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. All other ideas belong to their original sources. Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking.
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
"$:Hello.:$" - Parseltongue.
Chapter 79:
Ichigo traveled through the Garganta, guided by the memories Earth-sama had given him. It didn't take long before he sensed he was nearing the end of his journey.
"Engulf the light and plunge the world in darkness, Nightshroud," Ichigo chanted, activating Schrift U: The Umbra. A suit of black armor enveloped him. As the Garganta opened, Ichigo dove into the shadows. The Garganta immediately closed behind him. From within the shadows, Ichigo observed that he was in a forest. The trees were pale white with black leaves. When he looked up, the sky appeared hazy, tinted with red.
"Ichigo, the ambient energy around us is pushing Schrift U's reiatsu production and Schrift Q's demonic energy into overdrive, while Schrift S's holy energy production and Schrift L's light energy production have diminished," Kyōka remarked.
"Is that a good or bad thing?" Ichigo asked.
"Both," Kyōka replied. "Schrift Q and Schrift U will be forced to compress the excess energy, making it much more concentrated until the Schrifts can expand. This will make your darkness and demonic based powers far stronger, but it could cause an imbalance in the future."
"Schrift I: Impartial Impedimenta should help prevent that from happening," Ichigo suggested.
"Okay, I'll keep an eye out," Kyōka responded. Ichigo sent a small wave of reiatsu, finding the forest mostly uninhabited, save for a small village near the edge. Using Shadowrun, he quickly traversed the shadows until he reached the village. The village was built mostly from the white wood of the surrounding trees. Ichigo noticed the residents appeared humanoid, with pale skin, purple hair of various lengths, large red eyes, red tribal markings around their eyes, and pronounced canines.
"I need more information," Ichigo thought, casting a weak form of Legilimency on everyone he passed. The gathered information was sent to Chishiki for processing. In the distance, he spotted a large black tower.
"I have formed a few conclusions based on the information we gathered so far," Chishiki reported.
"Let's hear it," Ichigo replied, continuing to explore the village.
"The village we're in is called Mellow Hills. The current residents are mostly women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. All the men have been drafted by King Genghis, the Overlord of Darkness and Father of Demons. The older villagers don't support the Overlord but are forced to remain silent due to rumors that King Genghis can hear everything from his throne room atop the Dark Tower, which is the black tower you spotted," Chishiki explained.
"So that tower is our end goal," Ichigo concluded. He then found an unconscious demon man with short purple hair, wearing torn clothes and missing his left arm. Ichigo activated Schrift Q: The Qliphoth.
"Sathariel," Ichigo mentally commanded, creating a copy of the demon's soul inside the Schrift. He examined his memories and learned the demon's name was Dante. He had lost his left arm and right eye while fighting in a dungeon but had managed to kill all the Hunters. In his world, losing an arm and an eye made him considered crippled. He had received severance pay and returned to Mellow Hills, only to be abandoned by his fiancée for being crippled. He fell into despair and began drinking. Ichigo left the village quickly.
Once alone, Ichigo emerged from the shadows and used Sathariel to transform into Dante, with his missing arm and eye. He donned a short-sleeve white button-up shirt, brown trousers, and boots. Ichigo summoned Yorugetsu, using Sathariel to transform it into Dante's broadsword.
"According to Dante's memories, there's an established path from the Dark Tower to Mellow Hills. It took him two weeks to walk," Chishiki reported. "Are you planning to use Shadowrun to head straight to the Dark Tower?"
"Not yet," Ichigo replied. "I want to see if the others in this world also dislike the Overlord."
"Very well," Chishiki acknowledged. He guided Ichigo down the beaten dirt path. Three days later, Ichigo arrived at Evernight Forest, passing through two other villages Nordberg and Greenvale. He casually walked through the villages, using Legilimency to gather the locals' opinions. He found that they shared the same disdain for the Overlord as Mellow Hills.
"Evernight Forest is inhabited by a subspecies of elves called Drows. They have dark purple skin, white hair, and muscular bodies. The Drows live in seclusion, forming their village in the center of the forest, called Evernight Village. They are relatively civilized but will only attack if provoked. The forest is also home to Wolves and Werewolves. The Werewolves are the leaders of the Wolf packs and are violent toward everyone except their own," Chishiki reported.
"Thanks for the info," Ichigo replied, entering Evernight Forest. Soon, he encountered a pack of wolves led by a werewolf. The wolves looked like regular Earth wolves, except their fur was dark purple with a white stripe from muzzle to tail. The werewolf, standing on two legs like a human, had a similar fur pattern but with a tribal design on its body. Its eyes were bright amber, and it was more muscular than the wolves.
The werewolf growled and pointed at Ichigo. The wolves charged. Ichigo began to decapitate them with a swing of Yorugetsu.
"Master… May I make a request?" Chishiki said.
"What is it?" Ichigo replied.
"May I consume a wolf and a werewolf?" Chishiki asked.
"Why?" Ichigo replied.
"I wish to archive their biology," Chishiki replied.
"Ok," Ichigo replied. The werewolf howled in anger and charged, despite seeing its pack destroyed. It slashed at Ichigo, but he sidestepped, causing the werewolf to lose its balance. Ichigo raised Yorugetsu and decapitated it. Suddenly, Ichigo felt Schrift O: The Oversoul activating.
"Ichigo, Schrift O is trying to absorb the werewolf's soul," Kyōka reported.
"It's been a while since Schrift O absorbed a soul," Ichigo thought.
"Correction. This is the first time Schrift O will absorb a new soul. All the other souls were while it was Schrift S: The Shifter," Yhwach remarked.
"I'm pretty sure I've killed a lot more things since then, but why is it activating now?" Ichigo wondered.
"Perhaps Schrift O is selective about the souls it absorbs," Yhwach theorized. Ichigo felt the werewolf's soul enter Schrift O. Chishiki's black nanomachine tentacles shout out of the shadow and pierced the largest wolf's and the werewolf's corpse. The nanomachines began to devour the corpse and archive the data. Ichigo used Schrift F: Fengári Neró to gather all the blood from the corpses, destroying it with Schrift H: The Hakaimono. He then placed the bloodless bodies in his storage ring.
Ichigo continued to traverse Evernight Forest, encountering another pack of wolves led by another werewolf. This one had a smaller tribal pattern and was less muscular. The werewolf ordered the pack to attack. Ichigo once again decapitated the wolves with ease. The werewolf, seeing its pack destroyed, attempted to flee. Ichigo threw Yorugetsu, piercing the werewolf's heart. The force caused it to stumble and fall. Ichigo calmly walked over, retrieved Yorugetsu, and decapitated it. Ichigo could sense nothing from Schrift O.
"I believe Schrift O: The Oversoul would only absorb powerful souls that are near or at their peak," Yhwach theorized.
"I agree with the theory," Chishiki added. Ichigo once again cleaned up the area and stored the dead wolves. After several hours of walking and slaughtering wolves, Ichigo arrived in front of a wooden wall. He could see a gate guarded by armored Drows.
"Toll," the guard said, sticking out his hand. Ichigo pulled out a few silver coins and handed them over. "You may enter," the guard said. Ichigo walked into Evernight Village. He found the butcher and sold all the corpses for 10 silver coins. Afterward, Ichigo began to explore the village, using Legilimency to gather the villagers' opinions on King Genghis. Suddenly, Kyōka interjected, interrupting Ichigo's intelligence gathering.
"Ichigo, the Planetary Core Communicator is activating."
"It is? Direct me to the source," Ichigo replied, stopping his use of Legilimency. He followed Kyōka's instructions and eventually arrived at a shrine.
"Are you planning to enter?" Kyōka asked.
"Not yet. I need more information," Ichigo replied. He walked away from the shrine and resumed his information collection, focusing on the shrine. The shrine was known as The Evernight Shrine. It had been erected in honor of a Goddess the Drows referred to as the Evernight Goddess. According to their lore, she was the creator of the world. Visitors were allowed to pray to her, offering sacrifices. Just like the villagers, the Drows also didn't like King Genghis. Ichigo ventured out, hunted a few more wolf packs, and didn't separate the blood from the corpses this time. He stored the bodies in his mindscape. After cleaning himself up, Ichigo walked over to the Evernight Shrine. He saw a Drow cleaning the shrine.
"Welcome to the Evernight Shrine. I am the Priestess who maintains this shrine," the Drow Priestess greeted him. She looked similar to the other Drows he'd seen, but she was dressed in black robes and carried a black staff. "What can I do for you?"
"Hello. I wish to make an offering to the Evernight Goddess," Ichigo answered.
"What do you wish to offer to the Evernight Goddess?" she asked.
"I wish to offer her wolves that I personally slew, in exchange for safe travels," Ichigo replied.
"Very well. Follow me," she said, leading him inside. They arrived in a small chamber. Ichigo saw a large golden statue of a seductive female elf. The statue had red gemstones for eyes. In front of the statue was a hearth with a blazing black fire.
"Place your offering in the hearth and pray to the Goddess," the Priestess instructed. Ichigo summoned the wolves' and werewolves' bloody corpses from his mindscape and placed them all in the hearth. The black fire shot up, devouring the offering. Ichigo knelt in front of the hearth.
"I wish to speak with the Planetary Core of this planet," Ichigo prayed. The Planetary Core Communicator in Ichigo's pocket began to activate, and he felt his mind being sent somewhere else.
Scene Change: Mind of the Planet
Ichigo opened his eyes to find himself in a bedroom of some kind. He saw a naked elf lying on a bed. She had dark purple skin, large dark red eyes, white eye markings, and platinum white hair. Her body had the look of a seductress.
"It's been a long time since someone requested to speak to me as the Planetary Core," she said. "Though this is the first time someone who isn't my child has come to speak to me." Ichigo looked at her, realizing he was himself, not Dante.
"Do you have a name I can call you?" Ichigo asked.
"Call me Evernight," she replied.
"In that case, my name is Ichigo," he said. "I am a human from the world that the Overlord is currently invading."
"So, young Ichigo, what do you want with me?" she asked, smirking seductively.
"I was wondering if you are allied with King Genghis," Ichigo asked. The playful smirk on her face immediately vanished.
"Allied... with Genghis?" Evernight murmured. Ichigo could feel her rage and anger pour out. "That bastard ruined everything I made! EVERYTHING!"
"You hate him?" Ichigo asked.
"Oh," Evernight chuckled. "I don't hate him," she said. "I DESPISE THAT FUCKER!" she yelled, causing a massive explosion of energy. "That fucking abomination randomly got reincarnated here from another world, with his past memories."
"So, being isekaied is real?" Ichigo thought.
"That fucker decided that this world was his for the taking! He somehow fucking corrupted the majority of the planet and most of my people with his twisted magic!" Evernight continued.
"Do you wish to ally yourself with my world?" Ichigo asked. The question caused Evernight to pause, cutting off her tirade about Genghis. She opened and closed her mouth, struggling to form a response.
"Will my children be allowed to live there and have independence?" Evernight asked.
"Who are your children?" Ichigo asked. Evernight snapped her fingers, and a screen appeared in front of him. The screen showed Evernight Village before shifting to the various demon villages Ichigo had encountered.
"The Drows and the Demons you've encountered are my intelligent children." The screen then showed the animals in the Evernight Forest. "The unintelligent animals are also my children." The screen shifted again to show the Overlord's castle. Ichigo saw demons, other Drows, and humans patrolling the area, and they looked different from the ones Ichigo had seen earlier. These appeared physically stronger. "The bastard's magic corrupted my children, making them devoted soldiers to him."
"Your children will have their independence and their basic rights if they are willing to follow our rules. Your unintelligent children can be domesticated to obey my rules," Ichigo replied. Evernight stared at him.
"How will you transport all of us?" she asked.
"I can store all of your children in my pocket dimension," Ichigo answered.
"You have one?" she asked.
"I do," Ichigo replied.
"How big is it?" she asked.
"Let me see if I can send us in there," Ichigo said as he activated Tengan, transforming his eyes.
"Haōgan," Ichigo activated, sending both of them into Haō Zaimushō [Treasury of the Supreme King].
Scene Change: Haō Zaimushō
Ichigo and Evernight appeared in Haō Zaimushō.
"Will this place work?" Ichigo asked.
"Am I the only world you're going to?" she asked.
"No. I expect at most five worlds, including yours," Ichigo replied.
"Hm..." Evernight mumbled. "I can make this work," she concluded. "I can separate the corrupted portion of my planet. I'll convert the majority of it into energy and store it inside myself for later use. The remaining part can be kept as floating islands for my followers."
"Great," Ichigo said. "When I confront Genghis, do you have any way to hide us from them?" Ichigo asked.
"You mean the Dokkaebi?" she asked.
"Correct," Ichigo replied. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Dokkaebi attacks us for killing his client."
"That makes sense. Unfortunately, I don't have a solution for that," Evernight replied.
"You could use Schrift K: The Kūkan-teki Shihai [Spatial Domination] to prevent anyone from teleporting to the planet," Yhwach suggested.
"That might work," Ichigo replied.
"Do you think creating a spatial distortion around the castle will keep them from noticing us?" Ichigo asked.
"Possible," Evernight replied. "When will you confront that bastard?" she asked.
"Maybe in 11 days?" Ichigo guessed.
"Pray to me before you confront him," she said. "I can use that time to discreetly prepare my children."
"Good," Ichigo said as he sent them both out of Haō Zaimushō.
Scene Change: Mind of the Planet
Ichigo appeared back in Evernight's bedroom.
"Any questions on the plan?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't have any," Evernight replied. Ichigo left her bedroom.
Scene Change: Outside
Ichigo opened his eyes.
"Are you done praying to Goddess Evernight?" the Drow Priestess asked.
"I am," Ichigo replied. He took out two gold coins and handed them to the Priestess. Her eyes widened upon seeing the coins.
"I-I," she stumbled.
"Please accept this donation," Ichigo said, grabbing her surprisingly soft hands and placing the gold coins in them. He gently forced her hand to close. Ichigo walked away from the Evernight Shrine.
Ichigo rented a room in an inn for the night and had a quick dinner. He pulled out the map.
"The next part of the journey is the Hag's Bog," Ichigo thought.
"The Hag's Bog is a large swamp. It is the home of the Hags, female witches corrupted by the essence of King Genghis. They are experts in illusions, able to disguise themselves as beautiful women. Their true forms, however, are grotesque and slatternly. Every time Dante crossed the Hag's Bog, he had to pay a toll, either coins or female war slaves," Chishiki reported.
"Are you planning to kill them?" Zangetsu asked.
"I want to," Ichigo admitted. "But it might alert Genghis about us," he considered.
"Best bet is to just go to the Hag's Bog and see the situation," Kyōka said.
"Fine," Zangetsu said. Ichigo went to bed with a plan in mind.
Time Skip: Next Day
Ichigo woke up the next morning. After a quick breakfast, he left Evernight Village. As he traversed the forest, Ichigo continued to kill packs of wolves and werewolves. A horrid stench hit his nose.
"According to Dante's memories, that smells like the Hag's Bog," Naamah reported. Ichigo arrived at a large swamp. In the distance, he spotted a wooden shack.
"That's the Hag's toll booth," Naamah identified.
Ichigo used Schrift U: The Umbra and dove into the shadow. He peeked inside the toll booth to see two Hags sleeping. Ichigo focused on one of them, activating Schrift Q: The Qlippoth.
"Sathariel," Ichigo mentally cast as he created a copy of her soul, which Naamah used to look into her memories.
"The Hags used to be witches from other worlds that the Overlords defeated. Genghis injected them with his corruptive energy, turning them into the first generation of Hags. Later on, the Hags took charge of converting captured witches into new Hags. Captured wizards are bound by slave collars and used as ingredients for their rituals. Genghis allowed half of the Hags to live in Hag's Bog, while the other half joined his army. The ones in Hag's Bog create potions, food, and slave collars for the army. Despite their importance to Genghis's forces, he doesn't keep a close eye on them, believing if they can't defend themselves in their home, they're useless in combat," Naamah reported from the Hag's memories.
"I think it's safe to ignore them," Ichigo said.
"Agreed," Kyōka said.
Ichigo returned to the shadows and slipped past the Hag's Bog. Once he was clear, he rose out of the shadow and continued his journey.
"The Golden Mountain is the home of the Duergar, once regular dwarfs corrupted by Genghis's essence. They use the Hag's slave collars on male humans and crippled or inexperienced dwarf war slaves to mine ores. Dwarfs skilled in blacksmithing make weapons and armor for Genghis's army. The female dwarf war slaves are used by the Drudgers to produce more Drudgers. The Drudgers are greedy but fair creatures. Despite being creations of Genghis, they treat everyone equally," Chishiki explained as Ichigo approached the Golden Mountain. Ichigo saw a large cave with two Duergar guards standing at its entrance.
"Toll," the Duergar guards said. Ichigo paid them a few silver coins.
"Enter," the guard said. Ichigo walked deeper into the cave. He soon arrived in a stone town with a sign that read 'Golden Town.' Ichigo found the butcher and sold all the corpses for 60 silver. He walked around Golden Town, gathering opinions on Genghis.
"Seems like the Drudgers are indifferent toward Genghis. They work for him because he pays them," Ichigo concluded.
"Reminds me of the Goblins from Gringotts," Mysteria remarked.
Ichigo spent two days in Golden Town before crossing a cavern that led him through the mountain. When he exited the mountain, Ichigo saw the Black Tower in its ominous glory. Below the tower stood the Black Castle. In front of the castle was a large graveyard, where an army of undead stood by.
"The Dark Tower is where Genghis resides. Demons, Drows, and Duergars live in the Black Castle. Outside the castle, in the graveyard, are the Hags, Goblins, and Ogres. They use the corpses of both allies and enemies to create an undead army," Chishiki reported.
"Evernight, are you ready?" Ichigo asked.
"I am," she replied. Yhwach appeared beside Ichigo and activated Schrift K: The Kūkan-teki Shihai. The space surrounding the castle began to distort. At a quick glance, the castle appeared normal.
"The space around the castle is under our control," Yhwach said.
"Keter, are you ready?" Ichigo asked.
"I am ready to serve, my Master," Keter replied. Ichigo sealed Schrift U: The Umbra and activated Schrift S: The Sephira.
"Keter, Geburah, and Malkuth," Ichigo commanded. A golden crown appeared on his head, turning his orange hair golden. A large red and black halberd materialized in his hand, and a golden suit of armor appeared over his clothes. Yhwach hid behind a tree as Ichigo walked toward the graveyard.
"HALT!" the guards posted in front of the graveyard yelled. Ichigo continued to approach.
"This is your last warning, HALT!" they shouted again. Ichigo raised Geburah, which lit itself on fire with red holy flames.
"ATTACK!" The guards, armed with spears, charged toward Ichigo. He responded by swinging Geburah in front of him, sending a wave of holy flames at the incoming guards. The guards narrowly avoided the flames, but the gate they were guarding was another story. The holy fire obliterated the gate. Ichigo calmly walked past the guards. One of them stood up and tried to attack Ichigo.
"How dare you!" Keter roared in anger. She activated Malkuth's ability. Pieces of her golden armor detached and formed four golden swords with feather-shaped handguards. Two of the swords pierced the incoming guard. The remaining swords pointed at the other guards, warning them not to attack. None of the guards moved. Some dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender. The two golden swords returned to Ichigo, still holding the dead guard on their blades.
"How dare they try to attack Master when he granted them the gift of Mercy," Keter said, her voice filled with righteous fury.
"Thank you," Ichigo said to Keter.
"No need, Master. I am simply doing my job," Keter replied.
"I will activate Sathariel so Naamah can extract the information from the guard. Please don't fight the energy. This goes for you as well, Naamah," Ichigo instructed.
"Yes, Master," they both replied. Ichigo activated Schrift Q: The Qliphoth. He could feel Schrift I: Impartial Impedimenta passively activated, allowing both Schrift S: The Sephira and Schrift Q: The Qliphoth to coexist, despite being opposing energies. Chishiki's black nanomachine tentacles reached out from the shadows and pierced the guards, archiving their bodies while Naamah sorted through their memories. Ichigo walked past the surrendered guards, who immediately ran away from the castle.
"Should I kill them?" Keter asked.
"No need," Ichigo replied as he entered the graveyard. In the distance, he saw Hags glowing with energy as they chanted a spell. Meanwhile, a large army of undead, goblins, and ogres charged toward them. Ichigo walked toward the incoming army, swinging Geburah and unleashing waves of holy fire. The golden swords, controlled by Keter, flew toward the Hags in the rear. The Hags tried to defend themselves, but the holy swords pierced through four of them, ignoring their spells. The remaining Hags attempted to flee but were swiftly impaled. The golden swords returned to Keter, who handed the injured Hags to Naamah.
Ichigo stood in front of the Black Castle's door, behind him were piles of ash from the defeated Hags. Ichigo swung Geburah at the door. It violently shook from the blow but remained standing.
"Do you want me to destroy this door?" Keter asked.
"Not yet," Ichigo replied. He raised Geburah again. This time, Geburah grew slightly larger, unleashing even more holy flames. Ichigo swung it down, and this time, Geburah pierced through the door. Ichigo pulled Geburah out and kicked the remaining pieces of the door off their hinges. The wooden door fell apart. Ichigo walked inside and was met with an army of Demons, Drows, and Duergars.
"KILL THE INVADER!" a well-armored Demon ordered.
"For King Genghis!" The rest of the army roared as they charged toward them.
"Keter, capture that leader," Ichigo ordered.
"Yes, My Master," Keter replied, as golden swords flew toward the leader. Geburah shrank back to its original size as Ichigo calmly walked toward the army. The soldiers quickly circled him, closing in on the center. Ichigo raised Geburah and calmly began to fight.
"I've captured him," Keter reported a few minutes later.
"Okay," Ichigo said.
"Camael's Hurricane!" Ichigo shouted, gripping Geburah tightly. He began to spin rapidly, summoning a flaming hurricane. The army realized their mistake too late, as Camael's Hurricane grew too strong, pulling them all into its vortex. Ichigo stopped the hurricane, leaving the chamber covered in ashes.
"According to the leader's memories, we need to go to the top of the castle, where a portal leads to the throne room where Genghis is. The Elite Guard, which consists of stronger demons and drows, is tasked with guarding the portal," Naamah reported after Keter handed the leader to her.
"Okay then," Ichigo said.
"Allow me to guide you," Naamah offered. Ichigo followed her instructions and arrived in front of a portal. He could see the Elite Guard standing there, ready to defend it.
"DIE, INVADER!" a drow yelled as he charged toward Ichigo. Ichigo swung Geburah down, bisecting the oncoming drow. He glanced at the incoming Elite Guard, who fearlessly charged at him.
"Keter, capture the leader," Ichigo ordered.
"Yes, Master," Keter replied as the golden swords flew toward an armored demon next to the portal. The leader drew her blade, defending herself against the golden swords. Ichigo casually swung Geburah, incinerating several of the Elite Guard. He looked to see the demon now had golden swords sticking out of her body.
"I've finished, Master," she reported.
"Good," Ichigo said, swinging Geburah once more and incinerating the last of the Elite Guards.
"There is no additional safeguard against us," Naamah reported after reading the demon's memories. Keter had the golden swords reattach themselves to Ichigo. Ichigo sealed Schrift I: Impartial Impedimenta and Schrift Q: The Qliphoth before entering the portal.
Ichigo arrived to see a muscular man sitting on a throne. He had pale gray skin, sharp yellow eyes with black sclera, and a sharp nose. His thin horseshoe-style mustache framed his mouth. He wore black armor and boots.
"It seems my army failed to stop a single invader," Genghis growled, annoyance clear in his voice. "Who are you, invader?"
"My name doesn't matter," Ichigo replied.
"Well then," Genghis stood up and drew his large broadsword. "Prepare to die!" he yelled as he charged at Ichigo. Ichigo blocked Genghis's first strike with Geburah.
"I have the spatial distortion barrier surrounding the planet," Evernight said.
"Okay, start when we disappear," Ichigo instructed Evernight.
"Keter, are you ready?" Ichigo asked, switching communication channels.
"I am," Keter replied.
"Schrift R: The Reality Marble, Open the gate to Shamayim [Heaven]!" Ichigo and Keter shouted in unison. A seal made of holy energy appeared around them, blinding them with holy light.
Scene Change: Shamayim, Schrift S: The Sephira's Reality Marble
Ichigo opened his eyes to find himself standing on a balcony. He looked to see that the balcony was attached to a golden castle. Around him lay a peaceful grassy plain, with the sky clear of clouds and the sun shining brightly.
"As long as we are inside Shamayim, you have access to unlimited holy energy, but you can't use any other abilities except for mine. Also, demonic abilities are greatly weakened here," Keter explained.
"Thank you for the reminder," Ichigo said, continuing to enjoy the scene.
"RAHAHAHA!" Ichigo's peaceful moment was interrupted by a scream. He turned to see Genghis yelling, attempting to shield his face with his arms. Black smoke was rising off his body. Ichigo jumped off the balcony, landing in front of him. Genghis managed to conjure a cloak of shadows to shield his exposed skin, stopping himself from being incinerated by the sunlight.
"So, Overlord of Darkness," Ichigo began. "How do you enjoy the light?"
"So, you know my moniker," Genghis growled in anger as his broadsword reappeared in his hand.
"I do," Ichigo replied, pointing Geburah at him. "And I'm here to kill you." Ichigo charged toward Genghis and swung Geburah down at him.
"Are you a survivor from one of the worlds we conquered?" Genghis asked, blocking Ichigo's attack.
"And if I am?" Ichigo lied, putting more pressure on Geburah.
"It's just hilarious that you had this much power, yet your world fell to us," Genghis taunted.
"Who said this is all my power?" Ichigo asked, pouring more holy energy into Geburah, making it grow larger. Genghis's legs began to tremble under the increased weight of Geburah. Ichigo suddenly raised the weapon and swung it sideways, sending Genghis flying. Genghis slammed his broadsword down, stopping his momentum. Ichigo raised Geburah in the air, gripping it with both hands.
"Camael's Divine Punishment!" Geburah began to transform, growing bigger as the flames around it turned bluish-white. "Calamity Execution!" Ichigo yelled, swinging the oversized, bluish-white Geburah down at Genghis. His eyes widened as he tried to run. He glanced back to see Geburah still falling toward him.
"DAMN IT!" He yelled, continuing to run. Geburah landed with a massive explosion of bluish-white flames. Geburah returned to its original size. Ichigo walked toward the impact zone, which was still burning. He raised Geburah in the air, and the weapon began to devour the leftover holy flames from the attack. Ichigo approached the now severely charred Genghis. His clothes and armor had been incinerated, and his skin was blackened from the flames. Despite the damage, he was still barely alive.
"Keter, I'm going to switch from Shamayim to Abaddon [Destruction/Doom," Ichigo said.
"I'm ready for the change," Keter replied.
"About time," Naamah muttered. Ichigo sealed Keter, Geburah, and Malkuth.
"Schrift R: The Reality Marble, Open the gate to Abaddon!" Ichigo and Naamah shouted in unison. Ichigo released dark purple demonic energy, blinding everyone.
Scene Change: Abaddon, Schrift Q: The Qliphoth's Reality Marble
Ichigo opened his eyes to find himself standing in a desolate gray wasteland, with a large black castle looming in front of him. The sky was black, and a crimson-red sun hung overhead.
"Hello, Master," Naamah said as she appeared behind him, seductively embracing him.
"Hello, Naamah. We can play later. We still have business to attend to," Ichigo said. Naamah pouted as she stared at Genghis, using Sathariel.
"Wow, he's much older than we thought," Naamah commented.
"Really?" Ichigo asked.
"From what I can gather, he was born Genghis Khan, the First King of Mongolia," Naamah explained. Ichigo nodded, expecting this. "When he died, something pulled his soul from Earth and dropped it here. His soul was placed in an abandoned baby, which was a hybrid between a drow and a demon."
"How old is he?" Ichigo asked.
"I can't say, since I'm not sure about the time cycle," Naamah admitted. "Chishiki can help me calculate it if you really want to know."
"No worries," Ichigo said. He summoned Golachab and heated its edge, using it to chop off Genghis's arms and legs. The heat prevented him from bleeding out.
"Are those limbs gifts for Chishiki to add to the archive?" Naamah asked.
"Correct," Ichigo replied.
"Why don't you give her the whole body? Her process will kill him too," Naamah suggested.
"I want to kill him with a delayed time bomb so we have more time to escape," Ichigo explained.
"Smart," Naamah said. Golachab disappeared from Ichigo's hand. Naamah returned to his mindscape. Ichigo deactivated Schrift R: The Reality Marble, sending him and Genghis back out.
Scene Change: Outside World
Ichigo and Genghis appeared on a floating platform. The majority of the planet had already been converted into energy, leaving only the small platform where they stood. Surrounding them were stone gateways, glowing with blue energy, on their own platforms. It reminded Ichigo of the entrance to a dungeon. In the distance, he could see Evernight Forest and a few villages floating toward them. Evernight and Yhwach approached.
"About time. I could connect with you," Evernight said, standing at the edge of Evernight Forest.
"Sorry about that," Ichigo said, activating Tengan and using Haōgan to send the islands into Haō Zaimushō. Evernight and Yhwach landed beside him.
"I kept the dungeon entrance active so no one would discover us yet," Evernight said.
"Nothing tried to teleport in," Yhwach added.
"Good," Ichigo said, glancing at Genghis as he prepared to cast a spell on him.
"Wait," Zangetsu suddenly interjected, halting Ichigo mid-cast. Evernight noticed the sudden stop.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"One moment," Ichigo replied.
"What is it, Zangetsu?" Ichigo asked.
"I need you to stab my blade into Genghis's chest," Zangetsu said.
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"I… I can't explain why," Zangetsu admitted. "But our instincts are telling me it needs to be done."
"Okay," Ichigo said, summoning Yorugetsu. "Do you need to be in Shikai?"
"No," Zangetsu replied. Ichigo stabbed Yorugetsu into Genghis's chest.
"GAH!" Genghis grunted. Suddenly, black energy surged out of his body. Ichigo felt the energy being absorbed by Zangetsu. After a few minutes, the energy dissipated. Ichigo pulled Yorugetsu out of Genghis's chest.
"Zangetsu? Are you okay?" Ichigo asked.
"After the energy absorption, he was engulfed in a large black sphere," Kyōka interjected. "We can't reach them."
"I see… Keep an eye on him," Ichigo instructed.
"Got it, Ichigo," Kyōka replied. Ichigo turned to Evernight.
"Sorry about that," he said.
"I didn't expect you to absorb all that energy," Evernight said.
"Neither did I. My sword told me to do it," Ichigo replied.
"Okay..." Evernight responded, not pressing him further. Ichigo cast a spell on Genghis and the stone archways.
"I've placed a time-delayed explosion spell on everything," Ichigo said. Evernight nodded.
"The spatial distortion is linked to him. Once he dies, the spatial distortion will disappear," Yhwach added.
Evernight glanced at Genghis, then spat at him. Ichigo sent her to Haō Zaimushō. He handed Chishiki Genghis's limbs. Yhwach returned to Ichigo's mindscape. Ichigo tore open a Garganta and leaped inside, leaving Genghis behind. The minute passed, and Ichigo's spell activated, killing the Overlord of Darkness, the proclaimed Father of Demons.
Scene Change: Unknown Location
A creature sat at a desk, looking at several transparent blue screens.
"Strange. The number of humans entering dungeons is higher than usual," the creature thought to itself. The creature had dense black fur covering its round body and short limbs. Its big eyes lacked a nose, and an ivory horn protruded from its head. Dressed in a dark gray two-piece suit, this creature was a Dokkaebi. Suddenly, multiple screens turned red. The Dokkaebi looked at the first red monitor. Its eyes widened in shock.
"The sensor lost connection with the Overlord of Darkness?" the Dokkaebi muttered. It glanced at the other screens. "All dungeons linked to the Overlord's forces have lost connection with the dungeon archways?" it read. The Dokkaebi swiped its hands, causing all the screens to be minimized. Quickly, it began typing at a terminal. A new screen appeared, showing only the void of space and the stars.
"Impossible!" the Dokkaebi yelled. It snapped its fingers and disappeared.
Scene Change: Overlord of Darkness's Planet
The Dokkaebi arrived at the Overlord of Darkness's planet. It stared at the coordinates only to find nothing.
"How did this happen?" the Dokkaebi thought. "Could it be the work of a rogue Constellation?" The Dokkaebi looked around for clues. "Nothing. Whoever did this also destroyed all the evidence." The Dokkaebi sighed and snapped its fingers again.
Scene Change: Dokkaebi's Workstation
The Dokkaebi returned to its workstation and called the others. A few moments later, six other Dokkaebi teleported in.
"What is it, Eodum [Darkness]?" one asked. This Dokkaebi had red fur, dressed in a charcoal suit with a white dress shirt and red tie.
"Palgan Bul [Red Fire, someone killed my sponsee and destroyed his planet," Eodum said.
"Impossible. The sensors Intelligentsia and I created should be able to penetrate all forms of signal interference," another Dokkaebi said. This one had silver fur, a gray suit, a green dress shirt, and a monocle.
"Don't be arrogant, Saibeo [Cyber," another interjected. This Dokkaebi had dark brown fur and wore a white karate gi with a black belt. "It might not have been possible before, but it is now."
"And that impossible is now," another Dokkaebi added. This one had brown fur with faded brown clothing.
"Enough!" Eodum yelled. "I called this meeting to warn you to keep an eye on your sponsee, not for you to ridicule each other."
The other Dokkaebi nodded in acknowledgment before vanishing, leaving Eodum alone. He sighed as he pulled up the screens he had minimized.
"Wait a minute," he thought, analyzing the data of individuals entering dungeons. "Could it be that someone from Planet-42016 is the one who killed the Overlord of Darkness? And the reason we have more people in the dungeon is that they're trying to thin out the initial force?"
Eodum considered the possibility carefully. "If Planet-42016 really has someone this strong, then why did they wait until now to act? Even then, they would still be bound by the same agreement as everyone else." He frowned, realizing the contradiction in his theory.
"Let's wait and see," he decided, keeping a close watch on Planet-42016.
Scene Change: Void
Ichigo was traversing the void.
"Who are you planning on killing next?" Chishiki asked.
"I'm thinking of The Overlord of Dragons and Destruction," Ichigo replied.
"I wish to understand Master's reasoning. The Overlord's moniker suggests aggression," Chishiki said.
"The Overlord's homeworld is much larger than Genghis's. It will give me a moment to rest and deal with Evernight," Ichigo explained.
"Master's reasoning makes sense, based on the information we have," Chishiki said. They soon reached their destination. Ichigo activated Schrift U: The Umbra.
"Engulf the light and plunge the world in darkness, Nightshroud." Nightshroud appeared, and Ichigo dove into the shadows as the Garganta opened. It quickly closed behind him. Ichigo found himself in a forest.
"Looks like Schrift Q's, and S's energy production have returned to normal. But Schrift A, E, F, L, P, T, U, and V are in overdrive," Kyōka reported.
"This place has so much elemental energy around us," Nejibana added.
"Please monitor them," Ichigo instructed as he sent out a burst of reiatsu. He soon detected a village to the north. Ichigo used Shadowrun and quickly left the spot. Eventually, he arrived at the village. It was small, with white stone walls, red roofs, and either one-story or two-story buildings. The slanted roofs were adorned with pink facades and golden trimmings. Ichigo noticed a few people walking around. They resembled humans but had reptilian eyes, red horns, and dragon wings on their backs. Their clothing consisted of loose red and black shirts with black pants.
"Legilimens," Ichigo mentally cast from the shadows, gathering as much information as possible. "It seems these dragons speak a variation of Chinese," he observed. "These are dragons that can polymorph into a human-like form," he thought, continuing to explore the village.
"We are currently in Yon Rha Village, named in honor of General Yon Rha, Hǔ Niū's great-grandfather, who fought valiantly in The Millennium War," Chishiki reported after processing all the copied memories courtesy of Naamah.
"Millennium War?" Ichigo asked.
"The Millennium War was a conflict where the Fire Dragons, Earth Dragons, Metal Dragons, Water Dragons, and Wood Dragons fought for control over this world called Wǔxíng [Five Phases/Five Elements]. The war devastated the land and killed many dragons. One Fire Dragon had enough. It gathered allies and eventually killed all the Dragon Kings, uniting the continent. This lone Dragon ate the hearts and magic cores of each Dragon King and became the first Dragon capable of using all five elements. This Dragon became known as the Dragon God of the Five Realms."
"I assume the Dragon God of the Five Realms is the Overlord of Dragons and Destruction?" Ichigo guessed.
"I would safely assume so," Chishiki replied. "Our best bet is to head to the Huǒ Guó Shǒudū [Fire Nation Capital, home of the Fire Dragon King."
"Okay," Ichigo said, slipping out of the village and into the forest. Once he was alone, Ichigo transformed his human eyes into reptilian ones. He grew reddish-orange dragon horns and matching dragon wings on his back. His clothes transfigured to resemble those of the villagers. Ichigo sealed Schrift U: The Umbra, sending Nightshroud back to his mindscape.
"A Fire Dragon fights using fast, aggressive strikes. They unleash fire for ranged attacks and use their claws and feet for close combat," Naamah added.
"Thanks for the insight," Ichigo replied.
"According to our information, we are currently in Huǒ Zhī Guó [Fire Nation, the southern region of Wǔxíng," Chishiki began. "Yon Rah Village is located on the southern coast, so we need to head north until we reach Huǒ Guó Shǒudū."
With a plan in place, Ichigo took to the skies, flying toward Huǒ Guó Shǒudū. Throughout the journey, he would land to hunt animals, using the opportunity to practice fighting like a Fire Dragon. The animals he killed were later sold in the villages he stopped at, allowing him to earn money while also gathering valuable information from the locals.
"It seems like the Overlord is only allowed to send dragon hybrids into the dungeons because of how powerful most of the dragons are," Ichigo observed. "Because of this, most of the villagers aren't aware of what's happening." He eventually arrived at Huǒ Guó Shǒudū. The city was much larger than the villages he'd passed through, with many metal buildings. By late afternoon, Ichigo entered the city and used Legilimency to find an inn. Ichigo activated Tengan, transforming his eyes.
"Haōgan," Ichigo said, teleporting into Haō Zaimushō [Treasury of the Supreme King].
Scene Change: Haō Zaimushō
Ichigo appeared in Haō Zaimushō. He could see Evernight's islands floating there, and Evernight was flying toward him.
"Ichigo!" she screamed in her language. She landed in front of him and hugged him. "Our plan worked!" she shouted.
"Good," Ichigo replied in her language. "Do you have a name for your language?" he asked.
"I don't," she admitted.
"Then let's call it Everspeak," Ichigo suggested.
"Good idea," she replied in Everspeak.
"While you're here, can you teach your people Japanese?" Ichigo asked as a pile of books appeared in front of her.
"Why?" she asked.
"It would be great if you knew my native tongue," Ichigo explained.
"Fine," Evernight said.
"Don't worry, I have people here to help you," Ichigo said as Kisara and Valiona appeared. Evernight stepped back, startled.
"D-d-dragons," she said in shock.
"Don't worry, these are my dragons," Ichigo assured her.
"Hello, I'm Kisara," Kisara introduced herself in Everspeak.
"And I'm Valiona," Valiona said in Everspeak.
"Nice to meet you," Evernight replied. Ichigo handed the books to Kisara and Valiona, who escorted Evernight away. Suddenly, Kyōka, Chishiki, and Naamah appeared.
"This would be a safe place to discuss your next move," Kyōka said.
"Second," Chishiki added.
"So, what do we need to talk about?" Ichigo asked.
"We believe the Dragon God used to be someone from our world, or something similar," Naamah said.
"When the Dragon God united the world, he rewarded his four loyal retainers who were a Fire Dragon, a Water Dragon, an Earth Metal hybrid Dragon, and a Wood Dragon by bestowing upon them new names and declaring them the new kings," Chishiki explained.
"The Fire Dragon King was given the name Tokugawa Ieyasu," Naamah added. Kyōka turned to Ichigo.
"You're thinking that the Dragon God is—" Ichigo began.
"Oda Nobunaga, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven," Kyōka finished. "It's possible, especially considering we just encountered Genghis Khan."
"Are you planning to attack Tokugawa Ieyasu?" Naamah asked.
"Attacking him serves no purpose," Ichigo said. "The moment the other Dragon Kings hear of an attack on Tokugawa Ieyasu, they will tighten security immediately," Ichigo pointed out.
"You're right," Naamah admitted.
"The best approach is to gather more information on the Dragon God before we leave here," Kyōka suggested.
"Second," Chishiki added.
"I'll keep an eye on schools or museums," Ichigo said.
"Good idea," Naamah said.
"Kyōka, how is Zangetsu?" Ichigo asked.
"He's still inside the sphere," Kyōka replied.
"I see..." Ichigo said. "Please let me know if anything changes."
"Yes, Ichigo," Kyōka responded. Ichigo left Haō Zaimushō with a plan in mind.
Scene Change: Inn
Ichigo washed up and went to bed. The next morning, he woke up, making sure no one was around him before activating Schrift U: The Umbra again.
"Engulf the light and plunge the world in darkness, Nightshroud." Nightshroud materialized around him like a cloak. Ichigo quickly had a light breakfast and left the inn to begin exploring the city. He continued to use Legilimency until he found a school. With the knowledge gained, he navigated his way there. The school consisted of several buildings surrounded by a black wall, with an archway bearing the sign Huángjiā Xiāofáng Xuéyuàn [Royal Fire Academy]. In front of the entrance, two guards stood watch. Ichigo easily slipped past them using Shadowrun.
Inside, Ichigo found a map of the Academy and made his way to the library. The library, illuminated by large glass windows, was quiet, and an older lady sat at a desk, reading a book. "Must be the librarian," Ichigo thought as he moved to the farthest corner.
"Chishiki, do you have a way to scan these books without damaging them?" Ichigo asked.
"I do. Just let my nanobots handle the shelves," Chishiki replied. Ichigo activated Schrift X: The Xenomachina. Thin black nanobots surged from his shadow and began infiltrating the books, scanning their contents. Ichigo allowed more nanobots onto the shelves.
"Based on my estimates, it should take about ten minutes to scan all the books in the library," Chishiki reported.
"Good," Ichigo said, then turned his attention to the librarian. He used Legilimency on her, trying to uncover any hidden secrets. "Found somewhere else we can check later," Ichigo noted.
"Where?" Chishiki asked.
"There's a shrine-like building in the center of the school. Only special staff members are allowed inside," Ichigo said.
"Sounds suspicious," Kyōka commented.
"Agreed," Chishiki commented as the nanobots finished scanning all the books in the library. They crawled back into Ichigo's shadows.
Ichigo slipped out of the library and made his way to the center of the school, where he found a statue of a red dragon resembling a European dragon. Behind it stood a shrine. Quietly, he sneaked inside and discovered a staircase leading underground.
Descending the stairs, he entered a metal corridor and immediately sensed people further ahead. Moving cautiously, he soon arrived at a laboratory.
Inside, he saw numerous dragons in their human forms locked in cages, each wearing a large metal collar around their necks. Their eyes were dull and lifeless. At the center of the room, one of the prisoners was strapped to a table, their blood being drained. Several people stood around the captive with one wearing a white lab coat, while the others donned white aprons over their school uniforms.
"Professor, Subject 14's blood pressure is approaching the danger zone," one of the assistants said.
"Stop the blood collection," the man in the white lab coat replied.
"Looks like he's the leader of this operation," Ichigo thought as he observed the students carefully remove the needle and bandage the area.
"Take it back to the cage and bring in Subject 15," the professor instructed before exiting the room.
Ichigo silently followed him. They soon arrived in another chamber filled with cauldrons. On the left side, several cauldrons rested over stoves, their contents heated by flickering flames. On the right, more cauldrons sat neatly on separate shelves. At the center of the room stood a table covered with various pieces of wood on it.
"Is he brewing potions?" Ichigo thought as the Professor inspected the cauldrons, stirring some and leaving others untouched. He added ingredients to a few, then grabbed one cauldron and placed it on the shelf.
"I sense fire elemental energy from that cauldron," Ichigo noted as the Professor scooped a ladleful of red, thick liquid and poured it onto a wooden board. He covered it with another board with handles, pressing it up and down for several minutes before revealing small red spherical pills. The Professor carefully bottled them and continued his work.
"I think we've seen enough," Ichigo thought. A shadow tentacle rose behind the Professor, knocking him unconscious. Ichigo emerged from the shadows, with Naamah appearing beside him.
Naamah walked over to the unconscious Professor and copied his soul.
"All the people we just saw are the only ones currently here," Naamah reported.
"How many are aware of what's going on?" Ichigo asked.
"The Headmaster of Huángjiā Xiāofáng Xuéyuàn is aware, as he allows it to happen in his school. Most of the Huǒ Guó Shǒudū Police Force are also in on it, as they supply the prisoners," Naamah said.
"What about the students?"
"The students are children of either the Police Force or nobles who benefit from the products," Naamah explained.
"Who are these prisoners?"
"They're inmates meant to be executed by the Police Force. Legally, they are dead, but the Police Force uses body doubles to impersonate them," Naamah said.
"I see..." Ichigo murmured. "You're planning to take them?"
"I am," Ichigo replied, carefully storing everything in the pill-making room within his mindscape, taking extra care with the cauldrons. He then slipped back into the shadows and moved silently to the previous room where the other assistants and prisoners were.
Tentacles made of shadows rose quietly behind the students, their movements undetected. The prisoners watched silently as the tentacles knocked all the students unconscious. A few tentacles reached toward Subject 15, whose eyes widened in fear. Before Subject 15 could react, one of the tentacles sealed the valve on the blood draw, carefully removing the needle. Another tentacle grabbed bandages and wrapped the wound. Afterward, the tentacles unstrapped Subject 15, and the others followed suit, freeing all the prisoners.
Ichigo emerged from the shadows, and the prisoners reverted to their true forms. All around him were various dragon hybrids, each one unique.
"$: You can rest now :$," Ichigo said in Parseltongue, casting sleeping spells over the prisoners. They fell asleep instantly. Ichigo activated Tengan and summoned Kisara and Valiona from Haō Zaimushō.
"Please take care of these dragons," Ichigo requested.
"Of course," Kisara replied.
"I'm curious if these pills will help them," Ichigo said, handing Valiona the bottle of pills.
"Got it," Ichigo said, sending the freed prisoners and the sleeping dragon hybrids back into Haō Zaimushō, keeping one of the pills for himself.
Deactivating Tengan, he activated Schrift X: The Xenomachina. A sea of black nanobots poured out from his shadow, consuming everything in their path, except for the unconscious professor and students.
A black hand, formed entirely of nanobots, rose before him. Ichigo placed the red pill into its palm. The hand clenched around the pill, then dissolved as the nanobots scattered, merging with the rest of the swarm.
Within minutes, the once hidden metal chamber was reduced to a barren stone cavern.
"What are you planning to do with them?" Naamah asked.
"Harab Serapel [Ravens of the Burning God," Ichigo replied as a pair of black tai chi sabers appeared in his hands. He stabbed each of them with Harab Serapel, watching as they began to violently shake. Soon, red feathers began to grow from their bodies.
"Aren't they supposed to have black feathers?" Ichigo wondered aloud.
"Maybe they mutated due to their Fire Dragon heritage?" Naamah suggested.
The transformation finished, and the transformed figures awoke. Their faces had become bird-like, with plumes now adorning their heads. Males had short plumes, while females sported long plumes flowing toward their necks. Their webbed wings had been replaced by feathered wings (1).
"Master," they all said in unison, bowing to Ichigo.
"We'll talk later," Ichigo responded, pointing the pommel ring at them. "Matjar." With his command, all the dragonic garudas and harpies were teleported away. Ichigo deactivated Schrift X: The Xenomachina and slipped into the shadows, leaving the secret chamber.
Ichigo stayed in the shadows until he was a few miles away from Huángjiā Xiāofáng Xuéyuàn. Once he was alone, Ichigo rose out of the shadow and calmly returned to his room in the inn. He activated Tengan again and sent himself into Haō Zaimushō.
Scene Change: Haō Zaimushō
Ichigo arrived and saw all the prisoners lying on the grass as Kisara and Valiona observed them.
"How are they?" Ichigo asked.
"They're severely malnourished and injured. It seems their bodies are trying to repair the damage," Kisara replied.
"Let me see if I can help with that," Ichigo said, activating Schrift T: The Taiyō [Sun]. "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 as the large nodachi materialized in his hands. He stabbed it into the ground. "Iyashino Nikkō [Healing Sunlight," Ichigo said as the blade began to glow, releasing a gentle wave of heat. The prisoners' bodies absorbed the heat, and they began to recover. After a few minutes, they started to wake up.
"Hello," Ichigo said as he continued to use Iyashino Nikkō on them.
"Who… who are you?" asked a woman, attempting to appear intimidating. She resembled a lizardman with broad shoulders, red armor plating on her back and arms, and four claws on each hand (2).
"I am Ichigo. I rescued you and healed you," Ichigo answered.
"I see. I am Liúxīng [Firewall," she introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you," Ichigo replied, though everyone else looked nervous.
"If it's fine with you, I'll represent everyone," Liúxīng said.
"That's fine," Ichigo agreed.
"So, why did you rescue us?" she asked.
"Simply because I saw you needed help," Ichigo answered.
"Are we trapped here?" Liúxīng asked.
"No," Ichigo responded, "But I recommend you stay here."
"Why?" Liúxīng asked.
"This place is impossible to find," Ichigo said, casting a glance at the nervous people behind her. "You'll no longer be their prisoners."
"We would be yours," a deep voice said. Ichigo turned to see the source, a lizard-rhino hybrid standing on four feet, much larger and bulkier than the others, with a large horn in the middle of his face.
"And you are?" Ichigo asked.
"Luàn Nào [Rampage," the creature introduced himself.
"You are not a prisoner, but you need to understand how well they covered their tracks," Ichigo said. "You are legally dead. If anyone recognizes you and reports you to the authorities, they'll likely arrest you and send you back."
"And being with you is a better option?" Luàn Nào asked.
"I will not force you to do anything. You are free to roam the land but be aware you're not alone, and they have their own language," Ichigo said, pointing at Evernight, who casually waved at them. Luàn Nào nodded.
"Does anyone else have any questions for me?" Ichigo asked. No one responded. "Ok then. For now, all of you should stay here and recover."
Ichigo turned to Kisara and Valiona. "Can you two teach the Dragons Japanese and Everspeak?"
"I can help with Everspeak," Evernight said, floating in the air, thankfully clothed.
"Thanks," Ichigo replied in Everspeak before switching back to the dragon's variation of Mandarin. "Who can teach her your language?"
"I can," Liúxīng answered. "Our language is called Lóng Yǔ [Dragon Speech]."
"Great," Ichigo said as he walked away.
Once they were away from the others, Naamah suddenly appeared, and a privacy dome surrounded them.
"Are you planning to go to the other capitals?" she asked.
"Why?" Ichigo responded.
"According to the Professor's memories, all the other capitals have similar underground pill production sites," Naamah said.
"There are more people imprisoned like them?" Ichigo asked. Naamah nodded.
"The Shuǐ Bùluò [Water Tribe] and the Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó [Harden Earth Kingdom] are similar to the Fire Nation in extracting blood and refining it into pills. The Mù Yù [Wooden Domain] also creates pills that increase the chances of hybrid pregnancies," Naamah explained.
"I see..." Ichigo said, as Chishiki suddenly appeared beside them.
"We have two options for where to go next," Chishiki said, creating a map of Wǔxíng with her nanomachines. Ichigo observed a large continent divided into four parts by two massive walls, with a palace located at the intersection.
"As mentioned earlier, we're currently in Huǒ Zhī Guó, the southern region of Wǔxíng," Chishiki explained, highlighting the area in red. "We can either head east to Mù Yù, home of the Wood Dragons, or west to Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó, the realm of the Earth and Metal Dragons," she added, with two black arrows pointing from Huǒ Zhī Guó to both Mù Yù and Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó. "After either choice, we would head north to the Shuǐ Bùluò, home of the Water Dragons. Then on the way back, we can explore the route we didn't take."
"We'll go to Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó next," Ichigo decided. "Mù Yù will likely be the messier operation."
"Valid argument and reasoning," Chishiki remarked, snapping her fingers. The black arrow pointing toward Mù Yù changed direction, now leading from Shuǐ Bùluò. "Based on the information we've gathered, I've planned the best route to Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó's capital, Ba Sing Se, along with the villages and towns on the way." Chishiki zoomed in on the map, displaying a black dotted line from Huǒ Zhī Guó to Ba Sing Se, with brown flags marking various locations.
With a plan set, Ichigo left Haō Zaimushō.
Scene Change: Outside World
Ichigo reappeared inside his room at the inn.
"Looks like no one entered the room," Ichigo thought as he noticed the room was undisturbed. He walked downstairs for a quick dinner before stepping out into the city. As he walked around, he used Legilimency on the locals. Thankfully, no one seemed to be aware of what transpired at Huángjiā Xiāofáng Xuéyuàn.
"Either they haven't discovered what happened, or they're keeping it under wraps," Ichigo reasoned.
He returned to the inn and went to bed. The next morning, Ichigo left the town in his dragon disguise, wrapped in Nightshroud. As he flew, he noticed other people in the air. Some were like him, leaving the city, while others were flying toward it. Soon, Ichigo was flying alone. He sent out a small blast of reiatsu.
"Looks like I'm alone," Ichigo thought.
He landed and entered the shadows to use Shadowrun, traveling northwest. A few hours later, Ichigo crossed the border into the Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó. He quickly found one of the villages Chishiki had planned for him. The village resembled the rural ones in Huǒ Zhī Guó, but the buildings were made of wood or stone bricks and decorated in green, silver, and gold. Ichigo noticed a few dragons walking around. They resembled Fire Dragons but had differences. Their skin was brown or metallic silver, and they lacked wings. Instead, their bodies were more muscular. Ichigo swiftly left the village and rose out of the shadows, changing his dragon form.
His wings disappeared, his orange hair turned brown, and his scales became a darker shade of brown. His body gained more muscles, resembling the residents of the village.
"Earth Dragons can manipulate the earth, while Metal Dragons manipulate metal. Both types are heavy and unable to fly or move quickly. However, they have extremely dense skin, making it nearly impossible to pierce," Chishiki had explained.
"Thanks," Ichigo said as he paid the toll and entered the village.
"Legilimens," Ichigo mentally cast as he walked through the village, which was called Chin. Ichigo stayed there for the night, gathering intel from the villagers. Afterward, he left and hiked toward the next village, practicing Earth Dragon combat techniques along the way. He visited several more villages before arriving at Ba Sing Se, the capital of Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó.
Ba Sing Se was surrounded by a massive circular stone wall, about a hundred meters tall. Ichigo paid the toll and walked through the opening. He emerged into a large, open plain, with small buildings scattered across it. In the distance, Ichigo saw another circular wall, similar to the outer one.
Ichigo walked to one of the nearby villages and entered a tavern. It was mostly empty. He approached the counter and sat down.
"Welcome to Ba Sing Se. What can I get ya?" the bartender asked.
"A glass of rock tea," Ichigo replied.
"Okay," the bartender said, placing a cup of tea in front of Ichigo. "You're a new face here."
Ichigo took a sip of his tea.
"New to Ba Sing Se?" the bartender asked.
"I am," Ichigo answered.
"I bet ya heard about the job opportunities here and came," the bartender said.
"I did," Ichigo lied. The bartender shook his head in disappointment.
"Another one," he thought. Leaning closer to Ichigo, he whispered, "You just got here, right?"
Ichigo nodded.
"You still have a chance to leave before it's too late."
Suddenly, the door to the tavern was kicked down. Ichigo and the bartender turned to see two people in dark green full-body armor enter. They turned toward Ichigo and the bartender, then punched their fists toward them, firing small rocks in their direction. Ichigo saw the projectiles coming but chose not to react, allowing himself to be captured.
The two men quickly grabbed Ichigo's arms and slammed him into the counter. Ichigo noticed the bartender was similarly restrained.
"Pao Cheung (3), you are under arrest," one of the men said.
"Why am I getting arrested?" Ichigo asked.
"You are being detained for your safety," the man on top of Ichigo said, striking him in the neck, attempting to knock him out. Ichigo closed his eyes and calmly breathed, pretending to be unconscious.
The men threw Ichigo and the unconscious bartender over their shoulders and discreetly left the tavern.
The Overlord of Darkness's home world is heavily inspired by the Overlord video game series developed by Codemasters, Climax Action, and Triumph Studios. Their original name and character species have been altered to meet my needs. I know that the Overlord of Darkness ended relatively fast but Ichigo had too many advantages against him.
The Overlord of Destruction's home world is heavily inspired by Avatar the Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, and the Kyoshi book series. All rights to the aforementioned series belong to their original owners. This also doesn't count as a crossover.
Anyway, see you next month.
Author Notes:
Surprisingly the Dragonic Garuda and Dragonic Harpies are inspired by something from Avatar, the Dragon Bird Spirit.
A reptilian version of Ben 10's Cannonball.
Pao's voice actor's name is George Cheung. I took his last name and combined it with Pao's.