The Soul Reaper's Power Has Limits

Sokyoku Hill.

The faint light of dawn had just torn through the clouds. As day broke, sunlight filtered through the clouds and fell upon the ground.

Cracks covered the ground, interwoven with charred-black marks.

Ichigo gasped for breath. His once-fine clothes were now tattered, the tip of Heaven Chain Moon Cutter angled toward the ground, his fingers trembling slightly.

Across from him, Caryatid God was wrapped in nearly transparent, colorless wind pressure. That was his Doll, Misa's power.

"It's useless, Ichigo Kurosaki." Caryatid God's voice was deep. "The you right now is no match for me."

Ichigo's gaze was resolute, unmoved in the slightest. "I'm not going to keep falling in the same place over and over."

Yoruichi, Rangiku, and Yoshino stood at the edge of a distant cliff, all wearing grave expressions.

"This is troublesome." Rangiku frowned, cold sweat beading at her temple. "He has probably completely absorbed the power of the Netherworld Seal. If he releases an attack with that energy..."

"Relax." Yoruichi folded her arms. "If it's only this, my Flash Step can block it before his attack lands."

At that moment, space twisted without warning.

Yuko appeared silently behind Yoruichi and patted her on the shoulder. "Yo, still not finished?"

Yoruichi's hair stood on end in fright. Acting on instinct, she swung an elbow backward, but Yuko blocked it effortlessly.

"You and your habit of appearing and disappearing like a ghost—can you change it?" Yoruichi glared at her irritably. "What took you so long?"

Yuko let out a cold laugh. "Do I have to explain to you that Old Man Yama blocked me?"

"You were discovered?" Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. She immediately looked Yuko up and down. "You... don't seem to have changed much."

"Yeah. It's because Yoruichi is too weak. Old Man Yama noticed me right