Goddamn the Mother of Invention and her stupid, stupid tricks! A million thoughts rise up in Zangetsu's mind as he watches her crush Syrlya despite his best efforts to disable her.

You can't protect anyone, can you?

They'll all die, then you'll die, and then what will Ichigo do? He'll die, too.

What kind of weapon can't even make a dent in something like this?!

Zangetsu hisses, then screams aloud against his own thoughts. "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! I CAN DO THIS! PERIDOT!" he yells, "GO! GET THE KNIFE!"

Turning his despair into frustrated rage, Zangetsu pours his energy into his sword, stabbing it into the crook of the elbow of the arm holding Syr.