Recaps

Liu Hao exposed Aizen’s plot to seize the Hōgyoku, then helped Soul Society prepare for the Arrancar threat while guiding Ichigo Kurosaki toward accepting his Hollow power. After the Arrancar attacked Karakura Town, Isshin revealed Ichigo’s origins and Liu Hao began training him to awaken his Zanpakuto.

• Liu Hao trained Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai for Rukia Kuchiki’s rescue while intervening in Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s experiments and helping Momo Hinamori uncover the truth about Aizen.
• Ichigo Kurosaki rescued Rukia Kuchiki at Sōkyoku Hill, where Aizen revealed his role in the execution plot and extracted what he believed was the Hōgyoku from her.
• Liu Hao revealed that Aizen had taken a fake Hōgyoku, confronted him over the Hollowfication Experiment, and watched Aizen escape with Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen.
• Liu Hao explained Aizen’s plan to create the Oken with Karakura Town and helped Soul Society organize its defenses, reform Central 46, and enlist the Visored.
• Liu Hao brought Ichigo Kurosaki to meet the Visored, then stopped Yammy Llargo during an Arrancar attack and urged Ichigo to accept his inner Hollow rather than reject it.
• Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and his Fracción attacked Karakura Town, where Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Rangiku Matsumoto, and Ikkaku Madarame fought them before the Arrancar withdrew.
• Liu Hao took Ichigo Kurosaki to the Visored’s base, where Hiyori Sarugaki’s attack triggered Ichigo’s Hollowfication and the Visored restrained him.
• Isshin Kurosaki told Ichigo Kurosaki about his origins and Yhwach, while Liu Hao explained Ichigo’s intertwined Quincy, Soul Reaper, and Hollow powers and sent him into his Inner World to awaken his Zanpakuto.

Liu Hao helped Ichigo master his emerging powers, then led a group into Hueco Mundo to rescue Orihime. The group was split among battles with the Espada, while Ichigo confronted Grimmjow and struggled to fight without endangering Orihime and Nel.

• Ichigo Kurosaki defeated White Ichigo in his Inner World, then Liu Hao stopped his Hollowfication rampage and helped him begin training with an Asauchi.
• Arrancar attacked Karakura Town, and Liu Hao learned that Aizen had abducted Orihime Inoue before assembling Ichigo, Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida for a rescue mission.
• Liu Hao led the group into Hueco Mundo, where they met Nel and her Fracción and traveled toward Las Noches.
• The group fought former Espada Dordoni, Cirucci, and Gantenbainne, and Ichigo, Uryū, and Sado defeated their opponents with their developing powers.
• Szayelaporro’s trap separated the rescuers, and Liu Hao killed Aaroniero after Rukia trapped him in ice while Renji and Sado faced Szayelaporro.
• Szayelaporro used copies, summoned Arrancar, and captured Renji and Sado as specimens, while Ichigo and Nel reached Orihime and Grimmjow challenged Ichigo for her freedom.
• Grimmjow released Pantera and attacked fiercely, but Ichigo kept guarding Orihime and Nel as Grimmjow began directing his attacks toward them.

Ichigo and his allies fought through Las Noches to rescue Orihime, while Liu Hao confronted the Espada and helped Ichigo face Ulquiorra. The group escaped toward Karakura Town as Aizen turned against the Espada and the Soul Reapers, leaving the battles against Aizen and his allies unresolved.

• Ichigo defeated Grimmjow, then Nelliel revealed her adult form and fought Nnoitra, defeating him with her Resurrección before he died.
• Starrk abducted Orihime and brought her to Aizen, who revealed his plan to attack Karakura Town and create the Oken as Tōsen’s broadcast exposed the invasion force’s entrapment in Hueco Mundo.
• Liu Hao defeated Zommari with Imperial Flame and sent Yammy away, while Ichigo pursued Ulquiorra into the desert realm beyond Las Noches’ false sky.
• Ichigo overcame his reliance on others, fought Ulquiorra’s Segunda Etapa, and awakened a controlled Hollow form that overwhelmed Ulquiorra, and Liu Hao urged Ulquiorra to consider protecting Hueco Mundo after Aizen’s mission failed.
• Liu Hao, Ichigo, and Retsu Unohana left Hueco Mundo through Mayuri’s stabilized Garganta, while Orihime, Nel, and the injured remained behind.
• Aizen attacked Starrk and Harribel after declaring the Espada useless, while Gin wounded Hiyori and Tōsen transformed through Hollowfication to fight Komamura and Hisagi.
• Shinji used Sakanade to confuse and wound Aizen, but Aizen countered him and dismissed the ability as he watched the Garganta passage brighten.

Liu Hao and the Soul Reapers confronted Aizen as the Hōgyoku repeatedly transformed him. Liu Hao revealed his sealed power and destroyed one Hōgyoku, but Aizen survived another attack and proclaimed himself a god.

• Shūhei Hisagi stopped Kaname Tōsen after Tōsen defeated Sajin Komamura, but Sōsuke Aizen killed Tōsen.
• Liu Hao trapped the Gotei 13 and Visored away from the fight and destroyed Graphees after the Arrancar sealed the Imperial Sword.
• Liu Hao fought Aizen until Aizen transformed, and Kisuke Urahara, Isshin Kurosaki, and Yoruichi Shihōin failed to stop him.
• Gin Ichimaru betrayed Aizen and took the Hōgyoku, but Aizen transformed again and recovered it.
• The Imperial Princess restored the Imperial Sword and released Liu Hao's sealed power, allowing him to resume the fight.
• Liu Hao used Bankai to heal the wounded and summoned the Imperial Guard to fight Aizen.
• Liu Hao explained that Soul King fragments guided Aizen's ambitions and destroyed the Hōgyoku he held.
• The Imperial Guard cut Aizen in half before he could complete another evolution, but Aizen reunited his body and proclaimed himself a god.