Meanwhile, with them...
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "Wow, that was beautiful! Don't you think so?"
The Hollow/Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo: "Yes...but, I'm worried about something."
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "What's wrong?"
The Hollow/Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo: "If Ichigo defeats him, then he has to face...him."
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "Don't worry, it's nothing that kohai can't handle, have faith."
The Hollow/Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo: "...Yes."
Unkown Location
?: "Hmm...It won't be long now."
Back with the battle...
Tensa Zangetsu: "You wield that zanpakuto well for your first try."
Ichigo: "Thanks."
Tensa Zangetsu: "But, like last time, you have to fight seriously."
Ichigo: "I've been fighting seriously the moment this fight started & I will continue to do so, until you tell me exactly what True Bankai is!"
Tensa Zangetsu: "Do you remember what I told you what I wanted to protect? It was to always protect you & that is what I'm doing."
He charged at Ichigo & attacks, but Ichigo blocks his attack.
Ichigo: "(I can sense fear & worry flowing from his blade...Does it have something to do with True Bankai...?)"
Ichigo deflected him & he went crashing into a building. Then he reappeared behind Ichigo with his sword raised. As he was bringing his sword down, Ichigo blocked the attack without turning around.
Ichigo: "I won't fall for that again!"
He deflected him & he went flying in the sky. Then Ichigo grabbed the small chain on his sword & he throws his sword at at him. But, he deflected Ichigo's attack & he raises his sword in the air & swings down.
Tensa Zangetsu: "Getsuga Tensho!"
But the chain retracted, bringing his sword back into Ichigo's hands & he rears his sword to the left & he swings.
Ichigo: "Taiyoga Jisho!"
The 2 crescents collided with each other, creating a large, colorful cross & then it exploded. As it cleared, Ichigo speaks to him.
Ichigo: "No matter what the cost, I will defeat you & you will tell me the nature of True Bankai."
Tensa Zangetsu: "I'm trying to protect you, Ichigo!"
He charged at Ichigo with his sword raised & Ichigo charged at him with his sword in a downwards motion. Then he swings his sword down at Ichigo & Ichigo raises his sword up at him & they clashed blades & then they passed each other. Then they stopped at a great distance with Ichigo on the left & Tensa Zangetsu on the right.
Ichigo: "Tensa Zangetsu, let's end this already. I have to know what True Bankai is, so I can go back & save my friends & family. So prepare yourself."
He raises his swords & points it at Tensa Zangetsu.
Tensa Zangetsu: "!"
Ichigo: "I'll show you my Final, Taiyoga Jisho!"
Then Tensa Zangetsu did the same & they both became enveloped in a column of spirit energy. When it cleared, Tensa Zangetsu was in the Final Getsuga Tensho form & Ichigo was in the Final Taiyoga Jisho form. His hair turned white and became waist-length. His irises are now blue. A redish-gray, bandage-like carapace formed around his torso, left arm, and face, ending just beneath his eyes. White, flame-like markings spreaded across his chest and wrap around his right arm, and the remains of a tattered white cloak covered his lower body. His body is constantly emiting smoky white spiritual pressure, most of which is focused around his left arm.
Ichigo: "I have become the Taiyoga itself."
Tensa Zangetsu: "(Doesn't he understand that I'm trying to protect him from his True Bankai. He is far more powerful & older than me & Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo put together. Even if Ichigo defeats me, he has to defeat him & he is far from easy to defeat. No, I must stop him right here & prevent that from happening.)"
Then Ichigo started to generate a blade of bright white spiritual pressure in his left hand & raises it in the air.
Tensa Zangetsu: "!"
Then Tensa Zangetsu started to generate a blade of deep black spiritual pressure in his right hand & raises it in the air.
Ichigo: "Mutaiyo(means Sunless Sky)."
Tensa Zangetsu: "Mugestu."
They both swinged their attacks at each other. On the left, a massive veil of white spiritual pressure started to erupt upwards & approaching Tensa Zangetsu, brightening the sky & destroying buildings. On the right, a massive veil of black spiritual pressure started to erupt upwards & approaching Ichigo, darkening the sky & destroying buildings. When the two veils met, they clashed with each other.
Ichigo: "I must know what True Bankai is! They are counting on me! I won't lose here!"
The white veil overwhelmed the black veil & consumed Tensa Zangetsu. The white energy continued to rise & then dissipated into the sky.
Back with them.
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "Whoa, that was amazing!"
The Hollow/Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo: "Indeed, guess Ichigo wanted to end this battle quickly."
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "Now, for the next step.
The Hollow/Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo: "Yes...True Bankai."
Back with Ichigo & Tensa Zangetsu.
Ichigo: "Are you alright?"
Tensa Zangetsu: "Yes, I am. I congradulate you."
Ichigo: "I'm relieved & thank you."
Then they appeared.
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "That was incredible, kohai!"
The Hollow/Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo: "Congradulations, King."
Ichigo: "Thank you, Uko senpai, Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo."
Tensa Zangetsu: "Here Ichigo, you earned this."
He gives Ichigo his sword to his right hand & his Bankai clothes changed again. The right half: The undershirt is white, the coat is black with red lining, the glove is black with white x-shaped marks.
Ichigo: "I can feel the power of these swords. It feels like they are working perfectly together, like 2 gears in a machine."
Tensa Zangetsu: "Do you want to know your True Bankai?"
The Hollow/Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo: "..."
Ichigo: "Yes."
Tensa Zangetsu: "Very well. But Ichigo, whatever you do, be on your guard."
The Hollow/Zantaiyo/Jisa Zantaiyo: "Good luck, King."
Then the 2 became consumed in large, erupting columns of spirit energy. One was black & red & the other was white & blue. Then the 2 columns slowly became one with each other, becoming a giant colorful column. Then it exploded throughout Ichigo's inner world like a great wind, causing Ichigo to shield himself from the blast. When it started to clear, a door appeared in front of Ichigo.
Ichigo: "Where did they go?"
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "Don't worry, they will be back. Your True Bankai is behind that door, let's go, kohai!"
Ichigo: "Yes."
Then Ichigo opened the door & they went inside.
A long time ago, zanpakuto spirits heard stories of strong zanpakuto spirits before them.
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 1: "The last time the Legendary Elemental Zanpakuto Spirits were seen, it was during that all out war between us & the Hollows. It was said to have been a natural disaster. But lately, I've begun to suspect something else happened, that their appearances were not a natural phenomenon. I think there's more to it. I believe that they were called out."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 2: "They have always been natural disasters. Besides there was no one powerful enough. No one could fight them."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 1: "Yes. Well, that's just the thing. There was one."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 2: "What?"
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 1: "..."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 2: "& who's that?"
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 1: "His name was..."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 2: "He disappeared & probably died before that happened."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 1: "Yes, that was a mystery that was never solved."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 2: "Exactly. Your theory is pointless."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 1: "Perhaps...but still...something isn't adding up."
Random Zanpakuto Spirit 2: "I think you're reading too much into it."
They appeared in a sandy wasteland with large rock formations. It was dusk & there was a lunar eclipse.
Ichigo: "What is this place?"
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "I don't know, but your True Bankai is in here somewhere out there."
Ichigo: "Yes, let's go."
They started to walk for 30 minutes.
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "You have got to admit that this place is kind of creepy."
Ichigo: "Yes, Uko senpai. But that isn't what's bothering me."
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "What is it, kohai?"
Ichigo: "It's about my True Bankai...I just have this feeling that I can't shake. And it fills me with unease."
Uko Ygoh/Hogyoku: "I'm sure it will be nothing that you can't handle."
Ichigo: "Yes...maybe I'm worrying about nothing."
Another 30 minutes have passed until they see a man sitting on a rock with his head resting on his left hand(a Madara Uchiha look-alike with the same voice). He was grinning like he was glad that they have arrived. He had pale skin & his hair was black, spiky, & waist-length with shoulder-length bangs framing the sides of his face, covering most of his right eye. His eyes had a ripple-like pattern which spreads over his eyes, with red sclera and blue irises, each containing a pattern of nine tomoe. He was wearing a black high-collared, long sleeve mantle that splits down the lower half, with black pants and bandages around his shins & black gloves & over it he was wearing black armor with numerous metal plates, forming protective guards along his chest, waist, shoulders and thighs. He had a kama & a gunbai was on his back.
Ichigo: "Who are you? Are you Zangetsu or are you Zantaiyo?"
He started to get up.
Ichigo: "No...you are neither & you can't be both."
?: "Hmm...I wonder about that."
