Yoriichi left those words behind without paying any attention to Kisuke Urahara's stunned face.
Bracing himself against a broken section of wall, he took several heavy breaths, then turned and headed toward the ruins on the other side.
"I may need to find somewhere secluded to rest."
Yoriichi's voice sounded exceptionally hoarse. He waved a hand. "The loss of strength has affected me more than I expected. You'll have to hold things together for now."
Kisuke Urahara held the key to Muken's lowest seal in his hand and, for once, offered no teasing remark.
His eyes, hidden beneath his hat brim, swept over Yoriichi's slightly swaying back, a trace of gravity flashing in their depths.
For this ever-commanding man to admit of his own accord that he needed rest meant his physical condition was already approaching the brink of total collapse.
After leaving the Fourth Division's temporary aid station, Yoriichi slowly made his way along the shattered streets.
Every step felt exceptionally heavy, his boots scraping roughly against the loose stones and rubble covering the ground.
The situation was far worse than he had just let on.
At this very moment, he could sense that the power draining from his body had not slowed with time. Instead, it showed faint signs of accelerating.
The Three Realms were collapsing even faster than he had expected.
If things continued at this rate, it would only be a matter of time before the portion of his essence he had left high in the sky to serve as the world's wedge was drained completely dry.
He had to find a way to resolve this problem that could destroy everything.
But the most critical reality facing him was that he now struggled even to get around.
Shunsui Kyōraku was approaching from the opposite direction, issuing