Kurosaki Ichigo wanted to pick up his sword and fight again, but Mugetsu had already drained his strength. At this point, even an ordinary Soul Reaper could have defeated him with ease.
Why did I still lose in the end? Why couldn't I protect anyone?
Ichigo stared blankly at Aizen. Aizen was in the midst of another evolution, his Reiatsu rising at an unimaginable rate.
"Farewell, boy! Thanks to you, I've reached even greater heights," Aizen said with a smile.
Just as Aizen raised the half-disintegrated Kyōka Suigetsu, the entire world began to tremble.
Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, the Human World—even Hell!
Aizen looked up at the sky, his expression graver than ever. That man was finally coming.
Ichigo had no idea what was happening. The sky suddenly split open, and the whole world shook. Aizen paid him no further attention, focusing entirely on the rift overhead.
A hand reached out through the rift. The sky shattered, and Yamabuki Chidori stood there quietly above them.
"You two finished? Ichigo, looks like you took quite a beating!" Yamabuki Chidori grinned at Ichigo, who looked ready to cry.
"Mr. Yamabuki!" Ichigo gazed up at him in excitement.
Thank goodness. Mr. Yamabuki broke free of the seal at the very last moment.
Only Aizen looked grim. He suspected the seal he had made had never been capable of holding Teacher in the first place. The old man had let it happen.
"Teacher, everything is settled. What good will showing up now do?" Aizen asked.
"Don't rush. You haven't reached the next stage yet, have you? I'll give you some time." Yamabuki Chidori appeared before Ichigo in an instant, grabbed him, and teleported to distant Karakura Town.
Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto were waiting there for the outcome. Yamabuki Chidori suddenly appeared in front