Chapter 218: Gotei 13 Arrives (Part 2)
"Hey, Ichigo..."
Witnessing the faltering Kurosaki Ichigo advancing toward the Arrancar alone, Abarai Renji called out with obvious concern. He understood that Soul Society's genuine purpose for coming this time wasn't as straightforward as capturing Ginjō Kūgo. If the objective had been merely apprehending Ginjō Kūgo and his associates, two captains would have sufficed.
"Don't worry, Renji!"
Witnessing his lieutenant preparing to intervene, Byakuya Kuchiki immediately extended his hand to halt Renji, then continued:
"You must trust him. Trust Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Hearing such weighty admonition from his division captain, Renji—unwilling though he was—could only retreat to the side with a bitter expression.
"Are you certain about this, Kurosaki?"
As the commanding officer for this operation, Hitsugaya Tōshirō regarded the haggard Kurosaki Ichigo. Although he wanted to intervene, the current situation proved extraordinarily complicated.
Not only did they face Ginjō Kūgo, but Hueco Mundo had also dispatched a powerful Arrancar. Considering this, Hitsugaya Tōshirō had to approach this matter with utmost gravity.
"Yeah!" Kurosaki Ichigo nodded heavily toward Tōshirō with stern features, then addressed Nelliel, who stood atop Ginjō Kūgo: "Nelliel, release him. Allow me to settle this matter!"
"I understand!"
Nelliel nodded obediently, then removed her foot from Ginjō Kūgo's back. She glanced lightly at the Shinigami assembled before her, then materialized in the air via flash step.
"Hey, Ginjō!"
Kurosaki Ichigo raised the weapon transformed from his Substitute Shinigami Badge and addressed his opponent: "Let's determine the outcome here. I know you don't wish being captured by Soul Society. Then defeat me—or... let me kill you!"
"Ack..."
Supporting himself against the wall, Ginjō Kūgo rose with tremendous difficulty. He covered the corner of his mouth and spat blood, his eyes sweeping across all those present. An identical Substitute Badge fell from the bracelet adorning his wrist and materialized within his hand.
"You're far too kind, Kurosaki!"
"Heh!" After releasing a cold sneer, Ginjō Kūgo raised his bloodied hands to straighten his disheveled hair. Then he fixed his attention upon Kurosaki Ichigo and shouted. The Substitute Badge within his grasp—identical to Kurosaki Ichigo's—conjured a similar longsword.
"These individuals have all come for you! I doubt you even comprehend how much power dwells within your body. That's precisely why I approached you!"
Ginjō Kūgo waved his already agonizing arm. The arrogance and disdain within his words were clearly revealed across that rebellious countenance.
"Observe carefully, Kurosaki Ichigo! The companions you believe you trust—what will they do when confronted with so-called 'greater righteousness'!" As the First Generation Substitute Shinigami, Ginjō Kūgo naturally understood Soul Society's purpose for coming. Besides capturing himself, they intended observing the human named Kurosaki Ichigo standing before him.
So-called companionship and friendship meant nothing compared to Soul Society's stability. This was precisely why Ginjō Kūgo had chosen defecting from Soul Society and murdering the Shinigami supervisor who'd been stationed with him in the human world.
One must understand—before he'd made that decision, the Shinigami he'd killed had been such an intimate companion!
"AAAHHH—"
Ginjō Kūgo roared with crazed intensity. He raised both hands high, gripping the massive sword, and charged toward Kurosaki Ichigo. Understanding he possessed no escape route, he'd chosen the most reckless combat method imaginable.
Facing Ginjō Kūgo's undisguised assault, Kurosaki Ichigo halted in place. Holding his weapon single-handedly, he stared coldly ahead. "Farewell, Ginjō!"
Splurt—
The confrontation between both lasted merely an instant. When Ginjō Kūgo approached Kurosaki Ichigo, he chose thrusting the blade forward with both hands to impale Kurosaki Ichigo.
However, Ichigo simply dodged calmly. His body nearly grazing the blade Ginjō had thrust forward, he inserted his own weapon into Ginjō Kūgo's body.
"Ngh..."
Following Ginjō's powerless groan, blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth. His body, depleted entirely, collapsed exhaustedly to his knees.
Accompanied by a metallic clatter, the weapon slipped from his grasp. Having lost the spirit particles Ginjō had injected, it rapidly reverted to its original form as a Substitute Badge.
"Kurosaki, you... have won!"
Ginjō Kūgo's pupils began losing focus. His breathing became extraordinarily labored. At the final moment of his existence, Ginjō surveyed his surroundings and spoke with a bitter smile:
"My fate will become your future, Kurosaki..."
Ultimately, the man who'd caused Ichigo such profound betrayal and anguish departed this world so simply. Even so, Tōshirō stepped forward and declared he would transport the body back to Soul Society—specialized personnel should handle this matter appropriately.
After all, regarding Ginjō Kūgo's case, they served merely as executors and possessed no authority for final judgment.
Ichigo nodded, comprehending perfectly.
Regarding the matter of Ginjō Kūgo, this marked a temporary conclusion. After all, the Gotei 13 captains had traveled here with a secondary objective. After serious consideration, Yamamoto Genryūsai had agreed to restore Shinigami power to Karakura Town's Substitute Shinigami—Kurosaki Ichigo.
When Tōshirō stated this and Rukia stepped forward gripping the spirit blade within her hands, Kurosaki Ichigo discovered that what he'd longed for throughout these years now stood within immediate reach—yet he felt no happiness whatsoever.
It wasn't that Kurosaki Ichigo resisted Shinigami power, nor was he unwilling to become a Substitute Shinigami. Rather, Soul Society's behavior appeared far too contrived to Ichigo after experiencing this series of events.
Not long ago, what Fiander had told him remained vivid within his memory—particularly when the other party stated that once Ichigo attempted gaining new power, Soul Society would definitely take action.
Was this prophecy? Or something else?
Ichigo felt genuinely incredulous. He'd only visited Urahara Kisuke recently, requesting methods to restore his Reiatsu—and the other party had clearly refused him then.
Consequently, when Ginjō Kūgo had approached him claiming methods existed to help him re-cultivate Reiatsu as a human, although the other party possessed ulterior motives, this had at minimum granted Kurosaki Ichigo a glimmer of hope.
Sure enough, when he'd trained new power, Ginjō Kūgo had revealed his true nature. And Soul Society had chosen precisely this moment to inform him that methods existed for becoming a Shinigami once more.
"Ichigo? What are you staring at?"
Just as Kurosaki Ichigo contemplated these questions, standing there blankly, Rukia Kuchiki reminded him with obvious displeasure:
"Ichigo, after Urahara Kisuke's advocacy, the Captain-Commander finally agreed to let you regain Shinigami power. So... do you choose becoming a Shinigami again?"
Because Kurosaki Ichigo still retained Fullbring power within his body presently, Rukia Kuchiki hadn't employed mandatory phrasing regarding becoming a Shinigami. Instead, she inquired once more.
"Shinigami?" Kurosaki Ichigo regarded the spirit blade within Rukia's grasp. He spread his arms wide and grinned broadly. "Then let's do this, Rukia!"
"Just like the first time we met!"
Witnessing that Kurosaki Ichigo had chosen accepting this power, Rukia Kuchiki also released a breath of relief. She nodded toward those positioned in the air above.
Nelliel, positioned aside, appeared melancholic witnessing this scene. She understood that Kurosaki Ichigo had ultimately chosen Soul Society. Perhaps this was precisely why Fiander had chosen standing aside. It seemed he'd already known all of this.
Consequently, Nelliel walked slowly toward Kurosaki Ichigo and declared: "Since you're unharmed, I'll return now, Ichigo!"
"Nelliel..." Ichigo regarded Nelliel with a complicated expression and spoke softly.
"Then, until we meet again!"
After waving toward Kurosaki Ichigo, Nelliel's figure was enveloped by the Garganta that gradually opened behind her. She vanished from Karakura Town before everyone's eyes.
Witnessing Nelliel's departure, Hitsugaya Tōshirō positioned nearby also breathed easier. After all, engaging in conflict with Hueco Mundo at this juncture truly didn't constitute a beneficial measure.
"Reporting to headquarters: Kurosaki Ichigo has agreed to become a Shinigami once more and has accepted the Substitute Badge again!"
After distancing himself from where everyone had gathered, Tōshirō retrieved the communicator within his hand and reported these events to Soul Society.