Chapter 678: THE END OF MY WORLD

The smoke cleared and revealed Ichigo in a sleeveless white Shihakusho with blue rimmings along with white boots, white gloves, a silver bracelet with a cross hanging off of it on his left wrist. Ichigo himself was kneeling on his left knee and his right hand, he held the red hilt of a blade. The inner part of the blade was black while the base was white. The blade had a bit jutting out to act as a guard and a chain is seen attached to the top of the blade all the way to the bottom of the jutted end.

The hole in Ichigo's chest remained and the markings were the same except now, two stripes ran down the left side of Ichigo's face, both going through his left eye which remained a Hollow's. Ichigo stood up and lifted up his blade.

He swung it nonchalantly and Yhwach's left arm was suddenly cut off.

Startled, the Quincy King stepped back a bit, blood spurting out of the void of his left arm. "What's wrong? You scared?" Ichigo asked, slinging the sword on his shoulder.

"Hardly." Yhwach smiled. "What I am right now is impressed. You found a way to bring balance to your Quincy and fused Shinigami-Hollow powers to create a form like that. Though if anything, you look a little more like a Hollow. As a father, I couldn't be prouder. But know this," the black ooze began surrounding Yhwach's left shoulder and created a black arm with a few yellow eyes. "I will win."

Ichigo jumped up and held his sword in the air. He took a swing and giant slash of energy was sent in the form of a crescent. Yhwach used the black matter to try and block it but the black matter was dispersed and he had no choice but to step back.

"What's wrong? Can't do it?" Ichigo suddenly appeared behind a bewildered Yhwach. Yhwach recognised what Ichigo had just done. He performed Hirenkyaku to just about slip by his senses, like how Ichigo once did in a hollowfied state when going up against Ulquiorra Schifer and using 'Sonido' to slip past his pesquisa.

Ichigo raised his sword again and this time, Yhwach was able to see parts of the floor break away and turn into reishi which began to surround the blade. Ichigo used another 'Getsuga Tensho' which hit Yhwach and left a large wound going horizontally across his chest.

Yhwach kneeled on the floor, huffing. How crafty. 'Getsuga Tensho' is supposed to be a move in which the blade absorbs the user's reiatsu before amplifying and discharging it, resulting in the giant blast of energy. But this time, Ichigo used the basic Quincy move of commanding reishi to use that instead of his own reiatsu to result in a much bigger and effective attack...

Yhwach looked up and saw Ichigo place his hand on the floor. He initially became confused before seeing a vein-like pattern appear across the floor. It began reaching its way to Yhwach and made contact with his right foot. The vein-like structure then began encroaching up Yhwach's leg.

Blut Vene: Anhaben? He's actually changed it to erode away things that don't necessarily come into contact with him?

The black matter then blew away the veins. "HAH!! YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD FINISH IT WITH THAT, ICHIGO?!" Yhwach smirked, forming spikes to attack Ichigo. "You don't get it, huh?" Ichigo sighed before outstretching his left hand and crushing all the spikes.

"Yhwach...no matter what...I will defeat you!!" Ichigo proclaimed before the silver cross on his bracelet began glowing and then, quickly, a black metal glove formed on Ichigo's left hand before a steel black bow was also summoned.

- Inside Wahrwelt Castle -

"We will not-"

Kenpachi barely used any force swinging his sword before he killed countless Soldats. "From where in hell did these fuckers spring from?"

"Most likely from the shadows. They must've come from Soul Society. Though it matters not. All we need to do is break through." Byakuya said, sluggishly swinging his hilt, and shredding the rest to pieces with Senbonzakura.

- Remains of Throne Room -

"A bow, eh?" Yhwach smiled. Ichigo stabbed his sword into the floor and formed an arrow with his right hand, lining it with the bow, aiming at Yhwach. He fired and Yhwach just about managed to stop it. He thought it to be good but not enough. At that moment, Ichigo springed to the sky and formed a giant arrow. "Eins Werden, Licht, Viele Werden. Hagelsturm*!!"

(T/N: Hailstorm)

Ichigo shot the arrow but before Yhwach could break it, it split into hundreds of arrows which all surrounded Yhwach and shot right through him. Spluttering blood, Yhwach fell back on his knees while the multiple arrows reformed into a giant arrow and went for Yhwach again. He managed to hold it back with his hand before spotting Ichigo on the ground, drawing back the bow with the sword. "Uryu did tell me: Quincies only use bows and arrows."

Ichigo let go and fired the sword right into Yhwach's chest. Sparing no time, he then used 'Hirenkyaku' to appear in front of Yhwach, held the hilt and a vein-like structure appeared on the blade. Having charged the sword with 'Blut Arterie', Ichigo then released a final 'Getsuga Tensho' and created a giant hole in Yhwach's body.

Yhwach was stunned. The fact that Ichigo could summon forth this much power was astounding. His body collapsed on the floor, the black matter wriggling around. Convinced of victory, Ichigo began walking back to Orihime and the rest.

He was about to call out to them but Orihime opened her mouth first. "ICHIGO, BEHIND YOU!!"

Suddenly, the orange-haired hybrid stopped in his tracks as he felt a sudden surge of gigantic energy.

- Near the Throne Room -

"W-What is this?! This...reiatsu..."

Rukia couldn't comprehend the feeling. She felt it earlier too but this time, the reiatsu seemed to burst even more. "You don't think it's that Yhwach bastard?" Renji questioned, shaking a little.

"I knew it." Ryuken gulped. "Yhwach's awakened...as the Soul King!!"

- Throne Room -

Ichigo readied his sword. He looked at the man who was in front of him. Yhwach looked completely different. The black matter from earlier completely covered the top half of Yhwach's face along with the rest of his body. Only his hands, knees, and parts of his chest were now visible. On top of that, the yellow eyes were also splattered everywhere.

"I thank you, my son." Yhwach began. "Your power also forced me to grow. Now, be quiet like a good child and sit down. Your fight is over."

"I DON'T THINK SO!!"

Ichigo charged at Yhwach and released a massive 'Getsuga Tensho'. However, Yhwach easily blocked the massive blue energy with his hand. What magnificent power. However, while this power is active, it seems I can't use my 'The Almighty'. Ah well. With this power in my grasp, I don't need to see the future.

Yhwach then created spikes that tried to attack Ichigo's back. Anticipating the move, Ichigo activated his 'Blut Vene'. But the spikes easily smashed through his defense and pierced right through him. "H-How?!" Ichigo sputtered blood from his mouth.

"How? Isn't it obvious?" Yhwach raised his hand and punched Ichigo back, slamming his body into Orihime's 'Santen Kesshun' and shattering it. Enraged, Chad charged at Yhwach. He drew back his left fist and unleashed his 'La Muerte', punching Yhwach right in the gut.

The blow did nothing and Yhwach didn't even flinch from the attack. The black ooze suddenly spread onto Chad's left arm and began crushing it, twisting it before it came clean off. Chad howled in pain and ended up on the ground, face flat.

Ganju brought out his blade and jumped up. He threw smoke bombs which exploded at Yhwach's feet, with Ganju hoping that would disorientate him. He got behind the man and tried to stab him but before he knew it, there was already a wound - a hole through his stomach. Vomiting blood, the Shiba warrior fell.

Ichigo screamed in frustration, running at Yhwach with his sword raised. It only took a second but Ichigo realised what Yhwach was holding...the end part of his blade. He looked at Zangetsu and saw it broken. Not wasting time, Yhwach jumped up and kneed Ichigo in the face. Orihime cast 'Soten Kisshun' on Chad and Ganju and created a 'Santen Kesshun' in front of Ichigo.

Yhwach created a whip from the black ooze and lashed it in Ichigo's direction. The whip then slipped through the 'Santen Kesshun' entirely and cut open Ichigo's shoulder. "But...that can't be!!" Orihime exclaimed.

- In Wahrwelt Castle -

"Hurry up." Byakuya said.

"Get your ass back here, NOW, Kuchiki!!" Kenpachi yelled out. The two sensed Yhwach's presence earlier and were rushing to the top. Inwardly, Byakuya was worried though his face showed no sign. Don't go down yet...Kurosaki...

- Throne Room -

Ichigo huffed, on his knees. Yhwach's spikes were surrounding him. Orihime was knocked out earlier due to one of Yhwach's attacks. Ichigo tried to defend her and as a result, his bow was destroyed. Nothing's working...not my sword...not Orihime's shields...not Chad's fists...nothing...it's...all...over...

Yhwach sighed, disappointed. "Honestly. Earlier, you screamed about how you could beat me but look how things turned out. Not only that, but the fire in your eyes have died out. In that case, there's only one thing left to do." Yhwach grabbed Ichigo's face. "I'm taking the powers I so graciously granted you."

A vein pattern appeared on Ichigo's body as Yhwach prepared to extract all his powers.

In the face of overwhelming power, he can do nothing.

To Be Continued in Chapter 679: Surviving For My World