426 Bleach: Zaraki vs Allen, The Insidious Stab of Urahara, An Unexpected Wound and The Dolls in Danger.

The clash of their zanpakuto caused four cutting lines to extend across the ground for several miles. Allen, unsurprised by Zaraki's power, used his fist to punch him in the face, breaking his nose. Allen then kicked him in the stomach, forcing him to retreat.

"Ugh!"

"Zaraki..." Allen felt he needed to finish the man in front of him but kept a cool head, knowing this Zaraki was likely at his peak, maybe at the end of the story, or perhaps even stronger.

Allen appeared next to Zaraki, who managed to regain his balance and attacked with his zanpakuto. The crimson blade, a threat to anyone, brought joy to Zaraki. He had been worried his body was too tough to even be cut.

Zaraki, smiling, stopped the attack. Blood dripped from his nose as he reset it. His gaze was one of pleasure, as though the pain of being hurt by someone strong made him feel alive. This was Zaraki Kenpachi. Although in this world, he had not earned that title, he was a wild man who loved battle, thrilled by killing and dying in combat. His strange demeanor unnerved his opponents; even when Zaraki is losing, that smile never disappeared.

Allen exchanged blows with Zaraki at incredible speed. Their hands and zanpakutos became invisible to the eyes of many. Worse still, each sword strike sent shockwaves, cutting through the surrounding terrain.

"Do you really have no desire to survive?" Allen growled. He already knew the answer to that question but couldn't help asking when he saw Zaraki recklessly taking his attacks.

"Cutting and being cut! Killing and being killed! It's all part of a beautiful spectacle where you prove if you're worthy of breathing for another second!"

True to his personality, Zaraki cared little about living or dying as long as the fight was entertaining enough. However, his power was terrifying—so much so that, if he didn't suppress it, he would kill all his opponents quickly, leaving him without rivals and bored with life.

This man was born in one of the four eightieth districts, the lowest, farthest, and most brutal. A place without laws where surviving until midday was a miracle.

But so what?

Allen couldn't care less about that. In his heart burned a single desire: to protect those behind him and utterly defeat anyone who dared to harm them.

Allen gathered his spiritual energy into his zanpakuto's blade and unleashed a crescent-shaped projection.

"Oh!" Zaraki welcomed the attack, but it was so powerful it pushed him backward. "THIS IS AMAZING!"

Zaraki felt his flesh being cut and thought that, while fighting like this was fun, he needed to get serious or risk being killed without properly countering.

"ALLEN!!" With a thunderous roar, Zaraki released his Shikai, transforming his worn zanpakuto into a giant sword. His Reiatsu exploded, growing immensely.

Allen could have continued fighting with sheer power but didn't see the need. Squinting as Zaraki closed the distance, Allen stepped forward, letting go of his zanpakuto and using Tai Lung's pressure-point technique combined with Oogway's chi flow.

"...?" Zaraki didn't understand this sudden shift but didn't care. If Allen died being split in two by this attack, that would be fine too.

*Breathe*

Allen struck Zaraki's stomach slowly, a golden glow piercing through the Reiatsu layer, reaching his muscles and nerves fortified by immense spiritual energy. However, chi had a unique property: it flowed through all things without harming them.

Zaraki's muscles quickly lost strength, and his nerves disconnected.

"...!"

"If I'm correct, Urahara didn't let you join the Gotei 13... I know, if you had met Yachiru, you would be weaker; it's disgusting that I should be grateful to Urahara for that... However, because of that, you lack basic practice..."

"...?"

Allen struck Zaraki's chin with his palm, causing him to lose balance. Alle then Allen stomped his foot, striking his shoulder with two fingers, disabling Zaraki's right arm. He followed up with an elbow to Zaraki's gut, knocking the air out of him, and struck his throat, cutting off his airflow.

"I can tell you've killed countless people, so you're not lacking in experience..."

Zaraki refused to let the loss of feeling stop him from fighting. He dropped his zanpakuto and grabbed it with his left hand, slashing mercilessly. Allen, having predicted this, stopped the attack by placing his palm at the base of the hilt.

"There was a time I was like you... I learned to fight on the battlefield. Reflexes, experience, talent, instincts—the blessings of a natural-born warrior. But there's a limit to what you can achieve without proper practice. It might sound foolish, but the basics matter."

Allen summoned his zanpakuto back to his waist. For the first time in his life, Zaraki took a step back in a fight.

"What?!" Zaraki didn't understand his own actions, "I backed off?!"

"Good decision," Allen praised as he closed his eyes. He placed his hand on the hilt of his zanpakuto and drew it halfway—or so it seemed to everyone watching. The black-and-scarlet blade shone brilliantly for a moment before the light faded.

"..."

Allen stood still, sheathing his zanpakuto. Zaraki smiled but soon coughed blood, falling to his knees with multiple cuts across his body.

'I couldn't fully cut him...'

Allen frowned. He hadn't held back while using the power he gained from Lenalee, combined with his own abilities. Yet Zaraki's wounds were more superficial than they appeared.

"HAHAHA! IT'S JUST AS I THOUGHT—OVERWHELMING AND TERRIFYING!"

Despite the blood pouring from his body, despite the wounds, Zaraki laughed—a crazed, maniacal laugh filled with joy. "Allen... that's your name, isn't it? You won't die, right?"

"..."

Allen tightened his grip on his zanpakuto and launched forward. He had no intention of letting his opponent recover. His blade swept through the air like a deadly scythe, and Zaraki grinned with euphoria at the sight.

In his eyes, there was a strange sense of relief. "It doesn't matter if I use my strength; you won't panic and run, will you? You won't scream, begging for mercy, will you? You won't tell me you have a wife and kids to gain my sympathy, will you? You won't die from a single strike, will you?"

"My life isn't so cheap that anyone can take it!"

"That's right!..." Zaraki rasped as he slowly stood up. "This is good. I was tired of the same thing—tired of those coming for my head without the strength to take it, only to die in agony!"

Allen felt a sense of danger as Zaraki became more terrifying, his skin tinged with red.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

Allen raised his zanpakuto to defend, but Zaraki's surge of power was so great that it slashed his shoulder.

"What?!" Allen tried to react, but the second strike came instantly, cutting his abdomen. Allen quickly used the cursed reverse technique to heal himself and activated Infinity. But seeing Zaraki's gaze so close, he realized something.

'Urahara Kisuke...'

Zaraki's massive zanpakuto swung toward Allen and met his "Infinity," a technique that was supposed to be an absolute defense. Yet, it was nullified.

Allen was struck—a cut from his shoulder to his abdomen. Only his instincts kept him from being split in half, though his organs were still damaged.

It wasn't that Allen had forgotten—how could he? Urahara Kisuke had plenty of time to prepare. He had modified Zaraki's zanpakuto so that it could nullify cursed techniques, much like the Celestial Halberd in the JJK world. But it still came as a surprise. He hadn't expected Zaraki to be so strong, to unleash his Bankai, and for it to work in tandem with the ability to nullify his Infinity. The combination caught him off guard.

"This... was impressive, Urahara..."

Allen had a general idea of how powerful Zaraki Kenpachi should be based on his prior knowledge of Bleach. But this was ridiculous—he was simply faster, simply stronger.

...

Gwen – Allen!

MJ – This can't be true!

Felicia – ...No

Natasha – *faints*

Diana – Allen!

Kimiko – It's not real...

Annie – Ah!

Emma – No no no...

Tearju – ... Allen?

Raven – This must be an illusion...

Kara – Allen would not be harmed by something like this!

...

(I did not expect such a result 🍷🗿)

...

To say the spectators were in shock would be an understatement. No one had expected this outcome, where the one in danger wasn't Zaraki but Allen.

"I'm fine..." Allen said between gasps, summoning a point-blank "Purple" to push Zaraki back and buy himself time to recover.

But Zaraki had entered a frenzy mode. He didn't stop; every strike was just as powerful as the first. Allen was forced to dodge, unable to heal his wounds completely. Blood spilled onto the ground, forming a pool as his face grew pale and his body lost mobility.

"Damn it..."

---

Unfortunately, Allen's current state had consequences on the other battlefields.

To avoid alarming others during the fight, the system had isolated Zaraki and Allen's Reiatsu, making them imperceptible to anyone else. Of course, Allen had explained this to Unohana and Rukia beforehand so they wouldn't be alarmed if they suddenly stopped sensing his Reiatsu.

---

Artoria faced Hirako Shinji, and it was one of the most challenging battles of her life due to Shinji's ability to invert the perception of all senses—up became down, right became left, forward became backward, and so on.

"What a nuisance..."

Hirako didn't give her a moment's rest and continued attacking. Artoria barely managed to dodge. As a goddess, not an ordinary being, she figured out what was happening and altered her own perception to adapt to Shinji's power. The battle then devolved into both of them attacking each other with all their strength.

Artoria had the upper hand, not just in skill but in power. Hirako was cut but regenerated like a Hollow of his caliber.

"I just need to keep attacking until that regeneration stops working... A..."

The goddess, unmoved by any situation and any danger, lost her breath as her heart was ripped from her chest.

"ALLEN!"

It all happened in an instant. Artoria's mind filled with concern, forgetting she was in the middle of a battle. Hirako showed no mercy and struck her with his sword. Blood spilled...

However, the pain meant nothing to her, who only felt regret that she had left his side.

"NOOOO!"

---

Esdeath had been utterly dominating Kensei. This former captain's power was centered around striking; an unusual ability in a world focused on swords. However, Esdeath was untouchable.

No matter how fast Kensei was, his blows never reached her. This was because she teleported constantly, leaving a layer of frost behind her every time.

"AAAHHHGGHH!"

Esdeath smiled as she saw her opponent's despair.

"I used to have a technique called Mahapadma (Makahadoma). I developed it as a trump card, and it allowed me to stop time, but it wasn't very versatile!"

Kensei used Shunpo and attacked again, but Esdeath teleported behind him, mocking him before kicking him into a building once more.

"As I was saying, I've modified that technique. It was so annoying that I could only use it once a day. Now, I can use it in short bursts, allowing me to slip through time. From your perspective, I'm teleporting~"

"RAAARGH!"

Kensei roared in frustration. Being unable to land a blow on his opponent was maddening. Esdeath grinned, not wanting to end the fight easily. It had been a while since she faced a strong opponent. No, it's better to say that it had been a while since she had the opportunity to humiliate a truly powerful opponent.

"GRRAAAAHHHH!"

A red sphere began forming in front of Kensei; it was a Hollow's Cero.

Esdeath smirked but suddenly felt something that terrified her.

"No... no... you can't die!"

Her movements froze, allowing Kensei to strike her with his Cero.

---

"HRAAAARRRRGGHH!"

Makima's battle was simpler. Her opponent was Hiyori, a short girl with blonde hair whose transformation still retained some of her features.

Hiyori screamed but was slammed to the ground. Makima's chains were like snakes that struck Hiyori and dragged her here and there.

"You are a very tough girl but you are weak..."

The pleasure of tormenting others brought a smile to Makima's face. She had been forced to suppress this instinct and was now merely toying with Hiyori.

At that moment, Makima sensed what had happened. That oppressive presence that always reminded her she wasn't free had weakened.

Hiyori screamed again, but Makima ignored her, looking into the distance. This was her chance to escape. Yet, escape was the last thing on her mind.

"This is a lie, right? After everything that's happened, you're really bleeding in a world like this?!"

The stoic expression that had always accompanied the demon woman shattered. She remembered Allen's image and had always seen him as invincible. Now, at what should have been her moment, the only thought in her mind was to go to him.

"It would be unpleasant if they forgot me..."

Soifon's voice emerged behind her as a butterfly tattoo appeared on Makima's chest. Soifon, an expert in the assassination, had decided to take advantage of the new enemies to eliminate whomever she could.

"Move."

Soifon, about to deliver her second attack, felt chills as she looked into Makima's eyes. It was the terrifying feeling of meeting a natural predator, Soifon could not move.

Makima didn't have time to deal with Soifon. Instead of fighting, she headed toward Allen.

'You are arrogant, selfish, a despicable human who treats me as if I belong to you, I hate you like you have no idea... but I don't want you to die.... I don't want to stop seeing that smile on your face.'

Behind her, Soifon managed to overcome her fear with a determined look.

"Ban-kai"

...

Mashiro Kuna had been captured in some kind of energy cage.

"RRRRUUUAAAARRGH!"

"Shut up!"

Rebecca kicked the cage and scratched her head. She didn't want to fight a girl knowing that if she killed her, Allen would scold her.

"GRUUHHHHAAAAH!"

"SHUT UP!"

Rebecca began kicking the cage again. At that moment, 2B landed beside her with Lisa Yadomaru unconscious.

"Rebecca, do you have more cages?"

Both women had easier battles since their opponents weren't captains. However, they hesitated about what to do with their opponents.

Rebecca huffed, "Just throw her in the cage and then into the inventory. Let our Master decide what to do with her later. Heh."

2B knew Rebecca was joking, but she thought it wasn't a bad idea and went through with it, leaving Rebecca speechless. The two finished their fights quickly and didn't have the chance to realize what was happening elsewhere.

After placing the two women into Allen's inventory, they prepared to return to him. However, they were stopped by someone.

"Orders from Urahara-sama," said Tosen Kaname as he appeared behind them.

"Cry Suzumushi (grillo)"

---

Rojuro "Rose" Otoribashi was being utterly massacred. Albedo struck him relentlessly, giving him no chance to fight back.

Rose used his Golden Melody to counterattack, but Albedo's armor was specialized for defense, leaving him no opening. It's worth noting that not even Aizen had been able to destroy it with a single blow. Even his ability, which consisted of making his opponent believe he was injured with illusions and making them come true, was useless.

Albedo, who had been blessed with Allen's power, would never think she could be harmed. Furthermore, her obsession eliminated any fear she might have for her own safety.

This was a lost battle from the start because Albedo was filled with rage.

"YOU WORTHLESS SCUM! HOW DARE YOU THINK OF HARMING ALLEN-SAMA?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO YOU WERE ATTACKING?!"

Albedo held the same level of admiration and loyalty for Allen as she did for her creator or Ainz in her original story. However, this didn't come out of nowhere; much of it was rooted in what she had seen in the darkest, most dangerous corners of Allen's past.

After some time, Albedo finally stopped hitting Rose.

"Tsk, he's regenerating!"

Albedo showed no intention of stopping even if he killed Rose; luckily for the former captain, his Hollow body had a terrifying regeneration.

Albedo wanted to hit the unconscious Rose more but stopped and her face turned pale.

"Huh...but... ALLEN-SAMA!!!"

===

A/N: Happy New Year 🍷🗿

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