Chapter 1231 The Dragons part 2

Icibei forcefully stopped his uncontrolled flight. He ignored what just attacked him and hurriedly turned to Kisuke who was about to cross the boundary of the dimension. He took his brush and was about to paint over the hole in the dimension. Despite their current distance, his 'ink' is still capable of 'blackening' out what he didn't want to exist.

However, he had to stop when he suddenly felt a hand reaching out to him. With a single glance, Ichibei immediately felt threatened and used the handle of his brush to block the incoming hand.

The hand landed on his brush and in an instant, Ichibei felt like a several tonnes hammer struck him, "!? What?"

The foothold he created with his Reiatsu was instantly broken and he was sent flying once again.

This time, Ichibei took his time to reorient himself while thinking, 'Even if by chance he could go to the Royal Palace, he still won't reach the lynchpin.' After reassuring himself and recalling the current Royal Palace defense, Ichibei finally took a good look at his assailants, "Hooh... Aren't you the twins that couldn't call their Zanpakutos? I certainly didn't think you'd be in on it too."

The bigger question, however, was how they were able to exert that much strength from their tiny bodies. Ichibei certainly didn't receive any report of them having superhuman strength, 'And it wasn't just some superhuman strength. It was enough to instantly kill a normal fighter.'

"Who are you two?" Ichibei asked with a chilled expression.

Ophis slowly floated on Lilith's side and answered with incredible dignity followed by the latter, "Ophis." "Lilith."

Ichibei furrowed his brows and was shocked. This is not the first time he heard their names but this time, it felt like they were introducing themselves, not as Shinigamis.

"I guess the next question is what are you?" If not for the way they saddle their swords, Ophis on the left and Lilith on the right, there's almost no way to distinguish the difference between the two, 'No... There's an obvious difference. This 'Ophis' seems to have a larger pressure.'

Ophis and Lilith looked at each other before answering the obvious simultaneously, "Shinigami."

Ichibei was further intrigued. He has a bit of ability to tell apart truth and lies and he can say with confidence that they are telling the truth, 'Where is this weird feeling coming from?'

He wanted to know more about them because, in his eyes, they are in the same category as Kisuke's current Zanpakuto, totally unknown to him despite seeing them with his own eyes. However, Ichibei didn't have that luxury because he knew the consequences of underestimating Kisuke, 'I'm confident that she'll be able to stop him and I'm also pretty sure that Urahara Kisuke is not after the destruction of balance so he won't easily hurt the lynchpin in the event he could go through her... But what does he want exactly?'

Any uncertainty is an unknown danger and something he has to eliminate. With that in mind, Ichibei clasped his hands together and raised his voice, "Ura Hadou: Ninodou - Tachikoma (Hidden Way of Destruction: Second Path - Standstill)."

Ichibei's hand released a white glow and before Ophis and Lilith could realize what was going on, they found the same light surrounding their body and their thoughts halted.

"I really want to know what sort of being the two of you are, but sadly, I don't have the time." Ichibei muttered loudly but he knew his words couldn't be heard by the girls in front of him, "Lament on your powerlessness." Ichibei then unceremoniously swung his blade towards the 'twins' and covered them entirely in black ink.

Ichibei let out a short breath and admired his work for a second before turning around to follow Kisuke. However, just as he was about to open a path, alarms in his head suddenly started ringing. Ichibei tried to take back his Zanpakuto though it was already too late as he once again, received a hammer-like slap on his back.

"Kuhhh!" Ichibei spun uncontrollably for a bit before regaining his posture. He hurriedly looked back and while Lilith remained unmoving, Ophis was staring at him, still completely capable of combat.

"...How?" Ichibei questioned but Ophis was not inclined to answer him and continued her assault.

It was the same slap with her bare hand so Ichibei used his blade to block it and attempt to cut her. But contrary to his expectations, the moment their attacks met, it created a spark as if Ichibei hit another sword.

The ink-covered Ophis was sent back by the impact though there's no obvious injury from her side. Nevertheless, Ichibei noticed that she had become weaker. And thanks to them being covered with his ink, he also noticed the distinct connection between Ophis and Lilith that wasn't obvious to him before.

"I see... So that's how it is." Ichibei figured out that they were not twins, "No wonder your names have this uncanny feeling. You're the real one and the other is just an anchor for your existence. Really... What a strange being."

Ichibei sighed, "To think I would waste this much time and strength. I apologize for underestimating you." In an instant, a white halo appeared around him, and the tip of his blade or brush became covered in white ink. With a large mocking smile on his face, he continued, "But this ends here. As a sign of my respect, I'll bestow you a more appropriate name. Shin'unchi: Shirafude Ichimonji."

Releasing a massive amount of Reiatsu that disturbed the whole region, taking everyone's attention, Ichibei manipulated the white ink that went flying toward Ophis and Lilith.

Ophis tried to dodge but before the white ink even reached her, words already appeared on her body and Lilith's. Immediately after, Ophis felt her strength further leaving her body.

"So how do you feel? The one once known as Ophis, Earthworm?" Ichibei asked with a condescending tone, "Feel the powerlessness and fragileness of an earthworm and cease disturbing me."

Ichibei lifted his foot and a giant foot made out of pure Reiryoku appeared on top of Ophis and Lilith, "I bestow you death befitting of your name. Die on earth where you belong."

Ophis could only stare at the giant foot descend as she hurriedly made her way to Lilith to protect her.

While hugging her 'sister', Ophis tried conjuring her mass of energy but found it very hard to gather even a tiny bit of it. When that didn't work, Ophis tried swinging her arm towards the incoming foot.

"It's useless." Ichibei grinned while watching them being stepped on by him and crashed down to the ground with a large explosion, "Just be glad that a grave could be made for the two of you."

As Ichibei couldn't feel their presence anymore, he turned towards the others who were still fighting and thought, 'I wasted too much time.'

However, as if he were cursed by something, the moment he had any intention of leaving Hell, he would be stopped.

Ichibei couldn't smile anymore when he saw a young lady covered in ink slowly float up to his level, "You really are a tenacious one. How did you even survive? Hmmm...?" The young lady's aura was way weaker than before and Ichibei was sure that he's currently talking to Ophis right now. However, there are two Zanpakutos on her side, "What? You weren't able to save your twin but you still saved her Zanpakuto? That's actually quite admirable."

"Anyhow, your tenacity is actually annoying me now."

"Annoying?" Ophis asked with a blank expression.

Ichibei was about to nod but felt something out of place.

And before he could realize what was wrong, a giant jet-black hand suddenly appeared in front of him, "!?"

Ichibei tried blocking it but the moment the black hand touched him, his whole body instantly disintegrated, reducing him to dust.

"You are the annoying fly." Ophis slightly lifted her head. And while watching Ichibei regenerate himself from nothing, she added, "I, Ophis, am back."

At the same time, the black and white ink on her body slid off her body, revealing Ophis in her black Gothic Lolita fashion, "You shall taste my unending wrath."

Soon, an aura that calls for the end of the world drowned the entire dimension.