Seeing the enormous claw about to crawl out from Hueco Mundo, Ito Makoto raised his hand and unleashed an unchanted Shakkahō, forcing the two dark blue hands back into the rift.
On the other side, the interface slowly contracted, finally transforming into a stream of light before vanishing into thin air.
"These deadweights are finally gone."
Ito Makoto slowly exhaled a turbid breath, twisted his neck, and adjusted himself into his optimal state.
"Crash!"
Not long after, the two dark blue hands, still bearing scorched wounds from the Shakkahō, crawled out of Hueco Mundo once more.
Chaotic and violent spiritual pressure surged forward, rushing straight toward Ito Makoto.
"Hmph!"
Ito Makoto snorted coldly. His own spiritual pressure erupted in response, colliding head-on with the incoming wave.
"Finally out, huh?"
With Ito Makoto no longer obstructing it, the monster with the two dark blue hands finally forced its way out of the rift.
It was an Arrancar more than ten meters tall, its entire body dark blue and covered in sharp spikes. Its appearance resembled a grotesque monkey, though not quite.
"An Adjuchas-class Arrancar. Fortunately, like the previous blob Arrancar, it's incomplete."
"It seems Aizen hasn't yet developed his half of the Hōgyoku to the point where it can support a complete Arrancar."
Ito Makoto carefully sensed the spiritual pressure of the blue monkey Arrancar. After becoming an Arrancar, it could be considered top-tier among Adjuchas, yet it was still far from the level of an un-Arrancarized Vasto Lorde.
Fortunately, what appeared before him was only an incomplete Arrancar.
If a complete Adjuchas-class Arrancar had appeared now, not to mention one of the lower-ranked Espada, even the subordinates of the top three Espada would be far beyond what this clone could handle.
In that case, Ito Makoto would have turned around and fled without hesitation, completely unconcerned about the fate of those Shinigami trainees.
The claim that he stayed behind to protect the rookies was only half true.
What he truly wanted was to test the current strength of this clone.
That was the real reason.
His sparring with Ikkaku had been exhilarating, with blades meeting flesh, but it was still only practice. How could it compare to a genuine life-or-death battle?
This incomplete Adjuchas Arrancar would serve as the perfect whetstone for his first Shikai.
"Come on, you beast. Let me see what you're made of."
Ito Makoto held Annihilation God in his hand and looked down at the blue monkey Arrancar with clear disdain.
"Roar!"
As if sensing the contempt in his gaze, the blue monkey let out a long howl. It opened its mouth wide as a dark blue Cero rapidly condensed within.
Ito Makoto gave it no chance.
He swung Annihilation God forward and grabbed the iron chain at the end of the hilt just as the blade left his grasp.
Instantly, the chain extended, lengthening rapidly until it exceeded ten meters.
Gripping the end tightly, Ito Makoto swung with full force, embedding Annihilation God directly into the Arrancar's forehead and interrupting the forming Cero.
But he did not stop there.
He yanked the blade free.
Then he began rotating the chain at high speed, turning Annihilation God into a spinning weapon that tore through the air like a deadly whip.
The revolving blade traced a massive circle.
Like a meat grinder, it shredded the dark blue giant monkey's body, carving countless wounds across its flesh.
"Roar!"
The Arrancar screamed in agony.
This style of attack already carried faint traces of a certain top-tier character from the original story.
"Annihilation God, First Form: Quake!"
"Roar!"
A powerful shockwave burst from the blade.
The dark blue giant monkey felt its internal organs being dragged and twisted by an invisible vibrating force. Pain surged through its body, forcing it to release its full spiritual pressure to resist.
As its spiritual pressure flared, the internal vibration weakened slightly.
"Tch. If I had my main body's spiritual pressure, that tremor would've shattered this thing's organs already."
Yekawa's main body had already reached true Squad Captain level.
As a clone, however, Ito Makoto lacked Soul Eater and could not devour Hollows to grow stronger. He could only rely on cultivation and battle, making his progress far slower.
Even so, he had raised his spiritual pressure from Fifth-Grade to strong Fourth-Grade Vice-Captain level through constant training and combat.
But Squad Captain level was still far away.
After recovering slightly from the assault, the dark blue giant monkey charged again like a mad beast.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
It used Sonido repeatedly, closing the distance at extreme speed.
Even while enduring continuous cuts, it rushed forward without hesitation.
The Arrancar understood that only by getting close to this hateful Shinigami did it have any chance of victory. Otherwise, it would simply be worn down to death.
Seeing its desperate rush, Ito Makoto's lips curved into a playful smile.
"You want close combat? Fine. I'll oblige you."
Grinning, he shortened the chain and pulled Annihilation God back into his grasp.
"I will… eat you…"
The dark blue giant monkey's foul-smelling mouth opened and closed. Yellowish saliva dripped between its sparse teeth as it spoke clumsily.
"Oh? You can talk?"
Ito Makoto had previously thought the creature had become dumb after Arrancarization.
"Roar!"
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The Arrancar roared toward the sky, then slammed its chest violently with both fists.
The next moment, two invisible gales infused with a strong, putrid stench wrapped around its arms.
"Is that… a low-grade Iron Fist Wind Breaker?"
Ito Makoto's interest was piqued.
He wiped Annihilation God's blade lightly, causing it to vibrate once more. Then he stepped forward and slashed.
"Pfft!"
With the vibrating enhancement, the Arrancar's tough hide was sliced like paper.
The blade cut through as if through tofu.
A deep wound exposing bone was carved straight across its chest.
"Ah! I will… eat you!"
Severely injured, the dark blue giant monkey became even more frenzied.
It charged wildly, fists wrapped in roaring gales.
Ito Makoto met it head-on with Annihilation God.
Each collision left another wound.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Though covered in injuries, the Arrancar remained ferocious, punching endlessly.
Ito Makoto, meanwhile, grimaced in discomfort.
Not from pain.
From the stench.
This thing was simply too damn foul.
"Rumble!"
Unable to endure it any longer, Ito Makoto gripped the sword with both hands and channeled his spiritual pressure.
Pure white lightning wrapped around the blade.
Then he unleashed a devastating Thunderclap Slash.
This was no ordinary Thunderclap Slash.
It was one infused with vibrating force.
A brilliant white blade of light split the dark blue giant monkey cleanly in two.
The vibrating force followed, shattering both halves into fragments.
With the enemy slain, Annihilation God reverted from its Shikai state.
Ito Makoto looked at the foul-smelling Asauchi, stained with dark blue blood, with clear disgust.
After hesitating briefly, he pinched his nose and sheathed it.
"Fortunately, this is just a temporary sword assigned by the Spiritual Arts Academy…"
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