Beyond the seventy-two barriers lay five floating lands shaped like discs.
On those discs stood buildings of various designs. No roads connected them, yet a huge cylindrical building stood at the center.
Buzz~
The void trembled faintly, and a figure in black work clothes and a haori marked with the character "one" appeared on the street. It was none other than Duan Mu.
"Hm?"
The instant he stopped, Duan Mu's expression darkened.
Three figures lay collapsed on the ground not far before him.
Two men and one woman, all three were covered in bloody wounds. The girl in the middle had nearly been severed at the waist.
They were not members of the Zero Division, but Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Rukia, and Renji Abarai.
Seeing this, Duan Mu immediately went over to them.
I completely forgot!
Not long ago, the three of them, along with Ichigo Kurosaki, had been brought to the Spirit King Palace by the Zero Division.
Duan Mu had only thought about causing trouble for the Zero Division. He had forgotten that his actions would also implicate those who had been brought to the Spirit King Palace!
However, when he reached them, Duan Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although the three had suffered severe injuries and fallen unconscious, they had clearly received emergency treatment. Even Rukia, whose injuries were the worst, had been kept alive.
After realizing this, Duan Mu's hatred of the Zero Division eased somewhat.
Only after confirming that none of the three was in mortal danger did Duan Mu begin examining the surroundings. Judging from the architectural style and the blood-red hot spring he sensed, this should be the bathhouse of that pompadour—in other words, Tenjiro Kirinji.
Duan Mu swept his gaze around and immediately understood what had happened.
This was where the