Several weeks later, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki had grown quite familiar with each other and often acted as a team.
Whenever Ichigo went out to handle Hollow incidents, he brought Rukia with him. With Rukia's tools for erasing memories, it became much more convenient—he no longer had to worry about being seen by humans during battles with Hollows.
One day, on their way home from school, Ichigo sensed a Menos Grande appearing in Karakura Town and rushed to the scene with Rukia.
"The frequency of Hollows appearing in the World of the Living has been increasing these past few years. There are even Menos Grandes and Sinners from Hell causing trouble through spatial rifts." Ichigo turned to Rukia. "It feels like something is wrong. I don't remember Karakura Town being like this when I was a kid."
"I actually know a bit about this…" Rukia recalled news she had heard from her elders and continued, "Apparently, something that supports the Three Worlds was damaged, making them unstable. But I heard that the Professor has already found a solution. Things should recover in a few years."
Rukia was still young and hadn't taken part in many important meetings within her squad or her family, so she didn't know about the "Lynchpin of the Three Worlds." However, she sometimes overheard her seniors from the Katori Style talking, so she knew more secrets than most students at the Spiritual Arts Academy.
"So that's how it is? The Three Worlds are actually having problems… We're here! Looks like another Menos Grande from Hueco Mundo!" Ichigo didn't have time to dwell on it—he had already spotted the mountain-sized Gillian-class Menos.
Hollows in the World of the Living usually didn't survive long enough to become Menos Grandes before being dealt with by Shinigami or Quincies. That's why Ichigo was sure this Gillian had come from Hueco Mundo.
"There are no Shinigami nearby. Use your Shinigami powers to handle it!" Rukia shouted.
Ichigo nodded and separated from his physical body, revealing his Shinigami form.
Quincy arrows completely eradicated souls, which would disrupt the balance of the Three Worlds. So, unless there were other Shinigami around, Ichigo used his Shinigami abilities to purify Hollows instead.
"Roar!!!" The Gillian noticed Ichigo and Rukia. Red light flickered in its mouth as it fired a Cero, aiming to blast them to pieces.
Spiritual Pressure surged within Ichigo's body. He slashed, unleashing a massive wave of energy that sent the red Cero hurtling back toward the Gillian.
The Gillian-class Menos couldn't withstand Ichigo's Spiritual Pressure slash and was instantly cut in half.
"Your Spiritual Pressure seems to have gotten even stronger…" Rukia found it hard to believe. Compared to Ichigo, her own growth as a true Shinigami was much slower.
Ever since Ichigo awakened his Shinigami powers, his Spiritual Pressure had entered a period of rapid growth, changing dramatically every day.
"It does seem a bit stronger…" Even Ichigo was a little confused by his own growth.
Just as the two were talking, a Senkaimon appeared in midair.
"Oh no, that's a Senkaimon. The Shinigami are here. Quick—get back in your body!" Rukia urged, anxiety in her voice.
Unfortunately, before Ichigo could return to his body, a Shinigami appeared beside him in a burst of Shunpo and grabbed his shoulder.
The one holding Ichigo's shoulder was Kensei Muguruma, Captain of the 9th Division.
Immediately afterward, Kaname Tōsen, Lieutenant of the 9th Division, and Byakuya Kuchiki, Lieutenant of the 6th Division, also arrived using Shunpo.
"Nii-sama!" Rukia felt a chill at the sight of her brother's cold expression.
She hadn't been a member of the Kuchiki family for long, and Byakuya had always acted distant. There was little communication between them, which made her somewhat afraid of her older brother.
Byakuya didn't respond to Rukia's call; he simply looked at her with.
"Brat!" Something strange flickered in Kensei's eyes. With his hand on Ichigo's shoulder, he could feel the massive Spiritual Pressure within him. He snorted and continued, "You're the one who got Rukia involved and made her commit a grave crime, aren't you?"
"What are you talking about!" Ichigo slapped Kensei's hand away.
"Transferring Shinigami powers to a human is a grave crime!" Kaname Tōsen stepped forward, his voice cold. "Staying in the World of the Living without permission only makes things worse. The Onmitsukidō, together with the 6th Division, has come to arrest Rukia Kuchiki!"
"Wait a minute, this isn't Rukia's fault!" Ichigo realized they were here to arrest Rukia and quickly stepped in front of her.
"Regardless of your intentions, it doesn't change the fact that Rukia Kuchiki has committed a grave crime. We're taking her back to the Soul Society for judgment." Kaname Tōsen paused and then added, "Of course, you—the main culprit—won't escape death either."
"What… are you talking about?!" Ichigo shouted.
Kaname Tōsen's eyelid twitched. He had no intention of wasting more time on Ichigo Kurosaki. Slowly, he drew his sword and said:
"Bankai. Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi."
In the next instant, a huge black barrier enveloped everyone present.
Ichigo Kurosaki's strength was no joke, so Kaname Tōsen didn't hold back and used Bankai right from the start.
"Rukia!" Ichigo shouted, his voice echoing in the darkness.
Ding—
Inside the darkness, Ichigo Kurosaki couldn't sense anything from the outside world. Just as he tried to search for Rukia and the Shinigami, pain suddenly shot through his abdomen.
Inside the Suzumushi barrier, everyone except the one holding Suzumushi's hilt lost their hearing, vision, smell, and spiritual sense—only touch remained, allowing them to feel pain from injuries.
Ichigo had no way to sense that Kaname Tōsen was already in front of him, and took a slash without any defense.
Fortunately, his Blut Vene held against Kaname Tōsen's slash, so he wasn't hurt. Only a small gap appeared in the Blut Vene on his abdomen, but it was quickly filled and repaired by his abundant Spiritual Pressure.
"My spiritual sense is gone. I didn't sense anyone coming at all!" Ichigo realized something was wrong with his senses.
Still, Ichigo's battle instincts were sharp. Using the spot where he'd been hit, he guessed the direction and swung, unleashing a wave of Spiritual Pressure toward his attacker.
Ding—
As Ichigo swung into the darkness, pain struck his back again.
Ichigo quickly adjusted, slashing behind him, but hit nothing but empty air.
The moment his Zanpakutō missed, pain stabbed his back once more.
Crack—
This attack landed on the same spot. Visible cracks appeared in his Blut Vene, and Reishi even burst from the blue lines.
Ichigo, startled, dashed forward to create distance.
"Too passive. Counterattacking after getting hit keeps me a step behind… I need to calm down." Ichigo took a deep breath, gripped his sword with both hands, and focused all his attention on the feeling in his skin—leaving his sword to instinct.