The countdown floating in the air hit zero, and the mask on Muten Natsu's face crumbled away. "Can't I keep going?"
[You may continue]
[It's entirely up to you]
[Whether you train while keeping your condition stable enough not to affect your performance in any battles that may happen soon]
[Or recklessly risk your life for a tiny improvement]
[That is for you to decide]
"...Logically speaking, mastering Hollowfication means I've reached an understanding with the Hollow inside me. Even if my Hollowfication deepens, there shouldn't be any serious problems. So why does Hollowfication still have a time limit?"
[You can understand the time limit on Hollowfication through the Id, Ego, and Superego]
[The Id is pure instinct]
[It follows the pleasure principle]
[Everything is based on satisfying itself]
[The Ego is the manifestation of one's own will]
[From this perspective]
[It is not that a Hollow appeared inside you]
[But that your consciousness was born inside the Hollow]
[That is why Bokukō possesses greater power than you]
[Because he is closer to the Source]
"And then I gave birth to you?"
[I represent the Superego]
[I am the bridge that helps you communicate better with the outside world]
[That is why I can process information from the outside world more effectively]
[And systematically adjust and plan the power you manifest]
"Hollowfication is essentially the outward manifestation of the Id. But during that process, cracks will appear in you." Muten Natsu's thoughts grew clearer. "As Hollowfication continues, those cracks will gradually widen, eventually causing you to collapse."
[The fragments left after the collapse will be absorbed by Bokukō]
[They will manifest as remnants of reason]
[Then they will be digested by Bokukō]
[And transformed into pure violence]
Muten Natsu recalled the scene from when he had practiced mastering Hollowfication, white fragments swallowed by darkness.
Bokukō seemed rational, but in truth, that reason was only what remained of Myōki's power.
Because Muten Natsu still retained his sanity, Myōki's power had not been completely digested, allowing Bokukō to keep appearing rational.
But in reality, most of the time...
Muten Natsu looked at the small creature lying in the white space, something between a cat and a shark.
Most of the time, Bokukō had no sanity to speak of.
When he was in a good mood, he rubbed against Muten Natsu a couple of times. When he was in a bad mood, he bit him.
As Muten Natsu looked at Bokukō, Bokukō muttered, and spiritual ink seeped from his body.
The little creature floated on the spiritual ink as he slept, swaying lazily with utter contentment.
Even his claws were spread apart.
Muten Natsu's feelings were complicated. "Somehow, it feels like Bokukō has it much easier than I do."
[If Bokukō is comfortable, then you are comfortable]
[Once you master Hollowfication]
[You will be able to experience twice the comfort]
Why had it turned out like this...
For the first time, he had Bokukō, who excelled at combat.
For the first time, he had Myōki, who was skilled at analysis.
These two happy things had come together, and these two joys should have brought Muten Natsu even more happiness.
He should have gained a dreamlike, leisurely life where he neither had to fight nor think.
And yet, why had it turned out like this...
Muten Natsu's feelings became even more complicated.
...
"Dad... I..." Ichigo Kurosaki avoided Isshin Kurosaki's eyes. "I'm going to be away for a few days. I don't know when I'll be back..."
"You haven't been home much these past few days either." Isshin Kurosaki scratched his chin and eyed him suspiciously. "Bringing it up so suddenly... could it be..."
Ichigo Kurosaki couldn't help tensing up.
"Could it be a date?!" Isshin Kurosaki rubbed his hands together excitedly. "If you don't know when you'll be back, that means it's a trip with no fixed schedule, right? How romantic, you little brat!"
Ichigo Kurosaki: "..." Then what was I so nervous for?
"Go on, don't worry! Leave the house to me!" Isshin Kurosaki gave him a thumbs-up. "As long as I'm here, I won't let a single thing happen to my family!"
"...Yeah." Ichigo Kurosaki gave a faint smile. "I trust you."
"...Oh, right." Isshin Kurosaki took out an amulet and solemnly handed it to Ichigo Kurosaki. "Take this with you."
"Huh?" Ichigo Kurosaki looked at the amulet in his palm. "It's so dirty... Where did you buy this?"
"How rude! Don't call it dirty! Your mom gave this to me a long time ago!" Isshin Kurosaki said with a stern face. "It brings wealth and good luck!"
"Giving me something that important is what's rude!" Ichigo Kurosaki shouted. "You should keep it safe yourself!"
"As if! Who said I was giving it to you? I'm only lending it to you while you're away! Lending it!" Isshin Kurosaki stressed it again and again. "Remember to give it back when you come home! Do not lose it!"
Ichigo Kurosaki felt the faint power coming from the amulet and tucked it close to his body. "Yeah!"
...
"Huff... huff..." Uryū Ishida lay weakly on the ground, panting hard. He tried several times to stand, but failed each time.
Although his Quincy powers had already returned, the intensity of his training had risen along with them.
After regaining his Quincy powers, Uryū Ishida understood even more clearly just how strong Ryūken Ishida was.
Before, he could still use the excuse that his Quincy powers had not recovered. Now that they had, the enormous gap between him and Ryūken Ishida, whether in raw power or in skill, felt like an uncrossable chasm.
Crack.
A strange sound rang out.
Then came a noise like fingernails scraping glass.
Uryū Ishida saw a bizarre circle suddenly appear in the space ahead of him, and a hand pushed open the inside of that circle.
"Hello~" Kisuke Urahara hid his face behind his folding fan. "Sorry to bother you so late."
He stepped out of the circular opening. "Oh my, your father isn't here? That's wonderful."
"Urahara-san?" Uryū Ishida forced himself to stand. "What brings you here?"
"It's like this..." Kisuke Urahara briefly explained what had happened. "So Soul Society is preparing to invade Hueco Mundo, and Muten and the others will be going too."
"I'm sorry, Urahara-san, but I've already decided to cut all ties with the Shinigami." Uryū Ishida lowered his head. "I'll do my part to stop Sōsuke Aizen, but I won't act together with the Shinigami."
"Ah... Sorry, sorry. That was thoughtless of me." Kisuke Urahara waved his folding fan. "Since Kurosaki-san insisted on going no matter what, I thought you might come too. Just pretend I was never here."
"Wait!" Uryū Ishida frowned. "You said Kurosaki is going too?"
"What's wrong?"
"Then I have no choice but to go." Uryū Ishida pushed up his glasses. "I absolutely cannot allow a heretic to do whatever he wants!"
Kisuke Urahara: "?"