Just like Zangetsu and Ruyi, the Hogyoku possesses self-awareness. Ichigo had already completed his deal with the Hogyoku before, so after repaying Aizen for the grace he had received, this item now belonged to him.
Thud.
After the Hogyoku was completely embedded into Ichigo's chest, his body trembled, and an invisible ripple spread out from him.
Ichigo's long black hair was blown upward for a moment, then settled back down.
Because of using the Final Getsuga Tensho, Ichigo would originally have completely lost all Shinigami power in the end. However, by absorbing the Hogyoku, Ichigo changed the outcome in which he would have lost his Shinigami powers for a period of time.
'Next, it's time to face the Wandenreich, the final Thousand-Year Blood War.'
Ichigo curled his lips into a smile. Not only had he not lost his Shinigami powers, he had become even stronger. This time, he wanted to see how Ginjo Kugo planned to screw him over!
One must know that in the Bleach's original storyline, after Ichigo lost his powers, he was stimulated in the Living World by a Fullbringer and decided to seek power once again.
An organization called Xcution invited him, and this organization was entirely composed of Fullbringers.
Fullbringers are special human spiritual ability users who possess Hollow power. They are not Shinigami and are essentially human.
Just like Chad, Orihime, and Ichigo, the relatives of Fullbringers were attacked by Hollows before they were born, and as a result, Hollow power remained within their mothers' bodies.
Through bloodlines, Hollow power was passed onto them at birth. Those who possess this ability are Fullbringers, and their unique power is called [Fullbring].
Fullbring is a power of the same nature as Hollows, namely the ability to manipulate the souls within objects one 'loves'.
Fullbringers draw out the soul of an object and infuse it with their own Reiryoku, transforming it into tremendous power, using it to manipulate matter and employ surrounding objects as aids to surpass their own physical limits.
When the ability is activated, it produces a special light called 'Fullbring Light'. If they alter the form of an object they are accustomed to, turning it into a weapon, it will exhibit its inherent special ability.
And the leader of Xcution invited Ichigo to join when he had lost his powers and desperately yearned for strength.
Because Ichigo, like them, had a mother who was attacked by a Hollow and thus possessed the power of Fullbring himself!
But did Xcution invite Ichigo to help him and teach him how to master Fullbring?
No.
The leader of Xcution, Ginjo Kugo, pretended to teach Ichigo to use the Substitute Shinigami Badge as a medium to learn Fullbring, all to satisfy his own greed for power… only to stab him in the back in the end.
And the people who had previously provoked Ichigo and harmed his friends and family were members of Xcution!
'This is perfect. Once I secretly learn your Fullbring, let's see how you stab me in the back.'
After obtaining the Hogyoku, what Ichigo wanted to do most was fight, because the Hogyoku required him to experience life-and-death crises in order to continuously push his growth.
This thing could be used all the way until he left the game!
'Let's see just what level this treasure can ultimately push me to.'
One must know that the Bleach's storyline was already approaching its final end. After the Thousand-Year Blood War and the last slice-of-life arcs, the Players would return to Blue Star and bring back the techniques they had learned to their respective countries.
If the power he obtained was not strong enough and had a fixed upper limit, then the strength he could bring back to Dongguo would also be limited.
But if his power could continue to expand, then the path he paved for Dongguo would stretch even farther!
'Thinking about it this way, choosing this Kurosaki Ichigo identity was really the right choice!'
Upon reaching this realization, Ichigo suddenly felt that this identity truly had not been chosen wrongly. This was not just because Ichigo was the protagonist with immense potential-
It was because only Ichigo possessed the ability to fully accommodate the power systems of this world.
Hollow, Shinigami, Fullbring, Quincy.
The powers of all four major systems… only Ichigo touched all of them in this world, and to no small degree.
"Give me a hand, Hogyoku. From here on, I'm counting on you."
If he wanted to use the power of Hollowfication again, he would still need the Hogyoku's help.
Now that he had already mastered Bankai, Hollowfication could no longer be used. If he wanted to use it, he would have to rely on the Hogyoku… otherwise, it was impossible.
Ichigo gently touched his chest, where the Hogyoku was embedded.
Sensing Ichigo's will, the Hogyoku gave a fairly active response.
After all, it had once deeply fused with Aizen. Although it did not betray Aizen's grace and had helped him survive several times, it still felt a bit reluctant.
"Alright, alright. Aizen Sosuke is fine. He's just locked up for twenty thousand years."
Hogyoku: "???"
"Alright, you really know how to comfort people."
"All your emotional intelligence was allocated to combat."
The viewers in the livestream praised Ichigo's warmth one after another.
Ichigo's mouth was a bit sharp, but after Aizen was imprisoned, he really did live quite well. During his confinement, his strength continued to grow, and in the end, he could even shoot down the Soul King Palace with Reiatsu alone.
In the Thousand-Year Blood War, he even rejected Yhwach's invitation.
…
After sealing Aizen-
The Gotei 13 had to rebuild the Seireitei while also enduring Ichigo's harassment.
Ichigo would come looking for fights every few days.
Aside from battle maniacs like Zaraki, most people treated Ichigo with respect and avoidance.
"Where's Captain-Commander Yamamoto?"
While clashing blades with Zaraki, Ichigo asked about the whereabouts of Yamamoto.
Zaraki was strong… strong enough to give Ichigo, who was not using the Final Getsuga Tensho, a genuine life-and-death crisis.
But it was still missing that last bit of flavor.
In midair, cross-shaped intersecting sword energy flashed by as Ichigo and Zaraki were blown apart, one upward and one downward.
Zaraki planted his feet on the cracked ground, while Ichigo was flung far into the sky.
"The Captain-Commander doesn't have time to play around with you," Zaraki said, spinning his oversized sword with a delighted expression.
Beads of sweat streamed down Zaraki's body. Thoroughly exhilarated, he stomped on the ground and charged toward Ichigo once again.
At this time, most Shinigami were busy with reconstruction, so there were not many spectators.
However, not far away, there was a woman watching the battle with great interest alongside Orihime… the 4th Division's Captain, Unohana Retsu.
Orihime was there to provide healing at any moment, while Unohana was there because she intended to join in herself.
"Learning Kaido is just to savor the thrill of slaughter!"
Those were Unohana's exact words.