Copying Zou: Sozen vs Kenryoku

Opening music

It was a nice day. The sky was clear, deep blue. The clouds were huge, white, and puffy, but did not take up much room because there weren't many of them. Those that there were simply floated through the sky slowly, pushed by the cool air currents up above. There was no wind below ground. Everything was perfectly still. The day was not eventful. Sunlight shone on the quiet, prosaic landscape. It was not interesting. Any onlookers would agree that even on such a nice day, this was just doll for anyone to look at, and was a little annoying.

The area was mostly rubble, with a few remaining houses here and there. It was a destroyed town area filled with mountains of destroyed buildings and ash and other lifeless forms of inhabiting or fossils of civilization. By all accounts, it looked like no one had lived there for many years, and more importantly like no one had actually bothered to clean it up either. Still, there was a nostalgia to the area. It was as if a great war had been fought here, or maybe some sort of epic climactic battle had at least been staged in this area, and had destroyed it. It was more fun to think that something dramatic had cleared the place, though it was more realistic to expect that it had actually just become more convenient to move elsewhere.

Walking through the area was a figure in a white Haori and black, expensive shihakusho with floral patterns along the sleeves. His outfit was expensive looking. He had black hair, and a plain black sheathe with a decorated hilt to a sword in it. His face was admirable, and had appeared in legend and stated to be the best looking face in Soul Society. He was incredibly handsome. In contrast, there was a figure sitting only in a plain black shihakusho, also with a sword sheathed at his side, over on a half demolished wall which only rose about six meters into the air. He was sitting at the end of the wall with his back against a tree.

Intrigued red eyes from the walking man met the icy blue eyes of the sitting man. Both of them stopped what they were doing, and continued to watch each other. "Did you know that this town was home to over a million souls at one point? A shame that they've all left or died now." the man with red eyes said. He was Sozen Kuchiki. "It's more interesting to understand what drove them out." the man with icy blue eyes responded. He was Kenryoku Kawada. They both stood dead still, saying nothing as they continued watching each other. Sozen came up and stood next to a tree several meters away, parallel to the one against which Kenryoku was leaning.

"At any rate...I don't give a damn about that." Kenryoku said. "Why are you here?" Sozen smiled a confident, radiant smile, closed lipped. It was the best looking smile in Soul Society. Kenryoku's face remained stoic, but his eyes were focused on Sozen. He glared at him in contempt and dislike. He was repulsed by the very sight of the Kuchiki Captain. "I just finished a mission in this area." Sozen replied. "I'm on my way home now. I thought I'd pause and take a look around. There's a lot of history here." Another moment of silence followed. Sozen's smile did not drop. "Do you train here often?"

"I train here often enough. It's worth your time to consider." Sozen smiled more at Kenryoku's verbal jab. He was implying that Sozen did not train at all, and Sozen was bound to disagree with that assessment. "I do train." Sozen said. "I trained a lot when I was younger, and even when I took a trip for several decades. To this day I train a lot. I daresay I've seen enemies that would put even a prodigy like you to shame." Kenryoku's eyes narrowed on Sozen's, almost becoming slits. The apathy was obvious in Kenryoku's facial expression and in his tone as well. "Is that so...?" he asked. "That's so." Sozen replied.

"At any rate, I don't give a damn about that. I heard that you battled the Segunda a few weeks ago. Tell me what you know about him. Tell me everything." Sozen was quiet. It apparently had not occurred to him that Kenryoku might try to interrogate him about an Arrancar. Espada were not usually Sozen's main order of business. "That's a rude way of asking someone." Sozen chastised. A needle suddenly slammed into the tree next to Sozen, nailing right next to his face. It missed him barely. It had been thrown with incredible, precise speed and great power. It was a senbon that could have hit Sozen's face.

"Don't get me wrong." Kenryoku said. "My brother has struck an alliance with your family, but I have no problems with killing you. Tell me what you know about the Segunda." Sozen chuckled. "And even if I do? Are you going to hunt him? You aren't strong enough to fight the Segunda. He's in a whole other league from you. But I'm strong enough to kill him. You should probably stay out of it. It's what's best for you. The Segunda is my prey. I'll be the one to cut off his head, Kawada. Not you. It should be a Kuchiki that destroys him."

"A weak family like yours? Take the prey that is the rightful birthright to any Kawada? Don't make me laugh." Kenryoku retorted coldly. He was harsh with Sozen. This wasn't going to happen the way that Sozen wanted. "Weak?" Sozen asked incredulously, with eyebrows raised, smile growing ever wider on his face, and with question clear in his voice. He was rising to the occasion, itching for the challenge that could be presented by someone such as Kenryoku. Sozen reached to his side with his right hand, drawing his sword. He aimed his Zanpakuto at Kenryoku.

"Care to back up those words? Don't worry. I won't hold it against you or the alliance our families have. I'm simply curious as to what drives you to say such things." Kenryoku swung off the wall, landing nimbly on his feet. Kenryoku also drew his sword, spinning it with great agility in his left hand. The two noble opponents regarded each other, evaluating one another's apparent strengths and weaknesses off at the first glance. It did not look like either one wanted to quite make the first attack yet, but one did after a short few seconds.

---

Kenryoku's Remaining Reiatsu: 2270/2670 Reiatsu

Kenryoku's Speed: 840

Active: Meinatsuin

---

Kenryoku was in front of Sozen from out of the blue all of a sudden. Sozen gasped. He's fast...! Kenryoku's stroke however was clumsier than Sozen's, and his sword was easily blocked. Though Kenryoku was very fast, Sozen had enough speed and skill to predict the trajectory of the hit from the moment that Kenryoku moved. As a result, Sozen's blade blocked Kenryoku's with a loud metallic banging sound, like a gunshot that echoed with the sound of ringing bells. The two men were of exactly equal height. Icy blue eyes glared into confident red ones as their blades impacted.

Kenryoku's sword cracked against the far superior metal of Sozen's, but the force of the attack blew Sozen away. Suddenly, he felt his body lifted off of the ground and was blown away, losing balance and footing in one attack. He's strong too! Sozen twisted in mid air, trying to adjust himself and regain his balance. Kenryoku followed after him, stabbing and slashing. Sozen, with his unique skill of the sword, was able to block from weird angles and even while his body was in very strange conditions. In mid air, he was even able to change hands for one maneuver to block, and then change hands back.

Sozen landed on his feet, still skidding. He was being pushed toward the outskirts of the village area. Behind him there was an enormous forest full of dense foliage and tall trees. Sozen did not want the fight to go to the forest, because he had heard tales of Kenryoku's speed and wit. Kenryoku was an assassin with a marksman's deadshot accuracy with senbon, and he was the leader of the Kawada Secret Kill Unit, Tsunami. In the forest, Kenryoku had the advantage. Sozen wasn't fast enough either to keep up with a Kenryoku that could use the trees like that. However, he had noticed something earlier.

Kenryoku's sword maneuvers were skilled, but not that skilled. They were good, but to an expert like Sozen he was clumsy. His sword had also cracked during that last impact. Kenryoku's weapon was a lot weaker than Sozen's. The difference in their reiatsu strength was monumental. As Sozen landed, Kenryoku drove back upon him. Sozen this time slashed directly into Kenryoku's incoming slash, and their blades met in mid air. This time, the force was lost because Kenryoku's blade was cut clean through by Sozen's, splitting it in half. Much to Sozen's surprise, Kenryoku did not stop. Instead, he kept going. Sozen's blade cut toward Kenryoku's chest.

Kenryoku held out his left arm to defend against Sozen's attack. At the same time, Kenryoku's blade fragment grazed up and over Sozen's shoulder, slashing it and drawing a small spray of blood, wounding the Kuchiki Head. Sozen's blade looked as if it was going to sever Kenryoku's left arm, but it met with a metallic clanging sound as it hit Kenryoku's arm. Sozen's eyes widened. He jumped back, barely in time to dodge a stab from Kenryoku with the remaining part of his blade. Kenryoku said nothing, only held up his arm, letting the sleeve fall. A thin, barely noticeable metal gauntlet was on Kenryoku's arm. He protected his limbs with metal armor.

"I'll admit..." Sozen said. "You're good. You're very good. Unfortunately, I took out your weapon with just that short exchange." Kenryoku sheathed his sword piece, and held up his fists. Sozen raised an eyebrow. "Underestimating me already?" he asked. "No." Kenryoku told him. "The sword is not my main combat style. I most excel in Kawada style boxing." He ran up to Sozen, and his fist launched out with a thundercrackle sound punch. It was his left fist first, a jab. Earlier he had left handed his sword, and this threw Sozen off. Was Kenryoku right or left handed? Or ambidextrous? Sozen couldn't tell, but he could tell that he had to dodge the attack.

Sozen took to the side, barely in time to dodge the punch. However, he found that Kenryoku had suddenly gotten into his guard, and his cross was coming toward Sozen's chin in an uppercut. Sozen managed to fall backwards, dodging the uppercut by centimeters. He transitioned into a repositioning of his feet, using the fall to re-center himself instead, and brought it back with newfound momentum at Kenryoku's face, slashing at the Kawada Right Hand. Kenryoku's icy blue eyes didn't let up as Sozen found his sword blocked by the metal gauntlet of Kenryoku's right arm. They stopped and then backed off.

"My turn." Sozen said.



Sozen moved forwards in a single fluid movement. He had used Shukuchi-Ho, the advanced earth steps, and penetrated Kenryoku's guard very easily. Kenryoku brought up his arms to block Sozen, but Sozen did not attack with his sword. His palm slammed into Kenryoku's chest all of a sudden. Kenryoku, with his vastly superior strength, didn't even budge when Sozen's attack hit. Sozen smiled coldly. He brought his sword crashing down on Kenryoku's face, and Kenryoku blocked with his arm. However, that had been his mistake. Sozen had not removed his palm from Kenryoku's chest. That had been an attack.

"Secret Destructive Hana #12: Shiro." Kenryoku's eyes widened as the flesh on his left hand dissolved, and it became thinner, frail. The bone could almost be seen. The muscle was even partially exposed! Kenryoku did not cry out in pain, but the expression in his eyes was one of horror at seeing the sudden damage caused to his hand. Sozen then smashed his forehead into Kenryoku's nose, breaking it. Kenryoku stumbled backwards. The wound on Sozen's shoulder had healed, and this was abundantly clear. However, the blood stain did not disappear from his white Haori or his black robe.

"How was that?" Sozen asked. "Does it scare you? Seeing your most precious tool of attack destroyed like that?" Kenryoku's eyes went stoic again. He said nothing, and only resumed attacking. His eyes were a glare of hatred and rage. "Hado #86: Soukahou." Kenryoku said out loud. A blue flame formed on his left hand, and he aimed it at Sozen. Sozen's eyes widened. A medium sized blue fireball launched out of the blue fire on Kenryoku's hand. It was a moderately fast attack, but nothing that Sozen couldn't deal with. He was easily able to slice it in half with his sword. However, Kenryoku fired several more. He began to attack with them like they were a cannon.

Sozen lost ground. He fell back, slashing the blasts and dodging them. He was forced backward into the forest, and at this point Kenryoku ran right up to him and punched at him. Sozen side stepped the punch, but just barely. Kenryoku then disappeared using Shunpo. He was gone. He had vanished from view. The forest had become his playground. His advantage. Sozen looked around, listening carefully and quietly. He was waiting for Kenryoku to appear again amid the darkness and the quiet, and the silence too. But for a few painful moments of looking, there was nothing.

---

Sozen's Remaining Reiatsu: 2850/3000 Reiatsu

Kenryoku's Remaining Reiatsu: 1820/2670 Reiatsu

---

Sozen turned around suddenly as a needle flew into his left arm. "Argh!" he exclaimed. The needle had penetrated his arm deeply. He felt his arm starting to go numb too. My arm...I can't move it...and I can't feel it either. Did he coat the needle with electricity? Sozen realized all of a sudden how grave the danger was. He was surely stronger than this opponent, but in this forest, Kenryoku was a real danger. He was an assassin and a menace. Sozen needed to find him, or there would be more wounds coming his way. First of all, Sozen needed to stop himself from getting hit by any more needles.

Another one flew at Sozen, and this one he dodged. He knew not to deflect it. The metal of his sword would absorb the electric current and transfer it into his arm. Basic rules of conduction. He couldn't allow his right arm to also be hit. Sozen was hesitant about pulling the needle out of his arm, too. He didn't want to touch it while it was electrified, but there was no telling how long it would be electrified for. If Kenryoku was going to be attacking this way, Sozen had to figure out a tactic quickly. And, just as he thought about it, it came to him. Sozen smiled confidently. Kenryoku couldn't possibly see this coming.

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Kenryoku's Remaining Reiatsu: 1770/2670 Reiatsu

---

I have him now, but I can't let my guard down... Kenryoku was in a tree branch high above Sozen, watching him. He could see the enemy, confused from below. Kenryoku had thrown a senbon earlier, and then switched branches soundlessly. That had not been an easy maneuver, but he knew that any experienced opponent could figure out the trajectory of his needle and find him that way. Kenryoku had the advantage, but he did understand that this was the man who led the Kuchiki house, and no matter what Kenryoku said, Sozen was strong. He had proven his power in many missions and killed several high class enemies. He was not to be underestimated.

Kenryoku was electrifying senbon with Tsuzuri Raiden, the basic Hado technique which created electric currents for this reason. He was trying to immobilize Sozen this way. Kenryoku earlier had taken a good amount of damage. His hand had been badly injured, and the pain from Soukahou had been the real reason that he'd deactivated it, moreso than that the blue light would give away his hiding position to Sozen. His nose had also been broken, and so had his sword, which he'd been planning to electrify to fight with. His stamina was also in need of a recoop. Soukahou was exhausting.

I have about twelve senbon left right now...And six exploding tags. I also have about six long wires, fifteen meters each. He's about forty meters below me. With my current reiatsu, I can't draw out this fight for too long, either. He'll outlast me. If this is drawn into a Shikai level engagement, I'll be the one under pressure. I need to finish him before he releases. Kenryoku's thoughts about the battle were strategic, meticulous. As expected of such an esteemed Kawada member, he was a brilliant strategist. His careful observation of Sozen and planning around it were giving him the advantage for the moment.



A bright light caught Kenryoku's eyes as he saw Sozen point upwards and mouth something. What is that...? he wondered. Then his eyes widened. Fire! A huge inferno of fire was rising up into the trees. Suddenly, the inferno increased in size, doubling in size as a matter of fact. It was a giant torrent of fire rising up from Sozen's position to destroy and engulf the trees. Kenryoku had no time! He jumped out of his branch to avoid the fire, which was eating all of the trees in the vicinity. Sozen was starting a massive forest fire in the area just to flush out Kenryoku.

Just as Kenryoku made it out of his branch, Sozen appeared in front of him with Shunpo. "There you are..." he said with a smile. Sozen flipped into a kick to Kenryoku's face while they were in mid air. Kenryoku may have had the superior physical strength, but the downward force with gravity still blasted him toward the ground. He repositioned himself and regained balance in the air, but it was a far drop. He was still going to shatter bones if he landed that way. Kenryoku was quick thinking however, and grabbed hold of a tree branch on his way down, spinning to his feet on it.

He was too late. Sozen was already swinging past the tree branch, cutting it. Kenryoku lost his balance and his footing. He reduced the momentum and impact of his fall with that tree branch, but he still fell from a little less than half the original distance he'd been up there. He slammed into several branches on the way down, slowing his fall, and finally hit the ground with a thud. He got up, shaking himself. Kenryoku had been covered in bruises by the attack. Sozen landed on the ground after him. The area, once dark by the thick leaves of the trees, had been lit by the fire surrounding them. "I'm through playing around, Kawada!" Sozen declared.

This soundtrack is important

His sword's blade started to turn red, and so did his sheathe, though he didn't pull this out. "Raze...Akai Birido..." Sozen's reiatsu changed. The air became more sinister. Kenryoku suddenly felt colder, and he felt as if at any moment, a blade would appear out of the air and cut him. His eyes darted around, taking observation of the environment. He knew of Sozen's power. He, like many others, had heard of this "red world," and had heard that Sozen was able to manipulate the color. Kenryoku made certain to wipe the blood off of his face from earlier hits, and flicked it away so it wouldn't be on his hand.

Sozen started walking towards Kenryoku, whose nerves were going. He did not usually feel fear, but he was inspired to it by not only the menace behind Sozen's aura, but the reputation that preceded the Esteemed Head of the Noble Kuchiki Family. Meinatsuin is almost charged. I can finish him once I have that ready. I just need to hold out until then. Kenryoku raised his fists. His Ni Higyou style had proven ineffective because he'd not been able to hit Sozen. He was faster, but not fast enough to strike the Squad 6 Captain once with his punches, let alone twice. Besides, the damage from just one was probably worse than Ni Higyou.

Sozen launched forwards in an instant, his sword stabbing at Kenryoku. Kenryoku side stepped to dodge it. Regardless of the changes in circumstances, he was still faster! Kenryoku uppercut at Sozen's face, but Sozen managed to back step to dodge it at the last second. Sozen was very good at those back steps, and Kenryoku was sick of it. He decided to hit Sozen where it hurt. Kenryoku pulled out two senbon, and threw them. One of them was electrified with Tsuzuri Raiden, and flew at Sozen's face. The other one hit a tree nearby, and had an explosive tag that was already lit because of Tsuzuri Raiden.

Kenryoku blurred and appeared to Sozen's left, and started punching at him. Sozen had to dodge to the right to avoid the senbon because of this, and then turn to face Kenryoku. He started moving back and dodging the punches, and only barely in time noticed the tag in the tree behind him about to detonate. Sozen used Shunpo just in time to avoid the explosion. Kenryoku followed him into the air by jumping without Shunpo. He reached Sozen's level quickly, and started punching again. Sozen, smiling, turned his side to Kenryoku while they were in the air. Blades erupted out of Sozen's sheathe at Kenryoku, whose fist glanced a blade. His left fist was impaled on the blade, and he cringed. Kenryoku fell back down, dropping onto the ground.

"Tch..." he hissed in annoyance at Sozen. Meinatsuin is charged! Kenryoku realized. The seal on his upper bicep dissipated, vanishing. Immediately, he felt his speed increase. "All seeing, all knowing, and omnipotent you are not. Grasping of all that is happening, you will never be. This is why you are unfit to stand in the presence of mighty God! Saiwan #2: Reidenryoku!" Both of Kenryoku's arms suddenly turned invisible. He had become faster, but had not yet shown that speed to Sozen. He wanted to surprise his opponent. And Sozen was about to be very surprised.

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Kenryoku's Remaining Reiatsu: 1695/2670 Reiatsu

Speed: 2400

Sozen's Remaining Reiatsu: 1750/3000 Reiatsu

---

Kenryoku appeared in front of Sozen very suddenly, using a powerful Shunpo. What...?! Sozen wondered. Those arms were invisible too. No doubt, a punch was coming. It was about to be a very strong punch too, no doubt. Sozen had almost no options left. He didn't have any sort of instant techniques to stop Kenryoku. The Squad 13 Vice Captain hadn't even released his Shikai yet! He was turning out to be a far more impressive opponent than even Sozen had realized. He was easily a Captain grade adversary already, and Sozen had underestimated him for being a Vice Captain.

Kenryoku, unbenounced to Sozen, had used a Shunpo Karin, and this hit would blast a massive hole in Sozen if it hit him. Sozen wasn't having any of that, so he had to think quickly and act on his feet. From his sheathe, a red beam suddenly fired at the incoming Kenryoku. Kenryoku's eyes widened as a beam of red reiatsu washed over him. It was going to burn him severely, but he didn't seem to care. Crossing over the beam, continuing as Sozen started to move to the side, Kenryoku used a Shunpo Karin to speed up his invisible punches. Suddenly, Sozen found himself blown away.

Sozen had been hit in the left arm. Every bone in that arm shattered, and his whole body was blown away by reverberating force. He smashed across the ground, rolling across it several times. He barely managed to stand back up. He had sprained something in his leg, cracked an ankle, and broken several ribs. All of that had been from just one punch. He was already terrified of Kenryoku's might. He was scared of what else the Squad 13 Vice Captain could do if that was just from speed and invisible arms. Sozen's use of his red beam had only delayed an inevitable defeat if he wasn't careful.



Kenryoku started walking towards Sozen, fully confident in his ability to end things. It looked like Kenryoku had the advantage in this battle. He had caused incredible damage to Sozen, and had taken less damage thus far. He was also in the advantage with speed, and Sozen couldn't predict his attacks because of those invisible arms. By all means, the battle looked as if it was over. Even in Shikai, Sozen would not be able to fight. Sozen's red blade, however, started to dissolve. "Aka No Suna..." Sozen said. A cloud of red sand started to surround Sozen, encasing him in it. He was doing this so that Kenryoku couldn't approach him.

"Sozen Kuchiki." Kenryoku said. "You are weaker than me. Did you really expect that a Kuchiki could ever measure up to a Kawada? A Kawada, whose genius and prodigy exceeds all others? They call you a brilliant warrior, a master tactician. They say that you are one of the most skilled Shinigami ever to live. I have heard you are the most successful Head that the Kuchiki has ever had, even if you are not the strongest it has ever had, and I have heard wondrous stories of your feats and your prowess. There is no denying that you are powerful, but you are not a Kawada."

"Compared to a Kawada, even the greatest genius in the world is simply mediocre. Even the mighty Kuchiki Head is nothing to the Kawada's strong right hand. There is no reason for you to continue fighting me, Sozen Kuchiki. You're beaten. If we continue to fight as things are right now, I will defeat you. I will destroy you. You will be put into hospital condition far worse than your battle with the Segunda. Your best bet right now is to stop fighting me, and tell me what you know about him. If you do, I won't put you in a comatose state. You have my word as a Kawada. But if you do not, then I will shatter every bone in your body."

"You're generous." Sozen responded. "However you've neglected to realize that you're in my trap." Kenryoku's eyes widened. Sozen smiled. He had led Kenryoku into a trap. Sozen's blood droplets were on the floor before Kenryoku. Red, torn fragments of Sozen's clothing were around Kenryoku. Fire on the ground near Kenryoku was red. And blades had suddenly impaled into Kenryoku's legs. He stared in shock at Sozen, blood coming from his newfound wounds, staining his clothing. Kenryoku did not say anything as more blades began to tear into his legs. "It's over." Sozen said. "The fight is mine."

---

Kenryoku's Remaining Reiatsu: 1595/2670 Reiatsu

Speed: 2400[/b]

Sozen's Remaining Reiatsu: 1600/3000 Reiatsu

---

"No." Kenryoku responded. "Not yet."

SPOILER: Click to show

"Enslave, Sora." Kenryoku's arms suddenly became visible again, and he brought his legs up. Instead, he recast his Kido, once again mumbling the incantation, turning his legs invisible. Before they could be put out of commission by blades, he made it so no more blades could pierce them. Kenryoku's hands had black gloves on them, and his eyes were fire instead of ice. Ice blue, but filled with fire and hatred. He despised Sozen. He despised the Kuchiki. He despised all of those who had dared until then to look down on the mighty Kawada name. Therevival of the Kawada Family is everything, and failure is nothing.

Kenryoku was a lot slower because of his injured legs, but a Shunpo still brought him before Sozen with a speed far greater than Sozen's. Slowed down heavily by his injuries, Kenryoku couldn't achieve a speed that was impossible for Sozen to block, but he could at least achieve one which was difficult to do that for. His right hand was flying at Sozen's face. Sozen himself was very badly injured, and was barely able to move. Kenryoku however was within Sozen's enormous cloud of red sand, and this was a problem.

So that he wouldn't be immediately skewered from all sides, Kenryoku's left hand lit up with blue light. "Hado #86: Soukahou." He started blasting the area around them to blow away sand with debris and wind while he was punching at Sozen. Sozen dodged the punch, and blades came in from the sand. The sand and blades were blown away when they were only centimeters from Kenryoku's arm. Kenryoku followed up with a hooking right fist straight at Sozen's side. Sozen once again dodged it. The fight had become frustrating for them both. Their stamina values were at their limits.

The two combatants were exhausted. They still had several tricks up their sleeves that they were unwilling to show to one another. Sozen's Shikai was well known, his Bankai was not. Kenryoku was not willing to show a lot of his Shikai, or any of his other secret powers. He had many things that he needed to save for another day, another encounter, another war. Kenryoku missed with the punch, and used Shunpo Karin on his right arm to rocket it up to Sozen's wrist. He grabbed Sozen's wrist, continuing to exhaust himself by blasting Souhakou out around him to keep the sand away.

Heat started to emit from Kenryoku's hand. He was going to burn away and melt Sozen's arm. However, Sozen was not going to have any of that. He felt it unnecessary to do so, and so instead, Sozen was going to just end the fight right there. Though the sand was being blown away, Sozen still had one more ace in the hole without having to release Bankai. With a large scale attack, Kenryoku could not dodge. His mobility had been too heavily impeded. Sozen was playing this battle close to the belt. It was time to end it, and Kenryoku could see the determination in his opponent's eyes as well.

"Destructive Hana #3: Shinssui." Sozen said. Kenryoku's eyes widened as from Sozen's right hand, water erupted to quench the heat, and to blast Kenryoku. A huge gushing wall of water washed him away and smashed him against a tree, which then toppled over with many others, everything smashing and being smashed and destroyed, crushed and pulverized by Sozen's huge flood of water. Sozen's arm had been burned, but had been saved at the last second from being turned to nothingness. When everything was over, Sozen stood, and Kenryoku was on all fours, gasping.

"Concede." Sozen told Kenryoku. Kenryoku, with hateful eyes, glared up at Sozen. Indeed, he was not yet as powerful as Sozen was. This was truth. Kenryoku could not stand, but refused to bow his head either. Eyes unblinking, cold like Winter, face stoic, expression hateful, body unmoving, Kenryoku said to Sozen words that he vowed in his mind he would never again repeat, least of all to this hated man, the Kuchiki Head. "You win for now, Kuchiki Head. I can no longer fight you." Kenryoku was lying. He could still fight. He hadn't even begun to use the true extent of his powers. But his reiatsu was fading, and he was not interested in showing off anymore. He did not want Sozen to gain intel on him. That was all.