The Only Way

What made Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Isshin's eyes split with rage was that the blond delinquent seemed to be furious over the black-haired delinquent's death!

The next moment, right before Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Isshin's eyes, the blond delinquent forcefully pinched Kurosaki Masaki's face and turned it toward them, then drew a finger across her fair neck in a throat-slitting gesture.

Then, before Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Isshin could instinctively move to stop him,

the Gargantas that had been torn open, each no larger than a fist, swiftly began to close on their own...

It was as if the black-haired delinquent's self-destruction had merely been his final act of strength in despair, a signal for his companion to flee.

And the last image reflected in Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Isshin's eyes was of the blond delinquent wrapping his arms around Kurosaki Masaki and heading deeper inside just as the Garganta closed completely.

"No!! Masaki!!!"

"Mother!!"

Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Isshin's despairing roars echoed through the skies above the Seireitei.

Yet Soul Reapers simply did not possess the ability to open a Garganta!

The closed Garganta had completely separated them from Kurosaki Masaki into two different worlds. They could clearly see each other, yet had no way to reach one another directly.

This heartbreaking, despairing scene left Hirako Shinji, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, and Sarugaki Hiyori exchanging looks, unable to find any words with which to comfort Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Isshin.

"Aah!!!"

Consumed by fury, Kurosaki Ichigo let out cries of anguish as his spiritual pressure violently surged. A Hollow mask even began to form over his face without his realizing it.

Moreover, as the mask fully adhered to Kurosaki Ichigo's face, white matter seemed to be continuously spreading across his spirit body.

Hirako Shinji's expression changed at once. He hurried toward