XX-level Hokage

With a deafening crash, Chad's body was thrown backward by the immense force, but his eyes remained resolute, showing no sign of backing down. Meanwhile, Uryu Ishida encountered an uninvited guest in his own passage.

A small, thin female Arrancar with a wing-like mask on her head was floating in the air, curiously observing him.

"Oh my? There are such little bugs in Hueco Mundo?" The female Arrancar chuckled, her tone tinged with disdain. She was none other than No. 107, a former Espada, and Dordoni's companion, Tiruti Sandavichi.

Ishida Uryu immediately drew his spirit bow, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.

Deep within Hueco Mundo, Mashiro sat in the barracks of the Third Division. Every battle in Hueco Mundo was reflected in the spirit sphere. As she watched Ichigo begin to Hollowen, an expectant smile appeared on her lips.

"Dordoni... As the first litmus test, you performed very well." Mashiro murmured to herself, "Let me see just how far you can push Ichigo."

She hadn't forgotten that Nnoitra was still stirring deep within Hueco Mundo, and that her "pet," Nel, was innocently following Ichigo's side. Mashiro's eyes gleamed with even more amusement.

“However, now is not your time to shine, Nel.” Mashiro looked at Nel in the spirit sphere, curiously observing Ichigo’s Hollowfied form, seemingly completely unaware of what this meant.

Instead of interfering with Nel and her two attendants, she looked forward to seeing how Ichigo would cope with these new challenges without any additional help.

This is the real test.

Chapter 188: The Espada (Part Two)

Inside the Las Noches arena, the moment Ichigo Kurosaki donned the Hollowfication mask, the excited light in Dordoni Alessandro del Socaccio's eyes burned even brighter. He felt the powerful spiritual pressure that suddenly erupted from Ichigo's body, which was exactly the object of his longing "dance".

“Oh my! This power! How delightful!” Dorudoni laughed maniacally. “Is this the true power of death? Come! Let me see your limits!”

Ichigo did not respond. After putting on the Hollowfication Mask, his spiritual pressure, speed, and power all underwent a qualitative leap. He no longer dodged, but took the initiative to attack. Zangetsu, with the force of breaking through the wind, slashed fiercely at Dordoni.

Dordoni's legs transformed into wind blades as he nimbly dodged, but Ichigo's speed was equally astonishing. Each slash carried immense power, carving deep grooves into the arena floor with crescent moons. "Getsuga Tenshou!"

Ichigo unleashed Getsuga Tenshou once more, but this time the bend of light was even larger and more concentrated than before, carrying a violent Hollow power that completely engulfed the area where Dordoni was located.

"Boom!"

A violent explosion reverberated throughout Las Noches, as if the arena was being torn apart. Smoke and dust filled the air, and sand and gravel flew everywhere.

As the light faded, Dorudoni's figure reappeared. However, this time, he was no longer as relaxed as before. His haori was tattered, and there were many wounds on his body. A crack had appeared on the edge of his mask.

Hahaha... Excellent! Excellent indeed, Grim Reaper! "Dorudoni laughed instead of getting angry, his eyes filled with fanaticism, "To be able to push me to this extent, you have already surpassed the realm of ordinary Grim Reapers! You deserve for me to show my true colors!"

He slowly raised his hands, his spiritual pressure erupting violently, forming a massive pillar of light that shot into the sky. "Return to the song, Storm Baron!"

Dorudoni's body began to change; his clothes instantly turned to ash, replaced by a more durable bone armor.

Three enormous bone spurs sprouted from the hem of his robe, spinning at high speed like propellers and generating powerful wind. His legs transformed into spiral drills, tearing through the air with every step.

One release!

After Dordoni released his Zanpakuto, his spiritual pressure surged once again, making him even more powerful and deadly.

"Come on, Death! This dance has only just begun!" Dordoni roared, his figure transforming into a whirlwind, charging towards Ichigo with destructive power.

Ichigo took a deep breath, his Hollowfication mask gleaming with an ominous light. He knew this was the real battle. Meanwhile, the fight between Chad and Gundam Byrne Masla had also reached its climax.

"Drink!" Gunther Byrne roared, his massive fists pounding Chad with the force of a whirlwind. His attacks, though brutal, were incredibly heavy, each one making Chad's bones tremble.

Chad, using his right hand to withstand the attack, remained steadfast in his unwavering gaze. He knew he couldn't retreat, because Ichigo and Orihime were both there. "With your strength, you can't defeat me!" Gantbyne grinned, his spiritual pressure surging from his fist once more.

Chad gritted his teeth, and the spiritual pressure within his body began to boil violently. In an instant, his left arm was completely covered by black spiritual pressure, transforming into a solid bone armor with scarlet patterns appearing on it, as if a demon's eye was flashing within it.

"The left arm, the devil's left arm!"

Chad's true power has finally awakened!

Steelbyn's fist came crashing down again, but Chad didn't dodge. Instead, he stretched out his "devilish left arm" and took the blow head-on! "Boom!"

A powerful shockwave spread out, but this time, Chad's body remained completely still! His demonic power completely withstood Gunther Byrne's attack.

Gunther Byrne's expression changed drastically. He felt an unprecedented force of recoil coming from him, and his arm even went numb.

"What?!" He stared in shock at Chad's left hand, which had transformed into a demonic arm.

“This is my power,” Chad said in a deep voice, as his right arm was covered with spiritual pressure, transforming into the final form of “Right of the Giant,” with a cannon muzzle symbolizing attack appearing on it.

"A furious blow!"

Chad Yasutora conjured a massive ball of spiritual pressure on his right arm and slammed it toward Gunther Byrne.

With no way to avoid it, Gunther Byrne was hit head-on by the ball of light, letting out a painful scream. His body was thrown away by the enormous force and slammed hard against the wall before finally dissipating into spiritual particles.

Meanwhile, in another passage, the battle between Uryu Ishida and Tiruti Sandavichi reached its climax.

"Oh my? What a tenacious little bug." Titi said with a light laugh, floating in the air, her huge fan-shaped wing mask flapping behind her, shooting out countless blade-like spirit feathers, which rained down on Shi You like a storm.

Uryu Ishida moved swiftly through the narrow passage, dodging Tiruti's attacks with his agile movements and precise judgment. He kept drawing his bow and shooting arrows, but Tiruti's body was exceptionally tough, and the spirit arrows had little effect on it.

"Is this all you've got, you little bug?" Tiruti said impatiently. Bone-like blades began to grow from her arms and legs, and huge wings unfurled from her back, making her look like a giant insect.

One release!

Tiruti's spiritual pressure intensified, and she transformed into a bolt of lightning, swooping down towards Ishida Uryu, the blades on her arms whistling through the air as she aimed straight for his vitals.

Ishida Uryu's eyes narrowed; he knew he couldn't delay any longer. He quickly took out five spirit arrows and arranged them into a pentagram. "Demon-Breaking Array!"

He fired five arrows at Tiruti, which intertwined in the air to form a massive spiritual barrier, trapping Tiruti within. Tiruti's attacks were completely blocked by the barrier and she could not break through.

"You mere insects, how dare you trap me?!" Tiruti roared furiously, attacking the barrier frantically, but the barrier remained unmoved.

“This isn’t to trap you,” Ishida Uryu said calmly. He quickly took out a pill-like object from his person and swallowed it. It was a “Spirit Particle Absorber” that he had prepared to deal with the special environment of Hueco Mundo, which could greatly enhance his ability to absorb surrounding spiritual particles for a short period of time.

He abruptly drew back the spirit bow, and the surrounding spiritual particles began to converge upon him frantically, the light emanating from the bow becoming brighter than ever before. "Scatter, Silver Ridge Archer!"

A massive beam of spiritual particles shot out from Uryu Ishida's bow, carrying destructive power, heading straight for Tiruti, who was trapped within the barrier. Tiruti had no way to dodge and was struck head-on by the beam. Her body gradually disintegrated in the light, eventually dissipating into spiritual particles.

Deep within Hueco Mundo, Ichigo Kurosaki's battle continues. Wearing his Hollowfication mask, he engages in fierce combat with Dordoni, who has resurrected his Zanpakuto.

Each clash between the Moon-Slaying Blade and the Wind Blade was accompanied by a deafening roar. Dorudoni laughed excitedly, feeling an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. "Come on, Death! Your dance is far from over!"

Not far away, Nel, Dondochaka, and Pessie watched Ichigo's battle intently.

Nel tilted her head, seemingly puzzled by Ichigo's Hollowfication appearance, but her eyes were still full of curiosity.

Dondochaka and Pessie were trembling with fear, yet they couldn't help but steal glances. Soul Court, Third Division Barracks.

Mashiro looked at the outcomes of the three battles reflected in the spirit sphere and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

“Well done, little ones.” Mashiro murmured to herself. She saw Chad and Ishida awaken their own powers, and she also saw Ichigo’s strength in his Hollowfied state.

"The strength of the Espada is far more than that." Mashiro's eyes gleamed with a profound light. "The real test is yet to come. Ulquiorra, Grimmjow... it's time for your stage to begin."

She glanced at the innocent-looking Nel in the spirit sphere, a playful smile playing on her lips.

"As for you, Nel... just stay in this cute form and play with Ichigo a bit more." Mashiro's thoughts stirred, and a barely perceptible wave of spiritual pressure emanated from her.

The movement flashed briefly in Hueco Mundo, subtly affecting Nel's spiritual pressure flow and temporarily preventing her from returning to her adult form.

She hoped that Ichigo, without additional support, would be better able to cope with the challenges ahead and better unleash his potential.

Chapter 189: The Espada (Part 3)

Inside the Las Noches arena, Dordoni Alessandro del Socaccio, after his Resurrección, charged towards the Hollowfied Ichigo like a raging tornado, unleashing devastating power. Each of his attacks carried immense wind pressure, enough to tear steel apart.

Wearing the Hollowfication mask, Ichigo's eyes were sharp. His speed and strength were at their peak. The moon in his hand transformed into a black lightning bolt, constantly colliding with Dordoni's spiraling wind blades, sparks flying everywhere.

"Hahaha! That's it! Death!" Dorudoni laughed maniacally, his attacks growing even more ferocious. "Show me even greater power! Let me see your limits!"

Ichigo did not respond. He felt cracks appearing on his Hollowfication mask. The Hollowfication time was almost up, and he had to end this battle as soon as possible.

He suddenly increased his spiritual pressure, concentrating all his power on Lian Yue. "Let me end this final dance!"

Ichigo let out a low growl, and his Legacy Blade emitted a dazzling blue light. "Getsuga no Kyuubi!"

An unprecedentedly massive crescent-shaped beam of light, carrying raging Void power, roared towards Dorudoni like a blue dragon. This was his most powerful Crescent Slash in his Hollowfied state.

A hint of shock flashed in Dorudoni's eyes, but he did not dodge. Instead, he revealed a satisfied smile. He felt the power of this force and knew that this was the strike of a true strongman.

Well done

Before the light engulfed him, Dorudoni uttered a final exclamation. His body was completely swallowed by Crescent Moon Slash, transforming into countless flying spiritual particles that dissipated in the arena.

Huhu

Ichigo deactivated his Hollowfication state, his Hollowfication mask shattered and dissipated. He knelt on the ground, panting heavily, his muscles trembling, his spiritual pressure greatly depleted.

Nilu, Dondochaka, and Pessie stared intently at the scene before them.

Dondochaka and Pessie were so frightened that they hugged each other, while Nel ran curiously toward Ichigo.

"Are you alright, Uncle?" Niru asked innocently, reaching out her small hand to help Ichigo up.

Ichigo forced a smile and shook his head. He could sense that these strange Hollows meant him no harm.

Just then, Ichigo sensed two familiar spiritual pressures rapidly approaching him. Not long after, Chad and Uryu Ishida appeared at the entrance of the arena.

Seeing Ichigo's exhausted appearance, the two immediately ran over. "Ichigo! Are you alright?" Chad asked with concern.

"I'm fine." Ichigo slowly stood up. "How about you guys? Did you resolve it?"

“Of course.” Ishida Uryu adjusted his glasses, a hint of confidence on his face. “That kind of opponent is nothing to fear.” Chad nodded as well: “I’ve taken care of things on my end too.”

"That's great!" Ichigo breathed a sigh of relief, looking at his two friends with gratitude and trust in his heart. "It seems you've both grown."

A cold and indifferent voice suddenly rang out in the arena.

The four of them looked up sharply and saw two figures slowly descending from the passage above Hueco Mundo.

Leading the way was a pale-faced man with short, dark green hair and vacant eyes. He wore a white rascal outfit, his hands in his pockets, and he exuded a suffocating spiritual pressure. He was a true... Espada!

Ulquiorra Cifer, the fourth Espada.

Behind him followed a massive Arrancar with a white mask on his face and two thick horns on his head, looking incredibly fierce. He also exuded a terrifying spiritual pressure.

Yammy Rialgo, the tenth Espada,

Ichigo's expression instantly turned serious. He sensed the cold and powerful spiritual pressure emanating from Ulquiorra, far stronger than that of Dordoni. "Long time no see, Kurosaki Ichigo," Ulquiorra said coldly, his eyes devoid of any emotion. "I didn't expect you to be able to get here."

Yami laughed, "Tch, these weak ants actually managed to take down those trash. It seems I underestimated them." His gaze fell on Nel beside Ichigo, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

When Nel saw Ulquiorra and Yammy, her innocent expression instantly turned to terror. She quickly hid behind Ichigo, her body trembling. Dondochaka and Pessie were so frightened that they fainted.

"What are you doing here?!" Ichigo sensed Nel's fear and glared at Ulquiorra and Yammy.

"What are we here for?" Ulquiorra's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. "To confirm, of course, whether you are qualified to continue your journey here."

He looked at Yammy: "Take care of them."

"Yes!" Yammy immediately grinned, his massive body transforming into a blur as he charged towards Ichigo.

Ichigo had no time to react and was struck head-on by Yammy's fist. "Boom!"