NOTAKING
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Chapter 41
🕑 Added 2025-04-15 16:45:13 +0000 UTCThe Menos loomed over the battlefield, its massive form casting a dark shadow over the ground below. Around it, dozens of lesser Hollows swarmed, drawn to its overwhelming spiritual energy like moths to a flame. Some, screeching hungrily, flapped their grotesque wings and took to the sky, eager to latch onto the towering giant.
The Menos remained still for a moment, its glowing crimson eyes scanning the gathering of Hollows. Then—
SHLUCK!
Without warning, its maw gaped open, and a long, sharp, spear-like tongue shot out like a lance. The grotesque appendage impaled several airborne Hollows in an instant, skewering them effortlessly.
SQUELCH.
With a sickening sound, the tongue retracted at an unnatural speed, dragging the impaled creatures back into the Menos’ mouth.
CRUNCH. CRACK.
The nightmarish grinding of bones echoed as the Menos fed on its own kind, devouring them without hesitation. Its immense body pulsed as it absorbed the new energy, and its red eyes flared even brighter.
Ichigo, watching from the ground, furrowed his brows but didn’t flinch.
At that moment, Urahara, Tessai, and Jinta arrived at his side. Urahara, ever-smiling, casually adjusted his hat.
“Well, well,” he said lightly, surveying the battlefield. “Quite the lively party, huh?”
He turned to Ichigo, his expression still playful but his tone carrying a firm edge.
“We’ll handle the small fry,” Urahara said, motioning toward the horde of Hollows still crawling across the battlefield. “You and Uryuu—deal with the big guy.”
Ichigo glanced at the Menos, then back at Urahara. He nodded once.
The moment he did, the ground beneath them rumbled.
The Menos Grande slowly lowered its massive head, its hollow gaze locking directly onto Ichigo. The air around them grew heavier, crackling with raw spiritual energy.
Its eyes narrowed.
It was looking right at him.
No—staring.
The weight of its spiritual pressure was oppressive, suffocating. Any normal Soul Reaper would have collapsed under it. But Ichigo? He simply stared back, his expression unwavering, his grip on his sword tightening.
Not a single ounce of fear. Not a flicker of doubt.
Then—
A deep, guttural growl rumbled from the Menos’ throat as it began to charge its Cero.
The air whined as an enormous amount of Reishi gathered at the center of its mouth. Red light pulsed violently, growing larger and brighter with every passing second. The spiritual pressure spiked, and the sheer force of the energy buildup made the ground quake.
Ichigo watched, his lips curling into a smirk.
‘Guess I can use it now.’
The Menos fired.
BOOOOOM!
The Cero roared downward like a pillar of destruction, a searing red beam tearing through the sky as it surged toward Ichigo. The sheer heat and force of it distorted the air, creating shockwaves that sent debris flying in every direction.
Ichigo didn’t move.
Then—
His sword arm tensed. His fingers curled around the hilt. His eyes sharpened.
‘Getsuga Tenshō.’
He swung.
The moment his blade cut through the air, a brilliant yellow crescent of energy erupted from its edge, blazing forward with explosive force.
SHRAAAK!
The Getsuga Tenshō slammed into the Cero, splitting it clean in two. The red beam shattered, its energy dispersing in wild, crackling arcs. The crescent, undeterred, continued its path—slicing upward, straight toward the Menos' head.
The massive Hollow barely had time to react.
SHINK!
The energy blade carved through its mask.
A violent explosion of spiritual energy erupted as the Menos reeled backward, its massive body trembling from the impact. Its mask, split down the middle, began to crumble.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
With one final, earth-shaking blast, the Menos disintegrated, vanishing into wisps of fading energy as it was completely annihilated.
Silence followed.
Then—
Ichigo exhaled, rolling his shoulder before casually turning away from the fading remains of the Menos.
‘Job well done.’
He sheathed his sword, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
From the side, Urahara watched with an amused expression, tipping his hat up slightly as he eyed Ichigo.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," he said, a playful lilt in his voice.
But behind the lighthearted tone, Urahara's mind was already racing.
‘Isshin’s kid is impressive. He hasn’t even unlocked his Shikai yet, and he’s already wielding that much raw power…’
A knowing glint flickered in his eyes.
‘Aizen must be watching him already.’
....
The very next morning, Ichigo woke up to the golden light of the sun streaming through his window. He groggily sat up, stretching his arms as he let out a tired yawn. His body still felt a little sore from the fight against the Menos, but nothing too serious.
With a sigh, he dragged himself out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. The cool water from the shower helped wake him up properly, washing away the lingering drowsiness. As he stood under the stream, his thoughts wandered back to the previous night’s battle.
‘That Menos was tough… but it still wasn’t enough. I need to get stronger.’
Once he was done, Ichigo dried off, threw on his usual casual clothes, and ran a towel through his damp hair. With that done, he walked over to his wardrobe and rapped his knuckles against the door.
Knock, knock.
There was a short pause before it creaked open slightly, revealing Rukia’s face peeking out. Her eyes were half-lidded, her hair was slightly messy, and her expression made it clear that she had just woken up.
“…What?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
Ichigo smirked slightly. “Let’s go out for the day.”
Rukia blinked.
“…Huh?”
Her groggy brain took a moment to process his words. Then, she frowned slightly in confusion, rubbing one of her eyes.
“You’re asking me to go out?” she repeated, still not quite believing it.
Ichigo crossed his arms. “Yeah. What, got a problem with it?”
She stared at him for a few more seconds before finally sighing, stepping out of the wardrobe and stretching.
“…Fine. But you better have a good reason for dragging me out this early.”
Ichigo shrugged. “No reason. Just felt like it.”
Rukia gave him a suspicious look but said nothing as she ran a hand through her hair, trying to fix it.
Ichigo glanced at her. “You might wanna fix that bedhead first.”
She glared at him.
“…Shut up.”
TO BE CONTINUED
