Gathering at the Visored Base

When Hiyori Sarugaki's blade, imbued with furious Reiatsu, pierced straight towards him, Liu Hao's smile remained unchanged. He didn't dodge, didn't block, and didn't even assume any defensive stance. He simply extended his left hand and placed it on Ichigo Kurosaki's shoulder beside him.

The movement was as gentle as a friend's pat on the shoulder.

But what happened next stunned everyone.

Liu Hao's fingers seemed to pierce through some invisible barrier, directly probing into Ichigo Kurosaki's body. Not a physical penetration, but a deeper, more fundamental touch. His fingers gently hooked and pulled—

A semi-transparent figure was "pulled" out of Ichigo Kurosaki's body.

That was the spirit of Ichigo Kurosaki, dressed in Shihakushō, wielding Zangetsu, with a bewildered expression on his face. He was pulled in front of Liu Hao like a puppet, blocking the path of Hiyori Sarugaki's attack.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Before Ichigo Kurosaki could even react to what was happening, he saw Hiyori Sarugaki's blade almost in front of him, the coldness of the blade stinging his skin.

Instinct took over the body.

The Zangetsu, its blade blocking the attack.

Clang--

The clanging of metal echoed through the Warehouse. Ichigo Kurosaki blocked Hiyori Sarugaki's attack, but the enormous impact sent him sliding back several steps, each step leaving a deep footprint in the ground.

"You—" Hiyori Sarugaki's attack was blocked, and she glared angrily at Liu Hao, "You bastard! Don't hide behind me, come and fight me for five hundred rounds if you dare!"

Liu Hao had already retreated to a safe distance, even leisurely straightening his sleeves. He looked up at Hachigen Ushōda —the massive member of the Visored —standing to the side, a gentle smile still on his face, "Yuzhao, could you please set up a few layers of barriers? Otherwise, the commotion they might cause might alert some people who shouldn't be alerted."

Hachigen Ushōda paused for a moment, then subconsciously looked at Shinji Hirako. Shinji Hirako remained silent for a few seconds before finally nodding.

Hachigen Ushōda chanted softly, his hands forming a mudra. Five transparent barriers rose around the Warehouse, completely sealing off the entire space. Once the barrier was formed, all external sounds and Reiatsu were isolated, and nothing that happened inside would be detected.

After doing all this, Liu Hao looked back at the center of the battlefield.

Ichigo Kurosaki had regained his footing. He looked at Hiyori Sarugaki, a flash of anger in his eyes—not because he had been attacked, but because Liu Hao had used him as a shield. He exerted his strength and pushed Hiyori Sarugaki away.

"Hey," Ichigo Kurosaki's voice was tinged with displeasure, "You shorty, why are you so arrogant? You're not that strong."

This statement is like adding fuel to the fire.

Hiyori Sarugaki's expression instantly twisted. She hated it most when people talked about her height, and she hated it even more when people said she was "not strong". As one of the founders of the Visored, and as a powerful person who had experienced Aizen's Hollowfication Experiment and successfully mastered the power of Hollowfication, she had her own pride.

"What?! What did you say?! You bastard, do you want to die?!" Hiyori Sarugaki roared.

Ichigo Kurosaki, completely oblivious to the danger of his words, looked at Hiyori Sarugaki with a dismissive air. "That's true, you weren't that strong to begin with."

These words suddenly silenced Hiyori Sarugaki.

It wasn't that her anger had subsided, but rather the calm before the storm. Her expression turned unusually serious, her eyes as cold as winter ice. She looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, then at Liu Hao standing in the distance, her voice low and dangerous. "Since that's the case, then let you and that bald guy over there witness our power."

She turned to Hachigen Ushōda and said, "Yuzaki, activate the five-layered barrier."

"Alright." Hachigen Ushōda nodded, his hands forming hand seals once more. The original single-layer barrier was reinforced into five layers, each shimmering with a different spiritual light, representing a different type of protection. Even Captain-level full-force attack would take several minutes to break through such a barrier.

After giving instructions regarding the barrier, Hiyori Sarugaki looked at Ichigo Kurosaki again. Her anger vanished, replaced by an almost indifferent expression. "Be careful, Ichigo Kurosaki. I won't hold back this time."

The moment she finished speaking, her Reiatsu began to rise.

It wasn't the angry outburst of before, but a deeper, more stable surge. Reiatsu surged from her body like a tide, each wave making the surrounding air heavier. The ground began to tremble slightly, and the light within the barrier became blurred due to the distortion of Reiatsu.

Ichigo Kurosaki's expression changed. He could sense that Hiyori Sarugaki was completely different from before—the intensity of her Reiatsu had reached the Captain-level, or even stronger.

Without hesitation, he immediately released his Reiatsu to counter it. The two powerful Reiatsu collided and clashed within the barrier, producing a teeth-grinding friction sound.

The battle has begun again.

But this time, Ichigo Kurosaki was completely at a disadvantage.

Hiyori Sarugaki's speed, strength, and skill have all improved significantly. Every attack she launches is precise and deadly, and every movement is as elusive as a ghost. Ichigo Kurosaki can only barely defend himself, and the wounds on his body are piling up.

"You seem afraid," Hiyori Sarugaki suddenly spoke after an exchange, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Why are you afraid? Against someone of my caliber, you'd usually Bankai, wouldn't you—come on, Bankai!"

Ichigo Kurosaki gritted his teeth and didn't answer. He was indeed afraid—not of Hiyori Sarugaki, but of the Hollow within him losing control again after using his full power.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" he retorted stubbornly. "I'm not afraid at all. And I don't need Bankai to deal with you."

Upon hearing this answer, Hiyori Sarugaki's displeasure became even more apparent. She took a step back, stared at Ichigo Kurosaki, and said sternly, "You bald man, don't think that just because you brought a small fry with you, we'll necessarily teach you how to control Hollowfication."

We recruited you because you're similar to us. However, if your strength—or the strength of the thing inside you—is mediocre, then you can leave. Find a place, cower into Hollow form, and get killed by any random Soul Reaper."

She paused, and white Reishi began to gather above her head, gradually condensing into a bone mask. "So, you should still Bankai. Let us see your strength."

The mask took shape and covered her forehead. The mask looked eerie and dangerous, but Hiyori Sarugaki's eyes remained clear, showing no signs of being corrupted by the Hollow's power.

Ichigo Kurosaki witnessed this scene, a profound shock welled up within him. [How did they manage to do that? To be able to control the power of Hollows so easily without losing their minds?!]

This question echoed repeatedly in his mind. He also possessed Hollow powers, but each time he used them, he faced the risk of losing control. Yet, Hiyori Sarugaki was able to use Hollowfication so easily and stably, even maintaining her clear-headed rationality while Hollowfication.

In the instant he was stunned, Hiyori Sarugaki moved.

It wasn't Shunpo, nor Sonído, but some other, more bizarre method of movement. She seemed to merge into the air, appearing in front of Ichigo Kurosaki in the next instant, her left hand gently resting on his chest.

"You bald man," her voice was icy, "What are you looking at at a time like this?"

Before she finished speaking, she swung her sword with her right hand. The blade drew a perfect arc in the air, slashing diagonally towards Ichigo Kurosaki's chest.

Ichigo Kurosaki didn't even have time to react. The blade sliced into his body, a sharp pain shot through him, and blood spurted out. He was thrown back by the force of the blow, crashing heavily against the barrier wall before sliding to the ground.

"Bankai," Hiyori Sarugaki said, her voice eerily calm as she looked at him, "Or summon that thing inside you."

Ichigo Kurosaki struggled to his feet. He didn't say anything, but simply gripped Zangetsu tightly and charged at Hiyori Sarugaki once more.

But it was all in vain. His attacks were easily blocked, but his counterattacks were unavoidable. Once, twice, three times... he was repeatedly knocked away, his wounds multiplying, and his Shihakushō was stained crimson with blood.

"You fight so timidly, what are you afraid of?" Hiyori Sarugaki looked at him, her tone full of disappointment. "It's really annoying to watch."

She reached out and pulled down the mask on her head. The mask completely covered her face, revealing only her eyes—those eyes were still clear, but the pupils had turned an eerie gold.

The Reiatsu surged once more. This time, the increase was even more astonishing, and the entire barrier groaned under the impact of the Reiatsu.

Hiyori Sarugaki Ichigo Kurosaki, several times faster than before. Ichigo Kurosaki didn't even have time to react and could only instinctively raise Zangetsu to block.

But this time, the block failed.

Click--

Zangetsu's blade shattered under Hiyori Sarugaki's attack. It wasn't severed, but rather shattered from the inside, turning into countless fragments that flew everywhere. The enormous impact sent Ichigo Kurosaki flying, crashing into the barrier like a cannonball.

Boom--

The barrier trembled violently, but ultimately did not break. Ichigo Kurosaki slid off the barrier wall, fell to the ground, and lost consciousness.

The battle appears to be over.

But in the next second, something unexpected happened.

On the face of Ichigo Kurosaki, who lay on the ground, white bony material began to grow. The material spread and condensed rapidly, eventually forming a complete mask—not the kind of mask that only covered part of the face Hiyori Sarugaki's, but a Hollow-like mask that completely covered the entire face, revealing only the eyes and mouth.

The moment the mask formed, Ichigo Kurosaki's body moved.

Instead of standing up, he "sprang" up in a bizarre, puppet-like manner. His body leaned slightly forward, his hands hung down, and he exuded an inhuman aura.

Then, he made a sound.

It wasn't language, nor the Roar, but a sharp, piercing whistling sound, like the friction of metal. The sound was filled with pure malice and destructive desire, instilling instinctive fear in those who heard it.

Before the whistle had even faded, Ichigo Kurosaki's figure had vanished.

It wasn't Shunpo, nor Sonído, but rather some more primitive and violent method of movement. In the next instant, he had already appeared in front of Hiyori Sarugaki.

His right hand shot out, fingers forming a claw, and precisely grabbed Hiyori Sarugaki's throat. The movement was so fast that even a master like Shinji Hirako couldn't react in time.

Hiyori Sarugaki's eyes widened. She could feel the terrifying force rising from her throat, the pure killing intent. She wanted to struggle, to fight back, but her body was completely suppressed by that force, and she couldn't even move a finger.

Ichigo Kurosaki —or rather, the being controlling Ichigo Kurosaki's body—grabbed her by the throat, lifted her up abruptly, and slammed her to the ground.

Boom--

The ground cracked, and pebbles flew everywhere. Hiyori Sarugaki was hit so hard that she almost lost consciousness, and blood gushed from her mouth.

It all happened so fast. From the moment Ichigo Kurosaki lost consciousness to his Hollowfication rampage, the entire process took no more than three seconds. By the time the rest of the Visoreds reacted, Hiyori Sarugaki was already pinned to the ground, on the verge of death.

"Stop him!" Shinji Hirako was the first to react, rushing towards Ichigo Kurosaki.

The others followed closely behind. Kensei Muguruma, Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Mashiro Kuna, Hachigen Ushōda, Lisa Yadōmaru —all the members of the Visored attacked simultaneously.

The combined suppression of seven Captain-level powerhouses was too much for even Ichigo Kurosaki, who was controlled by a Hollow, to resist. He tried to struggle and fight back, but the seven powerful Reiatsu pressed down on him like seven mountains, rendering him unable to move.

Shinji Hirako seized the opportunity and drew his Zanpakuto. He did not attack Ichigo Kurosaki's body, but instead pointed the tip of the blade at the mask.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, then plunged the knife in.

The blade pierced precisely into the mask's brow. The mask emitted a piercing cracking sound, then began to crack from the blade tip, eventually shattering completely and dissipating into countless points of light.

As the mask shattered, Ichigo Kurosaki's body went limp, and he collapsed back to the ground, returning to normal.

Liu Hao then slowly walked over. He squatted down beside Ichigo Kurosaki, checked his condition, and then looked up at everyone, a smile returning to his face, "Ichigo, I've told you before, he's your Zanpakuto, why are you still afraid of him? You were so timid in battle that even he couldn't stand it and stepped in for you."

Shinji Hirako turned to look at Hiyori Sarugaki. The volatile girl from the Visored was still lying on the ground, her eyes unfocused, her face filled with the fear of surviving a near-death experience. The suffocating feeling she had just experienced made her truly feel the approach of death.

"Hiyori, is this alright?" Shinji Hirako asked, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

Hiyori Sarugaki did not answer. She was still immersed in the fear she had just experienced, her body trembling slightly.

Just then, Hachigen Ushōda suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with wariness. "Two people have broken into my barrier."

Everyone immediately turned to look at the Warehouse entrance. The barrier was intact, indicating that the intruder had not forced their way in, but had "infiltrated" through some special method. Anyone capable of doing this was no ordinary person.

The Warehouse door was pushed open.

Two people walked in.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Liu Hao's smile widened even more, "What brings you here?"

The visitors were Isshin Kurosaki and Masaki Kurosaki — Ichigo Kurosaki's parents.

Isshin Kurosaki was still wearing his white coat, looking like an ordinary clinic doctor. But his expression was no longer his usual playful one; instead, it was unusually serious. Masaki Kurosaki stood beside him, dressed in an elegant kimono, her face showing a gentle yet worried expression.

"Hey, Liu Hao," Isshin Kurosaki said, his tone light but his eyes sharp, "Ichigo has called you 'uncle' for over ten years, how could you get together with a bunch of outsiders and beat him up?"

"Please let go of my son, okay?" Masaki Kurosaki said softly, but the firmness in her voice left no room for doubt.

The members of the Visored looked at each other, and finally let go of each other's hands and stepped aside.

Liu Hao stood up and explained with a smile, "Ichigo's Zanpakuto was acting up and almost killed a little girl, so everyone couldn't stand it and held him down."

"Oh dear, Ichigo," Masaki Kurosaki quickly walked to Ichigo Kurosaki's side, knelt down, and looked at his many wounds with heartache, "How could you treat a girl like this?"

Isshin Kurosaki also came over, looked at his confused son, and shook his head. "Not manly at all. You should be gentle with girls."

This conversation stunned the members of the Visored. They could sense the unfathomable aura emanating from Isshin Kurosaki and Masaki Kurosaki, but what surprised them even more was their attitude towards the life-or-death battle just now—as relaxed as a parent disciplining a naughty child.

Liu Hao clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone's here. Hirako, provide a place."

Shinji Hirako looked at Liu Hao, then at Isshin Kurosaki and Masaki Kurosaki, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded. "Alright."

He walked to Ikkaku of the Warehouse and gently pressed the ground. A hidden door opened, revealing a staircase leading downwards.

The group descended the stairs one by one. The stairs were quite deep, and it took about two minutes to reach the bottom. The bottom was a huge underground space, several times more spacious than the Warehouse above. The space was surrounded by solid stone walls, clearly specially reinforced. In the center was a circular platform, around which various training equipment was placed.

This is the true base of the Visored.

Liu Hao walked to the center of the platform, turned to face Isshin Kurosaki and Masaki Kurosaki: "Now that you're here, it seems you're prepared to tell him everything."

Isshin Kurosaki's expression turned serious. "Yes."

Liu Hao remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Have you thought it through? If I tell him now, I don't know what will happen. After all, if Ōetsu Nimaiya were to reforge his Zanpakuto in the future, he could perfectly transform his power into Zanpakuto."

Ōetsu Nimaiya —a member of the Zero Division, Sword God, and the creator of Zanpakuto. This name sent chills down the spines of the Visoreds. They knew of the Zero Division's existence, knew it was an elite force guarding the Soul King Palace, but never imagined they would be associated with such a figure.

Isshin Kurosaki shook his head, his tone firm. "It's alright, he should know. After all, weren't you also planning to Quincy after dealing with the Aizen incident?"

This statement contained even more information. The Visoreds exchanged shocked glances—attack the Quincy? That was a force almost as powerful as Soul Society!

Liu Hao nodded, but his tone carried a hint of uncertainty. "Yes, but we might not need him. Besides, he probably wouldn't be willing to let a child come with us to attack the Quincy."

"Let him choose his own path," Isshin Kurosaki said, his gaze falling on the unconscious Ichigo Kurosaki. "But he should at least know the truth, know his origins, know the source of his power, and know the choices he faces."