Chapter 90

Meanwhile in another place, Ichigo stood across the black-haired man, Ulquiorra. They both stared at each other, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"What are you?" Ichigo asked with a chiling tone, pointing his large cleaver at him. "What's your intention to come here?"

The man's expression was unchanged as he replied. "You will know soon."

"Answer my question! What's your business here!" He raised his voice, his reiatsu leaking out of his body.

He didn't like how this person was playing dumb, but his expression was still the same expressionless one, not even flinching a bit when Ichigo's reiatsu poured out of him like a tidal wave.

Although that man didn't answer, his reiatsu spoke for itself. He was a Hollow.

He was definitely an enemy and a dangerous one too.

So he would be crushed with all his power.

"I see." He narrowed his eyes, "So that's your answer, huh?"

Grabbing his Zanpakutou with both hands, he rushed forward. His speed was fast—his body turned into a blur as he reappeared beside Ulquiorra.

"Getsuga Tensho—!"

He swung his sword down, releasing a crescent-shaped energy wave towards Ulquiorra.

A close-ranged attack that was impossible to avoid or defend against, perfect for catching his opponent off guard. However, to his surprise, Ulquiorra blocked it with his sword, which was as white as his skin and clothes, easily.

The energy wave dispersed and Ulquiorra's next attack followed suit right after. His blade swept down in a horizontal motion, aiming at Ichigo's torso. But he was quick enough to block it.

Sparks flew everywhere as their swords clashed against each other, creating sparks and shockwaves from the impact of the blades.

"Is that all?" The man asked with an unchanging tone, looking bored and disappointed, as if he was expecting more.

"Shut up!"

Ichigo roared, releasing a flurry of slashes at Ulquiorra, trying to cut him down with his own might and strength.

Both of them turned into a blur as they clashed. Each attack and defense was faster and sharper than before. Ichigo kept releasing his blue energy wave at him but it was easily deflected. Even so, Ichigo didn't let it discourage him.

Even if his attack was blocked, he could just release another wave at the right timing. He could break through that defense and defeat this hollow!

And so...

"Bankai!"

He released his power.

"Tensa Zangetsu."

The large cleaver turned into a black katana with a chain at the end of the hilt. A long black coat covered his body, making his speed and attack even faster.

His body vanished, and a second later, he appeared in the sky, above Ulquiorra. Ichigo's sword gleamed brightly under the sunlight, its edge bounced off light and became pitch black from his condensed reiatsu.

"Getsuga..."

And then he slashed.

"Tenshou!"

He slashed downward, his sword releasing a black crescent moon that was stronger and faster than ever. It was so large that it would be hard to dodge or deflect.

But it didn't matter. Not to this guy.

"Enough playing around."

With a slash of his sword, the black crescent moon of compressed Reiatsu disappeared as if it never existed in the first place.

Ichigo widened his eyes in shock, unable to believe what had just happened.

However, he recovered from shock fast enough to block the incoming attack. White and black reiatsu clashed as sparks flew. Their swords locked together and they glared at each other from a close distance.

A pale blue reiatsu gathered in front of Ulquiorra's finger and he aimed at Ichigo's chest, where his heart was.

"Cero—"

Ichigo's expression twisted as he immediately kicked the Hollow's chest and leaped back, dodging the incoming attack. A green light shot through where he stood a second ago.

He was panting heavily as sweat ran down his face.

'What's that?' He asked himself. 'A cero?'

Hollow technique that he heard from Hat and Clogs. And this Hollow used a cero from his finger, it was more dangerous than the usual ones that were fired from the mouth.

"A hollow?" He muttered out, staring at the pale skinned humanoid hollow.

"You shouldn't generalize us with those low level hollows."

The Hollow said as his eyes glinted dangerously. "I am an Arrancar, a hollow that has removed our mask and gained Soul Reapers' power. Espada number four, Ulquiorra Cifer."

Narrowing his eyes, Ichigo gripped his Zanpakutou and once again rushed at the enemy. He disappeared in an instant and reappeared behind Ulquiorra, swinging his sword down.

However, Ulquiorra blocked his sword easily. Their swords locked in the air and their reiatsu exploded out. A pale green and black light swirled around them, clashing and trying to overpower the other.

Ulquiorra didn't seem to be affected by that at all as he looked bored. He raised his finger at Ichigo and aimed it at his chest, where his heart was located.

Once again.

"Cero!"

Having seen it once, Ichigo didn't panic and immediately jumped to his left, dodging the beam of light that was shot from the Hollow's finger.

The man's eyes were still locked on him, but his expression didn't change at all even when Ichigo managed to avoid the attack.

"Is that all?" Ichigo taunted him.

He then rushed at him again and swung his sword. His reiatsu exploded upon contact, dyeing the blue sky with black light, as if the night had come.

***

The park was destroyed by Shirou and Yammy's fight. The ground was covered with cracks, some parts of the ground was raised from the force of the attacks. There were also a few holes from his Noble Phantasms, but Yammy managed to avoid them.

Yammy stood straight, blood was pouring from his missing left hand, but it didn't seem to hurt him that much. However, anger was visible on his face, and he gritted his teeth while growling in frustration. He was really furious at Shirou.

"I will kill you!"

He shouted, raising his right hand to his mouth, opening it wide as he bit down.

Charging a red cero with the blood from his wound. He aimed at Shirou and released the large red beam of destructive energy. The air explode upon contact and everything in its path was incinerated.

Having seen it once, Shirou dodged it using Hirenkyaku to avoid the explosion, and then, he closed his distance with Yammy once more.

Kanshou and Bakuya moved along with the movement of his hand, aiming at the enemy's vital part.

For the first time ever, Yammy grabbed his sword and swung it at him.

It was a simple swing, lacking technique. But the power behind the swing could be considered as destructive.

Shirou was forced back when their sword clashed.

Yammy grinned as the force from the attack sent Shirou backward.

"Don't get cocky, you bastard!" The arrancar roared as he swung his sword at Shirou, releasing a red blast of reiatsu that sent a shockwave across the entire battlefield.

Shirou shielded his face from the shockwave. His body was almost blown away, but he held his ground, standing his ground with Kanshou and Bakuya as support.

"Come on!" Yammy shouted, his voice echoed in the area. His grin was wide as he raised his sword high. "Be grateful, you bastard! I will show you the power of my Resurrección! You're lucky that you get to witness it before you die!"

Yammy roared once again as he was enveloped in a thick, red reiatsu. The sky rumbled and a dark cloud covered the sun, darkening the world.

The ground shook and he shouted.

"Enrag-"

"That's enough, Yammy."

Before he could release his power, a cold voice resounded in the air, freezing him.

Shirou looked at the source of the voice and widened his eyes in shock upon recognizing the voice's owner.

It was the black-haired man who fought against Ichigo. His skin was white like marble and he had a stoic face as he grabbed Yammy's hand.

"Time to return, Yammy."

"But I am still fighting!"

The black-haired man, Ulquiorra, looked at Yammy and said in an unchanging tone, "I don't care."

"Tsk!"

Shirou observed his enemy with a slight worry.

'Why is he here?' He thought. 'Shouldn't he fight with Ichigo?'

Being here meant that he either defeated Ichigo or, worse, he was killed. And judging by his current situation and his expression, it seemed that Ichigo didn't lose.

Shirou could sense his brother's reiatsu and it wasn't even getting weaker.

Which meant this Hollow could somehow make Ichigo unable to move for a few seconds and headed here to get his partner. If so, how strong was he?

"Let's return."

Saying so, Ulquiorra swept his arm and opened a portal, a Garganta. He dragged his comrade inside and looked back at Shirou. His eyes, seemingly as deep as abyss, held no emotions as they locked on Shirou.

"We will meet again."

With those words, both Yammy and Ulquiorra entered the black portal.

Shirou didn't try to follow as he knew it was dangerous. It was better to stay and help Tatsuki and the others instead of chasing an enemy who had unknown power.

After a while, the portal vanished into the air.

And then Ichigo arrived at the scene.

"Where are they?"

Turning to his brother, Shirou sighed.

"They are gone. One of them is wounded, but they still have strength to escape."

Ichigo clicked his tongue.

"Damn!" He cursed under his breath. He turned to his brother and asked, "Did they hurt anyone?"

Shirou shook his head, "No, thankfully."

The orange haired teen sighed, "Then that's a relief." He paused for a second, "Did you recognize any of them, or did you know them?"

"Nothing." Shirou said with a sigh. He looked up at the sky, thinking hard, "I am pretty sure I had never met them. But one thing is clear... They are Hollows."

Nodding, Ichigo replied. "That guy... Ulquiorra also said that they are Hollows that took off their mask. He called himself an arrancar or something like that."

'Arrancar, huh?' Shirou thought.

This term was something that he had never heard of before.

Just like Reverse London, it seemed like there were still many things that he didn't know about. He had to ask his father or Urahara about this.

One thing was for sure. The enemies were aware of their names and they were aiming for him, or maybe even Ichigo.

But why?

What was their aim? He didn't remember offending any Hollow in his past.

Why was he targeted by Hollow?

'Is there something wrong with this world?'

His mind started to race with questions. There were still many things to be answered, many things that needed clarification. But for now, he had to make sure that Tatsuki and the Karate club was alright.

Then contact Soul Society to ask for more explanation about the enemies.

"Let's go back to the others."

Shirou turned and started to walk back to the place where Tatsuki and the Karate Club was.

Ichigo followed from behind. He glanced back and saw the destroyed park. Seeing it, he smiled wryly and ask Shirou.

"How should we explain that?"

Upon hearing his brother's question, Shirou stopped and turned back. The destruction he caused when he fought Yammy was on the same level as a natural disaster. He doubted that he could just sweep this under the rug like that.

There would be many people asking questions and wild theories would appear on television. Maybe something like aliens or something like that.

Shaking his head, Shirou sighed. He only had one explanation at times like this. If the destruction happened in the city, then a gas explosion could be used as an explanation. But if it happened in the wild like this...

"This is caused by an earthquake followed by a landslide."

Natural disasters could be blamed as well.