maxe03: No he shouldn't. Hollows learn by instinct, they're essentially animals. Ichigo has always had backup in the form of Rukia because she hasn't lost her powers. Also, please show me where Ichigo in canon can use Bala before you say his Bala is slower than in canon. Also remember that Ichigo is technically part Quincy, which resist Hollows. That's why he can resist using the Cero so easily. The story won't be following canon any longer really. Lastly, that's not true. Masaki was dead and no regular human could really explain what was wrong with him. A genetic disease easily explains Ichigo's mask and it's not like doctors could disprove it. More so, who the hell said he wasn't found by the spiritual world? I never clarified that. Rukia didn't kill him instantly because, oh I don't know, she sensed he had human reiatsu and because of the fact that his mask was pretty much completely off. And because she explained what was going on to him, obviously.
Quincy and Hollow
Ichigo frowned as he shot into the sky, looking down at the Hollow above a small child. "Fuck off," he muttered, landing behind the Hollow before carving it in half. He sighed, watching the young child run off as the Hollow dissipated. "I am just really not in the mood to deal with this shit. I have to be back in class soon! I can't take half an hour long craps!"
Ichigo glanced at his school that was just slightly beyond the horizon. He sighed, looking up at the sky. If he was right the school day was nearly over, which simply meant finding more Hollows to kill afterwards before he started his homework and Rukia took over for the night and morning. Ichigo leapt onto the roof of a nearby building, careful to avoid prying eyes. He was still capable of being seen by regular people so he had to be careful on his shifts. Ichigo frowned, thinking over his schedule. He watched for Hollows in the afternoon and evenings while Rukia handled it in the mornings. Groaning at the stupidity of him doing her job for her Ichigo glanced at the nearby Hollow that was spider-like, frowning as it slowly started to walk towards a human, creating small engravings on the ground.
"Oh come on, I can't not get seen like this," he muttered, annoyed before he raised his hand, a sphere of energy forming before he quickly fired the Bala before anyone noticed a boy with blades standing on the rooftop. He smirked as the Bala impacted off the Hollow, destroying it. Ichigo smirked as the human didn't even turn around. "Oh yeah, regular humans can't see my techniques. Well that's a bonus I suppose."
(-A Different Side to the Story-)
Ichigo glanced at to his left, launching his smaller blade in that direction before he raised his larger blade, deflecting the claw swipe of the second Hollow. Smirking he slid forwards, swinging his large blade in front of him as he cut off the other Hollow's arm. Ichigo turned, throwing a kick behind him to send the Hollow flying before he looked at the even larger Hollow that looked like a massive gorilla, smirking as the smaller blade protruded from its chest. The Hollow roared before it rushed Ichigo, yet he raised his blade, slashing downwards, neatly cutting through its mask. The Hollow's roar quieted as it died, causing him to smirk. Ichigo snatched his smaller blade from midair before he spun on his heel, preparing to send the small blade flying towards the other, insectoid Hollow, however before he could a blue arrow cracked into his body, making it bulge before it dissipated.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow, looking towards his right where the arrow came from, finding a teen standing there. Ichigo frowned. "Who the hell are you?" Ichigo frowned as he looked at him. He looked similar to some guy he had seen at his school a couple times. The teen frowned, raising his glowing blue bow before he formed an arrow. Ichigo's eyes widened as the arrow surged forwards, slashing forwards with his smaller blade, the arrow exploding on contact. Sliding backwards Ichigo frowned, confused at how a human was attacking him, but he didn't show any hesitation as he launched a Bala at the human. The human jumped, landing on top of a nearby building as the Bala missed. Ichigo frowned at the lull in the battle, taking this time to assess his newfound opponent.
His attacker was a bespectacled teenager that looked rather...average. He wasn't particularly intimidating or memorable in physical stature, with black, chin-length hair framing both sides of his face that was a common hairstyle. He was slender, and didn't look like he would be capable of fighting adequately in close quarters. The most notable thing about him was the striking white uniform he wore with blue stripes that formed a sort of cross and mantle.
"So are you gonna explain why you're attacking me or are we gonna have to fight this out?" The teenager snorted. "Because you're a Hollow." The teen then let another arrow fly. Ichigo snarled, stepping forward as he slashed out with his larger blade towards the blue arrow. The blade carved right through the arrow, making Ichigo smirk. "You're gonna need something better than that," Ichigo said, smirking. The teen frowned, letting loose a flurry of more arrows. Ichigo's eyes widened as he wove his blades on instinct, trying to cut every single arrow, yet he failed to move his arms fast enough, several arrows carving into his body. Ichigo snarled in pain, his reiatsu bursting forth quickly, shattering the arrows embedded in his body.
The teen's eyes widened. "What? Such intense reiatsu...is it because of the fact that he's an irregular Hollow?" Ichigo snarled up at the teenager, launching several Bala towards the teenager. However, he disappeared in a burst of speed, dust being the only tell-tale sign that he had even been there to begin with. Ichigo snarled, before he suddenly turned to his left, slashing through an arrow that had been in his blind spot.
"What," the teenager questioned. "That was in his blind spot I know it. He shouldn't have been able to see that coming." Ichigo snarled as he rushed towards the teenager, ignoring the strange signal he felt getting stronger as he moved towards the teenager, the budding Pesquisa being buried under animalistic rage. The teenager's eyes widened before he disappeared as Ichigo's larger blade slashed downwards, crashing onto the street and cracking it violently. Ichigo snarled, his vision covered with red as steam bellowed from his mouth. The teenager's eyes widened, firing several more arrows at Ichigo's legs. Ichigo roared, the arrows suddenly moving much slower before Ichigo disappeared, the force of his movements creating spiderweb cracks in the cement. The teen's eyes widened as he failed to sense Ichigo before he found his windpipe crushed as Ichigo thrust his palm into his throat before he grabbed him and slammed into the ground.
The teenager tried to conjure another arrow out of his reishi, however he suddenly found his body enveloped in a paralyzing, mind-searing pain. The teenager tried to scream, however the pain only intensified, his neck burning from Ichigo's hand. Ichigo roared, the Hollow-like sound reverberating throughout the area. The teen tried to force his way through the pain, but he could only think of a burning flame inside of him that threatened to rip him apart. However, he was soon saved from his burden as he saw a blade swinging towards Ichigo as his vision darkened. He couldn't see who his savior was, but he could only assume it was a Shinigami.
Ichigo snarled at Rukia's blade as it clanked off of his skin. Ichigo rose, swiping at the woman with his shorter blade, but the Shinigami jumped backwards, landing on her feet before she raised an eyebrow. "What the hell happened to you Ichigo? Have you been completely converted into becoming a Hollow?" Ichigo roared, raising his blades as a black aura spiraled off of them before he swung them, forming a massive crescent-like wave that carved into the ground. Rukia's eyes widened at the powerful attack, diving out of the way before she disappeared in a burst of speed. Ichigo turned in time to see her foot collide with his face, sending him flying backwards as his nose was shattered. Rukia frowned. "I always thought this might happen. I'll have to exterminate you now." Ichigo roared at Rukia's words his black reiatsu blanketing the area. However it soon swerved inwards, forming a large portal that Ichigo jumped through before Rukia had time to react. Rukia's eyes widened at the action, wondering whether or not to chase him as the portal slowly closed, but one look at the injured Quincy on the ground told her otherwise. She rushed over to the Quincy, rushing towards the Urahara Shop as quickly as possible. She wasn't one to allow unnecessary death. Ichigo would just have to be dealt with at a later time.
The portal closed.
(-A Different Side to the Story-)
Ichigo landed on white sand, his reiatsu surging outwards as he roared, challenging the world. He didn't know how, but he felt similar beings roaming around, and he needed their blood. It wasn't long before several Hollows rushed him, roaring their own war cries. Ichigo roared in response, throwing his blades into the sand before he launched himself into the throngs of his enemies, hands blitzing forwards, shattering their masks. Ichigo roared as their bodies disappeared, desperately trying to grab them, but they simply dissolved past his fingers. He heard a roar, turning on his heel as the Hollow that rushed toward him suddenly saw the world move much faster, it's arm suddenly exploding in an explosion of blood and gore. The Hollow screeched it pain, before it was pounced on by the other animalistic Hollows in the battle royal, a sandstorm being kicked up by the horde of shuffling feet.
Ichigo watched the other Hollow's dive into his meal with a rage that was hardly suppressed. His roar sent sand flying in every direction as he dove in, teeth shredding through teeth as he slammed Hollows into the ground. A Hollow that was larger than most rushed at his green blood-covered body, yet Ichigo simply screeched, the Hollow slowly disintegrating down into a much smaller being. Ichigo rushed forwards, teeth rending through the Hollow's flesh. He roared in absolute euphoria, relishing the power he felt flowing into his being. He turned to the other Hollows in the area, all trying to devour one another. Ichigo rushed forward, indulging in his hedonism, slashing and rending through Hollows with absolute pleasure.
Suddenly all the fighting stopped, every Hollow turning to look at the figure that stood on a nearby sand dune, looking on the horde with disgust visible in its eyes. The Hollow looked akin to the famed centaur in Greek mythology, with brownish-green fur covering it's body. A black horse's tail flicked out behind it, a white ring at the base of it. Horns peaked at the top of the Hollow's mask, the horns long and curved downwards. The horns were connected to a rather plain mask, although there were rather large holes for the eyes, hazel eyes staring at them. The Hollows shoulders were coated with white spaulders that protected her shoulder-blade and neck.
Ichigo tilted his head at the Hollow, watching with confusion as the other Hollows ran from the imposing Hollows reiatsu. Ichigo merely felt a strong desire to prove his own superiority and destroy the Hollow. He roared, his reiatsu sending sand scattering. The Hollow frowned, clenching its fist before it raised its right hand. Ichigo shot forwards, picking up his blades as he ran, green blood flying off of his body. The Hollow standing atop the sand dune merely sighed.
"Even Hollows filled with rage would have ran. It seems you are merely insane. What a poor Arrancar...to die so young to a disease so common."
With that the Hollow raised its hand, pink reiatsu swirling to form a powerful pink lance that she then launched at Ichigo. He didn't even have a chance to stop it, the lance spearing forwards to quickly as it shuddered through his chest, red blood flying behind him and coating the sand. "Lanzador Verde." The other Hollow simply walked forwards, intrigued at how Ichigo had survived the seemingly fatal attack. Ichigo roared at the Hollow but found himself unable to move. The Hollow frowned, curious. "Intriguing."
Ichigo roared, the red that coated his vision slowly fading away. The Hollow frowned at the sudden decrease in reiatsu. "Or maybe not," it muttered. The Hollow turned, preparing to walk away before it felt a surge of energy shower it from behind it. It turned, annoyed at the constant confusion with the strange Arrancar before it, however it's eyes widened as the wound it had inflicted upon the Arrancar slowly stopped bleeding, albeit slowly. The Hollow tilted it's head.
"What?" Ichigo groaned, looking at the wound. "I have no idea how I did that," he muttered in pain. "Or any real idea where I am," he said weakly. The Hollow glanced at Ichigo. An Arrancar that had never been to Hueco Mundo? That was impossible. Ichigo groaned. "But I do know that you're a Hollow, and while I may be similar to a Hollow I'm not one. It's my job to protect people from them."
The Hollow frowned, knowing where this was going. Quickly channeling energy it formed another pink lance like beforehand. Ichigo raised his hand, causing the Hollow to stop from firing its blade.
"Make up your mind. Are we fighting or are you just going to sit there," a very feminine voice erupted from the Hollow's mask. Ichigo smirked. "Sorry, but even I know that I can't beat you as I am now. But I also have absolutely no idea where I am." The Hollow frowned, letting her lance dissipate. "What do you mean Arrancar?" the Hollow asked.
"How do you not know about Hueco Mundo?"
(-A Different Side to the Story-)
Rukia sat before Kisuke, listening to his explanation with a frown on her face. "I'm confused. What do you mean you had expected this to happen?" Kisuke sighed, glancing at the Quincy that rested in their room, still recovering from the damage Ichigo had done to him simply by touching him. "I had expected this to happen because of his peculiar D.N.A. structure," Kisuke stated. "I studied his reiatsu and I found something fascinating," Kisuke stated.
'Or perhaps deadly. I knew Masaki had gotten pregnant but for her child to have grown so powerful so quickly...it seems my cure didn't work. Damn...I'm quite the useless godfather aren't I?'
Realizing that Rukia was waiting for him to continue his explanation he continued, shutting off his thoughts for the time being. "His D.N.A. is a mixture of Quincy and Hollow," he muttered. 'Specifically an Arrancar, but she doesn't need to know that.'
"That's impossible," Rukia stated. "Quincy's can't stand physical contact with a Hollow. They don't have the anti-bodies that defend them from such a thing." Kisuke pointed at the Quincy that was unconscious in the room with them. "Yes that's true, but make no mistake he is a mixture of both species. The Hollow-part is confirmed with the fact that when he touched the Quincy over there the Quincy felt his soul being eroded away."
"Doesn't that just mean that he's a Hollow?"
Kisuke shook his head. "He doesn't have a Hollow-hole. He's not fully-Hollow. He's a mixture of Quincy. I know it sounds farfetched, but you're gonna have to trust me on this one Rukia. I double-checked it myself. That kid has Quincy blood in him. It's probably the reason why regular mortals can see him. However...I fear that when he becomes to powerful they won't be able to anymore. Training the kid is stopping him from living any normal lifestyle." Rukia frowned. "If he's a mix then why did he act so Hollow-like then?"
Kisuke frowned. "Likely the Hollow D.N.A. taking over. The kid's very existence is stabilized due to the fact that he has some Shinigami D.N.A. in him also, which acts as a medium between the Quincy and Hollow, effectively making him not self-destruct." Rukia blinked. "You didn't answer my question. And how the hell does he have Shinigami D.N.A in him!" Kisuke frowned.
"It's not like I tested his genetics or anything," Kisuke muttered. "He has Shinigami D.N.A. Quincy's are human, although less Hollow-resistant humans. Therefore it can't be his human side that's mediating things. The two opposing forces would clash to much and he'd self-destruct. The bare-minimum of Shinigami reiatsu is mediating the two. But there's a problem." Rukia frowned. "Him losing control like that?" Kisuke nodded. "Yes. He has to maintain balance. We've been training him like a Hollow, which is making his Hollow side more powerful than the Shinigami or Quincy. Eventually it will devour them both..." Kisuke let his sentence drag out.
"Which will lead to him self-destructing."
Kisuke nodded. "We have to maintain balance. Training him like a Shinigami isn't truly a necessity. It can mediate the two, however he has to become more in touch with his Quincy side because if he doesn't...he'll die. Insanity is just the first step down that path."
Rukia frowned. "But I don't even know how to train a Quincy!" Kisuke merely pointed to the Quincy in the room. "Convince him to help your friend. In the meantime I'll find a way to break into Hueco Mundo and get Ichigo back here before he gets killed."
Rukia frowned as Kisuke walked off, before looking towards the Quincy before her. "How the hell do I make that work?"
(-A Different Side to the Story-)
Giovanni Vaticani was not happy. He had seen the battle between the Quincy, Shinigami, and Arrancar and he did not know what the hell he was supposed to think. "Who would have thought getting the church off my ass would also involve finding such an intriguing sight," he muttered. "That Arrancar...it's weak...but it was behaving like a Shinigami before it fought with that Quincy." Giovanni turned towards the direction he saw the young, female Shinigami run. "I think I might need to make a little detour," he muttered before he simply vanished.
Appearing in front of a house Giovanni lightly touched the ground, smirking. He slowly reached outwards, sensing all the signatures within the house. He frowned, noting only two noteworthy signatures for combat, and then the Quincy's. He frowned. 'Those two are captain-level if not above your average captain. I could barely fight one of them...but that other one...he'd kill me.'
That was why Giovanni was not happy when the most dangerous of the two walked appeared in front of him, a cane in hand as he waved. "Yo," the man said, his hat almost falling off of his head. "I'm Kisuke Urahara...who might you be?" Giovanni frowned, cautious. This man was a powerful Shinigami. He would have to tread lightly. He hadn't come here for a fight, but he supposed that was the most likely option. "I'm Angelo Vaticani," Giovanni stated. "I came here after watching a battle with that Quincy and a peculiar Arrancar."
"He's not exactly an Arrancar, Mr. Angelo," Kisuke stated, already knowing who the Quincy was talking about. Giovanni frowned. "He looked exactly like one." Kisuke smirked. "Oh? And how would you know what an Arrancar looks like Mr. Quincy?"
Giovanni frowned. "I don't want trouble. I just wanted to know what was going on. I swore myself to protecting this town, and my job was becoming less difficult, so I started to pay more attention to any Shinigami activity in the area." Kisuke smiled. "Well I suppose you were the source of those Hollows being annihilated a while ago. You're quite strong...you're quite scary Mr. Quincy?" Giovanni frowned, taking a step backwards. This man was giving him the creeps, and for someone like him that was saying a lot. Kisuke then stopped slowly releasing his reiatsu.
"Anyways I think I could have some use for you. Care to come inside?" Giovanni frowned. "Do I have a choice?"
"No."
Giovanni groaned, following the man into the house, despite the fact that he felt his entire life would be changing with just a few words.
(-A Different Side to the Story-)
Pope Francis stretched, stepping into the closed off room. He smiled, his neck cracking slightly as he looked at the people in front of him. "Guardians," he said, kneeling to them. The people in the room frowned at the disturbance. "What are you doing here Francis," asked a woman. "Shouldn't you be at the Vatican?" Pope Francis smirked, shaking his head. "I made room to have a meeting with you all. Our Savior has blessed me no?" The woman frowned at the wording but she nodded hesitantly nonetheless. "Yes, but Francis our Lord has not returned to yet, and his almighty enforcers have not descended to assist us."
The other woman in the room frowned, her eyes glowing with fanatical devotion. "Our Lord? Worry not Bambietta! He will descend upon us soon! We only need wait for a sign!"
Bambietta blinked but nodded nonetheless, ignoring her teammates rather eccentric personality. "Whatever you say Berenice. I'm just a little preoccupied is all."
"Preoccupied?"
Bambietta looked at the Pope once more. "Yes. I think I may have caught wind of an old friend but I can't be sure. I wanted your blessing to go check it out if I may." The Pope frowned. "I have no problem with this...but not conflict whatsoever understood Bambietta?" Bambietta frowned. "None at all?"
"None."
Bambietta sighed but nodded nonetheless. Berenice tried to voice her opinion but a single glanced from Bambietta silenced her. "I'm going alone Berenice, sorry, but this is a personal matter." Berenice frowned, but the thought slipped her mind as she saw a fly and resolved herself to catch it, running around like a child. Bambietta shook her head.
'What the hell is wrong with her?'
(-A Different Side to the Story-)
Ichigo frowned at the Hollow before him, blinking in confusion. He had no idea how long he had been in Hueco Mundo after the Hollow, Neliel he had learned, had told him where he was. She was kind enough to let him stay with her as he tried to get his bearings but Ichigo could tell that she didn't trust him. Ichigo couldn't blame her. He looked extremely similar to a Shinigami, and more so he was liable to snap at any time. He had already explained to her he had no idea what caused him to snap last time.
She had looked at him with suspicion, and despite his attempts to prove that he wasn't lying she had always kept an eye on him, not that he blamed her. He would do the same thing. Then again, that didn't mean that it felt any better. Ichigo groaned, just continuing to walk on the never-ending dunes of sand with his temporary partner, wandering aimlessly.
"Hueco Mundo is the most boring place I've ever been to."
Neliel chuckled, despite her distrust of him. "I'm not surprised. Most Hollows find it boring. It's a never ending expanse of sand with creatures that are always trying to kill you and devour you for power. Unless you enjoy the thrill of battling for your life, or you're sadistic this isn't quite the place that you would want to be. That's why most younger Hollows live in the Human World. It's much more enjoyable and you meet the occasional Shinigami. Older Hollows only stay here because if they went to the Human World they'd be encountering humans that would be to much of a hassle to really deal with, like Captains."
Ichigo frowned. "Then what do you do here?"
Neliel glanced at him, her laughter ceasing. Her demeanor was no longer playful, instead becoming much more serious. Ichigo blinked before his eyes widened and he leapt forwards, although it didn't matter as Neliel blocked the attack aimed for him anyways. Neliel grunted, grabbing the tigers claws in her hands before she turned, her legs surging as she kicked him in the face like a donkey, sending him flying back. The tiger roared in pain, flipping backwards and landing on all fours. The tiger snarled, saliva dripping from its mouth onto the ground.
Ichigo turned, drawing both of his blades before his eyes widened. The tiger, if Neliel's display was anything to say, was not the true threat of the situation but the absolutely massive Hollow that seemed to be with it. The Hollow was about the size of a Gillian-class Menos, and it was tear-shaped sort of similar to an ape. It had a massive sac that covered its chin like a whale. It looked invincible.
Neliel looked perfectly calm despite the imposing figure of the Hollow. "Tell Barragan that no matter what he sends at me the answer will remain the same. I will not join him, our goals aren't similar."
The tiger snarled. "Enough of your refusal. His Majesty will not be refused. Join him or die." Neliel sighed. "Ichigo you asked me what I do," Neliel stated, pink reiatsu slowly becoming visible. A lance of pure reiatsu formed in her hand. "I kill troublesome Hollows like this who try to rule the world."
"Interesting," Ichigo managed to mutter out, clutching his head in pain. Neliel noticed his pain, quickly relating it to her releasing her reiatsu but she refused to let it go. As much as she didn't like causing unnecessary pain she couldn't allow herself to hold back here. Ggio wasn't much of a threat but Choe, the large Hollow, was someone she couldn't hope to take on if he had help and hold back. He was likely going to be the heavy hitter of this engagement.
The large Hollow rose a fist, before it launched it forwards. Neliel moved to dodge before she saw a form blast past her vision. Her eyes widened as Ichigo shot directly towards the fist, blades raised. Black reiatsu swirled around his blades before he roared in power, "Getsuga Tensho!"
Choe reeled his fist back in pain, bellowing as sand was scattered everywhere. Ichigo roared, the Hollow-like sound sending sand scattering everywhere. Ggio shot forwards, lunging for Ichigo's throat. Neliel reacted, grabbing Ggio and launching him at the recovering Choe before she choke-slammed Ichigo into the ground.
"You're going to be a problem," Neliel muttered shooting off before Ichigo could retaliate. Ichigo snarled as he stood, his eyes glowing red. He briefly watched as Choe swung at Neliel again only for her to easily stop the attack with her lance before she thrusted it forwards, sending the behemoth of a Hollow flying backwards. Ggio tried to lunge for Neliel's neck, she spun her lance, batting him in the side of the face and sending him flying towards Ichigo. Ichigo roared, reiatsu gathering in his palm as he watched in rage as Neliel handled her opponents so easily.
"Cero!"
The purplish-black blast careened through the area, drowning Ggio and causing Neliel's eyes to widen. Immediately ignoring Choe who was only just now rising she raised her lance before the swept it downwards, splitting the powerful Cero down the middle. Ichigo's eyes roared before he disappeared in Nel's eyes, only for her eyes to widen as he appeared to her left.
'That wasn't a Sonido!'
Ichigo swung his blade upwards, trying to bisect Neliel, yet she deflected it with her lance before she grabbed his face with her hand, firing a Cero at close range and sending him flying away from the impact. She glanced to her side, noticing Ggio laying defeated at her side before she turned to face Choe who was rearing back for another attack. Neliel raised her lance once more.
"Lanzador Verde!"
Neliel launched her pink lance towards Choe, smirking as it smashed against his body, sending him flying backwards. His entire body flipped as he let out a groan, trying to grasp at the sand in an effort to control himself, but the grains merely slipped through his fingers as he fell onto his back, unconscious. Neliel smirked before she glanced at Ichigo, a frown on her face. "I like you when you're sane but...you're simply to dangerous," she muttered, raising her hand. She quickly formed a lance and placed it at Ichigo's neck.
"Forgive me Ichgio. I don't enjoy this...Lanzador Verde!"
(-A Different Side to the Story-)
Ichigo cracked his neck as he sat up in a large clocktower, his eyes wide as he looked through the massive clock to see the world around him quickly decaying before it grew into itself once more. It was if time was stuck in a loop of destroying and recreating what it had destroyed.
"Where am I?"
"In your inner world so to speak, King."
Ichigo turned, his eyes widening as he found a completely black version of himself sitting on some nearby steps. "Yo," the creature waved. "I'm you, although I guess that doesn't make sense. In simpler terms I'm the power that you have. You could call me Zangetsu I suppose."
Ichigo blinked. "Zangetsu?" The black version of him nodded before he stretched. Ichigo blinked as he noticed the dual blades the man carried that looked exactly like his bar the color. "We don't have time to talk really," Zangetsu stated. "It sucks because I can't exactly control myself now which is rubbing off on you, but I think that's gonna come in handy now," Zangetsu muttered, kneeling in pain as he clutched at his head.
Ichigo frowned. "What do you mean?"
Zangetsu groaned. "Enjoy this power...you're going to need it."
(-A Different Side to the Story-)
Ichigo moved, the sand exploding outwards and into Neliel's eyes. Neliel groaned, swiping the dust from her eyes before her eyes widened as she saw a hulking monster in the form of Ichigo glaring at her, steam billowing from his mouth.
Horns sprouted from his forehead, with a white cloak shooting down his form. Black spikes shot from his cloak, stabbing into the sand, shifting around. Spikes shot around the cuff outwards, in a ring almost as if they were protecting him. The only open part was the front of his neck. Spiked shoulder pads covered the cloth on his shoulders, red paint making small designs on them. Ichigo roared, the black hole in his chest reverberating with the power. Ichigo spun his weapons, the two war axes in his hands generating black reiatsu.
Neliel frowned, noticing the strength of the reiatsu. It was definitely strong enough to pose a threat to her if she wasn't careful.
"This must be your true strength. I can't fight you here without attracting a swarm of mindless Hollows."
Neliel sighed, glancing at Ichigo. "Goodbye Ichigo," she said before she moved away at her top speed. Her eyes widened as she didn't get far before Ichigo appeared in front of her. "What the-" Nel got off before Ichigo slammed a kick into her face, his clawed white foot sending her flying backwards. Ichigo roared, and time seemed to slow before it sped up once more.
As time returned to normal Ichigo swiped at Neliel's face with one axe, the green-haired Hollow leaning out of the way just in time to avoid having part of her mask cleaved off. Neliel frowned, forming a lance of energy that she spun, swiping at Ichigo, yet he blocked it with his axes, forcing the lance downwards with his superior strength. Neliel snorted, beginning to push the axes back upwards through sheer brute force, her reiatsu springing forth like a fountain. Ichigo roared, an orb of purplish-black death forming between his horns. Neliel's eyes widened quickly disappearing in a burst of speed to avoid being vaporized by the attack. The Cero carved through sand dunes as far as the eye could see, erupting violently and lighting the black sky with a red tint.
Neliel's eyes widened. "Impossible. That Cero shouldn't be possible for him. Neither should this level of strength. What type of strength was he holding back in that previous form of his?"
Ichigo turned, his clawed feet sending shockwaves as he prepared to rush Neliel, but the centaur-like Hollow quickly disappeared, leaving Ichigo in the dust. Ichigo roared in outrage, more black reiatsu leaking off of his body. However, suddenly Neliel was behind him, getting in his range before he was able to react and violently slamming her lance into Ichigo as he swiped his hand outwards. Ichigo roared in outrage, his armor shattering as he returned to his normal appearance, blades in hand. Neliel glanced at the portal Ichigo had created, swiftly placing him in it before she waited for it to close.
Neliel sighed as the rip in space-time finally ended.
"Ichigo Kurosaki," Neliel muttered. "I'll be sure to remember that name."
Giovanni Vaticani was made by reven228 and I assure you he is a badass. For those of you worrying that he'll take to much spotlight he won't. He'll be more like Kisuke and Yoruichi. Not taking much action until the final arcs really kick into gear. More so, for those of you wondering why he didn't say his real name I have one question. Why the hell would he? The man isn't a friend of Kisuke's and he doesn't trust him, and more so he acknowledges that Kisuke is stronger than him. No rational person would tell someone like that their real name. And let's address this Catholic Church thing. They will be an important entity in this story. Will this likely piss of some Catholics? Yes. But let me be very clear. The Catholic Church isn't a bad guy in the terms of the story. They're by no means a good guy either, however they have their own agenda. They will do good and bad things, and will provide an interesting point of complexity to the story. I will try to not be offensive, however if I offend you LET ME KNOW. I don't mean to nor do I want to. However, something sparked in my mind and they're now in the story. They may operate like a cult at some moments and in those moments...well those are the most key moments considering their agenda will be more revealed so sorry. Also if I mess up the faith, please tell me, because I don't wanna do it a disservice. I will state right now though that they likely will be hyper-religious for the purpose of the story.