Panic reached its peak in the Águila's eyes. "Wait... wait a second..."
"As a warrior," Izuru Kira said, stepping on the Águila's back and drawing Wabisuke toward him, "how can you beg your enemy for mercy?"
Crimson blood gushed out, spraying wildly and staining the ground red.
The blood-soaked Wabisuke swept through the air, flinging a graceful arc of blood in its wake.
"Farewell, warrior." Izuru Kira sheathed his restored Zanpakutō. "If you can, please... don't forgive me."
With his enemy's death, the restlessness in his heart eased a little.
Silently sensing the Reiatsu around him, Izuru Kira had thought he would be the first to end his battle. He had not expected Yumichika Ayasegawa to finish even faster than him.
Truly worthy of the 5th Seat of the 11th Division.
Shūhei Hisagi's battle was still in full swing, while over on Ikkaku Madarame's side...
BOOM!
Izuru Kira snapped his head around and looked toward the source of the Reiatsu Burst.
He knew the people of the 11th Division were strong, but they were strong enough to reach this level?
Without a doubt, that Reiatsu was... Bankai!
Ikkaku Madarame had not planned to use Bankai at first, not even against an enemy nearly four meters tall, Arrancar No. 25, Choe Neng Poww.
"Oh, look. A rookie grunt wandered over." Ikkaku Madarame sounded casual, but he hadn't dropped his guard. Hōzukimaru was already released. "You're… pretty big, huh? I'm praying you're not just for show."
"Pray? Pray to whom?" Poww asked in a deep, muffled voice. "For a Shinigami, does such a thing as a god even exist?"
"Uh..." Ikkaku Madarame froze at the question. "To whom?" He actually thought about it. "Hmm... people say that all the time, but there doesn't seem to be anyone specific you're supposed to pray to..." Then he gave up. "Ha! I've got it! Doesn't matter who I pray to! I'll just pray to your god, then!"
"I see..." Poww looked down at Ikkaku Madarame. "Then there is no problem."
"You are, in truth, no match for me." There was no contempt in Poww's eyes. He was simply stating a fact. "My king, my god, understands that better than anyone. That is why I came here."
"Oh... yeah?" Ikkaku Madarame tightened his grip on Hōzukimaru. "So you see that old man as a god."
Poww raised his fist. "You should show more respect to the one you pray to."
"I can't respect a boss who only sends his subordinates into fights they're guaranteed to win!" The moment Ikkaku Madarame saw his opponent was ready, he attacked first, raising Hōzukimaru and thrusting straight at him. "A fight's supposed to have some uncertainty. That's what makes it exciting!"
Poww did not dodge. He swung his fist straight into Ikkaku Madarame's attack.
His towering body already gave him the advantage, and his arms, long enough to reach his knees, greatly extended his range, completely erasing Hōzukimaru's advantage in length.
Before Hōzukimaru could strike Poww, Poww's fist would hit Ikkaku Madarame's head first.
Ikkaku Madarame sprang into the air, avoiding the massive fist. His grip on Hōzukimaru loosened slightly, then tightened again.
The hand that had been gripping the middle slid to the very end, instantly extending his attack range.
Ikkaku Madarame swung the spear-like Hōzukimaru with one hand, its sharp tip slashing toward Poww's throat.
Poww raised his other hand, reaching to grab Ikkaku Madarame out of the air.
"Too slow!" Ikkaku Madarame twisted his body, planted a foot on Poww's arm for leverage, and attacked again. "You're way too slow!"
Poww's missed fist swung upward, guarding his front and avoiding the spear tip as he deliberately met Hōzukimaru's long shaft.
"Nice reflexes!" Ikkaku Madarame grinned viciously and flicked his wrist. "Split open, Hōzukimaru!"
Hōzukimaru split into three sections linked by chains. As Ikkaku Madarame swung his arm, it lashed across Poww's arm. The spearhead suddenly accelerated, spinning around Poww's arm and cutting open his neck.
"Brute strength alone won't cut it, you big oaf!"
Seeing Poww's arms tangled together from repeated attacks and defense, Ikkaku Madarame landed his hit and immediately pulled Hōzukimaru back. He twisted his body, driving the spearhead and three-section staff into another rotation, then attacked again.
But in that instant, Poww's tangled arms tightened even further. Then they snapped open, whipping around like ropes and smashing Ikkaku Madarame away.
His body flew backward and crashed through a building. Just as Ikkaku Madarame got back to his feet, a massive fist came rushing at his face.
Hōzukimaru, held up in front of him to block, was smashed clean apart, and the heavy fist slammed into Ikkaku Madarame.
Ikkaku Madarame tumbled through a wall. The collapsing rubble came down on top of him.
"My speed may be slow... but my arms are flexible." Poww turned and walked toward the Boundary Pillar. He had not forgotten his mission. Once Ikkaku Madarame could no longer move, he was ready to destroy the Boundary Pillar.
Ikkaku Madarame clenched the broken Hōzukimaru and pushed himself up with his arms. "You... you... stop right there..."
As he watched Poww's figure grow farther away, Ikkaku Madarame's vision blurred.
A long time ago, he had been the same way, shouting in frustration at that figure.
"Stop right there!"
Back then...
...
"What?" Kenpachi Zaraki turned his head, Yachiru Kusajishi perched on his shoulder. "You're not dead yet?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean... Why don't you just kill me already!"
Although the Madarame clan was a distinguished family, Ikkaku Madarame had always wandered through the Rukongai, searching for opponents, savoring the intoxicating thrill of defeating enemies, and looking forward to a glorious death after being defeated.
Until he met Kenpachi Zaraki.
"You already won!" Ikkaku Madarame struggled to rise, but failed. "So kill me!"
That was... the victor's right.
"Sorry." Kenpachi Zaraki had already slung his sword over his back. "I've got no interest in people who can't fight anymore, and I don't see any reason to go out of my way to kill them."
"Don't screw with me..." Ikkaku Madarame roared. "Are you looking down on me?"
As if he were saying, You're not worthy of dying by my hand.
Ikkaku Madarame urged him on furiously. "Do it!"
"Quit messing around!" Kenpachi Zaraki grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up. "Don't start thinking about dying just because you lost. You only admit defeat when you're dead! If you lose and you're still alive, that means you're lucky. At a time like this, what you should be thinking about is how to survive! Try staying alive, then figure out how to kill the guy who didn't finish you off."
"It's not like I'm letting you go on purpose. If you still didn't die after all that, then that's your luck. So live!" In the reflection of Ikkaku Madarame's eyes, Kenpachi Zaraki wore a look of anticipation. "Then come find me again, and fight me one more time!"