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On Chad's left arm, strange intricate markings spread out, and a silver light flared at his fingertips.
He clenched his fist."El Directo!"
A terrifying power surged around his knuckles and smashed into the giant Hollow with crushing force.
The impact shook its massive frame. Cracks split across its body—at first thin as hairline fractures, then widening, crawling up its torso.
The Hollow let out a piercing, agonized scream.
Enraged, it swung back with a brutal punch, sending Chad flying. Renji leapt up, catching him in midair.
"Thanks!" Chad gasped.
Renji snorted. "Don't mention it. I'm used to picking you up."
Then, eyeing Chad's arm, he raised a brow. "Seriously though, what's with that arm of yours?"
"It's… a new power," Chad explained simply.
The Hollow's voice rumbled with disbelief. "That was dangerous just now. But enough games—it's time to end this."
Its maw gaped wide, red-and-black energy swirling violently inside.
"He's charging it up again!"
Renji sprang into action. "Not on my watch!"
"Hihiō Zabimaru!"
The massive, segmented serpent of his zanpakutō swung forward, building up a blazing orb of energy in its maw. The Hollow's blast roared to life at the same time.
The two attacks collided—BOOM!The explosion rocked the battlefield, filling the air with smoke and debris.
Renji landed, eyes sharp. "Chad, I'll handle the Cero. You hit him again, as hard as you can!"
"Right!"
Silver light burst once more across Chad's arm."El Directo!!"
He drove his fist into the Hollow's chest. Another deep crack ripped open across its body—but this time the damage didn't spread as fast.
The Hollow growled, almost mocking. "Did you think the same trick would work again? I've already seen through it."
Its jaws glowed crimson once more.
Chad smiled calmly. "No… it's not me."
Renji grinned wolfishly. "The one who'll finish you is me."
The Hollow's eyes widened—too late realizing Chad's blow was just a distraction.
"Go, Zabimaru!"
The glowing pink serpent shot forward, faster than lightning, and rammed straight through the Hollow's skull.
The wound connected with Chad's earlier crack, and suddenly the fissures blazed with blinding light.
Then—KABOOM!The Hollow's entire body exploded into nothingness.
When the smoke cleared, Renji and Chad exchanged a triumphant thumbs-up.
But before they could catch their breath, the ground split apart, and swarms of smaller Hollows began crawling out.
Renji smirked. "Looks like it's not over yet. Come on—let's finish this!"
The two of them charged back into the fight.
Elsewhere, Ulquiorra stood glaring at Ichigo, fury darkening his face. The pressure rolling off him was suffocating, making the walls of Las Noches tremble.
"You actually managed to keep up with me for a moment," he said coldly. "Don't let it go to your head."
His power spiked, and in the next instant he vanished—appearing above Ichigo in a blur. His blade came crashing down.
BOOM!
The ground erupted. Ichigo shot out of the smoke in a flash—only for Ulquiorra to already be behind him.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "Like I'd fall for that!"
He spun, slashing back, but Ulquiorra's form flickered and vanished again. A gleaming arc of his blade cut through the air—
—but the strike never landed.
An orange barrier of energy had flared to life around Ichigo, stopping the blow cold.
The shield shattered into glowing motes, revealing Orihime standing firm, her hands raised.
Ulquiorra turned his head slightly, his voice low and cold. "What are you doing? Why save him? Is he your comrade? If so… why didn't you protect him from my first strike?"
Ichigo cut him off with a shout. "That's enough! Stop wasting breath with pointless crap!"
Then he turned briefly to Orihime, softer: "Thanks, Orihime. But this place is way too dangerous—get back."
His gaze snapped back to Ulquiorra, fire in his voice. "Funny. I thought you were the silent type. Turns out you love to talk."
Dark energy flared violently around him, spreading like wings from his back, thick and heavy with pressure.
Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed. "Getsuga, is it? I told you already—it won't work on me."
Ichigo roared, black power surging into his blade. He swung with all his strength, an onyx wave of energy tearing forward like a flood.
Ulquiorra raised his hand, launching a searing green blast to meet it. The two forces clashed, snarling against each other, swallowing the battlefield in swirling black haze.
For a moment, it seemed like neither would yield. But Ulquiorra's aura pulsed, his strength rising higher and higher until his blade burst with raw green energy, shattering Ichigo's attack and blasting him back.
Ichigo steadied himself in midair, his zanpakutō still cloaked in unstable black energy that licked like fire around the blade.
Ulquiorra studied him with cold detachment. "You've gathered your Getsuga into the blade itself rather than release it. What are you plotting, Kurosaki? Do you think to merge Zangetsu with the power of the Getsuga?"
Ichigo didn't answer—he just charged, the black crescent clinging stubbornly to his sword.
His strike carved a rift into the earth as Ulquiorra dodged. Smoke billowed, cracks spiderwebbing in every direction.
Ulquiorra reappeared instantly at Ichigo's back. "Naïve."
But Ichigo spun, slamming his condensed Getsuga into Ulquiorra's blade.
The collision ripped the air apart, black crescents whipping through the space before slowly fading into nothing. Only the terrifying energy gathered on their blades remained, grinding against each other in a deadlock.
Ulquiorra's voice cut through the chaos, quiet but scathing. "So that's your plan. Clever… but did you forget?"
"Even your Hollowfied Getsuga wasn't enough to defeat me. What chance does this have?"
His words rang with absolute certainty.
In the world of Naruto—
The Third Hokage stiffened, eyes narrowing. "Such overwhelming power… greater than a tailed beast? Impossible. Could the strength of other worlds truly surpass the shinobi world?"
A deep unease gnawed at his heart.
In the world of One Punch Man—
Little Tornado stared at the screen, unable to stop herself from comparing their terrifying power with her own teacher's.
After all, she still hadn't seen her teacher go all out even once.
One Piece World
The Whitebeard Pirates gaped at the screen." Pops, what kind of Devil Fruit power is that? I've never seen anything like it!"
Whitebeard chuckled, stroking his mustache." That's probably not a power from our world. But… if they came here, I wouldn't mind calling them my sons."
Ulquiorra suddenly launched at Ichigo, forcing him to retreat at full speed. The crescent light on his blade flickered restlessly, unstable.
Each clash between them shook the air, tearing ripples through space itself.
Inoue clutched her chest, watching Ichigo fight with worry—when out of the shadows behind her, two hands shot forward and grabbed her tight.
A hideous face appeared in front of her horrified eyes." Got you!!!"
Figures emerged one after another, humans with hollow masks twisted across their faces, staring down at Inoue with cruel delight.
Ichigo saw and bolted toward her, shouting as his sword lit up."Getsuga Tenshō!!!"
But Ulquiorra appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of them and taking the full force of Ichigo's devastating attack.
The masked humans froze, their eyes wide."Ulquiorra!!!"
He glanced back at them, expressionless."Don't get it twisted. I didn't save you."
Ichigo came charging again, his strike fast and furious—yet Ulquiorra blocked it like it was nothing.
"Move!!!" Ichigo roared, his voice echoing with desperation.
"..."
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