While holding the green-haired girl, and dodging the attacks of the three Reigai lieutenants, Ichigo Kurosaki pondered his dwindling spiritual pressure. His control over it was still rough, and he couldn't gauge how much longer he could maintain this fight. If he couldn't defeat them before his reserves ran dry, not only he, but the green-haired girl he carried, would be in mortal danger.
Despite possessing power that briefly brushed against the realm of "strongest," Ichigo wasn't so self-absorbed as to believe the world revolved around him. His philosophy was simple: the world's problems weren't his concern, but if anyone harmed his friends, they would face his blade.
This had been his motivation in the Soul Society when he'd fought to rescue Shino Madarame. It had driven him to Hueco Mundo to save Orihime Inoue. And now, it compelled him to protect this green-haired girl whom he'd just met. It was more than just a favor to Rukia; he couldn't stand by and watch an innocent be caught in some sinister plot.
Having resolved to end this quickly, Ichigo unleashed a burst of spiritual pressure that reached captain-level intensity. White reiatsu enveloped his Zanpakutō. With a single horizontal slash, he engulfed the three Reigai in a wave of energy.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
BOOM!
Amid the resulting explosion, two of the lieutenants' spiritual pressures vanished, obliterated by Ichigo's attack. Only Reigai-Renji Abarai survived with his skeletal, serpentine Zabimaru, now in its Bankai form, Hihiō Zabimaru, wrapped protectively around him, its segmented body bore the scars of Ichigo's assault.
Reigai-Renji had sensed the surge in Ichigo's spiritual pressure and reacted instantly by unleashing his Bankai just before the Getsuga Tenshō struck.
"Huff… huff…"
Gasping for breath, Reigai-Renji dispersed his Bankai. Blue lightning flickered in his eyes as he channeled his spiritual pressure into Zabimaru. Red light pulsed along the segmented snake, converging at its skeletal head, coalescing into a crimson beam, like a Hollow's Cero.
"Baboon Bone Cannon!"
BOOM!
Wherever the red light passed, all the buildings and houses along the way were destroyed. But when the dust settled, Ichigo and the green haired girl were gone.
…
Swish! Swish!
Rukia Kuchiki flashed through the sky while carrying Ichigo, who, in turn, carried the girl, Nozomi Kujo. She had appeared just as Ichigo prepared to unleash another attack and pulled them both away with Shunpo.
During her fight with Kageroza Inaba, Rukia had realized he possessed a frightening ability, similar to her own Data Kendo: he adapted and improved with each passing moment. His combinations of the various captains' techniques were becoming increasingly complex and versatile.
Before this encounter, Inaba had little combat experience, relying on brute force and stolen abilities to overwhelm his opponents. However, as the head researcher of the Dangai, his intellect was formidable. Once he identified a weakness, he quickly devised countermeasures. His fight with Rukia had been a crash course in practical application, allowing him to refine his use of the captains' techniques.
This adaptability had put Rukia at a disadvantage. Her Data Kendo, learned from Ailin, relied on complete understanding of her opponent's fighting style, exploiting their weaknesses for a decisive blow. But Inaba's constantly evolving tactics, his ever-shifting combinations, made it difficult to gather the data she needed.
This didn't mean she couldn't defeat him. Data Kendo, while requiring sufficient information, also demanded exceptional swordsmanship to deliver the killing blow. But with Reigai-Rukia at Inaba's side, mirroring her every move, a decisive strike was impossible. A premature attack would only alert them both, turning a one-on-one fight into a losing battle.
Knowing Inaba's target was Nozomi Kujo, Rukia prioritized her protection. Keeping her safe, and perhaps gleaning some intelligence from her, was their best course of action for now.
…
"Captain Ailin."
Back in the Seireitei, after Ailin had eliminated the last of the Reigai, Orihime Inoue, Chad, and Uryū emerged from the underground training ground to thank him.
"Captain Ailin, thank you, and Miss Enkidu, for your help. Without you, I never would have reached this level." Orihime bowed deeply.
Since entering this world of spiritual powers, Orihime had been both thrilled and insecure. She was closer to Ichigo, yet also acutely aware of the vast difference in their strength. Both Chad and Uryū far surpassed her in combat ability. If not for her unique healing powers, she wouldn't have felt worthy of remaining by Ichigo's side.
But after her time in Hueco Mundo, her insecurity had vanished, and gained newfound confidence.
Ailin's gaze lingered on Orihime's hairpins, the conduits for her Shun Shun Rikka, acknowledging her progress.
"Yes."
Orihime continued. "Whenever Ichigo fought, I worried, wanting him to stop, to avoid being hurt…"
"But I knew he didn't fight without reason. Each battle had a purpose. If he stopped because of me, he wouldn't be the Ichigo I knew. And if I asked him to stop, I wouldn't be the Orihime he knew…"
"Now… I'm stronger. I can follow him, no matter the opponent, no matter the danger. I'll heal his wounds. And even if he falls… I'll bring him back!"
Her conviction, the strength in her voice, startled even Chad and Uryū.
"Well done, Orihime," Ailin nodded. "You've grown during this journey. I believe Ichigo wouldn't refuse your company now."
"Yes." Orihime nodded firmly.
"Now then… Orihime, Chad, Uryū… As you've seen, there's been an… incident in the Soul Society. The Dangai, the pathway between the Soul Society and the World of the Living, has experienced a temporal distortion. If you use a Senkaimon now, you'll arrive two weeks in the future.
What do you intend to do? Remain in the Soul Society until the distortion stabilizes, or return to the World of the Living now?"
"Oh, one more thing. According to Captain Kurotsuchi, the one responsible for this incident has gone to the World of the Living. Knowing Ichigo, this will likely involve him as well."
"Regardless of this mastermind's intentions, he'll eventually return to the Soul Society. And if Ichigo's involved, he'll follow. If you're not in a hurry, I suggest remaining here. You can wait for the captains, and Ichigo, to return in two weeks."
"After all, we don't know what's happened in the World of the Living during those two weeks. You might arrive, only to have to rush back immediately."
"This…" Orihime's face fell.
As Ailin had said, two weeks was more than enough time for someone capable of creating Reigai captains to cause significant damage. Returning now would be pointless. They might as well wait for Ichigo.
After settling their arrangements, Ailin went to the underground training ground where Orihime and the others had hidden. The Reigai army was gone, eliminated. And with the Dangai distorted, the other captains, along with Kageroza Inaba, wouldn't return for another two weeks.
Ailin decided to use this time to push his power to a higher level.
A translucent barrier enveloped the training ground. He was about to transform his Reigai counterpart into a Hollow to merge with him to create a being of immense power. Such a transformation required precautions.
When Ichigo underwent Hollowfication training, the Visored had taken turns restraining him, allowing him to focus on his internal struggle against White. Ailin, however, had no such support. He had to restrain himself.
"Bakudō #99 – Kin!"
"Second – Bankin!"
"First Movement – Shiryū!"
"Second Movement – Hyakuren Sō!"
"Final Movement – Bankin Taihō!"
As Ailin chanted, black spiritual pressure formed restraints, stone pillars, and sealing rods that bound him, pinning him beneath a massive stone tablet.
But even this wasn't enough.
While Bakudō #99, especially when fully chanted, was undeniably powerful, the pinnacle of Kidō's binding abilities, it couldn't fully restrain him. He could still move, albeit with some difficulty.
"Enkidu."
"Lord Ailin, I'm here."
Enkidu with long green hair, materialized before him.
"I'll leave the rest to you."
"Rest assured, Lord Ailin," Enkidu bowed her head. "I won't disappoint you."
She raised her right hand.
"Chains of Heaven!"
Clatter!
In an instant, golden chains erupted from the ground, forming a cage around Ailin. Golden patterns spread across the chains and his body as Enkidu unleashed the Death Wind Rope ability, equalizing their spiritual pressures, binding them together.
Feeling that his spiritual pressure suddenly dropped by almost half, and the restraints on himself became countless times stronger, Ailin nodded with satisfaction.