Bleach: Phantom Twin

Chapter 22: Facing the Darkness Inside

Ren's Inner World"What do you want, Ren?" — a beautiful, annoyed voice echoed in Ren's ears as he stared at the ruined city and gazed at Mikazuki sitting on the throne in the center.

"I already helped you train, I even taught you Getsuga Tenshō."

When Ren first entered his inner world, he thought the throne was a tower in the middle of the destroyed city, but it turned out to be a strangely massive throne.

"I know, but you still haven't taught me how to use the Hollow power inside me," Ren said nonchalantly as he walked toward the throne, which could seat hundreds, and sat beside Mikazuki carelessly, even resting his head on her lap.

"As I said before, the Hollow power is beyond your ability to control at the moment," Mikazuki shook her head lightly, indifferent. "Your emotional state is extremely unstable, and this ruined city is living proof of that. Besides, the Hollow power inside you is sealed by dozens of powerful seals, so it's impossible for you to use it now."

"Aren't you the embodiment of my power — whether Shinigami, Hollow, or even Quincy?" Ren raised an eyebrow skeptically, knowing that Mikazuki was not just a Zanpakutō; she was like Ichigo's Zangetsu, who embodied the Hollow power that once attacked his mother and merged with Ichigo's soul.

"That may be true, but my Hollow power is sealed by your father and Urahara," Mikazuki said, running her fingers through Ren's soft hair. "As for the Quincy power, it is currently under my control."

"Currently?…" Ren muttered, feeling strange about how Mikazuki said it but deciding to ignore it for now.

"So, are you saying I won't be able to use the Hollow power until those seals are removed?"

"That's correct. But don't worry — once you learn Bankai, the seals won't be able to control my full power, and the Hollow power will be freed," Mikazuki said softly yet with cold confidence. "And if you're not ready then... there's a high chance you won't survive facing it."

Ren slowly lifted his eyes, which glowed with a faint blue light amid the gray ruins around him.

"If you mean him... then I am ready."

Mikazuki let out a short laugh — not mocking, but more like a mother watching her child play with fire.

"You're still stubborn as always... just like him."

"Who is he?" Ren asked seriously, his eyes locking onto her crimson ones.

"Is it me? Or someone else?"

"He's you, but the part you ignore," she slowly raised her hand and pointed toward his heart. "He's the pain you haven't healed, the anger you haven't shouted out, the hatred you buried under the 'good son's smile.'"

"They convinced you to be perfect... but inside, you're not, Ren."

A heavy silence fell over the place.

Ren closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and said,

"I want to see him. To face him."

"Why?" Mikazuki asked, tilting her head lightly while her fingers still ran over his forehead.

"Do you think you can tame him? Or kill him?"

"Neither," Ren answered calmly, deadly calm. "I just want to understand him."

Mikazuki smiled quietly, then rose from the throne, her long black hair fluttering with an invisible wind.

"As you wish."

She struck the ground with her bare foot — and with the sound, the world began to crack.

The dark sky split open, a vortex of shadows swept the city, scattering debris, and from the heart of the ruin emerged a black light, as if night itself had taken form.

In the center of that vortex appeared a figure clad in cracked white armor, with a broken half-mask on his face. Two golden eyes gleamed with madness and clarity simultaneously.

A wide smile spread across his features, then Ren heard his voice...

"Finally decided to talk to yourself, huh?"ogether."

With those words, the sky above them shattered completely, and a wave of white and black energy engulfed the entire city, building something new... not a ruined city, and not a thriving one.

But an open field... without destruction, without limits.

And in its center... Ren stood again. Beside him, the same throne stood tall without any change.

But he was not the same.

The blindfold burned away on its own. His hair began to float lightly, and his eyes... were vibrant blue as before, but his black hair had turned silver like beautiful moonlight.

Accepting himself did not grant him new power... but it gave his soul what it truly needed: stability. He had now defined his goal—and he would do the impossible to revive her.

...

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