Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ulquiorra (III)

Liu Ziyun's voice came from ahead, calm as still water, yet carrying an undeniable power. "You see, because I once crossed that level, my Reiatsu has now reached the pinnacle of Soul Reaper and Hollows. I can easily suppress you with this Reiatsu."

Ulquiorra looked up at Liu Ziyun. For the first time, a genuine, heartfelt emotion appeared in those green eyes—not fear, not anger, but a near-reverent awe of power.

"It seems," his voice remained calm, but with a barely perceptible tremor, "That I am unable to complete the task Lord Aizen entrusted to me."

Liu Ziyun withdrew his Reiatsu, and the suffocating power dissipated like the receding tide. Ulquiorra's body was finally free; his shoulders slumped slightly as he let out a long breath.

"His mission," Liu Ziyun said, "is simply to have you buy us some time. And also—" His gaze passed over Ulquiorra and landed on the orange-haired boy lying on the ground behind him, "To let you train Ichigo Kurosaki's strength. After all, he's very interested to see just how far Ichigo Kurosaki can grow."

Ulquiorra was silent for a moment. His gaze also fell on Ichigo Kurosaki, looking at the boy covered in wounds with a hole in his chest, at his pale face, and at his still open eyes that still burned with an indomitable flame.

"Is that so?" he said softly. "Then it seems I've succeeded."

He had barely finished speaking—

An incredibly powerful Reiatsu erupted from Ichigo Kurosaki!

The Reiatsu came suddenly and violently, like a volcanic eruption or a surging tsunami. It surged out from Ichigo Kurosaki's body, sweeping outwards, blowing sand and dust into the air, and sending pebbles flying everywhere.

Orihime Inoue's Twin Heaven Binding Shield shattered instantly under the impact of that Reiatsu, the golden light shield turning into countless fragments that dissipated into the air.

The shockwave sent her staggering back several steps, almost causing her to fall, but her eyes never left Ichigo Kurosaki —those eyes held shock, fear, but even more so, a near-mad hope.

Liu Ziyun and Nel turned around at the same time.

The sight before them caused their pupils to contract simultaneously.

Ichigo Kurosaki had already stood up from the ground. No, not "stood up"—he was floating in the air, his feet about a foot off the ground, his body slightly leaning forward, exuding an eerie and terrifying aura.

His hair turned golden, long and reaching his waist, shimmering like sunlight in the halo of light. Two horns sprouted from the top of his head—virtual horns, curved and sharp, gleaming pale in the Hueco Mundo light.

His face was covered by a new mask—no longer the incomplete, half-mask of before, but a complete mask that covered his entire face. The mask's patterns were more complex and more ferocious, and on his forehead was a small, crown-like protrusion.

The spiritual pressure emanating from him was no longer that of a Shinigami or a Hollow, but a completely new and unprecedented power. That power was violent and strong, dangerous and alluring, like an ancient demon that had been sealed away for millions of years, finally breaking free of its shackles and seeing the light of day again.

Nel's eyes widened, her little face filled with shock and confusion. "What... what's wrong with him?"

Ulquiorra also turned to look at Ichigo Kurosaki, a complex glint in his green eyes. Then he looked at Liu Ziyun, awaiting his answer.

Liu Ziyun's gaze lingered on Ichigo Kurosaki for a long time. His expression was calm, but something was churning in his eyes—heartache, helplessness, and a deep, almost pitying emotion.

"Hollowfication." His voice was very soft, almost inaudible. "Throughout the battle, he has been suppressing his destructive impulses. And the power of that impulse is what he's in now."

He paused, then continued, "He was afraid of the emptiness within him, afraid of that power going out of control, afraid of hurting those around him. So he kept suppressing it, kept rejecting it. But what he didn't know was—that power was actually a part of himself. By rejecting it, he was rejecting himself. By suppressing it, he was weakening himself."

He turned to face Ulquiorra, then stepped aside, clearing the battlefield behind him. "So, let him go."

The Hollowfication Ichigo Kurosaki.

His speed was like lightning traversing space; one moment he was dozens of meters away, and the next he was in front of Ulquiorra. Tensa Zangetsu in his hand transformed into a black streak of light, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, and slashed straight towards Ulquiorra's neck.

Ulquiorra's reaction was equally astonishing. His Zanpakuto blocked the fatal blow at the last second, the two Zanpakuto clashing together and sparking dazzling flames. But the impact of that force sent him sliding backward several meters, his feet carving two deep furrows in the ground.

He raised his head, looking at the completely changed boy in front of him, a serious look flashing in his eyes.

"Interesting," he said in a low voice.

The Hollowfication Ichigo Kurosaki gave him no chance to breathe. The second slash came, the third, the fourth—each slash was sharp and violent, each slash carried a determination to kill.

His attack method was completely different from before—no longer the hesitant, timid probing, but pure, primal, beast-like instinct.

Ulquiorra raised his hand, and a black light condensed at his fingertips— Black Cero! It was one of the most powerful Ceros, several times stronger than a regular Cero. The black light gathered at his fingertips, growing brighter and stronger, and the surrounding air began to distort and deform.

Ichigo Kurosaki also lowered his head, and the mask on his forehead began to glow— Cero! A regular Cero shot out from his forehead, colliding head-on with Ulquiorra's Black Cero.

Boom!!

The two Cero collided, unleashing a deafening roar. Black and blue light intertwined, illuminating the entire battlefield. The shockwave spread outwards, shattering surrounding Stone Pillars and blasting a huge crater in the ground.

When the light faded, Ulquiorra stood unharmed. But a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes.

"You actually... Cero my Black Cero with a regular Cero?" His voice carried a hint of shock, a hint of confusion, and a hint of excitement that even he himself couldn't understand.