After being devoured by Kyokotsu, Ichigo continued plummeting deeper and deeper into the alternate dimension, his consciousness gradually fading. All he could see was the sliver of light above him.
There's no denying it—without enough power, Kyokotsu's force is law, a rule that cannot be disobeyed.
Had Kyokotsu not sensed the complexity of Ichigo's bloodline, it might have even completely devoured him.
"Come on, move… just move, damn it!"
Ichigo stared at the light above him, knowing it was the path to escape.
Just when the situation seemed most critical—Hitsugaya Tōshirō, who had been missing for quite some time, suddenly came to the rescue!
At the same time, the King's Seal on Ichigo's left hand lit up. The two together forcibly pulled Ichigo out of Kyokotsu's body!
Meanwhile, in the World of the Living, Urahara Kisuke's device suddenly picked up Ichigo's spiritual particles.
Though he had no idea what had happened to Ichigo inside the Dangai, Urahara immediately called upon Kuchiki Rukia and Senna to accompany him to the boundary.
Within the Dangai, Rukia and Senna immediately spotted Ichigo lying motionless on the ground.
"Ichigo!" the two girls exclaimed, flash-stepping over to his side. Hitsugaya knelt to help him up.
Ichigo looked at them with a strained smile. "Don't worry. I'm fine… Just exhausted my spiritual power."
Only after confirming that his reiatsu had merely weakened did the two girls breathe a sigh of relief. Guided by Urahara, they quickly took Ichigo back to the shop.
After recovering, Ichigo still couldn't explain how he escaped Kyokotsu's body. He only remembered the King's Seal glowing—and then he appeared inside the Dangai.
Urahara looked at Ichigo curiously.
"Kurosaki-san, there are many ways to escape the Dangai, but for someone to be fully consumed by Kyokotsu and still survive—this is unheard of."
To put it plainly, the Research and Development Bureau had never accounted for something like this.
Hearing Ichigo's story, Nozomi Kujō clenched her fists. For the first time… she understood a feeling called worry.
Meanwhile, in Soul Society—
Having encountered the least resistance and barely any battle, Hitsugaya Tōshirō was the first to arrive at the Research and Development Bureau!
Once inside, he began tracing Inaba Kagerōza's spiritual pressure.
Following the trail, he reached one of the Bureau's research buildings—only to bump into Kenpachi Zaraki, who had just arrived.
Though Komamura had helped hold off Reigai Soifon, it was still a miracle that a directionally-challenged guy like Kenpachi was the second one there!
Perhaps he was worried about Yachiru getting caught in the crossfire, so the girl who was usually riding on his back was nowhere to be seen.
"Well, well… Didn't expect you to be the first one here."
Kenpachi grinned, slinging his Zanpakutō over his shoulder and glancing at Hitsugaya, who appeared mostly unharmed.
Hitsugaya was surprised to see Kenpachi covered in blood after a fierce fight.
Moments after they entered the lab, Kagerōza emerged.
Facing two captains, he immediately released his Zanpakutō: Raikū.
But something was off.
Despite releasing his blade, Kagerōza's shikai didn't emit even a trace of spiritual pressure.
Even Kenpachi, who was famously bad at sensing reiatsu, found it strange.
Because no matter how well one hides it, it's simply impossible to make spiritual pressure completely vanish.
So, eager to get a feel for Kagerōza's power, Kenpachi charged in without hesitation.
"Captain Zaraki, don't be reckless!" Hitsugaya shouted—but it was too late.
The clash began immediately, Zanpakutō striking against Zanpakutō.
Realizing there was no stopping it now, Hitsugaya joined in.
"Ice Dragon Tail!"
A powerful wave of ice burst forth toward Kagerōza.
Though Kenpachi normally hated having anyone interfere in his battles, even he knew that Soul Society was in crisis. There was no room for ego—so he didn't protest fighting alongside Hitsugaya.
Honestly, Hitsugaya, Byakuya, and Kenpachi—they were born to fight side-by-side.
And even though it was a team battle, Kenpachi clearly still wanted the finishing blow for himself.
Under the pressure of Kenpachi's relentless strikes, Kagerōza couldn't match the strength he'd displayed against Ichigo back in the World of the Living. He was quickly overwhelmed and kicked flying.
Just as Kenpachi was about to end him with a final swing, Hitsugaya suddenly shouted,
"Something's not right—watch out!"
But Kenpachi ignored the warning and lunged.
Remaining eerily calm, Kagerōza twisted Raikū in a circular motion—opening a spatial tear leading directly into the Dangai!
He was trying the same trick he'd used on Ichigo—but this time, Hitsugaya intervened.
"Flock of Ice Pillars!"
A wave of ice burst forth. Kagerōza flash-stepped away and spun his blade again, this time absorbing the incoming ice into another spatial gate.
But Kenpachi was saved in time.
From that exchange, Hitsugaya began to understand something critical:
Kagerōza's Shikai had the ability to open Dangai portals anywhere—in other words, it manipulated space itself.
With that realization, both he and Kenpachi struck out boldly at Kagerōza.
But Kagerōza only laughed.
"Heh… You figured that out already?"
"Take this!"
Kenpachi howled as he lunged again, slashing hard.
"I've seen through your tricks!" Kagerōza parried his blade—but it turned out to be a feint. Kenpachi had flashed behind him.
"It's a trap!"
Caught off-guard, Kagerōza was suddenly struck by an Ice Dragon Tail from Hitsugaya, who appeared behind him.
The icy strike forced Kagerōza back—but he recovered quickly, touching down on the ground and sneering at Hitsugaya.
"Not bad at all…"
Hitsugaya dashed toward him again, but Kagerōza retreated with another flash step, dodging the assault.
"Yes, Captain Hitsugaya. My ability is to manipulate space. But it's not just the Dangai—I can control nearly all forms of space."
Hitsugaya had already guessed that.
Which was why he kept his distance and relied on ranged attacks.
But if Kagerōza could dodge them all, why not switch to long-range spiritual techniques?
Simple—because Hitsugaya wasn't fighting alone.
His relentless assault was designed to distract Kagerōza, to force him into a very specific position.
A position perfectly set up for… Kenpachi Zaraki!
Kenpachi crashed down from above, howling with laughter as he struck with full force. Kagerōza barely managed to block.
But it was all part of the plan.
Yet somehow… Kagerōza had already predicted it.
Not only did he parry Kenpachi's strike, he also opened a portal aimed directly at Hitsugaya!
And what came out of that portal?
The same Flock of Ice Pillars that Hitsugaya had launched moments ago!
Hitsugaya was knocked away, utterly stunned.
How the hell could Kagerōza use his own move?!
As if reading his thoughts, Kagerōza smirked.
"My Zanpakutō doesn't just control space—it lets me copy and paste moments within that space."
Meaning—he could replicate other people's techniques!
Kenpachi growled.
"So what? Space tricks like that are just parlor games!"
He hated this kind of underhanded fighting.
Fueled by rage, he slashed again—but Kagerōza opened another portal, intercepting the blow.
Then, with a cold smile, Kagerōza twisted Raikū once more—and out from the portal came… another Kenpachi.
This version perfectly mimicked Kenpachi's own technique and style.
The real Kenpachi had no time to defend.
He was cut down and left gravely wounded.
Seeing this, Hitsugaya rushed behind Kagerōza and launched another ambush.
After a brief skirmish, he pulled back again and unleashed Flock of Ice Pillars one more time.
But this time, he didn't let up.
As Kagerōza opened his space gate to absorb the attack again, Hitsugaya flash-stepped forward and pressed his Zanpakutō against Raikū.
Through observation, Hitsugaya had noticed a pattern.
When Kagerōza twisted his blade right—he copied space.
When he twisted it left—he pasted what had been copied.
It was just like using copy/paste shortcuts on a computer.
So, Hitsugaya figured: If he could prevent Kagerōza from twisting to the right, he'd stop the copy function altogether!
With that in mind, he slashed from the right side—
But Kagerōza only grinned.
Once again, he twisted left—and another Kenpachi emerged, slashing Hitsugaya with the same brutal attack!
He collapsed, seriously wounded.
Turns out… just like on a computer, there was no limit to how many times you could paste something.
Once Kagerōza had copied a move—he could use it forever.
With Hitsugaya down, and Kenpachi already gravely injured, the tide turned.
At that moment—Soifon, who had been forced to retreat earlier by her Reigai counterpart, made her return!
Throwing kunai to block Kagerōza from finishing Hitsugaya off, she was accompanied by the original Kiyone Kotetsu and a barely conscious Isane on her back.
Yoruichi soon joined them.
Shortly after, Ukitake arrived as well, escorting a freed Kyōraku Shunsui.
And then—Unohana, who had fought her own desperate battle, entered the lab too.
In the blink of an eye, Kagerōza found himself surrounded by captains!
Yet despite this—he didn't panic.
He laughed madly.
"Hahahaha! This level of power? You think it's enough to push me to the edge?!"
Enraged by his taunts, all the captains charged at once.
But before they could reach him—their way was blocked.
By the Reigai versions of Unohana and the others.
Though both sides had similar numbers, the Reigai were uninjured, while the originals were worn and bloodied.
In terms of overall strength, the Reigai still held the edge.
Kenpachi glanced at the Reigai Unohana, slightly stunned.
It was clear this fake had no idea what he and the real Unohana had been through.
But the captains knew—
They didn't need to defeat every Reigai.
All they had to do… was take down Inaba Kagerōza.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]