Seeing the purple ice dragon coiled by the blue dragon, Ichigo didn't hesitate at all.
"Getsuga… Tenshō!"
A black crescent slash directly split the purple ice dragon in half!
But such damage wasn't fatal to the Crown, who had fused with the Royal Seal.
A flash of golden light appeared at the yellow mark on the dragon's forehead. The purple ice dragon that had been split in two instantly reformed.
Rather than regeneration, it was more like… time had reversed!
Byakuya stepped forward as well.
"Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
With his Bankai activated, countless cherry blossom blades swarmed around the purple ice dragon.
"Go, Ichigo! Deliver the finishing blow!" Byakuya shouted.
Seeing the purple ice dragon struggling to break free, Hitsugaya transformed into a blue ice dragon himself and tightly coiled around it.
"Now, Ichigo!" Hitsugaya roared.
"Haaah!"
Ichigo channeled all his spiritual pressure into his Tensa Zangetsu.
"Getsuga… Tenshō!!"
A massive crescent slash struck the purple ice dragon's head dead-on—hitting the Royal Seal directly!
A flash of golden light surged!
Ichigo's Zanpakutō seemed to absorb something.
The Royal Seal eerily flowed along Ichigo's Zanpakutō… and entered his body.
But no one noticed!
Amidst the shattered remnants of the purple ice dragon, another Royal Seal was left behind.
The Crown, now covered in wounds, stood barely upright—facing Hitsugaya.
He looked like someone at death's door.
"Hitsugaya… it's truly good to see you again."
This time, the Crown's words had no hostility—only calm.
"Crown! Are you alright?" Hitsugaya immediately released his Bankai and stepped forward to support the falling Soujirou.
The Crown coughed twice—his spirit body already beginning to fade.
"I saw… the real memories, Hitsugaya."
The Crown's words made Hitsugaya's pupils shrink!
"Someone tampered with my memories… made me think Hyōrinmaru was my Zanpakutō… but the truth is… my Zanpakutō was never released. Cough, cough… Hitsugaya… be careful… Kamo… Kamiyashiro…"
Before he could finish, the Crown Soujirou turned into spirit particles and disappeared.
"Crown!!" Hitsugaya cried out in pain.
But he etched that name deep in his heart—Kamiyashiro!
One of the Four Great Noble Houses—Kamiyashiro Clan!
So they were the ones behind everything…
Ichigo sighed, picked up the Royal Seal on the ground and handed it to Hitsugaya.
Hitsugaya silently took it, nodded, and left.
"Kamiyashiro, huh…"
The others hadn't heard the name—but Ichigo had. Clearly, Soujirou's fate was tightly tied to that name.
But Ichigo didn't yet understand the weight of those three syllables in Soul Society.
With the matter resolved, Ichigo returned once more to the World of the Living.
Rukia and Senna's training still hadn't ended.
Each time it came down to the wire, the two of them couldn't offer any help. That left them both feeling extremely frustrated.
And it wasn't just them—the whole Living World Squad hadn't had a real fight in a long time…
If the Kakura Clan incident was still within the range of "party leveling," then the Zanpakutō rebellion arc was on another level entirely—Ichigo nearly got taken out by Muramasa!
As for this battle…
It left Tatsuki and the others wondering if they were even able to keep up with Ichigo anymore.
And Uryū Ishida? He was in full shutdown mode.
His spiritual tools had run out of energy and couldn't be used anymore—now he couldn't even see Hollows properly!
School had finally started again.
Ichigo slung his backpack over his shoulder and sighed.
"I'm the son-in-law of the Kuchiki Clan, apprentice to the 4th Division's Captain, savior of Soul Society…"
But then he lowered his head and looked at his right palm—there was a yellow mark there.
He had only discovered it after returning from Soul Society.
He, Zangetsu, Hollow Ichigo, and Muramasa had spent several nights in his inner world analyzing it—only to confirm it was indeed a Royal Seal.
Ichigo had nearly chopped his own hand off in panic.
After all, using the Royal Seal was said to shorten one's life…!
But strangely, this mark didn't seem to have any side effects at all.
At least, the three entities inside him hadn't found any evidence of it draining his life or spiritual pressure. In fact, the yellow mark was slowly reinforcing his inner world.
Almost as if… it was acknowledging Ichigo as part of this world.
That left Ichigo very puzzled.
He clearly remembered throwing the Royal Seal to Hitsugaya… and Soul Society had confirmed it too!
So how did he end up with another one?
Ichigo couldn't figure it out, but didn't dwell on it either.
After all, if those three inside him all said it was harmless, who else could be more trustworthy?
So Ichigo decided to test out the power of the Royal Seal for himself.
World of the Living — Yoruichi's secluded residence.
Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke didn't live together.
So when Ichigo used the Royal Seal's power to instantly teleport there… what he saw was—
Yoruichi in the bath.
"Oh? It's Ichigo. Want to join me?" Yoruichi teased boldly, showing off her curves without shame.
"See ya!!"
Ichigo turned and bolted. Sure, he'd already had his fair share of women, but that didn't mean he'd jump Yoruichi in this situation.
Honestly, their relationship hadn't reached that point yet.
In fact, he wasn't even as close to Yoruichi as he was to Soi Fon—mainly because Soi Fon kept throwing herself at him…
Back in Soul Society—
After a long day, Soi Fon stretched her waist—only to suddenly sense another presence in her room.
Instinctively, her hand went to her Zanpakutō.
But then she heard a familiar voice.
"Soi Fon, it's me."
Hearing Ichigo's voice, she relaxed only slightly—until she turned and saw him. Then she truly let her guard down.
"Wait, Ichigo, didn't you go back to the World of the Living? Why are you suddenly behind me?"
Ichigo shrugged.
"I just developed a new ability. I can freely travel between both worlds now. So if you miss me—"
Soi Fon lit up.
"Really?! That means I can visit Yoruichi-sama whenever I—ah!"
Before she could finish, Ichigo picked her up.
"What's wrong, Ichigo?" she asked, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Let's not talk for now—I'm seriously on fire."
After getting teased by Yoruichi, Ichigo couldn't hold it in anymore.
So Soi Fon… ended up paying the price for Yoruichi's teasing.
After a whole night of passion, Ichigo gradually figured out the Royal Seal's powers.
As for Soi Fon…
Well, she became the first official user of the Royal Seal's treatment effect.
After getting "pounded" for half the night, she experienced the healing powers of the Royal Seal.
It really did feel like time reversal.
To be more accurate—it was even closer to Orihime's ability.
Except Orihime's power rejects phenomena—whereas this one...
Still, for someone like Ichigo, with such high stats, suddenly gaining this kind of power really gave him a headache.
Of course, Soi Fon wouldn't spill the beans.
She'd already proven her loyalty—this was someone who was willing to betray Soul Society for Yoruichi. The fact that she hadn't moved to the World of the Living to marry Ichigo already was a sign of restraint!
Still, Soi Fon was also thinking strategically—Ichigo had plenty of girls around him, all of them exceptional. She needed something unique to stand out.
And she wasn't the only one paying attention.
Unohana was also observing.
She was clearly intrigued by Ichigo's new power.
Not only that, but she'd noticed Ichigo's mysterious spatial ability from before—it wasn't a transportation power… but rather, a destruction one.
It was extreme spatial rupture!
Unohana's biggest weakness right now was the same as Aizen's: lack of raw destructive power.
Slashing with a Zanpakutō wasn't going to cut it forever.
Now, with Ichigo's strength…
She had plans to continue improving herself.
Even if that meant… squeezing Ichigo dry.
Maybe it was because she'd been asleep for a thousand years—but Unohana's appetite in this area was clearly much higher than Soi Fon's.
It could also be because she lost in battle—and now wanted to win on another battlefield.
Judging from Ichigo's floating walk to school the next morning…
Let's just say, last night's battle against the first Kenpachi ended in a narrow victory.
But Tatsuki wasn't happy seeing Ichigo in such a "loose" state.
More and more girls were appearing around him lately, and she felt wronged.
She'd known him the longest… protected him the most…
So why was it turning out like this?
Still, back in the World of the Living…
"Kurosaki Ichigo?"
A yellow-haired guy floating in the sky looked down at him.
If Ichigo hadn't sensed no hostility, that guy would've been punched out of the sky.
"Class, we have a new transfer student today! Everyone, please welcome him!"
Another transfer student?
Ichigo sighed.
"There sure are a lot of them lately…"
But Ichigo wasn't focused on the new student.
Not until the guy entered the room—and Ichigo's spiritual senses picked up a faint signature.
His eyes narrowed.
"Another one after me?"
The transfer student bowed to everyone, then wrote his name on the blackboard.
"Hirako Shinji. That's my name!"
He flashed his giant buck teeth with a wide grin.
"Alright, Hirako-kun, you'll be sitting next to Ichigo."
Hirako nodded and sat beside Ichigo.
"Looking forward to working with you, Kurosaki Ichigo-kun."
Ichigo was stunned.
This guy wasn't even trying to hide it?!
"…Sure. Likewise," Ichigo replied calmly.
That night, Ichigo was doing his usual patrol around Karakura Town.
"So boring… maybe I should go to Soul Society and visit Rukia and Senna…"
But before he could act on that thought—
A man suddenly descended from the sky.
Ichigo sensed hostile intent and swung his Zanpakutō backward.
Clang!
Seeing who it was, Ichigo frowned.
"Hirako Shinji? Seriously? First day and you couldn't wait?"
Shinji didn't seem offended by Ichigo's words. He backed off and smiled.
"Relax, Ichigo. I'm not your enemy. Yes, I came for you—but I bear no ill will. In fact… we're the same."
That left Ichigo stunned.
"…Who the hell is 'we?'"
Even though he had all sorts of powers now, he always considered himself human.
"Human? You think you're human?" Shinji burst into laughter.
"Come on, just look at yourself."
Ichigo sighed and shook his head.
"If you've got something to say, say it. I don't have time for this nonsense."
Seeing Ichigo getting impatient, Shinji smirked.
"Just take a look at this. After you see it… you'll understand."
With that, a white mask formed in Shinji's hand.
Ichigo froze.
"…A Hollow mask?"
He knew exactly what it was—but this was the first time… he saw someone else summon one.
(End of Chapter)
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