Chapter Summaries

He-El released his Shikai, creating a vast black sphere that Aizen recognized as a newborn universe with the potential to become a new Soul King. The Hell Gate then opened above it to condemn He-El’s disruptive power, and He-El and Aizen prepared to finish their battle before it fully opened.

• He-El chanted “Shikai—Universe!” and manifested a three-kilometer black sphere behind him.
• Aizen admired He-El’s universe-making Shikai and foresaw its potential to grow into a universe capable of replacing the Soul King.
• The sky shook and split open as the Hell Gate appeared above He-El’s Shikai.
• Aizen realized Hell had targeted He-El because his Shikai threatened the balance of the Three Realms.
• He-El sat on a dark metal seat and proposed settling the battle before the Hell Gate opened completely.
• Aizen agreed and cast Hadō #31: Crimson Fire Cannon.

Aizen tried to reach He-El through his layered spatial defenses, while He-El adapted those defenses to withstand Aizen’s attacks. Aizen then began chanting Hadō #90: Black Coffin against He-El.

• Aizen fired Hadō #31: Crimson Fire Cannon at He-El, who redirected it through dark space and sent it back toward Aizen.
• Aizen dodged the returning blast with Shunpo and struck at He-El, but his Zanpakuto cut through a phantom.
• Aizen unleashed his Reiatsu, shattering He-El’s nearby spatial layers, but He-El’s true body remained hidden as he rebuilt and strengthened the spaces.
• He-El warned that each attack gave him a chance to adapt, while Aizen vowed not to flee.
• Aizen began the incantation for Hadō #90: Black Coffin.

Aizen used Kyoka Suigetsu and Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra to locate He-El within his layered space, then trapped him inside Black Coffin and attacked from every direction. He-El was forced into the open and Aizen cut him in two, leaving his fate unclear.

• Aizen's Black Coffin strained He-El's layered space, but He-El repaired it and resisted being fully exposed.
• Aizen activated Kyoka Suigetsu, manipulating He-El's five senses while He-El continued to control Universe.
• Aizen cast Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra to search for He-El's physical location, and He-El tried to block its spatial fluctuations too late.
• Aizen used the fluctuations to lock onto He-El and pursued his light-like form through the layers of space.
• Aizen sent black blades through Black Coffin from all directions, shattering the spatial layers and forcing He-El out.
• Aizen slashed He-El diagonally, cutting him in two as blood sprayed and he fell.

Aizen repeatedly tried to destroy He-El after cutting him in half, but He-El rebuilt his body through his Shikai. As Hell Gate continued opening, He-El explained how he could be killed, and Aizen challenged him to reveal what he could do against their immense difference in Reiatsu.

• Aizen watched Hell Gate open after his Black Coffin fell apart and He-El's severed body dropped to the ground.
• Aizen used several Kidō spells to restrain, paralyze, burn, and apparently pulverize He-El, then destroyed much of the surrounding forest with Hadō #91: Senju Kōten Taihō.
• He-El reconstructed his body from Reishi and explained that his universe recorded the bodily structure created by Reishi's movement, while Kyoka Suigetsu had controlled him even after his body was destroyed.
• Aizen asked He-El how to kill him, and He-El said Aizen would need to crush every fragment of space and Reishi reaction belonging to him.
• Aizen thanked He-El and said learning the method had left him no chance, then questioned how He-El could oppose someone whose Reiatsu vastly surpassed his own.

He-El used his Shikai Universe to absorb Reishi and craft an enhanced Byakurai that pierced Aizen’s Reiatsu and drew blood. Aizen identified Senkai’s dark spheres as the weakness and began destroying them, but He-El said he no longer had the chance.

• He-El explained that his precise control of Reishi could overcome the gap between his and Aizen’s Reiatsu.
• Aizen’s Reiatsu shattered the spaces absorbing Reishi and prevented He-El from drawing in more energy.
• He-El split a dark sphere into three thousand smaller spheres with Senkai and used absorbed Reishi to fire an enhanced Byakurai at Aizen.
• Aizen dodged the Byakurai, but it pierced his Reiatsu and left a bloody mark on his cheek.
• Aizen recognized that destroying Senkai’s Reishi-absorbing spheres could disable He-El’s Shikai and began cutting them apart.
• He-El told Aizen that even knowing his weakness would not give him a chance.

He-El trapped Aizen in Minor World, a silent realm designed to magnify loneliness until he forgot himself. Aizen broke free with an unfinished power and held Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku captive as captain-class Reiatsu approached.

• Aizen destroyed hundreds of He-El's dark spheres while asking whether He-El had any other tricks.
• He-El asked whether Aizen was lonely, then dismissed Aizen's loneliness as the pride of someone who had never lived an ordinary life.
• He-El activated Minor World, trapping Aizen in nested silent realms where time and sensory perception were amplified.
• Aizen failed to escape by releasing his Reiatsu as He-El's Minor Worlds repeatedly restored themselves.
• Aizen shattered Minor World with a chaotic mixture of Reiatsu, holding Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku aloft with his Zanpakuto as familiar captain-class Reiatsu approached.

He-El and Aizen paused their battle as Hell’s Gate neared opening and Seireitei captains approached. Aizen said he needed something from Rangiku’s soul, while He-El warned that Kyoka Suigetsu could make him mistake his friends for Aizen and attack them.

• Rangiku woke to find herself and the wounded Ichimaru Gin suspended by Aizen’s Zanpakuto, and Gin urged her to trust He-El.
• He-El realized Aizen had found them through Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra and explained that Kyoka Suigetsu controlled his senses, so he might see his friends as Aizen and kill them.
• He-El warned Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku that he would not hesitate to attack them if his senses deceived him; Gin accepted the danger, while Rangiku tearfully asked He-El to remember her if she died.
• Aizen said he was not threatening He-El and explained that he needed something within Rangiku’s soul, then offered to return Ichimaru Gin while noting Rangiku might survive.

He-El forced Aizen to return Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku, then ended the battle as the Hell Gate began to close. After Aizen left, He-El fell asleep on Rangiku’s back, and she and Gin carried him toward the village.

• He-El demanded that Aizen return Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku, refusing to bargain or let Aizen use them as shields.
• Aizen warned that the Hell Gate was about to drag He-El into Hell, then threw Gin and Rangiku toward him.
• He-El caught Gin and Rangiku with darkness, and Aizen erased his Reiatsu signature with the incomplete Hogyoku before leaving for the Seireitei.
• He-El stopped his Shikai Universe from absorbing Reishi, formed his Shikai Zanpakuto, and lowered its aura until the Hell Gate closed.
• He-El asked Gin whether he could walk, then told Rangiku to carry him and fell asleep on her back.
• Rangiku and Gin supported each other as they carried He-El toward the village.

Kensei Muguruma and Kukaku Shiba rushed to investigate the vanished Hell Gate and the strange Reiatsu around it. They found a devastated forest and a child, while the source of the destruction remained unknown.

• Kensei Muguruma headed for the Hell Gate's location to investigate whether it was connected to missing prisoners from Rukongai's prison outposts, and Kukaku Shiba insisted on accompanying him.
• Kensei noticed the Hell Gate fading and hurried toward it as Kukaku followed, still teasing and arguing with him.
• Kensei and Kukaku reached a forest reduced to scorched ground, lava, craters, and crystallized rubble by Aizen's Hadō #91: Senju Kōten Taihō.
• Kensei examined the complex Reiatsu traces and wondered whether one person or a group had caused the destruction, or whether someone had concealed their Reiatsu.
• Kukaku spotted a child in the devastated forest.

Kensei Muguruma and Kukaku Shiba found Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku carrying the sleeping He-El out of the burned forest and questioned them about the destruction. Kensei learned little from Gin’s answers, but noticed the Zanpakuto He-El was gripping.

• Kukaku Shiba spotted children in the ruined forest and forced Kensei Muguruma to look toward Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku.
• Kensei Muguruma and Kukaku Shiba descended in front of Gin and Rangiku, who feared the newly arrived Soul Reapers might threaten them.
• Kukaku Shiba laughed at Kensei Muguruma’s frightening attempt to smile at the children, while Gin judged that Kensei was not a threat.
• Kensei Muguruma asked Gin what had happened, who had fought, and how the children had survived, but Gin answered that he did not know.
• Kensei Muguruma noticed the Zanpakuto He-El was holding against Rangiku’s chest.

Kensei Muguruma and Kukaku Shiba discussed the investigation into Hell Gate and the three surviving children, including He-El’s apparent Shikai. Reports that two Bleaches had died at the battlefield led Kensei to go check on He-El.

• Kensei Muguruma received a report from a black butterfly and asked Kukaku Shiba what the Seireitei’s investigators had found.
• Kukaku Shiba said Lisa was overseeing the search, with support expected from the 3rd Division, and told Kensei Muguruma that He-El was still asleep but snoring less.
• Kensei Muguruma recalled that He-El had wielded a Zanpakuto and reported the surviving children to the Head Captain, who had ordered them brought to the Seireitei.
• A Ninth Division member reported that Masaki Seinosuke had died at the battlefield, leaving behind his Bleach credential and a damaged Asauchi.
• Another subordinate reported that Urahara Ichiro of the 11th Division had also died there, and Kensei Muguruma headed to He-El’s room.

He-El woke after several days of recovery and ate while Ichimaru Gin warned him that some of the arriving Bleaches had tried to take his Zanpakuto. He remained calm as visitors arrived at the doorway, leaving the group’s encounter with them unresolved.

• He-El woke and ate the meat Rangiku eagerly brought him.
• Ichimaru Gin explained that the first Bleach they met had arranged food, while later arrivals had investigated the battlefield.
• Rangiku went to ask Kukaku Shiba for more food, and Ichimaru Gin warned He-El that the newcomers had wanted to confiscate his Zanpakuto.
• He-El reassured Ichimaru Gin by calmly continuing to eat, and Ichimaru Gin reflected on He-El’s strength against Aizen.
• After He-El finished eating, several people arrived, and a man in a patterned pink haori asked whether he had eaten well.

Shunsui Kyoraku, Kensei Muguruma, and Juushiro Ukitake questioned He-El about the Hell Gate and Urahara Ichiro’s Asauchi. He-El ended the conversation by bluntly admitting that he had killed Urahara Ichiro and taken the Asauchi.

• Ichimaru Gin cleared away the dishes and left He-El alone with the three visiting captains.
• Shunsui Kyoraku relaxed with He-El and offered him sake, but He-El declined because he disliked feeling hazy.
• Kensei Muguruma confiscated Shunsui Kyoraku’s sake and urged him to get to the point.
• Shunsui Kyoraku asked how He-El had acquired Urahara Ichiro’s Asauchi and what had happened to Urahara Ichiro.
• He-El replied that he had killed Urahara Ichiro and taken the Asauchi.

He-El explained how he killed Urahara Ichiro and revealed that his Shikai had caused Hell Gate to appear. After the captains confirmed the experiments on children, Shunsui Kyoraku proposed taking He-El to Shin'ō Academy to study Reishi.

• He-El told Shunsui Kyoraku that he had killed Urahara Ichiro, who had abducted children and experimented on them.
• Juushiro Ukitake investigated the underground laboratory and confirmed He-El's account, while the captains pieced together how Rangiku had been taken to the battlefield.
• He-El refused to identify the person whose Kidō had destroyed the forest, saying he wanted to see what would happen to him.
• He-El said his Shikai had caused Hell Gate to appear, and the three captains doubted him.
• When Shunsui Kyoraku pressed to witness the Shikai, He-El warned that testing him could bring Hell Gate back and cost them their lives.
• Shunsui Kyoraku backed down and offered to take He-El to Shin'ō Academy to study Reishi, and He-El agreed.

He-El, Ichimaru Gin, and Rangiku entered Seireitei under the escort of three captains, and Shunsui Kyoraku warned He-El to avoid troublesome nobles. While waiting for Shunsui Kyoraku to report to the Head Captain, He-El explained why he had brought his companions to study Soul Society’s techniques and dismissed Ichimaru Gin’s concern that he might be imprisoned.

• Jidanbō raised the White Way Gate and let the three captains and their three guests enter Seireitei.
• Shunsui Kyoraku warned He-El to avoid provoking nobles, and He-El said he would kill anyone who came looking for trouble.
• The captains took He-El, Ichimaru Gin, and Rangiku to a reception room, where Shunsui Kyoraku left to report to the Head Captain.
• Ichimaru Gin questioned why they needed to study in Seireitei, and He-El said Soul Society’s methods for controlling Reishi were worth learning.
• Ichimaru Gin asked what He-El would do if Soul Society convicted and imprisoned him, and He-El replied, “It doesn't matter. I'll act.”

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni decided that He-El should enter the Central Spiritual Arts Academy rather than face trial or execution. After receiving orders that He-El must not be provoked because his Shikai could destroy the Three Realms, Yamamoto chose to keep him stable until his research was done.

• Shunsui Kyoraku asked Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni whether he had decided how to handle He-El and warned that He-El would resist capture.
• Shunsui Kyoraku explained that He-El's Shikai could summon Hell Gate and disrupt the balance of the Three Realms.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni ordered that He-El be allowed to enter the Central Spiritual Arts Academy as a student.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni revealed that he had been ordered not to provoke He-El because his Shikai could absorb Hell and collapse the Three Realms.
• Shunsui Kyoraku accepted the decision and said he could still enjoy the cherry blossoms with He-El.

Shunsui Kyoraku arrived at the conference room and dismissed the forces surrounding it, then told Rangiku that the Captain-Commander would not pursue He-El for killing Urahara Ichiro. Ichimaru Gin questioned whether the decision meant the killing was justified or simply beyond the Bleaches’ authority to punish.

• Shunsui Kyoraku ordered the Bleaches surrounding the conference room to disperse, and the Kidō Corps, Onmitsukido, and lieutenants withdrew.
• Juushiro Ukitake left after realizing Yamamoto had decided not to act against He-El and Shunsui Kyoraku had been assigned to look after the others.
• Kensei Muguruma escaped Ichimaru Gin’s discussion of Reishi and Kidō, then left with Kukaku Shiba.
• Shunsui Kyoraku told Rangiku that the Captain-Commander would not pursue He-El for killing Urahara Ichiro and warned her to keep the decision secret.
• Ichimaru Gin questioned whether the killing could not, should not, or was forbidden from being pursued.

Shunsui Kyoraku took He-El, Rangiku, and Ichimaru Gin to enroll as transfer students at the Central Spirit Arts Academy. He introduced them to their elite class and placed them under his protection as their student lives began.

• Shunsui Kyoraku suggested that Ichimaru Gin could become a Bleach and change the system, but Gin said other people’s troubles did not concern him and considered how much influence He-El wielded.
• Shunsui Kyoraku offered to enroll He-El, Rangiku, and Ichimaru Gin at Shin'ō Academy, and Rangiku welcomed the chance to learn Bleach techniques.
• Shunsui Kyoraku led the children through the Gotei 13 divisions and brought them to the Central Spirit Arts Academy to register.
• The faculty debated what Shunsui Kyoraku meant by treating the children as usual, then arranged ordinary uniforms and dormitories with plans to give them extra attention in their training.
• Shunsui Kyoraku introduced He-El, Rangiku, and Ichimaru Gin to their elite class, signaling that they were under his protection.

Half a year into Shin'ō Academy, He-El had mastered the instructors' lessons and spent his free time studying Reishi and Kidō books, while Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku continued to develop their talents. On the way to the cafeteria, He-El explained that he was seeking new perspectives in the library, and Rangiku joined them.

• He-El left the dormitory in a training uniform and walked to the cafeteria with Ichimaru Gin, who asked whether he planned to attend Hakuda class.
• The chapter recounted how He-El had defeated the instructors in Zan Ken So Ki and gained the freedom to study in the library, while Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku excelled in their training.
• He-El told Ichimaru Gin that he had nearly finished the library's books and might look elsewhere for new material.
• He-El explained that he read the books for unconventional ideas about Reishi that might inspire a breakthrough, and Ichimaru Gin acknowledged his reasoning.
• Rangiku spotted He-El and Ichimaru Gin in the crowd and hurried over to greet them.

More than half a year later, Rangiku spent time with her friends Yamanaka Rinko and Morishima Kanana while He-El and Ichimaru Gin remained close companions. After He-El headed to the library to research the creation of the Three Realms, Rangiku encouraged Ichimaru Gin to tell him what was troubling him, and Gin agreed.

• Rangiku brought Yamanaka Rinko and Morishima Kanana to greet He-El and Ichimaru Gin before they all walked to the cafeteria together.
• He-El left after breakfast to read in the library and planned to seek records about the Three Realms’ creation in the Great Spirit Library.
• Rangiku noticed Ichimaru Gin watching He-El leave and asked whether he wanted to talk to him.
• Rangiku assured Ichimaru Gin that He-El valued his companions and would find a way to solve their problems.
• Ichimaru Gin agreed to speak with He-El.