Asanokiyo's eyes flashed with shock and panic as he stared at the ferocious grin on Ikkaku's face.
How is this possible?!
He had clearly used Red Smoke Escape ("Akaiendōn") as a smokescreen, ensuring that Ikkaku temporarily lost track of his position. Then he layered it with Curved Light ("Kyakko") to completely erase his physical presence.
To be extra cautious, he'd even followed up with Hidden Fire ("Fukuhō") to interfere with Ikkaku more directly.
Asanokiyo hadn't even intended to seriously fight Ikkaku. He wasn't especially eager for combat. Instead, he'd planned to throw off Ikkaku's expectations and end the fight quickly with a sudden close-range attack—an area in which he wasn't particularly skilled—hoping to catch him off guard.
But unexpectedly, Ikkaku had somehow seen through it all right from the start, launching a counterattack that ignored injury to land a decisive blow!
His spear's powerful thrust shot forth like a striking serpent, with unerring accuracy aimed straight at Asanokiyo's chest. Backed by immense power, the spear's aura alone made Asanokiyo's skin sting.
It was then that Asanokiyo realized how Ikkaku had managed to pinpoint his location.
In his hand, Ikkaku gripped a handful of red tassels from his Zanpakutō, Hōzukimaru. The moment Asanokiyo activated Red Smoke Escape, Ikkaku had thrown the tassels around his own position. By watching how they reacted to movement, he could track Asanokiyo's location—breaking the chain of three Kido techniques with a crude yet highly effective trick!
And not only that, he used himself as bait, willingly taking a hit from Kido to lure Asanokiyo into close range. At the perfect moment, when Asanokiyo thought he had the upper hand, Ikkaku unleashed a strike meant to end it all.
All of this was conceived and executed flawlessly within just a few seconds!
No wonder he later became the Eleventh Division's Vice Captain!Such beast-like, terrifying combat instinct! He was a real threat!
Realizing that his strategy had been completely exposed, Asanokiyo didn't hesitate—he abandoned his plan on the spot and used Shunpo, even injuring himself to quickly create distance again.
Watching this unfold on the screen, for the first time, the captains' eyes turned seriously toward the bald-headed youth. This level of combat awareness, talent, and sheer nerve—it was nothing short of genius.
Old Man Yamamoto gave a small nod at Ikkaku's battle instincts. But when he looked at Asanokiyo, a hint of dissatisfaction crept onto his face.Given the situation, Asanokiyo had at least five ways to counterattack effectively.
Three could've taken down Ikkaku without a scratch.
One would've ended it with only minor injury.
One was risky but viable.
And there were numerous other "trade blows" options.
Yet Asanokiyo had chosen the worst path, in Yamamoto's eyes—the one with the highest cost. That made the old man frown slightly.
Still, remembering this was a sparring match and that Asanokiyo lacked actual battle experience, he said nothing further, silently observing the duel.
After forcing Asanokiyo back, Ikkaku gave a wild grin, grasping Hōzukimaru mid-air. With reishi, he formed a foothold beneath him and shifted his stance in the air. His spear, like a venomous snake, lunged toward Asanokiyo again.
Ikkaku's speed, paired with the sharpness of Hōzukimaru, truly resembled a viper in the middle of a killing lunge!
This time, Asanokiyo looked deadly serious. He raised his hands and shouted:
"Hadō #31 — Shakkahō (Red Fire Cannon)!"
A crimson fireball formed in his palms, morphing into a giant snake with flickering tongue as it roared toward Ikkaku!
But with Asanokiyo's current spiritual power, and against a fully Shikai-released Ikkaku, this incomplete incantation of a Hadō wouldn't be enough.
Ikkaku didn't dodge. He knew—if he avoided it, he'd never get another chance to close in on Asanokiyo.
So this time—
He wouldn't evade. He'd break through.
With a slight lift of his spear, reishi surged into Hōzukimaru, which let out an almost euphoric howl as Ikkaku, alongside it, slashed straight into the fire serpent!
The immense power behind the strike obliterated half the fire serpent's body, and though Ikkaku emerged with burn marks and a charred face, he grinned with maniacal delight.
He was savoring the battle!Savoring the bloodlust!Savoring that razor's edge between life and death!
Asanokiyo's face hardened. Seeing his fire serpent about to be severed, he suddenly began chanting:
"O Sovereign who reigns above! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, fluttering wings, bearer of the name of man! Heat and strife, rise against the sea, advance forward—!"
An extended chant?!
Every captain watching the screen went wide-eyed. Isshin even rubbed his eyes and turned to Tōsen beside him.
"Wait wait wait! Did I see that right?! Extended chant?! A student who hasn't even graduated yet is using a technique that even captains struggle to pull off?! Are you kidding me?! Pinch me, Tōsen, I swear I must be dreaming!"
Tōsen, silent behind his sunglasses, complied and pinched Isshin hard. The loud yelp confirmed: this wasn't a dream.
But no one had time for Isshin's antics. Everyone was still stunned by what they'd just witnessed.
Especially Old Man Yamamoto—he was the foremost Kido master among all captains, and he knew just how difficult this extended chant was to master.
Put simply: most captains would fail at pulling it off cleanly.
And yet Asanokiyo hadn't stopped.He was still going!
"Devour yourself—O black hound of Rondanini! In a single glance, burn it all away! Sever your own throat—!"
As the chant completed, a chain of golden light forged from reishi burst into view—
Double incantation!
T/N: For up to 20 chapters ahead on all my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle
Also check out my other fics