Ikkaku lunged, his spear slicing through the air in a wide arc with a sharp whoosh. Ichigo tilted his body to the side, the blade grazing past his coat as he ducked under and stepped in. He swung his sword horizontally—
CLANG!
Ikkaku twisted his spear mid-swing, parrying the strike with the wooden shaft. Sparks flew from the impact as both combatants slid back, feet skidding across the stone floor.
"Heh… nice reflexes," Ikkaku said, spinning Hōzukimaru behind his back with a flourish. "But you're not gonna beat me with half-hearted swings like that."
"I'm just warming up," Ichigo replied, his voice low, his eyes focused like a hawk locked onto prey.
With a roar, Ikkaku rushed again. His spear jabbed forward like a piston, aiming for Ichigo's chest.
Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!
Each strike came fast, precise. Ichigo twisted and dodged, weaving between them as the tip narrowly missed his ribs, then his shoulder. On the fourth thrust, Ichigo raised his sword in both hands and SLAMMED it down.
KANG!
Steel clashed with the shaft of Hōzukimaru, the shockwave rippling out from the collision. Ikkaku grinned wildly, muscles bulging as he pushed Ichigo back.
"You've got power," he said, swinging the spear in a heavy arc. Ichigo jumped back just in time, the blade slicing through stone as it carved a shallow trench in the ground.
'This guy's no pushover. He's loving this fight,' Ichigo thought, feet skidding as he regained distance.
Ikkaku didn't let up. He darted in with a flash step—shoom!—appearing behind Ichigo, his spear already mid-swing.
Ichigo spun with instinctual precision, blocking the slash just in time—
CLANG!
The force of the blow cracked the stone beneath him, but he held his ground. Their eyes locked for half a second, and then both leapt back simultaneously.
"Come on! Don't disappoint me now!" Ikkaku shouted, spinning his spear and slamming its blade into the ground. A rush of spiritual pressure burst out around him, flaring up like fire.
Ichigo smirked. "Alright then… guess I'll give you a taste."
With a flash of motion, he vanished—Sonído!—reappearing directly above Ikkaku with his sword raised high.
THOOM!
He brought it down hard. Ikkaku raised his spear vertically, catching the strike—but the ground shattered beneath him from the force. A cloud of dust exploded outward.
Ikkaku roared and shoved Ichigo off with brute strength, spinning Hōzukimaru and swinging it in a sweeping arc—
FWOOOSH!
Ichigo ducked low, sweeping his leg out. Ikkaku jumped over it—but Ichigo sprang up mid-spin and slammed the hilt of his sword into Ikkaku's gut.
WHUD!
"Gah!" Ikkaku grunted, stumbling back. But he didn't fall. He grinned, wiping blood from his lip with the back of his hand.
"Finally! That's what I'm talkin' about!"
Ichigo didn't respond. His stance shifted. Calm. Focused.
Ikkaku charged again, spear twirling like a cyclone.
Swish! Swish! Clang! Clang!
Each swing met Ichigo's blade, sparks flying in all directions as the two clashed in a brutal dance of steel. They darted around each other in bursts of movement, kicking up dust, dodging and striking like seasoned killers.
Ikkaku went for a feint, thrusting low—then twisting to bring the blade across Ichigo's chest—
But Ichigo saw through it. He caught the shaft with one hand, his spiritual pressure flaring—BOOM!—then slammed the side of his blade into Ikkaku's ribs.
CRACK!
Ikkaku flew backward, smashing into a wall with a grunt.
BOOM!
The wall cracked from the impact. Rubble tumbled around him as he slid down, coughing.
Ichigo slowly walked toward him, sword resting on his shoulder.
"I warned you to get serious."
Ikkaku groaned, blood dripping from his mouth—but his grin remained.
"You're good… real good," he muttered, struggling to his feet. "I haven't had this much fun in ages."
He raised Hōzukimaru again, spiritual pressure rising in waves.
"But I'm not done yet."
"Neither am I," Ichigo said, and in a flash—FWOOM!—he charged, the air cracking around him.
Their blades met once more—
SHING! CLANG! SLASH!
A whirlwind of movement and raw power, the battle between them shook the very ground beneath them.
Still grinning through the blood at the corner of his mouth, Ikkaku slowly dragged Hōzukimaru's blade across the stone, sending up a stream of sparks.
"Heh… You're good, Ichigo," he said between heavy breaths. "But I haven't shown you my best move yet."
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "Oh? Don't keep me waiting."
Ikkaku raised the spear, gripping it firmly. "You wanted me serious? Then here it comes—"
CLACK!
He slammed the hilt and shaft together once more. With a sudden metallic snap, the staff broke apart into three segments, linked by a heavy chain. The sound of grinding metal echoed through the air—CHINK-CHINK-CHINK—as the segments swung out and spun wildly around Ikkaku's body like a whip made of steel and death.
"Hōzukimaru Break!" he roared, the flail whipping around in a vicious circle.
Ichigo stepped back as the segmented weapon lashed forward with a whipping shriek—
SWISH—CLANG!
He blocked the blade segment just in time, but the force sent a shockwave through his arms. The follow-up came fast—another segment swinging in from the side—
KANG!
Ichigo ducked, the middle segment cracking a stone pillar behind him into rubble.
'This is different now. Way more unpredictable,' he thought, retreating with a flash step.
Ikkaku laughed madly, twirling the weapon above his head, then slamming it forward.
CRASH!
The three segments came down like a meteor, Ichigo flash-stepped away—but just barely, as the ground where he'd stood exploded into debris.
BOOM!
He reappeared behind Ikkaku, swinging his blade—CLANG!—but Ikkaku spun mid-turn, the flail's tail sweeping under and forcing Ichigo to leap back.
Swish! Swish! CHING!
The two moved like whirlwinds, Ikkaku's chained blade constantly shifting forms, snapping from wide arcs to tight spirals. Each swing came with its own rhythm, unpredictable, wild. Ichigo's blade was fast, precise, and sharp—but even he was sweating now, eyes tracking every wild movement.
A segment came low—
WHIP!
Ichigo jumped, flipping backward as the segment tore through the air beneath his feet.
Mid-flip, he landed on a wall—then kicked off it, sword pointed down—
SHOOM!
He came like a missile, slamming down toward Ikkaku. But Ikkaku jerked the chain tight—one segment shot upward in an arc—
CLANG!
It met Ichigo mid-air, the impact sending both combatants flying in opposite directions.
Ichigo landed in a crouch, skidding, breathing heavier. His coat was torn, his hand scraped. Ikkaku stood up, rolling his shoulder. His own uniform was ripped, and blood dripped down his side, but his eyes were blazing.
"You're strong, Ichigo," he panted. "Damn strong. You're not just some Ryoka… You're a warrior."
Ichigo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and smirked. "You're not too bad yourself, baldy. That flail is nasty."
Ikkaku spun Hōzukimaru in one hand, letting the chains rattle.
"I call it the break form. Most don't last long enough to see it."
Ichigo raised his sword, pointing it directly at him.
"Then let's see how long you last against this—"
With a BOOM, he vanished—Sonído!—appearing in front of Ikkaku in an instant. Ikkaku reacted fast, swinging his flail—
CLANG! SHING! CRACK!
They clashed again, Ichigo weaving through the chains, blades ringing out like thunder. With each hit, the ground trembled, chunks of stone bursting around them. The rhythm of the fight became faster, tighter—until finally—
Ichigo slid under a horizontal swing, planted his hand on the ground, and shot upward with a rising slash—
SHHHING!!
His blade cut across Ikkaku's chest, drawing a deep line of blood.
WHUD!
Ikkaku stumbled back, the flail loosening in his grip.
Ichigo appeared behind him, sword resting against his shoulder.
"You fought well," Ichigo said calmly. "But it's over."
Blood trickled down Ikkaku's face as he chuckled, still standing. "Hah… Damn… what a fight."
He finally dropped to one knee, Hōzukimaru falling slack beside him, the chain clinking softly.
Ichigo didn't move for a moment. Then he turned.
"I'll remember your name," he said as he walked away, leaving the battle-scarred plaza behind.
Ikkaku chuckled faintly. "Ichigo Kurosaki… yeah… you're something else."
TO BE CONTINUED
[A/N; I know these are annoying but fr. I'm am cooking on the patreon. Ichigo about to get laid, you dunno. With who? Well that's a surprise, peace ✌️]