biao blinked, his voice filled with pleading: "Please!"

"..."

Ayasegawa Yumichika didn't even want to speak anymore. This bastard in front of him was definitely sick in the head. Even if you beg me, what's the point? How could I possibly give you my hair!

"Enough nonsense!" Madarame Ikkaku cut off Wu Biao, who was preparing to beg further. He narrowed his eyes at Wu Biao and said, "We've been dodging you for a long time, but since you've shown yourself, it saves us the trouble of searching. Surrender obediently!"

"You bald... uh, you idiot, when has your Brother Biao ever run away? I was just taking a nap nearby!"

He had almost said 'bald guy', that was right, wasn't it...

Veins bulged on Ikkaku's bald head as he gritted his teeth at Wu Biao: "You're dead. Today, I am absolutely going to slice that shiny bald head of yours off!"

"Brother Biao... stop messing around. Sado and Ishida got separated from me. The priority is to ensure their safety. If they also..." At this point, Ichigo looked up at the increasing number of Shinigami surrounding them, his face filled with worry.

"Don't worry!" Wu Biao grinned triumphantly: "There's no one in the other directions!"

"What do you mean?" Before Ichigo could speak, Ganju interrupted.

"Who is this guy?" Wu Biao asked, glancing at Ganju.

"I'll explain later, now is not the time!" Ichigo said, his voice tense as he watched the Shinigami preparing to strike.

"Relax, basically all the Shinigami in the Seireitei have come here to hunt me down, there's no one left anywhere else!" Brother Biao said dismissively.

"..." The faces of Ichigo and Ganju darkened instantly.

They understood. They finally understood why they had fallen into an encirclement the moment they landed. It was all brought on by this guy in front of them... just what had he done to attract so many Shinigami?

"Although I'd love to have a one-on-one fight with you, but..." Reiatsu began to rise from Madarame Ikkaku's body, and he looked at Wu Biao with cold eyes: "You've caused enough trouble. Now, I'll give you two choices. Either surrender, or... die here!"

"Tch!"

Wu Biao glanced at Madarame Ikkaku with utter disdain: "My target is that sissy, so I choose the third option: beat all of you down, and then leave this place!"

"How arrogant!"

The moment the last word fell, Madarame Ikkaku moved, charging straight toward Wu Biao.

A cruel grin curled the corner of Wu Biao's mouth. He took a large step forward and threw a punch at Ikkaku, who had appeared before him.

A booming sound rang out, and a figure was sent flying backward.

When they saw who it was, the expressions of the surrounding Shinigami sank, for that person was none other than the 3rd Seat of the 11th Division, Madarame Ikkaku.

"Just as the intelligence reports said, his strength really is immense!" Madarame Ikkaku muttered, looking at his trembling right hand, his heart filled with shock!

"Let's break through first!"

Wu Biao looked at the growing crowd, his eyes turning serious. These weren't the small-time thugs he had fought in the Human World. Having defeated so many people since last night, even his monstrous stamina was reaching its limit.

Even if he were stupid, Wu Biao knew that now was not the time for a head-on collision.

"Yeah!"

Ichigo tightened his grip on Zangetsu, his expression devoid of fear. Even if Brother Biao weren't here, he would still dare to fight this group of Shinigami.

"Charge! The Captain-Commander has ordered: no survivors!"

Following the shout from an unknown source, a sea of Shinigami charged directly at the three of them.

Ichigo and Ganju instinctively prepared to break through, but they were interrupted by Wu Biao at their side.

"Step back!"

The two were stunned by the command, but Kurosaki Ichigo still pulled the somewhat confused Ganju back two steps.

"How arrogant. Without joining forces with them, how do you expect to break through on your own?" Ayasegawa Yumichika sneered, his Zanpakuto instantly shifting into its Shikai state.

"Hmph, there's no need to join forces at all!" Wu Biao crossed his arms over his chest and let out a roar toward the sky: "You villains, even if you all come at me together, you still won't be able to do a thing to me!"

"Ugh... ah..." As soon as Brother Biao finished speaking, he immediately dropped into a deep horse stance, his face turning beet red. Cold sweat even began to bead on his forehead, as if he were exerting every ounce of his strength to unleash some kind of ultimate technique, and he let out a raspy roar: "Kannon-style Secret Art..."

Kurosaki Ichigo's face darkened. He had felt a vague sense of foreboding the moment he saw that posture, and the second he heard "Kannon-style," Ichigo only had one urge: to smack Brother Biao over the head with his Zanpakuto.

This is just a useless move—are you seriously using it as an ultimate attack?

"Brother Biao, don't—ugh!" Just as he prepared to stop Wu Biao's pointless display, Kurosaki Ichigo's eyes nearly popped out of his head. On Wu Biao's right hand, a basketball-sized ball of spiritual energy had actually appeared.

He's playing for real?

"Kannonji-dan!" Following Wu Biao's angry roar, the Kannonji-dan smashed directly into the crowd rushing toward them.

A thunderous explosion accompanied by screams erupted, and the Shinigami within the blast radius were instantly sent flying!

It had to be said, the explosive power of this Kannonji-dan was ridiculously effective against these ordinary squad members!

"That brutal?"

Not only were the charging Shinigami stunned, but even Ichigo and Ganju stood there with blank expressions for a long moment.

"What are you staring at? Run!"

Wu Biao snapped, jolting the two of them out of their shock.

Hearing this, Ichigo hurriedly followed behind Wu Biao, sprinting forward.

"Stop them! Don't let them get away!"

Although the Shinigami squad had been thrown into momentary chaos, they recovered in the blink of an eye, charging toward Wu Biao and the others without fear of death.

"Watch out!" Ganju shouted, spotting a squad of Shinigami suddenly rushing out from the front left.

"I've got this!"

Ichigo roared, his spiritual pressure surging into the sky as he ran.

Whoosh—

But just then, a ball of spiritual energy flew right past him, slamming into the center of that group of Shinigami. With a massive roar, more than half of the squad on the front left was blown away.

Ichigo's mouth twitched, and he nearly tripped over his own feet. After barely steadying himself, he looked at Wu Biao with a dark expression: "Brother Biao... why didn't you yell 'Ugh... ah...' just now?"

"Are you stupid? There wasn't enough time, why would I yell?"

"..."

That logic made perfect sense, but...

"Isn't that move supposed to require you to strike a constipated pose, gather spiritual pressure for half an eternity, and then scream the name of the technique before you can fire it?"

Wu Biao glanced at Ichigo as if he were looking at an idiot: "When did I ever say there was a setting like that?" As he spoke, Wu Biao casually grabbed at the air, forcibly pulling the spiritual energy in that area into a ball before tossing it behind him.

"You just have to do it like this!"

Smack—

Kurosaki Ichigo slapped Brother Biao directly on his bald head.

"Then why the hell do you do those meaningless motions? And you turn your face red every time, making it look like you're giving it your all—what is the point of that?"

"Because it looks cool! Don't you think it gives off that 'Ah, my Cosmo is exploding, I'm about to unleash my ultimate move' kind of feeling?"

Thud, thud—

Two muffled sounds followed in succession as Ichigo and Ganju both stumbled and face-planted into the dirt...

--

An 8400-character chapter delivered. Barely made it in time; not sure if there are any typos, but I'll upload it first and edit later!

(End of chapter)