Chapter 22: Orihime in Grief! Luffy Lands a Furious Blow!
On the canopy, the spiritual pressure disappeared from around Ulquiorra and his appearance changed again. He still had his black wings but his long coat is gone. His hollow hole appeared to have a black liquid dripping out of it. He now has black fur covering his waist, arms, and legs. His fingers grew into claws and his feet into talons. His eyes became yellow with a green sclera and the tear marks increase, turning a full black. His hollow mask was gone, leaving the horns and he has two large bat ears.
"Resurreccion: Seguanda Etapa!" Ulquiorra said. Ichigo looked at Ulquiorra's new form with widen eyes.
Ichigo tightened the grip on his sword and with some difficulty, got back to his feet.
"So you've seen my imposing form and you still have the will to fight." Ulquiorra said to Ichigo. Ulquiorra took a step forward, "Very well then, I'll show the true depth of my power even if I have to grind your body into dust." Ulquiorra took a stance. "You will understand!"
Ichigo quickly got into a defensive stance only to feel Ulquiorra's claw-like hand grabbed the side of his head and forcefully pushed him to the side. Ichigo was send flying and crashed into another pillar, destroying the top of it. Ichigo put his hand over his face and revealed his hollow mask.
"You are a fool, Ichigo Kurosaki!" Ulquiorra said, pushing Ichigo back. "Why would you challenge an enemy you can't possibly defeat? Most beings want preserve their life. I can't comprehend this." Ulquiorra grabbed Ichigo by the head, destroying his mask and sending crashing through two pillars. "You must be doing this through what you people called heart. If so, it seems to be more of a liability than strength. What stupidity. Because of this antiquated concept of 'heart,' you have chosen to lose your life."
The smoke of the destroyed started to clear and Ichigo was revealed still standing but showing damage from Ulquiorra's attacks. "I didn't decide to fight you because I see myself winning this battle." Ichigo said. "The only reason I continue to fight is because I have to win!"
Ulquiorra looked at Ichigo with narrowed eyes. "Have it your way." He said as everything turned black.
Uryu, Orihime, and Luffy continued to float as they reached the canopy of Las Noches. They landed on the floor as the platform they were disappeared.
Orihime started running, looking for Ichigo. She stopped when he saw a frightening sight, Ulquiorra standing in front of a beaten Ichigo with his tail wrapped around Ichigo's neck.
Ulquiorra looked down and saw Orihime. "So you've come, how nice." Ulquiorra said coldly.
"I…Ichigo…" Orihime said worried.
"You've came just in time. Now watch closely." Ulquiorra pointed his finger at Ichigo's chest and a black ball started to form. Orihime's eyes widen in horror. "Here is the man who you have entrusted with all your hope…bare witness as his life comes to an end."
Tears began to flow down from Orihime's eyes. "NO!" she screamed as the black cero was fired and went straight through Ichigo's chest.
A black cero was fired at Ichigo, blasting straight through Ichigo's chest. Orihime widened her eyes even more in horror as she saw a hole pierced into Ichigo's chest. Ulquiorra's tail loosen its tight grip around Ichigo's neck, dropping him off the pillar, head first.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Orihime screamed at the top of her lungs. She started running towards Ichigo's falling body before he hits the ground. She quickly uses her Shun-Shun Rikka, catching Ichigo safely. As she got close to Ichigo, Ulquiorra appeared in front of her. Orihime looked at the espada in fear.
"It's useless." Ulquiorra said. "Even if you could reach him, it would be a wasted effort on your part. Your powers aren't nearly strong enough to keep him alive."
Orihime looked at Ichigo, who hasn't moved an inch since being blasted by the cero. "Ichigo…Ichigo!" She said, hoping Ichigo would get up.
"You should save your energy and forget him."
Then suddenly Uryu appeared behind Ulquiorra and fired an arrow at him. Easily, Ulquiorra blocked and destroyed the arrow with his wing. Orihime quickly ran towards Ichigo, seeing that Uryu caught Ulquiorra's attention. Uryu continued to fire his arrows at Ulquiorra, creating a cloud of smoke and dirt around the espada.
"Licht Regen!" Uryu fired thousands of arrows at the espada, creating more smoke from the dirt as Ulquiorra didn't move an inch from his spot. Uryu landed a few feet away as the smoke slowly started to clear. His eyes narrowed as he saw Ulquiorra walk out of the smoke without a scratch on him.
"How unexpected." The espada said. "I've studied everyone closely allied with Ichigo Kurosaki. And of all who surrounded him, I've presumed that you were the one that was the calmest."
"I am calm." Uryu said. "As a result, I have the best chance of stopping you." Ulquiorra didn't say anything but glared at the Quincy.
Orihime continued to run towards Ichigo, hoping she's not too late to save him. "Ichigo!" she shouted, surrounding in an orange barrier. She looked at Ichigo and gasped, seeing that he was completely lifeless.
"Hey…Orihime!" a new voice shouted, getting Orihime's attention. Orihime looked at where the voice came and saw Luffy running towards her. "What's going…?" Luffy stopped when he saw Ichigo's condition. "Wha…what happened?"
Uryu fired two arrows at Ulquiorra, only for them to be destroyed by Ulquiorra's wings. Uryu continued firing at Ulquiorra, using his Hirenkyaku after firing each arrow. Ulquiorra, with little effort, blocked each attack with his wings. 'Just as I feared…' Uryu thought, seeing that his attacks were making no results. 'Those wings keep on deflecting if I attack from a distance. But if I get any closer, I'll give him the advantage. I have to buy Orihime some time so she can Ichigo. I have to keep this guy engaged.' Uryu fired more at the ground around the espada, creating a cloud of smoke. Uryu fired an arrow into the smoke, thinking that it would Ulquiorra. His eyes widen as his own arrow was fired back at him and he jumped out of the way.
"Where is he?!" Uryu shouted. Then Ulquiorra appeared next to him. "Damn it!" Ulquiorra hit Uryu with his wing, sending Uyru crashing into one of the pillars that destroyed from Ulquiorra's fight with Ichigo.
Uryu sat up, breathing heavily from energy he used in his attacks. 'There is no surprise that his strength is overwhelming.' Uryu thought. 'I need to keep my distance and find another to attack him. He must have an opening somewhere."
"Is that all you have?" Ulquiorra said, appearing in the hole of the pillar Uryu is in. Uryu narrowed his eyes and stood back up. "When you first began attacking me I've observed exactly how fast you were. You're merely human and it seen to limit your capabilities."
"Oh I'm just getting started!" Uryu said, drawing his Seele Schneider. But in a blink of an eye, Ulquiorra appeared beside Uryu and grabbed his arm.
Ulquiorra looked at the weapon and said, "Is this suppose to harm me?"
Uryu looked at the espada with widen eyes as the scene turned black.
Orihime fell to her knees as tears are streaming down her face, looking at Ichigo and seeing that his condition hasn't improved one bit.
'Ichigo…' Orihime thought. 'What can I do? Somehow, I thought everything would be alright. I thought Ichigo was so strong that he was unbeatable. That he was going to win. I was blinded by my faith in him and didn't realize that I was wrong.' She grabbed her head, not knowing what to do. 'What should I do? Tell me Ichigo! WHAT SHOULD I DO?!'
"Orihime..." Luffy asked with a hint of anger in his voice, catching Orihime's attention. Orihime looked at the straw hat captain, unable his expression due to his hat but she could that he was extremely angry. "Who did this to him?" Then the two look to their side saw Uryu skidded past them. His arm was severely burnt and broken.
"Uryu!" Orihime shouted worried.
"There's nothing to worry about." Uryu said. "I'm going to stay in this fight no matter what!" Orihime looked at Uryu with a worried expression as he drew another Seele Schneider. "I'll cover you. Do what you can to help Ichigo." Uryu charged towards the espada only to be hit by Ulquiorra's wing. Uryu struggled to get to his feet. As he got a knee, Ulquiorra slapped him around with his tail. Orihime looked in fear, using her Shun-Shun Rikka to make a shield in front of Uryu to protect him.
'What I can do?!' Orihime thought, watching her shield get destroyed. 'You can't leave me alone like this! I don't know how to fight this opponent. He's too strong! I need help! Someone, please help!'
"Gum-Gum…" Luffy shouted, taking a stance. "…Jet Pistol!" Before anyone could blink, Ulquiorra was punched in the face and was sent back a few feet. Orihime and Uryu looked at where the attack came from with widen eyes. They saw Luffy with steam coming out of his body.
"L-Luffy…" Orihime said, covering her mouth.
"What the…what's that smoke?" Uryu asked since this was first time seeing Luffy in this form.
Luffy bended down, putting one hand on his leg and the other on the ground. "Second Gear!" he shouted.
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Espada Ulquiorra and Pirate Luffy! Second Round of the Duel!