(Soundtrack of Choice: Number One's One Else)

Barragan stared in confusion as he saw who he was sure had aged into an older man. He was now back in his youthful prime, no worse for wear, but his surprise turned into annoyance and disappointment as he adjusted his fighting stance.

'It seems I was mistaken in taking up on my benefactor's favor in sparing you, Kurosaki Ichigo.' He then eyed the glowing orb embedded in Ichigo's chest. 'Especially when the possibility existed for your youth to be restored.'

Ichigo then smirked. 'Regret killing me, huh? That sounds like you are more afraid of facing me yourself than anything else'

Barragan then snorted. 'Less of fear and more of a missed opportunity...but regardless, you and Yhwach will die here today as I will take and devour both of your powers as my own!'

The Hollow King used Sonido to appear high above Ichigo, then, with a swing from his axe, unleashed a massive wave of black tar respira that was so huge that it practically stretched over the entire sky of the Soul Society before descending below. While the sound of the mourning dead echoed from it.

Yet Ichigo stood calm even as the gigantic wave of death rapidly approached him and Yhwach. Then, just as it was about to consume him, the Shinigami instantly transformed into his horn-hollowed form and held his two zanpakuto into a cross.

Getsuga Jūjishō!' He roared out, and an equally large crossed blast collided with the Respaira and canceled it out in a humongous explosion. But right after the smoke cleared, Barragan appeared behind Ichigo and attempted to cut his head off.

Only for his axe to be instantly shattered by Yhwach's Almighty, who activated it even in his drain state.

'Even when on the verge of death, death, you continued to fight?' Barragan sneered. 'I always pegged you as self-righteous Yhwach but never thought you would be suicidal'

'Whenever or not I am on the verge of death, I will not stand by and have your way, Barragan!' The Quincy king declared in defiance, and Ichigo couldn't help but remember that he said something similar to his own Yhwach back in his world, and then he noticed the man's fluctuating spiritual power.

'Look...Yhwach, I appreciate the help I do...but I need you to set this one out, okay?' Ichigo asked The Quincy King, who forced himself to stand. 'Otherwise...'

'I am well aware of my limits, Kurosaki, and I know more than anyone that I am out of my depth.' He walked beside Ichigo and placed his right hand on his shoulder. 'Just be sure...to end it when you see your moment of opportunity.' Hollowfied teen's eyes widened in surprise and sudden understanding, and he nodded at the Quincy King in assurance.

'You can count on it,' he reassured Yhwach and then proceeded to use the flying step to disappear into the Silbern. While Barragan merely huffed.

(Soundtrack of Choice: Bleach OST INVASION Epic Metal Cover by PaulOwenMusic)

'Don't you think you are being foolhardy in fighting me alone, Kurosaki?' the Hollow King mocked. 'For while it is true your power now rivals mine, it is nowhere near enough for you to secure your victory' He then raised his axe high up into the sky. 'Let alone outlast me.'

The god-like-like king then reformed his double axe and raised it above his head. At the same time, within the blade's center, the ruby eye stared down at Ichigo before opening up a human-like mouth with rotten teeth. As it widened its jaws, it revealed a crimson-burning vortex in place of its throat before letting out an ear-deafening shriek that shook Ichigo to his core and spewing out hundreds of red orbs that flew across the sky for over half a mile and then hovering in the air ominously.

'Vuelo Del Dragón No Muerto' (Flight of The Undead Dragons), Barragan announced. Immediately, the crimson orbs began to crack open like eggs, and what hatched out of them were black half-decayed dragons with exposed bones and hanging rotted skin that breathed out dark red flames from their mouths, nostrils, and rib cages.

Yet most disturbing of all was when Ichigo sensed their power, he realized to his dread that each of them was just as powerful as Barragan's Segunda Etapa form.

'Now then...' The Hollow king said while forming a throne of black tar bones to sit on,' Are you ready to face your doom?'

Meanwhile, back below the Silver City. The Quincies were still battling the remaining Arrancar and Hollows within the city. At the same time, more of them ran out of the Descorrer portals. At the center of all this, BG9 began analyzing the situation on a hesitantly crafted computer, with a worn Hashwalf, Uryu, a partially recovered Bazzard, and Kyiv standing beside him.

'We are on our last legs, Grandmaster, ' The Cyborg said grimly. 'While we managed to kill the last of the Esapda, more of the enemy's forces are still pouring out of the Deaccorers...And the numbers haven't been this high since the Hollowing Night'

Jurgram then let out a deep breath. 'Then it is as I suspected...with the rest of the Espada and presumingly the commanders defeated. Barragan is making one last play to take over the Soul Society...and one that might succeed'

Kyiv then frowns. 'Considering all the tremors from that man fighting his majesty in the sky, it is given...' his voice faltered. 'But that also means...'

The other Quincy looked down in despair until several individuals arrived, with two of them feeling familiar.

'He didn't die when he lost if that is what you are all think,' Gremmy said pleasantly while Lille Barrow and Aizen walked beside him. 'And Ichigo is fighting against that old bone bag up in the Silbern while we came back here to help.'

Hashwalf then looked at the group and smiled. 'Well, we will need all the help we can get in holding off this Hoard.' He frowns as he looks at Aizen. 'But I suppose there is more for you to share with us, Aizen Sosuke?'

Aizen stayed silent momentarily, then closed his eyes and stared back at Hashwalf.

Soundtrack of Choice: Hiroyuki Sawano - Tears Of The Dragon

Meanwhile, back above the imperial palace. Ichigo was busy battling the undead dragons Barragan had spawned as they each breathed out crimson miasma from their mouths that were large and destructive enough to level entire mountain ranges on top of having the ability to age anything that remained to dust. While Ichigo projected a field of his spiritual pressure to shield himself from their overwhelming attacks and, at the same time, overpower them and struck them down with a furry of Getsuga Tenshou enchanted strikes from his dual-wielding zanpaktou, along with obliterating vast chunks of their bodies away by launching balas off the edges of his blades and vaporizing other dragons completely with Ceros fired from his horn.

Unfortunately, each Undead Drake possesses their master's power to reverse time on themselves and undo whatever damage inflicted upon them. All the while, Ichigo's once restored youthfulness began to age slowly, making him lose stamina, much to Barragan's satisfaction.

'How typical...the Hollow king chucked. 'For while you restored your youth, it is only temporary, But of course, with partially made Hogyoku, it is hardly a surprise.'

Ichigo then narrowed his eyes. 'Then I can also guess that Urahara was the one who used this world's version of the Hogekou to turn you and the rest of your army into Arrancars?'

Barragan then hummed in curiosity. 'Indeed...' His voice then lowered. 'Then you must realize that your continued struggle is pointless as you have no means to vanquish my legions...let alone me.'

Shinigami smirked. 'Even when I had yet to show you my Bankai?

The ancient Hollow then sneered. 'And what good would that do for you?' He Questions mockingly. 'Even if you increase your power by five or even ten times over, it will not change the outcome of this battle.'

Ichigo then stared at Barragan and grinned before his expression became more serious. 'Well, first, you need to know that a five to ten times increase is an average, not an absolute, and the second thing...' He then stretched both of his zanpakuto to the right side and placed his shorter sword on top of his longer one. 'One should never underestimate the abilities of what the true sword of a God of Death can do!'

Kurosaki's spiritual pressure then began to rise to its peak, which caused the very sky and earth of all of soul society and beyond to tremble.

Then he announced a single word'

'BAN...KAI, the whole area was then engulfed in an aura of black and white.