The Arrancar Descend

The gentle light of the Kaidō Barrier, like a warm veil, softly enveloped Ichigo Kurosaki. That warmth seeped into every inch of his skin and every bone, gradually soothing the remaining pain within him.

Although Liu Ziyun's mastery of the Kaidō is not as unparalleled as that of Retsu Unohana, he is still one of the top figures in this World of the Living.

The Reiatsu within the Barrier, like a warm spring breeze, slowly and steadily repaired Ichigo Kurosaki's damaged body, and his Reiatsu was also gradually recovering.

Ichigo Kurosaki's eyelids trembled slightly, then he slowly opened them. The first thing he saw was the flowing halo above the Barrier, followed by Liu Ziyun's perpetually calm face.

He blinked, his consciousness gradually awakening from the chaos. Memories of his battle with White in his Inner World flooded back into his mind like a tide—the thrilling duel, the Zanpakuto he had snatched back from White, and White's last words before disappearing. "Don't die."

"How did it feel to defeat Zangetsu?" Liu Ziyun's voice was calm as water, without much emotional fluctuation, but if you listened carefully, you could catch a faint trace of satisfaction.

Ichigo Kurosaki slowly sat up and moved his limbs. His body was still a little stiff, but he could no longer feel any pain. He looked down at his hands—the hands that had once held Tensa Zangetsu and pierced through White's body.

A feeling I had never experienced before spread through my heart—an indescribable calm, as if the sword that had been hanging over my head had finally been removed, or as if the boulder that had been pressing on my heart had finally been lifted.

"Feeling pretty good." He looked up, his eyes shining with a light different from before. It was no longer simple stubbornness and defiance, but a deeper kind of determination, a sense of relief after an inner struggle. "Teacher, what do I need to do next?"

Liu Ziyun him up and down, his gaze filled with scrutiny and anticipation. He could sense that Ichigo Kurosaki's aura was different from before—the Hollow Power that he had been suppressing was now beginning to merge with his own Soul Reaper Power. Although it was far from perfect, at least the barrier had been broken, and the high wall that had stood between his heart and mine had crumbled.

"Next, you need to continue training with Hirako and the others, learning how to control the power you've just gained." Liu Ziyun stood up, brushing off non-existent dust from his clothes. "Your current state is like a child just learning to walk. Although you've taken the first step, it's far from enough. You need to learn to run, to jump, and to stand firm even in the wind and rain."

He turned around and looked at the Visoreds members who were training in the distance. Shinji Hirako was leaning against a pillar, dozing off; Kensei Muguruma was doing strength training in a corner; and Hiyori Sarugaki had somehow acquired a bamboo sword and was swinging it around in frustration. Everyone was preparing for the upcoming battle in their own way.

"Hirako!" Liu Ziyun raised his voice and shouted, "From now on, Ichigo Kurosaki is in your hands. If any Arrancar attack again, release him and let him test his training results in real combat."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Shinji Hirako's face for a moment, then his tone became more serious. "But keep an eye on him, don't let him die. This is the most crucial time for him, and we can't afford any mistakes."

Shinji Hirako opened his eyes and lazily waved his hand. "I know, I know, you can go without worry. What could possibly happen to this kid in our hands?"

Hiyori Sarugaki stopped swinging her bamboo sword, glanced sideways at Ichigo Kurosaki, and a malicious smile curled at the corner of her mouth, "Don't worry, we'll take good 'care' of him. Isn't that right, Ichigo?"

Ichigo Kurosaki felt a chill run down his spine from her gaze and instinctively took a half-step back. He knew Hiyori's personality all too well—this seemingly petite and cute girl was fiercer than anyone else when she fought, and even more unforgiving with her words. Her so-called "care" was most likely just another form of hellish training.

Liu Ziyun observed all of this, a slight smile playing on his lips, but he said nothing. He knew that although the Visoreds were sharp-tongued, their teaching of Ichigo Kurosaki was genuine. They had experienced what he had experienced, walked the path he had walked, and no one was more suitable than them to teach him how to control the power of Hollowfication.

"Then I'll be going now." Liu Ziyun and walked towards the base exit, but stopped after a few steps, turning back to look at Ichigo Kurosaki. "Remember, you are no longer the Ichigo who was afraid of his own power. Now, you have the right to face any enemy with your head held high."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared at the end of the passage.

Over the next few days, Ichigo Kurosaki completely immersed himself in training. Unlike before, he was no longer timid or afraid of the rampaging power within him. He learned to coexist peacefully with the White —no, with the Hollow Power within him. He learned to actively guide that power in battle, instead of passively waiting for it to spiral out of control.

Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the cracks in the base, he began his training. He first practiced sparring with Shinji Hirako, honing his control over Hollowfication in real combat; then he engaged in strength battles with Kensei Muguruma, learning how to unleash maximum power without going berserk.

In the afternoon, he had "special training" with Hiyori Sarugaki. It was more like a series of all-out battles than special training. Hiyori never held back just because he was a novice. Every strike was incredibly sharp, forcing him to go all out.

"Looks like we need to increase the intensity a bit more," Shinji Hirako shook his head helplessly, watching as Ichigo Kurosaki's Hollowfication duration remained unchanged. "Ichigo!"

Ichigo Kurosaki removed his mask, panting heavily. He clenched his fist in annoyance, because over the past few days, his Hollowfication time had only reached 11 seconds.

However, the peaceful days did not last long.

It was an ordinary afternoon. The sky over Karakura Town was as blue as ever, with white clouds drifting lazily by. People came and went on the streets, and everything seemed so peaceful and serene. However, to the Soul Reaper who possessed the ability to sense Reiatsu, a dangerous undercurrent was surging beneath this calm surface.