Transcendence
Chapter 02: The Story Ends
Groaning again, Ichigo returned to the waking world; his vision faded and blurry as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The ringing in his ears was still present and he was certain he had a concussion; it was probably luck that he had actually woken up. Ichigo was on his knees looking up the lengths of a dark room, which was barely illuminated with purple pyres.
As he adjusted to the low light Ichigo could make out the room a little more clearly, along with the occupants within. The room was a long narrow corridor that was composed entirely of metal walls and stone tiled floors. Running along the walls were two dozen irregularly shaped pillars that bulged haphazardly, they were covered in chains and oddly shaped objects that seemed to be fused together.
Behind the pillars was a small alcove that sat several feet above the main floor Ichigo was presently on. It was illuminated more and allowed him to see that it was currently occupied with dozens if not hundreds of demons, and quite variety of them. Glowing fel eyes were all on him, staring with so many different emotions from amusement to disgust.
Ichigo tried to stand; he was in a very hostile situation right now and likely going to be the entertainment of these bastards, no sooner had he moved was he halted by a strong hand on his shoulder. Looking over his shoulder Ichigo saw a Wraithguard was behind him, one hand on his shoulder and the other on the hilt of a sword pressed against his back.
Looking closely he saw two more were close behind, weapons drawn and ready to use them. Ichigo narrowed his eyes and knew exactly what this was going to be. It was either to be a public execution or he was going to be fighting for his life for their entertainment. From the way these guys treated murder and mayhem, it was a safe bet that it would be the latter he would be subjected to.
'Great, they're going to make a spectacle out of it,' Ichigo mused, before he had a scary thought.
He didn't have Zangetsu with him; he couldn't feel the familiar weight of his zanpakuto and knew these guys wouldn't be stupid enough to leave him armed. This was bad, very bad; he was unarmed and likely going to be executed at Gladium. His eyes moved to the demons that spectated, hoping that one of them may have taken Zangetsu as a trophy.
But his investigation had to wait as the sound of new arrivals had drawn his attention, looking up he saw a large balcony that gave a clear panoramic view of the room. Large double doors opened up to reveal two figures move through, a male and female demon stepped onto the balcony. The first was a large pale skinned vampiric demon, large wings and cloven feet with horns like any generic hell spawn. The demon sat upon a large throne and placed his chin into his clawed hand and gazed down at Ichigo with black soulless eyes.
The woman was a red skinned demon that stood two or three heads over the male, a massive creature that still carried a very feminine figure and grace. She wore thin metal plated armor over her chest and legs, with a chain mail loin cloth while leaving her slender arms exposed. Yes she had horns and cloven feet, but she had many different features that set her apart from the other monsters that roamed this twisted realm.
She had long horn-like cranial extension that came up from the crown of her head and folded around the side of her head similar to that of ram's horns. Behind these large bone attachments were several thin tendrils that mixed in with her dark brown hair. Swinging behind her was a long thick tail that had several tattoos and golden trinkets wrapped around its lengths.
"This is the human that gave you so much trouble, he is merely an infant," The female demon said, laughing into her hand as she turned away, her graceful mockery annoying not only Ichigo. "Perhaps I should go elsewhere to acquire soldiers since yours seem inadequate to actually capture a child."
"Quiet yourself, or you may find yourself at the ends of their blades alongside the human," The vampiric demon said, true to his word many demons shifted and snarled up at her.
But Jazera did not give them any mind, she was a lord within the Burning Legion, and they were nothing to her in either rank or power.
"So you're the one who gave my warriors so much trouble," Abraxus said, his words echoing through the quiet chamber as he addressed the substitute who glared up at the Dreadlord with a bloody and sweaty face. "You were able to kill five of them and wound seven others. I am almost impressed."
Ichigo didn't respond, while that demon was monologing he could look for Zangetsu and then figure out how to get it back. With so many demons here he needed all the advantages he could get, especially as his chances of escaping were practically zero as it was. Sifting through the many demons that were glaring at him he searched for the familiar glint of his soul cutter, all the while ignoring the demon speaking.
"I asked you a question mortal," Abraxus demanded, slamming his clawed fist into his arm rest to gain Ichigo's attention. "How did you come to be here?"
"I don't even know where the fuck I am, so why don't you start with telling me that!" Ichigo shouted back, several demons shouting in their language obvious profanity.
"My what a temper, almost reminds me of you," Jazera laughed to herself, and speaking loud enough just for Abraxus to hear.
"Silence woman," Abraxus hissed, turning back to Ichigo and replying to his question. "This is the Ered'keil Sanctum, my personal fortress within the Twisting Nether,"
"Twisting Nether?" Ichigo murmured to himself, he had never heard of anything like that before, though that wasn't uncommon since there were likely hundreds of places he had never heard of. Likely both in the spiritual and normal category.
"Yes, the trans-dimensional realm that connects all worlds across the Greater Dark together," Abraxus said casually, waving his hand around in explanation and quickly breezing through it.
"I hope you find my abode to your liking, it will be the last thing you will ever see."
"Like hell it is!" Ichigo said, standing quickly and shaking off the hand on his shoulder, turning to the demon and then punching him right in the face.
The demon staggered back before falling to the ground unconscious. Ichigo grabbed the demon's sword as it clattered to the floor and turned to the other two guards, who were charging right at him with sword held high.
Without so much as a plan Ichigo charged in and did what he did best, fight his way through the situation with only his instincts to guide him. The closest he parried and then stepped past, forgetting him for the moment and moving straight for the second. As the demon had its sword raised Ichigo slashed it across the chest, then kicking in his leg with a sickening crack he forced it down to a knee. Pivoting around Ichigo ducked under the first demons swing, straightening he swung at the demons arm as it came around for another attack.
Ichigo's next attack severed the demons head from its body, a fountain of black blood spouting from the stump as the demon's body fell to the ground. Turning back to the other Ichigo kicked him in the chest and leapt onto the downed demon, impaling him with his newly acquired sword. Ichigo pulled his blade free and straightened up and got ready for all hell to break loose, but to his surprise it didn't.
All the demons simply stared at him, either amused that he was still breathing, or angry at the very same thing. It would appear that this was going to be a slow execution, and Ichigo knew that without Zangetsu it was only going to be quicker.
A laugh drew his attention, a low chuckle that was filled with mirth as well as malice and discontent. Ichigo narrowed his eyes at this; he hated it when people looked down on the death of their fellow kind with no care. But he reminded himself what these things are, demons were creatures of evil and were pure evil, they had no concept of kindness and friendship.
"Very entertaining, I think I see where my warriors had some difficulty with you, this would be an excellent chance for them to test their skills," Abraxus said, as he made a motion with his hand.
Ichigo turned to the left to see three new opponents had jumped down from the alcove, two Fel Guard with an axe and sword and a Succubus. Ichigo swallowed slightly and didn't allow his anxiety show, he knew that these demons were like animals and would attack as soon as he showed any signs of weakness.
But that would do him little good here; he had fought against one of those things before and had been nearly killed. But against two and a Succubus was an even bigger nightmare, the latter would simply harass him with that whip of hers and give the other two an opening to kill him. Ichigo flexed his wrist a little and felt it burn, it was definitely still broken and wasn't going to be of any use.
Ichigo also tried to turn but felt his stomach protest with agony, those stab wounds had really done him in. He was lucky his guts hadn't started falling out with all the fighting he had been doing; hopefully this fight wouldn't be when his small intestines start poking out.
Ichigo gripped the fel iron blade in his left hand tightly and raised it in front of him, he may not be in the best of shape but he wasn't going to die anytime soon. He was alive now, and he was not going to let that change while he had people counting on him.
"Kill him," Abraxus commanded without much enthusiasm.
Both of the Felguard charged forward with a roar, and Ichigo did the same as he rushed forward to meet them. Twisteing his blade in his hand, and finding the relative lightness of the weapon to be refreshing to that of the cumbersome size of Zangetsu. Ichigo was certain he heard a discontent guttural groan from within his mind, but his thoughts were currently occupied with the enemy bearing down on him.
Ducking under a swing Ichigo slid his blade against the demons exposed side, cutting through the skin and muscle, but did little to hinder the demon. Rushing past the demon before it could retaliate Ichigo moved right for the second, who had a sinister looking broadsword raised up and over his helmed head. Not missing a beat Ichigo charged forward and then dropped to the ground, sliding between the demons legs.
Instead of capitalizing on the demons exposed back he chose a different target, the Succubus who was only a few feet in front of him. The two meat heads were dangerous because they didn't go down easy and were quite literally killing machines. The Succubi had shown him time and time before to be cunning and devious in their attacks, often leaving him open to be attacked by another demon. In a battle with two Felguards and a Succubus, the latter was by far the more dangerous.
Charging quickly he intended to finish this quickly and then plan out how he would kill the other two, but his swing was dodged easily by the lithe and agile demon. Laughing at the Soul Reaper's failure, she cracked her whip against the ground before motioning him forward, goading him to try again. Ichigo obliged and attacked, swinging at her with a variety of trusts and slashes in an attempt to wound her, but they were futile.
She ducked and leapt away from his attacks easily, no real effort in her movements to show that Ichigo was pressing her.
'Damn it," Ichigo cursed himself.
This had been easier before; his previous fights with the Succubi had been slightly easier, often landing a glancing blow and even killing them outright. Yet now he could barely land a blow, but there was more to this than he thought. Ever since he got here he has been feeling drained and weak, he still has his spiritual power, but with his wounds and this strange sickness he seemed to have contracted he was at a severe disadvantage.
Halting in a thrust Ichigo glanced up as a shadow appeared over him, looking to his left he saw an axe moving right for his head. Turning and attempting to counter the weapon Ichigo halted it, but fell to his knee when he disturbed the wound on his stomach. With those two stab wounds he couldn't make a single turn without feeling like he had been stabbed, let alone scared his guts had fallen out.
Ichigo tried to keep the blade level with the axe, but could barely keep his arm straight with the weight of the massive demon pressing down on him. The struggle ended when Ichigo was pulled off his knee and onto his back, looking at his leg he saw the barbed whip wrapped around his ankle. The Succubi laughed as she tugged on the whip and pulled Ichigo across the floor, making him roll painfully along the tiles.
As Ichigo stopped he looked up to see he had been rolled right in front of the second Felguard, who had his sword held high and ready to deliver the execution strike. Raising the sword Ichigo blocked the attack, his palm bleeding as the cut across it reopened. Ichigo didn't let his grip go slack for a moment, fighting though the pain he held on and made sure that demonic blade didn't get any closer. He even risked bringing up his other arm to push back against the blunt side of his own blade, the still unset bones shifting painfully as he pushed back.
'I have to get out of this!' Those were his only thoughts at the moment.
Glancing down at his leg he remembered the whip that was coiled around his ankle. He saw the Succubus standing there with a smile on her face and likely thinking he was a dead man. Tugging on the whip hard he made the Succubus stumble forward and fall to her knees, a few laughs were heard, likely from several of her fellow kind
As she rose her face carried an irritated scowl, drawing a small dagger and tightened her grip on the whip she got ready to pull it and Ichigo toward her. Ichigo seeing her get ready to pull made sure he was ready to come at her full force. When she pulled Ichigo pushed the demons blade up and back, with nothing keeping him in place he was tugged right towards the Succubi.
Using the momentum Ichigo shot up to his feet and lunged at the demonic harlot, aiming his sword right for her heart. She let out a startled cry and tried to escape, her agility only saved her for a moment as his blade only pierced her right breast.
Screaming in pain she tried to attack but Ichigo struck again, pulling his blade free he stabbed it down again, this time actually piercing her heart. She let out a garbled cry as her mouth filled with blood, but Ichigo continued to stab her with a flurry of attacks, making sure she was dead. Not another sound passed the demons lips as Ichigo stood up and stumbled away from her corpse. Ichigo was motionless for a moment as he looked at the mangled body beneath him in revulsion, and the blade that he had used to do it.
His stomach turned a little and the bile rose in his throat as he realized what he had just done, the actual act of killing did not disturb him as much as how he had done it. He had killed the demon like a crazed madman that wanted to make sure she was dead. But what scared him a little was the fact he was actually starting to think that killing these guys was alright, good even.
'What the fuck is happening to me?' Ichigo thought, it was like a wave of sanity had come back to him in that moment.
Ichigo's brutal slaying of the succubus was eclipsed when the Felguard descended over him, ready to commit a similar slaughter upon him. Ichigo pushed himself to the side and avoided having his body cut in twain. Seeing this Ichigo composed himself quickly as he could, there was no time to get bogged down in emotions; he had to get out of here no matter the cost. If he had to kill these things then he would, he was not going to die here, he would escape, he had to escape.
'I have to kill them, kill them and I get out, there is no other way, no other choice,' Ichigo mentally shouted at himself, focusing himself on the now rather than what had just happened.
Both the Felguards fell in line next to one another, taking their weapons in both their hands and getting ready to charge. Ichigo matched their stance and held his sword low, ready to rush them head on and meet their steel with his own. With a roar they charged, Ichigo running low with his blade running straight with his arm while the demons pulled theirs back.
Ichigo wasn't deterred and met them, leaping over and through their attacks and slashing with his blade. Putting every amount of effort into his attacks, ignoring his wounds and the strange illness that seemed to have infected him he attacked and never stopped.
Jazera was highly amused with the display below, it was certainly entertaining to watch a low creature try and fruitlessly try to survive against a being of superior strength and power. It was often that a mortal was captured and sent to their deaths against another demon, often one several times bigger than themselves.
But like all things it often became a bore, usually a quick end and no show and those that did offer some sport couldn't really do much than just run. All fun and amusing for a few minutes, but after a while it would be no different than watching a Void Hound eat its dinner.
But this was much more different, where this was once an execution she was witnessing the boy that should be dead actually murdering those sent to murder him. It was exquisite, but not only because of that. It was even more enthralling and delicious simply because of whom this was happening to, Lord Abraxus' minions were being showed up by a simple mortal.
She glanced at the Nathrezin that held himself is such high regard, and saw that he his jaw was clenched and his eyes narrowed as veins throbbed on his bald head. Jazera's smirk only grew as she saw the obvious anger that was boiling within the Dreadlord; all she would need to do was poke him a little and he would explode.
Abraxus growled as he saw his warriors being made a mockery of, they had delivered barely a scratch to the boy, yet they were covered in dozens of cuts. Though shallow and nothing to worry about, the fact he continued to deliver such irritating cuts to his finest of warriors infuriated him. To kill one of his minions was nothing, but to actually play around with them like this was a personal attack on his power.
"You do not look too pleased Abraxus, is the fighting not to your satisfaction?" Jazera inquired, leaning forward to meet his pulsing black eyes that began to shine with green fel fire.
He did not respond to her quip, instead he glanced back to the fighting. The boy had just cut into one of the Felguards calf and brought him down to his knee, and then followed up with a slash to his back.
But despite the anger that rose in him from the show of defiance from this miserable human, it was that Eradan woman that set him on edge. The human was providing the woman he despised more than any other foul mongrel within the Legion fire to burn away at his patience.
"I thought you came here to relieve some stress, maybe you should find another outlet," Jazera said, running her fingers over his throne, which made the Dreadlord shake with anger. "After all, watching the fun is only so good unless you participate."
Abraxus glared at the woman, his eyes burning with fiery green hate, he was so close to losing his composure and ending it all right there.
"Unless you are not up to the task?" She said coyly, looking at him with a glimmer of satisfaction, as she not only insulted his power but also his masculinity. "Don't be so angry, I know not all are up to the task of being able to perform. I would say it happens to the best of us, yet you can barely stand in such regard."
"Enough!" Abraxus roared, releasing a wave of shadowy flames, which engulfed the entire balcony and coiled at the roof of the chamber.
Jazera was engulfed by the shadowfire, but it did not burn her, she was immune to such things and she knew Abraxus knew that as well. She smirked a little, but was disappointed he did not attack her, she would have liked to kill him and then take this entire ragtag of demons under her control.
But despite his blind pride he knew enough to see that she wanted him to attack, and that means she would likely not be getting to kill him anytime soon. What a shame, although, Jazera wondered if the Human could do him in. It would be a brilliant finish.
"I will end this myself!" Abraxus shouted, leaping from the balcony and onto the smooth black stone below.
His cloven feet fracturing the ground as he landed, the entire room shook from the sudden display of power as he spread his wings and the air darkened around him. Rising to his full height Abraxus towered over Ichigo by a good two feet. His entire body save for his head and arms were covered in thick black and brass armor. As the Dreadlord advanced, the two Felguard moved back and away allowing their master to deal the final blow.
Swinging his clawed hand the Demon lord released a thick green mist, it fell to the ground harmlessly and spread across the entire floor. Ichigo stood guard and waited for the miasma to do something, but to his surprise it did nothing; at most it changed the ambience from a simple fight to the death to a horror movie.
But Ichigo noted that at the edges of the floor the mist began to rise up, coiling around the pillars and moving into the irregularly shaped supports. As the mist entered the crevices and openings in the pillar Ichigo could finally see what hung from them, hundreds of skeletons were chained and molded to the column. Most were of different species, oddly shaped bones and skeleton structures, while others shockingly looked human.
Yet it was when the miasma entered the very bones and actually made them convulse that made his eyes widen in terror. The cracks and breaks in the bones glowed with a feint green energy, while their eye sockets held a small flame that shifted as if they were eyes. They skeletons pulled themselves free and fell to the ground, their bones crashing into the stone floor with a hard crack. But they rose up and gazed at the young Soul Reaper, raising their arms to reach out to the Soul Reaper and moaning incoherent sounds.
They took slow and clumsy steps forward, their guttural cries never halting, only growing in volume as more appeared. Ichigo looked around to see that in a matter of seconds dozens had already appeared; some carrying weapons and others still had remnants of armor over their skeletal forms.
As Ichigo turned and looked at the approaching undead horde, raising his blade up and nervously waiting for them to get to him rather than meet them himself. Ichigo took notice of a strange shine from the alcoves, coming from one of the larger two headed demons. The demon itself was not what drew his attention, but what he had sheathed on his belt.
"Zangetsu," Ichigo murmured, seeing his Zanapkuto tugged snuggly into the demons brass belt.
It was right there, but still out of his reach. He had no way of getting to it and he doubted they would give it back out of a kindness. Hearing a groan behind him Ichigo turned, ducked away from a swipe and then took off the head of a skeleton. But the creatures didn't stop in its attack; Ichigo grimaced when he realized that he likely wouldn't be able to fight these things by normal means.
Ichigo leapt away from a sword aimed for his head and backpedalled right into another one, who wrapped his arms around Ichigo and then bit into his shoulder. Ichigo grunted and then stabbed the skeleton over his shoulder and pulled himself away before finishing it with a quick kick to the chest. Even though its ribs were shattered and the skull was missing more than half of itself it still could fight, rising slowly to its feet to try and attack again.
'How the hell am I meant to beat these guys!' Ichigo thought as he leapt away, but with every movement away from one he got closer to another.
Ichigo glanced at Zangetsu once more and tried to figure out how he could get it without actually using Shunpo. Ever since he got here he has been feeling ill and anytime he used his reishi he would become a quivering wreck, feeling like vomiting while his entire body flared with pain. Maybe his spiritual energy was tainted by this place; maybe he was sick because the energies of this Twisting Nether were actually poisonous.
Ichigo felt his leg snag something as he leapt away; he stumbled back to the ground and nearly fell. Swinging at the skeletons around him he knocked away a few, they collapsed to the ground either mostly in tact or in pieces, but still not in the slightest bit defeated.
Ichigo cursed at this before looking down at his ankle and seeing that damn barbed whip was still there, he grasped it and was about to throw it away. But he stopped himself when he had a thought, looking back at the demon with his Zanpakuto he came up with a plan. It was risky, but if it worked then he would get his Zanpakuto back.
Abraxus advanced on the human boy to finish him off now and end him before he could slight him again. Although he would not deny that having the child's impaled body on his claws did sound satisfying. With all the constant nuisances that have been plaguing him for the last few centuries he deserved to have a little fun once and awhile.
Abraxus raised an eyebrow however when he saw the human begin to wrap something around the fel iron blade he carried. Narrowing his eyes he made out the barbed whip of the Succubus he had killed. Slightly intrigued he slowed his pace and watched the human to see what he was planning, although he opted to find out rather than wait for it to happen.
"What are you doing human?" Abraxus demanded as he brushed aside several undead, shattering them with barely any effort.
"I little trick I remember this one asshole did to me once!" Ichigo yelled back, kicking away a skeleton before tightening the whip around the sword once more.
Ichigo dropped the sword and let it nearly hit the ground, and then he started to swing the whip around above his head. Picking up momentum Ichigo watched the skeletons around him and waited for the right moment. When it was right he let lose, swinging the whip out he swung it far enough to cut through the skeletons within a few feet of him in a single twist. Most where cut apart by the rapidly spinning blade before they could react, falling to the ground in pieces as Ichigo pulled the sword back toward him.
"A nice trick, but it will not save you from me," Abraxus said, to which Ichigo scowled and began to spin up the weapon again.
"Don't worry, I got something that will," Ichigo replied, building up the inertia of the whip before sending it flying.
But to Abraxus' surprise and many other it went in a completely random direction, and impaled a Terrorguard through its chest – or in some cases forehead. Abraxus was more than amused at the child's obvious failure, but it was to be expected from someone so young and idiotic.
"Your aim is off human," Abraxus said with a smirk, but was surprised when he saw the human doing the same.
"Guess again," Ichigo said, pulling on the whip hard and dragging the demon off the raised alcove and onto the floor impaling itself on the sword.
Ichigo rushed forward and past several skeletons, ducking and weaving between their attacks to reach the demon. Ichigo got to the demons side and lifted the massive being up and onto its side, kicking a skeleton away as it got close. Looking down he saw Zangetsu right there, he could almost feel the old man's discontent about being in the hands of an unholy beast. Grasping the cloth wrapped handle Ichigo pulled his partner free, turning he cut down three skeletons in a single swing.
Leaping forward he kept swinging with all the might his left arm could offer, cutting down everything in his way and not stopping for anything. Ichigo could feel his strength return with Zangetsu back in his hand, but that still did little for him in regards to his wounds and this illness. Where the hell is instant regeneration when you need it?
Ichigo hesitated in an attack when he saw a shadow pass over him, glancing up he saw a large dark figure falling right down towards him.
Ichigo leapt away and avoided being crushed by the large demon. Rolling to his feet, Ichigo turned to face his attacker and had to quickly raise Zangetsu in defense. A shower of sparks flew as long black claws grinded against the edge of his Zanpakuto. Looking past his blade Ichigo saw that it was the Dreadlord who was attacking him, fel green eyes mixed with black irises glared into his defiant brown.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes and attacked; if he could defeat this guy then maybe the skeletons would disappear or at least fall down for good. It wasn't the best plan, but he had little choice but to go through with it and hope for the best. Zangetsu was caught in the clawed hand of the Dreadlord, much to his surprise, and the second claw moved to slice open his chest and stomach. Ichigo stepped back and avoided the fatal blow.
Tearing Zangetsu from the demon's grip and moving back Ichigo strategized, but his planning came to a halt when something grabbed his arm. Ichigo turned and cut down the creature that grabbed him, he forgot that he had a horde of skeletons to fight as well. Ichigo raised Zangetsu and stopped another undead from splitting his head open with an axe.
As he threw the enemy away he felt his back flare with pain as something slicing into it; glancing back he saw the satisfied Dreadlord ready to strike again. Quickly ducking under the swing Ichigo struck back, reversing his hold on Zangetsu he stabbed back and into the demons stomach. Abraxus grunted when he felt the blade pierce his abdomen, shock passed over his features for a second. Glancing down at the superficial wound, the blade had only pierced a few inches into his abdomen, and growled in anger.
"You little…," Abraxus growled, but before he could reciprocate Ichigo pulled Zangetsu free and attempted to attack again.
Swinging Zangetsu around Ichigo aimed for the area between the neck and shoulder, but Abraxus halted it with his reinforced bracers. As he threw the blade aside he backhanded Ichigo across the jaw, sending him flying through the air like a rag doll before colliding with several skeletons and then the floor.
Coughing up some blood that seemed to have formed in his mouth tried to sit up, and came face to face with a horde of skeletons about pile on top of him. Frantically he swung, kicked and cursed them away with anything he had, but they were all around him. Ichigo leaned and moved aside as weapons moved to impale him, swinging back up to stop second attempts but for every swing more came along.
"Fuck!" Ichigo cursed, as he felt one sword slice the side of his neck.
Ichigo quickly used Shunpo, barreling through several skeletons and appearing as far away from the undead as he could. As he got to his feet he fell down, coughing uncontrollably and feeling the contents of his stomach rise to his throat. Ichigo vomited onto the ground several times before he continued coughing uncontrollably, a mixture of blood, bile and a black substance pooled in front of him.
Ichigo staggered to his feet and tried to regain his balance, but his vision was all but impaired and he couldn't even see colors right. He stepped forward and fell to the ground, coughing hard and spitting out more blood as he tried to stand back up.
'What… is happening…?" Ichigo thought, planting the tip of Zangetsu into the ground to help lift himself back up.
When he used Shunpo he felt his body convulse, as if he had done something to aggravate his condition. Maybe he was right, maybe his spiritual energy was being poisoned by this place and it in turn was poisoning him.
"You seem quite pale human, is the fel energies here not to your liking?" Abraxus said, advancing on the boy with claws ready to tear him apart.
"Shit…," Ichigo groaned, raising Zangetsu to defend himself, but he could barely lift the tip off the ground before it feel back down.
"How pathetic, you can barely stand yet you think you can raise your blade," Abraxus laughed, delivering an uppercut right to the jaw that sent Ichigo flying ten meters back and colliding with the floor and sliding back unmoving.
Ichigo laid motionless for a few moments before he tried to rise, groaning slightly he tried to sit up but was forced back down when a hoof stomped down onto his chest. Throwing up a wad of blood as Ichigo choked as he tried to spit it out and breath. He had no strength left, he couldn't fight back or get this guy off him, all Ichigo could do was glare up at him in defiance.
Ichigo however felt utter despair in what was his final moment, he had failed. He was going to die not knowing if his friends were okay, they could be dead right now and he wouldn't even know it. How could he let this happen? He was meant to protect them and ensure they were all safe. But her was in this place a dimension away and with no way of getting back to them, he was going to die with the knowledge he had failed them.
'I'm sorry, I am so sorry for not being there to protect you, Orihime…'
"It ends here," Abraxus said, raising his claw and dousing it in shadowy fire.
Abraxus raised his claw high and grinned at his victory, his pride may have been injured as his abdomen was, but this would certainly make up for it.
A blinding light enveloped the room before any could react, Abraxus shielded his eyes as did many of the demons who saw it. As it dimmed they saw that beneath Abraxus and Ichigo was a strange runic circle that was glowing with a golden light.
"What is this?" Abraxus shouted, looking at the unfamiliar scripture and runes of the strange circle around him. "Jazera, is this your doing?!"
"It is not you fool!" She barked back, looking at the strange glowing runic circle, it was like nothing she had ever seen before.
Many unique diagrams and runes adorned it, but she had no idea what she was looking at. As an Eradar she knew more about the arcane than anyone else in the entire cosmos, but she could not make out the entire design for the circle. But she did know what it was at glance, but it was too complicated to be something so simple. It was a summoning circle.
"What did you do?!" Abraxus roared at the Shinigami under his cloven foot, his accusation turning on him.
Ichigo didn't respond, only glancing to the side to see the world around him was glowing with a bright golden light. Before he could do anything he felt his world quickly fill with light and he was weightless for a time. Strange sensations rushed over and though his body and then he felt everything fade away as darkness replaced his vision.
