Inaba Kageroza completely disregarded the Ryodoji Family Head behind him, who had already shattered into several pieces.
He knew that if he didn't leave quickly, he would be the next to shatter.
His pace quickened, and he executed several consecutive Shunpo steps.
He hastily passed through the spatial passage, felt the strong wind blowing behind him, turned around, and quickly waved his hand to close the spatial passage.
He didn't follow!?
Inaba Kageroza secretly rejoiced.
He looked around and found himself in a long, narrow, and incredibly dark world, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
This place was filled with a large amount of miasma, and in the haze, he could see a black sphere in the distance, flickering with a faint light, gradually approaching.
Behind it, suspended in mid-air, was a huge spatial bubble, almost piercing the world's barrier.
"Indeed, I am stronger than those useless individuals; I was able to escape from such a terrifying monster."
Inaba Kageroza spat out a mouthful of crimson blood, then casually tore off his tattered clothes and discarded them.
Although his body was covered in hideous wounds, these wounds were not fatal and meant nothing to him.
After all, he was originally a Reigai.
If this body could no longer be used, he could simply replace it with another.
He gazed at the distant spatial bubble and began to mobilize the Reiatsu within his body.
A green light emanated from Inaba Kageroza's hand, and at the same time, he maximized his speed and rushed towards the valley.
He healed his injuries while pondering his next plan.
After approximately three minutes of rapid travel, Inaba Kageroza successfully entered the spatial bubble.
The sight before him made him feel somewhat unaccustomed.
Aside from occasionally encountering some aimlessly wandering missing souls, there wasn't a single person to be seen in the entire space.
This peculiar situation, instead, filled him with joy.
After all, the Ryodoji Family, from the Family Head down to the retainers, had all perished.
Therefore, the inheritance left by the Ryodoji Family naturally became his possession.
If he was lucky enough, he might even find a way to control these missing souls.
Thinking of this, Inaba Kageroza couldn't help but secretly rejoice that he was still alive.
He felt no sorrow for losing the Ryodoji Family as a partner.
On the contrary, his heart was filled with resentment and dissatisfaction towards Aozaki.
"Aozaki, you just wait! Once I create an even more powerful Reigai, I will make you pay!"
Inaba Kageroza said through gritted teeth.
Thus, he traversed the forests and desolate lands formed by the missing souls, finally moving away from that bloody slaughterhouse.
When he returned to the familiar laboratory, his heart finally settled down a little.
This was the only place where he could currently feel a sense of security.
Having finally breathed a sigh of relief, Inaba Kageroza walked towards the chair.
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind him:
"Oh... So this is your laboratory for studying Reigai?"
"It's not as hidden as I expected! I thought it would be underground."
Hearing this familiar voice, Inaba Kageroza's body stiffened, cold sweat instantly poured down his forehead, his legs went weak, and he almost fell to his knees.
"Who!"
He already had the answer in his heart, and he turned his head in terror.
He found that Aozaki was standing behind him at some unknown point, observing the surrounding experimental equipment with great interest.
"A... Aozaki?!"
Inaba Kageroza recognized the person, and immediately, his soul was scared out of him, his face turned ashen, his eyes widened, and he shrieked.
"How are you here!?"
His voice was sharp and trembling, as if he had seen the most terrifying ghost.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I don't know the way here, so of course, I followed you!"
Aozaki shrugged, a hint of a helpless smile on his face.
Inaba Kageroza's mouth hung open, but he couldn't make a sound.
His mind was blank, completely unable to comprehend what was happening before his eyes.
"You actually managed to follow me..."
After a long while, Inaba Kageroza finally squeezed out this sentence through gritted teeth.
Aozaki looked at his shocked expression and couldn't help but laugh.
He lightly patted Inaba Kageroza's shoulder and teased:
"Don't be so surprised; I was just strolling around and happened to run into an acquaintance and wanted to say hello. I didn't expect to end up here."
Inaba Kageroza: "..."
Who's your acquaintance!? I wish I had never seen you!!
Meeting that slightly disdainful gaze, he felt his intelligence was insulted.
This is too much!
He was a strong person who could withstand the opponent's attacks; how could he be like those useless individuals who were easily cut down one by one by the opponent!
A strong surge of anger welled up in his heart, making Inaba Kageroza's mind become unclear again.
"Dance wildly, Raikū!"
As his roar echoed, the long staff in his hand instantly transformed into a sharp double-edged naginata.
"Do you want to fight?"
Although Aozaki was still asking with his mouth, his feet did not hesitate in the slightest, and he swiftly rushed towards Inaba Kageroza.
The mere distance of a dozen meters was easily traversed in the blink of an eye, and that young figure arrived before Inaba Kageroza like a nightmare.
Aozaki unhesitatingly drew back his arm, clenched his fist, and his eyes revealed indifference.
Looking at Aozaki, who was rushing over like a demon descending, Inaba Kageroza couldn't help but sneer:
"Heh heh, let me make you feel your own Zanpakuto."
As soon as he finished speaking, he fiercely swung the long blade in his hand, rotating it to the left, and at the same time, the light of the Sword Pressure gradually shone brightly.
In Inaba Kageroza's opinion, any defense was futile.
Because no one could withstand his full-force attack with their body.
—This was his understanding of Shinigami.
However, just as he was anticipating Aozaki to wail and have his body torn apart under his attack, reality dealt him a heavy blow.
The imagined scene did not happen; Aozaki's body was miraculously intact.
He saw the Sword Pressure he released go straight towards Aozaki.
However, this seemingly mighty blow was as fragile as paper, instantly shattered by Aozaki's body, which had no Reiatsu protection.
While Inaba Kageroza was still in a daze, watching with a look of astonishment.
A strong and powerful arm grabbed out like lightning, instantly gripping the rapidly spinning Zanpakuto in his hand.
At the same time, a powerful Reiatsu shockwave surged from the blade!
Crack!!!
Along with the crisp sound of breaking, the Zanpakuto in Inaba Kageroza's hand instantly turned into countless fragments, scattering everywhere, turning into wood and iron shavings that fell all over the ground.
Witnessing this scene, Inaba Kageroza was completely stunned.
The Sword Pressure that had just easily defeated him and Ryodoji Ganryu was now so easily shattered by the opponent!?
Moreover, even his proud Zanpakuto, which he had painstakingly tried to completely control, was so easily destroyed by the opponent!?
At this moment, he finally realized that in the previous battle in the Seireitei, the opponent was merely toying with him.
That world-shaking slash was definitely not released by Aozaki at full power!
Thinking of this, Inaba Kageroza's gaze towards Aozaki involuntarily revealed a complex mixture of anger and fear.