Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter was originally edited by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, and Studio Pierrot.
All other ideas belong to their original sources. Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking.
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Chapter 83:
Scene Begins: Ground Zero
On the metallic battlefield, a large metallic ball composed of humanoid robots lay scattered. The field showed the remnants of a battle, one side having been thoroughly dominated. The ground suddenly rumbled and began to rise, revealing a secret tunnel. Squads of bipedal humanoid creatures in metallic suits emerged, each standing about 160 centimeters (5.2 feet) tall. Their suits were primarily brown, with red metallic cloaks draped over their heads (1). They silently advanced toward the metallic ball, swiftly pulling the robotic remains from it.
Unbeknownst to them, someone was watching from the shadows.
"Interesting," Chishiki murmured as she observed from her concealed position.
"Let's finish this mission so Master can reward us," Naamah said, eager to get moving.
"Naamah, be patient," Keter interjected. The two exchanged a tense glare.
"Both of you, quiet down," Chishiki ordered. "Master is risking everything, being the distraction for us." Naamah and Keter turned away from each other, arms crossed in reluctant agreement.
"Master, please give me strength to deal with these two," Chishiki thought as she recalled their plan.
Flashback: In the Void
Ichigo and Chishiki sprinted along the path Ichigo had created in the void.
"So, the plan is for me to draw Intelligentsia's attention by causing as much destruction as possible. While that happens, you'll use the Planetary Core Communicator to track her real location," Ichigo explained.
"You don't think you can find her yourself?" Chishiki asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.
"No," Ichigo replied. "The Dokkaebi have never met her in person. They communicate through a screen. The background is always an office with a window showing the surrounding metallic buildings. We compared those backgrounds and cross-referenced them with the memories we took."
"What did you find?" Chishiki inquired.
"With Kyōka's help, we identified twelve variations of that background," Ichigo answered.
"So, we can pretend the Dokkaebi betrayed her by visiting these twelve locations?" Chishiki proposed.
"It would be six locations," Ichigo corrected.
"Why six?" Chishiki asked.
"Half of the backgrounds are set at night," Ichigo explained.
"I see…" Chishiki said. "So, will I be going alone on this mission?"
"No," Ichigo replied. "Naamah and Keter will accompany you."
"Very well," Chishiki said, accepting Ichigo's decision. "But none of us have abilities suited for infiltration."
"That's fine," Ichigo said confidently. "Engulf the light and plunge the world in darkness, Nightshroud." As he spoke, Nightshroud materialized in its cloak form. Ichigo draped the cloak over Chishiki, granting her the ability to use Schrift U: The Umbra.
Ichigo glanced toward the incoming exit. "Naamah, Keter."
The two appeared behind Chishiki.
"I'm ready," Keter said, her tone determined.
"Hope you give us a big reward," Naamah teased with a mischievous smirk.
"Not now," Chishiki said sharply.
"Good luck to all of you," Ichigo called.
"Same to you, Master," Chishiki replied as she, Naamah, and Keter stepped into Ichigo's shadow.
Flashback Ends
Now, back in the present, Chishiki, Naamah, and Keter observed as some of the robots carried the remains back to the secret tunnel, while others ran out to replace them.
"They remind me of ninjas," Naamah remarked after watching their movements.
"For identification's sake, we'll call them 'robotic ninjas,'" Chishiki suggested. Naamah and Keter nodded in agreement.
"We should follow the robotic ninjas. Someone must have ordered them to retrieve the remains," Keter suggested.
"Good idea," Chishiki agreed. Using Shadowrun, she moved silently from their hiding spot to one of the robotic ninjas' shadows. They stayed hidden in the shadows as they followed the ninja. After five minutes, they arrived at a large underground building. The robotic ninja dropped the remains on a conveyor belt before leaving the building. The trio jumped from the ninja's shadow to the shadow beneath the conveyor belt. They continued following the path of the conveyor belt.
They soon spotted another group of robots. These ones were mostly red, with a few white limbs. They were scanning the robotic remains. Most of the remains were allowed to pass, while a few were pushed off the conveyor and into a chute.
"Looks like these robots are scanning the extent of the damage," Chishiki said. "I can try hacking into them, but I need to know if they're being monitored."
"Let me try something," Keter said, summoning a white book. She fixed her gaze on one of the robots as the book began to glow, its pages flipping rapidly on their own. After a few moments, the pages came to a stop, and Keter started reading.
"Interesting… very interesting."
"What is it?" Naamah asked.
"These robots, the ones Master destroyed earlier, the robotic ninjas, and the scanning robots are all part of a species called Warframe," Keter explained. "They were originally controlled by an alien race known as the Tenno. After they encountered Intelligentsia, the Tenno were quickly defeated. Intelligentsia enslaved the surviving Tenno and used them to create AIs based on their combat abilities, which are now embedded in each Warframe."
"So, what were the robots Ichigo destroyed called?" Naamah asked.
"They were called Excalibur," Keter replied.
"Is there a reason they picked that name?" Chishiki asked, intrigued.
"I'm not sure," Keter admitted. "Chokmah can't find anything more from their remains."
"What about the ninjas?" Naamah asked.
"The ninjas are called Ivara, and the scanning robots are called Harrow," Keter answered.
"So, the Harrows are controlled by AIs now?" Chishiki asked.
"Correct," Keter confirmed.
"If I try to hack one of them, what will happen?" Chishiki asked.
"According to their programming, the AIs would warn the others about the hack and attempt to destroy the source. If that fails, they'd either self-destruct, or the other Harrows would try to destroy the compromised Harrow," Keter summarized, reading from the book.
"Not if I have something to say about that," Naamah said as she summoned a black book. She focused on the robot, and the book began to glow as the pages flipped rapidly. After a few moments, the flipping slowed and then stopped. "Found it." Naamah summoned a black-feathered quill and began crossing out lines in her book. After a moment, she wrote something new in it. "Done," she announced as she closed her book. Keter opened her own book, and it quickly arrived at the correct page.
"According to their programming, the Harrow that is being hacked will quietly move away from the other Harrows and attempt to destroy the source of the hacking. The other Harrows will ignore the hacked one, as it's a test of their capabilities to defend against hackers," Keter read aloud. Chishiki nodded. The trio moved around the conveyor belt, observing all the Harrows on the line. Eventually, they found one at the far end, positioned away from the others.
Chishiki let her nanobots spill out of her shadow, rushing toward the unsuspecting Harrow. The bots quietly infiltrated its systems, tricking the sensors into thinking everything was normal. Once the Harrow was surrounded, Chishiki made her move. She quickly took control of the Harrow and had it continue its task while she accessed the data stored within it.
"Done," Chishiki said as she pulled back from the Harrow.
"What did you find?" Keter asked.
"As we know, the Harrow units in this area specialize in sorting which parts can be repaired or reused," Chishiki began. "Down the line, other Harrow units specialize in rebuilding the robots."
"So, who's controlling them?" Naamah asked.
"All of the robots we've seen are following the commands of a robot called Vauban," Chishiki explained, raising her hand to show a holographic image. It depicted an orange-red armored robot with silver and black plating. "In its standby form, it resembles a tower."
Chishiki waved her hand, causing the Vauban to transform into a large tower. "Vauban is usually in passive scanning mode. When it detects an anomaly, it switches to active scanning mode to identify and address the issue."
"How does it do that?" Naamah asked.
"It activates the necessary robots based on the situation," Chishiki replied.
"Do we know where Vauban is?" Keter asked.
"The Vaubans are the large towers that Ichigo planned to attack as part of his distraction," Chishiki said.
"So, what's the plan?" Naamah asked.
"We need to go deeper," Chishiki answered.
"Down?" Keter and Naamah questioned in unison.
"We know a lot about what's above us, but not much about what's below," Chishiki explained.
"Do you think Intelligentsia is hiding underground?" Keter asked.
"It makes sense," Naamah pointed out. "Our abilities, Ghagiel and Chokmah, only found what's above."
"If I may ask, how exactly do your powers work?" Chishiki inquired.
"Our abilities allow us to read and edit the history of an object," Keter began.
"We can uncover the creator's intentions, when the object was used, and how it changed over time," Naamah added.
"I see... That explains why Intelligentsia didn't appear in your search for the Harrows," Chishiki said.
"Correct. Intelligentsia likely gave the orders to Vauban, but our abilities can only trace the connection to Vauban, not directly to Intelligentsia," Keter explained.
"Then, should I try using Chokmah on the facility?" Keter asked.
"You can try," Chishiki agreed. Keter stared at the facility, and her white book glowed again. The pages flipped rapidly, and Keter began reading aloud.
"I think I found something," she said.
"Read it to us," Chishiki urged.
"The chutes lead to an underground facility built under Vauban's orders. Once the facility was completed, all robots except Vauban were destroyed. Vauban ordered a group of Harrow to use the destroyed parts to create a Warframe skeleton called Xaku. An infant AI is installed into the Xaku, which is then trained in another Warframe called Styanax. Once Styanax deems the Xaku trained, it's allowed to choose its Warframe. The Xaku's memories are then modified to hide the facility's location," Keter said.
"That's useful, but did you find anything about Intelligentsia?" Chishiki asked.
"There's a suspicious dead end in the facility. No one knows why it's there," Keter said.
"Chokmah didn't give any insight on it?" Chishiki asked.
"Nothing," Keter replied.
"Based on how Chokmah operates, this dead end was likely created by Vauban, but Vauban didn't know its purpose. It's never been used or changed," Naamah said. "If we assume Intelligentsia ordered Vauban to create the facility, why add this strange dead end?"
"The dead end could be part of a secret tunnel," Keter suggested.
"Either way, we should investigate," Chishiki decided.
"Agreed," Keter said, with Naamah silently nodding.
Chishiki used Shadowrun to lead them down the chute.
"I'm surprised how far this chute goes," Naamah commented after ten minutes of traveling. Finally, they spotted glimmers of light below. "We're almost there." They arrived at the end of the chute and looked down to see piles of broken scraps.
"How are we going to get down there?" Keter asked.
"We'll wait for something to fall and use its shadow," Chishiki explained. A few minutes later, a broken arm fell from above. Chishiki quickly used Shadowrun, slipping into the shadow of the falling arm. The arm landed in a pile of scraps, and they noticed a Harrow patrolling the area. The Harrow aimed a red beam at the pile of debris.
"It looks like it's searching for something," Naamah said.
"The beam stopped at the broken arm," Keter observed.
"Do you think the Harrow noticed us?" Naamah asked.
"I don't think so," Chishiki replied. The Harrow moved toward the pile, floating over it and reaching for the arm. It picked it up and floated away, continuing its path. Chishiki seized the opportunity to leap into the Harrow's shadow.
"Let's see how they create an Xaku," Keter suggested.
"Very well," Chishiki agreed. They soon arrived at the underground facility. The Harrow entered the facility and walked down a hallway, opening a door to enter a room. Inside, they saw a bipedal humanoid robotic skeleton lying on its back on a bed. Various mechanical parts, including wiring, eyes, mouthpieces, moving limbs, digits, and others, were scattered around it. The skeleton was missing an arm. The Harrow gathered the extra pieces and installed them on the skeleton, moving toward its head to press a button. The skeleton shuddered as energy flowed into it, then stilled. It rose, now active.
"Face me," the Harrow ordered.
The skeleton obeyed silently. The Harrow examined it, typing something into a terminal.
"Xaku Alpha-252020, assembly, and performance test complete," the Harrow announced. "You are to report to Styanax Sierra-072022 to begin training."
"Yes, Harrow," Xaku Alpha-252020 responded, standing and leaving the room. Chishiki quickly followed, entering its shadow with Shadowrun.
"Keter, do you know where the dead end is?" Chishiki asked.
"I think so," Keter answered.
"Good, guide me," Chishiki instructed.
"The Xaku will walk past the dead end," Keter said.
"Let me know when we get close," Chishiki replied.
"Got it," Keter confirmed. Xaku Alpha-252020 moved silently down the hallway, passing the dead end. Chishiki used Shadowrun to shift from the Xaku's shadow to a shadow on the wall nearby.
"We're here," Chishiki said. Keter looked at the wall and activated Chokmah. The white blook glowed, flipping through pages until she began to read.
"It's the same," Keter said with a frown.
"Let me try something," Naamah said. Gamaliel appeared in front of her.
"I summon one of the Earthen Wraiths from Desolate," she announced. A ghost with a dull silver cloak emerged from the mirror, floating down to Naamah.
"This nameless Metallic Wraith has answered Mistress's summon," it said, bowing.
"Discreetly enter the wall and continue until you find something other than solid metal," Naamah instructed.
"As the Mistress commands," the Wraith responded, standing and moving toward the wall. Chishiki allowed it to slip out of the shadow. The Wraith turned transparent and phased through the wall. They waited in silence for its return. After ten minutes, the Wraith reappeared and entered Chishiki's shadow.
"What took you so long?" Naamah asked.
"This nameless one apologizes for the delay," the Wraith replied.
"What did you find?" Chishiki inquired.
"At first, the wall was solid metal," the Wraith began. "After a few meters, I found a small tunnel, just big enough for something to crawl through."
"Did you go down the tunnel?" Naamah asked.
"This nameless one did not," the Wraith answered.
"So, what's our next move?" Naamah asked.
"We're going to investigate what the Wraith found," Chishiki decided. She turned to the Wraith. "Can you create a microscopic tunnel from here to the small tunnel?"
"It is possible," the Wraith responded. "Where would you like it to start?"
"Have the tunnel start in the shadows. Once we're inside, seal the entrance. Gradually open the tunnel for us to move forward, then close it behind us," Chishiki instructed.
The Metallic Wraith remained silent.
"Treat her orders as if they were mine," Naamah added.
"Yes, Mistress!" the Metallic Wraith responded.
Chishiki released the creature from the shadows, and it quickly dove into the ground, carving out a narrow tunnel. Without hesitation, Chishiki slipped inside with Shadowrun. The passage was just wide enough for Naamah to extend a finger through. The Metallic Wraith followed Chishiki's instructions precisely, inching the tunnel forward as they advanced.
Suddenly, the entire place began to shake violently.
"What's going on?" Naamah exclaimed.
"Mistress, the walls are moving," the Wraith reported.
"Open the tunnel fully!" Chishiki ordered. The Wraith quickly obeyed, widening the tunnel. Chishiki used Shadowrun to reach the entrance, just as the tunnel split into two parts. They watched as everything around them began to transform.
Scene Change: With Ichigo
Ichigo sighed as he arrived at the final tower on the planet. He swiftly dealt with the tower's defenses and flew to the top. Entering through a window, he found another office with a computer on the desk. The screen flickered to life, showing Intelligentsia's face.
"I didn't expect you to defeat all my forces," Intelligentsia said.
"They were too weak," Ichigo replied dismissively.
"Oh?" Intelligentsia's voice grew colder.
"Despite being the Overlord of Knowledge, your robots are incredibly dumb," Ichigo continued.
"That is uncalled for," Intelligentsia responded, her anger rising.
"So?" Ichigo retorted. "I doubt you even know how to fight, considering how pathetic your robots were against me."
"You want to fight me?" Intelligentsia murmured.
"Got her," Ichigo thought.
"Oh, please. A fight with you would be too easy."
"FINE!" Intelligentsia snapped. "If you want to fight me, then let's go!" The ground beneath Ichigo rumbled as the tower began descending.
Ichigo quickly flew out of the office and into the air, watching as the planet shifted below him. Portions of the upper hemisphere moved toward him, while others separated, revealing an upper body. The lower portion rotated, revealing a set of legs.
"Master!" Ichigo heard Chishiki, Keter, and Naamah's voices.
"Where are you?" Ichigo asked as he watched Intelligentsia's transformation. He noticed laser cannons emerging from the lower ankle portions of both legs.
"I believe we are somewhere on her lower body, facing you," Chishiki replied.
The upper body expanded sideways, revealing shoulders and arms.
"I see…" Ichigo replied as a familiar face emerged from the upper body.
"Now then!" Intelligentsia yelled as she locked onto Ichigo. "How will you fight me now, human!?"
Ichigo took a deep breath, feeling the Jūko Uchūbiwa around his arms glow and begin to spin. He could sense them gathering cosmic energy from their surroundings, channeling it into him. As the power surged, Ichigo grew larger, expanding until he matched Intelligentsia's colossal height, approximately 334,000 kilometers (207,537.98 miles) (2).
"Let me know which arrow lands closest to you," Ichigo thought as he raised his left arm. Sky Chaser materialized on it. "One." He counted as he drew the arrow.
"Spiral Shot," he said, releasing the arrow.
The projectile streaked toward Intelligentsia, but one of her mounted cannons immediately fired, detonating it midair. Ichigo responded by launching a rapid series of Spiral Shots, numbering each one as he fired. Intelligentsia retaliated with a barrage of laser blasts. Ichigo used Hirenkyaku to weave through the onslaught, making it difficult for her to counter effectively. Occasionally, an arrow slipped through her defenses, but none struck near Chishiki's location.
Then, one of Ichigo's arrows pierced Intelligentsia's knee.
"Master, that was a direct hit!" Chishiki informed him.
"Good," Ichigo replied. "Stick to the plan. Find the planetary core while I keep her busy."
"Got it," Chishiki acknowledged.
Ichigo shifted tactics, using Hirenkyaku to send Sky Chaser away before suddenly rushing Intelligentsia. He slammed into her with full force, knocking her off balance.
Scene Change: With the Ladies
Chishiki turned to Naamah and Keter. They watched the battle unfold, Ichigo clashing against Intelligentsia with titanic force.
"How are we going to move?" Keter asked.
"With Master's help, we now have a basic map of Intelligentsia." A holographic screen appeared beside Chishiki, displaying Intelligentsia's layout. "We're currently here." A red circle marked their position. "Master believes the planetary core is located at the center of Intelligentsia's body." A blue 'X' marked the location.
"That's going to be a long way," Naamah commented.
Chishiki nodded. "It is, but Master trusts us."
"Do we have a plan to get up there?" Keter asked.
"We should use the Metallic Wraiths to scout ahead and map out our paths. Once we know the best route, we can have them open a small tunnel for us. We'll use Shadowrun to move through their bodies," Chishiki suggested.
"Good idea," Naamah agreed. She activated Gamaliel, summoning two more Metallic Wraiths.
"Number 1," Chishiki pointed at the first. "Your job is to ensure we stay on the correct path by cross-checking our position within Intelligentsia's body." The first Metallic Wraith nodded.
"Number 2," Chishiki continued, turning to the second. "You'll create a small tunnel for us to move through." It nodded.
"Number 3," she addressed the final Wraith. "You're responsible for sealing the tunnel behind us." The third Wraith bowed slightly.
With their plan set, they advanced. As they traveled through Intelligentsia's interior, they noticed something unusual.
"Where are all the Warframes?" Keter asked.
"Not sure," Naamah replied.
"We can find them later," Chishiki replied, continuing to use Shadowrun. It took them about an hour to reach the Intelligentsia's core. The chamber they entered was vast, with a golden glowing sphere at its center. Large black metallic rings orbited and rotated around the sphere, and a rhythmic thumping sound emanated from it. Chishiki pulled out the Planetary Communicator.
"Looks like we're here," Chishiki said.
"We've arrived at the Intelligentsia's core," Chishiki reported to Ichigo.
"Good," Ichigo replied. "Chishiki, use the Planetary Communicator to contact the Planetary Core. While doing that, have your nanomachines begin hacking into Intelligentsia's core."
"Understood," Chishiki replied.
"Naamah, Keter."
"Yes, Master?" they answered in unison.
"Your job is to protect Chishiki while she works. Intelligentsia will send reinforcements to stop you."
"Yes, Master," they replied.
Ichigo ended the connection, and Chishiki guided them as close to the golden core as possible.
"Are you ready?" Chishiki asked.
"I am," Keter replied, clad in Malkuth. She held Geburah in its smaller form in her right hand and Tiferet in her left.
"Same here," Naamah confirmed, gripping Golachab tightly. She had dismissed the Metallic Wraiths and deactivated Gamaliel.
Chishiki withdrew them from the shadows and pressed her hand against the golden sphere, infesting it with her nanomachines. Simultaneously, she activated the Planetary Communicator.
Scene Change: Mind of the Planet
Chishiki opened her eyes to find herself surrounded by the vast expanse of space.
"I didn't expect one of Intelligentsia's children to betray her."
Chishiki turned, spotting a towering feminine figure clad in silver and black metallic armor. Her eyes flickered between yellow, red, and orange, and her hair flowed like burning yellow-orange flames.
"How did you know I used to be one of Intelligentsia's children?" Chishiki asked.
"Simple. I can sense the remnants of her influence within you," the entity replied. "A fragment she implanted in all her creations."
"Can she still control me?" Chishiki asked.
"Whoever modified you has already severed that link."
Chishiki narrowed her eyes. "Are you the Will of the Planet?"
"Not exactly," the being responded. "I am the Will of the Stars."
"The Stars?" Chishiki echoed.
"Yes," the Will of the Stars confirmed. "Intelligentsia constructed her utopia from the remains of fallen worlds. But in doing so, she realized she needed a power source vast enough to sustain it."
"So, she built a machine capable of capturing a star?" Chishiki asked.
"Not at first," the Will of the Stars admitted, waving her hand. Images formed around them, revealing the vastness of space. Chishiki could see a star floating in the distance.
"Is that you?" Chishiki asked.
"It was," the Will of the Stars began. "They created a large net around me to collect all the heat I produced. She used that collected heat to power her utopia. Later on, she modified the net to generate a magnetic wave, then began compressing it, causing me to be compressed as well."
"Wouldn't a star as small as you run out of fuel?" Chishiki asked.
"You would be right," the Will of the Stars replied. "But Intelligentsia found other stars to sustain me. She also forced the Wills to battle each other for survival."
"I see…" Chishiki murmured. "Will you try to stop us?"
"I will not," the Will of the Stars answered.
"Will you help us?"
The Will of the Stars shook her head. "These restraints prevent me from taking action."
"I see…" Chishiki said.
"If Intelligentsia realizes she cannot win, she may deactivate the gravitational net, causing me to become unstable."
"Wouldn't that trigger rapid expansion?" Chishiki asked.
"Correct," the Will of the Stars confirmed. "It would release supernova-level energy across the solar system."
Chishiki's eyes narrowed. "I need to inform my master."
"Good." The Will of the Stars paused. "Do you truly believe your master can defeat Intelligentsia?"
"He can," Chishiki answered with certainty.
"Then, I have a request." The Will of the Stars' gaze locked onto hers. "If he triumphs… please, kill me."
Chishiki hesitated before nodding. "I will let my master know."
"Thank you. And… good luck." The Will of the Stars' voice echoed as Chishiki was forcefully expelled from the Mind of the Stars.
Scene Change: Outer Space
"Magnum!" Ichigo roared, punching forward as his rings shot toward Intelligentsia.
"You think that will stop me!?" she shouted, her cannons firing massive energy blasts. The attacks deflected Ichigo's rings, sending them spiraling away.
"Reload," Ichigo commanded. The rings snapped back to his arms.
"Even if your allies reach my core, you cannot defeat me!" Intelligentsia proclaimed, unleashing another barrage of energy blasts.
"Dividing Wall," Ichigo said, raising his left hand. A transparent blue barrier formed around him, deflecting the incoming attacks.
"I wonder how much longer Chishiki is going to take," Ichigo thought. "Naamah, Keter, how's it going on your end?"
"We're fine," Keter replied.
"They're no match for us!" Naamah added.
"Good," Ichigo replied.
"Divided Reflection!" He fired transparent blue energy blasts, forcing Intelligentsia to stop her attack and dodge.
"Master, I've returned from speaking with the Will of the Stars," Chishiki said.
"Good, tell us what happened," Ichigo said as he used Chained Magnum to attack Intelligentsia.
Chishiki quickly relayed everything she had learned.
"Are you ready to begin the next phase of the plan?" Ichigo asked.
"I am," Chishiki confirmed.
"So are we," Keter added.
"Begin!" Ichigo commanded as he summoned Tetsubō.
"Nobiro!" Ichigo shouted, swinging Tetsubō at Intelligentsia. The weapon rapidly extended, surpassing the distance between them. Intelligentsia began to shift, preparing to dodge, when her body suddenly froze. The enlarged Tetsubō struck her shoulder, sending her crashing downward.
"Chijime," Ichigo said. Tetsubō quickly retracted to its normal length as Ichigo watched Intelligentsia halt her descent.
"What… just happened? Why did my body freeze!?" she demanded.
"Ōgama. Nobiro," Ichigo commanded.
The head of Tetsubō shifted into a scythe and rapidly extended. Ichigo swung Ōgama Tetsubō behind Intelligentsia.
"Chijime."
The weapon retracted toward him, the scythe blade hooking into Intelligentsia's back and yanking her forward. Ichigo saw her cannons aim at him, but they failed to fire.
"I've gained control of all her limbs," Chishiki informed him.
"Good," Ichigo replied, summoning Kūkan Sakeru. Letting go of Ōgama Tetsubō, he swiftly used Kūkan Sakeru to sever Intelligentsia's arms and legs.
"What did you do!?" Intelligentsia screamed.
"You should take a look at your core," Ichigo said.
Intelligentsia glared at him, her focus shifting inward to her core. Her eyes widened as she saw that all the Warframes had been destroyed by Keter and Naamah. Worse, she could see Chishiki continuing to hack into her core.
Suddenly, her view of the inside of her core vanished.
"I noticed her presence and blocked her out," Chishiki reported.
"Well done. Let's finish this," Ichigo said, watching Intelligentsia glare at him.
"You think you've won!?" she spat.
A surge of energy pulsed from her chest.
"She's disabling the magnetic field around her core!" Chishiki warned.
"Got it." Ichigo summoned Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi. "Yhwach, Kyōka, are you ready?"
"I am," Yhwach responded.
"So am I," Kyōka added.
"DIE!" Intelligentsia screamed, preparing to unleash her final attack.
"Taiyō no Hikari [Light of the Sun," Ichigo cast as he used Hirenkyaku to move in front of Intelligentsia. A transparent veil of heat surrounded him, shielding him from harm.
Ichigo dove down, driving Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi into her chest cannon, piercing straight through to the core. The sheer force of the attack shattered the gravitational rings Intelligentsia had used to stabilize the star. Without hesitation, Ichigo recalled Keter, Naamah, and Chishiki back into his mindscape.
The solar energy from the core began expanding outward.
"In-ryoku [Attractive Force]!" Ichigo shouted. He pulled all the surging solar energy toward Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi, which eagerly absorbed it.
As this happened, Yhwach and Kyōka stood within the manifestation of Schrift T: The Taiyō. As the solar energy flowed in, Kyōka absorbed as much as she could.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" she screamed as Ichigo continued to absorb all the solar energy. She tried to move her body, but when Ichigo sent Chishiki back to his mindscape, she had already taken control of most of Intelligentsia's body. Somehow, Intelligentsia was able to retain control of her mind within her head.
"PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!" Intelligentsia cried out, realizing her fate.
Ichigo ignored her, focusing on absorbing all the remaining solar energy. In his mindscape, Kyōka had gathered enough energy for her transformation, while Yhwach used Schrift I: Impartial Impedimenta to convert the solar energy into power for Ichigo's other Schrifts.
Ten minutes passed before Ichigo finally finished draining every last bit of energy. He pulled Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi from the now cold, silver core. During the process, he had also granted the Will of the Stars' request, ending her existence. Summoning Chishiki back out, he issued his next order.
"Finish her and absorb everything," Ichigo commanded, summoning Intelligentsia's missing limbs.
"Yes, Master," Chishiki replied as her nanobots swarmed over Intelligentsia.
"NO!" she screamed.
Chishiki floated toward her, transforming her body into countless nanobots that poured down Intelligentsia's throat. Within minutes, nothing remained except the cold, silver core. Ichigo sent the core into his mindscape.
"I'm surprised her Dokkaebi didn't show up for her," Ichigo thought.
"Master, Intelligentsia didn't trust anyone, so she never accepted any of the Dokkaebi's trackers," Chishiki informed him.
"I see… Let's finish the job," Ichigo decided as he sealed his Vollständig. He raised his hand and slashed downward, opening a Garganta. With a swift step, he vanished into the portal, which closed behind him.
Scene Change: Takamagahara
Ichigo stepped out of the Garganta, finding himself before a massive Japanese-style gate. The sky above was overcast. Two guards stood at the entrance.
"Ichigo-sama!" one of them called out, quickly bowing. The second guard followed suit.
"Hello," Ichigo replied.
"What can we do for you?" the guard asked.
"Inform Amaterasu-sama that I wish to speak with her," Ichigo said.
"Yes, Ichigo-sama!" The guard retrieved a talisman and spoke into it. Moments later, one of Amaterasu's Miko arrived.
"Hello, Ichigo-sama. Please follow me," she said.
Ichigo silently followed as they walked toward Amaterasu's residence—a grand, traditional Japanese palace.
"Reminds me of Yasaka's palace in Kyoto," Ichigo thought as they entered.
Along the way, several Miko bowed to him. He gave a slight nod in return. Eventually, they reached a set of doors. The Miko escort knocked.
"I told you, I do not wish to be disturbed," an annoyed voice responded from the other side.
"I am aware, Amaterasu-sama, but Ichigo-sama is here to see you."
"ICHIGO!?" A shocked Amaterasu replied. Scrambling footsteps sounded from the other side. "Give me a moment!"
The Miko turned to Ichigo.
"Amaterasu-sama has remained in her room for the past two weeks," she explained. "She does this when she's depressed or overwhelmed with guilt."
"I see," Ichigo replied.
"Come in!" Amaterasu called out.
The Miko walked to the door, pulled it open, and bowed her head as Ichigo stepped inside. The office looked exactly as it had the last time he was there.
Amaterasu, on the other hand, was different. Physically, she appeared the same as always, but Ichigo could tell something was off. She avoided his gaze, her posture rigid with tension. It was as if their roles had reversed, she was the mortal, and he was the god.
"Amaterasu," Ichigo began.
"Yes!?" she blurted out immediately.
"Relax," Ichigo said. "Take a deep breath."
She obeyed, inhaling deeply before exhaling.
"I'm sorry," she muttered.
"For what? Being tense around me or for sending me to another world for ten years?" Ichigo asked.
"Both," she admitted, bowing deeply.
Ichigo sighed.
"From a logical standpoint, you made the right decision," he said. "But personally… you should have at least asked."
"I know… but knowing you, you wouldn't have agreed to go," Amaterasu replied.
Ichigo stood in silence for a moment before speaking again.
"The past is the past. There's no point in dwelling on it," he said. "But we all must bear the weight of our actions as we move forward."
"I know…" Amaterasu responded. "Earth-sama is ready for you."
She led Ichigo out of her office. A few minutes later, they arrived at another room, where Amaterasu knocked.
"Come in."
Amaterasu slid the door open, revealing Earth, seated in a business suit.
"Ichigo, come in," she said.
Ichigo stepped inside, and Amaterasu closed the door behind him. He took a seat across from Earth.
"How did your mission go?" she asked.
"Mixed results," Ichigo admitted.
"Tell me everything," Earth instructed.
"Evernight, the Will of the Planet from the Overlord of Darkness' domain, has decided to submit to you," Ichigo reported.
"Oh? And what does she want in return?"
"She wants her people to be able to live on Earth, with the former Will of the Planet becoming their goddess," Ichigo explained.
"That is acceptable," Earth agreed.
"I also visited the Will of the Planet of the Overlord of Destruction," Ichigo continued.
"How did that go?"
"When we entered its mind, it simply ignored us and went back to sleep."
"I see… So true neutrality," Earth concluded.
"But," Ichigo added, "I also rescued some dragons from them."
"So, more refugees," Earth concluded.
"Yeah," Ichigo replied.
Earth sighed. "Continue."
"After that, we visited Matrona, the Will of the Planet of the Overlord of Everlasting."
"Did she also decide on true neutrality?" Earth asked.
"Not exactly," Ichigo said.
"Oh? Why?" Earth sounded intrigued.
"Matrona was torn between trying to fix her people and starting over from scratch," Ichigo explained.
"I see…" Earth replied.
"So, she split herself into two parts Matrona remained as the Will of the Planet, and Dyantha became Matrona's Hope. Dyantha's goal is to recreate her people, have them live here, and for her to ascend as a goddess for them."
"In that case, we can consider them friendly and neutral," Earth replied.
"The last planet was the Overlord of Instinct," Ichigo continued.
"How did that go?" Earth asked.
"The Overlord of Instinct didn't care what its people did," Ichigo said. "If he died, he accepted his fate."
"I see… so he also falls under true neutrality," Earth concluded.
"The other three Overlords were killed by me," Ichigo stated as he summoned the Planetary Core of the Overlord of Corruptive Frost, the Planetary Core of the Overlord of Pestilence, and the Star Core of the Overlord of Intelligence. Earth took the cores from him.
Ichigo then summoned Evernight and Dyantha.
"You must be the Will of the Planet for Ichigo's world," Evernight said.
"I am," Earth replied.
"Has Ichigo told you our requests?" Dyantha asked.
"He has," Earth answered as she stood up and approached them. "I accept your request."
Evernight and Dyantha knelt before her.
"I, Evernight, the physical manifestation of the Planetary Core of Evernight, submit myself to Earth and allow her to absorb me." Evernight began to glow with a deep purple light.
"In exchange for Evernight's submission, I, Earth, the physical manifestation of the Planetary Core of Earth, will allow Evernight's people to live on my planet and grant Evernight the status of a goddess for her people." Earth's body radiated a soft blue glow.
"So, mote it be," they declared in unison.
Evernight reverted into a Planetary Core, glowing a deep purple. Earth's blue energy swirled around it, enveloping the core before she absorbed it. She then turned her attention to Dyantha.
"I, Dyantha, the physical manifestation of the fragmented Planetary Core of Gigánton, submit myself to Earth and allow her to absorb me." Dyantha's form shimmered with a light brown aura.
"In exchange for Dyantha's submission, I, Earth, the physical manifestation of the Planetary Core of Earth, will allow Dyantha to create her people, grant them a home on my planet, and recognize Dyantha as their goddess." Earth glowed blue once more.
"So, mote it be," they intoned together.
Dyantha reverted into a much smaller, light brown Planetary Core. Earth's energy wrapped around it before she absorbed it as well.
"Where are the refugees?" Earth asked.
"They're in a pocket dimension," Ichigo replied.
"Would you be able to summon them here?" Earth asked.
"I could, but I also have some islands we annexed from Evernight's world," Ichigo said.
"I see…" Earth snapped her fingers, opening a portal beside her. "Follow me."
Earth and Ichigo stepped through the portal into an empty pocket dimension.
"You can release them here," she instructed.
Ichigo activated Tengan, his eyes shifting into their transformed state.
"So, Amaterasu gave him her eyes," Earth thought.
"Haōgan." Ichigo activated his ability, summoning the islands from Haō Zaimushō. Kisara and Valiona flew out, landing beside him. He silently sent them back to his mindscape.
Earth snapped her fingers. "They are frozen in time, unaware of what is happening. I will let the goddesses handle it from here."
"Okay," Ichigo acknowledged as they left the pocket dimension and returned to their seats.
"With the Overlords dead, I can now formally ask the Dokkaebi whether our contract is over," Earth said.
"That sounds good," Ichigo replied.
"It is… but it also presents another problem," Earth said.
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked.
"We'll have a short grace period to rest before another Dokkaebi challenges us," Earth explained.
"Can we turn them down?" Ichigo asked.
"We can refuse for now, but eventually, they will force us into another challenge," Earth said.
"So, the overall population needs to continue growing stronger," Ichigo concluded.
"Exactly," Earth confirmed. "Which leads me to these." She held up the four Planetary Cores and the single Star Core. "I plan to merge these with myself to trigger the planet's evolution."
"What will that do?" Ichigo asked.
"The planet will likely triple in size," Earth stated.
"Wouldn't that disrupt everything in our solar system?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes," Earth admitted. "But I'm adjusting the planet's location and orbit to maintain optimal living conditions."
"I see… If the planet grows larger, that means more land," Ichigo noted.
Earth nodded. "That new land may be settled by our refugees or residents from the Middle Layer."
"Middle Layer?" Ichigo asked.
"When the Age of Gods came to an end, most intelligent magical creatures fled to the Middle Layer, where the world's mana still remained," Earth explained.
"With this evolution, those two 'layers' will merge?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct," Earth replied. "This also means the mana will likely be much denser than before. Most electrical equipment will probably break down from the dense mana unless it's shielded or redesigned to handle it."
"Will there be any negative effects on the population?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes," Earth replied. "I will trigger a forced epigenetic evolution for everyone on the planet."
"What exactly will that do?"
"It will force their bodies to adapt to the denser mana."
"What about those who can't handle it?"
"They will either explode or mutate into ravenous monsters," Earth answered bluntly.
"Wait… wouldn't that also apply to the animals on the planet?" Ichigo asked.
"Perhaps," Earth admitted.
"Another mess we have to deal with," Ichigo thought.
"How long before you begin the evolution?"
"A few days at most."
"I see…" Ichigo muttered. "That's not much time to prepare."
"It isn't," Earth agreed. "But I advise you not to interfere too much."
"Because this isn't for me?"
"Correct."
Ichigo sighed. "I'll do my best."
"Good." Earth stood up. "You should be able to enter the other dimensions in a few hours."
"That's good to hear."
Earth gave a nod. "Once again, thank you for your hard work." Then, she disappeared.
Ichigo stood up and exited the room, spotting the shrine maiden, Yuki, waiting outside the door.
"Ichigo-sama, is there anything else I can do for you?" she asked.
"For me, no," Ichigo said. "But I hope Amaterasu blesses her people with good fortune." He opened a Garganta and stepped inside.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Office
Ichigo exited the Garganta and arrived in his empty office. He glanced at the clock, noting it was nine in the morning.
"I wonder where everyone is," Ichigo thought as he left his office. He walked toward the dining room, but then he suddenly spotted Akasha.
"Akasha!" he called out.
She jumped slightly at his voice, turning toward him. "Ichigo!" She ran over and hugged him, then began licking his neck. Ichigo cracked a smile and tilted his head, allowing her access. She opened her mouth and bit down, drinking his blood. After a minute, she pulled back, kissing the small wounds as his regeneration sealed them.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"No problem. How long have I been gone?"
"About a week."
"That's good. How's everything?"
"Overall, things have been going well. We harvested a lot of mana stones before the dungeon began to destabilize," Akasha reported.
"Any casualties?"
"We had a lot of injuries but no fatalities."
"Good," Ichigo replied. "I need you to set up an emergency Inner War Council."
"I'll arrange it immediately."
"Good."
They arrived at the meeting room, and Ichigo took his seat as Akasha reached out to the others. A few minutes later, Yasaka, Artoria, Gilgamesh, Jeanne, Akua, Esdeath, Tier, and Hana arrived. Ichigo exchanged hugs and kisses with everyone except Esdeath and Hana, whom he only hugged. Holograms of Rias, Percy, Annabeth, Quetzalcoatl, Chad, Reyna Ramírez-Arellano, and Magnus appeared.
"Thank you all for attending on such short notice," Ichigo began.
He explained Earth's plans but omitted details about the refugees and the merging of the layers. For the next ten minutes, they discussed procedures for claiming land.
"There's a chance the new land may already have residents," Ichigo warned.
"Don't worry, we should be able to communicate with them," Rias said confidently.
"Sure," Ichigo said. "Also, I suggest letting our weaker forces handle exploration while the stronger ones focus on training the newly awakened."
With that, the emergency Inner War Council concluded.
"Ichigo, you better be back tonight," Akasha warned.
Ichigo chuckled. "I understand."
As he left the conference room, he sent a message through the peerage link. "Ophis, this is Ichigo."
"Hello, Ichigo. I assume everything is over?" Ophis responded.
"It is," he said. Suddenly, a rainbow-colored portal appeared in front of him. Ophis and Nyx stepped out. Nyx had grown since Ichigo last saw her. She now resembled a younger clone of Ophis, just as Ichigo remembered. Shyly, Nyx hid behind her mother and glanced at Ichigo. Ophis chuckled softly and gently nudged Nyx forward.
"Nyx, meet your Uncle Ichigo," Ophis introduced.
"Hello, Uncle Ichigo," Nyx whispered shyly. Ichigo crouched down to her level, smiling warmly.
"Hello, Nyx," Ichigo replied kindly.
"Ichigo, follow me," Ophis said as she opened another rainbow-colored portal. They all stepped through and arrived in the Dimensional Gap. Ichigo watched as Ophis began constructing a house on the floating asteroid they had landed on.
"Nyx, you can go inside while I talk with Uncle Ichigo," Ophis said.
"Okay, Kaa-san," Nyx responded, heading inside the house.
As soon as Nyx was inside, Ophis suddenly leaped at Ichigo and kissed him passionately. The two spent the next few minutes lost in the moment. Finally, Ophis pulled away, her eyes glowing with a mix of affection and mischief.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Ichigo asked with a smirk.
"I did," Ophis replied.
"Good. Then let's get down to business."
Ophis nodded and snapped her fingers, erecting a barrier around the house. She then opened her mouth and let out a powerful roar.
"Stupid Red! Ichigo is here!"
The barrier silenced the roar from escaping. A few moments later, Great Red flew toward them, landing beside Ichigo.
"Hello, Ichigo," Great Red greeted.
"Hello to you," Ichigo replied.
"With the completion of the Death Quest, you are now granted an opportunity to speak with the Concept of Death," Ophis said.
A gray barrier suddenly formed around Ichigo, sealing him inside.
"It has begun," Great Red thought.
"Good luck, Ichigo," Ophis thought.
Scene Change: Inside
Ichigo watched as the gray barrier formed around him. Once it was complete, five balls of light emerged from his body.
"The Death Blessings," Ichigo recognized as he observed the orbs floating before him. From right to left, he saw a silver orb with a golden outline, a golden orb with a red outline, a purple orb with both golden and silver outlines, a dull white orb with a dark brown outline, and finally, a black orb with a purple outline. Each orb glowed faintly as they began to shift in shape. Ichigo immediately recognized the transformation.
Soon, standing before him were Odin, Osiris, who now appeared as a green-skinned man with a pharaoh's beard, his legs partially wrapped in mummy cloths and wearing an Atef crown, Ankou, Hades, and Giratina. Each figure retained the same hue as its corresponding orb.
"Ichigo, son of the Shiba Clan of Shinigami, son of the Kurosaki Clan of Quincy, adopted son of the Yamamoto Clan of Shinigami," they all intoned in unison. Their voices, though distinct, were devoid of emotion.
"Hello, Death," Ichigo greeted.
"You have gained the blessings of Dream and Infinite. You have found and earned the blessings from five of my faces. What is it that you wish?"
"I wish to control when I and my loved ones die," Ichigo stated.
"You wish to cheat me?" Death asked.
"No," Ichigo clarified. "I just wish to determine when we pass."
Death was silent for a few moments before responding.
"I will grant your request, but in exchange, you must complete five tasks for me."
"What are they?" Ichigo asked.
"You will be sent to five different universes, each with a unique objective," Death said. Odin then stepped forward.
"The first task, and arguably the easiest, is to prevent the deaths of over ten trillion lives," Death-Odin said.
"What?" Ichigo questioned.
"In this universe, there exists a being named Thanos. One of my faces seduced him, making him deeply infatuated with her. However, he eventually lost her affection after failing a mission. In his desperation to win her back, he concluded that the best way to earn her love again was by exterminating all life in his universe."
"Why is that a problem?" Ichigo asked.
"Because such an immense loss of life at once would destabilize the Reincarnation Cycle across the multiverse."
"How?" Ichigo pressed.
"When a soul enters the Reincarnation Cycle, its old memories are wiped clean and then graded on a scale of one to five.
Grade five souls have no memories of their past lives, leaving them completely unblemished.
Grade four souls retain small fragments of their previous lives, which can explain certain unexplained preferences or habits.
Grade three souls don't remember their past lives but may have instinctive memories or flashes from them. These souls tend to learn faster, have sharper instincts, and often experience déjà vu.
Grade two souls forget everything initially, but their memories gradually return, typically between five to fifteen years after reincarnation.
Grade one souls are exceptionally strong. If they reincarnate, they remember everything from their past life naturally."
"But how does this relate to Thanos's actions?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm getting there," Death-Odin replied. "With the large influx of souls, the Reincarnation Cycle has to process them quickly, which often leads to improper memory purges. This results in more Grade three and Grade two souls."
"But if their universe is dead, why is that a problem?" Ichigo asked.
"Simple. Those souls will get reincarnated in other universes," Death-Odin answered. Ichigo's eyes widened.
"Those reincarnation isekai stories are true?" Ichigo asked.
"Indeed," Death-Odin replied. "Some Gods would ask us to arrange specific souls for them in their respective universes."
"I see…" Ichigo said, processing the information.
"Anyways, back to Thanos," Death-Odin continued. "As he traveled across the universe, slaughtering everyone in his path, he discovered the ultimate weapon to accomplish that goal, the Infinity Stones."
"What are the Infinity Stones?" Ichigo asked.
"The Infinity Stones are special stones that grant absolute control over the Laws of Reality, Time, Space, Energy, Souls, and Thoughts," Death-Odin explained.
"Does every universe have these?" Ichigo asked.
"No. Only a few universes possess them, and their power is limited to their respective universe," Death-Odin replied.
"I see… please continue," Ichigo urged.
"When you enter their universe, Thanos will already possess the Space Stone, Power Stone, Reality Stone, and Soul Stone. He and his army plan to invade this reality's Earth to obtain the Time Stone and the Mind Stone," Death-Odin said.
"So, I need to stop Thanos and then separate the stones?" Ichigo asked.
"Not quite," Death-Odin corrected. "You must kill Thanos."
"Why?" Ichigo questioned.
"Because he will never stop until he achieves his goal," Death-Odin stated.
"Okay," Ichigo said.
Death-Odin conjured two wooden sticks and handed them to Ichigo. He examined them closely.
The first stick was made of an unfamiliar black wood, engraved with 199999 (3). The second was crafted from an unknown white wood, with home inscribed on it.
"When you are ready, snap the black stick, and you will be transported to Universe 199999," Death-Odin instructed. "Once your task is complete, the white stick will glow. You may then snap it to return home."
"So I don't have to leave immediately?" Ichigo asked.
"No, you do not," Death-Odin confirmed. "You will arrive at the optimal time and location to prepare for Thanos."
With that, Death-Odin stepped back, and Death-Osiris moved forward.
"The second task will send you to another universe," Death-Osiris began. "Have you heard of Detective Comics?"
"Detective Comics?" Ichigo repeated, confused.
"I believe you know it as DC Comics," Death-Osiris clarified.
"Oh, yeah," Ichigo said, recognizing the name. He had seen a Green Lantern movie once, which had inspired him to turn his mother's Quincy Cross into a ring.
"Good," Death-Osiris continued. "In this universe, many criminals have indiscriminately killed or caused the deaths of innocents, creating a backlash in the Reincarnation Cycle. Your task is to punish these criminals for their reckless actions."
A scroll materialized in front of Ichigo. He grabbed it and unraveled it, revealing an extensive list of names.
"I have to kill all of them?" Ichigo asked.
"If you wish," Death-Osiris answered. "None of them are innocent, but if you decide to show mercy, you must banish them from their universe."
"How do I banish them?"
"That is your problem," Death-Osiris replied.
"So I'd have to take them to my universe?" Ichigo asked.
"If you choose to," Death-Osiris said.
"What if other heroes or villains not on this list wish to follow me?" Ichigo questioned.
"Do as you see fit."
Death-Osiris handed Ichigo another pair of sticks. The black stick resembled the one Death-Odin had given him but had the number 2091313 (4) inscribed on it. The white stick was identical to the others. After handing them over, Death-Osiris stepped back, and Death-Ankou stepped forward.
"The third task will take longer than the first two," Death-Ankou began. "In this universe, the world is under the rule of a variation of the Shinto Pantheon. The problem is that the rules of death have been ignored. The dead are being revived, a heretical god is interfering with the world, and those who should have died long ago are cheating death."
"Should this world have its own forces to handle these issues?" Ichigo asked.
"You're right, they should," Death-Ankou said. "That's part of your task, to investigate the lack of response from them."
"I'll do what I can," Ichigo replied.
"Good." Death-Ankou handed him another pair of sticks. The black one bore the number 1041999 (5). Ichigo took them, and Death-Ankou stepped back as Death-Hades approached.
"The fourth task is even longer than the previous three," Death-Hades began. "It takes place in an alternate universe that branched from your final fight with Ulquiorra."
"Oh?" Ichigo said, intrigued.
"In this timeline, Ulquiorra realized he couldn't overpower you in your Hollowfied state, so he used the Dangai to trap you instead. He opened a Garganta to the Dangai and lured you in. You recklessly chased after him and became stuck in the walls. Ulquiorra then fired a Cero at point-blank range, killing you."
"Damn... So Aizen won?" Ichigo guessed.
"Exactly. Without you to stop him, Aizen killed the Soul King. The dimensional barriers collapsed, and all realms merged into one. The chaos that followed was devastating. Every human became spiritually aware, Hollows ravaged the world, and the Shinigami struggled to maintain order. The hidden Quincies seized the opportunity to strike at both sides.
"Thousands of years later, two gods emerged from the remnants—a God of Light and a God of Darkness. The God of Light united the surviving humans, while the God of Darkness restrained the Hollows, stripping their souls away but mutating them further.
"Eventually, the twin gods abandoned the world, throwing everything into chaos once more."
"So, you want me to destroy these mutated Hollows and restore order?" Ichigo asked, trying to grasp the task.
"Yes, but also to uncover why the twin gods abandoned the world," Death-Hades clarified.
"All right," Ichigo agreed.
Death-Hades handed him another pair of sticks. The number on the black stick was 11037399 (6). After stepping back, Death-Giratina took her turn. She appeared in the form of a human woman, but her outfit resembled Giratina's original body.
"The final task will take longer than all four previous tasks combined," Death-Giratina said. "As you know, reincarnation and isekai are real."
Ichigo nodded.
"One of my faces has betrayed me."
"That doesn't sound like a good idea," Ichigo said.
"It isn't," Death-Giratina replied. "This traitor killed seven other faces and absorbed their powers, giving her dominion over death in eight different worlds. Then, she reached out to those content streamers."
"You mean the Dokkaebi?" Ichigo asked.
Death-Giratina paused for a moment. "Are they small, annoying, and have reality-warping powers that they only use to produce content?"
"Yep."
"Then yes," Death-Giratina confirmed. "Anyway, she reached out to the Dokkaebi and suggested using those worlds as battlegrounds where inhabitants would fight for survival. The Dokkaebi loved the idea and tricked the remaining gods into abandoning their planets in exchange for power.
"With the gods gone, the Dokkaebi began their games, turning those worlds into arenas. Every time someone died, the traitor absorbed their soul. Before I could stop her, she stole a group of souls and reincarnated them onto those planets with the sole purpose of sowing internal strife, which only led to even more death."
"So... I have to fight both the traitor and the Dokkaebi?" Ichigo asked.
"Eventually," Death-Giratina said. "The Dokkaebi's game has a structure. Each world created a Legendary Weapon and two Vassal Weapons. Legendary Weapons can only be wielded by heroes summoned from other worlds, while Vassal Weapons can be used by anyone."
Ichigo frowned. "So the traitor is using isekai'd heroes to fuel the conflict."
"Exactly," Death-Giratina said. "You will be summoned as one of these Legendary Heroes. Try not to reveal your full power too soon."
"I know. I've dealt with the Dokkaebi before," Ichigo said.
Death-Giratina nodded as she handed him his sticks. The black stick had 11012021 (7) engraved on it, while the white one was identical to the others. With that, she stepped back.
"Come seek us when all five tasks are completed," Death spoke in unison.
They transformed back into balls of energy and flew into Ichigo. The gray barrier surrounding him dissipated, revealing Ophis and Great Red waiting for him.
"How did it go?" Ophis asked.
"I spoke with Death, but I need to complete some tasks before it grants my request," Ichigo replied.
"At least Death didn't deny you outright," Great Red remarked.
"Yeah," Ichigo said. "Let's head back."
"Let me go get Nyx," Ophis said as she walked toward the house.
"It was good seeing you, Ichigo," Great Red said before taking off.
A moment later, Ophis returned with Nyx, who had a backpack on. She opened another rainbow-colored portal, and together, they left the Dimensional Gap.
Author's notes:
Primus from Transformer Cybertron
The planetary size of Intelligentsia's planet is based on OGLE-TR-122b, the smallest known star which is 167,000 km long. Due to Primus's transformation, the height is doubled.
The MCU was originally listed as Earth-199999.
2091313 is an A1Z26 cipher for Timm, referring to Bruce Timm.
1041999 is referring to October 04, 1999, when the first chapter of Naruto was released in the Shōnen Jump.
11037399 is the Fanfiction ID of From a Time Long Past by Mazongian, which has inspired me to make the RWBY universe the post-apocalypse for the Bleach Universe. Yes, this does mean I was thinking about the RWBY universe back in 2016. (﹏)
11012021 is the date when I released the Omake for Ichigo being sent to the Shield Hero Universe.