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.

Chapter 679: SURVIVING FOR MY WORLD

Ah...it's fading. The Quincy powers I inherited from my mother...The Shinigami powers I inherited from Dad and the Hollow power that was fused with it...they're all fading...to pure white...

DON'T BE SUCH A WEAKLING!!!

Black reiatsu suddenly burst forth from Ichigo's body, pushing Yhwach back. The Quincy King was greatly startled by this as he didn't anticipate Ichigo having any strength left to defy him. The black reiatsu soon disappeared and all that was left was Ichigo with a Hollow mask on. It's pattern was greatly different: it was a simple x across the mask. That's when Yhwach understood.

"Hah, I see. So your Zangetsu got defiant, did he? To think he'd go to such lengths to make sure you stayed alive." I only managed to nab Ichigo's Quincy powers. His fused Shinigami-Hollow powers are still intact. But even that's alright. As he is now, he won't bother trying to get me.

During Yhwach's thinking, Ichigo's mask shattered and he fell face flat on the ground. He turned his head to the side and that was all he could do. He couldn't even muster the strength to stand. Why should he? He couldn't beat Yhwach...not when he's like this.

Without so much as lifting a finger, the black matter on Yhwach burst forth and created a giant pillar. Soon, it formed into a circle...a portal tothere. "I suppose this is goodbye, Ichigo. From this moment on, I have no need of you...or my children of the Sternritters. Lie there helpless and watch...as I destroy both the Soul Society and the World of the Living. I will bring ruin to it all so just sit back."

Rukia and Renji just arrived and they witness the bloody scene of Chad, Ganju, Orihime and Ichigo lying on the ground - three out of the four knocked out. On the other side of the destroyed room was Yhwach, standing tall. "It's rather insulting...to have you insignificant vermin keep coming after me in droves. Your bodies are already partially exhausted. What do you think you could do in that state."

Yhwach was right. After they were originally knocked out by Gerard and before that, having to use their reiatsu to open a gate to transformed Soul King's domain - Wahrwelt, both Rukia and Renji had run out of substantial power. They were half empty. "If you truly wish to take my head then come. I shall leave the gate open for all."

Yhwach began walking through before stopping. "And if you do get through then in light of your bravery and exceptional spirit, I shall grant you a most marvelous and fitting death. That is the only future awaiting you all. A future filled with joy and happiness...no longer exists for the likes of you. From this point on, indulge in your own uselessness and in your final moments, carve the image of my looming shadow, a terror of death, into your minds. For all eternity."

Yhwach resumed his walk into the gate. "W-Wait!!" Renji yelled out, extending out Zabimaru to attack Yhwach. Ichigo only stared at this action blankly. Don't even bother...Renji...it's useless... Before it could even touch him, Zabimaru was destroyed as Yhwach successfully walked through.

"Damn it!!" Renji cursed before fixing Zabimaru. Meanwhile, Rukia went to go help Orihime up. She wasn't fully unconscious. "Orihime, are you alright?"

"Y-Yes...but more importantly...bring those two over." She signalled over to the unconscious Chad and Ganju. Rukia understood and gently put her down before her and Renji dragged their bodies near Orihime.

"S-Soten...Kisshun. I reject." She created a giant barrier around them, slowly healing their wounds. It could've gone much faster but Orihime herself was still quite injured. "Bring Ichigo over...I'll heal him too..."

"Don't push yourself." Rukia whispered, worried for her friend while Renji went over to Ichigo and extended his hand to him.

"Get up."

Ichigo stayed lying down and when he didn't heed Renji's words again, the red-haired lieutenant grabbed him by his shihakusho and pulled him out. He understood as soon as he saw Ichigo's lifeless eyes. "You bastard...don't tell me you've given up. You-"

"Aww, have we missed all the fun already?"

All were stunned as they saw the figures of two people who should've died. Two certain Fullbringers.

"Ginjo...Tsukishima...why are you two...?" Ichigo's eyes were widened. He never expected to ever meet the two of them again. Though in the back of his mind, he thought they may have turned into souls and began living in the Soul Society. "Why are we here? To be honest, I don't want to be here." Tsukishima grinned, acting just as nonchalantly as he always had, as if everything was some big joke. "But Ginjo said to help you."

"I didn't say help, you prick!!" Ginjo scolded the younger Fullbringer. He still acted how he did back when Ichigo met him: always seeming like he's not taking things seriously yet when the time came, he could be really serious. "I just said to repay our favour to him. We'll help you beat that Yhwach guy or whatever the hell his name is." Ichigo - who was no longer being gripped by Renji - immediately had his mood dampened.

"Sorry to say. But you came for nothing. We can't beat him."

"Huh? Are you seriously saying that?"

"It's true. The way he is now, he's unstoppable. He's...he's..."

"GOOD TO SEEEE YOUUUU, IIIICHIIIIGOOOOO!!!"

The orange-haired teen was interrupted as he was kicked back by the sudden appearance of a certain father. In fact, this stunned Ichigo so much that he held a blank stare as he got up. "Wha-What? What are-"

"Oh come on, son!! Surely, you didn't think that your dear father would leave you alone to deal with a big scary man like Yhwach? Don't worry!! Daddy's come to help you save the day. Now," Isshin opened his shihakusho a bit to reveal more of his hairy chest. "Come!! Fly into your father's chest and cry all about it!! Then we'll go and-"

Ichigo decided to interrupt before it got worse and kicked his father in the face. "How could you act like this?!" Ichigo shouted. "Yhwach...he's about to destroy everything!! You hear me?! Stop acting so careless. We can't beat him and-"

"We can't? Or are you too much of a coward to try?"

"What?"

Isshin, rubbing his hurt nose a little, walked to Ichigo and head butted him. "YOU'RE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO SNAP OUT OF IT!!" Isshin shouted back, now wanting to rub his forehead to alleviate the pain. Ichigo stayed still, rubbing his forehead. "Do you remember? You said the same thing when it came to Aizen. And guess what? You still won!! So what if you lost some of your power? What if he's too strong? If he's too strong, then just become even stronger!! If you lost power, then get it back!! Are you telling me you'd let everything you know and love be consumed because he's too strong? Are you not willing to keep going until the bitter end? Let me say this: a real man would shut up, stand tall and keep fighting even after death!! Now tell me, Ichigo. Are you that kind of man...or just a coward?"

Ichigo had no idea what to even say in response. He took a deep breath. "Dad...thanks. Once again...you helped me. This time, I'll-"

"We will beat him." Isshin said.

Ichigo smiled and nodded in response. He went over and picked up his broken sword. It had reverted to being the black long sword of his Bankai since his Quincy powers were now gone. He walked over to Orihime and asked, "Can you try and fix this?"

She nodded and Ichigo placed his blade in her 'Soten Kisshun' and waited to see what happened.

"Okay. While you're doing that, I'll take good care of our friend." Isshin suddenly got more serious and walked to the gate. "Dad...don't die."

Isshin smiled. "Who do you think you're talking to?" was all he offered as a response as he went through.

- Soul Society -

"Well, you're a sight for sore eyes." Yhwach chuckled as he looked at the man in his way.

"I'd like to welcome you...to MY Soul Society." Aizen smirked, still strapped down to his chair. Yhwach smiled in response before unleashing a giant wave of black matter. He seemingly hit Aizen, causing a lot of damage before seeing that Aizen was now out of the chair, standing away from where he was. "How odd. I could've sworn you were locked in fierce combat up in the Soul King's Palace. It seems Ichigo Kurosaki gave you more trouble than you bargained for."

"Don't project your own anxieties onto me." Yhwach replied. "After all, you were the one defeated by Ichigo Kurosaki."

Aizen stayed silent for a few moments before speaking again. "In any case, I thank you for ridding me of that infernal chair. Because now...I have the means to stop you." Aizen summoned his 'Kyoka Suigetsu' and held the handle-less blade in his hand.

"HAH!! You would stand in my way to protect the Soul Society?"

"Please don't misunderstand." Aizen smiled. "I simply wish to erase anyone who might try to rule over me and control me. Now...

Bankai."

A clash between titans!! Against a Soul King empowered Yhwach, Aizen goes all out!!

To Be Continued in Chapter 680: The Growing Hypnosis