When Ichigo was fully healed, at last an expression appeared on his face. What began as relief quickly turned to terror! He suddenly sat up from the ground, eyes snapping open as he gasped sharply for breath.
"..."
Realizing he was alive, Ichigo placed a hand on his chest and another on his back, exclaiming in shock, "I'm not dead?!"
"Of course you're not dead," Angra replied lightly. "Originally, your Saketsu and Hakusui points were destroyed, and your backbone was cut off. As a Shinigami, you couldn't even act; even if you survived, you'd just be a useless human."
"But, thank you for completing the emergency rescue, Ukitake."
"Ukitake…?" Ichigo was a little surprised, and only then did he notice Ukitake standing beside Angra.
Ukitake gave a modest smile. "It's not as serious as you say. Even without me, with your spiritual power, you should've been able to recover."
"At that time, most of your spiritual power was used to repair the wound, and you couldn't have gained such evolution."
"Wait… hold on a second." Ichigo cut off Angra's praise, asking somewhat confusedly, "So… what's the situation now?"
"Ukitake is Rukia's former captain. He couldn't bear to see Rukia executed, so he decided to help us," Angra explained. "But now, things have gotten a bit more complicated."
A sudden expression flashed across Ichigo's face. He rarely heard Rukia talk about the Soul Society, and never imagined she still had an old captain.
"Thank you," Ichigo said to Ukitake, though he didn't quite understand what Ukitake meant about 'that ability.'
Just then, Ukitake added quietly, "But Kuchiki Byakuya… from the start, he was truly ruthless. He knew you'd definitely die without treatment."
Ichigo, still a little uncertain, asked, "Angra, what do you mean by 'the situation is complicated'?"
Angra and Ukitake exchanged glances. Ukitake sighed quietly. "Rukia is missing. It seems someone broke into the prison and finished the job before us."
"?!"
Ichigo's pupils shrank. "Someone helped Rukia?!"
"Perhaps not 'helped'," Ukitake said solemnly. "I've received news—there are other forces in the Soul Society who have taken advantage of this opportunity to act. They may not have 'saved' Rukia at all."
"..."
Ichigo was about to speak when he suddenly sensed a strange presence. Not just him, Angra's brows furrowed too. All three of them felt a powerful spiritual pressure appear outside!
Ukitake's face changed. "What? Have we been discovered?"
"..." Angra was silent for a moment, then said, "Seems so."
"There are five captain-level spiritual pressures, and there's a captain heading this way."
"I'll go check right now!" Ukitake was about to rush out, but Angra stopped him and shook his head. "No need to go out. Someone's already here."
As expected, as Angra's voice lowered, a figure appeared in the hall. It was none other than Ukitake's friend, Kyōraku Shunsui!
"Shunsui!" Ukitake exclaimed in surprise. "Why are you here?"
"Oh, is that so… Seems the great journey has brought you here." Kyōraku Shunsui first glanced at Kurosaki Ichigo and Angra Manyu, then murmured, "Will you tell me your purpose?"
"..." Ukitake was silent for a while, then said, "Let's be clear. We can't let Rukia be executed by Central 46."
"If it were before, I might have agreed with you," Kyōraku Shunsui replied, shaking his head. "But now, I can't help you. Rukia's existence is a threat to the Soul Society. Her execution by Central 46 is justified."
"!" Ukitake couldn't believe Kyōraku Shunsui would say such a thing. "Why?!"
"Even leaving aside the escape, we don't know what happened, but after she escaped from prison, she attacked the 13th Division, gravely injuring Captain Soi Fon. This counts as betrayal."
"At that time, many Shinigami witnessed the scene. There's no room to refute Rukia's crimes."
"Rukia, she never wanted to do this!" Ukitake insisted.
"That doesn't matter, Ukitake," Shunsui sighed. "The threat to the Soul Society must be eliminated."
"Moreover, Rukia can't control her power at all. If she lets go, who knows how many Shinigami would die? She must be eliminated."
Ukitake's eyes were filled with disbelief at Shunsui's words. He said quietly, "Then let me ask you—if this happened to Ise, what would you choose?"
"..." Shunsui was at a loss for words, shaking his head with a bitter smile. "That's why I understand your feelings… but right now, I'm responsible for the safety of the Soul Society."
"Currently, the Soul Society is in danger. Several captains have been attacked for no reason. We must resolve this quickly, or who knows what will happen next."
"I see…" Hearing Shunsui's words, Ukitake realized they could no longer stand together on this matter. He asked quietly, "Is Old Yamamoto here too?"
"Yes, but we're not after you," Shunsui replied. "See you later."
In a flash, he turned and left.
"?" Ichigo was confused by Shunsui's sudden departure. "What's going on? Why did he leave?"
"Because their goal is Rukia," Angra explained. "They want to use us as bait to lure the missing Rukia out."
"!!!"
Ichigo's face changed. They'd come to help Rukia, but now Rukia was being lured out to help them? "We have to hurry and get out!"
Easier said than done—how could they break through with so many captains present? Ukitake knew this was almost impossible, but Angra's expression didn't change.
"Ukitake, wait to bring Kurosaki Ichigo to the Sōkyoku. There's a secret space there."
"I've placed the Tenshintai there. After you leave, use the Tenshintai Body to help him train. Only by mastering the power of Bankai can he break out of the siege together with Rukia."
Ukitake frowned, but said, "Let's get out of here first."
"Of course, I'll get you out," Angra replied. Turning around, the next moment, a powerful spiritual pressure began to radiate from his body.
Black spiritual pressure surged like a tornado, like a churning whirlpool at sea. Feeling this, Ukitake and Ichigo's eyes widened!
Especially Ichigo—at that moment, Angra's pressure made him feel like a lonely boat adrift on the ocean. The power was truly overwhelming!
So strong… Is this the strength of Mr. Angra?!
Angra Manyu was known to have defeated captains, but even then, his power was still too much. Not only them, but the captains surrounding them outside were also shocked by this pressure.
"I'll hold them off," Angra said in a low voice. "Ukitake, take Ichigo and go! Now!"
With that, he gave them no chance to refuse and instantly vanished.
He appeared in the sky, a vast spirit condensed into black wings behind him, spreading out and blotting out the sky, as if even the sun's radiance was obscured.
It looked like black rain was falling from the sky—it was Angra's spiritual pressure, dark as ink.
!
Kyōraku Shunsui, who had just left, couldn't help but look back in shock. That pressure was cold, strong, and carried considerable malice, making people shudder.
Yamamoto no longer squinted, staring wide-eyed at the dark wings above, his blade already released in his hand.
Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tōsen, Kuchiki Byakuya, and Zaraki Kenpachi—other captains—all looked up at Angra in the sky.
At that moment, as all gazes converged on Angra, Ukitake and Ichigo broke through in a flash!
They chose the direction of Zaraki Kenpachi, knowing he wouldn't stop them.
Sure enough!
When the two rushed over, Zaraki didn't even look at them, excitement on his face. He took off his mask with one hand and leapt into the air, slashing at Angra Manyu!
With no captain in their way, Ukitake and Ichigo broke out of the encirclement at once.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted behind them, black liquid in the sky colliding with burning red flames, as if the entire sky and earth were scorched.
They glanced back at the battlefield, but could only accelerate forward. Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead.
"Heh, really betraying us, Ukitake," Mayuri sneered coldly. "You're actually escaping together with Ryoka. No dignity as a Shinigami at all?"
"Mayuri," Ukitake said in a low voice, "Are you going to stop us?"
"Otherwise, why would I come?"
"Ichigo, go ahead and meet at the old place," Ukitake whispered. "Don't waste time here. Angra and I will be fine."
Ichigo understood he was being held back. Gritting his teeth, he said no more, dashing past Mayuri as before.
This was his second encounter with Mayuri. The first time, Angra blocked him, the second, Ukitake.
"Oh? You don't seem that interested in him?" Ukitake had thought Mayuri would block Ichigo, and couldn't help but ask in surprise.
"How could that be?" Mayuri smiled. "That boy is a treasure; I could tell at a glance. One of the people we're seeking."
"Who are you seeking?" Ukitake was momentarily stunned. "What do you mean?"
Of course, Mayuri didn't answer, only saying lightly, "Well then. Now it's the two of us."
…
The first level was blocked by Angra, the second by Ukitake Jūshirō. Only Ichigo remained.
He immediately ran toward the direction of the Twin Hills, their agreed meeting spot.
He didn't know the exact place, but Ukitake had shown him the way before, saying he'd easily find it if he ran in this direction.
But the farther he ran, the more uneasy he felt.
He wanted to protect others, but in reality, he was relying on their protection to escape. This sense of powerlessness made him deeply uncomfortable.
In a trance, suddenly a blade approached!
Ichigo instinctively flashed backward—the flash saved his life, as a blade slashed right before him.
"?!"
Ichigo's pupils shrank as a… child appeared before him.
A child?
The child's face was wrinkled and his eyes looked innocent, but recalling the speed and ruthlessness of that previous strike, Ichigo couldn't help but marvel at the coldness.
"You're Kurosaki Ichigo, right?" the child said respectfully. "My master has asked me to test your strength."
He seemed to respect Ichigo a lot, and Ichigo couldn't help but reply in a low voice, "Who are you? Who is your master?"
"My name is Hikone," the child answered honestly. "The one who asked me to come is Lord Tokinada!"
Tokinada? Who's that? Ichigo was sure he'd never heard the name, and said lowly, "Who sent you doesn't matter—just don't come any closer!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that. I have to carry out my master's orders." As soon as Hikone finished, he appeared in front of Ichigo in a flash.
Ichigo also quickly drew his blade, clashing fiercely.
Ichigo's blade was thick and powerful, while Hikone's was quite small, but he could block Ichigo's attacks with just one hand!
Suddenly, Hikone extended his other hand, palm pointed at Ichigo, and in the next moment, a phantom flash began to condense!
What?! A Cero?!
Ichigo was shocked. He'd seen Cero before, but… how could a Shinigami use a Cero?! Was this kid an Arrancar?!
Ichigo hurriedly dodged, barely avoiding the Cero, but was so focused on the flash that he ignored Hikone's blade!
In an instant, Hikone appeared before Ichigo, slashing at his body!
…