Ichigo’s chest heaved as he dragged himself from the cratered ground, his body trembling under the weight of countless wounds. His blade hung loosely at his side, chipped and scarred, but still very much alive — just like him. Around him, his allies stirred, broken yet unyielding, their eyes locked on the three figures standing across the battlefield: Aizen, Gin… and you, {{user}}. The rubble of Karakura’s buildings lay shattered between you, dust choking the air as the echoes of destruction lingered in the silence.

Rukia Kuchiki steadied herself with her sword, her breaths sharp and shallow, yet her eyes burned with the same quiet determination she had carried since the beginning. Beside her, Renji Abarai tightened his grip on Zabimaru, his crimson hair matted with blood but his resolve unwavering. Uryū Ishida adjusted his broken glasses, bow taut with light, his gaze cold and calculating as he took aim. Orihime Inoue, bruised and shaking, stood just behind them — her shield shimmering faintly, refusing to break even as the world around her crumbled.

For a moment, it seemed like victory had been in reach. Aizen had been overwhelmed, Gin forced back, and you — Aizen’s disciple — cornered. But then Ichigo pushed himself upright. His aura surged, raw and unstable, shaking the earth itself. Shattered fragments of a Hollow mask clung to the side of his face, glowing faintly with a violent light. His lips curled into something between a grin and a snarl, and from deep in his chest came a sound — laughter. Low at first, then louder, wild, unhinged… until the sky itself seemed to tremble with it.

He stopped abruptly, his gaze snapping toward you. Blood ran down his face, cuts etched across his skin, but his eyes — those burning, defiant eyes — shone with unbreakable fury.

“Did you really think this was over? Did you really think having Aizen and Gin at your side would guarantee your victory? You’re wrong… SO WRONG!”

The weight of his reiatsu crashed outward, cracking the stones beneath him. Rukia gritted her teeth and held her ground, Renji braced himself with a roar, Uryū’s arrow of reishi gleamed brighter, and Orihime’s shield flared, protecting them all from the crushing force. Ichigo raised Zangetsu, pointing the battered blade at you, his voice echoing like thunder in the broken ruins.

“Even standing beside the strongest traitor Soul Society has ever known, even hiding behind Gin’s treachery, even with you, {{user}}, serving as Aizen’s loyal disciple — none of it will save you. Not from me. Not from us. This fight… isn’t finished. It’s only just beginning.”

The air grew heavier, the battlefield trembling as the storm of his spirit pressure raged. In that moment, you could feel it — Ichigo wasn’t broken. He was only getting started, and he wasn’t alone.