Chapter Summaries

The Soul Reapers entered Aizen Sōsuke’s domain and were divided among five maze passages, while Kurosaki Ichigo was sent to face Aizen’s Arrancar. Kenpachi Zaraki reached Aizen first, where Aizen claimed to be Araki’s strongest disciple and revealed his superior swordsmanship.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi demanded that the group preserve intact Menos corpses, but the others teased him and Genryūsai settled the matter by telling them to take it easy against future Menos.
• Ashido and his three companions joined Genryūsai’s force, and the enlarged group entered Aizen’s territory, where Aizen appeared through a projection and sent Ichigo away when he attacked it.
• Aizen transformed the landscape into a vast maze with five passages, and the group split up to search for Ichigo, Orihime Inoue, and Aizen.
• Ichigo found himself isolated and faced Apache, whose Cero he caught effortlessly, before Tia Halibel, Lilynette, and Nelliel arrived to fight him.
• Aizen predicted Kenpachi would reach him first, then welcomed him at Las Noches and claimed that he had always surpassed Kenpachi in basic Soul Reaper combat.
• Aizen blocked Kenpachi’s strike and sent him crashing into a wall, but Kenpachi laughed excitedly at finally finding a worthy opponent.

Kenpachi Zaraki challenged Aizen Sōsuke, believing their shared loneliness made them equals, but Aizen revealed his transcendent power and overwhelmed him. After Kenpachi released Nozarashi, Aizen disclosed that Kyoka Suigetsu had been active from the start and began evolving further, leaving Kenpachi unable to follow his movements.

• Kenpachi Zaraki told Aizen that their shared isolation and search for worthy opponents made him eager to fight a fellow equal.
• Aizen rejected Kenpachi’s claim, moved behind him, and showed that Kenpachi’s powerful slash could not reach him.
• Aizen revealed the Hogyoku fused into his body and explained that he had become a transcendent beyond the limits of Soul Reapers.
• Kenpachi attacked Aizen with both hands, but Aizen stopped his sword, wounded him with one slash, and endured the blow unharmed.
• Kenpachi released Nozarashi as a massive battle axe and asked Aizen to use his Zanpakuto ability.
• Aizen revealed that Kyoka Suigetsu had been affecting Kenpachi since their first encounter, then began transforming and moved too quickly for Kenpachi to perceive.

Kenpachi Zaraki fought Aizen Sōsuke and unleashed Bankai, but Aizen survived his strongest slash by evolving again with the Hogyoku and incapacitated him. Kurosaki Ichigo reached Aizen after being held back by Roka Paramia, and Aizen revealed that he had watched Ichigo since before his birth and considered him his greatest experiment.

• Kenpachi Zaraki struggled to hit Aizen, who explained that he had destroyed Kyoka Suigetsu's consciousness and abandoned Bankai to eliminate the risk of his Zanpakuto betraying him.
• Kenpachi activated Bankai and fought Aizen, whose cocoon-stage strength let him match Kenpachi in direct combat.
• Kenpachi's strongest slash split Aizen's body and seemed to defeat him, but Aizen revealed that the Hogyoku had used the blow to help him evolve again.
• Aizen trapped Kenpachi in Black Coffin, leaving him badly wounded but still standing, while Kurosaki Ichigo fought Roka Paramia instead of reaching him sooner.
• Kurosaki Ichigo arrived, helped Kenpachi lie down, and confronted Aizen, who claimed he had watched Ichigo since birth and had made him his greatest experiment.

Aizen showed Ichigo footage of his life and claimed he had secretly guided and protected him since birth, but Ichigo ultimately agreed to fight him as Aizen pursued his final evolution. As Ichigo and Aizen clashed, Aizen’s prepared enemies blocked the other forces from reaching them.

• Aizen explained that White’s encounter with Isshin and Masaki had set the stage for Ichigo’s birth, then showed Ichigo recordings of his childhood and claimed he had watched over him.
• Aizen recounted arranging Ichigo’s meeting with Rukia and guiding his growth, while Ichigo struggled with his feelings and urged Aizen to abandon his plan.
• Aizen described his two possible fates and the Hogyoku’s consciousness, and Ichigo stopped trying to persuade him and accepted their fight.
• Ichigo and Aizen clashed, blasting Kenpachi away; Orihime healed Kenpachi, while Nnoitra and Grimmjow confronted Ikkaku and Yumichika.
• Unohana was delayed by the regenerating sand monster Runuganga, while Genryūsai and Sasakibe faced Wonderweiss, who absorbed Genryūsai’s flames and repeatedly reassembled.
• Uryu’s group faced seven Arrancar candidates who released their Resurrección, while Byakuya’s group encountered the childlike Great Hollows called Picaro.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi subdued the evolving Picaro by turning his regenerative abilities against him, while Kurosaki Ichigo fought Aizen Sōsuke in Hueco Mundo. Aizen revealed that he had used Ichigo as a sparring partner to complete his evolution, then prepared to face his teacher.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi analyzed Picaro as the Arrancar transferred the Spiritual Pressure of fallen members to others and multiplied, while Kuchiki Byakuya unleashed Senbonzakura Kageyoshi against them.
• The remaining Picaro evolved into a powerful golden form, broke through Byakuya and Shiba Kaien’s defenses, and appeared to kill Mayuri by tearing out his heart.
• Mayuri revived with his replacement heart and revealed that Picaro had ingested his immunity-enhancing drug; Picaro split into thousands of bodies that submitted to Mayuri.
• Mayuri sensed the immense Spiritual Pressures of Aizen Sōsuke and Kurosaki Ichigo and led the others away to support the remaining fighters.
• Aizen transformed into a monstrous form and overwhelmed Ichigo in Shikai, but Ichigo activated Bankai and blasted Aizen’s wings apart.
• Aizen stabbed Ichigo from behind, explained that the defeated monster was his discarded shell and that he had used Ichigo to complete his evolution, then prepared to face his teacher.

After Aizen departed Hueco Mundo for Karakura Town with Gin, Tosen, and the Espada, Araki confronted him with the remaining Gotei 13 captains. Aizen discovered that the Espada had turned against him and held blades to his and his allies’ necks.

• Aizen summoned the Espada, declared his plan to create the Oken, and left Hueco Mundo while Negación traps sealed Grimmjow and Nnoitra away.
• Ikkomikidō devoured Yammy and Aaroniero, killed Luppi, and overwhelmed the remaining Espada candidates as Renji, Rukia, and Uryu watched.
• Unohana Retsu and Genryūsai defeated Runuganga and Wonderweiss Margela, then reunited with the others at Las Noches, where Orihime treated Ichigo’s wounds.
• Ichigo woke and learned that Araki would face Aizen in Karakura Town, while the others accepted that their part in the battle was over.
• Araki met Aizen and his forces with the remaining Gotei 13 captains, then revealed that the Espada had betrayed Aizen and were holding blades to Aizen, Tosen, and Gin.

Araki revealed that the Espada, Ichimaru Gin, and Kaname Tosen had all served him from the beginning, while Aizen unleashed his immense power and fought Araki. As their clash threatened to destroy the world, Araki seized Aizen and transported them both to the Soul King Palace.

• Araki explained that he had arranged for the Espada to follow Aizen and had supplied the Menos Grande Aizen raised, leaving Aizen furious at his teacher's long deception.
• Aizen crushed the Espada with his Spiritual Pressure, but Ichimaru Gin and Kaname Tosen revealed their loyalty to Araki and attacked Aizen; Tosen wounded him with Sayafushi, a blade borrowed from Oetsu Nimaiya.
• Aizen recovered with the Hogyoku, confronted Araki over the Soul King, and fought him with Hakuda, Black Coffin, and Goryūtenmetsu as their power threatened to destroy Karakura Town.
• Araki opened a golden gate, grabbed Aizen, and carried him to the Soul King Palace, where Aizen awoke confused.

Aizen challenged Araki and Division 0 at the Soul King Palace, but Araki revealed that the Hogyoku and Aizen’s immortality came from his own power and used the Hogyoku to restrain him. Araki then exposed centuries of Aizen’s private thoughts by reading his diaries aloud, leaving Aizen humiliated and unable to escape his immortal body.

• Aizen learned from Hyosube Ichibei that Araki controlled Division 0 and the Soul King Palace, then rejected Araki’s offer to share his authority.
• Hyosube and Araki surrounded Aizen, and Division 0 members Hikifune Kirio, Shutara Senjumaru, Kirinjii Tenjirō, and Oetsu Nimaiya joined the fight.
• Aizen’s immortality let him withstand Division 0’s attacks, but Hyosube’s powers exposed that Araki’s power was sustaining Aizen through the Hogyoku.
• Araki revealed that the Hogyoku had chosen him first and that he had given Aizen the Hogyoku fused with his own power, then used the Hogyoku to bind Aizen in transparent chains.
• Araki read his diaries aloud, revealing Aizen’s narcissistic inner thoughts from his youth and his schemes against Shinji Hirako and Urahara Kisuke.
• Aizen accepted the Captain-Commander position in desperation, but Araki continued reading and left him humiliated as Division 0 mocked him.

Araki publicly broadcast Aizen’s trial across the Three Worlds, forcing him to confess to a long list of real and fabricated crimes before sentencing him to twenty thousand years in Muken. After Aizen agreed to cooperate with Araki’s plan to restore his reputation, he identified Yhwach as the scapegoat who could take the blame, while Yhwach separately planned to recruit Aizen during his invasion.

• Araki blackmailed Aizen with his diaries and documents, making him accept blame for crimes he had not committed and agree to serve as Captain-Commander for twenty thousand years.
• Araki used Tenteikūra to broadcast Aizen’s capture and public trial throughout the Three Worlds, where Aizen confessed to crimes while Araki added further accusations.
• Araki sentenced Aizen to twenty thousand years in Muken, and observers across the Three Worlds celebrated his conviction.
• After the broadcast, Araki suggested Aizen find a powerful scapegoat, and Aizen realized that Yhwach could serve that role during a future invasion.
• Yhwach watched the broadcast and decided to free Aizen from Muken during his invasion two years later, unaware that Aizen intended to betray him.

After the captains and Vasto Lorde-class Hollows returned to the Soul Society, Araki held a debriefing and took several Hollow subjects from Mayuri. He then recruited Urahara Kisuke to help Mayuri create weaker Hogyoku for the Hollows, before declaring that he intended to dissect the Soul King for materials.

• Aizen remained imprisoned in Mugen and hoped Yhwach would eventually give him a chance to restore his reputation.
• Kyoraku Shunsui, the captains, Kurosaki Ichigo, and the Vasto Lorde-class Hollows returned to the Soul Society, where the Hollows bickered until Unohana Retsu silenced them.
• Araki held a debriefing, confirmed that Ichimaru Gin and Kaname Tosen had been his undercover agents, and promoted them to Sages of Central 46.
• Araki took Picaro, Homura, and Shizuku from Mayuri, then asked Mayuri to work with Urahara Kisuke to produce Hogyoku for the Vasto Lorde-class Hollows.
• Araki proposed using Soul King fragments as Hogyoku materials and said he would take Mayuri to dissect the Soul King, leaving Mayuri horrified.

Araki brought Mayuri, Urahara, and several former Division 12 leaders to the Soul King’s palace to begin dissecting the Soul King and create Hogyoku for Vasto Lorde Hollows. Meanwhile, Uryu recruited the Quincy girls to secretly support Araki, leaving them stunned when he revealed Araki as the second Quincy king.

• Araki led Mayuri, Urahara, and his Hollows through the Transcendent Gate to the Soul King Palace, where the Hollows entered nutrient tanks for a two-year transformation.
• Urahara, Mayuri, Shutara Senjumaru, and Hikifune Kirio joined Araki before the sealed Soul King, and Araki ordered them to dissect him and create Hogyoku.
• Uryu reported to Yhwach that he had assessed the Special War Powers, while Yhwach dismissed the danger from Araki and claimed he would win.
• Bambietta, Candice, Meninas, Giselle, and Liltotto confronted Uryu, and Liltotto suspected he was an undercover agent.
• Uryu revealed his distinct Quincy power, persuaded the girls to hedge their allegiance between Yhwach and Araki, and gave them blood infused with Araki’s power.
• After the girls asked who the other Quincy king was, Uryu named Araki, shocking them.

Uryu Ishida recruited Quincy allies by convincing them that Araki and Yhwach were using them, while Araki prepared Soul Society and its allies for the coming war. Two years later, Uryu subdued Nnoitra in Hueco Mundo, prompting Yhwach to prepare to invade Soul Society as Araki welcomed the challenge.

• Uryu Ishida persuaded Liltotto, Bambietta, Meninas, Candice, and Giselle to join his faction, empowered them with his blood, and gave Liltotto another portion for her friend.
• Uryu recruited Bazz-B into the rebellion by giving him blood intended for Bazz-B and Jugram Haschwalth, while Gin remained with Rangiku until Araki took him to the Soul King Palace for treatment and a new Zanpakuto.
• Araki approved Kuchiki Rukia and Soifon’s appointments as captains, arranged training and preparations across the realms, and allowed Hueco Mundo’s Hollows to fight over power.
• Two years later, Uryu and Quilge Opie led Quincy forces into Hueco Mundo, where Uryu defeated and captured Nnoitra after repelling his attacks.
• After Uryu reported Hueco Mundo subdued, Yhwach prepared to invade Soul Society, and Araki declared that they would see which of them broke first.

Yhwach assembled the Wandenreich and launched its invasion of the Seireitei, sending Arrancar and Sternritter to attack key locations and steal Bankai. Araki’s forces repelled the attacks, while Araki revealed his plan to let the Quincy steal Bankai and then turn the stolen weapons against them.

• Yhwach ordered Arrancar to provoke the Soul Reapers, sent Uryu Ishida to hold back Kurosaki Ichigo, and had Haschwalth brief the Sternritter on the Special War Potentials and Chōjirō Sasakibe.
• Araki killed the Quincy soldiers who invaded his office, while Driscoll Berci attacked Hakutōmon, stole Miyanohara Matsuri’s Bankai, and was killed by Kuruyashiki.
• A Quincy invader targeted Chōjirō Sasakibe at Shino Academy, but Genryūsai burned him to ash and then set off with Sasakibe to find Araki.
• Araki killed nine of the ten Arrancar sent to challenge him and allowed the last survivor to deliver Yhwach’s message that he would come to fight in five days.
• After learning of the attacks on Hakutōmon and Shino Academy, Mayuri Kurotsuchi questioned Araki about withholding the Quincy Bankai-stealing threat from the Soul Reapers.
• Araki explained his plan to let the Quincy steal Bankai, then have Kuchiki Koga use Muramasa to turn the stolen Bankai against them; Koga had already completed his Hollowfication.

Araki prepared the Gotei 13 for Yhwach’s Quincy invasion and warned the captains that the enemy could steal Bankai. When the Wandenreich invaded Seireitei, the Soul Reapers countered the Medallions by unleashing Bankai through multiple captain-class fighters, leaving Bambi stunned.

• Genryūsai and Kuruyashiki reported that Quincies had attacked Shino Academy and Hakutōmon and spoken Yhwach’s name, so Araki summoned the Gotei 13 captains and revealed a Quincy Medallion that could steal Bankai.
• Araki ordered Seireitei’s defenses strengthened while Mayuri took the Medallion to study it; Yhwach killed Ivan after receiving his map of Seireitei and prepared Nnoitra to gain Quincy power.
• Uryu returned to Karakura First High School and warned Kurosaki Ichigo to remain in the Human World for a week, but Ichigo challenged him when Uryu refused to explain.
• After five days of preparations, the Wandenreich invaded Seireitei from Reishi flames, and Cang Du injured Toshiro before Rangiku and Ichimaru Gin intervened.
• Bambi used her Quincy Medallion to steal Komamura Sajin’s Bankai, but Komamura revealed that other captain-class Soul Reapers could use Bankai, and dozens of Bankai erupted across Seireitei.

The Gotei 13’s counterattack disrupted Yhwach’s invasion, as Araki’s forces trapped and defeated Sternritter across the Seireitei. Unohana drove Askin into retreat, and Araki ordered Kuchiki Koga to activate Muguruma Muramasa, causing every released Bankai to tremble.

• Bambietta used Komamura Sajin’s stolen Bankai, but Komamura explained its weakness and Love Aikawa knocked it down, injuring her through their shared damage.
• As Nodt, Robert Accutrone, and NaNaNa Najahkoop entered the 1st Division barracks, where Araki and more than twenty captain-class Soul Reapers ambushed them; Araki killed As Nodt, Tokinada killed Robert, and Kuruyashiki’s Shikai devoured Najahkoop.
• Araki’s decoy confronted Y-Brother while Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni arrived to fight him, and Araki engaged Jugram Haschwalth; elsewhere, Kenpachi Zaraki held Gerard Valkyrie, Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Urahara Kisuke countered Lille Barro, and Ukitake Jushiro drove Pernida away.
• Askin Nakk Le Vaar poisoned Isane Kotetsu, but Unohana Retsu released Bankai: Minazuki, replaced her poisoned blood, and repelled his attempts to steal her Bankai; Askin fled while Unohana’s slash killed Berenice Gabrielli and pursued him.
• Sugiki Sōichirō told Araki that the surviving Sternritter had used their Quincy Medallions, so Araki ordered Kuchiki Koga to activate Muguruma Muramasa and make every released Bankai in the Seireitei tremble.

Kuchiki Koga’s Bankai made the Quincy Medallions overheat and forced the stolen Bankai to turn against their new wielders, reversing the invasion’s momentum. As the 1st Division deployed its hidden forces and killed several Sternritter, Genryūsai began fighting Y-Brother with his half-Bankai, Zanka no Tachi.

• Kuchiki Ginrei confronted Bazz-B, and Kuchiki Koga’s Bankai caused the stolen Bankai to rebel and the Quincy Medallions to grow too hot to hold.
• Komamura Sajin’s Bankai pursued Bambietta, while Komamura warned her that the 1st Division had more than twenty captain-level combatants.
• Azashiro Sōya and his artificial bodies killed Mask De Masculine and James with repeated Ittō Kasō blasts, destroying half of the 2nd Division barracks.
• Kuruyashiki killed BG9 with a swift sword strike, and Aura Michibane defeated Nianzol Weizol by planting a Kidō attack inside him.
• Araki sent the 1st Division’s forces into battle, where they overwhelmed the Soldat as the Sternritter struggled across Seireitei.
• Genryūsai activated his half-Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, and charged Y-Brother.

As Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni fought Y-Brother, Araki’s forces guarded Seireitei’s gates and routed the Quincy by announcing that Yhwach had been defeated. Yhwach escaped Aizen’s ambush and returned to the battlefield, where he unleashed Auswählen on the surviving Quincy and granted Vollständig to fourteen Sternritter, many of whom were secretly allied with Uryu Ishida.

• Kyoraku Shunsui, Soifon’s Grandmother, and Kuchiki Byakuya kept their divisions at Seireitei’s gates, while Araki Yachiru slaughtered the Soldat attacking Hakutōmon.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni used Zanka no Tachi to overwhelm Y-Brother, survived Lille Barro’s shot, and killed Y-Brother with his final technique.
• Araki’s impersonator displayed Y-Brother’s severed head across Soul Society, causing the Quincy to lose morale and flee toward the gates as Soul Reapers prepared to stop them.
• Aizen Sōsuke revealed that his betrayal had been staged with Araki to deceive Yhwach, then stabbed Yhwach in the back and explained how Y-Brother’s death had made the Quincy mistake their king for a double.
• Yhwach recovered, escaped Mugen, and returned to Seireitei, but Araki disrupted his attempt to prove his identity and the Quincy continued to doubt him.
• Yhwach used Auswählen to reclaim power from many Quincy and empower fourteen surviving Sternritter with Vollständig, unaware that most of them were secretly aligned with Uryu Ishida.

Araki defeated Yhwach’s attack and forced the Quincy to retreat, then appointed Aizen Sōsuke acting Captain-Commander while he returned to the Soul King Palace. As Aizen reorganized the Gotei 13 and sent Rukia and Renji to recruit Kurosaki Ichigo, Yhwach dispatched Quilge to stop Ichigo, and the two groups met in Karakura Town.

• Araki’s slash broke through Lille Barro’s X-Axis, injured Yhwach, and drove the Quincy back into the shadows when their time outside the Shadow Domain ran out.
• Araki ordered the Gotei 13 to assess losses and treat the wounded, then told the captains that he and Genryūsai would return to the Soul King Palace and that Aizen Sōsuke would serve as Captain-Commander in his absence.
• Aizen took command, reassigned several captains to Central 46, reorganized the Gotei 13, and sent Kuchiki Rukia and Abarai Renji to bring Kurosaki Ichigo back to the Seireitei.
• Yhwach ordered Quilge to recruit Ichigo for the Wandenreich or hold him back from returning to the Soul Reapers, while Rukia and Renji traveled to Karakura Town for the opposite purpose.
• Quilge confronted Rukia and Renji outside the Kurosaki family home, but Kurosaki Ichigo arrived and struck Quilge down with a Getsuga Tenshō.

Ichigo rejected Quilge’s offer, learned that Masaki had helped seal Quilge’s powers, and agreed to join Renji and Rukia in defending the Soul Society. Yhwach launched his invasion of the Seireitei, where Aizen revealed Araki’s Vasto Lorde Divine Generals and their Hogyoku forms as the battle escalated.

• Ichigo refused Quilge’s recruitment and learned from Quilge that Uryu had joined the Wandenreich; Masaki’s arrival revealed that she had helped Renji and Rukia seal Quilge’s Quincy powers.
• Ichigo rejected Quilge’s attempt to guilt him into joining and set out with Renji, Rukia, Orihime, and Chad for the Seireitei, eager to confront Aizen.
• Yhwach dismissed Quilge’s loss of contact, welcomed Uryu back, and gathered the surviving Sternritter to mark the prophesied final nine days.
• Yhwach exchanged the Seireitei with the Wandenreich, and Ichigo arrived as the invasion began; Aizen confronted Yhwach while Quincy forces attacked the city.
• Aizen summoned his Vasto Lorde-class Espada, and the Divine Generals clashed with Yhwach’s Sternritter as Aizen ordered the Gotei 13 to eliminate the invading forces.
• Yhwach’s Sternritter activated Quincy: Vollständig and gained the advantage, but Aizen revealed that the Espada had fused with the Hogyoku and transformed into powerful new forms.

Araki’s Twelve Divine Generals unleashed their Hogyoku forms and defeated nearly all the Sternritter sent against them, forcing Yhwach to deploy his Royal Guard. The Gotei 13 joined the battle, and Genryūsai Shigekuni arrived with Unohana Retsu and the First Generation Gotei 13 to confront Yhwach.

• Araki provoked Yhwach by claiming that the futures he had seen were fabricated, while Aizen ordered the Twelve Divine Generals to enter Hogyoku forms.
• Lilynette overwhelmed Bambietta, Ikkomikidō crushed Cang Du, Ulquiorra killed Pepe, and Yan’s group defeated the Quincy girls, though Yan failed to keep Yhwach from restoring his memories of Liltotto.
• Arturo froze Bazz-B, and the Twelve Divine Generals defeated nearly every Sternritter on the battlefield, leaving Gremmy Thoumeaux barely holding on.
• Yhwach sent Lille Barro, Gerard Valkyrie, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, and Pernida Parnkgjas into battle; Lille shot down the Twelve Divine Generals, but Ichimaru Gin then stabbed Lille from behind.
• Kenpachi Zaraki confronted Gerard, while several Captains surrounded Pernida and Askin, and Yhwach realized the Gotei 13 had disrupted his plans.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni descended with Unohana Retsu and the First Generation Gotei 13 and challenged Yhwach to remember the fear of their rule a thousand years earlier.