But…
Why?!
More questions surged in Rukia's heart.
Why…
Why did Yoshio lie to her, saying it was a Parasite Hollow? Even the Bull-Head Hollow said so himself…?
Rukia felt lost. She struggled to turn over, gazing at the endless sky of Hueco Mundo, her consciousness growing increasingly blurry.
She had—
She had thought she could go further…
Did it end like this, so unexpectedly?
Was she going to die here, without even making it into Las Noches?
Sorry, Ichigo. I… probably can't help you anymore.
And also—
Captain Yoshio… it seems I really can't see you again.
The world in Rukia's eyes grew hazy. Her eyelids felt so heavy. She closed her eyes.
…
At this moment, Kurosaki Ichigo had made it through the Tres Cifras, arriving at the main gate of Las Noches.
Several Arrancar stood guard, but Ichigo didn't hesitate. In his anxious state, he activated Bankai.
With one Getsuga Tensho, the Arrancar and the massive gate were instantly blown open!
"Who's there?!"
As the gate shattered, Ichigo rushed inside, feeling as if he'd entered a brand new world.
Light flooded his vision, stinging his eyes. Around him, Arrancar stared in shock.
But Ichigo had no time for them. He charged past.
Inoue's reishi… I can feel it!
He'd stormed Seireitei once before, and now, though this was a city of hollows, his heart was still fearless.
"Stop! Who are you?!"
A man with crimson hair and a mask like drooping glasses blocked his path. His burly body flared with reishi, entering Resurrección—blazing flames erupting around him.
"Awaken, Volcano Beast!"
He roared, punching at Ichigo.
"I said, don't block my way!"
Ichigo leapt up, stepping onto Volcano Beast's arm.
Boom!
Flames erupted, but Ichigo vaulted from the monster's arm to its head, sword swinging down—not even using Getsuga Tensho, just raw sword pressure.
He landed and rushed forward without a backward glance.
Volcano Beast froze, then—
Pfft!
Blood gushed from his forehead, his massive body splitting in two and collapsing.
One strike. That was all it took.
Ichigo knew he couldn't waste a second. The strong in Las Noches must not react. He had to rescue Inoue—fast!
Almost there… almost there!
He could sense Inoue nearby. After entering the gate, he found her in a white bungalow. Ichigo smashed the wall, revealing a shocked Inoue Orihime.
"Kurosaki-kun?!"
"Inoue! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Why are you here? It's dangerous!"
"Exactly. That's why we need to leave, now! I didn't expect you to be so close to the gate—let's go!"
"O… okay!" Inoue said joyfully. "Kurosaki-kun, I'll follow you!"
Ichigo nodded, but quickly realized Inoue couldn't keep up.
He hurried back, picked her up, and apologized.
"Sorry, but we need to hurry!"
"Ah!" Inoue was startled by his sudden embrace, but knew escape came first.
With Inoue in his arms, Ichigo tried to sense Rukia's reishi…
Suddenly, Rukia's spiritual pressure erupted, followed by a chilling surge.
Did Rukia use her ultimate move? Damn! Why did her reishi suddenly become so weak?!
He was just about to speed up—
when Inoue's hands tightened sharply around his back.
"…Kurosaki-kun… You're still as easy to fool as ever."
?!
What?!
Ichigo's pupils shrank—but it was too late.
A golden barrier appeared in 'Inoue's' hand—sharp as a blade.
It pierced Ichigo's back, straight through his chest!
He counterattacked, but 'Inoue Orihime' dodged with inhuman agility, landing before him, giggling.
"Hehe, how many times have I fooled you now?"
Ichigo staggered, crushing the golden barrier in his chest.
"…Faceless One!"
"That's not very nice," she smirked. "I have a name: Grand Fisher. But you can call me Beelzebub."
"The reason I've fooled you so many times is simple—because Kurosaki-kun, you are too easy to fool."
She frowned.
"If only this body were stronger, I could have killed you with that hit. But no other identity would have made you let down your guard. This identity is useless now. Time to change…"
Beelzebub's body shifted.
He transformed—into Kurosaki Ichigo!
"I'll use your own body to kill you. After I kill you, I'll wear your identity for a while. Hahahaha!"
He spun Tensa Zangetsu, instantly appearing before Ichigo.
Boom!
Just as Beelzebub's blade was about to strike, Ichigo blocked it!
"…"
"It's Hollowfication. But I can do that too…"
A mask appeared on Beelzebub's face. His power surged. He overwhelmed Ichigo, forcing him to one knee, cracking the ground.
"How about it? All your abilities—I possess them."
"Did you really think you were my opponent in the Human World? I couldn't kill you then, but it's not too late now!"
Ichigo gritted his teeth, desperately holding back Beelzebub's blade.
How could a wounded him defeat a perfect copy of himself?
Outside Las Noches, Rukia fought Dark Rukia, her own double.
Inside, Ichigo faced Beelzebub—his double in appearance, weapon, and ability.
"Getsuga Tensho!"
"Getsuga Tensho!"
Two Tensa Zangetsu, two black Getsugas—colliding at point-blank range!
Boom!
The reishi exploded. The identical powers clashed, but Beelzebub was forced back several steps.
Yet Ichigo, already on one knee, took the full brunt—crashing into a crater, bloodied.
"See? It's that simple."
Beelzebub twirled Tensa Zangetsu's chain.
"Did you really think you were my match? I couldn't kill you before, but I can now!"
He raised his blade, ready to finish it.
But Ichigo suddenly flipped over.
A pitch-black bow appeared in his hand—Tensa Zangetsu drawn like an arrow!
"What?!"
Beelzebub's eyes widened.
"Getsuga Tensho: Swift!"
Boom!
Tensa Zangetsu shot out like an arrow, enveloped in black reishi.
"Getsuga Tensho!"
Beelzebub blocked with his own Getsuga. The energies clashed, scattering into countless black arrows.
"Ugh!"
Beelzebub was blasted away, sent flying.
Ichigo leapt up, seized Tensa Zangetsu amid the chaos, and slashed again.
"Getsuga Tensho!"
Pfft!
A black crescent moon smashed through Beelzebub's chest, hurling him through buildings.
The explosion of reishi collapsed the structure, burying Beelzebub in the rubble.
…