The Invading Army Part 1, 8-1

I'm scanning everywhere, but I still can't get a reading on Ichigo.

Give us the bottom line! Does that mean he's dead?

I'm afraid I just can't tell you for sure at this point.

Come on, you guys! You know he's okay! That bastard Ichigo wouldn't die on us! He's too tricky for that!

He'll probably just show up here and have no explanation for where he's been! You know what I mean? Huh? Huh? Huh?

It's okay, take it easy.

What?

Yeah, it's written all over your face, pal. You're more worried than anybody else in the room.

Shut up! Who says I'm worried about Ichigo? Well, I'm not, so get out of my face!

Guh!

(Ichigo makes it to the Soul Society, then disappears into the Precipice World. This has got to be Kageroza's doing.)

(But how? Despite all our interactions and confrontations, we know very little about Kageroza.)

(With the exception of Nozomi.)

(All of her actions up 'til now suggest that she may have better insight into how Kageroza thinks.)

Once I return and I have retrieved Nozomi, then I will be able to completely show all of you my true power.

(What in the world did Kageroza mean by that? Does it have to do with the secret this girl is hiding from us? If so, then what is it?)

Wait, am I still alive?

Who are you?

I'm...passing out...