Chapter 139 - 139: Ichigo’s Hollow

The Hollow mask on Ichigo's face was now fully formed but the Hollow side didn't stop there. The Hollow within Ichigo was spreading to cover Ichigo entirely. Before Ichigo regains control I will have a little fun fighting it until then. I used pure energy to repel the Hollow Ichigo so he knows who is opposing him. I left the gravity and pressure pile on while we fought, this way he will get more training and stronger as we clash.

Sparks were shooting out of every encounter. I more or less didn't attack and just defended, mostly. I held back as much as I could to not break his Zanpakuto so I either dodged or parried the attacks. At some instances I grabbed his Zanpakuto barehanded while I flicked him multiple times. I also got to practice some of the Kido that I learned from Kyoraku and Nanao. I had to adjust the power output to not kill Ichigo but it was great practice. The Hollow Ichigo used the Black Getsuga Tenshou (Moon Fang Heaven Piercer) but the laugh that came with the transformation didn't sound out. The Hollow Ichigo actually looked serious as he confronted me, no laughs no smiles, except for mine. Since the Hollow Ichigo is more receptive to his instincts and senses, he could tell that he had no chance of winning.

My smile grew wider as he continues his attack.

Sage: Dodge this Ichigo, unless you think only your Hollow form alone is enough!

I attacked him mercilessly to make not only Ichigo, but also his Hollow form understand that one cannot live without the other and one alone was not enough to stop me. I kept my strength in check the entire time, trying to not accidentially kill someone. The Bleach universe is actually weaker than the Naruto universe so the power difference is like hell and heaven compared to my Dragon Ball Super level strength. After becoming accustomed to the power levels of this universe, I compared the max level this universe has reached to the Saiyan arc from Dragon Ball Z. They had just enough power to destroy countries but even then this universe falls a little short, so me being this passive is a good enough handicap.

Sage: At this level I shouldn't have released in the first place. Come on Ichigo! Show me why you need to get stronger!

Ichigo came right at me again but this time his eyes gave a look that he knew what I was trying to do.

Sage: That other power is yours all the same Ichigo! (Clash) Don't push it away! (Clash) Look ahead, go forward, never stop! If you retreat you'll only grow older! If you hesitate you will only die! (Clash)

The sparks from our blades lit up Ichigo's face as half the mask was breaking. I piled on more pressure and knocked Ichigo down. I kicked him across the cavern, embedding him into a rock formation. Ichigo looked at me with a new resolve, with eyes similar to the ones he showed Gin after he learned the Final Getsuga. I smiled wider bareing my teeth, good, I thought, by the looks and the changes in his Reiatsu, Ichigo is starting to accept his Hollow side. Ichigo got himself out of the rock formation…

Ichigo: (Voice was mixed when learing to use the Hollow form) Getsuga Tenshou!!

A giant black Getsuga was slashed at me but he did it at a distance so it was easily taken care of, but to my surprise he used it as a decoy. Ichigo tried to move around behind me to pincer me between his Getsuga and him.

Sage: Good thinking, wrong opponent.

In my eyes the speed here looked like the speed from Dragon Ball, when I see them use Shunpo, to me, it literally looks like they are standing still. Shunpo though, through its use, is in between speed and teleportation because even though they are slow to me they do look like they take "jumps" to other locations. So when I saw Ichigo running around his attack to come behind me I almost laughed out loud. I stopped Ichigo with Shinigami on my right hand and with my left, I brought it out to hold on to the Getsuga. Seeing his surprised face was nothing new, so seeing his own attack come back at him in a greater force, he gave a more terrified look.

Sage: Pow! Right in the kisser!

Ichigo flew out of the explosion nearly mangled from receiving his own attack with a bit of my own. I have to hand it to Ichigo though, every time he gets the shit kicked out of him, the protagonist plot armor energy surges up and he stands back up, even while making a pathetic attempt to attack again. Even though Ichigo did get back up, (Chris Tucker voice here) "He got knocked the f.u.c.k out, man!". His eyes were glazed over while bleeding from his mouth, eyes, head and ears, barely holding on to Zangetsu. I flashed to his location, patted him on the shoulder to show my praise for taking the hit and he finally falls over. I sheathe Shinigami and retract my pressure.

Yoruichi: Ichigo!

Sage: I guess you shook off the fear, Neko-chan.

Yoruichi: (With a mean look) You didn't have to be so harsh. How is he supposed to heal from this much damage enough to fight a seasoned Captain?

Sage: Don't worry he will be fine.

Yoruichi: Just throwing him in the healing spring won't help, the effect may repair the body but not restore his Reiatsu, and even then, the pool may not even heal him completely.

Sage: How about this, if I can heal him up, good as new, you will do something for me?

Yoruichi: After all the things I've seen you do I can't doubt you.

I almost had her, but I can't fault her for knowing better. First I needed Ichigo to wake up so we threw him in the spring for a few minutes. Once Ichigo woke up he looked haggard. To restore his vitality I had him eat a Senzu bean, to restore his Reiatsu reserves I copied some of the cooking techniques to infuse Reiatsu in normal foods from Kirio Hikifune. I didn't want to burden Ichigo with Gourmet food from Toriko's universe because the deliciousness of food here is limited. Other than Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, the universe here is a parallel copy of my original world, except it's in Japan. Once Ichigo was fully restored, Yoruichi, Ichigo and I took a bath in the spring before leaving. Unfortunately, Yoruichi wasn't going to show me her sitting Indian style since Ichigo was there.

After finishing their preparations, Ichigo and Yoruichi told me to take care of Ukitake, Kyoraku and Genryusai. I happily agreed as we all disappeared to the execution grounds. On the way there Yoruichi explained what the Sokyoku is and what it was for. Since I interrupted the little break Ichigo took inbetween his recovering from fighting Zaraki Kenpachi, Captain of the Tenth Division, and training to gain Bankai to help Rukia, he didn't go try saving Rukia when he felt Byakuya's Reiatsu, so Rukia's resolve or reaction might be the same since Ganju and Hanatarou still went to help her and were saved by Ukitake. According to what I heard from the Mokuton seeds, I told Ichigo not to worry about the rest of the group since I knew that they were just captured and are being held.

Sage: Hey Ichigo, when they release the execution weapon, let me handle it.

Ichigo: Huh, why Sage-san?

Sage: I've been traveling for a while and wanted a pet.

Ichigo: Hahaha you're gonna use a big a.s.s halberd as a pet?!

Sage: (While smiling) I already took 6 Asauchi to give as gifts to people, so I wanted that Halberd since it might be destroyed if you handled it.

Yoruichi: If you have 6 Asauchi, why did you need one made for yourself?

Sage: Is it safe to assume that you have been in the living world for a while, Neko-chan?

Sage: Then from what you have experienced in the living world, would you rather have a factory made replica katana or a hand forged one from a famous maker? Not to mention that a regular Asauchi wouldn't be able to handle my power. Unlike the Sokyoku that you said has the power of a million Zanpakutos, mine was made with thousands of Asauchi and can take the lives of the divine.

Yoruichi: Then take the Sokyoku. If Ichigo wasn't able to stop it I know a way to destroy it.

Sage: See. No point in wasting a good weapon, right?

Ichigo: Handle it please, Sage-san.

The final battle for the Soul Society arc is very near and I couldn't be happier. I get to learn from one of the oldest of Soul Society. Still won't use Bankai though, maybe in the Arrancar arc when we are in Hueco Mundo. There I could probably release a lot of power without the consequences.