An Overly Friendly Host

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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Grimmjow's injuries healed faster after he consumed Luppi's tentacles. The owner of the tentacles flailed on the ground; his scream muffled by the ground. Ichigo chuckled darkly before increasing his Reiryoku output. Luppi screamed until his vocal cords tore. His body exploded afterward, spraying blood and flesh everywhere.

Despite the bloody display, Ichigo remained untainted. He had covered his body with Reiryoku armor, protecting him from the gore. Ichigo turned his body to Grimmjow. In response, Grimmjow pulled out his Zanpakutō and scratched it down. A thick Reiatsu cocoon encapsulated Grimmjow before revealing him in his Resurrección form.

Whoosh!

The Fracción took Grimmjow's transformation as their cue to do the same. The five Arrancars assaulted Retsu, Yoruichi, and Ashido as soon as they finished transforming. Ichigo took a glance and concluded the trio would be fine. Ashido wouldn't be fine, but that was not his concern. Only his girls mattered.

Right… why do I think like I own them? It's so weird how clear but also muddy my mind is. I should thank Old Man for not letting Zangetsu corrupt my mind.

"Are you scared, Ichigo?" Grimmjow grinned savagely.

"Sure," Ichigo scoffed.

"Do your best! Stop holding back!"

Ichigo knew Grimmjow was talking about his mask but pretended not to know. He wanted to test his limit without wearing the mask. The mask didn't do anything except enhance his Reiryoku and Reiatsu now. He could use his Hollow power without using his mask, although not at its full power. still, it was enough to deal with Grimmjow.

"Make me," Ichigo taunted.

"You will be dead before you can regret your decision," Grimmjow grinned bloodthirstily.

Swish!

Grimmjow appeared in front of Ichigo in a flash, claws heading for Ichigo's neck. Ichigo blocked the claws with Zangetsu this time as they were strong enough to pierce Hierro, at least until he wore his mask. Flicking Zangetsu, Ichigo flung Grimmjow backward. Grimmjow skidded for a moment before dashing at Ichigo.

Zanpakutō met claws. Each clash produced a spark of fire. The clang resounded throughout the battlefield. The dust on the ground rose and the air exploded each time the combatants clashed. The ground cratered when they redirected the other's attack. Ichigo was having fun. On the other hand, Grimmjow was frustrated that he couldn't make Ichigo sweat.

"Desgarrón!"

Grimmjow eventually used his signature move. His claws turned into long blades made out of Reishi. Grimmjow swung them at Ichigo who blocked them by crossing Zangetsu before him. Ichigo remained unfazed. Grimmjow had to put considerable effort into pushing Ichigo a few centimeters. It was too unbelievable for him to accept.

Ichigo flicked the claws upward, letting them slide over Zangetsu. He kicked the ground and shot toward Grimmjow. Grimmjow acted swiftly, hurling one of his claws at Ichigo. Ichigo made a cutting motion with the shorter Zangetsu, sending a Getsuga Tensho at the claw. Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho effortlessly shattered the claw and carved a trench on the ground.

Bam!

Grimmjow coughed out a mouthful of blood as Ichigo's kick hit him in full force. Grimmjow shot to the ground, creating a long cavity as his body skidded on it. Disoriented as he was, he still stood quickly. He was quick enough to block Zangetsu with his elongated claws. Still, the force pushed him and made him tremble.

"You…bastard!"

With sheer force of will, Grimmjow managed to send Ichigo backward. It wasn't far but was enough distance. Grimmjow quickly shot his crystal darts at Ichigo. He didn't bother saving them—dumping them all on Ichigo in hopes of landing a lucky hit. Grimmjow distanced himself as the explosion occurred. The area was engulfed in fire. A wave of wind blast swept over the battlefield as the ground trembled.

"Did he—"

"Did you expect me to dumbly stay there?"

"What!?"

Caught off guard, Grimmjow received a solid blow to his cheek thanks to Ichigo. He was in pain, but all Grimmjow could think of was how humiliating the experience was. Ichigo hadn't struck Grimmjow with his Zanpakutō whenever he had the chance. Grimmjow could tell Ichigo was playing with him. It was something that he should do as the king!

"Every character deserves their redemption arc. I will give you a chance if you swear your allegiance to me," Ichigo smirked. "How about it, Grimmjow?"

Standing up from the ground, Grimmjow spat out the blood in his mouth. He glared venomously at Ichigo as he wiped the blood from his mouth.

"A king will never bow down to anyone," Grimmjow growled.

"Yet you suck Aizen's dick like it is the elixir of life," Ichigo laughed derisively. "So much for a king."

"Who says I am Aizen's cocksucker!?" Grimmjow fumed, earning a shrug from Ichigo. "I am just waiting for the right time to kill him! I have never bowed my head to him. We mutually respect each other. I scratch his back and he scratches mine—that type of thing!"

"Yeah, and you suck his dick and he sucks yours. I know a thing or two about gay stuff," Ichigo deadpanned, derision dancing in his eyes.

"You Motherfucker!"

Ichigo chortled as Grimmjow dashed at him. He could become a Motherfucker now. He could finally qualify for the insult. Ichigo blocked Grimmjow's claws and stopped chortling. His face was bereft of amusement. Grimmjow stiffened. He was about to retreat when Ichigo swung Zangetsu and sent him away with a crossing Getsuga Tensho.

"Gran Rey Cero!"

A deep blue Cero shot at Grimmjow in a spinning motion. Grimmjow was already doing his best blocking Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho so he couldn't pay attention to the Cero. Grimmjow only roared indignantly as Ichigo's Gran Rey Cero hit him on top of the Getsuga Tensho. Ichigo watched in wonder as his attacks engulfed Grimmjow in a dome of swirling Reiryoku.

The explosion lasted five seconds. When the dome of Reiryoku dissipated, Grimmjow was revealed to the world. The milky armor covering Grimmjow's body had disappeared, replaced by torn clothes that barely covered his body. Ichigo mused how the rag conveniently covered Grimmjow's genitalia. Ichigo didn't care that Grimmjow had lost a chunk of his right-side body. Ichigo was thankful that he didn't have to see another man's penis.

"You okay there, Buddy?"

Ichigo stared at the blood dripping from the exposed flesh. Grimmjow was lucky his left side got away with severe burn marks. He would have died if he had lost a chunk of his left side. His heart would have been part of the lost chunk.

"Keough!"

Blood came out of Grimmjow's mouth as he coughed. His eyes were glassy, telling Ichigo he was unable to fight. Ichigo sighed. He didn't wish it to come to this. Grimmjow had never been his favorite character, but he wouldn't mind having the Tsundere on his side. He found solace in the fact that there was another variety of Dere he could pull to his side.

"It has been a fun journey, Bud. Spokoynoy nochi!"

Ichigo held the longer Zangetsu vertically and pulled the shorter Zangetsu toward him as if he were drawing an arrow. An arched bow made out of Reishi appeared in front of Ichigo. It was half bigger than him. A Heilig Pfeil formed before the Reishi string. With a mental command, the huge arrow was unleashed and headed toward Grimmjow at a blinding speed. The force behind the release was enough to draw a shallow trench behind Ichigo.

"Grimmjow-sama!"

A stray Fracción fled his battle and stood in the Heilig Pfeil's path, hoping to rescue Grimmjow. Unfortunately for the devoted Fracción, his intervention didn't hinder the arrow. Grimmjow was also too out of it to get away. In the end, the Heilig Pfeil pierced through the Fracción and Grimmjow. The arrow exploded, separating their upper torso from the rest of their body.

Ichigo turned away from the falling bodies of his enemy in favor of looking at his girls. Yoruichi and Retsu looked slightly ruffled but fine nonetheless. Ashido was riddled with wounds here and there, but that didn't matter. Even if Ashido had sustained more grievous wounds, Ichigo believed Retsu could heal Ashido.

"You let an enemy go," Ichigo regarded Yoruichi as he walked to them.

"I knew he couldn't do anything," Yoruichi shrugged. "I know what you are about to say. I won't do that in a bigger battle."

Ichigo smiled softly. He didn't know Yoruichi knew him so well. But that wasn't surprising when you lectured someone to treat even ants as your enemies each chance you got. Ichigo looked at the gasping Ashido sitting on the ground while Retsu was healing him. Ichigo appreciated the Shinigami for his incredible will.

"Let's move on. We have to lay low for the time being. I don't want to face that crafty bastard this soon," Ichigo said, looking in the direction the Arrancars had come.

Ashido nodded and stood up. Retsu didn't like that her treatment was interrupted but agreed with Ichigo, therefore she kept her complaint. They traversed deeper into the forest. The fight that just occurred turned it silent.

At Las Noches, Aizen smiled at the report he got from the inconspicuous Arrancar before him. Barragan considered the Arrancar his weakest Fracción, ignorant of the advantage this weakness could bring.

"Proceed with the plan, Gin," Aizen said smoothly.

"Aye, aye, Captain," came his subordinate's mocking response.