__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I don't care what it takes—the Thirteen Court Guard Squads will stop Aizen!" Ichigo roared.
"And if that's not enough…" His voice hardened. "Then I'll stop him myself—right after I take you down!"
A terrifying wave of power burst out of Ichigo, the sheer force pushing Ulquiorra back step by step.
Raising Zangetsu high, Ichigo's spiritual pressure surged, climbing higher and higher. A blade of black crescent light ripped through the sky.
"ULQUIORRA!!!"
The massive black Getsuga shot forward at incredible speed. Ulquiorra moved instantly, his figure blurring as he dodged through the air.
Ichigo didn't give him a chance to breathe. He charged, faster than the eye could follow, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
A shadow flickered—and suddenly Ichigo was right in front of him.
Ulquiorra's fingertip flared with violent green energy. He released it in a deadly blast.
Ichigo swung down in the same instant, his black crescent colliding with Ulquiorra's Cero. Green and black energy smashed together, swallowing the battlefield in a storm of light.
The air cracked with thunder as black and green lightning tore across the sky. Sand and stone whipped through the air like a hurricane.
"RAAAH!!!" Ichigo bellowed, pouring every ounce of strength into his strike.
BOOM!!!
The world vanished in white.
Outside Las Noches, Renji and Chad suddenly found themselves facing down a towering Hollow.
The giant sneered. "My body is wrapped in armor tougher than stone. You think your weak blades can even scratch me? I'll crush you both!"
Chad's fist glowed with overwhelming energy. With a shout, he launched a punch that pierced straight through the Hollow's massive arm, blasting it clean off.
Renji's eyes lit up. "Got him!"
But to their horror, the monster simply regenerated a new arm.
It swung its massive fist, the blow carrying a gale-force wind. Chad was smashed aside, slamming into Renji and knocking them both into the sand.
Before they could rise, a colossal hand came crashing down. They barely rolled away as the impact shook the ground, sending dust billowing in every direction.
The Hollow searched for them, snarling.
Renji got to his feet, brushing sand off his robes. "Guess I didn't want to waste this on trash like you, but looks like I don't have a choice."
His spiritual pressure erupted in a brilliant pink flare, shaking the air itself.
"Bankai!!!"
The explosion of reiatsu lit the sky pink.
"Hihiō Zabimaru!!!"
His blade transformed into a massive serpent. With a swing, the snake roared forward, piercing the Hollow clean through the stomach.
The giant collapsed, Renji smirking. "What a pain."
But to his shock, the creature staggered back up. Its body still bore a gaping wound, but it laughed.
"Not bad. That almost surprised me. But don't think I'll fall so easily."
Its jaws opened wide, a terrifying red-black Cero gathering at its mouth.
The beam exploded outward, staining the sky blood-red as it raced toward them.
Renji leapt aside. "That Cero's insane!"
Then he grinned. "Chad—aim for the head!"
Chad wiped sweat from his brow. "You sure this'll work?"
"Just watch," Renji said confidently. "I'll break him down piece by piece!"
He charged. "Hikōtaihō!!!"
Zabimaru's skeletal segments whipped through the air, gathering energy at the serpent's head before firing directly at the Hollow's skull.
The Hollow roared, firing its Cero to meet it. The two attacks collided in a blinding explosion that shook the battlefield.
"Chad!!" Renji shouted as he staggered back.
Chad clenched his fist, his body glowing with deadly energy. "Brazo Izquierdo del Diablo!!!"
Amid the smoke and rubble of Las Noches, Ichigo slowly pushed himself to his feet.
Ulquiorra stared at him in faint surprise. "You withstood my Cero without even using that mask? Impressive. Your strength really has grown."
"Is it because of those so-called comrades you're fighting for?" His voice turned cold. "Or perhaps… because of that woman? Don't fool yourself. She already belongs to our side. Saving her is meaningless."
Ichigo panted heavily, glaring back. "That's not for you to decide."
Ulquiorra thrust his blade forward like lightning. Ichigo twisted aside, the strike piercing a stone pillar.
Ichigo countered instantly, slashing back. Ulquiorra spun and blocked, their blades clashing in a shower of sparks.
They exchanged blow after blow, neither yielding an inch.
Ichigo gathered his reiatsu, swinging a crushing strike. Ulquiorra leapt back just in time, the blade carving through stone instead.
Seizing the opening, Ulquiorra retaliated with a blur of thrusts. His sword moved too fast to follow, filling the air with afterimages.
Ichigo backpedaled desperately, barely escaping the storm of blades.
Catching his breath, he steadied himself. "It's fine. I can see it now… I can keep up with you!"
Ulquiorra lunged again, unleashing another relentless flurry. This time Ichigo focused, watching closely. At last, he spotted the opening—
He caught Ulquiorra's wrist, then slashed with all his might.
The strike carved across Ulquiorra's chest, blood spraying.
In the real world, the Soul Reapers stared at the broadcast in disbelief.
Hitsugaya's eyes widened. "That human… his reiatsu rivals a captain's now!"
Even Byakuya's calm face cracked into a look of shock.
Back in Karakura Town, the real Ichigo stared at the screen, dumbfounded. "That's supposed to be me? When did I get that strong?!"
His classmates gasped in awe. "Ichigo's that powerful?!"
In the Hidden Leaf, shinobi muttered in astonishment.
"A sword that transforms into a living beast… what kind of power is this?" Asuma gawked.
Every ninja who carried a blade clenched their hilts tighter. "A weapon that can be used like that…?"
"And that black crescent slash… it's terrifying."
On the seas of the Grand Line, Zoro watched with rapt attention.
"That swordplay… incredible." His hand itched for a challenge. "That black crescent slash—it gives me the same pressure as Mihawk."
On the screen, Ulquiorra looked down at his chest. His uniform was ripped open, blood trickling from a clean cut across his torso.
Ichigo smirked. "That shallow cut was through hierro, wasn't it? Not so untouchable after all."
His eyes narrowed. "And compared to before… I think I'm finally starting to read your movements."
Ulquiorra's face, usually calm and detached, showed rare surprise as he touched the blood.
Then fury flashed in his eyes. With a snarl, he swung his blade, slicing straight through a massive stone boulder, shattering it clean in half.
"..."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________