Chapter 144: Jilianka Reveals His True Body
"Spiritual power of this degree? How can it exist in this world?"
Jilianka, whose incarnation was instantly destroyed by Inoue, returned to his original form again, and a bloody figure slowly emerged from the blood-colored vortex on the ground.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Hollow Ichigo dodged to Ichigo's side, grabbed him and came to Inoue's position.
"Ichigo, isn't this woman the one who can save us?"
Hollow Ichigo placed the seriously injured Ichigo on the ground, looked at Inoue and asked: "Woman, how did you come to this place?"
At this moment, Inoue was somewhat dazed. Although relying on spiritual power shared by Fiander and the magic skills taught to her, she'd defeated the enemy, but the two Kurosaki-kuns before her truly confused her.
"Well... which one is the real Kurosaki-kun?"
Looking at the two Kurosaki Ichigos, one black and one white, Inoue asked Fiander in her heart.
"They're both Kurosaki Ichigo. Their existence represents Kurosaki Ichigo's existence."
Fiander's calm tone made Inoue lower her guard. She formed a hand seal with two fingers, then gentle white light appeared at her fingertips.
"Cadorna, with your glory, in the Tree of Life's name, Hymn of Salvation..."
As Inoue murmured softly, a green halo emerged from her fingertips and landed on Kurosaki Ichigo's body. Hollow Ichigo beside him hadn't figured out what this woman was doing when suddenly Ichigo let out rapid coughing sounds—all his wounds had healed.
"It really worked!"
Inoue said excitedly to Fiander in her heart.
"Hymn of Salvation] can only heal trauma. Mental injuries cannot be quickly healed by magic."
Fiander immediately tempered her excitement.
"That wave of energy? Magic crowned by Cadorna?"
Jilianka froze in place at this moment. Only after Inoue finished casting did he regain composure and muttered to himself.
"But why does a mere human possess such huge spiritual power?"
At this time, Jilianka looked at Inoue and observed her from beginning to end. Regardless of temperament or appearance, she was just an ordinary human girl.
Just when Jilianka was puzzled, Ichigo suddenly struggled, stood up slowly, looked at Inoue and said: "Are you Inoue? Are you really Inoue?"
Kurosaki Ichigo stepped forward, grabbed Inoue Orihime's shoulders and shook her vigorously, as if unable to believe that the girl he'd been protecting had come here to save him.
"Please don't shake so hard, Kurosaki-kun!"
Inoue Orihime was somewhat overwhelmed by Kurosaki Ichigo, raising her hands uncertainly while staring at Kurosaki Ichigo, whom she'd just healed.
The familiar tone made Kurosaki Ichigo finally confirm that the girl who saved him was indeed Inoue Orihime.
"But... why are you here, Inoue?"
"What's happening outside? Am I still fighting Ulquiorra?"
Ichigo wanted to ask Inoue about the outside situation, but Inoue immediately interrupted him.
"Kurosaki-kun, the most important thing now is the enemy before us, so please rest assured—we're safe now."
Inoue placed her hand gently on Ichigo's chest and said softly: "I know you must have many doubts and confusion. I'll explain everything when we get out, okay?"
Looking at Inoue, who seemed the same as before yet different, Ichigo had an indescribable feeling.
But seeing her firm eyes, Ichigo's confused gaze regained color. After responding to Inoue's call, he extended his hand lightly, and the Zangetsu in Hollow Ichigo's hand returned to his grasp.
"Sorry, I won't run away this time!"
Kurosaki Ichigo looked firmly at Jilianka, as if having someone behind him who needed protection restored his confidence.
Seeing the ants before him completely disregard his great self and instead chatter amongst themselves, Jilianka suppressed his inner rage, his hand joints creaking as they were clenched.
"Hehe, truly interesting—ants dare to resist. Have you forgotten how I toyed with you before?"
Jilianka pointed at Ichigo and said contemptuously: "Your external forces won't work here. I am the master here, and I am the only true god!"
Immediately, he turned his finger lightly toward Inoue: "Although I don't know why you came to this world that doesn't belong to you, you must be why they dare resist me."
"In that case, die!"
As Jilianka's voice fell, a bloody arrow shot directly toward Inoue at a speed neither Kurosaki Ichigo nor Hollow Ichigo could react to.
"Inoue?!"
Ichigo's face changed drastically, and he shouted in panic.
But Inoue Orihime just watched the bloody arrow fired by Jilianka unhurriedly and said very calmly: "Please don't worry, Kurosaki-kun."
"Now I'm very strong!"
As she spoke, a transparent water flow barrier appeared before Inoue. After the bloody arrow hit the water barrier, it was instantly absorbed, its energy converted for her use.
At this moment, Hollow Ichigo came to Ichigo and asked shame-facedly: "What's going on? That woman—why do I have a palpitating feeling when looking at her?"
"It's the same as when I saw that Arrancar."
At this time, Hollow Ichigo recalled that very unfriendly scene at the beginning. When still in Ichigo's body, upon seeing Fiander, the sense of oppression from blood's depths and from superior to inferior made him feel somewhat frightened.
"Magic?!"
"This doesn't seem coincidental. Someone taught you spiritual power cultivation methods. Otherwise, no one in your world would practice this skill."
"Moros? That bastard—he stopped me outside, yet still sent you in?"
At this moment, the blood energy around Jilianka became extremely majestic, and monstrous blood waves were lifted from the ground by him.
The divine pressure belonging to gods mercilessly struck Inoue and her party. Because this world's essence was composed of Kurosaki Ichigo's soul core, Jilianka couldn't harm Kurosaki Ichigo.
But Inoue and Hollow Ichigo weren't so lucky. The divine pressure made them sweat profusely and breathing became extremely difficult. Both lay on the ground, struggling to support themselves with their hands.
"What do I do, Fiander... Your Majesty? I can't move at all!"
Inoue said to Fiander again in her mind.
"I need a suitable opportunity to destroy him directly, without allowing any hope of survival. I'll relieve his pressure on you shortly. At this time, I need Kurosaki Ichigo's cooperation."
"There must be no mistakes. Otherwise, the moment he senses my existence, he'll directly abandon Kurosaki Ichigo's body and flee."
"He knew I was outside but didn't expect I'd dare sneak directly into Kurosaki Ichigo's spiritual world, because once he found me first and attacked, my risk of falling would be greater. Do you understand now?"
Fiander's words enlightened Inoue. She then looked at Kurosaki Ichigo, who held his Zanpakuto while staring directly at Jilianka. Obviously, the other party wasn't under pressure and didn't know what happened to Inoue and Hollow Ichigo.
Still confused, wondering why the two had suddenly collapsed.
"Kurosaki-kun! Quick! Attack him!"
Inoue reluctantly forced this sentence from her mouth. Ichigo understood Inoue's meaning upon seeing this, then dodged close to Jilianka, fighting spirit in his eyes: "I said I'd avenge Old Man Zangetsu!"
Suddenly, the death god uniform on Ichigo's body began burning like pitch-black flames, and the whites of his eyes were instantly filled with black.
Flowing flames clung to Zangetsu, which wasn't yet in Bankai form.
"Impossible!"
At this moment, Fiander, always known for calmness, made a rare surprised sound that echoed from Inoue's heart.
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