Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter was edited once 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.
Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, and Young Justice are owned by Warner Bros, DC Comics, and DC Entertainment.
All other ideas belong to their original sources. Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking.
"Hello." – Normal thoughts.
"Hello." – Spirit speaking.
"Hello." – Spirit thoughts.
Chapter 87:
Ichigo emerged from the shadows in front of a garden, with a large sign overhead that read "Gotham Botanical Gardens." The garden appeared closed, but Ichigo waved his hands over the lock, unlocking it. He opened the door and entered, securing it behind him. As he explored, a green-skinned woman suddenly rose from the shadows.
"My, don't you know the garden is closed right now?" the woman asked.
"I do," Ichigo calmly replied. "I'm here to find you, Pamela."
"Oh, you know of me?" she asked, intrigued.
"I do," Ichigo said. "And I'm here to give both of you a choice." Glancing behind him, he saw Harley Quinn holding a large red hammer, ready to strike.
"Harley," Poison Ivy scolded.
"Sorry, hon," Harley replied with a smirk.
"You'll give us a choice?" Poison Ivy asked, her interest piqued.
"Yes," Ichigo answered. "I'm here on a mission to neutralize a majority of villains."
"So, you're responsible for what happened to the other villains in Gotham?" she asked.
"I am," Ichigo confirmed.
"Man, you sure are a dark knight," Harley Quinn interjected.
"And we're on that list?" Poison Ivy asked, her hands beginning to summon green vines from the ground.
"You're not," Ichigo replied, turning to Harley Quinn. "But she is," he admitted.
"So, you're here to kill her?" Poison Ivy said, the vines growing taller, preparing to strike.
"No," Ichigo replied, his tone firm.
"Then why are you here?" she asked, her suspicion growing.
"Two reasons," Ichigo explained. "First, I know Harley committed these acts due to the Joker's manipulation. If she were still under his influence, I would have already ended her."
"But you didn't," Harley Quinn noted, looking at him curiously.
"I didn't," Ichigo agreed, "because I can see that Pamela is a positive influence on you. So, I want to offer both of you an opportunity to start fresh in a new world, where you won't have to hide who you are."
"You would give me a chance?" Harley Quinn asked, her eyes wide.
"Why didn't you give the other villains this chance?" Poison Ivy asked.
"Who said I didn't?" Ichigo replied, snapping his fingers. From the shadows, he summoned Killer Croc and Orca from Haō Zaimushō.
"Kroc? Orca?" Harley said, recognizing her fellow villains.
"I heard from the underground network that he killed you," Poison Ivy said, eyeing the two figures with confusion.
"I used a technique to create realistic copies of you both and killed them," Ichigo explained. "I didn't want your victims to know I gave you a second chance when they believed you should have died by my blade."
"I see," Killer Croc said, nodding.
"It does make sense," Orca agreed.
"Thank you," Ichigo said, sending them back to Haō Zaimushō.
"So, what's the other reason?" Poison Ivy asked.
"I believe an important step for Harley's recovery is to eliminate the Joker," Ichigo said.
"Makes sense," Poison Ivy replied, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"Really?" Harley Quinn grabbed Ichigo's hand and pulled him to face her. "You'll give me a chance to kill him?"
"I would," Ichigo replied, his gaze steady.
"Then where do I sign?" Harley Quinn asked eagerly. Poison Ivy sighed, shaking her head.
"If she's in, then I also join," Poison Ivy declared.
"Great," Ichigo said, pulling out two contracts. He handed them to the women, and they both read and signed them. "You ladies got everything you need?" Ichigo asked, pulling out his scroll. He found Joker's name and clicked on it, watching the arrow appear.
"I'm ready," Poison Ivy said, standing tall.
"So am I!" Harley grinned. In a flash, her outfit transformed. Gone was her signature red and black jester costume. Her blonde hair flowed freely, her skin still pale, with bold red eyeshadow and black lipstick. She wore a short black and red crop top adorned with a star and a diamond, a red and blue bomber jacket, a black choker, and black and red fingerless leather gloves. Her black and red pants hugged her frame, and she wore black heeled combat boots with red laces. A black backpack hung casually from her shoulders (1).
Ichigo glanced at Poison Ivy, who stood there with her mouth agape. Calmly, he reached out and closed it for her.
"Based on Red's face, I look good!" Harley said, laughing.
"You do look good," Ichigo admitted. "It also helps with your road to recovery," he added.
"Thank you, Knight," Harley said with a wink.
"Stay calm," Ichigo said as he pulled them into the shadows, using Shadowrun to move everyone toward Joker's location.
Scene Change: Abandoned Warehouse
Punchline, Joker's new right-hand woman, sat on an old couch, watching the news report. Joker was upstairs, tinkering with something.
"Joker, dear!" she shouted.
"What?" Joker shouted back.
"According to the news, Batman is out of commission," Punchline said. Suddenly, Joker leaped off the second-floor rail, landing on the couch and sending Punchline flying into the air. She quickly landed back on the couch, adjusting the TV volume.
"This is Vicki Vale, from Gotham Gazette. We are reporting live outside an abandoned amusement park where the Justice League members were defeated by the vigilante known as Avenger." Joker and Punchline saw the injured members of the Justice League, including Batman, before they were all teleported away. The broadcast continued, talking about Avenger, the name given by witnesses and victims.
"With Batman out of the picture, we should be able to take over Gotham," Punchline said, her tone eager.
Joker, however, had his hand under his chin, deep in thought.
"Just thinking," Joker murmured.
"About what?" Punchline asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What is the best way to spread chaos?" he mused. Suddenly, every light bulb exploded, plunging the room into darkness.
"Who's trying to scare the Joker?" Joker yelled, quickly scanning the room. The shadows rippled as Ichigo, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy emerged from the darkness.
"Traitorous bitch!" Punchline shouted, charging toward them. Ichigo snapped his fingers, and shadow tentacles shot out, wrapping around Joker and Punchline. He turned to Harley.
"He's all yours," Ichigo said.
Harley Quinn calmly walked toward Joker, who struggled to break free. She stood in front of him, her gaze cold.
"H-hi, Harley—" Joker started, but before he could finish, Harley immediately kicked him in the head.
"I'm not Harley!" she yelled. "I. am. Harleen. Frances. Quinzel!" Each word was punctuated by a brutal kick to Joker. Ichigo and Poison Ivy watched as Harleen vented her frustration on the Joker. After a few minutes, she stopped, breathing heavily. Joker's face was a bloody mess, bruised and battered.
"Are you satisfied?" Ichigo asked, his tone neutral.
"One last thing," Harleen said, removing her backpack. She unzipped it and dumped the contents on Joker, her old harlequin costume, countless pictures, and other objects. Harleen pulled out a lighter and lit it.
"Burn in Hell, Fucker," she muttered, dropping the lighter onto the pile. The flames quickly spread, engulfing the Joker's old costume and setting him on fire.
"AHAHAHAHA!" Joker screamed, his laughter mingling with his cries of pain, becoming a grotesque mix. Harleen glanced at Ichigo.
"His screaming is starting to annoy me," she admitted. Ichigo nodded, walking over to Joker. With a swift motion, he extracted Joker's soul from his burning body. The charred corpse lay motionless as the fire continued to burn.
Ichigo tossed Joker's soul into Hell, where it vanished.
He turned to Punchline, who had stopped resisting. She lay on the ground, staring up at him with hollow eyes, waiting for what would come next.
"Just kill me now," she mumbled to Ichigo. He glanced at Punchline before ripping her soul from her body and throwing it into Hell. Ichigo then stabbed Punchline's soulless body, ending her life just as he had with the others.
"Are both of you ready?" Ichigo asked.
"I am," Harleen said.
"I need to collect a few plants at the Botanical Gardens," Poison Ivy responded. Ichigo created a clone of Harleen's body and killed it. Afterward, he pulled them into his shadow and used Shadowrun to transport them back to the Gotham Botanical Gardens. Poison Ivy gathered the plants she needed and completed her research. Once everything was ready, Ichigo had them sign the contract and sent them to Haō Zaimushō. Ichigo then vanished into the shadows, preparing for his next target.
Scene Change: Hall of Doom
In a hidden base, three individuals sat around a circular table.
"Deathstroke, how many villains have we gathered?" a man asked. He was tall, and muscular, with a medium-dark skin tone, three pale scars across his face, brown eyes, and long black hair pulled back. He wore a dark blue, lapel-less coat with red-striped edges, black gloves, and boots.
"Vandal, we've gathered fifteen villains so far. Lobo and Mongul are on their way to Earth as well," Deathstroke replied. Dressed in a full-body black suit with a monochrome color scheme and steel-toed boots, Deathstroke had his mask resting on the table. It featured an orange-copper side and a black side over his eye.
"Better than expected," Vandal replied. He turned to a young man clad in all-black Puritan-like clothes. His black hair was shaped like devil horns, and he held a dark orange cat with black stripes and red eyes in his lap.
"Klarion, is your side of the plan ready?"
"Of course," Klarion answered, gently petting his cat. "After all, I am a Lord of Chaos."
"Good. With all the bait in place, he'll definitely show up," Vandal said. Suddenly, a ping sounded from Deathstroke's wrist. He glanced at his monitor.
"Lobo and Mongul have arrived," Deathstroke reported.
"Good," Vandal responded.
Scene Change: With Ichigo
Ichigo appeared in the Everglades, Florida.
"There are twenty villains on the list," Ichigo observed.
"I sense demonic magical protections around the area," Mysteria reported.
"This is a trap. Likely set up by Vandal Savage," Chishiki suggested.
"Makes sense," Ichigo replied.
"They're hiding beneath the Everglades," Chishiki added.
"That's fine," Ichigo said. "Let's see how this plays out." Ichigo passed through the protections. Suddenly, the ground rumbled as fiery demonic seals formed around the area. Demonic creatures appeared.
"Please allow me to deal with them," Keter requested.
"Go ahead," Ichigo said. Keter stepped onto the field, and the demons immediately noticed her. Roaring, they charged. Keter summoned a bone-white horn engraved with golden angelic runes, raised it, and blew, emitting a booming sound. A golden seal formed around her, summoning a squad of twenty-one knights riding pegasi.
"Attack," she commanded. The knights drew their weapons and charged toward the demons.
Scene Change: With Ichigo
As Keter fought the demons, Ichigo moved to the edge of the Everglades and entered the darkness. Moving through it, he found a large black dome.
"Found it," Ichigo thought. He left the shadow and phased through the wall, immediately returning to the shadows. Following the arrow, he entered a ballroom filled with villains.
"Shadow Thief, have you found him yet?" a tall, strongly built man asked. His face was obscured by a gray hockey mask, revealing brown eyes. He wore a sleeveless blue muscle shirt with a neck-covering collar, arm and elbow pads, and fingerless gloves. His left arm was armored with metal plates.
"Not yet, Sportsmaster," Shadow Thief answered, clad in a black suit with white armor around his chest and knees.
"Keep an eye out. Based on reports, he travels through the shadows." Ichigo noticed a figure wearing a yellow version of the Flash outfit with red lightning bolts.
"That's Eobard Thawne, aka Reverse Flash. He's a speedster," Chishiki warned.
"Got it," Ichigo replied.
"Stand before Creation. Fall after The End. Chrónou Génesi," Ichigo chanted, activating Schrift C: The Chrónou Árchonta. Chrónou Génesi appeared in his hand.
"Chrónou Stási," Ichigo said, freezing everyone in the ballroom in place. He ripped Eobard Thawne's soul from his body and sent it to Hell. Ichigo checked his scroll to see Thawne's name crossed out, then repeated the process with the other villains in the room.
"There goes Sportsmaster, Ultra-Humanite, Black Manta, Icicle, Count Vertigo, Multiplex, Prankster, Shadow Thief, Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Shatterfist, Felix Faust, Mad Mestro, Lobo, and Mongul," Ichigo noted. He turned to Silver Banshee. "Chishiki, can you take over Warworld?" Ichigo asked.
"I can," Chishiki replied, appearing beside him. As part of Ichigo's powers, she was unaffected by Chrónou Stási. She walked to Mongul's dead body, retrieved a teleportation device, and activated it, entering Warworld. Ichigo turned back to the remaining villains. Using the Chains of Hell, he bound them and activated "Chrónou Archí." Silver Banshee tried to scream, but Ichigo appeared in front of her and activated Schrift N: The Negate, silencing her.
"I can control myself," she whispered, looking at Ichigo. "Please help me."
"That's the plan," Ichigo said, snapping his fingers to release her right hand. She signed the contract in blood, and then Ichigo knocked her out with a swift blow to the neck. He quickly wrote a note and sent them all to Haō Zaimushō. Suddenly, slow clapping echoed through the room. Ichigo turned to see Deathstroke, Klarion, and Vandal Savage.
"I didn't expect a mortal to control the Chains of Hell," Klarion said. "I wonder how powerful I'd be with that power." His hands crackled with chaotic crimson energy. The bodies around Ichigo glowed crimson, rising as zombies and charging at him. Ichigo waved his hand, sending a wave of hellfire toward them. Klarion growled as he surrounded them in a barrier of chaotic crimson energy. The hellfire incinerated the zombies, and some flames slammed into the barrier. The remaining hellfire focused on the villains.
"Dammit!" Klarion yelled as he reinforced his barrier.
"Klarion, can you extinguish the flames?" Vandal asked.
"I can, but it will take time," Klarion growled.
"Distract him," Vandal said to Deathstroke.
"Fine," Deathstroke replied.
Klarion opened a small hole in his barrier, and Vandal cupped his hands together. Deathstroke leaped into Vandal's hands, and Vandal threw him toward Ichigo. With katanas drawn, Deathstroke prepared to attack, but Suzumebachi appeared and intercepted him with her butterfly knives.
"Your fight is with me," she said. Ichigo glanced at Klarion and Vandal.
"We'll need you to deal with him," Vandal said as he drew a saber.
"Fine," Klarion replied, creating stairs and a walkway for Vandal to leave the barrier. Vandal leaped toward Ichigo, but Katen and Kyōkotsu appeared and blocked his attack. Vandal evaded Kyōkotsu's strike.
"We'll handle him. You take care of the immediate threat," Katen said. Kyōkotsu nodded silently.
"Got it," Ichigo replied, turning to Klarion, who had finally extinguished the hellfire.
"Finally!" Klarion screamed, glowing with chaotic crimson energy. He fired energy blasts at Ichigo, who casually sliced through them with Rebellion, infuriating Klarion further.
"NO! NO! NO!" Klarion shouted, unleashing more energy blasts, but Ichigo continued to cut through them.
"LET ME HIT YOU!" Klarion screamed as a golden cutlass materialized and stabbed his cat, Teekl, killing it instantly.
"Teekl!" Klarion yelled. Ichigo turned to see Keter standing in the room, and Klarion's body began to phase out.
"You're not getting away," Ichigo said, the Chains of Hell piercing his body, anchoring him to this reality.
"What are you doing?" Klarion asked, struggling to move his chained body.
"Simple," Ichigo replied. "Sending you to Hell."
"NO!" Klarion screamed as he was pulled into Hell.
"Thank you, Keter," Ichigo said.
"I live to serve," she replied, returning to his mindscape. Ichigo glanced at Suzumebachi, Katen, and Kyōkotsu to check on their progress. He saw Suzumebachi playing with Deathstroke. Every time Deathstroke attacked, Suzumebachi used her short stature to evade and counter his moves, landing strikes on his unprotected areas. She glanced at Ichigo.
"Send him over," Ichigo ordered.
"Got it," Suzumebachi replied, delivering a swift kick that sent Deathstroke hurtling toward Ichigo. Deathstroke tried to slow his momentum by stabbing his katanas into the ground, but Ichigo grabbed him from behind, spun him around, and kicked him in the chest, throwing him off balance. Ichigo snapped his fingers, and the Chains of Hell bound him.
Ichigo watched as Deathstroke struggled against the chains. His attention shifted to Katen and Kyōkotsu, still battling Vandal Savage. The two were fighting without using their Shikai, but Vandal's experience was slowly overwhelming them.
"Are both of you okay?" Ichigo asked.
"We're fine," Katen replied, blocking another strike from Vandal.
"Do you want to send him over to me?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure," Katen said. Both she and Kyōkotsu used Shunpō to quickly move behind Vandal, catching him off guard. They kicked him forward toward Ichigo. Ichigo waved his hand, sending another set of Chains of Hell toward Vandal, pulling him next to Deathstroke. Ichigo used Legilimency to extract all their knowledge before throwing them into Hell.
"Another bunch off the list," Ichigo thought, glancing at his tally.
"Ichigo, I need you up on the Warworld," Chishiki's voice rang out.
"Okay. Give me a moment," Ichigo replied as he walked toward the control room. Pressing a few buttons, he caused the Hall of Doom to rise out of the Everglades. Ichigo tossed all the dead bodies, except for Vandal Savage's, onto the shore. Using Haōgan, he summoned one of Chishiki's clones from Haō Zaimushō.
"What can I do for you, Master?" the clone asked.
"I want you to study this body to find out all its secrets," Ichigo said, handing her Vandal Savage's corpse.
"Yes, Master," the clone said.
"I'm also sending this base into Haō Zaimushō. Use it as you see fit," Ichigo added.
"Yes, Master," the clone responded. Ichigo exited the Hall of Doom and used Haōgan to send it to Haō Zaimushō. A new clone of Chishiki appeared, grabbed Ichigo, and teleported them away.
Scene Change: Warworld
Ichigo and Chishiki arrived in a large room, the walls lined with computer monitors displaying various aliens attacking a large set of doors. The aliens appeared to be from different species, but one stood out: a turquoise and purple starfish with a single yellow eye attached to their heads.
"From what I gathered, Mongul planned to unleash his gladiators on Earth once the Justice League was defeated. He captured Starro and used its powers to enslave the gladiators," Chishiki explained.
"Let me guess, Starro broke the deal?" Ichigo asked.
"Not exactly," she admitted. "With Mongul dead, Starro was freed from his control. It then used the gladiators to try to steal the crystal key that powers Warworld." Chishiki gestured to the large crystal behind them.
"Aren't we in control of Warworld now?" Ichigo asked.
"We should," she admitted. "But something is preventing the signals from the headset from reaching the Warworld's helm."
"I see… Should we just kill them?" Ichigo asked.
"I believe we should kill the starfish and detain the Gladiators first," Chishiki suggested.
"Okay," Ichigo agreed. "Naamah," he called. She appeared before him.
"Yes, Master?" she responded.
"I need you to stay in the shadows and retrieve the unconscious gladiators. Destroy the Starro parasites attached to their faces," Ichigo instructed.
"Yes, Master," Naamah replied.
"Engulf the light and plunge the world into darkness, Nightshroud," Ichigo chanted, activating Schrift U: The Umbra. He draped Nightshroud over Naamah, who immediately entered Ichigo's shadow. Ichigo sealed Jigoku no Yoroi and summoned Kōsetsu. "Open the door," he commanded.
Chishiki opened the door. Ichigo shunpō'ed through it, and she quickly closed it behind him, trapping them out. All the enslaved gladiators redirected their attacks toward him. Ichigo calmly spun Kōsetsu.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki," he uttered as Kōsetsu entered Shikai. "Tsugi no mai, Hakuren." Ichigo punctured the ground four times in a semi-circle. Ice reiatsu surged upward from the punctures, moving toward him. He thrust Sode no Shirayuki forward, unleashing a powerful avalanche of cold air toward the gladiators.
Some of the gladiators fired energy blasts at the incoming cold, but the air extinguished their attacks, continuing to advance. Many gladiators fled, but some were too slow. Ice began to form around them. The starfish-like parasites jumped off their hosts and attempted to escape.
"Go-banme no mai, Tsurarada," Ichigo called, icicles descending from the air, impaling the starfishes. "Dairoku no mai, Furu Yuki," he said, causing snow to fall indoors. Naamah used the cover to pull the frozen gladiators into the shadows. The starfishes panicked, but the freezing effect continued.
"San no mai, Shirafune," Ichigo declared, and his sword extended, bending into a whip-like form. He attacked the remaining gladiators. The starfishes abandoned their hosts and fled from Ichigo. He pursued until he faced a massive starfish. It began shooting smaller starfishes at him. Ichigo dodged and froze them with his snow.
"This must be Starro's main body," Ichigo thought.
"Some no mai, Tsukishiro." Ichigo raised Sode no Shirayuki to the 12 o'clock position and began to move it in a circular motion, like the hands of a clock. A white line trailed behind his sword as he moved. Once he completed the circle and returned to the 12 o'clock position, he stabbed Sode no Shirayuki into the center, causing the white circle to fall. With a swift motion, he flung the icy circle toward Starro.
Starro leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. Ichigo quickly followed up with San no mai, Shirafune, launching a vicious strike at Starro. Starro swiftly dodged, carefully avoiding the blade and ensuring its body stayed clear of the sharp edge.
"Looks like Starro knows what happens if it touches my blade," Ichigo thought, continuing his relentless assault. The snow began to slow Starro down. Eventually, a white circle appeared around it. Ichigo snapped his fingers, causing a pillar of ice to rise. The pillar shattered, leaving only Starro's soul behind.
Ichigo ensured the remaining starfishes were dead before sealing Sode no Shirayuki and sending Starro's soul to Hell.
The doors opened as Chishiki approached, with Naamah rising from the shadows.
"Master, follow me," Chishiki said. They walked through several hallways and stairs until they arrived in a domed room. At the center was a metallic throne. Chishiki handed Ichigo a headband. "Master put the headband on and sit on the throne."
Ichigo placed the headband on and sat.
"Detecting new user," he heard in his mind. Suddenly, the room lit up, and orange circuits spread from the throne throughout the room. "Beginning ownership registration and knowledge transfer." Ichigo instantly understood everything about Warworld.
"Master, are you all right?" Naamah asked.
"I'm fine," Ichigo replied. "How are the gladiators?"
"They are currently asleep," she reported.
"I see... Follow me," Ichigo said, leading them out of the command room and into an empty chamber. "Release them here."
Naamah complied, releasing all the gladiators into the room. Ichigo activated Schrift P: The Planter, summoning a magical dome filled with life energy. He carefully guided their bodies to absorb the energy, hastening their recovery. After several minutes, the gladiators began to stir, their eyes blinking open to find Ichigo seated calmly, wearing the Warworld's headband.
"You're the one who killed Mongul?" a female gladiator asked. She had light skin, blue eyes, and red lips, with waist-length blonde hair held back by a winged, crown-like headdress. Her outfit consisted of a short white dress adorned with metal patterns, a red cape, golden boots, and long golden bracers that extended from her elbows to her wrists. A sword with a crystal embedded in the hilt was sheathed on her back. Due to the collars around their necks, their words were translated into Japanese.
"I did," Ichigo replied. "And you are?"
"I am She-Ra from the fallen planet of Eternia, (4)" she introduced.
"So, what are you planning to do with us?" another female gladiator asked. She had fair skin, blue eyes, and knee-length silver hair tied in a ponytail. A red-filled circle was visible on her forehead beneath her bangs, with three matching red stripes on each side of her cheek. She wore a tight-fitting red sleeveless jumpsuit with minor padding and straps on the sides, fingerless black elbow-length gloves, and red knee-high split-toed boots. A pair of katanas rested on her back.
"I planned to free all of you," Ichigo admitted. "And you are?"
"I am Zannah of Khera," she introduced. "And why?"
"I don't need any of you," Ichigo admitted.
"But can we stay with you?" a third female gladiator asked. She was a dark-skinned woman with a tall and curvaceous figure. Her long, wavy white hair flowed freely down her back, held back by an orange and brown crown. Her blue eyes stood out, and she wore a high-collared white cloak with a red gem at the center, a metallic silver one-piece, and matching silver metallic thigh-high boots.
"And you are?" Ichigo asked.
"I am Glorith," she introduced. "My homeworld was destroyed long ago, and I've drifted through space ever since. Mongul found and captured me."
"Can I make a deal with you?" Ichigo turned to see another beautiful woman. She had tanned skin, angular, dark-violet eyes with black eyeliner, small, rounded violet eyebrows, and shiny, straight, waist-length black hair with short bangs. She wore full-body armor with a black crop top, a mini-skirt, and thigh-high boots.
"What is it?" Ichigo asked.
"I desire revenge," she replied, her glare aimed at a group of gladiators in the distance. Ichigo observed they were from two alien races. One resembled large blue gorillas, while the other appeared to be green-skinned humanoid aliens clad in armor.
"And they are?" Ichigo asked.
"The blue ones are Citadelians, and the green ones are Gordanians," she explained.
"And you are?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm Blackfire," she replied. "They are alien conquerors and slavers. They captured me long ago, but I escaped. Unfortunately, they found me and took me back. Before we arrived, all of us were captured by Mongul."
"Lies!" one of the Citadelians yelled.
"Silence," Ichigo said, glaring at the Citadelian. He turned back to Blackfire. "Blackfire, I know who you are. You were the first-born Tamaranean of the previous King and Queen of Tamaran. On the day of your birth, one of Tamaran's cities was attacked. The citizens blamed your birth for causing it. As you grew older, you developed a sickness that prevented you from absorbing solar radiation, which in turn stunted your power. Your parents stripped you of your title as heir to the throne and gave it to your younger brother. The citizens spread rumors that this was a punishment from the Tamaranean Gods." Ichigo paused. Blackfire's eyes widened.
"Stop! Please, stop," she shouted, interrupting Ichigo. "You proved your point." She looked away, her voice cracking. "Please, stop."
"Good," Ichigo replied. "What about this?" Ichigo snapped his fingers, and a circular platform rose with the Citadelians and Gordanians on it. "Blackfire, you can fight all of them. Will that satisfy your desire for revenge?"
"Better than nothing," she replied. Ichigo allowed her to use her powers. Her eyes and hands began to glow as she floated up to the platform. A transparent dome appeared around them, trapping them inside. A few moments later, the battle began.
"Is it a good idea to let them fight?" a young gladiator asked. She was a slender girl of medium height with pale blue skin and neck-length straight black hair. Her eyes had black sclerae and red irises. She wore a form-fitting jumpsuit that covered her from neck to toe, with a hood attached to her shoulders. The suit was mostly white except for the black areas around her neck and above her chest, as well as her black gloves.
"It's fine," Ichigo replied. "And you are?"
"I'm Tinya Wazzo, from the fallen world of Bgtzl," she said. Ichigo snapped his fingers, causing the ground to shake as four walls formed behind him. The top of the walls connected, creating a room.
"One by one, all of you will enter this room," Ichigo said. "From there, I'll talk with you about your options." He stepped into the room. "Whoever wants to go first, come on in."
"I'll go first, then," She-Ra said as she entered the room. The door silently closed behind her. Inside, there was a table and two chairs, one occupied by Ichigo.
"Ah, She-Ra. Come in," Ichigo said. She quickly sat down in the empty chair.
"You were the princess of Eternia," Ichigo began.
"I was," she admitted.
"How old were you when you escaped your planet?" Ichigo asked.
"I was only sixteen when Skeletor, an evil lich, invaded our world," She-Ra began.
"Eternia follows a similar age cycle to Earth, but they are about a month ahead," Chishiki added. "So, she's approximately seventeen years old in Earth time."
"Skeletor invaded for more power," She-Ra continued. "My father, King Randor, led our forces against him for three years, but then…" She paused, her voice trembling. "But then my father was killed. Before he succumbed to his wounds, he used a magic spell on his sword, sending it to me."
"That sword must have been important for him to use the last of his strength to send it away," Ichigo reasoned.
"Correct," She-Ra said. "The sword is known as the Eternal Power Sword. King Greyskull, the first king to unite Eternia, channeled his might into it in his dying moments. He added an enchantment: 'Only those of his blood and will shall be King of Eternia.'"
"So, you became the next wielder of the sword," Ichigo said.
"Like there were any other choices," She-Ra sighed. "There was a letter attached to the sword. My father's last order was for me to escape the planet and survive. My mother, Queen Marlena, handed me her sword."
"I presume that's your mother's sword?" Ichigo asked.
"It was," She-Ra replied. "This is the Eternia Protector, the sister sword to the Eternal Power Sword. Legends say it was crafted by King Greyskull for his wife."
"Then what happened?" Ichigo asked.
"She placed a sleeping spell on me, preventing me from resisting, before sending me off in a rocket ship."
"Did you return to Eternia?" Ichigo asked.
"I did, but it had turned into a lifeless wasteland," She-Ra said. "I became a mercenary, hunting Skeletor. Eventually, I trained every day until I mastered the Eternia Protector. I found a lead on Skeletor's location and joined the Thunderians to defeat him. We won, and I killed him. But before we could celebrate, Mongul arrived and captured all of us."
"I see… What happened to the Eternal Power Sword?" Ichigo asked.
She bent down, pulling a thin dagger from her boot.
"While I can't wield the Eternal Power Sword, I miniaturized it into this hidden dagger," she said.
"I see…" Ichigo said. "Anyway, you have two choices." He raised a finger. "You can be free to roam the universe, do whatever you want."
"And the second option?" She-Ra asked.
"The second option is you leave this universe and follow me. I'll assist with whatever you need before letting you roam the planet."
"Why are you doing this?" She-Ra asked.
"Because I believe you deserve it," Ichigo replied. She-Ra looked at him for a few moments before nodding.
"I accept," she said.
"Great." Ichigo summoned a contract and placed it in front of her. She looked over it before signing. "Do you have all your belongings?" Ichigo asked.
"I do," she replied.
"Great," Ichigo said, activating Haōgan and sending her into Haō Zaimushō. "Next!" Ichigo shouted. The door opened, and three gladiators entered. The door slammed shut behind them.
"Where is She-Ra?" one of them asked. She appeared feminine with catlike features, cream and gold-colored fur, long red hair with a spiky front, blueish-teal eyes, and pointed ears. Small fangs peeked from her mouth. She wore pale blue armor on her shoulders, torso, and hips, dark blue pants, a large red belt, and silver shin guards that protected her knees. Her pawed feet were bare, and golden gauntlets covered her forearms.
"And you are?" Ichigo asked.
"I am Liona (5), princess of Thunderia and leader of the Thundercats," she introduced. "This is Cheetara (6) and Pumyra (6)."
Cheetara appeared fit and lean with light skin. Her long blonde hair, speckled with cheetah spots, framed her face. A pale orange upsweep surrounded her pale red eyes, giving the impression of dramatic eye makeup bordered by short, blonde eyebrows. She wore a two-piece costume in three shades of brown, the upper half adorned with a red jewel in the center. The lower part consisted of brown shorts with long, darker strips that functioned like suspenders, leaving her claws exposed. She also wore brown wrist-to-elbow guards with a disc around each wrist and matching discs around her ankles. She carried a long wooden staff.
Pumyra, with amber eyes and brown hair highlighted with white streaks, had her hair tied in a ponytail with strands framing her face. Slender yet curvy and athletic, she wore a dark brown dress with golden manacles and a garter on her right thigh. A small black stone bound by a red cord adorned her necklace, and a bag at her hip held ammo for her wrist-mounted crossbow.
Ichigo waved his hand, and two more chairs appeared.
"Please sit," Ichigo invited.
"Not until you tell us where She-Ra is," Liona replied, pulling a dagger from her gauntlet. Ichigo sighed and used Haōgan to recall She-Ra from Haō Zaimushō. She-Ra appeared before them.
"Do you need something from me, Master?" She asked.
"She-Ra!" Liona exclaimed, rushing to her. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Liona, I'm fine," She-Ra assured her.
"Why did you call him Master?" Liona demanded.
"Simple, because he is too strong for us," She-Ra admitted. "I've seen a glimpse of his true power. It's not something we can fight against."
"You brainwashed her!" Liona shouted. The dagger in her hand began to glow white, sparks flying.
"Enough," Ichigo said, activating Haōgan's first ability. Suddenly, a wave of energy pulsed from Ichigo. Liona and She-Ra collapsed to their knees. Cheetara and Pumyra fell to the ground. "If you wish to waste my time, then leave."
Liona's body began to glow white as she stood. The dagger transformed into a sword. Her eyes took on a beast-like quality.
"DIE!" she screamed, lunging at She-Ra. She-Ra quickly drew her sword, blocking the attack.
"She-Ra!?" Liona questioned.
"Please, don't fight him. Listen to his words," She-Ra pleaded. Liona glared at her for a few moments.
"Fine." She withdrew her sword and sat down, placing it in her lap. Ichigo sent She-Ra back to Haō Zaimushō.
"Now that you're free from Mongul, what do you plan to do?" Ichigo asked.
"I would like to return to Thunderia," Liona said.
"Do you know where Thunderia is?" Ichigo asked.
"Not exactly," Liona admitted. "We didn't travel far from our planet."
"I see…" Ichigo said, beginning to search through Warworld's historical records for the location of Thunderia.
"That's it?" Liona asked, surprised. "You're not going to stop us and force us to follow you?"
"Why would I?" Ichigo replied. "I offer that opportunity to those who are worthy, who have no home to return to or seek a chance to start over. You and your crew are worthy of this opportunity, regardless of your past actions. However, if you wish to return to your planet, I won't stop you."
"I see…" Liona said. Cheetara and Pumyra began to stir, looking at Ichigo with wary expressions.
"Found it," Ichigo said, activating Schrift K: The Kūkan-teki Shihai. Shirokishi appeared in his hand. He slashed downwards, opening a portal in front of them. "Follow me," he said.
"W-where are you going?" Liona asked.
"To Thunderia," Ichigo casually replied. They gazed into the portal, seeing a green and blue planet.
"Thunderia!" they exclaimed, and stepped into the portal.
Scene Change: Thunderia
Ichigo, Liona, Cheetara, and Pumyra appeared floating above the planet, encased in a transparent bubble.
"H-how are we up here?" Liona asked.
"I'm manipulating space, creating a pocket dimension around us. We can see, but remain separate from the planet," Ichigo explained.
Ichigo glanced at the Thunderians below. "Tell me where your home is," he said.
"We need to go down," Liona instructed. The sphere quickly descended as she guided Ichigo. After a few minutes, they arrived at Liona's hometown. A large marble statue of Liona and her subordinates, charging into battle, stood before them.
"What is this?" Liona asked, moving closer to the statue to read the plaque beneath it.
"This monument commemorates Liona, Princess of Thunderia, and the Thunderian Army, who valiantly sacrificed themselves to protect the people from invaders." Liona turned to Ichigo.
"Can you head toward the palace?" she asked, pointing to a large white building in the distance.
"Sure," Ichigo replied. The sphere moved toward the building, where they saw guards patrolling. Liona directed Ichigo to the throne room, where a male Thunderian sat on the throne. He resembled Liona but much larger.
"So little Leo became king," Liona remarked, recognizing the figure on the throne.
"Not so little anymore," Cheetara added.
"I want to talk to him, to learn about the changes they've gone through," Liona said.
"Sure," Ichigo replied. With a wave of his hand, the bubble expanded to include the King. The King leaped from his throne, sword drawn, ready to fight. His sword was a large black broadsword with a red gem at the center of the crossguard, which resembled Liona's sword.
"Who are you!?" he shouted. His eyes landed on Liona, Cheetara, and Pumyra. "No… it can't be."
Liona calmly approached the King. "It's us, little Leo," she said.
"Prove it," the King demanded. Liona drew her dagger, and her body glowed white once again as the dagger transformed into a sword.
"It's you," the King said, his tone softening.
"That's right, little Leo," Cheetara teased. The King pouted.
"Don't call me that," he grumbled. "I'm now King Leonidas."
Liona chuckled. "Indeed, you are," she said, sheathing her sword. "So, King Leonidas, what happened after we were kidnapped?" she asked.
"Kidnapped?" he repeated, confused. Liona sighed and quickly recounted what happened after the battle with Skeletor.
"I see… When the explosion of energy dissipated, Mother mobilized the remaining troops to investigate the battleground. They reported that the enemy was dead, but your bodies were not found. We took the fallen soldiers to burn. Eventually, we discovered Skeletor's dead body and sword. After consulting with the priests, we decided to use a ceremony to purify the sword. In the process, the sword transformed into this," King Leonidas explained.
"I see…" Liona murmured. "How long has it been?"
"It's been over ten years since then," he replied.
"I see…" Liona whispered, her expression distant.
"Liona," Ichigo interjected. Everyone turned to him.
"Who—" King Leonidas began, but Cheetara interrupted him.
"He's someone we mustn't annoy," she whispered. Ichigo ignored them and continued.
"Are you planning to stay here?" he asked.
"Of course, she is welcome to stay here," King Leonidas quickly replied. Liona gave him a sad smile.
"Leo, if we were nobodies, I would love to stay here," she began. "But we're not nobodies." She pointed at the currently empty throne. "If I returned, there would be questions about who would rule Thunderia."
"I see…" King Leonidas mumbled as he realized what Liona was saying. "If the people knew Liona was back, they would ask who should take the throne. Liona is technically the next in line, but she's been gone for over a decade. On the other hand, I was second in line, but I took on the responsibility and led the people as they rebuilt."
"Exactly," Liona said. "For the good of the people, I can't return."
"I see…" King Leonidas turned to Liona, Cheetara, and Pumyra. "Thank you for continuing to sacrifice yourselves for the people." He bowed to them.
"No need to bow," Liona replied. King Leonidas straightened up.
"Then this is goodbye," King Leonidas said.
"It is," Liona replied, and they hugged. King Leonidas hugged both Cheetara and Pumyra as well. He finally turned to Ichigo. "Please take care of them," he said.
"I will try my best," Ichigo replied. He wrapped them in a spatial bubble and returned to the Warworld.
Scene Change: War World
They appeared in Ichigo's makeshift office. Ichigo released the spatial bubble and sealed Schrift K: The Kūkan-teki Shihai. Liona, Cheetara, and Pumyra signed the contract and were sent to Haō Zaimushō. Ichigo stepped outside to see Blackfire standing proudly over the unconscious bodies of the Citadelians and the Gordanians. Ichigo snapped his fingers, causing the barrier to disappear.
"Bring them over here," Ichigo said. Blackfire grabbed the unconscious bodies and threw them toward Ichigo. They landed in front of him. Ichigo summoned a ball of hellfire and dropped it on them, incinerating them and sending them to Hell. He turned to Blackfire. "Follow me," he instructed. She nodded and silently followed him into his office. They both sat down in the chairs. Ichigo placed the contract in front of her. "Any questions?"
"Is the probation period really necessary?" Blackfire asked.
"It is," Ichigo replied. "Even now, you don't regret betraying your people to the Citadelians and the Gordanians. You only turned on them when they betrayed you." Ichigo stared at her. "Even now, I question if you deserve this chance."
Blackfire signed the contract. "Don't waste it," Ichigo said, sending her to Haō Zaimushō.
"Next!" Ichigo shouted. Glorith entered the room.
"Hello, Glorith." Ichigo summoned the contract and placed it in front of her. She quickly read it before signing.
"Now that the boring part is over," Glorith said seductively as she walked toward Ichigo, "we should spend some time together." Ichigo activated Haōgan's first ability. Suddenly, an invisible pressure fell on Glorith, forcing her to her knees in front of him.
"Glorith, you're not the first, and you likely won't be the last to try to seduce me," Ichigo said.
"You think this is enough to stop me?" Glorith said as she started to stand. Ichigo lowered his reiatsu, targeting her. A heavier pressure suddenly fell on her and the surrounding area, forcing her flat on her face. She struggled to resist, but Ichigo finally released the pressure. She turned her face toward him.
"W-what was that?" she asked.
"A small nibble of my true power," Ichigo replied, sending her to Haō Zaimushō.
"Next!" Ichigo called out.
The door opened, and a young girl stepped inside. She had pale skin, striking red eyes, and shoulder-length blonde hair adorned with a black headband. Her outfit resembled a school uniform, consisting of a black blazer with a gold emblem over a white-collared shirt, a purple tie, a matching purple skirt, knee-high white socks, and black Mary Jane shoes.
"Hello," she said innocently. Ichigo's eyes glowed red as he instantly saw the child's sins.
"Stop with the innocent act. I know who you truly are," Ichigo replied.
"Ah, Mister, you shouldn't ruin the surprise," she said innocently.
"I can see you used your ability to become an assassin for hire," Ichigo said.
"I did," she admitted with a casual shrug. "I needed the money after I escaped from Durla."
"So, what's your name?" Ichigo asked.
"Ciji," she replied.
"So, Ciji, how did you end up here?" Ichigo asked.
"I was tasked with assassinating Mongul. Unfortunately, I failed, and he decided to make me a gladiator," she explained.
"Can you transform back into your true form?" Ichigo asked. He adjusted the collar, allowing her to change forms. Ichigo saw her right hand elongate into claws.
"I've changed my form too many times to remember my true one," she admitted.
"Do you have a form that you feel most comfortable with?" Ichigo asked.
Ciji pondered for a moment before her body began to bubble and shift. As the transformation settled, she now stood at 192 cm (6'3"). Her figure was both slender and curvaceous, accentuated by her ample chest. She had long, straight black hair reaching her mid-back, with short bangs framing her forehead and upturned dark red eyes. Her hair was parted into two thick locks that crossed over her head, cascading below her chest, secured by a gold-colored headband adorned with a rose and two spikes on each side.
She now wore a form-fitting, halter-style black dress that highlighted her shoulders and cleavage. A rose choker adorned her neck, and a red rose pattern decorated the inside of her skirt. The front of the skirt reached mid-thigh, while the back extended below her knees. Completing her look were black thigh-high boots featuring a rose symbol on the sole and black fingerless gloves (2).
"I feel much better," Ciji said, taking a few steps.
"So, Ciji, what are you planning to do now?" Ichigo asked.
"I guess I could go to your world," Ciji said.
"Sure, if you agree to this." Ichigo handed her a contract. Ciji read it quickly.
"So, no killing unless in self-defense?" she asked, pointing out a condition.
"Correct," Ichigo replied. "Based on your powers, you could easily kill most weaker humans."
"I see… What would my purpose be then?" she asked.
"That's something you'll discover on your own," Ichigo said.
"Sure," she said, signing the contract. Ichigo swiftly sent her into Haō Zaimushō.
The next to enter were three women. With a snap of his fingers, Ichigo conjured two additional chairs in front of him.
"Please, sit," Ichigo said.
They each took a seat. Ichigo turned to the first girl.
"You're Tinya, right?"
"I am," she confirmed. "My alias is Phantom Girl."
"I'm Ayla Ranzz from the planet Winath and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. My code name is Freefall," she introduced herself. She was a slender girl, slightly taller than Tinya, wearing a form-fitting black sports bra with a white upward arrow in the center. She also had black gloves with arrows pointing toward her fingers and skintight black pants adorned with white arrows running from her feet up toward her body.
"Saved the best for last," the final girl joked. "I'm Eve Aries, from Saturn, and a member of the Legion of Super-Villains. My alias is Saturn Queen."
She had striking red hair and sharp green eyes. Her outfit consisted of an armored blue overcoat with pronounced shoulder pads, matching pants, and black boots. Red buttons lined the coat, giving it a distinct, militaristic look. To Ichigo, she bore a resemblance to a European admiral.
"I didn't know Saturn had life there," Ichigo remarked.
"Not yet," Eve said. Tinya sighed.
"All three of us are from the thirty-first century," Tinya began. "Ayla and I were tasked with hunting her down," she glanced at Eve.
"Suddenly, a rip in space-time opened sucked us in, and sent us to the twenty-first century," Eve said.
"As we tried to figure out what happened, we were captured by Mongul and forced into his gladiator ring," Ayla explained.
"So, if all of you were free, what would you do?" Ichigo asked.
"Try to find a way to return to the thirty-first century," Eve answered. Tinya and Ayla nodded in agreement.
"That's probably a bad idea," Ichigo replied.
"Why?" Eve asked.
"Traveling backward in time is easier than traveling into the future," Ichigo explained.
"Why?" Tinya asked.
"From an observer's point of view, time moves forward linearly. Every decision causes the path to split based on all possible outcomes."
"So, you're saying traveling back in time caused this timeline to diverge?" Eve asked.
"Correct."
"Wouldn't traveling forward allow us to go back to the path we just left?" Ayla asked.
"Not exactly," Ichigo said. "Your presence here already deviated from this timeline by doing actions that wouldn't have happened before. If you try to forcibly travel forward in time, you might destroy this timeline." Ichigo warned as he remembered his experience with time travel.
"How would you know?" Eve questioned.
"I have traveled back in time before and had to travel forward in time the regular way," Ichigo replied.
"You're saying that we have to stay in this century?" Ayla asked.
"Yes," Ichigo said. Ayla turned to Eve.
"GOD DAMN IT!" She yelled at Eve. "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT."
"Ayla," Tinya said as she grabbed Ayla's arm, trying to calm her down.
"LET GO OF ME!" Ayla yelled as she pulled her arm away from Tinya.
"Enough," Ichigo said as he lowered his reiatsu once again. All three girls slammed into the ground from the force of his reiatsu. Ichigo let them feel the pressure of his reiatsu for a few moments before releasing it. All the girls took deep breaths. Tinya and Ayla looked at Ichigo with a scared look. Eve, on the other hand, looked at Ichigo with an interested look. "Based on your current situation, you only have a few options available. You could either explore the universe, join the Justice League on Earth, or decide to follow me to a new universe."
"What are the pros and cons of each option?" Tinya asked.
"With the first two options, you need to make sure no one knows that you came from the future. They may capture you and torture you for your knowledge," Ichigo warned.
"Makes sense," Eve replied.
"If you pick the third option, you would be in an alternative Earth that doesn't have any connection with this Earth or its connecting universes."
"I don't know about you two, but I'm picking option 3," Eve said.
"Why?" Tinya asked.
"Simple. Because there are too many established heroes here. I want to make a name for myself."
"I do want to warn you; my world does have people with superpowers and magic," Ichigo said.
"But are any of them similar to Superman?" She asked.
"Besides myself… no. Most of them are weaker than him," Ichigo said, purposely not mentioning their true power. Eve nodded her head.
"I've decided to go with option three," she said.
"Eve, are you sure?" Tinya asked. "Should we stay here? We could use our knowledge to help the world."
"I agree with Tinya," Ayla said. "We are heroes. It's our job to help others."
"That is true," Eve admitted. "But there is something you also need to consider."
"What?" Ayla asked.
"What will you do when you meet the Justice League? Will you tell them everything you remember about their future? Or will you be silent?" Eve pointed out.
"… You bring up an important point," Ayla admitted.
"Why don't we do both," Tinya suggested.
"Both?" Eve and Ayla questioned.
"We write down everything that we can remember and give it to them." Tinya glanced at Ichigo. "After that, we join him in his universe to live our life."
"Good suggestion, but I do have a comment," Ichigo said. They all looked at Ichigo. "Most of the villains on Earth have been taken care of," Ichigo said.
"Then there is a big chance our knowledge is now useless," Tinya said.
"Correct," Ichigo replied. He summoned three contracts for them. They took the contract and read it. After that, they signed the contract. Ichigo sent them to Haō Zaimushō. The next group of gladiators were new prisoners that Mongul captured to bolster his numbers for an invasion of Earth. Ichigo had them sign a contract that prevented them from mentioning anything that happened to them, on Warworld or in Earth's solar system. In exchange for signing the contract, Ichigo gave them a small spaceship to take them home. Finally, the last gladiator entered Ichigo's room.
"Hello, Zannah of Khera," Ichigo said. She replied by grabbing her katanas.
"I've seen your impressive swordsmanship and wish to duel you," she said.
"Sure," Ichigo said as he stood up. Ichigo changed his size to match Zannah's height. He snapped his fingers, causing the office to disappear. Yorugetsu appeared in his hand. Zannah drew both of her katanas. "3…2…1… Start." Zannah ran toward Ichigo and began to attack him with a barrage of slashes. Ichigo calmly blocked all her attacks with Yorugetsu.
"I didn't expect him to easily block all my attacks," Zannah thought. Ichigo counterattacked by swinging Yorugetsu from the side. She raised both her katana to block the attack. The force from the attack sent her flying a few feet back. She quickly recovered from Ichigo's attack.
"Is this all you got, Zannah?" Ichigo asked.
"Stay calm, he is trying to disturb your focus," Zannah thought as she charged toward Ichigo. Ichigo stood there as she got closer. At the last second, Ichigo stabbed Yorugetsu forward, like a rapier. Zannah dodged the unusual attack, leaving her open for Ichigo. Ichigo suddenly moved forward and swung Yorugetsu at Zannah's chest. Her eyes widened as the blade slammed into her chest. She was once again sent crashing into the wall. Ichigo stood there as he waited for Zannah. She slowly stood up. He could see she was tired but overall was fine. Ichigo could see her armor beginning to repair itself.
"Enchanted armor?" Ichigo asked.
"More like cursed repurposed armor," Zannah replied. A few moments later, the armor was fully fixed.
"Do you wish to continue?" Ichigo asked.
"You haven't even tried in this match, have you?" She asked.
"No," Ichigo replied.
"I see…" Zannah said as she nodded her head. "I still have a long way to go." She sheathed her katanas. Ichigo sent Yorugetsu back to his mindscape.
"So what will you do?" Ichigo asked.
"Are there strong opponents in your world?" She asked.
"There are," Ichigo said.
"Then I wish to join you." Ichigo presented her with the contract. She quickly glanced at it before signing it. Ichigo sent the final gladiator into Haō Zaimushō.
"Ichigo," Chishiki appeared before Ichigo.
"Yes, Chishiki?" Ichigo asked.
"I have discovered a locked treasury. I am not able to investigate what is inside the room," she said.
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
"The treasury is programmed to only open to whoever possesses the headset," she explained.
"I see… Lead the way," Ichigo said. They both walked down a set of stairs before arriving at a large door.
"Open," Ichigo thought. The treasury doors opened for them. They walked inside and could see all kinds of alien artifacts and equipment placed on a pedestal and surrounded by an energy barrier.
"Interesting," Chishiki said as she immediately approached a pedestal. Ichigo followed behind her. They arrived to see a rectangular handheld device. The outside surface of the device was black, the inner border was red, and a yellow interface was on a black board. "I didn't expect Mongul to have a Motherbox."
"That's technology from New Genesis, right?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct. This should help us invade Apokolips," Chishiki commented. Beside them was another rectangular handheld device. The outside surface of the device was also black, the inner border was red, and a yellow interface on a dark blue board. The casing was also black but had a blue and red interface.
"That's a Fatherbox, right?" Ichigo guessed. Chishiki looked at it.
"Correct," Chishiki said. They continued to explore the treasury. They spotted a white scarab with black and red tribal markings on it.
"What is this?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm not sure," Chishiki replied.
"Warworld, identify this object," Ichigo thought. The headset glowed, and information about the object flowed into his mind.
"This is a scarab from the Reach," Ichigo said. Chishiki turned to face him as he continued to relay the information. "The Reach are intergalactic insectoid invaders who can transform other species into insectoid hybrids. The Reach were forced to sign a treaty allowing them to enter new worlds only if the leader of that world invited them in. So, they used Mongul to invade other planets and force the leaders to accept the Reach's help. In return, the Reach gave Mongul this scarab. He has kept it here since."
"Are there any reasons why Mongul didn't use it?" Chishiki asked.
"No, though the Reach stopped asking for Mongul's help after he told them he hadn't used their gift yet," Ichigo replied.
"I believe the scarab acts as a way for the Reach to control people," Chishiki proposed. Ichigo nodded.
"That makes sense. If they gave one to Mongul, they likely intended to control him with it. They expected him to be under the scarab's influence when they saw him again."
"But nothing happened," Chishiki replied.
"Correct. The Reach probably assumed their attempt failed and decided not to mess with Mongul anymore." They resumed exploring the treasury and soon arrived at a larger device. The device was primarily blue, with a tube connected to a scanner. Silver handles were on each side.
"I think this is a Phantom Zone Projector," Chishiki said. "It matches some of the pictures we have."
"In that case, why hasn't he used it? I know there are plenty of potential fighters he could draw from." The headset glowed as Warworld responded to his question. Ichigo watched as Mongul used the Phantom Zone Projector to open a portal. A figure emerged from the portal.
The man was a muscular, middle-aged individual with dark skin, a full goatee, brown eyes, and dark hair with gray temples. He wore a form-fitting black and gray uniform, with a red Z sigil emblazoned on his chest.
The stranger's gaze immediately fell on Mongul, and his eyes widened when he saw the Phantom Zone Projector. Fueled by rage, he lunged at Mongul. Mongul punched him in the face, forcing him back. The man quickly recovered and charged again. Several collars shot toward him in an attempt to restrain him, but the man easily broke them.
Mongul activated the Phantom Zone Projector once more, sending the man back into the portal. Since then, Mongul has not used the device again.
"I see..." Ichigo murmured.
"What did you see?" Chishiki asked. Ichigo told her what he had seen. "I believe Dru-Zod was the one Mongul temporarily freed," Chishiki guessed. With a thought, the protective barrier around the Phantom Zone Projector disappeared. Ichigo took a closer look at the device.
"Seems like the Phantom Zone Projector is out of power," Ichigo said, trying to activate it.
"Hm... I wonder. Can you free the Motherbox?" Chishiki asked.
"Sure," Ichigo replied as the barrier surrounding the Motherbox disappeared. Chishiki walked over to the Motherbox and picked it up. The Motherbox glowed white, and Ichigo glowed the same white for a moment. If anyone had been around them, they would have heard a simple ping from the Motherbox. But for Ichigo, it was something entirely different.
"Thank you for freeing me from that cage," the Motherbox said.
"No problem," Chishiki replied. "Do you have a name?"
"I don't. Everyone just calls me Motherbox," She replied (3).
"Motherbox, do you think you can recharge this?" Ichigo asked, pointing to the Phantom Zone Projector.
"I'm not sure. Let me scan it," Motherbox replied. Chishiki handed the Motherbox to Ichigo, who pointed it at the Phantom Zone Projector. A beam of yellow light shot from the Motherbox and scanned the Projector. "I can recharge the Phantom Zone Projector, but I recommend upgrading it instead."
"How?" Ichigo asked.
"I can assimilate the Phantom Zone Projector into myself, allowing me to open a wormhole into the Phantom Zone," Motherbox replied.
"So, you'd be able to open a portal directly into and out of the Phantom Zone?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct," Motherbox replied.
"Is there a limit to your mechanical assimilation?" Ichigo asked.
"Not that I know of," Motherbox replied.
"Would you be able to assimilate a Fatherbox?" Ichigo asked.
"Hm... I'm not sure. A Fatherbox would likely try to resist," Motherbox replied.
"If we empower you, would you be able to overcome it?" Ichigo asked.
"Possibly," Motherbox replied. Ichigo held the Motherbox in his hand, allowing his raw reiatsu to flow into her. The interface on the Motherbox glowed. "I HAVE THE POWER!"
"Do you think you could do it now?" Ichigo asked.
"Much more likely," Motherbox replied. "Before we proceed, we need to prevent the Fatherbox from opening a boom tube to escape or calling Father."
"You mean Metron?" Chishiki asked.
"Correct," Motherbox replied. Ichigo activated Schrift K: The Kūkan-teki Shihai again, distorting the space around them to make it harder for anyone to detect them. Chishiki summoned her nanomachines to form a metal dome around them.
"This should intercept any signals from the Fatherbox," Chishiki said.
"Are you ready?" Ichigo asked.
"I am," she replied.
Ichigo ordered Warworld to release the barrier around the Fatherbox. Immediately, the Motherbox fired a beam of yellow energy at it. The Fatherbox became engulfed in Motherbox's energy, glowing red as it fought to resist.
Ichigo could feel Motherbox drawing more of his energy. The Fatherbox let out rapid, frantic pings in response. Suddenly, the Motherbox flew out of his hand and collided with the Fatherbox, unleashing a blinding light.
As the glow faded, a single rectangular device was revealed. It was about the same size as both the Motherbox and Fatherbox. The left half of its outer surface was white, while the right half was black. A red inner border surrounded a golden interface, merging the designs of both boxes into one.
"Motherbox?" Ichigo asked.
"I have completed assimilating the Fatherbox and fused it with myself. I have evolved into something beyond my former self," she said.
"Are you okay if I give you a name?" Ichigo asked.
"That is fine," she replied.
"In that case, I will call you In'yō [Yin and Yang," Ichigo suggested.
"What is In'yō?" she asked.
"In'yō is a philosophical concept describing opposite but interconnected forces," Ichigo explained. The device stayed silent for a moment, thinking about the name.
"That is fine," the newly named In'yō accepted. Chishiki's nanomachines separated and returned to her. Ichigo sealed Schrift K: The Kūkan-teki Shihai.
"Good. I have a few things I want you to absorb," Ichigo said, picking up In'yō. He pointed her at the Phantom Zone Projector. In'yō absorbed the Projector.
"I have completely merged with the Phantom Zone Projector. I can now open a boom tube in and out of the Phantom Zone," In'yō reported.
"So where are we going?" Chishiki asked.
"We'll deal with the Phantom Zone first," Ichigo decided.
"Ichigo, the Phantom Zone is a unique dimension that exists outside time and space. All abilities there require willpower to function," she warned.
"I see..." Ichigo summoned the Jigoku no Yoroi and returned to his normal height. Surprisingly, In'yō grew to match his height.
"In'yō, open a boom tube into the Phantom Zone."
"Yes, Ichigo," In'yō replied. Ichigo and Chishiki heard a loud boom as a black-and-white spiraling portal opened in front of them. They walked into the boom tube.
Author's notes:
Harley Quinn's look from the 2021 version of the Suicide Squad.
Yor Forger from Spy X Family.
Motherbox = Female pronouns.
She-Ra: Princess of Power
Genderbent Lion-o from ThunderCats
Members of the ThunderCats