Chapter 44 - The Truth About Hollows

Soren was roaming the world of the Hollows killing everything in sight, when he would come across a weak opponent he would use just Spirit Pressure mixed with King's Haki to crush the Hollow into nothingness.

[Sakura, is there any way to fight stronger opponents in here?]: soren

{DING!... HOST HAS SURPASSED MOST HOLLOWS INSIDE THIS WORLD. ONLY 3 KINDS OF HOLLOWS REMAIN THAT SURPASS HOST… WOULD HOST LIKE THE DIRECTION THEY RESIDE?}

[Yes! Please tell me where they are]: soren

{HOST MUST CONTINUE WEST FOR 3540km}

[That far?... It looks like I will make it in around 12 hours if I run]: soren

Soren then took off West killing everything that he passed, the system would reward Spirit Power and Spirit Awareness in low quantity when Soren would kill these Lower Hollows.

On the outside world where Ichigo was, he went back to Orihime's house when he heard the sound of a Hollow. When Ichigo made it back to Orihime's door he knocked while yelling.

[Orihime!... Open up I forgot something]: ichigo

On the inside, Orihime was just getting ready to take a shower. As she was setting the water she heard something outside of the bathroom, when she got up to go check it she found nothing. Ichigo was still banging on the door but couldn't be heard, as Orihime went back to the bathroom she heard the sound again, and she went to check where it was coming from again. As Orihime went into the living room and took a look around she finally hear the banging on her door, when she went to check it she heard Ichigo.

[Orihime! Open up please…]: ichigo

Orihime then opened the door to see what Ichigo wanted, when Ichigo came in he took a look around and Orihime couldn't help but ask.

[Why did you come back? Did you forget something?]: orihime

[I thought I did but I don't see anything, I guess I left it at home… sorry about that]: ichigo

[That's no problem… I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow]: orihime

As Ichigo and Orihime went towards the door they heard a loud screeching sound coming from behind them. When Ichigo turned around to take a look, he could see a big Hollow outside of the window looking in.

[Wow, I keep hearing that sound but I don't know where it's coming from]: orihime

Ichigo could clearly see what was outside the window but looking at Orihime it seemed to be invisible for her, but the question was, why was it here?. Ichigo turned towards Orihime and told her.

[I will be going now, have a good night]: ichigo

Ichigo thought that the Hollow was there for him because Hollows are attracted towards strong spirits, so if he could bait it away from the house he could kill it. As Ichigo made his way down the steps towards the front of the house he seen the Hollow still looking inside of Orihime's apartment.

[Hey you stuipd Hollow… Over here!]: ichigo

Ichigo picked up a rock and threw it at the Hollow, when it realized it was being attacked the Hollow turned to face the attacker. Ichigo then started to run down the street, as the Hollow seen the fleeting attacker it gave a small chase. When Ichigo seen it following him he kept running, after a little ways Ichigo turned around ready to face it only to see nothing following him. As that point Ichigo heard a loud scream coming from the direction he came from.

[AHHHH!]: ???

[That sounds like Orihime, but why?]: ichigo

Ichigo ran towards Orihime's apartment and when he got close he used the glove Rukia gave him and pushed his Spirit out of his body, catching his body he laid it down and pulled his Zanpakuto from his back.

[I'm coming Orihime!]: ichigo

Ichigo rushed towards the sound of struggle and when he turned the corner he could see the Hollow holding Orihime in its hand.

[Let her go you damn beast!]: ichigo

The Hollow took it's gaze from Orihime and place it towards Ichigo, it then let out a huge scream and Orihime passed out but the last thing she say was Ichigo holding a sword.

[Ich-i-go….]: orihime

Ichigo then jumped up holding his Zanpakuto in hand and slashed towards the Hollows hand that was holding Orihime, as the Sword came down the hand came off and started to fall.

Soren was now giving a good slice and dice towards a pack of Hollows, when Soren's sword would swing Hollows would drop like flies.

[Sakura how far am I from the destination?]: soren

{HOST STILL NEEDS TO TRAVEL 2746km TO REACH DESTINATION}

[So I should pick up the speed then]: soren

As Soren rushed throw the hoards of Hollows not even giving them a second glance he started to make haste towards his goal.

Ichigo was now fighting with the Hollow that had ahold of Orihime, this was when Rukia had showed up to help Ichigo out.

[Ichigo!... Aim for the mask, when you break the mask it will finish the Hollow]: rukia

[What do you think I've been trying to do!?]: ichigo

When Ichigo would swing his Zanpakuto towards the Hollow, it would dodge the attack and then counter attack towards Ichigo.

[You piece of crap… die already!]: ichigo

As Ichigo came down for a downward slash it made contact with the Hollow Mask. as Ichigo seen this she felt relieved, and in doing so didn't get enough power to fully slash the mask, what Ichigo saw next left him stunned.

[W-what is this?... Why is it him?]: ichigo

Ichigo was now witnessing Orihime's deceased brother fight as one of these Hollows.

[Ichigo!... you need to fully break the mask to defeat it!]: rukia

[I can't… I can't do that to Orihime]: ichigo

Rukia was stunned, then she spoke up to Ichigo.

[That's why it's best to always take out the mask in one strike… so we don't see who's under the mask]: rukia

[What do you mean? who's under the mask?]: ichigo

Ichigo was stunned with the words that left Rukia's mouth.

[All Hollows are people who have stayed here for too long, and their soul chain has been eaten away… We try to finish the Hollow in 1 strike to the mask to save us the hardship of knowing who is under the mask. It could be a Friend, Lover or Family. To save us the hardship of knowing we take them out in 1 strike to the mask]: rukia

[That's fucked up… I need to save Orihime's brother]: ichigo

[You can't… He is already gone, the only way to save him now is to end the fight and break the mask]: rukia

Ichigo bit his lip and then aimed his sword back towards the Hollow.

[O-Ori-hi-mee!]: Hollow