Fate Would Find Its Way (3)

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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Ichigo pointed the shorter Zangetsu to the Tres Bestias, producing three chains out of Reishi that quickly wrapped around them. Ichigo yanked the chains, pulling them toward him. Shinji and the capable others immediately secured the three Arrancars. Ichigo paid the indignant Arrancars no heed and focused on Tier.

"I didn't know princesses are meant to be treated like that," the Espada remarked.

"Princess and damsel in distress rhyme. You have to be distressed to qualify for a princess. Besides, what is a princess worth without being kidnapped?" was Ichigo's dark response.

"Regardless, you have to let go of them."

Ichigo tilted his head before flashing to Tier's side. Tier's water shield rose as soon as Ichigo drove his the longer Zangetsu's hilt to her face. To Tier's horror, the shield didn't do anything. Zangetsu's hilt struck her across the face, launching her into the distance. As Tier regained her balance, Ichigo pointed the longer Zangetsu at her and sent a Cero.

Warp!

Tier was forced to block the Cero head-on, having no time to erect her water shield. She was having a hard time for the first time. Ulquiorra decided to rejoin the fight at this moment. He threw his green javelins at Ichigo which Ichigo promptly dodged.

"Cero Oscuras!"

A beam of black energy shot at Ichigo. The young hybrid scoffed and blocked the beam with the shorter Zangetsu. Ichigo was pushed back slightly upon impact. The power behind the Cero was equal to his idle Getsuga Tensho. Of course, that means the attack was useless.

Swish!

Ulquiorra was aware of his shortcomings which was why he was right before Ichigo as soon as his Cero dissipated. He was holding his green javelin in each of his hands. Ichigo engaged in a melee combat with him. Ulquiorra was using his javelins like swords. He was skillful, but Ichigo's swordsmanship outstripped him.

"You don't fight with your heart. Your power is stunted."

"Heart? That is a foreign concept to me."

"Which is why you can never beat me."

Ichigo slammed a Getsuga Tensho into Ulquiorra after his remark. The Espada's chest was cut open, allowing Ichigo to see his similar-to-human-yet-different organs. Ichigo was about to finish Ulquiorra off when Tier coming hot at him. He deftly raised the longer Zangetsu to block her sword. The air exploded as the two swords clashed, Tier unable to push further.

Ichigo pointed the shorter Zangetsu at Tier from his side and made a cutting movement. A white Getsuga Tensho was shot at her point-blank. This time, Tier managed to erect her water shield in time. The Getsuga Tensho still launched her away, though. The force of the impact was enough to disorient her.

Ichigo went after Tier. He was right beside her as soon as she regained her composure. His punch drove into her solar plexus, arching her body. As she processed the pain, he cast Hainawa to bind her. Ichigo quickly changed the spell and cast Rikujōkōrō to incapacitate Tier. The Tres Espada could only widen her eyes as she took in her situation.

"Simple attacks with enough power are deadly, don't you think?" Ichigo grinned, earning a scowl from the usually stoic Espada.

Warp!

Ichigo tilted his head, letting a Cero whizz past him. He looked in the direction of whence it came and found Coyote aiming his finger at him. They were separated by a considerable distance, but the Espada still managed to aim at him precisely. Ichigo grinned underneath his mask, feeling like he should return the courtesy.

Ichigo held the longer Zangetsu vertically and drew the shorter Zangetsu toward him like he was pulling an arrow. A gigantic bow made out of Reishi materialized before him, followed by a glowing arrow made out of Reishi. With a mental command, Ichigo released the Heilig Pfeil. The arrow appeared before the startled Coyote as soon as it was released.

In a bout of reflex, Coyote stepped aside. Ichigo smirked as the Heilig Pfeil headed toward the artifact that the Espada had been guarding. Unfortunately, fate still favored Aizen. Ulquiorra intercepted the arrow with his green javelin just a few centimeters before it hit the artifact.

Boom!

The action cost Ulquiorra an arm and a bit of his chest. The Heilig Pfeil exploded as soon as it hit Ulquiorra's Luz de la Luna. Nevertheless, Ulquiorra remained unperturbed as he stood beside Coyote and Lilynette. He retracted his Resurrección and let his natural regeneration take care of his missing body parts.

"We are returning," Coyote announced.

"What!? You can't be serious! We have to pay back the bastard, Starrk!" Lilynette protested.

"That is not our mission," Ulquiorra informed. "Tres Espada is an unfortunate casualty. Let's go back."

"Huh? Who are you ordering us around? Starrk is the man in charge here in case you forgot!"

Coyote sighed and took the artifact in his hand. The Barrier they had erected disappeared. Lilynette's protest died down when Senkaimon appeared one by one, producing a group of Shinigami. Ulquiorra opened the Garganta using Descorrer. With a hand on Lilynette's shoulder, Starrk pulled the petite Arrancar into the Garganta with him.

Zip!

As the tear closed, the Adjuchas and the Menos ran away. The Shinigami scrambled to take them down but could only take down some low-class Hollows who couldn't get away quickly enough. Ichigo dematerialized his mask and then dragged Tier with him. Some Shinigami were coming his way and he could guess what they had to say.

"Substitute Shinigami Kurosaki Ichigo, please, hand over the hostage!"

Ichigo ignored the call and put Tier down. He watched as Tier's Resurrección retracted, covering her lower face with a shark-like mask and barely covering her scandalous breasts. Ichigo was gentlemanly enough to zip up her jacket. His action humiliated the Tres Espada even further.

"Kurosaki Ichigo!"

"Shut up."

Boom!

Ichigo's soul-crushing Reiatsu descended upon the world, forcing the group of Shinigami who had brazenly ordered him to hand over his spoils to kneel on the ground. Silence dominated the air as Ichigo looked at the group of Shinigami looking at him warily from the distance. They seemed confused about the sudden animosity.

"Ichigo-kun, calm down." Retsu joined them, saving the insolent Shinigami kneeling before him from their fate. "They are from the 12th Division. They spend too much time in the lab, so they tend to not possess acceptable social skills."

"These princesses belong to me," Ichigo said casually. "Gramps can fight me to snatch them from me."

Retsu glanced at Tier and her Fracción, causing them to flinch instinctively. "Ah, sure. However, what compels you to call them princesses?"

"Princesses are often held hostage, aren't they?" Ichigo grinned lazily.

"…I suppose that is true."

The event proceeded quickly. Retsu explained the situation to the Shinigami in charge before sending them back to Soul Society. The Visored retreated into the warehouse, not even paying any heed to Retsu. They might not have any grudge against the Captain, but they meant it when they said they didn't want anything to do with Soul Society.

"We have some human casualties, Ichigo-kun. I am afraid I have to go to Soul Society to get my subordinates. The victims' souls are severely damaged. They will die if we leave them be."

"I hope you can keep their base's location a secret," Ichigo motioned to the warehouse not far from them. "I am sure they are displeased the Shinigami have seen them. The least you can do is let them live in peace by not telling anyone about their whereabouts."

"Easily done," Retsu nodded.

Ichigo waved goodbye and watched as Retsu disappeared into the Senkaimon. He looked at the destruction in the surroundings and could already imagine Kisuke's pensive look as he fixed the place. Ichigo smiled before entering the warehouse. The Visored greeted him idly when he entered. Orihime was healing her last patient, Mashiro who had received a blast of Cero to her back.

"Mashiro is back!" The energetic Visored immediately jumped onto her feet as soon as she woke up. "Kensei-chan, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am fine. Now, why don't you sit down?" Kensei responded exasperatedly.

"Ichigo-kun, are you okay?" Orihime asked bashfully as she scooted closer.

"I wasn't until I saw your smile," Ichigo grinned playfully.

"…"

Orihime looked like she was about to faint, causing Ichigo to chuckle and pat her head. He walked past her and went to the incapacitated Espada. Tier's Fracción (Apacci) barked at him for humiliating her mistress and Ichigo shut her up with a wave of his hand. It was a simple silencing Bakudō.

"Now, why don't you tell us what Aizen is planning, Tia-chan?" Ichigo drawled.

"Will you let my Fracción go if I tell you?"

"Harribel-sama!"

"Forget about us! You can leave without us!"

Ichigo smiled in amusement before nodding. "I won't let any of you go until I have Aizen's head. However, I swear on my life no one will hurt you under my watch."

A nod later, Tier spilled the beans.

…

At Las Noches, Aizen stared at the artifact presented by Coyote Starrk in satisfaction. It was unfortunate that he lost Tier, but that was easily negligible. His Hōgyoku would soon be perfected. It would take a long time, but that didn't matter. He had the means to cheat on time.

"Coyote, Lilynette, Ulquiorra, follow me. We are going to the Dangai."

The three Espada just came back from a quite dangerous mission thanks to Ichigo but had to leave again. They didn't complain and followed after their cunning leader. Their job was to stop the Dangai's flow as Aizen perfected Hōgyoku and evolved. They wondered what Aizen would do to the Kototsu given that he wanted to exploit the Dangai's time dilation. He destroyed the Kototsu before their eyes.

'Our next fight will determine the best of us, Kurosaki Ichigo.'

Aizen chuckled darkly. He might be unable to get the other Hōgyoku, but fate still found its way to fulfill itself. The Hōgyoku wanted him to win. It wouldn't have helped him destroy the Kototsu if that wasn't the case. His Hōgyoku would be perfect.