19 Chapter 19. Ulquiorra Cifer(2)
Ichigo came crushing into the tower through the floor and confronted the 4th Espada Ulquiorra Cifer who was now in control of Las Noches.
Standing before Ulquiorra, Ichigo told him to get away from Orihime, prompting Ulquiorra to remind him that his orders do not include killing Orihime.
Ulquiorra went on to explain how Ichigo was a different matter, as killing him was the same as protecting Las Noches, before drawing his Zanpakuto.
Slightly surprised by this, Ichigo stated he was not expecting Ulquiorra to draw his sword immediately and admitted his first goal was to get Ulquiorra to do this.
When Ichigo asked Ulquiorra if this meant he has accepted him as a real opponent, Ulquiorra stated he merely views Ichigo as someone who must be destroyed, prompting Ichigo to say this is enough for him.
Ulquiorra stabbed at Ichigo, who dodged, causing Ulquiorra's sword to hit a pillar, which is heavily damaged.
When Ichigo slashed at him, Ulquiorra blocked with his Zanpakuto before slashing at Ichigo, who ducked and attacked Ulquiorra.
As Ulquiorra ducks, the pillar behind him was nearly cut in two by Ichigo's attack as Ulquiorra stabbed at him with his sword.
When Ichigo dodged, Ulquiorra stabbed at him several more times in rapid succession, only for Ichigo to dodge every attack while noting that he could see Ulquiorra and react because Ulquiorra's fighting style has not changed from when he was only using his hands.
Told himself that the hand which Ulquiorra was using merely has a longer reach, Ichigo watched closely and grabbed Ulquiorra by the wrist, surprising him, before slashing him across the chest.
Ulquiorra was sent skidding back several feet from the force of the attack, but revealed he had only suffered a minor cut next to his Espada tattoo.
Noting that Ulquiorra's Hierro must be very strong for him to receive such a minor injury, Ichigo stated he is much better at reading Ulquiorra's movements when compared to his performance during their previous battle, prompting Ulquiorra to ask him what he means.
Ichigo admitted that he was completely unable to read Ulquiorra's movements, which made it feel like he was fighting against a machine or statue, before noting that being able to do so now means he had become more like a Hollow or Ulquiorra had become a little more like a human.
Surprised by this, Ulquiorra split the ground in front of him in two with a single strike from his sword and stated that being able to fight at this level has gone to Ichigo's head.
When Ulquiorra appeared in front of him and attacks him, Ichigo narrowly dodged and leaped back, only for Ulquiorra to appear behind him and attack once more. However, Ichigo was protected by Orihime's Santen Kesshun.
As Santen Kesshun shatters, Ulquiorra asked Orihime what she was doing, prompting her to express confusion. Asking Orihime if she did so because Ichigo is her friend, Ulquiorra wondered what made her hesitate the first time he attacked Ichigo.
When Orihime failed to respond, Ichigo told Ulquiorra to shut up before stating no one cares about why he believed Orihime hesitated.
Thanking Orihime for helping him, Ichigo told her to stay back so she does not get hurt before telling Ulquiorra he was surprisingly talkative.
When Ichigo used a Getsuga Tensho, Ulquiorra stated it will not work against him, only to be surprised when Ichigo rushed forward without firing it.
Ichigo clashed with Ulquiorra, creating a wave of energy upon striking Ulquiorra's sword, as Ulquiorra noted that Ichigo was creatin attacks with the power of a Getsuga Tensho behind them by keeping a Getsuga Tensho in his sword without firing it.
Repelling Ichigo, Ulquiorra noted Ichigo probably thinks he was clever for creating this attack before reminding him of how his Getsuga Tensho did not work on Ulquiorra even when he was wearing his Hollow mask.
As Ulquiorra stated a Getsuga Tensho from an unmasked Ichigo was useless no matter how he uses it, Ichigo attacked him once more with his Getsuga Tensho-infused Tensa Zangetsu.
When suddenly two Arrancar appeared, accosted Orihime, and began tearing her clothes off, Ichigo called out to Orihime and rushed toward her while wondering who they were.
As one Arrancar threatened to gouge one of Orihime's eyes out if he comes any closer, Ichigo prepared to fire a Getsuga Tensho at her, only for Ulquiorra to intercept his attack, surprising Ichigo.
Ulquiorra told the Arrancar he did not do this to save her as Ichigo attacks him once more before telling Ulquiorra to get out of the way.
As Ulquiorra told Ichigo he can fight someone else once he kills Ulquiorra, they were interrupted by the arrival of Yammy Llargo.
Not soon after Yammy arrived and defeated the two Arrancars before Uryu appeared and sent him downside by destroying the floor below him. During the process, they fought considerably and made Yammy angry and bigger.
Ichigo told Uryu to protect Orihime with his body if her Santen Kesshun was unable to block his Spiritual Pressure, only for Uryu to state he was going to do this even if Ichigo did not ask him.
Turning to Ulquiorra, Ichigo apologized for making him wait and stated this was the Hollowfication which he wanted to see before donning his Hollow mask.
Surprised by the increase in Ichigo's Reiatsu, Ulquiorra blocked Ichigo's subsequent attack and was shocked to see Tensa Zangetsu cut into his own Zanpakuto.
Ulquiorra leaped through the hole in the wall to avoid a Getsuga Tensho as Ichigo follows him.
Turning to face Ichigo in midair, Ulquiorra charged and fired a Cero at him, only to be shocked upon seeing Ichigo had completely blocked the blast with only his sword.
When Ulquiorra began rapidly moving up the side of the tower, a startled Ichigo told him to wait and began to follow him while wondering how far Ulquiorra was planning to go.
Eventually, Ulquiorra blasted through the dome of Las Noches.
As Ichigo emerged above the dome and realized where they are, Ulquiorra confirmed his observation and revealed Espada ranked 4 and above were forbidden from releasing their Zanpakuto within Las Noches before releasing his Zanpakuto, Murcielago.
A large amount of black-green Spiritual Pressure exploded outward and fell around Ichigo in the form of rain.
Ichigo's eyes widen in shock as he saw Ulquiorra's Resurreccion, Murcielago. When Ulquiorra told him to not lose his composure, Ichigo instinctively assumed a battle stance as Ulquiorra went on to tell him to keep his fighting senses at their peak. Generating a Luz de la Luna, a green spear made from Spiritual Energy, in his hand, Ulquiorra appeared in front of Ichigo and attacked him, resulting in a powerful explosion.
As the broken portion of Ichigo's mask hurtles away, Ichigo expressed disbelief at Ulquiorra's new level of speed and noted he could not react at all even with his mask on.
Stood before Ichigo, Ulquiorra noted that the power of his Hollow mask has increased considerably alongside the time which he can wear it and noted it was pitiful that it can still be destroyed so easily before throwing a Luz de la Luna at Ichigo, who was cut on his right shoulder and sent flying back. Digging his sword into the ground to slow himself down, Ichigo reformed the broken portion of his Hollow mask.
Ulquiorra flew toward Ichigo with another Luz de la Luna generated and clashed with him in mid-air before telling Ichigo to fire a Getsuga Tensho at him.
As Ichigo expressed surprise, Ulquiorra pointed out how this was Ichigo's strongest form and Getsuga Tensho was his strongest technique before stating he will show Ichigo the difference in their power.
Ichigo pushed Ulquiorra away and told him he did not have to say anything before proclaiming he was going to do this anyway. Generating a large amount of red-black energy around his blade, Ichigo fired a Getsuga Tensho at Ulquiorra.
The blast hit Ulquiorra, but Ichigo was shocked to see him standing unharmed as Ulquiorra noted this is the level of a Human.
As Ichigo noted he was uninjured, Ulquiorra admitted that his Getsuga Tensho closely resembles their Cero, only for Ichigo to deny this and vehemently state the two of them are nothing alike. Hearing this, Ulquiorra deduced that he has not yet seen it and told Ichigo that he will show him the Cero which the Espada can release while in their Resurreccion before firing a Cero Oscuras, which unleashes a large beam of black-green energy.
Hurtling toward Ichigo, the Cero Oscuras completely destroyed his mask. As smoke billows from the top of the dome, Ichigo fell to the ground below with his eyes still possessing a Hollowfied appearance and cursed.
Ulquiorra appeared in front of him with Sonido and sent him flying into one of the towers with a slap from his wing.
As Ichigo stood among the rubble, Ulquiorra asked him if he understood now and stated that the power of Ichigo's techniques were incredibly inferior to the power of Arrancar techniques despite how similar they appear to be.
Ulquiorra began to walk toward Ichigo while explaining how Humans and Shinigami imitating Hollows will never allow them to become as powerful as Arrancar despite being an understandable route for gaining power.
As Ulquiorra appeared in front of him, Ichigo got to his feet, with his eyes returning to normal, before attempting to fire another Getsuga Tensho.
However, an angered Ulquiorra proclaimed this was useless before slashing Ichigo across his midsection with Luz de la Luna, which destroyed the upper half of the tower which they were inside of.
As Ichigo hurtles out of the tower, Ulquiorra appeared next to him before slashing him once more, which sent Ichigo crashing through the side of a tower up to the top of it. Holding Ichigo up by his collar, Ulquiorra demanded to know why he will not drop his sword despite seeing the obvious difference in their power.
When Ichigo explained how he knew from the start that Ulquiorra was powerful and stated he will beat him anyway, a surprised Ulquiorra let go of him and noted Ichigo's words are those of someone who does not know true despair. Deciding to show Ichigo what true despair is, Ulquiorra used his secret technique.
