The Senkaimon was soon ready.
Urahara fitted the last Reishi component into the doorframe, then stepped aside and lightly tapped the wooden pillar with his Paper Fan.
White light shone, and the entrance to the Dangai slowly opened.
"Mr. Isshin, time flows roughly two thousand times faster inside the Dangai than outside."
"However, the Kōtotsu regularly sweeps through the Dangai," Urahara reminded him. "Staying inside for an extended period may prove difficult."
Isshin looked at Yoriichi.
Yoriichi nodded.
"I'll handle it."
His words sounded perfectly calm.
For some reason, Urahara felt a trace of sympathy for the Kōtotsu.
Ichigo, Isshin, and Yoriichi entered the Dangai.
The three had barely landed when a muffled rumble came from the distance. The surrounding space began to shake as a huge black mass rapidly approached along the passage.
Ichigo's expression shifted slightly.
"The Kōtotsu's coming!"
"Mm."
Yoriichi drew Hekyō and casually slashed forward.
A crimson blade of light cut through the Dangai.
The next instant, the speeding Kōtotsu split down the middle. Its massive body rapidly collapsed, finally dissolving into Reishi and disappearing.
Ichigo fell silent.
He remembered that the Kōtotsu seemed to have met the same fate the last time he was in the Dangai.
Why am I saying last time?
Never mind.
That doesn't matter.
Isshin had already erected a barrier nearby, temporarily stabilizing the turbulent space.
"From here on, I'll stay here to maintain the time axis."
He looked at Ichigo, his tone unusually serious.
"The Final Getsuga Tenshō isn't an ordinary technique. Its user must merge completely with Zangetsu and become Getsuga itself."
"The price is losing all your Soul Reaper powers."
Ichigo gripped Zangetsu.
"I already know all that."
"No, you still don't know the hardest part."
Isshin shook his head.
"Mugetsu isn't something Zangetsu will teach you just