It wasn't just Senna and the others—Shirayuki, who had been cut down by Byakuya earlier, also reappeared on the battlefield!
Behind Sode no Shirayuki, all the rebellious Zanpakutō and their Shinigami wielders had arrived in the World of the Living!
Meanwhile, Old Man Yamamoto, along with Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō, was still being grilled by Ryūjin Jakka's flames. So yeah, it seemed Ryūjin Jakka was just throwing a little tantrum...
Even if Muramasa hadn't swayed him, one day Ryūjin Jakka would probably have lost his patience on its own!
With the captains, lieutenants, and their powerful Zanpakutō joining the fight, the tide completely turned.
Although the number of Hollows was overwhelming, under the relentless attacks of the captains, lieutenants, and powerful Zanpakutō, the Menos were quickly held at bay.
However, when the other Zanpakutō saw Byakuya, who had previously betrayed the Gotei 13, they all expressed their unwillingness to fight alongside him.
They still couldn't understand why Byakuya did what he did!
But as the black void continued to expand, threatening to engulf them all, they had no choice but to unite. Without working together, there was no way they could stop the enormous Hollow horde!
Especially considering the main fighting forces were still unavailable—
Yamamoto Genryūsai, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Ukitake Jūshirō were still playing with Ryūjin Jakka.
Unohana Retsu was busy providing medical support for Squad Four.
And Ichigo was still trapped in Muramasa's world.
To prevent the further expansion of the Garganta, Byakuya and Senbonzakura stepped forward, using their own spiritual pressure to forcibly suppress and close the Garganta!
Even though Byakuya and Senbonzakura had already battled Kōga Kuchiki, Muramasa, and the Hollow horde, they still possessed overwhelming spiritual pressure!
With the combined pressure of one man and one blade, the Garganta was actually temporarily suppressed!
The other Shinigami and Zanpakutō didn't just stand by and watch. They joined the effort, and with everyone working together, the Garganta was finally closed.
Meanwhile...
Ichigo, who had been swallowed by the Garganta, fell into an endless ocean.
Other than the shattered stone pillars floating above the water, there was nothing else.
This was Muramasa's inner world.
In this world, Muramasa appeared without any change, calmly explaining the origins of this place to Ichigo.
"This is the inner world of Kōga Kuchiki, the place where he lived for decades."
Muramasa sighed as he watched the stone pillars in the ocean crumble and collapse.
"It seems this world is about to collapse soon... because of Kōga's death and my will gradually being devoured by the Hollows."
After speaking, Muramasa curiously glanced at Ichigo. After all, the ability to enter someone's inner world wasn't something just anyone could do.
Ichigo didn't have the corresponding power, so how had he arrived here?
Muramasa didn't dwell on it. Instead, he drew a Zanpakutō from the void!
"Kurosaki Ichigo, since you're here... let's settle this!"
With that, Muramasa raised his Zanpakutō and slashed at the suspended Ichigo!
Ichigo frowned, puzzled.
"Muramasa, you don't have any reason to fight me anymore, do you?"
But Muramasa didn't answer. He continued his fierce assault on Ichigo!
"Answer me, Muramasa!"
Ichigo roared, striking Muramasa away with a single slash.
But Muramasa still said nothing. He simply extended his right hand, trying to use Bakudō to bind Ichigo!
Too bad for him!
Ichigo had already figured out the trick behind that technique!
Before the Bakudō could bind him, Ichigo raised his massive Zanpakutō and swung it, splitting the ocean in two!
With the ocean's reflection gone, the so-called binding technique lost its foundation and couldn't take effect!
"Hmph! Kurosaki Ichigo, you really are a genius... but what about this move?"
Muramasa lunged at Ichigo again, slashing ferociously!
Ichigo instinctively swung his Zanpakutō, but when his blade touched Muramasa, he realized it was just an illusion!
This was Kōga Kuchiki's Five Senses Manipulation technique!
The real Muramasa had already appeared behind Ichigo, swinging his Zanpakutō down with a fierce slash!
But what Muramasa didn't expect was—
The Tensa Zangetsu in Ichigo's right hand and the white Zanpakutō in his left moved on their own without him even reacting!
Clang!
The two blades crossed, blocking Muramasa's strike!
For a brief moment, the shadows of Zangetsu and Hollow Ichigo appeared behind Ichigo!
"What?!"
Muramasa's pupils contracted in shock.
He hadn't expected his move to be so easily countered!
"Getsuga... Tenshō!"
A black Getsuga Tenshō swallowed Muramasa whole.
Had this not been the inner world, that strike would've taken Muramasa's life!
Fortunately, in the inner world, Muramasa only suffered light injuries.
But with all his techniques being countered, Muramasa couldn't even lay a finger on Ichigo!
Enraged, Muramasa launched a flurry of wild attacks!
This mindless frenzy, of course, posed no threat to Ichigo.
Watching Muramasa fall onto a crumbling stone pillar, Ichigo looked up at the collapsing inner world around them.
Zangetsu spoke gravely:
"This place holds the concepts of Hollows that Muramasa has been absorbing all this time. Now, those concepts want to destroy him. We have to leave quickly, Ichigo, or you'll be in danger too!"
But just then, Muramasa, who had been knocked down, was crushed by falling rocks and sank into the ocean below.
In the cold, dark waters, Muramasa couldn't hear a sound.
Or rather... he couldn't hear the one sound he wanted most to hear.
That of Kōga's voice.
But another voice pierced through the deep sea and reached Muramasa's ears.
Ichigo's voice.
"Muramasa! Muramasa!"
The sound snapped him out of it.
He leapt from the freezing sea and landed once again atop a stone pillar!
"Why...? Why can I hear your voice...?"
Muramasa looked at Ichigo in disbelief.
"Muramasa, no matter what, I'll always be together with Zangetsu. It's not just me—my friends, the captains, all Shinigami and Zanpakutō—our bonds are irreplaceable."
"You, of all people, should understand this better than anyone! So why are you doing something that tramples your own honor?"
Muramasa's defenses crumbled.
"You have no right to lecture me! This... this is the essence of my power!"
"Is it really the essence of your power to force submission with strength alone?"
Those words struck Muramasa like a lightning bolt.
"Don't you think... it's not necessary to conform to the Shinigami in everything?"
Hearing that, Muramasa's heart trembled!
"Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Muramasa charged at Ichigo with a roar, and Ichigo also raised Tensa Zangetsu and his white Zanpakutō for the final clash!
Their blades crossed in a burst of energy, and Muramasa... truly lost.
"How ironic... the voice that reached my heart turned out to be yours, Kurosaki Ichigo..."
Muramasa muttered as he sank into the ocean.
But this time, the hand he reached out with was grasped by Ichigo.
"Zangetsu, Zangetsu, is there any way to save Muramasa?"
Ichigo asked.
"There is, Ichigo. But... are you really prepared for this?" Zangetsu replied.
"He was once another person's Zanpakutō."
White Ichigo added, "Yeah, are you sure you're ready for this?"
Ichigo smiled.
"Kōga is already dead. Muramasa is nothing more than a masterless Zanpakutō now. Just like Senna's Mirokumaru—if he can hear my voice, it means we're perfectly compatible!"
Hearing that, both Zangetsu and White Ichigo nodded.
They materialized beside Muramasa.
"Looks like we're getting a new roommate!"
White Ichigo said with a shrug.
Zangetsu added, "Then Ichigo, link your spiritual pressure with his. As long as he doesn't reject it, he'll become your Zanpakutō."
Ichigo nodded.
Without hesitation, he linked his spiritual pressure with Muramasa's unsteady form.
There was no resistance.
Muramasa quietly accepted Ichigo's control.
"So... this is the feeling of souls merging?"
Muramasa opened his eyes, a rare moment of clarity shining through.
"I... I led Kōga astray, didn't I?"
He said in a low voice, dejected.
"Everyone makes mistakes. If you've made one, just fix it."
Ichigo replied.
With that, Muramasa's physical form vanished, transforming back into a Zanpakutō.
Ichigo picked up Muramasa and sheathed him.
As Muramasa returned to his sealed form, all the reanimated Zanpakutō also returned to their Shinigami wielders.
"How long will it take for him to recover?"
Ichigo asked.
"At least half a month. Even with your spiritual pressure helping him, Muramasa's spirit body has been too badly damaged by the Hollows."
Zangetsu answered.
"Yeah, and during this time, we won't be able to lend you our power, Ichigo. We'll need to stabilize him and make sure Zangetsu doesn't reject him."
White Ichigo added.
Ichigo nodded.
"Sorry... it was my recklessness."
White Ichigo shook his head.
"You're the King, Ichigo. It's our job to follow you."
With that, both Zangetsu and White Ichigo returned into Ichigo's Zanpakutō.
Seeing Ichigo return, Rukia and Senna rushed toward him.
"Ichigo!"
"Are you okay?"
Ichigo hugged them both, smiling.
"Sorry for making you worry. It's all over now."
Relieved, Rukia and Senna checked Ichigo from head to toe. Seeing that he was uninjured, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good."
Soi Fon also stepped forward.
"Since you're fine, we should return to Soul Society. Ichigo, thanks for your help this time."
Ichigo shook his head slightly.
"I have a lot of friends in the Gotei 13. Helping friends is something I'm more than willing to do."
Byakuya also stepped forward.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, thank you. It was because of you that I was able to protect the honor of the Kuchiki Clan. From today onward, anyone who stands against you... is my enemy."
The rest of the Shinigami thought the same thing:
"Wow, no pretense at all! You're really trying to make Ichigo the Kuchiki Clan's son-in-law, huh?"
Rukia blushed, but she didn't say anything.
"We'll be heading back first, Ichigo."
Hitsugaya Tōshirō also said.
"Yeah, I won't go back to Soul Society just yet. I've been away for days, and my family must be worried."
Ichigo replied.
"Ichigo, I'll return to Soul Society for a few days and come back to the World of the Living later."
Rukia added.
After all, even though the situation with Byakuya was resolved by defeating Kōga, they still had to report to Yamamoto Genryūsai and the Central 46.
Even though the current Central 46 was much more docile, it was still necessary for Byakuya to explain things.
"Understood."
Ichigo nodded, knowing that the battle might be over, but the work wasn't.
Senna also smiled and said,
"Don't worry. I'll go back with Rukia. If anything comes up, we'll contact you immediately!"
Hearing that, Ichigo gave an awkward smile.
After all, the last time they said that, Muramasa showed up...
Still, Ichigo refused to believe he'd have such bad luck all the time!
"Alright. Please also tell Unohana that I didn't get a chance to visit her this time because of how rushed everything was."
"Got it."
Senna replied with a smile.
Besides, Riruka also wanted to consult Unohana—she was already qualified to begin training for her Bankai, and no one understood how to use a Zanpakutō better than Unohana!
"Then we'll get going."
With that, Rukia and Senna waved to Ichigo before stepping through the Senkaimon with the others.
Once they were all gone, Ichigo turned to the others.
"Let's head back too."
Ryūnosuke shrugged.
"This had nothing to do with me anyway!"
Orihime smiled awkwardly.
"Well... it was all Soul Society stuff. We don't really have much connection to the Gotei 13, do we?"
Chad said nothing.
And Uryū? He didn't say a word either. His spiritual powers still hadn't fully recovered, and he was relying on his grandfather's equipment.
Who knew when he might lose his powers again...
(End of Chapter)
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