Somewhere in Ichigo's soul, he, acknowledging Orihime's cries, orders himself to get up and protect Orihime. With that command, his body is reanimated: not in his original form, but in a new Hollow form, because Zangetsu already told Ichigo that he'll take control of his body when he is in danger.
Stating Ichigo should be dead, Ulquiorra asks how he has taken this form. Ichigo does not reply, and instead, using telekinesis to retrieve Tensa Zangetsu, lets out a loud, Hollow-like roar.
Concluding Ichigo cannot understand him, Ulquiorra uses his Cero Oscuras, but Ichigo counters by using his own Cero, powerful enough to deflect the Espada's, prompting Ulquiorra to deny a human can use Cero, no matter how much they look like a Hollow.
Far away on the last tower top, two figures were witnessing the battle with calm expressions on their faces, the roar of the Cero and the clang of steel sounding distant and hollow against the wind rushing over the top of the dome.
"Brother, it seems he became a hollow," Nel commented in surprise, looking at the monstrous, bone-white form of Ichigo and the demonic silhouette of Ulquiorra.
Eero nodded, his gaze unwavering as he watched the two titans clash. He glanced from Ichigo to the transformed Ulquiorra. "I already knew Ichigo had the potential of becoming a hollow, but I am more impressed by Ulquiorra's potential as a hollow; his awakening path is amazing. The first awakening increased his strength by two times, and the second awakening increased it by four. We can also try following such an awakening path in our future transformations."
Nel was surprised hearing Eero's words, turned, and glanced at Ulquiorra's second awakening form with a thoughtful look on her face, a new depth of interest sparked in her eyes.
Eero pushed off the pillar, the stone grating under his boot. His voice, now low and firm, was the sound of a plan being executed. "Let's go; I can't let this Ulquiorra die. His understanding of Hollow evolution is a valuable data point. We can ask him about the evolution of the way he is following."
Eero spoke and then moved forward; the next moment, his figure disappeared with a purple flash, the signature sonído tearing a seam in the air, and he reappeared in the maelstrom of the collapsing dome, positioned precisely beside the berserk Ichigo.
Ichigo in berserk mode wanted to grab Ulquiorra's face; the next moment, Eero appeared beside him and grabbed his claw.
"Grrrrr," Ichigo roared and tilted his head, aiming his horn toward Eero's face, and a red cero ball condensed in the middle of his horns.
Ulquiorra was also startled by Eero's sudden appearance.
Eero raised his brow, looking at the red cero ball in front of him, then he raised his other hand; instantly, a small void gap appeared in front of him, opening like a zip and swallowing the red cero.
Then the gap closed, revealing the calm expression of Eero behind, while the red cero released by Ichigo completely disappeared.
Ulquiorra became speechless looking at the way Eero dealt with the Ichigo Cero, which even surpassed his Cero in power.
Ichigo roared again; his figure displaced and appeared in front of Eero and waved the zanpakuto toward his head.
He didn't care about Ulquiorra now because he felt challenged after Eero dealt with his cero so easily.
Force step!
Eero smiled playfully, and then his displaced figure appeared beside Ichigo, avoiding his slash, and he grabbed one of his horns and turned around, throwing him toward the towers far away.
Crack!
Bang! Bang!! Bang!!!
Ichigo's figure flew and pierced through the towers one by one and fell beside Orihime and Uryu.
Boom!
Instantly, dust scattered around; Orihime activated the shield in front of her, looking at Ichigo with an anxious expression.
"Ichigo-kun," Orihime muttered and then hurriedly ran forward toward the crater on the roof in front of her.
I'll
On the other hand, Ulquiorra glanced at the broken horn and mask piece in Eero's hand silently, and then he glanced at Ichigo lying on the roof far away.
"Why did you interfere in our battle?"
Ulquiorra turned and glanced at him expressionlessly.
Eero glanced at the broken mask in his hand, which was dissipating slowly; he waved his hand, threw it away, then turned and glanced at Ulquiorra and spoke,
"I didn't interfere in your battle; instead, I saved your life. In exchange, I want to know about your evolutionary path. How did you evolve your form a second time?"
Eero replied, looking at him calmly. Ulquiorra was startled and fell silent, then he turned and glanced at Ichigo, who stood up again on the roof with a broken mask, looking at them.
While Uryu and Orihime were standing behind him looking at Eero nervously, they didn't expect another Espada to show up, and he looks much stronger than Ulquiorra.
Ichigo stared at him for a while, and then he turned around, picked up Orihime, and flew away while reminding Uryu, who was standing beside her,
"Uryu, let's go; we have to leave here."
Uryu and Orihime were startled, and then Uryu hurriedly followed him and asked, looking at long hair retracting back to their original form,
"What happened to you, Ichigo?"
Orihime was also surprised looking at the hole in the middle of Ichigo's chest, which is regenerating and repaired.
"I don't know, but we can't stay here."
Ichigo replied and then flew downwardly toward Los Noches ground, leaving behind Ulquiorra and Eero standing silently above in the void.
"Why did you let them run away?" Ulquiorra asked, looking at Ichigo running away along with Orihime and Uryu.
Eero shook his head and replied, "There is a huge difference between giant and ant steps; no matter how far they can run, I will reach them in a step. Anyway, your evolution is more important for me than their lives."
Ulquiorra fell silent and then nodded, replying,
"Anyway, I already lost; I won't care about them anymore. As for my evolution, it is directed toward the power of regeneration. I just overload my power with hollow power, and it transforms, regenerating my physique into a new form, which is suitable for that overloaded hollow power."
After speaking, Ulquiorra spread his wing and flew toward the tower below.
Eero glanced at his back thoughtfully, and then he looked at the confused expression of Nel beside him and explained,
"He is using the regeneration as a catalyst and hollow as an energy to regenerate a powerful form. It really is another way of evolution."
Nel nodded thoughtfully but still couldn't understand his words; Eero shook his head; he knew she didn't understand anything but didn't care.
"Let's go; it's time to leave the Hueco Mundo; the Aizen demise is near." Eero then spoke and waved his hand; instantly, Giganta opened like a zip in front of him.
He walked inside; Nel, following him, both disappeared from the skies of Hueco Mundo.
…