There is a lot of stuff I crammed into this chapter. I know it is is a lot but you 'll have to grin and bear it sorry

Ghost Alvasa out

Momo readied herself to fight but was immediately stopped by Tosen, "We need to guard Lord Aizen's treasure against their allies Hinamori and I have lost much of my own reishi in the last two fights with the king and Abarai."

"Yes sir," Momo nods.

"Yeah about that," Ganju remarks thumping in shocking the two. "Don't look so shocked. Asta expected a few hick-ups or back pawns so he had me stay back in reserve," his draws his blade, "Brighten the sky, HANABI!"

Tosen steps in front of Hinamori and holding up his sword, "I may not have much left but I have more than enough power to handle an upstart like you."

"You sure about that?" Ganju smirked as he taps his Hanabi against his shoulder. "Then let's see if you hold a candle to Ichigo. His power is easily on par with captains and thanks to him and sis's training I have the power to stand up to you guys!"

He rushes in and locks blades with Tosen.

Momo starts to back away but soon finds Rukia in her way. Though breathing heavily, the petite Shinigami woman was standing up holding her sword.

"I'm not just going to let you run away with that Momo," Rukia steadies herself and then, "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"

"In all honesty," Momo places the sealed Hōgyoku in her robe and draws her sword. "I thought of you as my friend Rukia-san. I still do and I wish we had more time. I want you to join us with Captain Aizen we could right all the wrongs."

"Shove it out your ass Hinamori," Rukia scoffs taking her battle stance. "You knew what Aizen was doing and never once told anyone about those lives, he threw them away without even so much as a shred of remorse."

"You think you can beat me," Momo snickers. "It's fire versus ice. I'll win every time."

"We'll see," Rukia gives a bit of a smirk as the two starts to fight.

Asta and Aizen clash in the air above. Aizen is keeping up with Asta step for step as the two collide with downward and upward slashes. Aizen was at his it due to the injuries he had to heal many he didn't have the reishi he needs to make the battle continue. Asta had already dispelled his own Bankai and was using his Demo Decapitator sword. What was puzzling the former captain was the fact that Asta was still fighting on par with him even though his spiritual powers were exhausted.

Asta wasn't fairing much better in the strength department than Aizen. The king was solely relying on his own physical strength at this point. His black form was meant for fighting against mages, not souls, though it still gave him enhanced strength and senses making up for the inability to use Qi sensing on his opponent at this moment. This form coupled with his incomplete Breath of The Moon was allowing the king to keep up with the captain, but only barely. Even still, he was having his own internal struggle.

"Even I can tell you're having some sort of internal struggle, Black King," Aizen mocks as he slashes with his zanpakuto.

Asta glares at the former captain. Asta then extends the length of the blade of his sword using his anti-magic.

"Hachi no kata: Getsuryū Rinbi!" He roars using the gigantic version of his sword and creates a singular gigantic crescent-shaped slash of anti-magic that slowly decreases in size, creating dozens of crescent moon anti-magic blades that were headed straight for Aizen.

Asta stumbles back slightly grabbing the left side of his head, "Stop holding back! Use my power! Let me have control!"

Aizen does his best knocking down most of the crescent slashes. He was still hit with few landing cuts on his shoulders, left arm, and right leg. He narrowly dodged one the was in line with his head but pull back narrowly having a cut land on his left cheek. He looks down looking at Asta and sneers at him.

Asta pulls down his left hand and looks up at Aizen. His left eye instead of having a white background had started to turn black.

"He will make the perfect distraction," Aizen smirks. "Just a bit more." He smirks talking to himself before shouting, "That power of his is concerning though. He’s able to use other powers outside reishi. Magic of course but a type I've never seen before," He notes. "I'll just have to alter my plans," He says charging forward and clashing with Asta. "Dear king you look like you're having a hard time with something."

"Grrr..." Asta growls and then something inside him snaps, ”RAAAAAAA!”

*BOOM!*

"What?" Aizen says being forced back.

The was smoke and inside of it was a very large form with two piercing green eyes glowing in anger at Aizen. Suddenly two gigantic white wings shot out of the dust and with a single flap cleared it away to reveal a gigantic white, red and black dragon hollow stood there. His most notable features were his black left hand, the hollow hole in the upper center of its chest in the collar, and the fact that it had eyes and a mouth in its torso.

"RAAAAAAAA!!!!!" The Hollow roars. "FREE! FREE TO DESTROY! I WILL OBLITERATE EVERYTHING!" He laughs maniacally as black flames come from his maw.

"Oh my, you are such a pain," Gin remarks as he and Ichigo clash in a fury of sparks.

"You know," Ichigo knocks him back. "Hehehe... Always the life of the party!"

"Why are you even against us?" Gin asks. "You should be with us."

"With you," Ichigo tilts his head. "Why should be with the ones who wish to destroy innocent lives for their own gains? You bastards make me sick! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Ichigo charges in and delivers a series of slashes followed by a massive Getsuga. Gin manages to defend against the assault but is still forced into the air from the force of the Getsuga. Ichigo on the other hand wasted no time in getting behind the former captain with a cero at the tip of his zanpakuto.

"Die you piece of sh-" Ichigo started to say but was quickly throw off by a massive shockwave, causing the cero to explode on him partially destroying his mask. "What the hell?" he turns around to see Aizen standing across from an extremely horrifying sight. "Oh my god..."

"Well," Gin looks with an open eye. "That is certainly something," he remarks as Ichigo rushes towards the others.

Meanwhile...

Across the Seireitei the Shinigami that worked under Head-Captain Yamato of the Gotei Thirteen was busy facing off against the Shinigami of the Black Bulls under the command of The Black King. They were all still under the heavy mental influence of Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu's near-perfect hypnosis. The only thing that each of them saw in front of them was what they wanted to most, for those hurt by Aizen it was his bloody death at their hands, for others it was as simple as endless hollows to fight. Yamamoto was reliving his glory days while Kisuke was doing his best to fend off multiple captains that saw him as a hollow.

Suddenly a very sinister reiatsu washes over the entire area pulling them all from their trances.

"What is this?" Yamamoto asks. "This power."

"And incredibly powerful hollow has just entered the Seireitei," Byakuya says.

"I sense two hollows that can put up a good fight," Kenpachi smirks as he cracks his neck.

"You are correct Zaraki Kenpachi," Yamamoto agrees. "An extremely powerful hollow and another that is nearly just as strong have entered our domain. Their reiatsu was enough to dispel the coward Aizen's Shikai. We barely have enough combined power to either put the hollows down or take out Aizen and his forces."

"We'll put aside this squabble for now," Shinji says. "And help with the hollows," though he knew these weren’t actually hollows but Ichigo and Asta.

"That is not necessary," Yamamoto scoffs. "Move out and destroy the hollows." He commands and everyone moves out.

"We barely have enough strength left ourselves," Kisuke remarks. "I think it's best if we let Ichigo handle our dear king while in this state."

"What do you mean?" Inoue asks.

"Asta somehow gained a hollow from the fight he and Ichigo had with the reformed white hollow inside Masaki's soul," Kisuke explains. "It was very weak but steadily grew and developed into an all-new and more powerful hollow. Its form was finally finalized a few days ago inside the I.D field. Asta has a strong soul but hasn't had time to adjust to it or its power. At this time the only one who can stop Asta's rampage is another who possesses power on par with himself and there is only one in all this world who can stop him at this moment. Ichigo."

Ichigo in the meantime had managed to throw off Asta's claws strike towards Aizen but in the process allowed the traitors to escape and was forced back losing the lower half of the broken side of his mask.

"I wanted to fight you brother but no like this," Ichigo snickers to himself. "Hey, Zangetsu?"

"What do you want?" The mask asks moving its mouth without Ichigo.

"I'm sure you sense it too," Ichigo notes.

"Yea, that hollow has faint traces of the other larval white hollow," Zangetsu confirms. "But they're so small there's barely any of them left. The power of that thing stems from our own meaning only you and I have the power to face it."

"I take it that we're in agreement then," Ichigo smirks with a snicker.

"You'll get to show off our true power for a little while and I'll get some fresh air," The mask smirks wickedly, for a skull.

"I'll use a bit of my other power too, so we won't go into complete berserker mode," Ichigo says as blue lines covered his body and he holds his sword over his head spinning it in a circle via the chain, "BANKAI BLUT!" Ichigo yells, as he is consumed by his black reishi and the, emerges from it in an all-new hollowfied state with a duel-bladed Bankai.

"Let's see how long this union form can last," Hollow Ichigo says spinning his Bankai.

He then throws the blade easily cutting off Asta's wings grounding the beast. Asta holds up his left hand and a black flame blade erupts from it. The two hollows immediately went at each other in a flurry of hacks, slashes, and jabs as the two hollowfied brothers exchanged blows.

Asta suddenly forces Ichigo back surprising the hollowfied Shinigami causing him to cough up blood, "Not good. This form won't last much longer," He wipes the blood from his mouth.

"I will destroy all in this world!" Hollow Asta roars as he opens the mouth in his stomach and as black and red-edged cero forms before it. From the fanged maw of his head, he starts to gather black and orange-edged reishi. "Cero Oscuras Sincrético!" The ceros fired in a spiraling pattern at Ichigo.

"Oh shit!" Ichigo yells.

"BANKAI!" Renji yells jumping from the rubble and reeling back as a large bone snake comes from his sword.

"NOW, Hikotsu Taihō!" Renji roars forces the snakehead forward and proceeding to fire a massive blast of reishi into the cero.

Renji pushes with all his might to push back the cero and he was holding it off, just long enough for Ichigo to summon his zanpakuto. In the meantime, Zabimaru broke into pieces from the force of redirecting the cero upwards.

Throwing up his hand Zangetsu flies to its master grip, "Pin him down!" Ichigo roars as he holds up Zangetsu and the blades turn to face with the points towards Ichigo and then extend outward and a black reishi string connects the tips.

"Seriously?!" Renji huffs as Ichigo shoots a look that says do it or die. "Fine," Renji grumbles, point the hilt of his weapon at Asta as the smoke clears, "Higa Zekkō!" Suddenly all of Zabimaru's pieces flew into the Asta hollow pinning it in place. "It's all you now!" Renji falls over exhausted.

"Right," Ichigo nods as a black arrow forms.

"RRAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The trapped hollow roars and the six eyes on its chest open wide and started to create six ceros.

"It's time to wake up!" Ichigo yells as he dodges the ceros as they start to fire on him. Aiming for the hollow hole in Asta's collarbone Ichigo fires the arrow.

Asta awoke in his inner world. A vast kingdom modeled similar to that of the Black Clover Kingdom. In the distance there was were was a series of statues lining the base of the wall in sets of threes before repeating. The statues were of Fluttershy, Applejack, and Twilight in that order.

"About time you woke up," a voice comments.

Asta turns his head to see a hollow he's never seen before.

"You're the one I've been hearing." Asta scowls, "Which means You're the one who pulled me here so that can only mean you're controlling my body and trying to devour my soul.

"Hehe... Righto, though I've never been in this place before." the hollow says.

"Makes sense," Asta gets up dusting himself off. "You were born from the fragments of white left in my grimoire from what I guess."

"You're a lot sharper than you look," The hollow smirks.

"I have to be in order to be king," Asta says throwing off his haori, "But those fragments weren't enough to give birth to you this quickly. I take it you had some help from my demon, Leibe."

"I don't know who that is," the hollow shrugs it off. "I wake up in a red space and before I knew it was moved into this place."

"Yep, It all fits," Asta notes pulling down the top of his shihakusho. "Now I just need to drive you back. I can't handle hollowfication just yet, not after just achieving Bankai."

"How do you plan to push me back without your zanpakuto?" The hollow mocks as he summons a sword similar to Asta's Shikai Liebe but closer to a standard one-handed long sword.

"I will devour you and destroy the world!" The hollow roars charging at Asta raising his sword above his head.

Asta controls his breathing and blood flow, waiting for his opponent to come in close, then just as the hollow came within range, Asta vanished only to reappear behind the hollow. The hollow was completely thrown off by this turn of events that he didn't notice his head had become much light on the right side.

"If you truly were in synch with me then you'd know I don't need a sword to fight!" Asta shouts as he turns to throw something at the hollow who in turn slices the object in two.

The two-piece of the object hit the ground clattering with a sounds similar to wood. The whole turns its head slightly and is shocked by what it saw. Half of the right horn from its mask was laying there on the ground. Its attention was then drawn to the sound of clattering. It looked over to see Asta throwing up to more pieces of its horn.

"I never once said I needed a sword," Asta catches the borne pieces and crushes them to pieces in his hand. "I train every day to hone my skills as a fighter and first and foremost I am a martial artist!" he shouts rushing in.

Upper slash met with palm slap to the right. The left slash was thrown back by a block. Asta threw a palm thrust into the hollow's gut launching him into the air whit Asta following through the air using fire bending to rocket after his inner beast. He got above the hollow to land in ax-kick to the left side of its face sending in in a spin to the right. The hollows mask was starting to crack.

"Bastard!" The hollow used its wings to stop itself and proceeds to launch itself at Asta.

Asta straightens all of his fingers on both his hands as if to perform karate chops. He hardens his skin from his fingertips to his upper arm. Raising his arms above his head he concentrates on attempting to do something he's only seen one of his masters do once. and his version was more advanced and one of his own sword forms without swords.

"Moon Breathing," Asta controls his breathing and blood flow pushing himself further, "Ju nana no kata: Tsuki ga kudakeru jūjika (Seventeenth Form, Moon Shattering Cross)!" he shouts rocketing through the hollows wings shredding them as crescent moon flying out in and X-formation.

The king didn't let up, quickly flapping around. He let out a barrage of blows only for the hollow to meet him at nearly every turn. The two clashed over and over as sword met flesh only to rebound off sending sparks in the air until Asta reached the breaking point.

"I TRAIN EVERY DAY!" Asta unleashed a fury of blows as the yin-yang symbol appears on his forehead, "IN ORDER TO BE THE PROCTOR OF MY PEOPLE AND THE WOMEN I’VE COEM TO LOVE, I OVERCOME OBSTACLE AFTER OBSTACLE IN MY WAY NO MATTER HPW STRONG THEY ARE I WILL ALWAYS SURPASS MY LIMIT AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE!"

He lands a punch directly to the center of the face causing cracks to spiderweb all over the hollow's head. The sheer force of the blow causing the hollow to drop his blade and Asta quickly grabbed a hold of it and stabbed it throw the hollow's chest.

"Your another opponent I have to overcome, but you are still too young to even hold a small candle to me and have no grasp over your own power," Asta says as his reishi starts to cover the hollow.

"You know this is only the beginning don't you though," The hollow mocks. "I'll always be here, always ever ready to grab ahold of you..."

"I'm counting on it," Asta smirks as the hollow fades away. He holds the sword up thoroughly examining every detail of the blade and then sneers at it. "You have been a busy boy Liebe," He the sword like a disc in the palm if his hand then catches by the hilt, tip pointing down, and thrust it into the spot where his hollow met his fate. "A fitting place for you to be. After all," The king looks at the sword, "All blades should mark the spot their wielders were defeated."

He turns and walks away with the hollow's image reflected in the edge of the weapon.

"It's time to wake up!" Ichigo shoots the arrow straight into the hole in Hollow Asta's collar.

As soon as the arrow hit the hollow there was a massive explosion. The smoke starts to clear and standing there stood the hollow, with several cracks all over its body. The cracks quickly spiderwebbed all over the hollow and then the creature steadily reaches up with his claws and digs them deep into its body and grasp before quickly ripping apart its form to reveal Asta's form standing there with a mask on his face with a yang-yin symbol in the forehead and alternating black and white teeth with small spikes along the top.

The mask soon crumbles away and Asta falls to the ground breathing heavily, "Damn hollow," he looks to Ichigo, "Thanks for the save bro. Where's Aizen?"

"Gone," Ichigo wheezed out as his hollowfication crumbles away to reveal his human form but instead of looking like his teen self he looked a few years older, probably within his early twenties. "He and his elk used the hollowfication as a distraction."

"I did want to stop him, but his overall defeat is on your shoulders," Asta stands up and soon all of the others thump in.

"You two, where are the hollows?" Yamamoto states.

"Look Yamamoto, I don't have patients for your lot right now," Asta looks coldly at the head-captain.

"Know that I won't stand for you and yours targeting me and mine. You more than welcome to hunt the hollows in my kingdom but if I find you targeting anyone in or out of my kingdom you better pray against it."

"I can respect your power and outlook as a leader," Yamamoto nods. "I hope we can work together later when the time comes to face Aizen. We saw him and his fellow traitors going into the Garganta with the help of Menos."

"Don't count on me too much," Asta stands up. "We'll do what we have to. But again, don't cross me."

He looks over at Ichigo, "Let's go," Ichigo nods and he and everyone affiliated with them thump off.

Days later...

Asta and friends were currently hold up for off the grid from the Rukongai. They were pretty much on the outer area of the civilized area of the Seireitei the led out into the Soul Wilds. The laws here were surviving by what means you had at your disposal.

The souls of this area weren't as civil as the ones around the Soul Society as life here was much harsher and everyone had to rely on each other for every little thing if they wanted to survive more comfortably and unless you wanted to be a thief for everything or starve you needed to cooperate with one another. As such the souls like in Rukongai formed something like group family units that each specialized in different areas of survival tasks from hunting to farm as well as sewing or carpentry. No one was above anyone and everyone did their parts. The many different souls ranged from minotaur to dragon, with many mixed breed descendants as well.

The Shiba was welcome as they would often do what they could to help the souls here. Ichigo was well-known as he often came out this far due his assignments that were meant to either killed or keep him away from the Gotei Thirteen. He also liked a particular Dongo shop that he would frequent almost every day. So the residents were more than welcome to have them and their friends. Asta being too tired to maintain an I.D field made this hospitality all the more necessary and graciously accepted. Even with Inoue's power, Asta's own techniques, and Kisuke's know-how healing took time.

After a few days, everyone in the party was at least moving around. Ichigo was tended to by mainly Kūkaku but Isshin and Masaki also did what they could. Asta was tended to be Kisuke and Hachi at his own behest due to the hollowfication. Inoue tended to whoever she could while trying not to be a hindrance.

Asta was currently sitting with Urahara on a porch looking into the woods, a bottle of saké and cups held on a tray between them.

Asta picks up one of the cups and sips it, it wasn't really saké but tea. Asta just wanted to stay in the mood of nostalgia he was in. The atmosphere reminds him of his time in the east during his training.

"You knew that thing was in me didn't you," Asta says, his reflection not looking up from the woods.

"I saw it on day one," Kisuke nods pouring himself a cup. "That girl, Ayumi hollowfied so I thought you like to keep it. Though," He sighs, "I should've told about it but it would've caused more harm than good. I didn't consider that it would mature so quickly."

"I'm not gonna fault you on this Kisuke, not even you can foresee every outcome, but in the future, you will be telling me about things like this," Asta sternly scolds the shopkeeper. "Any news on the Gotei or Aizen?"

"No," Kisuke shakes his head then sips his tea.

"Alright," Asta sighs. "Immediately following our return home, you're in charge of researching and investigations as well as developing a way to get into Hueco Mundo. I'm going to place the vizards in their rightful places as Black Bulls Shinigami Captains with them answering to you directly."

"I didn't think you were serious about that," Kisuke says looking at the king with genuine shock. "But... me, in-charge? That didn't work out so well last time."

"I promised them I would if they decided to join us and they all told us unanimously upon getting out of the Gotei they wanted the positions." He sips his tea, "Besides, what good is a king who breaks his promises and you deserve more than just a candy shop. You don't have to call yourself captain or head-captain, but I want you in charge of the Shinigami. I know you and I know I can count on you, as more than just a subordinate but also as my friend."

"Thank you," He humbly nods. "What are we going to do about the Gotei?" Urahara investigates his tea's reflection. "The head-captain said he respected you and they haven't made any move thus far against us. It’s something to know that even he acknowledges you leader and power not to be taken lightly."

"Like I told the old man," Asta finishes his tea then pores more, "I'll allow them to hunt hollows in my territory but come after my people, and it's all-out war. I doubt he'll make a play against me at this point anyway, other than to maybe try and get the others under his control to better fight Aizen. He just lost a considerable amount of power with the loss of three captains and a lieutenant, not to mention any other spies Aizen had managed to turn that would’ve be necessary or good additions to his ranks."

"That is true," Kisuke thought. "You mentioned his forces. Any ideas on who they are and how to counter them?"

"We all train like crazy," Asta sets his cup down. "As for his for what they are, they're Arrancars. Artificially, or otherwise. I say artificial because there all hollow but many of them have already surpassed Gillions and moved into the up Adjuchas states before they are enhanced by our enemies' little stolen treasure. The top ones are Vasto Lorde, which Ichigo and I can turn into in our perfect hollowfication. They are the upper tier and very rare but extremely powerful. The number of them can usually be counted on two hands. I don't really know the upper of what they but all the hollows under Aizen are Arrancar that have gained that form through the Hōgyoku's power. I'll tell you more when we get back home in much greater detail. For now, we need more rest."

"I agree," Kisuke sighs.

A couple of more days pass and everyone has finally replenished their strength enough to depart for The World Of The Living. The overall destination is the Black Clover Kingdom’s territory at the minimum as no one expected to land in the city but fairly close to it, or above it as Asta predicts.

Ichigo was going as well with a small team of his own of Rukia, Renji, and a handful of other Shinigami that Asta approved when he spoke with Head-Captain Yamamoto when he came in-person to speak with Asta. Captain Maurice was adamant about being part of it of the group but Asta flicked across the room and shattered his face, the king always found this particular character disgusting in any form. Asta picked the Shinigami he’d let into his city and told Yamamoto he would take either send these Shinigami or none at all. The old man begrudgingly accepted the king's terms.

Everyone was currently gathering in front of the Seireitei’s Senkaimon.

“I’ll keep an eye on him for you Kukkaku,” Asta smirks. “Somebody has to be there to pull my ass out of the fire anyways,” he chuckles.

“You could come with use Ku,” Ichigo notes.

“Nah,” Kukkaku holds up a hand. “I’ll come some other time after you had some time to settle in,” she smirks, “You need to spend quality time with your family and little sisters.”

“Alright then,” Ichigo shrugs, “Be sure to keep on Ganju’s butt.”

“Right,” Kukkaku gives a thumbs up with a sparkle. “Be careful Ichi. You’re strong there’s no doubt about that but at the same time there is always someone,” she looks at Asta who was giving detail to the Gotei Shinigami, “Stronger.”

“Yea, but that’s what makes things fun,” Ichigo laughs but quickly gets somber. “I’ll be okay Ku and I’ll keep in touch via Kisuke and or Yoruichi,” He hugs her, “You be safe too.”

“Yea,” Kukkaku says softly with a blush. “Now you need to go. The others are waiting.”

Ichigo looks over and his face light up.

"Damn, I'm still not up to snuff," Asta huffs as he jogs along through the Dangai.

"You alright there half-pint?" A blled Shinigami teases.

"Not at the moment no," Asta says muscling through his exhaustion. "The both my fight with Aizen and my hollowfication have taken quite a toll on my body. It’s making it much harder on me to keep up with you guys as I have a physical body over just being a soul that uses a gigai Ikkaku."

"That hollow, was you?!" Ikkaku shouts.

"Me and Ichigo anyways," Asta evilly chuckles.

"Think about it Ikkaku," the captain of the group, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, comes up next to the pair, "Two extremely powerful hollows were detected, and then they suddenly vanished at the same time. Then every creature shows up to find the king and Ichigo there with Renji, Rukia, and Ganju Shiba. They're obviously like the others, the vizards, with the exception that the king here has a physical form. It only makes sense that he would still be under the weather with how much strain not only his soul was under but also his body, especially after only just achieving Bankai."

"You made of some pretty tough stuff aren't ya?" Ikkaku smirks. "Now I wanna go a couple of rounds with ya."

"In due time I plan on fighting you," Asta says looking ahead pushing through his aches and pains. "I plan on facing everyone here in a true fight to test your powers to see if you worth your merit to enter my city. Until you pass that test you will all be stationed outside the main wall until you've earned the right to enter Waillen by both earning my trust and "showing me you can handle yourselves in a real fight."

"That's something I can get behind," Ikkaku smiles greedily.

"It's coming," Yoruichi calls out as the Kōtotsu appears.

Suddenly Asta feels a sharp pain in the center of his chest, the place where Ichigo's arrow had struck him, "Not now," he winces and starts to slow down. Not paying attention he trips and starts to breathe heavily from the pain and his hand gets caught in the Kōryū's current. "No... " Asta winces through squinted in pain trying to get his hand free but he just didn't have the strength in his current condition. "Go get to the other side!"

"But what about you?!" Ichigo looks at his brother in horror.

"Just go," Asta waves it off. "Protect my kingdom in my stead. Tell my girls, I'll see them again..." He says with a smile.

Ichigo hesitates for a moment, then seeing the resolve in Asta's eyes, "Let's go," he shouts knowing he'll see his brother again. Everyone looks at each other then, "No arguments. He gave his orders now let's go!" Everyone takes off, "You better come back soon. You better come back soon. You have a kid who needs their father there when they're born."

Asta smiles and nods while Ichigo turns and runs after the others. All he hears behind him is the Kōtotsu as he runs.

"I will," Asta says as the yellow light from the Kōtotsu's eyes envelops him and he's thrown out and disappears in the throes of time.

The others all arrive on the other side of the Senkaimon in the skies high above that just on the outskirts of the city of Waillen.

"Kind of a desolate place you've got here," Rangiku comments.

"At least we landed close enough to get to the city I a few minutes," Kisuke say surveying the area. "Uh oh, we need to get to the palace," he looks at Ichigo while pointing in the distance. "We have a Caribou army inbound."

"You know the drill here Kisuke so we follow your lead," Ichigo acknowledges.

"Alright everyone we head to the palace," Kisuke orders. "We need to speak with the reigning royalty that being Asta's fiancés and the head o the Black Bulls while the king is away, Asta's top student. Let's move."

In the throne room...

"Make sure all of the citizens outside the walls are in them now!" Spike orders.

"Sir!" the Shinigami nod and move out just as Ichigo's group thump in.

"You guys really have the best time to show up," Spike scowls. "Where the hell have you been for the past two months?"

"Looks like the Dangai put our arrival time back," Ichigo notes.

"I don't have time for this," Spike waves his hand, "Where's Asta? I need to speak to him about the approaching army."

Everyone looked at each other, then at the young salamander.

"Spike," Kisuke steps up. "We have some bad news."

So they told them about what happened.

"That's not possible!" Spike shouts. "He..."

Ichigo puts a and on Spike's shoulder, "I'm afraid that's how the Dangai works Spike. We'll do what we can to help you but around here. Just tell us what needs to be done."

"Sir," one of the Black Bull Shinigami runs in. "Lord Asat's dragon partner, Lady Ymir she isn't calming down no matter what we try. She ended up flying off on her own to the outer wall and just started looking out on the horizon."

"I don't really have time to wonder what she's doing. More than likely her behavior has something to do with Asta in some way," Spike says with a bit of relief. "She linked to him so if she did that it more than likely has something to do with him."

"I guess that is some good news," Ichigo looks up relieved. "In a way. It means he's in this time period, somewhere at least."

"That can only mean he was sent back in time instead of forward," Kisuke agrees. "By how long is another thing altogether. Right now, we need to help the Shinigami and other Black Bulls forces prepare for a drawn-out battle."

"We won't be helping in this situation," Toshiro says abruptly.

"But captain," Rangiku retorts.

"No, Captain Hitsugaya is right," Yumichika agrees with Toshiro. "We are under no obligation to help the creatures of this city. We are here to fight hollows sent by Aizen, nothing more."

Spike rolls his eyes, "You can do whatever you want I have a city to protect," he walks off.

"Everyone not with the Gotei, follow me," Kisuke motions. "I've had Tessai have your gigais on standby," he turns to the teens, "You three go with Masaki. The notice members due whatever you want."

"What's his problem?" Rukia crosses her arms, "Who was that guy anyways?"

"He's gotten a lot stronger since the last time I saw him," Renji spoke up while holding his chin with a smirk.

"Details Renji," Ikkaku demands. "That kid looks strong like really holds his own in a fight strong."

"He's the vice-captain of the Black Bulls and the top student of the king," Toshiro shakes his head annoyed. "That much should've been obvious you idiots."

"You mean that kid is the strongest guy in the city right behind the king," Rangiku reels back.

"Yea," Renji nods. "Last time I was here we fought, and he beat me. Though I've gotten my bank since then it wouldn't surprise me if he was still stronger. His weapon has changed too. Before he had a jawbone sword that was supposed to help control his power. Now he uses six smaller blades. He's definitely upped his game. We could easily fight one-on-one, but he'd still win. I bet all of Asta's top officers could beat us."

"Are they really that strong?" Toshiro looks to Renji.

"If they were trained like that kid was then yea, but I don't think Asta trained all of them," Renji thinks. "But they definitely have power, even without training they'd still be tough to beat."

"Let's go get those gigais," Toshiro says abruptly. "I'm rather curious about these Black Bulls now. We'll help divert the citizens but we won't clash with their enemies. Let's go,"

"Right," everyone says following him in blurs.

"You can come out now," Ichigo says as he stayed behind.

"How'd you know I was here?" Twilight says as light bends around her to reveal her form. During the time the group had been gone she'd grown a bit more in power and figure.

"Even if you use magic I know your presence from when I met Asta in the city," Ichigo turns around. "You heard everything right?"

"I can't believe you lost him!" She shouts in anger.

"He's here just not with us princess," Ichigo holds up a hand. "I know how much he means to you and the others. I made a promise to protect this place while he was gone. I told you before my loyalties lie with Asta, not the Gotei. So, I'm going to help. Then I'll go find your fiancé and bring him back to you, promise." He places a hand on her shoulder. "But knowing my brother, it won't be long that he's gone. I've got to go and get a gigai on. Then I speak with Spike about what needs to be done. Have some faith in your future-hubby Twilight. He's not one to stay disappeared for long unless he wants to," he remarks thumping off.

"I've can't tell the others right now," Twilight holds her hand over her heart. "Asta, please hurry back." She prays flying off.

Off in this distance from Waillen at the foot of the mountain to the east there stood a group of eleven creatures in a line watching as the Caribou army steadily approaches the crystal walled city. They were all wearing similar black outfits and while also wearing drastically varying haoris. They also carried different weapons save for four that carried similar katana on their hips.

The only outlier amongst them was the center creature who wasn't wearing a haori but some sort of white and black decorated coat with a hood. The hood was up and over the individual's face as to hide their identity. The coat was adorned with a chain clasped to Phelps head screw just below the collar with two pull strings just above it on either side of the hood. A notable feature of the coat was the dual zipper in the front with one being all the way up and the bottom being zipped to right at waist level to allow for good movement. The zippers' pull tab was some form of upside-down heart symbol with the point stretching into a three-pointed star.

The hooded figure's hands were resting on its own katana as it had the weapon in front of it with its fingers interlaced on the end of the hilt. From far away one could tell it was an extremely old weapon from the weathered coloration of it. Up close most would be appalled and horrified by the weapon as its sheath and hilt were made of spinal column bones with no tsuba. The blade was nothing special save for how bright and shimmering the metal was.

"Master," one of them with yellow and red-tipped hair that was similar to flames excitedly spoke up, "The Caribou army quickly approaches Waillen. If we don't act then the heat of battle will burn the city and its forces to a smoldering pile of ash!" He speaks with passion as his fire-themed haori blows in the wind.

"Relax Rengoku," the hooded figure holds up a hand. "It has been a long time since I was last this close to this city, about a hundred and twenty-five years actually. I am feeling... nostalgic," the figure a deep breath and reels his head back allowing the wind to slightly blows into his hood revealing his face.

His face was still not knowable as it was cover by a mask. It was white with a black chin piece and black wing designs on the forehead. around the outer bottom of the eyes, there were sliver accents that led into silver outlines around the eyes. In the center of the forehead was the most notable feature being a yin-yang symbol.

The figure opens his covered eyes hidden under his mask as he looks at the sky, "Yes, it is time," he remarks looking to the field, "Time for them to experience what hell is like. Leave all slaves alive, knock them out only. Kill all others. Now go my children. Show them the power of a Hashira!" h was his hand and the all shoot off towards the approaching army. "Pray, May the gods hath mercy on those damned souls that dare to cross thine paths."

At the top the outermost walls of the City of Waillen...

Spike stood atop the walls of the city as he looks out over the horizon, fully armored and suited up for combat. Asta trusted the young salamander to the point that he left him to overee the protecting this city and its people and he was going to do just that in his master's stead. Several of the Black Bull Shinigami stood at the gates just below the vice-captain, ready to give their all in a fight for their city.

"This is more than just one city's army," Spike grits his teeth. "There's got to be at least a whole territory's worth of troops out there. It's slaves and the military. I don't want to hurt the innocents but holding back in this type of fight could lead to disaster."

"Then don't hold back," Ichigo says thumping next to Spike.

The drake looks over to see the Shinigami fully clad in heavy armor. Its color was that of a black variant with bronze or gold ornamentations. At his waist there was a set of white with black trim coat ails draped over his legs. In his right hand was a massive sword similar to his Zangetsu in its Shikai form but in the center, there was a whole of the blade with the weapon also having bronze ornamentation at the hilt.

"What are you doing here?" Spike asks. "I thought you Gotei Shinigami decided to stay out of this."

"That's what Toshiro decided," Ichigo scoffs. "That's not what I decided. I have family here, a family I have yet to get to know and I'll be demanded if I don't defend them and if I let these assholes touch my brother's city." He looks at Spike, "So yea, I'm going to help. because; A. I have family here, B. Asta isn't here to do it himself and I made a promise that I would, and Finally C. It's the right fucking thing to do! So step off!"

"Spike chuckles, "You remind me of Asta," he looks at the Shinigami. "Where'd all this come from anyways?"

"Urahara kept my last Gigai and Asta apparently had this armor and sword made by the locals," Ichigo crosses his arms. "Some sort of black metal the adapts to its user. It was just a gauntlet before and after I put it on, poof, full-body armor, and weapon. Gott to say it's awesome and feels right."

"That metal is a rare thing in these parts," Spike points. "Be grateful for it."

"I am but what's going on out there?" Ichigo motions with his head.

"A whole lot of troops, half are probably slaves," Spike motions. "Then to the far outskirts, there are about ten powerful Qi's that are making their way here."

"A splinter force?"

"More than likely," Spike sighs. "I've ordered most of the higher-ranking Knights to stay and protect the city. Some of the more, experienced at going into the fields with us."

"Do you think we can push them back?"

"If it was just a small army sure if we had Asta; definitely," Asta notes pulling one of his smaller swords out of its sheath. "If we went all out there is no doubt but I want to help those that are suffering over there."

"Then we'll do that," Ichigo looks at the drake, "If they have a collar on then they're a slave right?" Spike nods, "Then those with collars are to be knocked out, those without can be gutted like fish."

Spike chuckles, "You're a bit more ruthless than you let on," the drake steels his resolve, "I'm for it. Ya know though, you are nearly exactly like Asta."

"But I differ on key factors, like this whole leadership thing," Ichigo notes. "Not really my thing, but I do it when I have to."

"Let's do this then," Spike raises a hand and the gates open allowing the Forces of Waillen to march out, "Thanks for your help," The youth help up a fist.

"No prob," Ichigo smirks, bumping his fist to Spike's.

"This isn't good," Spike huffs.

"There are just so many and holding back is cutting down on us," Ichigo agrees. "It looks like that splinter group is nearly here too. I can see the dust trails of them not too far off in the distance."

"Yea," Spikes says cutting through another soldier. "They'll be here in just a few minutes from what I've read on their Qi. They'll be tired from the journey, but they will be more than enough backup to take us on. Our troops are dwindling too. No causalities but, no one is leaving without bad scars either."

"I wonder," Ichigo looks at his sword. "If I'd had more time to try I might but at this rate, I can't. If this body dies I can just get another but I'll still be tired. Damn it all! I'm useless without a physical form in this world!"

There were several sudden eruptions across the entire battlefield.

"The master as deemed that you should die," Rengoku proudly professes. "So we are here to oblige you!" He yells with righteous fury as he cuts through the enemies with fiery resolve. "Ichi no kata: Shiranui(First Form: Unknowing Fire!" Rengoku yells with a ferocity that made many cringe as he darts through the enemy ranks easily cutting down one enemy after another.

Spike couldn't believe his eyes. He'd only seen one other person use that technique before and it was in their training sessions with each other. These new creatures seemed to be much cleaner and more refined to the point that his moves actually took on the mental image of flames, deceiving anyone not familiar nor none the wiser.

"That's Asta's technique!" Spike yells.

"You immediately recognized Rengoku's move as another's," A girl with purple-tipped hair and lilac eyes wearing a butterfly haori lands next to the vice-captain and Shinigami. "My name is Shinobu Kocho, and I will be treating your wounded," She eyes Spikes, "You are strong. I can see it. Your master was very strict with your training but he never taught you a specific breath style. Tell me who was your teacher?"

"Why should I-" Spike started to say before being elbowed in the gut by Ichigo. "Fine, I am Spike Amadeus Everfree. Vice-captain of the Black Bulls and leader of the guard that protect this city."

Shinobu's eyes widen and bows, "I am sorry if I came off as rude Senpai," she stands back up, "I am one of the Hashira as is Rengoku. We have come to assist you and your own in driving off the opposition. As is our master's wishes."

"How many more of these Hashira are there, total?" Ichigo asks.

"Including Rengoku and myself there are nine," Shinobu pokes her cheek. "But I am not taking part in the combat so there are only eight of us total fighting. If our master joins us then it will be nine, but I can assure you he is going after one of the commanders. One of them is a traitor to our group so he is the one who can deal with them properly."

"There is no one outside this city that can perform that move he used, " Spike demands. "What is your master's name?"

"Asta Ferris obviously," Shinobu smiles. "He founded the Demon Slayer Corp and has been teaching the breathing styles to us for the past hundred or so years."

Spike's eyes widened in shock.

"I see now. He must have landed in the past and honed his breathing techniques to completion," Ichigo notes taking up his sword again. "He chose now to return because this is when he disappeared. I can't imagine how much emotion he's currently been holding back waiting for this day. Let's not let the youngbloods show you up," He looks at Spike, "Senpai," he smirks.

Spike shakes off the initial shock, "Right."

"Do your best," Shinobu waves as the duo get back in the fight. "Time to get to work."

Other places on the battlefield…

A tall, muscular, and slender man with spiky white hair and large eyes with numerous scars over his body back-flips through the air. He is wearing a green-tinted version same uniform the others wore but unbuttoned to expose his chest and abs with a white long-sleeved shirt over it with the kanji for 'kill etched on the back, white buckles around his shins, and tabi socks with a pair of white zōri with green straps.

He raised his sword up, "Wind Breathing," he smiles manically, "Ku no kata: Idaten Taifū(Ninth Form: Idaten Typhoon)!" He yells in the air and while upside-down, unleashes a powerful gust of circular wind that slashes apart anything below.

"Good thing Shinobu cleared out the slaves or I'd have to whole back," He snickers and an explosion of dust catches his attention, "Looks like Gyomei isn't pulling his punches either."

At the same time...

Gyomei was a hulking figure amongst all, comrade or foe. Even for a Minotaur, he was considered tall. He is one of the tallest amongst the Corps members, easily towering over his fellow Hashira and his master. He is powerfully built and extremely muscular. He has spiky black hair and a prominent scar running horizontally across his forehead. Having been blind since childhood, he has white eyes with no visible irises or pupils He frequently gets very emotional over the slightest of things crying very easily even for his enemies' sake.

"I am sorry but you must perish for the sake of the little one," He cries as he whirls around a massive flail attached to an axe via an extremely lengthy chain.

Unlike most Demon Slayers, Gyomei didn't use a standard Neighponese Nichirin katana as he needed a weapon that could handle his immense natural strength and blunt fighting style.

Gyomei wears the black and white uniform typical of a Demon Slayer, with an olive green happi draped over his shoulders. The collared frame of the happi contains the kanji for the Japanese Nianfo/Shin Buddha chant (Namu Amida Butsu) from the top-down, along with the separate kanji all over the cloth at the back. He also sports a large-beaded necklace around his neck and carries ojuzu when he is not engaged in battle.

"Stone Breathing!" Gyomei wells as tears flow from his eyes, "Go no kata: Garin Gyōbu(Fifth Form: Arcs of Justice)!" Gyomei cries unleashing a powerful barrage with his flail and axe, doing a great amount of damage to all. The axe is destined to hit first with the trajectory of the flail following from the opposite side and slamming into the opponents.

Elsewhere...

A pink-haired girl in a white haori and pink-tinted demon slayer uniform was fighting alongside a man with a pet snake. The girl's sword was thin and seemed to stretch and bend like a whip.

"Sorry but you can't beat me if there is no love in your hearts," she says as she leaps around.

The male had a right eye is yellow and his left eye being turquoise in the standard demon slayer uniform wearing a black and white striped haori. A set of bandages completely covers his mouth.

"I won't let you lay a hand on Mitsuri, you trash," the boy holds up a curved bladed sword that resembles a snake.

The two simultaneously taking apart their own enemies entirely in synch with each other.

"Oh Obanai, you're always looking out for me," Mitsuri chuckles cause Obanai to blush slightly.

"Enough talk," comes a new voice as another slayer comes in on saliently. A a short, young man of light complexion with long, straight hair of a black color that fades to Mint Green as it approaches his waist in a dark, slightly turquoise-tinted version of the Demon Slayer uniform appears. His uniform has longer, looser sleeves that are more reminiscent of those of a kimono than of the standard cuffed uniform. He wore dark blue tabi socks and a pair of white zōri with dark blue straps. He wears his hair loose with two clumps protruding slightly from each side of his head, a set of marginally shorter hair left down to frame his face, and unruly bangs over his forehead. He also possesses large, empty-looking mint-green eyes.

"We are here to help these people on the master's orders, not flirt,"

"We weren't flirting Muichiro," Obanai glares.

"That is not what I saw," Muichiro counters listlessly as he starts off in a new direction.

"Don't let him get to you Obanai," Another voice comes out as he cleaves a bloody path through his enemies with twin num-chuck cleaving knives. "I very much condone your flirting. Showing the one you care for affection on the battlefield as you fight alongside either, there is no greater passion!"

"Thank you, Tengen-san," Mitsuri blushes heavily.

"Think nothing of it, my friends," Tengen proudly announces. "No back to the enemy!" he takes off again.

Not far away...

"Idiots," the last of the hashira says as he looks down from atop a hill then starts walking in the opiate direction.

He was a tall young man of a muscular stature and pale complexion, who is almost always seen wearing an unimpressed or emotionless expression. He has unruly black hair of uneven lengths that sticks up in tufts around his head, which he wears tied back in a low messy ponytail at the base of his neck. His bangs fall over his eyes in an uneven fringe. His eyes are sharp and moderately large, their irises a deep sapphire that fades to a lighter blue and their pupils a bluish-black, and are framed by thin eyebrows.

He wears a dark cyan-tinted version of the standard Demon Slayer uniform with buttoned white leg-wrapped Kyahan and a pair of white zōri with dark blue straps, the socks underneath the same cyan color as his uniform. Over this, Giyu wears a haori that's split down the middle into two different patterns: the right one a solid red, and the left one geometrically patterned with squares of green, orange, and yellow.

Suddenly a large group of enemies all converges on him at once from all directions.

"Water breathing," he says closing his eyes and drawing his sword, "Jū Ichi no kata: Nagi(Eleventh Form: Dead Calm)," He says deadly calm as he ceases all body movements and enters a state of complete tranquility, deflecting, blocking and cutting any incoming attacks with imperceptible speeds with his blade.

All of the combatants other than the slayer fall over in an outward spray of blood and rolling heads as total silence takes hold over the area as the Hashira walks on.

In the clouds above the battle, the disguised Black King watches as the Hashira make short work out of the enemy forces. Normally they would fight demons who are far more powerful than mortals so this was going as he'd predicted. He was scanning the battlefield for the enemy commander and the creature he'd hired as a bodyguard and enforcer. This creature was one of Asta's former students, the one he wanted to become the Thunder Hashira who left in the middle of his training.

"Where are you?" The king's grip tightens on his sword as he looks down with a scowl behind his mask. He notices the forces are starting to retreat. "I don't think so. You attack my city, you pay with your lives."

'Ymir, light the fields behind the enemy on fire!'

'About time you spoke to me!'

'Don't back sass me and get it done!'

'Fine, then can I play with some of them?'

"As you see fit, at least until I call again.'

'Yeppee...'

The dragoness then stretches her wings and takes off from the wall of the city from where she'd been perched with one gigantic flap from her feathery scaled appendages. She soon flies in over the battlefield scaring many of the enemy soldiers.

'Synch up with me,' Asta commands.

'You're actually going to use my power this time?'

'We're going to our power this time,'

'Well that's unexpected,'

'Just do it,'

'Alright, you don't have to be pushy,' The dragoness retorts as she concentrates on her link with her rider.

She then feels a massive outpowering of power coming from it but it wasn't magic but some form of black fire. She then realized that this was the power Asta kept sealed away in his Rider's Mark, the black flames of the Amaterasu.

Ymir opens her eyes as she flies behind enemy lines to the rear and opens her maw. With a mighty roar, she lets loose the Amaterasu from her mouth setting the fields behind the army a light in a blaze of dark fires. Doing so caught off any retreats that had been planned or that would've occurred.

'Good girl now come an get me,'

'And here I thought I'd get to play to,'

'You well Ymir, we just have one more thing to do before you can and I'm we'll have to do it together due to the sheer magnitude of it,' The Black king explains. 'It's good to hear your voice and comments again after all these years.'

'Years for you a few months for me,' Ymir laments. 'I waited for years for you and I'd wait years more if it meant you were meant to be my rider.' She remarks landing on the cloud Asta stood on, 'Loving the new look though.'

"Thank you," Asta says rubbing her head then jumps up onto her saddle. "How have the girls been?"

'Worried.'

"I owe them a bit of an explanation then," he looks down at the battlefield. 'Here what we're going to to do," Asta explains his plan.

'You're are my rider and the king,' Ymir proudly states as she takes flight. 'If it is your well then it is mine. Through our combined magic and powers, we shall make this happen!'

The dragon and her rider soar through the skies. Asta activates his avatar state and shares it with his partner through their bond as dragon and rider. Ymir extends her own weather magic through the link further strengthening Asta's which he'd already inherited thanks to Ymir's birth. The duo flew through the skies and gathered all the clouds into one place turning them into thunder clouds in the process. They then used the weather magic empowered Avatar Stated to control the swollen squall.

The combatants paid no attention to the darkening skies as cold rain starts to pour down upon them. The sound of thunder and lightning rang out as the storm rage. Suddenly an explosive roar was heard over everything causing everyone to look up at the skies. What they saw could only as a massive black bull with lightning crackling off its body rampaging through the skies.

The storming creature spark in a horrid sound demonic voice, "You have trot on the land of the Black Clover Kingdom!" the bull states as black clouds bellow from its nostrils and mouth with lightning sparking from its horn and eyes. "YOU WERE WARNS SHOULD YOU RETURN TO THIS PLACE WITH THESE INTENTIONS! YOU HAVE DECLARED WAR UPON YOURSELVES! THE SO DECREE'S THE BLACK KING!"

Suddenly, the out of the Bull's forehead shoots Asta raiding down on his Demon Slayer sword. The king bulls the bottom zipper on his coat all the way up and then removes simultaneously removes his arms from the sleeves. He holds up his spinal cord sword and draws it. He jumps of his Demon Slayer and plummets towards the ground as his hood blows off his head revealing his single braided of long ash blonde hair.

"Water Breathing: Shichi no kata: Shizuku Hamon Tsuki(Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust)!" He shouts as he thrusts his katana forward into the ground with a ripple action coming out from it stopping his impact.

Asta gently places both his feet on the ground and his blade back in its sheath. An auditable click was masked back the impact of the Demon Slayer sword directly stabbing into the ground behind its master. His coat blowing in the wind resembling more of a cape now while he stood there, his face still hidden under his mask. All around dared not move until someone swallowed hard and then,

"YAAAA!" they yell rushing in.

Asta quickly hunched over and grasped the hilt of his katana, "Thunder breathing," Asta takes one step toward the charging Caribou buck and quickly darts behind him in a flash of black and red lightning, a low click was heard from Asta's sword that was cover by the buck falling over in the mud with two flops as the head his a split-second later, "Ichi no kata: Hekireki Issen(First Form: Thunderclap and Flash),"

"Get him!" another shouts. "He can't take us all at once!"

"Yea!" the other said charging in.

Asta merely stood in place with his hand firmly grasping the hilt of his sword. He cracked his eyes under his mask and then, "Thunder Breathing, Hachi no kata: Sanzai Suru Inazuma no Sutoraiki( Eighth Form: Scattered Lightning Strikes)!" Asta shouts as he quickly draws his blade and re-sheaths it several times in only a few seconds, with each action a single soldier falls to the ground as they are struck down by a flash of lightning.

Meanwhile not far off was the single combatant with a spear on his back, thoroughly laughing his head off as he claps at the futile display of the soldiers.

"Why are you laughing Ichimonji," The count and leader of the army growls. "We are losing valuable soldiers by the second. You should be down there estopping those reinforcements! That's why I pay you!"

"No," Ichimonji snickers. "You pay me to bail your ass out of the fires you get yourself into count. And this is one fire you're not getting out of."

"You knew this would happen?" The count reels back in horror.

"Not exactly," Ichimonji shrugs. "Honestly I found it hard to believe my old master was a king to a recently arisen city, but there he is in all his glory mercilessly cutting down your troops with some of his other decuples." He cracks his knuckles, "I'll finally be able to beat him after he tires out. Then the others will follow me and I can claim the title that he should have given me years ago! But first," he turns to the count as he pulls the spear from his back who has started to back away in fear at this point.

Ichimonji slowly starts walking over to the count smiling maniacally as he pulls his arm back and breaths in controlling his blood flow, "Sandāsurasuto(Thunderthurst)!" He shouts and a roar of thunderclap covers the form count's scream as Ichimonji's spears shoots into the count's had and the concussive force breaking it to pieces splattering them all over the ground, "Now time to show the old man what I can do," he smiles with fanged teeth and yellow slitted eyes on red sclera as his licks the blood from the tip of his spear. "At least the fast ass gave me a decent snack," he snickers as he rushes forward tearing through anyone in the way in a b-line for Asta.

Asta already since the murderous intent headed for him. Throwing up ahead he summons his Demon Slayer from its place still embedded in the ground. The sword cuts through the air like a saw through wood and lands in its master grip. Asta wastes no time and places the flat of the sword in front of him like a shield blocking the head of an incoming spear. The strike causes the metal of the sword to ring out as Asta is forced backward.

The black king looks down the blood path that was carved from the spear's flight towards him, "So you show yourself," his eyes rest on his former student, "Ichimonji Karasube, or do You Ichimonji of the Red Thundering Spear?" Asta glares, "I didn't think you were so low as to transform into a demon though."

"Awe, you remember me," Ichimonji plays coy. "And kept track of me! Say, how come I've never seen you use that sword before?" He playfully pouts while pointing at the Demon Slayer. "And being a demon isn't all that bad. Killing is something you turned us to do, I just enjoy the cleanup!" he laughs

"Are you going to keep joking or are you going to at least put up a fight?!" Asta yells as he points at the demon.

Ichimonji glares, "Oh I will old man! But first," he throws up a hand, and the spear that had fallen to the ground races back to its master's grip. He then reels back and aims up, "Seeing as how you took my dream away in never earning the Hashira title, I'm going to take something from you in exchange! Something oh so irreplaceable!" He laughs as the spear glows red and crackles with electricity, "Say goodbye to your beast Master!"

"Beast?" Asta questions light then looks to where the spear is pointing, "No, YMIR!"

The spear began to rotate rapidly in its wielder's and then Ichimonji reels back and throws the weapon, hard. "Blood Demon Art: Crashing Thunder Spear!" he laughs as the spear rockets the skies at breakneck speeds head right for the dragon.

Asta had already leaped into the air to get ahead of the weapon but it was no use. The weapon was already closing in on the dragoness until it made contact tearing through her right-wing. Proceeding to amputate the limb from Ymir's body leaving behind a knurled stump as she starts to fall.

Asta used his firebending to rockets up and barely manages to catch his dragon partner. Using his breathing techniques, he maxed out his physical strength, though not stopping the fall managed to slow it to a crawl until they reach the ground. Not wasting time, he tore of his coat revealing another black one with a new black bulls robe draped over his left shoulder and a red cord over his right then. He then ripped apart his other coat and proceeds to bandage Ymir's wound to stop the bleeding.

Shinobu soon appears next to her master, "Let me see master," She says rushing over.

"I want her wing found and brought here as soon as possible," Asta orders reaching up to his face and pulling off his mask placing it into his grimoire as the book floats up. "Keep her alive."

"I've never worked with a creature like this before master," Shinobu says as she quickly pulls out a medical kit from a pocket in her uniform and then she turns to look up see Asta's face for the first time in many years, and this occasion he wasn't happy. "But I'll do what I can."

"I know you will," He turns and holds up a hand causing the Demon Slayer sword to whirl into his hand. Black anti-magic flows from the weapon onto Asta's body.

This time it was different though. It covers most of the right side of his head forming the right horn but also to more horns closer to the head and one on the left side. He then formed his full right-wing and a smaller left-wing along with a whip-like tail tipped with a spade. His right eye turned into a glowing red with a slit with his left eye remaining green but also with ha slit pupil. The teeth in his mouth turned to fangs. The crimson five-leaf clover on his chest turned black. An all-consuming thick murderous aura radiated from Asta's sword.

There were few things that frightened Hashira in their time-fighting demons or training with Asta. Shinobu had seen a number of more of them due to her more medically training style and as a field medic. The sight of her master in this state and starting form was one of the few if not the only things that truly terrified her to her core.

Asta took one step and shot off and was immediately standing across from Ichimonji who was completely thrown for a loop at his former master's appearance, most of all his face who he'd never seen.

"What's the matter Ichimonji?" Asta says with a sharp disdain dripping from his voice as his tail slowly moves around behind as he glares at his former student. "Never seen you master to wrought with rage before!" he sent waves of murderous intent everywhere.

Ichimonji in the meantime was pissing himself as he saw a black visage from behind his former teacher.

Ichimonji shook his head and then summons his spear, "No wonder you wore that mask master," he mocks, "Cause you were a demon yourself. You can't berate me for taking the exact same route you did," he takes a hold of his spear and spins it around and then charges in.

Asta draws the demon in and waiting for him to get close before charging in himself in order to parry the spear's thrust upwards, knocking Ichimonji off balance. The force of the blow itself shot the ground upwards from underneath the feet of the fighters.

Asta didn't want to give his former student time to recover so he rushes in readying to give and upward slash but Ichimonji giving a maniac smile whirls his weapon around then proceeds to thrust his spear into the ground stopping Asta's assault and forcing him back.

They rush in and immediately started exchanging a tempest of blows barely visible to anyone.

Asta was soon left with cuts all over his body as most of his clothing was shredded in the process. The king gave a smirk, "I have to Ichimonji," Asta looks at the demon. "You certainly have come a long way. I never taught you any of those moves for sure. I would've gladly appointed you the rank of Hashira if you'd come by that power on your own, instead of getting by becoming a demon."

"Look who's talking you, hypocrite!" Ichimonji shot back. "You're just as much a demon as I am. Any creature can see that!"

"Oh, I am much more than just a demon you fool," Asta glares as anti-magic wafts off his body once more and starts to spread over his body.

Asta pulls out his Demon Dweller sword from his grimoire, the blade of the weapon crackling with black anti-magic power as it is pulled from the book. His left-wing grows to the same size as his right. The anti-magic on his face changes to cover his left eye and left arm until his body is covered in symmetrical surging anti-magic power connected on his chest by the black five-leaf clover. His eyes as soon both a glowing red and on the left side of his head he now sports a second forward-facing horn and all of his teeth had grown extremely sharp.

Ichimonji rushes in and thrusts his spear hoping to stop Asta's transformation before it was completed only for the latter to sense him coming and defend himself. The fighter then exchanged about three blows before Asta force Ichimonji back with him digging his spear into the ground and sitting on the end.

"You know how that old saying goes master," Ichimonji taunts as he sits atop his spear, "It's over I have the high ground."

He grabs a hold of the spear and quickly barrels down on Asta.

Asta used both his sword to block the blow and for the demon back once more, prove said the high ground was only in the former student's mind.

"What's the matter Ichimonji," Asta mocks, "All talk and no bite!" he glares taking up a stance.

"SHUT UP!" The demon yells as he charges forward and the two have at it again and again. "YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE ME AND MY POWER! YOU WILL NAME ME A HASHIRA!"

"FOOLISH BOY!" Asta parries as he goads the demon disciple, "I ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGED YOU! BUT IT WAS ONLY YOURSELF THAT KEPT YOU FROM WHAT YOU SO DESPERATELY WANTED!

"NO!" The demon snarls, "YOU NEVER ONCE THAGHT I WAS FIT TO BECOME A HASHIRA!"

"That was your own delusion boy!" Asta counters, "It was your own fear and self-preservation that came first, so not wanting to take the training you ran! Not wanting to die, you used what you learned to survive!" He glares.

Asta forces the spear from Ichimonji's hands, both fighters breathing heavily, "Losing and seeing no other way out, you became a demon!"

"Yea, and now you have to kill me!" He laughs, "ONE of your precious children, but wait... your Nichirin sword is nowhere in sight dear master! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ichimonji smiles, "And by the time you find it I'll be long gone, or I might go into the city and have some fun with a certain few rulers!

Asta snapped and in a flash he drops his demon blade and summoned his Liebe in physicals form beheading the laughing demon.

Ichimonji in the meantime took his last moments to grasp what had happened, "This isn't possible! no normal sword can kill me!" he says as his vision splits and he starts to turn to ash from being cut strat down the middle

"That's because I'm never with a Nichirin sword," Asta holds up the black skull-hilted katana to reveal a red blade. "Sun Breathing, Enbu(Dance)," Asta turns to face the demon,

"Burn for your crimes Demon." He remarks and he uses firebending to incinerate the rest of the still-living demon in his final moments.

"No one threatens my girls and lives..." he says coldly quickly flying back to Shinobu and Ymir. '"How is she?"

"We have her wing courteously of Rengoku and Gyomei," Shinobu notes. "But I am afraid I can't do anything to reattach it." She motions to the dragoness. and the badly damaged wing next to her.

Asta places a hand o his partner, "We have to get her to the city," he says. "Fluttershy is the only one with healing magic within the realms of power that we need if we have any hope of reattaching it so she can fly," he kneels down and his places lifts the battered wing and unties the bandaged stump.

Asta uses his Qi technique and reaches out to Ymir's own Qi. Everyone stares in awe as the wing reconnects to the stump. Muscle and tissue reattaching to each other until to glow stops and Asta falls over breathing heavily. He already heavily taxed body well beyond his limit but he managed to put the dragoness's wing in place, at least long enough for an actual treatment anyways.

"Get... us... there..." Asta demands, pointing to the city from the mud and blood-soaked ground. "NOW!"

The battles over, the king's rage sated, but all is not so well as much was lost on this day, but much was gained for the future as well.