At the same moment.
Hueco Mundo.
"Bankai: Tensa Zangetsu!"
Ulquiorra looked at Ichigo, who had activated his Bankai, with a cold expression.
Aizen's order before leaving for the Human World was to stall Shin and the others, but now Shin was nowhere to be seen, and even Kaname's Reiatsu had vanished.
Ulquiorra didn't know what had happened, but judging from the previous battles, Ichigo was one of the strongest fighters among Shin and his group. As long as he dealt with Ichigo, and then defeated the other Captains one by one, his mission would be mostly complete.
Thinking this, Ulquiorra drew his sword and lunged toward Ichigo at extreme speed.
However, Ichigo was no longer the same person who had been completely powerless against Ulquiorra in the Human World previously. He kept dodging, Ulquiorra's blade leaving streaks of afterimages in the air.
Suddenly, he grabbed Ulquiorra's right arm with one hand.
Under Ulquiorra's slightly astonished gaze—
"Getsuga Tensho!"
The black slash shattered Ulquiorra's Hierro defense, leaving a deep wound on his chest. But thanks to his high-speed regeneration, the wound quickly healed.
Ulquiorra said, "I see. Your strength has improved significantly compared to before, but it is useless against me."
"That remains to be seen."
Ichigo gathered his Reiatsu on Zangetsu's blade, but did not release it, charging straight toward Ulquiorra.
Clang!
Ulquiorra blocked Zangetsu with his Zanpakuto, and black Reiatsu diffused outward.
"How naive. With just your Bankai, no matter what technique you use, you will never be my match."
Ichigo retreated. "Ulquiorra, judging by your appearance, I thought you were a cold person. I didn't expect you to talk so much."
Ulquiorra ignored Ichigo's jab. "If you don't use your Hollow Mask, you will die here today."
The moment he finished speaking, Ulquiorra instantly appeared in front of Ichigo.
Sonído!
Ichigo hurriedly used Zangetsu to block, but was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the desert sand.
'It seems he was holding back before.'
Feeling the surge in Ulquiorra's power, Ichigo knew he had to use his Hollowfication.
The situation on the battlefield was highly volatile. Shin must have gone to reinforce the Human World, and Mayuri was nowhere to be found.
Zaraki was facing off against Grimmjow, and Byakuya was fighting an Arrancar named Luppi Antenor.
According to information from Shin, Luppi's strength was not inferior to that of the Espada.
The others were entangled with the remaining Arrancar, the Exequias, and several Adjuchas-class Menos.
Therefore, Ichigo knew he couldn't lose. If he were defeated, the scales of victory would tip toward the Arrancar. He had to defeat Ulquiorra here, and then go to the Human World to support Shin.
"As you wish, Ulquiorra."
Ichigo swept his hand across his face, and a mask—different from his previous one—appeared.
The right half of the mask was completely covered in red stripes.
Ulquiorra released a Cero from his index finger, but the Hollowfied Ichigo easily blocked it with Zangetsu.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Enclose, Murciélago!"
Ulquiorra unleashed a massive burst of Reiatsu. The dark green reiatsu solidified, raining down from the sky.
Even Orihime and the others, who were quite far away, felt the oppressive pressure.
"Kurosaki..."
Orihime looked anxiously toward Ichigo's location.
As Ichigo received a brutal beating—
Temporary Headquarters.
Orihime felt Ichigo's Reiatsu growing weaker and weaker, now barely a thread of life, and her heart was filled with anxiety.
She found Unohana. "Captain Unohana, could you please take me to Kurosaki-kun?"
Unohana had naturally sensed Ichigo's condition as well. "Are you sure? You might very well die if you go."
Orihime nodded resolutely and said, "Just like Nohara-san said, since I'm not good at fighting, I will focus on being better at healing."
"Kurosaki-kun is in danger right now, I must go save him."
In the past, Unohana would not have interfered with front-line battles. But after arriving in Hueco Mundo, perhaps due to Shin's constant provocation, she found that her heart, which had been dormant for many years, had once again sparked a faint desire for battle.
"Very well, let's go."
—
Ulquiorra, now in his Second Resurrección, raised his right hand, unleashing a Cero Oscuras that pierced through Ichigo's chest, then released him.
"Kurosaki—"
Orihime arrived just in time to witness the scene, letting out a cry of despair.
Ichigo's pupils dilated, and he lost consciousness, his body plummeting towards the ground.
Bakudo #37: Tsuriboshi!
A white hammock unfolded, catching Ichigo.
Orihime frantically ran towards him, only to be blocked by Ulquiorra, who appeared with Sonído.
"It's useless, he's beyond saving."
Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!
A massive chain coiled around Ulquiorra like a snake, immobilizing him.
"Orihime, go ahead, leave this to me." Unohana stepped forward.
"Captain?"
Ulquiorra looked at the Captain's haori on Unohana, not rushing to free himself.
Unohana smiled gently. "We are merely here to heal Ichigo. As long as you don't obstruct us, I won't attack you."
"Is that so?"
Ulquiorra's Reiatsu erupted, easily breaking free from the restraints, and he casually fired a Bala.
Bakudo #81: Danku!
A massive defensive wall appeared before Unohana.
—
Orihime ran to Ichigo's side and used "Soten Kisshun" to heal him. However, Ichigo remained lifeless, and the large hole in his chest healed very slowly due to the effects of the Cero Oscuras.
Orihime looked at Ichigo's vacant eyes, an uncontrollable sadness welling up in her heart.
"Kurosaki-kun..."
"What should I do..."
All this time, she had believed that Ichigo would never lose, but now, he lay defeated before her, and she couldn't even heal him. Tears flowed unconsciously, dripping onto Ichigo's face.
"Kurosaki-kun, don't leave me, help me..."
As if hearing Orihime's call, Ichigo's body stirred. Black Reiatsu overflowed from the large hole in his chest, enveloping his body and lifting him up.
His orange-yellow short hair transformed into waist-length hair, two sharp horns grew on his head, the hole in his chest remained, and red fur sprouted on his neck, wrists, and ankles, making him look entirely like a Hollow beast.
The commotion interrupted Ulquiorra and Unohana, who were in battle.
Unohana felt a mix of relief and disappointment. She had been using Kidō against Ulquiorra, and if the fight continued, she would have had to draw her sword.
Ulquiorra looked at Vasto Lorde Ichigo with some shock. "Impossible, you can't still be alive. What is this form? Who are you?"
But he received no response.
Ichigo used his Reiatsu to draw Zangetsu to him, gripping it once more, and swung it casually. The wind pressure from his swing destroyed the rocks beside him and sent Orihime flying.
Unohana caught Orihime and moved away from the battlefield.
After a while.
Ichigo returned the thrashing he had previously taken to Ulquiorra. As things proceeded like in the original, Ichigo awakened and expressed his desire to fight Ulquiorra himself.
...
Ulquiorra was startled to realize that his wings were dissipating into spiritual particles.
"Tch. Is this the end? Kill me, Ichigo. If you don't kill me now, we'll never settle this."
Ichigo shouted, "Don't talk nonsense! Who wins by fighting like this? Inoue!"
Orihime immediately understood and stepped forward to heal Ulquiorra with "Soten Kisshun." Under her ability, the dissipation of his wings stopped, and Ulquiorra's internal injuries also slowly began to recover.
"Why... are you saving me?"