NOTAKING
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Chapter 32
🕑 Added 2025-04-08 10:18:15 +0000 UTCAfter class ended, Ichigo slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way home, his thoughts already drifting toward training. His body felt restless—his spiritual energy itching for refinement. Ever since his recent fights, he had started understanding his abilities on a deeper level. His control was improving, but he still had a long way to go.
As he stepped onto the streets of Karakura Town, the sky was painted with the warm hues of the setting sun. The air was crisp, and a faint breeze brushed against him. He walked with purpose, his mind racing through everything he had learned so far.
‘I can already perform Flash Step, but Sonído works a little differently,’ he thought, recalling the Arrancar’s movement technique. ‘The trick is in the vibrations… Flash Step is about speed and momentum, while Sonído uses controlled vibrations to distort movement. If I mix the two—’
A grin tugged at his lips. The idea excited him.
Then there was Hirenkyaku—the Quincy’s high-speed movement technique. He had seen Uryuu use it before in the series, and while it was impressive, he had no real interest in it.
‘Cool power, but I have no plans to learn it,’ he decided, dismissing the thought as he reached his house.
As he stepped inside, he quickly greeted Yuzu and Karin, who were watching TV in the living room. Karin gave him a brief glance before turning back to the screen, while Yuzu waved cheerfully.
Without wasting time, he headed up to his room, dropping his bag onto the floor before sliding open his window. The sky had darkened slightly, but that didn’t matter—this was the perfect time to train.
Ichigo made his way to the park, his usual training ground, the dimming sunlight casting long shadows across the empty space. The cool evening breeze brushed against his skin as he stretched his limbs, rolling his shoulders in preparation.
Closing his eyes, he focused on his energy, channeling it downward toward his feet. With a single step—
Woosh!
His body blurred, propelled forward at an incredible speed. When he came to a stop several meters away, a gust of wind followed, rustling the leaves behind him.
‘Not bad,’ he thought, glancing over his shoulder at the distance he had covered. ‘Now, let’s try vibrating the energy and using the burst from Flash Step at the same time.’
Taking a deep breath, he concentrated, willing his Reiatsu to pulse and vibrate beneath his feet. A static-like hum crackled in the air.
Bzzzt!
The moment he stepped forward—
BOOM!
His body shot forward like a bullet, his speed completely uncontrollable. Before he could react, the world blurred—then suddenly—
CRASH!
He slammed straight into the trees, his momentum bulldozing through them like paper. Bark and leaves exploded around him as he tumbled to the ground.
"Fuck, that hurt…" Ichigo groaned, pushing himself up and shaking off the impact.
As he dusted himself off, he turned to see the destruction behind him—broken trees scattered in his wake, some split clean in half. Despite the soreness creeping into his muscles, he couldn’t help but grin.
‘I covered that much distance in an instant. If I can control this, I’ll be unstoppable.’
His confidence grew. The speed was there—he just needed to adjust his body to react at that velocity. If he could master it, he’d be the fastest in this world.
With renewed determination, he continued training, pushing himself to move faster while maintaining control. Hours passed, the sun dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in deep shades of orange and purple. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he refused to stop.
Then—
"Ichigo!"
A familiar voice rang through the park. Ichigo turned to see Rukia sprinting toward him, urgency in her steps. In her hands, she held a small ball—the modified soul pill that housed Kon.
"A Hollow! Let’s go!!" she shouted, throwing the pill toward him.
Ichigo caught it midair, popped it into his mouth, and swallowed. Instantly, his soul separated from his physical body, the rush of spiritual energy flowing through him like an unleashed current. He stood there for a moment, letting the energy pulse around him, basking in the sheer power of his true form.
"Would you stop acting cool and get over here?!" Rukia snapped, snapping him out of it.
"Yeah, yeah," Ichigo muttered before turning to his limp body, where Kon had now taken control.
"Kon, go home. We’ll find you later," Ichigo ordered. Then, narrowing his eyes, he added, "And don’t do anything dumb with my body. If you do, the toilet is where you’re sleeping tonight."
Kon flinched at the threat, shuddering.
"Man, Ichigo’s dad is the one I fear the most…" he muttered under his breath.
With that settled, Ichigo turned and ran after Rukia, already feeling the thrill of the battle ahead.
When they arrived at the scene, they did not find the Hollow, which caught Rukia off guard. The air was still thick with traces of its Reiatsu, a clear sign that it had been here moments ago.
'What!? It was just here a minute ago!' she thought, her eyes darting around in frustration. Without her powers, she couldn't even sense its presence properly, which only made the situation more aggravating.
Ichigo leaned against a nearby wall, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp. He turned his head slightly, looking toward the direction where Uryuu was.
'Fucken dweeb,' he thought, clicking his tongue before pushing himself off the wall.
"Let's go, Rukia. It's already been taken care of," he said, his tone indifferent as he started walking away.
Rukia hurried to his side, grabbing his sleeve. "What do you mean? Who could have taken care of a Hollow? We're the only Soul Reapers in this town—well, besides you-know-who." Her voice held a mix of disbelief and irritation.
Ichigo barely glanced at her. "Well, whoever it is, they'll reveal themselves sooner or later," he muttered. There was no point in dwelling on it now.
From a nearby rooftop, Uryuu stood silently, watching them as they walked away. His expression remained unreadable, but his fingers twitched slightly before he adjusted his glasses.
'I will show you why I'm better,' he thought, his sharp blue eyes gleaming before he turned and disappeared into the night.
TO BE CONTINUED
