"Even though I don't know your name, nor do I know who you are."
The man covered his face with his hand, his head tilted back. A sliver of blood-red light spilled through his fingers, and his entire being exuded an uncontrollable madness from head to toe.
"But I'm just so damn excited."
"You're not like those pieces of trash. You're strong!"
"My name is Zaraki Kenpachi. Let's kill each other to our hearts' content!"
"If it's you, I'm sure you can make me feel a thrill like never before!"
"..." Naraku Sora was speechless.
'Even though I know what this guy means, why does it sound so weird?'
However, looking at Zaraki Kenpachi's soaring fighting spirit, a long-lost look of anticipation appeared on Sora's face.
Unlike a fraud like Kiganjō, the man before him was a truly powerful existence who had defeated the first Kenpachi.
Even though he had chosen to seal his own power just to enjoy fighting, he was still leagues stronger than a certain disgrace of a Captain.
'Hell yeah, this is a fight worth having!'
"Perfect. I came to the Rukongai this time specifically for you."
"If I win, you're coming with me to become the Captain of Squad Eleven!"
Zaraki Kenpachi revealed a savage, ferocious smile. He raised his jagged, chipped longsword and pointed it straight ahead.
"Win first, talk later!"
The moment his voice fell, layers of dust suddenly exploded from the ground. The demon-like figure lunged forward, raising his jagged blade and slashing mercilessly ahead.
He didn't hold back in the slightest.
Having felt the fluctuations of Reiatsu from the previous battle, Zaraki Kenpachi knew exactly how powerful the Soul Reaper before him was.
Moreover, he caught a familiar scent from his opponent.
It was an aura identical to his own.
Even though they had never met, the two of them were of the same breed.
A breed that reveled in the slaughter of battle!
Metal clashed against metal, sending sparks flying in all directions.
There was absolutely no trace of Zanjutsu in his strikes; it was more like a wild beast unable to suppress its primal instincts, tearing into its prey with fangs and claws.
In an instant, the two figures exchanged over a dozen blows.
The ringing of clashing steel echoed in their ears like a torrential downpour, merging into a riotous roar that made hearts tremble and visions blur.
The ground, already damaged from the previous fight, was now completely obliterated. Stray shockwaves crashed down randomly, blasting out one deep crater after another.
At first, Soifon stood nearby to watch the battle, but as the fight escalated, she found it difficult to even withstand the ever-expanding aftershocks.
Just looking directly at them gave her the terrifying illusion that her eyes were stinging and her skin was being sliced open.
It was her first time witnessing such a horrifying battle.
"Hey, hey, who do you think will win?"
A curious voice suddenly rang in her ear, and Soifon answered instinctively.
"Naraku, of course..."
Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly snapped back to reality. She drew her blade backhandedly and slashed toward the source of the voice. The blade tore through the air with a sharp whistle.
A nimble, petite figure leaped up from her back, easily dodging the strike, and landed directly on the flat of her blade.
"My, don't be so mean. Let me introduce myself—"
"Kusajishi Yachiru."
"I'm Ken-chan's best friend!"
Soifon stared solemnly at the little pink-haired girl standing on her blade. As a member of the Onmitsukidō, she hadn't even noticed someone approaching her.
There were only two possibilities for this to happen.
The first was that the other party's strength far exceeded her own, and the second was that the person before her harbored absolutely no malice.
Judging from her evasive maneuver just now, this seemingly young girl likely possessed both.
Just what was going on in this Zaraki District?
Why was it crawling with abnormal monsters?
An inevitable sense of frustration welled up in Soifon's heart.
"Eh, I actually think Ken-chan has a better chance of winning."
Seeing that Soifon was no longer attacking, Kusajishi Yachiru gave a light hop, jumping off the blade and clinging onto her back once again.
Soifon was powerless to resist such an intrusive gesture.
She couldn't even see the girl's movements clearly, so resisting was pointless anyway.
However, she vaguely felt a strange sensation.
It was as if this little girl calling herself Kusajishi Yachiru wasn't a normal soul.
"Hmph, then let's wait and see," Soifon replied coldly, sheathing her sword and crossing her arms over her chest.
Hearing this, Kusajishi Yachiru paused for a moment before a sweet smile bloomed on her face.
It seemed she had made a new friend.
Unlike the two who had anticipated this, the wandering samurai who had been watching from nearby were completely dumbfounded by the continuous storms of Reishi being kicked up.
They originally thought Kiganjō was terrifying enough.
They never expected there to be even greater masters!
It was too absurd, completely exceeding the limits of their comprehension.
Blades clashed, shockwaves surged, and deafening booms erupted as visible ripples of impact spread out in all directions.
"Haha, this is the kind of slaughter I've been looking for!"
"You're not bad!"
Zaraki Kenpachi grinned savagely. His Reiatsu continued to rise, burning like golden flames over his beast-like body.
The continuous arcs of his blade formed a dazzling curtain of light, covering the area ahead while sending countless sparks flying. His slashing speed had already surpassed the limits of naked-eye observation.
The battle reached a point of extreme brutality.
Even though his Zanjutsu lacked any formal technique, the destructive power was very real. Any single slash was enough to instantly cleave an ordinary Soul Reaper in half.
Their deathmatch grew increasingly fierce.
*Rip—*
The sound of tearing flesh echoed from Zaraki Kenpachi's body. His all-offense, no-defense fighting style quickly caused him to draw blood.
The muscles on his arm split open, sending a spray of crimson flying as he took a step forward.
However, it was precisely this action that created an opportunity for him to counterattack.
While the blade was still lodged in his muscle fibers, not a hint of pain could be seen on Zaraki Kenpachi's face. On the contrary, his smile grew even more savage.
A brilliant flash of golden blade light flared up.
It struck Naraku Sora squarely in the chest.
Then, the vibrating hum of clashing metal rang out.
It was as if he hadn't slashed into flesh, but rather struck some incredibly hard metal.
Naraku Sora tilted his head and grinned.
"Indestructible body, kid."
His Reiatsu, which was infinitely close to the Second Class Spirit Class, combined with fifty percent of a Hollow's Hierro, pushed his defensive strength to an unimaginable level.
It was precisely because of this formidable defense that he had been able to crush Kiganjō so effortlessly.
Under Zaraki Kenpachi's bewildered gaze, a blood-red Reiatsu enveloped the furious longsword and slashed straight down at him.
And then—
A terrifying wound instantly split open across his bare chest. Thick, scalding blood sprayed out, instantly soaking his tattered clothes.
Such a tragic scene was naturally witnessed by everyone present.
Just when they thought the battle was over, a furious roar echoed through the entire street.
A savage crimson hue surfaced in Zaraki Kenpachi's narrowed pupils. His golden Reiatsu, like raging flames, transformed into a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky, sending shockwaves churning.
The stimulation of blood caused his ferocity to completely erupt.
His suppressed instincts continuously drove him to attack.
Amidst the thick stench of blood, Zaraki Kenpachi laughed maniacally. He opened his maw like a wild beast, revealing his stark white teeth, while his black pupils were entirely consumed by blood-red.
The next second.
His chaotic, disorganized Zanjutsu slashed wildly toward Naraku Sora's vitals.
As a creature born to fight, the instinct-driven Zaraki Kenpachi didn't understand the concept of Zanjutsu, much less dodging.
Every single one of his slashes was meant to savor the joy of slaughter.
Blood gradually soaked him. His tattered white clothes were draped in thick gore, and hideous wounds covered his body, making him look as if he were on death's door.
In reality, his demon-like face was filled with a thoroughly enjoyable, exhilarated smile.
'This is how it should be!'
Only the purest form of slaughter could make Zaraki Kenpachi feel the meaning of his existence.
'This is too wonderful!'
Fighting the guy in front of him, he didn't have to worry at all about accidentally killing him by using too much force. He just needed to immerse himself in the joy of battle.
Having wandered the Rukongai for an unknown number of years, Zaraki Kenpachi once again felt the meaning of being alive.
Letting his life dance on the edge of death—this ultimate thrill was something nothing else could replace.
There was no need to think about anything. Right now, only two things remained in his mind.
Either hack the guy in front of him to death, or—
Be hacked to death by him!
In the shadows of the roadside buildings, a voluptuous figure stood quietly, her eyes fixed intently on the two men fighting to the death, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
In truth, Unohana Retsu had been following Naraku Sora ever since he set off for the Rukongai.
On one hand, she wanted to watch the battle of the man she admired; on the other hand, she was worried that the self-sealed Zaraki Kenpachi might accidentally die at his hands.
Facts proved that she had overthought things a bit.
Zaraki Kenpachi was a pure battle maniac, but Naraku Sora still possessed some intelligence, even if it wasn't very obvious on a normal day.
The deathmatch continued, and a hint of conflict flashed in Unohana Retsu's eyes.
On one side was Zaraki Kenpachi, the man she was prepared to atone to; on the other was a captivating rising star of Zanjutsu.
Both were exceptionally outstanding, making it difficult to choose.
Having erupted with all his Reiatsu, Zaraki Kenpachi completely transformed into a demon. The golden light of his Reiatsu even formed a blurry skull above his head, letting out a silent roar.
He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles letting out a teeth-aching creak. Completely ignoring the explosive sounds echoing from various parts of his body, he forged ahead and unleashed his strongest slash at Naraku Sora.
Facing this monstrously fierce slash, Naraku Sora's eyes lit up. Instead of retreating, he advanced. The moment he stepped forward, a blood-red light erupted.
It was as if the gates of hell had been opened.
Blades tore through the air and clashed together.
In an instant, a massive boom drowned out everything, as if the entire world had been put on mute.
Immediately after.
A deafening clamor erupted. The majestic impact transformed into visible waves, suddenly expanding amidst the roar. The unbridled aftershocks tore the earth apart, sweeping black soil into the sky.
Fierce winds, sharp as blades, scraped viciously against the nearby buildings. Amidst the flying dust, they collapsed with a crash, turning into a pile of ruins.
The longsword, burning with the flames of Reiatsu, cleanly severed the jagged blade in Zaraki Kenpachi's hands with overwhelming force, before sinking smoothly into his scar-covered chest.
In an instant, blood spurted out like a fountain.
The exaggerated wound nearly cleaved his body in half.
Flames still burned in Zaraki Kenpachi's eyes, but the exhaustion of his body left him powerless to continue fighting. He had already reached his absolute limit.
Especially since even his Zanpakutō had been snapped by his opponent.
With the deathmatch reaching this point, the outcome was already glaringly obvious.
Zaraki Kenpachi twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a cruel smile. "Can you tell me your name?"
The young man in front of him grinned.
"Naraku Sora."
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