Final Battle!

That afternoon, Shadow escorted Ran'Tao to the Second Division and gave Soi Fon a few instructions.

After thinking for a moment, Shadow hurriedly went to the secret base located at the Sōkyoku. Ganju Shiba had been training here all along. As his master, Shadow only taught him the essentials and then stopped caring about him. In fact, Shadow always felt that he was not a good enough master, but in this respect, he believed more in the saying, "The master leads you through the door, but the cultivation is up to you."

Everyone has their own path to walk, and everyone has their own challenges to overcome. Even with the same ability, different people have different understandings and focuses, resulting in different levels of effectiveness.

It wasn't until nightfall that Shadow emerged from the secret base and walked the streets of Soul Society, where the tense atmosphere was palpable.

Shaking his head, Shadow quickened his pace and soon arrived at the Senkaimon, where he immediately saw Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki standing there.

"Lord Shadow!"

"Hey!" Shadow grinned; "What's going on? What are you all doing standing here!"

The two exchanged a glance, Renji Abarai spoke up, "Rukia and I would like to ask you, sir, to take us to the World of the Living!"

"Huh! To the World of the Living!" Shadow tilted his head; "Hey kid, if we want to go to the World of the Living, let's go! The door's right here!"

"We were forced back from the World of the Living, and the Captain-Commander forbade us to go World of the Living!" Renji Abarai said helplessly. "Shadow should already know about Orihime Inoue being captured and taken to Hueco Mundo!"

"I heard what that bastard said!" Shadow seemed to understand; "You guys want to go to Hueco Mundo, don't you!"

"Yes!" Rukia Kuchiki said solemnly, her eyes serious. "The Captain-Commander forbade us from rescuing Inoue, but knowing Ichigo's personality, he will definitely go to Urahara through Hueco Mundo. Renji and I have decided that we must go no matter what!"

"Yes!" Renji Abarai nodded and said, "I'm not very familiar with Orihime Inoue, but they both risked their lives to save Rukia, so they're practically comrades. I can't just leave them alone!"

"Hueco Mundo!" Shadow frowned, a sudden thought forming in his Shadow.

"We originally planned to go to the World of the Living through the Kuchiki's Senkaimon, but since you're here, sir!" Renji Abarai chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "If you were to send us there, the Captain-Commander wouldn't say a word!"

"Sure! It's just going to Hueco Mundo! No need to go back to the World of the Living to find that bastard, I can go if I want!"

With a grin, Shadow drew his Zanpakutō from his back, spun the blade, and plunged it fiercely into the void. With a sudden slash, it was as if space itself had been torn open, revealing a dark, eerie opening.

"What is this?!" Rukia Kuchiki asked in confusion.

"This is the Garganta!" Shadow explained; "Just like the Senkaimon between the World of the Living and Soul Society, the Garganta is the only way to reach Hueco Mundo!"

"Wow, that's amazing! I heard that being able to open Garganta at will is High-Level Hollow ability!"

Rukia Kuchiki was practically staring at him with admiration. As an adopted daughter of the Kuchiki, she naturally understood that Bleach couldn't open the Garganta at will like High-Level Hollow. Just like in Soul Society, only the Twelfth Division could open the Garganta. Another method was the Boundary Gate, the border between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo. The great war a hundred years ago started when Vasto Lorde attacked the Boundary Gate.

Renji Abarai was also astonished, his mouth agape. As the Lieutenant the Sixth Division, a noble-only unit, he naturally understood that traveling from Soul Society to Hueco Mundo was impossible. That's why they wanted to find Kisuke Urahara, because that guy definitely had a way to get to Hueco Mundo.

"It's nothing more than forcibly distorting space!" Shadow waved his hand dismissively; "Forget it, hurry up! I'm busy! I don't have time for you!"

"Yes!"

"There's no path inside the Garganta; you must pave your way forward with Reishi!" Shadow chuckled. "Be careful, or you really will die!"

"Yes!"

Responding in unison, Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki bowed, turned, and rushed into the Garganta Garganta, which then disappeared.

"You really trust your sister and adjutant so much!"

"I'm just following their own will!" Byakuya Kuchiki appeared behind the Shadow, a faint smile appearing on his usually expressionless face. "Everyone has their own destiny, and no one can interfere. Isn't that what you taught me, Master?"

"You brat!" Shadow snorted, then smiled undeniably.

Sensing the burst of that power, figures gathered from different places, looking at the man standing at the front with his back to them. His broad back represented the pinnacle of strength.

"Master, I also want to go to Hueco Mundo. Please open a Garganta for me too!"

Kenpachi Zaraki grinned widely, laughing heartily, his fighting spirit surging. The Yachiru Kusajishi hanging on his body jumped down and ran to the Shadow's side, smiling sweetly.

"Little Master, Little Master..."

"Ah!"

"Lord Shadow!"

"Ah!"

"Grown ups!"

"Master!"

Two more figures arrived. Toshiro Hitsugaya bent down and called out in a deep voice, while Rangiku Matsumoto grabbed the arm of the Shadow and called out sweetly.

This shout stunned everyone for a moment. Rangiku Matsumoto and the Shadow? They were completely unrelated. How could this be? Rukia Kuchiki was Byakuya Kuchiki's sister, but she couldn't call the Shadow that. Yachiru Kusajishi was called that from the beginning, following Kenpachi Zaraki's naming convention. So, what about Rangiku Matsumoto? Although she was the Lieutenant of the Tenth Division, neither her talent nor her abilities met the standards of the Shadow. Why?

"You know perfectly well that I've already ordered no one to go to Hueco Mundo, Shadow, what exactly are you trying to do!"

Although he was equally puzzled, the mature and prudent Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto would not ask about such a trivial matter. Moreover, he knew that if Shadow wanted to speak, he would naturally do so, and if he did not want to speak, no one could force him, not even himself, the Captain-Commander.

"Didn't you already agree, Old Man Yama!" Shadow snorted. "You know Ichigo's personality. Just like those two said, that kid will definitely go to Hueco Mundo. If you really forbid it, you can't ignore the factor of that bastard Kisuke Urahara, can you?"

"I was just going with the flow!" Shadow turned around, grinning; "Right! Old man, causing some trouble in Hueco Mundo wouldn't be bad!"

"..." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto paused for a moment, but did not object to Shadow's words. He then said, "The great battle is about to begin. Aren't you going to fight?"

"I still have things to finish! Goodbye!"

Shadow waved his hand, and his figure gradually disappeared into the Senkaimon.

······

In the World of the Living, Karakura Town, Dark Night Residence.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

"Shut up, Dead Bird! What's the point of just shouting!"

The long sword formed from the Shade slashed down, blood splattering everywhere. His right arm was severed from the shoulder. Kaien Shiba's face turned deathly pale, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to keep quiet, his face twitching in pain.

Come on! Attack me!!!

The face of the Eroding Wolf was contorted with savagery, its crimson vertical pupils revealing ruthlessness and bloodlust. This was the true Eroding Wolf, a fearless king born solely for slaughter.

"You don't need to say anything more!"

With a roar, Reishi gathered, and in almost an instant, a new arm grew back from the severed arm. Kaien Shiba grabbed Asauchi and charged forward again.

"If you don't need me, then show me your real skills. Stop just howling and yelling, are you a pig?!"

"Hateful!!!"

Dodging to the left, Kaien Shiba Eroding Wolf his stance and plunged his blade into Kaien Shiba's chest. The smell of blood fueled Eroding Wolf's rage.

"Useless trash! Is that all you've got?"

With a kick that sent Kaien Shiba was about to be pierced, flying away, the Eroding Wolf laughed wildly.

"What 'once-in-a-century genius' nonsense...!"

"Damn it, how could I... lose to you..."

Kaien Shiba struggled to his feet, the gathering Reishi healing his wounded body. He gripped his sword and roared as he the Roar forward once more.

"Bang! Pfft!!!"

"Get up, come again, chop my head off, harder..."

"Aaaaaaah!!!"

"·····"

······

"Two days have passed. The speed at which I gather Reishi is increasing, and my combat skills are getting better and better. I'm at least able to fight back against Little Wolf's attacks, but why is my Reiatsu still unchanged? What's wrong with me?!"

Darkness had fallen, and a crescent moon hung in the sky. Sitting cross-legged atop the cherry blossom tree in the middle of the courtyard, watching the battle Eroding Wolf and Kaien Shiba, Shadow's brows were furrowed.

"Or perhaps the method was wrong from the start? No, perhaps there are flaws, but it is indeed the fastest and safest way to restore strength. There's no time left. The Fake Karakura Town has already been replaced. Tomorrow at the latest..."

"Could it be a problem with Kaien herself?"

······

As dawn broke, the sun's dazzling rays shone upon the world, bringing light and warmth...

Shadow remained seated cross-legged, his brow furrowed, clearly deep in thought, and utterly perplexed.

Meanwhile, in the backyard barrier not far away, the battle between Eroding Wolf and Kaien Shiba continued day and night. Eroding Wolf's true form was Zanpakutō, and with the power of Shadow, it didn't feel tired at all. In addition, it was a battle maniac, so it still had the energy. Kaien Shiba was formed from Reishi, and as long as there were Reishi particles constantly repairing his body, he could also fight non-stop.

Time passed, second by second...

Suddenly, as if sensing something, Shadow abruptly opened his eyes and looked up at the sky, where Garganta appeared in what had once been a clear sky.

Sōsuke Aizen!!!

The final battle begins...