The Hollow Queen

Master of the Forge

 The doors to the massive column carrying squad zero open allowing the light and spirit energy of the royal dimension to flood in. The atmosphere feels calm, regal and serene as if nothing bad ever has or will happen here. Before them spans a large platform that has fourteen pillars flanking the pathway up to a grand staircase. Floating ahead of them five floating cities levitate in a pentagonal formation along a large central tower in the shape of a spinning buddhist wheel. "Welcome to the soul king's palace, Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichibei says as he walks out ahead of the group leading them through the main fourier of the open palace. "From up here we can watch over the whole of soul society and we govern the cities you see around you. Our tasks in our own cities, I write the names of every soul born and reborn into this world, Oetsu forges the swords new soul reapers will be given and I write those names onto those souls. Senjumaru creates the robes, Kirio breathes life and Tenjiro brews their blood."

"What will I do then?" Ichigo asks as they make their way up a massive staircase that seems to reach on for miles into the air.

"You will guard the souls who are to be reborn, and protect the ones who were reincarnated." Ichibei answers as they continue up the staircase. Ichibei extends a hand towards the outer cities and then to the soul society below them. "You are now a captain of squad zero, you will be known as the Divine general of soul society. I am the leader of our squad and the divine general of the royal dimension. Senjumaru is the north general, Kirio the south, Oetsu the west and Tenjiro the east. Genryusai is the Captain General of the 13 court guard squads, and you report to both me and to him."

"Makes sense, is there an oath or something I need to take?" Ichigo asks as they get to the top of the grand staircase. "Also, I don't want to be rude by asking this but do we get paid? I have a kid on the way and all."

"Of course, you will be well compensated for your duties in squad zero. I will also allow you to choose the name of your child's zanpakuto as her name has already been written." Ichibei responds as he leads the group to a platform.

"The hell is this thing?" Ichigo asks as they step onto a black basalt like stone pedestal, he reaches down to feel the strange stone but as his hand touches the stone the entire squad is suddenly swallowed by a massive fireball and launched into the stratosphere heading to the central tower.

The fireball transporting squad zero to the main palace of the soul king slams into another one of the pedestals before dissipating into smoke. As the smoke clears, Oetsu does a head count and looks around before noticing that Ichigo isn't there, "Uh... did we lose carrot top?" He asks before a sudden flash of bright white light behind him reveals Ichigo. "Oh hey! There you are carrot cake! How was that for an entrance?" He asks but Ichigo just dusts himself off from abruptly being set on fire.

"You know I can teleport now right?" He asks, causing the members of the squad to sweatdrop at this statement.

"Well there goes my fun, I wanted to mess with you a bit since you're the first one of those clods actually worth a damn." Tenjiro says as he sticks a long cigarette into his mouth. Ichibei cringes slightly when the brash captain says this and the creator of the healing demon springs quickly regrets his statement.

"You better not be including the queen in that statement. Tanjuro." The hollowfied voice of White escapes Ichigo's lips. Half of the hybrid's face had mutated with long gnarled hollow teeth leading up the length of his jaw. Three more irises and pupils appeared in his left eye and all turned the sickly gold color. (Note, Tanjuro means Charcoal or burnt wood). The power that Ichigo is letting out startled Ichibei slightly seeing as he's the only one capable of sensing Ichigo's power.

"What did you say?!" Tenjiro growls as he gets in Ichigo's face, undisturbed by the grotesque hollowfication taking place.

"You heard me, Tanjuro. But I think a better name would be Dumbass." White says as he headbutts Tenjiro for getting in his face. Before the two can start fighting each other however, three hard taps from Ichibei's staff silences the two of them.