Bleach: Stirring Up a Storm

”Arrancar 13, Edrad Liones. Pleased to meet you.”

Those words were the best proof for Ikkaku—proof that the humanoid monster standing before him, with arms as long as its body and resembling a white stone sculpture, was indeed the very same Arrancar he had just been fighting.

Enhancing a specific part of the body after its release? Ikkaku had never seen a Zanpakutō like this, nor had he even heard of one. Moreover, was this merely an enhancement?

”You’ve never seen anything like this before, have you? Your expression seems to be asking why simply releasing my Zanpakutō has turned me into a completely different person.”

Edrad had already cast aside his contempt for Ikkaku. This was a respectable opponent. Even if the Shinigami was about to die by his hands, he wanted to ensure the man died without any regrets or lingering doubts.

”An Arrancar’s Zanpakutō seals the core of our abilities into the shape of a sword. It is entirely different from a Shinigami’s. The release of our blade is, in fact, the release of our true power and our true form.”

Different. Of course it was different. A Shinigami manifested their Zanpakutō’s abilities by calling its name to achieve Shikai, and taking complete control to materialize it was Bankai. The process of release could be understood as continuously unsealing the Zanpakutō, or as a constant duel between the Shinigami and their blade.

Arrancar, however, were almost the exact opposite. Although releasing their Zanpakutō was also a process of undoing a seal, this seal was placed upon their own bodies. Sealing themselves inside a sword? What was the point of that?

”Do you understand now? This is my true form, and this Volcánica is my true power.”

Ikkaku really wanted to say, *’I don’t understand at all.’* He didn’t understand why they would seal their own strength inside a sword, and he especially didn’t understand the point of weakening themselves in such a roundabout way.

Unfortunately, Edrad didn’t seem inclined to give him a chance to ask. Clenching his boulder-like right hand, scorching flames surged forward like a rushing river, instantly engulfing the space right in front of Ikkaku.

Caught off guard, Ikkaku could only raise his arms to block. In that moment, he seemed to understand why the opponent’s release was named Volcánica. It truly felt like a living volcano erupting with endless fury. Even with his Shihakushō and Reiatsu hastily protecting him, the overwhelming impact made him feel as though he was about to be shattered to pieces.

His blood evaporated before he could even cough it up. Ikkaku couldn’t help but close his eyes; the bloody mist evaporating from his own body was actually somewhat blinding.

”You can still stand?”

Edrad was a little disappointed, but at the same time, highly elated. He brought another fist crashing down from above. He wanted to see just how long this man’s knees could support him in battle!

This punch wasn’t a meteor falling from the heavens, but Ikkaku didn’t look like a towering mountain peak either. At this moment, he was like a bare, fragile twig in the late autumn wind, instantly bending over beneath the weight of that muscular arm.

*Is this your limit?* Just as Edrad was wondering whether he should feel happy or disappointed, Ikkaku’s body—which had been bent at nearly a ninety-degree angle—began to slowly straighten back up. His gaze remained as resolute and confident as ever.

It was the look of someone who refused to admit defeat. However, Edrad had no intention of giving Ikkaku that chance. He threw a straightforward punch, sending Ikkaku flying backward.

”How about that? After releasing our Zanpakutō, an Arrancar’s combat prowess increases several times over! With your level of Reiatsu, you can’t possibly block this!”

The force of the punch practically tore through the entire street. As Ikkaku flew through the air, his ears were filled with a deafening roar—the sound of flames turning into crashing waves.

Compared to that roar, Edrad’s voice was almost insignificant, yet his words were grating enough to push Ikkaku’s fighting spirit to an even higher level.

In that instant, his waist no longer ached, and his legs no longer hurt. With a kip-up, he flipped back onto his feet, the Zanpakutō in his hands transforming into a spear.

”Extend, Hōzukimaru!”

Ikkaku stood ready for battle as Edrad closed in. Despite his massive size, the Arrancar was even faster than before. The air around him seemed to distort into nothingness as wisps of fiery snakes slipped through the gaps of his clenched fists. The volcano was about to erupt once more.

With a flash of cold steel, Ikkaku thrust his spear to meet the incoming fist. Like a warrior swinging a sword to cleave the ocean waves, he was performing a futile act, yet he possessed an absolute determination to win.

”I don’t care if you’re a volcano or a water mountain! As long as I want to cut it, I can cut through anything!”

This thrust carried a momentum that demanded all things give way. The billowing waves of fire were actually parted down the middle. Like a sudden thunderbolt from the heavens, it pierced through the thick haze and cleaved the rolling tide of flames, striking directly at the source of the fire.

*Bang!* The silver gleam came to an abrupt halt. Ikkaku felt a sharp pain in the webbing of his hand as Hōzukimaru suddenly snapped in half. Quick on the draw, he grabbed the spearhead, but Edrad’s square face was already inches from his own.

”Accept your fate...”

Immediately after, roaring flames erupted from the circular vents on Edrad’s shoulders, almost completely engulfing his right arm in fire. His fist, which had paused briefly due to Ikkaku’s resistance, was propelled forward by the searing flames like a rocket launching into the sky.

”There are some things that, no matter how much you want to cut them, simply cannot be stopped.”

*Even after releasing Shikai, is the gap still this massive?*

Not far away, Yumichika watched with a calm expression as Ikkaku, enveloped in flames, slowly plummeted from the sky. However, his heart was nowhere near as calm as his exterior suggested.

Squad 11 only ever fought one against many; they never used numbers to bully a single opponent. But Ikkaku wasn’t just his colleague; he was a comrade who had walked by his side all the way from the Rukongai.

*That damn bald head isn’t dead yet, is he?*

*If he passes out, me stepping in to help shouldn’t count as ganging up on the enemy, right?*

Yumichika didn’t want to see Ikkaku die. Did he have the power to defeat that Arrancar? Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. In battle, there were no definite answers until the very last moment.

But he knew he could help Ikkaku. Whether it was carrying Ikkaku away or taking his place in the slaughter, he could be of assistance.

*But, if I really did that, it would be a fate worse than death for Ikkaku, wouldn’t it?*

It was precisely because he understood him that Yumichika knew he couldn’t do it. Ikkaku enjoyed every single battle, and naturally, he respected the outcome of those battles.

”Madarame Ikkaku. That is the name of the man who will kill you.” Ikkaku never hesitated to deal death to his enemies, nor would he ever think of fleeing from an enemy’s murderous intent. To harbor such thoughts would be far too despicable.

*Then I’ll just do what little I can for him.* With that thought in mind, Yumichika pulled a walkie-talkie-like device from his robes and pressed the button. The person on the other end spoke first.

”Hello, Sir Ayasegawa. The space surrounding Madarame Ikkaku and the others has been frozen according to your instructions.”

”Is that so? Then I have one more favor to ask of you.”

”Please go ahead.”

Yumichika took a deep breath, trying his best to make his tone sound serious and proper. As he spoke, an unconscious hint of mourning crept into his voice.

”Please notify Squad 11 immediately...”

”Do you need us to notify Captain Zaraki directly?”

”Anyone is fine. Notify them... and please prepare a squad funeral for Madarame Ikkaku.”