Rei

Biodata

Power Progression

History

Fallen Silver and Rukongai

Genji named Rei the Fallen Silver Group’s strongest general and taught him to form a Zanpakuto and practice Zan Zen. After awakening his sword, Rei sought stronger opponents in Marino Town. Over the following half-month, he crushed factions throughout the surrounding area, earning the name Red Blade Berserker. He took over the group from Genji roughly two months later 6 7.

After a Hollow attack destroyed the trust he had begun building in a district, Rei decided to wander until he was strong enough to protect what he built. Maki insisted on accompanying him. Rei initially declined Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s invitation to become a Soul Reaper and refused Ginrei Kuchiki’s offer to make him a vassal 11 13 16.

Rei defeated the Adjuchas Yanis, who then attempted to possess him. Yanis eventually submitted and became a symbiote, helping Rei absorb and purify Reiryoku. Rei continued travelling and fighting while training for Bankai 19 20 22 28 29.

Soul Reaper and Kenpachi

After achieving Bankai and sparring with Kuruyashiki, Rei registered as a Soul Reaper. Yamamoto later appointed him captain of an Expeditionary Force bound for Hueco Mundo. There, Rei and Yanis devoured Hollows to grow stronger; Rei also defeated and captured Grimmjow, who became a companion and sparring partner 31 32 36 48 49 51.

Rei sought to challenge Azashiro to keep a promise to Kuruyashiki. To prepare, he repeatedly fought Yamamoto and learned Kaidō from Unohana. As captain of the 11th Division, he absorbed Rukongai gangs into its ranks, expanding it to more than 3,100 fighters 62 72.

Exile and Hueco Mundo

An accusation linked Rei to Hollows and dangerous Hollow lures. While he was trying to save the Hollowfied Seigen, several captains arrested him. Central 46 sentenced Rei to lose his Reiryoku and spend at least a thousand years in Muken. A duplicate emerged from Blood Drink and killed the council; Rei then killed Tokinada, whom he learned had arranged the frame-up, and freed Maki and the Nangong Family vassals 113 114.

Soul Society declared Rei a fugitive. In Hueco Mundo, he led an Arrancar Army and sought the Hōgyoku to strengthen his forces and develop his own Bankai. He later used Quincy Reiryoku to strengthen the Hōgyoku and prepared to hunt the Wandenreich 114 131 140 143.

Soul King Palace and aftermath

At the Soul King Palace, Rei fought Ichibē Hyōsube, whose Ichimonji erased his Zanpakuto’s name and then his own. Rei survived through the Hōgyoku and Pagoda Red Lotus, and eventually reached the Soul King. The Soul King warned that Rei’s origin outside the Three Worlds meant he could not safely replace him by force 182 183 185.

After Isshin Shiba split Rei apart with Mugetsu, Rei regenerated but was held in stasis by Ukitake’s Mimihagi. A new body with Rei’s memories and thoughts was born in the World of the Living; as Ryūsaki Ishida, he worked toward freeing his original body and warned Hueco Mundo’s Espada about the Quincy threat 191 193 194 228.

Rei eventually became the New Soul King. He stripped Soul Society’s nobles of their privileges, established the Justice Squad and Spirit Communication City, and appointed Kyōraku Captain-Commander. In Hueco Mundo, he created a sun, an ocean, vegetation and five safe cities. He also devised a way for Quincy to purify Hollows rather than destroy them 259.

Appearance

Rei was described as handsome, with black hair that grew over his ears and eyes during his travels. His body grew taller as his Reiryoku increased 6 13.

• Shikai: Blood Drink takes the form of a red, double-edged straight sword 14.
• Original Bankai: Rei’s skin turns red except for his face; he gains red pupils, a horned dark-red crown, armor and demonic wings 56.
• Hollow-influenced hand: Yanis’s power produced black markings on Rei’s left arm and a blackened index finger; continued devouring later transformed the hand into a Hollow-like limb 22 49.
• Hōgyoku-evolved power: Rei can manifest two red wings of light and enlarge his blade 182.

Personality

Rei is ambitious and fiercely independent. He rejected Ginrei’s offer of vassalage, declaring that he would reach Soul Society’s peak without that help, and later sought enough power to change its rules. He values strength over noble status and openly confronted noble recruits who challenged his authority 16 26 36.

He enjoys battle and can be ruthless, killing opponents to gain strength and using their Reiryoku to grow. He also protects people he considers his own: Kuruyashiki noted that Rei had stayed to protect Maki rather than flee, and Rei defended his vassals after members of the Tsunayashiro Clan harmed them 10 29 32 44.

Rei can be arrogant and overbearing, but he is capable of recognizing fault. After Ika confronted him over his contemptuous treatment of others, he apologized and reflected that travelling alone had made him withdrawn 34.

Abilities & Skills

Blood Drink

Rei’s Zanpakuto strengthens him through blood. Its Shikai release command is “Slaughter on a whim—Blood Drink!” 10 14.

• Blood absorption: The original Shikai absorbed Reishi from enemies’ blood to increase attack power and heal injuries. A full blood gauge doubled Rei’s already enhanced Shikai Reiatsu 10.
• Blood-Coagulating Slash: Rei feeds his own blood to the sword and releases a ranged crescent of red Reiatsu 14.
• Power of Plunder: After Yanis’s core joined Blood Drink, cuts could absorb an opponent’s Reiryoku to strengthen Rei, heal him or replenish his reserves. This replaced the original blood-gauge burst 59 116.
• Limit: Early in his development, Shikai consumed Reiatsu and could not be maintained indefinitely, even with its healing ability 10 11.

Bankai: Blood Blade: Peerless

Rei’s original Bankai changes his body into an armored, winged form. Its power initially placed a severe burden on him 31 56.

• Unrivaled Body: Disperses enemy Reiatsu attacks around him; sufficiently dense and concentrated attacks can still inflict some damage 57.
• Bloodletting Pursuit: Wounds inflicted by his sword continue bleeding until he releases Bankai 57.
• Undying Peerlessness: His wings draw energy from blood within his Reiatsu’s range to heal him. A lack of available blood limits this healing 57 140.
• Pagoda Red Lotus: His later Bankai grants rebirth. The Hōgyoku reinforced it when Complete Regeneration was nullified 183.

Yanis’s Hollow powers

Yanis became Rei’s symbiote after an unsuccessful attempt to possess him. Their shared powers helped both grow stronger 20 22 28.

• Rei’s left index finger can pierce a target’s Hakusui or Saketsu to drain Reiryoku 22 23.
• A mouth in his palm can devour Hollow masks, remove impurities and integrate their power into his body 23.
• Rei can use Hollow abilities including Cero, Bala and Hollowfication 32 91.
• Yanis and Blood Drink defended Rei’s inner world when Muramasa attempted to enter his memories 83.

Kidō and combat training

Rei developed from a swordsman with little formal Soul Reaper training into a fighter proficient in multiple disciplines 15 51.

• Uses Shunpo, Sonído, swordsmanship and Hakuda 32 51.
• Casts offensive and binding Kidō, including Hainawa, and used Dankū to defend against Yammy’s Cero 40 55.
• Learned Kaidō under Unohana and researched a treatment Kidō that he used to help Ika recover 62 104 105.
• Created wrist seals that suppress part of his Reiatsu for training and concealment 51 61.

Relationships

• Genji — Rei’s early mentor and predecessor as leader of the Fallen Silver Group. He taught Rei Zanpakuto formation and Zan Zen 7.
• Maki — Longtime follower who insisted on accompanying Rei during his travels and later helped oversee 11th Division recruits 13 72.
• Yanis — An Adjuchas Rei defeated who became his symbiote. Their initially hostile relationship developed into a partnership, with Rei calling him a companion rather than a tool 19 28 37.
• Blood Drink / Kurenai — Rei’s Zanpakuto spirit. It fought him during Bankai training and acknowledged his resolve 20 31.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi — Rescued and repeatedly tried to recruit Rei; his help with Bankai and a promise to him motivated Rei’s later challenge to Azashiro 11 31 62.
• Genryūsai Yamamoto — Appointed Rei to lead the Hueco Mundo expedition and later became a benchmark Rei repeatedly sought to surpass 36 62 140.
• Seigen Kyōshiba — One of Rei’s few close friends among the captains. Rei tried to save him from Hollowfication and later respected his decision to return to Soul Society 112 113 124.
• Ika — Seigen’s sister, who challenged Rei’s arrogance. Rei later researched a treatment for her lung disease 34 103 104.
• Grimmjow — A white leopard Adjuchas whom Rei captured after Grimmjow ate his mounts. He later travelled and sparred with Rei and became one of Hueco Mundo’s leaders 49 51 60 259.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada — Arranged the accusation that led to Rei’s arrest; Rei killed him after escaping 113 114.
• Sōsuke Aizen — An adversary whose illusion abilities allowed him to escape Rei. Aizen later proposed an alliance, but Rei ultimately detained him 103 135 259.