Chapter Summaries

Liu Hao unleashed a torrent of blades against Kenpachi Zaraki and attacked while Kenpachi defended himself. Kenpachi caught Liu Hao’s wrist and counterattacked, but Liu Hao’s flame-shaped Reiatsu blocked the blow.

• Kenpachi Zaraki admired Liu Hao’s strength and welcomed his confidence that he could survive until Liu Hao used Bankai.
• Liu Hao summoned a far larger torrent of blades from a spatial vortex and directed it at Kenpachi Zaraki.
• Kenpachi Zaraki deflected most of the blades, but several broke through and wounded him.
• Liu Hao appeared at Kenpachi Zaraki’s side and swung his Imperial Sword, but Kenpachi caught his wrist and slashed at his shoulder.
• Liu Hao’s pale-gold, flame-shaped Reiatsu stopped Kenpachi Zaraki’s Zanpakuto from cutting into him.

Liu Hao broke free from Kenpachi Zaraki and manifested his golden Imperial Robe before resuming their fight. Their clashes damaged Liu Hao’s defenses and wounded both fighters, leaving Kenpachi smiling as the battle continued.

• Liu Hao kicked Kenpachi Zaraki in the chest, escaped his grip, and created distance between them.
• Liu Hao’s flame-shaped Reiatsu spread over his body and formed a golden Imperial Robe.
• Kenpachi Zaraki charged Liu Hao, and their weapons collided as Kenpachi’s strength and Reiatsu continued to rise.
• The two fighters exchanged blows at tremendous speed, cracking the arena floor and sending waves of heat and Reiatsu toward the spectators.
• Kenpachi Zaraki’s attacks cracked and tore Liu Hao’s Imperial Robe, leaving him with several wounds and proving the defense was not absolute.
• Liu Hao and Kenpachi Zaraki remained bloodied and injured, but Kenpachi continued to grin as the fight went on.

Liu Hao praised Kenpachi Zaraki’s ability to compress his Reiatsu, then began the next stage of their battle by releasing Bankai: Emperor's Descent. His Imperial Sword transformed into an Imperial Throne, and Liu Hao took his seat as two figures began to form beside him.

• Liu Hao and Kenpachi Zaraki exchanged another clash before retreating more than ten meters apart.
• Liu Hao admired Kenpachi Zaraki’s skill at compressing Reiatsu on his blade, and Kenpachi urged him to continue the fight.
• Liu Hao announced the next stage and released Bankai: Emperor's Descent.
• The Imperial Sword dissolved into motes of light that formed an Imperial Throne, while Liu Hao’s robe and crown transformed.
• Liu Hao sat on the throne, and two indistinct figures began to take shape beside him.

Liu Hao’s Bankai fully manifested the Imperial Princess and Imperial Guard, healed his own wounds, and restored Kenpachi Zaraki to peak condition. As Liu Hao challenged Kenpachi to show his limits, the Imperial Guard moved in and drew his Tang Dao to attack.

• The Imperial Princess and Imperial Guard appeared beside Liu Hao on the Imperial Throne as his Bankai activated.
• Liu Hao’s injuries healed, and he used a ray of light to heal Kenpachi Zaraki and restore his stamina and Reiatsu.
• Liu Hao invited Kenpachi Zaraki to show how far he could go, and Kenpachi eagerly accepted.
• The Imperial Guard vanished from beside the throne, appeared before Kenpachi, and began drawing his Tang Dao.

Kenpachi Zaraki fought the Imperial Guard, a powerful being born from Liu Hao’s Bankai, in Muken. The battle left Kenpachi covered in wounds, but he relished the fight and continued clashing with his opponent.

• The Imperial Guard struck Kenpachi Zaraki’s Zanpakuto with his Tang Dao, sending Kenpachi flying and cutting his hands.
• Kenpachi Zaraki saw a notch in his Zanpakuto, recognized the Imperial Guard’s strength, and charged him again with renewed excitement.
• The Imperial Guard and Kenpachi Zaraki traded rapid attacks in midair, their precise and brutal sword styles clashing as sparks flew.
• The battle shook Muken’s sealed space while Kenpachi savored the fight and suffered numerous deep wounds from the Imperial Guard’s blade.
• A warm, gentle light enveloped Kenpachi whenever a new wound appeared.

Liu Hao's healing power removed Kenpachi Zaraki's self-imposed seal, allowing his strength to surge until he severed the Imperial Guard's arm. Kenpachi challenged Liu Hao to fight, but Liu Hao denied that the Imperial Guard had lost, and Kenpachi turned to see what he had missed.

• Liu Hao's Bankai healed Kenpachi Zaraki and began breaking the seal he had placed on himself after fighting Retsu Unohana.
• Kenpachi Zaraki's power, speed, and swordsmanship grew as he battled the Imperial Guard, who began to suffer wounds.
• Kenpachi Zaraki seized an opening and cut off the Imperial Guard's arm.
• Kenpachi Zaraki declared the Imperial Guard defeated and challenged Liu Hao to fight him.
• Liu Hao questioned Kenpachi Zaraki's claim, and Kenpachi turned to look at the Imperial Guard in surprise.

The Imperial Guard regenerated his severed arm and revealed his true strength, then launched a fierce battle against Kenpachi Zaraki. The fight continued with both combatants adapting and improving as Liu Hao and the spectators watched.

• The Imperial Guard fully regenerated his severed arm within seconds and told Kenpachi Zaraki that he had only slipped up.
• The Imperial Guard unleashed a powerful aura and declared that he would show Kenpachi Zaraki his true strength.
• The Imperial Guard vanished and struck Kenpachi Zaraki with his Tang Dao, sending him flying and injuring him.
• Kenpachi Zaraki charged back, and he and the Imperial Guard traded rapid blows across the arena.
• The Imperial Guard sharpened his attacks while Kenpachi Zaraki improved his strikes and defenses, as the spectators and Liu Hao watched.

As Kenpachi Zaraki fought the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Princess brought Yachiru Kusajishi to Liu Hao so he could resolve the mystery of her connection and existence. Kenpachi tried to reach them, but six Imperial Guards surrounded him.

• Liu Hao exchanged a silent signal with the Imperial Princess, who went to fetch Yachiru Kusajishi.
• The Imperial Princess told Yachiru Kusajishi that Liu Hao would resolve the problems concerning her and Kenpachi Zaraki, and Yachiru followed her toward the Emperor.
• Kenpachi Zaraki noticed Yachiru leaving, grew furious, and unleashed a surge of Reiatsu.
• Kenpachi Zaraki struck the Imperial Guard with enough force to drive him back, then rushed toward the Imperial Princess and Yachiru Kusajishi.
• The Imperial Guard created six solid clones that surrounded Kenpachi Zaraki and blocked his path.

Liu Hao prepared to use the Hōgyoku to resolve the problem between Yachiru Kusajishi and Kenpachi Zaraki while Zaraki fought six Imperial Guards to reach him. The Hōgyoku began glowing with seven-colored light, but its effect on Yachiru remained unknown.

• Kenpachi Zaraki demanded to know what Liu Hao would do to Yachiru, but an Imperial Guard said Zaraki had to defeat him to approach the Emperor.
• Six Imperial Guards attacked Zaraki from every direction, wounding him repeatedly as he continued fighting despite his injuries healing.
• Yachiru Kusajishi met Liu Hao beneath the Imperial Throne, and he promised to resolve the problem between her and Captain Zaraki.
• Liu Hao asked the Imperial Princess for the Hōgyoku and explained that he had kept it to use its power to resolve their problem.
• Seven-colored light gathered in Liu Hao's hand and illuminated Muken.

Liu Hao melted the Hōgyoku and infused its liquid into Yachiru Kusajishi, changing and stabilizing her soul while Kenpachi Zaraki fought to reach them. Despite taking several wounds and nearing his limit, Kenpachi charged toward Liu Hao with his Zanpakuto raised.

• The seven-colored light melted the Hōgyoku into multicolored liquid, and Liu Hao placed his hand on Yachiru Kusajishi’s head.
• Liu Hao’s light and the Hōgyoku’s liquid entered Yachiru, merging with her soul and making her form and aura more stable.
• Liu Hao gave Kenpachi Zaraki a provocative look as he continued infusing Yachiru with the liquid.
• Afraid of losing Yachiru, Kenpachi unleashed greater Reiatsu and struck two Imperial Guards aside.
• Four Imperial Guards stabbed Kenpachi, but he ignored his wounds and charged toward Liu Hao with his Zanpakuto raised.

Kenpachi Zaraki tried to reach Liu Hao while Liu Hao performed a ritual to merge seven-colored liquid into Yachiru Kusajishi. Six Imperial Guards surrounded Kenpachi and attacked him together, while a warm light healed his wounds as they appeared.

• Liu Hao continued the ritual over Yachiru Kusajishi, ignoring Kenpachi Zaraki's furious approach.
• Six Imperial Guards surrounded Kenpachi Zaraki and declared that he had to defeat them to reach the Emperor.
• Kenpachi charged the guards and resumed fighting, facing their coordinated attacks from six directions.
• The Imperial Guards repeatedly wounded Kenpachi, but a warm light quickly healed each injury.

Kenpachi Zaraki fought the six Imperial Guards in Liu Hao’s Bankai domain until one of them severed his Zanpakuto arm, which immediately regenerated. As Kenpachi faced his opponents again, his Reiatsu began rising beyond its previous peak.

• Kenpachi Zaraki continued fighting the six Imperial Guards despite his exhaustion and weakening Reiatsu.
• An Imperial Guard exploited Kenpachi Zaraki’s stumble and severed the arm holding his Zanpakuto.
• Yachiru Kusajishi panicked, but Liu Hao held her back and reassured her that injuries in his Bankai domain could heal.
• Kenpachi Zaraki’s severed arm regenerated completely, and he focused on the six Imperial Guards.
• Kenpachi Zaraki’s Reiatsu surged, surpassing its former peak and climbing toward an unknown realm.

Kenpachi Zaraki heard his Zanpakuto’s voice for the first time and reunited with it, gaining a surge of power as he prepared to complete his Shikai. Liu Hao stopped him just before he could call the sword’s name, saying that hearing its voice was enough.

• Kenpachi Zaraki’s Zanpakuto awakened with powerful Reiatsu and called his name, revealing that it could speak.
• Kenpachi Zaraki realized the voice came from his Zanpakuto and reached for the sword as it flew into his hand.
• Kenpachi Zaraki tore the severed arm from the hilt and gripped the Zanpakuto, merging with its power.
• The Zanpakuto urged Kenpachi Zaraki to call its name, but Liu Hao interrupted him before he could complete his Shikai.
• Liu Hao told Kenpachi Zaraki that hearing the Zanpakuto’s voice was enough.

Kenpachi Zaraki learned that Liu Hao had sensed his Zanpakuto awakening because they were still inside Liu Hao’s Bankai domain. Liu Hao freed Yachiru Kusajishi from her Shikai role but explained she would remain his anchor in Bankai, and Kenpachi insisted their fight was not over.

• Kenpachi Zaraki asked Liu Hao how he had known he could hear his Zanpakuto’s voice, and Liu Hao said he could perceive everything within his Bankai domain.
• Kenpachi Zaraki asked Liu Hao to release Yachiru Kusajishi, and Liu Hao withdrew the multicolored light surrounding her.
• Liu Hao told Kenpachi Zaraki that Little Deer would no longer return to his body during Shikai, but would still help control his power during Bankai.
• Liu Hao explained that Yachiru Kusajishi would anchor Kenpachi Zaraki’s soul and protect his sanity because his Bankai power could overwhelm his body and consciousness.
• Kenpachi Zaraki watched Yachiru Kusajishi, then told Liu Hao that their fight was not over.

After the battle was stopped, Kenpachi Zaraki accepted that he needed to adapt to his newly awakened power and vowed to challenge Liu Hao again. Liu Hao’s imperial regalia and immense Reiatsu vanished, revealing his exhaustion, and he told Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto that he had made no preparations for going to the Soul King Palace.

• Liu Hao told Kenpachi Zaraki that he was not yet a match for him and should first adapt to his new power.
• Kenpachi Zaraki agreed to fight Liu Hao again once he had adapted, and Liu Hao promised there would be more battles.
• Liu Hao rose from the Imperial Throne, causing the throne, imperial attendants, his robes and crown, and his overwhelming Reiatsu to disappear.
• Those present saw Liu Hao’s exhaustion, but he remained standing through sheer will.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asked Liu Hao whether he had prepared for the trip to the Soul King Palace, and Liu Hao said he would see what happened when he arrived.

After recovering from his battle with Kenpachi Zaraki, Liu Hao prepared to take Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and Ichigo Kurosaki to meet the Zero Division. The group set out for Rukongai, while Byakuya Kuchiki stayed behind to study Senbonzakura.

• Liu Hao returned to the Fourth Division Barracks exhausted and slept for a day as Retsu Unohana monitored his recovery.
• Isane Kotetsu and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto checked on Liu Hao, while Kenpachi Zaraki silently visited him; Ichigo Kurosaki reflected on the gap between himself and Liu Hao.
• Liu Hao woke, regained much of his strength, and went to meet Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and Ichigo Kurosaki outside the Squad Six barracks.
• Renji Abarai told Liu Hao that Byakuya Kuchiki would stay behind and seek a new understanding of Senbonzakura.
• Liu Hao led Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and Ichigo Kurosaki toward Rukongai to meet the Zero Division.

Liu Hao departed for the Soul King Palace with Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and Ichigo Kurosaki, while the Captains and Zero Division gathered at Kūkaku Shiba’s residence. After teasing Kūkaku and being cornered by Retsu Unohana over his flirtations, Liu Hao hurried into the Tenchūren, which closed as the group prepared to leave.

• Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and Ichigo Kurosaki worried about what awaited Liu Hao at the Soul King Palace, but he reassured them and led them to Kūkaku Shiba’s residence.
• Liu Hao and his companions found Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the Captains, and the Zero Division waiting beside the Tenchūren.
• Ichibē Hyōsube invited Liu Hao and the others into the Tenchūren to avoid keeping the Soul King waiting.
• Kūkaku Shiba thanked Liu Hao for helping her eldest brother and sister-in-law, and Liu Hao jokingly asked her to give herself to him when he returned.
• Kūkaku threatened to break Liu Hao’s third leg, while Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu teased him about his relationships.
• Liu Hao pleaded with Ichibē to leave at once, and Ichibē agreed as the Tenchūren’s door closed.

Liu Hao and his companions arrived at the Soul King Palace, where Ichigo learned how the Oken worked and Ichibē revealed that Liu Hao had reached the Soul King's level. Liu Hao and Ichibē set off together through the air toward the Soul King's inner palace, leaving Rukia, Renji, and Ichigo behind.

• The Tenchūren carried Liu Hao, Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, Ichigo Kurosaki, and the Zero Division through the barriers to the Soul King Palace.
• Ichigo admired the palace and asked Ichibē Hyōsube how they had entered without using the Oken.
• Liu Hao explained that the Oken consisted of the Zero Division's transformed bodies and described the two ways to enter the Soul King Palace.
• Ichibē told Liu Hao that his power had reached the Soul King's level and that he could cross the barriers by force.
• Liu Hao asked to go directly to the Soul King's inner palace, and Ichibē led him through the air toward it.

Liu Hao met the Soul King in his crystal prison and learned that the Soul King knew he came from another world but could not identify his origins. The Soul King said Liu Hao’s arrival had obscured fate, that he would not interfere even if the world were destroyed, and thanked him for showing compassion toward life.

• Liu Hao followed Ichibē Hyōsube into the Soul King’s palace and saw the limbless Soul King suspended inside a crystal by golden chains.
• Ichibē Hyōsube bowed to the Soul King, told Liu Hao to pay his respects, and left them alone.
• The Soul King opened his eight eyes and spoke directly into Liu Hao’s mind, greeting him as a wanderer from another world.
• Liu Hao asked whether the Soul King knew his origins, and the Soul King said he knew only that Liu Hao was not from this world.
• Liu Hao asked whether the Soul King would restore fate, and the Soul King refused, explaining that Liu Hao’s arrival had made fate unclear and that he would not intervene.
• The Soul King said Liu Hao could destroy the world but had acted with compassion, then Liu Hao asked why he had been summoned.

Liu Hao told the Soul King that the Soul Society’s treatment of powerful souls was unjust, but refused to remake the world or become its ruler. The Soul King continued to press the offer, while Liu Hao insisted he wanted to avoid the burdens and conflicts of power.

• The Soul King asked Liu Hao what he thought of the world, and Liu Hao called it incomplete.
• Liu Hao criticized the Soul Society for sending powerful souls, including deceased captains, to Hell solely because their Reishi concentration was too high.
• The Soul King asked whether Liu Hao wanted to remake the world, but Liu Hao said he only wanted to live his own life and change what was within reach.
• The Soul King offered Liu Hao the position of Soul King, promising he could reshape the world, and Liu Hao refused.
• Liu Hao explained that Soul Society’s nobles and the Zero Division might resist or try to control him, but the Soul King argued his strength would let him overcome them.
• Liu Hao again refused, saying the role would be too much trouble and he wanted his freedom.