Chapter 136: Phantom Flash

“Amazing…” Ichigo stared in disbelief at Kyoraku, who was effortlessly battling Ulquiorra in his released second form high above. For the first time, this young protagonist who had once thrown the Soul Society into chaos felt his own weakness.

“That’s… captain-level combat…”

To be able to hold his own against Ulquiorra in such a state with only his initial release—Ichigo knew he lacked that kind of strength. Even with the power of Hollowfication added, there was still a vast gulf between himself and that level.

“If you understand that, then obediently go heal yourself.”

With those words, Chojiro flung the stunned Ichigo behind him. He lifted his head, licking dry lips.

“You still served some purpose in this fight.”

……

“Shh!”

Kyoraku nimbly dodged Ulquiorra’s claw and swung his Kyoka Suigetsu blade toward Ulquiorra’s head.

“Riiip!”

The black wings sliced toward Kyoraku’s head like razor-sharp blades. This attack promised mutual destruction.

“Ugh…”

Ulquiorra was a Hollow and possessed natural steel-like skin. Kyoraku hesitated briefly, then withdrew his sword, using flash steps to evade the strike. This bought him precious time to regulate his breathing and regain control of the battle’s rhythm.

“This fight is simply wasting both our time.”

“I thought you planned to keep going like this.”

Wiping the sweat-soaked hair from his forehead, Kyoraku forced a bitter smile.

How did he end up picking a fight with such a tenacious opponent on his own initiative?

“Whoosh.”

Ulquiorra spread both hands, summoning a spear of thunder once again. The tremendous spiritual pressure emanating from the weapon snapped Kyoraku’s attention immediately to Ulquiorra’s hands, despite his earlier lighthearted demeanor.

“No joy in fighting alone!”

If that spear was launched, it wouldn’t be a joke. Kyoraku hurriedly whipped up a whirlwind to block Ulquiorra’s vision.

“Swish!”

But such a tactic was nothing to Ulquiorra in his second released form. As Kyoraku summoned the whirlwind, Ulquiorra unhesitatingly hurled the thunder spear forward.

“Whoosh!”

Whether the spear struck Kyoraku, no one knew, but he emerged swiftly from the smoke, raising twin blades above Ulquiorra.

“Zanki!”

“Clang!”

Ulquiorra didn’t dodge. With both hands, he braced and absorbed Kyoraku’s strike. At the same time, his tail whipped like a whip, aiming for Kyoraku’s neck.

With a push of his foot, Kyoraku sprang back, putting distance between them once more.

“Buzz.”

“!”

Just as Kyoraku steadied himself, a flash of Hollow energy charged toward him, completely engulfing his figure.

The moment the flash swallowed Kyoraku, Ulquiorra spun around swiftly, reaching for the black figure that had suddenly appeared behind him.

“Shhh…”

He tore a small piece of the opponent’s death-dealing armor but failed to grasp the person.

Discarding the torn fragment, Ulquiorra’s icy gaze remained fixed on Kyoraku, who was retreating rapidly.

“Oh dear, if I had caught you just now, that would have been unfortunate.”

Wiping the nonexistent cold sweat from his face, Kyoraku moved his shoulders slightly.

His haori had been completely shredded by Ulquiorra’s flash attack earlier. Now, clad entirely in black except for the chest, Kyoraku radiated a deeper, more somber aura.

“…”

Ulquiorra narrowed his eyes with displeasure and bowed his head slightly.

Though he had followed Aizen’s orders to bring the out-of-control Ichigo from the Hollow realm back to the living world—causing some trouble for the Soul Reapers—he hadn’t succeeded in capturing him. Not only had that white-haired middle-aged Soul Reaper intercepted Ichigo without permission, but now this sneaky Soul Reaper was blocking him as well.

‘If this keeps up, I will…’

“Daydreaming isn’t good, you know.”

“!”

Seizing the moment when Ulquiorra’s mind wandered, Kyoraku charged straight at him, sword poised for a strike.

“!”

“Boom!”

Ulquiorra had nowhere to evade, but unexpectedly, a flash of Hollow energy swooped down from above, forcing Kyoraku to retreat.

“Clang.”

The cold, hard barrel of a gun pressed against the back of Kyoraku’s head, instantly silencing him.

“Don’t move, Captain.”

“Such a headache…”

Sighing in resignation, Kyoraku raised both hands as if surrendering, though he did not lower his blades.

“I didn’t expect this situation would arise.”

“That caught me off guard as well.”

Starrk held the gun against Kyoraku with one hand while casually slipping the other into his pocket, exuding effortless control.

“Isn’t it too harsh to make a captain in such poor condition fight me?”

“What about Ukitake?”

“Nothing much…”

Exhaling deeply with an expression that suggested he found such situations difficult to handle, Starrk narrowed his eyes.

“His condition suddenly worsened, and after I hit him with a flash attack, he should be lying down obediently now.”

“Well, if that’s the case, then I really…”

Suddenly turning sharply with a murderous glare, Kyoraku’s cold eyes made even Starrk, who had earned the title of Number One, shudder. Instinctively, he pulled his gun back slightly.

“I should be the one thanking you instead.”

“Dah.”

“…”

Just as Kyoraku prepared to slash down on Starrk with his murderous blade, Ulquiorra—who had remained silent—suddenly appeared behind Kyoraku. A tiny black orb of energy at his fingertip drew all attention.

“Black Hollow flash.”

“Buzz!”

A dense, pitch-black flash engulfed Kyoraku completely, suffocating the air around him. Even Starrk, who had dodged aside, felt the weight of Ulquiorra’s attack.

The concentration of spiritual particles was at a level beyond Starrk’s own flash attacks.

Giving Ulquiorra a meaningful glance, Starrk couldn’t fathom the true strength of this Arrancar ranked number four.

“Rumble.”

“!”

“!”

Just as they had subdued Kyoraku, thunder suddenly roared from the sky.

“What is that…”

Ulquiorra might not understand, but Starrk, who had experienced such spiritual pressure before, paled and swiftly aimed his gun at the heavens, unleashing hundreds of flash attacks.

Despite their number, the flashes failed to disperse the storm clouds suddenly gathering overhead.

“No choice. If the disciples are defeated…”

Chojiro suddenly appeared behind the two, slowly extending his hand.

“Then I shall take the field myself.”