Chapter 116 : Zeroth Rank!

Ulquiorra's upper garments vanished, black tears streamed from his eyes, and the whites of his eyes transformed into a vivid green. His abdomen, legs, arms, and back were adorned with black feathers. 

The rear of his robe split into two, and his fully outstretched wings revealed bat-like claws. The horns on his helmet became thinner and sharper, accompanied by the emergence of a long tail with arrow-like barbs at the end!

In this primitive state, Ulquiorra's power was unleashed, radiating an incomparable horror akin to hell. Is this the Second Stage Return Blade?

All the Espadas, excluding Ulquiorra, stood in astonishment.

It felt like a return to the time when they first became Menos Grande, equally shocked as when they first learned the name Adjuchas. 

However, no one could explain why he could reach second Resurrección form after unleashing first form! It seemed impossible, beyond the reach of even Shinigami Bankai's.

The third Espada, Halibel, wore a wry smile, overwhelmed by the abyss-like aura emanating from Ulquiorra. It gave her the illusion that she could be slain at any moment, reminiscent of facing the former Aizen.

Starrk, the first Espada, lost his usual indifferent demeanor. In terms of Reiatsu, Ulquiorra outclassed all other Espadas and even Shinigami, making him the sole solution.

Grimmjow, the sixth Espada, saw his competitive spirit replaced by fear due to the overwhelming level of suppression.

Aizen, with admiration, spoke with a smile, "Now that it's revealed, Ulquiorra, from this moment on, you are the Zeroth Espada!"

Starrk, as the first Espada, harbored no dissatisfaction; the opponent's strength justified the rank. However, confusion spread among the other Espadas, excluding Yammy.

Aizen lightly tapped on the stone seat, causing the black number 4 on Ulquiorra's body to transform into 0. Yammy's serial number changed from 10 to 1, and the rest followed suit.

Starkk immediately grasped the reason, exchanging complicated glances with Yammy, the former last Espada. Grimmjow wore an ugly expression, falling from sixth to seventh. He, once proud of his strength, now ranked third from the bottom.

Aizen smiled faintly, "Any doubts? Raise them, and I will consider."

All ten Espadas knelt down, heads bowed, silent.

In Soul Society, Zaraki Kenpachi trembled—not out of fear but excitement. He fixated on Ulquiorra, a formidable opponent willing to sacrifice everything, do anything, and face life and death.

The other captains appeared uneasy, considering Soul Society's ongoing conflict with Aizen. Even Unohana Retsu Yachiryu dared not claim certainty in defeating the opponent.

Ulquiorra looked down at Kurosaki Ichigo, kneeling and struggling to stand, and spoke indifferently, "After witnessing this form, do you still possess the will to fight?"

Kurosaki Ichigo, holding Zangetsu, shook uncontrollably at such proximity. He felt like a small boat in a storm, powerless and on the verge of sinking into the sea at any moment.

[But he won't give up!]

Kurosaki Ichigo exerted every effort to retain his Zanpakutō, maintaining control to prevent himself from succumbing!

Observing this scene, the commander-in-chief let out a sigh.

Despite Kurosaki being human, his determination is no less than that of the captains, and perhaps even surpasses them!

He is destined to be the backbone of Soul Society in the future!

Regrettably, it was his own mistake that led to the other party's demise.

[Seeing Kurosaki Ichigo's unyielding spirit, Ulquiorra's eyelids lowered slightly, and the golden pupils in his green eyes betrayed a rare sense of confusion.]

[Why won't you surrender in the face of overwhelming power?]

["Alright, let's make you completely sober."]

Upon hearing this, Kurosaki Ichigo swiftly raised his Zanpakutō in a defensive stance!

[However, at this moment, his expression froze, and his body was already airborne!]

[A dark, slender claw gripped his head, propelling him into a massive stone pillar thousands of meters away!]

[This time, he couldn't even perceive Ulquiorra's vague form.]

[A monument!]

Kurosaki Ichigo was tossed away like a piece of refuse!

Mid-air, Kurosaki Ichigo struggled to regain control of his body, wiping his face with one hand as the Hollow mode reappeared!

His power surged; Kurosaki Ichigo seemed to have regained some composure.

[But at that moment, Ulquiorra's calm yet terrifying voice echoed in his ears.]

[What a fool, Kurosaki Ichigo, to think you can resist an opponent whose strength is so overwhelming that it even frightens you.]

[It's truly incomprehensible.]

[As the words fell, that black hand pressed against Kurosaki Ichigo's face again!]

The next second, the virtual mask shattered without a doubt.

Kurosaki Ichigo exploded through the air like a cannonball, penetrating two enormous stone pillars and crashing onto the ground.

The gap was too vast; it was utterly crushing.

The Shinigami spectators couldn't bear to witness any longer; it was a one-sided battle.

From the start to the present, Kurosaki Ichigo hadn't landed a single effective attack. Instead, his body was covered in wounds, appearing extremely battered.

Even if Ulquiorra had been serious, the battle would have concluded in an instant.

Kurosaki Ichigo survived until now solely because his opponent chose not to kill him!

Ulquiorra looked down and said lightly:

[If your refusal to surrender is because of your adoring heart, then it signifies that humans are vulnerable only because they possess a heart! Having a heart means facing death!]

Kurosaki Ichigo stood up again, holding up Zanpakutō in his hand:

["I don't fight with the mentality of winning, but I fight despite not winning!"]

Hearing this, Ulquiorra's eyes flashed with anger for the first time!

To the point where you still refuse to acknowledge reality!

[Joke!]

The enormous bat wing fluttered gently!

[Inoue Orihime and Ishida Uryū emerged from the large hole in the ceiling.]

The next moment, she raised her head and witnessed the scene beneath the crescent moon, her eyes filled with terror!

Ulquiorra looked down from the side:

[Come on, woman.]

Then witness with your own eyes the moment when the life of the man you hoped for is extinguished.

[The voice fell, and green light condensed on Ulquiorra's fingertips!]

[This time, the pitch-black Cero compressed to the thickness of his arm pierced Kurosaki Ichigo's chest!]

In an instant, the world lost its color in Inoue Orihime's eyes, leaving only the dark void in her pupils.

There, Kurosaki Ichigo's heart vanished.

****

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