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Amidst the rubble, Ichigo Kurosaki coughed up a mouthful of bloody saliva.

My joints felt like they were about to fall apart, and the peeling flesh sent waves of dull, throbbing pain through me.

Renji collapsed in a crack in the high wall not far away, his baboon bone armor shattered on the ground.

Rukia prone beside the broken shards of ice crystals, while her Sode no Shirayuki were stuck diagonally into the ground a few steps away.

Yhwach stood on the edge of the mostly collapsed platform, looking down at everything.

That face, covered in black fluid, was filled with the indifference and contempt of a god towards mortal ants.

Ichigo Kurosaki raised his hand and wiped the sticky blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

With his fingertips bracing against the rough, cold ground, the boy slowly straightened his bent knees.

"Stop... making pronouncements on other people's lives without permission."

Ichigo Kurosaki lowered his head, his voice dry and hoarse.

Yhwach looked down at the boy who had stood up again, his expression completely unmoved.

"We've come this far not to prove any power to you."

Ichigo Kurosaki slowly raised his head, and the white, curved horn on his left forehead once again shone with a deep light.

The wild flames in those golden eyes not only did not extinguish, but burned even brighter.

"Companions or weakness, even if the fate you speak of has already predetermined the ending."

Ichigo Kurosaki raised his long sword with both hands, the chains spreading out from his right arm once more. "I'll cut that disgusting ending to pieces right before your eyes!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the air in the hall seemed to freeze.

The broken stones and dust that were originally still on the ground slowly floated into the air as if defying gravity.

Ichigo Kurosaki planted his feet firmly on the broken stone slab, every muscle in his body tensing rapidly.

The previously chaotic and sinking energy was now flowing back and forth wildly.

The power of the Soul Reaper, the madness of the Hollows, and the Source of the Quincy converged into a torrent within the shattered body.

The chains on the blade vibrated rapidly, emitting a sharp, piercing clang.

A thick, inky darkness burst forth from the deepest part of the blade, only to be enveloped by layers of dazzling golden light.

The atmosphere of the entire hall groaned under the extremely compressed Reiatsu.

The veins on Ichigo Kurosaki's right arm bulged, and the stone steps beneath his feet cracked and crumbled inch by inch.

This is a desperate gamble, pouring all the remaining power within the body into a single strike without reservation.

Yhwach narrowed his eyes, and the black liquid around him began to ripple.

Ichigo Kurosaki raised the giant blade high with both hands, the chaotic air currents whipping his orange-red hair.

"Crescent Moon--"

A roar erupted from deep within the boy's throat, shattering the swirling clouds overhead.

The two giant blades descended from above, carrying the immense pressure of the entire world as they slashed down.

"Tianchong!!!"

Boom!

A black crescent moon, obscuring the sky, roared out and tore through the void in front of the temple.

The crescent moon's edge was shimmering with a pure, sacred golden light, yet its core was as deep and unfathomable as a black hole that devoured everything.

A colossal blade, thousands of feet long, pierced the sky, and the immense wind pressure ripped away the ruins of the palace below.

The black blade of light climbed upwards, passing over the top floor of the Wahrwelt, leaving a long-lasting, dark trail across the sky above the entire suspended city.

The battlefields throughout the entire Wahrwelt came to a brief halt at that moment.

The Soul Reaper and the remaining Quincy scattered throughout the ruins all stopped their weapons and looked up at the sky.

On the outer edge of the third gallery, far from the throne, several weary figures were trudging along.

Shunsui Kyōraku wore his straw hat askew, and his pink, flamboyant haori was charred and torn in several places.

He was supporting the tall Koyat Starrk on his broad shoulders.

On the other side, Nanao Ise jogged alongside, struggling to support the pale-faced Tia Tier Harribel.

The violent Reiatsu churning in the sky caused the paving stones along the entire long street to vibrate incessantly.

Shunsui Kyōraku tilted his head back, adjusted the brim of his hat with one hand, revealing his slightly tired single eye.

"Wow, the commotion up there is quite significant."

Shunsui Kyōraku exhaled a breath of stale air, his tone carrying a hint of casual mockery.

"It seems our Ichigo Kurosaki is getting quite the ladies' man with that His Majesty."

Nanao looked at the sky warily. "Captain, with that kind of powerful attack, the battle must have reached its climax."

Starrk hung his head listlessly, his disheveled black hair covering half of his face.

He slightly opened his gray eyes and glanced at Kyōraku's profile.

"Soul Reaper, please put us down."

Starrk's voice sounded dry and hoarse, and the Reishi around the Hollow Hole in his chest were somewhat dim.

"Don't you still have enemies to deal with? There's no need to waste your energy on two prisoners who have lost their fighting ability."

Tier Harribel also turned her head slightly, her cool golden eyes revealing a suppressed weakness.

Tier Harribel whispered, "Our Reiatsu is almost exhausted; we simply cannot condense Cero in a short time."

"We are not capable of helping in the upcoming decisive battle."

"Instead of carrying two burdens, it's better to go and support your comrades fighting on the front lines."

Tier Harribel tried to pull her arm away from Nanao's shoulder, but her weak body made her almost fall after taking only half a step.

Nanao quickly and steadily supported Tier Harribel, anxiously saying, "Miss Tier Harribel, please don't move!"

Shunsui Kyōraku glanced at Starrk, a lazy smile playing on his lips.

"Please don't say that, you two."

Shunsui Kyōraku pulled Starrk's arm around his neck and continued walking steadily forward.

"Although we fought to the death in Karakura Town before, our current enemies are all in that palace."

"The more people there are, the more variables there are, let alone two former Espada."

Starrk sighed. "What a nuisance. You're still the same old you, never understanding how to let go of pointless things."

There's nothing we can do about it.

Shunsui Kyōraku said casually, "Now I've been put in the position of Acting Captain-Commander."

"Before Tsugikuni Captain-Commander this hot potato at me, he instructed me to Total Concentration all available combat forces."

"If I leave you all to lie here and fend for yourselves, I'll be held accountable when that overly serious Captain-Commander wakes up."

Behind them, a small figure was quickly catching up, stepping over the rubble.

Lilynette's unicorn helmet was intact, and her short green hair fluttered in the wind.

Ever since Starrk was captured by the Hueco Mundo Wandenreich, he has forcibly maintained his Resurrección form, using his body to endure all interrogations and corruption.

It was this persistence that prevented Lilynette's soul from being isolated and imprisoned.

The girl, who had just been rescued, looked radiant except for a little dust on her face.

Lilynette waved her little fists and shouted angrily at Starrk's back.

"Starrk! Stop playing the victim!"

Lilynette shouted, "Didn't you say you were going to have a big meal when we were locked on the pillar? Why are you being lazy now?!"

Starrk, his eyes half-closed, said weakly, "Lilynette... I really don't even have the strength to move a finger right now."

"Idiot! Then hurry up and let Soul Reaper heal you!"

Lilynette quickly ran to Kyōraku's side and reached out to grab the hem of Kyōraku's clothes.

"Uncle, where is your doctor who can cure illnesses? Don't let him get Starrk to pieces on the way!"

Shunsui Kyōraku chuckled, "Don't worry, little girl, we'll be there soon. That man is the most reliable shrewd businessman in the entire Soul Society."

On the surface, he appeared calm and collected, his expression even carrying his usual playful tone.

However, beneath the shadow of that wide conical hat, a lingering solemnity lingered in the depths of Kyōraku's eyes.

The chaotic fluctuations emanating from the black crescent moon in the sky were being swallowed up at an alarming speed by an even deeper, darker aura.

Ichigo Kurosaki's all-out attack clearly failed to turn the tide of the battle.

The Soul King Palace is now a treacherous cliff.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni poured pure Reiatsu into the cracks in Seireitei to stabilize the Three Realms' heavenly barrier, and now his power has plummeted and he is in a dormant state.

He entrusted me with the position of Acting Captain-Commander, which shows his trust in my abilities.

You must never show the slightest wavering or anxiety.

Now, all eyes, both on the Soul Reaper and on reinforcements, are on him, the Acting Captain-Commander.

No matter how difficult the situation, he had to wear that nonchalant mask and keep everyone's morale firmly upheld.

After passing through the ruins of a collapsed tower, a Barrier barrier appeared ahead.

Inside the Barrier, several simple medical tents were arranged in a staggered manner.

Kisuke Urahara was squatting by a boulder outside the tent, fiddling with a portable Reishi analyzer in his hand.

His green and white striped fisherman's hat was covered in dust, and a Benihime lay unsheathed beside his wooden clogs.

Sensing the heavy footsteps, Kisuke Urahara turned around, his gaze passing over the lowered brim of his hat.

"Oh my, Captain Kyōraku, you've brought back two very distinguished guests!"

Urahara stood up and gently tapped his shoulder with his folding fan.

Shunsui Kyōraku gently placed Starrk on the cushioned stone steps, while Nanao carefully helped Tier Harribel sit down beside him.

Shunsui Kyōraku rubbed his aching shoulders and said with a wry smile, "Mr. Urahara, I brought back the two commanders of Hueco Mundo completely unharmed."

"Their Reiatsu is severely depleted, and they still have residual Reishi toxins unique to Quincy in their bodies. It's all thanks to your methods."

Kisuke Urahara walked up to Starrk and Tier Harribel, his gaze sweeping over the dim Hollow Hole on their chests.

Kisuke Urahara suppressed his usual frivolity and said in a low voice, "To have Source spirit core remain intact after being imprisoned for so long is nothing short of the Miracle."

"Although it won't be possible to restore them to their peak condition in a short time, it's still possible to concoct a medicine to neutralize the toxins."

Shunsui Kyōraku took a half-step closer, his back to Nanao and the Arrancar, and lowered the edge of his straw hat.

Shunsui Kyōraku asked in a low voice, "What do you think of the situation up there?"

Kisuke Urahara raised his hand to press down on his fisherman's hat, his gaze fixed on the gradually dissipating black crescent moon dust in the sky.

"Kurosaki-kun has indeed displayed unprecedented power."

Kisuke Urahara sighed and said calmly, "However, the suppression of Yhwach's laws cannot be broken simply by high-density Reiatsu."

"His current state is like standing in a quagmire in another dimension; the harder a mortal tries to chop, the faster he sinks."

Shunsui Kyōraku's gaze darkened slightly as he slowly Zanpakuto.

"It seems we can only wait for Old Man Yama to arrive."

Kisuke Urahara his head to the side, his glasses reflecting a faint glimmer.

"Before that, we must ensure that the city does not sink completely."

"Leave it to me, Captain Kyōraku. These two will be able to move on their own again within an hour."

Shunsui Kyōraku turned around, straightened his straw hat, and a relaxed smile returned to his face.

"Then I'll leave it to you. I need to go and prepare a way out for the guy upstairs."