Ichigo's Nightmare (Part 2)

Ichigo Kurosaki, trapped in the illusion, knew very well that everything before him was fake. But the pain of battle was unbearably real, making him doubt once again whether it was all actually real.

However, that doubt was quickly dispelled, because he died.

More precisely, Kimimaro killed him within the illusion.

But death did not wake him from this "dream." When he opened his eyes again, the same lush green grassland lay before him.

And there was still that murderous Kimimaro.

"Those who stand in the way of Lord Orochimaru's ideals shall die beneath the dance of the Kaguya Clan!"

"..."

Damn it, even the line was the same. Had he hit replay or something?

Ichigo's situation was like spotting a pile of fake poop on the road, picking it up, and then realizing—

Damn it, this wasn't fake. It was real shit!

He had ten thousand curses in his heart and no idea whether he should say any of them!

Although he had no idea how to complain anymore, when faced with the oncoming Kimimaro, Ichigo could only raise his Zanpakuto and fight back.

Because he knew that if he got cut, it really hurt!

But since he knew he would not truly die, and since he had been beaten so badly, Ichigo's temper flared. He began fighting with a reckless, life-for-life style.

But he soon discovered that this approach was useless, because black patterns had begun appearing across Kimimaro's body.

Curse Mark!

The moment he saw this, Ichigo's mouth began twitching violently.

"It was already this hard without the Curse Mark. Now this guy's using it too—how am I supposed to fight? I might as well wait to die!"

That was what Ichigo thought, and that was what he did. He even harbored a small hope that death