"This should be an anomaly caused by the Monk of the Eye's power. Now that these anomalies have disappeared, could it be that the Monk of the Eye has already been defeated?"
Unohana Retsu, who had followed Chiba Makoto, spoke with pointed meaning.
The moment those words were spoken, a hint of anxiety appeared on Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū's faces.
In their eyes, Hyōsube Ichibē, the Monk of the Eye, was undoubtedly the final barrier within the Zero Division standing in Yhwach's way.
That meant the Soul King, who maintained the balance of the world... was in danger!
At once, everyone quickly followed Chiba Makoto deeper into the Soul King's Inner Palace.
Before long, they reached an area bearing extensive traces of battle.
Yet aside from Yhwach's vanished figure, only a bearded monk resembling a small mountain of flesh lay collapsed in a corner.
As Chiba Makoto and the others arrived, Hyōsube Ichibē, who was unable to rise from the ground, slowly opened his eyes. Though they appeared unfocused and vacant, they swiftly swept over everyone present.
"I... I'm here. Hyōsube Ichibē is here..."
Hyōsube Ichibē spoke with apparent difficulty.
Seeing this, Chiba Makoto hurried toward Hyōsube Ichibē with an anxious, worried expression and said, "Lord Zero Division, how are your injuries? Seireitei learned that the criminals of the Wandenreich, led by Yhwach, had launched a surprise attack on the Soul King Palace. Teacher Unohana specifically led our primary forces here as reinforcements."
As Chiba Makoto used Kaido with both hands to treat Hyōsube Ichibē, he asked anxiously and with concern, "By the way, Lord Zero Division, where is Yhwach? Where is the enemy?"
"I... I couldn't stop him. After severely wounding me, Yhwach headed deeper into the Soul King's Inner Palace. His target is the Soul King. He