If Byakuya Kuchiki had fought Nara Dan while in Bankai, he might have stood a chance.
After all, Byakuya Kuchiki's Spiritual Pressure was quite powerful even among Captain-level Soul Reapers, and his fundamentals in Zankensoki were nearly flawless, excelling in every area.
Even though Byakuya Kuchiki wasn't as strong as he would be a hundred years later, Nara Dan would still have to put in considerable effort to defeat him outright.
But Byakuya Kuchiki had made it clear beforehand: he wanted to fight using pure Swordsmanship.
Swordsmanship? That's my bread and butter.
Nara Dan's smile turned faintly ferocious. He put strength into his hand and forced Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura back with a vicious blow.
Immediately afterward, Nara Dan became a multitude of afterimages, launching slashes at Byakuya Kuchiki from every angle almost simultaneously.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
The sound of blades striking rang out, and Byakuya Kuchiki's expression grew increasingly astonished.
Nara Dan's strength and speed were both close to Captain-level.
His Swordsmanship was flawless, its techniques imbued with killing intent, and every angle and moment was perfect.
Caught somewhat off guard, Byakuya Kuchiki nevertheless had solid fundamentals. In the confusion, his blade darted left and right, managing to parry every one of Nara Dan's strikes.
Byakuya Kuchiki furrowed his brow and regarded Nara Dan as if facing a formidable enemy.
Nara Dan smiled at him and silently mouthed a few words.
"Ninth move."
"The—"
An extraordinarily sharp aura suddenly rose from Nara Dan. For some reason, Byakuya Kuchiki felt a stinging sensation between his brows, as if he were being targeted.
"—tenth move!"
Nara Dan delivered the final two words in a ringing shout. The aura that erupted from him made Byakuya Kuchiki turn his head in shock, and a foreboding sense of danger welled up inside him.
*This is