Shifting his gaze back from Yachiru and Rukia, Ichigo looked at the Zaraki ahead.
As if also sensing Ichigo's fighting spirit, Zaraki's mouth curved into a fierce grin.
"Ikkaku told me about you. He said you'd let me have fun! Was he right?"
"He was right!" Ichigo smiled.
The next moment, both vanished from their original positions!
Zangetsu cleaver and the Asauchi simultaneously struck each other's bodies!
"Clang! Clang!" Two metallic clashing sounds rang out!
"What?"
"How is this possible?"
"Holy crap, are these two even human?"
"May I ask, are their Shihakusho made of steel armor?"
Comments of surprise flooded the live stream.
They were simply too astonished.
Because after watching the stream for so long, this was the first time they'd seen such a scene!
Ichigo and Zaraki's first exchange, neither of them even attempted to defend!
Ichigo holding Zangetsu cleaver simply slashed at Zaraki, and Zaraki holding the still unnamed Zanpakuto simply slashed at Ichigo!
But whether it was Ichigo's slash on Zaraki or Zaraki's slash on Ichigo, after scraping out a shower of sparks, neither could penetrate further!
It was as if both had struck steel against each other.
But the problem was, both were human flesh!
Watching this, the three observing Captains were also very shocked.
"Zaraki Kenpachi has powerful Reiatsu, allowing him to form a Hierro-like defense on his body's surface."
"But that Ryoka has decent Reiatsu, not at Zaraki Kenpachi's level. Why does he have a similar effect?"
Looking at Ichigo, Komamura said curiously.
He looked at Tosen beside him: "Tosen, did you sense anything?"
"..."
'Looking' at Ichigo, Tosen pondered slightly.
Born blind, his perception was very sharp. After sensing the spot where Ichigo was struck, Tosen said:
"Beneath that Ryoka's shoulder, there's an abnormal gathering of Reishi!"
"It is this gathering of Reishi that produces this defensive effect!"
"As for what kind of technique this is..."
Tosen carefully sensed. Knowing Ichigo's origins, he had some guesses but couldn't be certain.
So he could only say: "I cannot determine either."
"Is that so…" Komamura nodded, understanding, then looked back at the field.
"Hahaha, hahaha, my sword actually can't pierce your defense. Interesting!"
Seeing his sword unable to penetrate, and the opponent's sword also unable to penetrate his defense, Zaraki got excited!
"Then, how about this!"
Zaraki increased his power as if competing, standing right there and slashing at Ichigo.
And Ichigo did the same.
Thus, two more 'clang' sounds!
Their swords again struck each other's shoulders. Apart from tearing their clothes, both remained completely unharmed.
Now, after the clothes tore, the patterns of Blut Vene on Ichigo's shoulder finally became visible!
"So this is your defense?" Looking at the patterns on Ichigo's shoulder, Zaraki was intrigued.
"Correct. Unlike you forming Hierro with powerful Reiatsu. Injecting Reishi into blood vessels to enhance the body's defense… that's my ability!" Ichigo explained.
At the same time, he suggested: "Neither of us can break the other's defense. In that case, how about raising the stakes?"
"Good!" Zaraki gripped his Asauchi with both hands, golden Reiatsu beginning to burn on the sword.
Simultaneously, Ichigo also gripped Zangetsu with both hands, the blue light of Getsuga Tensho glowing!
Next moment!
"Getsuga Tensho!"
"Kenatsu - Slash!"
Getsuga Tensho and Zaraki's Kenatsu simultaneously struck each other's bodies!
And this time, there was finally no metallic clanging sound!
Boom-
Blue and golden light intertwined and exploded!
Intense Reiatsu tangled together!
Similarly, facing such moves, the two finally broke through each other's defenses!
Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho cut a wound from Zaraki's shoulder down to his chest.
Zaraki's Kenatsu also cut a gash on Ichigo's shoulder!
As blood flowed from both, the impact force also knocked each other back!
"Interesting, interesting, you guy! I have a feeling this will be a satisfying battle!"
Looking at Ichigo, Zaraki's eyes burned with passion!
"Is that so? Then I wonder if you'd like something even more interesting!"
"Warm-up should just about end here, right?"
Ichigo steadied himself, the Reiatsu on his body beginning to rise!
"Oh?" Zaraki's expression became expectant.
The next moment, Ichigo wiped his left hand across his face!
A Hollow Mask appeared on Ichigo's face!
Black Hollow Reiatsu shot into the sky!
"This state is called Hollowfication!"
"It breaks the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow power, obtaining the power of Hollows!"
"Heh!" Looking at such an Ichigo, Zaraki also removed the eyepatch over his right eye!
Instantly, golden Reiasu gushed from Zaraki's body, like a Super Saiyan transformation. Golden Reiatsu intertwined, forming a pillar that pierced the clouds!
Then, Zaraki explained to Ichigo:
"My Reiatsu is too strong. I've never been able to find a suitable opponent to enjoy the fun of battle!"
"This eyepatch was developed by the Research and Development Institute… a monster that continuously devours Reiatsu! From now on, I'll be at full strength!"
After fighting for a while, both opened their final forms!
If you disregard the part where they keep swinging swords at each other, their interaction was quite harmonious.
And watching Ichigo and Zaraki successively activate stronger forms, the audience noticing this also realized.
"Strange, aren't these two enemies?"
"Why do I feel their fight isn't really a fight, but more like a discussion to give each other a light workout?"
"Yeah, Ichigo seems quite friendly towards this Zaraki!"
"What's going on?"
The comments buzzed with discussion.
And not just the comments, the two Captains in the distance also noticed.
"That Zaraki!"
"A monster who takes pleasure in slaughter, who killed the previous Kenpachi to take his place, and now even plays friendly matches with Ryoka?"
"Simply unforgivable!"
The righteous Tosen angrily gripped his sword hilt!
Looking at Zaraki, Komamura was equally angry.
"Tosen, how about the two of us go?" Komamura suggested.
Komamura was confident. He believed that with him and Tosen joining force, they could handle either Zaraki or Ichigo.
But then, Unohana, who had been smiling while watching the battle, as if hearing their words, turned her head to look at them!
Toward the two, Unohana gave a gentle smile.
Sister Hana, bestowed with the keyword 'benevolence' by Kubo, with eyes curved and warm smile.
But noticing such a gaze, both Komamura and Tosen stiffened simultaneously, as if stared at by some prehistoric beast!
Instantly, the two fell silent, no longer discussing interrupting the battle.
Their thoughts only showed they didn't truly understand Zaraki.
They understood a bit about Ichigo and Zaraki's fight, but only a bit.
The comments guessed correctly too… Ichigo was indeed very friendly. The act of slashing each other was more like making friends than fighting.
At the same time, it was also a necessary approach.
Just as Komamura and Tosen were warned.
In a fight with Zaraki, if one exploited his habit of taking hits, starting with Hollowfication and two slashes, even if not killing him, a first-encounter defeat was definitely possible.
The original Ichigo could do that, but the current one couldn't. He couldn't skip this battle.
Because, this was about human relations!
Unohana was watching from behind. If she didn't want Zaraki to have a complete battle experience, why would she help so thoroughly?