Ichigo Kurosaki's resolve hardened once more. Without the slightest hesitation, he Shunpo to traverse the forest and arrive before Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra's appearance has changed drastically; his original short, choppy black hair has become long, flowing silver-white hair.
Above his head were two dark green flames shaped like bull horns.
The tear tracks under his eyes widened, appearing completely black, and behind him were two pairs of jet-black wings, like those of a fallen angel.
The Hollow Hole in his chest was filled with Hōgyoku, which released a bright green light. There were three bright green light patterns on each side and on his arms, making him look so elegant.
Ichigo Kurosaki ignored the enemy's changing appearance, his mind filled with only one thought: to end the battle as quickly as possible. He unleashed a powerful Getsuga Tenshō!
A person can be easily split in two.
"It worked?" Ichigo Kurosaki's face was full of astonishment. It was much easier than he had imagined, and it didn't feel real at all.
The two halves of the figure trembled as if bursting bubbles, and without leaving a drop of blood, they vanished into thin air.
That was the afterimage left by high-speed movement.
Ichigo Kurosaki realized this and tried to back away, his pale fingernails pressing against the area below his collarbone.
It's a bit sharp.
The thought flashed through his mind, and the area below his collarbone felt like tofu as pale fingertips pierced it.
Ichigo Kurosaki's pupils were magnified, revealing that all the bones in his face had shattered.
Ulquiorra withdrew his right hand, blood splattering on the ground, and said coldly, "In the end, this is all you're capable of."
Ichigo Kurosaki was speechless and fell forward, blood flowing from the hole in his chest, the exact same location as Ulquiorra's Hollow Hole.
The black clothing transformed into wisps of Reishi and floated upwards, while Tensa Zangetsu reverted to its original form as Zangetsu.
" Kurosaki- kun!"
Ulquiorra was drawn by the shout and turned his head to look west. A long-haired girl ran out of the tall trees; she didn't look very strong.
"I refuse the Sōten Kesshun."
Orihime Inoue shouted from afar, disregarding her own safety.
Facing an opponent who could even defeat Kurosaki- kun, she had no chance of winning.
All she could do was try her best to get Kurosaki treated, at least until Captain Unohana arrived.
An orange Lightshield covered Ichigo Kurosaki's body. She ran over without stopping, gently turned over, and felt the powerful Reiatsu lingering in her chest. She then focused on refusing it.
"?"
Ulquiorra couldn't understand this behavior and said, "Woman, are you treating me like I'm invisible?"
Orihime Inoue was not afraid; her face was resolute as she said, "Take my life if you want, but at least let Kurosaki- kun live."
"You're making a futile effort," Ulquiorra wanted to say that Ichigo Kurosaki was doomed, but then sensed something was wrong. His dark green eyes were fixed on the wound beneath the Lightshield.
The Reiatsu he left behind is dissipating... no, what's happening?
This woman...
Ulquiorra fell into thought. Given the opponent's Reiatsu, it was impossible for it to be higher than his own, yet it still managed to erase his Reiatsu. This was not a simple treatment; it was a higher-level ability.
Time reversal? Or accelerated disappearance of Reiatsu?
"Well."
Ichigo Kurosaki's previously scattered, childlike eyes brightened, and his consciousness returned to his mind. " Inoue?! You..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Ulquiorra standing quietly behind Orihime Inoue, and his pupils zoomed in.
He gripped his knife, trying to rise and fight, but his body went limp, and he collapsed to his knees, his face filled with anxiety. " Inoue, get out of here!" he cried.
"I don't want to! If you leave here, you'll end up like Chad."
Orihime Inoue refuted his words for the first time, continuing to heal Ichigo Kurosaki's injuries.
They completely disregarded their own life or death.
Ichigo Kurosaki in a state of turmoil. He gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes fixed on Ulquiorra behind Inoue. He was ready to attack at the slightest sign of movement.
Ulquiorra ignored Ichigo Kurosaki's wariness and looked at Orihime Inoue, quite surprised.
This woman actually managed to revive Ichigo Kurosaki, who was supposed to be dead, in such a short time.
Perhaps this ability will be of some help to Lord Aizen.
The thought flashed through his mind, and his jet-black tail instantly wrapped around Orihime Inoue's neck.
The dark green flame ignited at the end of its tail, but it was not hot to the touch.
" Inoue!" Ichigo Kurosaki immediately rushed forward.
Two pairs of jet-black wings flapped behind him, and Reiatsu transformed into a terrifying gale that lashed at Ichigo Kurosaki, sending him flying backward and crashing into countless trees.
Ulquiorra didn't kill Ichigo Kurosaki directly because he judged that Ichigo was useless and posed no threat to Lord Aizen in the slightest. Instead, he took Orihime Inoue into the air.
The eleven Menos Grande that attacked the Dark Forest have been reduced to only three, and he has not given the order to retreat.
Those three Hollows have no chance of escaping; they might as well fight to the death.
Ulquiorra raised his left hand and opened the Garganta leading to the Pantheon, orange light covering the entrance.
" Inoue!"
Ichigo Kurosaki swatted away the tree that was pressing down on him, pushed off with his feet, and charged forward.
A hand grabbed his shoulder from behind. "Calm down, Ichigo!"
"A wise judgment."
Ulquiorra, " The Garganta leading to the Pantheon was Negación set by Lord Aizen. From the moment I opened it, no one could stop me from taking this woman away."
"Let me go, Captain Unohana!"
Ichigo Kurosaki refused to believe in superstition. No matter what kind of Negación it was, he was determined to Getsuga Tenshō Tenshou and save Inoue.
"Is this the hope you've been nurturing?"
Ulquiorra appears aloof and elegant, but he's actually a very talkative person who loves to chat with others. "To place your hopes on someone like this, you've all fallen too far."
Retsu Unohana didn't refute him; she was hoping the enemy would underestimate Ichigo Kurosaki and thus overlook his potential. Instead, she asked, "Did you come here just to capture Inoue?"
"No, this was just an unexpected bonus."
Ulquiorra answered truthfully, the wind ruffling his long silver hair, his eyes lowered, "Give up, Retsu Unohana. No matter what your plans are, they cannot threaten Lord Aizen's rule."
If you hold no hope, you will not face despair.
"It's a pity, that's impossible."
Retsu Unohana gave her own answer.
"Then you'll experience firsthand what despair and helplessness truly mean."
After saying this, Ulquiorra stopped talking, turned around, and used its tail to Orihime Inoue up.
She closed her eyes, neither struggling nor speaking, afraid that if she opened them, her fear would be revealed through her eyes.
The moment she opens her mouth, she cries and begs Kurosaki- kun for help.
In that case, Kurosaki- kun would definitely be even more heartbroken.
" Inoue!
"!" Ichigo Kurosaki roared, but his shoulder was still gripped tightly.
The Garganta closed completely.
Ichigo Kurosaki, " Captain Unohana, why are you stopping me?"
"Can you defeat him now?"
Retsu Unohana retorted, her face devoid of its usual spring-like smile, replaced by an icy chill, colder than the ice of Antarctica.
Ichigo Kurosaki silent, his head gradually lowering. He hadn't even been able to see Ulquiorra's movements.
When Ulquiorra transforms into that state, it's like him wearing a mask—the difference in power is immense.
Seeing his expression, Retsu Unohana softened her tone and said, "You don't need to worry too much. Since they captured Inoue, they must have a use for him. They won't kill him easily."
What can you do before that?
Ichigo Kurosaki thought for a moment, realizing there was only one thing he could do right now. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and said, "I want to become stronger, Captain Unohana. Please continue training me."
"No, eat first. If you're full, I'll train you properly."
Retsu Unohana removed her hand from his shoulder, her face regaining its usual gentle smile, and said, "As for Inoue, there's no need to worry about her safety. Don't forget, someone is there."
"Mr. Shiraishi..." Ichigo Kurosaki uttered the name, feeling somewhat relieved.
At the same time, he secretly resolved that he must become stronger, as strong as Mr. Shiraishi, so that he could protect everyone from harm.
Dangai.
Ulquiorra led Orihime Inoue back. The passage formed by Reishi was below. His tail stopped wrapping around her and let go, saying, "Don't try to escape. You can't escape my grasp."
Orihime Inoue did have that thought in her mind—to jump outside the Reishi portal—but upon hearing his words, she abandoned the idea of escaping.
The difference in their strength was too great, so great that she couldn't resist at all and could only obediently follow behind. "Why did you kidnap me?"
"I simply judged that your abilities might be of help to Lord Aizen."
Ulquiorra answered.
Orihime Inoue clenched her fists. No matter what, she would not help the enemy. She said, "I want to thank you for letting me heal Kurosaki- kun earlier."
Ulquiorra stopped and turned around, saying, "I was the Ichigo Kurosaki up like that, and you don't hate me? Instead, you thanked me?"
"If you had continued your attack, neither Kurosaki nor I would have survived."
Orihime Inoue said with a smile, "Thanks to you for not intervening further, Kurosaki- kun was able to survive, so I want to thank you."
Ulquiorra couldn't understand it. He knew that this woman was very fond of the boy named Ichigo Kurosaki, to the point that she was willing to risk her life to protect him.
That's clearly the case.
Why was she still able to thank him with a smile?
I hate him, I wish I could kill him.
This is the normal reaction, isn't it?
"I don't understand how you humans think."
Ulquiorra turned around, said nothing more, and shattered the Reishi Path, transforming it into an oval-shaped disc that carried the two of them, rapidly heading towards the exit.
Orihime Inoue's smile vanished, her hands clenched together, unsure of her fate or where Mr. Shiraishi was in the Pantheon.
I hope to meet him.
It's terrifying to be alone in the enemy's stronghold.
She clasped her hands together and began to pray to the gods.