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Shiro let out a cold snarl."No way in hell!!!"
The two of them clashed again, blades sparking in another furious exchange.
On the other side, a woman with blurred, hollow-like eyes reached for Orihime. Ichigo's blood boiled—rage flooding through him.
"Getsuga Tenshō!!!"
A terrifying surge of black energy wrapped around Zangetsu, then exploded outward in a massive beam aimed straight at Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra didn't even flinch. He simply lifted his blade and blocked.The monstrous energy split apart around him, ripping through the air but leaving him untouched.
Ichigo seized the opening, darting past Ulquiorra and sprinting toward Orihime.
But Ulquiorra's hand lifted lazily. Green light flared at his fingertips.
"Cero."
The blast engulfed Ichigo instantly. The whole chamber turned a blinding green. Stone pillars shattered into dust.
When the smoke cleared, Ichigo staggered out of the wreckage, teeth clenched."Damn it!!!"
Gripping Zangetsu, he rushed Ulquiorra again, their swords crashing together.
"I told you to move aside!!!"
Ulquiorra's voice was as calm as ever."If you want to reach anyone else… then kill me first."
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. From deep beneath Las Noches, a massive figure burst upward.
"Ulquiorra! I'm here to back you up!"
Ulquiorra shot him a cold glance."When did I ever say I needed your help, Yammy?"
"Don't be like that. That little Shinigami's tougher than he looks!" Yammy grinned, flexing his hulking frame.
Ulquiorra didn't waver."So you've fully recovered. Good. But this fight isn't yours. Go back to sleep—or go find someone else to smash."
Yammy's smile twitched. Since Ulquiorra wouldn't budge, he turned his attention elsewhere. His eyes landed on the hollowfied women nearby. With a laugh, he swiped a massive hand, batting one aside like a ragdoll.
"Hey, Ulquiorra—why're there two women here?"
Ulquiorra's stare hardened."They're in the way."
He grabbed the other woman and hurled her out of the chamber. His gaze shifted to Orihime.
"That just leaves you. Let's have some fun—games aren't worth playing unless someone breaks."
Yammy lunged toward her—But an arrow of glowing blue energy whistled from above, slamming straight into his shoulder.
Pain ripped through him. Yammy roared, clutching the wound as he crashed to the ground.
Ichigo's eyes widened in relief."Ishida!!!"
Through the broken ceiling descended a tall figure in white, glasses glinting.
Ishida's voice was cool, steady."Don't worry about me. Focus on your fight, Ichigo."He adjusted his bow."I can handle this one myself."
Yammy rose slowly, growling."You little punk… where the hell did you crawl out from?!"
He swung a massive hand, but Ishida leapt clear, landing lightly.
"Tch. Even with all that power, one arrow wasn't enough to pierce through?" Ishida muttered."Stronger than I thought. Fine. Follow me—this isn't the place for you."
And with that, he lured Yammy away.
Ichigo charged Ulquiorra again—but Ulquiorra's crushing spiritual pressure blasted him off his feet, sending him tumbling back.
"Is it because of that woman?" Ulquiorra's voice cut into him."You still haven't used your mask… because she's here, isn't it?"
Ichigo scrambled upright, planting himself protectively in front of Orihime."That's not it! Don't twist this!"
"Then prove it. Show me your mask."
Ichigo snarled."Like I'd ever take orders from you! Getsuga Tenshō!!!"
Another wave of black energy roared forward, and Ichigo leapt in with it—only to be swatted aside again by Ulquiorra's overwhelming force.
At that moment, Ishida reappeared, having driven Yammy off. Ichigo's eyes lit up.
"Ishida—Orihime's yours! Protect her with your life. Her Shun Shun Rikka can't fully block Ulquiorra's pressure!"
Ishida nodded curtly."You don't need to tell me. I already intended to."
Ichigo's gaze sharpened on Ulquiorra."You've waited long enough… here it is. The hollow you've been dying to see."
He pressed a hand to his face. Black energy writhed over him.
In the next heartbeat, a bone-white mask snapped into place.
Ichigo's reiatsu exploded, multiplying in intensity until the air itself shuddered.
Ulquiorra barely blinked—before masked Ichigo vanished and reappeared right in front of him, Zangetsu cleaving downward with terrifying force.
The impact hurled Ulquiorra clear out of Las Noches. Ichigo pursued, blade gleaming.
Ulquiorra steadied himself midair, fingers glowing green."Cero."
The blast shook the battlefield—but Ichigo merely braced Zangetsu and absorbed it head-on.
Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed. He shot upward, landing atop one of the tallest pillars.
Ichigo followed instantly."Hey! Where do you think you're going?!"
Ulquiorra slashed his blade through the air. A black rift yawned open in the sky. Both warriors vanished into it.
Ichigo glanced around, tense."The roof of Las Noches…"
Ulquiorra stood on a stone platform bathed in moonlight. His voice was low, deliberate."Above Las Noches lie two forbidden powers. One—the Cero Oscuras, reserved for the Espada alone. And the other… the Resurrección of Espada ranked Fourth or higher. Both are too destructive. To unleash them here would shatter Las Noches itself."
His blade lifted."Seal it… Black-Winged Demon!"
Meanwhile, in the living world—
Ichigo's hollowed form flickered on the monitors. He stared at himself in disbelief."What… I've hollowfied? Then… am I still even a Shinigami?"
At the Gotei 13 barracks, shock rippled through the captains.
Hitsugaya's eyes widened."That kid… he's fallen into Hueco Mundo? He can hollowfy? Has he betrayed us?!"
Head Captain Yamamoto shook his head slowly."No. His power is not tainted. He still carries only the essence of a Shinigami. This Substitute is… an interesting one."
Even Byakuya's stoic expression wavered."To merge hollow and Shinigami power so seamlessly… extraordinary."
In the shinobi world—
Sasuke's gaze locked on the screen."Shinigami… hollows… two opposite forces, fused into one. That Ichigo… no wonder his name is known."
Jiraiya's brows furrowed in awe."Two powers that should never coexist… and yet he wields them both. Hmph. Seems I still have much to learn."
Across the seas, in the world of pirates—
Kaido's eyes glinted at Ichigo's image."That brat… could he even kill me? If he can wound me, I'll make him part of my crew."
Back in Hueco Mundo—
Dark, crushing energy cascaded from above. The battlefield trembled under the weight of Ulquiorra's released form.
Ichigo's hollowed eyes widened as Ulquiorra's figure emerged—two vast black wings unfurling behind him, white horns curling from his skull. His entire presence radiated eerie, suffocating power.
Ulquiorra's voice cut through the storm."Don't falter. Don't let your guard slip. Not for a single second."
Ichigo braced himself, every muscle taut, his mask gleaming under the moon.
With a flick, Ulquiorra summoned a strange green weapon. In the next instant, its immense power slammed into Ichigo, detonating outward in a tidal wave of emerald light.
The sky screamed. The ground shook. A violent storm tore across the rooftop, swallowing Ichigo whole in its wrath.
"..."
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