The illusory space shattered, and Sojiro reappeared in the original high-altitude battlefield.
The first thing he saw was Nukui, whose 'thermal energy' had been completely burnt away by his Bankai's ability, turning into an ice sculpture, plummeting towards the ground.
Bang!
The frozen Nukui shattered upon impact, sending countless ice fragments scattering across the ground.
"It's over, Nukui Hanza."
Sojiro looked at the ice fragments on the ground with a complicated expression.
Because Nukui had pulled him into the illusion and made him experience those 'tragic' events, Sojiro deeply hated him.
But for some reason, Sojiro always felt that the events in the illusion were so real, as if they had actually happened.
'Illusions arise from the heart. Could it be that I truly harbored disloyal thoughts towards the Captain in my heart?'
Sojiro couldn't help but doubt his own heart for a moment.
"Bloom, Tobiume!"
"Growl, Haineko!"
While Sojiro was defeating Nukui, Momo, Rangiku, Ashido, and the others also killed their respective opponents.
Although those assassination squad's members were powerful, even rivaling Lieutenants with Bakkoto in hand, they ultimately lost to the 10th Division's members.
Ashido needed no introduction, he was already a Captain-level expert. Using his true abilities, defeating a Lieutenant-level opponent was not difficult.
As for Momo and Rangiku, although their fights were a bit difficult, they ultimately achieved victory.
Because their opponents, while temporarily surging in strength due to the Bakkoto and able to contend with Lieutenants, that power was ultimately not their own.
In the early stages of the fight, Doko and Kuzuryu, the opponents of Momo and Rangiku, had the upper hand thanks to the Bakkoto's power. But once Momo and Rangiku stabilized the situation and the battle became protracted, the situation turned against Doko and Kuzuryu.
Because while the Bakkoto can greatly increase one's power, it does so by absorbing the user's Reiatsu. Although Doko and Kuzuryu could temporarily match Lieutenants with the Bakkoto's amplification, the Bakkoto's consumption of Reiatsu was also extremely large.
So in a prolonged battle, Doko and Kuzuryu were no match for true Lieutenants like Momo and Rangiku.
Therefore, to end the fight quickly, Doko and Kuzuryu, regardless of their own limits, frantically poured their Reiatsu into the Bakkoto.
As a result, the Bakkoto's power went out of control, instead devouring everything they had… their lives, their Reiatsu… completely.
It was a case of 'success and failure both due to the Bakkoto'. They became powerful because of it, but in the end, they were also consumed by its power.
Momo and Rangiku could be said to have 'won without fighting'.
"Pant, pant, pant... Damn, these guys were really tough."
Rangiku gasped heavily, her chest heaving.
"Hinamori, are you alright?"
After recovering, Rangiku asked Momo.
"I'm fine, Rangiku-nee. Just a bit drained from the Reiatsu consumption."
Momo replied.
"Sigh, if only I were as strong as Ashido and Sojiro, I wouldn't have had to fight so hard. Really, I'm the Lieutenant, but my strength can't even compare to those two 3rd Seats, Ashido and Sojiro."
As she spoke, Rangiku glanced irritably at Ashido, who had been standing silently after defeating his opponent.
Seeing Rangiku's irritated look, Ashido quickly turned his head away. He knew this Lieutenant of his was very petty. If he made her unhappy, she would definitely find a way to make things difficult for him later. He couldn't afford to provoke her, but he could avoid her!
"By the way, didn't Sojiro already defeat his opponent? Why is he still standing in mid-air not coming down?"
Rangiku looked somewhat puzzled at Sojiro, who seemed to be in a daze, standing in mid-air.
"Hey! Sojiro, what are you standing there for? Since things are resolved here, we should go report to Captain."
Rangiku called out to Sojiro in the air.
Whoosh!
Hearing Rangiku's words, Sojiro's figure flashed and appeared beside the three.
"Sorry, I was thinking about something and got distracted. Let's go report to Captain now."
Sojiro perked up.
"No need, I'm already here."
A voice suddenly came. Rangiku and the others turned to see Toshiro and Shusuke approaching.
"Oh, looks like things are settled here."
Toshiro walked over with a smile.
"Of course! How could a few small-time thieves possibly be a match for our 10th Division? I could have easily beaten them all by myself."
Rangiku said proudly, giving herself a thumbs-up.
"Hehehe... Rangiku-nee, didn't I see you getting pushed around by your opponent just now?"
Momo snickered nearby.
"You little, how dare you make fun of me! Just wait till I get you!"
With that, Rangiku and Momo started playing around.
"Hmm?"
Toshiro suddenly looked at Sojiro with some surprise.
"Sojiro, have you broken through again?"
Toshiro suddenly noticed that Sojiro's Reiatsu seemed to have increased a notch, reaching the advanced Captain-level.
Hearing Toshiro's words, Ashido, and even the playful Momo and Rangiku, stopped and looked at Sojiro.
"A breakthrough? Huh... it certainly seems like it."
Even Sojiro himself hadn't noticed his breakthrough until Toshiro mentioned it. Only then did he realize his Reiatsu had greatly increased… he had indeed broken through.
Earlier, Sojiro had been agonizing over the events in the illusion, so much so that he hadn't even noticed his own breakthrough.
'Could it be at that moment?'
Sojiro suddenly thought back to when he was furiously unleashing all his Reiatsu and using Bankai to completely destroy the illusory space and Nukui.
At that time, because of the 'painful tragedy' he had experienced in the illusion, Sojiro hated Nukui to the bone. So he directly erupted with all his power, going all out in one strike to destroy the illusory space and Nukui himself.
At the time, due to anger and agonizing over the events in the illusion, Sojiro had no mind for anything else.
But thinking back now, when he recklessly erupted with all his power, his Reiatsu seemed to have broken through some kind of shackles, greatly increasing.
Otherwise, even if he was still stronger than Nukui after his transcendent fusion and reckless life-force burning, it would have been impossible for him to destroy the illusory space and Nukui in one blow.
"Heh, is this what they call a blessing in disguise?"
Sojiro couldn't help but say with some self-mockery.