When midnight struck, Ichigo silently pushed open his bedroom window, the hinges letting out a faint creak in the quiet of the night. The cool night air brushed against his skin as he stepped out, landing softly on the ground below without a sound. Pulling his hoodie up over his head, he made sure his face was mostly hidden—he didn't want anyone recognizing him.
Then again, who would even be outside at this hour?
'Urahara probably would, since he's pretty weird,' he thought, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked through the dimly lit streets. The faint glow of streetlights flickered above him, casting long shadows across the pavement. The city was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of life replaced by the occasional rustling of leaves or the distant hum of a passing car.
—
Meanwhile, back at his shop, Urahara sat cross-legged on the floor, watching a late-night movie with a cup of tea in hand. Without warning, he sneezed, nearly spilling his drink.
"Hm… someone just mentioned me," he muttered, scratching his nose.
Tessai, who had been sweeping up some dust nearby, glanced at him. "Or maybe you just caught a cold."
Urahara grinned, waving him off. "Nah, I'm too resilient for that."
—
Back with Ichigo, he came to a stop in the middle of the empty road, the silence stretching out around him. Closing his eyes, he took a slow breath, allowing his senses to expand outward. The world faded, and in its place, a new awareness took hold—one filled with pulsating spiritual pressure, distant echoes of malevolent energy moving through the darkness.
His perception stretched further, reaching out like invisible threads into the night.
Within seconds, he became aware of every Hollow within a 5-kilometer radius. Their Reiatsu flickered like distant flames, each one carrying a different intensity—some barely worth acknowledging, while others burned brighter, stronger.
Ichigo opened his eyes, and though he couldn't physically see them, he felt the Spiritual Ribbons all around him. They were just there, drifting through the air like unseen strands of fate, leading him in different directions. Some were faint, others more vibrant.
'Wow, I really am talented,' he thought, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled on one of the weaker Ribbons, letting it guide him. His path was set.
The hunt had begun.
As he ran towards where it was, he began getting second thoughts. But he still continued to run. He wouldn't let fear stop him from going.
He arrived at the place where the Hollow was located. Which was a broke down construction sight in the middle of buildings. Ichigo saw the Hollow standing in the middle.
' Okay. It isn't that big, but I still need to be cautious ' he thought as he entered the site.
The Hollow turned around, sensing Ichigo as well. When it saw him, it let out a loud screech from its mask. Which sent a powerful wind wave at Ichigo who stood there unfazed.
His sword unsheathed with the moon light reflecting on the blade. A dark cloud in sky flew over and covered the moon masking the area in darkness.
' Time to kill this bitch ' he thought.
Ichigo channeled his Reiatsu into his sword, feeling the energy surge through the blade as it pulsed in response. He inhaled deeply, steadying his heartbeat, sharpening his focus. The weapon vibrated faintly in his grasp, the air around it humming as his energy flowed into the steel. He lifted it in front of his face, the cold reflection of the moonlight shimmering on its edge.
Then, he twisted the blade slightly—just in time to see the Hollow rushing at him.
WHOOSH!
Like a bolt of lightning, Ichigo kicked off the ground, flipping backward just as the Hollow's claws came slamming down where he stood.
BRAKLE!
The ground shattered beneath its strike, deep cracks splintering outward from the impact. But the creature wasted no time—it lunged again, its powerful hind legs propelling it forward like a rabid beast.
Ichigo's body moved instinctively. He weaved to the side in a swift motion, narrowly dodging the strike, then took a quick step back as the Hollow's momentum carried it forward.
CRASH!
The creature slammed into a concrete wall at full force, obliterating it on contact. Chunks of debris flew in every direction, the dust thickening the air.
Ichigo tightened his grip on his sword. 'This isn't that hard,' he thought, confidence surging through him.
He exhaled slowly, his focus razor-sharp. With a single, powerful slash, he swung his blade forward.
WOOOVE!
A blast of raw Reiatsu shot from the edge, cutting through the air like a razor-sharp gust of wind. The Hollow barely had time to react before the attack collided against its body.
BOOM!
The force launched it across the site, sending it crashing into another wall. The impact sent tremors through the ground, a thick dust cloud billowing up from the wreckage.
Ichigo smirked, lowering his sword slightly. 'Damn… I guess I just needed a sword. That wasn't even a Getsuga Tenshō.'
But his amusement didn't last long.
As the Hollow began pulling itself from the rubble, shaking off the debris, Ichigo's senses flared. He watched closely as the dust settled, revealing its distorted form standing tall once more.
Then—it screeched, a piercing cry that rattled the air.
His smirk vanished.
'Shit. This fucker's getting help,' he realized, feeling the disturbance in the air.
Without hesitation, he vanished from his spot.
WHOOSH!
Ichigo blitzed forward, his Reiatsu surging down to his legs, propelling him at blinding speeds. The Hollow barely registered the movement before—
SHING!
Ichigo's sword carved cleanly through its body in a single, precise arc.
The Hollow froze, its form splitting in half. A moment later, its body began dissolving into spirit particles, fading into the night.
Ichigo didn't stay to admire his work. He immediately masked his energy, his presence vanishing as he kicked off the ground.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
He sprinted across rooftops, his feet barely making a sound as he moved at incredible speed. He had no intention of sticking around—not with more Hollows possibly on their way.
After several minutes, he dropped down into an alleyway, finally slowing to a stop. He pressed his back against the wall, catching his breath. His senses stretched outward, scanning the area.
They were still lingering. Searching.
'That would've been the death of me,' he thought, exhaling as he remained still.
He waited patiently. Only when he was absolutely sure the coast was clear did he make his way back home.
Climbing through his window, he landed softly in his room, shutting it behind him. He sat on his bed, the exhaustion settling in—but beneath it, there was something else.
A grin tugged at his lips.
'That wasn't so bad, honestly,' he thought, staring at his sword.
TO BE CONTINUED
[A/N: He needs exp guys. I'm not going to fast. Also I just opened a patreon. Get up to 30 chapters for $9. Umm idk how to advertise. But T&Cs applied whatever that means Peace ]