The next moment,
Without cumbersome words or flashy Reiatsu clashes.
Renji and Ichigo both instantly vanished from their spots using Shunpo!
The next moment, each carrying their own justice, they reappeared in the center of the park!
Clang!
Zabimaru and Zangetsu collided fiercely!
As if venting their anger, without using any techniques, the two simply kept slashing at each other!
In an instant, the two long blades scraped against each other dozens of times, intense sparks continuously flying!
In terms of strength, the two were evenly matched!
So Renji took the initiative to change tactics!
"Then, how about this!" Using the force of Ichigo's slash, Renji jumped back.
Raising the sword in his right hand, he swept his left hand over the blade and uttered the Shikai release command: "Howl, Zabimaru!"
The slender Asauchi was released, transforming into a seven-segment blade, six blade sections plus the tip, with a sharp protrusion at the front of each section, forming a snake-like chain sword!
Then, facing the charging Ichigo, Renji swung Zabimaru out!
Zabimaru's blade segments separated, with high-density spiritual particles forming white steel cables between the segments. The entire Zabimaru extended and retracted just like a real snake!
True to its name, Zabimaru! (T/N: Zabimaru means Snake Tail.)
Facing Zabimaru biting towards him like a venomous snake, Ichigo had no choice but to raise his sword to block!
The force of the swing combined with the extension force from the Reishi Cables.
The tremendous force pushed Ichigo back continuously. His straw-sandaled feet scraped against the ground, plowing two deep furrows!
Boom!
Zabimaru's powerful strike only stopped after slamming Ichigo into a tree!
Under the transmitted force, the tree, only as thick as a man's thigh, easily snapped.
And Ichigo's defensive posture was consequently broken!
'Chance!' Renji's eyes lit up.
Zabimaru swung for the second time!
The venomous snake's fangs bit down from above!
Watching the descending Zabimaru, Ichigo's expression remained calm.
If he remembered correctly, Zabimaru's attack could extend three times before it must be retracted once to continue.
So Ichigo raised Zangetsu to block again.
But this time, Zabimaru didn't strike with its tip, but with its midsection!
Deliberately spending Reiryoku to extend Zabimaru a bit further, Renji used the midsection of Zabimaru to slash down!
The blade at the midsection contacted Zangetsu. Under the effect of inertia, the blade at the tip of Zabimaru stabbed towards Ichigo's back like a reverse scorpion kick!
The sudden change in moves was impossible to guard against!
In just two brief exchanges, Ichigo was already in danger!
"Not good!"
Unlike the previous dull-witted Hollows, Renji's seasoned combat experience and this unique, even niche, weapon fighting style shocked everyone watching!
However, what they didn't expect was that even against this strike, Ichigo had anticipated it!
In the blink of an eye, because the frontal pressure wasn't great, Ichigo freed one hand from his sword grip and aimed it at his back, loudly chanting an incantation-less Kido: "Bakudo #8, Seki!"
A thin light shield appeared on Ichigo's hand and accurately blocked the fangs of Zabimaru biting from behind!
Although the light shield shattered upon contact, Ichigo still bought a brief moment to use Shunpo and escape!
"Impossible!" Watching Ichigo's proficient Kido usage, Renji exclaimed again.
He could understand Ichigo's Kido being able to bind a powerless Rukia.
But being able to block his strike, even for just an instant, was a bit hard for him to comprehend.
Renji once again gained a deep understanding of Ichigo's genius level!
'Absurd' could no longer describe Ichigo!
But even so, making Renji give up was still impossible!
"It's not over yet, Kurosaki Ichigo!"
With Reiatsu boiling within him, Renji unleashed the strongest third attack!
Continuously channeling Reiatsu, Zabimaru, extended to its limit and carrying the whip's tip force to its extreme, lashed towards Ichigo!
The sharp blade edge sliced through the air.
On either side of the high-speed advancing blade, silvery-white shockwave-like rings actually appeared!
The noise of high-speed travel was piercing!
'Last extension!'
'Next strike, opportunity!'
Ichigo counted silently in his heart, also gripping Zangetsu tightly, beginning to charge Getsuga Tensho!
Facing Ichigo, Renji roared once more: "Howl, Zabimaru!"