Hikone Ubuginu's previous injuries had not yet fully recovered, and now, after taking a blow from Kurosaki Ichigo, it was insult added to injury.
However, he seemed oblivious to pain. Despite the shocking, severe wounds covering his body, his face still held that childlike, innocent expression.
His wounds were still recovering, but at this rate, he would eventually run out of stamina—or be injured to a degree even his Super High Speed Regeneration couldn't heal.
Just as Ichigo was about to strike again, he realized with shock that the white Menos Grande he'd just cut through had revived?!
Originally, the Hollow's body had been split in two by Ichigo, but, like magnets, the two halves of the monster suddenly "stood up" as they hit the ground, then stuck back together!
Ichigo didn't react in time and was struck by the giant's fist. Yet, when the punch landed, Ichigo remained unfazed; he met the Menos' enormous, house-sized fist with his own—standing perfectly still.
"Damn brat!" The Menos Grande roared, its own consciousness clear in its bellow, involuntarily increasing its strength.
At that moment, Hikone also lunged at Ichigo.
Ichigo instantly exerted force, swinging his Zanpakutō fiercely. He cut off the Menos Grande's arm, spun, and slashed—clashing with Hikone again. This strike knocked the leaping Hikone back down, slamming him onto the reishi path below, shattering the reishi-paved road. Hikone's body plummeted, seemingly falling into a bottomless abyss.
"Hey!" Ichigo hadn't expected Hikone to fall straight down; he quickly called out, but before he could act, a roar came from behind him.
"…Roar!"
Even with one arm gone, the white Menos Grande swung its other fist at Ichigo yet again.
"Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo didn't hesitate, unleashing his signature attack.
But at that moment, Hikone flew back, his speed even faster than before, instantly appearing in front of Ichigo.
Facing these two, Ichigo frowned. It wasn't that they were particularly powerful, but something was strange. Hikone felt… different.
Is he… evolving?!
Yes, compared to before, Hikone's speed and strength had increased. And—whether it was an illusion or not—Ichigo sensed Hikone's reishi growing more and more like his own.
After more than ten exchanges, Ichigo finally confirmed it: It's true!
"Are you… really a Shinigami?" Ichigo couldn't help but ask, staring at Hikone.
"I never said I was a Shinigami," Hikone replied calmly. "Tokinada-sama told me I am the same as Mr. Ichigo."
He smiled. "Just like this now…"
Suddenly, a strange pattern appeared on Hikone's body. Ichigo didn't recognize the symbol, but he sensed a familiar reishi.
Wait, this is… Quincy reishi?!
Ichigo's pupils widened.
If it was a mix of Shinigami and Hollow, Ichigo had seen plenty—after all, the entire Visoreds were such hybrids.
But someone possessing the powers of a Shinigami, a Hollow, and a Quincy at the same time—Ichigo had never seen a second one!
Who exactly is Hikone Ubuginu? And who is Tokinada-sama? Strange, isn't he Aizen's subordinate?
While Ichigo wondered, Hikone further released his Zanpakutō.
"Hatch out and be ruined - Ikomikidomoe!"
As Hikone further released Ikomikidomoe, the Menos Grande transformed once more, its size shrinking somewhat. And on its white belly, an eye appeared, from which terrifying reishi condensed.
Boom!
A Cero blasted toward Ichigo. He dodged quickly, and the Cero vanished into the Garganta.
Ichigo knew he couldn't let this continue. He had to settle things with Hikone quickly, or it would be endless.
He activated his Hollowfication again, determined to use his full power.
The Hollow mask reappeared. Ichigo bypassed the Menos Grande, heading straight for Hikone.
He'd realized the Menos Grande was immortal—it was Hikone's Zanpakutō. As long as Hikone wasn't defeated, the Menos Grande would always exist.
So—he had to attack Hikone first!
Hikone saw Ichigo coming fast. Though he'd never matched Ichigo in speed before, he still met him head-on.
Ichigo could severely injure Hikone even without full power—let alone now, when he was going all out.
This Getsuga Tenshō directly severed the Zanpakutō in Hikone's hand!
Not just the blade—this attack should have cut Hikone in half too!
It wasn't that Ichigo wanted to kill him, but knowing Hikone's regeneration, he believed even cutting him in half wouldn't kill him—only make him lose his combat ability.
He was, after all, just an ordinary Japanese high school student. The education he'd received since childhood did not allow him to kill, and he couldn't be like the Gotei 13, who could kill without hesitation.
If it were a Hollow, that would be one thing. But Hikone looked like a small child. To kill him—Ichigo felt the moral chains within his heart shatter.
What he would become then, he didn't even dare to imagine.
However, this strike, which should have cut Hikone in half, encountered a problem.
"Wh-what?!"
His attack, imbued with the black Getsuga, struck Hikone's skin—but only left a not-too-deep bloodstain!
Forgetting cutting him in half—it wasn't even a fatal wound.
Ichigo sensed Hikone's body had suddenly become much harder.
He knew Hikone had Hierro as a defense before, but even the Espada's Hierro couldn't block Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō. Even Ulquiorra, in Resurrección, would have his skin broken by a full-power Getsuga.
Hikone's Hierro had never been at that level—until now.
"Eh? Mr. Ichigo, don't you know?" Hikone didn't panic, even with his Zanpakutō broken. He put some distance between them and explained, "This is Blut—a power Tokinada-sama only recently gave me."
This was indeed a new power Aizen had given him.
Originally, it was already difficult for Hikone's soul to contain the powers of a Shinigami and a Hollow, maintained only by Tsunayashiro Tokinada's ability. Adding Quincy power would normally break the balance and collapse Hikone's soul.
Even Aizen wouldn't attempt such a thing—except, with Orihime Inoue's powers, he could safely experiment. If anything went wrong, Inoue could restore everything.
After several experiments, they finally succeeded.
Thus, Hikone Ubuginu, infused with Quincy power, was born!
"Blut…?" Ichigo was puzzled—he'd never heard of such a thing before.
Hikone continued, "This is the power of the Quincy. Tokinada-sama said I need to awaken it gradually in battle—especially in battle with you."
Blut is the power of the Quincy?
Ichigo was stunned. Why hadn't Uryū told him about this?
The Blut was clearly a defensive ability, similar to Hierro. If it were just one or the other, Ichigo could deal with it, but now that Hikone combined both… it was troublesome.
Ichigo felt a pang of regret. He should have gone all out earlier, to make Hikone lose his combat ability as soon as possible.
Now, Hikone seemed to have evolved to a point where Ichigo couldn't simply defeat him anymore!
Fortunately…
His Zanpakutō…
Ichigo was about to say his Zanpakutō was broken, but then another incredible thing happened.
Hikone raised the broken Zanpakutō, and the white Menos Grande's body began to writhe.
The Menos Grande seemed to have gained awareness, and even protested, "No, you can't!"
But in the end, unable to resist Hikone's will, it was absorbed back into the Zanpakutō.
The Zanpakutō actually began to restore itself!
It had clearly been cut before, but now the blade had grown back.
Ichigo was shocked—he hadn't expected Hikone to have such a trick.
Then, even more surprising things came.
Hikone's Zanpakutō, fully restored, softly chanted:
"Ikomikidomoe Hō'ōraku Hakkei!"
A powerful force emanated from the blade. Black and red reishi coiled around Hikone, his appearance becoming bizarre and demonic: whites of his eyes turned black, pupils red, black patterns extended from his eyes, and a yellow oval bead emerged from his forehead.
Black patterns covered the blade and hilt, the wrappings black and red reishi spread over him.
Ichigo watched, stunned.
This is… what? Bankai? But—how could there be such a bizarre Bankai? It's almost like a Hollow's Resurrección!
"Thank you, Mr. Ichigo," Hikone said, "Because of you, I can fully master the power of Ikomikidomoe. And use Bankai!"
Ichigo was silent for a moment, then gripped his Zanpakutō with both hands.
"That's great."
"What's great?" Hikone tilted his head.
"Now that you're like this, I can fight you without holding back," Ichigo replied softly.
The current Hikone, though his physique hadn't changed, had become demonic and terrifying, his reishi cold and evil.
Facing such a Hikone, Ichigo could treat him as an Arrancar.
"I see," Hikone said, gripping his Zanpakutō. "I hope you use your full power, Mr. Ichigo—Tokinada-sama will be pleased."
"But before that, who is this Tokinada-sama you speak of?" Ichigo asked.
"Tokinada-sama is the noblest person in this world. The one the Shinigami should pledge their loyalty to," Hikone replied. "He wants me to become King of the Shinigami."
"…" Ichigo was speechless. What was all this about?
He had thought Tokinada was Aizen's subordinate, but now it didn't sound like it.
Forget it. I'll take him out first!
No matter who Tokinada was—the most important thing was dealing with Aizen!
Ichigo charged at Hikone, who, unafraid, engaged him in battle.
This time, it was no longer one-sided. After Hikone used his Bankai, his strength increased dramatically—he actually fought Ichigo to a draw!
This battle might end quickly… or last a very long time…
…