Of course, the actual situation was completely different from what Rukia and Senna had imagined.
Ichigo and Muramasa were merely testing out new abilities!
Still, while Rukia and Senna were worried, they had absolute faith in Ichigo's strength. They simply couldn't believe that anyone in this world could defeat Kurosaki Ichigo!
Above the dome of Las Noches.
Just when Ulquiorra thought he had seriously wounded Muramasa, the latter appeared behind him nonchalantly.
Clapping his hands, Muramasa grinned. "Not bad, not bad. That was a very satisfying attack! Ichigo's power really is incredible!"
Ichigo, meanwhile, was silently analyzing Ulquiorra's Cero. To him, it bore an uncanny resemblance to his own black Getsuga Tenshō.
Or perhaps more accurately—his black Getsuga Tenshō was fundamentally no different from a Cero Oscuras.
Ulquiorra turned around to face Muramasa, now realizing that with his current power, there was no way to defeat him.
In fact, he wasn't even sure if he had actually landed a hit on Muramasa at all.
"If that's the case... then let me show you my true power!" Ulquiorra declared, spiritual pressure flaring.
Dark green Reiatsu poured from his body like a waterfall.
Muramasa didn't show the slightest fear—on the contrary, he was excited!
It was happening. It was finally happening!
This was the moment White Ichigo had been waiting for inside Ichigo's soul.
He, too, was searching for a way to become stronger.
And Ulquiorra—without a doubt—was the best mentor he could ask for!
"Kurosaki Ichigo, Muramasa... let me show you a power no one has ever witnessed before!" Ulquiorra said as the intense pressure shredded his clothing.
"Segunda Etapa!"
Once he entered his second Resurrección, Ulquiorra's upper clothing vanished. Black tears ran from his eyes, now longer with a double streak. The whites of his eyes turned green, and his pupils took on the hollow shape of a mask.
From his abdomen to his limbs, his body became covered in black feathers. The lower half of his robes split into two parts. His wings spread fully, claws curled in a vicious arc.
His helmet's horns grew longer and sharper, and he sprouted a long, whip-like tail tipped with a blade-like bone. Sharp claws grew from his feet. His Hollow hole expanded, and black markings appeared across his torso.
In this form, Ulquiorra looked far more like a demon than a Hollow.
Most shocking of all—the number "4" had vanished from his chest!
"This is the form not even Aizen-sama has ever seen," Ulquiorra said confidently, glaring at Muramasa and Ichigo.
Muramasa looked at him with glee. Though Ulquiorra's spiritual pressure had now surpassed his, Muramasa only laughed even louder.
"It worked! It worked! Ulquiorra, thank you for showing us your Segunda Etapa!" Muramasa laughed wildly, baffling Ulquiorra.
But Muramasa didn't intend to continue fighting. Instead, he reverted to sword form and returned to Ichigo's hand.
"What's wrong? Did your Zanpakutō run away in fear of my form?" Ulquiorra sneered.
Ichigo shook his head. "Run away? No, no. Muramasa simply completed his task."
He then raised his left hand, where the golden seal of the King's Crest appeared.
"To be honest, Ulquiorra, I only guessed you had a second release. You're just... different from any other Arrancar I've met. You're too calm."
"Even after hearing that I crushed Grimmjow while you were gone... even after witnessing Nel's Segunda Etapa... you didn't react at all."
"That's what made me wonder—why aren't you afraid? Even Hollows feel fear, as we saw when your arm trembled from Muramasa's strike."
"So why not you? The only answer... is that you also possess a hidden power."
Ichigo laid out his entire analysis with absolute confidence.
Was the process flawed? Sure.
But the result was dead-on.
Ulquiorra looked at Ichigo, unimpressed. "So you're confident... because you have hidden power as well?"
Ichigo smiled as he returned Tensa Zangetsu to its sheath and gripped Muramasa tightly in his left hand.
"Ulquiorra, watch closely—this is my Resurrección!"
That single sentence was enough to shock the world.
Kurosaki Ichigo... wasn't he supposed to be human?! What did he just say?!
Ulquiorra's pupils shrank.
He watched as white Hollow energy enveloped Ichigo's body.
"Stain the world white—Hollow White!"
Ichigo's voice rang out with fierce intensity.
In the next moment, Ichigo's form transformed completely!
A white, bull-like tail sprouted from his back. His entire body turned stark white!
His upper clothes were shredded by the energy, revealing a muscular torso.
His face was now completely hidden behind a full white Hollow mask!
While most Arrancar retained human traits during Resurrección—Ichigo had none left.
A Hollow hole now appeared in the center of his chest—the exact same spot as Ulquiorra's!
"This... This can't be! Has Kurosaki Ichigo become a Hollow?!" Ulquiorra stared in disbelief.
Yes, to Ulquiorra, Ichigo now looked like a monster.
Worse—he now looked more like a Hollow than Ulquiorra himself!
"ROARRR!"
The beast-like scream tore through the sky—indistinguishable from a Hollow's cry!
Yet strangely... Ichigo didn't lose control. After that howl, he calmly looked at Ulquiorra.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're scared of how I look now?"
As he spoke, pitch-black Reiatsu began rising from his body.
Unlike before, there was no hint of red—only pure darkness.
Just like Aizen once said—though the outside is white, the inside is utterly black.
This was Hollow White.
Ichigo clenched Muramasa in his clawed hand and pointed at Ulquiorra.
"Careful, Ulquiorra. I might be a little more violent now that I've Resurrected."
Boom!
In a blur of Sonído, Ichigo vanished—and reappeared behind Ulquiorra!
Before Ulquiorra could react, Ichigo slashed downward and severed one of his wings!
"This isn't Shunpo... it's Sonído!?" Ulquiorra gasped as he stumbled back and began regenerating.
If it had been anyone else—any of the current top three Espada from the Human World—they would've been finished from that single blow!
But Ulquiorra's regeneration wasn't fast enough for Hollow Ichigo!
Ichigo closed in again and slammed Ulquiorra's head into the ground—
BOOOOM!
The shockwave from the impact shook the entire desert atop Las Noches!
If not for the fortress's sturdy dome, that hit might've sent Ulquiorra crashing back into the palace!
"Cough—cough—!!"
Bruised and bloodied, Ulquiorra summoned a crackling spear of thunder!
But before he could launch it, Ichigo stomped it into the sand!
He didn't even give him the chance!
"What's wrong, Ulquiorra? Is that your top speed? No wonder you can't keep up with me," Ichigo taunted coldly.
Ulquiorra dropped the spear and fled via Sonído, gasping for breath as he took to the sky.
Even the Espada with the strongest regeneration couldn't withstand Ichigo's blows now!
Ichigo hadn't even used Muramasa's abilities yet!
He just stood there, smiling through his mask with a terrifying expression...
"To thank you for your demonstration, how about I show you mine?"
Ulquiorra's instincts screamed in warning.
Ichigo looked at him, Reiatsu surging once more!
"Segunda Etapa!"
He used the exact same words as Ulquiorra had earlier...
But to Ulquiorra, they were terrifying beyond belief.
Red spiritual pressure exploded from Ichigo!
When it cleared, what stood before Ulquiorra was a creature that finally made him feel fear.
A Minotaur-like monster.
Ichigo's hair now flowed down past his waist, with two sharp horns on his head. A Hollow hole gaped from his chest, and red fur lined his neck, wrists, and ankles. His body was tall and slender—almost bovine in structure.
And yet, his Reiatsu was immense, like a sea of pure power.
Even from below the dome, Uryū and Orihime could feel the overwhelming pressure!
Uryū, stunned, exclaimed, "This is the strongest Reiatsu I've ever felt!"
Orihime was equally shocked. "Is this... really Ichigo's Reiatsu? It's so powerful, I can barely breathe!"
They both ascended through the hole in the dome—
Only to freeze in place.
They saw Minotaur Ichigo manhandling Ulquiorra!
Kurosaki Ichigo, you liar! You said you didn't know martial arts!
Ichigo: I was born with divine strength! (Totally serious!)
Seeing the now inhuman Ichigo, Orihime was completely stunned.
"I-Is that... really Ichigo-kun?" she whispered, trembling.
He looked nothing like a human anymore.
Uryū didn't dare get close. He pulled Orihime back.
"Inoue, stay alert. We can't be sure Ichigo is still in control right now."
As if on cue, Minotaur Ichigo let out a massive roar.
He was indistinguishable from a Hollow.
But Ichigo did see Uryū and Orihime—and after booting Ulquiorra away, he used Shunpo to appear in front of them.
Uryū instinctively raised his Reishi bow—because right now, Ichigo didn't look human at all!
But Ichigo looked at him, annoyed. "Seriously, Uryū?"
Recognizing Ichigo's voice, Uryū finally sighed in relief. "Do you even know how terrifying you look right now?!"
Orihime, seeing that he had retained his mind, was completely speechless.
She had never expected Ichigo to remain sane in this form!
"I just Hollowfied, that's all. I'm still me—I haven't lost control or anything."
...But saying that while looking like a demon-bull didn't help much...
Ulquiorra, meanwhile, was deep in thought—how could he possibly defeat Ichigo now?
There was no way.
Unless he had some mythical "third form," there was no scenario where he could win.
If they fought one hundred times—he'd lose one hundred times.
At this moment, Uryū and Orihime finally spotted Ulquiorra.
Both of them were stunned.
"That Hollow... is that Ulquiorra?" Orihime asked.
Ichigo looked at Ulquiorra, who was panting for breath, and nodded. "Yeah. Don't worry, I'll finish this quickly. Then... we'll go home."
Orihime and Uryū both nodded.
But Ulquiorra clearly had no intention of letting that happen...
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]