"Oh, you're Madarame Ikkaku's little sister?"
"I heard him mention you before, but I'd never actually met you. It's kind of surprising…"
"Huh? Ah… No, I didn't mean to judge you by your looks. That would be rude. I just… I guess I just felt a bit sentimental."
Ichigo Kurosaki's smile was calm and composed.
"I didn't expect that the next Shinigami I'd meet stationed in the World of the Living would be the sister of someone I know."
With a casual swing of his Zanpakutō, Ichigo flicked off the non-existent blood from its edge.
He slid it back into its place behind his back and turned his gaze to the gradually closing "gate."
"Looks like that's it for this invasion."
Madarame Shino, who had somewhat come back to her senses, clutched Ryūnosuke and raised her head in a daze.
"Th-Then… why are you here?"
From a purely rational perspective, asking such a question to someone who had just saved her life seemed ungrateful.
But it was, in fact, the question most pressing in her mind.
Ichigo's timing had been too perfect.
From the moment the Hollows appeared, to the attack, and his intervention, it had only been a matter of seconds.
If he hadn't already been prepared and nearby, even a captain like Jūshirō Ukitake wouldn't have been able to act so swiftly.
Madarame Shino pressed her lips together.
Although it might not seem polite, keeping her guard up in this situation was a necessary precaution.
Ichigo looked genuinely surprised by her reaction.
After a moment of silence, he scratched his cheek and gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Well… I don't know if you'll believe me, but I was actually waiting not too far from here the whole time."
I knew it!
"Then why…?"
"Because someone told me ahead of time that some of the Hollows would be driven out, forced to flee, and end up here."
…Huh?
Why would a Substitute Shinigami know something like that when the stationed Shinigami had no idea?
There were too many things wrong with this, too many questions to process at once.
And before Shino could voice her thoughts, she caught on to the underlying meaning of Ichigo's words.
Some of the Hollows were driven out, forced to flee…
Wait.
Shino cautiously pieced together the information.
"You mean… these guys weren't actively invading… but were forced to come here?"
Ichigo's brows furrowed slightly, and he nodded, his gaze turning to the deep, empty sky in the distance.
That stretch of sky was vast and hollow, starless and moonless, completely devoid of light—an expanse of nothingness, almost like pure chaos.
"Yeah, if I'm not wrong, more people should be showing up here soon."
He took a deep breath, adjusted his stance, and stood with his back to the two of them, looking prepared for battle.
"So, before things get too complicated… you two should leave now."
"Don't even think about heading back to the Soul Society; the pathways are unstable right now. You could easily get lost inside."
"Go to this address… Find a guy named Kisuke Urahara. He'll help you get patched up."
Shino took the map of Karakura Town that Ichigo handed her and committed the marked location to memory.
Under normal circumstances, she would be suspicious of taking directions from a stranger.
But for some reason—maybe because he had mentioned Madarame Ikkaku, or maybe because of the sheer strength he'd demonstrated…
Whatever it was, Shino ultimately chose to believe him.
"O-Okay… then I'll head there first…"
"Mm, take care."
"Kurosaki-san… what are you going to do?"
"Me…?"
Ichigo paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on the space before him, and then his expression suddenly grew more serious.
There wasn't even time to answer.
The gateway to Hueco Mundo was forcefully reopened.
A figure seemed to step through, but before they could even utter a word, Ichigo had already moved—blitzing forward and pinning them down.
It was almost impossible to see who the newcomer was; Ichigo's right hand had already slammed against their face.
Like a seasoned player driving through a defense line, Ichigo's expression remained utterly calm.
With the poise of someone handling mere business, he subdued the stranger, both of them vanishing back into the pathway as it closed up and sealed.
And yet, the last few words Ichigo spoke still echoed in Shino's ears, albeit slightly delayed.
"I'm heading to Hueco Mundo."
Ichigo Kurosaki.
Heading for Hueco Mundo.
Through the dark passageway, breaking through the barriers between the worlds, Ichigo dragged his unfortunate passenger straight into the skies above Hueco Mundo.
Fragments of shattered sky rained down like shards of glass as the two descended from above.
Seemingly driven by sheer humiliation, the person in Ichigo's grasp began to thrash and howl.
"You bastard… let me go!!!"
A surge of blue energy burst forth, causing Ichigo's brow to lift slightly.
This was a blow-for-blow strategy—taking damage just to deal damage in return.
Getting injured here would be a pain… He needed to conserve his strength.
Without hesitation, Ichigo let go, spinning midair and delivering a swift kick.
"Your control over Reishi is pathetic. If you love exposing your weak points so much, then here… have some more."
He forced the energy back into the guy's body with a brutal, almost reckless approach.
Though it looked crude, it was undeniably effective.
The energy within the man began to swirl chaotically.
Dressed in white garb, the figure howled in disbelief, his body flailing through the air.
Though he'd escaped Ichigo's grip, the energy he had charged up wasn't just going to disappear quietly.
If anything, it was going to erupt even more violently.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Äs Nödt.
Without even being able to declare his name, he was consumed by his own energy, crashing back down into the sands of Hueco Mundo.
Compared to his exaggerated theatrics and grotesque expressions in the original timeline, this version of him didn't seem any different in strength…
But Ichigo certainly was.
With the help of Seiya and Zangetsu, the boy had come to truly understand and master his power, wielding it with absolute precision.
Staring down at the defeated figure, Ichigo's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Yeah… Arrancar just don't suit this kind of outfit."
Hollows were known for their brute force. Trying to manipulate Reishi like a Quincy was nothing short of absurd.
It was like watching a monkey try to mimic a human.
Because of the preparations and intelligence gathered beforehand, Ichigo already knew who he was dealing with.
A defector who abandoned his comrades, surrendering as a Hollow and Arrancar to serve Yhwach and the Wandenreich.
Ichigo didn't judge those who surrendered.
After all, the fact that the Arrancar hadn't splintered apart entirely after losing their leadership was already proof of some form of discipline.
He wouldn't condemn them.
Of course, there were those who didn't quite agree with his stance.
"You're too soft, Ichigo. You should have finished him off."
While moving swiftly, the silhouette of Zangetsu appeared at Ichigo's right side.
Seeing the familiar figure, Ichigo chuckled softly.
"I did think about it. Being too naïve definitely won't help with what's coming."
"And I'm not that same clueless guy who thinks nobody has to get hurt. I know that in the real world, if I don't act… I can't protect anyone."
"Seiya did that, right? He sacrificed… and I couldn't help him."
The weight of his words carried a gravity that went beyond mere adolescence.
Ichigo was learning. He was growing up.
"And that's why I won't hesitate when the time comes."
Zangetsu remained silent, and soon, another figure emerged beside Ichigo.
"You've grown, Ichigo."
Surrounded by a dark mist, the silhouette appeared on his left.
The power of the Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon still resonated, even with its original wielder gone.
In most cases, a Zanpakutō's abilities would vanish with its wielder.
But this was different.
Ichigo's eyes turned to the new figure, his voice catching in his throat.
"Seiya…"
"Come on, don't make that face. You already know this… I'm still around."
Some things, even if they disappeared, would always linger.
Until the right time came.
Ichigo clenched the hilt of Zangetsu tightly.
The path was clear, his resolve unwavering.
It was time.
"Let's go, Seiya… Zangetsu."
Under the desolate skies of Hueco Mundo, screams and battle cries filled the air.
Even with Seiya and Aizen gone, Las Noches remained standing.
But that peace was shattered by the invading forces.
White-clad soldiers—the Quincy of the Wandenreich—marched with precision, slaughtering all who opposed them.
At the front of the onslaught stood Quilge Opie, his voice echoing with fanatic zeal.
"Advance! Advance! Advance!"
"The Emperor's orders are clear: eradicate Hueco Mundo!"
"No need for prisoners. These savage beasts are not worthy of mercy."
The lines of defense crumbled.
And just as Quilge was about to surge forward again—
A bolt of bright yellow lightning crashed down, halting his step.
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk spreading across his face.
"Oh… finally, you show yourselves. You're on my hunting list, you know."
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Powerstones?
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