[Soul Society Arc] Part 60: Armlost, Armlost

After Ichigo blocked Jidanbo's attack, the giant began to chuckle at the situation.

Jidanbo: "Not bad, boy! Good! It's been decades since someone blocked my axe! Alright, then...today...I won't hold back!"

Raising his colossal arm once more, the giant began to gather his immense strength, his eyes fixed intently on Ichigo.

Jidanbo: "You're the third person to block my first strike... but no one has blocked... my second strike!!!"

With a force that could have split mountains, the giant swung his titanic axe toward Ichigo, a maelstrom of power embodied in his every move. Unfazed, Ichigo lifted his zanpakuto with a single hand, the blade gleaming as it intercepted the blow, each vibration of metal against metal reverberating in the air.

Jidanbo: "Ha!! Good! You're still standing!! But there's more!! Take this!!"

The giant prepared to attack again.

Jidanbo: "Jidan Ten Strike Festival!!!"

This time, the giant's onslaught took on an almost rhythmic quality. He replicated the previous strike, raising his arm with a crescendo of tension and then unleashing it with unbridled might. A distinct rhythm accompanied his attacks as he enumerated each swing.

Jidanbo: "One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six!" - His strikes coincided with the count, echoing across the field - "Seven! Uh... Seven! Eight...! Uh... Six! Eight!" - Undeterred by his numerical missteps, he continued his relentless assault - "This ends now! Ten!!!"

The final attack was a vertical chop, aiming to split Ichigo in two. All of Jidanbo's attacks were causing tremors and raising a huge cloud of smoke.

Yato: "So... the gatekeeper... can't even count to ten?" - He quipped, watching the spectacle unfold alongside his friends, awe and disbelief mingling on their faces.

Tatsuki: "Well... you don't need math to pummel someone..." - She remarked with a smirk, her gaze fixed firmly on the clash unfolding before her.

As the veil of smoke gradually dissipated, it revealed a sight that left Jidanbo utterly dumbfounded.

Jidanbo: "Wh…wha…Wh…why…You… How are you still standing…?"

What the gatekeeper beheld before him was Ichigo, calmly halting the colossal axe strike once more, effortlessly positioning his zanpakuto at his side, as if the act demanded no more effort than drawing a breath.

Inoue let out a relieved sigh as she saw that Ichigo remained unscathed, while Tatsuki couldn't help but smirk, her arms crossed in a display of unwavering confidence. But her amusement was short-lived as a low, almost melodic sound caught her attention, and she realized it was Yato, nonchalantly humming a tune as he observed the unfolding battle.

Tatsuki: "Eh?"

Yato: 'If you wanna see some action~ Gotta be the center of attraction~'

Cheshire: 'What the hell...?' - Cheshire's voice echoed in Yato's mind.

Yato: 'Well... there's no background music here, so I had to improvise...' - He mentally responded to Fullbring.

Cheshire: '...You've got serious issues.....'

Meanwhile, Ichigo faced Jidanbo after effortlessly defending against the giant's attacks.

Ichigo: "Are you done? Then... It's my turn."

Jidanbo: "N-not yet!! I have another move!!" - He said as he pulled a second axe from within his kimono.

The giant began to exert immense force, straining his muscles to the point of breaking the armor on his left arm. He raised both arms high.

Jidanbo: "Here goes!! My final move… Banzai Jidanda Matsuri!!!"

Jidanbo lunged at Ichigo with both his colossal axes, wielding them with all the might he possessed.

Ichigo: "Sorry. I gotta bust your axes."

In a single fluid motion of his zanpakuto, Ichigo shattered both of Jidanbo's massive axes with a single strike. The impact of the blow was so powerful that it sent Jidanbo hurtling backwards, crashing onto his back on the ground.

Uryu: "... Kurosaki brought him down..."

The colossal guardian sprang back to his feet with astonishing agility, much to Ichigo's bewildered surprise.

Jidanbo: "Whoa!! Th-that could've been bad! I can't believe I slipped and landed on my butt!" - He let out an embarrassed laugh, beads of nervous sweat forming on his brow as he stole a glance at Ichigo. - "Why the long face, boy? You thought you had me on the ropes, didn't ya? Ha ha! You don't know much if you think you brought me down!!"

Yato: 'This feels like when my cousins used to lose to me in video games...' - He mused, observing the scene, while the rest of the group remained equally incredulous.

Jidanbo's excuses were abruptly silenced as he cast his gaze upon the shattered remnants of his once-mighty axes. The towering guardian's heart sank as realization dawned on him - his cherished weapons were now reduced to nothing more than splintered, useless handles.

Jidanbo: "My axes!!" - His voice cracked with a mix of anguish and incredulity, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Ichigo: "Huh…"

Jidanbo's distress erupted into raw emotion, his bellow of despair echoing through the arena as he clutched the handles of his cherished axes. A deep, guttural sob escaped him, betraying a vulnerability that contrasted starkly with his towering stature.

Jidanbo: "They're broken! Broken! Broken! My axes... are broken!!" - His grown form seemed to shrink as he flailed on the ground, pounding his massive fists onto the hard stone surface like a toddler throwing a tantrum over the loss of a beloved toy.

The scene, once marked by fierce combat, now transformed into a tableau of unexpected emotional turmoil. Tatsuki's brow furrowed in bewilderment as she exchanged incredulous glances with Uryu and Chad, their previously stern expressions replaced with a mixture of confusion and pity.

Tatsuki: 'What the...'

Uryu: 'Now he's crying...'

Chad: '....'

Orihime: 'Sounds like a siren...'

Yato: 'I really wish I had a camera right now...' - Yato couldn't help but appreciate the utterly bizarre and comical turn of events unfolding before him, a bemused grin tugging at the corners of his lips as he watched the giant's emotional breakdown.

After witnessing the heart-wrenching sight of Jidanbo reduced to tears, Ichigo found himself at a loss for words. His usual confidence and determination had given way to confusion and an unexpected twinge of remorse.

Ichigo: "I... I don't even know what to say... I-Im Sorry?" - He stammered. - "I guess I didn't need to break both of them..."

Jidanbo: "You're a good guy!!" - He exclaimed, tears streaming down his craggy face. - "You and I are enemies, yet you feel sorry for me... you've got a big heart!!"

Ichigo: "Huh…"

Jidanbo: "Utter defeat..."

Ichigo: "What?"

Jidanbo: "Utter defeat!! As a warrior, as a man, I've been utterly defeated by you, boy!! Three hundred years I've stood watch as the gatekeeper of this white road gate. In all that time, I've never once tasted defeat... You, young man, have achieved what no one else could. You're the first to best me..." - After a few deep breaths, his eyes steadied and he regained composure, gazing intently at Ichigo. - "You can pass! I, Jidanbo, officially authorize you to pass through this gate!"

Ichigo: "Thanks!"

As the gravity of the situation sunk in, the rest of the group drew near, their faces painted with curiosity and uncertainty.

Orihime: "And what about us? Can we pass too?"

Jidanbo: "Of course. Your leader defeated me, so I can't stop you."

Tatsuki/Uryu: "Leader!?"

Uryu: "Ichigo!? Our leader!? You must be joking!!"

Tatsuki: "This guy can't even keep his schoolwork organized!"

Ichigo: "Screw you!"

Tatsuki: "And why isn't anyone else bothered by this? Say something!" - Her gaze shifted pointedly to Yato and Chad, searching for any semblance of agreement or disbelief.

Yato: ".....Something..." - He muttered playfully, while Chad maintained his characteristic quietude, a silent witness to the unfolding spectacle.

Jidanbo: "Ichigo... is that your name?"

Ichigo: "Yeah. Ichigo Kurosaki."

Jidanbo: "It's a pretty cute name for a man, wouldn't you say?"

Ichigo: "My name isn't cute!! 'Ichi' means 'first prize' and 'Go' means 'Guardian'! There's nothing cute about that!!" - His protestation was laden with a blend of exasperation and amusement, as if this conversation were not a new occurrence in his life.

Jidanbo: "Be careful, Ichigo." - His voice took on a serious, somber note, casting a shadow over their conversation. - "I don't know why you want to pass through this gate, but... There's a bunch of mean guys in there."

Ichigo: "I know."

The weight of Jidanbo's warning hung in the air, his words echoing with a sense of foreboding.

Jidanbo: "All right... Step back, and I'll open the gate." - With a solemn nod, he lowered his massive frame and reached beneath the colossal gate. The muscles in his massive arms bulged as he strained with all his might to lift it.

The group complied, stepping back and watching with a mix of gratitude and anticipation as the guardian began his task.

Meanwhile, while Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, Tatsuki, and Yato awaited the gate's opening, Yato, without anyone's notice, quietly utilized his fullbring to weave subtle threads of reiatsu around himself and his friends. His movements, however, did not escape the observant eyes of Yoruichi, who found the young teenager's actions peculiar.

Yoruichi: "What are you up to, Yato? The battle has over. There's no need for further confrontation if Jidanbo is willingly granting us passage." - The black cat's voice held a hint of curiosity.

Yato: "It's because he's opening the gate that I'm being cautious." - He responded, his voice carrying a sense of calm vigilance. - "You see, Jidanbo is a gatekeeper, not a welcoming committee. He shouldn't simply just open the gate because he lost. Plus, I've spent enough hours playing video games to know that if a genuinely tough boss goes down too easily... it's often a sign that something even worse might be lurking ahead." - He shared part of his thought process but kept certain details close. - 'Like Gin...' - Yato thought to himself

After swinging open the colossal gate, Jidanbo stood frozen in place, drenched in a cold sweat, as if he had just witnessed something utterly terrifying. Fueled by curiosity, Ichigo couldn't resist peering past the gate to see what had so thoroughly rattled Jidanbo. What he encountered was a man of average height, clad in the standard black shinigami kimono, adorned with a white haori.

Ichigo: "...Who the heck's that?"

Jidanbo: "Captain of the 3rd squad... Gin Ichimaru..." - The giant managed to utter in a trembling voice.

Gin: "Uh-oh... This won't do."

In an instant, something incredibly swift passed through Jidanbo's left arm, and just as suddenly, that very arm was sent flying, severed by Gin's lightning-fast motion – the result of a rapid draw of his zanpakuto.

Jidanbo's bellowing cries filled the air, the ground trembled beneath him as his armless shoulder bled profusely, the severed limb now discarded on the ground.

Gin: "Won't do at all…A gatekeeper ain't supposed to open the gates."