Silas, fueled by a desperate yearning for home, moved with raw power, each elegant swing of his katana contrasting Zaraki`s battered weapon. He was like a graceful gazelle going against a devious devil. But he knew better. The stronger his spiritual pressure was, the faster Zaraki would adapt to it. So he kept the first flow of attacks light.

　　"That can`t be all you`ve got!" Zaraki screamed in excitement. He was like a madman, enjoying the many cuts that landed on him. He hungered each blow, laughter echoing through the air. Mayuri, ever silent, watched with an intrigued expression while tracking their movements.

　　For the first time, Silas was being pushed to his limits. His body still hadn`t fully recovered, yet he was still fighting with an unyielding resolve. A wild symphony of slashes and parries was unleashed against Zaraki`s relentless assault. It was as if the latter only wanted to be hit by lethal attacks. Otherwise, Zaraki wouldn`t bother deflecting them.

　　"That`s it! Keep at it!" he bellowed.

　　A sense of frustration gnawed at Silas, causing him to furrow his brows. His power was immense but currently unrefined, leaving him a tad vulnerable. Then Zaraki struck.

　　His sword pierced Silas`s shoulder. Pain flared, adrenaline masking the burn. With a lack of expression, he ripped the weapon right out, retreating.

　　Zaraki gave chase, taunting him for running, but he was truly trying to bait the captain into a reckless pursuit. Seeing an opening, Zaraki lunged again. This time, Silas was ready. He channeled a little of his own spiritual pressure, redirecting Zaraki`s attack with Zangetsu before deflecting his assaulter back down.

　　Ikakku and Yumichika were surprised that their captain had been blown away like that. It was their first time seeing someone match his prowess. And even now, neither of the two were trying. The only person who recognized that was Yachiru, who had a calm smile on her face.

　　"Kenny`s having lots of fun," she said. "Just look!"

　　At her words, Zaraki recovered in his descent and charged right back up, only to meet Silas`s blade at a perfect angle. He then swiped horizontally, sending Silas flying. The air hung heavy, silence broken only by Silas` ragged breaths.

　　By the time he flipped to recover, Zaraki was already behind him. Silas quickly spun to parry away the next attack. But the captain wasn`t done yet. Silas`s weapon was smashed several times, each impact causing an ere sound, followed by Zaraki`s laughter.

　　"Good! Your blade`s still not breaking even with this—" Before he could finish, Silas released a pulse of his spiritual pressure, knocking Zaraki off balance. The opening allowed him to carve a deep cut right into the captain`s chest!

　　Silas then moved back to suppress himself. And when Zaraki noticed, he became disappointed.

　　"How strange," Mayuri commented. The other Soul Reapers heard him, so they asked what he meant. "The way Ichigo Kurosaki is fighting is as if he`s hiding much more than just his spiritual pressure."

　　"I still don`t get it," Ikakku said.

　　"What don`t you get?" Yumichika bellowed. "Each time our captain`s ready to go all out, Ichigo keeps holding back. Almost as if he`s unwilling to release his full power."

　　Zaraki swiped his weapon, removing the unnecessary clouds in the way. He then grinned at Silas. The fight was far from over. When he understood Silas didn`t cower in fear, he showed his opponent an attitude worthy of respect, recognizing Silas`s potential. That or he was insane, valuing the thrill of the fight.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

　　"It`s been awhile since I`ve faced someone this strong, little Ichigo," Zaraki`s said with a rough gravel to his tone.

　　Then, without fanfare, he reached up and yanked free the thick eye patch covering one eye. Where most who wore eyepatches were to preserve their modesty, Zaraki`s was a power suppressor binding his monstrous spiritual powers.

　　The very air around Zaraki thickened, turning viscous. An unnatural golden-yellow luminescence swirled around the captain, outlining his towering frame. Wind kicked up with a hungry howl, tugging at Silas`s uniform as if trying to strip him bare. His yellow eyes gleamed with intensity, mirroring the aura clinging to him.

　　Silence fell for a heartbeat. The atmosphere pulsed, heavy with the newly unleashed spiritual pressure. Mayuri hissed in delight, his eyes fixed on Silas like a scientist gazing at a new lab rat. Yumichika and Ikkaku exchanged uneasy glances.

　　Like a wild beast, Zaraki pounced, his eyes filled with euphoria. The two clashed chaotically, sending rippling booms each time their swords met. The captain was faster, stronger, and fighting as if possessed.

　　His tempestuous storm of slashes moved Silas back not feet but meters away. But Silas wasn`t yielding. Each parry from him thundered against the air, shooting sparks. He knew how to fight, strategically weaving through his opponent`s animalistic attacks with swiftness.

　　Silas deflected an incoming attack, but it was truly a faint, allowing Zaraki to slice an "x" right to his chest! Blood splattered in the air, falling like a flowing river.

　　"Come on! Don`t let that little cut ruin your will to fight!" Zaraki taunted.

　　Silas snarled, blood flecking his lips. He then soared upward, Zaraki not hesitating to follow. His eyes narrowed to the incoming captain, who had a sadistic smile, ready to slice him in two.

　　Coming to a sudden stop, Zaraki slammed his weapon into Zangetsu. Silas`s tactic wasn`t about running away; it was about finesse. What Zaraki failed to see was that Silas had his finger pointed at him.

　　"BakudM #61. RikujMkMrM.

　　Six thin, wide beams of light slammed into Zaraki`s midsection. It wasn`t going to hold him in place for long, so Silas jetted away. He knew this fight couldn`t go on any longer. Zaraki was no foe to underestimate, particularly this unhinged. However, with his full strength suppressed, a drawn-out duel was nothing but a disadvantage.

　　This wasn`t about victory, but survival. A sly smirk then bloomed on Silas`s face. "BakudM 26, KyokkM&" A strange shimmer rippled outward, subtly twisting the air. Silas`s very presence faded as the light around him warped and bent like liquid glass. It was a trick meant for concealment, an elaborate spell of invisibility.

　　Zaraki shattered the spell binding him as if merely flexing his muscles. As he began searching for his opponent, confusion washed over his feral features. "What the heck...? He got away."

　　Meanwhile, Mayuri cackled in surprise, the scientist in him buzzing with delight at such an unexpected technique. Yachiru let out a disappointed wail, unable to see "her Kenny" fight anymore. But Yumichika and Ikkaku froze, faces etched with alarm.

　　KyokkM was a spell only able to mask one`s presence—not noise, not scent. Yet this opening was more than enough. Silas didn`t hesitate to seize the opportunity. From behind, Mayuri`s gleeful eyes were sliced unexpectedly!

　　One quick strike. In and out. Silas dispelled the technique. But he was far from finished. "HadM #90. Kurohitsugi." Mayuri hollered in pain, pulling out a syringe to stab himself. Silas knew he would try to heal himself, so he instinctively sliced the captain`s hand off just as the spell was manifesting.

　　Ikakku and Yumichika both lunged at the two, but it was too late. A powerful torrent of gravity, taking the form of a black box, covered Silas and Mayuri. It was the same technique Aizen had used once, which Silas had understood how to execute after both seeing and hearing its incantation.

　　In that split second, Mayuri and him were encased from all corners. Several spear-like protrusions pierced the box from the inside out, decimating the captain`s body! Silas remained unharmed, but he knew this wasn`t going to be enough. While Mayuri was being obliterated, he unleashed a flurry of strikes on the Soul Reaper, destroying all his vital points.

　　The technique shattered. What Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Yachiru were witnessing left them utterly speechless.

　　Zaraki flew to where Silas had run off, only to see the shocked expressions on his fellow Soul Reapers. The thing that left them in awe was Silas standing with his back turned to an all-red Mayuri. There wasn`t a single colour on the now-dead captain except for that bloodstain, darkened red.

　　No flourish, no grand announcement. Only ruthless efficiency.