Chapter 232 The Supreme Good is Like Water
"Throughout Seireitei, sixteen enemy Reiatsu signatures have been confirmed presently!"
"However, Shinigami Reiatsu has vanished in locations that haven't been confirmed yet. This is suspected resulting from combat. It's speculated that technicians investigating Reiatsu perished before transmitting reports in time—"
The Technology Development Bureau existed in complete chaos presently. Battles were erupting throughout various Seireitei locations. Making effective statistics with only dozens of personnel here proved impossible. More importantly, continuously processing newly arriving intelligence streams.
"Report! Third Division Vice-Captain Kira's Reiatsu has vanished, along with a seated officer from the same division!"
"Report! Twenty-five soldiers were killed in West District 601! Simultaneously, sixty-one casualties occurred in District 224!"
As the Technology Development Bureau's deputy director and Twelfth Division's Third Seat officer, Akon felt despair at this moment. Within merely seven minutes of invasion, the number of Shinigami killed in action had reached over one thousand. So many casualties...
No hope of victory existed whatsoever!
Within Hueco Mundo, beyond the outer perimeter, the climate here had transformed cloudy and humid. Within mere minutes, the sky became shrouded with dark clouds. Light drizzle began falling.
This peculiar scene could be described as extraordinarily rare within Hueco Mundo. The needle-sized droplets fell upon Kurosaki Ichigo's body. The burning flames attached to his form displayed no signs of extinguishing—rather, they intensified dramatically.
Did flames materialize within his body? No! Despite the distance not proving extraordinarily proximate, no burning sensation could be perceived from the Reiatsu the other party emitted.
Finally sensing genuine crisis from his opponent, Reinhard displayed a rare smile. His eyes instantly grew resolute.
"Now you prove worthy of my complete effort. Grip your blade tightly—don't forfeit your life!"
While speaking, Reinhard slowly withdrew the blade from its sheath.
"Naturally!"
Ichigo's voice grew increasingly deeper. The Reiatsu throughout his entire being became somewhat unpredictable—resembling a candle flickering in wind, fluctuating continuously.
Just as Reinhard drew half the Zanpakutō within his grasp, profound killing intent erupted from his body, almost materializing.
"Hyakuretsu!"
As Reinhard withdrew his Zanpakutō violently, black sword energy tore through the spatial fabric, carrying Reinhard's profound killing intent toward Kurosaki Ichigo's position.
"What exquisite slashing technique!"
Urahara Kisuke positioned aside had just praised when Kurosaki Ichigo—whose Reiatsu breath and appearance had transformed—refused yielding.
The flames burning throughout Ichigo's entire body released from his form, enveloping him completely. The pitch-black flames trembled and began spreading.
The instant Reinhard's slash landed upon the flame barrier before Ichigo, it immediately dispersed explosively. The Reiatsu raindrops falling continuously from the air landed upon the beach below. Every materialized Reiatsu droplet possessed profound corrosive properties, directly dissolving the sand.
Witnessing his attack blocked by his opponent utilizing such peculiar ability, Reinhard felt momentarily stunned.
"Getsuga: Kokuenzan!"
After blocking Reinhard's assault, Kurosaki Ichigo didn't defend blindly. When his opponent appeared slightly dazed, Kurosaki Ichigo cut through the exploding smoke and dust positioned before them both, firing a black flame crescent with tremendous arc directly striking at speeds Reinhard couldn't evade.
BOOM—!
After striking Reinhard, the black flames continuously eroded Reinhard's body. Although Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande endowed him with powerful regenerative capabilities, these black flames—resembling persistent parasites—constantly burned his physical form.
The rain falling from the sky washed away the smoke and dust surrounding Reinhard, then continuously struck his muscular body. Crossing his arms to block Kurosaki Ichigo's powerful attack, Reinhard felt extraordinarily uncomfortable.
Menos Grande's High-Speed Regeneration could repair physical injuries. However, the burning agony consuming his soul could only be endured through sheer willpower.
"Hah..."
After releasing his crossed arms, Reinhard exhaled heavily. Then he positioned two fingers upon his Zanpakutō's blade and addressed Kurosaki Ichigo: "You've genuinely grown stronger, boy!"
"That strike just now actually made me experience pain. Compared to the damage the old man inflicted upon me, your slash proves even more unforgettable. Because... if I lose to you, circumstances would prove genuinely embarrassing!"
"Roar, Shishiō!"
If Reinhard's character previously had been irritable, impulsive, and volatile, then presently he maintained inner tranquility at all times. His eyes appeared extraordinarily clear and transparent.
Following that devastating defeat, Reinhard had approached Fiander, hoping the other party would permit him breaking through once more. Simply increasing strength proved meaningless. Since then, Reinhard frequently sat alone within secret chambers whenever time permitted, apparently sensing something profound.
After considerable duration, Reinhard comprehended a spiritual realm called "the supreme good is like water"—transforming Reinhard completely from his previous self.
Profound self-control and emotional regulation made Reinhard's entire presence appear different. Although his appearance remained identical to before, the killing intent throughout his being could be restrained proficiently.
"It's different!"
Not only Urahara Kisuke but even Sado Yasutora sensed that the Reiatsu released by Reinhard after Resurrección didn't improve whatsoever—rather, it weakened by more than half.
This situation made Urahara Kisuke rarely display shock, murmuring: "An Arrancar can accomplish this? That person..."
Without awaiting Urahara Kisuke speculating excessively, Reinhard—having achieved Resurrección—closed his eyes tightly before slowly opening them. A sphere of black luminescence condensed upon his slender, sharp black nails as he folded his hands together and slowly raised them.
"Come, Kurosaki Ichigo."
TING—
The moment Reinhard's voice concluded, Kurosaki Ichigo suddenly sensed the sky growing dark. The clouds above were torn in two.
At this moment, the entire world transformed gray and white—as though time had suspended. Sound could no longer be perceived.
After regaining his senses once more, Kurosaki Ichigo witnessed Reinhard positioned not far distant raising two fingers, then gently lowering them.
SLASH—
"Ichigo!"
"Kurosaki!"
Blood spattered across Ichigo's cheek. With Sado and Urahara Kisuke's voices below, he slowly regained awareness.
At some point, his body had been torn from the shoulder blade. Tremendous blood gushed forth from the wound. The injury—penetrating deep into bone—proved clearly visible.
Could it be... did I just nearly die like this?