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.
Pokémon is owned by Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Game Freak.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking.
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Chapter 72:
Ichigo and Arceus floated through the void between universes.
"How much longer until we reach my world?" Ichigo asked.
"Um… we're not actually going to your world right now," Arceus admitted.
"What?" Ichigo said.
"Amaterasu asked me to help her drag her brother back to your universe," Arceus explained.
"Her brother?"
"I think this was the uncle the former King of Souls was staying with," Kyōka theorized.
"And I need to take him back because…"
"He's currently residing in a Legendless World," Arceus said.
"What is a Legendless World?" Ichigo asked, confused. Arceus sighed.
"Gods and Goddesses require three things in order to exist: a concept, legends, and worshipers," Arceus began. "The issue is that the god's personality is linked to the legends that the worshipers follow. This creates a situation where many gods are forbidden from doing certain actions."
"Like Zeus being loyal to Hera?" Ichigo guessed.
"Good example," Arceus said. "Gods and Goddesses can enter these Legendless Worlds to be free from their legends."
"Did Amaterasu say which brother I'm looking for?"
"It's Susanoo," Arceus said.
"I see…" Ichigo said. "Did Amaterasu say how I'm getting back to my universe?" A small bag floated towards Ichigo.
"She said that when you're ready, just open the bag." They soon stopped in front of a portal. "I can't proceed any further."
"Thank you for the ride," Ichigo said as he shunpō'ed into the portal.
"I forgot to mention to him that only divine powers could be used in these Legendless Worlds," Arceus thought before returning to the Pokémon Universe.
Scene Change: Legendless World
Ichigo appeared on a busy Japanese street. He closed his eyes, trying to sense Susanoo. Unfortunately, something intercepted him and broke his concentration.
"Looks like it's the old-fashioned method then," Ichigo muttered as he began to walk around the city. "Now, where is Susanoo?" Suddenly, a black car drove up and pulled over, blocking his path. Five people exited the car.
The first was a young man with black hair and eyes. The second was a beautiful young woman with blue eyes and straight, lower-back-length blond hair with a hint of red. The third was another beautiful, slender girl with long silver hair and blue eyes. The fourth was a beautiful girl with high-length light brown hair tied at the bottom with different-colored ribbons. Two black-and-white cylinder clips hung from each shoulder-length hair strand, and square bangs hung over her forehead with brown eyes. The fifth was a young woman with long black hair in a princess cut and red eyes. The second, third, and fifth girls all pulled out weapons.
"The fifth girl has a copy of a divine weapon while the other two carry magic swords," Ichigo thought.
"Godou-sama, I cannot determine his identity," the fourth girl said. "However, he is extraordinarily powerful. This Heretic God must be slain, or his power will certainly be used to cause World War III," she said, nervously. Ichigo's eye twitched.
"Did the other gods go absolutely crazy on this world?" Ichigo thought.
"For I am strongest among the strong. Truly, I am one that holds each and every victory. I care not whom challenges me, whether man or devil; I may face all my foes and all my enemies. Regardless, I shall crush all who stand in my way," Godou chanted. Ichigo could sense divine power radiating from him.
"This is actual divine power. But it feels forced. As if this power isn't his and he's forced it to work for him," Ichigo thought as the young man charged toward him and punched him. Ichigo countered with his own punch. The impact sent shockwaves throughout the area. Most of the ground was torn apart from the shockwave. The young man's eyes widened as he was sent flying back a few hundred meters.
"Do you really want to do this in the middle of the city?" Ichigo asked as he saw everyone running away.
"You will lose, Heretic God," the second girl said. "I, Erica Blandelli, sworn knight of Kusanagi Godou, the Seventh Campione, declare that this day will be your doom and that you shall not emerge from your legend to trouble humanity again, for fear of my lord's wrath," she declared imperiously. Ichigo sighed.
"So, the boy is Kusanagi Godou, and this girl is Erica Blandelli," Ichigo thought.
"I'm not here to cause any trouble," Ichigo said. "I'm just looking for someone."
"Lies!" Erica yelled before she charged toward Ichigo. Ichigo tried to summon Yorugetsu, but for some reason, it failed to appear from his mindscape. Ichigo shunpō'ed back to dodge her strike.
"What happened?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't know," Zangetsu admitted. "It felt as if something was preventing Yorugetsu from appearing in your hand."
"Maybe try one of your divine authorities since Godou can use stolen divine authority," Yhwach suggested.
"Good idea," Ichigo thought as he dodged another of her attacks. Ichigo activated Schrift K: The Kataigída.
"I summon the Wrath of the Heavens, Bringer of Storms, Rage of the Earth; Stormbreaker!" Ichigo chanted as Stormbreaker appeared in his hand. Ichigo shunpō'ed in front of Erica and swung Stormbreaker. The ax slammed into her gut, sending her flying. The fourth girl's eyes began to glow.
"Impossible," she muttered.
"What's wrong, Yuri?" the third girl asked.
"Liliana-san, he draws upon the divine authority of Krios, the Lord of the South, Oceanus, the Titan of the Ocean, Zeus, the King of the Sky, and Poseidon, the God of the Sea—all at the same time," Yuri said.
"He's more dangerous than we thought," Liliana said as the sword in her hand morphed into a glowing blue bow.
"Ena shall join as well," the fifth girl said as she drew her sword.
"Be careful, Ena," Yuri warned as Ena ran towards Ichigo. Liliana pointed her bow at Ichigo and began firing arrows at him. Ichigo saw the incoming arrows and smashed them with Stormbreaker. Ena used the opportunity to attack Ichigo. Ichigo slammed Stormbreaker into her side, pushing her back.
"Diachoristeíte [Split apart," Ichigo said. Stormbreaker glowed before splitting into two weapons. Ichigo now held a tomahawk and a hammer with a hook on the other side. Both weapons were about 2.5 feet tall. Ichigo threw the tomahawk at Liliana. She quickly grabbed Yuri and ran away from the incoming tomahawk. Ichigo used the hammer to attack Ena. She blocked the heavy attacks with her blade. Suddenly, she jumped to the side, where a giant flaming boar slammed into Ichigo, knocking the hammer portion of Stormbreaker out of his hand. The giant flaming boar pushed Ichigo into a nearby building and continued its charge.
"Did that finish him?" Godou asked as he picked up both halves of Stormbreaker.
"I'm not sure," Yuri replied. The girls regrouped with Godou. He tightly gripped both halves of Stormbreaker, his hands glowing black as he tried to assert his will over the weapon. Stormbreaker glowed navy blue, resisting Godou's command.
"Obey me!" Godou yelled, his hands glowing brighter. To his surprise, Stormbreaker only grew brighter, continuing to defy his will. Cracks began to form along their surface.
"Godou-sama!" The girls shouted, trying to warn him, but it was too late. Stormbreaker exploded in a burst of energy. The dust settled, revealing Godou holding two pieces of charred wood.
"HOW DARE YOU!" A booming voice echoed as a large surge of divine power descended. Erica, Liliana, Yuri, and Ena fell to their knees under the overwhelming force. Godou struggled to stay on his feet as Ichigo shunpō'ed in front of them. His eyes shifted into their true form, resembling a spiral galaxy.
"How dare you try to steal my power!" Ichigo declared. He deactivated Schrift K: The Kataigída (Stormbreaker) and activated Schrift T: The Taiyō (Sun). Flames began to surround Ichigo as he raised his hand.
"Let the world witness your rise. Let my allies feel your warmth. Let my foes feel your fury, Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi!" Ichigo chanted. A pillar of fire shot into the sky, engulfing Ichigo in flames. The pillar exploded apart, revealing Ichigo holding a long nodachi with a silver blade and charred black edges. The simple, circular tsuba gleamed, and the handle was crimson, like the sun.
"Impossible," Yuri gasped, her eyes glowing.
"What is it, Yuri?" Godou asked, trying to understand Ichigo's power.
"He stopped drawing from Oceanus, Zeus, and Poseidon's divine authorities and is now using the divine authority of Hyperion, the Lord of the East, and Lady Amaterasu simultaneously!" Yuri's voice grew more frantic.
"We need that Old Man's help," Godou decided. "Ena, give me Kusanagi no Tsurugi while you ask him for help."
"Right," Ena said as Kusanagi no Tsurugi vanished from her hands.
"It was here that Susanoo led a thousand unruly deities in rebellion. A thousand swords stood upon the earth, used as city walls to defend against enemies," Godou chanted, summoning the sword. "All evildoers, tremble before my strength... Upon my mighty self, I shall bear the symbol of the raging camel!" Godou charged toward Ichigo, attacking with fervor.
Ichigo blocked all of Godou's strikes with ease.
"Kokuen Nichibotsu [Black Flames Sunset," Ichigo said, swinging his sword downward and releasing a wave of black flames.
"DODGE THEM!" Yuri shouted.
"Fear of the winged, both evil and powerful, all shall fear I who hold these feathered wings. My wings will bring you curses and just desserts!" Godou chanted, barely managing to dodge the attack. The black flames hit the street beside them, slowly devouring the asphalt. Liliana fired a few more arrows at Ichigo, but he didn't dodge them. The arrows were incinerated by the invisible flames surrounding him.
"Looks like you're tired of just watching," Ichigo said, stabbing Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi into the ground. "Be born from the flames of life."
The ground trembled as two pillars of lava erupted, forming humanoid shapes. Ichigo pulled his sword from the earth. "Deal with the girls," he ordered. The lava golems' hands transformed into swords as they charged toward Erica and Liliana.
Ichigo blocked another strike from Godou, using the opening to punch him in the chest with his left hand, sending him flying. Godou's flight was interrupted when someone caught him in their arms. He looked up to see a middle-aged man, covered in hair.
"Old Man!" Godou shouted. Susanoo descended to the battlefield.
"Kid, help the girls with the lava golems," Susanoo ordered.
"Okay, Old Man," Godou replied.
"Ena will help." The two of them joined the others in fighting the lava golems. Susanoo turned to Ichigo.
"Who are you, stranger?" Susanoo asked.
"Isn't it rude to ask for someone else's name without introducing yourself first?" Ichigo replied. Susanoo chuckled.
"I am Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the God of Sea, Storm, Fields, Combat (1), Chaos (1), and Swords (1)," Susanoo introduced himself.
"I am Yamamoto-Shiba-Kurosaki Ichigo," Ichigo said. Susanoo's eyes widened.
"Are you the one who received my brother's blessing?" Susanoo asked.
"I am," Ichigo confirmed.
"What are you doing here?" Susanoo inquired.
"Your sister wants you to return to our world," Ichigo said. Susanoo groaned.
"Fine. Can you call off your golems?" he asked. Ichigo glanced over at the scene. Erica, Liliana, and Ena were knocked unconscious, while Godou struggled against the two lava golems.
"Not until I receive compensation for his actions," Ichigo replied.
"What did he do?" Susanoo asked.
"He tried to steal my powers and destroyed one of my Weapons of Authority," Ichigo explained.
"Which one?" Susanoo asked.
Ichigo deactivated Schrift T: The Taiyō (Sun) but kept the golems active. He reactivated Schrift K: The Kataigída. "I will give you my sword to pay for his sins."
"Fine," Ichigo said, snapping his fingers. The lava golems stopped attacking and stepped back.
"What happened?" Godou asked. Susanoo grabbed Godou's head and slammed him to the ground, forcing him to bow before Ichigo's feet. The shockwave from the slam woke up the girls.
"Godou-sama!" they cried.
"Silence!" Susanoo commanded. "I'm trying to save your lives here!" He turned to Godou. "Now, you're going to apologize to him and offer him the Kusanagi no Tsurugi as compensation for your actions," Susanoo instructed.
"Um... Susanoo-sama, who is this man?" Yuri asked.
"I am Yamamoto-Shiba-Kurosaki Ichigo," Ichigo said. Yuri's eyes widened as she gasped.
"I can see who he really is." Yuri began. "He was born a human with spiritual powers. He awakened those powers and has fought gods and demons alike. Unlike Godou-sama, he fully absorbed their power and authority, making it his own."
"That's how he can use the powers of different gods," Erica added.
"He's essentially a Campione, but much stronger," Susanoo simplified.
He released Godou's head, allowing him to rise.
"I, Kusanagi Godou, apologize to Yamamoto-Shiba-Kurosaki Ichigo for attempting to steal his divine authority. As compensation for my actions, I willingly present you with the Kusanagi no Tsurugi." Godou bowed, lifting the sword up to Ichigo with both hands.
Ichigo took the Kusanagi no Tsurugi from Godou.
"I, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the God of the Sea, Storms, Fields, Harvest, Marriage, and Love, will gift Yamamoto-Shiba-Kurosaki Ichigo my Kusanagi no Tsurugi for him to use as he sees fit." Ichigo accepted the Kusanagi no Tsurugi. As soon as he touched the sword, he felt the Schrift collide with the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, and they struggled to function together.
"Ichigo, I think we need to rename the Schrift," Yhwach observed.
"You're right," Ichigo agreed. "Kataigída is Greek for Stormbringer, but we need a Japanese name for a Japanese Weapon of Authority." He paused, thinking it over.
"Your new name will no longer be Schrift K: The Kataigída [Stormbringer]. You'll now be called Schrift A: The Arashi Shōkanshi [Storm Summoner," Ichigo announced. He could feel the newly christened Schrift A: The Arashi Shōkanshi merge with the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, fusing them into one.
"I summon the Wrath of the Heavens, Summoner of Clouds, Bringer of Rain, Rage of the Earth, DragonSlayer; Kusanagi no Tsurugi!" Ichigo chanted. The Kusanagi no Tsurugi glowed brightly in his hand, transforming before their eyes. It became a long nodachi with a silver blade and a light blue wave hamon. The tsuba was golden, depicting Yamata no Orochi, and the handle was a deep blue.
"Whoa," Godou muttered, staring in awe at the transformed Kusanagi no Tsurugi. Ichigo deactivated Schrift A: The Arashi Shōkanshi, his eyes returning to their normal brown. He turned to Susanoo.
"Now is a good time to say goodbye," Ichigo said.
"Goodbye?" Godou asked, confused.
"Yes, a goodbye," Ichigo confirmed. "I was sent here to take Susanoo back to my world."
"Grampy, are you really leaving?" Ena asked, her eyes starting to tear up.
"I am," Susanoo answered, a solemn expression crossing his face. Ena began to cry, and Susanoo sighed, comforting her until her tears stopped. Godou stepped forward and hugged her.
"All of you should use this match as a reminder that you're not the strongest yet," Susanoo advised. "Keep growing stronger." He then turned to Ichigo. "I'm ready."
Ichigo summoned the bag Arceus had given him, opened it, and ten talismans shot out, positioning themselves in a circle. A portal formed before them. Without another word, Ichigo and Susanoo entered the portal.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Universe: Amaterasu's Office
Amaterasu was sitting at her desk when a nearby stack of talismans began to glow and float.
"Right on time," she thought. The talismans hovered before flying away from her desk, forming a circle. A portal opened in front of her. Ichigo and Susanoo stepped out.
"Hello, Sister," Susanoo greeted.
"Hello, Brother," Amaterasu replied. "I'll talk to you after Ichigo," she added. Susanoo shrugged, giving her a casual wave as he left her office.
Amaterasu turned to Ichigo, and they both sat down. "How was your experience in the Pokémon world?" she asked, pouring tea for herself and Ichigo.
"It was pretty relaxing," Ichigo replied, taking a sip of his tea.
"That's good to hear," Amaterasu said. "How was their world different from the game?"
Ichigo began explaining the differences between the anime, the game, and his experiences in the Pokémon universe. Suddenly, something was wrong.
"HELP!" Ichigo stopping mid-sentence.
"Ichigo?" Amaterasu asked, seeing his sudden behavior change. Ignoring her, Ichigo stood, ripped open a Garganta, and jumped through it.
Amaterasu sighed, watching the Garganta close.
"Sorry, Ichigo. Even with all this time to prepare, I still couldn't tell you," she whispered.
Scene Change: A-Rank Dungeon: Goblin Kingdom
A group of seven adventurers was trapped in a forest, fighting for their lives against an army of goblins.
"When I get out of here, whoever misidentified this dungeon is going to get their ass beaten," the leader thought. She was a tall, well-toned woman with short, dark hair spiked out at the sides. She wore light armor that gave her maximum mobility and wielded a pair of knuckle-duster knives, stabbing and punching goblins as they charged.
She glanced to her left to check on her teammates.
The first was a young woman with knee-length orange hair, swept bangs, green eyes, and pronounced fangs. She was dressed in light armor, using a sword made of blood to cut through the goblins.
Next to her was another young girl, her large amber eyes and purple hair tied with a red ribbon standing out. She wielded a monk's spade and fought with swift, precise movements.
Behind them, a golden-haired, blonde woman with nine fox tails and matching ears fired spells at the horde. To her right stood a man with medium-length shaggy brown hair and brown eyes, using a pair of daggers to slice through goblins. In the distance, a man with short black hair and green eyes fired spells from his staff. Both men wore light armor.
"Tatsuki, do you see an end to this army!?" the dagger-wielding man yelled.
"For the last time, Keigo, NO!" Tatsuki snapped back. The magic-using man chuckled at their typical banter.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the forest. All the goblins turned in unison and began charging in the direction of the sound.
"Arisawa-san, why did the goblins retreat?" the golden-haired woman asked.
"I'm not sure, Kunou-sama," Tatsuki replied, her eyes scanning the forest.
"We should use this time to escape and recover," the magic-using man, Mizuiro, suggested.
"Mizuiro's right," Keigo agreed.
"Arisawa-san, hobgoblins are coming!" Kunou warned.
"Elizabeth-chan, Senna-chan, and Kunou-sama get to the front. Keigo and I will take the rearguard!" Tatsuki ordered.
"Black Fog!" Mizuiro cast, enveloping the area in black smoke to hide their retreat from the hobgoblins. The group ran for twenty minutes before finding a cave to rest in.
"How is everyone doing?" Tatsuki asked.
"Tired and exhausted," Elizabeth replied, and everyone else nodded in agreement. They had a quick snack while keeping a watchful eye for any goblins or hobgoblins.
"If we're struggling with the weaker monsters, how can we deal with the boss?" Keigo whispered to Mizuiro.
Mizuiro gave him a playful whack on the head. "Everyone can hear you, even when you whisper."
"Oh," Keigo said, realizing the others were staring at him. "Sorry," he mumbled.
"Just ignore that idiot," Tatsuki said, rolling her eyes.
"But he does bring up an important point," Elizabeth said. "If we're struggling now, how can we possibly return home?" she asked. Tatsuki flicked Elizabeth on the forehead.
"Ow!" Elizabeth cried out in pain.
"There's no point in worrying about that," Tatsuki said. "What matters now is pushing forward."
"You're right," Elizabeth agreed. Suddenly, they heard a loud roar. Tatsuki looked out and saw a goblin much larger and more armored than the hobgoblins yelling.
"Oh no," she muttered.
"What happened?" Keigo asked.
"We're surrounded," Tatsuki said.
"How?" Keigo asked, panicked.
"They must have formed a perimeter around the area and only revealed themselves once the Goblin Commander gave the signal," Tatsuki theorized. The Goblin Commander pointed toward the cave, and a group of hobgoblins charged toward the cave entrance.
"Now what?" Kunou asked. Before anyone could reply, Tatsuki shouted, "Kunou and Mizuiro, cover our backs!"
Elizabeth, Senna, Tatsuki, and Keigo attacked the first wave. To their horror, the hobgoblins grabbed the smaller goblins and hurled them over their heads toward Kunou and Mizuiro.
"Fireball!" Mizuiro cast, sending balls of fire from his staff. The fireballs annihilated the incoming goblins. Kunou cast as many buffs as she could, but more goblins kept getting thrown at them. Mizuiro continued casting fireballs to hold them back.
"We're not getting anywhere!" Elizabeth shouted as she dispatched another hobgoblin.
"That Hobgoblin Commander is smart, he's using the goblins and hobgoblins to wear us down," Tatsuki observed.
"Should we try to move forward?" Keigo asked.
"We can't," Tatsuki said. "The moment there's a gap, the goblins will exploit it, either separating us from the rear or sending more goblins to attack us from behind."
"RAH!" The Hobgoblin Commander yelled as he charged toward them, drawing his weapon. Tatsuki was forced to scatter and dodge his strikes. The Hobgoblin Commander swung his sword side to side, and Tatsuki narrowly avoided the attacks.
The Hobgoblin Commander swung downward with his large sword. Tatsuki prepared to dodge but was caught off guard when he suddenly let go of the sword and grabbed her arm instead.
Tatsuki gasped in surprise as he swung her into a wall.
"GAH!" she yelled in pain. The impact caused her knuckle-dusters to slip from her hands.
"Get away from her!" Kunou shouted, throwing a few talismans toward the Hobgoblin Commander. The talismans glowed and transformed into small fire foxes. The Hobgoblin Commander threw Tatsuki's body at the flames, using her as a shield.
"AHAH!" Tatsuki screamed in pain.
The Hobgoblin Commander then hurled her body toward Kunou and Mizuiro. Mizuiro caught Tatsuki and began healing her injuries. The Hobgoblin Commander grabbed his sword and charged toward them again.
Kunou threw more talismans into the air, creating a dome-shaped barrier around them. The Hobgoblin Commander's sword slammed into the barrier, but it held firm.
"RAH!" he yelled, his fury intensifying. A metal bracelet on his arm, adorned with gemstones, began to glow. The goblins and hobgoblins in the cave were suddenly energized, their attacks becoming faster and stronger. The Hobgoblin Commander also began glowing as he resumed his assault.
"Grr," Kunou growled, her concentration unwavering as she poured her energy into the barrier. Meanwhile, the goblins and hobgoblins prevented Elizabeth, Senna, and Keigo from getting through to help her.
The Hobgoblin Commander pressed his attacks relentlessly, and suddenly, the sound of a crack echoed through the cave. Kunou and Mizuiro glanced at the barrier and saw a small crack forming.
"Oh no," they thought in unison.
The Hobgoblin Commander grinned, his strikes growing more forceful. Kunou poured more energy into the barrier, trying to hold it together as Elizabeth, Senna, and Keigo fought their way through the horde.
"DEATH!" the Hobgoblin Commander yelled as he swung his sword down again, shattering the barrier. Kunou quickly threw her talismans at him, but he sliced through the fire foxes with his sword and raised it to strike her.
"HELP!" Kunou shouted, bracing herself for the blow. Suddenly, she heard a slight thud in front of her. She opened her eyes and gasped in shock. Standing before her was a young man with long orange hair flowing down his back. He wore casual clothes and had no weapons on him. He caught the Hobgoblin Commander's sword between his fingers.
"P-P-Papa?" Kunou nervously said, hoping this wasn't some illusion. The man turned to her, and she recognized the warm chocolate-brown eyes she had missed.
"PAPA!" Kunou shouted, her voice full of disbelief. She wasn't the only one stunned. Everyone in the cave—both human and goblin—stared at the man.
"Is… is that Ichigo? Why is his hair so long?" Keigo asked, still trying to process what he was seeing.
Ichigo glanced around at the cave. "I'm not going crazy, right? I remember when I left, Elizabeth, Kunou, and Senna were six years old. Now they look like they're 16. And Tatsuki kinda looks like her mother." Ichigo observed.
"I believe we were sent to the future… maybe a decade into the future," Kyōka theorized.
Ichigo took a calm breath before turning to his friends and family. "Keigo. Tatsuki. Mizuiro. Elizabeth. Kunou. Senna." Ichigo said, his voice steady and authoritative. "Everyone, stay where you are."
"W-what do you mean?" Keigo asked, confused.
"I'll take it from here," Ichigo said, his tone brokering no argument.
"But—" Keigo began, but Ichigo interrupted by twisting the Hobgoblin Commander's sword in his grip, breaking it with ease. He turned to face the invading horde, his glare fierce.
"Run," Ichigo ordered. His intimidating gaze caused the Hobgoblin Commander and his army to flee. Ichigo stood motionless until the last of them disappeared into the forest. He waved his hand, setting up various kidō and magic protections around the cave.
Ichigo walked back to the group. "Mizuiro, let me see Tatsuki," he said, transfiguring a nearby rock into a solid mattress.
"Okay," Mizuiro replied, gently laying Tatsuki on the makeshift bed. Ichigo immediately began casting healing kidō and spells on her. Within a few minutes, Tatsuki slowly opened her eyes and saw Ichigo.
"Am I dreaming?" she asked in disbelief.
"You're not dead, Tatsuki," Ichigo replied. Tatsuki slowly sat up from the mattress. "Since the girls look like my age, I assume I was missing for a decade?"
"You were," Elizabeth replied.
"I see…" Ichigo said.
"You're taking this much calmer than we thought," Keigo remarked.
"Oh no. I'm fucking pissed off," Ichigo corrected him. "But I know when to vent my anger, and right now isn't the time."
"But I know something you can vent your anger on," Elizabeth said.
"Those monsters?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct," Tatsuki answered.
"You remember those old MMO games we played in high school?" Keigo asked.
"I do," Ichigo replied.
"This is similar to those party quests we did," Keigo explained.
"Okay. So, I assume we need to kill all those monsters I scared off?" Ichigo asked.
"Those monsters were Goblins and Hobgoblins, with the big one being the Hobgoblin Commander," Tatsuki clarified. "And to escape, we need to kill the boss."
"That seems easy," Ichigo said. "Do we need to retrieve anything from the goblins?"
"Thanks for the reminder," Keigo said, beginning to dissect a corpse in the cave. "Some of them have these mana crystals in their bodies. We can sell them." He pulled a mana crystal out. Ichigo took it from Keigo.
"I see…" Ichigo said. "Accio Mana Crystals," he muttered, making sure to keep the spell low-powered and limited in range to just the corpses in the cave. Ten goblin corpses moved toward Ichigo. He placed them in front of Keigo. "These should have the mana crystals." Keigo quickly dissected the bodies and found the crystals.
"Um… how should we split the mana crystals?" Keigo asked.
"We'll deal with it later," Ichigo said. "Everyone ready to move?"
"We're moving now?" Senna asked.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this," Ichigo said, summoning Yorugetsu and placing it on his waist. Everyone got up and left the cave. Ichigo quickly located everyone in the area and led the team toward the Goblin Castle. As they traversed the forest, any goblin or hobgoblin Ichigo encountered was instantly decapitated. Everyone else retrieved the mana crystals. After thirty minutes, they arrived at the outskirts of the Goblin Castle.
The castle appeared like a typical stone fortress, complete with a moat and drawbridge. As they walked toward it, arrows began raining down. Ichigo raised his hand, summoning a wind wall to block them. He flicked his wrist, sending the arrows back toward the archers. Everyone could hear the goblin archers' cries of pain. They approached the moat. Ichigo stomped his foot, then punched forward. The ground shook as a stone stake shot up, growing large enough to pierce the wooden door. Ichigo opened his fist, causing the stake to bloom and form stone hooks. He stepped back and retracted his fist, forcing the drawbridge down. They casually crossed the moat.
Goblins and Hobgoblins charged toward them. Ichigo swung Yorugetsu, sending a concentrated air blade that decapitated the horde. The Hobgoblin Commander from earlier charged out with another greatsword. Ichigo casually blocked it with Yorugetsu, the greatsword splitting where they met. The Hobgoblin Commander was shocked to see his sword easily broken and didn't notice Ichigo's attack until his head was already falling off.
They entered the Goblin Castle and Ichigo continued to massacre all the Goblins, Hobgoblins, and other Hobgoblin Commanders they encountered. Eventually, they reached the throne room. Ichigo kicked the door off its hinges, revealing a Hobgoblin sitting on a throne. This one was bigger than the previous Commanders, covered in armor except for his face, hands, and feet. A golden crown rested on his head.
"So, this is the Hobgoblin King," Ichigo guessed as the King stood up and pulled a large halberd from beside the throne.
"DIE, HUMAN!" The Hobgoblin King roared, charging at Ichigo. Ichigo drew Yorugetsu and waited. As the King swung his halberd down, Ichigo used Shunpō to appear in front of him, stabbing through his skull with Yorugetsu. Ichigo twisted his hand and swung, severing the King's head. The King's body collapsed, blood oozing from the decapitated neck. Ichigo swung Yorugetsu, flinging off the blood before sheathing it. A portal appeared in front of them.
"So, this is the exit to the dungeon?" Ichigo asked.
"It is," Tatsuki said as Keigo harvested the mana crystal from the Hobgoblin King. He also removed the King's armor and halberd. "About the price…"
"Don't worry about it," Ichigo said. Soon everyone was ready to leave through the portal.
Scene Change: Naruki City
In the Japanese night sky, a portion of the Chōbara District was cordoned off. Four people stood in front of a red dungeon.
"How long have they been in?" one of the people asked. She was a beautiful woman with a voluptuous body, white skin, blue-green eyes, and long crimson-red hair.
"They entered about two hours ago, Buchou," the second person replied. He was a handsome, toned man with short spiky brown hair, two locks of hair behind his head, and light brown eyes. They looked toward the red dungeon as two women stared at it. The first was a fair-skinned woman with long pink hair tied in a black ribbon and green eyes, dressed in a suit. The second had long blonde hair tied in a loose ponytail, dressed in a traditional Miko outfit with a white coat held closed by a red ribbon. The dungeon color shifted.
"The dungeon opened!" all three women shouted.
"Someone is coming out!" the man said. Slowly, everyone exited the portal.
"Kaa-san!" Kunou shouted as she ran to her mother.
"Aunty!" Elizabeth shouted, also running to her mother. Everyone noticed the six who entered the A-Rank dungeon seemed fine.
"What happened in there?" Akasha and Yasaka asked.
"I can answer that," Ichigo said as he exited the dungeon. "It's been a while." Suddenly, Ichigo was tackled. He managed to keep his balance, almost falling into the dungeon. He saw it was Akasha and Yasaka.
"I-is it really you?" Akasha asked.
"It smells like him," Yasaka said.
"It is the real me," Ichigo replied through the peerage link. He quickly shut the connection when he was suddenly bombarded by everyone else in the peerage link. Ichigo waited a minute before opening the connection again. "We can have a meeting at the estate to catch up on what happened while I was gone," Ichigo said.
"Okay, let's go back," Ichigo added.
"Yes, Ichigo," both women replied. Suddenly, a large heavy-duty limousine arrived in front of them. A maid walked out of the driver's side.
"Welcome back, Ichigo-sama," the maid said, bowing to Ichigo.
"Thank you, Sakuya," Ichigo replied. Yasaka, Kunou, Akasha, Elizabeth, Senna, and Ichigo began to enter the limo.
"Don't they need to stay here while Guild Master Gremory and Vice-Guild Master Hyoudou write the report?" Tatsuki asked, remembering the procedure to document anything unusual that happened in the dungeon.
"Do you really need us for that, Rias?" Ichigo casually asked.
"No, I don't, Ichigo-sensei," Rias replied with a chuckle.
"Nice to have you back, Ichigo-sensei," Issei added.
"Same here, though I thought you would have proposed to Rias by now," Ichigo teased. Issei nervously chuckled as Rias blushed in embarrassment.
"Um… Ichigo? How do you know the Guild Master of Crimson Rose, Golden Sun, and DxD?" Tatsuki asked. Keigo and Mizuiro also nodded, wondering about the same thing.
"Connections," Ichigo vaguely replied before Sakuya closed the limo door. She took her seat in the driver's seat and drove away.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Pocket Dimension
They eventually arrived outside Ichigo's estate. Ichigo noticed the estate had expanded over the last decade. The limo stopped, and Sakuya opened the door. Ichigo stepped out onto a red carpet.
"Welcome back, Ichigo-sama!" All the maids shouted as they bowed to Ichigo. Ichigo spotted Damasen, dressed in a tailored suit, also bowing from a distance.
"Good to be back, everyone," Ichigo said. "Thank you for taking care of the estate in my absence. You all did a wonderful job." Ichigo and everyone quickly entered the estate. Ichigo was escorted to the throne room. The walls were lined with statues of himself, each depicting Ichigo with one of his many Zanpakutōs or his Symbol of Authority. In the middle of the room was a single throne: a metallic black chair with crimson leather. His entire peerage, all his servants, and the homunculus maids were already in the room, kneeling before the throne. Ichigo walked down the aisle and sat down on the throne. He felt himself being connected to the entire estate. Suddenly, a rush of divine energy flowed into him. His Divine Authorities grew stronger. Ichigo noticed that one statue, depicting him wielding Stormbreaker, morphed into him holding Kusanagi no Tsurugi while riding atop Yamata no Orochi.
"Rise," Ichigo commanded. Everyone stood, allowing Ichigo to take a good look at them. Ichigo noticed that Yuzu and Karin had grown into beautiful young women. Kunou, Elizabeth, Senna, Seekvaira, and all six of his Asura Machina Mechanic were in attendance. Ichigo also noticed Ophis wasn't there.
"For those who weren't aware of where I was, I was in the Pokémon Universe," Ichigo said. Many people were shocked by this revelation. Ichigo cast a few spatial expansion charms in the throne room, allowing all his Pokémon to fit comfortably with his peerage. Ichigo released all his Pokémon.
"My Pokémon, welcome to my universe," Ichigo said. "Give me another moment before you interact with everyone." Everyone nodded. "I also wish to welcome two new people who returned with me." Ichigo released Sabrina and Naturia. "This is Former Gym Leader Sabrina and Former Princess of Team Plasma, Naturia Harmonia Gropius," Ichigo introduced.
"All of you can interact with each other, while I need to go and talk with someone," Ichigo added as he stood from the throne. He ripped open a golden Garganta and stepped through.
Scene Change: Amaterasu's Office
"That idiot caused me so many problems when he took my son to that stupid Legendless World," Amaterasu thought as she watched Susanoo leave her office. A golden Garganta opened in her office. "Time to face the music," she thought as Ichigo entered.
"Hello, Ichigo," she said.
"Why?" Ichigo asked, his black and red reiatsu beginning to flow out of his body. Amaterasu sighed.
"It was for the greater good," she replied.
"Greater good?" Ichigo repeated. The black and red reiatsu solidified, forming the Jigoku no Yoroi. "GREATER GOOD!" Ichigo's fist slammed onto the office table, splitting it in two. The skulls on the armor glowed with black flames, responding to Ichigo's rage. "You lied to me!" Black flames flowed from the skulls as if crying. "You abused the trust I gave you!" The flames began to destroy the office.
"I know," Amaterasu said, standing up to look Ichigo in the eyes. "And I would do it again if I felt it was necessary."
Ichigo swung his fist, punching Amaterasu in the cheek. The unexpected blow caused her to fall. Amaterasu's eyes widened as her hand touched her face, feeling the sting from the punch.
"What gives you the right to do that?!" Ichigo yelled, staring at her. Amaterasu stood up, her left hand holding her bruised cheek.
"I did what I had to do for my children," she said, using her energy to form a barrier around them, preventing the hellfire from destroying more of her office.
"Am I not one of your children?" Ichigo questioned.
"You are," Amaterasu admitted. "But I can't favor one and neglect the others."
"So, this is now a numbers game?" Ichigo asked.
"It's not a simple numbers game!" Amaterasu yelled. "I know you, Ichigo! I know that the moment you sensed danger, you would charge headfirst into it and confront it!"
"Of course. That's who I am," Ichigo replied.
"You might be able to stop tens or even hundreds of enemies. But what about thousands? Ten thousand? Even a million? Do you think you can defeat them all?" she screamed, fearlessly walking toward Ichigo, ignoring the hellfire that burned around her. "And if you end up winning or, at worst, surviving the battle, do you think your family is strong enough to defend themselves without you there?" Amaterasu stood directly in front of Ichigo, staring into his eyes. "What about everyone else? Do you think they are capable of surviving?" she asked. Ichigo looked away, breaking eye contact with her.
"Was me being the strongest hurting them?" Ichigo asked as the hellfire stopped flowing. Amaterasu gave him a sad smile.
"You were, in a way," Amaterasu bluntly answered. "Your absence forced everyone to fight for themselves. Their mentality changed. Instead of chasing an impossible goal, they now have a realistic one. This is the best fuel for them to grow stronger," she explained. Ichigo cracked a smile as he calmed down, and the hellfire began to disappear.
"It's impressive to see how strong Elizabeth, Kunou, and Senna have become," Ichigo remarked, remembering how weak they were before he left.
"We knew that, in the end, you would return victorious against the impending conflict, but we weren't sure about everyone else," Amaterasu said. Ichigo sent the Jigoku no Yoroi back to his mindscape and looked at Amaterasu. He no longer saw Amaterasu, the goddess of the Sun and the Universe. Instead, he saw Amaterasu, the stressed, tired, and worried mother. Amaterasu snapped her fingers, and the office returned to normal, with the addition of a golden pensive in front of Ichigo.
"Inside this pensive are some important memories I need you to watch," Amaterasu said.
"Okay then," Ichigo replied as he placed his head into the pensive.
Scene Change: Amaterasu's Memories
Amaterasu sat in a chair. Beside her were Zeus, Jupiter, Odin, Hela, Ankou, Mórrígan, Sirzechs, Serafall, Jesus, Michael, Azrael, Ophis, and Great Red.
"Sorry, I'm late," someone said as they entered. It was a very muscular, blue-skinned man with four arms and five golden eyes, three of which were open. He had indigo skin, black messy hair, a golden bandana, and baggy golden trousers with a blue sash. Blue tattoos adorned his wrists and fingers.
"The meeting hasn't started yet, Shiva," Zeus replied.
"Great," Shiva said as he sat down. "Does anyone know who called us here?" Shiva asked. Suddenly, a woman of his height entered. She had short blue hair with green spots, and brown eyes, and was dressed in a white blouse with a black tie adorned with white dots. She wore matching black pants, stockings, and high heels (2).
"Sorry, I'm late," she said as she sat down at the head of the table.
"Um… who are you?" Sirzechs asked, not recognizing her.
"I forgot I'm not connected with your mythos," she said. "I am the physical manifestation of Earth. For now, call me Earth." She stared at Zeus, Jupiter, Odin, Hela, Ankou, and Mórrígan. "Do not mention my other names here."
"Yes, Lady Earth," they all replied. Earth nodded.
"With that cleared up, let's begin this meeting," Earth said. Everyone nodded. "The reason I called this meeting is that we will be invaded by the 7 Overlords." Immediately, everyone except Sirzechs and Serafall began swearing in their native tongues.
"Silence," Earth commanded, and the room went quiet.
"Who are these 7 Overlords?" Sirzechs asked.
"I forgot you weren't a member of the Star Streams," Michael said.
"Star Stream?" Sirzechs asked, confused.
"Allow me to explain," Earth interjected. "Everyone, except for you and Serafall, are beings I poured my energy into creating," Earth explained.
"Wait… don't each of your myths have an origin story?" Serafall asked. She was well-versed in different myths due to her job.
"Let me ask you a simple question. If every religion has a creator god, then who created this planet and all the life around it?" Earth asked. Serafall's eyes widened.
"That means you created all the gods and goddesses here?" she asked.
"Not fully correct," Earth replied. "The people created the legends of the gods and goddesses, and I used my power to give them form. They continue to exist through the power of their followers."
"How does this relate to the Star Streams?" Sirzechs asked.
"The Star Stream is a streaming platform that spans across the multiverse," Earth explained. "Anyone who accumulates enough legends can be awarded a spot in the Star Stream. Those who are awarded a spot are called Constellations, and they are divided into three tiers: Historical Grade, Legendary Grade, and Mythical Grade. Many gods start at the Historical-Grade Constellation."
"What grade are these 7 Overlords?" Sirzechs asked.
"They are at least Legendary-Grade Constellations," Amaterasu answered.
"The producers of content for the Star Streams are called Dokkaebis," Earth continued. "The Dokkaebis in charge of the 7 Overlords act as their agents, hunting down worlds for them to invade and create content for the Star Stream."
"Can't we turn them down?" Sirzechs asked. Earth shook her head.
"The 7 Overlords will invade regardless of any agreement. In fact, the agreement is tilted in our favor to give us a fighting chance." Earth pulled out a contract. "This is the initial contract that the Dokkaebis present to the world." She created a copy of the contract for everyone to see.
The 7 Overlord Invasion Contract
The 7 Overlords and their united invasion forces will be referred to as Invaders in this Contract. Earth and her defending force will be known as Defenders.
No conceptual beings are allowed to intervene during the invasion, directly or indirectly.
No conceptual beings are allowed on the planet during the invasion.
Constellations are not allowed to directly intervene during the invasion unless powered down to less than 20% of their strength.
The Invaders will use pocket dimensions called 'dungeons' to station their forces. Defenders can enter these dungeons. The Invaders will designate someone as the 'boss,' and Defenders must defeat the boss to conquer the dungeon.
If the boss is not defeated within a predetermined time, Invaders stationed in that dungeon are allowed to cross over and attack the Defender's planet.
After a predetermined time, the dungeon will reset, and the boss must be killed again.
The entrance to the dungeons will be accessible to Defenders.
A set limit of participants and power levels will be enforced for each dungeon for both Invaders and Defenders, as set by the Dokkaebis.
At the start of the invasion, all beings on the planet will become members of the Defenders.
In a dungeon, Defenders and Invaders will have their names and the names of any abilities used visible to all viewers of the Star Stream, but no Constellations can inform the 7 Overlords or Constellations affiliated with the Defenders.
Players are not allowed to use the dungeon to invade the 7 Overlords' territory.
The Invaders must begin the invasion with a low power level, but over time, stronger Invaders will be allowed to participate.
"This is it?" Sirzechs asked.
"The basics," Earth replied. "Now we can discuss additional clauses."
"How long will this invasion last?" Jesus asked.
"I want it to last at least a decade," Amaterasu said.
Everyone looked confused.
"Why?" Odin asked.
"There are two reasons." Amaterasu raised one finger. "First, we can use this opportunity for Yōkai and other magical beings to reveal themselves to the powerless humans."
"Wouldn't the powerless humans just rely on the Yōkai and other magical beings to handle the dungeons while they stay safe?" Sirzechs asked.
"That leads to my second point." Amaterasu raised a second finger. "At the beginning of the invasion, the Dokkaebis will only allow weak monsters in the dungeons. We can use this opportunity to train humans for the future."
"Future?" Serafall asked.
"The 7 Overlords have never lost an invasion. They will pull every trick they can to maintain their winning streak. Even if we win, other Dokkaebis might see our world as a prime target for future invasions," Amaterasu explained.
Earth nodded in realization. "Exactly."
"What's stopping them from attacking us after the contract ends?" Azrael interjected.
"I want to have people who are not bound by the Player clause ready to defend Earth when the invasion nears its end," Earth said.
"But gods and goddesses can't participate in the invasion," Zeus pointed out.
"But you all have subordinates who are not gods or goddesses," Earth countered. "According to the wording of the contract, if you sever your dimension's connection to Earth, then your subordinates will be exempt from the Player clause."
"Very well, we will begin withdrawing our subordinates from Earth," Zeus said.
"What about our half-blood children?" Jupiter asked.
"They will be allowed to participate since they only possess a fraction of your power," Earth clarified.
"It sounds like we have a solid defensive plan, but are we planning to attack them?" Sirzechs asked.
"If we do, we need someone who is purely human," Earth said.
"Like Ichigo?" Jesus suggested.
"Yamamoto Shiba Kurosaki Ichigo is likely one of the few people capable of killing the 7 Overlords," Earth admitted.
"But that would require him to remain hidden for a decade, and that's something he wouldn't do," Sirzechs pointed out.
"I actually have a solution," Amaterasu said. "I'm going to have him assist Arceus with something. I can ask Arceus to adjust the time dilation to 10-to-1 instead of 1.2-to-1."
"That would require you to deceive Ichigo," Jesus said. "That's a line I don't want to cross."
"I know, and I will bear the burden of that sin," Amaterasu admitted. "But the lives of humanity the innocent outweigh sins against him."
"Then we will vote on whether to follow Amaterasu's plan," Earth announced. "Raise your hand if you agree."
Zeus, Jupiter, Odin, Michael, Azrael, Sirzechs, Serafall, Shiva, and Amaterasu raised their hands. Hela, Jesus, Ankou, Mórrígan, Ophis, and Great Red kept theirs down.
"With a vote of 9 to 6, we will proceed with Amaterasu's plan," Earth declared. "Does anyone else believe they should join the offensive force?"
"Sirzechs is the strongest devil who isn't a constellation," Serafall noted.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Sirzechs and Ajuka ascend to constellation status once the Star Stream focuses on them," Michael said.
Azrael nodded. "That makes sense, considering the original Lucifer and Beelzebub are powerful Constellations."
"You're speaking as if the original Lucifer and Beelzebub are still around," Serafall pointed out.
"As long as their legends exist, they will persist," Azrael said.
"Should we be concerned about them seeking revenge for their past selves?" Sirzechs asked.
"Most likely not," Michael replied. "In fact, your legend as the one who defeated them would make it easier for you to kill them again."
"Does anyone have other candidates?" Earth asked.
No one spoke.
"I will discuss our terms with the Dokkaebis," Earth said before vanishing.
"None of your people invade India," Shiva warned.
Sirzechs and Serafall walked over to Amaterasu.
"Lady Amaterasu," Serafall began.
"I assume you wish to retain control over your territories in Japan?" Amaterasu asked.
"We do," Serafall confirmed.
"I will allow your devils to control the area around Kuoh and a portion of the city," Amaterasu said.
"That is acceptable," Serafall agreed.
Moments later, Earth returned.
"The Dokkaebis have accepted our additions to the contract," she announced. "The invasion will begin at midnight on the Japanese New Year. You have a few months to prepare. All of you must sever your connections on New Year's Eve."
"Yes, Lady Earth," everyone said before departing.
Scene Change: Amaterasu's Office
Ichigo pulled his head out of Amaterasu's pensive.
"I may never forgive you for your logical actions, and I will definitely never forget what you did," Ichigo said. "This is likely the last time we will work together."
"I know," Amaterasu said with a sad smile. "But I have something to offer you—to begin atoning for my sins."
She placed a large scroll and a covered jar in front of him.
"What is this?" Ichigo asked.
"The scroll contains a set of Dōjutsu that I created and use in combat," Amaterasu explained.
"And what is the jar?" Ichigo asked.
"The jar contains a pair of my eyes," Amaterasu explained.
"Your EYES!?" Ichigo exclaimed.
"It took a few years for them to regenerate," Amaterasu said. "Inside the scroll is a method for you to merge my eyes with yours, allowing you to use the Dōjutsu I created."
She then pulled out a bound notebook. "This notebook was sealed in a way that only you can open it."
Ichigo took the items from Amaterasu.
"Thank you," Ichigo said.
"Now that our business is done, Earth-sama wants to see you," Amaterasu added.
She escorted Ichigo to another room where Earth was sitting.
"Leave us," Earth said.
"As you wish," Amaterasu replied as she left them alone.
"Hello, Ichigo," Earth began.
"Hello, Earth-sama," Ichigo replied.
"I want to start this off with a warning."
"A warning?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes. Do not enter another dungeon," Earth warned.
"Is it because of the Dokkaebis?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct," Earth said. "The Dokkaebis are supposed to manage all the dungeons. The dungeon your daughters entered caused a disturbance when they entered. Luckily, I was able to petition them for a causality adjustment."
"A causality adjustment?" Ichigo asked.
"As you know, Dokkaebis can alter reality to a certain extent. If everyone in that dungeon were killed, the Dokkaebis would alter it so they were knocked unconscious instead. The Dokkaebis also disabled the recording of the dungeon attempt, so no one was aware of your sudden entrance," Earth explained.
"I see…" Ichigo said.
"Since you're aware of the Dokkaebis, I assume Amaterasu allowed you to view her memories of why you were sent a decade into the future?"
"She did," Ichigo confirmed.
Earth nodded. "I want you to spend a few days with your family before you begin your mission to take down the 7 Overlords," she said, handing Ichigo seven folders. "These contain information on each of the 7 Overlords."
"Why are you pushing me to attack the 7 Overlords?" Ichigo asked.
"Might as well show you," Earth replied, beginning to transform.
Ichigo's eyes widened as Earth's skin turned sickly pale, her hair became disheveled, and an IV bag appeared beside her.
"What happened?" Ichigo asked.
Earth sighed. "It's a side effect of what I did to help the humans."
"A side effect?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes. If you look back to New Year 2009, a large portion of the population experienced something called the Great Awakening, where many powerless humans suddenly discovered supernatural powers," Earth began.
"Mental note to look into that," Ichigo thought.
"I used a great deal of my energy to make that happen, which caused illness to spread uncontrollably."
"Illness?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes," Earth said. "The humans living on me are slowly poisoning me. I've been able to suppress the effects with my energy, but without it, the poison is spreading."
"Shouldn't you be able to absorb ambient energy around us?" Ichigo asked.
"It's not enough," Earth replied.
"Couldn't you use the mana crystals we harvest from fallen Invaders?" Ichigo suggested.
"There are two problems with that. First, the mana crystals need to be filtered before I can absorb their energy. Second, most of them are used to create armor or weapons for the dungeons," Earth explained.
"How is your recovery connected to defeating the 7 Overlords?" Ichigo asked.
"Right now, I'm focusing most of my energy on helping humans awaken their latent powers. If the 7 Overlords are defeated, I can focus on recovering the energy I need to heal myself."
"Makes sense," Ichigo said.
"When the 7 Overlords are dead, you'll also have the chance to steal the planetary core from them."
"Planetary core?" Ichigo questioned.
"The planetary core is the 'brain and heart' of a planet," Earth explained.
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"I need more planetary cores to expand my physical mass so all of you can live on me," Earth said.
"So, you want me to kill a planet for you?" Ichigo concluded.
Earth picked up one of the folders and showed it to him.
"This is Querehsha, the Overlord of Plagues and the Queen of Insects. She discovered the planetary core of her planet and devoured it, merging with the planet to create all sorts of plagues and insects. You'll need to kill the planet to kill her."
"If I kill her, will the planetary core still function?" Ichigo asked.
"The planetary core will still serve my needs," Earth replied.
"What if the planet has residents?" Ichigo asked.
"If the residents of other planets are willing to submit to you, then we can have them live on the expanded Earth," Earth said.
"How do I retrieve the planetary core?" Ichigo asked.
"When you kill the Overlord, place this contraption on the planet." A small device appeared in Earth's hand. It resembled a corkscrew but with a compass on top. "Use the compass to find the location of the planetary core. Once you find it, push the worm into the planet and begin spinning it. Eventually, the planetary core will 'speak' to you. If the core is dead, you'll hit a hard spot and will need to forcefully pull it out."
"I will take a look at this," Ichigo said, taking the folders and the contraption from Earth.
"Thank you," Earth said. "Remember, do not enter another gate or cause any international issues."
"Got it," Ichigo replied. Earth nodded before disappearing. Ichigo opened a Garganta and left.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Office
Ichigo reappeared in his office. He noticed a note on his desk from Akasha.
"Seekvaira Agares and Don Dogoier wish to speak with you whenever you are available."
"Akasha, I'm in my office and I just read your note. Please send them over," Ichigo said.
"Okay. I'll bring them right over," Akasha replied.
A few minutes later, Ichigo heard a knock on his door.
"Come in," Ichigo said. The door opened, and Seekvaira Agares and Don Dogoier walked in.
"Hello, Ichigo-sama," Seekvaira said with a bow. Don bowed as well.
"Relax and sit down," Ichigo said.
"Yes, Ichigo-sama," Seekvaira replied as they sat down.
"So, what can I do for both of you?" Ichigo asked.
"I wish to invite Don into my peerage," Seekvaira said.
"Oh?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Because you love him?"
"Yes," Seekvaira said. Ichigo turned to Don.
"Is this what you want?" Ichigo asked.
"I do," Don replied.
"Sure," Ichigo said. Seekvaira pulled out a Pawn Evil Piece.
"I, Seekvaira Agares, Heiress of the Agares Clan, ask you, Don Dogoier: Do you willingly accept my Evil Piece?"
Don kneeled in front of Seekvaira.
"I, Don Dogoier, Homunculus Engineer of the Asura Machina, with the blessing of my Captain, willingly accept your Evil Piece," Don replied.
Seekvaira smiled as she pushed the pawn into Don. A blue magic seal appeared around him, and Don glowed the same blue as the magic seal. The energy soon dissipated.
"Rise, Don Dogoier, my Pawn," Seekvaira said. Don stood up. Seekvaira hugged him, and Don hugged her back.
"So, when should I organize the wedding?" Ichigo asked, waiting a few moments. Both Don and Seekvaira pushed each other apart, blushing at Ichigo's joke.
"When we're able to contact my parents," Seekvaira mumbled, her face bright red.
"Okay then," Ichigo said. "So, what else did you want to talk about?"
"I was wondering if I could borrow your Asura Machina," she said.
"Oh? Why?" Ichigo asked.
"I want to fully study them and create my own version for my peerage," she admitted.
"What do I get in return?" Ichigo asked.
"You haven't used the Asura Machina for a while because they're too weak compared to you, correct?" she asked.
"Partially," Ichigo admitted.
"I propose we create a new Asura Machina, one that is much stronger and can work better with your new powers," Don suggested.
"Once my new Asura Machina is done, you can create your own for your peerage," Ichigo said.
"Asura Machina, go to the Uzushio," Ichigo ordered. He could feel his Asura Machina teleporting away.
"Thank you, Ichigo-sama," Seekvaira and Don said as they left Ichigo's office.
"Does anyone else need to talk with me?" Ichigo asked.
"Are you planning on leaving somewhere again?" Akasha asked.
"Not really. I'm just going to be in my office reading a few books," Ichigo said.
"Oh. Artoria and Gilgamesh wish to see you after dinner," Akasha added.
"Okay. See you at dinner," Ichigo said as he closed the connection.
He summoned the book from Sirzechs. Ichigo opened it, and suddenly the book glowed with energy. The bindings unlocked, revealing a letter and a book. Ichigo picked up the letter.
"Dear Ichigo, if you are reading this, then Amaterasu has shown you her memories of that day. I know what we did is inexcusable, especially considering we are all older siblings and I am a father. I know this is not enough of an apology, but we wish to give you a copy of Ajuka's notes, which he used to create the Evil Pieces. Hopefully, you will have more time to spend with your siblings and children to come. Sincerely, Sirzechs and Serafall."
"Hōgyoku, do you think you can make this work?" Ichigo asked, sending the book into his mindscape.
"Possible," Hōgyoku replied.
"I can take a look at Amaterasu's Dōjutsu," Kyōka said.
"Sure," Ichigo replied, sending Amaterasu's gift to his mindscape.
Ichigo heard a knock on his door.
"Come in," Ichigo replied. The door opened to reveal Sakuya.
"Ichigo-sama, Akasha-sama. Dinner is ready."
"Great," Ichigo said. Sakuya escorted Ichigo to the dining hall, which was packed. Ichigo noticed that Ophis wasn't there.
"Where's Ophis?" Ichigo asked.
"Right before the Great Awakening, she and Nyx left for the Dimensional Gap," Akasha said as she sat down next to him. She pulled out a letter. "She left you a letter."
Ichigo took the letter and read it.
"Ichigo, if you are reading this, that means you were able to get the last blessing. When all of us can return, we can help you proceed to the next step." Ichigo folded the letter and sent it to his mindscape.
Ichigo joined the others at the dinner table and enjoyed the meal. After dinner, two people grabbed his shoulders. Ichigo turned to see it was Artoria and Gilgamesh.
"Hello, you two."
"My liege, please follow us," they said in unison.
"I'm scared now since they both called me 'liege,'" Ichigo thought as he followed them to the bedroom. They dragged him inside, and as soon as the door shut, a multitude of kidō, magic seals, talismans, and other barriers sealed it shut.
Inside the bedroom were Akasha, Yasaka, Eu, Tier, Scáthach, Raikou, Nel, EMIYA Rin, Karin, Akua, Moka, Fleur, Medea, Tamamo, Yuzu, Sabrina, Kahlua, Zealot, Hana, Jeanne, and Jeanne Alter.
"Ichigo, we've waited a decade for this, and now you're going to deal with our needs," Akasha said.
"We've sealed the door, so until everyone is satisfied, you won't be able to escape," Yasaka added.
"Very well then," Ichigo said as he began to strip.
"At least this time, you can actually remember having sex," Zangetsu joked.
Hello everyone. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Arc 14. Now, for the disclaimers: The initial scene was inspired by the anime Campione, which is owned by Jō Taketsuki, Shueisha, Diomedéa Studio, and Sentai Filmworks. I indirectly referenced Susanoo all the way back in chapter 4. Yes, I planned to mention them a long time ago. The idea of dungeons and the 7 Overlords comes from a Korean web novel called Solo Leveling (owned by Chugong, Dubu, D Media, and Webtoons). In Solo Leveling, they are called the 7 Monarchs, but I decided to name them the 7 Overlords. Not all of them are the same. The concept of Dokkaebis, Constellations, and the Star Stream comes from the web novel Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, which is owned by Sing-Shong/싱숑, A. Tempo Media, and Webtoons.
Author Notes:
(1) These are not his primary domains but people add them due to his myth.
(2) Adult Earth-chan *cough* Earth-sama.