Chapter Summaries

Rei emerged from seclusion, demoted Szayelaporro and tasked him with finding the hidden space above the Seireitei where the Soul King Palace was located. In the Seireitei, Isshin Shiba told Kaien that he had once been a Captain before losing his powers, then received a report of Hollow attacks in the World of the Living.

• Rei summoned Szayelaporro, discovered his power had fallen to less than a quarter, and lowered his Espada rank to ninth.
• Rei ordered Szayelaporro to investigate the hidden space containing the Soul King Palace, while Szayelaporro realized Rei knew about his research into perfect life.
• Rei found the Hōgyoku unresponsive and considered whether attacking the Soul King Palace could provide it with flesh to complete its evolution.
• Kaien asked Isshin why he had become Captain so quickly, and Isshin admitted that he had once been a Captain before losing his powers.
• A Squad Member reported that more than a dozen mediums had been attacked by Hollows, and Isshin sent Rangiku to handle the response as Kaien left.

After the Soul King Palace proved inaccessible, Rei sent weaker Adjuchas to the World of the Living to search for Soul King Fragments, where Byakuya Kuchiki defeated Mogell in Naruki City. Fifteen years later, the Hōgyoku had consumed only three fragments, and Rei was searching for a way to accelerate its perfection.

• Rei abandoned his plan to attack the Soul King Palace and sent Vegetable-level Adjuchas to search the World of the Living for souls carrying Soul King Fragments.
• In Naruki City, Byakuya Kuchiki intervened when Mogell tried to capture a child’s soul and fought the Adjuchas while Ginrei Kuchiki watched from the shadows.
• Byakuya used Dankū to block Mogell’s Cero, then defeated him with Senbonzakura before Ginrei praised his strength.
• Rei observed Byakuya’s fight and ordered a Half-Arrancar sent to challenge him whenever he lacked a Captain-level escort.
• Over fifteen years, the Hōgyoku consumed just three fragments and shrank slightly, leaving Rei impatient to find a way to speed up its perfection.

Aizen gathered Soul Reaper soul fragments and Soul King fragments to create a new Hōgyoku, while Rei discovered that feeding Quincy Reiryoku to the Hōgyoku made it grow stronger. Rei prepared to hunt the Wandenreich and enhance his Espada as Soul Society strengthened its fighters in response to threats from Hueco Mundo, Aizen’s group, and the Quincy.

• Aizen explained that he had gathered enough materials to recreate the Hōgyoku, and several months later he forged one using Soul Reaper soul fragments and fragments taken from the Tsunayashiro Clan’s laboratory.
• Rei ordered Menos Grande to capture living Quincy, then had researchers extract their Reiryoku and feed it to the Hōgyoku, which eagerly absorbed it.
• Rei recalled most of his Menos Grande, sent Ragged Hollows to locate Quincy, and ordered Szayelaporro to resume tracking the Wandenreich’s Shadow Space.
• Rei began strengthening the combat abilities of Starrk, Baraggan, Ulquiorra, Picaro, Grimmjow, and the other Vasto Lorde-class Arrancar.
• Yama-jii required Soul Society’s retired fighters to remain ready for combat and pushed to improve the Vice-Captains’ strength.
• Byakuya Kuchiki traveled through Soul Society to master fighting with Bankai as Ginrei Kuchiki’s health declined.

Byakuya and his retainers were assigned to clear Hollows from the 65th district, where he met Hisana and her displaced group of children. After Tain'geru ambushed them and killed Tsukawa Yuzuru, Byakuya defeated him while Rei used the attack to test how many Soul Reapers would come to Byakuya’s aid.

• Byakuya’s squad settled into a damaged compound and learned that Hollows had been attacking the district.
• Byakuya met Hisana and learned that she and the children lived outside town because the townspeople had forced them out.
• Byakuya and his retainers swept the district and eliminated nearly all the Ragged Hollows they found.
• Tain'geru ambushed the squad, killed Tsukawa Yuzuru, and attacked while another Hollow threatened Hisana and the children.
• Shigure rescued Hisana and Nobuta, and the retainers began evacuating the townspeople and calling for reinforcements.
• Byakuya trapped and killed Tain'geru with Kidō and cherry blossom blades, while Rei ordered Luppi and others to prepare to support the attack.

Rei sent most of the Espada toward the Seireitei while Maki continued searching for a way to reach the Soul King Palace. Byakuya defeated Tainger but was wounded in battle with Luppi, and released Bankai as the fight escalated.

• Rei ordered Starrk, Baraggan, and Picaro to guard their home while the other Espada prepared to stop Captain-level Soul Reapers from reaching Maki.
• Byakuya killed Tainger with Shikai, then faced Luppi Antenor, who had arrived hoping to regain his Espada rank by killing him.
• Byakuya and Luppi traded attacks; Byakuya wounded Luppi’s hand with Senbonzakura, while Luppi released Trepadora and attacked with its tentacles.
• Luppi pierced Byakuya’s lower left leg with a tentacle, but Byakuya refused to retreat and released Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.

Byakuya defeated and killed Luppi after using Bankai, while Soul Reaper reinforcements encountered Nnoitra and Nel in South Rukongai. Meanwhile, Arrancar invaded Seireitei, where Szayelaporro gathered Reishi samples as Rei chose not to rescue Luppi.

• Byakuya trapped Luppi with Gokei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, defeated him, and killed him with Kidō.
• Nnoitra killed Yamaguchi, then fought Tōsen and Komamura; Komamura struck him with Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō and sent him flying.
• Nel stopped Amagai Shūsuke, Shōtsubaki Jin'emon, and Kifune Ri, warning them to stay where they were.
• More than ten rifts opened over Seireitei, releasing Hollows, Gillians, and Arrancar as Soul Reapers mobilized to defend the city.
• Szayelaporro began extracting Seireitei's Reishi for analysis, while Rei knew Luppi had died and decided not to save him.

Grimmjow’s force invaded Seijō Tōkyorin to let Maki reach the Great Spirit Book Gallery while Soul Reaper Captains rushed to stop them. The chapter left Kenpachi Zaraki battling Grimmjow as other fights broke out around the area and Maki continued working underground.

• Grimmjow stationed his eight subordinate officers around Seijō Tōkyorin while Maki headed underground to the Great Spirit Book Gallery to search for information and a route to the Soul King Palace.
• Kyōraku and other Captains recognized the invaders’ target and rushed toward Seijō Tōkyorin, with Kenpachi Zaraki leading Yachiru Kusajishi and the 11th Division members.
• Ashido engaged Ilfort Grantz while Ikkaku Madarame fought D-Roy, and both battles began to intensify.
• Kenpachi Zaraki challenged Grimmjow as the strongest opponent, and their collision collapsed part of Seijō Tōkyorin’s outer wall.
• Rei watched the battle from the monitoring room while Maki continued working underground; Isshin Shiba and Soi Fon attacked Tier Harribel, and Kyōraku and Ukitake faced Ulquiorra.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi fought Szayelaporro, who used summoned Hollows to heal himself and began releasing his Zanpakuto. In Rukongai, Byakuya Kuchiki faced the stronger tenth Espada Dordoni and prepared to fight him with Senkei.

• Yama-jii stayed in his office and watched the Seireitei battle, leaving the Captains to handle the fighting while Unohana and Kuchiki Ginrei remained away from the front.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi attacked Szayelaporro, lost an arm to a surprise slash, then detonated the severed limb and regenerated his arm with an injection.
• Mayuri released Ashisogi Jizō and injured Szayelaporro, but Szayelaporro swallowed pills made from two Giant Hollows to counter the effects and repair his wounds before preparing his Zanpakuto release.
• Dordoni defeated two of Byakuya’s subordinates in the sixty-fifth district of Rukongai, leaving Shigure gravely wounded and unconscious as Byakuya fought him with Bankai.
• Dordoni identified himself as the No. 10 Espada and demanded Byakuya surrender; Byakuya refused and used Senkei, forming a circle of swords around them.

Byakuya and Dordoni escalated their duel as Byakuya unleashed White Emperor Sword, while battles across Seireitei intensified and Ulquiorra released his Resurrección against Kyōraku. The fighting spread through Rukongai as well, where Nel forced Amagai to use Bankai.

• Byakuya countered Dordoni's Storm Barrier with Bakudo #81, Dankū, then formed Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Final Scenery—White Emperor Sword, and charged Dordoni.
• Yama-jii delayed sealing Seireitei's space until Nangong Ling appeared, then urged the captains through his Reiatsu to end the fighting quickly.
• Kyōraku exploited Ulquiorra's moment of doubt to attack, while Ukitake sent Kaien to press past Ulquiorra; Kyōraku intercepted a Cero aimed at Kaien.
• Ulquiorra revealed that his Reiatsu rank was fourth, then released Sealing: Black-Winged Great Demon as Kyōraku prepared to face his increased strength.
• Kenpachi's Reiatsu surged during his fight with Grimmjow, while battles involving Tier Harribel, Szayelaporro, and Grimmjow intensified, and Nel forced Amagai to use Bankai.

Tier Harribel, Grimmjow, and Szayelaporro fought Soul Reaper Captains as the Seireitei activated a barrier that sealed its Garganta and trapped everyone inside. Rei learned the Espada had lost contact with the outside, but remained confident he could overcome the barrier.

• Tier Harribel revealed she was Espada No. 7, then fought Soi Fon and Isshin Shiba as they struggled to match her strength.
• Kenpachi Zaraki removed his eyepatch and gained the upper hand against Grimmjow, while Szayelaporro used Copying Slime to duplicate Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Bankai.
• Mayuri withdrew Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo after identifying how Szayelaporro's copies worked, then hinted that he had another way to fight.
• Yama-jii ordered the Kidō Corps and Twelfth Division to activate a barrier that closed the Garganta and trapped the enemies in the Seireitei.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi led the Soul Reapers toward the battlefields while Yama-jii guarded the barrier's central pillar.
• Rei's technicians reported that the Espada had lost contact and the Seireitei could not be reached, but Rei stayed calm and said they knew how to deal with the barrier.

Rei sent Experimental Subject J, a clone of the dead Quilge Opie, to dismantle the Kidō barrier sealing the Seireitei while battles raged in Rukongai. Nel released her Zanpakuto against Amagai, Tōsen was critically wounded by Nnoitra, and Komamura fought Nnoitra as J broke through the barrier’s layers.

• Rei ordered Experimental Subject J to break the Kidō seal around the Seireitei, and J began dismantling it with Quincy Sklaverei.
• Nel used a Cero to knock Amagai back, then received Rei’s order to finish the fight within ten minutes or withdraw.
• Nel released her Zanpakuto, Gamuza, after Amagai accused Rei of being evil, and Amagai prepared to face her greater power.
• Nnoitra shattered Tōsen’s Bankai and left him critically wounded, prompting Komamura to carry Tōsen to safety and activate his Bankai.
• Komamura attacked Nnoitra with Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, while J continued breaking down the Seireitei barrier and had already removed four layers.

Rei broke through Seireitei’s damaged barrier and reached Sōkyoku Hill, where he confronted Yama-jii as the Zero Division’s arrival loomed. Meanwhile, Ulquiorra battled Kyōraku and Ukitake, whose attacks revealed his High-Speed Regeneration, while the other fights continued.

• Rei dismissed his failed clone, shattered the Eightfold Heaven’s weakened barrier, and overwhelmed the gate guards with his Reiatsu as he raced toward Sōkyoku Hill.
• Ulquiorra fought Kyōraku, Ukitake, and Kaien, defeating Kaien and trading ambushes with the other two until they discovered his High-Speed Regeneration.
• Rei’s arrival sparked a clash with Yama-jii, while their Reiatsu shook Seireitei and Ulquiorra prepared to resume fighting Kyōraku and Ukitake.
• Grimmjow’s Resurrección gave him the advantage against Kenpachi, while Tier Harribel continued fighting her two opponents.
• Rei told Yama-jii that he had seen through the plan to use his subordinates as bait and suggested that the Zero Division was ready to descend.

Rei distracted Yama-jii while breaking the Garganta-sealing formation, as Aizen rescued Central 46 and watched Kenpachi Zaraki fight Grimmjow. Rei then ambushed Aizen, but Ichibē Hyōsube intervened, leaving Rei facing the Zero Division member.

• Rei fought Yama-jii with Shikai and Kidō, then destroyed a pillar and permanently collapsed the formation sealing the Garganta.
• Aizen rescued Central 46 with Thousand-Turn White Snake and stayed behind to watch Kenpachi Zaraki battle Grimmjow.
• Rei ambushed Aizen with a Blood-Coagulating Slash, severing his arm, then pursued him as Aizen tried to escape toward the battlefield.
• Ichibē Hyōsube struck Rei into the ground with Thousand-Mile Heaven-Piercing Palm and confronted him over his crimes.
• Rei charged Ichibē with a Greatsword slash, but Ichibē erased most of the attack while Aizen watched in alarm.

Rei fought Hyosube and learned that Ichimonji had severed half the names—and power—of his body, Zanpakuto, and Bankai. Just as Hyosube prepared to seal him, Negación beams extracted several fighters and carried away the Rei he had mistaken for the real one.

• Aizen withdrew from his fight with Rei after losing an arm, while Kenpachi Zaraki and Grimmjow continued their increasingly bloody battle.
• Rei entered Hollowfication and attacked Hyosube with a powerful Cero, but Hyosube erased it with his brush.
• Hyosube used Ichimonji to cut the names of Rei, Blood Drink, and Rei’s Bankai, reducing their power and leaving Rei unable to complete his Bankai.
• Rei admitted defeat but revealed that the battle had completed his objective, then released his half-Bankai without trying to escape.
• Nine Negación beams descended, extracting four Espada, Grimmjow’s three remaining Fracción, Maki, and the Rei on Sōkyoku Hill.

Negación beams began evacuating the Arrancars from the battlefields, interrupting several fights and rescuing some who had been defeated. Nel fought Amagai and then saved Nnoitra from Komamura, but Negación arrived before either battle was settled.

• Negación rescued Grimmjow from Kenpachi Zaraki, while Ulquiorra and Szayelaporro were also retrieved from their battles.
• Tier Harribel withdrew from Isshin and Soi Fon, and the monk used Bakudō to bind Rei and pierce him with iron spikes despite Negación appearing.
• A girl rescued the unconscious Byakuya after his clash with Dordoni, and Negación later retrieved Dordoni and Luppi’s corpse.
• Nel used Resurrección to battle Amagai, whose fire attacks burned her tail, but she eventually pierced him through the abdomen with Lanzador Verde.
• Nel struck Komamura’s Bankai with her lance to save the fallen Nnoitra, then Negación shone down on both Arrancars and began their retreat.

Rei used soul-bearing Zanpakuto clones to survive his clash with the monk and Yama-jii, then returned to Hueco Mundo to study records about the Soul King and prepare for further conflict. Meanwhile, Soul Society mourned Tōsen, Mayuri investigated Arrancar corpses, and Aizen secretly arranged to replace Tōsen’s body.

• The monk discovered that the Rei he and Yama-jii had fought was a Zanpakuto-created clone containing a fragment of Rei’s soul, while Rei’s original body had remained in Las Noches.
• Rei returned to consciousness, explained that the noble clans had created the worlds, and told Starrk and Lilynette that Maki might know how to create a sun.
• Rei ordered Hueco Mundo’s Garganta closed, gathered the Espada, and studied records Maki had copied about the Soul King, the Ōken, and the King's Seal.
• The monk rejected Yama-jii’s proposal to attack Hueco Mundo and decided they should wait for Rei to make a move against the Soul King Palace.
• Mayuri refused to attend Tōsen’s funeral, agreed to sell Aizen Flesh Supplement with a tracking addition, and returned to study Grimmjow’s Fracción.
• Aizen attended Tōsen’s funeral while concealing his plan to switch Tōsen’s body, and Kuchiki Ginrei continued searching for Byakuya.

Rei learned that Kisuke Urahara had created a second Hōgyoku and sent surveillance teams to locate him, while Hueco Mundo’s outer districts came under attack by the Hollowfied Captains Urahara had rescued. Rei led a group of Espada toward the intruders as the former Captains sensed danger in the Menos Grande Forest.

• Maki told Rei that Kisuke Urahara’s Hōgyoku had been exposed and taken with him when Yoruichi Shihōin helped him escape.
• Rei ordered surveillance in Naruki City, where Soul Society had stationed Captains Sajin Komamura and Isshin Shiba to guard the area.
• Six months after the invasion of Soul Society, attackers killed Arrancar guards in three of Hueco Mundo’s western districts.
• Maki identified the eight attackers as Aizen’s former Captain-level test subjects, and Rei chose Grimmjow, Picaro, Nnoitra, and Ulquiorra to accompany him.
• In the Menos Grande Forest, Hiyori Sarugaki and Shinji Hirako argued and fought while Kensei Muguruma and Love Aikawa noticed that the area had grown unnaturally quiet.

Nangong Ling confronted the Visored in the Menos Grande Forest and defeated them despite their combined Shikai and Hollowfication. He ordered the Espada to take the wounded Visored to Las Noches, while Kisuke Urahara watched helplessly from the World of the Living.

• Nangong Ling cornered the Visored in the Menos Grande Forest, and Hachigen Ushōda failed to open a Garganta or escape his barrier.
• Nangong Ling offered Hirako a chance to join him against Aizen, but Hirako refused because the Visored owed Kisuke Urahara their survival.
• Hachigen trapped Nangong Ling inside layered barriers as the Visored attacked with Shikai, Hollowfication, and Kensei's Bankai.
• Nangong Ling overwhelmed the Visored, countered Hirako's illusion ability, and used Five Dragon Destruction to leave all eight grievously wounded.
• Nangong Ling ordered the Espada to keep the Visored alive and take them to Las Noches.
• Kisuke Urahara watched the battle from his general store in Naruki City and realized he lacked the power to rescue the Visored.

Urahara faced Ulquiorra’s demand to hand over the Hōgyoku in exchange for the captured Visored, while Arrancar attacked Soul Reapers in Naruki City. Grimmjow killed Shōtsubaki and wounded Gin Ichimaru before releasing his full power.

• After Byakuya returned to Soul Society, he inherited the Kuchiki Clan and Sixth Division captaincy, married Hisana, and later lost Ginrei, who died regretting that he had not seen the next heir.
• Rei sent Ulquiorra and Grimmjow’s group through a Garganta to the World of the Living; Ulquiorra went to confront Urahara, while Grimmjow set out to fight Captain-level Soul Reapers.
• Soul Society detected the Arrancar attack and convened a Captains’ Meeting, assigning Kenpachi Zaraki and the recovered Amagai Shūsuke to provide support.
• Ulquiorra demanded that Urahara surrender the Hōgyoku to save the captured Visored, and Urahara secured a day to consider the exchange using a Communicator Ulquiorra supplied.
• Grimmjow killed Shōtsubaki Jin'emon, then fought Gin Ichimaru, leaving both wounded before Grimmjow released his full power.

Grimmjow overwhelmed Gin Ichimaru before Ulquiorra extracted him, while Aizen learned the Arrancar had found Kisuke Urahara. Rei later met Urahara to exchange the Hōgyoku for the eight Visored, but Urahara used a Dangai threat and a Kotodama contract to protect his group, leaving the exchange incomplete.

• Grimmjow wounded Gin Ichimaru and fought Byakuya Kuchiki until Ulquiorra removed him with Negación, while Shōtsubaki Jin'emon was the only one killed.
• Aizen's informant reported that the Arrancar had found Kisuke Urahara's hiding place, and Aizen grew wary of a possible alliance between them.
• Rei and the Espada met Urahara, who released the eight captured Visored from Dondochakka Birstanne while Yoruichi scolded Hirako.
• Urahara revealed the Hōgyoku, but Tessai opened a rift to the Dangai, prompting Urahara to demand a Kotodama contract protecting his group.
• Rei and Urahara signed the contract, which could last up to a hundred years, and Rei demanded that Urahara remove his hand from the Dangai only after confirming the Hōgyoku was genuine.