"Is this the best you could do?"
Suddenly a voice interrupted his sleep.
"Hmm...?"
"Can't even handle yourself. Can't even protect yourself. This is the best you got? You really are weak, aren't you, Ichigo?"
A deep voice rang through his mind as if it came straight out from hell.
He wasn't familiar with it yet he felt that he knew the owner of the voice.
It sounded so dark, so deep, so evil.
"I will help you."
The darkness that was embracing his body seemed to disappear, replaced with warmth.
He felt warmth and comfort from the unknown voice.
It was strange. He knew he was in a dangerous situation. He was being swallowed by darkness. And yet...
Why?
Why did he feel safe and comfortable?
After a few seconds, the darkness was replaced by a gray sky filled with large gears. A barren field spread out before him, devoid of life. It was his inner world, a desolated cityscape where everything was gray.
He was lying down on the ground with no one around him.
No Hollow to be seen. Only a man with black and red clothes standing on top of the hill filled with swords. His white hair swayed gently by the wind. He was looking at him with eyes as cold as steel.
"They said twins shared a deeper connection than anyone else but I didn't expect this." An arrogant smirk crept onto his face. His voice rang loud as clear in the desolated city. "To think you're so weak that a mere fragment of you can suppress your real self."
His words echoed through the area as he stared at Ichigo who was confused and lost. His eyes showed nothing but contempt towards him.
"You're pathetic. Truly a failure."
The words were spat out like venom. He spoke with disdain and hatred toward the person in front of him. His gaze was full of scorn, disgust and disappointment.
He looked at Ichigo as if he was an insect.
"You think you can protect anyone like that? You're nothing more than a fake who couldn't even protect his own body from getting invaded by another. I wonder who give you the idea that you could be a protector. It must be that useless and pathetic brother of yours."
"Shut up." Anger filled his chest as his eyes turned cold. He gritted his teeth and stood up. "You have no right to insult Shirou."
"Oh?" He laughed mockingly and sneered, "What are you going to do? Are you going to stop me with your sword?"
"...Yeah, I am. And you're dead." Ichigo growled and rushed to him. A large cleaver sword suddenly appeared in his hand.
He swung his sword toward the man, only to find his sword got blocked by a twin chinese sword.
Ichigo's eyes widened because he knew those swords.
"That's..."
"An opening."
The man with white hair kicked him with full force. His body flew back as if he was hit by a truck. The force sent him rolling across the ground and he crashed into a wall.
And then he found himself in the darkness once more.
"Go back. This is not your place to die."
After the voice rang in his ear, Ichigo opened his eyes again. He saw his hollow self's shocked expression when he looked around him, confused.
His hollow had his guard down, giving Ichigo an opening to attack. He swung his blade toward the Hollow, but he was too late. The Hollow reacted instantly and raised his blade to parry it. But his blade was shattered upon impact and the Hollow's arm was slashed off.
"Wha-!?" The hollow looked shocked.
"Don't ask." Ichigo said, gathering all remaining reiatsu he had for last attack. "I don't even know what the fuck is going on. But I will beat your ass and end this shit once and for all."
The Hollow looked at the blade pointed at him and he laughed.
"Ha! Ha! Hahahaha! That's great! You finally got serious! Then let's get started!" The Hollow shouted in joy. "Come at me, King!"
"Getsuga-"
Black reiatsu flared on Ichigo's sword. The energy gathered at the tip of his blade, and then he swung his blade down, sending the attack flying toward his hollowfied counterpart. The attack traveled at an incredible speed, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. It smashed through buildings, cars, and anything that got in its path.
The Hollow responded with... nothing. He took the attack head on and laughed. Blood flowed from the open wounds on his body as he grinned.
Ichigo was shocked, and so was his hollow self, but he kept laughing maniacally.
"HAHAHAHA! I knew it! We're not the same, King!"
His body turned into black dust. It dissolved and disappeared completely. The last thing the Hollow did was laugh and grinning like a madman.
Following his defeat, Ichigo fell onto his knees and breathed heavily.
"I won..."
***
Outside the mental world, the visored members looked at Ichigo in surprise. His long hair and new horns that grew after he lost control slowly cracked and fell to the ground.
The hole on his chest slowly got filled with substance and closed itself. Soon after that, the hollow mask broke into tiny fragments and his appearance returned to normal, save for his battered body and clothes.
"I guess he won." Shinji said, sighing and fell onto his ass. "Damn, that was scary. He almost destroyed the underground. Well, at least we still can rebuild it later, and Hachi should be able to do something about the hole he made. But damn, he sure is strong. And what is up with his hollow side?"
"I have no fucking clue. It felt different." Hiyori said, taking off her mask and sat beside Shinji, "Ye know that guy is an anomaly who doesn't listen to logic, right?"
"Hahaha. I know."
"Berry-tan worked really hard!" Mashiro exclaimed, looking happy at Ichigo's victory. "He's really strong and cool! He can beat anyone!"
"I agree." Lisa nodded and smiled a little bit, though the other didn't see it. "But he's just at the starting point. The hard part will begin from here."
"Yer right." Shinji grinned widely, and the others also grinned at the sight of Ichigo who was slowly regaining consciousness. "Mashiro, I'll leave the next training to ye. Make sure to get him used to his mask."
"Yes!" Mashiro pumped her fist and answered excitedly.
Kensei sighed and scratched his cheek.
"Well, we can't have any more training today, though." Kensei commented. "We're too exhausted and there seems to be newcomers in the city."
Hachi appeared from behind with a worried look, "Shinji, they're..."
"Yeah." Shinji looked in a certain direction and frowned, "It seems guests from Soul Society had arrived while we're busy."