"Vacuum Ice Blade!"
But before Zaraki could react, Toshiro's next move was already unleashed.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Countless ice blades filled the sky. Zaraki had no time to respond before being hit.
When Toshiro's attack ceased, Zaraki was revealed.
He was covered from head to toe with ice blades, looking like a porcupine, a truly pitiful sight.
"Hiss!"
Even Toshiro couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath at Zaraki's state.
However, Zaraki obviously didn't mind. In fact, he seemed quite pleased.
Pah!
Zaraki spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Cough cough. Although this fight is really satisfying right now, if this continues, I'm going to lose," Zaraki said, staggering slightly.
"You know what? All along, because my opponents were too weak, I could never fully enjoy myself. So, to give my opponents an advantage, I tied on these bells and put on this eyepatch," Zaraki explained.
"The bells are so my opponents can hear the sound and know my attack direction. The eyepatch is to suppress my Reiatsu. It's something the Research and Development Bureau developed to absorb Reiatsu," Zaraki continued on his own.
"But, if it's you, it should be fine! Hitsugaya Toshiro! If it's you, you should be able to let me fight all out!"
As he spoke, Zaraki tore off his eyepatch.
Boom!
A surge of golden Reiatsu shot into the sky, then spread outwards.
'What immense Reiatsu!' A bead of cold sweat involuntarily dripped down Toshiro's forehead.
The moment the eyepatch was removed, Zaraki's Reiatsu skyrocketed from barely reaching the early Captain-level to the late Captain-level.
Such powerful Reiatsu could be sensed by all Shinigami in the Seireitei even without actively trying.
Yamamoto and the other Captains rushing towards the scene saw the towering pillar of Reiatsu and further accelerated their speed.
"Come on! Hitsugaya Toshiro! Fight me with all you've got!"
Zaraki, bathed in golden Reiatsu light, charged at Toshiro!
Then, a sword strike containing boundless Reiatsu slashed towards Toshiro.
This strike was violent, ferocious, determined to destroy everything!
"Ice Dragon Flash!"
Hyorinmaru erupted with endless blue light, meeting Zaraki's slash.
Clang!
The moment their swords clashed, it seemed as if the entire world fell silent.
Boom!
Gold and blue Reiatsu erupted. The shockwave swept out, uprooting trees and flowers in the vicinity.
Thud!
After holding out for less than a moment, Toshiro's figure was sent flying, crashing to the ground.
The gap in Reiatsu between Toshiro and Zaraki now was simply too vast.
Crack!
Suddenly, to Toshiro's disbelief, his Zanpakuto snapped into two.
Clatter!
The broken Hyorinmaru fell to the ground.
"You dare... you dare break my Hyorinmaru?!"
Toshiro stood up shakily, his eyes filled with rage.
"Oh? Why that look? A Zanpakuto is just a tool for fighting," Zaraki said indifferently.
"What do you know?! A Zanpakuto is a companion that is born with a Shinigami, fights alongside them, and dies with them… a lifelong partner!" Toshiro shouted.
"Hmph! Boring."
To Zaraki, a Zanpakuto was merely a sword to slay enemies.
"Your Zanpakuto is truly unfortunate to have a master like you."
Toshiro shot a sympathetic glance at the Zanpakuto in Zaraki's hand, which seemed on the verge of shattering under his ferocious, wild Reiatsu.
"Tch! Boring. Talking as if Zanpakuto have their own consciousness."
In Zaraki's view, a Zanpakuto was always just a tool for battle… it didn't need to have its own consciousness.
"How pitiful. You probably can't even hear your own Zanpakuto's voice," Toshiro mocked.
"Hey, enough with the nonsense. Your sword is broken. Still want to continue?" Zaraki said impatiently.
"Of course. Breaking my Zanpakuto isn't something that can just be dropped."
Even though his Zanpakuto was broken, Toshiro wouldn't give up so easily.
"Hado #88, Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho!"
Having lost his Zanpakuto, Toshiro didn't hesitate to unleash the most powerful Kido attack he currently mastered.
Instantly, a pillar of thunder and lightning roared towards Zaraki.
"Come at me!"
Zaraki gripped his sword with both hands and slashed, sending a golden Kenatsu to meet the blue lightning pillar.
Boom!
The golden Kenatsu and the blue lightning pillar collided and canceled each other out.
Ultimately, the golden Kenatsu cleaved through the lightning pillar and surged towards Toshiro.
Schlick!
The residual golden Kenatsu struck Toshiro's body, its wild Reiatsu ravaging him internally.
"Cough!"
Toshiro spat out a mouthful of blood, falling to one knee, his right hand propping him up.
"It's been so long since I've had such a satisfying fight. But let's end it here today," Zaraki said, looking thoroughly pleased.
"After all, killing you would make it hard to find a decent opponent later."
With that, Zaraki turned to leave.
Suddenly, time seemed to freeze. Everything around, Zaraki, the flowers, the trees, all became still.
"How pathetic you look, Toshiro."
Hyorinmaru in human form suddenly appeared, stepping past Zaraki and walking slowly towards Toshiro.
"You finally came, Hyorinmaru."
Toshiro wasn't overly surprised by Hyorinmaru's appearance.
"Oh? Judging by your expression, you seemed to have expected me," Hyorinmaru said, puzzled.
"It's nothing much. I just felt today's scene was very similar to when Ichigo fought Zaraki Kenpachi, so I wondered if you would appear like Zangetsu did."
In the original work, Ichigo also fought Zaraki while at Lieutenant-level and ultimately won with Zangetsu's help.
"Oh? Want me to recite some of Zangetsu's lines to encourage you?" Hyorinmaru teased.
"No need. I remember them better than you," Toshiro declined.
"Forget the fear. Look ahead. Keep moving forward. Don't ever stop. Retreat will only bring age. Cowardice will bring death. Call out... my name..."
Zangetsu's classic lines were still fresh in Toshiro's memory.