But White Hollow had no Hollow hole representing the emptiness of the heart.
From that alone, Ichigo Kurosaki understood that everything he had believed about White Hollow before had been completely wrong.
Ichigo looked at White Hollow. This time, unusually, White Hollow did not provoke Ichigo with his usual madness.
"Ichigo, you saw my Bankai just now, didn't you?"
"Every weapon in that space was created by me."
"It may sound a little conceited, but when it comes to understanding Zanpakuto, no one in this world dares call themselves first if I call myself second."
"When I saw your Zanpakuto, I found it very strange."
"There are two spirits within you. By rights, you should have two Zanpakuto."
"But you only displayed one Zanpakuto outwardly. That was what puzzled me."
"Only after entering your inner world did I discover that you have a mother who loves you deeply, Ichigo."
"What does that have to do with my mother?"
Hearing Ailin's words, everyone present—including Ichigo, White Hollow, and Quincy Zangetsu—turned their eyes toward Ailin.
"It has everything to do with her."
Ailin sighed as he looked at White Hollow and Quincy Zangetsu.
"Ichigo, haven't you realized it yet?"
"What filled the emptiness in the heart of the Hollow power within you was your mother's love for you..."
"The two spirits within you were both deeply influenced by your mother's love. I believe that even before she passed away, all she wanted was still to protect you."
"That emotion gave birth to the spirits of the powers hidden within you. Both of them inherited your mother's love for you, so their purpose in existing is to protect you."
"Mom..."
That rainy night surfaced in Ichigo Kurosaki's mind once more.
Even as that Hollow attacked her, his mother had still held him tightly