A sharp pain shot through Ichigo Kurosaki’s chest.
It felt like someone had reached into his soul and torn a piece of flesh from his body.
He looked down and saw that the Chain of Fate on his chest was broken, the remaining links falling to the ground with a crisp clinking sound.
Ichigo’s pupils contracted sharply.
“What did you do?” He looked up at Kisuke Urahara, veins bulging on his forehead, and roared, “You cut the chain!
Now I can never go back into my body!” “You guessed right.” Kisuke Urahara adjusted his hat brim, his tone infuriatingly calm.
“With the Chain of Fate broken, you can no longer return to your original body.
From now on, the corruption will gradually devour the remaining chain.” He raised his folding fan, pointing it at Ichigo’s chest.
“When the chain completely disappears, a hole will open in your heart, and you will eventually turn into a Hollow.” Ichigo froze for a moment, then gritted his teeth.
“Then why are you still cutting?!” “Three days.” Kisuke Urahara held up three fingers, his smile fading slightly.
“You have seventy-two hours.
Within that time, find your own Shinigami power, and you will survive.” “And if I fail?” “Tessai will kill you before you completely Hollowfy.” The air was silent for a moment.
“You damned profiteer!” Ichigo was about to pounce when Tessai Tsukabishi raised his hands, his fingers rapidly forming hand seals.
“Bakudō #99, Kin!” A heavy spiritual pressure instantly crushed Ichigo.
His arms were forcibly twisted behind his back, and his body was tightly bound by strips of black spiritual energy.
The next moment, the ground cracked open.
Ichigo didn’t even have a chance to curse before he fell directly into the deep pit.
“Kisuke Urahara!
You just wait!” The voice came from the bottom of the pit, fading away after a long time.
Jinta Hanakari lay prone at the edge of the pit, glancing down.
“He’s still got some energy.” Ururu Tsumugiya squatted beside him, hugging her knees, and whispered, “He…
he won’t die, will he?” “Who knows.” Jinta pursed his lips, but didn’t leave the pit’s edge.
Below the pit.
Ichigo braced himself against the wall, trying to climb up.
But the walls were incredibly smooth; he’d only climbed a few meters when his feet lost their footing.
Thump!
Ichigo crashed heavily back to the bottom of the pit.
“Damn it…” He endured the pain and tried to get up again, but suddenly a gnawing sound came from the chain on his chest.
Snap.
A small piece of the chain fell to the ground.
A tearing pain exploded in his chest; Ichigo collapsed to his knees, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
This pain was unbearable.
Just when he thought he could endure it, the next wave of erosion would be even more intense.
Ichigo lost count of how much time had passed; he’d fallen countless times.
There was no sunlight here, and he couldn’t see the sky outside.
He could only hear the chain being slowly gnawed apart.
“Hey, Orange Head, are you hungry?” Jinta’s voice came from above.
Ichigo leaned against the wall, irritated.
“I’m a spirit, how could I be hungry?” “Oh, that’s good.
I was even going to throw you some food.” “You’d be so kind?” “Of course not.
I just wanted you to watch.” Ichigo’s forehead twitched.
He was about to curse when a sudden, intense emptiness gripped his stomach.
The anger on his face froze instantly.
Souls don’t hunger.
Only Hollows have an instinctive craving for souls.
Ichigo slowly lowered his head, looking at the small piece of chain remaining on his chest, his breathing becoming rapid.
“How long has it been?” “About seventy hours.” Jinta’s joking tone vanished, and he said in a low voice, “The final stage of the corruption will accelerate.
You don’t have much time left.” As soon as he finished speaking, the broken chain suddenly opened with dense, sharp teeth.
Snap!
Snap!
The remaining chain was quickly swallowed up, and Ichigo let out a painful roar, his body slamming heavily against the wall.
Outside the pit, Yoriichi Tsugikuni quietly watched below.
He knew Ichigo had to go through this.
But when that chaotic Hollow Reiatsu appeared, he still gripped the hilt of his sword.
“Can’t you help him?” Kisuke Urahara raised his folding fan, shielding his face from Yoriichi’s gaze.
“To act now would only rob him of his chance to awaken forever.” “His soul hasn’t collapsed, meaning he’s still resisting.
Now, it’s up to him.” Yoriichi was silent for a moment, then slowly released his grip on the hilt of his sword.
At the bottom of the pit, the last link of the Chain of Fate on Ichigo’s chest vanished completely.
A black void appeared.
White matter spread from his cheeks, gradually forming a grotesque mask.
Chaotic consciousness raged against his reason, hunger and destructive desires almost completely overwhelming him.
Just as he was about to lose himself, everything around him suddenly fell silent.
Ichigo opened his eyes and found himself standing in a pure white space.
Not far away, a man in black wearing sunglasses was watching him.
“Who are you?” “You should know my name.” The man said calmly, “What Yoriichi destroyed was merely the power that the Shinigami lent you.
The power that truly belongs to you has always been here.” Ichigo looked at his hands, and the image of Rukia being taken away flashed before his eyes.
He had once said he would save her.
If he couldn’t even get past this, then that statement was just a joke.
Ichigo raised his head, the confusion in his eyes gradually disappearing.
“I won’t become a Hollow.” He reached out and grasped the sword before him, an immense spiritual pressure erupting from within him.
“Your name is…” “Zangetsu!” A single swing of the sword.
“Getsuga Tenshō!” BOOM!
The underground training ground shook violently, black spiritual pressure shooting skyward from the deep pit.
The binding spells holding Ichigo’s body shattered inch by inch, the hole in his chest rapidly healing, and his white mask cracking.
His black Shihakushō covered his entire body, and a massive, hiltless Zanpakutō appeared in his right hand.
Ichigo looked up at the pit’s opening, spiritual pressure gathering beneath his feet.
The next instant, he leaped out of the pit, landing heavily in front of everyone.
Ichigo gripped his long sword tightly, his gaze fixed on Kisuke Urahara, his tone calm yet resolute.
“I have already called out the name of my Zanpakutō.
My Zanpakutō is called Zangetsu.” “I have passed the trial.
Now, I can continue with the rest of my training, right?” Kisuke Urahara shook his folding fan, his smile returning.
“Congratulations.
You have passed the second stage.”