Ichigo slowly opened his eyes, a searing pain throbbing in his head. The migraine he was experiencing was unlike anything he had ever felt before. His body felt disoriented, and every movement sent waves of discomfort through his being. Cursing whatever had caused him to feel this way, Ichigo attempted to piece together his recent memories, but they remained frustratingly blurry.

As he strained to recall, a void seemed to cut through his mind. Suddenly, the old man's voice echoed within him. (I think there's a more urgent matter, Ichigo,) he spoke, his tone grave. (You are falling down, and very fast.)

Ichigo's eyes widened, and he instinctively looked up, only to witness the ground rushing toward him at an alarming speed. A surge of panic surged through him as he silently cursed his predicament.

Desperation etched onto his face, Ichigo desperately tried to halt his descent by creating platforms of reiatsu. With each exertion, his reiatsu flared like dazzling fireworks, a brilliant display of power. Yet, despite his efforts, none of the platforms proved solid enough to halt his fall.

The hollow within him nonchalantly interjected, questioning the point of his struggle. (Why bother with this futile attempt? Falling won't kill us.) The hollow's words struck a chord, and Ichigo momentarily paused, contemplating the truth in them.

However, shaking his head vehemently, he banished the thought and recommitted himself to finding a way to stop. "Perhaps," he murmured, "but I refuse to let my descent bring harm to innocent people."

A sense of dread washed over Ichigo as he surveyed the area below. His heart sank as he realized the inevitable: he was hurtling towards a densely populated city. Panic welled up within him, threatening to consume his thoughts, as he sensed the countless lives bustling beneath him.

The old man's voice broke through his mounting fear, offering a glimmer of hope. (I don't think we have enough time to stop the fall,) the old man spoke, his tone laced with concern. (But I believe we can direct ourselves toward a safer landing spot.)

Ichigo's eyes widened in realization, scanning the surroundings in search of a place devoid of innocent bystanders. And then he spotted it—a narrow alley, devoid of any signs of life. With renewed determination, he channeled his reiatsu, propelling himself towards the sanctuary of that unoccupied space.

The alley resounded with a resounding crash as Ichigo's body collided with the ground. His inner Hollow's voice dripped with sarcasm, a mocking tone tinged with genuine concern. (Are you still alive, King?)

Ichigo sensed the layers beneath the hollow's words, a mixture of jest and worry. Humoring his inner counterpart, he chuckled softly. "Well, I'm technically half dead," he quipped. Attempting to rise, he staggered and fell to his knees, pain flaring within him.

The old man's voice cut through the haze of discomfort, laced with concern. (Don't push yourself, Ichigo.)

Ichigo's smile widened, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "I'm fine, old man," he reassured, a defiant resolve in his voice. "It'll take more than this to keep me down."

Clutching his Zanpakuto tightly, Ichigo summoned the strength to rise again, using it as a support to steady himself. Despite the persistent pain throbbing in his head and the disorientation that plagued his body, he managed to stand.

As he did, he noticed a growing crowd behind him. Whispers filled the air, accompanied by the incessant clicking of cameras and recording devices. Turning his attention to the gathering, Ichigo realized they were not focused on him directly. Instead, they were documenting the very spot where he had crashed. Shielded by his shinigami form, he remained invisible to the eyes of ordinary humans, his true nature hidden from their curious gazes.

With a weary sigh, Ichigo chose to depart from the gathering crowd, venturing to the opposite end of the alley. Those who lacked the ability to perceive the supernatural would remain perplexed, left to wonder about the mysterious incident that had taken place in their midst.

But of course, the situation differed for those gifted with the awareness of the unseen. Even though none of them happened to be present at the moment of his fall, Ichigo's earlier display had radiated with an intensity that was impossible to overlook. Unaware of the profound impact he had on those intertwined with the supernatural, Ichigo walked away, oblivious to the reverberations of his actions within that hidden realm.

However, among those who sensed the lingering presence of Ichigo's supernatural display, one individual stood apart, bewildered by the inexplicable situation. This person, of all people, should have been stripped of any capability to interact with the realm of the supernatural. Yet, against all odds, he could perceive the undeniable surge of energy. This individual was none other than the former substitute Shinigami, who had willingly sacrificed his powers a year ago to secure victory in the Winter War.