Chapter 44: An Unbeatable Opponent

Boom

The ground trembled, and dust rose into the air. When the dust settled, in the training room, a trench over a foot deep extended into the distance.

Not far away, Yamahiko held his sword in his hand, standing there with cold sweat on his forehead.

In the instant of that strike just now, he had used his Shunpo to dodge, and after dodging, Kenpachi Zaraki strike had left a deep trench in the ground with just the air pressure.

Such power made Yamahiko suspect that if it had landed on him, it might have cleaved him in half.

But what terrified him was not the other's swordsmanship, but the fact that he wanted to kill him.

Yes.

He wanted to kill him.

Kenpachi Zaraki didn't want to spar with him, nor did he want to experience the joy of battle through their fight.

He wanted to kill him.

An overwhelming murderous intent had already covered Yamahiko's body, causing every hair on his body to stand on end.

Yamahiko didn't know why he was doing this.

"Captain Zaraki, what's going on..."

Yamahiko had just tried to ask if there was some misunderstanding, but in the next moment, Kenpachi Zaraki appeared in front of him, his sword raised high.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Kenpachi Zaraki roared, and his Zanpakuto came down. Yamahiko tried to escape the opponent's strike once again using Shunpo.

However, when Yamahiko appeared in the distance, his body suddenly trembled.

Sqwelp!.

A wound had opened in Yamahiko's chest, and fresh blood slowly flowed out.

this?

Yamahiko tried to escape using Shunpo, but he was still struck, and the opponent's speed had somehow increased once again.

Yamahiko looked at Kenpachi Zaraki, his eyes now filled with fear.

"Yamahiko."

Renji Abarai saw Yamahiko injured and wanted to go help him, but a figure flashed by. Renji Abarai's head throbbed, and he fell to the ground, losing consciousness.

Next to Renji, the figure of Yachiru Kusajishi slowly appeared, smiling and saying, "Ren-chan, Little Yama, don't hold back."

"Wait, what is happening..."

Yamahiko reached out his left hand, pressing it against the wound, attempting to ask what had happened. However, before he could finish his sentence, Kenpachi Zaraki had once again charged towards him, delivering another strike.

Yamahiko used Shunpo to evade once more, but upon landing, a splatter of fresh blood erupted again.

A second wound appeared on Yamahiko's chest, deeper than the first, indicating that the opponent's speed had increased further.

"You little brat, can you only dodge?"

Kenpachi Zaraki, with an unsatisfied expression, looked at Yamahiko. He flexed his arm, locked his gaze on Yamahiko, and said, "But that doesn't matter now. The warm-up is over, and next time, you won't escape."

Leaving behind those words, Kenpachi Zaraki revealed a sinister smile, his teeth reflecting a pristine white gleam.

In the moment when this gleam reached Yamahiko's eyes, Kenpachi Zaraki's figure had already arrived right in front of him, and his Zanpakuto swung down.

Faster speed, even more terrifying strength.

Yamahiko realized instantly the dire situation he was in.

At the critical moment of crisis, he raised the sword in his hand. With a clang, Kenpachi Zaraki's blade struck Yamahiko's sword.

Boom.

A shockwave swept outwards, causing the clothes of everyone present to flutter and rustle.

"It's impossible. Yamahiko won't be able to withstand this," sighed Ikkaku Madarame. He didn't understand why the captain was attacking Yamahiko, but he was sure that this strike would be life-threatening.

But the next moment, Ikkaku Madarame's eyes widened in disbelief.

Because after the dust and shockwave had cleared, Yamahiko's right hand gripped his sword and blocked Kenpachi Zaraki's attack. His entire right arm was surrounded by a blue electric aura that kept flowing.

This was the energy of Shunkō that increased the strength of Yamahiko's arm after it had been released, allowing him to withstand Kenpachi Zaraki's strike.

"Oh? You blocked it?" Kenpachi Zaraki showed some surprise but then a smile. "Very well, then let's go again."

Kenpachi Zaraki's long sword came down once more, but in the next moment, Yamahiko suddenly disappeared.

"Still trying to dodge?" Kenpachi Zaraki roared, but before he could finish his sentence, there was a splattering sound. A wound appeared on Kenpachi Zaraki's back, and blood flowed out.

Yamahiko stood behind Kenpachi Zaraki, breathing heavily. His Zanpakuto was also buried in Kenpachi Zaraki's back.

At this moment, not only was Yamahiko's right hand enveloped in a blue light, but his legs were also surrounded by blue electrical energy.

Shunkō (Residual/Incomplete)

True Shunkō involved the release of spiritual energy in the back and shoulders, channeling the explosive power into the limbs, granting greater speed and strength.

Yamahiko's Shunkō, however, was limited to releasing Kidō in his arms and legs to increase his strength and speed. Although it couldn't match the true Shunkō and put a significant strain on his body, it had already elevated his power to a new level.

However, even with this boost, he could only break through Kenpachi Zaraki's skin and couldn't go further.

Kenpachi Zaraki was just too strong, and this was still with his eye patch on.

However, with his Shunkō (Residual), he could gain an advantage and still react accordingly.

Even if he couldn't win, he could calmly escape.

Facing Yamahiko's strikes, Kenpachi Zaraki showed no signs of backing down. Instead, it fueled his immense desire for battle.

"That's it, come on!" Kenpachi Zaraki roared, gripping his sword tightly and turning to strike at Yamahiko.

Whoosh.

Yamahiko's figure suddenly disappeared, and in an instant, there was a splattering sound. Blue light radiated from the back of Kenpachi Zaraki's thigh, and blood splattered.

"Good!" Kenpachi Zaraki turned around once more, striking at Yamahiko. However, Yamahiko once again disappeared, appearing behind Kenpachi Zaraki and thrusting his sword at his back.

Since he wanted to kill him, Yamahiko would use a killing move as well, aiming directly at Kenpachi Zaraki's vital spot.

Bang.

Yamahiko's sword didn't actually hit Kenpachi Zaraki but was blocked by his blade.

"Hehe, I've caught up to you," Kenpachi Zaraki said with a grin after blocking Yamahiko's attack. He then struck again, even faster this time, so fast that Yamahiko couldn't completely evade it, even with his Shunkō (Residual).

Why could he become even faster?

Yamahiko suddenly felt a wave of powerlessness surging within him as the opponent's striking speed increased, making it impossible for him to evade.

"Ah!" Yamahiko screamed, raising his Zanpakuto in front of him.

Bang.

Yamahiko was sent flying, crashing into a wall and shattering it before rolling backward.

cough.

Yamahiko lay on the ground, continuously coughing up blood, a result of his internal injuries.

As he watched Kenpachi Zaraki slowly approaching, Yamahiko's heart sank into despair.

Why is he so overwhelmingly powerful?

Even after using Shunkō (Residual), he had no counterattack capability whatsoever.

Furthermore, why did he want to kill him?

Yamahiko had never felt so desperate before. Struggling to stand up, he tightened his grip on his Zanpakuto and once again unleashed his Shunkō (Residual).

Sqwelp!.

Before Yamahiko's body could even react, Kenpachi Zaraki's sword had already pierced through Yamahiko's abdomen.

Why?

Yamahiko stared at the blade in his abdomen, feeling an overwhelming chill throughout his body, and the electrical aura in his limbs slowly fading away.

Seeing this, Kenpachi Zaraki did not use his sword but instead kicked Yamahiko directly, sending him flying and crashing into the opposite wall, shattering it. Yamahiko fell amidst the rubble.

At this moment, Yamahiko had two bleeding wounds on his chest, fresh blood flowing steadily. His abdomen was even worse, with the bleeding showing no sign of stopping, and his internal organs damaged to the point where he couldn't summon the strength to stand.

He lay amidst the ruins, feeling his life slowly slipping away.

"You're just too weak, no fun at all. I'll finish you off now," Kenpachi Zaraki said as he approached Yamahiko, raising his sword, its tip pointing towards the sky.

His figure blocked the sky, casting a shadow over Yamahiko's face, as if it were a divine punishment, sealing Yamahiko's fate.

But why?

Why did he want to kill him?

Yamahiko couldn't understand, but he couldn't change the fact that he was about to die. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his heart was filled with unwillingness.

I don't want to die yet.

There are so many things I still need to do. I haven't spent enough time with my friends, and I haven't stopped Aizen's conspiracy. How can I die here?

But he couldn't move. His arms and legs were powerless, and he couldn't even gather spiritual energy.

He couldn't resist; the blade was about to fall.

But I really don't want to die!

Just as Yamahiko cried out in his heart, a voice echoed in his mind.

|'Do you want to defeat your opponent?'|

"Of course."

|'Then, call upon me'|

"Who are you?"

|'My name is...'|

................................

Sorry, guys, for changing the update schedule, but I'm currently in the process of job hunting. It's tiring and frustrating when 'mass layoffs' and 'hiring process freezing' seem to be the only things companies are doing. By the way, finally, what we've all been waiting for - Yamahiko's Zanpakuto is going to be revealed!