"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Yoruichi didn't let up, commanding her Shunkō: Raijin Senkei like an unrelenting storm, causing massive thunderbolts to rain down from above!
Not to be outdone, Akira unleashed a relentless barrage of techniques reminiscent of the Goro Goro no Mi, turning the battlefield into a storm of crackling lightning.
"Bam! Boom! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!"
A clash of unprecedented magnitude unfolded, the brilliant blue lightning illuminating half of Seireitei!
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Kurosaki Ichigo forced out another strike, his blade crackling with black and red energy, while Ishida Uryū continuously fired Schneider to cover Yoruichi's movements.
Together, the three of them managed to hold Akira at bay—if only for a moment!
"Where does his lightning ability come from?! Even in my perfected Raijin Senkei, I can barely match him!"
Yoruichi's golden eyes narrowed as she darted through the air, her instincts screaming that she was up against something beyond the limits of conventional lightning manipulation.
"Tch—how irritating!"
Akira sneered, releasing another wave of lightning before pivoting towards Ishida.
"Ryū no Hōkō!" (Dragon's Roar!)
A searing golden blaze erupted, rushing toward Ishida in a devastating arc. The Quincy swiftly activated his Licht Regen, scattering countless spirit arrows in an attempt to counter, but the force was overwhelming!
"Boom!"
A massive explosion engulfed the area, flames and smoke obscuring Ishida's figure!
"Ishida!"
Ichigo's heart pounded in panic. As if tapping into an unknown force, a surge of raw Reiryoku flooded his body. His eyes burned with determination as he gathered his spiritual pressure.
With a roar, he swung Zangetsu, unleashing a colossal Getsuga Tenshō!
"The next one is you!"
Akira's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Invert it! Reflect it!"
With his command, his Zanpakutō shimmered, and suddenly—another Akira emerged from thin air, charging straight toward Ichigo!
"Is he insane?!"
Ichigo's eyes widened as his attack connected—only for it to pass right through!
"No—this isn't a clone… it's an illusion!"
As realization struck, the duplicate of Akira suddenly solidified!
It was the seamless combination of the Hikari Kyō's third and fourth abilities!
"Ryūjin no Hi: Guren Hōō Ken!" (Dragon God's Crimson Phoenix Blade!)
Golden flames erupted around Akira's form, his blade streaking through the air like a flaming meteor!
The attack was so sudden—so precise—that even Ichigo, with all his instincts, couldn't react in time.
"Boom!"
An enormous explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Yoruichi's eyes sharpened as she sensed Ichigo's Reiatsu plummeting.
"Ichigo!"
Yoruichi's heart pounded with anxiety—she feared that Kurosaki Ichigo would be beaten within an inch of his life.
"You still have time to worry about others?"
Akira's voice was cold, his body crackling with ever-growing arcs of thunder. The electric charge intensified, condensing into an enormous figure towering over the battlefield.
"200 million volts—Raijin!"
Under Yoruichi's horrified gaze, the massive form unleashed a devastating punch.
The air itself ruptured from the force. Yoruichi flickered through the battlefield, unleashing a barrage of Shunkō-infused strikes, each accompanied by a burst of lightning. Yet, her efforts barely dented Akira's colossal form.
She could only watch, powerless, as his attack connected.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion rang in Yoruichi's ears, and a searing pain tore through her body.
"Look closely," Akira intoned coldly, his piercing gaze locked onto her. "This is the true power of Raijin!"
Without hesitation, he continued his relentless assault.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!! Bang! Bang! Bang!!"
In the distance, Ichigo lay sprawled in a massive crater, barely clinging to consciousness. His body was in shambles, wounds deep and raw. The overwhelming force that had struck him down still echoed in his skull.
His eyelids fluttered open, his thoughts sluggish.
"I... what happened to me?"
His vision swam, his mind struggling to process the battle. Slowly, fragmented memories pieced themselves together.
"It hurts... Did I lose? Even after achieving Bankai... I still lost?"
The last thing he remembered was Akira's overwhelming attack—an unstoppable force that had left him on the verge of death.
"No... Yoruichi is still fighting him..."
Summoning what little strength he had, Ichigo turned his head, his blurry gaze locking onto the battlefield.
The towering, blue-lit giant loomed over Yoruichi, its blows relentless. She barely held her ground amidst the explosions of dust and debris.
"Agh!"
A pained cry escaped her lips as another devastating blow sent her reeling. Blood splattered the air.
"Damn it…!" Ichigo gritted his teeth, fury surging through him.
He fought to rise, but agony lanced through his broken body. Even moving a single finger felt impossible.
"Don't forget about me, Shinigami!"
A familiar voice cut through the chaos.
Ishida Uryū, battered and barely standing, had survived by neutralizing a portion of the previous attack. Gritting his teeth, he used the brief respite to charge his strongest Quincy arrow.
"Schnee!"
A massive, condensed spirit arrow—ten times larger than his usual shots—blazed toward Akira.
The giant's enormous form made dodging difficult. The arrow surged forward with unprecedented speed, forcing even Akira's enhanced perception to falter.
The attack connected.
Ishida's heart leaped in triumph. "I hit him!"
But his celebration was short-lived.
"Not bad," Akira remarked coolly. "Unfortunately... useless."
Horrified, Ishida realized the truth—his arrow had failed to pierce Raijin's impenetrable defenses.
"Impossible…" A chill of despair ran through him.
Rukia had been right. Against Akira, even reaching the level of a Gotei 13 Captain was merely the starting point for battle. Anything less was meaningless.
"Perish."
Akira's giant form lashed out, sending Yoruichi flying with a brutal kick. Then, he turned his judgment upon Ishida.
A roaring storm of thunder descended upon him.
"Ishida!!!"
Ichigo's pupils shrank. Something inside him snapped.
An immense, suffocating black Reiatsu erupted from his body, swirling with chaotic intensity. A pale mask began to form over his face.
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