The warm inviting embrace of Ichigo's spirit energy seeps through the frozen air of Las Noches, the massive release of power from his hollowfication letting Rukia know that he's close. Sensing his presence, Rukia's anxiety over Aizen's invasion into the human world is calmed slightly. With Ichigo's calming spirit energy soothing her fears, she sits down on the floor of the stony cell folding her legs underneath herself. She tucks her left hand into her right before resting them on her lap as she begins to meditate. Slowing her breathing she concentrates on her spirit and on Ichigo's preparing herself to go into jinsen. Each breath is long and controlled, in through the nose and out through the mouth. She closes her eyes as she begins her meditation allowing herself to begin to fall into her inner world. Just as the sensation of her entering the depths of her soul washes over her, a voice echoes through her mind.
"Well hello, my queen." She immediately recognises the voice of Ichigo's zanpakuto spirit. "Been a little while since we talked hasn't it? Looks like you've gotten yourself into a little bind."
"You're the only other pleasant voice I've heard in days, it's been far too long Zangetsu." Rukia responds, sighing with relief. "I was just about to see if I could enter my inner world to come talk to you."
"Well, the king has sealed me and the old man in the unreleased form of his sword so I get a little bit of freedom for the moment. I'd still prefer if he never sealed me, I want to impress people with my size and girth." Zangetsu laughs to himself, causing Rukia to sigh. "He's having a bit of a heated debate with a Privaron espada, some Spaniard named Dordoni."
"That means you're inside the outer wall." Rukia answers, "Aizen instructed the privaron espada to guard the outer walls to stall you guys so he can begin his invasion."
"That's what I kinda guessed, why don't you and I blow this popsicle stand and you come back to my place?" Zangetsu asks.
"I am Ichigo's fiance, he wouldn't be too happy if his zanpakuto made a move on me." Rukia responds prompting Zangetsu to laugh.
"Ha! I'd love to see that, but Ichigo and I are one in the same, sane with you and Empiratriz. So In short, Ichigo and I are a package deal sweetheart." Zangetsu responds.
"And what about old man zangetsu?"
"He's my other half just like Hoakita and Shirayuki are two halves of the same coin. Each of us make up the two of you, just the personification of specific traits but we're one in the same. This isn't some booty call Queen, it's just to get you out of that hole you've found yourself in and to a place where we can discuss a method in order to break you out. Plus you can talk with Ichigo while you're there." The hollow zanpakuto clarifies. "So, I'll see you shortly."
The presence of Zangetsu fades shortly after speaking to her allowing Rukia to return to her mediation. As her breathing slows, she's brought into the inviting chilly boreal forest of her inner world. Since her exposure to the Hogyoku, the sky has turned purple like sunset and a layer of snow has covered the world once more. The constant anxiety that she's been through these last few weeks has caused the weather to get worse and worse. Now the blizzard that envelops her inner world is so thick with snow and ice it's a complete white out. "Welcome back, Rukia." the voice of Empiratriz says as she appears from the blizzard's snowfall. The cero espada turns to face her zanpakuto spirit, noticing the lavender colored hair, crimson eyes and filled out frame of the empress. "Zangetsu wants to speak to us, he's still in Ichigo's inner world so we need to move. Since your union of souls, our worlds have become one in the same and since Ichigo is here in Hueco Mundo we can go there."
"Lead the way." Rukia responds as she and her zanpakuto make their way towards the city beyond the mountains.
With Ichigo and Orihime.
"What the hell?" Ichigo asks himself as he and Orihime run through an open hallway onto a bridge. Around them strange cylindrical buildings sit in the sand below them, and above is a blue sky with clouds and even an artificial sun. "Why are there blue skies here? There's even clouds too, just what the hell sort of place is this?"
"I think we're still inside Las Noches, Ichigo." Orihime says, causing him to turn to face her. "Captain Kuchiki said that Hueco Mundo doesn't have a day time."
"Then what's going on then?" Ichigo asks no one in particular, however the question doesn't go unanswered. In a sonic boom, the sound of a sonido echoes off the surfaces around them, with a tall figure in white robes and a large frilly collar appearing right behind Orihime.
"Would you like me to explain it to you?" An almost childlike voice echoes from the strange tall pill shaped mask that this arrancar is wearing. As Ichigo begins to move his hand towards the hilt of his sheathed sword the entity vanishes.
"What the fuck was that?!" Ichigo yells as he draws his blade from it's sheath before scanning the area around them. Then, the sonic boom of another sonido echoes from the far side of the bridge, the figure that was just behind them is now facing away from the two towards a large set of doors.
"Follow Me." It speaks, its voice now deep, masculine and authoritative. In front of it, the doors to the building the bridge is connected to open on their own with the figure walking inside.
"Hey! Wait just a damn minute!" Ichigo says, and without thinking, he starts to run after the arrancar that had just appeared in front of him. Orihime is quick on his coattails as they run down the stone walkway between the buildings. Running into the room, both Ichigo and Orihime stop at the entrance looking out at the dark room before them. The artificial light from outside elongates their shadows on the floor.
As the two enter the building, the doors move on their own as they shut themselves behind the two. The room is largely empty with the darkness and dim light casting a blue hue over the entire room. The flat marble tiled floors have no imperfections as they seemingly span out infinitely to their sides. Before them is a large raised platform almost like a stage where the strange arrancar stands on top of it. Its clothing looks more like a medieval era noble than the normal robes of arrancar they've seen. Its frilly shoulder pauldrons, strange wavy collar and long sleeves frame its body while its legs are covered with similar shihakusho style pants that Ichigo is wearing with his shinigami uniform. The strange thing about this arrancar is it's large pill shaped head and multi eye slitted mask. It has no teeth on its mask, nor is it animalistic or even humanoid like almost every other hollow that Ichigo had ever seen. Most notably is that this arrancar didn't carry a zanpakuto, or at least display it visibly. "Thank you, my apologies but I can't stand the light out there." The deep male voice of the arrancar speaks as it looks down at the two. "Allow me to take off my mask, so we can speak properly." The feminine voice now speaks as it raises a very human looking hand up to the strange pill-like mask.
"My name is Aaroniero Arruruerie, the ninth espada." This time, the voice is distinctly human, still male but not nearly as deep with an almost polite tone behind it. As the mask is pulled away from the man's face Ichigo stares up in shock and horror at what he sees.
"I-Ichigo…" Orihime stammers as she too stares at the man in front of them. "He l-looks just like-"
"Me…" Ichigo finishes her statement for her. The man in front of them has nearly the same exact facial structure and features as Ichigo except for only two differences. The man's eyes are silver and not an amber whiskey color, and that his hair is the same color black as his father's.
"Lady Kuchiki has told me all about you, Ichigo Kurosaki… or should I say. Ichigo Shiba." Aaroniero says as he jumps down from the ledge far above the two orange haired humans. "I think you probably know me as well."
"Y-you're… my uncle. Kaien Shiba." Ichigo says, staring in shock at a man who wears his same face.
"So, now that we're properly acquainted, tell me what Lady Kuchiki has told you about me? I'm sure that there's a lot to tell, and you haven't introduced me to your friend here." Kaien says, gesturing to Orihime who has Nel's head poking out from the inside of her cloak. The child has woken up and is now staring as well. Kaien walks over to one of the pillars in the room before pushing on a hidden panel causing a small cabinet to open up, reaching inside he produces three sitting pillows. "Have a seat, I'd like to get to know my nephew."
"S-sure…" Ichigo responds, sheathing the sword on his back, however just as his fingers leave the handle of his sword his instincts scream at him. "Do not let your guard down! Rukia told you he's dead." He hears in the back of his head, though it isn't Zangetsu's voice but rather his own. Passing one of the brown cushions to Orihime he takes a seat in front of the Espada with Orihime seated a few paces behind Ichigo.
"So, which of my siblings are you related to? Did Kukaku finally settle down with someone? Don't tell me your dad is Ganju is he?" Kaien asks as he takes a seat on the pillow.
"Isshin Shiba is my father." Ichigo answers, "I think he was your older brother, I don't know the ages of everyone in our family so I don't know who's older."
"Yeah, Isshin is the oldest, I'm next, then it's Kukaku and then Ganju." Kaien says, "Isshin vanished a couple decades ago. It was on a mission to the human world and now I'm sitting in front of his son. Do I have any other nieces or nephews?" the former lieutenant asks.
"I have a set of younger twin sisters." Ichigo answers, "I don't mean to be rude, but how the hell are you still alive? Rukia told me your soul was possessed with a hollow and that it was eating you from the inside out."
"I should have guessed Lady Kuchiki would have told you that." Kaien responds with a slight sigh. "About fifty years ago, a hollow designed by Aizen was attacking and possessing people in the south rukon. My wife Mako was sent out with a squad to go and deal with it but she was killed in action. In a fit of rage, I went out to hunt it down and like a fool I didn't ask for help fighting it. It possessed me and I attacked her. In the end she cut me down and as I faded into the aether, the hollow regenerated in Hueco Mundo. When it did, it was in my body but I was the one who was in control."
"If that's the case, then did you fight it and defeat it in your inner world?" Ichigo asks, arching an eyebrow, the vizard well aware that to dominate a hollow you have to defeat it.
"I died, there was no fighting it. All that happened was that everything went white, then I woke up in the desert of Hueco Mundo with a hole in my chest." Aaroniero answers, pulling apart the buttons on his coat revealing the hollow hole in his chest.
"Rukia told me that the hollow made itself look like you before attacking her, I know a thing or two about hollow possession since I am one. Now, tell me where the fuck is Rukia?!" Ichigo yells as he stands up and looms over Aaroniero who looks at him with a fake confused expression.
"Owihime?" Nel's small voice asks, prompting the orange haired woman to look down at the young child.
"What is it Nel?"
"Can you see it?" The child asks lifting a hand to point at Aaroniero. "His face, look at his face."
"What about it?" Orihime asks.
"He's got two faces, they're floating there in a weird tank." Nel says pointing at the Espada in front of them. Orihime follows Nel's finger to above where Kaien's head is the child arrancar seeing something that she doesn't. Ichigo however doesn't hear what the child is saying but Orihime opts to make a move.
"Koten Zanshun! I reject it!" Orihime calls out, Aaroniero hears what she says but doesn't recognize what the statement means however Ichigo immediately ducks as the flying golden blade of Shun Shun Rikka flies from Orihime's hair piece before striking the area above the face of Kaien. To Ichigo's surprise, the strike hits something that he couldn't see, sparking as it makes contact with what sounds like a crystal or glass surface. The sprite returns to Orihime's side as Aaroniero rocks backwards from the sudden attack from Orihime. The strike knocked Aaroniero over and backwards, and as he stumbles to his feet, they see a glimpse of the real him. A floating white and black skull in a strange red liquid hidden behind the face of Kaien Shiba.
"It seems our cover has been blown. I didn't expect the child arrancar to be able to see through my disguise even in the darkness." The deeper male voice echoes from the mouth of Kaien shiba. "Since the game of charades is over, allow us to reintroduce ourselves. We are Aaroniero Arruruerie, the ninth espada. The only gillian among the espada amongst Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde and the Caballero Encima. I alone am the only gillain to ever achieve such heights since I can evolve infinitely!" Aaroniero Arruruerie declares, extending his arms upwards towards the roof. Raising his hand he pulls it to the face of Kaien Shiba before dragging his fingers along the flesh causing it to bubble and distort before shifting into the large tank of red liquid that Nel saw. In front of them at his full height stands the ninth espada in his true form. "Metastacia was a hollow made by Aizen that could absorb any power of the things it consumed. When he regenerated in Hueco Mundo in Kaien Shiba's body, I devoured Metastacia and absorbed his power and that of Kaien Shiba's." Ichigo smiles hearing Aaroniero explain this.
"That's a relief." Ichigo says as he draws his sword. "Orihime, it's best that you look away, this isn't gonna be pretty." The orange haired woman nods before clutching Nel tightly to herself and running back towards the door on the far side of the room.
"You speak like you actually have the power to defeat us." Aaroniero says as he draws his zanpakuto from its sheath. "I am among the oldest gillians in Hueco Mundo and I have devoured legions of hollows. I've devoured over 30,000 hollows from other gillians to even vasto lorde! Devour! Glutonaria!" Aaroniero Arruruerie declares, holding his sword out across his body on his left side. Black and pink spirit energy escapes from his form as his body explodes outwards in a writhing mass of tentacles, flesh and gnashing mouths becoming truly monstrous. The gigantic body of the ninth espada towers over Ichigo and Orihime, the mass of tentacles, limbs, mouths, eyes and other extremities ends at Aaroniero's waist with the original humanoid body still on top of the titanic mass.
"And I devoured the former Cero Espada Yammy Llargo." Ichigo responds as he clenches his hand tightly. Pulling his arm in towards himself he channels his hollow powers to their peak as a black and red spirit energy begins to leak from his body. "White. Do you want something to eat?" Ichigo says out loud which confuses the espada before him. Suddenly Ichigo's eyes turn black with his irises now glowing a sickly amber color.
"I don't think squid should be served cold, but who am I to complain about a free meal?" White says as thick viscous white liquid bleeds through a forming hollow hole on Ichigo's chest. The strange white liquid metastasizes over his body covering the right side of his face in part of a mask that Orihime doesn't recognize, it's almost demonic with a large right angled sharp horn protruding forwards from a skull mask that covers his right eye, cheek and part of his mouth with sharpened fang like teeth handing over his lip.
"Impossible! Lord Aizen said that Soul Society would have experimented on Yammy's body and not let some masked shinigami eat it!" Aaroniero shouts, feeling the astronomical pressure radiating off of Ichigo's inner hollow. The empty void of the vasto lord's spiritual pressure feels as if Aaroniero is standing at the event horizon of a black hole.
"Orihime, it's best that you leave the room. You're in the splash zone." White warns, the orange haired woman is almost petrified in fear of what her friend has become. With what little courage she can muster, she listens to White's request, turning and leaving the room as fast as she can. As she closes and slams the door behind her, she crouches down behind it covering Nel's ears. Moments later the sounds of Aaroniero's screams fill the air along with the barbaric, disgusting noise of the espada meeting the same fate as so many others it had consumed.
A few days before the raid on Hueco Mundo...
The young quincy stands beside the ancient captain as Ichigo continues to train. Despite Yamamoto's outward stoic look, that could honestly fool people into thinking that he's asleep, he is concentrating on Ichigo's training partner. The older Zangetsu, who Ichigo refers to as Gramps much like Yamamoto himself, is sparring against Ichigo using a quincy blade. Ichigo himself is forced to use his zanpakuto against it to combat the spirit's sword. Uryu is also nearby watching over Ichigo's training with old man Zangetsu, the young quincy had been under the impression that the only weapon that he has is the bow. "Head captain?" Uryu asks, causing the ancient man to turn to look at the young quincy. "You called Ichigo's sword spirit a name that I read in books when I was a kid. Is Zangetsu the Quincy emperor?"
"No, Yhwach Bach is the incarnation of absolute evil. He tried to usurp the world order by slaying his own father over almost a thousand years ago." Yama responds, taking a pause to take a deep breath and let out a long sigh. "It's clear that this portion of Zangetsu is merely the form he chooses to represent his Quincy bloodline."
"Mr tall, dark and moody doesn't say much in our inner world. He actually was protesting against Ichigo ever gaining access to the spirit world. My other half knew that he would always be in danger but danger causes the most growth in the soul." Hichigo responds, having also been manifested when Ichigo himself had brought out Old man Zangetsu to train with. "Five months ago Ichigo was an ordinary boy who could just see spirits and hollows. Now, he rivals even you in power, Head Captain Yamamoto."
"Give him a century or two of practice and you may be right. His rate of growth is something I've only seen in Yhwach himself. Two thousand years ago, he was born a sick child. Blind, frail, sickly, but he had the strange gift to be able to heal those that touched him. Though after they were healed they'd soon die and that health would transfer back to him. Eventually maybe after decades, or centuries he became the father to the quincy bloodline. Everyone who descended from him has been given power but when they die, or when he chooses he gets that power back." Yamamoto explains the history of the Quincy god emperor. "The most troubling fact is that the older Zangetsu had revealed that he is not dead but merely slumbering and that fact troubles me greatly."
"What do you mean when he chooses?" Uryu asks.
"It is an unholy act that he arrogantly calls his 'Holy Selection' those that he uses to perish. It is called the Aushwalen." Yamamoto says, which causes Uryu to swallow a lump of anxiety in his throat.
"All it shows is that he's weak and cowardly, forcing his subjects to gather power for himself then just stealing it away. What a pussy. The only way to gain power worth any amount of respect is through vanquishing your foes and devouring their essence." Hichigo declares vehemently. "Since my queen didn't devour that dead espada, maybe I could get something to eat. Might even gain a significant power boost from it."
"Didn't you just say it was respectable to vanquish your enemy before eating it?" Uryu questions
"Just because my mate doesn't finish her food doesn't mean I'll let it go to waste. While hollows don't typically care for notions like marriage, one of the things a mating pair will do is share a kill. Think of it as a.. Wedding gift." Hichigo explains but the young quincy just looks terrified at the thought. "Do you know if the boys at R are done with that corpse already? If Ichigo intends on fighting arrancar, it's only fair that he has the powers of one."
"Disturbing as the thought has been, you may ask them if they're done with the experiments and need to dispose of what's left." Yamamoto responds. "I'm almost interested in the changes it would yield in you since you're the first hollowfied zanpakuto spirit i've ever heard of, let alone met."
"Since you and old man Zangetsu are two halves of the same sword, how come Ichigo doesn't have two blades?" Uryu asks.
"He might later on, powers evolve and change constantly so there's a chance he will have access to wield my other self and me at the same time. Gramps and I are like a coin, one side is one half of his power and the other is the other half. The Shikai is his half of the coin, the tails, and Bankai, my half, is the heads. As they say, heavy is the head that wears the crown. He is the tail since he wanted Ichigo to have never seen, learned or ever gained strength. Whereas I am the instinct, the drive for strength, for power, for domination. Ichigo might wear the crown now, but that doesn't mean that I can't wear one as well." Hichigo explains as he manifests the inverted colored Zangetsu blade in his left hand. "When he is the face, I'm the shadow and shadows can't hurt people." Hichigo says as he swings his blade through Uryu's body harmlessly.
"Hichigo shut the hell up, I'm trying to fight him dammit!" Ichigo shouts, nimbly dodging the blue energy blade that Old Man Zangetsu slashes at him. "The hells the point of this lesson anyways, Gramps!" He roars indignantly.
"I figured that out ten minutes ago, you really are a hopeless case." Hichigo chides.
"Fuck you."
"We're the same person, dumbass."
"Ichigo, Quincies draw their power from their surroundings. He's using only energy based attacks, you're supposed to use his own energy against him." Uryu calls out then suddenly it all clicks for Ichigo.
After giving the helpful advice from Uryu regarding the lesson that Old man Zangetsu has been beating into him, Ichigo switches gears from attacking head on to more strategically. Flash stepping out of the way of another strike from Zangetsu, Ichigo appears to the side of the european style straight sword his zanpakuto spirit is wielding. Zangetsu immediately slashes it to the side but in a move that shocks Zangetsu, Uryu and Yamamoto, Ichigo catches the blade in his left hand. The contact with the Quincy weapon causes strange blue veins of power to crawl across his left hand at right angles as they go up his wrist. Clenching his fingers, Ichigo tears the power away from the blade and manifests it in his own hand. Zangetsu stands there disarmed and proud of what Ichigo has accomplished, having stolen away his blade and manifested it in his left hand. The blueish white blade burns with the unstable power of the substitute soul reaper. Its white firelike body just barely holds the shape of a European arming sword, with a back flared hand guard over his wrist and a long flat doubled edged blade.
"What was that technique? I've never seen anything like that." Uryu mutters, seeing the blue veins shrink back into Ichigo's skin as he holds up and inspects the burning blue sword in his off hand.
"It is a technique that Kurosaki Masaki and the Kurosaki quincy clan was very adept at. A protective ability known as Blut Vene. Channeling the spiritual energy from the surrounding world into the veins underneath the skin similar to that of armor or a hollow's Hierro or Iron Skin ability." Zangetsu explains. "Learning how to take an enemy's power from them to reduce the chance of being injured and end the fight quicker."
"There's no fun and no honor in killing a defenseless opponent. It's a coward's way out." Hichigo scoffs seeing his reflection teach Ichigo this technique.
"There's no honor in a fool's death, there is no glory in war. All it is is senseless bloodshed and death. The sooner a fight ends the better, and it is up to Ichigo to show mercy or the finishing blow." Zangetsu retorts. "I am giving him the best possible chance to defeat his opponents and rescue Rukia and protect him, in the end that is all that matters."
"I never thought I would hear you say that, Yhwach Bach. You've never cared for your offspring, only for what they could offer you." Yamamoto says.
"I must remind you that I am not Yhwach Bach. All I care about is protecting Ichigo and his family. My job is to provide what he needs to protect himself and those around him. I will never take anything from him. Only give him the ability to do what needs to be done." Zangetsu responds. "If you're so focused on his return, then allow me to fill you in. In 900 years, he will recover his heartbeat, In 90 his intellect, in 9 years he will recover his strength, and in 9 days, he shall recover the world." When these words leave Zangetsu's mouth, Uryu's glasses crack when a shocking realization hit him.
"You said you fought Yhwach a thousand years ago… if that poem is true it means he's either awake or… gathering strength." Uryu says as he begins to connect the dots. "The Aushwalen kills those it was used on… and my grandfather suddenly lost all his powers when he needed them most. Same with Ichigo's mother. That means…"
"The Quincy king has awoken." Zangetsu says, "It is in our best interest to end this petty war as soon as possible as he is an opponent much more formidable."
"How long do we have?" Yamamoto says calmly. "When did Ichigo's mother die, when did your grandfather die… when did any other quincies perish?"
"July 15th, 1999." Ichigo answers, "My ninth birthday. Seven years ago now."
"We have less than two years to prepare for a war that the Quincy king has been preparing for for a thousand." Yamamoto growls, slamming his staff on the ground and forcing himself to his feet. "Come with me." The ancient dragon storms off prompting both quincies to follow him. Zangetsu and Hichigo return to Ichigo's inner world allowing their wielder to follow his mentor.
Ichigo is mildly surprised to see just how fast his mentor can move, the old man's looks give off an air of ancient wisdom and frailty but that is a trap. Despite his power, Ichigo surmises that he'd need to train continuously for a full century to be able to even scratch Yamamoto in a sparring match, and that's without him using his Shikai or Bankai. He has to flash step three times to just keep up with the head captain, who still beats him to the division twelve research laboratory by almost a full five seconds. Uryu doesn't arrive for another 30 seconds and even then, he stumbles slightly as he comes out of it. "Hhrrumph." Yamamoto grunts seeing the two slow pokes behind him before walking into the laboratory proper.
"Ah, Head Captain. Good afternoon." The ever cheerful Kisuke greets as the head captain and his apprentice enter the room. "What brings you by my lair? Finally going to take up my suggestion on using your sword to power the water heating system?"
"No of course not, I'd never use Ryujin Jakka for such a trivial nonsense matter. I came here because Ichigo needs to strengthen his hollow powers." Yamamoto responds, gesturing to the orange haired soul reaper behind him. "We've come for the dead arrancar."
"I see, I was wondering when this was going to happen. Very well, Mayuri just finished the autopsy on Shawlong. Aside from the brains, you can use what's left for whatever you need, Captain." Kisuke responds as he leads the two through the facility. "We've found out quite a bit about the artificial arrancar that Aizen has created."
"Any weaknesses?" Yamamoto asks, getting straight to the point. "I don't care for their biology, physiology or otherwise, I want to know how to deal with these pests and their insolent master."
"There isn't a general weakness that's common to each of them, but there is one thing we've found that's interesting. Their skin is coated in a hardened type of reishi called a Hierro, or Ironskin which makes it as if they're wearing a suit of armor. Normal soul reapers won't have a chance at cutting through it, and we've tested with a few of the unseated members even all the way up to fourth seat Hanataro. Even after death the hierro is still strong enough to resist sword strikes even shattering a few of the unreleased blades." Kisuke explains, "there is a silver lining, the vizards have been capable of cutting through the hierro with minimal effort, so have some of the captains but they've had to brute force it. Kenpachi, predictably, did it through that method."
"Another case of fighting fire with fire." Ichigo adds.
"Not exactly, it's basically like hitting a diamond with another diamond, only people with hollow spiritual pressure or ridiculous amounts of it can cut through it. They also do not possess regenerative abilities like higher level hollows have, that may differ from arrancar to arrancar, but they only seem to regenerate when they use their resurrection." Yamamoto remains silent as Kisuke gets to a keypad and enters in a lengthy code to enter the elevator to the lower sub-labs.
"Why am I being brought along for this? Science isn't exactly my best subject, I'm a lot better with English Lit. and Grammar." Ichigo asks, causing Yamamoto to arch one of his bushy eyebrows to look at him.
"How do hollows get stronger?" Yamamoto asks sarcastically.
"They eat othe- Ohhhh…" Ichigo goes to answer, then it clicks for him. "I'm gonna need a breath mint after this." Kisuke chuckles to himself hearing the reaction from Ichigo as the elevator opens up into a large surgical theater where the bodies of the arrancar and the single espada are being held.
"So much for this room remaining STERILE KISUKE!" Mayuri roars upon seeing the intruders to his lab, the eccentric megalomaniac scientist is dressed in a full surgical gown, head ventilator and veil. "What do you want?"
"It seems manners are still not your strong suit, Mayuri." Yamamoto says taking note of the fact that he wasn't greeted. "Ichigo is going to devour the arrancar specimens to strengthen his hollow abilities." Mayuri goes to make a rebuttal but pauses for a moment.
"Can I make a request, head captain?" The ancient captain raises an eyebrow at this statement permitting the 12th division captain to continue speaking. "I will allow Lieutenant Kurosaki to consume the hollows, in exchange for getting to run a few tests on him."
"Lieutenant?" Yamamoto asks.
"Fine, but no dismemberment and no weird shit." Ichigo says sternly.
"One of the experiments I have in mind would be artificially inseminating my assistant with your genetic information." Ichigo just stares at the mad scientist disgusted at the question.
"I believe that qualifies as 'weird shit.' Mayuri, and that is not only a question for him but also Kuchiki Rukia as she is his fiance." Kisuke says.
"You humans are strange, carrying notions like empathy, love and kindness. It's disgusting, but fine! I get to keep the brains though."
"I suggest you leave the room then, I don't know if my hollow self can control himself or has table manners." Ichigo suggests, but Mayuri, Yamamoto and Kisuke don't budge.
"Welp. I'm gonna go, bon appetite I guess." Uryu says as he turns and exits the room.
"Oh is it snack time?" White asks from within Ichigo's mind, "Yeah, go nuts, i'm giving you the throne for an hour. After that we're gonna need to figure out the new powers, if we get any." Ichigo says out loud, the three captains look at him quizzically for a moment before he turns and hands his sword to Yamamoto. The ancient captain grabs the weapon from his apprentice as the skeletal mask begins to form over Ichigo's face. Mayuri can't help but shiver slightly, feeling the dramatic shift in the substitute soul repear's spiritual pressure. The mask doesn't stop just over his face however, from the center of his chest a large hollow hole splits open spewing the strange white liquid that spans and covers his entire body. His muscles swell in size, spikes form across his shoulders, a large reptilian tail splits out the back of his shihakusho with red tribal color point markings at the tip of his tail, around his chest and arms. Now standing at nearly 9 ft tall, the hollow exhales an evil black gas from its mouth as a wry smile creases his lips. Nemu, who is off in the corner watching the entire event go down, covers her eyes to avoid seeing the mess that's about to take place.