Bleach: Stirring Up a Storm

Yylfordt merely moved his mouth stubbornly before feeling his eyelids grow heavier and heavier, involuntarily passing out.

Once this special anesthetic began to take effect, the loss of consciousness was incredibly fast, especially with a dose ten times the normal amount. Even if the opponent wanted to speak at the very end, they wouldn’t be able to make a sound.

However, judging by the shape of his mouth, Urahara felt that the other party’s last word was ’despicable’. If that wasn’t the name of this unknown Mr. Arrancar, then he was definitely talking about him.

But in truth, there was nothing despicable about it at all. Not only was Urahara’s dosage ten times that of what would be used on a normal Hollow, but the very first cane strike Urahara aimed at Yylfordt also utilized a piercing technique to deliver the anesthetic directly into his heart.

One had to know that back in the Seireitei, Ichigo couldn’t even last three seconds under this technique before passing out. It was truly not easy for Yylfordt to hold on for this long.

At the same time, to ensure a one hundred percent live capture, Urahara had prepared no less than five backup plans in addition to the anesthetic. For the sake of the opponent’s survival, he had truly done his utmost.

Fortunately, no accidents occurred, and the matter here was settled. Urahara glanced in another direction. However, capturing the last Mr. Arrancar alive wouldn’t be such a simple matter.

Edrad? And Yylfordt? The sequential disappearance of his two subordinates’ Reiatsu made Grimmjow somewhat irritated.

Ichigo seemed to notice Grimmjow’s momentary lapse in concentration. Leaping high into the air, he raised his already Bankai-released Zangetsu with both hands and slashed heavily at Grimmjow.

Grimmjow was indeed somewhat distracted, not only because the disappearance of his two subordinates’ Reiatsu brought the message of their possible deaths, but also because of the sudden appearance of two powerful and unfamiliar Reiatsu in Karakura Town.

He only snapped back to his senses when the descending Zanpakutō almost touched his scalp. Subconsciously taking a step back, he narrowly dodged the slash.

Ichigo, not one to let an advantage slip, flicked Zangetsu upward. Accompanied by erupting rubble, he thrust straight at Grimmjow, completely unaware that a trace of disgust had quietly crept into the opponent’s blade-sharp eyes.

Facing the thrust aimed straight at his face, Grimmjow neither dodged nor yielded. His left hand formed a claw and gripped the entirely bright-black Tensa Zangetsu, followed by a vicious fling that slammed Ichigo, along with his blade, heavily onto the ground.

Ichigo was left somewhat breathless by the slam. He had only half-risen when Grimmjow’s terrifyingly deep voice sounded in his ear, "You’re a bit stronger than before. Did you become fearless knowing your reinforcements have made their move?"

Another heavy, powerful kick came his way. Ichigo only had time to block with his blade horizontally before he was kicked flying again.

It felt completely different from before. The previous Grimmjow was strong, but his attacks always had a casual feel to them.

But since that brief distraction, he was like a beast enraged by an injury. His attacks were like a violent storm, leaving one breathless.

Ichigo stabbed Tensa Zangetsu into the ground, using the force to quickly steady his posture. Watching Grimmjow charge at him with another punch, a trace of ruthlessness appeared in his eyes.

"Getsuga Tenshō!"

Following the trajectory of the blade’s tip, a massive Reiatsu Slash tore through the earth, as if everything standing in its way would be split in two, including Grimmjow.

Grimmjow’s five fingers hooked like claws, grabbing onto the incoming Reiatsu Slash. Like a solitary peak parting a rushing river, the white Reiryoku had no choice but to detour around him.

Ichigo seized the opportunity to charge forward again. At this moment, Grimmjow’s claw momentum had faded, while he stood with his blade ready, swinging it down!

Grimmjow raised his right arm, blocking Tensa Zangetsu’s inevitable path. As he absorbed the force, he was already preparing for his next exertion of power.

Unfortunately, this move completely missed. Let alone throwing Ichigo off, he hit nothing but air.

Behind!

Grimmjow abruptly turned his head. That familiar flash of black entered his vision again, adding a touch of amazement in his heart. *This guy finally has the desire to win; this is what a battle should look like!*

Ichigo didn’t know what a battle should look like, but as for the so-called desire to win, he seemed to truly have a bit of it now. No, it should be said that it had begun to reignite.

Defeat Grimmjow, by any means necessary. Because of this, not only did he use Getsuga Tenshō as a feint, but he did the same for the second strike.

Only by not committing full strength can one easily pull back. The moment vigilance is validated is also the moment one is most likely to drop their guard, and it is when the enemy’s flaw is the greatest!

Ichigo might not have thought that much, but his instincts prompted him to execute a certain tactic. His killing blow had always been this strike from behind. At this moment, he held Tensa Zangetsu high, a raging fire burning in his eyes.

*He won’t have time to turn around and counterattack!* Just as Ichigo thought this, Grimmjow made an astonishing move. Turning around might be a bit too late, but not turning around presented an opportunity.

Grimmjow suddenly fell backward, crashing directly into Ichigo. Although it wasn’t enough to instantly knock Ichigo flying, it made him stagger, slowing his descending blade by a fraction.

At the same time, Grimmjow raised his left arm. As he spun around, he drove an elbow into the side of Ichigo’s face, completely neutralizing the crisis.

Warm, metallic liquid instantly filled his mouth and nose. Ichigo felt the world spin in a dizzying blur. The Tensa Zangetsu in his hand seemed to touch Grimmjow, but it merely grazed the opponent’s clothes.

Grimmjow didn’t wait for Ichigo to recover and launch another counterattack. He raised his right foot and launched Ichigo into the air. He didn’t even give him a chance to fall; when Ichigo reached the highest point, Grimmjow also appeared in the air and kicked him down!

*Bang!* Ichigo smashed into the ground like a dropped bomb, creating a massive crater. The kicked-up dust enveloped the entire street. Listening closely, there was a rustling sound—the noise of falling rubble.

"You are a lot stronger than before, but you call this thing a Bankai? It’s way too disappointing!" Though he spoke of disappointment, not a hint of it could be seen on Grimmjow’s face.

In the battle just now, he had been relatively serious, to the point where he hadn’t even noticed when Shawlong and Nakeem’s Reiatsu had disappeared.

Even if it was because the impending arrival of reinforcements had awakened his hope for survival, Ichigo was at least fighting hard for that hope. Or perhaps, what he wanted wasn’t just survival? Grimmjow thought of Ichigo’s eyes just now; they seemed to be saying, *I will definitely defeat you.*

Therefore, there was nothing to be disappointed about. The opponent’s performance had at least proven that he wasn’t a cowardly person who only knew how to be protected.

But the unstable power Ulquiorra mentioned hadn’t appeared yet. Did he master it in just one short day? If so, this power didn’t deserve Ulquiorra’s rhetoric at all.

Or could it be that he still didn’t dare to release that power?

But no matter the result, with just this level of performance, Ichigo was undoubtedly going to die. No one could save him! So, there was nothing to be disappointed about.

However, it couldn’t be called satisfying either.

And right at this moment, a black deeper than the night quietly appeared—a black that symbolized misfortune.

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