A New Life

by bingpo

After the defeat of Yhwach, Ichigo dies and is reincarnated into the world of Fairy tail. What will Ichigo do in this new world and what will happen in his adventures? Not good at summaries.

15. Chapter 15

Bashleyz: Chapter 2 Mystogan probably wouldn't give his name. Suppose Jellal didn't give his name to Ichigo and Wendy. Then how and why does Wendy know Jellal's name in the canon Fairy Tail anime during the Oracion Seis arc? That doesn't make sense. In episode 77 of the anime, near the beginning of the Edolas arc, Jellal said he gave Wendy his name. So, it would only make sense that Jellal gave his name to Ichigo and Wendy. Sure, he may not have given his name like how I depicted him to. But the fact that Mystogan does give his name is important.

Unknown 425: Great chapter can't wait for the next. Also, does this mean the Strauss siblings will join Cait Shelter instead of fairy tail? I'm glad you liked the chapter. But to answer your question, I don't plan on the siblings joining Cait Shelter. Instead, they will be joining Fairy Tail, just like the anime.

TheSlySage: random thought this isn't 10% Ichigo this is .0001% Ichigo. After episode two of canon, Ichigo could have kicked the Silverback head off without his Zanpakuto and just his base shinigami form 10% of his form from when he fought Ywatch is still Bankai wielding Ichigo. He could have killed the silverback with 1 slash and a flash step. Regardless I'll keep going just nerfed harder than originally stated no worries. I guess that's true, but he is a kid right now, so that affects things. It would be hard to believe that a 10-year-old could "kick the silverback head off." But I do hope you continue to read this story.

When I say 10%, just think of it like Deku when using one-for-all, he can't use his full power initially because it puts his body at risk. He had to train to reach a higher percentage from 10% percent to 15%. The same could be said for Ichigo in this case. The curse inflicts damage on him if he exceeds the limit, which prevents him from using his full strength. The curse also seals 90% of his powers, specifically his spiritual pressure, so destroying the curse will unlock back his powers. Hope that makes sense. I will elaborate on this topic in the future.

Allamtya3: Does that mean Ichigo counts as a spirit/deity or something similar to a zodiac entity in earthland? Everything is always about the dragon ... I know the dragon is cool... But kinda waste...For example, in black clover, there is a pixie, undine, or dryad ... So, if you explore more magical entities in this fic... It will be nice~So because Ichigo is in earthland... Will hollows exist in earthland too? Honestly, I never really thought of that, and yes, I know that black clover has pixie, elves, and such. I know where you're coming from, but I don't think I'll be adding or considering the idea since that'll just make things more complicated, at least for me, sorry. But I will say that Hollows do exist in the Fairy Tail world. Just not the normal kind.

Guest: Well, Erza, you don't want to see another girl for Ichigo, but what about Kagura/Juvia or Sorano? Don't get me wrong, I like the story (except for the writing speed). But I would like to see a double interaction. :) I haven't put too much thought into another interaction, but I plan to either ship Wendy with Natsu or Erza and Natsu if that piques people's interest. And I'm sorry to hear that you don't like the pacing, but I hope everyone understands why I'm dedicating so much to the pre-canon story, as this is where I can put more information.

Commander-in-Chief Kyoraku: This look may work. allyaserik/art/Anniversary-Ichigo-fanart-924808487 I'm assuming that you're saying the art would work for the image of the story. Maybe, but I'll be sticking with what I have chosen. I am not saying that the one you presented is bad. Honestly, it looks really good. I just like the one I have chosen. But I will encourage others to see Allyaserik's work and give them support. :)

Roxyanddevon: I don't know if you'll ever read this, but I have reconsidered your idea where Ichigo gets affected by the machine with his hollow taking over during the Orasion Seis Arc. I have thought up an idea but won't be going through with the Vasto Lorde part. So if I do consider implementing the idea, I just want part of the credit to go to you.

Chapter 15: Hollow. Warning, I made this chapter a bit dark compared to the previous chapters. Your discretion is advised.

Stillness filled the air despite the cries and panic ensuing in the background. Smoke lingered in the air with the radiating heat from many burning buildings. Flame spread throughout the area like wildfire, burning everything that came into contact. The smell of heated soldering iron and burnt wires slowly landed on everyone's noses. Many cries were heard beyond the fire. Some sounded as if they were within the buildings and could still be saved, but others were already beyond the point of hope. Souls that lingered in the area had seemingly vanished alongside those who lived.

Four individuals stood unharmed but bore witness to everything around them. The two youngest siblings, Elfman and Lisanna, were hiding behind their sister, now trembling upon witnessing the beast and the chaos before them. They felt cold, terrified, and weak, unable to move. They weren't mindful enough to concentrate on Ichigo's question as fear devoured them. The oldest sister was also shaking, but not to the extent of her younger siblings. Though she wasn't as afraid as them, Mirajane still quivered and felt the pressure preventing her from acting accordingly.

On the other hand, Ichigo didn't let up his serious exterior. The boy waited there, expecting the beast to answer his question. But even with Ichigo's cold tone, the beast stood there, seemingly unaware or not caring about his words, which infuriated him. Instead of responding to his question, the dark beast slowly slouched its back like a wild animal while jerking its head.

"I said who the hell are you!"

Without a second thought, the creature sporadically rocketed toward them, frightening the siblings with its sudden and freakish movement. It spread its wings and brought out its claws as it roared with its distorted and echoey voice. Ichigo, who saw the incoming target, didn't have time to say anything else as he instinctively summoned his sword to intercept the attack. The sound of two clashings rang in everyone's ears upon contact while a gust of wind followed. The three who had witnessed the blow didn't have time to comment on the abnormal shape Ichigo's sword took, nor did they have the time to be impressed by his block. All they saw was the battle with the countless clashing echoing in the air.

The force behind the attack was fierce, even more significant than Jax and Lars. However, instead of trying to push Ichigo back, the monster began unleashing a fury of slashes in random directions, applying pressure while attempting to bypass Ichigo's guard in one way or another. The relentless attack carried more weight than before, making it harder and harder to defend against. In addition, the roar it emitted was deafening as it persisted. But despite all of that, Ichigo continued to stand strong as he blocked the multiple hits targeting him and the others.

Though he was currently focusing on defending the never-ending attacks, Ichigo's mind was anywhere but the battle. He tried to analyze the situation as questions formed inside his head, mainly centering on the beast's knowledge of Shinigamis. Ichigo remarked that he had never met a Shinigami in this world, never encountered a hollow, nor was there any information about the topic. He noted that the creature's movement didn't show any kind of intellect whatsoever, not even simple vocabulary. Instead, it presented a more wild and barbaric behavior than sensible. All Ichigo could see was just a monster that was driven by malicious instincts.

Yet, how was it aware of Ichigo's existence despite coming from a different world? It couldn't have been a lucky guess or coincidence. Someone must have known and orchestrated this. Thankfully, there weren't more monsters he could sense. At least, that's what he hoped, as he could not detect its presence prior, as only now did he become aware of its existence. Yet that was also concerning. Why couldn't he sense it before? Why was there only one? Was there only one? Why is it attacking? And lastly, who planned this?

Unfortunately, that wasn't all he had to worry about. Ichigo couldn't get a read on the thing, both intentions and movement. It lacked emotions other than malice and an unpredictable demeanor, which is problematic for Ichigo as he couldn't find any countermeasures or information. The boy saw its appearance resembled the rumors and gossip he had heard so far, trying to connect some dots. Its bear-like claws and demonic appearance could entail the perfect candidate concerning the two. Although the rumors depicted the individual as a person, they didn't exactly rule out the possibility of a monster having human features or elements since someone could mistake it for a person. And its demonic behavior could correlate to the idea of a person being possessed.

However, there was one thing that felt and seemed abnormal. The black misty rope that was entangled on its wrist. Compared to everything else about its monstrous appearance, this was the only thing that didn't seem threatening. It didn't serve as a weapon or look like something you could communicate with. He couldn't sense any Reishi or magic but noted that some sort of power was pumping into the creature as if it was fueling it. The energy felt ominous and dark. It was somewhat familiar but foreign at the same time, draining his strength. Lastly, Ichigo noticed his emotions leaning toward anger when observing the power. He didn't know why.

"M-mister!" Lisanna cried, concerned for Ichigo's well-being as the exchange went on. He seemed fine, but the blows appeared too strong to handle.

Ichigo's mind quickly returned to the battle after hearing Lisanna's worries and fearing the beast getting close to the siblings. He applied more strength to his swings. The creature was unprepared for the sudden power Ichigo displayed as it was soon knocked back and redirected away from the group. The force created by his sword launched the beast a couple of feet away. Causing it to crash and stumble onto the ground while dust trails followed closely behind. However, the speed died out as it swiftly recovered into a standing position. At that moment, the creature brought up its withered wings and horns. Forming two purple orbs of energy that hovered over its horn while igniting its wing on fire. In a mere second, the two different forms of energy fired off a beam simultaneously, merging into one amplified blast halfway through.

Ichigo was caught off-guard by the impending attack, not expecting it to get back up so quickly or its knowledge of projectiles. He took a bit of time, but he responded by releasing a nameless Getsuga Tenshou, more destructive than the monster's blast. The two respective powers slammed against each other for a split second before Ichigo's discharge decimated the other and hit the monster directly. The blast caused a massive explosion upon impact, and Mirajane shielded Lisanna and Elfman amid the eruption from the strong current that came.

"Run! Get away from here and evacuate everyone!" Ichigo suddenly yelled out to the three, startling everyone with the sense of urgency displayed in his voice. He didn't think the attack was enough to subdue the creature and worried there would be more.

Though the three were still shocked by the explosion, they couldn't believe what he was suggesting and looked in his direction. They saw no sign of Ichigo leaving his spot. The words that came out of his mouth indicated that he would remain here to buy enough time for them to escape. Mirajane stepped forward towards Ichigo. Even if the older sister is the most composed out of the three. She still felt distressed for him.

"W-what about y-!?"

Mirajane tried to voice out her uneasiness but was interrupted by a shove from Ichigo. The girl was startled by this, but unbeknownst to her, his action prevented her from getting hit by an upcoming attack. As she fell back, the sibling's gaze met a fiery black blur rocketing in front of them, heading towards Ichigo. Its tainted claws and ablaze wings were visible when approaching close to the boy's chest. Mirajane barely saw Ichigo's movement when he raised his sword to block the attack. Even if he managed to stop the attack, the beast's power and momentum quickly drove itself and Ichigo toward a burning four-story building. The impact the two had caused when landing destroyed the front entrance of the structure as smoke and flame burst from within.

"M-Mira-nee/Nee-chan, are you ok!?" the two younger siblings yelled to Mirajane as she hit the floor. The two grabbed onto their sister's arms with worried expressions.

Mirajane didn't answer the two's concerns as she sat there with a pale face, trying desperately to regain her breath and composure. Her rapid heartbeat spiked her ears while everything around her moved slowly. She saw her siblings shaken and worried for her but couldn't muster any words. Her mouth was hanging, almost unable to comprehend the events that had just transpired. Her entire body shivered, recalling all the terrifying features the beast had in front of her. Its razor-sharp fangs were visible alongside its claws that were once pointed at her.

Unlike Ichigo, she couldn't react to the rapid movement and thus couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Ichigo hadn't pushed her away. Her throat soon felt tight, as if something stuck in her throat once her imagination went too far. Slowly, her composure managed to calm down in time for her legs to regain their strength, and before long, she gradually picked herself up.

"I-I'm ok," she informed them.

The older sister glanced back at where Ichigo was. She couldn't ignore her fear but still sensed the need to help him. It was the least she could do in this situation. However, even if she is experienced in combat and could possibly help Ichigo in his battle. A sense of doubt started to well up inside, telling her that her efforts would make no difference, even if it were a two-on-one scenario. She wanted to help, but deep down, she hesitated. Mirajane's movement was hindered as many thoughts raced through her head, and mixed emotions stunted her decision.

One of the reasons Mirajane had a hard time taking action was that if she were to fight, she would leave Lisanna and Elfman in danger, as she would be sacrificing their safety for the benefit of helping Ichigo. She would never want to put them in that kind of scenario as, for all she knows, there might be more out there. They didn't know how to defend themselves, and she feared something would happen to them.

Secondly, many lives were at stake because of the panic and confusion. They needed help. Those who are willing to aid others need as much support as possible. This was even pointed out by Ichigo when he suggested evacuating everyone. Mirajane couldn't believe Ichigo could still think logically despite the confrontation and the pressure.

Lastly, although it pained her to admit it, she was scared. The possible near-death experience she had just witnessed caused her the most hesitation. She didn't want to confront the monster after witnessing what it did to Ichigo. In her eyes, they would only simply be stepping into its waiting arms and trapped in its clutches, and the fate of those she cared for would be in its hands.

She hated it, but the decision she soon came up with was the only option to help others while ensuring her sibling's safety. Knowing this, Mirajane bit her lip and grabbed Elfman and Lisanna's wrists, presenting a sad expression.

"...We have to go," She slowly announced bitterly to the two. Both the siblings in question showed dismay immediately after hearing her words. They couldn't believe what Mirajane suggested.

"Wha-what are you saying?! W-we can't just leave him!" Lisanna argued with Elfman on her side. How could they abandon Ichigo when he has done so much for them?

Mirajane bit her lip harder before casting her head slightly downwards with recognition. Her heart sank deeper upon hearing Lisanna's words concerning Ichigo. Her expression did not go unnoticed by Elfman and Lisanna. And in truth, Mirajane agreed with her younger sister. How could they leave someone behind, especially someone who had helped them twice? It would be too cruel. But no realism existed in her argument, even if her statement carried some sense. What could they do? They weren't as experienced or strong as Ichigo. They can't just run into a battle they can't win. Because of that reason, it enraged Mirajane more that she couldn't do more in their current situation.

"I know…I know…but if we try to help him, we'll only be in his way. We… we have to help evacuate everyone."

(Back to Ichigo)

The fire was all that was seen. Everything around was engulfed in flames. Even coming out of the house through various openings, looking like a fire-breathing dragon was inside it, puffing away vicariously with its destructive breath. Many torn-up, scorched, destroyed pieces of appliances and furniture lay everywhere. It was messy and chaotic. However, the debris that lay everywhere and the harsh, nasty flames were not the only things inside. A loud monstrous cry was heard deeper inside, reverberating throughout the area. Two individuals were currently seen near the bottom part of the stairs, with Ichigo lying on the stairs, pinned, struggling to free himself from the monster's grasp.

Ichigo took most of the damage before their current predicament. When they crashed inside the building, Ichigo's body served as a shield for the monster when slamming and destroying everything in their path. He felt the burning wood whipping into his back as they reached their current predicament.

Despite the damage the fiend had taken earlier, it showed no pain as it continued to fight and pressed its bloodied claws against Ichigo's blade. With each second, the sharp nails got closer and closer to his chest and shoulders. Ichigo, struggling to escape, noticed the burn marks caused by his attack, slowly regenerating. Not only was it more potent than Lars and Jax in strength and agility, but it also knew how to heal.

Yet, one factor came to play as it was healing. The energy consumption needed when regenerating increased drastically, suggesting that it required more energy to heal itself. Ichigo thought that if he could sever the connection, it would stop its power source and prevent it from recovering. However, despite knowing his next move, it was still difficult for him to act accordingly.

On top of that, his lack of sleep and rest restricted his execution. His hunger started to get to him. And due to the smoke that was in the air. It would make things more difficult for Ichigo if he started to have trouble breathing.

With the continuance struggle, the monster's claw gradually reached closer. Managing to pierce Ichigo's right shoulder and dig into his clothing and flesh. Blood began to pour out as it went deeper. The beast then raised the temperature of its claws and twisted its hand to worsen the damage. Ichigo gritted his teeth and winced hard as the burning claw dug deeper. He groaned, but exhaustedly exerted more strength, pushing back the body on top of him. His efforts barely managed to shake off and launch the beast away and onto the second floor. He slowly picked himself up from his position, knowing it was away from him. The pain that resided on Ichigo's right shoulder was throbbing. But he tried to ignore the pain as he followed upstairs.

The two continued their fierce battle through the building, jumping from one place to another. Both threw many attacks at one another while releasing numerous blasts that obliterated the things around them. Neither one was overpowering the other. However, throughout the battle, Ichigo started to carry more wounds than before. Cuts and stains slowly became evident on the boy's clothing and flesh. Ichigo caught on very quickly to the beast's rapid growth during their fight, even to the point where it could somewhat react to Ichigo's flash steps while resisting a few of his attacks. In addition to its growing power, Ichigo couldn't find many openings to sever the rope, as it would always be the creature who attacked first. Leaving Ichigo to defend or counter, with very few chances of striking. If the opportunity ever arises for Ichigo, it was still futile as the thing would always defend itself sufficiently.

Many of the structures inside started to shake. Other parts started collapsing while the fight dragged on. The whole building felt like it was under an earthquake. Details of the foundation cracked, losing its bearing, and becoming uneven and unstable. It was just a matter of time before the entire thing fell and crushed the two inside. Ichigo, being the first to notice, realized that he needed to escape the collapsing building; it would be troubling if he were to remain inside. Yet, that would be deemed difficult, knowing that it wouldn't be so easy. He could easily tell from the monster's expression that it wouldn't let Ichigo escape, portraying no concern for its surroundings.

Instead of trying to find a way out, he considered making one. Ichigo swung his sword upwards before charging toward his target. He gripped the handle tightly with both hands. In his next attack, Ichigo planned on putting everything he got into the swing. Although he could have just shot out a nameless Getsuga, he didn't think it was the right move as it could withstand the burst. It would just be a waste of time. Plus, he would need time to charge up a decent attack. He shouldn't exhaust himself more than he already has. All he needed to do was get out of the house. The fiend in front of him, who saw Ichigo rapidly approaching, let out a blood-curdling screech as it bolted, mirroring Ichigo with the same intention.

Once both ends meet, the sound of the two metals clashing was the loudest and strongest blow they unleashed. The power displayed by both individuals was so strong that as soon as they met. Everything around them was blown away by the gust of wind, including the flames around them. The two wrestled with each other in hopes of overwhelming one another. Unfortunately for the beast, Ichigo managed to win the face-off and, in the process, flung it to the side of the building. The force of the strike sent the beast flying backward, crashing against the wall with enough force to shatter it.

Because of the sudden loss of stability the building had just sustained, the foundation around him instantly became more unsafe. Ichigo quickly saw the opportunity to follow the monster's direction. He flashed step through all of the rubble that remained. Hacking and slashing through the debris that made its way from the upper floor. He went outside just in time for the entire layout to collapse behind him fully.

Now in the air, Ichigo caught up to the creature as Ichigo's previous attack was still knocking it. Finding the opportunity to strike, the boy raised his blade before unleashing a downward strike. Then, out of nowhere, it opened its eyes, waking up and becoming aware of its surroundings. The beast sprung around using its wither wings, deflecting the blade from hitting. Again, Ichigo was caught off guard, astonished by the sudden motion. If only it were that easy.

As Ichigo continued exchanging blows with the monster, he realized he needed a new strategy. He couldn't allow the creature to increase its strength and speed further. Ichigo's attacks became less effective. He needed to find a weakness or vulnerability that he could exploit.

Ichigo took a step back and observed the monster's movements. He noticed that the creature relied heavily on its wings for mobility and balance. Without them, it would be unable to fly. He also noticed that the wings were the only part of the monster's body that remained exposed during the fight. Even if the wings were to regenerate, it still gave him some opportunities to strike.

With this new insight, Ichigo formulated a plan. He waited for the creature to attack him again, and as it lunged forward, he dodged to the side and swung his sword at the creature's wings. The blade struck true, slicing through the wing's membrane and severing the bone.

The creature let out a screech of pain as it stumbled backward, unable to maintain its balance. Ichigo seized the opportunity and charged forward, unleashing a powerful strike. This time, the beast didn't have the chance to defend against the incoming attack. It avoids Ichigo's strike by shifting to the right, but that was careless of the creature.

That wasn't what Ichigo's strike intended, as his sword soon headed toward the rope. If it were accurate that power was fueling the beast using the string, cutting would mean it would no longer be powered. His blade made contact with the string and sliced it.

However, something unexpected occurred. The two separate ends were glued back together at an alarming speed.

"It reattached!"

He was alarmed by the fast process, unaware of how difficult this became. He noted that he needed someone else to cut the rope or find the source himself. He could follow the source, but he shouldn't leave it to roam alone. Ichigo hastily threw another swing at the monster before it could do anything else. The blade tip cut deeply into the fiend's chest, blood splattering. The strike had enough force to send it hurtling backward, crashing into a nearby burning building and creating a massive explosion.

Once it was away from him, Ichigo took the opportunity to lower himself from the air. Landing on the ground with both his feet. He tumbled a bit but managed to stand firm. He softly stabbed his Zanpakuto to the floor before slowly regaining his breath. His head lowered while remarking on his tired self. He hated it but couldn't understand why he was so exhausted, especially in his current situation. He cursed himself for having the body of a kid. He wouldn't have been so tired or weak if he was in his prime. He could have finished this fight a long time ago.

Ichigo inhaled a hefty breath and shook his head slightly, trying to deny the negativity and the weariness in his mind. He slowly returned his weapon and prepared himself to fight again. While doing so, he waited patiently for the monster to come out of the building and attack him, but his expectation was never met. The realization that the creature's loud monstrous roar diminished brought his attention. He didn't expect his strike to be so potent that it took longer to recover, though he wasn't too sure.

Ichigo couldn't help but take his eyes away from his target and glance at his surroundings. Examining everything around him to see if there was anything that he should be cautious about. Was there anyone around? Did someone need help? Unlike his battle with Lars and Jaxs, their battle was in a secluded building. Ichigo now has to pay more attention to his surroundings as he worries that others will get involved.

The boy noted that the situation was still quite dire. The flame continued to spread, igniting everything in its path. The smoke was thick and hard to breathe. The harsh heat made Ichigo's eyes dry up much faster than before. He couldn't believe that one monster could bring so much destruction in such little time.

His eyes soon caught a group of guards a few meters away. They wore white and cyan-colored uniforms with gray capes wrapping around them. And lastly, they carried purple rods as their main weapon. Ichigo could see that these individuals were trying to rescue others while trying to put out the fire. Knowing these people were aiding others, he couldn't help but hope for the Strauss sibling's safety.

(Sorry for interrupting, but I want to say that these people are part of the magic counsel guards. I forgot to mention that guards were in the first mission chapter too. Just know that when I say guard or soldiers, I mean the magic counsel guards.)

Regardless, the atmosphere and tension that was present were not something Ichigo was unfamiliar with. The cries for help that resonated in the area brought him back to a familiar event. A time when destruction boomed everywhere, and the loud explosions rang in Ichigo's ears constantly. The countless battles he had to go through, the horrendous flames that burned everything to the floor. And the numerous deaths he witnessed as a result.

The boy snapped out of his daze, recognizing where his mind was heading. He immediately tried to erase that horrible event from his head, knowing it would plague his mind if he didn't.

"Not now…not now," Ichigo mentally said to himself repeatedly, feeling the goosebumps that appeared all over him.

Ichigo watched his surroundings again before glancing back at a previous spot. His eyes suddenly landed on a male figure a couple of feet away. The person was lying in a pool of blood on the floor. He didn't move or say anything. Ichigo slowly widened his eyes, startled by the realization of what he was looking at. He was not there before. Did the monster get to him without him noticing?

"Hey!"

The boy quickly sprinted toward the individual in hopes of helping him. But unknown to him, more bodies started to emerge all around him.

"Hey! You ok?!" Ichigo shouted as he kneeled on the floor and inspected him.

His gaze landed on his black robe and the dark red substances on his cheat. A deep cut was ingrained from his top left shoulder to his right waist. The engraved wound was so deep that there was bone barely visible. Ichigo was startled but sadly withdrew, realizing the man was too far gone to be saved.

"Dammit!" Ichigo raised his head grievously. Then, his eyes opened wider as he spotted the countless remains that spread through the area.

More littered around him, not only with black robes but with smeared, bloody wounds as well. Hundreds or even a thousand lay lifeless. The atmosphere darkened, with the red blaze that encircled Ichigo slowly mixed with a blue flickering inferno that had seemingly come out of nowhere. Many corpses lost more limbs than others, with shattered sword fragments that lay everywhere. An enormous amount of red substances surrounded their bodies, slowly flowing out of them and creeping their way to Ichigo's feet.

The boy couldn't blink, stunned by the sudden event. His body tensed up while guilt and coldness slowly crept into his mind. His breath became shaky and cold sweat started twinkling down the boy's forehead. Ichigo lost strength in his hands, almost dropping Zangetsu as he knew exactly who they were.

Cries of agony were soon heard, slowly turning more eerie, sickening, sinister screams. Ichigo could feel their pity and hate toward him, their fear and confusion that would one day end with their demise. He couldn't move an inch, not because he was paralyzed but because he was too scared and afraid to face the haunting event. Despite his attempts, his friends' deaths haunted his mind and soul.

Suddenly, footsteps approached his ears from behind, with a hand that soon wrapped around his ankle. He was alarmed by the sudden sensation and lowered his gaze to see what it was, only for his heart to sink even further. His stomach turned to recognize that it was one of the people lying on the floor prior. The man was covered in abnormal growths of pulsating flesh, with a viscous dark red liquid oozing from different bones that poked from various places on his body. However, the person's most unsettling feature was their distorted face which was beyond disgusting. Removed from any bones and stretched so far, the nose had become dull skin with two holes. Nauseating, gurgling, and foaming noises were heard as if the creature had trouble breathing. Before long, more latched onto his body.

They all started to mutter to him, quickly turning from faint sounds to too loud. Their voices plagued Ichigo's ears, with their deformed and sluggish voice echoing everywhere.

"Why do you get to live?"

"Why didn't you save us?"

"Why did you abandon us?"

"You betrayed us."

"You let us die."

"You failed us."

"I-I," Ichigo stuttered, having trouble forming sentences or accepting the cruel truth. He knew it was his fault for letting these people die. Not once, not twice, but hundreds of times. There was no point in making excuses now.

As the voices of the deceased continued to haunt Ichigo, he shut his eyes hard while trying desperately to calm his racing heart. And at that moment, he was thrown back into reality. All the bodies that once lay disappeared from their spots like they were never there. The voices in his head diminished. The blood that surrounded everything was erased. And lastly, there were no longer any bloodied figures attaching themselves to Ichigo. He opened his eyes once he noticed the stillness that came, only to widen them before looking frantically at his surroundings.

They were gone.

At that moment, the boy realized something. This wasn't the monster's doing, nor was it someone playing tricks on him. If it was, they had numerous opportunities to eliminate him. But, no, it wasn't that. It was instead his trauma manifesting into hallucinations.

"Dammit," Ichigo cursed himself quietly with a shaky voice. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down and push away the overwhelming emotions consuming him.

The boy soon tiredly shook his head slightly before wiping away the cold sweat. He desperately told himself repeatedly to calm down. It wasn't real. It wasn't real. He needed to focus on the matter and not dwell on the past.

"H-help,"

A small feminine but fragile voice was heard. Ichigo was alarmed when his ears suddenly picked up a baby weeping off in the distance, with the addition of an exclamation for help. He looked around vigorously, trying to pinpoint where the person's cry lay. Hopefully, he didn't imagine things again.

"Please,"

The voice came again, except quieter. Ichigo immediately snapped his head to the left, not wanting to lose track of it. He dragged his body in the direction of the voice, only for his vision to soon land on a girl in an alleyway buried under an absurd amount of rubbish, still awake but struggling. The fact that she was still conscious despite the pile meant that she wasn't buried for too long. Ichigo balled his hand into a fist, furious at himself for being distracted. If not for his hallucination, he would have gotten here sooner, maybe even preventing this from happening.

The girl had dirty pink hair covering half her face with filthy and torn clothes. Her body revealed blood and burns near her legs and arms. Her whole body was covered in sweat and dirt, and she breathed heavily.

In front of her was a newborn girl wrapped in white cotton cloth. The newborn had pink hair just like her but was much lighter than the other. The two looked similar, either her sibling or a relative. The baby cried nonstop as if it didn't want to be away from the girl. Instead, wanting to hold onto her.

"Hold on! I'm going to get you out of here!" Ichigo exclaimed instinctively.

He rushed towards her before carefully hacking and brushing off some of the debris on top of her. He didn't want to cause more harm than good accidentally. He looked around occasionally, ensuring he wouldn't be attacked. Luckily, it had not happened.

The weight with which the girl felt slightly lessened, but she knew she would run out of time at his current pace. "P-please… please take her to safety," she suddenly pleaded amid the chaos while focusing on the crying baby.

Ichigo flinched, he knew that phrase would be said, but he still tensed up upon hearing it. Her words were the last thing he wanted to hear, even if it wasn't her fault. He was scared of those words. The boy glanced back at the injured individual but didn't stop what he was doing. He saw her consciousness slowly fading away. Her pupils gradually lost their color, and her vision became foggy.

"...I'm trapped," she said softly but exhaustedly. Taking more time to tell her words before letting out a faint whimper. "I…don't have much time,"

Although her eyesight wasn't the best, she could see Ichigo's signature bright orange hair. The blade he was using and the shaken state he was in. He looked conflicted, mad, and even depressed. She knew it was unfair for the boy to carry such a burden, but she could do nothing. What made things worse was that he looked to be around her age.

The girl didn't blame him for having hesitation, nor did she want to blame him. It was out of his control. But, even though they were facing a difficult situation, she couldn't help but release a little smile unnoticed by Ichigo. The fact that someone was trying to rescue her warmed her heart despite the futility.

Ichigo continued to stare at the girl painfully. The boy understood her intentions and why she was proposing the idea. He understands that her life might end and that saving the child would be better. But a part of him wanted to deny it, rejecting the idea of abandoning someone. He started speeding up the process, desperately trying to create another solution.

"Please…you… can't save the both of us," She whispered, noticing the sudden speed of Ichigo's strike. She could tell that Ichigo didn't want to give up on her but didn't see the point. Ichigo shouldn't waste time helping her. Instead, he should just run with her cousin to safety. And even if he did rescue her, he shouldn't sacrifice his weapon to carry them both.

Ichigo clenched the handle of his sword. His fingernails dug into his palm hard enough for blood to pour. He bit his lips after hearing her pleads, witnessing her vulnerable state and the defeated voice she unveiled. Why does someone so young have to die here? He mentally asked himself bitterly.

Imagines of the past played in his head. Catching glimpses of flashbacks that were similar to what he was currently undergoing. The memories of those who were weak. While some lost their lives before Ichigo could intervene. The desperation and the suffering the victims underwent tormented him. What he's now in was no different than before. He felt helpless. How many times did this interaction go on? How many times had he let it happen? It was too cruel to keep doing this whenever a victim needed him. And he despises the fact that he feels out of control and useless.

A long pause was soon realized, with Ichigo's head casting downward. The girl took notice and could vividly see the shift in the boy's expression. It looked even more complicated, with his eyebrows furrowed, presenting a painful and frustrated exterior. She thought his complex expression showed her his final decision, which she was grateful for.

Ultimately, the best choice was to save the baby over her. But, unfortunately, she was in no position to be rescued. She accepted that fact a while ago.

"Thank yo-"

"Don't give up!" Ichigo screamed louder than necessary, destroying her assumption in the process. His shout was directed at both himself and the girl. "Don't even think about giving up!"

The girl widened her eyes in astonishment. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "B-but I… won't-,"

"Shut up!" Ichigo interrupted her once more. His sudden outburst might have sounded inappropriate, but he didn't want the girl to lose hope. She shouldn't just accept her death like it was inevitable. She had so much to live for, so much to learn, and so much to love.

"You're not going to die!"

"You're going to live!"

"For yourself and her sake!"

"She needs you!"

The girl slowly widened her foggy eyes upon hearing his loud words. She remained reticent, trembling slightly as the emotions started to develop. Her actions started to sound inaudible. He could have just left her with her baby cousin. More like that's what she wanted to happen. There was no need to help her. No need to give her hope. She just wanted reassurance that the baby would be ok. But instead, he chose not to give up on her.

"I'm getting you out of here," he finally said. With determination and guilt, he slashed through the rubble rapidly. With each cut, the heaviness quickly reduced, but the instability quickly applied pressure onto the wounded girl, stabbing parts of her body. The baby's cries continued to echo through the area louder than before.

"D-don't…" she groaned due to the sudden weight wobbling above her. "…Just go…"

Her movements slowly diminished. Although, she did not fall unconscious. She appeared very close to that point. Instead, she breathed evenly in and out, staring at the boy tiredly. The resolve in his eyes told a different story. She could still be saved.

"…ok…," she finally managed to say calmly and weakly before her eyelids slowly dropped.

She stayed in this position for what seemed like a long time. Merely in some instances did she feel a tinge of pain. But shortly after, the girl's attention returned to her as she felt herself being pulled quickly. The girl squeezed her eyes as the sudden pain and blood circulation came. The most alarming thing came after, with a loud crashing noise close behind her, presumingly the rubbish collapsing.

She didn't feel the solid floor beneath her. Instead, her body felt like it was floating in mid-air. She shifted her head upwards, gazing at Ichigo carrying her in a bridal position. Her eyes watered up as the realization hit her. She couldn't believe she was saved.

Suddenly, she felt a weight on top of her chest. She glanced at what was placed before recognizing it was her cousin. The baby's cries stopped, replaced with a smile and even a small giggle as she played with her finger.

"Hold onto her," Ichigo spoke in a whisper. The pink-haired girl responded with a nod, tears streaming down her face after reuniting with the child.

"...Thank you," she whispered before closing her eyes and falling unconscious. She didn't know why he had desperately saved her, but she was grateful.

Ichigo widened his eyes, only to feel something well up inside him. He didn't know if he was feeling the weight of her gratitude or the fact that he had saved someone. An achievement that he sadly couldn't fulfill numerous times. The boy looked away while blinking quickly, attempting to get rid of the small tears in his eyes. Then, he looked back at them as if nothing had happened, bringing up a soft and gentle smile.

"...yeah"

After rescuing the two, Ichigo quickly sprinted in the direction where there weren't as many flames. He knew that if they were to stay too long, it would be bad for the two to inhale too much smoke. So the boy ran, finding anyone capable of keeping them safe. Although he should be the one who takes them to safety, he knew there was still a battle waging. The fact that the beast did not attack was concerning, especially during his rescue of the two relatives. He was thankful that he was able to save someone. But the fact that it didn't attack them was considered lucky and worrying at the same time.

Momentarily his vision came across a group of individuals in the distance. He could see they were desperately looking for survivors they might have missed. The boy sprinted toward them quickly, knowing that these people could protect and keep them safe. As he was approaching, one guard met his gaze. The woman looked young, around her twenties. She carried a white box, presuming the first aid kit.

"Sir, Sir!" The woman spoke in a frantic tone to the leader of the group. The man in question had long, tied-up black hair, two bangs framing his face, and an unruly tuft covering his forehead. He had lavender eyes that were visible behind his circular lensed glasses and stood at an average height.

"Three injured people are heading this way!"

The woman's sudden cry startled them, but her loud voice drew the rest of the group's attention, directing their gaze to the three to their left. They noted that they stood heavily wounded, except for the newborn. The boy who carried the two had many cuts and stains, most notably on his shoulder and thigh. They were quickly astonished by Ichigo's strength despite having a wounded leg. At the same time, the girl in his arms had many splinters and burns. She was unconscious. After glimpsing their condition, the guards hurriedly closed the distance between them.

"Take these two!" Ichigo said immediately after meeting up with them.

"You've done great. We'll take care of the rest," the person in charge said before looking at his squad. "Take these three to safety and get them treated!" he yelled to the others.

"Yes sir!" both the woman and another responded.

"Wait," Ichigo tried to voice out as he wanted them to take and tend to the two before explaining and informing them about the situation.

Just as they would take Ichigo and the rest with them, a sudden roar stood in the distance. The guard immediately stopped and turned to face the direction of the noise, unaware of who it belonged to. They felt the ground slightly rumble as if something big was approaching. Everyone could easily tell that it did not belong to a person nor animal. Instead, it sounded demonic and unclear but high-pitched. They couldn't help but feel their entire body instinctively shiver as if nervousness had spread through them. In mere moments, the cries came again but closer, spiraling in many directions before its appearance emerged from the flames.

Blood covered its entire body. Like the fire, the blood was red, a shade of crimson that should have been bright. But due to the flames, it looked dark. Its height towered over them threefold. Its upper joints were broader than its legs. Hole-shaped circles were imprinted on its shoulder and palms, with flames hovering over it. Its wings seemed much smaller to fly, but its horns were long and sharp. Finally, its skin shriveled and shed out of place, revealing its pulsating grey flesh while its face slowly distorted from demonic to a white skeleton-like mask.

Everyone stood there in silence, shaken by the creature's appearance and overwhelming demeanor. The threatening face it showed, and its hiss made everyone back away, except for Ichigo. No one knew what they were seeing. Was it a demon? Was it an illusion? Where did it come from? Unlike the group, Ichigo wasn't shaken with fear but couldn't help but feel stunned. It was the same monster from before. If it weren't for the presence it gives off, added with its signature horns, wings, and rope, Ichigo could have easily mistaken it for another monster. A type of monster that looked very familiar to him.

"A hollow? It…turned into a hollow!?"

Was this why there were no souls around? It was actually this thing that devoured the souls in the area. A corrupted soul did all of this.

"W-what is that thing?!" one of the guards in the back broke the silence with a panicked tone, unintentionally bringing the hollow's attention.

No one knew what it was, but one thing was for sure. In their current situation and how it's looking, the group knew that if they didn't move, they would never be able to help another person again. Knowing that they were stuck, unable to move from their position. The fiend roars out before opening its mouth. A red sphere slowly formed, hovering over it.

"A cero!?" Ichigo thought immediately in astonishment upon recognizing the upcoming attack. He was shocked. Even if its appearance resembled a hollow, it was surprising that it knew a form of attack used by Menos and above.

"Run! Get them out of here!" The leader ordered all of them while prepping up his staff. Sensing his urgency and slight terror, the rest of the group's attention returned to them before moving. Leaving only the leader and one other behind.

The woman grabbed onto Ichigo's wrist tightly and started dragging him away. Whatever that thing was, there was no doubt that it could annihilate them all, and seeing that it was charging some kind of attack, they needed to hurry. They were foot soldiers, not wizards, after all. They didn't possess any magic, nor were they capable of combat like some of their companions.

He forcefully shook off the lady's grasp and sprinted toward the two behind them, summoning Zangetsu. If he didn't act, everyone couldn't avoid the blast, even if they ran.

"No!" the woman screamed as Ichigo approached the frontline. She chased after him, leaving the other members behind.

Blue particles rapidly poured out and formed on the tip of his blade. Some particles and waves flew randomly through the air but eventually seeped into his sword before the whole thing glowed. Markings on his back soon became visible as he felt stabbing and twisting sensations all over his body. The boy gritted his teeth as he poured almost everything into this next blow.

"Why are you here!? Get out of here!" The glasses individual shouted in panic when noticing Ichigo in front of them. They thought the boy was ignorant as he displayed no worry whatsoever, charging forward.

Ichigo ignored their uneasiness and swung his weapon upwards instead, planning to fire off a blast to prevent the hollow from shooting. Everyone quickly noticed the sudden blue-wavy energy explode within Ichigo. They never expected Ichigo to know magic or have such a weapon on him. However, even with the impressive power, they wonder if it would make a difference. What could a kid do against a monster?

"Getsuga…Tenshou!"

Ichigo slashed through the air with full force, blasting off a crescent-shaped wave of energy that resided in his blade. The sound of the blue light roaring flashed toward its enemy. The shot came dangerously close to hitting the nearby buildings, sending chunks of stone falling from above. The hollow in question didn't move from its position, only bracing itself. The blue light enveloped the beast, blinding everyone in the process. The floor shook, and a burst of smoke spewed from the beast. Everyone was stunned by how powerful of an attack it was despite coming from a kid. It was so intense that the shock wave traveled halfway across the area before dissipating completely.

As soon as the smoke dispersed, all they saw on the hollow's exterior was smoke lingering due to the intense burns it sustained. It traveled a couple of feet away from its original spot, and most of its body was destroyed and missing, followed by purple-like blood oozing from its wounds. The arm that covered its face was burned to the point that it showed bones. Its figure was faded and had thin proportions compared to before. The only thing that didn't change was its face. The radiating red pupils stood strong with murderous intent.

(How do Lars and Jax come out basically unharmed compared to the hollow when using the Getsuga Tenshou? Um…. Kind of sounds stupid and didn't make sense that a barrier could withstand his attack. I don't know. I questioned this when I was close to finishing this chapter and didn't want to delete or change it. Plus, I think it looked cool. Just think that Ichigo was holding back during the other chapter. Sorry for the inconsistency.)

However, the hollow didn't seem as fazed as everyone had anticipated. The red-colored cero did not disappear from its mouth. Instead, it grew larger. And before long, a dark purplish mist arose from its body, covering all the most severe wounds and missing limbs with markings. Slowly, the ruined flesh emerged, reshaping back the limbs it lost.

The woman who had tried to stop him now stood frozen, watching the scene unfold. She had never seen such power before, and it terrified her. Everyone was staggered by how strong its healing capabilities were while observing the disgusting process. And sadly remarked on how little Ichigo's attack affected the beast overall despite the potency of the blast. The hope inside the guards gradually reduced upon witnessing the futility of fighting the beast.

Ichigo gritted his teeth as he realized his attack hadn't finished the hollow. He could feel the exhaustion creeping in after using that much power in one go. But he knew he couldn't back down now. He tightened his grip on Zangetsu and prepared to face the attack.

"Run!" Ichigo turned his head and interrupted their horror. Knowing that there was no point in standing there.

Although he could attack the beast while recovering, the boy found it difficult to move his body in his current state, quickly feeling the effects of the curse overflow. He managed to hold himself together but couldn't help but struggle numerous times while breathing heavily.

"Not now!"

The guards didn't respond to Ichigo's words or question his weak state. Their gaze continued to focus on the hollow. They couldn't move from their position as if the hollow's eyes froze them, preventing them from escaping. Their mind couldn't take away the feeling of hopelessness and defeat.

What could they do? They couldn't fight that and could certainly not stall enough time for a wizard to rescue them. After all, the closest guild was an hour away by train. They could run, but there was no point. They didn't know why, but for some reason, no matter how hard they ran and how far they went, they could never escape it.

"Run!" Ichigo shouted again, breaking their frozen state and snapping them back to reality. The group slowly attempted to move their feet, but it was already too late at this rate.

Ichigo heard an echoey howl from the hollow and snapped his head back to the monster, only for his eyes to see a red sphere explode into a massive burst of light. The shot it fired could be seen on par with Ichigo's previous attack in terms of power.

Everyone who saw the incoming attack covered their faces using their arms. There was no point. The blast could easily obliterate them, but they couldn't help but shield themselves out of instinct. Yet nothing happened. They felt their bodies slightly heated up with explosions heard behind them but nothing else. No pain, no burns, nothing. They peeked through their arms only to see the attack split in half. Their eyes land on Ichigo, holding up his blade and splitting the blast in half.

(Just imagine how Ichigo split Kugo's attack in half during the fullbring arc. Except for this time, he's struggling.)

The blast knocked Ichigo back a few feet, but he managed to stand firm and split it in two, preventing it from colliding with everyone. Though he divided the attack in half, intense heat stroked his body, and he felt the heavy weight that tried to push him. The temperature of his blade became intense. His body and sword were shaking, trying to hold and fight back as if he was wrestling with an elephant. He didn't know when the attack would cease or if he could hold it.

It was frustrating how its transformation would increase its strength so drastically. Ichigo didn't know what triggered it to change but knew it had taken quite a bit to reach this state. It was a good thing, too, knowing that it couldn't grow more powerful at a fast rate. At least there was one thing he wouldn't have to worry about. It did also explain why it took so long to appear again. However, he did wish that its mutation could allow it to talk since he needed information, but that didn't seem to be the case.

The boy gritted his teeth before exerting every ounce of strength he had. Thrusting his blade from one side to the other, slicing through and fully shattering the blast. The red energy exploded into smaller chunks before evaporating into thin air.

"Y-you," one of the guards commented. Everyone was stunned. Even though they witnessed the sheer destructive power the beast emitted, they couldn't shake off their disbelief at Ichigo's strength.

"...Now's your chance," Ichigo glanced back and whispered to them. His eyes conveyed no fear. Rather, there was only strength and maturity covered with weariness.

Everyone widened their eyes and felt their body ease up, witnessing the bravery and strength shown before them. The sense of protection flowed inside them, revealing a beacon of light for the group. In front of them was not a kid but a warrior.

"R-right!" the leader said hesitantly, acknowledging the opportunity Ichigo had created. The leader felt a wave of reassurance but guilt, knowing he would leave a kid to fight. They hated it, but there was no way around it. Ichigo is the only one strong enough to fight or stall it.

"W-we'll get help," the man informed him, to which Ichigo didn't reply.

Once, the two grouped up with the rest and ran. The beast let out a noisy roar, finally noticing and seeming displeased that they had survived. Its cry contained anger and nastiness, which Ichigo could easily pick up. The boy redirected his attention back to the hollow, witnessing it rush at them when it recognized who was with them. Its slow speed caught Ichigo's attention. Compared to before, it wasn't as fast. However, he knew it could still easily catch up to them. Ichigo inhaled a deep but stinging breath and slowly brought up his weapon. He readied his stance before bolting towards it, following with the same intention as the hollow.

(Mirajane)

"Don't worry, you're safe now," a whisper that belonged to Mirajane was heard as she carried a man on her shoulder. The individual had severe burns all over his legs and back, with blood leaking down His forehead. Thankfully, he was still alive but unconscious. Behind them followed Lisanna and Elfman, helping the man's wife.

"W-will he be ok?" the wife spoke anxiously, tears visible. She wasn't as wounded as her spouse but still worried regardless. Who would have thought that everything was happening so fast?

"...If…if we find a doctor, I'm sure he'll be fine," Mirajane turned in her direction and reassured the woman with a hesitant but optimistic smile, with Lisanna and Elfman agreeing. They saw that she was distressed and hoped her words helped ease her worries.

As their walk continued, Lisanna briefly caught a glimpse of several people to their left. Thankfully they weren't injured. But what caught her eyes were people accompanying them, presumingly guiding the group to safety.

"Mira-nee over there!" Lisanna shouted suddenly, grabbing everyone's attention, and pointed at a nearby building with guards directing a pack of citizens to a safe location. Just after letting everyone know, one of the guards coincidentally glanced in their direction before running over.

"Are you ok?" the guard asked frantically. His face revealed a worried state, but he also had a bit of relief, knowing that more was safe.

"We're ok, but they need help," Mirajane spoke, bringing attention to the two accompanying them.

"Right, come with me," the person understood the situation and took action, leading the group away from the fire and to a secure place.

They hastened their pace, approaching the outskirts of town where a mob of citizens was gathered. With a glance, most came out unscathed, but some were in more critical conditions than others. A few had to be carried by their partners, and some children were limping and given a piggyback ride.

"I'll take these two with me. You join the group," the same man from before quickly informed the three before rushing off with the injured.

"Wait-" Mirajane tried to stop him in hopes of reporting the horrible encounter they had faced previously. But he was out of sight before she could voice what was on her mind.

Leaving no other option, the three made their way to the crowd. So many people of different sizes were gathered, and the sheer volume was overwhelming as they got closer. With every step they took, the three quickly felt the pressure building up, with the atmosphere shifting to worry, fear, and anxiousness. They set their eyes on what was in front of them as the uncertainty of the situation grew worse, with loud cries heard combined with panic and desperation.

"What's going on?!"

"Why is this happening?!"

"Is no one going to help us?!"

Many bystanders kept pouring questions as their worries about the sudden fire and disarray continued. Many guards struggled to calm the mob down as they could not answer any of their questions. They were just as clueless as them. They didn't know who started the fire or why there was so much havoc. Yet, even though they didn't have the answers, that didn't mean they should just stand there and panic. They needed them to calm down before they did something rash.

"Mira-nee/Nee-chan," Mirajane heard her sibling's voices and felt their hand holding onto hers.

She saw their expression, and though their faces hardly showed any discomfort or nervousness, Mirajane could sadly tell they held in their fear as much as they could. They had never seen nor heard such panic and desperation before and feared that something worse would happen. She looked at them bitterly. Seeing the two tackle and witness the cruel scenario portrayed before them was painful. They were too young and innocent. Mirajane slowly responded by holding onto them tightly, never letting go.

"Everything will be ok," she said softly to the both of them. Hearing her words soothed their worries, but they were thankful they received the reassurance.

"What are we going to do?!" the biggest person in the crowd shouted. Upset that no one had an answer to their questions.

Many others followed behind, trying to find some explanations themselves. Now that their homes and belongings were destroyed, there was no safe place. They didn't know what to do and only reacted appropriately. Many felt they weren't getting enough help or information as the guards responded, "Please calm down."

Before long, the appearance of a short man wearing a white cape came to view with others accompanying him. The man seemed old, maybe near his mid-sixties. He had thick light-grey eyebrows and a small toothbrush mustache that reached halfway to his mouth. He didn't share the height of an average man, only around Elfman's.

Moreover, the man didn't look as tough as his fellow companion. But what little physical prowess he had can be overlooked for his wisdom and wits. Although those who are acquainted with him know he is a nice and relaxed person, right now, however, he expressed a serious expression.

"Yajima Taichou (Caption in Japanese, I'm pretty sure)," one of the men beside him spoke, wondering how he would tackle the situation.

The man, now known as Yajima, stared quietly, analyzing the situation before him. He witnessed everyone's panic and couldn't blame them for it. After all, it was human nature that dictated their actions. He slowly took a deep breath, knowing that he was never one to be cut out or enjoy these kinds of urgency. But it had to be him if anyone needed to set things in order.

"Attention, everyone!" his sudden voice shot out, grabbing everyone's awareness and silencing them simultaneously. They were confused that a little man was shouting at them with such authority.

"There is no need to panic. You are safe here," Yajima shouted, wanting first to ensure the people were truly safe. "I am thankful that all of you made it out alive, and I know you have questions,"

"But the simple answer is that we don't know." Everyone gasped upon hearing his words. They couldn't believe they still hadn't found who or what was behind this. "Several reports stated that they have heard roars and felt explosions, but we are unsure who it is or what cause of the fire,"

"Rest assured. We have contacted wizards from the Cait shelter guild to aid us. However, they'll need some time to arrive," the head stated truthfully, knowing that if he were to lie, it would only make things worse.

Everyone's expression did not change. Moreover, it had only worsened. And though his words reassured a few that help would come, the majority did not feel that sentiment. On the contrary, his speech barely alleviated their worries. They wanted to get out of this problem as quickly as possible. To hear that they didn't know what caused the destruction or that there were no wizards nearby terrified them greatly.

"I understand your panic and anxiety, but we must stay calm and focus on helping each other. The last thing we need is for someone to get hurt because of this. Any panic or violent action will only be damaging to everyone."

"This is difficult to accept, but nothing will be done. No one will be safe if we continue to stand here and do nothing!" Yajima swung his hand to the side, emphasizing his words. He didn't want to yell at them, but he'd do it if it could snap them to their senses.

"Now, what will you do? Will you stand there scared? Or will you be brave and take action and help everyone evacuate?" The man asked, hoping his words convinced them to get their act together quickly. With the citizen's cooperation, the evacuation will go smoother and faster.

The crowd could only listen in silence. Everyone was on edge and was at their most vulnerable and powerless state. At first, the people in the crowd were timid. Their hands trembled as they held onto their surroundings. However, as the quiet atmosphere continued, hands from different individuals were raised, slowly becoming visible to Yajima and the crowd, telling them they would help. One by one more was shown, even though their expressions remained the same. It overshadowed their willingness to help.

"Thank you…right now, I want everyone to help the injured. We're heading to the hills,"

Everyone was busy supporting those who struggled to walk while heading to the hills, leaving Yajima and the Strauss siblings closely behind. A group of guards arrived with a wounded pink-haired girl that carried a newborn. They looked out of breath as if they were running away from something. The leader of the group rushed toward the head with a frantic pace.

"Taichou, we need reinforcement!" he shouted, unintentionally getting the nearby people's attention, specifically the Strauss family and Yajima.

"What happened?!" Yajima questioned him.

"A-a monster-."

Just as he was about to voice his message, a sudden roar boomed. Many could not hear the cry, indicating that it wasn't close. However, the fact that few overheard the sound meant it was getting closer. The scream came again, except louder than before, filled with hunger and anger alongside explosions that erupted elsewhere. Mirajane and her siblings froze in place, recognizing instantly who it belonged to. They felt their body getting colder with goosebumps. They never wanted to hear its howl. They tried to forget it existed but knew it was still out there. Which meant he was still fighting.

"What…what was that?" Yajima was startled, being one of the few who asked the question. He had never heard such a vicious cry before. He couldn't tell if it was in pain or anger.

"We have encountered a monster that might have caused the fire!" he exclaimed with a clearer report.

"What? What kind of monster is it?! Where was it, and were there more?!"

"5th district, sir! We saw it in the 5th district! There is only one!" the man said almost immediately; however, he paused as he could not answer his other question.

"Are you sure there weren't more?"

"Y-yes, we have not encountered more,"

Yajima stood quietly and thought about the information he had now learned. He noted that he didn't sense any magic being used throughout the event, so he assumed it would be something else that caused this. The man thought that it could be a group of no-good bandits or criminals who were responsible for starting this disaster, to which he left the capable guards to confront it.

Yajima is a man who prioritizes the safety of the citizens first, unless otherwise. Although the man knew magic, he figured he should stay with the crowd and protect them. But knowing that something else was out there that his soldier could not handle, he had no choice but to step in.

"...Alright, you! I'm leaving you in charge of the evacuation. Quicken the evacuation without anyone panicking!" Yajima shouted at an individual before redirecting his attention to the man in front of him and another. "You two follow me,"

"O-only the three of us are going? Shouldn't we bring more?!" the glasses individual asked in bewilderment, unable to comprehend his decision. Even if he is the strongest in the squad, it should be obvious to gather more men to support him in combat, especially against a terrifying foe.

"Lahar, even if I were to bring more men with me, there wouldn't be any to help evacuate the crowd. Not only that, there are soldiers out there still finding survivors. We can only bring so much before any wizards arrive." Yajima explained, understanding his worries. But one thing he left out was that most of his squad was weak. It wouldn't make a difference if he brought more. Lahar knows this as well but didn't mention it.

"...right," Lahar quietly voiced, his eyebrows furrowed into a frustrated expression, knowing the unit's situation and the pressure they were enduring.

"Is there something else you haven't told me Lahar?" Yajima quietly asked with a serious tone, picking up the defeating voice Lahar displayed. His face, specifically his eyes, portrayed desperation as if he needed as much help as possible.

"..."

"Lahar,"

"...I know that it's hard to believe. But a young boy is currently fighting the monster," Lahar spoke softly with hesitation.

"A boy?" Yajima questioned, surprised that the topic would turn in the direction it was heading. He didn't doubt his words, but it would be a lie if he were in disbelief. He thought he asked for reinforcement because groups of people were in danger. But learning that a kid is fighting the monster responsible for this shambles was hard to believe.

Yajima acknowledges and is aware that many children are talented and can be considered prodigies. However, they must be nurtured and learn how to act and fight. It's considered extremely rare and even a miracle for them that a boy is single-handedly fighting off a beast.

"Yes, he is the sole reason why my group is here now, which is why I wish to get more reinforcement," Lahar stated honestly, sensing Yajima's disbelief. He couldn't blame his confusion on his report.

"Did…did he have orange hair,"

The two gentlemen were caught off-guard by the sudden voice that belonged to Mirjane. They looked at the source and saw the person slowly walking toward them with an anxious expression, overhearing their conversation. She needed to know if he was still alive and if he was ok.

Yajima looked at the girl momentarily before glancing back at Lahar's stunned expression for confirmation. He didn't know her relationship with this boy, but he could tell she was worried, alongside her siblings.

"...Yes,"

After hearing Lahar's input, the three's expressions slightly shifted from anxiousness to relief. However, it was slight compared to the sadness and worry that remained. He was still alive but was still fighting. Knowing the situation, Yajima quickly spoke reassuringly to the three before them. They are fully aware that they are worried about this child.

"Don't worry. We'll help him. You guys have to go with the rest. It's unsafe here."

Mirajane widened her eyes. That feeling of uselessness attacked her once again. Her stomach twisted, consciously aware that there wasn't much else she could do. However, she now knows that someone is going to help him. What more could she ask for?

She responded by voicing out a defeated tone. "O-ok"

"No, let her go with you. She knows magic. She can fight." Another individual joined the conversation almost immediately after Yajima's sentence. They all directed their gaze, only to see a young boy standing beside Mirajane.

"...Elfman?" Mirajane uttered, not knowing why the shy boy would suggest such an idea.

"I'm sorry, but you can't-" Lahar almost immediately voiced concern. He thought it was foolish to bring a child with them to fight. He didn't wish to risk the life of a girl. But as his sentence went on, Yajima stopped him from finishing.

He simply shook his head from side to side before looking at the three's interaction.

"You still wanna help him, right?" Elfman spoke softly toward his older sister. Witnessing and knowingly aware of why Mirajane is wavering. He could tell that she felt guilty after leaving Ichigo behind. After all, they were siblings. They knew what she felt and hated seeing their older sister so vulnerable.

"…I do, but."

"Then go," Elfman said to Mirajane with perseverance and reassurance, knowing that this was what she wanted and what Ichigo deserved.

"I can't leave you-"

"Go" this time, Lisanna spoke, interrupting Mirajane's worries. "We're safe, so you don't have to worry,"

It was true. The two didn't need Mirajane to look after them. They were with people capable of keeping them safe. Not only that, from what Lahar stated, there was only one out there, so there was no need to worry. They were away from danger.

"Go help him,"

The older sister stared at them for a long time. It was getting harder to ignore her own feelings. She wanted to help the young boy, yet, she hesitated to leave her siblings behind. The last thing she wanted was to let her loved ones get hurt. But, what she was witnessing in front of her was their resolve. To let go of Mirajane and not cling to her showed how significant and serious they were. They understood what they agreed to and did it regardless. She knew how scared they were but still chose to let her help Ichigo.

"...ok," she finally resigned, giving the two a heartfelt embrace.

"You got this/you can do it," Lisanna and Elfman whispered while returning her hug.

"Yeah,"

"Are you sure about this?" Yajima voiced, liking a confirmation that she was fully aware and prepared for the upcoming battle. Lahar looked at him in dismay but was too stunned to utter a word. They shouldn't allow civilians to risk their lives even if they needed more people.

The girl in question pivoted before nodding with a gentle smile. Unlike before, when her fears took control and the lingering guilt she constantly felt. This time, everyone witnessed the shift in her expression. Yes, there was still fear that roamed, yet, her fighting spirit overshadowed it.

"Yes, I'm sure,"

"Very well," Yajima responded to Mirajane's sincere words with a small smile. It was an amazing feat to witness from the scared girl he had seen a minute ago.

"Taichou! We can't have her fight," Lahar responded, baffled, knowing Yajima was planning to take her with them.

"But he's fighting,"

Lahar paused in his tracks, squinting his eyelids in frustration. He became silent, unable to counter Mirjane's argument after hearing her remark. It was true that Ichigo was fighting, but that didn't mean that she had to. He didn't want to rely on more innocent people in their battles.

Everyone stared at Lahar's silence, understanding the man's concern and why he was against it, but the fact that they needed more people still stood. And Mirajane was going to be one of those people who could help.

"I know you might see this as reckless, but… I want to help. I want to repay him for what he did for us. That's why I will fight."

(Heading to 5th district)

The newly formed group rushed to their destination as fast as they could. Lahar reported on what he believed to be the most crucial information. However, the description of the monster caught Mirajane staggering. Based on Lahar's information, the hollow was bigger than they had hoped, and its regeneration was frightening. It wore a skeleton-like mask and had long horns, its smallest feature being its withered wings. Everything Lahar said was different from what she saw, which worried her.

It didn't make sense, if what Lahar said was true that there was only one monster out there. Then why was it different from what she faced? She didn't have the answers but did consider three possibilities as to why it was different.

One, Ichigo defeated the monster, only for another creature to appear shortly after.

Two, it somehow grew from its relatively small figure. Transforming into a more powerful and terrifying state.

Or three, the most worrying for her but least likely is that there was more than one. Her heart beat faster just thinking of the idea.

"They'll be ok, they'll be ok," she said to herself, trying her best to ease her uneasiness.

Mirajane knew Ichigo was currently fighting the monster, as Lahar had stated, meaning that the monster she saw was gone. However, she couldn't be sure. They have to see for themselves.

Nearing their destination, everyone quickly became quiet, horrified as they saw the place more chaotic and destroyed than fire in other places. Large footprints were imprinted on the ground, with many craters left behind. An enormous amount of purple substances covered some parts of the area, presumably blood. Everyone was shocked by the damage and environment that they were witnessing. The group noted that they were getting closer to the creature's roar, but despite that, the monster was nowhere to be seen.

"Was the color of the blood purple?" Yajima was the first to break the silence. He didn't know what this liquid could be besides acid or blood.

"Y-yes,"

Yajima man took a breath before nodding. "Then we're on the right track. Let's continue," he said, hoping they would come across it soon. Yajima led the group, with everyone following closely behind.

Just then, a pillar of blue light was shot into the air at a slight angle off in the distance, lighting up the area with its glowing color. The attack ruptured everyone's ears and caused them to temporarily stop, fearing something had happened. The sudden beam did not last long as, in mere seconds, it exploded in the air, leaving a ball of smoke in its place. Yajima and everyone else were stunned by the sudden light shot into the air.

They didn't have long to wait, as suddenly, their blood ran cold as their vision landed on a massive figure emerging from the smoke. The sound of wings rapidly flapping through the air caught everyone's attention, with fiery particles hoving over its arms. The figure seemed to have trouble flying, as its wings were too small for its massive body.

The body was not as detailed as they had hoped due to the smoke. However, the party could scarcely see cuts of different sizes emanating from every part of its body, covered in the same purple substance. Some parts of its body were darker than others, maybe insinuating the burns it sustained. Before they could see more of its feature, the creature let off a blood-curdling roar before it descended to where the blast originated.

"Was that?" Yajima glanced back at the group and asked. He thought he might have hallucinated but instantly crossed that idea out as he saw how shaken the group was after seeing the hollow's appearance, not so much with Mirajane but with the other two.

"...Y-yes," Lahar was breathing heavily, unsure how to take what he saw. The voice that was used and its sculpture were the same.

"I see," Yajima noted with mixed feelings. On the one hand, he was glad that they could finally put an end to this disaster. But on the other half, knowing how powerful the monster was now judging by the blue blast, it would be much tougher than he had hoped.

"Taichou!" the fourth group member shouted as he pointed at three injured individuals ahead of them. The rest took his words seriously and glanced in his direction.

They quickly assessed the three individuals. They were covered in bruises and cuts. Mirajane rushed over to them, checking for any signs of life-threatening injuries.

"Are you ok?" Mirajane was the first to speak to the three citizens.

They weren't badly injured, as they could still run, but that didn't negate their need for help. Mirajane checked on the injured individuals, and Yajima ordered the others to be on guard, knowing that the hollow could appear at any moment.

"Y-yes! But t-there's a boy! He needs help!"

"We know. Do you know where he is?" Yajima was the next to talk, sensing the tension and the urgency the woman unveiled.

"At-at-" the woman tried to answer but couldn't tell them the exact location. Although she did point in the direction of where it was. She thought it would have been more informative to notify them of the exact location. However, she had trouble replying because she wasn't as familiar with the town as others.

"It was near the 7th district!" a man beside her answered immediately, knowing what the woman was trying to convey.

"Thank you, we'll take it from here," Yajima thanked the two before eyeing Lahar and the guard next to him. "You two take them to safety."

Hearing their captain's words, the duo widened their eyes in shock. They still wanted to fight, to support the two wizards in battle. And their stubbornness prevented them from wanting to back away. Despite their intentions, it was clear that this was too much for them. Even a civilian could tell. Even so, They still had a duty to do, and Yajima allowed them to continue to help in their own way. Realizing this, the two gave their leader the determined eyes he hoped to see.

"Yes, sir!"

Yajima nodded, glad to see they were still giving it their all.

"Let's go,"

"Right,"

(District 7).

The sounds of stomping grew more intense, and the roars grew more ferocious and became apparent as it continued to rain over the surroundings. The stench of decay and rot began to fill their nostrils. The ground shook beneath their feet with each deafening sound that boomed through the area. They were getting closer to the source of the disturbance.

"It isn't too late to go back," Yajima's voice was heard for the first time after disbanding with the other two group members. He knew they were getting closer to their destination but saw the nervousness in his companion. It wasn't surprising to see such emotion. She was only a kid, after all.

"I won't go back," Mirajane said in denial, her eyes fixed on Yajima. She had already decided to fight and didn't want to go back on her words.

Yet, even though she was determined, she couldn't ignore her uneasiness. She felt pressured, knowing the two would fight the monster responsible for this havoc. Only the three of them will have to end this for everyone, their hands resting on them. Mirajane couldn't believe Ichigo could keep up with feeling this pressure this whole time. Yajima could see the uneasiness in Mirajane's eyes, and he could tell she was nervous or scared.

"...At times like these, you must be brave." Mirajane widened her eyes ever so slightly as she shifted her attention. Yajima's words didn't serve as comfort or reassurance. They were more like a piece of advice. "You're not alone in this,"

Mirajane continued to stare at Yajima while taking in his words. He was right. It isn't just her that is fighting. She can't falter when others are fighting with her. Mirajane closed her eyelids, and with a deep breath, her composure was slowly returning.

"...Right!"

Yajima gave her a small smile. "Be ready for anything. We don't know what we're going to face."

They continued to sprint, and as they approached the source of the disturbance, they finally arrived to see an outline of a monster thrashing about. A massive creature, at least the size of an elephant, stood in the center of the area and swung its limbs barbarically. Its skin was a dark, leathery gray, and its eyes glowed a sinister red. Its jaws snapped open and shut as it let out numerous cries, a mixture of distortion and scratching. Its roars were so loud that the air vibrated with its sheer power. Its razor-sharp claws were thrown everywhere and gouged deep into the ground numerous times. The two watched in terror as the creature continued to wreak havoc.

Because they were so fixated on the monster in front of them. They were unaware and startled when a sudden burst of purple liquid escaped the hollow's body. Followed by the one who dealt the blow. The appearance of a wounded young boy with orange hair struck their vision, reappearing from his blitz movement. He held a knife-like sword with fierce determination in his eyes. His clothing was tattered and stained with blood and dust. The boy stepped back, dodging the incoming attack directed at him, but the creature's claws still managed to graze across his skin. Blood sprayed from the wound as Ichigo stumbled backward.

Before they could move or comprehend what was happening, the two opposing enemies immediately continued their clash. Neither one noticed their presence as Ichigo leaped towards the creature again. The boy dished out many slashes while evading the hollow's massive claws and powerful blasts. The monster pulverized the building, rupturing the surrounding areas as it tried to land a hit on Ichigo.

"I-is that?"

The boy jumped over the hollow's punch before stabbing his blade onto its arm, dragging it across, and ripping the flesh through its arm. The hollow roared in pain, trying to capture or pulverize him with its fist, but to no avail. Soon, its body began to glow again, indicating it was regenerating. The orange-haired individual quickly saw this and acted accordingly and rushed in, dodging the fist before slashing its leg. The monster let out another roar of pain, and Ichigo took the opportunity to strike again, plunging his sword deep into its chest.

"Y-yes," Mirajane stuttered as she answered Yajima's unspoken question as if she read his mind. The two glued intensely to the battle, with a feeling of relief knowing that he was still alive but also with amazement. "It's…it's him,"

Although it was true that the boy needed help. It was not what they expected. From the citizen's tone, it sounded like he required desperate saving. But that was far from the truth. Witnessing everything portrayed before them was nothing they could have ever imagined. Ichigo, who was much smaller than the monster, was fighting diligently.

No, his movement and strikes were not careless or immature. Instead, the boy was cautious. His movements were calculated, strategic, and fast as he glided through the area, maneuvering the countless attacks that headed his way while dishing out his own. His sword glinted in the dimly lit area as he struck the monster repeatedly, causing it to shriek in frustration.

Mirajane and Yajima were speechless, watching in amazement as the boy fought fearlessly. They couldn't believe such a small and seemingly fragile boy could take on a monster of that size and strength. If they had known any better, Ichigo wouldn't need any help.

But as the fight continued, they couldn't help but notice Ichigo starting to struggle and slowly losing his strength. His movements were getting slower, and he was breathing heavily. The wounds that he sustained were affecting him. They still saw the fighting spirit in his eyes and the pain he was trying to hide.

(Back to Ichigo)

"Dammit, even the mask regenerates!" Ichigo thought immediately after his discharge dissipated from its face. Remarking that the only main weakness of hollows could no longer be exploited. Witnessing the skeleton-like mask slowly reattach itself back together. The hollow screeched at him. Its loud roar repelled Ichigo away from the air and back to the ground.

The boy grunted as he landed, feeling the pain from his injuries intensifying by the weight of the fall. He tried to stand back up, but his body could barely cooperate. The hollow saw and took the opportunity to charge at him in his weakened state, ready to deliver the finishing blow. Ichigo gritted his teeth and forced himself back onto his feet, his legs wobbling. He raised his sword again and charged toward the hollow, ignoring the pain and exhaustion weighing him down.

"Soul Extinctor!"

An unexpected feminine voice was suddenly heard, followed by a black spiral blast that shot to the hollow's head seemingly out of nowhere. The attack interrupted and interfered with what the hollow was going to do. A cloud of dust rose to the sky, leaving everything black.

"Steel pillar!"

This time Ichigo heard a voice shout in a gruff voice, followed by an unexpectedly thick metal bar that drilled from the floor and thrust into the hollow's stomach and chest. The momentum of the metal knocked and propelled it backward and onto the floor. The man's voice was heard again when the body was on the floor. This time, he cast another spell.

"Showering storm!" Ichigo saw a white magic circle generated above the hollow before pouring countless small but sharp metal rods onto the figure.

"Who-"

"We're here to help!" Mirajane shouted at Ichigo, sprinting at the boy as he was still confused by what had happened. While Yajima followed closely before launching more attacks at the beast, keeping it away from them.

Ichigo, recognizing who the voice belonged to, pointed his head to where it was coming from. Only for his eyes to widen. The cloaked figure ran toward him. Her hood was down, revealing his silky white hair, with the demonic hand she possessed came into view. He thought he imagined things but came to realize that he wasn't. It was the same girl from before. "Why are you-"

"Don't talk. You're hurt!" Mirajane interrupted Ichigo's sentence after looking closely at the wounds he carried. She rushed over to him to see if she could do anything.

"what about,"

"They're safe," Mirajane immediately responded, knowing Ichigo's concern. However, it upset her that he worried about others before himself. Upon getting a closer look, she was speechless, her body getting colder.

"You shouldn't be here," Ichigo spoke softly, mostly directed at Mirajane. Even if they were acquainted for a short period, Ichigo knew how much her siblings meant to them. He didn't want her to regret her decision over someone like him. "go back,"

Mirajane covered her mouth with a gasp; she was frightened. The wounds Ichigo carried weren't mere cuts. It was much more severe. The splinters and burns all over him were brutal. The bruises on his arms were clearly visible. There was blood oozing out of several wounds, and the flesh around his wounds was discolored.

Mirajane quickly went to work, using her little knowledge of healing magic. Both her hands were covered with a light green mist. She placed both her palms near Ichigo's right shoulder.

"Are there more?" Mirajane asked slowly after. Hoping that he would know the answer to her question.

"...no, it's the same as before," Ichigo said, containing no lies. He looked straight toward the hollow, followed by the hailstorm of metal shooting at it. Mirajane was relieved after hearing Ichigo's confirmation.

The boy sat there for a couple of seconds, feeling the warmth that the healing provided, with the pain slowly subsiding. Yet, it was minuscule, barely feeling the difference. He could tell it wasn't her specialty. Compared to Wendy, her healing wasn't as potent. Which sadly didn't benefit Ichigo. Even so, he thought that the healing would be more beneficial if it was for someone else. Knowing this, Ichigo started moving, waving his hand toward Mirajane, implying it was alright.

"I'm fine, thanks. It's more than enough," Ichigo said as he struggled to pull himself up.

Mirajane was startled but ignored him, grabbing his wrist and pulling him back down before continuing to use the spell. Ichigo, noticing her behavior, gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her from using more magic on him. He shook his head, refusing any further treatment. He knew he had to face the hollow again and couldn't do it while being cared for. He pushed himself up to his feet, ignoring the pain and exhaustion he felt. He knew he had to finish this fight.

"I'm fine,"

"No, you're not! You can't fight in your condition." Mirajane finally retorted, astonished at how stubborn Ichigo was behaving. He was clearly hurt, so why wasn't he sitting still? He's already been through enough.

Mirajane looked at him, his eyes showing signs of fatigue and pain, and even Ichigo wasn't dumb. They both knew she was right. His body was exhausted, and the injuries were taking their toll on him. He could barely move his arms, let alone fight the hollow. He could feel his body giving out on him any minute, and he knew he was having trouble holding onto his sword firmly.

Ichigo let out an exhausting breath, knowing full well the truth in her words and concern. He couldn't fight in his current condition but couldn't just sit still and watch as the hollow wreaked havoc. He looked at Mirajane and then at the hollow.

"I… have to fight," Ichigo stated, looking at Mirajane while getting ahold of Zangetsu.

"But,"

Mirajane frowned at Ichigo's stubbornness with no words that could be said. She didn't understand why he persisted. Even if the two were more acquaintances than friends, it was difficult not to worry for him. He had others who he could rely on. But what he's doing is the opposite. It's like he is pushing others aside just like he pushed her help, which Mirajane couldn't help but feel from him based on his demeanor. He never asked for their support, even till now. Did he perhaps feel guilty involving others in his fight?

Why did he have that look in his eyes, like he was scared something would happen? Like he had to fight. It was minuscule, but it was there.

Sadly, she couldn't get the answer but knew better than to argue with him. They were wasting time, and Yajima probably needed help. She reluctantly agreed but continued working on his injuries, trying to heal him as much as possible before stopping. Mirajane nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. She could tell that he hadn't given up.

"But we're fighting with you," Mirajane immediately announced, not attending to leaving Ichigo alone. She was going to fight too.

Ichigo looked back at Mirajane, wanting to deny their help, but he could tell he wouldn't win this argument. "...Alright," Ichigo disappointedly answered as he gave up and didn't want to waste time, seeing how he couldn't keep her away from the fight.

The sound of a loud metal boom grabbed Ichigo and Mirajane's attention. They both turned to see Yajima still attacking the beast with his metal magic, but the hollow still stood. Its body regenerated once again.

"Metal Magic, Javelin!" Yajima clasped both his hands before pulling away and summoning a metal rod. He moved into a throwing position before exclaiming, "Expand!"

With a single command, the spear's width and length grew in size tenfold. With a swift motion, he hurled the spear toward his target, its weight and size causing it to sweep through the air with incredible force. However, the hollow managed to avoid hitting its head. Unfortunately, firing off the spear didn't prove effective as intended once it impaled the hollow's shoulder. The rise in temperature around his shoulder slowly melted the metal while its regenerative ability kicked in.

Just before the hollow could charge at Yajima, a pair of blue and black lights was shot behind the man, colliding into the monster's flesh. The old man looked back in response and saw the two kids running up to him.

"You shouldn't be moving!" Yajima exclaimed to the wounded boy.

"I'm fine," Ichigo said again, expecting the man to utter those words. "You look like you need some help,"

Ichigo could tell that Yajima was frustrated when he stated the last bit, as they knew metal wasn't effective to fire. He knew they needed to devise a different strategy, except Ichigo was never one who was good at making plans. Though, one thing did come to mind: the black rope.

Whatever this black rope was, it was most likely the thing that was controlling the hollow. Now that there were three of them, one, preferably Mirajane or Yajima, could follow the line and end its power source while Ichigo could hold the monster back.

"Chase down the rope!" Ichigo directed his voice to Mirajane while prepping his blade. His words startled the two after remembering that piece of information. "We'll hold it off!"

The two stood there before glancing at each. Mirajane and Yajima reacted similarly, confused and unable to understand Ichigo's outburst and input. "A rope?... What rope?" Mirajane was caught off guard but questioned.

Ichigo stopped momentarily, looking back at the two, unable to comprehend their confusion. But was met with honest expressions. They stared at Ichigo, waiting for an explanation. He couldn't help but ask himself if he imagined things. He couldn't have. He saw the rope being severed and reattached with his very own eyes. Why else did the hollow protect the rope? But if what he saw was not his imagination. Then was it something only he could see?

"The black rope on its wrist, you…don't see it?!" the boy asked with verification, hoping it wasn't true.

"No…I didn't see one,"

"I didn't see it either,"

Before he could express his shock and confusion further, their short conversation ended when a fist flew at them from the smoke. The three manage to quickly react, jumping away from the fiery punch. Though because they avoided the attack, they were momentarily split from each other.

The force of the blow sent them sliding backward, but they managed to keep their footing. As they landed back on their feet, Yajima and Mirajane started throwing their attacks. There was no time to talk. Yajima once again summoned his metal magic and created multiple spears, aiming them at the hollow's body. Mirajane, on the other hand, extended her hand toward the monster and shouted, "Evil explosion!" A black ball of energy formed in her palm before shooting towards the hollow, hitting it directly in the chest.

Ichigo continued to look at them. The two displayed the capability of handling the beast. They weren't as scared as he expected. Now knowing that the two couldn't see its main source of power. Ichigo is the only one who can follow the line and eliminate it. However, there were some things to consider.

He doesn't know how long or where this rope goes. It could be close by or could be very far away, and due to his injuries, it's difficult for him to find it quickly. Because of that, he can't leave them for an indefinite amount of time. He knew that the hollow could transform.

The hollow soon let out a blood-curdling scream as it stumbled backward. Sensing an opportunity, Ichigo and the rest charged forward simultaneously. Yajima continued to barrage the hollow with his metal magic, a few pierced the monster's flesh and caused it to writhe in pain. Mirajane and Ichigo unleashed a flurry of punches and slashes, striking its arms and chest.

Despite the continuous storm of attacks, the hollow refused to go down without a fight. It swung its massive arm back at an alarming speed, intending to hit but create space for itself. Luckily, Yajima was further away from the monster but was still affected by the gust of wind from its arm. Ichigo managed to move away from its arm, but Mirajane was not so lucky as she was close to the attack.

The girl didn't have enough time to avoid the backhand like Ichigo. She raised her hands instinctively to cover herself from severe injuries. The blow collided with her body, and the impact of the blow Mirajane received sent her flying backward. Ichigo's eyes widened as he saw Mirajane being hit by the hollow's attack. He hurriedly flashed stepped over to her painfully before catching her in his arms. His efforts didn't stop the momentum but prevented her from getting hurt further.

The two flew, skidding across the rough terrain, crashing into a nearby building, and leaving a trail of debris. Wooden planks were heard snapping while being battered and bruised from the impact.

Once the momentum halted, Mirajane slowly opened her eyelids, surveying the damage around them. The entrance of the building had been partially destroyed, and debris was scattered everywhere. Mirajane let out a small gasp as she saw the extent of the destruction. She sat up but was immediately attacked by an unbearable amount of pain. Her arms and legs throbbed with pain as she tried to move them.

The girl cast a healing spell all around her, trying her best to relieve the pain she was dealing with until it was bearable. As Mirajane cast the healing spell, she felt a warm sensation spread throughout her body, and the pain slowly dissipated. Then she noticed a blade next to her. She turned to see Ichigo lying behind her, his Zanpakuto on the ground. His breathing was shallow, and he was clearly in much pain.

Mirajane panicked upon seeing Ichigo's state, her heart racing with anxiety. She didn't know why he was with her but suspected he was protecting her. It was hard to tell the damage he underwent with the rest of his wounds. But knowing better, she could easily tell that it was painful. He had already taken too much damage, and she was the cause, this time because of her actions. She was at fault. The girl hurriedly shuffled to his left before inspecting him, her injuries forgotten for the time being. But before she could voice her own worry. Ichigo interrupted her panic.

"You alright?" Ichigo asked slowly, concern evident in his voice. He glanced at her, inspecting Mirajane's condition. Besides a few bruises and scratches, her injuries surprisingly weren't life-threatening.

Mirajane's eyes widened in response to his question, surprised at how he could still have time to worry about others before himself. She noted that the damage she took was minimal compared to him. Yet, to her, it was unbearable and all she could focus on. She couldn't ignore the possible fracture and broken bones she sustained nor the aching feeling that ran through her body. She only knew a small fraction of Ichigo's pain. He was in much more pain than her, yet he was still fighting. It was baffling and concerning.

She winced in pain but managed a small nod. "Y-yeah," she said, her voice strained but clear. Ichigo sighs in relief.

The boy struggled to stand on both feet, gritting his teeth against the pain in his legs. He picked up his Zanpakuto and looked over at Yajima, who was up and getting the hollow's attention.

"Can you still fight?" Ichigo asked quietly. Mirajane, although still conflicted by Ichigo's lack of awareness for himself, sadly couldn't help but answer his question.

"...yeah," She pushed aside her pain and helped Ichigo up to his feet before racing outside.

The two made their way outdoors, only to be greeted by the appearance of the hollow, wrapped around with thick metal chains that sprouted out from the floor. It struggled to free itself and only broke some chains in a few instances. However, the man in front of them, Yajima, knew better than to set it free, as when some of the chains were set loose by the rise in temperature, he would reinforce the binding with the most powerful heat resistance he could conjure up.

Above them, a shadow loomed over, inviting the two to look upwards. They widened their eyes as they were met with a massive spike ball slowly seeping through a magic circle. The sheer size and mass of the object were a bit bigger than the hollow's torso.

Yajima held the chains with one hand while the other was raised. He soon lowered the raised hand to the floor, and with that simple gesture, the ball descended from the magic circle and reached the hollow's head. The monster's movement became more sporadic, trying its best to free itself. But with each struggle, the ball got closer to its target. Knowing it was futile, the hollow opened its mouth before charging up a red sphere. The energy was shot from its mouth almost immediately, melting and evaporating Yajima's attack alongside the chains holding it down.

Everyone covered their faces in response to the heat wave that loomed. But Ichigo, in that instance, found something odd in the hollow's behavior. Why did it protect itself from that attack? The hollow was never cautious nor cared about the attacks being thrown at it. That fact solidified back when he dished out his Getsuga Tensho. It barely defended itself, taking the blast head-on before releasing its own. A blast far more destructive compared to the metal ball of spikes. It didn't make sense. Unless.

"It's… running out of energy," Ichigo whispered with realization. Maybe there wasn't a need to cut the rope.

As the hollow freed itself from the binding chains and ran towards Yajima, Ichigo's suspicions were confirmed as he watched the hollow's movements become weaker and more sluggish. It was indeed running low on energy. It wasn't as energetic and didn't roar as much as before.

Knowing that Ichigo saw the opportunity to strike, he charged toward the hollow with his Zanpakuto at the ready. Mirajane, startled by Ichigo's sudden action, followed closely behind, assisting him in any way possible. Although recovering from the previous attack, Yajima watched from a safe distance but was ready to provide backup if needed.

Ichigo closed the gap between the two. His arm lifted high. Leaping up from the ground, he thrust his blade deep into its back before landing elsewhere. A chunk of blood shot from behind. Ichigo slid through the floor, withdrawing his blade, before returning to a fighting position, ready to do it again. The monster took notice of Ichigo's presence and turned to face him.

Behind the hollow but in front of Ichigo, a black-cloaked female figure appeared in the air. Her hands were coated with magic forming spheres around figure dived to the floor, unleashing a powerful and crushing punch on the hollow's thigh, making it stumble to the floor due to losing balance.

Ichigo reacted once its knees were on the floor. He charged towards the hollow with lightning-fast speed. Before he could land a hit, the boy saw two massive arms flying close to him from both sides. He couldn't stop his momentum. The toll on his legs prevented him from stopping so suddenly.

"Steel walls!" two steel plates erupted from the floor, barely stopping the flying fists from reaching Ichigo.

Realizing the attack was blocked, he slashed at its head, but the hollow dodged at the last second. Mirajane appeared beside Ichigo, and together, they attacked the hollow from two sides, forcing it to defend itself from both directions. The hollow swung its massive arms, trying to hit the two fighters, but they were too quick. Ichigo darted in and out, landing quick strikes with his Zanpakuto, while Mirajane unleashed powerful punches at its abdomen. The hollow roared in frustration, unable to keep up with the two fighters.

From its arms and withered wings, fiery particles started to form, turning from unformed matter to small orbs. They floated in the air, seemingly posing no danger. Yajima, who was the further out of the three, thought otherwise. He saw the orbs starting to burn brighter, and before he could react, it started discharging a hail storm of beams.

"Watch out!" Yajima shouted in panic at the two.

The two in question heard Yajima's cries but didn't understand what he meant. Yajima tried desperately to conjure up a barrier in time for the two, protecting them from the incoming beams. The barricade did come in time. However, it only eased the explosion that would occur.

Mirajane and Ichigo were shocked by the metal that shrouded them seemingly out of nowhere. They turned to see Yajima panting heavily as he struggled to maintain the barrier. The hail storm of fiery beams crashed into the barrier, causing it to shake violently. Mirajane and Ichigo could feel the heat radiating from the barrier, and in mere seconds, the walls exploded wide open.

The beams collided around them, triggering and setting off explosions that sent them scrambling across the area with brutal force. Ichigo and Mirajane landed hard on the ground, groaning in pain, struggling to get up and feeling the burns from the blast on their skin. Yajima managed to brace himself against the impact, but the force of the explosion still sent him sliding back a few feet. The hollow, on the other hand, was barely standing. The beams it had fired drained most of its energy.

The whole area was filled with smoke and debris, making it difficult for anyone to see. Coughing and struggling to breathe, trying to get up. Mirajane's clothes were burnt, gaining cuts and bruises. Ichigo's clothes were in tatters. His skin was badly burned. Yajima had a few scratches on his face and arms.

Slowly, Ichigo fought against the pain and managed to get up. The sounds around him were muffled. He darted around, trying to locate Mirajane and Yajima. He found the two figures battered and bruised, but luckily they were still breathing.

"You guys ok?" Ichigo managed to ask.

Mirajane groaned and tried to sit up, wincing at the pain in her side. "Y-yeah," she said weakly, followed by Yajima, still catching his breath but answering his question.

Ichigo sighed in relief and took a deep breath. "Just…a little bit more," he said, scanning what was in front of them, the shadow that loomed in the fog. The monster was leaning on one side more than the other. The orbs that spawned earlier still floated in the air but lost most of their colors.

"Just a little more, and it'll be over. Can you guys stand?" Mirajane and Yajima both nodded, struggling to their feet.

Ichigo took a deep breath and raised his sword. "Let's finish this," he said, determination. Mirajane and Yajima nodded in agreement.

"...can you stall it," Ichigo said quietly to them both out of nowhere. The two looked at Ichigo, not expecting to hear those words from him but remained quiet so he could elaborate.

"I'm putting everything into this next one," he claimed. Suddenly wavy blue energy started slowly pouring out of Ichigo. It was dense and powerful, illuminating the area around them. The two watched in amazement, noting that they had never seen "magic" this elegant and calming.

Ichigo continued, "but it'll take some time. Can you stall it till then?" True to Ichigo's words, the boy was worn out. He needed time. He barely had any energy left, and his injuries only complicated things. He knew he was asking a lot, but there was no other way.

Yajima widened his eyes, staring at Ichigo with lingering doubt and questions. Even if the two were to fight still, it would be difficult to stall enough time. The last attack, the hollow threw, was already devasting enough, and they barely escaped death. For Ichigo to ask them to keep it occupied sounded impossible. The only reason they could fight for this long was because of Ichigo. He was the one who led the charge, while the two gave him support.

"...How…much time do you need?" Yajima spoke.

The boy stayed quiet. He simply didn't know the answer to his question. Ichigo didn't know how much the curse and his body would allow him to conjure. But he has no choice but to try.

"…maybe two minutes," Ichigo said uncertainly, estimating how much time would be appropriate. Hopefully, two minutes was the most he needed.

Yajima squinted his eyes ever so slightly, not wanting to accept Ichigo's words. He remarked that one minute was already long, let alone two. Yajima's doubts were valid, and Mirajane shared the same worries. They knew that stalling the hollow for two minutes would be daunting, given their injuries and the limited magic they had left. There was only so much they could do.

Lastly, what made him the most worried was Ichigo's uncertainty. Yes, the power he was currently emitting was the best chance they got, judging by how effective Ichigo's attacks seemed to affect the monster previously. But, he could tell that Ichigo wasn't sure if two minutes would be enough, and because of that, it would be wise to consider another plan.

Yet, judging by everyone's capabilities in magic, they couldn't distract the beast instead of stalling it. That option was out. Yajima weighed his choices, considering the risks and rewards. He knew stalling the hollow for two minutes would be challenging, especially with their current state. However, he also knew they had come too far to back down. If they don't defeat the hollow, it will continue to wreak and cause destruction.

"We'll do what we can," Mirajane finally said, interrupting Yajima's thoughts. The two glanced in her direction.

She understood perfectly well why Yajima was hesitating, but she also knew that if they wasted any more time, this opportunity wouldn't last. Now that the hollow was weakened, they had to take advantage, and judging by Ichigo's capability, she had full faith in him.

"I'll put my trust in you," she told Ichigo. The boy nodded before they looked at Yajima.

"Alright," Yajima said, finally agreeing to Ichigo's "plan." They didn't have any other options.

The smoke that covered the area slowly disappeared, revealing the hollow's body with more clarity alongside their own. The two could see how seemingly weak and tired the hollow was.

The beast let out a noisy roar, realizing that the three somehow survived and the power Ichigo was radiating. Its cry contained anger and nastiness, rushing down to them.

"...thanks" Ichigo turned his attention back to the hollow. He took a deep breath and began to concentrate, pouring every ounce of his remaining energy into his sword. The blue energy grew brighter and more intense, swirling around him in a hypnotic dance. However, the pain that came alongside was twisting his insides.

Meanwhile, Mirajane and Yajima exchanged a look before nodding in unison. They charged towards the hollow, each taking a side to try and distract it. The hollow was weak but still dangerous, its movements slow but deliberate as it swiped at the two with its massive claws. Mirajane and Yajima dodged and weaved, trying to keep the hollow's attention on them. Their entire body aches.

"Metal Magic, Iron hand!" a magic circle appeared underneath the hollow before launching a metal that forged into a fist.

"Soul Extinctor!"

Two attacks collided with the hollow's chest, and the combined power created a massive whirlwind that pushed the hollow back. The two engaged it again, not letting the monster recover.

"Binding!"

Chains sprouted out of the floor in all directions, covering and wrapping around the hollow's body. However, it quickly broke free before the two could lash out any additional attacks. The hollow unexpectedly started flapping both its wings. Generating a fiery gust of wind powerful enough to knock them back while creating space for itself.

The two shielded themselves using their arms but could not prevent the gust of wind from burning and pushing them back. They saw the figure coming closer from its position while being blown back. Yajima flipped over in the air, digging his fingers into the floor, preventing him from moving further behind.

"Metal Geyser!" Yajima slammed his other palm onto the floor, summoning a magic circle. The appearance of metal spikes erupted out of the ground, rushing towards their target and impaling the wings, stopping them from continuing.

The hollow's pain echoed across the area, violently shaking the ground. Its regeneration takes more time to activate. Mirajane seized the opportunity and dashed forward, her hand glowing with magical energy.

She unleashed a barrage of dark energy blasts at the hollow, hitting it repeatedly in the chest and face. The hollow roared in anger, its body shaking as it tried to shake off the attacks. Mirajane continued to hammer it with her magic, not letting up for a second.

"Iron Boots!"

On the other hand, Yajima ran towards the hollow's legs, his legs covered in metal. He slammed his feet onto the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked the hollow off balance. Yajima repeatedly kicked the hollow's legs, creating deep dents with each blow. The hollow howled in pain as it struggled to maintain its balance.

Having enough of all the relentless attacks, the monster brought its right hand and snatched Yajima into the air. The man couldn't avoid its grasp, letting out an agonizing pain feeling the tightness of its grip getting stronger. The hollow released flames that shot toward Mirajane.

Ichigo and Mirajane's eyes widened as they saw Yajima being crushed with the sounds of cracking bones. Without hesitation, Mirajane charged forward to help Yajima, her hands glowing with magical energy while dodging the dangerous flames that came her way. But before she could close in, the hollow unexpectedly threw Yajima at her.

The body flew at her in a blur, crashing into Mirajane, who could not catch him safely. Ichigo briefly stopped before quickly rushing over to the two as they struggled to get up, their bodies aching from the impact.

"You ok?!"

"How…how much time do you still need?!" Mirajane quickly exclaimed, knowing they couldn't stall it for much longer.

Ichigo was stunned momentarily, never hearing the girl shout so loudly before. But he quickly regained his composure and answered her question with a definitive response. "30 seconds! That's all I need!" blue particles started skyrocketing out of the boy's body. He's not wasting any more time.

"It's coming!" Yajima shouted, struggling to get up while grabbing the two's attention. They looked at the hollow and saw the spheres heading toward them. At the same time, the hollow was charging a Last-ditch effort to eradicate them.

"I won't let that happen!" Mirajane exclaimed, extending both her hands out. Her palms formed dark energy before dishing out numerous small bullets.

"Blades!" Yajima yelled, agreeing with the girl, conjuring up a dozen sharp blades made of metal.

Their projectiles collide with the spheres and cause them to explode in a shower of sparks. The hollow growled in anger, frustrated that their attack disrupted. Ichigo continued to gather his power, the blue particles around him intensifying.

"Just a little bit more," he muttered repeatedly, his eyelids feeling the weight from exhaustion, his body feeling every ounce of pain like he was being torn apart. Coughing, oozing red like surgery had gone wrong. He felt like falling to his knees and stopping whatever he was doing. His body was screaming in pain.

But he couldn't afford to rest. He couldn't let them down. His determination burned inside him, pushing him to keep going. Ichigo watched, his eyes never leaving the hollow. He could see the strain on Mirajane and Yajima's faces, their movements lagging as the exchange continued.

Once, the barrage of the hollow's miniature attacks and the explosion subsided. They were met with a glowing red sphere hovering over its mouth. It looked like it was ready to fire it off. Both Mirajane and Yajima stared at the power displayed. They couldn't stop that.

Ichigo took a shaky deep breath, his body trembling. He raised his sword, its blade crackling with energy as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

"Getsuga…"

The two picked up Ichigo's harsh and strained voice before turning their vision to him. His "magic covered Ichigo's whole body." The atmosphere around them suddenly changed. The weight in the air became heavy, becoming harder to stand and breathe. They needed to take cover.

However, they noted that despite the heavy tension, it was warm. They didn't know why but knew that whatever Ichigo's emitting was different from the hollow. Although the power the two individuals display seems similar. Ichigo's was much warmer and more comforting.

"Tensho!"

With a roar, Ichigo swung his sword, unleashing a massive wave of energy that shot toward the hollow. The wave shredded through the air, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. At the same time, the cero was fired off, heading its way to the opposing blast.

The surge of energy and light was more intense than either Mirajane or Yajima expected, barely dodging it and narrowly escaping the wave before it hit.

The clash didn't last long. Only for mere seconds was it all over. The cero had no chance of destroying the blue blast. Once the two attacks crashed into one another, Ichigo's discharge dismantled the other before reaching and enveloping the hollow fully. The hollow let out a howl of pain as the attack struck it, its body disintegrating most of its body.

A large amount of smoke spewed into the air. The ground shook violently as if the earth itself was shaking. The blast ruptured everyone's ear, including the citizens who were evacuated. The sounds of remaining glass shattered throughout, and the flames that spread through the 7th district were blown away. Mirajane and Yajima shield their faces with their arms and desperately try not to get blown away by the current, only to be knocked away seconds later.

Once the explosion died down, the two were speechless, witnessing and remarking on the destructive power Ichigo unleashed. Destructive was an understatement. In seconds, Ichigo could destroy the ground the hollow stood on and the flames surrounding them. The wave of power they felt still lingered despite it being no longer there.

The three gathered patiently for the fog to disappear, never considering letting their guard down. However, they were rewarded with relief. They didn't see any shadows that lingered in the smoke. No longer were there hissings or rumbling. No longer did they feel the pressure that was once there. Ichigo, Mirajane, and Yajima breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that it was finally over. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with exhaustion and gratitude, before falling to the floor.

"Are you ok?!" Mirajane directed both of them. She still had a bit of magic left to heal the two.

"Yes, you don't need to worry about me," Yajima stated first, although his body had sustained damage mostly due to the hollow's grasp on him. The pain his weight was providing hindered him from moving carefree. He felt a few bones were fractured, but other than that, there wasn't much else. He'll survive. The boy next to him, however, was a different story.

"...yeah," Ichigo responded in a shaky and quiet voice. "I'm fin-" he tried to convey, but blood poured out of his mouth, with coughing that followed. His hand covered his mouth, preventing more from spewing.

The two immediately expressed worry for the boy, alarmed to see the blood pouring out of him and how violently he was coughing. Mirajane shrouds her hands with green mist before directing the magic to Ichigo. While Yajima used a communication spell, urgently informing his men about the situation.

"It's fine," Ichigo soon said before wiping away the blood that covered his mouth.

"Sit still," Mirajane replied with a semi-angry tone, having enough of Ichigo's behavior.

The two widened their eyes, never anticipating an innocent girl like her to use such a tone. Yajima chuckled, understanding where she came from and enjoying Ichigo's surprised look.

"...right, thanks"

No words were exchanged as they sat there, tired. They waited for help to arrive. Even if it may have been awkward, it was peaceful.

"W-where?"

Ichigo, Mirajane, and Yajima suddenly felt their bodies shudder. A sudden male voice was heard, disturbing the peaceful and quiet mood. It was relatively shallow but trembly. They instantly snapped in that direction with only one question in mind. Why was there a voice?

Their vision landed on a pool of shadow where the hollow last stood. A monstrous figure came into view, emerging out of the pool. Ichigo and Mirajane widened their eyes, recognizing it as the monster that had appeared initially. However, all those terrifying features slowly melted away, leaving only a half-naked man. The man looked frail, with pale skin and messy brown hair.

"W-where am I?!" the person asked painfully with a clearer and loud voice. It looked like he had returned to his senses, no longer being controlled.

The three took notice of his confusion and panic expression. It was as if he didn't know what happened despite being the one who did it. The man looked at his hands with blurry vision. He noticed the fingers in his hands were replaced with claws disproportionate to each other. Blood smeared all over them.

"W-what…what is this?" he eyed the trio in horror, his breathing becoming more erratic.

Ichigo looked at him in disbelief. He could have sworn that the hollow was eliminated, given its presence had disappeared. Yet it was still here alongside the faint rope on his wrist, the disproportionate and withered wings, and claws. What was most shocking was that it wasn't a soul that appeared before them but a living person based on the other's reaction. The two accompanying him could also see the individual. They were as alarmed as he was and equally puzzled.

"It's not a soul?!"

It wasn't like a hollow like he was familiar with. He knew that when a deceased soul is consumed by negative emotions or is forcibly converted by other hollows, it could no longer turn back into a regular soul. Yet here, a hollow was seemingly being converted back to a human. It was different. He knew this world was different from his, but never to this extent. Something so familiar to him now seemed foreign. He didn't understand.

"H-hey-" Yajima tried conversing with the individual until his piercing cry was heard, frightening everyone with the unexpected cry.

"Ahhh!" he screamed while clasping his head with both hands. His eyes shot out tears while his face turned twisted and horrified. His frantic movement swayed everywhere. Confusion and despair twisted his face. It was as if all the memories of his actions and pain rushed into and flooded his mind.

"Return," The man jumped, suddenly hearing a gruff voice inside his head. He sounded demanding and absolute. He wanted to ask questions but felt his body acting independently, preventing him from doing so. The man looked at Ichigo, Mirajane, and Yajima in horror, noticing their gaze on him. He felt intense pain and was scared. He ran and fumbled away from the three before spreading the wings on his back.

"Wait!" Ichigo shouted, hoping to grab his attention. He needed answers, and his only lead was this person in front of them.

The man ignored his exclamation, spreading his wings before launching himself off the ground.

"Binding!" chains shot into the air, racing toward the individual. However, he swiftly avoided each chain. Soon the bindings became out of reach. Ichigo quickly got up despite Yajima and Mirajane's dismay and followed the individual. He leaped into the air and soon soared, chasing after him.

Though still shocked by the new individual and Ichigo's ability to fly, the two left behind tried to ignore their questions and concerns. "We have to follow him!" Yajima shouted to Mirajane.

"Right!"

Away from the town and gradually heading deep into the forest. The two glided through the air in a swift motion. The brown-haired individual was ahead, leaving Ichigo to catch up with him. The man continued to scream and sway from left to right with no clear objective. Neither one was able to comprehend what was happening.

However, Ichigo did notice that even though it didn't appear like he had a clear destination, the man was flying closer to the direction of the black line. Meaning that wherever he was heading, Ichigo would soon find out what this black rope was and possibly know who was controlling him.

Abruptly, the man gliding through the air came to a halt and fell to the nearby trees instead. Ichigo realized his inactivity and rushed forward, trying to prevent him from landing on the ground. The two came crashing down, colliding with the branches that stabbed them repeatedly before landing on the floor.

The boy groaned as he got up using his arms. He didn't know why the man suddenly fell. Ichigo looked at the fallen man and noticed that he was no longer screaming or swaying. Only his scared and trembling expression remained as he got up. His eyes stared at something in front of him. Ichigo followed his gaze, only to see and begin to sense a misty black ball floating a few centimeters above the ground.

"What is that?"

Ichigo cautiously approached the black ball, trying to discern its nature. As he drew closer, he noticed that the mist surrounding it was not just black but also tinged with a faint purple hue. It didn't move from its spot. Only the fog and ball slowly change shape. He noted that the ball was relatively small and less powerful than initially thought. Most likely running out of energy. However, Ichigo noticed a slight tinge of pain with growing anger. It was eerie.

He glanced back at the individual accompanying him and tranced the black line to confirm if this was what controlled him. The two ends meet, and the energy emitted is the same as before, solidifying the idea that this was it. Ichigo furrowed his brows, deep in thought. If that's the case, there was a problem. How could it control a person? He initially thought a human or monster was holding him using magic, but that didn't seem to be the case. It was just a ball of energy. It had no mind and could not speak. What could it do? Was it an entity, or was it just someone else's magic?

Yet, despite what he thought, he didn't know why but his whole body felt cold, freezing in place. He couldn't tell if it was fear or its power. He couldn't comprehend why he felt this way. However, unlike his frozen exterior, his inner self is lit in flames. His entire body was alarmed and in a fury. Screaming at him in pure instinct to cut whatever this thing down, to eradicate it from existence. Whatever this is, it's dangerous.

Ichigo took a breath and hesitated momentarily, unsure if he should listen to his instincts or try to figure out more about the black ball before taking action. He still needed answers regarding the knowledge of Shinigamis. He looked around the area, trying to find clues or hints that could help explain this strange energy and why it had such a powerful effect on people. Ichigo turned back to the man before asking him a question. If Mirajane and Yajima couldn't see the rope, it also implies the black sphere. But if someone was "bound" to it. Would they be able to see it?

The man behind Ichigo winced in pain, placing his hand on his head once more. Hearing the same voice, not conversing with him, but ordering him.

"Your job is done,"

Upon hearing those words, the man slowly raised his hands uncontrollably, aiming his claws at the center of his chest. He couldn't stop himself from moving. Something was preventing him from speaking. Only barely muttering in a low voice.

"Hey, you know what that-"

"H-help"

What Ichigo saw next was horrific and out of nowhere. His eyes landed on blood splattering everywhere, gushing out of the man's body. His hand shoved into his chest, piercing his heart and through the other side, ending his life. He fell to the floor with no breath taken or heard. Only his eyes were barely open.

"W-what are you," Ichigo's eyes widened to the extreme, and he sprinted over to him, but it was too late. His last breath was drawn.

"W-why did he?"

In an instant, many things raced through his head. Mostly centering on what was displayed in front of him. Ichigo couldn't tell if it was the black sphere's doing, but he realized his mistake and regretted his actions. He'll never understand why it happened so suddenly, but something angrily told him the thing behind him was responsible. He bit his lip, cursing himself. If he had listened to his instincts, he could have prevented it.

Before he could mutter another word or act, the appearance of the curse started acting on its own. A sudden feeling of intense agony crept into his body. His footing loses its strength. He fell to the ground before rolling all over. He screamed in suffering while clenching his chest, feeling the pain suddenly intensify. And without warning, the black ball extended multiple "tentacles" like arms toward him.

Ichigo, managing to detect the approaching arms with his semi-opened eyes, quickly backed away. He didn't know why this was happening, but seeing how it reacted to his curse meant that it might be correlated somehow. Was this the source of the curse that had limited his powers?

With no other option, he had to eliminate it. Ichigo summoned his sword and charged toward the black ball. He swung his sword with all his might, slicing the ball in half with surprising ease. The black mist dispersed while the ball disappeared, leaving only a faint residue that soon evaporated.

With the ball destroyed, the curse halted, no longer inflicting or causing any more pain. Ichigo took multiple deep breaths, trying to get rid of his gasping. He couldn't explain it, but he felt a relieving sensation and was at peace now that the ball was gone, unlike when he felt anger toward the energy. Again, why was he angry?

Suddenly, Ichigo witnessed black mist escaping his body as soon as it was destroyed, followed by a weight within him lifted or unlocked as if partly freed from its shackle. It felt like he was unlocking parts of his powers as if they were sealed off initially.

"Is it over?" He asked himself whether his curse was lifted and if this battle was over.

Ichigo curled his hands into a fist before relaxing. He did this two more times, seeing if anything had changed. He remarked that he felt looser, his powers no longer feeling as restricted as the curse provided before. Maybe he was lifted from the curse. However, he barely felt the difference. He would have to see later.

"Dammit,"

However, he still didn't get any answers concerning the black sphere with the events of another victim meeting their unfortunate end. Ichigo slowly glanced at the dead figure with a sympathetic expression. His life could have been spared, he told himself. If only he had listened to his guts, none of this would have happened. He then closes his eyes, gathering their thoughts and taking a moment to reflect.

He slowly approaches the lying figure before kneeling with his heart feeling heavy. His chest was still pounding from the guilt.

"...Sorry…I…should have done something,"

He directed his voice to the individual with a defeated low mutter not even audible to him. He raised his hand before landing on his eyelids softly, gently sliding them to shut his eyes fully. The man was an innocent bystander. He seemed nice and caring. It pained him to see someone die so tragically without living his fullest.

"...Rest in peace,"

Ichigo stood up and took a moment of silence. And soon, the man's body started to turn into mist, slowly withering from existence, but the blood remained on the floor. The boy was startled upon witnessing the event. Everyone knows the human body couldn't do such a thing after death.

It took him by surprise, yet he decided not to focus on it. He was too tired, and there wasn't anything he could do. As the figure completely disappeared into thin air. Ichigo pointed his gaze up into the sky.

"Rest in peace,"

Just as Ichigo finished voicing those words, he was suddenly attacked by a massive and pounding headache. He grasped onto his head as he shut his eyes hard. He slowly groaned, unsure of what was happening. It wasn't a migraine back when he fought Lars and Jax. This was different compared to that.

Many images raced inside his head in seconds. His brain's neurons were all fired at once, overloaded. Flashes of black orbs residing in different environments were shown to him. Envisioning snowy mountains, a secluded island, rocky plains, and much more bombarded his mind but losing count of the numbers being shown. Eventually, it stopped but lastly displayed a map of everything it resided in before everything disappeared entirely.

Ichigo fell to his knees once everything was over. He didn't know why this was happening or why he was being shown this. However, he couldn't shake away the alarmingness he felt over the fact that there were more out there. More that could create chaos. He lost track of how many but estimated at least sixty to eighty more. It also explained why he felt like the curse wasn't lifted, only feeling the slight effect. He felt numb.

If what he thinks is true and how it's the source of his curse. That means he needs to eliminate the rest, ridding the curse within him while preventing and protecting others from the catastrophe he faced today. He stays silent while trying to picture the map again, but to no avail. He gathered his thoughts, worried. If one was already this destructive, he couldn't imagine how much suffering others would later face. He needed to get stronger and find them quickly, but he also had to tell someone.

However, telling someone would waste time as no one can see or sense it like him. No one would believe or take him seriously, especially because he was a kid. From an outside perspective, they would think Ichigo's crazy for being urgent about something they couldn't perceive. Thankfully, they didn't seem active, only lingering at their spot, based on the images he had seen. It did put him at ease, but not entirely. Despite the vision, he didn't know when they'll start moving or where they were located.

"I should go back," he thought tiredly. He wanted to help resolve this.

Just before Ichigo left, warm radiation was felt to his right, calling and inviting him to come over. A soft but subtle breeze touched his side gently. Ichigo took notice of the warmth and could tell that it was magic. However, he wondered why it took him this long to notice. Maybe it was because of the curse hindering him from fully sensing the things around him. Curious, the boy stepped in the direction that called him over. A small, dull light was spotted a few feets away to his right.

"A book?" Ichigo questioned while slightly tilting his head as he approached the source. Confusion displayed on his face as the appearance of a singular glowing blue-covered book hovering over the ground came into view.

It was strange for a floating book to be here. Unusually that no one had taken, noticed, or retrieved the item. From what Ichigo could see, it just lingered there, waiting. Ichigo noted that the power it emitted wasn't absurdly strong. Rather, the size of this book was like any other, while its power could be compared to Wendy's. But the most important thing he noticed was that unlike before when his instincts were fuming, there was no threat this time. He thought it radiated warmth to lure Ichigo in, but thankfully, he didn't need to worry as he grabbed ahold of it.

"From place to place." Ichigo read the title to himself.

He spread the book open and looked at the content inside but was surprised when he was met with nothing. He skimmed through the countless pages, but all he saw was blank. No paragraphs, no sentences, no pictures, no words. Ichigo was surprised. What was the point of a book if there was no information?

As he continued to scan the object, the book abruptly glowed brighter and started dematerializing. The edge of the book started reducing, withering into blue particles, scattering and roaming in the air before seeping into Ichigo's hand. Seemingly absorbing the book's essence, even if he wasn't doing it intentionally. The knowledge he thought the book didn't contain slowly sneaked into his mind. The knowledge he was being shown was not overwhelming but rather more underwhelming.

There wasn't much that was revealed to him that seemed important. The book only contained the history of an unknown individual inventing a spell and how it was used. He didn't understand why this was being revealed to him. But soon, cyan-colored words became imprinted inside his head, revealing the word while his body felt a surge of foreign power beginning to flow inside him.

Teleportation.

Ichigo stood there, astonished, once the energy subsided. He didn't know what to think or how to respond. Did that mean he could use the spell? He asked himself. Based on the word imprint in his mind and the knowledge he obtained, he knew exactly how to use it with no consequences. Just snap a finger, and you can teleport to where your mind wants. Of course, there were more complicated varieties and aspects to the spell. But he was focusing on the easiest and basic magic.

Except, it disturbed him how easy it sounded. The book entailed the simplicity of the spell. Yet, he doubted it would be that straightforward. He was unfamiliar with magic, even unsure how to activate that power, let alone use it. For the longest time, Ichigo believed he couldn't learn it since he didn't understand it. Instead, he took the time to train physically. Only recently did he learn he could use the said power.

As Ichigo had nothing else to do, he decided to at least try it. He could always ask Wendy and the others for help if it doesn't work. Looking at a nearby tree a few feet away, he thought it was a good place to start. Ichigo directed his gaze and focused. The boy tried to gather and harness the sensation of his newly found power. It took him a few minutes, but he managed to summon a feeling of warmth and energy.

Ichigo closed his eyes, visualizing himself standing next to the tree with a snap of his fingers. He felt a sudden surge of energy and a wave of dizziness and intense pain that made him disoriented in an instant. Ichigo opened his eyes but was disappointed, realizing nothing had changed.

He didn't move from his spot. Ichigo questioned why he felt the magic activated even though nothing had happened. Maybe Ichigo teleported a centimeter away from the spot or didn't have enough magic energy to perform the spell, which did explain the possible pain. Either way, there was no result.

"Should've expected that,"

Ichigo mutters to himself, disappointingly to no one. He guessed he needed help from his folks after all. He was about to pivot his way back toward the town but noticed something odd. In the corner of his eyes, he saw something alarming that alerted his attention. He shuddered, hoping he imagined things.

As he revisited the previous spot quickly, the appearance of a limb hiding behind some bushes caught his glance. A person's entire right arm was in the bushes, not dried and expired, but freshly severed not too long ago. Blood flowed out of its shoulder while slightly pulsating. He wasn't hallucinating things. Ichigo knew it wasn't there before, remembering the first time he looked in that direction. Added that, he sensed no one nearby who could've been responsible. Yet it was there.

"Who's?"

Taking a closer look, he saw something. Other than the obvious fact that the arm was severed from the host's body, he saw wounds that struck him. They looked familiar. The arm was covered in cuts, burns, and bruises. The biggest and most visible wound was on their shoulder. There was deep impalement, almost like a claw pierced deep into their shoulder, identical to his.

Ichigo was confused and disturbed by the sight of the severed arm with wounds that looked identical to the ones he had sustained. But that had to be a coincidence, he thought to himself with shaky thought. This arm couldn't possibly be his. In fact, he still has his intact. Ichigo started moving his arm, proving his point, yet he didn't see or feel his arm. Instead, the boy was attacked by an unbearable stinging sensation while the sensation of liquid flowed out. He tried to hold his scream of misery. He averted his gaze to look at the source.

He widened his eyes, unable to hold in his horror.

There was nothing.

No shoulder, no forearm, no hand. It was gone. Only the flat sleeve of Ichigo's clothing was left with blood soaking it. He immediately slammed and squeezed his hand where his arm once was before falling to his knees. He tried desperately to cover and close the hole but failed. He had already lost too much blood.

Ichigo's eyes were heavy, and his skin was running cold. His breath was further apart, his vision blurry. He couldn't believe it, but he teleported his arm. A spell that was thought to be simple caused this tremendous pain. Ichigo stumbled to the ground. His sense of touch was fading, followed by his consciousness.

Yes, his magic is teleport. I warned everyone before that he would learn simple but versatile magic in chapter 9. Plus, I'm focusing on his powers and not his magic. So if you didn't see that or any other things I have discussed, you didn't read the author's note, which is your fault.

I will also have him learn multiple magic spells, not a set like Dragon Slayer, Ice Make magic, equip magic, etc. It is shown in the anime that wizards can use and learn different magic, like how Natsu and Happy learned how to use transformation magic from Mirajane. So that's my approach in terms of Ichigo's magic. If that turns you off from reading this story, I won't and can't blame you. It is a bit boring, I'm aware. But don't worry. I still plan to add the god slayer magic everyone wants so badly, although it'll be near the end.

For those who think Ichigo seems too weak in this chapter. I just want to say he's not. I have mentioned briefly in previous chapters that Ichigo has sleeping problems. (Specifically, Chapter 11 and Chapter 14). Thus, explains the effect it has on Ichigo in terms of battle. Also, if you have forgotten, he fought two other battles before this one (Anisa in Chapter 12. Lars and Jax in Chapter 13, though he wasn't trying as much, unlike this one). So it would make sense that Ichigo wouldn't perform as well as he should.

I know I nerfed Ichigo in this story, which may Infuriate others, but that doesn't mean he's weak. I want him to struggle through the story, not overpower everything he comes across because that would be boring. Sorry, I just wanted to get that across because I don't want to deal with people's criticisms of my choices in the future without saying a word.

Mirajane might seem weak in this chapter, even though it's said that she defeated a demon in the anime. I'll just say this, what she defeated in the past was a small demon. That may not have happened in the series, but that's what I'm going for.

Also, most of you have noticed the more mature content compared to the previous chapters. I hope you don't mind the shift in tone too much.

Hi, Merry super late Christmas and Happy late New Year. Sorry for the late update, I know it's been a long time, and I thank you for your patience.

Throughout December, I managed to finish all of my stuff at school, and yes, it was boring and hectic. Because of that, I felt tired and wanted to rest during the winter break. Not only that, I wanted to hang out with my friends and just play games. So although I had a good amount of time to write this chapter, I procrastinated. Sorry about that. I can't promise that I won't do it again, though. Now that school has resumed, I still don't have the free time to write all the time.

Now for the chapter, I tried to make it with the right atmosphere but struggled in presenting and visualizing it. This chapter was challenging as I had to think more about the environment and human interaction. But it was quite entertaining as I had never put that much detail into something. There may be some rushed or lack of description, and I apologize for that. I also never thought that this chapter would be this long. Writing 50 pages of words in google docs is exhausting. I'm surprised I did it.

If you think there was a lost opportunity for Ichigo to inspire Elfman to be a man in this chapter or the last chapter. I just want to say I don't wish Ichigo to take away how Natsu's encouragement changed Elfman after the death of Lisanna. And Elfman is just a kid. So what's he going to do?

After telling you all this, I hope you understand what happened and my reasoning for the late update. As always, thank you for waiting, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. :)

March 17, 2023