As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, the stillness of Karakura was shattered.
A void-like portal tore through the sky, the air itself screaming as it was ripped apart. A dark rift opened wide, humming with ominous energy.
From within, six figures emerged, their silhouettes cutting through the air like blades. The one at the front, a man with piercing blue hair and an aura of raw chaos, hovered in the sky. His mouth twisted into a toothy grin.
WHUMPF.
Their feet hit the rooftops, soft thuds echoing against the quiet night.
"Is everyone ready?" Grimmjow asked, his teal eyes scanning his squad.
Their spiritual pressure remained hidden—suppressed like coiled serpents, waiting to strike.
"Yes," Shawlong answered coolly.
This was Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez—Sixth Espada. A predator in every sense. He opened his Pesquisas with a low hum.
VMMMMMM.
Invisible waves rippled through the air as he scanned the city.
"Heh. You see? If only Ulquiorra had finished the job, we wouldn't be here cleaning up his mess," he muttered, smirking.
He snapped his fingers.
SNAP!
"Alright—D-Roy, Shawlong, Edorad, Ilfort, Nakim. No holding back. If anyone has even a trace of spiritual energy…"
His smile widened, filled with malice.
"…kill them."
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!
Six spiritual pressures erupted like detonations in the sky, rattling windows and causing birds to scatter in panic.
---
Down below, Ichigo's eyes snapped open as he felt the sudden surge.
KRACK!
A surge of spiritual pressure radiated from him as he stood.
He grinned. "Finally…"
In a blur.
FWIP—CLINK!
He donned his Soul Reaper form in one smooth motion, black robes billowing with power. Beside him, Rukia transformed as well, her presence calm and deadly.
They jumped out the window together.
CRASH!—WHOOSH!
Wind screamed past them as they landed on a nearby rooftop. The city lights below blinked like stars.
"It's been a minute since I've seen you in that gear," Ichigo teased, smirking sideways.
"Does it look good on me?" Rukia asked, eyes narrowed.
"Of course. Anything looks good on you… even nothing," he replied smoothly.
BONK!
She elbowed him, her cheeks pink.
"Focus. They're coming. I'll take the first one—handle whoever comes next."
"Sure, whatever you say," Ichigo shrugged, stepping aside casually.
Elsewhere, the rest of the group engaged their enemies.
Orihime and Chad were safe, tucked away at Urahara's. Ichigo knew he only needed to focus on the most dangerous threat—Grimmjow.
Suddenly—
FWOOOM!
A figure landed near them with a burst of reiryoku. It was D-Roy.
"I'll take this one," Rukia said coldly.
Ichigo stepped back to watch.
She raised her Zanpakutō slowly.
"Dance… Sode no Shirayuki."
SHHHIIIIING!
Her blade transformed—elegant, white as snow, glowing under the moonlight. Rukia's eyes were like frost.
"First Dance: Tsukishiro."
FWOOSH!
She vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing behind D-Roy. A glowing white circle spread around him.
"What the—?!" D-Roy gasped as frost snaked up his legs. He leapt into the air, only to realize too late—
CRACK—BOOOOOOOM!
A vertical pillar of white-blue light erupted from the circle, consuming him entirely. When it faded, all that remained were fragments of glittering ice.
Ichigo let out a low whistle.
"Wow. That's one beautiful Zanpakutō."
Rukia turned, smug. "It's actually the most beautiful Zanpakutō in the Soul Society. I didn't vote for that, by the way."
Ichigo chuckled, placing a hand on Zangetsu's hilt.
"Well, I should get ready for the next one. Stay back—this could get messy."
SHOOP.
He vanished in a flash step. Rukia frowned, folding her arms.
'I can handle myself… Why does he always have to worry about me?'
Ichigo appeared right in front of Grimmjow with a sharp crack of air displacement—BOOM!—like thunder in reverse. The sheer force made the Espada instinctively jump back several meters, his feet skimming over the rooftop as tiles shattered beneath him.
SKRRAAASH!
Grimmjow narrowed his eyes. His smirk never faded, but his mind raced.
That speed… I didn't even sense him until he was already in my face.
Still, he wasn't about to admit surprise.
"Tch—You're the orange-haired bastard who beat the brakes off Yammy. I'm impressed," he said, licking his teeth like a predator tasting blood. "Name's Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez—Espada Number Six!"
The Espada badge glinted on his waist. His spiritual pressure began to build, like a simmering volcano.
Ichigo, however, looked unimpressed. He hefted Zangetsu over his shoulder with a metallic clank.
"Let's fight then, Arrancar. But not here—someplace where we can let loose. Someplace empty…"
He smirked.
"…like a Boruto Season Two screening."
Grimmjow blinked. "Huh?"
Ichigo didn't answer. WHOOSH! With a burst of reiryoku, he launched into the sky, flying off at high speed, a trail of black following behind him.
"Tch… cocky bastard." Grimmjow muttered, but his grin only grew wider.
He flashed forward with a sonic boom, following Ichigo's trail through the night sky.
FWOOOOOSH!
They soared above Karakura Town, moving too fast for normal eyes. Streetlights blurred into lines, rooftops passed in streaks of gray.
TO BE CONTINUED