Chapter Summaries

Cilian, Sakiro, and Hu completed their assignments and located the Hollowfication testing grounds in Withered Bamboo Hamlet, where at least 103 Completed Forms were gathered. Fon Shaoling ordered an all-out surprise attack for the following night, declaring it the decisive battle.

• Cilian assembled intelligence from Bamboo Creek Plain and traced the enemy's testing grounds to Withered Bamboo Hamlet.
• Sakiro's squad hunted down escaped experimental subjects and learned that at least thirty remained inside the hamlet, including powerful Completed Forms.
• Hu trained with Cilian, passed the Kidō examination, and completed the separation of all twenty-seven rescued people without any deaths.
• At the Day 15 briefing, Cilian reported at least 103 Completed Forms in Withered Bamboo Hamlet, while Sakiro confirmed the surrounding threats had been cleared.
• Fon Shaoling rallied the assembled forces and ordered a surprise attack the next night to defeat the enemy and capture the hamlet's leader alive.

Fon Shaoling explained that the Twenty-Four Chambers Alliance within Central 46 had orchestrated the Hollowfication Experiment, then assigned the assault on Withered Bamboo Hamlet while keeping Hu at the Fon Clan. Elsewhere, Byakuya confronted Ōmaeda over the Sixth Division being excluded, as Aizen revealed that he had moved his important assets to Hueco Mundo and planned one final operation.

• Fon Shaoling told Cilian, Sakiro, Tessai, and Hu that the Twenty-Four Chambers Alliance had pursued Hollow-based military power and caused the Hollowfication crisis, while Kisuke Urahara had only made a prototype and was not involved in the experiments.
• Fon Shaoling assigned Sakiro to capture the experiment’s technical staff and supervisor, Tessai to fight the test subjects, and Cilian to command the battlefield and interrogate captives; she ordered Hu to remain with her at the Fon Clan.
• Cilian teased Hu about staying behind with Fon Shaoling, and Hu agreed to guard the rear after realizing they would be alone together.
• Byakuya Kuchiki questioned Marechiyo Ōmaeda about why the Second Division had not informed the Sixth Division of the investigation, then told him to pass his complaint to Soi Fon.
• Gin Ichimaru asked Sōsuke Aizen why he was abandoning Central 46, and Aizen said his important assets had been transferred to Hueco Mundo and proposed one final plan before the operation ended the next day.

Hu trained with Cilian, then patrolled Bamboo Creek Plain to monitor suspected spies as the Fon Clan prepared an operation against Withered Bamboo Hamlet and Central 46. After spotting a returned man whose behavior seemed suspicious and noticing many staged-looking reunions, Hu grew uneasy until Kaki appeared behind him.

• Hu sparred with Cilian, showed improved control of Jiku'a, Beowulf, Phantom Blade, and Kidō, and received advice about making his attack patterns less predictable.
• Cilian assigned Hu to monitor marked lookouts around the settlement and report changes with a signaling device while the other squads prepared for the operation.
• Hu visited Shimizu's new clothing shop and met Tosaya, who said he had escaped from the noble families and recently returned.
• Hu completed his first patrol and reported that the spies' positions and numbers were normal.
• During his second patrol, Hu noticed a scout limping despite no such detail in the records, then saw numerous people reuniting with relatives after supposedly being missing.
• Hu's unease grew as he watched the reunions, and Kaki appeared behind him and warned him not to let his feelings give away that he was watching someone.

Hu and Gin Ichimaru uncovered a group of spies possessed by Parasitic Hollows and fought them in a bamboo grove. After Hu’s Zanpakuto destroyed the Hollows, an explosion at the Fon Residence sent him rushing toward Shaoling, while Sōsuke Aizen revealed that he had created the Hollows and suspected Jiku'a could separate them from their hosts.

• Gin Ichimaru warned Hu that spies were following them and led him into a bamboo grove to confront them.
• The spy Hu had been watching transformed into a host for a Parasitic Hollow, and more Hollow-possessed spies closed in around Hu and Gin.
• Hu released Jiku'a and cut down the Parasitic Hollows, whose bodies dissolved into Reishi after his strikes.
• An explosion erupted at the Fon Residence, and Hu rushed toward Shaoling while Gin stayed behind to speak with Sōsuke Aizen.
• Aizen examined the remains and concluded that Hu’s Zanpakuto could separate the Parasitic Hollows from their hosts.

Keiko found Shimizu unconscious after Tosaya attacked him, and Shimizu resolved to stop his old friend from harming the Fon Clan. At the Fon Clan grounds, Soi Fon confronted Tsuchimikado Kōmei as he transformed into a Completed Form, while Shimizu arrived at the gates to face Tosaya and his followers.

• Keiko found Shimizu unconscious outside their shop; after he woke, he explained that Tosaya had attacked him over his praise of the Fon Clan.
• Shimizu retrieved the sealed Asauchi Cilian had given him and set out to find Tosaya, asking Keiko to hide.
• Tsuchimikado Kōmei confronted Fon Shaoling, who revealed herself as Soi Fon and drew Suzumebachi.
• Hongming transformed into a Completed Form covered in insect-like armor and challenged Soi Fon to fight.
• Tosaya gathered a dozen Completed Forms at the Fon Clan gate and prepared to attack, but Shimizu arrived and demanded to know what he intended to do.

Tosaya revealed how he gained his Hollow power and attacked the Fon Residence, while Shimizu refused to join him and held him off. Hu arrived and rushed to defend the residence, leaving Shimizu to face Tosaya as strange whispers rose with the sound of the tide.

• Tosaya urged Shimizu to join the Completed Forms, then transformed into a lava-armored Hollowfied warrior and ordered an assault on the Fon Residence.
• At the Temporary Outpost, Cilian questioned the captured researcher, who explained that Completed Forms came from Parasitic Hollow symbiosis experiments and that an unknown source supplied the Hollows and research data.
• Tosaya repeatedly knocked Shimizu down and tried to make him surrender, but Shimizu stood firm and defended the Fon Clan and Hu.
• Hu arrived between Tosaya and Shimizu, but Shimizu insisted that Tosaya was his fight, so Hu hurried into the Fon Clan to confront the invading Completed Forms.
• Shimizu and Tosaya charged at each other again as Shimizu heard the sound of the tide and faint whispers calling his name.

Soi Fon fought Hongming while Hu cut through the Completed Forms invading the Fon Residence, until Hongming strengthened the survivors and forced Hu into a harder battle. Outside the gates, Shimizu awakened his Zanpakuto Daku and released its Shikai against Tosaya, leaving their final confrontation underway.

• Soi Fon used Suzumebachi and Kidō against Hongming, but his Nether Abyss Insects replenished themselves by devouring the residence, while an explosion announced the invasion at the main gate.
• The Fon Clan's attendants slowed the invading Completed Forms with traps, but Hu arrived and rapidly killed several of them with Jiku'a.
• Hongming's insects strengthened the remaining Completed Forms, whose coordinated attacks and regeneration forced Hu to draw a Phantom Blade and keep fighting.
• Tosaya melted Shimizu's Asauchi, but Shimizu refused to yield and awakened his Zanpakuto, Daku.
• Shimizu released Daku's Shikai and faced Tosaya as Hu and Soi Fon continued fighting inside the Fon Residence.

Shimizu fought Tosaya with his newly awakened Shikai while Hu battled the Completed Forms attacking the Fon Residence. At Withered Bamboo Hamlet, Sakiro and Tessai halted the enemy’s advance, but Cilian learned that Tsuchimikado Kōmei had taken elite forces elsewhere and ordered the Onmitsukidō to seize the hamlet quickly.

• Shimizu used Daku’s water to counter Tosaya’s lava and forced their clash into another exchange.
• Hu fought through waves of Completed Forms with Phantom Blade, Jiku'a, Kidō, Space Slash, and Judgment Cut, but the enemies coordinated and his stamina dwindled.
• Sakiro changed the Onmitsukidō’s formation and used her Shikai to confront a fast Completed Form, while Tessai attacked a massive foe with his prayer beads and sealed Kidō.
• A researcher told Cilian that Tsuchimikado Kōmei could strengthen Completed Forms and link their senses and memories through Nether Abyss Insects.
• Cilian realized Hongming had taken elite forces elsewhere, likely toward the Fon Clan, and ordered the Onmitsukidō to execute Hammerfall Tactics and capture Withered Bamboo Hamlet.

Tessai completed his preparation and used Hammerfall Tactics to destroy the enormous Completed Form, while Sakiro and the Onmitsukidō held the line. Shimizu recovered his resolve through Daku, and Gin arrived at the Fon Residence to let Hu continue toward Shaoling.

• Cilian ordered the Onmitsukidō to execute Hammerfall Tactics as Tessai prepared the unnamed technique he had developed with Soi Fon.
• Sakiro defeated one Completed Form with her shadow weapons, then exhausted herself protecting Tessai from the enormous one.
• Tessai activated the prototype of Shunkō, seized the enormous Completed Form, and pierced its chest with his prayer beads before announcing phase two of the tactic.
• Shimizu refused to give up against Tosaya, spoke with Daku in a vision, and returned to the fight after reclaiming Daku with water.
• Hu struggled against the Completed Forms inside the Fon Residence until Gin Ichimaru arrived, killed an attacker, and told Hu to go check on Shaoling.

Shimizu defeated Tosaya but failed to save him, while Tessai’s forces wiped out the Completed Forms at Withered Bamboo Hamlet. At the Fon Residence, Hu learned that Fon Shaoling was Soi Fon and struggled to fight beside her as Hongming gathered the Nether Abyss Insects for a final attack.

• Shimizu used the steam he controlled to weaken Tosaya, then defeated him with a powerful water blade; Tosaya died in Shimizu’s arms after telling him to live well.
• Tessai and the Onmitsukidō destroyed the Completed Forms at Withered Bamboo Hamlet, and Cilian headed back to the Fon Clan after learning Hongming had disappeared with some of them.
• Hu arrived at the Fon Residence and realized that Fon Shaoling was Soi Fon, then joined her fight against Hongming’s insects.
• Hu’s shock caused him to make repeated mistakes in battle, and he argued with Fon Shaoling while they fought off Hongming’s swarm together.
• Hongming summoned Nether Abyss Insects from the battlefields to himself as Gin and Aizen prepared to watch the final act.

Hongming transformed into a Vasto Lorde-level monster, and Hu fought to give Fon Shaoling three minutes to complete her Shunkō. Fon Shaoling defeated the monster, but a new armored figure emerged from its remains and challenged her to a Third Round while Hu lay unconscious.

• The Nether Abyss Insects gathered into Hongming, transforming him into a gigantic monster with overwhelming Reiatsu, Sonído, and insect-powered Ceros.
• Fon Shaoling told Hu she needed three minutes to prepare a move, and Hu agreed to hold the monster off alone.
• Hu fought the monster through the first two minutes, then used Judgment Cut—End to destroy its Cero aimed at Fon Shaoling and collapsed from exhaustion.
• Fon Shaoling completed her Shunkō, outpaced the monster, and killed it by striking the same spot twice with Suzumebachi.
• A black-armored figure with a Hollow Hole emerged from the monster's remains, declared that he had found true power, and announced the Third Round as Fon Shaoling prepared to fight again.

Fon Shaoling and Cilian fought Hongming together, but his ability to shed layers of armor erased Suzumebachi’s killing marks and left them unable to defeat him. Watching from the shadows, Aizen became fascinated by Yexing Hu’s power and sent Gin Ichimaru into the courtyard with a Reiatsu-restoring potion, intending to make “Kaki” appear again.

• Hongming overwhelmed Fon Shaoling until Cilian arrived and used his Thousand-Mechanism Gauntlet to hold the Vasto Lorde at bay.
• Fon Shaoling struck a fading butterfly mark with Suzumebachi’s second strike, but Hongming shed four layers of armor and erased the wound and marks.
• Hongming resumed firing Ceros as Cilian and Fon Shaoling tired, forcing them into a defensive stalemate.
• Gin Ichimaru and Aizen watched from the shadows, and Aizen focused on Yexing Hu’s slash that had shattered a powerful Cero.
• Aizen gave Gin a Reiatsu-restoring potion and told him to make “Kaki” appear again; Gin agreed and headed into the courtyard.

After recovering from his overuse of Judgment Cut End, Hu awakened the Summoned Swords ability and returned to the battle against Hongming. He struck Hongming with Judgment Cut—End, but when Hongming survived and lunged at him, Gin Ichimaru intervened.

• Jiku'a explained that Hu had gained the Summoned Swords ability, which let him teleport to any active sword, and Hu learned to summon them.
• Gin Ichimaru found Hu unconscious, gave him medicine, and told him that Fon Shaoling and Cilian were fighting Hongming nearby.
• Hu teleported into the fight and wounded Hongming with Judgment Cut, while Hongming trembled in fear of Hu’s power.
• Fon Shaoling and Cilian restrained Hongming with Kidō, chains, and weapons so Hu could land Judgment Cut—End.
• Hongming survived the attack and charged the exhausted Hu, but Gin Ichimaru stepped in and used his extending Zanpakuto to drive him back.

Gin Ichimaru joined Fon Shaoling and Cilian in suppressing Hongming while Hu recovered enough Reiatsu to attack. After their coordinated efforts finally killed Hongming, Hu collapsed, and Aizen left satisfied that Reiatsu Theory still held.

• Gin Ichimaru arrived, helped Fon Shaoling and Cilian hold Hongming back, and urged Hu to recover his Reiatsu.
• Hongming charged at Hu, but Cilian used the Thousand-Mechanism Gauntlet’s adapted Shadow Piercer to pin him down.
• Hu unleashed Judgment Cut—End, badly wounded Hongming, and left him unable to move, but Hongming fled when Hu ran out of strength.
• Tessai, Sakiro, Gin, Cilian, and Fon Shaoling helped send a Summoned Sword into Hongming’s back, allowing Hu to finish him with Void Blade Realm.
• Fon Shaoling caught Hu as he collapsed, while Aizen concluded that Reiatsu Theory remained valid and left.

Fon Shaoling reviewed the aftermath of the battle, and the Fon Clan celebrated its victory as Hu learned Gin’s true identity and Shimizu and Keiko opened a clothing shop. At a captains’ meeting, Fon Shaoling learned that Yoruichi Shihōin had been cleared to return to Soul Society but had chosen not to.

• Cilian reported that the Twenty-Four Chambers Alliance had been dismantled, the Hollowfication Experiment sealed, and the exiled captains’ case was awaiting resolution.
• Fon Shaoling held a victory banquet, where Gin Ichimaru revealed his identity and offered Shimizu and Hu admission notices to Shin'ō Academy.
• Hu welcomed Gin, and the two promised to drink together again.
• Shimizu and Keiko opened Qinghui Clothing Shop, and Shimizu told Hu he had made Tosaya a memorial grave behind it.
• At the captains’ meeting, Yamamoto reported that the exiled captains were presumed dead, Kisuke Urahara’s exile would continue under monitoring, and Yoruichi Shihōin was permitted to return.
• Fon Shaoling learned that Yoruichi had ignored the messages and did not intend to return to Soul Society.

Hu began his first day at Shin'ō Academy, where the Fon Clan's reputation made other students avoid him, and learned that Rukia Kuchiki was leaving for Karakura Town that night. After Hu was picked up by Marechiyo Ōmaeda, he fought Byakuya Kuchiki over his sword and was summoned into Fon Shaoling's office with the others.

• Hu and Shimizu traveled to Shin'ō Academy, where students kept their distance after recognizing the Fon Clan crests on their uniforms.
• Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki addressed the new students, then joined Hu and Shimizu for lunch; Hu learned Rukia was leaving for Karakura Town that night.
• Hu toured the academy while Shimizu collected his dormitory key, then met Marechiyo Ōmaeda, who escorted him to the Second Division barracks.
• Byakuya Kuchiki tried to take Jiku'a from Hu, and the two clashed with Reiatsu, Hakuda, and swords until Marechiyo Ōmaeda and Renji Abarai intervened.
• Fon Shaoling arrived, surveyed the damage in the corridor, and ordered Hu, Byakuya Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and Marechiyo Ōmaeda into her office.

Hu’s dispute with Byakuya led to a confrontation over the Sixth Division’s exclusion from the Bamboo Creek Plain investigation, while Cilian visited Urahara and Yoruichi in the World of the Living. After returning to Soul Society, Cilian found Hu and Renji battered from training and learned Hu had fought the Sixth Division captain.

• Hu admitted he had made the first move against Byakuya, but Fon Shaoling explained that Hu could keep Jiku'a because it had achieved Shikai and that he had entered the academy with her family’s recommendation.
• Fon Shaoling told Byakuya she had excluded the Sixth Division from the Bamboo Creek Plain investigation because she feared it might have been infiltrated, then gave him the division’s investigation files.
• Byakuya promised not to shield corrupt Soul Reapers and took Hu for personal instruction after Hu shook his head at the promise.
• Cilian visited Urahara and Yoruichi, reported the Bamboo Creek Plain battle, delivered Urahara’s trading permit, and told Yoruichi that her sentence had been revoked and she could return to Soul Society.
• Yoruichi refused to return until she had finished her work in the World of the Living, and Cilian left after asking whom Urahara was hiding from.
• Cilian returned to Soul Society and found Hu and Renji battered after seeing Rukia off; Hu told him he had fought the Sixth Division captain.

After returning to Soul Society, Cilian found Hu battered beside Renji, who explained that Hu had fought Byakuya during training. Hu impressed Byakuya with his combat skills and briefly caught him off guard, but Byakuya ultimately defeated him and warned that Hu’s temperament could hinder his future.

• Cilian returned to Soul Society and found Hu and Renji injured after Hu had fought Byakuya.
• Byakuya tested Renji and Ōmaeda in combat, pointing out their weaknesses in Hakuda, Kidō, and Shikai.
• Hu used Concentration, Kidō, and his Zanpakuto abilities to challenge Byakuya and briefly put Jiku'a to his throat.
• Byakuya released Senbonzakura, countered Hu’s techniques, and recognized how Hu’s abilities complemented the four Soul Reaper skills.
• Byakuya defeated Hu and warned him that his unstable temperament could cause trouble in the future.

Hu, Renji, and Ōmaeda sparred with Byakuya, learned to coordinate their attacks, and collapsed from exhaustion after an evening of training. Afterward, Hu and Renji saw Rukia off as she left for an assignment, then met Hu’s instructor Cilian beneath the moon.

• Hu asked Byakuya to continue sparring, and Renji and Ōmaeda joined the fight as Byakuya pointed out their weaknesses and countered their attacks.
• Hu, Renji, and Ōmaeda combined their abilities to trap Byakuya briefly, but Byakuya broke free and blasted all three away.
• The exhausted trio eventually stood together, and Renji invited Hu and Ōmaeda to dinner; Ōmaeda left to finish his paperwork while Hu and Renji went to a noodle stall.
• Hu and Renji met Rukia on her way to the Senkaimon, saw her off, and joked together before she departed on her assignment.
• Cilian arrived through another Senkaimon, and Hu told him about sparring with Byakuya; Renji learned that Cilian had once lost an arm and an eye.

Hu and Renji discussed Cilian’s strength and shared a meal, while Cilian returned to the Second Division and spoke with Fon Shaoling about Yoruichi. Fon Shaoling decided to send Hu a warning to keep a low profile, and Cilian delivered the message to Ōmaeda after beating him twice.

• Hu told Renji that Cilian had once held off a Vasto Lorde-level enemy, and Renji realized the enemy had been Hongming and that Shaoling was Soi Fon’s real name.
• Hu and Renji went to the noodle stall, where Hu ate a large bowl of ramen before they headed back.
• Cilian returned to the Second Division and beat Ōmaeda for shouting for help during training.
• Cilian told Fon Shaoling that Yoruichi was doing well in the World of the Living but would not return until she finished what she was doing.
• Fon Shaoling asked Cilian to have Ōmaeda tell Hu to keep a low profile, and Cilian relayed the message before beating Ōmaeda again.
• Ōmaeda finished his paperwork late at night while Hu and Renji returned from the noodle stall.