20 Chapter 20. Ulquiorra Cifer(3)
Ulquiorra stood on the tall tower, looking down on Ichigo, used his secret technique, Segunda Etapa.
Segunda Etapa is the second release of Resurrection of Arrancars much like that of Bankai of Shinigami.
A dark green aura bursted out and the transformation began and soon finished.
Upon release, Ulquiorra now had more devil-like features including black wings and tail as well as ears.
As Ichigo expressed shock at his new appearance, Ulquiorra states this is the form of true despair.
Meanwhile, Uryu and Orihime were ascending to the hole in the dome via a Spiritual energy platform that Uryu had created.
When he and Orihime sensed the Spiritual pressure coming from above, a shocked Uryu notes it was far more dense and thick than any other Reiatsu he has ever encountered.
On top of the dome, Ulquiorra explained how only he among the Espada can enter this form, which he has not even shown to Aizen.
When Ichigo attempted to stand, Ulquiorra asked him if he still has the will to fight after witnessing this form before noticing his hands were shaking.
Ulquiorra noted that Ichigo has not lost the ability to feel fear and did not intend to throw away his life before realizing Ichigo still believes he can win.
Crouching, Ulquiorra stated he will reduce Ichigo to dust in order to make him understand and rushed toward him.
Ichigo assumed a battle stance, but Ulquiorra grabbed his head from the side.
Ulquiorra threw Ichigo into another tower, destroying the upper portion in the process.
When Ichigo attempted to get up, Ulquiorra grabbed Tensa Zangetsu before using Latigo to whip Ichigo with his tail, sending him flying back.
As Ulquiorra rushed after him and called him a fool, Ichigo donned his Hollow mask once more before clashing with Ulquiorra, who pointed out how Ichigo was willingly challenging an opponent so much more powerful than he was that it strikes primal fear into his being, which Ulquiorra found incomprehensible, before slamming Ichigo through two more towers.
As rubble fell around him, Ulquiorra noted that this must be the work of the heart before telling Ichigo that Humans suffer and die because of this heart.
Standing in midair, Ichigo told Ulquiorra that he was fighting because he has to win and not because he thinks he can win, which Ulquiorra finds ridiculous.
Elsewhere, Uryu and Orihime arrived at the top of the dome, where Orihime sees Ulquiorra holding Ichigo aloft with his tail on top of another tower.
Noticing Orihime's arrival, Ulquiorra told her to watch as Ichigo sealed off his life and generated a Cero Oscuras.
As Orihime screamed for him to stop, Ulquiorra fired the Cero Oscuras through Ichigo's chest at point-blank range.
Ulquiorra tossed Ichigo's lifeless body off the tower, forcing a shocked Orihime to catch him with Santen Kesshun.
When Orihime attempted to run to Ichigo, Ulquiorra appeared in front of her with Sonido and told her that it was pointless because she cannot hope to save Ichigo's life with the power she possesses.
However, Ulquiorra was interrupted by Uryu, who appeared behind him with Hirenkyaku before firing a Heilig Pfeil at him.
When Ulquiorra deflected the Heilig Pfeil with his wing, Orihime run past him as Uryu fired several more Heilig Pfeil at Ulquiorra.
Gathering a large quantity of Spiritual Energy along his left shoulder, Uryu used Licht Regen, unleashing a large barrage of Heilig Pfeil at Ulquiorra.
As Uryu lands, an unharmed Ulquiorra admitted he believed Uryu was the calmest member of Ichigo's comrades, prompting Uryu to say he can fight Ulquiorra because he is calm.
Meanwhile, Orihime attempted to heal Ichigo with Soten Kisshun, but to no avail.
Hurtling past Orihime with his left hand missing, Uryu assured her that he has already stopped the bleeding and has applied anesthetic to the wound before taking out a Seele Schneider.
Telling Orihime to take care of Ichigo, Uryu got up and rushed toward Ulquiorra, who merely slashed him across the chest with Latigo, sending him flying back in the process.
Not knowing what to do, Orihime created a barrier in front of herself with Santen Kesshun, but Ulquiorra shattered it with his tail and continued to advance.
Orihime said Ichigo's name over and over in her mind and admitted she does not know what to do before mentally asking Ichigo to help her.
When Orihime screamed for Ichigo to help her, Ichigo's hair began to grow longer and his arm moved.
Orihime turned around to find Ichigo had transformed into a new, humanoid Hollow form, which startled her.
Ulquiorra said this was impossible and stated Ichigo cannot be alive before demanding to know who he was.
Without responding, Ichigo called Tensa Zangetsu to his hand using a Chain before slashing at the ground next to him, which shattered the ground from the force of the attack.
When Orihime is sent hurtling away by the shockwave, Uryu reached out and grabs her.
When Ulquiorra demanded to know who he was once more, Ichigo responded by roaring, prompting Ulquiorra to note words are meaningless with him before charging a Cero Oscuras.
However, Ichigo leaned forward and began charging a red Cero between his horns, shocking Ulquiorra.
As the beams collide, creating a powerful explosion, Ulquiorra flew out of the smoke and expressed disbelief at a Human firing a Cero powerful enough to overcome his Cero Oscuras.
However, he was interrupted by Ichigo, who appeared behind Ulquiorra before ripping off his left arm as Orihime and Uryu look on in horror.
As Orihime expressed disbelief at this being Ichigo, a panting Ulquiorra regenerated his arm and explained how most Arrancar trade their ability to regenerate injuries for greater offensive power before revealing he was the only one who can regenerate anything other than his brain and internal organs.
Admonishing Ichigo for thinking he can win by ripping off his arm and standing still, Ulquiorra used Lanza del Relámpago, which generated a green lance with flaming ends between his hands, and told Ichigo to stay right there, as he does not want to use this at close range, before throwing it at him, only for Ichigo to dodge it by tilting his head.
The lance hurtles into the desert of Hueco Mundo, where it created an immense explosion upon landing. Noting he missed because it is very difficult to control, Ulquiorra generated another lance, causing Uryu to realize Ulquiorra can use this attack as many times as he wishes.
However, Ichigo appeared next to Ulquiorra almost instantaneously, prompting a shocked Ulquiorra to note that Ichigo slipped past his Pesquisa and used Sonido instead of Shunpo.
When Ichigo threw his severed arm at him, Ulquiorra disintegrated it with a strike from the lance.
As Ulquiorra told him to not underestimate him by thinking something like that would catch him off-guard, Ichigo moved to him and grabbed the Lanza del Relampago with his left hand, which shocked Ulquiorra, before crushing it completely, causing it to explode.
Ichigo slashed Ulquiorra across the chest, cutting off his left ear in the process.
As he fell to the ground, Ulquiorra expressed disbelief at someone like him being defeated by a Hollowfied Human-like Ichigo.
When Ichigo steps on his head and began charging a Cero, Ulquiorra stated his existence no longer has any meaning before telling Ichigo to do it as Ichigo fires the Cero, creating an enormous explosion.
As the Cero blasted through the dome and hit the ground below as a pillar of energy, shocking the combatants present, Uryu sees Ichigo standing in midair while holding what is left of Ulquiorra by his wing. Tossing Ulquiorra aside, Ichigo began walking toward him assumed a battle stance with Tensa Zangetsu, surprising Uryu, before holding it over Ulquiorra's head.
However, Uryu appeared next to him and grabbed Ichigo's wrist before telling him this was enough, as there was no need to carve up Ulquiorra's corpse even though he is an enemy, but Ichigo does not respond.
When Ichigo began to struggle with him, Uryu demanded to know if Ichigo can hear him and proclaimed Ichigo will lose all of his humanity if he does this.
As Ichigo moved Tensa Zangetsu closer to Ulquiorra's throat, Uryu yells his name, only to be interrupted when Ichigo impaled him with Tensa Zangetsu.
As Uryu flew back, Ichigo began to charge another Cero, Orihime screamed for him to stop, but to no avail, as Ichigo kept charging and fired at Ulquiorra who had accepted his fate.
But suddenly, the Cero Ichigo was charging disappeared and Ichigo was kicked by an unknown person.
Orihime, Ulquiorra was surprised by the unknown person's arrival.
