The Road of Excess Leads to the Palace of Wisdom

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.--William Blake<The Marriage of Heaven and Hell>(1790-1793)

The sound of rain hitting the stone slabs came from a great distance. At first, it was a very fine and light rustling sound, like countless needles piercing the water's surface at the same time. Then it became denser and deeper, and finally turned into an overwhelming roar.

It was a rainy night many years ago, when Kaien Shiba's blood flowed down the blade of Sode no Shirayuki's sword, drop by drop, mingling with the rainwater and seeping into the soil.

Standing in the rain, Jūshirō Ukitake watched as his most trusted Lieutenant gradually lost his warmth before him.

"Captain... thank you so much for letting me fight to the very end." Kaien's voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible as he leaned on Rukia's shoulder.

Rukia knelt before Kaien, her hands gripping the hilt of Sode no Shirayuki's sword. As the blood, warmed by Kaien's body, flowed down Sode no Shirayuki Rukia's hands, Rukia trembled uncontrollably.

"Lord Hai... Lady Kaien..." Her lips trembled, her voice sounding as if something was choking her throat.

"Kuchiki... because of my willfulness, even you have been implicated." Kaien's fingers tightened slightly on her shoulder; it was his last remaining strength, and he used that last strength to embrace the junior before him.

"I'm sorry, it must have been very painful. Thank you... Thanks to you, at least my heart can still stay here."

After he finished speaking, his fingers slid off her shoulder, tracing a very short arc in the air before landing in the mud, splashing up a small patch of mud mixed with blood.

Ukitake took all of this into his eyes, the rain streaming down his Captain's Haori, soaking through his inner Shihakusho.

There are two kinds of battles: one is to protect life, and the other is to protect dignity.

He had taught this phrase to Kaien, and to every member of the Thirteenth Division.

Kaien lived up to those words. As the captain, Ukitake should have felt gratified, but along with the gratification came bitter sorrow, the heartache of knowing that his subordinates had made the right choice but still being unable to let go, the letter of leave that was never submitted, and the Thirteenth Division Captain's Haori that he had prepared with his own hands but would never see its master again.

"Ukitake..."

"... team leader..."

"Ukitake... Captain..."

"Captain Ukitake!"

A distant sound pierced through the rain curtain of memories, tearing through the walls of recollection, Ukitake suddenly opened his eyes.

Standing before him was a young man who was so thin he was almost skin and bones, with silver pupils, a dark blue Featherlike Pattern patterns wrapped around his right arm, and a jet-black cane in his hand. On the young man's shoulder was a Blue-Violet Raven, about the size of a house cat, which also had silver pupils.

"Sylvan?" Perhaps a gust of wind had entered Ukitake's throat while he was reminiscing, for his voice was now somewhat hoarse. "Weren't you escorting Rukia back to the Fourth Division? Why are you here?"

"Rukia- senpai has been safely delivered to the Fourth Division. I saw an unusual burst of Reiatsu in the direction where Ichigo Muramasa were fighting, so I rushed over." Sylvan gripped his cane and turned his head. "This is Rain, the comrade I mentioned when we parted, who is about to awaken."

Rain nodded slightly to the bird's head. "Captain Ukitake, it's an honor to meet you."

Ukitake looked at the bird, and just as he was about to respond, a huge roar came from afar, pulling his consciousness back to the battlefield.

The two people and the bird turned their heads at the same time and saw a white figure falling from mid-air at the other end of the High Bridge. The moment its feet hit the ground, the white paving stones on the bridge exploded as if hit by a meteorite, with fragments flying everywhere and cracks extending in all directions along the ground.

The figure straightened up, his Orange Hair flying wildly in the night wind like a tattered flag, and a frenzied red light burning deep within the eye sockets of his mask. He held a huge, Asauchi in his right hand.

He dragged the knife forward, the tip carving a deep groove in the paving stones.

Standing opposite him was Zangetsu.

He assumed a defensive stance, with one foot in front of the other, his center of gravity lowered, and the blade held horizontally in front of him.

With Ichigo holding a sword and his legs slightly bent, Ichigo shattered the pebbles beneath his feet and launched himself out like a cannonball.

The massive, Asauchi seemed weightless in his hands; it traced an extremely wide arc in the air, carrying pure, unadulterated brute force as it slashed towards Zangetsu's head.

The blade tore through the air, emitting a hoarse the Roar like iron being ripped apart.

Zangetsu lightly touched the ground tiles with his toes, and dodged to the side like a black lightning bolt. The blade grazed his shoulder and slammed into the bridge surface.

Boom! The entire High Bridge trembled.

Centered on Ichigo's blade, the white floor tiles shattered in all directions, sending shards of stone flying like shooting stars. The shockwave cracked the nearest stone pillars. Even Ukitake and Sylvan, standing a hundred meters away, could feel the bridge vibrate beneath their feet.

As Ichigo sword missed its mark, without pausing, he used the recoil from the blade hitting the ground to flip halfway through the air, his right leg sweeping towards Zangetsu's side like a battle axe.

Zangetsu Tensa Zangetsu upright beside him, the blade blocking the kick squarely.

Bang! A muffled sound rang out, the impact transmitted through the blade, Zangetsu flying several feet.

Hollow Ichigo landed on the ground, his toes—now transformed into sharp claws—digging deep into the cracked floor tiles.

He was launched forward again, the huge Asauchi in his hand as light as a willow branch, and the light of the blade enveloped Zangetsu like a storm.

Zangetsu retreated repeatedly amidst the flashing blades. Even he found it difficult to parry the relentless attacks, each strike as heavy as a mountain.

But Ichigo's offensive showed no signs of stopping; his blows grew heavier and his pace faster.

Hollow Ichigo's horizontal slash Zangetsu, the two swords locked together, their Reiatsu tearing at each other.

Zangetsu gripped the hilt of Tensa Zangetsu with both hands, the veins on his arms bulging, but Ichigo held the sword with one hand, pressing the massive Asauchi down inch by inch against the blade of Zangetsu.

Zangetsu's knees began to bend, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the floor tiles beneath his feet.

"Ichigo!" Zangetsu roared, his arms suddenly exerting force to parry Hollow Ichigo's sword. He used the momentum to leap backward, but Hollow Ichigo followed immediately.

Hollow Ichigo gripped his sword in his right hand, his left hand outstretched, aiming at Zangetsu, which was still suspended in mid-air. In his palm, a deep red Reiatsu ball was rapidly condensing—it was Cero! The Reiatsu ball continued to expand, ionizing the surrounding air and emitting a piercing shriek.

Unable to adjust his posture in mid-air, Zangetsu could only raise Tensa Zangetsu high above his head, as dark red Reiatsu gathered wildly on the blade.

"Getsuga Tenshō!"

A black crescent moon erupted from the tip of the blade, carrying destructive power as it met the crimson Cero.

The Cero and Crescent Moon collided in mid-air, the dark red Reiatsu and the deep red Cero tearing at each other. The two forces were locked in a stalemate for a moment, and then exploded at the same time—a blinding light engulfed half of the High Bridge.

The shockwave spread in all directions from the point of impact. The white paving stones on the bridge were completely ripped off, and countless fine cracks appeared on the surface of the stone pillars.

As the smoke and dust slowly dissipated, Ichigo stood there, his mouth open beneath the mask, letting out an extremely shrill the Roar.

"It was Cero!" Ukitake stood on the other end of the bridge, watching the dissipating Cero. A sense of despair, repeatedly confirmed, surfaced in his usually gentle eyes. "Has it completely fallen into Hollow form...?"

The image of that rainy night from many years ago flashed through his mind again—when Kaien Shiba was devoured by a Hollow, the Hollow's words to him. "Hollows are Spirit Body, and Soul Reaper are Spirit Body too. Once the two are fused together, they can never be separated!"

The Hollow's voice overlapped with Ichigo's the Roar at that moment, repeatedly striking Ukitake's eardrums.

Ukitake Zanpakuto, the blade slowly rising. "There's no other way..."

He took a deep breath, the gentleness in his eyes fading, leaving behind only determination and resolve:

"At least for Kurosaki-kun's dignity, I will slay him here, this degenerate Hollow—"

"Please wait a moment!"

A hand reached out from the side and grasped the blade.

Ukitake's pupils contracted sharply as he looked in the direction of the hand— Sylvan stood before him, his thin, almost bony hand gripping the blade of Ukitake's Zanpakuto.

"Please wait a moment, Captain Ukitake, it hasn't come to that yet."

Ukitake's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about, Sylvan? Kurosaki-kun can even unleash Cero, which means that Kurosaki-kun has completely fallen into Hollow form."

You must understand, once you fall into nothingness, you can never return to your original state!

He wasn't just saying this to Sylvan; he was also saying it to himself, in order to suppress the illusions in his heart that were of no benefit to the situation.

"That might have been true at one time," Sylvan said softly.

"What do you mean?" Ukitake's fingers tightened slightly around the hilt of his sword.

Sylvan slowly raised his head. "Captain Ukitake, Ichigo can still be saved. The battle to protect life is not over yet."

He slowly pressed down on Ukitake's Zanpakuto, "And as long as there is life—dignity can always be salvaged."

Ukitake was stunned. "The battle to protect life is not over yet..."

Ukitake looked into Sylvan's eyes, wanting to confirm that what Sylvan said was not just some unfounded fantasy.

Sylvan nodded to Ukitake: "There's still a chance. Ichigo can still be saved. Please let me try."

"Alright then..." In the end, Ukitake decided to let Sylvan give it a try; after all, he also harbored a bit of expectation in his heart.

Sylvan turned to Rain, his silver eyes reflecting the still-raging the Roar Ichigo in the distance. "Rain, clear a path for me. I need to go and bring Ichigo back."

Sylvan raised his right hand, Featherlike Pattern suddenly lit up, a deep blue light surging from the depths of the lines.

"Well said, Sylvan!"

Rain spread his wings and took to the air. His silver pupils swept over the ongoing battle, and his beak opened slightly as he began to sing.

"Bakudō #61: The Six-Staff Light Prison!"

Six beams of light shot out from the void, precisely embedding themselves in Hollow Ichigo's limbs and torso.

Sylvan, gripping his cane in one hand, charged forward the instant Rain released the Bakudō.

Hollow Ichigo was pinned to the spot by this sudden restraint. His massive body stiffened for a moment after being hit, and he was somewhat confused by the sudden restraint.

Upon realizing he was trapped, he let out an angry the Roar, his arms jerking violently, causing fine cracks to appear on the surface of the light plate.

This made Sylvan a little nervous; his confidence in Ukitake stemmed from the Blade of Power in his hand.

This Blade of Power was reforged by Amber based on the Phantom Blade. It inherits all the characteristics of the Phantom Blade, including the ability to Integration Reiatsu for others that the Phantom Blade once displayed!

However, he is still far from Ichigo. With his current strength, it is almost impossible for him to directly stab the Blade of Power into Ichigo's body. The only way is to sneak up on Ichigo, control him, and then stab him.

However, Sylvan did not expect that Rain's Kidō strength would be lacking, and that Ichigo was able to shatter the six-staff light prison in a second.

Sylvan looked further into the distance at Zangetsu, Zangetsu was staring at him with an extremely cold gaze. Black and red Reiatsu was gathering on the Tensa Zangetsu in his hand, indicating that he was quite bothered by anyone interfering in his duel with Ichigo.

Just then, a voice rang out from behind Sylvan: "Bakudō #61 - Six-Staff Light Prison!"

As Ukitake finished speaking, six even thicker beams of light shot towards Ichigo, pinning him firmly to the spot once again.

Ukitake himself used Shunpo to reach the top of the Zangetsu and dispersed the Reiatsu gathered on the Tensa Zangetsu.

Zangetsu looked at Ukitake: "Suddenly interrupting someone else's battle that concerns their resolve, is the captain of the Gotei 13 really that clueless?"

"Zangetsu, let's stop your battle with Kurosaki-kun now, until he regains his senses. Defeating a delirious Kurosaki-kun is pointless for you anyway." Ukitake pointed his Zanpakuto at Zangetsu: "I'll keep Kurosaki-kun company until he wakes up."

At that moment, with Ukitake's Kidō assistance, Sylvan arrived behind Ichigo, raised his cane, and pointed the sword tip at Ichigo.

The tip of the Blade of Power pierced deeply.

Bang! Ichigo was pushed forward half a step by the force coming from his waist. His white exoskeleton was still struggling, and the muscles in his limbs were tense, trying to break free from the Bakudō.

But Sylvan pushed the sword tip of his cane deeper into his body, gripped the cane's handle with both hands, and used his Reiatsu to fully drive the Blade of Power, activating the Integration of the Blade of Power.

The Reiatsu spread along the staff like threads, penetrating into the space between the different types of Reiatsu that were clashing wildly within Hollow Ichigo's body.

They were originally like a herd of wild horses that had run away from their own, tearing at each other and repelling one another. But the Reiatsu of the Blade of Power enveloped those rampaging Reiatsu layer by layer, pulling the Reiatsu of different natures back in the same direction.

Rain hovered in mid-air, feeling the pulse emanating from the Blade of Power, perfectly synchronized with the resonance deep within its soul.

It also focused its mind, transmitting its Reiatsu to Sylvan through the shared channel of the Featherlike Pattern tattoo.

Time passed by, second by second.

Hollow Ichigo stood still, his massive body gradually stiffening from its frenzied struggle, then slowly relaxing, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from its shoulders.

He gripped the huge, Asauchi, its tip drooping limply to the ground, the blade striking the floor tiles with a metallic clang.

Ichigo's Reiatsu gradually became more orderly, and the Hollow Hole in his chest began to shrink. Sylvan breathed a sigh of relief, and Rain leaned on Sylvan's shoulder. "It's finally stabilized."

However, at this moment, a ripple appeared on the Blade of Power, followed by a suction force that directly pulled Sylvan and Rain's consciousness into it.

And so, Sylvan and Rain found themselves in a world made up of towering skyscrapers.