Chapter Text
The sound of chains echoed in the deep pit, where light barely reached. The darkness was oppressive, almost suffocating, as Ichigo Kurosaki stared down at the chain that was slowly corroding before his eyes.
He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his face. The environment around him seemed alive, pulsating as if it was waiting for the moment to consume him completely.
"Remember," Urahara's calm voice echoed from above the pit. "You only have seventy-two hours before you turn into a Hollow. Survive, or... well, you already know."
Ichigo gritted his teeth. He hated Urahara's carefree attitude, as if this were some kind of game. But it wasn't. The pain in his chest, the weight—everything was far too real.
"I will survive," he whispered to himself, clenching his fists. "I won't lose anyone else... never again."
As the hours passed, the scenario became more claustrophobic. The chain binding Ichigo to the human world slowly disappeared, link by link, corroded by an invisible and cruel force. He fell to his knees as pain began radiating through his entire body. It was as if something was trying to take control, tearing his being from the inside out.
"No… I can't give in!" Ichigo shouted, gripping the remaining chain with both hands. His mind struggled to stay focused, but images of his past failures emerged, mocking him.
And then, silence.
Ichigo felt the world around him collapse. He was falling, but not into the pit—
When Ichigo opened his eyes again, he was in a modern city suspended in the sky, with impossibly tall buildings floating in an endless horizon. The structures were gray, the sky a pale blue, with a soft, ethereal light.
Until a voice cut through the air.
[So you've finally shown yourself, Bearer.]
That voice wasn't deafening or thunderous, yet it reverberated through his body, as if penetrating his internal organs and bones. It felt as though the strange, shrill sound resonated directly from his skull, shaking Ichigo to his core.
When he turned toward the voice, he saw *it*. Even from a distance, it was impossible to ignore.
It was better to say it *couldn't* be ignored. The creature was larger than any Hollow Ichigo had ever seen, dwarfing the Menos Grande he had slain before. It resembled an enormous ogama* with a massive white body, pink hexagons on its back leading up to its head—which seemed to lack a neck—and a small Hollow mask where its mouth should have been, adorned with what looked like whiskers. Its face had four pearl-like orbs resembling eyes, and its flattened hands and feet bore massive claws. It was both grotesque and awe-inspiring.
[Are you just going to stare, Bearer? Don't you have something important to reclaim?]
Ichigo snapped his mouth shut after those words. He remembered what he needed to do. But the question was—
"How?" Yes, he had lost his powers to Rukia's brother. He was supposed to get them back now. But how?
[What a weak Bearer I have, whining and lamenting. You'd better claim it here and now. Or I will devour you!]
"_______________" The creature unleashed a massive roar in his direction. Its voice shook the atmosphere, creating turbulence that transformed into wind. The dense reiatsu condensed into numerous aggressive tornadoes, uprooting buildings and shattering streets and avenues.
The whirlwind sent Ichigo flying through the air as he screamed and tried to grab hold of something.
"AH! STOP IT!"
The Hollow's shrill laughter echoed, shaking Ichigo's very bones.
[COME ON, BEARER! YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW! THE SHINIGAMI ONLY AWAKENED YOUR POWER. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A SHINIGAMI!]
Despite the violence and brutality around him, Ichigo strangely felt... like he was flying? Ironic? Yes.
"My power?... But... HOW DO I FIND IT, YOU STUPID TOAD?" Ichigo's patience was running thin; he could barely stay stable in the air while clinging to one of the violently floating buildings.
"It's simple... call my name, Bearer... it is Įƙœmīƙɛðɔmœə."
The voice now sounded strangely closer and calmer.
He didn't fully understand the name, but... it felt... familiar?...
He looked around for some clue until he saw it.
There, floating amidst the chaos, was a blade—or rather, something resembling a Zanpakutō—different from the one he had before.
The sword had a curious color, as if it were being filled with white light rather than emitting an intense brightness. It wasn't like a standard clean blade, such as the ones he and Rukia had. The 'whiteness' of the blade, wrapped in an ominous aura, evoked a primal fear within him, while simultaneously awakening a deep sense of affinity.
"I found you." Ichigo didn't even realize he had said those words, yet he surged toward the blade as if hypnotized.
His body tore through the gusts of wind as if they were water; somehow, he knew how to do this.
"Your name… I… feel… your name."
Though Ichigo's words were murmured to himself, the giant Hollow seemed to hear him. And not just hear him—it seemed *enraged.*
"Argh… those damned Shinigami, they… my name…"
Amid the ogama's growls, Ichigo finally reached the sword. With a strength that felt familiar, he grasped its hilt.
"Your name… yes…"
At the same time, the Hollow trembled, as if recalling something, its massive form shaking violently.
"Those... bastards... I... will... reclaim... my true name…"
However—
"Your name… is already here."
At the sound of Ichigo's voice, the Hollow froze, as if awaiting something.
"You are my Zanpakutō... aren't you?"
Ichigo questioned with sincerity and a hint of longing in his voice. He had missed his powers. Knowing that he had always had them made him feel whole again.
"Hahaha, now that I think about it… it makes sense you'd be my Zanpakutō. A grumpy Hollow... Rukia's never going to let me live this down."
Hearing Ichigo, Ikomikidomoe's voice trembled as if startled by Ichigo's smile.
"That name... shout it, Ichigo… my Bearer."
"Your name… is Ikomikidomoe, and you are my Zanpakutō."
And just as suddenly as they appeared, the winds dissipated, leaving Ichigo standing in the middle of the destruction, the eye of the storm.
Slowly, the creature's remains began to crumble, glowing as it transformed into a pure white katana, now resting in Ichigo's hands.
"Welcome back... old friend…"
[Shattered Shaft]
Ichigo continued to scream as the transformation into his Hollow form occurred, with everyone watching in anticipation and preparing for the events that would follow. A cracking sound could be heard as the teenager quickly began breaking the Kido that sealed him.
"Kisuke!" Tessai shouted, "It's been a long time! I'll have to eliminate him!" With that, he pressed the index and middle fingers of both hands to the ground. "Bakudou: 99, part two 'Final Seal'!" A burst of white cloth erupted from both sides of Tessai to envelop the struggling teenager. "First incantation 'Bandage'." The bandages then tightened around his body to restrain him once again. "Second incantation '100 Stakes'!" Dozens of stakes appeared in the air and stabbed the teenager to further restrict his movements.
Jinta peeked over the edge once again. "Hey, Tessai! What the hell are you doing? If you use that, the kid is going to die!"
"This can't be avoided! I have to destroy him before he becomes a Hollow!"
"Tessai!" Jinta shouted.
"Final incantation!" A huge stone pillar appeared above the struggling teenager and fell in his direction.
At that moment, Ichigo roared, shattering the bandages, revealing that his Hollow mask had formed with one eye and a large golden pearl on his forehead.
"It's over," the big man shouted. The large rock fell on Ichigo, and another explosion erupted from the pit, forcing Kisuke to shield the children nearby from the blast.
Until a figure wrapped in dust and debris emerged from the pit.
"Something came out!" Jinta shouted. He fell silent when the so-called "thing" landed directly in front of them, releasing a large shockwave from the impact.
"What the hell is going on?" Jinta asked. "Is that you? Answer me! If you're still alive, then answer—"
Before he finished his sentence, a growl could be heard from the dust covering the figure.
With a swipe of its arm, the figure cleared the dust around it, revealing that it was none other than Ichigo, but he was different. His outfit resembled that of a normal Shinigami, but it was a mix of black and white bands, making it look like he had fused a Haori with his Shihakushō. He wore a mask with two eyes and a golden pearl on his forehead, with black stripes around his eyes. His eyes had also changed; the whites of his eyes were now as black as jet, and his iris glowed in a bright golden hue.
"A Hollow mask and a Shinigami outfit? But why is it like this?" Jinta commented.
Everyone was confused by Ichigo's new form. In his hand was what remained of his broken sword. They couldn't figure out what he was or if he was the same Ichigo.
Without any warning, Ichigo suddenly disappeared from sight, startling the three on guard. The teenager appeared suddenly in front of Kisuke with the remains of his Zanpakutō, throwing it toward the store owner's face.
Moving as fast as he could, Kisuke raised his cane and blocked the incoming strike. The impact was enough to make him step back and retreat.
Ichigo then jumped back, distancing himself slightly. The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Ichigo relaxed into a casual stance. Kisuke watched curiously as the teenager reached up and grabbed his mask to reveal his face. "Alright, Kisuke, time to keep my promise."
"What the hell!" Jinta shouted. "So he became a Hollow or not?"
"Shut up, brat!" Ichigo shouted back.
"What was that?!"
Kisuke sighed in relief.
"Congratulations, Ichigo. You've successfully gone through the process, which means," he opened his fan and gave his smile, "You passed the second test!"
"Shut up," Ichigo said angrily as he yelled and struck Kisuke in the face with the hilt of his sword.
"Ah! My eyes!"
"Now that I'm back alive, it means I'll have to fulfill my promise to kill you!" the irritated teenager shouted.
"Wow, what energy you have," Kisuke said sarcastically. "Alright, with that attitude, we can move on to the next lesson. This time there's no time limit." He pointed to his hat on top of his head. "If you can use your sword to cut my hat, you win!"
[Tsc... How long will it take you to use me, wielder?]
"Huh?"
"Ham?"
Everyone was surprised to hear the voice, looking around, they were confused until the voice echoed again.
[Down here, have you forgotten about me?]
Looking in the direction of the voice, they all turned to the broken Zanpakutō, which was where it came from.
"Hey! IKOMIKIDOMOE, can you talk here?"
[Of course, don't think of me as just a simple Zanpakutō, Ichigo. Now stop playing around and call me... CALL MY NAME!]
"Hai hai, don't be so hasty, old man. Hey, Hat and Clogs, this is going to be violent, my sword is temperamental, and I still can't control it, so... hold on..."
After Ichigo's warning, a Hollow-like Reiatsu was invoked into the environment, causing everyone to involuntarily tremble.
[Orbit the stars, Ikomikidomoe!]
At the same time, the Reiatsu erupted like a tornado, creating a sinister partition that twisted light and shadow into a disordered mess, eclipsing the area around Ichigo.
When everyone opened their eyes again, they saw Ichigo's Zanpakutō in its new, strange, and frightening form.
The blade had transformed into a Hollow-like arm, but pure white with pink hexagons and sharp claws.
"Ha... well... I guess it fits... so... Hat and Clogs... what do you think about testing this out?" Ichigo's smile was predatory, promising "pain."
"Hahaha... how about we talk?" Urahara smiled in panic at the terrifying Hollow arm.
With a voice more Hollow than human, Ichigo declared his intent just before charging—
"No."
[SOUL KING'S PALACE, PHOENIX]
In the main palace, the "Number One Zanpakutō Creator" was enjoying the view until he was called by his companion.
"Nimaiya."
"Yo! How's it going, my friend Ichibei?!" Nimaiya shouted cheerfully, jumping on his toes to face the Monk.
"Why did you do that?" The Monk, Ichibei Hyösube, asked as he approached the God of Zanpakutō.
"Why did I do what? ~" Nimaiya innocently replied with a big smile full of teeth, making Ichibei raise his eyebrow again.
"Nimaiya, why did you give Kurosaki Ichigo THAT Zanpakutō?" the monk explained. "Out of all the Zanpakutō you could have given him..."
Nimaiya paused for a moment before sighing and speaking again.
"Ikomikidomoe has been stagnant in the palace for millennia. And since our little Ichi-Chan seems to be in need of help, why not give it to him? It would be more useful in the hands of someone like the boy who wants to protect, rather than in the hands of someone thirsty for power or vengeful," explained the God of Zanpakutō.
Ichibei could only sigh as he listened to his friend.
"You better know what you're doing, O'Etsu."
"Bah, trust me, Ichibei!"