Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter was originally edited by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, and Studio Pierrot.
Hotel Valhalla and Muscular Odin are from the Magus Chase book series, which is owned by Rick Riordan and Disney Hyperion.
Hela, Heimdall, Bifrost Bridge, and the 'true' history of Hela are owned by Marvel Comics.
All other references of characters or abilities are not mine.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Chapter 56:
(Language is in English)
Ichigo, Scáthach, Nel, and Jack soared through space, traveling between dimensions.
"How long will this take?" Nel asked.
"The mission or traveling using the Bifrost?" Scáthach asked.
"Both," Nel replied.
"It shouldn't take too long," Ichigo said. They soon noticed they were approaching a gray planet.
"Prepare for impact," Nel shouted.
"I got this," Ichigo said, activating Schrift V: The Ventus. He slowed their descent, and soon they all safely landed on Helheim. Helheim appeared gray and lifeless, with a few ghosts floating around.
"So this is Helheim," Nel said. "It's worse than Hueco Mundo."
"So where do we go?" Scáthach asked.
"Hm…" Ichigo shunpō'ed up for a better view, then landed back down. "I saw a large tower straight ahead. Let's check it out," Ichigo said. They began walking and soon arrived at the tower, where they saw two guards standing in front.
"Halt," one of the guards said.
They stopped in front of the guards.
"What are you doing here?" the other guard asked.
"I want to speak with Hela," Ichigo said. The guards exchanged a glance.
"Queen Hela will not speak with anyone at this moment."
"How long will we have to wait?" Ichigo asked. The guards appeared nervous.
"Queen Hela will sleep until she naturally wakes up."
"It's not a good idea to disturb her slumber." More ghosts began floating toward them.
"What's going on?" one of the ghosts asked.
"They wish to speak with Queen Hela," one of the guards answered. Ichigo could sense the varying nature of the ghosts.
"Why haven't most of you moved on?" Ichigo asked.
"What do you mean, 'move on'?" one of the ghosts asked.
"I mean, why haven't you returned to the Cycle of Reincarnation?" Ichigo replied, noticing the blank looks on their faces. "You don't know?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Allow me to explain." He then proceeded to explain to the ghosts what should happen to souls after death.
"What's the point of explaining that when Queen Hela isn't going to do that?"
"Who said she was the only one who could do that?" Ichigo asked as he summoned Kokugatsu while Nel summoned Gamuza. "We can send all of you into the Cycle of Reincarnation." Ichigo and Nel began performing Konsō on the spirits in Helheim. More and more spirits gathered, and soon Zangetsu, Kyōka, Shirayuki, Suzumebachi, Katen, and Kyōkotsu joined them in performing Konsō as well. After an hour, all the spirits in Helheim were sent into the Cycle of Reincarnation. The Zanpakutō spirits returned to Ichigo's mindscape.
"So what are we going to do now?" Nel asked.
"I've got an interesting idea," Scáthach said. "Let's play with these Norse Runes." Ichigo and Nel shrugged and began experimenting with the Runes in the air.
Scene Change: Hela's Sleeping Quarters
Hela was fast asleep in her quarters. She let out a yawn as she slowly woke up, rubbing the dried mucus around her eyes. She got out of bed, and loud cracks could be heard as she stretched her body. Once finished, she walked to her shower. Afterward, she dressed in her royal attire a tight green dress that emphasized her figure. She walked out of her bedroom, sensing Norse magic being used in her realm. A small smile began to form on her face.
"It seems someone from Asgard is here," Hela thought as she walked out of her tower. She saw Ichigo, Scáthach, Nel, and Jack using Norse Runes in the air. Hela also noticed that her guards weren't posted outside her tower. "Maybe they were killed by them?" she thought.
"Ehem," Hela said, interrupting their magic casting. Ichigo turned toward her.
"I assume you are Hela, daughter of Odin?" Ichigo asked.
"I am," Hela grumbled, clearly reminded of her heritage.
"That's good. Can we talk?" Ichigo asked.
"Huh?" Hela asked, confused by Ichigo's question.
"I said, can we talk?" Ichigo repeated.
"Why?" Hela asked.
"Odin wishes for you to return to Asgard," Ichigo said.
"Lies," Hela spat. "That old man is too prideful to admit that."
"From the stories I've heard, that's true," Ichigo began. "But the death of one's wife and old age changed that." Hela's eyes widened.
"Frigga faded?" Hela asked in shock.
"She has, according to Odin," Ichigo confirmed.
"I see," Hela said. "What about the residents of Helheim?"
"The souls in this realm have moved on," Ichigo said.
"How?" Hela asked.
"I'm a Soul Reaper from Japan," Ichigo replied. Hela's eyes widened again. "I assume you've heard about us."
"I have. I read about you from the library in Helheim."
"Who will manage Helheim while I am gone?"
"You could rule both since Helheim is currently devoid of its residents."
"I see…" Hela said.
"Do you accept returning to Asgard?"
"I do," she replied.
"Before you return, be aware that Odin covered up the real history of Asgard," Ichigo said.
Hela let out a long sigh. "I expected that," she admitted.
"Before we came here, Odin warned us about your violent and bloodthirsty nature," Scáthach said.
"I know," Hela said. "I acted like that for the first millennia. All the spirits in Helheim ignored me. I tried to attack Asgard alone, but I failed and was banished back here. I met someone in Helheim. He was also a warrior. I challenged him to a fight. We fought for many days. In the end, he beat me. Instead of killing me, he took me in and taught me to use my brain and words, not just my strength and blades. In our final match, I defeated him. He smiled and properly introduced himself as the King of Helheim. He then passed that title to me before fading away."
"I see," Ichigo said.
"I guess the contract is pointless then," Ichigo muttered. "Hela learned much of what Odin would have taught her."
"Are you ready to go?" Ichigo asked.
"I am," Hela replied.
"We're ready, Heimdall," Ichigo said. Suddenly, a large beam of energy shot down at them, pulling them away from Helheim. The return trip was silent as they flew back to Asgard. They soon arrived to see Heimdall and Odin standing before them.
"Hello, Father," Hela greeted.
"Hello, Hela," Odin replied. "We have much to catch up on."
"Indeed," Hela said. Odin turned to Ichigo, Scáthach, Nel, and Jack.
"Heimdall informed me that you didn't use the contract." Ichigo handed the contract to Hela, who quickly grabbed it and began to read.
"Father, has old age made you lose your wisdom?" Hela asked after reading the contract.
"I wrote it assuming you would still despise me," Odin said.
"I did when I was younger," Hela admitted. "But during my time in Helheim, I've matured into a suitable ruler for Asgard." Hela tore the contract in half. Odin smiled as he hugged his eldest daughter.
"To think my Executioner has matured so much," Odin said.
Hela returned the hug, and they stayed like that for a few seconds before letting go. Odin turned to Ichigo.
"Thank you for your service," Odin said.
"No problem," Ichigo replied.
"This might be a strange question, but do you have any fire-based powers?"
"I do… why?"
"I want to see how the einherjar handles someone with the strength and power of Surtr," Odin said.
"You sure? From what I've sensed, the einherjar will die if I try," Ichigo warned.
"Don't worry," Odin said. "As long as an einherjar is within Hotel Valhalla, they can't permanently die. They'll regenerate later."
"If we're speaking of challenges... I want to challenge you," Scáthach said.
"One on one?" Odin asked.
"Sure," Scáthach replied.
"Hm…" Odin considered it. "Sure, let's go," Odin said as he stood up and began to transform. Now, Odin looked like a barrel-chested man with massive arms. His close-cropped gray hair and square-cut beard gave him a rugged appearance. He wore a black patch over one eye and a short-sleeve polo shirt emblazoned with the words "Hotel Valhalla." In his hand was a spear.
"I assume that's Gungnir?" Scáthach asked as she summoned Gáe Bolg.
"Indeed. I also assume that's Gáe Bolg," Odin replied.
"Let's head to the room where we can let loose," Ichigo suggested.
"Right," Odin said.
"What about those who don't want to fight?" Nel asked.
"There's a room where speculators can safely watch the fight," Odin said.
"Ok," they all agreed, and they walked out of the room. Two ravens flew toward Odin. He raised his hand, allowing them to land on his arm.
"Inform all the einherjar and valkyries that we're having a battle simulation on floor 501. Everyone will be in full armor."
"Very well," the ravens replied before letting out a loud caw, broadcasting Odin's message. They all walked to the elevator and ascended to floor 501. When they arrived, they saw two doors and a set of stairs.
"Ichigo, I need you to enter the door on the right and wait there. When you hear me call for you, enter the second door," Odin instructed.
"Ok," Ichigo said, following Odin's instructions. Odin snapped the door closed and locked it.
"Follow me," Odin said. Hela, Scáthach, Nel, and Jack followed him up the stairs. They entered a private booth.
"Sit down. It will take them a few minutes to get here," Odin said. Just as he said, the einherjar and valkyries arrived a few minutes later, all dressed in armor with Norse Runes inscribed on them. They carried swords, axes, or hammers. Odin pressed a rune on his chair, allowing the einherjar and valkyries to see him.
"Einherjar and Valkyries," Odin began. "Today, you will face an opponent who will no doubt be the hardest you've ever fought. He has agreed to fight all of you using his fire abilities. He will represent Surtr for when Ragnarök eventually falls upon us." Odin looked around. "Are all of you ready?"
"Óðinn á yðr alla! [Odin owns you all!]" they all shouted. Odin chuckled hearing the war cry.
"Ichigo. They're ready for you," Odin said. The ground began to rumble as a giant creature erupted from the ground. It stood over ten feet tall and was covered in magma.
"Come at me!" the golem roared.
"Óðinn á yðr alla! [Odin owns you all!]" they shouted again as they charged at the lava golem.
"RAH!" the lava golem roared as it ran toward them. As soon as the first Valkyrie struck its body, the golem let out a sinister smile before it exploded. The explosion sent waves of burning lava flooding the area, incinerating most of the einherjar and valkyries. The magic of Hotel Valhalla prevented them from dying, and their spirits floated above their charred bodies.
"Never rush into battle headfirst," a voice said. They turned to see Ichigo calmly walking on the lava. "The enemy is Surtr, the King of the Fire Giants." Ichigo snapped his fingers, and the lava reformed into the golem. "Based on that title alone, you should have a clue about his abilities. Anyone guess?"
"He has pyrokinetic abilities," one of the spirits said.
"Indeed," Ichigo said. "But you don't know what else he's capable of."
"Ichigo is right," Odin said. "Surtr isn't the King of the Fire Giants by being ordinary. He's the King because he's the strongest, and no one dares challenge his power."
"Another thing is being predictable. When you're predictable, your opponents can take advantage of you," Ichigo said. "In history, the Vikings are known for their close-combat fighting style."
"Which is why you designed the lava golem to be a bomb," one of the spirits realized.
"Exactly," Ichigo said. "You all charged at the lava golem, expecting a close-combat fight."
"So, what should we do?"
"Learn," Ichigo answered.
"Learn?"
"Yes. Knowledge is power," Ichigo said. "The more you know about your enemy, your allies, and yourself, the better you and your team can plan for the impending battle."
"Ichigo is once again right," Odin said as he entered the arena. "I know many of you waste your time here." Many of the spirits looked embarrassed. "Valhalla is both a paradise for those of you chosen and a training ground for when Ragnarök eventually happens or when I need you," Odin continued. "In the future, we'll spend more time helping all of you learn more fighting styles, master your demigod abilities, and learn how to operate as a team."
"As you wish, Lord Odin," they all said.
"I think these einherjar and valkyries need a refresher," Scáthach said as she entered the arena. "When Ragnarök comes, they'll be fighting beings who want to unleash absolute chaos upon the world."
"Wait, Ska—" Suddenly, Gáe Bolg soared through the spirit's head.
"If any of you mentions that I look like that ice cream princess, I'll personally make sure you die," Scáthach growled.
"Sorry," the spirit said, his head reforming.
"This is Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows," Ichigo said. Fortunately, none of the spirits recognized her name. Scáthach flicked her wrist, and Gáe Bolg flew back to her hand. She spun the spear and pointed its tip at Odin, causing the spirits to gasp in shock.
"Ready for that fight?" she asked. Odin chuckled.
"I am," he replied, snapping his fingers. His polo shirt disappeared, revealing his heavily scarred and muscular body.
"The match between Odin, the All-Father, and Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows, will begin on my command," Ichigo announced. Odin pointed Gungnir at Scáthach, while she pointed Gáe Bolg at Odin. "Begin!"
Odin and Scáthach charged at each other, both beginning with a simple, straight thrust. Gungnir and Gáe Bolg collided with a resounding impact, blasting the nearby dust away. They continued with quick, straight thrusts. The spirits watched in awe.
"So, this is the power of the supportive prototype of Gáe Bolg," Scáthach commented.
"I've heard the rumors," Odin replied. "But we know the truth."
"Indeed," Scáthach replied. Their spears clashed again, moving faster with each strike. Soon, they were moving so quickly that only Ichigo could keep track of their movements.
"Wow," everyone said in unison. Ichigo nodded.
"They're evenly matched for this spar," Ichigo remarked. The two combatants stopped and took a brief moment to catch their breath.
"Let's give these spirits a taste of the powers from the Age of Gods," Scáthach said, a smile on her face.
"Indeed, we shall," Odin replied, grinning as well. They both jumped back, creating a large distance between them.
"What are they about to do?" one of the spirits asked.
Scáthach and Odin raised their respective spears, and they began to glow with energy.
"They're going to throw their respective spears," Ichigo said.
"GÁE!"
"GUN!"
"BOLG!"
"NIR!" Both combatants threw their spears at each other. The spears, charged with their masters' energy, soared through the air, crashing into each other in the center. The impact caused the ground below to shatter, and both spears fought against each other in a fierce magical struggle. A massive explosion erupted, blinding everyone.
When the smoke cleared, the spears had slammed into the ground a few inches from their initial point of impact. Scáthach and Odin raised their arms, and their respective weapons dislodged from the ground, soaring back to their hands.
"You did well for an old man," Scáthach joked.
"Looks like there wasn't much rust to begin with," Odin said. Ichigo began to clap, and soon everyone else joined in. Odin turned to his army.
"For now, go back to your rooms and rest," Odin ordered.
"Yes, Lord Odin!" they all shouted before floating away. Hela, Nel, and Jack joined them downstairs.
"I believe it's time for us to leave," Ichigo said.
"I see…" Odin replied. "I'll discuss with Hela what reward is suitable for your actions."
"Very well. If it's not Hela's hand in marriage, then we're fine," Ichigo joked. For a moment, Odin looked guilty. Unfortunately for him, everyone saw the look.
"You actually considered doing that… didn't you?" Ichigo asked.
"FATHER!" Hela exclaimed, smacking her father's shoulder.
"Come on, Hela. As your father, I need to make sure you have a strong and powerful partner for your reign as ruler of Asgard," Odin defended himself.
"It doesn't give you the right to force me to marry someone," Hela retorted. She looked at Ichigo. "Not that I wouldn't mind marrying you," she admitted.
Ichigo shrugged. "It's not my business," he replied.
"Goodbye, Lord Odin and Lady Hela," Nel said.
"Bye, Old Odin and Pretty Hela," Jack added.
"Jack!" Nel cried in shock.
"Ha!" Hela laughed, and Odin quickly joined in.
"It's all right, child," Odin said. "Allow us to escort you out of Hotel Valhalla," he offered.
"Very well then," Ichigo replied. Odin, Hela, Ichigo, Scáthach, Nel, and Jack entered the elevator. They quickly descended to the lobby and exited the building. As they stepped outside, the sun was setting. Odin tapped the ground with Gungnir, and the limestone wall shifted, allowing them to leave. They made their way back to Ichigo's car, and he drove them away.
Scene Change: Ichigo Estate: Morning
(Language is in Japanese)
The residents at Ichigo's Estate began their morning routines. Afterward, they gathered in the dining room. The students were dressed in their school uniforms, Masaki in her regular doctor outfit, and Tearju dressed for her interview with Sirzechs. The rest were in casual clothes. Suddenly, a Garganta opened outside the estate. Ichigo's car emerged, and soon Ichigo, Scáthach, Nel, and Jack joined them for breakfast. Ichigo took his place at the head of the table, with Scáthach, Nel, and Jack seated beside him.
Breakfast was served. Scáthach, Nel, and Jack chatted with the other peerage members about their trip.
"Ichigo?" someone called. Ichigo looked up to see Eu.
"Yes, Eu?"
"Who's next for your trip across America?" she asked.
"It will be you, Artoria, and Rin," Ichigo replied.
"Is there anything we should prepare for?" Eu asked. Artoria and Rin listened closely.
"From what I've seen, most of America is weak," Ichigo said.
"Oh. Ok," Eu replied and resumed eating.
"Ugh," someone groaned. Ichigo turned to see Hana Song entering the dining room, dressed in pajamas adorned with little bunnies. She sat down at the table, and a maid quickly brought her breakfast.
"Thank you," she said, starting her meal.
"Rough night?" Ichigo asked.
"Na," she replied. "I was recording a few videos for my American, Japanese, and Korean followers."
"I see…" Ichigo said.
"I heard from the others that you're doing a road trip across America," Hana said.
"I am," Ichigo replied.
"Are you planning to go to California?" she asked.
"I am," Ichigo said.
"Can you stop by Anaheim?" she asked.
"Why?" Ichigo replied.
"There's a major video game convention there in a week, and I really, really want to go to it."
"How long is it?" Ichigo asked.
"It's two days long."
"Sure."
"YAY!" she yelled as she ran over and hugged him. "THANK YOU!"
"Hana, I do need to finish breakfast," Ichigo said. Hana quickly returned to her seat.
"Sorry," she said. Ichigo chuckled as he resumed eating. Soon, everyone finished eating. Moka and Akasha took a sip of his blood. All the students got ready for school.
"Bye, everyone," Ichigo said as he hugged everyone.
"Goodbye!" they all replied. Ichigo looked and saw that Eu, Artoria, and Rin were ready to go. Eu was dressed in a purple T-shirt with white stripes and a matching skirt. Artoria was in her casual attire, and Rin wore an untucked white-collar shirt, a red jacket, and blue jeans.
"Ready to go?" Ichigo asked. They all nodded.
Ichigo snapped his fingers, and his car appeared. Ichigo took his usual spot as the driver. The three girls hesitated, unsure of where to sit. Ichigo sighed.
"We're going to have multiple stops on this trip. All of you will have a turn in the passenger seat," Ichigo said. None of them moved.
"Eu will sit in the passenger seat first, then Artoria, and finally Rin," Ichigo said, and everyone accepted the order, sitting down in the car. The Garganta opened in front of them, and they drove in.
Scene Change: St. Paul, Minnesota
(Language is in English)
Ichigo drove out of the Garganta and landed on an empty highway. He made sure that every seat had a small map in front of it, allowing them to know where they were.
"So, how are you, Eu?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm good," she replied. "Kind of miss spending time with you," she admitted.
Ichigo sighed. "Sorry about that," he said.
"No, I understand," Eu responded. "It felt nice being able to talk with old friends and experience the world without having to worry about my powers going crazy."
"That's good to hear," Ichigo said.
"What about you?" Eu asked.
Ichigo smiled. He began to tell Eu everything that had happened at Hogwarts. Occasionally, Artoria would add a detail that Ichigo missed. Rin pulled out a notebook and began working on her recipes.
"Ichigo," Artoria called.
"Yes?" Ichigo replied.
"Can we make a few stops?" Artoria asked.
"I assume this is for food?" Ichigo said.
"It is," Artoria replied.
Ichigo sighed and turned to Eu and Rin.
"Sure," Eu said, used to dealing with people who love to eat.
"It allows me to expand my food palate," Rin replied.
"Okay, Artoria," Ichigo said. He soon began to regret his decision.
Scene Change: Endsville, Arizona
It took Ichigo three days to arrive at their destination. The extra time was due to Artoria's never-ending appetite. Ichigo quickly figured out the best method to deal with her. Whenever she started to get hungry, they would stop at the nearest town and let her indulge until she fell into a food coma. The problem was that it usually took three or four restaurants to reach that point. As soon as Artoria fell into a food coma, Ichigo would pay for the meal, and they'd quickly get back in the car to continue their journey. This cycle repeated every time she woke up. By the time they arrived in Arizona, Ichigo had done this nine times. Many restaurants had heard of Artoria's ability and had begun calling her "The Bottomless Pit." Some would close their doors when they heard she was in town, while others saw her as a challenge to feed, usually running out of food.
"So, why are we in this town?" Artoria asked.
"I need to find Grim," Ichigo replied.
"Who is Grim?" Rin asked.
"He's in charge of escorting souls to the correct pantheon if they belong to one," Ichigo explained.
"And if they don't belong in one?" Artoria asked.
"Then Grim places them into the Cycle of Reincarnation," Ichigo said.
"He hasn't been doing his job?" Eu guessed.
"Indeed," Ichigo replied.
Ichigo drove the car up the paved road and parked in front of a two-story house with light green walls and a dark green roof. He stepped out of the car and walked toward the house. He knocked on the door.
"Coming!" someone yelled. The door swung open, revealing a short kid with reddish skin, a large pink nose, beady black eyes, and red hair. He wore a white short-sleeved T-shirt with a thin horizontal blue stripe, blue jeans, a red baseball hat, and white-and-red sneakers.
"What can I do for you?" he asked.
"I'm here to see Grim," Ichigo said.
The boy turned his head back toward the house. "GRIM!" he yelled.
"What is it, Billy?"
"SOMEONE IS LOOKING FOR YOU!" Billy replied.
"I'm in the basement," Grim called.
Billy turned back to Ichigo. "Follow me," he said.
Ichigo silently followed behind Billy. Billy opened the door to the basement. Ichigo walked down the stairs and saw someone in black robes writing something down. The figure turned toward Ichigo. He looked exactly as Ichigo expected someone called the Grim Reaper to look—slightly taller than Ichigo, a magical skeleton in black robes.
"Who are you?" Grim asked.
"I'm Ichigo, a Soul Reaper," Ichigo introduced himself.
"Oh?" Grim said. "You're a little far from home."
"I know," Ichigo replied. "I'm here because of Hades."
"Ah," Grim said. "Unfortunately, I'm stuck here."
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"I kind of challenged two kids to a game of limbo to decide the fate of their pet hamster," Grim began.
"I still don't see the problem," Ichigo said.
"I kind of added that I would be their best friend forever if they won," Grim admitted.
"I assume you somehow lost?" Ichigo said.
Grim nodded. "How did you lose? You don't have any muscles to cause resistance in the game," Ichigo asked.
"I kind of cheated," Grim admitted.
"How?"
"Both of the kids were shorter than me, so I lowered the bar to make it harder for them. Both kids were able to go through it. So, I lowered it to the lowest setting. They both admitted they couldn't get through, but I went through it. I was almost done when one of the kids ordered their hamster to attack me. The pain from the hamster forced me up, causing me to lose," Grim explained.
Ichigo stared at Grim. "That's not how limbo works," Ichigo said.
"Huh?" Grim said.
"You got a computer here?" Ichigo asked.
"Upstairs," Grim replied.
They walked upstairs to a desktop computer. Ichigo quickly found the rules for limbo and showed them to Grim. His eyes widened in shock.
"Based on what you told me, the game hasn't finished yet," Grim said. He stood up and turned just as Billy returned with another person.
It was a little girl wearing a pink dress with a yellow flower in the center, black shoes, white socks, and blonde hair with a black headband. Her hair was styled into horns that curled like a devil's.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Isn't it rude not to introduce yourself first?" Ichigo replied.
"Fine. My name is Mandy," the girl said.
"I'm Ichigo."
"What are you doing here?" Mandy asked.
"You see, a business associate of Grim asked me to investigate where Grim was," Ichigo began.
"Well, you found him," Mandy said. "Now leave."
"Can't do that," Ichigo replied. "Grim needs to go back to his job," Ichigo said. Grim snapped his fingers, and his truck and all his belongings floated to him.
"You are not leaving, Grim," Mandy ordered.
"I am," Grim said. "We didn't play limbo correctly, so the deal is not binding."
Mandy scowled at him. "You were the one who cheated first."
"While I did lower the bar too far, you didn't finish the game," Grim said.
"What?" Mandy asked.
"The winner of limbo is decided by the last player who manages to complete the round by themselves," Grim explained. "Billy admitted defeat first, and I touched the bar." He stared at Mandy. "You never attempted the round. According to the rules, you would have needed to complete the current round, and then one more, by yourself to solidify your win."
Mandy scowled at them. "This is not the end," she growled in anger. She grabbed Billy and pulled him away.
Grim turned to Ichigo. "Thank you! Thank you!" he yelled in joy.
"No problem," Ichigo said.
"Let me know if you need anything," Grim said.
"I was wondering if you could help me with the Death Quest," Ichigo asked.
Grim sighed. "Sorry, I can't help you."
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"Only Gods and Goddesses of Death are allowed to give their blessing for the Death Quest," Grim explained.
"What are you then?" Ichigo asked.
"I am a manifestation of Death," Grim replied. "But this isn't my true form," he continued, shifting into a crow, then into a beautiful woman in a black dress, before returning to his original shape. "I take on many forms, reflecting how individuals perceive the concept of death. I am but a smaller piece of a greater whole, like a single finger on a person's hand."
"I see…" Ichigo said. Grim summoned his scythe and slashed down with it, opening a portal.
"Once again, thank you for your help," Grim said.
"No problem," Ichigo replied as Grim entered the portal. Ichigo walked out of the house and back into the car.
"That took a while," Rin said.
"What happened in there?" Eu asked.
"Two kids managed to trick Grim into being their friend for eternity," Ichigo said.
"Wow. How did they do that?" Rin asked.
"Grim came here to take the soul of someone. These kids, Billy and Mandy, didn't want that to happen, so they challenged Grim to a game. Grim arrogantly accepted, mentioning that if they won, he would be their best friend forever. The game was Limbo. Grim began to cheat by lowering the bar, making it too difficult for the kids to cross. Billy admitted that he couldn't do it, and Grim started going under the bar. Mandy tricked Grim into touching the bar. She then proclaimed that Grim lost and was now their best friend forever," Ichigo paused as he reversed out of Billy's driveway. "Grim was unaware that's not how the winner of limbo is determined."
"What is limbo?" Artoria asked.
"Limbo is a game where people slowly bend backward at the waist and try to go underneath a pole. You are not supposed to touch the pole. After the last person goes, the pole is lowered, and the round starts again," Rin explained.
"Correct, Rin," Ichigo said. "Once you are the last person in the round, you must complete an additional round by yourself."
"Based on your story, Mandy didn't do that," Eu said.
Ichigo shook his head. "She didn't."
Ichigo exited the city, found a highway devoid of other cars, and opened a Garganta. He drove through it.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Estate
(Language is in Japanese)
Hana Song was in her room. She had two large suitcases and a backpack on her bed. The backpack contained her camera, a tripod, and a photo printer. The first large suitcase held all of her merchandise, and the second large one had her cosplay of Sarah Kerrigan from the original StarCraft, the ghost marine unit version. Luckily, Hana had seen her costume in high resolution, not in the current pixelated state. She posted on all of her social media platforms, informing her followers that she would be hosting a meet-and-greet at a nearby hotel while teasing her cosplay of Sarah Kerrigan. Many people were excited to see what Hana would look like in full cosplay.
Hana was finishing up her mental to-do list when someone knocked on her door.
"Yes?" Hana asked. The door opened, and a maid peeked her head in.
"Ichigo-sama has returned," the maid said.
"Thank you," Hana replied as she stood up. She grabbed one of the suitcases while the maid grabbed the other. Together, they pulled the suitcases to Ichigo's car.
"Hello Hana," Ichigo greeted, noticing the two large suitcases. "I see you're ready for the convention."
"I am," she replied.
"Give me a few minutes, then we can go."
"Sure. Just open the trunk for my suitcases," she said. Ichigo opened the trunk for her.
"Fleur, Kahlua, Akua, and Raikou. Can you hear me?"
"Yes, Ichigo?" Akua asked.
"Do you need something, Ichigo-Kun?" Raikou asked.
"Present," Fleur replied.
"A little busy at the clinic," Kahlua said.
"It's okay, Kahlua. I don't need to see any of you right now," Ichigo replied. "Anyway, I want to let all of you know that you're coming with me to America after Hana. First will be Fleur and Kahlua, then Akua and Raikou. Does anyone have any questions?"
"Will we need anything?" Fleur asked.
"Not really. Maybe just another change of clothes," Ichigo suggested.
"How long will we be with you?" Raikou asked.
"At least a day, two days at most," Ichigo replied.
"Anything else?" Akua asked.
"Nope. See you all soon," Ichigo said. He walked back to his car to see Hana already inside. Ichigo slipped into the driver's seat.
"Ready?"
"You bet," Hana replied. Ichigo drove into the Garganta that appeared.
Scene Change: Endsville, Arizona
(Language is in English)
Ichigo drove out of the Garganta. Hana could see they were soaring through the air at incredible speed.
"So, how's your gaming channel?" Ichigo asked.
"It's going well. YouTube finally made it over to Japan, so I've been able to add Japanese, English, and Korean subtitles to my videos."
"What types of videos are you making?"
"I'm currently working on Let's Play videos of popular video games. I'm also considering adding a few cosplay videos and live-streaming some games."
"Livestreaming?" Ichigo questioned.
"Ah, I forgot it's not popular here yet," Hana said. "Livestreaming is when people stream live footage online."
"Similar to how sports channels show live games," Ichigo compared.
"It's exactly like that," Hana said.
"Were you able to make any revenue yet?"
"Kind of," Hana said. "I'm selling some shirts, stickers, hoodies, and lanyards with my name or logo on them."
"How are you making them?"
"About that…" Hana hesitated. "I asked a few of the maids if they could help me make them."
"Yuri heard what we were doing and helped out as well," Hana added.
"How?" Ichigo asked.
"She kind of became my partner on the business side. She brokered deals with suppliers and distributors, and got all the legal paperwork done for me," Hana admitted.
"I see," Ichigo said. "I do hope you have a proper paper trail set up."
"I do," Hana said. "It was too easy to hack into the Japanese government to create the correct paperwork." Ichigo sighed.
"If anyone asks who I am, tell them I'm DVA on YouTube," Hana added.
"Sure," Ichigo replied.
"By the way, could you be my bodyguard/assistant for the time being?" Hana asked with a pout.
"Very well then," Ichigo said.
"Great!" Hana beamed.
Ichigo slowed the car down and gently lowered it to the ground. Hana got excited when she saw a sign for Anaheim.
"I already booked us a hotel," Hana said.
"Lead the way," Ichigo said. He drove to their hotel and parked. Hana grabbed one of the suitcases while Ichigo took the other. Hana quickly checked them in and they took the elevator up to their room. The room had all the basic amenities they needed.
"So, when does the convention start?" Ichigo asked.
"The convention has already started," Hana said as she opened her suitcase. "Help me put this on," she said, slipping out of her normal clothes and into a skintight suit that accentuated her slim body. Ichigo helped her into the cosplay. "How do I look?" Hana asked, holding a futuristic sniper rifle and striking a pose.
"Impressive," Ichigo said.
"Thank you," Hana said. "Can you bring my camera and tripod with you?" she asked. "It should be in the first pocket." Ichigo opened the second suitcase and found a camera bag and a tripod bag.
"Got it," Ichigo said, slinging the camera bag around his neck and the tripod over his shoulder.
"Thanks," Hana replied. They left the hotel and walked to the Convention Center, which was just a short walk away. Despite being only five minutes away, it took them over twenty minutes to get there due to everyone wanting a picture of Hana in her Sarah Kerrigan cosplay. Eventually, they arrived and checked in.
"So, where are we going?" Ichigo asked.
"To the Gaming Hall," Hana said. They arrived at the Gaming Hall, where all sorts of Blizzard games were set up. Hana walked over to a table and signed up for the StarCraft: Brood War tournament. Ichigo and Hana began to tour the Gaming Hall. Hana played demos of upcoming games and took group pictures with fans. Soon, the gaming tournament began. As soon as Hana started to play, all the attention shifted to her for a few reasons—whether it was because she was a girl, cosplaying as a popular character, or simply because she was an excellent gamer.
"Um, excuse me?" someone asked. Ichigo turned to them.
"Yes?" Ichigo asked.
"Do you know who she is?"
"I do," Ichigo replied, noticing more people were paying attention to him now. "She's DVA on YouTube," he said. Many people immediately pulled out their phones to look up her YouTube page.
Soon, after about an hour, Hana won the first tournament. As soon as she stepped down from the stage, Ichigo quickly got in front of her as her new fans rushed to take photos.
"HEY!" Ichigo yelled, his voice echoing through the hall. He stepped aside, allowing Hana to speak to her new fans.
"Thank you, everyone," Hana began. "I'll be hosting a meet-and-greet around 7 PM in Convention Hall 1. Please come see me then." She said. Ichigo subtly cast a wandless compulsion, ensuring that all the fans accepted Hana's request.
"Thanks for the compulsion," Hana said.
"No problem," Ichigo replied.
"Let's go find some places to take photos," Hana suggested.
"Sure," Ichigo replied. They walked outside the Gaming Hall and headed to the Convention Center. They quickly found a few empty spots to set up a photo shoot. Hana began posing, allowing Ichigo to take photos. Some people noticed Hana and her amazing cosplay, and soon, more fans joined in to take pictures. Other cosplayers approached Hana, and they quickly became friends.
"Hey, DVA," Ichigo called out.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It's time to get ready for the meet-and-greet," Ichigo reminded her.
"Thanks for the reminder," Hana replied. Ichigo packed away the camera equipment while Hana said goodbye to her new friends. They rushed back to their hotel room and grabbed the other suitcase. Afterward, they headed to Convention Hall 1. They noticed a few hotel staff standing outside the hall.
"Are you Miss Hana Song?" one of them asked.
"I am," Hana replied.
"Good. Follow me." The hotel staff unlocked the door, and they entered the empty hall. It was a large space with a stage. "Here are the chairs and the stanchions (1)."
"Thank you," Hana said.
"Will you need help setting up the event?" the staff member asked.
"No, thank you. We've got it," Hana replied.
"Okay then." The staff member nodded. "We'll be back when the event starts." With that, they left. Ichigo and Hana grabbed the stanchions and began setting up the lines for the incoming fans. Once the long snake-like lines were in place, Hana set up her merchandise table in front of the line, allowing fans to purchase items before meeting her. She also set up her camera where she could easily take photos with fans and have the pictures immediately printed out. Hana placed a few boxes of permanent markers on the table for fans to get autographs on their purchased merchandise or the photo they took with her.
"Looks like everything's ready," Ichigo said.
"Indeed," Hana replied. The hotel staff returned to find the entire hall prepared for the event.
"We'll be outside the door, checking IDs and guiding people to the front of the line," the staff member said.
"Great," Hana said.
"What about me?" Ichigo asked.
"Could you manage the merchandise table?" Hana asked.
"Sure," Ichigo replied. Soon, Hana's fans began streaming through the door, filling the lines that had been set up. Ichigo made sure no fans did anything inappropriate toward Hana. From a distance, Ichigo spotted a familiar face. He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture.
"I can see you," Ichigo texted before hitting send. He smiled as he saw the person startle and look around before noticing Ichigo.
"Hi, Ichigo-sensei," Issei texted.
"Hello, Issei. I didn't expect to see you here," Ichigo said. "Has your relationship with Rias gone south?"
"Don't say that," Issei hastily replied. Soon, Issei was next to Ichigo at the merchandise table.
"So, why are you here?" Ichigo asked.
"A few people asked me to buy some merchandise and have DVA sign it," Issei said.
"And you wanted some for yourself," Ichigo teased.
"Um…" Issei blushed. Ichigo smiled, seeing his nervous expression. He bagged the selected merchandise before charging Issei's card.
"How do you know her?" Issei asked.
"She's similar to Artoria," Ichigo said. Issei recalled Artoria explaining the concept of heroic spirits.
"She's one?"
"Technically," Ichigo said. Soon, Issei moved up in line. Ichigo continued selling merchandise until he noticed another familiar face.
"Where's his security detail?" Ichigo wondered. He saw the person notice him and sigh before making his way over.
"You know, I'm amazed your brother allowed you to come here alone," Ichigo remarked.
"I know," the person replied, lifting his hat to reveal himself as Mokuba, Seto Kaiba's younger brother. Ichigo bagged the selected merchandise before charging Mokuba's card.
"Is it Seto's birthday yet?" Ichigo joked.
"Um… no, not yet," Mokuba answered nervously.
"Oh?" Ichigo said with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?" Before Mokuba could reply, the line moved forward, and Mokuba quickly walked ahead, pretending Ichigo wasn't looking at him. Ichigo shook his head but continued selling more merchandise.
The meet-and-greet lasted for four hours, two more than planned. Despite this, Ichigo and Hana managed to accommodate all the fans who showed up. Hana walked over to the hotel staff.
"Thank you for your hard work," she said.
"No problem," the staff member replied. "Will you need help cleaning up the stanchions?"
"No," Ichigo replied.
"Okay then. Just leave the trash in a pile near the front entrance," the staff member instructed.
"Thank you," Hana said. Ichigo handed each of the staff members a few hundred-dollar bills.
"A tip for your hard work," Ichigo said.
"Thank you," the staff said before leaving. It took less than a minute to pack away all the stanchions and collect the trash in the convention hall. Ichigo glanced at Hana, who was reviewing her sales.
"So, how much money did you make?" Ichigo asked.
"We made over 1,000,000 yen (10,000 USD) in merchandise sales," Hana said.
Ichigo nodded. They packed up the remaining items and left the Convention Hall. The sun was setting as they returned to their room.
"Help me out of this thing," Hana requested. Ichigo nodded and helped her out of her cosplay.
"Thank you," Hana said as she walked over to the bathroom. "Can you order dinner?"
"Sure," Ichigo replied.
"Thanks," Hana said as she entered the bathroom. Ichigo grabbed the hotel menu and called for food. Twenty minutes later, Hana stepped out of the shower, refreshed and hungry.
"When's the food coming?" Hana asked.
"Maybe in ten minutes," Ichigo replied.
"Okay," Hana said as she grabbed her laptop. Ichigo quickly took a shower. He stepped out of the bathroom to see the food on the table.
"Food just arrived," Hana said without looking up from her laptop.
"What are you doing?" Ichigo asked.
"I just uploaded a few of the photos from the photoshoot," Hana replied as she closed her laptop.
"I see," Ichigo said. They began eating. "Hana, why did you decide to return to your old lifestyle?"
"Starting with the heavy topics," Hana said with a small laugh. "I guess I returned to it because that was what I was good at… besides hacking." Ichigo nodded.
"It works, especially since you'll be known as the pioneer of the future of video games," Ichigo said.
"You've noticed," Hana replied.
"While I don't watch a lot of YouTube now, I know you're doing a lot of things to stand out from the usual content," Ichigo said.
"Yeah, you're right," Hana agreed.
"Are you planning to go to the second day of the convention?" Ichigo asked.
"Nope," Hana replied.
"Oh?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, tomorrow's all about World of Warcraft, something I'm not a fan of," Hana said.
"I see…" Ichigo said. "Do you want me to take you home?"
"Could you?" Hana asked.
"Sure," Ichigo said. They finished their dinner. "Let's get your stuff packed."
"Okay," Hana replied. A few minutes later, Hana had all her suitcases ready.
"I'm going to cast an illusion over your suitcases," Ichigo said.
"Why?" Hana asked.
"To make sure the hotel staff doesn't get suspicious if I return with someone else," Ichigo explained.
"Good point," Hana replied. Ichigo cast the illusion, making the suitcases invisible. They left the hotel and headed to the parking lot. Ichigo helped Hana put her suitcases in the trunk, and they both got into the car. Ichigo drove out of the parking lot and into an empty alleyway, where he used a Garganta to transport them.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Estate
(Language: Japanese)
Ichigo drove out of the Garganta, and they arrived in Japan in the middle of the day.
"AH, THE LIGHT!" Hana screamed. "It burns!"
Ichigo rolled his eyes as he stopped the car. Sakuya appeared beside the driver's door and opened it.
"Thank you, Sakuya," Ichigo said as he stepped out.
"Fleur-sama and Kahlua-sama will be down in a few minutes," Sakuya said. "I have a stronger version of the sleeping potion for you."
"Great," Ichigo said as he took the potion. Sakuya helped Hana with her suitcases.
"Thank you, Sakuya," Hana said.
"I have a sleeping potion for you if you'd like to use it," Sakuya offered.
"Yes, please," Hana replied, accepting the bottle. She turned to Ichigo. "Once again, thank you," she said, letting out a big yawn.
"I guess someone's tired," Ichigo remarked.
"I am," Hana replied, yawning again as she pulled her suitcase toward her room. Sakuya silently followed behind her. Ichigo spotted Fleur and Kahlua walking down from the estate. Fleur was dressed in a gray tank top, black jacket, and jeans, while Kahlua wore a simple golden sundress.
"Hello, ladies," Ichigo greeted.
"Hello, Ichigo," Fleur said, hugging him.
"Hey, I want to give him one too," Kahlua said. Fleur let go, allowing Kahlua to slip in for her hug. Ichigo released Kahlua and smiled.
"So, where do you want to sit?" Ichigo asked.
Fleur and Kahlua looked at each other.
"Do you want to sit in the front?" Fleur asked.
"I'm used to sitting in the back," Kahlua said.
"So am I," Fleur said. Both of them climbed into the back of the car. Ichigo shrugged and got in, driving them back into the Garganta.
Scene Change: Anaheim, California
(Language: English)
Ichigo's Garganta dropped them off in the same empty alleyway from earlier. They returned to the hotel Hana had booked for them.
"Fleur, can you cast an illusion over yourself and Kahlua?" Ichigo asked.
"Why?" Fleur asked.
"I don't want the staff to be suspicious if they see me returning to my hotel room with someone else," Ichigo explained.
"Fair enough," Fleur said as she cast an illusion on herself, making her look like Hana.
"What about me?" Kahlua asked.
"You'll just be invisible," Ichigo replied.
"I always want to be invisible," Kahlua said, grinning. Fleur cracked a smile as she cast the Disillusion charm and applied the Silence charm on Kahlua's feet. Ichigo drove them back to the hotel. Fleur, who now resembled Hana, and the invisible Kahlua entered the hotel and went back to their room. Once inside, Fleur removed the spells.
Ichigo pulled out two bottles.
"I'm going to bed. If you want to join me, take this sleeping potion. If you're staying up, please keep it quiet," Ichigo said as he walked toward the bedroom. He stripped down to his boxers and quickly fell asleep.
Time Skip: Next Morning
Ichigo opened his eyes to find Fleur and Kahlua in bed with him, each using one of his arms as a body pillow. Fleur wore simple gray pajamas, and Kahlua was dressed in white pajamas with pink clouds. Both women opened their eyes and looked at him.
"Morning," Ichigo said.
"Morning to you," Fleur said with a smile.
"Mor-" Kahlua began but was interrupted by a yawn. Ichigo and Fleur smiled at Kahlua's embarrassed expression.
"Come on, let's order breakfast," Ichigo suggested.
"Okay," Fleur said, letting go of his arm. Kahlua pouted as she reluctantly let go of Ichigo's arm.
"I assume you transfigured your clothes into pajamas?" Ichigo guessed.
"Yeah," Fleur replied. "I wasn't prepared to arrive in America in the middle of the night."
"We didn't want to accidentally spoil any surprises you had in store for us," Kahlua added with a grin.
"Good," Ichigo said as he handed them the menu. "Pick whatever you want."
Once everyone had ordered their breakfast, Fleur transfigured their clothes back to the same outfits they were wearing earlier.
"So, what are we doing today?" Kahlua asked.
"We'll be driving to Los Angeles later today," Ichigo replied.
"How long will the drive be?" Fleur asked.
"At most an hour," Ichigo said.
"What will we be doing in Los Angeles?" Kahlua asked.
"I have a meeting with Hades, the Greek God of the Underworld." Fleur's eyes widened.
"Wait… Gods are real?" she asked.
"Yes," Ichigo replied.
"I see…" Fleur said.
"How long will the meeting be?" Kahlua asked.
"I'm not sure," Ichigo admitted. Just then, there was a knock on their hotel door.
"Ladies, please hide," Ichigo asked. Fleur and Kahlua quickly hid in the bedroom. Ichigo opened the door, and the server brought in the food.
"This is a lot of food for two people," the server commented.
"Yes. Yes, it is," Ichigo said, using compulsion on the server to ensure he wouldn't question it. "Here's your tip," Ichigo added, handing the server a $100 bill.
"Thank you, sir," the server said before leaving. Fleur and Kahlua emerged from the bedroom.
"Let's dig in," Ichigo said. They all sat down at the table and ate their breakfast. After a quiet meal, they made their way down to the parking garage. Once again, Fleur had an illusion of Hana pulling her luggage, while Kahlua was under the Disillusion and Silence charms. They entered the parking garage. As Ichigo opened the car door, Kahlua dived into the backseat while Fleur calmly entered the car. Once Ichigo drove out of the garage, the charms were removed. They soon found themselves on an empty highway. The car became invisible and began flying.
Scene Change: Los Angeles
It took about an hour, but Ichigo, Kahlua, and Fleur arrived in Los Angeles. Ichigo could sense the traces of reiatsu in the city, and he headed toward the less developed side of the area.
"Where's the entrance to the Underworld?" Fleur asked.
"We're looking for a place called DOA Studios," Ichigo replied.
"Found it!" Kahlua pointed out the window. Ichigo and Fleur looked to see a small building with faded green paint and a dull red sign that read "DOA Studios." Ichigo parked the car in front of the studio. He stepped out, followed by Fleur and Kahlua.
"Is it a good idea to leave the car here?" Kahlua asked, nervously glancing around.
"If it makes you feel better," Ichigo said, snapping his fingers. The car vanished into his mindscape. They entered DOA Studios. The hallway was empty, except for someone reading a newspaper. Ichigo approached the person, who sniffed the air.
"Sorry, bub, this isn't where you belong," the person said.
"Charon. You have three seconds to look up," Ichigo said. The person grumbled and lowered his newspaper, his eyes widening when he saw Ichigo standing there.
"I'm sorry!" Charon said. "I didn't realize it was you."
"Charon, take us to Hades," Ichigo instructed.
"Very well," Charon said, putting his newspaper down and placing a small sign on his table that read, "Bathroom break. Please wait here."
"Follow me," Charon said, standing up. They walked down the hallway and arrived at a door with a sign that read, "Only authorized personnel beyond this point." Charon pulled out a key, unlocked the door, and opened it. Ichigo entered first, followed by Fleur and Kahlua. Beyond the door was a cave with a set of stairs leading down.
"Stay close. Don't leave the path," Charon warned from behind them. They soon reached a river, where a small wooden harbor and a boat awaited.
"Get on," Charon said as he stepped into the boat. Ichigo, Kahlua, and Fleur climbed in. "We're beginning to move," Charon announced as the boat started gliding down the river, which was littered with trash.
"Who trashed the river?" Kahlua asked.
"This is the River Styx. It's filled with the broken dreams and promises of others," Charon explained.
They slowly sailed down the river. Eventually, they reached another wooden pier.
"We're here," Charon said. Everyone stepped off the boat and followed him up the road. They noticed they were alone as they walked. Eventually, they arrived at Hades's Castle.
"My job's done," Charon said as he turned to leave. Ichigo, Fleur, and Kahlua walked up to the castle. A skeleton rose from the ground.
"Follow me, Master Kurosaki and guests," the skeleton said. They followed it inside. After some time, they reached the throne room, where Hades was seated. The skeleton turned to dust.
"Hello, Ichigo and guests," Hades greeted.
"Hello, Hades," Ichigo replied.
"Thank you for your hard work in finding Grim and dealing with the residents of the Ghost Zone," Hades said.
"You know about them?" Ichigo asked.
"Indeed," Hades said. "The residents of the Ghost Zone are filled with vengeful ghosts too powerful for Grim to handle, though he wouldn't admit that."
"I see," Ichigo said. Hades stood from his throne and floated down beside Ichigo. He turned to Fleur and Kahlua.
"I need to speak privately with Ichigo. It's something only he should know," Hades said. Ichigo turned to them.
"It's all right," Ichigo reassured. Hades raised his hand, and a dome of darkness surrounded them both. Despite the dome's appearance, Ichigo could still see outside.
"Since the dome is made of darkness, I can manipulate it. I've made it so we can see outside while preventing anyone from seeing us," Hades explained.
"Just like one-way mirrors," Ichigo said.
"Exactly," Hades replied. "For your actions, I shall grant you my blessing for the Death Quest," Hades said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Both Hades and Pluto began to glow.
"I, Hades, Ruler of the Underworld," Hades said, radiating energy.
"I, Pluto, Ruler of the Underworld," Pluto followed, also glowing with power.
"Give Kurosaki Ichigo my blessing regarding the Death Quest," Hades and Pluto said in unison. The energy surrounding them flowed into Ichigo. Soon, the energy around him dissipated. With the blessing complete, Hades and Pluto reformed into one again.
"Now, you need one more blessing to complete the Death Quest," Hades said.
"Wait, you only count as one blessing?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes," Hades replied. "It's because Pluto is born from me."
"Oh. Do you know any other gods who might qualify for the Death Quest?"
"Honestly, I don't know," Hades admitted. "I don't actively seek out other allies. Maybe you should ask Amaterasu if she knows of any other pantheons," he suggested.
"I will ask her when I see her. Thank you for the suggestion," Ichigo said.
"No problem," Hades said, swatting his hand to safely destroy the dome. Fleur and Kahlua approached Ichigo.
"Are you all right?" Fleur asked.
"I am," Ichigo reassured her.
"If you need, I can take you back outside DOA Studio," Hades offered.
"That would be appreciated," Ichigo said. Suddenly, a skeleton ran over to them, holding a bowl of steaming water.
"Lord Hades, one of the Hekatonkheires is calling for you," the skeleton said, presenting the bowl to him.
"This is Hades," Hades said. A rainbow appeared through the steam, and the face of Briares appeared.
"Hello, Lord Hades. I was wondering if you knew where Ichigo is," Briares asked.
"Hello, Briares," Ichigo greeted.
"I just heard Ichigo's voice," Briares said.
"Turn the bowl to him," Hades ordered the skeleton. The skeleton turned the bowl toward Ichigo.
"Ah, Ichigo. The man I wanted to see," Briares said.
"Hello, Briares. How's the weapon coming? Any issues with the weapons?" Ichigo asked.
"We just finished forging them," Briares said. "They might be the best weapons we've forged yet."
"I see… Do you want me to come to the Underground Forge to pick them up?"
"Sure," Briares said. "How long will it take you to get here?"
"Maybe five or ten minutes," Ichigo replied.
"Great. See you soon," Briares said, ending the call.
"Well, looks like I've got to go," Ichigo said. Hades nodded.
"Is it okay if I summon my car in the courtyard?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure," Hades replied.
"Bye-bye," Kahlua said.
"Goodbye, Lord Hades," Fleur said. Hades nodded again and summoned another skeleton. Ichigo, Fleur, and Kahlua were escorted out of Hades's castle. Once they reached the courtyard, the skeleton turned to dust. Ichigo summoned his car, and Fleur and Kahlua sat in the back while Ichigo sat in the front. Ichigo snapped his fingers, opened a Garganta, and drove through it.
Disclaimers:
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy belongs to Cartoon Network & Maxwell Atoms.
Blizzcon, Sarah Kerrigan, and Starcraft belong to Blizzard.
YouTube belongs to Google.
Percy Jackson is owned by Rick Riordan and Disney Hyperion.
Author's Notes:
Stanchions are those black barriers with retractable ribbons.