Chapter 68 - Altered (1/2)
Hueco Mundo
A fatigued Ichigo kneeled on the ground with blood dripping down his face and half of his Bankai's Shihakusho missing. On the ground next to him was a small green haired hollow girl, lying face down in the sand, unconscious. In front of him, was the lifeless corpse of an Espada with long black hair.
”Nel...I couldn't have beaten Nnoitra without your help…” Ichigo commented as he stared at the Espada in front of him. After defeating Grimmjow with relative ease, fighting Nnoitra soon after was too much for him alone, resulting in Nel transforming and fighting alongside Ichigo.
”The hell?! You didn't save a strong guy for me?” A voice said from behind Ichigo. Ichigo turned around and saw Kenpachi walking slowly towards him with Yachiru on his back.
”K-kenpachi? Why are you-” Ichigo's question was cut off as Kenpachi swung his sword at Ichigo. Ichigo narrowly dodged the hit and tumbled back in the sand.
”What the hell was that for?! You could have killed me!” Ichigo exclaimed.
”Well who the hell am I supposed to fight?” Kenpachi complained. As he began walking towards Ichigo they both sensed a massive reiatsu appear next to them in an instant.
”I'm going to borrow these two.” Starrk said as he picked up both Nel and Orihime before Ichigo and Kenpachi had time to react. As fast as he had arrived, he quickly left, using his Sonido.
”DAMMIT!” Ichigo yelled as he attempted to run after him but immediately fell forward onto the sand unconscious.
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Several hours later
Ichigo woke up to a warm feeling surrounding his body. As he opened his eyes, he saw the face of Unohana hovering over him as she healed his injuries and restored his reiatsu.
”W-where's Inoue...and Nel…” Ichigo grunted as he tried to get up.
”You need to relax, Kurosaki. Wait until I'm finished healing you.” Unohana responded.
”No...I need to…get them back…” Ichigo said as he struggled to get himself up.
”Go back to sleep, Kurosaki.” Unohana replied in a serious tone but still maintained her calm smile. Ichigo felt a shiver travel down his spine as he looked at Unohana's face and immediately went back to sleep.
Another hour passed and Ichigo woke up. Most of his wounds were healed and his reiatsu was restored. He immediately sprung up from where he was laying down and looked around.
”Kurosaki, while you were knocked out, Aizen made an announcement. He is going to invade Karakura Town. Inoue and Nelliel are being held at the fifth tower. It also appears that the four of us Captains who came here to Hueco Mundo are now trapped. Currently, Captain Kurotsuchi is working on a solution to reopen the Gargantas.” Unohana said.
”Dammit…” Ichigo responded, clenching his fists and looking at the ground. ”If we're unable to go back to Karakura Town...then the least I can do is save Inoue and Nel!”
Before Unohana had a chance to say anything else, Ichigo vanished from sight.
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”Inoue! Nel!” Ichigo yelled as he entered the tower. He continued walking through the tower, yelling their names with no response. As he reached the upper floors of the tower, he sensed a massive reiatsu waiting for him.
”So you made it up here ya little pipsqueak!” A large Arrancar walked out from the shadows. He had tan skin, a ridge lined skull, and fragments of his hollow mask encasing his lower jaw.
”I don't have time for you Yammy!” Ichigo yelled as he drew his zanpakuto.
”Bankai!” Reiatsu swirled around Ichigo, covering him in a black dome. As the dome vanished, Ichigo's massive sword was replaced with a sleek black one and the top half of his shihakusho was replaced with a long black coat.
”Tensa Zangetsu.”
”This again? Don't waste my time!” Yammy retorted as he began charging at Ichigo. Ichigo suddenly vanished from his sight and reappeared behind Yammy, forming a large gash in Yammy's back as blood began to shoot out from it.