"Each of us Espada has our own unique number..."
"And these numbers were assigned by Lord Aizen himself, based on our killing prowess."
"I must say, Ichigo Kurosaki, your strength is excellent, even compared to most of the Espada... but... at best, you're only at the level of the Fifth Espada..."
"The power of the first four blades far exceeds your imagination!"
Ulquiorra remained calm. Having ascertained Ichigo Kurosaki's strength, he had already made his decision: victory in this battle belonged to him.
"Rankings?"
Ichigo Kurosaki muttered to himself...
"If I'm not mistaken, Ulquiorra... you should be ranked number one!"
Ichigo Kurosaki forced a smile, trying his best to appear less disheveled...
"It's such a shame... Ichigo Kurosaki."
You guessed wrong...
After hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's words, Ulquiorra calmly unbuttoned his collar, revealing a bright number four printed on his left chest near his heart.
"Even I... am only ranked fourth among the many powerful Espada..."
Ulquiorra looked at Ichigo Kurosaki calmly and spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion.
"You can only be number four in line?"
"So... there are three people in that group who are stronger than you?"
Ichigo Kurosaki felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this. He glanced at Sōsuke Aizen, his pupils shrinking slightly.
Who is Number One?
Who are the top three?
Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes kept falling on the Menos Grande under Sōsuke Aizen, constantly assessing them.
"Is it that guy? The one sitting on the throne? Is he number one?"
Baraggan's aura was so strong that even Ichigo Kurosaki Baraggan sense his extraordinary presence... Therefore, Ichigo Kurosaki quickly confirmed Number One's identity.
"Number two should be that blue-haired guy."
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at Grimmjow and nodded slightly. Just based on Grimmjow's arrogant and domineering appearance, it would be a disservice to his unruly hairstyle if he didn't make it into the top four.
"Number three... who is number three?"
Ichigo Kurosaki was completely unable to determine which of Sōsuke Aizen was the third Espada.
"That idiot Nelliel..."
Grimmjow stood below the ring, listening to Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra's conversation, and curled his lip.
He was too embarrassed to say that he was actually number six, number two was someone else, and as for number three... the green-haired woman in the previous fight on the stage, who ended without any parries, Cero, or Resurrección, was their Espada Espada...
"Stop guessing, Ichigo Kurosaki..."
"No matter how you speculate, all the battles to come will have nothing to do with you anymore. You will gain eternal peace from this battle! The eternal peace called death."
Ulquiorra spoke coldly to Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Really!? You think I'll die? But let me tell you, Ulquiorra, I'm sorry to say... I will absolutely not die. I will defeat you, win this victory for my team, and rescue Orihime Inoue..."
Ichigo Kurosaki gripped his Zanpakuto tightly and spoke loudly to Ulquiorra.
What will you rely on to win?
Ulquiorra flashed in front of Ichigo Kurosaki, his right hand forming a claw, aiming straight for Ichigo Kurosaki's cheek...
Ulquiorra's goal was simple: to remove the mask from Ichigo Kurosaki's face.
"Forehead..."
Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes flashed with surprise at Ulquiorra's astonishing speed, but it was still within his capabilities.
Ichigo Kurosaki brandished his Zangetsu and stood in front of him...
"Null."
The moment Ulquiorra's fist collided with Ichigo Kurosaki's Zangetsu, Ichigo Kurosaki felt his feet sink, as if a thousand pounds were weighing him down.
That's it?
After throwing a punch, Ulquiorra followed up with a side kick that sent Ichigo Kurosaki flying.
"Crescent Moon... Sky Piercing!!!"
Despite flying backwards through the air, Ichigo Kurosaki did not surrender. He raised Zangetsu high above his head and with a sudden burst of strength, countless crescent-shaped black blades fell from the black blade in his hand.
"Tsk..."
Even Ulquiorra was somewhat powerless to resist Ichigo Kurosaki Getsuga Tenshō when he unleashed his full power.
The giant crescent moon carved a long and deep furrow into the arena.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock..."
Ulquiorra, who blocked Ichigo Kurosaki's attack with his bare hands, had blood slowly trickling down his entire arm, revealing the visible white bones beneath.
"How's it going, Ulquiorra?!"
"That attack of mine... it was pretty powerful, wasn't it?!"
Ichigo Kurosaki staggered, his face White. He looked at Ulquiorra's still-bleeding arm and smiled.
"Not bad... I'll give you ten points..."
Ulquiorra nodded slightly. For this attack, Ulquiorra would give Ichigo Kurosaki a score of 10 out of 100. By the way, the maximum score is out of 100.
Is it a perfect score?
Ichigo Kurosaki smiled slightly. Hard work pays off, and his strength had finally been acknowledged by Ulquiorra. This was a big step forward in his journey to defeat Ulquiorra.
"No! It's ten out of ten!"
Ulquiorra looked at Ichigo Kurosaki and spoke in a chilling voice.
"That's still not passing, isn't it?"
Ichigo Kurosaki aback, his brows furrowing.
"How strong do you think you are?"
Ulquiorra shook his injured arm and spoke in a cold voice.
The next second, Ulquiorra's injured arm was instantly healed and returned to normal.
" High-Speed Regeneration?"
Ichigo Kurosaki frowned as he looked at Ulquiorra's fully healed arm...
"Oh my god, can this guy win?"
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, sitting in the audience, stroked his chin and looked at Ichigo Kurosaki was panting heavily after only using one somewhat decent attack, and voiced his doubt.
"Yes... but it requires some external force."
Lilynette crossed her arms over her chest, displaying complete confidence in Ichigo Kurosaki.
"External force?"
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was taken aback, not understanding what external force meant.
"Don't you understand what external force means?"
"Open your eyes wide and let me show you..."
As she spoke, Lilynette drew her knife from her waist.
Ichigo Kurosaki.
"It seems you don't understand just how vast the gap is between us!"
Ulquiorra decided to quit. He had already witnessed Ichigo Kurosaki's strength, and it was time to end this boring battle.
"Huff... huff..."
Ichigo Kurosaki gasped for breath. He was well aware of the gap between himself and Ulquiorra Cifer, but no matter how large the gap was, he would definitely hold his blade and persevere until the last moment of his life.
"I'll show you what I'm really like, I'll show you my Resurrección."
"Seal it off, Murciélago!"
Ulquiorra drew his sword from his waist and pointed it at Ichigo Kurosaki. The next second, a powerful Spiritual Pressure surged into the sky, and Ulquiorra, with wings spread on his back, appeared in front of Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Careful!"
Hideki Ise's expression changed drastically when he saw Ulquiorra suddenly unleash such terrifying Spiritual Pressure, and he loudly reminded Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Small..."
Ichigo Kurosaki turned his head slightly as he listened to Hideki Ise's words...
"Black... Cero."
However, before he could finish speaking, a flash of dark light grazed Ichigo Kurosaki's cheek and struck him.
"What?"
Ichigo Kurosaki was completely astonished; he had no idea when Ulquiorra had activated Cero.
Are you scared?
Just as Ichigo Kurosaki turned around and looked at Ulquiorra...
Ulquiorra, who had been standing in front of him, vanished instantly... With a whoosh, Ulquiorra's voice reached Ichigo Kurosaki's ears.
"What?"
Ichigo Kurosaki seemed to have not expected Ulquiorra to be so fast, able to come to his side from hundreds of meters away in a short moment. His eyes widened in horror.
"Null!"
As Ulquiorra raised his head, a sonic boom erupted, and Ichigo Kurosaki was instantly sent flying... rolling and rolling on the ring before finally collapsing to the ground in a sorry state...
" Ichigo Kurosaki... can you see it? The gap between us."
Ulquiorra spread his wings and soared into the air, speaking coldly to Ichigo Kurosaki, whom he was hanging up and beating.
"Forehead..."
Ichigo Kurosaki gripped the hilt of his Zanpakuto tightly with both hands, using all his strength to support his body.
"Haven't you felt despair yet?"
"Even now, you still can't understand... the difference in strength between us?"
"Then let me make you even more desperate!?"
As Ulquiorra spoke, his Spiritual Pressure surged even more...
"This is... my true power, which even Lord Aizen was unaware of!"
"Among the Espada, this power is unique to me."
"Its name is Segunda Etapa..."
"Seal it off, Murciélago!"
Ulquiorra's power reached its peak in an instant; his ink-like Spiritual Pressure rained down from the sky...
Ulquiorra was bathed in the rain of Spiritual Pressure, and his body changed from its previous pure white form to pitch black...
If Ulquiorra in his first Resurrección resembles a pure white angel, then Ulquiorra in his Segunda Etapa... is a fallen angel! The demon king among demon kings!
Just like Ulquiorra's surname, Cifer... at this moment, Ulquiorra is like Cifer from the mythology...
Beautiful! Terrifying! Bringing humanity the deepest despair!
" Ichigo Kurosaki..."
Ulquiorra frowned as he watched Ichigo Kurosaki, and the next second, he spread his wings and swooped down on Ichigo Kurosaki.
" Ulquiorra..."
Facing Ulquiorra, who was unleashing a powerful Spiritual Pressure, Ichigo Kurosaki gripped his sword tightly, ready for battle.
The next second, Ulquiorra vanished as if he had disappeared, instantly disappearing from Ichigo Kurosaki's sight.
"What?"
Ichigo Kurosaki couldn't believe it; Ulquiorra possessed such power—it was simply unbelievable.
Where are you looking?
Just as Ichigo Kurosaki was on high alert, a cold voice rang in Ichigo Kurosaki ear.
"What?"
Ichigo Kurosaki was taken aback, and was about to turn around to deal with it.
"Smack!"
However, before Ichigo Kurosaki turn around, Ulquiorra reached out and grabbed Ichigo Kurosaki's head, sending him soaring into the sky.
"Forehead..."
Ichigo Kurosaki held Ulquiorra's head in his hand, making it float in the air like a broken doll.
"It seems... Ichigo Kurosaki is unlikely to win this time."
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi sighed. Who knew this Menos Grande had such a hidden technique? It was truly astonishing...
"No, Ichigo Kurosaki can win..."
Lilynette smiled slightly and pulled the trigger.
"This is Ichigo Kurosaki's final blow."
Ulquiorra wrapped his tail around Ichigo Kurosaki's neck, intending to Ichigo Kurosaki the final blow.
However, before he could make a move, a blue Cero streaked across the sky, heading straight for Ulquiorra.
"Um?!"
Ulquiorra quickly turned his head to the side when faced with that terrifying Cero.
The next second, the terrifying Cero pierced through Ichigo Kurosaki's chest and struck the ground, melting a huge hole in it...
" Cero!?"
Ulquiorra frowned. There was no mistake; what had just attacked him wasn't a Soul Reaper technique, but Cero!
"So it's just like a play?"
"Since our teammates can't win anymore, are we just going to throw them away like trash? That's certainly a weak approach..."
Ulquiorra nodded slightly, affirming Lilynette's actions. Indeed, this was the style of the Menos Grande.
"Hmph~"
Lilynette, sitting in the audience, blew on the muzzle of her gun and smiled smugly.
"Hey! This is your idea?!"
"If I kill my teammate before the enemy kills him, then the opponent won't get any kills?"
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi frowned as he looked at Lilynette. What kind of solution was this?!
"Shh..."
"Watch closely, Ichigo Kurosaki is about to unleash his power."
Lilynette blew on her fingers at Kuruyashiki Kenpachi Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, signaling him to be quiet and watch the action closely.
Ichigo Kurosaki about to unleash his power?
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi looked puzzled, not understanding what Lilynette was referring to.
A few seconds passed...
Ichigo Kurosaki remained lying on the spot like a rag doll, showing no sign of unleashing his power.
"This is what you meant by Ichigo Kurosaki unleashing his power?"
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's eye twitched slightly. This was a sure loss, wasn't it?
"Huh?!"
"Eh... why?"
"How strange?!"
Lilynette looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, who was undeniably dead, and uttered a questioning sound.
"Look what you've done?!"
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi glared at Lilynette, who was trying to get away with being cute, and said angrily.
" Aizen... won't you let Orihime Inoue come out and see?"
The man who Isshin to save her just died!
Looking at Sōgo Shihoin Ichigo Kurosaki, who had come to the arena and was lying on the ground, seemingly dead beyond any doubt, Shihouin Sougo turned to Sōsuke Aizen and spoke.
"What does this have to do with me?!"
"Wasn't it your men who carried out the assassination?"
Sōsuke Aizen's eye twitched slightly, as if Ichigo Kurosaki's death was his fault.
"Let's wait for Orihime Inoue!"
Sōsuke Aizen sighed helplessly and gave the order.
"Yes, sir."
A subordinate officer of Baraggan Sōsuke Aizen nodded slightly and disappeared from the spot in a flash.
A few minutes later, she brought Inoue Orihime Inoue to Sōsuke Aizen and Sōgo Shihoin.
" Captain Aizen... Captain Shihoin..."
Orihime Inoue looked at Aizen and Sōgo Shihoin sitting on the high seats and suddenly felt confused. She had no idea what was going on.
"Good afternoon, Orihime. Ichigo Kurosaki came to save you, and then he died."
Sōgo Shihoin spoke to Ichigo Kurosaki in an extremely calm tone.
Kurosaki-kun...
Orihime Inoue's once bright eyes instantly turned ashen, as if there had been no light left in her world.
"Aren't you going to go and see?" Sōgo Shihoin smiled at Orihime Inoue, "Although you won't see her fighting bravely for you, at least you can see the result of her heroic struggle to save you."
Kurosaki-kun...
Orihime Inoue quickly turned around and looked at Ichigo Kurosaki lying on the arena Ulquiorra Ichigo Kurosaki beside him like a demon. In an instant... in just an instant, Orihime Inoue understood everything...
Undeterred, Orihime Inoue leaped from the towering Gillian.
" Inoue! Calm down..."
As if he had been prepared, Ishida Uryū Ishida caught Orihime Inoue as she jumped down from dozens of meters in the air and spoke in a deep voice.
Kurosaki-kun...
Unfortunately, at this moment, Orihime Inoue had no eyes on Uryū Ishida. She used all her strength to climb onto the ring and headed straight for Ichigo Kurosaki.
Kurosaki-kun...
Why? Why?
Orihime Inoue lay on the body of the already dead Ichigo Kurosaki, tears streaming down her face.
"Woman... you've come?!"
Ulquiorra watched silently Orihime Inoue lay weeping over Ichigo Kurosaki's body, and for some reason, a pang of sorrow stirred within him, stirring a deep sadness within him that had been building up his previously calm demeanor.
" Sōten Kisshun, I refuse!"
Orihime Inoue used all her strength to try to awaken Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Useless woman... your strength isn't that great..."
"You can't refuse things beyond your capabilities. Ichigo Kurosaki is dead; no one can save him..."
Ulquiorra looked at Orihime Inoue with an utterly indifferent gaze and stated a fact that could not be changed whether Orihime Inoue admitted it or not.
"I refuse! I refuse! I refuse!"
" Ichigo Kurosaki! Ichigo Kurosaki! Ichigo Kurosaki-kun!"
For a moment, only the desperate shouts of Orihime Inoue filled the arena; she shouted until her voice was hoarse, and she coughed up blood...
"Roar!!!"
Perhaps Orihime Inoue's roar really worked! With a roar, Ichigo Kurosaki stood up... However, the Ichigo Kurosaki who stood up was unusually ferocious, his whole body covered with snow-white bone-like substances.
"See... I told you my external force worked."
Lilynette looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, whose Minotaur spirit had been rekindled, and gave him a thumbs up.
Five thousand~
(End of this chapter)