The Soul Society held two extreme views regarding the Twelfth Division. Some saw the Shinigami Research and Development Institute as a source of chaos, its research into souls, Hollows, and the nature of reality a dangerous pursuit that should be forbidden. Others believed it held the key to the Soul Society's future, its research the only hope for creating new souls and sustaining the world.
Regardless of the damage it caused, the SRDI's progress was undeniable. Over a million years, it had created Soul Candies, Gikon (artificial souls), modified souls, and the Quincy Bounts, all precursors to true soul creation. Whenever the Soul Society faced a crisis, the SRDI was always implicated. Even Aizen's transformation was linked to his research. Had he joined the Twelfth Division, he might have created the Hōgyoku himself, without needing Urahara's fragment.
"Bankai! Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
"Bankai! Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
Two immense spiritual pressures erupted as Byakuya and his Reigai counterpart released their Bankai. The Sixth Division barracks were consumed by a swirling ocean of cherry-blossom blades, every structure submerged beneath the pink tide.
…
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo…
Boom!
Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Within the golden cage of Enkidu's chains, Orihime Inoue and the others watched the battle raging above Las Noches.
Ichigo and Ulquiorra's speed was too great. They could only discern the fight through the deafening roars and the shockwaves that rippled through the air. Green Ceros clashed with white Getsuga Tenshōs, erupting in massive explosions.
"Don't worry, Master. While Ichigo is currently at a disadvantage, he hasn't shown his true strength yet." Enkidu reassured Orihime.
"What?"
Everyone stared at Enkidu in disbelief. This battle already surpassed their comprehension. And this wasn't even Ichigo's full power?
"Miss Enkidu, is Ichigo really at a disadvantage?" Orihime, more concerned about Ichigo's safety than his hidden strength, asked, "Is he in danger? Is he hurt?"
Realizing her earlier words might have caused undue alarm, Enkidu quickly clarified, "He's fine, Master. Their strength is comparable. Ichigo surpasses that… bird in power, but the bird is faster, granting it the offensive advantage. However, it can't injure Ichigo easily."
"Oh, thank goodness." Orihime visibly relaxed, then blushed as she noticed the others staring at her. She quickly looked away.
"Miss Enkidu, what did you mean by Ichigo not using his full strength?" Uryū Ishida asked. Ichigo's current power was already terrifying. How much stronger could he become?
"Eh? You don't know?" Enkidu looked at them strangely. "Ichigo is a Shinigami. Isn't a Zanpakutō's Bankai its ultimate form? He's only using his Shikai. His Bankai is his true power."
Realization dawned on everyone. Ichigo's power had increased so dramatically that they had forgotten he hadn't released his Bankai.
A wave of relief washed over them. Ichigo hadn't used his full power yet. Once he released his Bankai, he would become even stronger. That Arrancar wouldn't stand a chance.
Boom!
High above, Ichigo and Ulquiorra clashed, their feet were creating trails of smoke in the air. Despite the intensity of their fight, neither showed signs of fatigue.
For Ichigo, this was the first time he had fought at full power. His battle with Ulquiorra seemed to deepen his connection to White, his inner Hollow. Battle, he was beginning to realize, could be addictive.
"Ulquiorra, is that all you've got? If this is your limit, I'm disappointed." Ichigo swung his Zanpakutō.
Ulquiorra remained silent. Ichigo was right to be disappointed.
"Then, to meet your expectations, allow me to show you my true strength. An ability unseen even by Lord Aizen. An Espada's secret art."
"Sword release, second stage…"
"Segunda Etapa!"
A torrent of dark green spiritual pressure erupted from Ulquiorra, shaking the very air around them.
"Impossible!"
Not only Uryū and the others, but even Nel and her Fracción, were shocked. A Hollow's Resurrección, unlike a Shinigami's Zanpakutō, sealed its true form within its sword. Resurrección was a return to that true form.
But Ulquiorra had developed a second stage of Resurrección, a Segunda Etapa. Such talent… it rivaled a Shinigami's Bankai.
"Such immense spiritual pressure… No, it's beyond spiritual pressure. Something more… a qualitative change. Just being near him… it's like drowning in a sea of despair. Can Ichigo win?"
…
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Ichigo Kurosaki."
After his Segunda Etapa was released , black fur covered Ulquiorra's torso, his white robes replaced by a black fur skirt. His horns straightened, pointing skyward, and a black, scar-like mark appeared on his Hollow hole. Most notably, a four-meter-long, black, demonic tail now swayed behind him.
Ichigo's expression turned serious. Ulquiorra's transformation reminded him of his own incomplete Bankai during his fight against Ailin. Unlike Ichigo, however, who hadn't mastered his Bankai, this was Ulquiorra's limit.
"Segunda Etapa? An apt name. Then I, too, will get serious."
Ichigo held his two Zanpakutō together, their blades touching, his spiritual pressure resonating with them.
"Bankai…"
Boom!
An even greater pressure than Ulquiorra's erupted from Ichigo. Even Enkidu's expression changed slightly. Such spiritual pressure… she could only achieve it in her own released state. This boy… he had reached their level. No wonder Ailin held him in such high regard.
However, if this was Ichigo's limit, he couldn't possibly challenge Ailin. Perhaps there was more to him than met the eye.
…
"Oh? That spiritual pressure…"
Zaraki, sitting on the white sands of Hueco Mundo, looked up. Two spiritual pressures, almost equal to his own, clashed above. One, after a sudden surge, had reached a realm Zaraki wasn't ready to enter.
He felt a thrill of excitement, but glanced at Yachiru Kusajishi and suppressed his battle lust. He was no longer the same man who had sought only the thrill of combat centuries ago. He now had something more precious.
"Hey, Ken-chan, aren't we going up there?" Yachiru, however, pointed towards the sky, her eyes sparkled with excitement. "There are two really strong opponents up there! Wouldn't it be fun to fight them?"
"Silly Yachiru, such a fun fight should be savored later. This one was already quite enjoyable. Fighting them now wouldn't be any more fun. I'd rather wait until I'm itching for a fight again."
He stood and walked away from Las Noches. He needed to distance himself from those powerful spiritual pressures. He wasn't sure he could resist the urge to join the fray.
"Let's go, Yachiru."
"Okay!"
Yachiru flashed onto his shoulder.
"Let's go, Ken-chan!"
…
"Such remarkable growth."
Retsu Unohana looked at the sky above Hueco Mundo, marveling at Ichigo's progress in just six months. Behind her lay the pumpkin-like corpse of Zommari Rureaux, the Septima Espada.
She hadn't intended to kill all the Espada. However, Aizen had ordered them to eliminate all intruders. Zommari, despite knowing he was outmatched, had chosen to obey. He had observed Zaraki, Ichigo, and Unohana, then, seeking to maximize his impact before his inevitable death, had targeted Unohana and Isane Kotetsu.
His abilities had allowed him to nearly kill Isane, but Unohana, after releasing her Bankai, Minazuki, had healed her lieutenant and obliterated Zommari with a torrent of blood-red slashes.
Now, with Isane safely recovering, Unohana waited beneath the hole Ulquiorra had created in the Canopy.
"With such power… perhaps Ichigo can truly defeat Aizen."
She had two objectives in Hueco Mundo. The first was to subdue the remaining Hollows, to ensure they wouldn't interfere with the Soul Society's preparations for Yhwach's arrival in two years. The second was to bring Ichigo back to the World of the Living to fight Aizen.
According to their intelligence, every Shinigami in the Soul Society had been hypnotized by Kyōka Suigetsu. Numbers were meaningless against Aizen. Their plan was to have Captain-Commander Yamamoto restrain Aizen while the other captains eliminated the Arrancar. Then, they would retreat to Soul Society, leaving Yamamoto and Ichigo to face Aizen. Even under Kyōka Suigetsu's influence, Yamamoto's resolve wouldn't waver, no matter who Aizen impersonated.
And Ichigo, a human, unaffected by Kyōka Suigetsu, might possess the power to defeat him.