"Hehe, has my personality changed since I became like this? I'm actually this considerate now."
Beelzebub chuckled.
"I don't see any consideration in that," Ichigo said coldly. "Now that you've said your piece, are you going to fight me?"
"…You really are dense. Or maybe just a brute?" Beelzebub shrugged in Orihime's form. "Alright, let's find somewhere with no people."
"First, drop Inoue's appearance!" Ichigo growled. "Being in her form will only make others misunderstand!"
"…How is your human thought process even stranger than mine, a Hollow?" Beelzebub laughed. "You're on the verge of death, yet you care about reputation."
"It's too early to say who's on the verge of death!"
"Then follow me." Beelzebub added, "I didn't plan to fight in this human's body. Though she also has a King's Key fragment, she's too weak herself."
Beelzebub's body shifted, instantly turning into Rukia's form.
"Rukia?!"
Seeing the 'clone' indistinguishable from Rukia, Ichigo was exasperated.
"Can you only transform into others?! Why not show your true form and fight?!"
"What are you talking about?" Beelzebub, now Rukia, drew a Zanpakuto.
"I have no appearance of my own. Yours are my appearances. So… for people like you, I pick a form you can't bear to harm."
"Actually… I could even turn into your sister. Could you hurt me then?"
"Do you take me for an idiot?! When I know you're fake, I can!" Ichigo shouted, transforming into a Shinigami.
His body slumped, and his soul leapt out, glaring coldly at 'Rukia'. He jumped into the sky and ran off.
Beelzebub followed with Shunpo, and soon the two vanished.
Division Three members hurried over, finding Ichigo's body lying on the ground.
"Oh no! Kurosaki fainted! And Inoue is gone!"
….
Meanwhile, Ichigo and 'Rukia' had arrived mid-air, both in spiritual form, quickly landing on an open patch of ground.
Beelzebub, now Rukia, unleashed Absolute Zero.
The extreme cold froze her body, her eyes as lifeless as a corpse.
Can it even copy abilities?
A month ago, Rukia was his teacher; now, he was fighting her.
But Ichigo was no longer afraid. He had mastered Bankai!
"Bankai. Tensa Zangetsu!"
To resolve this threat as soon as possible, Ichigo went straight to Bankai.
Under normal circumstances, Ichigo would never show his trump card first. But Beelzebub's actions had already enraged him — first impersonating Nezuko and injuring him, then tricking Inoue, and now living as her for days!
This ability was too dangerous!
It had to be eliminated — or no one could ever trust anyone again!
That's why Ichigo immediately used Bankai.
"Bankai, huh? Mastering Bankai so early… makes things tricky."
Beelzebub frowned, then pressed a hand to her face.
"But this body isn't without a way to deal with your Bankai!"
Hollowfication!
A mask appeared on her face.
What?!
Ichigo watched as the Hollowfied 'Rukia' charged him.
So fast!
Even in Bankai, the Hollowfied Rukia was as fast as he was, instantly appearing before him.
Ichigo blocked, but felt an astonishing chill spreading from the blade into his own sword, and onto his body.
So cold! Is this Absolute Zero?
If he took a direct hit, his physical body would be frozen!
He knew Rukia's ability was to control ice, but had never fought her directly.
"Rukia herself rejects this power, so even Hollowfied, she can't unleash its full force."
Beelzebub forced Ichigo back and said, "I can transform into others' forms, but I can't get their memories. Sometimes I really want to know what you people are thinking."
"It's laughable, to even fear the power within yourself!"
Beelzebub laughed in Rukia's form, fighting with wild abandon.
Ichigo, even in Bankai, struggled and could only barely hold on.
Fortunately, his Bankai compressed everything into combat power, making him fast. After another clash, he pulled away from Beelzebub.
Beelzebub didn't pursue, but stood in place.
"Don't expect anyone to help you. The real Rukia has already been sent away. She won't come."
"I never thought I'd need help," Ichigo said. "To take you down, I'm enough!"
Black and golden spiritual pressure appeared on his Zanpakuto — black, viscous, dense, and evil; gold, vibrant and sacred. The two colors condensed on the blade.
Ichigo shouted, "Getsuga Tensho!"
A huge crescent moon blasted toward Beelzebub!
Her pupils shrank. This Getsuga Tensho was half-gold, half-black as it condensed, but turned completely black when released!
Feeling its force, Beelzebub frowned. The speed was astounding — dodging was impossible.
She could only swing her blade, sending out infinite rays of frozen light — each like a crystal, carrying Absolute Zero.
But Sode no Shirayuki's power, being temperature-based, loses its effect the moment it leaves the blade. Even so, the cold was extreme, forming thousands of barriers before the Getsuga Tensho — finally stopping it in front of her!
The enormous black Getsuga Tensho froze, stopping like a giant ice sculpture. Beelzebub prepared to shatter it, but then saw Ichigo suddenly appear beside her!
Beelzebub quickly twisted her blade to block, but Ichigo's strike sent her flying!
She landed, only to find Ichigo rushing her again!
This brat…
Beelzebub's gaze was icy. He had thought this form would suffice, but underestimated Ichigo's strength.
It seemed he had to use an even stronger guise!
"Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō!"
As Ichigo charged, Beelzebub cast Bakudo 61 — six light bands intercepted Ichigo.
Meanwhile, he stepped back, and his body began to change again!
"Wha… what?!"
Ichigo watched as Beelzebub transformed again…
Turning into Yoshio?!
He couldn't help but widen his eyes — in Seireitei, this person had easily defeated him!
"It seems you know the power of this form," Beelzebub said, now Yoshio.
"No matter how strong you are, once I transform like this, you're helpless!"
With that, Beelzebub instantly appeared before Ichigo.
So fast!
Ichigo's pupils shrank. He swung his sword with all his might — but Beelzebub just lightly struck, instantly shattering all of Ichigo's power!
Ichigo's knees buckled; he fell to the ground!
He gripped Tensa Zangetsu with both hands, holding it horizontally above his head — or that strike would have split him in two!
Beelzebub watched, silent.
"Is the power of this body too strong? Am I unable to fully use it?"
He had thought that strike would finish Ichigo. But it was blocked?
"Are you surprised…?"
Though Ichigo felt immense pressure, he chuckled softly.
"Don't look down on people too much!"
"…Just blocking one strike and you're so happy, huh." Beelzebub frowned, raising his blade for another blow.
That last strike had pushed Ichigo to his limit. If this one landed, he'd be finished!
But just as he swung down — Ichigo vanished?!
?!
Beelzebub was stunned — then realized Ichigo had appeared behind him!
What?!
How is that possible?!
No — of course it's possible!
Now, Ichigo's face also bore a Hollow mask! A tremendous, evil spiritual pressure emanated from him!
As it spread, Beelzebub quickly chanted, "Bakudo No. 89: Dankū!"
Boom!
A massive wall of emptiness appeared. Hollowfied Ichigo's strike hit it — the force was immense, yet Dankū didn't budge!
Getsuga Tensho!
Evil black spiritual pressure condensed on Ichigo's blade — a crescent moon!
A close-range Getsuga Tensho!
This blast struck the Dankū wall. Even Bakudo 89 began to crack, as if about to shatter!
"You…"
Beelzebub retreated, but as Dankū shattered, Ichigo rushed after him!
Beelzebub used Shunpo to escape; Ichigo used Shunpo to pursue.
Beelzebub's power was formidable. Though once a small Hollow, not even a Menos Grande, after integrating with an Evil Node, he became a strong Adjuchas.
But more than power, the Evil Node gave him cunning.
After becoming Adjuchas, Beelzebub joined Las Noches, used the Hōgyoku to become an Arrancar, then disguised himself in Seireitei, eventually finding the 'King's Key'. He once fought Tsunayashiro Tokinada for it, leaving with one-third of the key.
After devouring that, he advanced to Vasto Lorde — but even that wasn't enough. He now sought the seed of light.
Now, seeing Hollowfied Ichigo, he considered retreating.
With Yoshio's power, he was unafraid — but he'd already obtained the seed of light.
Why take risks?
If he wanted to kill Ichigo, he could just transform into someone close to him.
Seeing Ichigo charge again, Beelzebub used Shunpo to widen the gap.
Hollowfied Ichigo seemed to rampage, giving chase — but after a while, Beelzebub had shaken him off.
He appeared in the suburbs of Karakura Town, looking frustrated.
He hadn't expected to be chased around by a human.
How humiliating!
Forget it. I'll kill those humans tomorrow. Even if I can't lure Orihime out, at least I'll make Ichigo suffer for a few days!
Beelzebub's face twisted — but suddenly, a cold voice rang out.
"How unsightly."
He froze. Even though he maintained Yoshio's appearance, he hadn't sensed anyone appear behind him!
How could that be?!
He turned — his pupils shrank.
"Kamado Nezuko?!"
He exclaimed in shock.
He saw Kamado Nezuko, in her school uniform, walking calmly toward him.
"It's one thing to transform into my appearance, but you even transformed into Father's," Nezuko said faintly.
"It's one thing to transform into Father's appearance, but… to be so weak, it's truly shameful."
She said… Father?
Wait, could Yoshio really be Kamado Nezuko's father? How? He'd never heard such a thing!
And when he transformed into Nezuko, he never sensed spiritual power…
"Let me tell you."
Nezuko, seeing Beelzebub's confusion, said,
"People like us can refuse to let you draw power for your transformation."
"Forget it, you still… shouldn't use this face for now!"
Boom!
In an instant, something burst from Nezuko's body.
That feeling… spiritual pressure? But also different from spiritual pressure!
Beelzebub's body instantly changed uncontrollably, forced out of his 'disguised' state and back to his true form!