Chapter Summaries

Jiku'a unleashed his Bankai and fought Kyōraku, who tried to hold him off while Ukitake and the others withdrew. Ichigo arrived and challenged Jiku'a after hearing his belief that the weak must accept the strong's choices, while Kyōraku lay unconscious and Jiku'a's true goal remained unrevealed.

• Jiku'a released Bankai, forcing Ukitake back and driving Kyōraku to order Sentarō and Kiyone to evacuate Ukitake.
• Kyōraku stayed to fight Jiku'a and recalled Captain-Commander Yamamoto's request to bring Yexing Hu back if he got the chance.
• Jiku'a wounded Kyōraku despite Katen Kyōkotsu's game rules, while Sentarō and Kiyone persuaded Ukitake to accept treatment.
• Ichigo Kurosaki arrived to help Ukitake, and Kyōraku realized Jiku'a had been holding back and confronted him about his intentions.
• Jiku'a told Kyōraku that the weak had to accept the strong's choices, then knocked him unconscious before he could warn Ichigo.
• Ichigo attacked Jiku'a in anger as Kyōraku lay in a crater.

Ichigo Kurosaki fought Jiku'a in the ruins of the Twelfth Division barracks but was defeated, and Jiku'a escaped through a spatial fissure. Ashisogi Jizō then released a poisonous mist, while the 11th Division prepared to face it and an unidentified voice ordered them aside.

• Ichigo Kurosaki charged Jiku'a, but Jiku'a outmatched him, shattered his Getsuga Tenshō, and inflicted severe wounds.
• Muramasa told Ashisogi Jizō to cover Jiku'a's retreat and incapacitate the Soul Reapers without killing them.
• Ichigo collapsed from exhaustion, and Jiku'a opened a spatial fissure and disappeared through it.
• Ashisogi Jizō used Bankai and spread poisonous mist across the Twelfth Division barracks, forcing the Soul Reapers to retreat.
• The 11th Division members moved to confront Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo, but a bold voice ordered them out of the way as a bell rang through the mist.

Fon Shaoling fought Suzumebachi in the woods while Oren struggled to protect her and wished for the power to fight beside her. Sylvan reunited with Oren, whose soul fragment joined him, and they set off to help Shaoling.

• Suzumebachi wounded Fon Shaoling repeatedly with Bee-Crest Flower, exploiting her smaller size and greater agility.
• Fon Shaoling kept Oren away from the battle, even blasting him clear with Hadō #31: Shakkahō, but Oren returned and lost track of her.
• Oren demanded power to fight alongside Shaoling, and Sylvan and Rain found him through their connection.
• Oren rejected Rain's offer because he felt Rain did not care about Shaoling, but Sylvan persuaded him that Hu's soul fragments needed to reunite to help her.
• Oren's black-and-red particles joined Sylvan, forming a feline butterfly-pattern tattoo and giving Sylvan Oren's power.
• Sylvan, Rain, and Oren headed into the woods to help Shaoling.

Soi Fon and the Onmitsukidō battled Suzumebachi until Sylvan and Oren arrived and helped turn the fight in their favor. Soi Fon defeated Suzumebachi, who then transformed into a ball of light that settled into Soi Fon’s hand.

• Soi Fon lured Suzumebachi into an Onmitsukidō ambush, but Suzumebachi countered their tactics and wounded Soi Fon.
• Oren transformed into a large shadow panther and attacked Suzumebachi as Sylvan arrived to assist Soi Fon.
• Oren and Sylvan overwhelmed Suzumebachi, while Rain struck her with Hadō #33: Sōkatsui.
• Soi Fon delivered the final blow, severing Suzumebachi’s right arm and defeating her.
• Suzumebachi acknowledged that Soi Fon had changed, then turned into a ball of light that fell into Soi Fon’s hand.

After the Onmitsukidō defeated the remaining Zanpakuto, Sylvan took Oren to meet Captain Kyōraku and learned that Jiku'a had likely been brainwashed by Muramasa. At the Twelfth Division barracks, they found several captains and officers badly injured, and Sylvan broke down over Jiku'a’s role in hurting his companions.

• Sakiro reported that the Onmitsukidō had recovered their Zanpakuto after Suzumebachi’s defeat, while Oren spoke clearly to Fon Shaoling for the first time and celebrated fighting alongside her.
• Sylvan explained that Oren was a fragment of his soul, then left with Rain and Oren to meet Captain Kyōraku as Fon Shaoling prepared to join them.
• Fon Shaoling arrived at the Twelfth Division headquarters and found the building destroyed, Retsu Unohana, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Shunsui Kyōraku gravely injured, and many other members wounded.
• Kenpachi Zaraki emerged from the poisonous fog carrying Ichigo Kurosaki and Yumichika Ayasegawa, while Yachiru Kusajishi dragged Ikkaku Madarame; he said he had only defeated Kurotsuchi’s broken Zanpakuto.
• After hearing how the battle had unfolded, Sylvan went to a deserted alley and angrily demanded to know why Jiku'a had hurt his companions and turned against him.

After the Gotei 13 regrouped at the Fourth Division, Sylvan wrestled with guilt over the losses while the captains assessed the Zanpakuto rebellion and debated how to handle Muramasa and Jiku'a. Kyōraku assigned Jiku'a to someone else, and Sylvan entered the meeting as the captains turned to face him.

• Fon Shaoling led the Gotei 13's scattered forces back to the Fourth Division, where the injured captains gradually awoke and Nemu helped Mayuri communicate using a device.
• Rangiku reassured Sylvan that Jiku'a's attack was not his fault, and Sylvan decided to attend the captains' meeting.
• The Lieutenants discussed their Zanpakuto, while Nanao broke down in tears over Nemu's injuries and Rangiku comforted her.
• Mayuri explained that Jiku'a was not Brainwashed and had opposed the Gotei 13 of his own will, prompting the captains to debate how to divide the fights against him and Muramasa.
• Kenpachi proposed that Ichigo fight Muramasa, then argued with Komamura until Kyōraku stopped them and said someone else would handle Jiku'a.
• Sylvan entered the hospital room as Kyōraku's chosen person to deal with Jiku'a.

Sylvan explained that Jiku'a had taken his soul fragment Dagon and proposed recovering Dagon by finding Rook and confronting Jiku'a. Fon Shaoling agreed to lead the search for Rook, while Sylvan insisted he had to bring Jiku'a back.

• Fon Shaoling objected to letting Sylvan handle Jiku'a, believing it was an internal Gotei 13 matter.
• Sylvan revealed that Rain, Oren, Rook, and Dagon were fragments of his soul, and said Jiku'a was using Dagon's Hollow-like nature to replenish its Reiatsu.
• Sylvan explained that finding Rook would restore much of his power and help him retrieve Dagon from Jiku'a, but he would need the others to create an opening for direct contact.
• Fon Shaoling assigned Marechiyo Ōmaeda and the Second Division to search for Rook after Sylvan agreed to describe him.
• Kyōraku privately recognized that Sylvan had guided the meeting by mixing truth with concealment, while Ukitake and Unohana chose not to expose him.
• After the meeting, Sylvan told Kyōraku he had to bring Jiku'a back because it was his responsibility.

Ōmaeda searched for Rook while Sylvan spoke with Yoruichi, and Muramasa introduced Jiku'a to the surviving Zanpakuto and planned an attack on Peony Mountain. After hearing rumors about strange changes there, Ōmaeda decided to take Sylvan to investigate the mountain the next morning.

• Ōmaeda ordered the Patrol Corps to search Seireitei and Rukongai for Rook, but the search found no sign of him inside the city.
• Sylvan, Oren, and Rain discussed their familiar-looking forms before Yoruichi visited Sylvan and urged him to seek help at the Urahara Shop if needed.
• Muramasa defended Senbonzakura’s absence from the battle and introduced Jiku'a, who overwhelmed Tobiume with his reiatsu.
• Muramasa ordered Gonryōmaru and Tenken to target Peony Mountain and planned for the other Zanpakuto to distract the Soul Reapers.
• Hanatarō found that the Fourth Division was running low on hemostatic medicine and decided to visit Peony Mountain.
• Ōmaeda heard reports of a month-old meteorite, darkening soil, increased herb yields, and a watching presence at Peony Mountain, then ordered Sylvan to meet him there the next morning.

Sylvan, Ōmaeda, Ichigo, and Hanatarō traveled to Peony Mountain and discovered unusually fertile soil, rapidly growing herbs, and reports of a one-eyed mountain god protecting visitors. As Sylvan and Ōmaeda headed to inspect the mountain-god statue, two figures arrived and planned to disrupt the Soul Reapers’ supply lines.

• Sylvan met Ōmaeda at Hakutōmon, and Ichigo and Hanatarō joined them on their journey to Peony Mountain.
• Hanatarō explained how local Pluses gathered rare medicinal plants for the Fourth Division as the group noticed the soil and trees had grown unusually lush.
• At the settlement, Hanatarō found oversized, potent herbs, and a shopkeeper said the mountain’s growth had changed since a child reported being guided to safety by a one-eyed mountain god.
• The shopkeeper pointed out a statue made to resemble the child’s description, and Sylvan and Ōmaeda went to see it.
• Two figures reached the mountain path, where one dismissed the mountain god as superstition and said they would destroy the Soul Reapers’ supply lines with Peony Mountain; Tenken signaled agreement.

Sylvan and his companions climbed Peony Mountain toward Rook, finding injured Pluses in the wake of a battle between Rook and Tenken. Ichigo drew Gonryōmaru away from the wounded to fight elsewhere, while Sylvan and Marechiyo Ōmaeda continued toward the summit and Hanatarō stayed behind to treat the Pluses.

• Sylvan recognized the statue at the mountain shrine as Rook, then sensed Rook clashing with Tenken near the summit.
• Sylvan, Ichigo, Hanatarō, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, Gegetsuburi, Oren, and Rain climbed the damaged mountain path and helped rescue injured Pluses.
• Gonryōmaru appeared and admitted that he and Tenken had not taken care to protect the Pluses from the destruction.
• Sylvan told Ichigo that Gonryōmaru belonged to Chōjirō Sasakibe, and Ichigo's taunt provoked Gonryōmaru into attacking with lightning.
• Ichigo protected Hanatarō and a wounded Plus from a lightning bolt, then dragged Gonryōmaru away from the mountain path to fight elsewhere.
• Hanatarō stayed to tend the injured Pluses as Sylvan and Marechiyo Ōmaeda continued toward the summit.

Ichigo and Gonryōmaru fought on a deserted riverbank, where Gonryōmaru unveiled his refined Bankai and Ichigo answered with a combined attack that shattered its spear. At Peony Mountain, Sylvan rescued Rook’s surviving eye from Tenken Wisdom King, while Ōmaeda and Gegetsuburi joined the fight against it.

• Ichigo dragged Gonryōmaru away from the settlement to keep the Pluses safe, then challenged him to use his Bankai.
• Gonryōmaru released Bankai—Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū—and attacked Ichigo with a golden lightning spear and a Lightning Domain.
• Ichigo used Getsuga Cross Blast against Gonryōmaru’s spear, and the collision shattered the spear and devastated the riverbank.
• Sylvan and Marechiyo Ōmaeda reached the summit of Peony Mountain as Tenken Wisdom King battered Rook until his body disintegrated, leaving only his purple eye.
• Sylvan retrieved Rook’s eye and escaped Tenken Wisdom King’s crushing foot with the eye’s shield, while Rain and Oren attacked the giant.
• Ōmaeda recovered from Tenken Wisdom King’s blow, drew Gegetsuburi, and prepared to fight the giant head-on.

Hanatarō and Hisagomaru returned to help the injured as the fight against Tenken Wisdom King drove Sylvan and the others to the brink. After Sylvan collapsed from Rook’s memories, Hisagomaru’s ability revived Ōmaeda and Gegetsuburi, while Sylvan awoke in a dark space before a gigantic eye.

• Hanatarō exhausted his Reiatsu treating injured Pluses until Hisagomaru arrived, rescued those trapped under rubble, and helped treat them.
• Tenken Wisdom King shrugged off the attacks of Ōmaeda, Gegetsuburi, Oren, and Rain, then crushed Oren and Rain and left Ōmaeda badly injured.
• Rook’s eye sent images of memories into Sylvan’s mind, overwhelming him until he collapsed unconscious.
• As Ōmaeda and Gegetsuburi prepared to face Tenken Wisdom King, Hanatarō and Hisagomaru arrived and used their blades to absorb and heal their injuries.
• Hisagomaru and Hanatarō released their Zanpakuto and knocked Tenken Wisdom King down with the stored energy, while Sylvan awoke in a dark space and found Rook’s memories gathering into a gigantic eye.

Sylvan understood that Rook’s power came from protecting the ordinary, meaningful lives that gave people strength, and his Inner World opened as their reiatsu resonated. He returned to the battle on Peony Mountain with Rook, Oren, and Rain restored, and defeated Tenken’s Tengen Myō'ō.

• Rook showed Sylvan memories of a lost child and the peaceful daily lives of Peony Mountain’s residents, helping him realize that such memories could sustain people through hardship.
• Sylvan recognized that Rook embodied the desire to protect what was beautiful and create a safe haven, and the barriers in his Inner World opened as his reiatsu joined with Rain, Oren, and Rook’s.
• Tenken drew Tengen Myō'ō’s great blade and badly injured Ōmaeda and Gegetsuburi, while Hanatarō stood between the giant and Ōmaeda to defend him.
• Sylvan awoke and blocked the myō'ō’s killing strike with Rook, then restored Rook, Oren, and Rain to stronger forms.
• Rook held the myō'ō in place as Oren wounded its legs and Rain bombarded it with Kidō, allowing Sylvan to ignite the Blade of Power and decapitate it.

Sylvan and Ichigo recovered after defeating their opponents on Peony Mountain, while Muramasa revealed his plans to Jiku'a for rescuing Kōga and advancing the Golden Fruit Plan. Jiku'a agreed to cooperate but worried that Muramasa’s loyalty to Kōga would lead him to a pointless death.

• Hanatarō helped Sylvan stand after Sylvan defeated Tenken Wisdom King, and Ichigo arrived after defeating Gonryōmaru.
• Ichigo realized that the injured Ōmaeda had secretly helped him during the battle on Sōkyoku Hill, apologized, and helped carry him back toward the Seireitei.
• Muramasa admitted that he had used the attack on the Soul Reapers’ medical system to distract them, then told Jiku'a that they could leave for the World of the Living the following day.
• Muramasa explained that Captain-Commander Yamamoto had sealed himself to protect Ryūjin Jakka and outlined a plan to keep Yamamoto occupied while Muramasa and Jiku'a pursued their goals.
• Jiku'a discussed Muramasa’s plan with a voice emerging from the cavern wall and lamented that Muramasa’s devotion to Kōga could lead to his death.
• In Muken, the refined man wondered whether he understood Urozakuro, while Jiku'a watched his reflection and wondered if she would blame him afterward.

After the Peony Mountain battle, Sylvan examined the changes in his group’s powers and discovered that the Book of V now recorded images of Ichigo, Rangiku, and Muramasa. Meanwhile, Gin Ichimaru encouraged Shimizu to develop Daku despite its connection to Sōsuke Aizen, and a new Soul Link unexpectedly connected Gin and Rangiku through their sighs.

• Ōmaeda received praise from Shūhei, Iba, and Renji for facing Tenken, while Hanatarō told Unohana he regretted being unable to fight effectively and she urged him to grow stronger.
• Sylvan observed Rain being played with by Kusajishi Yachiru and Oren relaxing with Fon Shaoling, then reflected on how the group’s abilities had changed since the battle.
• Sylvan summoned the Book of V in the real world and found images of Ichigo and White, Rangiku with Haineko and Shinsō, and Muramasa, while later pages remained blank.
• Rangiku practiced with Haineko in the Fourth Division ruins but made no progress toward Bankai because Haineko could not return to her Inner World.
• Gin Ichimaru sparred with Shimizu and urged him to pursue the direction Sōsuke Aizen had suggested for Daku, and Shimizu agreed to try.
• As Rangiku and Gin sighed at nearly the same time, a Soul Link formed between them, and each heard the other’s sigh.