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 81:
Ichigo opened his eyes and saw Naamah and Chishiki sleeping beside him. They had discreetly joined him in bed. He sat up, and soon, Naamah and Chishiki opened their eyes as well.
"Good morning, ladies," Ichigo said.
"Good morning, Master," they replied. They got out of bed and began preparing for the day. Ichigo walked downstairs and had a quick breakfast. Afterward, he left Cháng Lǜ. Once he was alone, he entered the shadows and moved toward the Overlord's castle.
"Ichigo, the Planetary Core Communicator is activating," Kyōka interjected.
"It is? Direct me to the source," Ichigo responded. He moved around the mountain, seeing countless guards stationed at every corner. After a few minutes, Ichigo had circled the entire mountain.
"Is the Communicator broken?" Naamah asked.
"I don't think so," Kyōka replied. "We were able to find Evernight with it."
"Chishiki, look into the history of Wǔxíng and see if this mountain was always here, or if Nobunaga created it."
"Give me a moment," Chishiki replied. After a brief pause, she said, "He created the mountain."
"So, we need to go underground," Ichigo concluded. He transformed into a small mole and began to dig underground.
"Keep going down. The signal is getting stronger," Kyōka instructed. After ten minutes of digging, they arrived in an empty cavern. Ichigo reverted to his dragon form and summoned the Planetary Core Communicator, holding it in his hand.
"I wish to speak with the Planetary Core of this planet," Ichigo said. The communicator activated, and Ichigo felt his mind being sent somewhere else.
Scene Change: Mind of the Planet
Ichigo opened his eyes and found himself in a stone cavern. A large golden dragon lay in the cavern, and as it opened its eyes, Ichigo saw its red, blue, orange, silver, and green hues, with a black slit for a pupil.
"What do you want, human?" the dragon growled.
"I wanted to speak to you about forming an alliance with my planet."
"No," the dragon growled. "Just kill that dragon and leave my planet. You can keep the dragons you've taken."
"Okay," Ichigo said, and he was sent back.
Scene Change: Empty Cavern
Ichigo opened his eyes and found himself back in the empty cavern.
"Well, that happened," Ichigo thought.
"It could have been worse," Naamah admitted.
"It could have been," Ichigo agreed, transforming back into a mole and crawling back up. After seven minutes of crawling, Ichigo was back where he started. He entered the shadow and moved upward toward the Dragon God King's castle, bypassing the guards stationed at every corner.
"Are you planning to assassinate the Dragon God King?" Naamah asked.
"Only if we fail to settle this peacefully," Ichigo replied. "The Dragon God King allowed Akechi Mitsuhide to handle all matters regarding the invasions."
"So you're planning to ask the Dragon God King to peacefully end his side of the war," Chishiki said.
"Correct," Ichigo said. It wasn't long before he reached the castle. He snuck inside and immediately found a guard. Using Legilimency, Ichigo learned the layout of the castle and quickly used Shadowrun to reach the top. He spotted the throne room, where the Overlord of Destruction was usually found. As he approached, he saw someone entering the throne room and slipped inside before the doors could close.
Inside, a dragon sat on a throne, its body covered in black scales with faded white scales on its underbelly. Red, blue, orange, silver, and green orbs, about 30 cm in diameter, were embedded into the dragon's chest in a pentagram formation. The person in the room knelt and bowed to the dragon.
"This servant greets His Highness, Dragon God King Nobunaga," the person said.
"What is it?" Nobunaga asked.
"It was reported that Wood Dragon King Akechi Mitsuhide has been killed, and most of his nobles have disappeared," the servant reported.
"I see… has the next Wood Dragon King been selected yet?" Nobunaga asked.
"Not yet. The late Wood Dragon King Akechi Mitsuhide did not have a recognized heir."
"Once the next Wood Dragon King is decided, order them to come here and reaffirm their oath of loyalty to me."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The servant stood and left the throne room. Nobunaga sighed and noticed a sheet of paper near his foot.
"Did this fall out of his pocket?" Nobunaga thought as he picked it up. His eyes widened when he realized the note was written in Japanese, not Lóng Yǔ.
"Hello, Oda Nobunaga, Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. I wish to speak to you about the actions of the Wood Dragon King. If you accept, please reply in Japanese. If you cannot, fold this paper as it was before and burn it."
Ichigo watched as Nobunaga silently folded the paper as Ichigo had done and burned it. Nobunaga stood, leaving the throne room. Ichigo followed him in the shadows. Nobunaga walked down a hallway and arrived at a guarded door.
"No one is allowed to disturb me unless it's an emergency," Nobunaga said in Lóng Yǔ.
"Yes, Your Highness!" the guards replied, opening the doors. Nobunaga and Ichigo entered the room, and the doors closed behind them. Nobunaga waved his hand and sealed the door with a magic spell, preventing eavesdropping.
He removed a bracelet and placed it in a wooden box on his desk.
"You can come out now," Nobunaga said in Japanese.
Ichigo emerged from the shadows.
"I didn't expect you to accept," Ichigo said in Japanese.
"You have no idea how long I've waited to find information about my home world," Nobunaga said, sitting on the couch. "Please, sit."
Ichigo sat beside him.
"I believe you would be interested in this," Ichigo said, summoning a large bottle of sake from his mindscape.
"SAKE!" Nobunaga exclaimed in joy. Ichigo and Nobunaga poured themselves a cup and took a sip.
"I missed this," Nobunaga said. "So, you somehow found a way to Wǔxíng?" he asked.
"Kind of," Ichigo answered. "Earth is being invaded by your people."
"What!? I told Mitsuhide to notify me if they decided to invade Earth."
"According to his memories, when he discovered Earth and saw it filled with humans, he assumed that you wanted to find Earth and destroy the humans. He believed they must have done something horrible to you since he wasn't aware that you used to be human," Ichigo replied.
"Damn," Nobunaga muttered. "I assume Earth hasn't fallen yet?"
"It hasn't," Ichigo responded. "I was tasked with ending the invasion. Do you think you can call off your forces?"
"I can't," Nobunaga admitted. "One of the terms in our contract prevents us from prematurely recalling our forces."
"If I destroy the dungeon archways, would that end the invasion?" Ichigo asked. Nobunaga shook his head.
"Destroying the dungeon archways will only delay them."
"So, the only way to truly end the invasion is..."
"To kill the Seven Overlords," Nobunaga finished.
"So, waiting until the agreed end time is a lie," Ichigo said.
"I can neither confirm nor deny it," Nobunaga replied.
"I see…" Ichigo said quietly.
"Before we fight… please tell me. What happened after I killed myself?" Nobunaga asked. Ichigo explained how the Sengoku period finally ended, and Nobunaga focused entirely on him.
"I see…" Nobunaga said, his eyes closing. "You might already know this, but the Dokkaebi can monitor my health and listen to all conversations I have through that bracelet."
"I assumed as much," Ichigo replied.
"The magic in the box allows it to block out our conversations but still monitor my health. I can modify the box so that when I die, it imitates my health, but only for a short time."
"How short?" Ichigo asked.
"About ten minutes," Nobunaga answered.
"I see," Ichigo said. "Do you have a place you wish to fight?"
"I do," Nobunaga replied as he extended his hand. Ichigo took it, and they were teleported away.
Scene Change: Underground Training Grounds
Ichigo and Nobunaga appeared in a large empty cavern. Ichigo noticed large support beams around them, each engraved with Lóng Yǔ Kanji.
"This is my private training grounds," Nobunaga said. "The support beams above us can absorb the energy from our fight to strengthen and regenerate themselves."
"I see," Ichigo replied, transforming back into his human form. He raised his hand. "I summon the Wrath of the Heavens, Summoner of Clouds, Bringer of Rain, Rage of the Earth, Dragon Slayer… Kusanagi no Tsurugi!" The nodachi appeared in his hand.
"To think I would see one of the Imperial Regalia again," Nobunaga said, a nostalgic tone in his voice. "If you show me this much honor…" Nobunaga took a deep breath. "Then, in turn, I should show you my true STRENGTH!" He roared. The five gems on his chest glowed as he began to grow larger. His human body transformed into a bipedal dragon. Ichigo gripped the nodachi with both hands, ready for battle.
Ichigo and Nobunaga charged at each other.
"Raiken!" Ichigo shouted, and Kusanagi no Tsurugi crackled with white electricity. Nobunaga's hands glowed brown as he blocked the attack, resulting in a massive explosion of energy that sent both of them flying back.
"Raigeki!" Ichigo yelled, stabbing Kusanagi no Tsurugi forward and firing a large bolt of white lightning at Nobunaga. Nobunaga stomped his feet down, creating a wall of earth and metal. Raigeki struck the wall and was neutralized. Nobunaga punched the wall, sending chunks of it flying toward Ichigo.
"Mizuken [Water Sword," Ichigo said, and water erupted from Kusanagi no Tsurugi's tsuba. The water coagulated around the blade. He slashed the incoming chunks in half. "Mizugeki [Water Strike," Ichigo shouted, stabbing Kusanagi no Tsurugi forward. A jet of water, roughly the width of the sword, shot toward Nobunaga. Nobunaga responded by firing his own jet of water from his mouth through an opening in the wall. The two streams collided, creating a stalemate.
"RAIGEKI!" Ichigo shouted again. A large bolt of white lightning shot from Kusanagi no Tsurugi, using the water from Mizugeki and Nobunaga's attack to quickly move toward him before he could react.
"RAHAAHA!" Nobunaga roared in pain as the lightning coursed through him. Ichigo stopped both Raigeki and Mizugeki and rushed forward, still holding Kusanagi no Tsurugi.
"Rai," Ichigo twisted his back, his sword glowing white, "Ga [Lightning Fang]!" Ichigo swung Kusanagi no Tsurugi, firing a white crescent beam at Nobunaga. The beam crackled with compressed electricity. Nobunaga regained his bearings and fired a multi-colored beam from his mouth, the five gems on his chest glowing as he did. The two attacks collided, creating a massive explosion. Ichigo stabbed Kusanagi no Tsurugi into the ground.
"Be reborn once again, Yamata no Orochi!" Ichigo chanted. Kusanagi no Tsurugi glowed, and eight streams of energy shot out from the spot where it was stabbed. The energy blew away the remaining dust, forming into an eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent. Three of the heads and tails were made of wind, three were made of water, and the last two were made of lightning. Yamata no Orochi hissed at Nobunaga. Ichigo withdrew the sword from the ground.
"Attack," Ichigo commanded, pointing Kusanagi no Tsurugi at Nobunaga. Yamata no Orochi lunged, all eight heads attacking simultaneously.
"RAHAH!" Nobunaga roared, trying to fight back. His left arm was covered in water, while his right arm was coated in metallic silver. He attempted to punch the serpent, but Yamata no Orochi used its wind bodies to evade the attack. It struck back, biting down on Nobunaga's limbs with its lightning-infused fangs.
"RAHA!" Nobunaga screamed in pain as the electricity coursed through him. Yamata no Orochi used its other heads to tear at Nobunaga, blood spilling from his wounds.
"Bind him," Ichigo ordered. Five of Yamata no Orochi's heads slithered around Nobunaga's limbs, restraining him. Ichigo gripped Kusanagi no Tsurugi with both hands and pointed it at Nobunaga. "Santōryū [Three Sword Style]." The sword glowed white, blue, and green, transforming into three katanas. All three looked the same, except for their distinct tsuba and handles: one with a white and golden handle, another with a blue handle adorned with white waves, and the last with a green handle and a black whirlwind engraved on it. Ichigo took two of the katanas in his hands, the third resting in his mouth. He crossed two of the blades in front of his chest.
"Raiu Tokkan [Lightning Storm Rush]!" Ichigo declared as he charged toward the restrained Nobunaga. A vortex of white, blue, and green energy surrounded Ichigo as he swung all three swords toward Nobunaga.
"RAH!" Nobunaga yelled as a horizontal and diagonal-crossing cut appeared across his chest, blood oozing from the wounds. Ichigo turned toward the bleeding Nobunaga.
"Ittōryū [One Sword Style," Ichigo said. All three katana glowed their respective colors and reformed back into Kusanagi no Tsurugi. Yamata no Orochi released Nobunaga, allowing him to fall to his knees.
"Good fight," Nobunaga said, blood continuing to flow from his wounds.
"It was," Ichigo replied as he walked toward him. "Any last words?"
"I'm sorry for what my people did to my home world," Nobunaga said. "Please don't massacre my people."
"I won't," Ichigo said. Nobunaga smiled.
"Please continue to protect Nihon."
"Of course," Ichigo replied. "Can I harvest your body?"
"You may," Nobunaga replied as he closed his eyes and lowered his head, exposing his neck to Ichigo. Ichigo raised Kusanagi no Tsurugi high and swung it down, decapitating Nobunaga with a single slash. He felt Schrift O: The Oversoul tried to activate but Ichigo forced it to remain inactive. Ichigo summoned Yorugetsu and performed Konsō on the soul as it disappeared into the Reincarnation Cycle. Afterward, Ichigo stored Nobunaga's body in his mindscape. Ichigo opened a Garganta and left the Underground Training Grounds. Using Akechi Mitsuhide's memories, he located all the dungeon archways and cast a delayed destruction spell on them. With just a minute to spare, he left Wǔxíng.
Scene Change: Unknown Location
Palgan Bul [Red Fire, the Dokkaebi contracted with Nobunaga, sat at his desk, observing multiple transparent blue screens.
"Looks like the humans are stronger than before," he thought as he noticed the humans clearing dungeons at a faster rate than before. "I should loosen the restrictions and allow more dragons into the dungeons." Suddenly, multiple screens turned red. Palgan Bul glanced at the first red monitor. His eyes widened in shock. "The Overlord of Destruction died?" He quickly scanned the other monitors. "Someone destroyed all of the Overlord's dungeon archways?" Palgan Bul teleported out of his office to the location of the bracelet he had given to the Overlord.
Scene Change: Wǔxíng
Palgan Bul arrived at the Overlord of Destruction's office. "Strange. I don't sense any traces of a battle here." He floated over to the Overlord's desk. His eyes widened as he found the bracelet in the box. He opened the box and saw the bracelet inside it. A million thoughts raced through Palgan Bul's mind.
"Saibeo [Cyber] designed the bracelet so only the respective Overlord could willingly remove it," Palgan Bul thought. He looked around the room and noticed the sake bottle and two cups on the coffee table. He snapped his fingers, causing the sake bottle and the cups to float toward him. "The writing on this bottle isn't from Wǔxíng," he observed. Palgan Bul looked inside the bottle and saw it was mostly empty. The cups still had traces of liquid. He sipped the remaining liquid from the cups. "There are traces of alcohol in this." He floated around the office, finding nothing disturbed. Glancing outside, he saw the guards were posted, oblivious to what had happened inside the office. A theory began to form in his mind.
"I need to warn the others," Palgan Bul thought as he teleported away.
Scene Change: Palgan Bul's Workstation
Palgan Bul returned to his workstation.
"I need to take a look at the Overlord's past," Palgan Bul thought as he typed away on his terminal. His eyes widened as he browsed through his notes. He immediately called the other Dokkaebi. A few moments later, six other Dokkaebi teleported in.
"Guess your Overlord was killed," Eodum said with a sneer.
"Fuck off, Eodum," Palgan Bul retorted.
"Eodum, calm down," said the Dokkaebi with brown fur, dressed in a faded brown shirt and pants.
"Sorry, Yeong-Wonhan [Hunter," Eodum said.
"Palgan Bul, did you manage to gather any information?" asked the Dokkaebi with white fur, wearing a violet parka and pants.
"Eol-Eum Chuwi [Icy Cold, based on what I saw, whoever the killer is, they know the Overlord from before he became the Overlord," Palgan Bul replied.
"Elaborate," Saibeo [Cyber] asked.
Palgan Bul snapped his fingers, displaying a scene of the Overlord's office.
"The Overlord was inside his office, drinking with someone else," Palgan Bul began. The screen zoomed in on the table with the bottle and cups. "The drink in question isn't native to that world." The screen changed to show the Overlord's office table. "The tracking necklace was found inside a box, which made it appear that the Overlord was still wearing it. Due to Saibeo's enchantments, the Overlord must willingly remove the necklace. This means the Overlord trusted the killer enough to take it off."
"Were you able to find his body?" asked Jeonsa [Fighter, the Dokkaebi with dark brown fur wearing a white karate gi with a black belt.
Palgan Bul shook his head. "No, the killer or the Overlord used some kind of teleportation technique to silently leave the office. The guards outside were unaware of anything."
"Can you show the writing on the bottle?" Saibeo asked.
Palgan Bul moved back to the bottle. "Hm…" Saibeo summoned a green transparent screen and scanned the bottle. "Looks like I have a hit," Saibeo said as the green screen expanded. "The writing on the bottle is in a language called Japanese, and it translates to Sudo Honke."
"Where is this language from?" Eodum asked.
"Planet-42016," Saibeo answered. "The current planet we are attacking."
"It makes so much sense!" Eodum shouted.
"What are you talking about?" Eol-Eum Chuwi asked.
"I believe everyone has noticed that the dungeons are being cleared faster than before," Eodum began. Everyone nodded. "I believe the killer of the Overlords is either from Planet-42016 or an outsider who decided to ally with them."
"The first theory doesn't hold, since the agreement is still valid," Nogsaeg Sup said.
"The second theory doesn't work either since the Overlord of Destruction was born in Wǔxíng," Palgan Bul added.
"In the end, it doesn't matter who the killer is," the seventh Dokkaebi interjected. She had purple fur and wore a white lab coat. "We know someone killed two of our Overlords. We should warn the remaining Overlords to be careful."
"You are right, Yeogbyeong [Plague," Yeong-Wonhan said. With that, all the Dokkaebi left.
Scene Change: Gigánton [Giants]
Yeong-Wonhan stood in front of a towering 6-meter (19.7 feet) wooden door and knocked.
"COME IN!" came a loud voice from the other side. She opened the door and stepped into the room, where a massive, muscular man was eating. His body was covered in battle scars, and his waist-long dark hair was tied in a bun, adorned with two golden antennae-like bird feathers. He wore no clothing on his upper body and no footwear. Instead, he had white baggy pants and a piece of fabric resembling dragon scales, tied with a belt. His sharp, shark-like teeth tore through the food effortlessly.
"Ah, Yeong-Wonhan. Join us," the man said. A woman, about 4 meters (13.1 feet) tall, handed Yeong-Wonhan a plate of food. Yeong-Wonhan silently took the plate and ate. Ten minutes later, she finished the last of it.
"Did you enjoy your hunt?" Yeong-Wonhan asked.
"Eh," the man replied, shrugging. "It's a pain, but I need to eat."
"Well, I might have found you some new prey," Yeong-Wonhan said.
The man's eyes lit up as though he had just found a new toy.
"Who?" he asked eagerly.
"Unfortunately, we don't know the identity of your prey," Yeong-Wonhan replied, watching his excitement fade. "But we do know he's targeting the Overlords."
"Who did he kill?" the man asked, his excitement returning.
"Darkness and Destruction," she answered. The man nodded.
"Go and find him," he said, smiling. Yeong-Wonhan nodded and vanished from the room.
Scene Change: Void
Ichigo was traversing the void.
"Which Overlord will you attack next?" Chishiki asked.
"The next one is the Overlord of Everlasting," Ichigo replied.
"Everlasting? The Giant King?" she asked.
"Correct," Ichigo said. "According to the reports, the Overlord of Everlasting is one of the strongest Overlords, but he has one major weakness."
"Which is?" Chishiki asked.
"His lust for battle," Ichigo answered. "According to Earth-sama's report, Yeong-Wonhan, the Dokkaebi contracted with him, has to find strong opponents for him to fight as part of their agreement."
"So, you're planning to take advantage of that to kill him," Chishiki noted.
"Exactly," Ichigo confirmed. "The problem is that he has extremely fast self-regeneration, making him hard to permanently kill."
"But you have a way to end him, right?" Chishiki asked.
"I do," Ichigo admitted.
Ichigo sensed he was nearing his target. He activated Schrift U: The Umbra. A suit of black armor materialized around him. As the Garganta opened, Ichigo dove into the shadows, and the portal immediately closed behind him. Emerging from the shadows, Ichigo found himself in a vast forest, the trees much larger and thicker than anything he had seen before.
Sending out a pulse of reiatsu, Ichigo sensed a lone cabin and used Shadowrun to reach it. Inside, a 4-meter (13.1 feet) tall woman was caring for a baby about 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall. They looked like regular humans, aside from their size.
"Dam, this is the world of giants," Ichigo thought. Using Legilimency on the mother, he quickly learned the language and basic information about the world, called Gigánton. Discreetly, he left the cabin, ensuring no one followed him. He made his way to a nearby village and saw the buildings were massive, perfectly scaled for giants. After spending an hour using Legilimency on the inhabitants, Ichigo returned to the forest.
There, he began to transform himself into a giant. Stepping out of the shadows, he walked toward the village's gate.
"Toll," one of the guards called out. Ichigo handed over a few coins. The guard inspected them briefly before nodding. "Go ahead."
Ichigo entered the village and booked a room at a nearby inn. After mingling with the giants and confirming the information he'd gathered, he enjoyed a long dinner. Later, he returned to his room. Once he was sure he was alone, he activated Tengan.
"Haōgan," Ichigo said, and he entered Haō Zaimushō [Treasury of the Supreme King].
Scene Change: Haō Zaimushō
Ichigo opened his eyes to find that the Wood Dragons had recovered and joined with the other dragons. The town had grown significantly. As Ichigo explored, he noticed that everyone he had sent into Haō Zaimushō now inhabited the city. The citizens greeted him as he walked by.
It didn't take long before Ichigo found Kisara and Valiona, who were standing in the largest building in the town.
"Master," Kisara and Valiona called, flying toward him.
"Hello, you two," Ichigo greeted them. "How is everything going with the dragons?"
"Good," Kisara replied.
"Let us give you a tour of the Dìguó Zhuāngyuán [Imperial Estate," Valiona offered.
"Wait… did they really call this the Dìguó Zhuāngyuán?" Ichigo asked.
"They did," Kisara said. "The Drow and Demons have started calling you the Emperor, too." Ichigo sighed as they continued through the door.
The Dìguó Zhuāngyuán resembled the ancient palaces Ichigo had seen in China. They made their way to an underground basement with sturdy support beams reinforcing the ceiling. The basement reminded Ichigo of Nobunaga's underground lair.
"Were you able to do it?" Ichigo asked.
Valiona snapped her fingers, and a white staff materialized before them. The staff was about 2.1 meters (7 feet) tall. Ichigo took it in hand and swirled it around.
"How does it feel?" Valiona asked.
"Good. The staff feels balanced," Ichigo said.
"Great. Now, bond the weapon with Schrift P," Valiona instructed. Ichigo nodded, picked up the staff, and activated Schrift P: The Planter. Life energy flowed from him into the staff. The staff began to glow green as the Schrift and the staff merged.
"Tetsubō [Iron Cudgel," Ichigo said, naming the staff. It glowed white before transforming. The light faded, revealing the staff's new form: it was silver, with solid green ends.
Ichigo pointed it at the far side of the underground basement.
"Nobiro [Grow," he commanded.
Tetsubō shot out toward the opposite wall, stopping just before it crashed into the stone.
"Looks like Tetsubō uses the energy from Schrift P: The Planter to grow," Ichigo observed.
"Chidjime [Shrink]." Tetsubō quickly shot back to Ichigo, reducing it to half its original size.
"The extra energy is returned to the Schrift," Ichigo noted.
"Ono [Axe]." The top portion of Tetsubō glowed as it transformed into a single-sided axe. Ichigo swung Tetsubō Ono a few times, testing it with Nobiro and Chidjime. Despite the addition of the axe, nothing changed. Ichigo tried Shaberu [Shovel, which turned the axe into a shovel, and Toraidento [Trident, which transformed the shovel into a trident. When Ichigo used Kama [Sickle, he discovered that Nobiro didn't work with Kama. However, when Ichigo used Ōgama [Scythe, he found the opposite, when he couldn't shrink it beyond its original size. He then used Konbō [Cudgel] to return the ends to normal, before stabbing Tetsubō into the ground.
"Sakero [Split apart," Ichigo said. The ground rumbled as multiple Tetsubō burst out from it. Ichigo pulled Tetsubō from the earth, revealing it branching out like tree limbs.
"Mazeru [Combine," Ichigo commanded. The multiple Tetsubō shrank, merging back into one. He sealed Schrift P: The Planter, and Tetsubō vanished into his mindscape.
"Good job," Ichigo said, kissing Valiona. He then turned to Kisara. "Now then, do you have any ideas for the other Schrifts?"
"I have a working design for Schrift L: The Luminous Liberator," Kisara said, and a screen appeared beside her. Ichigo saw a pair of large crosses, their sharp edges lining the entire length. The ends resembled axe heads with chisel grinds, and the opposite side of the crosses had handles extending from the crossguard, making them long fist weapons instead of actual swords (1).
"Looks like you have a good design. What's the issue?" Ichigo asked.
"It's just that forging the materials is taking much longer," Kisara admitted.
"How and why?" Ichigo inquired.
"Throughout the creation process, I need to constantly expose the weapon to Light energy for it to synergize well with the Schrift," Kisara explained. "The problem is that the metal is taking a long time to absorb the light."
"Do you need my help?" Ichigo offered.
Kisara shook her head. "I don't want any foreign energies being exposed to the weapon."
"Okay," Ichigo said, accepting her reasoning. "How about the efforts in transforming the Asura Machina weapons for the Schrifts?"
"Shirogane's sword, Bismuth's spear drill, and Rhodonite's chains can be used as is," Kisara explained. "We've separated Hagane's abilities into two parts. We're using Hagane's gravitational powers to improve Kurogane's arms and Hagane's spatial powers to create another sword to pair with Shirogane. Once that's done, we need to start exposing the weapons to the Schrifts' energies."
Ichigo kissed Kisara. "Please continue taking care of the weapons and the other dragons."
"Of course," Kisara replied. Ichigo transformed back into his giant form.
"Haōgan," Ichigo activated, sending himself out of Haō Zaimushō.
Scene Change: Gigánton
Ichigo appeared in his room and saw it undisturbed. Suddenly, a knock echoed at the door. He opened it and found a note on the ground. "Strange," Ichigo thought, scanning the area. He saw no one. He picked up the note and returned to his room. As he read it, the note said:
"I know the truth about you. If you don't want me to reveal the truth about the Darkness and the Dragon, head to the forest west of here."
"I didn't expect the Dokkaebi to find me this quickly," Ichigo thought, crumpling the note. He activated Schrift U: The Umbra. "Engulf the light and plunge the world in darkness, Nightshroud." Nightshroud appeared around him like a cloak. Ichigo slipped into the shadows and rushed toward the forest.
After ten minutes of using Shadowrush, Ichigo spotted a Dokkaebi floating in the forest.
"Ichigo, according to Earth-sama's files, this is a Dokkaebi," Chishiki warned.
Yeong-Wonhan opened her eyes. "I sensed an abrupt change in the area. It must be the killer," she thought.
"Killer of the Overlord, I know you are somewhere around here," Yeong-Wonhan began.
"How was she able to find me?" Ichigo silently wandered from the shadows.
"I come in peace. My name is Yeong-Wonhan. I will not harm you or inform the other Dokkaebi of your whereabouts." Ichigo activated Schrift E: The Earth and wrote his reply. Yeong-Wonhan noticed the dirt shifting and floated toward it.
"How can I trust you?" Ichigo wrote.
"Naamah, are you able to use Sathariel on the Dokkaebi?"
"No good. Something is blocking her from the effects of Sathariel," Naamah replied.
"I see…" Ichigo responded.
"Looks like my senses were right. The killer is somewhere here and can hear me," Yeong-Wonhan thought as she summoned the contract and placed it in front of the written words.
"I have prepared this contract and have already signed it," she said. Ichigo moved closer to read the contract.
"I, Yeong-Wonhan, the Dokkaebi contracted with the Overlord of Everlasting, agree to the following rules: To protect the identity of the killer of the Overlord of Darkness and the Overlord of Destruction, the person will be dubbed Sal-Inja [Killer/Murderer]. Yeong-Wonhan will not reveal any information regarding Sal-Inja unless she has permission from Sal-Inja. Yeong-Wonhan will ensure only those Sal-Inja permits to know the information will be present."
The ground changed as Ichigo wrote his response.
"I accept your agreement with a few conditions. Before I speak with the Overlord of Everlasting, I will speak with Gigánton's Will of the Planet. In the meantime, I will be in disguise."
Yeong-Wonhan looked at the writing. She picked up the contract, added Ichigo's conditions, and placed the updated version back on the ground. Ichigo checked the contract to see if the additions were made. He then discreetly walked out of the shadow, making it appear as if he emerged from the tree.
Yeong-Wonhan quickly turned to face the giant Ichigo. "Is this an illusion?" she asked, floating toward him and gently touching his physical body.
"No," Ichigo replied, altering his voice.
"I see…" she said.
"Do you know where Gigánton's Will of the World is?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't," Yeong-Wonhan admitted. "But the Overlord of Everlasting might know."
Ichigo sighed. "Take me to him."
Yeong-Wonhan nodded and snapped her fingers, teleporting them away.
Scene Change: Throne Room
Ichigo and Yeong-Wonhan appeared in a throne room where they saw someone sleeping on the throne.
"Naamah," Ichigo said.
"Already on it," she replied as she activated Sathariel. Yeong-Wonhan floated towards the sleeping man and snapped her fingers. A bucket of water appeared above his head and fell, soaking him.
"Gah!" the man yelled as he abruptly stood up.
"Were you able to use Sathariel on him?" Ichigo asked.
"I did. I'm working with Chishiki to sort out the information," Naamah replied. The man looked around and noticed them. "Yeong-Wonhan!" he shouted as he ran toward them. "Is this him?" he asked.
"He is," Yeong-Wonhan confirmed. The man turned to Ichigo with a vicious smile.
"He reminds me of Kenpachi," Ichigo thought.
"I am Lü Bu, the Overlord of Everlasting and the King of the Giants," he introduced himself.
"Another person from history," Ichigo thought.
"Hello, Lü Bu," Ichigo replied.
"Are you ready to fight?" Lü Bu asked.
"Before we fight, I need to speak with Gigánton's Will of the World," Ichigo said.
"You need to speak with that old hag?" Lü Bu groaned. "Follow me." Ichigo and Yeong-Wonhan followed Lü Bu out of the throne room and down a hallway. A few giants saw Lü Bu and immediately bowed to him. As they walked, the Planetary Core Communicator began to activate. They soon arrived at a small shrine, where someone was tending to it. The attendant looked up at them.
"Giant King and guests," the attendant greeted them with a bow.
"Hello, Nikki. My guest wishes to make a prayer to the hag," Lü Bu said.
"Very well," Nikki said, ignoring the fact that Lü Bu insulted her goddess. She stepped away from the shrine's entrance. "You can go to the middle and pray there." Ichigo walked to the middle of the shrine and discreetly summoned the Planetary Core Communicator, holding it in his hand.
"I wish to speak with the Planetary Core of this planet." The communicator activated, and Ichigo felt his mind being sent somewhere else.
Scene Change: Mind of the Planet
Ichigo opened his eyes to see a large giant standing in front of him. She had lightly tanned skin, purple eyes, and long blonde hair that reached her back, with two short strands in front of her face. She wore a dark blue tank top and pants.
"Hello, human. I am Matrona, the physical manifestation of Gigánton's planetary core," she introduced herself.
"Hello, Matrona. I am Ichigo," Ichigo replied.
"So, Ichigo, what do you want with me?" she asked.
"I wish to ask if you are willing to merge your planet with mine," Ichigo requested.
"Hm…" Matrona murmured, thinking over his question. "Unfortunately, I must reject your request."
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"I wish to steer them back to the right path," Matrona replied.
"Right path?" Ichigo questioned.
"When I created my children, they were a peaceful race. They would only fight when necessary." Matrona let out a sad sigh. "This all changed when Lü Bu was born. As he grew older, he fought with other giants and forced them under him. Over time, those giants followed Lü Bu's example. After a few decades, Lü Bu and his forces conquered all of Gigánton, and all the giants followed his violent path."
"Do you think you can guide them back after I killed Lü Bu?" Ichigo asked.
"I hope," she said.
"That reminds me of a story," Ichigo said, as he told her the story of Kenpachi Kiganjō, the one who wanted to change the warlike culture of the Eleventh Squad, only to be killed by one of his own members (2).
"So, you believe that even if Lü Bu is dead, they will continue down this violent path?" Matrona asked.
"I do," Ichigo answered.
"I see…" Matrona said, sounding sad.
"What about a restart?" Ichigo asked.
"Hm?" Matrona questioned.
"You can recreate your race on my planet," Ichigo suggested.
"Will your planet allow that?" she asked.
"I believe so if you offer a portion of your planetary core," Ichigo replied.
Matrona closed her eyes, contemplating his suggestion. "Part of me wants to do it," she admitted. "But another part of me doesn't."
"Hm… What about splitting yourself in two?" Ichigo proposed.
"Huh?" she replied, confused.
"Create a copy of yourself that contains all your desire to restart the giants, your hope that they won't turn out like these giants. While the part of you that still has hope for these giants can stay here and try to guide them," Ichigo explained.
She began to think about his suggestion. "That might work, but what if the humans try to kill my children?" she asked.
"I will try my best to prevent that," Ichigo assured her.
"I can try," Matrona admitted. She took a deep breath as she began to concentrate. Ichigo could sense her energy swirling around her. "RAHAHAHA!" she screamed, unleashing waves of energy from her. Ichigo stood steadfast as he watched. Her entire body became enveloped in the energy she released, only allowing Ichigo to see a vague outline of her. Slowly, her body began to split from the middle. The process continued, and more energy was unleashed. Her screams grew louder, gaining a second voice. Eventually, the body split into two, and the energy stopped. Ichigo could now see Matrona, but she looked slightly older than before. The other girl beside her looked like a younger version of herself.
"Looks like the process was a success," Ichigo said.
"It was," Matrona replied as she turned to her younger copy. "Have you thought of a name for yourself?"
"Yes," the younger version replied. "I want to be called Dyantha."
"Okay, Dyantha," Ichigo said. He turned to Matrona. "Do you have the core?"
"I do," she said as a small orb appeared in her hands. "This is a portion of my planetary core that I broke off for you." She presented the orb to Dyantha.
"Thank you," Dyantha said as she took the core from Matrona.
"Good. I plan to send you into my personal pocket dimension. Is that okay with you?"
"That is fine," Dyantha replied. Ichigo wrote a quick note and handed it to Dyantha. He activated Tengan, transforming his eyes.
"Haōgan," Ichigo activated, sending Dyantha into Haō Zaimushō.
"Do you have anything else you wish to say to me?" Matrona asked.
"I don't," he replied as he was sent back.
Scene Change: Gigánton
Ichigo opened his eyes to find himself standing in front of Matrona's Shrine. He took a few steps back from the shrine before turning to the attendant.
"Thank you," Ichigo said.
"You are welcome. May the Goddess bless you," she replied.
"Now it's time for our fight!" Lü Bu yelled.
"Allow me to teleport both of you to a safe place to go all out," Yeong-Wonhan said, snapping her fingers. They were teleported out of Lü Bu's castle, appearing in an empty, lifeless field. Lü Bu raised his hand, summoning a large halberd.
Ichigo turned to Yeong-Wonhan.
"Is our agreement still valid?" Ichigo asked.
"It is," she replied.
Ichigo raised his hand.
"May your light shine down upon the battlefield and bring me victory, Excalibur!" Ichigo chanted, activating Schrift W: The War Lord. Excalibur materialized in his hand. He stabbed the sword into the ground and grasped the pommel.
"I decree this to the Laws that bind all Worlds!" Ichigo chanted. Dark violet, black, and crimson divine energy gathered around him.
"Know ye and fear thee! Know ye and revere thee!" The energy began to spin violently.
"For I am the Lord of the Eternal War!"
The energy swirled, obscuring Ichigo from Yeong-Wonhan's view.
"Let all creation hear my declaration!" Suddenly, the energy parted, dissipating to reveal Ichigo. He was now dressed in a suit of black armor, with dark violet tunic portions lined in blood-red. A black hood extended from the neck guard, casting shadows over his glowing eyes. Excalibur radiated with power as Ichigo held it in both hands.
"It feels like I am in front of a Legendary Constellation," Yeong-Wonhan thought.
"Now we're talking!" Lü Bu yelled, breaking Yeong-Wonhan from her thoughts.
"We will begin the fight at the count of three," Yeong-Wonhan said.
"One!" Lü Bu raised his halberd. Ichigo stood still, Excalibur stabbed into the ground.
"Two!" Lü Bu shifted his stance, preparing to charge. Ichigo raised his left hand.
"THREE!" Yeong-Wonhan shouted.
"DIE!" Lü Bu yelled, charging at Ichigo. As Lü Bu closed the distance, he thrust his halberd at Ichigo, but Ichigo casually swatted the attack away with his left hand.
"GRR!" Lü Bu growled, continuing his relentless strikes.
"Is he this weak?" Ichigo thought.
"From what I can gather, all these opponents have been exhausted beforehand, giving him the advantage," Naamah replied.
"STOP BLOCKING!" Lü Bu roared.
"Okay," Ichigo said, grabbing Lü Bu's halberd with his left hand, and yanking him toward him. Lü Bu lost his balance, and Ichigo raised Excalibur, delivering a powerful downward slash to Lü Bu's unprotected chest. Blood sprayed as Lü Bu staggered back. Ichigo advanced, relentlessly attacking with Excalibur. Lü Bu tried to regenerate the damage but was unable to keep up with Ichigo's pace.
"I didn't expect Sal-Inja's attack speed to outpace Lü Bu's regeneration," Yeong-Wonhan thought.
Lü Bu used his halberd to push himself away, creating some distance.
"I didn't expect you to retreat," Ichigo taunted, pointing Excalibur at him.
"Retreat?" Lü Bu scoffed. "Why should I retreat?" He grabbed a necklace from around his neck. "WHEN I AM HAVING TOO MUCH FUN!" Lü Bu shouted as he ripped off the necklace. Red energy erupted from him.
Ichigo couldn't help but chuckle.
"This reminds me so much of Kenpachi," Ichigo thought.
Lü Bu recklessly charged toward Ichigo, his halberd raised. Ichigo calmly blocked the thrusts with his left hand, countering Lü Bu's exposed body with strikes from Excalibur.
"This feels like an inexperienced fighter against an experienced one," Yeong-Wonhan thought, watching as Ichigo controlled the flow of the fight. Lü Bu quickly realized Ichigo wasn't taking him seriously.
"Take me seriously!" Lü Bu roared, continuing his assault.
"Fine then," Ichigo replied. He stepped to the right and sliced off Lü Bu's left arm.
"GAH!" Lü Bu screamed in pain. Ichigo swung Excalibur upward, releasing a beam of black energy that forced Lü Bu back. He stabbed Excalibur into Lü Bu's halberd, snapping the weapon in half.
Ichigo observed Lü Bu, who gripped his regenerating arm tightly.
"Time to end this," Ichigo said, holding Excalibur with both hands. "I decree this to the Laws that bind all Worlds! On this day, Lü Bu, the Overlord of Everlasting and the King of the Giants shall die by my blade. Neither the Gates of Heaven nor the Gates of Hell shall hide Lü Bu from thy blade. Let all creation hear my declaration!" Ichigo yelled, charging at Lü Bu.
Lü Bu attempted to dodge, but Ichigo's strikes landed. Lü Bu's eyes widened as his body failed to regenerate. Ichigo pressed the attack, continuing to strike.
"GAHAH!" Lü Bu screamed in agony, falling to the ground, his body covered in open wounds from Excalibur. Ichigo stood over him, the sword poised.
Ichigo turned to Yeong-Wonhan.
"Are you going to stop me?" he asked.
Yeong-Wonhan shook her head.
"No," she replied.
"Does anyone want the final kill?" Ichigo asked. No one replied.
With that, Ichigo plunged Excalibur into Lü Bu's chest.
"GAH!" Lü Bu coughed up blood. Ichigo ignored him, firing an energy blast that caused a massive explosion. Lü Bu's blood and guts scattered across the field, covering both Ichigo and Yeong-Wonhan. Ichigo could sense Schrift O: The Oversoul collecting Lü Bu's soul.
Ichigo turned to Yeong-Wonhan, pointing Excalibur at her. She quickly raised her arms in defense.
"W-w-what are you doing?" she nervously asked.
"I'm still not able to use Sathariel on her," Naamah said.
Ichigo summoned the Chains of Hell. Yeong-Wonhan attempted to teleport away, but Ichigo was faster. The chains pierced her body and wrapped around her, rendering her immobile.
"What? I can't escape?" Yeong-Wonhan thought, twisting her body in a desperate attempt to break free.
"Stop struggling," Ichigo said, but Yeong-Wonhan ignored him, continuing her attempts. Ichigo grabbed her head with his left hand, forcing her face toward him.
"Legilimens," Ichigo said, entering her mind. He spent five minutes navigating through her thoughts before pulling out. He sighed, shaking his head in disappointment.
"I'm giving you all the information I got from Yeong-Wonhan," Ichigo said.
"Okay, Master," Chishiki replied.
Ichigo turned to the nervous Yeong-Wonhan.
"W-what are you going to do to me now?" she asked, fear evident in her voice.
"You're now my prisoner," Ichigo said as he activated Tengan. He wrote a note to Yeong-Wonhan before sending her into Haō Zaimushō. Using Yeong-Wonhan's memories, Ichigo located all the dungeon archways on the planet and cast a delayed explosion spell on each of them. Afterward, he opened a Garganta and left Gigánton. A few minutes later, all the dungeon archways exploded.
Scene Change: The Void
Ichigo ran through the void.
"Three down, four to go," Ichigo thought.
"All the other Dokkaebi should have informed their respective Overlords by now," Naamah said after reviewing Yeong-Wonhan's memories.
"Then we just need to be careful," Ichigo thought as they reached their next destination. Ichigo summoned Nightshroud as the Garganta opened. He quickly dove into the shadow and moved swiftly away from his previous location. As Ichigo moved, he surveyed his surroundings and noticed a boar the size of a dump truck being hunted by a pack of animals. Ichigo observed a panda, tiger, snake, crane, monkey, and praying mantis. The panda, tiger, and monkey stood on their hind legs, with the monkey armed with a wooden staff topped with a metallic spiked tip. The animals attacked the boar, with the monkey using its spear while the others fought with their hands.
"According to Earth-sama's reports, the dominant species of this world are animals with humanlike intelligence," Ichigo recalled.
"Let me see if I can use Sathariel on them," Naamah said. As they fought, Ichigo recognized their fighting techniques, they were using Hung Ga kung fu. "I got it." After five minutes of combat, the truck-sized boar collapsed in front of them. The panda untied a brown pouch from its waist, opened it, and pointed at the boar. The pouch glowed as it absorbed the entire boar. The panda retied the pouch and turned to the others.
"Good job, everyone," the panda said.
"Is this enough meat for dinner?" the tiger asked.
"Plenty," the panda replied.
"Good, let's get some fruit," the monkey said, twisting his spear into two pieces before strapping them onto his back.
"I spotted some banana trees on our way here," the crane said, flying off.
"Crane!" the panda yelled before getting on its front legs and chasing the crane. The tiger and monkey followed suit, getting on their front legs as well. The snake slithered up the tiger while the praying mantis climbed onto the monkey's back. The tiger and monkey chased after the crane.
"Looks like these animals can be both bipedal and quadrupedal," Ichigo observed from the shadows.
"The planet we are on is also called Earth," Naamah reported.
"Interesting," Ichigo replied. "According to Yeong-Wonhan's memories, the Dokkaebi refer to this planet as Earth-5158."
"Anyways, they are known as the Six Sentinels. They are the personal guards to the King of Beasts," Naamah added.
"Okay," Ichigo thought, using Shadowrun to follow them. The Six Sentinels stopped by some bushes to harvest berries.
"The panda's name is Po, and he's male. The tiger's name is Tigress, and she's female. The crane's name is Sora, and he's male. The monkey's name is Goku, and he's male. The snake's name is Viper, and she's female. The mantis's name is Edge, and he's male," Naamah continued.
"Thanks for the info," Ichigo replied. They soon arrived at a large village with buildings made of wood and stone. In the distance, Ichigo spotted a large stone castle. The Six Sentinels walked towards the castle. As they neared, Ichigo saw stone steps carved along the side of the hill. They reached the base of the stairs, and Ichigo noticed the praying mantis, snake, and crane joining them. All of them began to climb.
"According to their memories, anyone wishing to enter the castle must climb these stairs. No one, except for young children, the sick, or the elderly, is allowed to be carried or fly up the stairs. The stairs symbolize that everyone is equal, under the King of Beasts," Naamah explained.
"Interesting," Ichigo said as he slipped into the panda's shadow. The animals climbed the stairs, taking about an hour to reach the top. Ichigo could see that everyone was slightly tired but still fine. Two armored rhinos stood guard at the entrance, each with a large sledgehammer by their side. They nodded at the Six Sentinels before resuming their original position. The Six Sentinels entered the castle. Ichigo noted that the castle appeared rather bare compared to others he had seen.
"According to Viper's memories, she discovered a secret shrine in the lower levels of the castle while patrolling. She was punished and warned not to speak of the shrine's existence," Naamah said.
"Guide me there," Ichigo instructed. Naamah led him deeper into the castle.
"Ichigo, the Planetary Core Communicator is activating," Kyōka interjected.
"Good. Let us know if the signal weakens," Ichigo replied, continuing to follow Naamah. It didn't take long before they reached an abandoned shrine. Cobwebs covered every corner, and the shrine seemed on the verge of collapse.
"Is this the place?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes, but when Viper was here, the shrine hadn't deteriorated to this extent," Naamah said.
"The Planetary Core Communicator is fully activated," Kyōka reported. Ichigo emerged from the shadows, and Naamah appeared beside him.
"I'll keep an eye out," she said.
"Good idea," Ichigo replied as he summoned the Planetary Core Communicator and held it in his hand.
"I wish to speak with the Planetary Core of this Planet," Ichigo called out. The communicator activated, and Ichigo felt his mind being sent elsewhere.
Scene Change: Mind of the Planet
Ichigo opened his eyes to find himself facing an old turtle sitting on a rock. The turtle had long hairs on its face, and an aged wooden cane rested beside it. The turtle opened its eyes and regarded Ichigo.
"Welcome, stranger," the turtle said.
"You must be the Will of the World," Ichigo remarked.
"I am," the turtle replied calmly, slowly. "And you must be the one who wishes to kill the King of Beasts."
"I am," Ichigo confirmed.
The turtle nodded. "What can I do for you?"
"I wish to ask if your world wishes to ally with mine," Ichigo said. The turtle stroked its beard thoughtfully.
"The idea is interesting," the turtle admitted. "But I cannot."
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"Simple... It is not me who must make that decision," the turtle replied.
"But aren't you the Will of the World?" Ichigo pressed.
"I am," the turtle confirmed. "All things in creation will eventually turn to dust. From that dust, new life is born. The cycle will never stop."
"So, you've accepted the inevitable," Ichigo interpreted.
"I have," the turtle said. "I taught my children how to live correctly. If they follow my guidance, I hope they will continue in harmony with me. If they fail to heed my warning, then they are fated to die."
"I see... Thank you for your time," Ichigo said. The turtle nodded as Ichigo turned to leave.
Scene Change: Earth-5158
Ichigo opened his eyes to find himself back in the shrine.
"Time to go hunting," Ichigo thought, using the Six Sentinels' memories to track the King of Beasts. He used Shadowrun to reach a large banquet hall. Inside, Ichigo saw all kinds of animals. Thanks to the Six Sentinels' knowledge, he was able to quickly identify them.
"According to the procedure, the King of Beasts is the last to enter the banquet hall," Naamah said.
"Do we know the name of the King of Beasts?" Ichigo asked.
"It's King Theodore Roosevelt," Naamah replied.
"As in the former American president?" Ichigo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Correct," Naamah said.
"I see..." Ichigo responded, his mind working. "Has King Roosevelt been attacked before?"
"Many times," Chishiki answered. She summoned a memory for Ichigo to view. The memory appeared to be from the perspective of one of the Six Sentinels. King Roosevelt, a burly lion standing nearly two meters tall, faced off against a gray snow leopard. Ichigo watched intently as the referee began the countdown.
"Three…" Both fighters took their stances.
"Two…" They glared at each other.
"One…" King Roosevelt's eyes widened suddenly as if he had gained insight. He defeated the snow leopard in just a few moves.
"Next," Ichigo said, a thought brewing. Naamah played the next fight. King Roosevelt was now facing a large rhino wielding a heavy mace. Ichigo noticed the strange behavior from King Roosevelt again.
"Do we have any assassination attempts on him?" Ichigo asked.
"I think so," Naamah said. The scene changed, showing King Roosevelt seated at a table, eating. Ichigo noticed his eyes widen just before an assassin launched an attack. In one swift motion, King Roosevelt threw his plate to the side, hitting the assassin and foiling the attack.
"I think I have an idea about his true power," Ichigo said.
"What is it?" Naamah asked.
"King Roosevelt's ability is either short-term clairvoyance or the ability to alter causality," Ichigo theorized. "If you focus on his eyes, you'll notice they widen a second before the fight or assassination attempt begins."
"That makes sense," Naamah said.
"I reviewed all the memories we have regarding King Roosevelt in a fight or assassination attempt," Chishiki added. "They all show the same reaction."
"So, what's the plan?" Naamah asked.
"If he has short-term clairvoyance, it won't work against me," Ichigo said.
"Right, as the Defier of Fate," Naamah recalled.
"Exactly," Ichigo confirmed. "If it's altering causality, I hope to prevent it from activating using Hōgen."
"Good plan," Naamah acknowledged.
"Does anyone want to absorb King Roosevelt?" Ichigo asked.
"We do," Katen answered.
"Okay," Ichigo said. "Naamah, try to get a copy of his soul as soon as he walks in."
"Got it," Naamah replied.
"ATTENTION PLEASE!" A voice suddenly called out, drawing everyone's attention.
"When the Flower Wind Rages," Ichigo chanted from the shadows.
"RISE!" The crowd of animals stood in unison.
"The Flower God Roars," Ichigo continued.
"PRESENTING HIS HIGHNESS, KING ROOSEVELT!" The announcer shouted as the doors opened and King Roosevelt entered.
"When the Wind of Heaven Rages, the God of the Underworld Sneers," Ichigo completed the chant for Katen Kyōkotsu. King Roosevelt walked across the banquet hall.
"Naamah?" Ichigo asked.
"Got it," Naamah responded. King Roosevelt arrived at the front and took his seat on the throne.
"Good evening, everyone," King Roosevelt boomed, his voice echoing through the hall. Before he could continue, Ichigo used Schrift U: The Umbra to bind everyone with shadow tentacles. He emerged from the shadows, standing behind King Roosevelt. The lion's eyes widened in shock, and Ichigo stabbed Katen and Kyōkotsu into his chest. A massive explosion of silver energy burst from King Roosevelt. Ichigo felt the swords absorbing the energy, and moments later, they were finished. King Roosevelt was barely alive. Ichigo cast a delayed explosion spell on him and then used shunpō to escape, releasing everyone from the shadow tentacles. They rushed to King Roosevelt in an attempt to heal him.
"Naamah, were you able to locate the dungeon archways?" Ichigo asked.
"Looking for it," Naamah replied.
"Katen and Kyōkotsu were surrounded by a sphere of silver energy," Kyōka reported.
"Keep an eye on them," Ichigo replied.
"Found their location," Naamah said, showing Ichigo King Roosevelt's memories of the archway locations. Ichigo quickly used shunpō to reach all the archways and placed the same explosive spell on them. He detonated the spells before leaving the world through a Garganta.
Scene Change: The Void
"The last three Overlords will be the hardest to deal with," Ichigo said as he ran along the path.
"Why?" Naamah asked.
"The final three Overlords have absorbed the Will of the Planet, effectively becoming the planet itself," Chishiki explained.
"This means the moment we set foot on the planet, the Overlords will know our exact location and can attack us," Ichigo added.
"So, who will you use against the Overlords?" Zangetsu asked, his tone serious. Ichigo could feel the others were paying close attention.
"I plan to use Zangetsu against the Overlord of Corruptive Frost," Ichigo said.
"While I love to fight, wouldn't it make more sense for you to use Shirayuki?" Zangetsu asked.
"Normally, you'd be right," Shirayuki responded. "But the Overlord of Corruptive Frost has enough power to corrupt my ice and turn it against me."
"According to Earth-sama's notes, the Overlord of Corruptive Frost can use her energy to forcibly evolve her victims until they can survive in her world, then enslave them to her will," Ichigo explained. "With this in mind, I'll have the reiatsu from Schrift T: The Taiyo flowing around my body to protect me from the corruptive energy."
Ichigo could sense they were nearing their destination. He summoned Kokugatsu.
"Stride forth to the gates of Heaven and use your might to tear the Heavens asunder. Charge forth to the gates of Hell and destroy the chains of the damned. Enter the doors of your Humanity and use your strength to shatter fate… ZANGETSU!" Ichigo chanted.
Zangetsu appeared in his hands. Ichigo examined the blade and saw that it looked normal. The Garganta opened, revealing an ice-covered world. Ichigo stepped into the freezing realm, ready for battle.
First off, the disclaimer, Kung Fu Panda is owned by DreamWorks Animation.
Author's notes:
(1) Look up Leo Whitefang's signature weapons from Guilty Gear.
(2) I believe this was the storyline about Kenpachi Kiganjō from the Bount Filler Arc. As decided, the Bounts were canon to this fanfic.