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. Avatar the Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, and the Kyoshi book series are owned by Nickelodeon. 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.
Chapter 80:
"Seems like they're taking us through an underground tunnel," Ichigo thought. He closed his eyes, pretending to be unconscious, while the bartender remained truly unconscious. Ichigo used Schrift E: The Earth to sense their surroundings. They were moving through the underground tunnel, heading toward the inner layer of Ba Sing Se.
Ichigo and the bartender were separated and placed into individual cells. As soon as the guard left, Ichigo opened his eyes. He tapped the ground with his finger while activating Schrift E: The Earth.
"Looks like there are 30 other prisoners nearby. There are three guards currently patrolling the area and ten more in a room," Ichigo assessed.
"Chishiki, can you use your nanobots to create a fake copy of my body?" Ichigo asked.
"I can," Chishiki replied. She activated Schrift X: The Xenomachina. The nanobots flowed out of Ichigo's shadow as Chishiki took control, instructing them to create a realistic copy of Ichigo's body.
Ichigo activated Schrift U: The Umbra. Nightshroud appeared in its cloak form on his back. Slipping into the shadows, Ichigo escaped his cell. He re-emerged in the shadow of the nearest guard. Activating Schrift Q: The Qliphoth, Ichigo mentally cast, "Sathariel [Concealment of God,", copying the guard's soul.
"It seems the guards who arrested you are part of a secretive group called the Dai Li. They're essentially the secret police of Ba Sing Se," Naamah reported.
"Similar to those in China, Russia, and North Korea?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct," Naamah replied. "Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Dragon King of Earth and Metal, doesn't know how to properly rule. Long Feng, the leader of the Dai Li, manipulates him to the point that Toyotomi Hideyoshi needs Long Feng's advice before making any decisions. Anyone who speaks against Toyotomi Hideyoshi is secretly detained by the Dai Li, drained of their blood, and 're-educated' to become spies for the Dai Li."
"This is a mess," Ichigo admitted.
"Indeed," Naamah replied.
"We have two options for how we can proceed," Chishiki said. "The first is to simply escape and head to Shuǐ Bùluò [Water Tribe]. The second option is to free the prisoners, capture the Dai Li guards, and then escape."
"Let's go with the second option," Ichigo said.
"Are you planning to kill the Dai Li guards or convert them?" Naamah asked.
"I'm thinking about converting them," Ichigo replied.
"In that case, I recommend we use Gamaliel [Polluted of God," Naamah suggested.
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"Remember when we used Harab Serapel [Ravens of the Burning God] on the Fire Dragons?" Naamah asked.
"I do," Ichigo replied.
"I believe the Fire Dragons survived the mutation because they could fly. On the other hand, Earth and Metal Dragons can't. We might create flightless garudas and harpies instead," Naamah theorized.
"Okay. I'll use Gamaliel," Ichigo agreed.
As they planned their next move, Ichigo continued following the Dai Li guard.
"Gamaliel." Ichigo activated it. A large oval mirror appeared behind him in the shadows. The top of the mirror was decorated with the upper skull of a beast, its horns protruding from either side. The sides were adorned with rib bones as if they were the mirror's ribcage.
"Gamaliel, devour the guard," Ichigo commanded. The skull's empty eyes glowed red as clear tentacles shot out of the shadows toward the unsuspecting guard. The tentacles wrapped around his limbs and pulled him into the Desolate before he could react.
Ichigo placed the mask on his face and transformed into the Dai Li guard that Gamaliel had just devoured. Using the guard's memory, Ichigo completed his patrol route. After finishing the round, Ichigo approached the room with the ten guards.
"Naamah, are you ready?" Ichigo asked.
"I am," Naamah replied from within Ichigo's shadow. Gamaliel had its ghostly tentacles ready to strike.
Ichigo pushed open the door.
"Gow, how was the patrol?" one of the guards asked.
"Good, Ghazan," Ichigo replied. "All the prisoners are accounted for."
"Excellent," Ghazan said.
"Naamah, make sure you use Sathariel on Ghazan," Ichigo ordered.
"Okay," Naamah replied.
"Did you check up on our new prisoners?" another guard asked. Ichigo recognized him as the one who had captured him and brought him here.
"I did, Xin Fu," Ichigo answered. A few moments later, another guard entered.
"One more to go," Ichigo thought.
"Mushi, how was the patrol?" Ghazan asked.
"Eh, all of them are unconscious," Mushi replied in a carefree tone.
"MUSHI!" Xin Fu yelled. "Did you beat the shit out of them again?"
"They were making noise," Mushi shrugged.
"Mushi," Ghazan interjected, "if you beat them too much, we won't meet our blood quota."
"Fine," Mushi said, "I'll try not to beat them too much."
Before the guards could continue, the door opened again as the last Dai Li guard arrived.
"Finally," Ichigo thought.
"Ming, reporting," the guard said.
"Ming, how was the patrol?" Ghazan asked.
"Same as usual," Ming replied.
"Good," Ghazan said, sliding a paper to the other side of his table. "Just sign here and you're relieved of your shift."
Ming and Mushi were the first to sign. Ichigo walked over and signed the paper.
"Now!" Ichigo ordered. Suddenly, Gamaliel's ghostly tentacles shot out of Ichigo's shadow, lashing at the 12 other Dai Li guards. The guards were shocked, not expecting the attack. Gamaliel pulled them all into the Desolate.
"Naamah, start the next part of the plan," Ichigo said, removing Sathariel from his face.
"Yes, my Master," Naamah replied, rising from Ichigo's shadow. She had already deactivated Gamaliel. She took Sathariel from Ichigo's hand and placed it on her face, transforming it into Ghazan. She took the report from his desk.
"See you later," Naamah said, using Ghazan's voice as she left the room.
"That should give us an hour," Ichigo thought.
"Chishiki," Ichigo called out.
"Yes, Master?" Chishiki answered as she appeared from the mindscape.
"How long will it take your nanobots to devour the entire facility?" Ichigo asked.
"Based on my calculations, I should be able to devour the facility in less than an hour," Chishiki estimated.
"Okay. Begin doing that while I go rescue the prisoners. We'll meet at the entrance," Ichigo said. Black nanobots began to pour out of Chishiki's hand, swiftly moving to devour the facility. Ichigo shunpō'ed across the prison, collecting all the prisoners in Haō Zaimushō. Afterward, he stored all the collected blood and pills in his mindscape. He then appeared at the entrance of the metal prison, where Chishiki and Naamah were waiting.
"It will take a few more minutes before the nanobots finish devouring the prison," Chishiki reported.
"That's fine," Ichigo responded. He turned to Naamah. "How did it go on your end?"
"Long Feng didn't suspect anything when I turned in the report," Naamah said. "I made sure to keep an eye out in case they sent more Dai Li agents."
"Good," Ichigo said. Suddenly, a sea of black nanobots surged towards them. Chishiki raised her hand, absorbing all the nanobots.
"Completed," she said.
"Good. We can plan our next move later," Ichigo said as Chishiki and Naamah returned to his mindscape. Ichigo entered the shadows and used Shadowrun to quickly leave the scene.
Scene Change: Zigan Village
Ichigo spent three hours using Shadowrun to reach Zigan Village, located near the border between the Shuǐ Bùluò and the Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó. Before entering the village, he altered his dragon form again, changing his hair and scales to a dull silver color. Ichigo quietly rose from the shadows and walked toward Zigan Village.
"Toll," the guards said, their tone bored. Ichigo calmly paid the toll.
"Know a good inn around here?" Ichigo asked.
"I'd recommend the Badger's Cave. It's two blocks down, then make a right," the guard replied.
"Thanks," Ichigo said, tipping the guard. He entered the village and followed the directions. Soon, he found the inn, booked a room for the night, and had a quick dinner before heading upstairs. Once he was sure he was alone, he activated Tengan, transforming his eyes.
"Haōgan," Ichigo activated, sending himself into Haō Zaimushō [Treasury of the Supreme King].
Scene Change: Haō Zaimushō
Ichigo opened his eyes to see all 30 prisoners lying on the ground. Kisara, Valiona, Liúxīng, and a few Fire Dragons were watching them.
"Are these more prisoners?" Liúxīng asked.
"They're from Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó," Ichigo explained.
"I see…" Liúxīng said. "Will you be able to heal them like you did for us?" she asked.
"I can," Ichigo replied, activating Schrift E: The Earth. He let the energy from the Schrift surround the unconscious dragons, allowing their bodies to absorb the energy. Ichigo waved his hand, and a dome of earth covered them, trapping all the energy inside. Ichigo turned to Liúxīng, who looked confused. "When I took care of you, I used a technique that employs fire energy to heal the target. I don't have a similar technique for them. Instead, I've allowed their natural healing factor to work with the abundant energy."
"I see… That makes sense," Liúxīng said.
"Speaking of care, how are you and your brethren doing?" Ichigo asked.
"We're all right. They're getting used to their new freedom," Liúxīng said, glancing to the side. Ichigo followed her gaze to see a few of the dragons enjoying themselves. "This is the first time they've touched grass or felt the warmth of the sun."
"That's good," Ichigo said. "I hope you can help situate the new dragons once they wake up."
"What if they don't listen to me?" Liúxīng asked.
"Don't worry. Let Kisara or Valiona deal with it," Ichigo replied.
"Okay," Liúxīng said.
"See you later," Ichigo said. Liúxīng bowed, and Ichigo nodded as he walked away. Kyōka, Chishiki, and Naamah appeared beside him.
"Our next destination is Shuǐ Bùluò," Chishiki began. "There's a chance their operations are out at sea."
"What makes you say that?" Naamah asked.
"One of the items I scanned was a set of maps of Wǔxíng. Older maps showed a few islands off the coast of Shuǐ Bùluò, but newer maps no longer include those islands."
"You're saying the Water Dragons found a way to hide the islands from sight?" Naamah asked.
"Most likely," Chishiki replied.
"We'll keep an eye out when we get to Shuǐ Bùluò," Ichigo said.
"Very well," Chishiki said. Ichigo turned to Naamah. "How are the prisoners inside the Desolate?" he asked.
"They've all had their minds and souls broken and transformed," Naamah said, summoning Gamaliel. Ichigo looked inside to see ghostly dragons sleeping inside. "Gamaliel transformed them into Earthbound Wraiths. Once they're released from the Desolate, they'll dive into the earth or metal and transform it into a moveable body."
"Like golems," Ichigo said.
"More or less. While they don't have a central core, they're weak to holy energy and can be extracted from their bodies," Naamah added.
"I see," Ichigo said. "What about our dragonic birds?"
"Going well," Naamah started. "I had to create a volcano for them to live in. From what I can see, they already have about ten eggs."
"Okay then," Ichigo said. "Should we use Gamaliel or Harab Serapel on the Water Dragons?"
"Hm… I'm not sure," Naamah admitted.
"Try Harab Serapel first. If it doesn't work out, we can use Gamaliel," Kyōka suggested.
"Good idea," Naamah said.
"Anything else we need to mention?" Ichigo asked.
"Zangetsu was finally freed from the sphere," Kyōka explained. "He wanted a few moments alone to resituate himself before seeing you." Zangetsu appeared before Ichigo. He looked mostly the same, except for one thing, there were golden chains wrapped around his biceps.
"How are you?" Ichigo asked.
"Fine, King," Zangetsu replied.
"Do you have any idea what that energy did to both of you?" Ichigo asked.
"The energy changed me, in a good way," Zangetsu answered vaguely.
"But you can't tell me?" Ichigo replied. Zangetsu nodded.
"You have to unlock it first," Zangetsu said.
"Can you give me a hint?" Ichigo asked. Zangetsu opened his mouth, trying to say something, but he couldn't. It took a few moments before Zangetsu spoke.
"It's something beyond everything," Zangetsu said. "I can't say anything else."
"That's fine, Zangetsu," Ichigo replied, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
No one responded. "Then I guess this meeting is done," Ichigo said. Zangetsu, Kyōka, Chishiki, and Naamah returned to Ichigo's mindscape, and he left Haō Zaimushō.
Scene Change: Outside
Ichigo reappeared in his room. He looked around, ensuring the room hadn't been disturbed while he was gone. Ichigo walked downstairs and had a quick dinner at the inn. Afterward, he explored the village while using Legilimency on the villagers. "Looks like I overestimated the Dai Li," Ichigo thought as he returned to his room and went to bed.
The next morning, Ichigo made sure no one was around before he activated Schrift U: The Umbra again.
"Engulf the light and plunge the world in darkness, Nightshroud." Nightshroud appeared around him like a cloak. Ichigo walked downstairs and had a quick breakfast before leaving the inn. As he walked out of the village, Ichigo could see a few people starting to open their shops. Once outside the village and certain no one was nearby, Ichigo entered the shadows and used Shadowrun, swiftly slipping past the border guards and entering Shuǐ Bùluò. He continued using Shadowrun toward the first location Chishiki had marked on the map.
"The Běijí Wān is the capital of Shuǐ Bùluò," Chishiki began. "Since Water Dragons prefer to live near the coast, the Jīngtāo Hàilàng [Stormy Seas, the Water Dragon Military group, created many outposts along their land territory."
"So, we are heading towards one of these outposts?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct," Chishiki replied. Ichigo spotted a wooden fort. "This is Nánbù Bó Wù [Southern Mist," Ichigo observed the guards outside Nánbù Bó Wù. They appeared the most human of the other dragons, with features reminiscent of a Chinese person, including blue scales on their faces and arms, resembling gauntlets. A leather canteen was strapped to their waist. Ichigo activated Schrift Q: The Qliphoth.
"Sathariel," Ichigo mentally cast. He could feel a copy of the guard's soul being created.
"Got it," Naamah said. Ichigo moved away from the entrance to Nánbù Bó Wù. Once out of sight, he emerged from the shadows and transformed himself, resembling the guards. Inside the forest were catgators, hybrids of catfish, and alligators. Ichigo used the guard's memories to imitate their fighting style, killing a catgator and draining its blood. He stored the corpses in his storage ring. Ichigo then walked toward the entrance of Nánbù Bó Wù.
"HALT!" one of the guards yelled, raising his hand. Ichigo immediately stopped.
"What is your reason for trying to enter Nánbù Bó Wù?" the guard asked.
"One of the guards is extremely passionate about his wife's sea squid soup. You would instantly be in his good books if you're a fan of sea squid soup," Naamah suggested.
"I wish to take a break from my travels and enjoy some sea squid soup," Ichigo replied. The guard's face lit up.
"Ah, a fellow enjoyer of sea squid!" the guard said. The other guard groaned.
"Just pay the toll, and he'll tell you where to eat some sea squid soup," the other guard said, extending his hand toward Ichigo. Ichigo walked over and paid the toll.
"Just head straight down the main path. You'll eventually see the cafeteria. Ask for a woman named Kya and tell her that 'Hakoda sent you for the house special,'" Hakoda said.
"I assume Kya is your family member?" Ichigo asked.
"My wife," Hakoda replied.
"Hakoda, let the man go," the other guard said.
"Fine, Bato," Hakoda replied. Ichigo entered Nánbù Bó Wù and found a butcher willing to buy the catgators. Afterward, he followed Hakoda's directions and arrived at the cafeteria. He was immediately greeted by a waitress.
"Morning, what can I do for you?" she asked.
"I'm looking for Kya," Ichigo replied.
"Oh? Follow me," the waitress said. They walked towards one of the windows, where Ichigo could see people cooking inside.
"Hey, Kya!" the waitress called out.
"What, Lirin?" came the reply.
"I've got a customer looking for you," Lirin said.
"One moment!" Kya replied. A few moments later, a young woman emerged. She looked at Ichigo. "What can I do for you?"
"A guard named Hakoda sent me for the house special," Ichigo said. Kya shook her head.
"Goddamn that man," she muttered. Then, looking at Ichigo, she said, "Give me ten minutes, and I'll have your dish ready."
"Allow me to escort you to a table," Lirin said with a chuckle. Ichigo sat down at an empty table.
"What was that about?" Ichigo asked.
"When Kya and Hakoda were dating, she made a unique version of the sea squid soup. He loved it so much that whenever someone mentions 'sea squid soup,' he immediately tells them to try out Kya's version," Lirin explained.
"I see…" Ichigo said. Lirin walked away. As Ichigo waited for his food, he used Legilimency on the people around him.
"No one knows what is going on at Huǒ Zhī Guó or Yìnghuà Dìqiú Wángguó," Ichigo concluded as Kya brought a large bowl to his table.
"Here you go," Kya said. Ichigo took a bite of the sea squid.
"This is the best sea squid soup I've ever had," Ichigo said. Kya blushed upon hearing his words.
"It's not much," she admitted. She quickly returned to the kitchen. Ichigo finished his soup, paid for the meal, and left the cafeteria. He walked out of the village and noticed Hakoda and Bato were still on guard.
"It's you!" Hakoda yelled. Bato sighed.
"Hello again," Ichigo replied.
"How was the sea squid soup?" Hakoda asked.
"It was the best I've had," Ichigo said. Hakoda turned to Bato.
"See! He agrees!" Hakoda said.
"Yes. Yes," Bato replied. Ichigo didn't need to look through his memories to know this was a common occurrence between them.
"Anyways, I'm heading out," Ichigo said.
"Where are you going?" Hakoda asked.
"I'm heading to Agna Qel'a," Ichigo replied.
"Ah, the capital," Hakoda said.
"Are you planning to go straight there?" Bato asked.
"I am," Ichigo replied.
"Then give the guard of Zhōngyāng Shuǐ [Central Water] this," Bato said, handing Ichigo a wooden pass. The pass was made from brown wood, with a waning crescent moon and three wavy horizontal lines engraved on it. The lines were painted blue.
"This should allow you to stay at our headquarters for the night."
"Thank you," Ichigo said, pocketing the charm before leaving Nánbù Bó Wù.
"It sucks that they gave you the charm," Naamah commented.
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"The charm can help expedite our passage through security, but there's magic on it that reveals how long it's been with the person," Naamah explained.
"How long will it take to get to the next stop?" Ichigo inquired.
"According to Hakoda's and Bato's memories, it usually takes them a few hours to reach Zhōngyāng Shuǐ, the headquarters of the Jīngtāo Hàilàn," Naamah replied.
"That aligns with my current information," Chishiki added.
"It does suck that they gave me this charm," Ichigo thought, continuing his journey.
Once Ichigo was out of sight, he used Schrift U: The Umbra to step into his shadow, activating Shadowrun to get closer to Zhōngyāng Shuǐ. He halted the Shadowrun but remained concealed in the shadows.
"Kisara, Valiona, how are the dragons?" Ichigo asked.
"The Fire Dragons are starting to interact with Evernight and her people," Kisara replied.
"Do they still want me to release them?" Ichigo asked.
"Not anymore," Valiona said. "They quickly realized how powerful you are and decided to submit to you."
"I see… what about the Earth Dragons?" Ichigo asked.
"They're still inside the dome. I expect them to be out in a few days," Kisara reported.
"I see. Chishiki, wake me up in five hours," Ichigo instructed.
"Yes, Ichigo," Chishiki replied.
Ichigo closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.
"Ichigo, it's time to wake up," Chishiki called after the time passed. Ichigo opened his eyes and stretched.
"Did anything happen while I was napping?" Ichigo asked.
"Nothing unusual happened while you were sleeping," Chishiki answered.
"Good," Ichigo replied, rising from the shadows. He saw the sun was setting, and the temperature had dropped significantly. Ichigo quickly hunted and killed a few packs of catgators, storing them in his ring. He then walked toward Zhōngyāng Shuǐ.
"According to Hakoda's and Bato's memories, everyone at Zhōngyāng Shuǐ wears fur coats because of the cold, and it will only get colder as we go up," Naamah warned.
"Got it," Ichigo said, and a fur coat materialized around him.
It wasn't long before Ichigo spotted a large wooden fortress, with four guards stationed outside the entrance. More guards were posted on the walls. All of them were dressed in fur coats. Ichigo calmly walked toward the fortress, and the guards immediately took notice. Two of them drew water from their surroundings, forming whips of water in their hands.
"STOP!" one of the unarmed guards shouted when Ichigo was within hearing range. Ichigo halted. "Identify yourself!"
"I am a traveler, on my way to Agna Qel'a," Ichigo replied, pulling out the charm Hakoda had given him. He tossed it to the guard. One of the other guards swung their water whips at the charm, catching it mid-air before presenting it to the spokesperson.
The guard examined the charm carefully. "Who gave you this charm?" he asked.
"Hakoda. He was the guard at Nánbù Bó Wù this morning," Ichigo answered.
"Your story checks out," the guard said, and the others lowered their weapons. Ichigo calmly walked past them.
"Keep an eye on him," the guard murmured to his comrades.
"Looks like I'm not off the hook yet," Ichigo thought.
Ichigo found a butcher and sold the catgators he had hunted earlier. As he explored Zhōngyāng Shuǐ, he sensed one of the guards was still discreetly following him. Ichigo used Legilimency on the guard. "Looks like the guards are suspicious because I'm an outsider," he concluded. Ichigo continued using Legilimency on the rest of the people as he explored the city.
After an hour of observing, Ichigo found an inn for the night. He could still sense the guard tailing him, but this time, the guard had changed shifts. Ichigo ignored him, had his dinner, and then retired to his room.
"Naamah, keep an eye on our friend to see if he decides to make a move," Ichigo said, preparing to sleep.
"Yes, my Master," Naamah responded.
Ichigo pretended to sleep, but to his surprise, the guard did not approach him. He decided to sleep through the night.
The next morning, Ichigo woke up. He sensed a guard was still observing his room. The guard had changed shifts during the night.
"The guards have switched four times throughout the night," Naamah reported.
"Thank you," Ichigo replied, heading to the restroom. Afterward, he went down for a quick breakfast. While eating, he noticed a guard, disguised as a regular person, entering the inn. The disguised guard sat at a table where he could keep an eye on Ichigo. He ordered his meal and ate without drawing attention.
"I didn't expect them to do something like this," Ichigo thought as he finished his breakfast. He paid his bill and left the inn.
"The disguised guard is still eating his breakfast," Naamah reported.
"It would be more suspicious if he left now," Ichigo replied.
Ichigo walked out of Zhōngyāng Shuǐ, and Naamah noted that it seemed no guards were following him anymore.
"That makes sense. I appeared to be just another civilian," Ichigo said. Once he was alone, he used Schrift U: The Umbra to enter his shadow and activated Shadowrun toward Agna Qel'a.
Less than an hour away from Agna Qel'a, Ichigo stopped and emerged from the shadows. The temperature had dropped even further. Snow covered the trees, and the landscape looked much colder than before. Ichigo walked along the snow-covered path and soon saw Agna Qel'a in the distance. It was a grand, icy city with igloo-shaped buildings and a beautifully crafted palace made of ice in the center.
Ichigo could see guards patrolling the area as he approached the entrance. The guards appeared much more relaxed than those at Nánbù Bó Wù and Zhōngyāng Shuǐ.
"Toll," one of the guards said.
Ichigo paid the toll and was allowed entry into Agna Qel'a. He explored the city while using Legilimency on the people around him.
"Nothing strange yet," Ichigo thought, stopping for a quick lunch. He then ventured outside the city to hunt the local wildlife. He encountered a leap of snow leopards, much larger than the ones from his world. The snow leopards were between 120–140 cm (47.2–55.1 inches) tall and 400 cm (13.12 feet) long. The largest, a male leading the group, stood at 175 cm (68.9 inches) tall, with a pair of antlers that were 60 cm (23.6 inches) long and a body measuring 500 cm (16.4 feet).
The horned snow leopard growled at Ichigo. The other snow leopards followed suit. Ichigo raised his hands, and spears of ice formed around him. He waved his hand, firing the spears at the leap. The horned snow leopard charged toward Ichigo, using its horns to smash the incoming ice spears. The other snow leopards jumped to the side, avoiding the ice spears. Ichigo raised his hands, forming two large icy claws, and charged toward the horned snow leopard. As he fought against it, more ice spears rained down at the snow leopards. It didn't take long before the first snow leopard died, and soon the white snow was dyed red with their blood. The horned snow leopard was badly injured, while Ichigo remained unscathed. His icy claws were coated in frozen blood. The horned snow leopard leaped at Ichigo again, but Ichigo raised his bloody claws and bisected the snow leopard, sending blood and guts everywhere. Ichigo felt Schrift O: The Oversoul activates, pulling the soul of the horned snow leopard into itself. Chishiki claimed the corpses of the horned snow leopard and a gender pair of snow leopards.
Ichigo collected all the blood from the snow leopards and formed a hand made out of blood and water. He placed the corpses on it. The guards noticed Ichigo and allowed him to pass. Ichigo went to the butcher and sold all the corpses. He spent the rest of the day exploring Agna Qel'a, eventually finding an inn he liked and booking a room for the night. Ichigo ate dinner before heading up to his room. He lay on his bed.
"Based on the gathered information, we should wait until early morning to investigate the 'missing' islands," Chishiki said.
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"There should be fewer people in the water," Naamah added.
"That makes sense," Ichigo admitted.
"Water Dragons are stronger when the moon is out," Chishiki said.
"Good," Ichigo said. "Chishiki, can you make another body double?"
"I can," Chishiki replied.
"Good," Ichigo said. He had a quick dinner before returning to his room to sleep.
Ichigo opened his eyes and silently stood up.
"Chishiki," he said, activating Schrift X: The Xenomachina.
"Got it," Chishiki replied as black nanobots ran out of Ichigo's shadow and formed a body double. Ichigo activated Schrift U: The Umbra. Nightshroud, in its cloak form, appeared on his back. Ichigo slipped into the shadows and left his room. From the shadows, Ichigo could see the sun already high in the sky, shining. He used the shadows to quickly reach the coastline of Agna Qel'a.
"Master, transform into this animal," Chishiki said, showing an image of a hybrid between an otter and a penguin.
"What is this?" Ichigo asked.
"An otter penguin. A local animal around Agna Qel'a," Chishiki replied.
Ichigo shrugged and transformed into the otter penguin. He shrank down to about 152 cm (5 ft) tall. His face now resembled an otter, with a small black nose and whiskers. His short neck blended smoothly into his chest, two pairs of flippers on each side of his body, and webbed feet. His back, tail, flippers, and head were black, while his underbelly was white. Ichigo dove into the water. Due to the otter penguin's body, he wasn't affected by the cold and easily swam.
"Keep going straight," Chishiki instructed. Ichigo followed her guidance, swimming straight. After an hour, he saw a large chunk of ice. He surfaced and climbed out of the water. Ichigo sent out a small burst of reiatsu.
"Looks like there are people inside the glacier," Ichigo thought. He used Schrift U: The Umbra to enter the shadow and move toward the glacier. Ichigo could sense two guards hidden behind a pile of snow. He sneaked inside the mount, where the guards were talking. Ichigo saw that the mount was modified to allow the guards to see out of the snow, but those outside couldn't see in. Ichigo activated Schrift Q: The Qliphoth.
"Sathariel," Ichigo mentally cast. He could feel copies of the guards' souls being created.
"Give me a moment," Naamah said as she looked into the guards' memories. "I'm surprised the Water Dragons did this."
"Did what?" Ichigo asked.
"These guards are known as Sǐshuǐ [Dead/Stagnant Water]. They were soldiers who fought in the Millennium War. It appears they died or were close to dying but were saved at the last minute. During that weakened state, their memories were altered. They believe they died in the Millennium War. Their actions in the war showed their loyalty and duty to the Shuǐ Bùluò. They've been selected to continue serving Shuǐ Bùluò, even in death," Naamah explained.
"I guess it's one way to get strong guards without leaking the information of this place," Ichigo replied.
"Anyway, these guards only know the layout of the ground floor, but there is a door they are forbidden to enter," she added.
"Chishiki, can you leave a few of your nanobots here?" Ichigo asked.
"Why?" Chishiki asked.
"Just in case our cover is blown, you can knock the guards out with your nanobots," Ichigo replied.
"As you wish," Chishiki answered. Ichigo watched as black nanobots left his shadow. The nanobots turned blue, blending in with the guards' outfits.
"Let's head there," Ichigo said.
"Follow me," Naamah instructed. Ichigo followed her as they passed through an icy hallway. As they traveled, Ichigo spotted more guards. He had Chishiki place more nanobots on the guards, while Naamah used Sathariel on them.
"All these guards know the same thing," Naamah criticized. Soon, they arrived at a door. The door was covered with engravings warning the guards not to enter. Ichigo scanned the door with magic and kidō.
"They simply locked the door," Ichigo said, astonished at the lack of defenses.
"I assume whoever is the mastermind behind this place used the guards' ignorance and fear of the unknown," Naamah speculated.
Ichigo slipped past the defenseless door. Behind it, a set of stairs led down to another hallway. Ichigo carefully moved through the hallway and spotted more guards patrolling.
"Naamah," Ichigo said.
"On it," she replied, using Sathariel on the guards. "Damn," she said.
"What happened?" Ichigo asked.
"Whoever's in charge here is extremely paranoid."
"How paranoid?" Ichigo asked.
"These guards are exactly like the ones on the first floor, but they are unaware of its existence," Naamah said.
"They went crazy guarding this place," Ichigo said upon hearing this. "Let's just continue with what we were doing earlier." He decided.
"Okay," Naamah and Chishiki replied. Naamah guided Ichigo down the hallways while Chishiki planted nanobots on the guards. They traveled through three more levels before arriving at another hallway. Unlike the others, this one was decorated. Ichigo moved silently through the corridor until he arrived at what appeared to be a throne room. There, he saw a large dragon sleeping. The dragon looked like an eastern dragon, covered mostly in icy-blue scales. A red arrow marked its forehead, extending along its back to its claws, hind legs, and tail.
"Guess we found out who's in charge of this place," Ichigo thought.
"Let me see," Naamah said as she used Sathariel on the dragon. "Looks like this dragon is indeed in charge of this place."
"That's good," Ichigo replied.
"The dragon's name is Amon. He is the last remaining member of a Water Dragon clan that can manipulate blood and inadvertently life energy," Naamah identified.
"I assume this was part of his plan for revenge?" Ichigo guessed.
"His clan was executed under orders from Dragon King Nōhime. She accused them of treason," Naamah said.
"I assume that wasn't the case?" Ichigo asked.
"Amon believes Dragon King Nōhime is scared of their clan's abilities. She tried to make members of their family her servants, but they turned her down," Naamah replied.
"I see…" Ichigo said. "Do they have any prisoners?"
"Not really. Amon faked the deaths of prisoners and rescued them from prison. Many of them have sworn loyalty to him, either by choice or force," Naamah said.
"I see… Where is he getting the blood for his blood pills?" Ichigo asked.
"The blood used for the pills comes from his guards or his followers," Naamah answered.
"Is he strong enough to fight against her?" Ichigo asked. Naamah shook her head.
"His total force is barely five percent of Dragon King Nōhime's," she replied.
"Should I transform them or set them free in Haō Zaimushō?" Ichigo asked.
"I recommend transforming Amon and those who committed terrible crimes. The guards, those with lesser crimes or who have paid for them, should be sent to Haō Zaimushō," Naamah suggested.
"Okay," Ichigo said as he summoned Harab Serapel. The blades were currently black.
Without hesitation, he stabbed Amon with Harab Serapel, triggering the transformation. Amon jolted awake from the sudden pain, but before he could react, Ichigo activated Schrift U: The Umbra, binding him in place as the transformation took hold.
Icy-blue feathers and wings began to sprout from Amon's back. A long violet plume extended from his neck, resembling a lion's mane. His struggles gradually ceased as he submitted to the transformation.
Lowering his head, Amon bowed before Ichigo.
"Master," he said. Ichigo released Amon from the shadows, raising Harab Serapel.
"I'm sending you to your new home. You will be the leader of your people there. There's already a group of people in there. Do not antagonize them. All of you are my servants," Ichigo said.
"Yes, Master," Amon replied.
"Matjar," Ichigo called. A small spiraling void formed before the pommel ring and pulled Amon inside. Ichigo slipped into the shadows and moved downstairs. They arrived in a hallway full of prison cells.
"Do you want me to use Sathariel on them?" Naamah asked.
"No, I've got this," Ichigo said, drawing on the powers of Jigoku no Kōtei. "Tsumi no Me [Eye of Sin]." Ichigo activated it. His eyes began to glow crimson, allowing him to see the sins each prisoner had committed. Those with no sins or minor ones were knocked unconscious and sent to Haō Zaimushō. Those who had committed major sins were sent to the Desolate.
"Chishiki, begin knocking out the guards," Ichigo instructed.
"Yes, Master," Chishiki replied. Ichigo moved up each floor, seeing all the guards had been knocked out by the nanobots. He used Tsumi no Me on the guards, either sending them to Haō Zaimushō or transforming them with Harab Serapel. After they completed their transformations, he teleported them to Harab Serapel's pocket dimension. Moments later, Ichigo finished judging all the guards inside the secret base.
"Chishiki, you can begin," Ichigo said.
"Yes, Master," Chishiki replied. The nanobots began to devour the secret base, starting from the lowest level. It took Chishiki less than an hour to consume the entire base. Ichigo transformed back into the otter-penguin and swam back to Agna Qel'a. Once he reached the shore, he dove into the nearby shadows and used Shadowrun to return to his room.
"Good," Ichigo replied. His body double reverted to nanobots and returned to Ichigo's shadow. After a quick shower, Ichigo left his room. He sat down for breakfast while using Legilimency on the staff.
"Looks like no one noticed me leaving the inn, or what happened last night," Ichigo concluded.
Afterward, Ichigo left Anga Qel'a. Once alone, he activated Schrift U: The Umbra, slipping into the shadows and moving southwest toward Mù Yù. It took less than an hour for him to cross the border from Shuǐ Bùluò to Mù Yù. Soon, he entered a large forest with golden leaves.
"I didn't expect to see maidenhair trees here," Kyōka noted.
They arrived at a village entirely constructed of wood, where the dragons were covered in brown, wood-like scales, with green skin beneath.
"According to records, this is Jīnmáo Cūn [Golden Hair Village," Chishiki said.
Ichigo transformed his body, creating a replica of the wood dragons. Discreetly, he rose from the shadows and approached the village. He paid the toll and was allowed to enter.
"The village seems peaceful," Ichigo thought as he walked around. Using Legilimency on the locals, he frowned. "Damn, I didn't expect this."
"What did you find?" Chishiki asked.
"Once a week, a convoy consisting of four large wagons pulled by an elephant mandrill arrives at Jīnmáo Cūn. The owner opens his wagons to the villagers. Inside are sex slaves of both genders. According to the owner, these slaves have been modified so that neither the slave nor the client can impregnate."
"Does the owner charge the villagers?" Naamah asked.
"No, he doesn't," Ichigo replied. "But he has some unique rules before they can enter the wagons."
"What are they?" Chishiki inquired.
"The client is rinsed down by a Water Dragon before and after they enter the wagon," Ichigo said.
"Since blood is used for the blood pills, do you think they are used to make the pregnancy pills?" Naamah suggested.
"I think so too," Ichigo said.
"Do we have any idea when they are coming?" Chishiki asked.
"I can estimate in a few days," Ichigo said as he walked to an inn and booked a room. Once Ichigo was sure he was alone, he activated Tengan and sent himself into Haō Zaimushō.
Scene Change: Haō Zaimushō
Ichigo opened his eyes to find that the earth dome had disappeared. He saw Earth, Metal, and Fire Dragons working together to construct a village. Kisara was flying toward him.
"Hello, Kisara," he said.
"Hello, Ichigo. Are you here to check on the Water Dragons?" she asked.
"I am," Ichigo replied.
"Evernight helped us put them in a lake to assist with their recovery."
"Thank you, Kisara. Lead me to them," Ichigo said. Kisara led Ichigo to a lake where he could see the Water Dragons floating on the surface.
"Rage Through the Seas of the Heavens, Nejibana." Ichigo chanted, activating Schrift F: Fengári Neró. He dipped Nejibana into the lake water and slowly released more energy into the water. Ichigo could feel the Water Dragons subconsciously pulling the energized water toward themselves. He stopped when the dragons stopped absorbing the energy. Ichigo pulled Nejibana out of the water and sealed it. It didn't take long before the Water Dragons began to wake up.
"It's the person that freed us from Amon," one of the Water Dragons said. Some of them tried to get out of the water.
"Relax," Ichigo said. "All of you are still recovering from Amon's treatment. Stay in the lake so you can all recover." The Water Dragons returned to relaxing in the lake. Ichigo walked toward the village the Fire, Metal and Earth Dragons were constructing. It was made out of mud, stones, and wood. As soon as the dragons saw Ichigo, they stopped what they were doing.
"Greetings, Huángdì [Emperor," they said, bowing to him. Ichigo resisted the urge to sigh.
"It seems all of you have recovered from your time in prison."
"Yes, Huángdì," one of the dragons said, trying not to raise its head.
"Keep up the good work," Ichigo said as he continued to explore the village.
"Yes, Huángdì!" all the dragons roared. Ichigo eventually finished exploring the village and saw Kisara and Valiona waiting for him.
"What do you think of the village?" Kisara asked.
"Looks pretty good, considering the lack of resources we have, but keep it simple for now."
"Yes, Ichigo," Kisara and Valiona replied. Naamah appeared beside Ichigo.
"The next batch is ready," Naamah said as she summoned Gamaliel. Gamaliel's eyes glowed as it released the former Water Dragon prisoners. Their bodies appeared to be made entirely of murky water except for their red eyes. "I call them the Sǐshuǐ."
"Dead water," Ichigo translated.
"Right," Naamah replied. "The Sǐshuǐ's abilities are similar to what they had as Water Dragons, but they can wrestle control of water by contaminating it with their water."
"I see…" Ichigo said. "What about those in Harab Serapel?"
"They are fine. They are forming their nests and not messing with each other," Naamah reported.
"Good," Ichigo said after leaving Haō Zaimushō.
Timeskip: Jīnmáo Cūn, Inn
Ichigo woke up and got out of bed. He had been forced to stay in the village for three days, waiting for the slave owner to show up. During that time, Ichigo used Legilimency to learn how the Wood Dragons harnessed life energy. The Wood Dragons used the ability in two ways. The first way they used life energy was to promote life, usually for healing. As Ichigo discovered earlier, life energy could also increase fertility. The other application was manipulating the growth of plants. As Ichigo sat down and enjoyed his breakfast, someone suddenly burst into the inn.
"The convoy is here!" he yelled. The other people stopped what they were doing and immediately ran toward the incoming convoy.
"About damn time," Ichigo thought as he finished his breakfast. Ichigo walked back up to his room. After that, Ichigo entered the shadow and left the inn. He moved toward the crowd of people. Ichigo saw a man with slicked black hair, wearing a black and white mask. He was dressed in a black suit with white gloves. Ichigo moved into the wagons to see all kinds of slaves. They were different creatures not native to this world. Ichigo left the wagon and moved to the slave owner.
"Legilimens," Ichigo mentally cast. "So that is how it is," he thought.
"What did you discover?" Chishiki asked.
"The slave owner's name is Zaheer. While Zaheer doesn't know where the slaves come from, he knows that Wood Dragon King Akechi Mitsuhide is somehow involved," Ichigo said.
"You think the Wood Dragon King is aware of the Overlord's efforts in conquering other worlds?" Naamah asked.
"Likely," Ichigo admitted.
"Where is Zaheer's base of operations located?" Chishiki asked.
"His base is located in a place called Huàshí Yínxìng [Fossil Ginkgo," Ichigo said.
"The capital of Mù Yù is Huàshí Yínxìng," Chishiki said.
"So, we need to head to the capital," Naamah concluded.
"Looks like we have a plan," Ichigo said.
"What are we going to do with Zaheer?" Naamah asked.
"According to his memories, he's supposed to return to Huàshí Yínxìng after he's done with this village. I plan to use Sathariel on him. As for the slaves, I plan to have Chishiki create body doubles for the journey while sending all the slaves to Haō Zaimushō to recover," Ichigo said.
"Good idea," Naamah said.
"Second," Chishiki replied. With a plan in mind, Ichigo hid in the shadows of the wagon. He used the opportunity to cast Legilimency on Zaheer's assistants. He discovered that Zaheer's assistants were also slaves, they were Water Dragons who had been sold into slavery. It took a few more hours before the villagers were done with the slaves.
"How much did we collect?" Zaheer asked.
"We collected about 4.5 liters (1 gallon)," one of the assistants reported.
"Good," Zaheer said. "Get ready to leave." It took them less than 10 minutes before they left the village. Ichigo followed behind the convoy. They traveled for a few hours.
"We're stopping for the night," Zaheer said, raising his hands. Branches from nearby trees grew around them, forming a wooden wall. Another assistant started a fire and kept watch. The elephant mandrill was given bananas to eat before going to sleep. Ichigo followed Zaheer to the last wagon. He opened it to see it had a bed. Zaheer took off his clothes and lay down on the bed. In less than ten minutes, Zaheer was asleep.
"I didn't expect him to pass out that fast," Ichigo thought.
"I've already used Sathariel on him," Naamah said.
"Good," Ichigo said. "Go ahead and send him into Desolate."
"Okay," Naamah replied as she had already prepared Gamaliel. Gamaliel's tentacles shot out and grabbed the sleeping Zaheer. He quickly opened his eyes in shock as Gamaliel pulled him into the Desolate before he could react.
"Good," Ichigo said as he activated Schrift X: The Xenomachina. They slipped out of Zaheer's wagon and moved quietly toward the other wagons. Ichigo saw everyone was asleep. He sent everyone to Haō Zaimushō and had Chishiki replace them with body doubles created by her nanobots. They repeated this process for all the other wagons. Once they finished with the last wagon, Ichigo knocked out Zaheer's final assistant, the one keeping watch at the campsite. Chishiki created a body double of her and placed it on watch, while Ichigo entered Haō Zaimushō.
Scene Change: Haō Zaimushō
Ichigo opened his eyes to see all the slaves resting in beds. He could sense they were in a home of a drow. Evernight was keeping an eye on them.
"Hello, Ichigo," she greeted in Japanese.
"Hello, Evernight," Ichigo replied. "Have you taken a look at them?" Ichigo asked.
"I have," she replied. "What the Wood Dragons have done is very cruel."
"I know," Ichigo responded. "And I will punish them."
"Good," Evernight agreed. "In the meantime, I checked all of them. I have good and bad news."
"What's the good news?" Ichigo asked.
"It won't take much effort to restore the sanity of the male slaves," she explained.
"And I assume the bad news concerns the female slaves," Ichigo guessed.
"Indeed," Evernight replied. "Most of the female slaves' sanity has been destroyed. What little remains has been molded into subservience—either from the training they underwent at the hands of the Wood Dragons or from the years they were used."
"I see…" Ichigo said, his expression darkening.
"Kisara cast a spell to help purge the remaining potions or drugs the Wood Dragons injected into them."
"According to the intel, there are at least four more wagons like this," Ichigo said.
"I see…" Evernight growled.
"Don't worry. The perpetrators will suffer," Ichigo reassured.
"Good. I've already let the other dragons know. They'll help take care of them."
"That's good," Ichigo said. "See you later." He left Haō Zaimushō.
Scene Change: Outside
Ichigo reappeared outside to find Naamah had taken over watch of the campsite.
"Has anything happened?" Ichigo asked.
"No. It's been nice and quiet," Naamah replied.
"Wake me up when the sun is up," Ichigo said as he went to Zaheer's wagon to sleep.
"Chishiki, can you keep watch?" Naamah asked.
"I can, but why?" Chishiki inquired.
"I want to sleep with Master," Naamah said.
"I can, but I'll join you," Chishiki said.
"Sure," Naamah replied. One of the nanobot body doubles walked out of a nearby wagon. The nanobots that formed the body double split into two. One reformed into the original body double, while the other formed into Chishiki. Together, they walked to Zaheer's wagon and joined Ichigo in bed.
"Just sleep. We'll play when the mission is done," Ichigo sighed as he accepted them into his bed.
"Okay," Naamah said.
"That's fine," Chishiki agreed.
Time Skip: Next Morning
Ichigo, Naamah, and Chishiki woke up. They looked outside to see the sun rising.
"Do you want to play Zaheer, or do you want me to do it?" Naamah asked.
"You can do it. I'll stay in the shadow," Ichigo replied.
"Fine," Naamah replied as she summoned Sathariel. She placed it on her face, transforming into Zaheer. Ichigo slipped into Naamah's shadow as she walked out.
"Get ready to leave," she said in Zaheer's voice.
"Yes, Master," the body doubles replied, packing up the campsite. Naamah sat in front, waiting for the body doubles to finish cleaning up. Once everyone boarded their wagons, she waved her hands, destroying the wooden barrier. The elephant mandrill began pulling the convoy down a dirt path.
"How long will it take to reach Huàshí Yínxìng?" Ichigo asked.
"According to Zaheer's memories, a few more hours," Naamah replied.
"Okay," Ichigo said.
Eventually, they arrived at an even larger forest, with houses built in the trees.
"We've arrived at Huàshí Yínxìng," Naamah said. They saw a long line in front of the city. Naamah ignored the line and forced the convoy to the front.
"HEY! THE LINE STARTS THERE!"
"Silence!" the guards yelled. "This is a VIP. He gets priority access!" One of the guards turned to Naamah. "You are free to go, my Lord." The guards opened the gate, allowing the convoy to continue. Naamah used Zaheer's memories to guide the convoy toward a stone castle. They stopped in front of it.
"Yue!" Naamah called out in Zaheer's voice.
"Yes, Master," one of the body doubles replied as she stepped out of the first carriage.
"Yue, take the rest of the convoy to the dungeon and wait for me to return," Naamah ordered.
"Yes, Master," Yue replied. Naamah stepped out of the wagon, allowing Yue to get in.
"I'll go and rescue the slaves," Ichigo said.
"Good. I'll deal with these monsters," Naamah replied. Yue whipped the elephant mandrill, causing it to resume moving. She directed it to the back of the castle. Ichigo could see over 20 other wagons. Moving to the other wagons, Ichigo saw they were all empty. Yue guided the convoy into a parking spot. She unlatched the elephant mandrill and directed it to a cage where the other elephant mandrill rested.
As Yue did this, the other water dragon body doubles walked out of the wagons and opened the doors. Slowly, the slave body doubles exited, each with their hands behind their backs, wrists shackled together, and ankles shackled with enough slack to walk. Four of the water dragon body doubles carried clay containers. Everyone entered the castle and arrived at a dungeon filled with jail cells. As they walked, Ichigo saw hundreds of slaves in them. They arrived at empty cells.
"Get in." One of the water dragons said, opening the cell door. All the slaves silently entered the cell. The door was closed and locked. The rest of the water dragons walked to the end of the corridor where a set of stairs led up. They ascended the stairs and arrived at another corridor. A Wood Dragon sat behind a desk in front of them.
"Good morning, Master Jesa. We are here to deliver what Master Zaheer has collected," Yue said.
"Place it on the table," Master Jesa replied. The other water dragons placed the jugs on the table.
"Kyoshi!" She yelled. Her voice echoed through the hallway. A few moments later, a tall woman appeared. She towered over Master Jesa, nearly reaching Ichigo's height.
"Yes, Master Jesa?" she asked with a bow. Without warning, Master Jesa slapped her across the face, knocking her to the ground.
"You are supposed to respond as soon as I say 'Ky,'" Master Jesa shouted.
"Yes, Master Jesa." Kyoshi quickly knelt down. "I apologize for being slow."
"Tsk. Go take them back to their cells," Master Jesa ordered.
"Yes, Master Jesa," Kyoshi said, standing up, bowing to her superior, then turning to the water dragon slaves. They could see a large bruise forming on her face from the blow.
"Follow me," she said. The water dragons followed behind her, passing more jail cells containing dragon slaves. Unlike the previous cells, these were much better maintained. They arrived at a set of empty cells.
Once they were out of Master Jesa's sight, Yue spoke up.
"Kyoshi, would you like me to heal your bruise?" Yue whispered.
"That would be appreciated," Kyoshi whispered back. Yue's hands glowed blue as she placed them gently on Kyoshi's face. In the shadows, Ichigo's hands glowed blue as well, secretly healing Kyoshi. The bruise faded, leaving no trace.
"Thank you," Kyoshi said.
"No problem," Yue replied. Kyoshi opened the cell door, and the slaves filed inside. She closed the door and locked it, then walked away. Just before she could go further, Ichigo knocked her out.
"Legilimens." Ichigo mentally cast the spell, entering Kyoshi's mind. "So, 'Master Jesa' is Kyoshi's biological mother, but she despises her because Kyoshi is everything that Jesa isn't," Ichigo thought. In Kyoshi's mind, Ichigo discovered a map of the underground castle. Pulling out of her mind, he activated Tengan, transforming his eyes.
"Haōgan." Ichigo activated the ability, sending the unconscious Kyoshi into Haō Zaimushō.
"Are we starting?" Chishiki asked through the body doubles.
"We are," Ichigo replied. "Create body doubles for everyone."
"Yes, Master," Chishiki responded. Ichigo used the shadows to travel to the first cell. Before the dragon slave could react, Ichigo knocked them out and sent them to Haō Zaimushō. Chishiki immediately created a body double. It took Ichigo less than five minutes to go through all the cells, sending the dragon slaves to Haō Zaimushō.
"What are you planning to do with Jesa?" Chishiki asked.
"I'll leave her fate to Kyoshi," Ichigo said, knocking Jesa out. He summoned a piece of paper, wrote a message on it, and stuck it on Jesa's forehead before sending her to Haō Zaimushō. They moved down the corridor, eventually reaching the section with the sex slaves. Ichigo swiftly knocked them out and sent them to Haō Zaimushō. Chishiki replaced them with nanobot body doubles.
"Naamah, how's it going with you?" Ichigo asked.
"Well. I'm with Wood-Dragon King Akechi Mitsuhide and the other slave owners. They're currently drunk, celebrating something," Naamah reported.
"I see… Who's with you?" Ichigo asked.
"Besides the Dragon King, there are other slave owners and the Dragon King's attendants."
"Are there no guards?" Ichigo asked.
"The Wood Dragon King arrogantly ordered all his guards to take a day off," Naamah replied.
"I see. I've sent all the slaves to Haō Zaimushō," Ichigo replied.
"Do you want to use Gamaliel or Harab Serapel on the leaders and servants?" Naamah asked.
"The leaders will suffer from Gamaliel, except for the Dragon King. I'll personally deal with him," Ichigo replied.
"And the servants?" Naamah asked.
"As for the servants, knock them out. I'll judge them once I get there."
"Very well. See you soon," Naamah said. Ichigo used the shadows to safely move toward her location. He spotted a maid nervously cleaning a window.
"Legilimens." Ichigo mentally cast the spell. "Her family gave their daughter to earn the Dragon King's favor."
"Really?" Naamah asked.
"That's what I gathered from the first maid," Ichigo said, discreetly knocking her out and sending her to Haō Zaimushō. He continued moving toward Naamah's location. By the time Ichigo arrived, he'd used Legilimency on ten more maids and discovered that they, too, were 'gifts' to the Dragon King. He quietly knocked them out and sent them to Haō Zaimushō.
The door opened, revealing Naamah, still in Zaheer's form.
"The room is ready for you, my Master," Naamah said in her regular voice. Ichigo, still in his Wood Dragon form, emerged from the shadows.
"Thank you," Ichigo said, entering the large banquet hall. Naamah closed the door behind him. Ichigo surveyed the chaotic scene, tables were overturned, and food was scattered across the floor. On the far side of the room, twenty unconscious maids lay sprawled out. In the center of the room stood a large wooden dragon. He resembled the other wooden dragons Ichigo had seen, but this one had a large, bloated stomach.
"I guess he's fat," Ichigo thought. He walked up to the Dragon King and used Legilimency on him. "Long ago, he was a commoner who craved power to get revenge on a noble who killed his family for no reason. He became a mercenary known for his ability to manipulate life's energy and nature, he could heal anyone on the brink of death, turn deserts into rainforests, and drain life from his enemies. But everything changed when he became King. He bathed in luxury and became the very noble he once sought to kill." Ichigo copied all the training and techniques the Dragon King had used at his peak before destroying his mind. Ichigo left the now empty mind of the Dragon King.
"You... you broke his mind?" Naamah asked, reverting to her regular voice.
"I did," Ichigo replied, sending the mindless Dragon King to Haō Zaimushō with a note attached to his forehead. Ichigo walked over to the unconscious maids and sent them to Haō Zaimushō.
"Chishiki, we're leaving. There's no need to destroy the castle," Ichigo said.
"As you wish," Chishiki responded. "Are you coming down to the dungeon, or will I come up to you?"
"We will come down to you," Ichigo replied. He and Naamah returned to the shadows and moved down to the dungeon. They arrived to find the body doubles still inside the cages. All the body doubles reverted to nanobots and charged back to Ichigo. Within moments, all the jail cells were empty. Naamah and Chishiki then returned to Ichigo's mindscape. Meanwhile, Ichigo used Shadowrun to quickly leave Huàshí Yínxìng. With Chishiki's help, Ichigo arrived at Cháng Lǜ [Evergreen]. The village, like many others, was made entirely of wood. Ichigo simply paid the toll and was granted entry.
Ichigo walked around the village, passively using Legilimency on the villagers and tourists. "Looks like we are safe," Ichigo concluded as he booked a room at an inn for the night. "Tomorrow, we will attack Nobunaga," Ichigo thought as he looked out the window. From his vantage point, he could see the mountain with his castle perched on top.