"Grimmjow, what are you doing in the World of the Living?"
A cold voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
Grimmjow turned—only to see Tōsen Kaname.
"Coming to the Human World with Arrancar without Lord Aizen's permission. Return with me immediately."
Tōsen didn't bother with pleasantries and opened a Garganta on the spot.
Ichigo, watching from below, frowned.
"You're just going to leave like that?"
He used Shunpo to appear directly in front of Grimmjow and Tōsen.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, you're strong. I'm not your opponent. But… you still can't stop us."
Tōsen spoke calmly.
Ichigo nodded slightly.
"True, I can't stop you—but at least take this parting gift."
He pointed Zangetsu at the ground and clenched his left hand—
Invisible threads of spiritual energy wrapped tightly around Grimmjow and Tōsen in an instant!
"What is this technique?!"
Tōsen was stunned.
This ability was a perfect counter to Tōsen, who relied on reflective sight-based kido. Being blind, he could never "see" something like this!
Grimmjow, though not blind, was equally dumbfounded.
Ulquiorra never mentioned Ichigo could do this!
But backup arrived.
"Arara, Tōsen… You really let yourself go, huh?"
With his usual drawling tone, Gin Ichimaru stepped out from the Garganta and pulled the two inside.
Ichigo didn't follow—he couldn't sense what was beyond the portal, so he didn't take the risk.
From within, Gin smirked.
"Aw, I thought you'd chase me. Too bad. See you next time, Kurosaki Ichigo."
The Garganta closed. Ichigo snorted—he had definitely sensed something dangerous within.
Very few beings could pose a threat to him now.
And Gin… was one of them.
...
Hueco Mundo.
Grimmjow's reckless actions not only exposed the progress of Aizen's Arrancar development to Soul Society, but also led to the loss of five Fracción.
Aizen was far from pleased.
As punishment, Tōsen personally severed Grimmjow's left arm—and stripped him of his title as Sexta Espada.
...
In the World of the Living—
The injured Shinigami were treated by Orihime.
Tatsuki, feeling ashamed of her lack of strength, left quietly to train on her own.
Rukia and Senna returned to Ichigo's house.
"I might be gone for a while," Ichigo told them.
"Where to?" Rukia asked.
"I'm going to undergo further training."
He pointed to the second Zanpakutō on his waist.
Senna tilted her head.
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask—what's with your second Zanpakutō?"
Ichigo smiled.
"Just don't faint when you see it."
The two girls looked at him curiously.
Ichigo drew the second blade and pointed it to the ground.
"Whisper… Muramasa!"
In an instant, Muramasa materialized beside Ichigo.
"This—what?!" Rukia gasped.
"Muramasa was someone else's Zanpakutō. How is he yours now?"
Senna, however, calmly placed her hand on her own Zanpakutō.
"No, this is possible. My Mirokumaru is the same."
Rukia blinked, then remembered.
Ichigo explained:
"Yeah. A Zanpakutō doesn't disappear the moment its wielder dies. Sometimes, they get to choose a new master. Muramasa chose me. We're connected."
Muramasa nodded.
"That's right. Ichigo trusted me, and I can hear his voice clearly. It was mutual."
Senna nodded knowingly.
"So, you're going to train with Muramasa's power?"
"Exactly. I need to consolidate all the powers within me. Otherwise, things might get unstable."
"I see. Then we'll take care of Karakura Town," Rukia said confidently.
"I'm sure you know—two Espada at once won't be a problem for us anymore."
Rukia, who now had her Bankai, brimmed with confidence.
She even believed she could fight Yamamoto himself now!
Senna nodded.
"We've also got Captain Hitsugaya and the others. Don't worry."
Ichigo hugged the two girls.
"Thanks. I'll leave home to you."
They hugged him back tightly. After a long moment, Ichigo finally left.
Rukia and Senna exchanged a glance.
"He's training again. We can't fall behind."
Senna smirked.
"My Bankai still has more to unlock. I'll surpass you for sure!"
Rukia snapped back,
"Who says my Bankai is done evolving? We'll see!"
They were in sync one moment—bickering the next…
Ichigo arrived at the warehouse address Hirako Shinji gave him.
"So this is the Visored Corps' base?"
He reached forward—and found there was a barrier.
Ichigo didn't force his way in. He simply knocked.
"Shinji! I'm here!"
Moments later, Shinji's watermelon-shaped head and yellow shirt popped out.
"Knew you'd come!"
He opened the barrier and led Ichigo inside.
It reminded Ichigo of Urahara's underground training facility—though this one looked more like an abandoned warehouse.
And the reiatsu inside… was immense.
"1, 2, 3… 8 people?" Ichigo counted, surprised.
Shinji grinned.
"Of course! We're the Visored Corps. We wouldn't be a corps without numbers!"
Their spiritual pressure ranged from high to terrifying. Many were equal to or stronger than a captain.
Ichigo said nothing and followed Shinji.
Whack!
A sandal flew out from the warehouse—hitting Shinji square in the face and sending him spinning into the wall!
Ichigo blinked.
"…What?"
A violent little girl with a loli appearance stomped out, snatched the sandal from Shinji's face, and put it back on.
"What took you so long?!"
She grabbed Shinji's collar and shook him violently.
Ichigo shivered.
Was this domestic abuse?!
He'd never seen Shinji look this close to death.
Beyond her, the rest of the group wasn't any more normal.
A blond man in a suit sipped coffee elegantly.
An older-looking "onee-san" dressed like a schoolgirl read a lewd manga.
In the corner, a short-haired white-haired guy lifted weights—cheered on by a green-haired girl in skintight clothes.
Nearby, a tracksuit-wearing guy with an afro and sunglasses danced like a maniac.
Only one elder looked remotely normal—short, round, and kindly.
But overall… this team had vibe issues.
Especially Shinji, still being strangled by the angry loli.
"Loli-baba…" Ichigo internally muttered.
"Alright, Hiyori! That's enough!" Shinji finally pried her off.
Hiyori scowled.
"What? You want a sandal too?"
Ichigo immediately shook his head.
No thanks!
Shinji, with a sandal mark still on his face, gestured around.
"As you can see… this is the Visored Corps. Welcome!"
But Ichigo shook his head.
"I'm not here to join. I just want to borrow your place for a while. To be frank—I've already mastered Hollowfication."
The room fell silent.
All the Visoreds stared at Ichigo in shock.
They'd only gained Hollow powers with help from Urahara's Hōgyoku.
Now someone claimed to have mastered it on his own?
Shinji narrowed his eyes.
"Not funny, Ichigo."
Ichigo clenched his fist.
A massive white greatsword—entirely formed of Hollow energy—materialized in his hand.
In a flash, all the Visoreds surrounded him.
"What the hell?!"
"This isn't how we use Hollow powers!"
"Shouldn't he be using a mask?! Why a weapon?"
"But that spiritual pressure… it's definitely Hollow."
Ichigo sighed.
"Maybe… you've all been using it wrong."
Shinji frowned.
"Impossible. We all trained for years to master it. There's no mistake."
Ichigo shook his head.
"You're treating Hollow powers like a foreign infection. Something to contain and control."
Hiyori growled.
"So what? You got a better idea?"
Ichigo plunged the white blade into the ground.
"Of course I do. Hollow power isn't evil. Power itself is neutral—it's how you use it that matters."
A white-haired musclehead scoffed.
"We know that already."
"No, you don't," Ichigo snapped.
He released all his spiritual energy—transforming into a massive humanoid Hollow form.
"You treat this power like a curse. But it's part of you—your true self. You never accepted it. That's why your Hollowfication is time-limited, isn't it?"
Silence.
They all knew he was right.
None of them could maintain their Hollow forms indefinitely.
Ichigo pointed his blade at them.
"I'm different. I can use this power as long as I want. Because it's mine. My own power—no time limit."
Shinji looked conflicted.
"Then why come here? Just to lecture us?"
Ichigo shook his head.
"Of course not. I need a place—somewhere isolated where I can go all out."
The short, round elder asked,
"What are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to train. To become stronger."
Some of the Visoreds were still unconvinced—but others…
"Well then, handsome," the glasses-wearing onee-san asked, gesturing at his greatsword,
"Mind telling me how you managed that?"
"Hey hey hey! Lisa, don't tell me you're into this kid now?"
The afro guy stared wide-eyed.
(End of Chapter)
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