Even though Byakuya still believed himself stronger than Renji, facing an opponent who had achieved Bankai, he couldn't afford to be careless.
"It seems you've grown quite a bit, Renji," Byakuya said, discarding his earlier disdain, his tone now calm and serious.
Renji didn't answer. He simply tightened his grip on his Zanpakutō, pouring his entire spiritual energy into the blade.
His gaze was sharp and unwavering, filled with the resolve to defeat Byakuya.
Byakuya looked back at him and shook his head slightly. "Your reiatsu isn't bad. But Renji, Bankai is still too early for you."
Renji's eyes were firm. "Too early or not, why don't you feel it for yourself!"
He swung the hilt of his blade, and the massive snake-like head of Zabimaru shot out toward Byakuya with a screech.
Byakuya showed no fear. He flash-stepped away, landing atop a distant rooftop.
"Not done yet!" Renji shouted, and the snake head, like it was guided by a homing system, twisted and chased after Byakuya.
Zabimaru's immense form wreaked havoc on the surrounding buildings with every move.
Noticing the structure beneath him shaking, Byakuya dropped from the rooftop and landed just a short distance from Renji.
"Renji, your strength has certainly grown. But your Bankai is still immature. You need far more experience to master it," Byakuya said.
Renji didn't respond. He simply raised his sword again, ready to continue the battle.
His determination was unshaken.
"Zabimaru!" Renji roared, and the snake-like blade launched forward again.
This time, Byakuya didn't dodge. He blocked the attack head-on with his own Zanpakutō, though the impact pushed him back.
But it didn't wound him.
With a sharp swing, Byakuya struck Zabimaru, breaking it apart into its segmented bone-like pieces.
Clack! Clack! The pieces fell between them.
"The essence of Bankai lies in the complete materialization of your soul," Byakuya said calmly. "And your baboon king—"
Before he could finish, Renji flicked his wrist, and the scattered segments of Zabimaru reassembled themselves into the complete weapon.
"Oh? So it's held together by your reiatsu?" Byakuya understood now.
Renji launched another attack.
This time, Byakuya didn't move at all. He extended one hand toward the oncoming Zabimaru.
"Hadō no Sanjūsan – Sōkatsui!" (Way of Destruction #33: Blue Fire, Crash Down!)
A blast of immense white energy exploded from his palm, smashing Zabimaru to pieces again.
Byakuya nodded, as if confirming his theory.
Renji stared at the shattered blade in disbelief.
"Zanpakutō held together by spiritual pressure will easily fall apart when struck by external spiritual force. As I thought... it's still too soon for you to fight using Bankai, Renji."
Byakuya didn't give him another chance.
"Bakudō 61– Rikujōkōrō!" (Way of Binding #61: Six Rods of Light Restraint!)
Six bars of light slammed into Renji and held him in place. Byakuya shook his head slowly.
"You've done well... but not well enough."
To show respect, however, Byakuya raised his sword and cast it to the ground.
"Bankai – Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
The sword vanished into the earth, and thousands of gleaming blades rose around Byakuya—turning into a storm of cherry blossoms.
Each petal was a blade—beautiful and deadly.
"This is the end, Renji."
Byakuya didn't need to move. The petals surged forward and slashed through Renji's body, dyeing him in blood.
"Ughhh!"
Renji screamed and fell to the ground, unable to maintain his Bankai. His Zanpakutō reverted to its sealed form.
Byakuya looked down at him in silence and turned to leave.
"W-Wait…"
Renji struggled, propping himself up with his sword. Blood poured from his wounds, but his eyes remained fierce and bright.
Byakuya hadn't expected him to still be conscious.
"You still intend to save Rukia… in that state?" he asked, a flicker of emotion surfacing in his voice.
But his hands were ruthless.
The cherry blossom blades turned pale pink and pierced through Renji's arms and thighs, nailing him to the ground.
"What drives you to such extremes?" Byakuya asked, quietly.
Renji gritted his teeth, then snapped the blades pinning him down.
"No one drives me. I swore to my own soul... that I would save Rukia!!"
He shattered the rest of the blades and rushed toward Byakuya, shouting at the top of his lungs.
But his body was spent.
Even though Byakuya didn't move, Renji's blade merely touched the surface of his captain's uniform.
Then Renji collapsed, unconscious from blood loss.
Byakuya stood in silence for a long moment. Then he removed his silver-white windflower scarf and tossed it onto Renji's body.
"I acknowledge you now. Your blade… touched my body."
With that, Byakuya turned and walked toward the Sōkyoku.
Two minutes later…
Ichigo arrived at the scene.
He stopped, stunned at the wreckage and the sight of Renji lying in a pool of blood.
Ichigo blinked. "Huh? Why's the Vice-Captain of Squad Six lying here like this?"
Then he noticed the scarf on the ground.
"That's... Byakuya's scarf? Did he do this himself?"
Renji looked like he was dying.
Ichigo had no choice but to use Kaido to stabilize his injuries.
"Mmph…" Renji stirred and opened his eyes. When he saw Ichigo's face, he exclaimed in shock,
"Kurosaki Ichigo?! What are you doing here?!"
Ichigo chuckled. "Isn't it obvious? I'm here to rescue Rukia."
Renji coughed, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth.
He didn't care anymore.
Grabbing Ichigo's collar, he pleaded,
"Please… Ichigo. Bring Rukia back…"
Ichigo looked at the man who had once fought against him—now crying, his voice desperate.
He was silent for a moment, then quietly wrapped Renji's wounds in bandages.
"…You don't even have to ask. That's why I came."
(End of Chapter)
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