Chapter 64 Hueco Mundo Prepares For Battle (Part 2)
"Ichigo? "
Upon spotting Kurosaki Ichigo, who had been missing for months, Arisawa Tatsuki rushed over, vaulted over the guardrail, and landed in front of him.
"Tatsuki? ! "
Seeing the concerned girl with sweat streaming down her face, Kurosaki Ichigo asked, filled with worry.
"Did something happen? "
At this point, Ichigo had reverted to his normal attire.
"Kurosaki, I need to ask you something, and I hope you'll be honest! "
"Alright. "
After a brief moment of thought, Kurosaki Ichigo consented to her request.
"I won't ask about what you and Sado are involved in; I don't care and I'm not curious,"
"But where is she ? Since you left, Inoue has been lost in thought daily, even drifting through her classes.
And now, having been absent from school for weeks, where on earth is Inoue? "
Following the incident where Ulquiorra brought Yammy to the human world, Arisawa Tatsuki realized that her classmates were far from ordinary.
The anxious expression on the girl's face filled Kurosaki Ichigo with guilt, recalling how he had gone to the Soul Society to rescue Rukia.
Inoue Orihime had followed Ichigo to the Soul Society because he wanted to save her.
If he had known beforehand that their trip to the Soul Society could lead to their deaths, and without Aizen's intentions to use them as distractions, it could have resulted in disaster.
Once they entered Rukongai, any captain could have taken their lives.
Reflecting on this, Ichigo displayed an expression of turmoil, but soon resolved to look at Arisawa Tatsuki with determination and declared,
"Don't worry, Tatsuki, I will bring Inoue back safely. "
"Safely? So something has indeed happened to her? "
Ichigo's remarks made her, who had been anxious and distressed, feel profoundly unsettled.
Clutching his collar, tears began to flow uncontrollably from her eyes.
"Why… why does Inoue always get caught up in your troubles? She's so fragile; she constantly compromises her feelings for you and ends up doing things she doesn't want to do.
"If something happens to Inoue…You'll carry guilt for the rest of your life, Kurosaki! ! ! "
After finishing her outburst, she forcefully pushed Kurosaki Ichigo away and ran off in another direction alone.
"Tatsuki…"
Watching the girl disappear from view, Kurosaki Ichigo felt a resolve tighten within him.
She was correct; both he and she understood the kind of person Inoue was, yet, due to his actions, he continuously involved that delicate girl in perilous situations.
Inoue had bravely entered the Soul Society for his sake but had fallen victim to two Arrancars.
Why should he lose faith over this?
Just wait for me, Inoue; I'm on my way!
Suddenly, Kurosaki Ichigo felt a surge of excitement and dashed toward the assembly point where Hirako and the Visored were waiting.
In Hueco Mundo, within the cave where Fiander was recovering,
After three days of harnessing the power of the Hōgyoku, Fiander's soul, which had been on the brink of collapse, started to regain its stability.
While his body hadn't reverted to its former condition, at least it hadn't continued to decline.
At this moment, as Fiander shut his eyes to clear his mind, the blue, ice crystal-like godhead nestled in his consciousness, dormant for centuries, began to pulsate.
"Boom—boom—boom—"
As Fiander's heart beat with strength and regularity, the godhead emitted an inexplicable wave that enveloped the entirety of Fiander's being.
At that instant, Fiander tightly closed his eyes, and the surroundings within several kilometers flashed vividly within his mind.
Reinhard stood guard, surrounded by numerous transparent icicles emerging from the earth.
This particular form of spiritual energy didn't rely on Reiatsu but rather on the mind. In the mystical realm of his previous life, this kind of power was referred to as divine consciousness.
Only those at or beyond the Grand Master level could grasp it, on the condition that they understood the principles of the laws.
"This feeling is so nostalgic. I never imagined I would experience it again after hundreds of years.
It's truly amazing!"
At this moment, Fiander's lower body solidified into ice, enveloping his waist, torso, and legs.
Before long, using his icy form as support, Fiander rose slowly to his feet.
The power of the Hōgyoku was merging with the godhead in his consciousness.His mental strength had significantly increased.
"Not enough! "
"It's insufficient; I can sense the barriers of the soul that I could shatter with a mere hand, Yet it's this very phase that's held me captive for a century.
The allure of the Hōgyoku is truly captivating. However, if I become overly entranced by it, I fear I might tread the same path as Aizen.
Heh, how ironic! "
Fiander was reluctant to rely on external forces, fearing an addiction that would render him unable to break free.
Still, he needed to utilize the strength of the Hōgyoku to stabilize him.
Aizen's downfall, aside from Kurosaki Ichigo's intervention, stemmed from his excessive faith in the might of the Hōgyoku.
Though the true strength comparison between Yamamoto in Bankai and Ichigo in Final Getsuga fused with his zanpakuto form remained unclear,
"Zanpakutō? Perhaps the one I've overlooked may now offer me some answers. First, rejuvenate my spirit; I have a feeling that after I navigate through this incredible scenario,
"My power will significantly enhance; I am truly grateful, Urahara Kisuke! !
"I will make sure to 'repay' you properly!Hehehe "
At once, the flow of consciousness halted, and Fiander's energy reverted to an inert state, allowing the soul to heal swiftly through the nurturing of the Hōgyoku and Godhead.
Meanwhile, Reinhard, who occupied the cave, scanned his surroundings with caution, his expression filled with trepidation.
"Was that merely an illusion? I can't shake the feeling that someone is watching me. This is a pivotal moment for Master Fiander's recovery, and errors cannot occur. "
Reiatsu's gaze allows the target to sense the opponent's spiritual pressure, yet the consciousness remains undetected by the adversary.
This is due to one utilizing the body to command spiritual energy while the other envelops the entire being with immense spiritual force, creating a simulated "field" existence.
Everything is set; the events are unfolding as per the expected timeline, simply awaiting Kurosaki Ichigo's arrival in Hueco Mundo.
At that moment, within the Night Palace, Ulquiorra escorted a girl with vibrant orange hair into the palace.
Aizen regarded the girl with unique abilities from his elevated position and spoke gently.
"Welcome to our stronghold, the Night Palace. "
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