Chapter Summaries

Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, and Uryu Ishida faced a Menos Grande, and Ichigo's spiritual pressure surged enough for him to wound it. As they celebrated his feat, cracks opened in the sky and more Menos Grande appeared over Karakura Town.

• Rukia Kuchiki explained that a Menos Grande was a powerful fusion of Hollows, while Ichigo Kurosaki charged at it without hesitation.
• Ichigo Kurosaki cut the Menos Grande's leg but was kicked away, and Uryu Ishida distracted it with an arrow so Ichigo and Rukia could escape its stomp.
• The Menos Grande gathered a Cero, and Ichigo Kurosaki faced its blast head-on as his spiritual pressure rose beyond its force.
• Ichigo Kurosaki unleashed his power through his Zanpakuto and tore a massive gash through the Menos Grande, astonishing Rukia Kuchiki and Uryu Ishida.
• Cracks appeared in the sky around Karakura Town, and several more Menos Grande faces lined up overhead.

Mu Yu faced a swarm of Menos Grande whose combined Ceros devastated Karakura Town, but emerged completely unharmed. He then used Getsuga Tensho to kill the Menos Grande one by one, leaving everyone who watched stunned.

• Rukia Kuchiki, Uryu Ishida, and Ichigo Kurosaki were overwhelmed by the appearance of numerous Menos Grande until Mu Yu arrived and split one Hollow in half.
• The Menos Grande fired more than a dozen Ceros at Mu Yu, unleashing a massive explosion that battered Ichigo, Rukia, and Ishida and shook those watching from Urahara Shoten and Soul Society.
• Kisuke Urahara told Tessai Tsukabishi to wait before intervening, while Aizen stood up in excitement as the Cero aftershocks faded.
• Mu Yu emerged unharmed and untouched by dust, with the ground and buildings beneath him still intact.
• Mu Yu raised the Myōō and unleashed Getsuga Tensho, cutting down the remaining Menos Grande with a series of crescent-shaped blasts.

Mu Yu completed the second stage of his Dream Fulfillment Plan and awakened his Zanpakuto Shikai after effortlessly defeating a swarm of Menos. As Ichigo and the others continued purifying Hollows in Karakura Town, an overwhelming Spiritual Pressure suddenly forced several of them to the ground.

• Gin Ichimaru and Aizen ordered Mid-class Menos Adjuchas deployed to test Mu Yu and reveal his Shikai.
• Mu Yu received energy points for enduring the Menos' combined Cero and killing them, then completed the second stage of the Dream Fulfillment Plan and learned Shikai.
• Mu Yu asked Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to handle the ordinary Hollows, and Ichigo and Uryu Ishida resumed their competition while purifying them.
• Mu Yu observed Uryu Ishida's Hirenkyaku and learned the Quincy movement technique using Transparent World.
• Orihime Inoue joined the Hollow-purification effort, but a tremendous Spiritual Pressure suddenly descended, making Orihime Inoue and Rukia Kuchiki collapse as Ichigo and Uryu were left shocked.

Mu Yu confronted a powerful Adjuchas threatening Karakura Town and used his abilities to restrain it and stop its Cero. The Masked Centipede’s attack vanished, leaving everyone stunned by Mu Yu’s mysterious power.

• Rukia, Ichigo Kurosaki, and the others felt the Adjuchas’s overwhelming Spiritual Pressure as it appeared over Karakura Town.
• Mu Yu promised to protect the town, raised a barrier, and used buoyancy to lift the enormous Masked Centipede into the air.
• Mu Yu gathered Reishi beneath his feet and moved the battle toward the outskirts while the Masked Centipede’s struggles threatened the town.
• The Masked Centipede began charging a Cero, but Mu Yu warned it that the blast would explode inside its stomach.
• Mu Yu activated the Eyes of the Thiên Nhãn, and the Masked Centipede’s Cero shrank away as it curled up in fear.

Mu Yu challenged the Masked Centipede to attack for the time it took an incense stick to burn, then effortlessly stopped its Cero and blocked its full-force charge. The Masked Centipede’s fangs shattered, while the incense and the tree holding it remained untouched, and Mu Yu urged it to keep fighting.

• Mu Yu pinned a lit incense stick to a tree and gave the Masked Centipede one stick’s worth of time to use its strongest attacks.
• The Masked Centipede fired a massive Cero, but Mu Yu stopped it with his bare hand.
• The Masked Centipede took Mu Yu’s remark about his weaker body as a weakness and launched an armored, gravity-accelerated dive.
• Mu Yu blocked the Masked Centipede’s charge with Myōō, shattering its fangs and creating a huge crater.
• Everyone saw that the surrounding trees had been flattened except for the tree holding the still-burning incense.
• Mu Yu noted that the incense was only halfway burned and told the Masked Centipede to use any remaining tricks.

Mu Yu fought Masked Centipede, who revealed himself as Starrk and charged at him in a desperate display of loyalty to Barragan. After Mu Yu cut him apart, Starrk kept advancing, leaving Mu Yu shaken by his resolve.

• Masked Centipede shrank and used Sonído to circle Mu Yu, but Mu Yu predicted his attack and stopped him with his sword.
• Masked Centipede's charged strike devastated the ground, yet Mu Yu remained unharmed and said he had predicted Masked Centipede's prediction.
• After the incense burned out, Mu Yu offered Masked Centipede a ten-second head start, but Masked Centipede revealed he was Starrk and refused to flee.
• Starrk expanded and charged, while Mu Yu unleashed Getsuga Tensho and severed his enormous body.
• Starrk kept charging for Barragan's glory as Mu Yu cut him into pieces, and Mu Yu began to feel that killing the loyal vanguard officer would be disrespectful.

Starrk burned his soul and Mask to charge Mu Yu in a final attack, driven by loyalty to Barragan and the cause of Hueco Mundo. Mu Yu released his Zanpakuto, Yggdrasil, and stopped the attack, leaving Aizen wary of his mysterious power.

• Starrk recalled how he joined Barragan, came to believe in the Skull Emperor's ambition, and remained loyal after Aizen defeated him.
• Starrk burned everything away, reached Vast Lorde-level strength, and charged Mu Yu with his full Spiritual Pressure.
• Mu Yu released his Zanpakuto, Yggdrasil, which awakened the World Trees in his Garden of the Gods and transformed his meteorite-iron blade into a wooden sword.
• Mu Yu used Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm, to stop Starrk's attack; Starrk vanished, leaving half his Mask behind.
• Aizen and Gin Ichimaru watched in silence, and Aizen became wary of Mu Yu and his unknown Zanpakuto ability.

Mu Yu’s defeat of Starrk shocked the people who witnessed it and drew the attention of Soul Society’s captains. At a meeting in the 1st Division barracks, Aizen described Mu Yu’s abilities and called his Zanpakuto the strongest slash-type, while Yamamoto refused Kenpachi Zaraki’s request to confront him.

• Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia, Uryu Ishida, Kisuke Urahara, Isshin Kurosaki, and Yoruichi Shihōin reacted to Mu Yu’s power and wondered about his Zanpakuto and abilities.
• Starrk’s Spiritual Pressure alarmed Soul Society, and Kenpachi Zaraki became eager to fight before learning that the Adjuchas had already been defeated.
• At the 1st Division barracks, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto rebuked the captains for reporting the Menos Grande invasion late.
• Sosuke Aizen described Mu Yu’s Spiritual Pressure, footwork, and Yggdrasil to the captains, embellishing the account.
• Aizen claimed Mu Yu’s Zanpakuto was likely the strongest slash-type, prompting Kenpachi Zaraki to ask to investigate it in the World of the Living.
• Yamamoto refused Kenpachi Zaraki’s request and told Aizen to continue his account.

After defeating Starrk, Mu Yu reflected on his Shikai and received major rewards for impressing Ichigo Kurosaki, Kisuke Urahara, and Sosuke Aizen. He strengthened his soul, planned to learn Kidō from Tessai Tsukabishi, and learned that a new draw opportunity would arrive at six the next morning.

• Mu Yu regretted Starrk's death but accepted that he would still have struck him down, and he resolved to stay cautious in the Shinigami World.
• The system rewarded Mu Yu for impressing Ichigo Kurosaki, Kisuke Urahara, and Sosuke Aizen, and made his Zanpakuto officially the strongest slashing type.
• Mu Yu recognized that Aizen's schemes could expose him to danger and decided to seek out Tessai Tsukabishi to learn Kidō.
• Mu Yu asked the system to distribute his energy, and his Soul level rose to Vice-Captain as his Spiritual Pressure surged.
• The system announced that Mu Yu's next draw opportunity would arrive around six the next morning, and he decided to stay awake for it.

Mu Yu drew a Double Experience Card, a Sword Seal Spirit Butterfly, and a massive amount of energy, which he used to advance his Physique into the Steel Tier. The system revealed that his body had gained a fraction of Superman’s durability, leaving Mu Yu to consider how strong he had become as Shinigami’s coming battles approached.

• Mu Yu drew a Double Experience Card and stored it, then drew a Sword Seal Spirit Butterfly that could refine his spiritual pressure while sealing up to eighty percent of it.
• Mu Yu activated the Sword Seal Spirit Butterfly despite the risks, and his spiritual pressure began to be sealed and refined over the following half month.
• Mu Yu drew energy and used it to water the Physique Tree, which grew larger than the Divine Tree 'Hidden World' as Mu Yu experienced visions of its long growth.
• Mu Yu learned that the energy draw contained ten billion units and that his Physique had risen from LV27 to LV36, entering the Steel Tier.
• Mu Yu asked what the Steel Body represented, and the system compared it to Superman, estimating that Mu Yu’s body was one ten-thousandth as strong and could withstand Earth’s conventional weapons.

After Mu Yu returned to the Kurosaki home with takoyaki, Ichigo Kurosaki asked him to teach him swordsmanship, and Mu Yu accepted him as a disciple of Isshin-ryu. Ichigo quickly learned the basics of Wind Breathing and discovered he could draw reishi from the air.

• Mu Yu heard townspeople discussing the strange earthquake and felt proud that he had protected Karakura Town from the Hollow.
• Mu Yu shared takoyaki with the Kurosaki Family, then practiced swordsmanship while Rukia, Ichigo Kurosaki, and Isshin Kurosaki watched in admiration.
• Ichigo Kurosaki asked Mu Yu to take him as a disciple, and Yuzu and Karin also pleaded to be taught.
• Mu Yu introduced Isshin-ryu, named Shimotsuki Koshiro as its founder, and formally accepted Ichigo Kurosaki as his disciple.
• Mu Yu taught the group the Breathing Technique, and Ichigo Kurosaki learned Wind Breathing after repeated attempts.
• Ichigo Kurosaki discovered that Wind Breathing let him draw reishi from the air into his blood.

Mu Yu encouraged Ichigo Kurosaki to keep training, then confronted Tessai Tsukabishi at Urahara Shoten and proposed cooperation. Tessai grew wary when Mu Yu revealed his knowledge of the shop’s hidden defenses and identified the Hadō he was preparing to cast.

• Mu Yu told Ichigo Kurosaki that his resolve was not yet strong enough, then encouraged him by saying the world would tremble before him.
• At Urahara Shoten, Sado Yasutora beat Jinta Hanakari at rock-paper-scissors and assigned him cleaning duty.
• Jinta Hanakari tried to retaliate, but Tessai Tsukabishi lifted him off the ground; Mu Yu arrived and drew their attention.
• Mu Yu addressed Tessai Tsukabishi as the Great Kidō Master and said he had come seeking cooperation.
• Tessai Tsukabashi refused to invite Mu Yu inside, but Mu Yu pointed out the shop’s hidden interior and seals, making Tessai suspicious.
• Mu Yu identified Tessai’s planned Hadō #54: Haien, leaving Tessai stunned by his insight.

Mu Yu negotiated with Kisuke Urahara, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Yoruichi Shihouin, offering to help defeat Sosuke Aizen in exchange for Kidō lessons. After revealing Aizen’s Complete Hypnosis and explaining his own Zanpakuto, Yggdrasil, Mu Yu secured their agreement, then left Kisuke and Tessai rushing to the toilet after drinking tea.

• Mu Yu asked Tessai Tsukabishi to teach him Kidō and offered to help bring down Sosuke Aizen and clear the group’s names.
• Mu Yu explained that he wanted Kidō as another weapon against Aizen, whose Zanpakuto could hypnotize anyone who had seen its Shikai.
• Mu Yu revealed that his Zanpakuto, Yggdrasil, was how he knew Aizen’s secrets, and explained that Complete Hypnosis could be countered only by grabbing Aizen’s blade.
• Kisuke Urahara agreed to cooperate with Mu Yu and teach him Kidō.
• After drinking tea, Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi both rushed to the toilet, while Yoruichi Shihouin wondered why Mu Yu was unaffected.

Mu Yu studied Kidō under Tessai Tsukabishi and mastered an astonishing number of Hadō techniques in one night. After discovering Mu Yu had finished the entire book, Tessai endured his teasing about middle age and health.

• Tessai Tsukabishi gave Mu Yu basic books on Hadō and Bakudō while secretly hoping Mu Yu would struggle to control his Spiritual Pressure.
• Mu Yu entered [Complete Concentration] and quickly cast Hadō without incantations, leaving Tessai Tsukabishi stunned.
• Mu Yu learned Hadō up to #31: Shakkahō during the night and finished the Hadō textbook, leaving him hungry from using so much Spiritual Pressure.
• Mu Yu asked Tessai Tsukabishi how much time had passed and learned that only one night had gone by.
• Mu Yu teased Tessai Tsukabishi about middle-aged men needing goji berries and other tonics, and Tessai's face darkened.

Mu Yu studied Kidō and explored ways to combine Spiritual Pressure with Haki, training intensely in Urahara Shoten’s basement. After three days, he reached Hadō #54 and Bakudō #26, leaving Tessai Tsukabishi exhausted and astonished by his progress.

• Tessai Tsukabishi hid his frightening experience from the previous night while Kisuke Urahara advised him to encourage Mu Yu.
• Mu Yu considered combining spirit particles, Spiritual Pressure, and Haki to strengthen his swordsmanship.
• Mu Yu struggled to combine Spiritual Pressure and Haki, then studied Hadō and Bakudō for three days.
• Mu Yu reached Hadō #54: Haien and Bakudō #26: Kyokō before emerging from the basement exhausted.
• Tessai Tsukabishi admitted he was barely holding up and drank goji berry water as he recalled Mu Yu’s rapid progress.

Tessai Tsukabishi challenged Mu Yu to a Kidō sparring match to restore his confidence, but Mu Yu overwhelmed him with powerful, repeated Sōkatsui attacks. Tessai’s confidence collapsed again, and Jinta Hanakari unexpectedly felt a chill outside.

• Jinta Hanakari told Sado Yasutora that Tessai Tsukabishi was shaken by Mu Yu and urged him to fight Mu Yu while he still could.
• Tessai Tsukabishi regained his resolve and challenged Mu Yu to a Kidō sparring match in the underground barrier.
• Mu Yu opened the match with a chantless Raigōhō, which Tessai blocked with Dankū.
• Mu Yu filled the underground area with smoke and struck Tessai with a powerful Sōkatsui that broke through Enkōsen and scorched him.
• Tessai tried to counter, but Mu Yu repeatedly fired Sōkatsui, forcing him to defend until his mentality collapsed.
• Outside, Jinta Hanakari sneezed and felt a sudden chill.

After Byakuya Kuchiki took Rukia back to Soul Society and left Ichigo Kurosaki critically wounded, Kisuke Urahara rescued Ichigo and began preparing him to fight Aizen. Ichigo decided to save Rukia, and Urahara promised to train him before they entered Soul Society.

• Byakuya Kuchiki took Rukia Kuchiki through the Senkaimon and left Ichigo Kurosaki badly wounded and unable to move.
• Kisuke Urahara found Ichigo and brought him to Urahara Shoten, where Mu Yu watched over the unconscious Ichigo and considered the plans of Urahara and Aizen.
• Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi discussed Mu Yu, the Hogyoku, and training Ichigo's friends, Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado, to help prepare for Aizen.
• After waking, Ichigo learned Uryu Ishida was safe and that others hoped he would save Rukia, then became determined to enter Soul Society.
• Kisuke Urahara told Ichigo there was a one-month grace period before Rukia's execution and promised to give him special training.

Mu Yu witnessed Ichigo Kurosaki awaken his Shinigami powers and then tried to contact the spirit of his own Zanpakuto, Yggdrasil. He found her imprisoned behind a golden barrier and failed to break it, but a mysterious song began as he struck the barrier.

• Mu Yu watched Ichigo Kurosaki face the Bottomless Pit of Despair, awaken his inner powers, and hear Uncle Zangetsu call to him.
• Inspired by Ichigo, Mu Yu meditated for five days and finally sensed Yggdrasil's spirit calling to him.
• Mu Yu entered Yggdrasil's inner world and found a green-haired girl trapped inside a treehouse behind a golden barrier.
• The girl told Mu Yu that she had called to him hundreds of millions of times and asked him to free her.
• Mu Yu tried several techniques to shatter the barrier, injured himself, and dented it with a powerful punch before the world slowed and a song rang out.

After completing a breakthrough during Blade Meditation, Mu Yu joined Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions as they set out through the Senkaimon to rescue Rukia. In the perilous passage to the Soul Society, Mu Yu stopped Koryu and blocked the Kotsutsu, leaving Yoruichi stunned.

• Mu Yu heard the Song of Destiny during Blade Meditation, gained a mysterious score, and found that his Zanpakuto's inner world had come alive alongside Yggdrasil.
• Mu Yu joined Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue, Uryu Ishida, and Yasutora Sado as Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi prepared them to enter the Soul Society.
• Kisuke Urahara opened the Senkaimon and warned the group that they had only four minutes to reach the Soul Society before becoming trapped in the passage.
• Kisuke Urahara stayed behind as Ichigo Kurosaki and the others entered the gate, then wondered what impact Mu Yu would have on their mission.
• Koryu began consuming the passage behind the group, and Mu Yu stayed behind as Ichigo Kurosaki prepared to attack it.
• Mu Yu stopped Koryu in its tracks, and the approaching Kotsutsu crashed into an invisible barrier while Yoruichi watched in disbelief.

Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions arrived in the Soul Society and headed toward the Seireitei, where Jidanbo blocked their way. While Mu Yu petted the furious Yoruichi in cat form, Ichigo defeated Jidanbo with ease, leaving the group stunned by his strength.

• The group emerged from the Senkaimon in Rukongai and saw the wealthy Seireitei beyond its walls.
• Ichigo Kurosaki ran toward the Seireitei, triggering its defenses and drawing Jidanbo, guardian of the Byakuto Gate.
• Yoruichi tried to organize a plan, but Chad and Orihime charged at Jidanbo before she could finish speaking.
• Mu Yu caught Yoruichi and repeatedly petted her despite her attempts to scratch him, while Uryu Ishida watched in amazement.
• Ichigo Kurosaki destroyed Jidanbo's two axes and sent him flying with a counterattack.