Immediately after the meeting ended.
The hallways of the Lichtreich were so desolate they felt bleak. Even the occasional footsteps of passing maids couldn't fill the void.
Ichigo walked down the long corridor alone, lost in thought.
With every step, the very weight of the air in the hallway seemed to shift.
'To think... I'm a being that combines five different races...'
No matter how much he chewed on the thought, he couldn't wrap his head around it.
His grandfather had praised him as a genius before, but he had never used words like 'strange' or 'peculiar.'
He had simply assumed he was a Quincy, perfectly equal to all the others.
"...And what on earth is a Fullbringer?"
He wasn't very familiar with the other four races, but he had at least heard of them.
But a Fullbringer?
It didn't feel real; if anything, it only added to his confusion. However, Ichigo soon shook his head vigorously, forcing his thoughts into order.
Complex theories weren't what mattered right now.
'I possess the power of five races.'
'I was created directly by His Majesty... in essence, I'm his real son.'
"I am... Ichigo."
Yes, he was Ichigo.
A being created to protect Yhwach.
If that was the case, he couldn't afford to be complacent with his current state.
He had to grow quickly and become stronger than anyone else.
Stronger than anyone, so he could protect His Majesty from unknown enemies.
Because that was his reason for existing.
Having settled his thoughts, Ichigo felt the tension leave his muscles as his body relaxed.
Was it because he had regained his composure? Or was it because his goal had become clear?
The air that had felt heavy moments ago now began to feel refreshing and crisp.
"I'm special!! Let's go! Fighting!!!"
Ichigo squeezed his eyes shut and let out the shout he had been holding back.
People passing by on the other side whispered and stared at him, but he didn't care.
Because he was special.
.
.
.
A few days later, during training, Hubert noticed that Ichigo had changed a bit since his meeting with His Majesty.
The corners of his mouth were curled up in a strange way.
He was twisting his body as if trying to strike a pose, aiming his bow at the target with maximum flair—though his aiming posture was actually quite good.
He fired his Heilig Pfeil while controlling his power as if he were granting mercy.
And then there was that look in his eyes, as if they were filled with a deep, melancholy soul.
"...How annoying."
"Huh?"
"I said you're annoying. Did one meeting with His Majesty make you this cocky?"
Hubert was thoroughly displeased with Ichigo.
For starters, the fact that the words 'biological son' had come out of His Majesty's mouth rankled him.
The kid's inexplicable talent also played a part in his irritation.
"Heh, Mr. Hubert. Don't overthink it. I've just realized that I'm a bit special, that's all."
"...What?"
Ichigo wiped the sweat trickling down his chin and gave a relaxed smile.
Hubert found the display absurd, but he didn't know what kind of conversation Ichigo had shared with Yhwach.
'...Could it be? Did His Majesty really say he was his son? His actual biological son?'
It was unthinkable... but if Ichigo really was Yhwach's son...
It was obvious he would eventually reach a height Hubert couldn't even dream of.
...Perhaps even to Yhwach's own throne.
'...I should probably hold back a little when I hit him, just in case.'
"Is that so? Then let's raise the intensity a bit."
Hubert spoke with a forced, gentle smile.
Of course, the corners of his mouth were twitching as if he couldn't stand himself.
"Great! Bring it on! What are we learning?"
Ichigo accepted Hubert's proposal with a confident voice. Without losing his smile, Hubert looked toward the other side of the training ground and muttered.
"Blut."
"...Blut?"
Ichigo tilted his head at the unfamiliar term.
'...I feel like things I don't know keep popping up.'
Just as Ichigo was realizing his lack of knowledge once again, Hubert called out to someone on the other side of the training ground who was aiming a gun at a target.
"Hey, Nikita. Shoot me with your gu—"
—BANG!
Before he could even finish his sentence, Nikita aimed the muzzle of her gun, which radiated a chilling spiritual aura, at Hubert's head and pulled the trigger.
However, as if he had expected it, Hubert shielded his head with his arm at an invisible speed. The moment blue, vein-like patterns appeared on Hubert's arm, the bullet bounced off helplessly.
—CLANG!
"...That crazy bitch..."
"...She's got a really good aim."
"She's the biggest psycho in the Schutzstaffel."
Hubert glared for a moment at Nikita, who had peacefully begun cleaning her gun, then looked back at Ichigo.
"You saw that, Ichigo. This is Blut. Specifically, the defensive version, 'Blut Vene.'"
"Ooooh..."
Ichigo's eyes sparkled with admiration as he watched the clusters of Reishi flowing along Hubert's arm.
Chilling blue geometric patterns were rising to the surface along his veins.
"Blut Vene is a technique where you flow Reishi into your veins to instantaneously and drastically increase the defensive power of that area. Normally, when used, these blue patterns appear on the surface along the veins."
"If Blut Vene is for defense, is there an offensive one too?"
When Ichigo asked, swallowing hard, Hubert nodded.
"Yeah, you're quick on the uptake—must be that good bloodline. The offensive version is Blut Arterie. It's a technique where you flow Reishi into your arteries instead of your veins. It boosts your physical capabilities, increasing your grip strength, muscle power, and leg strength overall. Unlike Blut Vene, red patterns appear along the arteries."
This time, a warm red pattern appeared on the surface.
"The downside of this technique, if you can call it that, is that they can't be used simultaneously. Common sense dictates that if you put Reishi into both your arteries and veins at the same time, your body won't be able to handle it, and your blood vessels will burst throughout your entire body."
"...Putting Reishi into your blood vessels in the first place doesn't seem like a 'common sense' decision to me."
At Hubert's explanation, Ichigo shuddered as he briefly imagined his own blood vessels bursting.
His brain would surely lose function in seconds, and he'd lose consciousness and die.
"Pure-blooded Echt Quincies can all use Blut instinctively, but even for a pure-blood, it takes practice to switch between Blut Vene and Arterie skillfully. Why don't you try using it yourself?"
"....Huh?"
At the mention of 'Echt Quincy,' Ichigo's confident expression stiffened.
Now that the question of his lineage, which he had wondered about his whole life, had been solved—albeit simply—his race was...
Soul Reaper, Hollow, Fullbringer, Human. And Quincy.
'...Isn't my Quincy concentration even lower than a Gemischt Quincy born from a typical mixed human-Quincy couple?'
"U-um, excuse me..."
"...What. Is something bothering you?"
As Ichigo hesitated, breaking into a cold sweat, Hubert asked while studying his complexion.
"Weeeell... I think I'm actually a Gemischt Quincy."
"........What?"
Hubert's expression soured instantly.
.
.
.
A wide sparring arena set in the middle of the training grounds.
Inside, Ichigo was running like a madman, dodging a relentless rain of blue light arrows pouring from the sky.
"Aaaaagh!! Wait, wait!! Stop! STOP!!!!"
"Stop? Why should I stop?! I was an idiot to even think of looking out for a piece of shit like you for even a second!!"
Despite Ichigo's shouts, Hubert continued to fire Heilig Pfeil with pent-up rage. The attacks smashed the floor of the sparring arena with enough force to guarantee a hospital stay if even one hit. Ichigo moved desperately in every direction, constantly dodging the arrows flying toward him.
"How dare a mere Gemischt impersonate His Majesty's biological son?!"
"No, I never said that?! And besides, he, he could have met a human!!"
"Do you think His Majesty would ever associate with something like a human!!"
"...Then a Hollow?"
"YOU HOLLOW-BASTARD!!!!"
Despite Ichigo's protests, the rain of arrows only grew more intense, and wounds began to appear here and there on Ichigo's body.
It was hot. The areas where the arrows grazed him felt like they were boiling with lava.
'I mean, how am I supposed to tell him what I heard from His Majesty...!'
If he told him he was born with the power of five races—a mutt among mutts—how would he even take it?
He'd likely just fire even more arrows, telling him to stop talking nonsense.
"Gwaaaah!! Haschwalth!! Haschwalth!!!"
Ichigo cried out in desperation, looking for his fellow recruit and the only person who might be able to help in this situation. But of all days, Haschwalth was nowhere to be seen in the training grounds.
"That guy is off learning Reishi manipulation from Quilge, so don't even think about asking for help."
Hubert sneered as he slowly approached Ichigo, like a predator cornering its prey.
'Dammit, I have to do something...!'
While running away, Ichigo suddenly turned around, kicked off the ground to minimize recoil, and bent his knees.
"Heilig Pfeil!!"
Ichigo immediately pulled out his Quincy Cross, gripped the ring, and forcibly gathered Reishi to manifest it.
Red electricity forcibly connected the spirit particles, forming Ichigo's unique Heilig Bogen, and he instantly drew the bowstring.
"Aiming a bow at your superior? You've really gone off the deep end."
"You were trying to kill me, so what do you expect?!"
Ichigo shouted back in disbelief at Hubert, who had briefly stopped his barrage to watch Ichigo's resistance.
The moment Ichigo pulled the bowstring taut and was about to release it, Hubert's figure vanished.
"...?!"
"You're slow. Even your reaction is slow."
At the chilling voice from behind, Ichigo hurriedly turned his head, but Hubert's military boot was already flying toward his chin.
"Guh...!!"
Ichigo's body was sent flying through the air. After tumbling several times, his white military uniform was a mess.
"Hirenkyaku. An advanced movement technique used by Quincies."
Hubert didn't even spare a glance at Ichigo, who was trying to stand up with trembling arms, as he casually spun his Quincy Cross around his finger.
"I'll admit you have some inexplicable talent. Your Reiatsu is excellent, and your method of gathering Reishi is unique. But you're too stupid. A basic fight can only happen if you at least know your enemy's abilities. At the very least, you should have shown some effort to learn Quincy techniques before fighting."
"Mr. Hubert, you're my instructor, and you're the one who picked the fight...!"
Ichigo grabbed his chin and tried to steady his spinning vision. His head felt like it was vibrating from a concussion, but he forced his eyes open, trying to face Hubert. He didn't know when or where another arrow or kick might come from.
Seeing the sharp venom in Ichigo's gaze, Hubert chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.
"Surely you're not having some weak-Quincy thought like, 'Using violence on a student is too much,' are you? You're a soldier. You may be under my instruction, but you're a full-fledged Sternritter recognized by His Majesty."
Having said that, Hubert aimed a sharp Reishi arrowhead at Ichigo, who was slumped in the arena, as if to end it.
"I've adjusted the power. Even if you take this Heilig Pfeil head-on, you'll be able to return to training after a week in the infirmary. But if you use Blut Vene to block it, you can reduce the damage."
"...You just said only pure-bloods can use Blut—"
"That's an innate matter. Gemischts can manifest Blut through effort later on. But that requires long-term training. Since I'm your instructor, I'm specially passing on my secret technique to you."
'Bullshit...'
Cold sweat ran down Ichigo's spine.
His mind went blank. His body wouldn't move because his head was still ringing, and there was nowhere to hide anyway.
He had to block it.
Using Blut Vene.
But... he couldn't manipulate Reishi with that much precision.
What if he tried to flow Reishi into his veins and it accidentally flowed into his arteries at the same time?
He didn't even want to imagine it.
Ichigo lifted his lowered head and looked at Hubert.
He planned to raise his arm and attempt Blut Vene the moment Hubert fired.
'I can do it...! I can do it!'
Ichigo bit his lip and clenched his fists tight.
Whether he saw Ichigo's determined expression or not, Hubert let out a smirk and released the taut bowstring.
'...! It's coming! Flow the Reishi into the veins right now..!'
The moment Ichigo tried to put Reishi into his veins, he realized something.
Thirteen years in a cabin. Two years of living as a commoner.
He had never received a single bit of formal education.
And that included professional medical training.
'...I don't know the difference between a vein and an artery.'
He was screwed.
With a 'to hell with it' attitude, Ichigo desperately began to inject Reishi into whatever blood vessels he could see.
He just knew he couldn't take that arrow directly.
However, contrary to Ichigo's hope for Blut Vene, red-hot blood vessels boiling like lava appeared on his forearm.
"Oh, shit—"
He didn't even have time to curse.
Maintaining Blut Arterie, Ichigo moved his arm desperately and instantly slammed his hand into the floor of the sparring arena, gripping it.
"Hyaaaaaah!!"
Like flipping a table, Ichigo ripped up a section of the arena floor and hoisted it up.
—BOOM!
The massive chunk of the floor became a shield, colliding with the Heilig Pfeil. Along with a thunderous explosion, fragments scattered into dust.
"...!! What the hell...!!"
The dust cloud cleared alongside Hubert's shocked cry.
"D-did I... succeed...?"
Ichigo muttered as he collapsed, clutching his glowing red, steaming arm.
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