Of course, Ichigo could also act recklessly, ignoring all this.
But if he schemed against Zaraki this time, the next encounter would only bring even more intense battles, so there was no need.
At the same time, since the situation was laid out like this, Ichigo could only turn disadvantage into advantage.
Zaraki was a very easy person to understand.
He existed for battle, valued battle above all else, even disregarding the bigger picture for it.
In his view, only slaughter was the source of joy. It was precisely to enjoy the process of battle that Zaraki self-sealed many years ago and now wore an eyepatch.
Ichigo's actions were telling Zaraki: I understand you, and I'm willing to give you an exhilarating battle.
But since he was willing to give, naturally, it was because he wanted something in return.
Knowing Ichigo's attitude, Zaraki didn't care.
If someone could give him a fight, he'd agree to many things.
But no matter what was wanted, it had to be discussed after surviving his sword first! So, fight was fight… Zaraki wouldn't hold back when slashing!
The next moment, under the critical gazes of Komamura and Tosen-
Black Getsuga Tensho and golden Kenatsu collided again!
Rumble rumble-
A huge sound erupted.
The immense impact force caused the ground beneath the two to explode into a circular crater centered on them, as if struck by a heavy hammer!
Black and golden Reiatsu clashed.
A pillar of Reiatsu shot into the sky. From afar, it looked like the world was divided into black and golden halves centered on Ichigo and Zaraki!
Then, like two competing bulls, after the first strike, the two in the center pushed each other away with force.
Then, after creating some distance, Ichigo wrapped in black Reiatsu and Zaraki wrapped in golden Reiatsu collided at high speed again!
Intense rumbling reappeared!
The powerful force caused the ground to tremble!
One might think this was a pile driver worksite!
In the field, after this clash, both Ichigo and Zaraki had their sword-wielding hands' purlicue instantly split! (T/N: Purlicue is the webbing between thumb and index finger.)
Zangetsu and the Asauchi wrestled against each other, then bounced apart again! It seemed the two were about to clash a third time! The imposing black and golden lights charged forward at high speed.
But this time, Ichigo finally changed tactics!
The seemingly grand lunge was just a feint. Using Sonido after Hollowfication, Ichigo vanished from in front of Zaraki one second and appeared charging from behind him the next!
Swish!
Zangetsu slashed down without the slightest hesitation!
A huge bloody gash erupted on Zaraki's back!
In pain, Zaraki swung his sword backhanded behind him!
But Ichigo, with a nimble Hirenkyaku, appeared at Zaraki's side, and the large Zangetsu blade swung down again!
Swish!
Another huge wound appeared!
Two tactical changes, and Zaraki suffered two consecutive wounds!
"? What's happening!"
Watching this, Komamura and Tosen on the side were shocked.
Not only them, even Zaraki was very puzzled!
"What kind of speed is this?" Zaraki asked strangely.
"Sonido, the step of Hollows!" Ichigo answered.
Among the three movement techniques of Shinigami (Shunpo), Quincy (Hirenkyaku), and Hollows/Arrancar (Sonido), the Arrancar's Sonido was the most superior.
If a Shinigami's Shunpo was just an ordinary skill, then the Quincy's Hirenkyaku, controlling Reishi flow to move, was more advanced in technique than Shunpo.
But what made Sonido excellent was its essence!
The essence of Sonido was an expansion of the Hollow's ability to tear space!
Sonido was actually small-scale spatial teleportation!
That's why Ichigo could slash from behind Zaraki!
Unfortunately, such an ability could only be used once or twice when things got serious!
...
Ichigo used Sonido again!
But this time, what greeted him was Zaraki's blade!
Clang!
Zangetsu and the Asauchi collided and then separated!
With powerful intuition, Zaraki predicted where Ichigo would appear!
But Ichigo never intended to win using Sonido.
To deal with Zaraki, raw slashing power was needed!
After a flashy exchange, the two returned to simple, unadorned blade clashes!
Powerful blades clashed, air vibrated, the ground shattered, intense rumbling hurt eardrums.
But undoubtedly, the battle had now entered a stalemate.
The fight with Zaraki would still take some time to conclude.
However, just as everyone was watching Ichigo and Zaraki's battle intently, in Ichigo's live stream, where comments decreased due to his focus on battle, an anxious comment appeared.
"Bad news, brothers! Go check the Xiguo players' streams, look at Git To!"
"Ishida Uryu and the others, who haven't been seen, were discovered by those Xiguo players!"
"What!!!?"
"Holy crap, is my wife Orihime okay?! Go, go!"
Seeing the sudden comment, everyone became extremely tense.
Quickly leaving Ichigo's stream, everyone searched among the remaining four thousand plus players for Git To's stream as mentioned.
At that moment, in Xiguo player, Git To's stream, a chase was underway.
All the 2nd Division's Xiguo players, plus a few other Xiguo players in high positions who hadn't switched divisions, were hotly pursuing Uryu and the others!
Leading them was Git To, the person mentioned. His identity was the 4th Seat of the 4th Division, Jirobo Ikkanzaka, also the younger brother of the gatekeeper Ichigo's group encountered.
"Flap Away, Tsunzakigarasu!"
At the trio, Git To released his Zanpakuto.
Instantly, Git To's slender Zanpakuto, like Senbonzakura, transformed its blade into numerous small flying daggers!
Controlling countless flying daggers, Git To, as if using sword control arts, shot the many daggers at the fleeing trio in the distance!
As the trio ran, fierce whooshing sounds approached.
Seeing this, Orihime quickly turned back.
"Santen Kesshun: I Reject!"
Hinagiku, Lily, and Baigon flew out, pulling up the Santen Kesshun behind the trio.
The triangular shield blocked most of Git To's flying daggers.
The problem was, Git To's daggers could be manually controlled.
The triangular Santen Kesshun couldn't block all attacks.
Before the Santen Kesshun could intercept, most daggers deftly changed trajectory, bypassing the shield.
Then, these daggers that bypassed the Santen Kesshun continued unabated towards Orihime!
"Inoue!" Seeing this, Chad, while running, turned his body to block most of the daggers for Orihime.
However, a few daggers still struck Orihime!
Sharp daggers sliced across Orihime's shoulder, slender waist, thigh, and other places, drawing thin lines of blood.
"Ah!" Blades striking her, Orihime let out a heartbreaking cry of pain!
Orihime wasn't a warrior… warriors could endure pain and keep fighting, but she couldn't.
Since she was just a healer/support mage, Orihime felt her body go weak the moment the blades struck, then collapsed from her run!
"Inoue! Inoue!"
Chad and Uryu called out in concern.
But with Orihime down, they had to stop, placing her in the center!
Thus, the trio being chased moments ago were instantly surrounded.