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~ I'm planning to increase the number of advanced chapters to +50 this weekend!
~ I've edited some of the previous chapters to remove anything you might consider "cringe" or "unnecessary." I'll continue reviewing them from time to time!
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A moment passed before his entire line of sight was consumed in a flash of bright light as a massive wall of flame erupted and tore into the sky. The wind whipped at gale-force speeds and several trees were uprooted and blown over head. The sheer heat from the explosion caused Ichigo to draw on his power and shield himself. As the surge lessened and the ground stopped trembling, Ichigo turned towards the other two. Sirzechs held a hand aloft in front of his face, shielding his eyes, while Mathers looked on, shock coating his face.
"Oh dear," Sirzechs murmured just loud enough for Ichigo to here. "Wasn't quite expecting that."
"Lucifer's rotting corpse!" Mathers exclaimed.
"Excuse me?" Sirzechs said indignantly.
"That's-that's Hell-Fire! How in the name of all that is unholy can you wield that monstrosity of all things!?"
"I took in Hell's power several years ago. I guess it just stuck with me." Ichigo shrugged.
"What!?" Mathers's eyes bugged out of his head. "You can't do that! No one can do that! Even our master can't do that! It's impossible to manipulate Hell. The only way for something like that…Sweet Lilith!"
Mathers pointed a trembling hand at Ichigo. "D-Don't tell me that Hell accepted you without damning your soul!?"
"Is it really that big of a deal? I mean, aren't Devils the rulers of Hell. Surely there are tons of people who can use this stuff?" Ichigo said in confusion.
"I think you're misunderstanding something Ichigo-kun," Sirzechs drew Ichigo's attention with a wry smile. "While it's true that we Devils have a unique affinity for Hell and that the Underworld is a separate part of Hell that we live in; the reality is that, I rule Hell because Hell allows me to."
"Hell…allows…?" Ichigo was beyond bewildered at this point.
"Hell is far older than our race. In fact, Hell is older than even the mortal world. When my predecessor Fell, he…how do I say it…made a deal with Hell. In a way, it's a sentient entity."
"A deal," Ichigo's face fell into shock.
Sirzechs nodded. "In return for its dark power, our race would serve as the wardens of the Sinners of Creation. The Kushanada may obey me but that's only because I reaffirmed the deal that my predecessor made. You are the only person in all of Creation that Hell ever willingly helped out."
Ichigo continued to look slack jawed at Sirzechs, causing the red-head to chuckle. "Trust me, I may be Lucifer, but you're much closer to the title of Devil than anyone in history. And that includes the Morning Star, himself."
"That…that's not a comforting thought."
"No, I suppose it isn't," Sirzechs sighed, his expression unnaturally grim. "And the Lord of Hell is not one to be denied."
"Wha…?" Ichigo stared at Sirzechs's cryptic words.
"Never mind," Mathers said, quickly shaking his head. "Nothing good will come of that line of thoughts. For now, let us return to your powers."
Ichigo swallowed hard but decided to push down any questions for now. Perhaps, once he learned to control his powers better, he could begin to understand them in depth. "Your demonic powers are advanced. Very advanced. While your massive reserves are noteworthy, what truly stands out is the sheer density of them. I suppose this is the byproduct of 'reiatsu' as you call it."
"Now," Mathers intoned seriously. "Let us see how much of your former powers have returned."
"Yes," Sirzechs agreed. "I am also quite curious as to how much of your spiritual powers have returned. If you can use your demonic powers in tangent to your spiritual ones, I dear say, you'll be promoted to Ultimate Class by the end of the week."
Ichigo acquiesced and once again, dove into his own being. Touching that part of his soul, he gave an exasperated smile. 'Your turn…'
'Chah!'
Ichigo instantly felt a weight appear in his hand. He looked down and beheld a sheathed sword. It was the same one he used to battle Zangetsu in his inner world except…it was bone white now. In fact, it looked disturbingly like an arrancar's zanpakutō. He drew the guardless sword and summoned the power from within the confines of his soul.
A minute passed.
Then two.
At three, Sirzechs and Mathers began to exchange glances.
"Ichigo?" Sirzechs asked cautiously in the face of Ichigo's fluctuating spiritual pressure. "Is there something wrong?"
"I-I…" Ichigo looked utterly lost for a moment.
'I…have absolutely no fucking clue on how to release my Zanpakutō.'
Well this was embarrassing. He knew his zanpakutō's name, he knew its bankai and hell he even mastered it to a point where a super-powered Aizen could only touch him if Ichigo let him. However…he had no shitting way of knowing his release phrase for his shikai. He never needed one!
'Dumbass!'
Ichigo's body moved on autopilot and his aura flared all the way into the dark clouds of the Underworld. Reiatsu flooded the world and Mathers and Sirzechs could only stand by exerting their own capable auras. Arm raised above, Zangetsu in its new form pointing skywards, Ichigo's lips moved of their own accord.
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