Chapter Summaries

Arima Shizuya used the Reishi he had absorbed from the Seireitei to sense souls and locate the Wandenreich concealed in its shadows. As the Gotei 13 prepared to attack and Unohana went to help free Yamamoto, Shizuya gathered immense power for a strike aimed at the Quincy hiding place.

• Arima Shizuya sensed the souls around him and struggled to handle the overwhelming information they revealed.
• Aizen stopped Tōsen Kaname and Ichimaru Gin from approaching Shizuya, while Kyōraku Shunsui ordered the captains to prepare long-range Kidō attacks.
• Kyōraku Shunsui sent Retsu Unohana to assist Yamamoto, and the captains resolved to stop Shizuya despite the risk to bystanders.
• Arima Shizuya used his expanded senses to search the Seireitei’s shadows for Yhwach and the Wandenreich, then found a blazing soul.
• Arima Shizuya gathered the Reishi of the ruined Seireitei and unleashed Kidō Eight Methods: Heaven and Earth Eradication toward the hidden Quincy.

Yhwach awakened from a dream in which a child defeated him and ordered Haschwalth to find the child and bring him before him. As the Wandenreich began to burn from an unknown power, Yhwach and Haschwalth prepared to retreat to their new empire and vowed to return.

• Haschwalth reported that the preparations to withdraw from Soul Society were complete.
• Yhwach described his dream of a child defeating him and ordered Haschwalth to find the child.
• Yhwach and Haschwalth discussed the burning sky and the power destroying the Wandenreich.
• Haschwalth said he did not fear the figure responsible, and Yhwach agreed they would leave for their new empire.
• Yhwach vowed to return when the next 'nine' arrived and conquer the world.

After exhausting most of his power, Arima Shizuya saved Kuchiki Rukia from Aizen Sōsuke’s attempt to kill her. Hinamori Momo and the Fifth Division pleaded with him to return, leaving Arima Shizuya to answer with a rueful remark.

• Arima Shizuya spent nearly all his power launching his spirit-particle attack, then sensed the Gotei 13 preparing to strike while Aizen Sōsuke took the Hōgyoku from Kuchiki Rukia.
• Aizen Sōsuke dropped Kuchiki Rukia from the sky, and Arima Shizuya caught her before she hit the ground.
• Arima Shizuya placed Rukia on the ruins, told her to live, and explained that he had simply chosen to help her.
• Hinamori Momo arrived and insisted that Arima Shizuya had been deceived or threatened, while members of the Fifth Division joined her in urging him to return.
• Hinamori Momo collapsed in tears, and Arima Shizuya admitted that he owed the Fifth Division before telling them they were easy to fool.

Arima Shizuya tried to sever his ties with the Fifth Division by presenting himself as a traitor, but Hinamori Momo refused to believe he was evil. As Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Kuchiki Byakuya confronted him, Arima revealed that his group’s objective was not Soul Society, just as three black rifts opened overhead.

• Arima Shizuya dismissed the Fifth Division and warned them to stop following him, leaving them shaken by his apparent betrayal.
• Hinamori Momo crossed the ravine, grabbed Arima’s hand, and insisted she would share his burden and discover the truth with him.
• Arima used his Spiritual Might to knock Hinamori unconscious, and Hitsugaya Tōshirō arrived beside her as Kuchiki Byakuya confronted him.
• Kuchiki Byakuya declared that he would cut Arima down, while Hitsugaya agreed that Arima had nowhere left to retreat in Soul Society.
• Arima said his group’s objective was never Soul Society, and three pitch-black rifts appeared in the sky.

Arima Shizuya and Aizen Sōsuke escaped to Hueco Mundo under the protection of Negación after the Shinigami failed to stop them. Aizen declared that he and Arima would stand in the heavens, leaving the battered Shinigami behind.

• Three Black Coffins opened, and Hollows appeared as Negación pillars lifted Aizen Sōsuke, Arima Shizuya, and their allies beyond the Shinigami’s reach.
• Kyōraku Shunsui and Kuchiki Byakuya attacked the Negación, but neither could stop Arima Shizuya from rising away; Arima taunted Byakuya and told him to grow stronger before seeking revenge.
• Prison Master reassured the weary Arima Shizuya that mercy and tyranny were both expressions of strength, while Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and Retsu Unohana broke free of their isolation zone.
• Jūshirō Ukitake confronted Aizen Sōsuke and asked what he intended to do in Hueco Mundo; Aizen said he sought the answer in his heart and declared that he and Arima would stand in the heavens.
• Aizen Sōsuke, Arima Shizuya, and their companions departed through the Black Coffin, with Aizen bidding the Shinigami farewell.

After Aizen Sōsuke’s attack destroyed the Seireitei, the Gotei 13 held its first meeting in their temporary Rukongai base to address reconstruction, vacant Captain positions, and the intruders who had helped Soul Society. Mayuri Kurotsuchi revealed that Arima Shizuya’s attack had destroyed a hidden dimension from which an unknown party had watched the Gotei 13.

• Ōmaeda Marechiyo warned the Second Division against bullying Rukongai residents and then left to discuss reconstruction resources with his father.
• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni entered the first post-destruction Captain Meeting with Chōjirō Sasakibe and ordered that unnecessary formalities be reduced.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe announced Hitsugaya Tōshirō’s confirmation as Tenth Division Captain, and the Captains discussed how to handle Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions, including appointing Ichigo as a Substitute Soul Reaper.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi cautioned that restoring the Seireitei would take time and introduced Nemu Kurotsuchi to present his findings about Arima Shizuya’s Kidō Eight Methods.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi reported that Arima Shizuya’s attack had destroyed a long-existing dimension hidden in the shadows, from which an unknown party had observed the Gotei 13.

At the Gotei 13 meeting, the captains debated a possible expedition to Hueco Mundo and Mayuri Kurotsuchi tried to restore Yamamoto's damaged finger. The Zero Division arrived, introduced themselves, and announced that they had come to help eliminate Arima Shizuya.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi raised concerns about an unknown presence, but Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni postponed the matter for a separate discussion.
• Kuchiki Byakuya, Komamura Sajin, and Kenpachi Zaraki volunteered for a possible expedition to Hueco Mundo, while Yamamoto said the Gotei 13 would first rebuild and assess the situation.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi delivered Mayuri's Flesh Supplement, and Mayuri offered to use it to restore Yamamoto's damaged finger.
• Ichibei Hyōsube and four other members of the Zero Division entered the meeting, and Shutara Senjumaru restored Yamamoto's little finger.
• Ōetsu Nimaiya mocked Soi Fon, and Ichibei said the Zero Division had descended to help eliminate Arima Shizuya.

After waking in Hueco Mundo, Arima Shizuya joined Aizen and the Espada at Las Noches, where Aizen declared Shizuya his trusted equal and demanded that everyone respect him as they respected Aizen.

• Arima Shizuya woke in Hueco Mundo and reassured Ichimaru Gin that he would tell him if danger arose again.
• Ichimaru Gin led Arima Shizuya to Las Noches, where Aizen and the Espada were gathered.
• Aizen rebuked Hollows for bringing the wrong chair, but Arima Shizuya asked him to forgive their mistake, and Aizen agreed.
• Aizen introduced Arima Shizuya as his godson, confidant, and trusted companion, then ordered everyone to respect him as they respected Aizen.

Arima Shizuya attended his first Espada meeting under Aizen’s authority, where Ulquiorra enforced Aizen’s order that the Espada respect him. After tensions with Barragan and Nnoitra subsided, Halibel thanked Shizuya for sparing the Hollows who had carried the chairs, but his answer made her believe his goodwill had been a misunderstanding.

• Aizen assigned Ulquiorra to look after Arima Shizuya and ordered the Espada to respect him before leaving the meeting.
• Barragan Luisenbarn left his seat, and Nnoitra Gilga insulted Shizuya, but Ulquiorra demanded that Nnoitra apologize and ordered Barragan back.
• Barragan threatened Ulquiorra, and Halibel offered to join him in a fight; Barragan returned to his seat, and Nnoitra apologized to Shizuya.
• Shizuya adjourned the meeting, and the Espada departed while Barragan glared at Ulquiorra.
• Halibel thanked Shizuya for speaking up for the Hollows who had carried the chairs, but Shizuya dismissed his goodwill as her assumption, leaving her to conclude that he was like the other Shinigami.

Arima Shizuya visited Aizen and asked to study the Hōgyoku so he could explore creating replicas and strengthening Hueco Mundo’s Hollows. Aizen agreed to lend it to him, reaffirming his trust in Shizuya as their shared research began.

• Arima Shizuya asked Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia to announce him to Aizen, and Aizen sent them to assist Szayelaporro Granz in his laboratory for their disrespect.
• Arima Shizuya told Aizen that he had fully fused with the Hōgyoku, and Aizen confirmed that he had reached another dimension of power.
• Arima Shizuya asked to study the Hōgyoku and investigate whether he could produce replicas to help Aizen’s followers reach new realms.
• Aizen agreed to lend Arima Shizuya the Hōgyoku, warned him to limit their research time and avoid Szayelaporro, and declared that he trusted Shizuya’s decisions.

Kurosaki Ichigo followed Hirako Shinji to meet the Visored, who revealed that they knew his past and connected his powers to Arima Shizuya. Meanwhile, Ishida Ryūken offered to restore Uryū Ishida’s powers in exchange for avoiding Shinigami and gathering information from Arima Shizuya.

• Kurosaki Ichigo sensed a Hollow, defeated it, and was attacked by Hirako Shinji, who revealed his Hollow mask and offered answers about Arima Shizuya.
• Kurosaki Ichigo agreed to go with Hirako Shinji and was brought to the Visored’s hideout, where Hiyori kicked him and blamed Arima Shizuya for betraying them.
• Kurosaki Ichigo demanded to learn everything about Arima Shizuya, and Hirako Shinji promised to tell him what he knew.
• Ishida Ryūken offered to restore Uryū Ishida’s powers on the conditions that he avoid Shinigami and obtain information from Arima Shizuya.
• Ishida Ryūken showed Uryū a decades-old photograph of Arima Shizuya and began explaining what Uryū needed to confirm with him.

Hirako Shinji explained Kurosaki Ichigo’s origins and the Visored’s history, leaving Ichigo struggling with what he learned about his mother and the power inside him. Unable to find Isshin Kurosaki, Ichigo sought comfort from Yhwach in his inner world and broke down in the rain.

• Hirako Shinji told Kurosaki Ichigo about Arima Shizuya, the Visored, and Ichigo’s origins as the child of a Shinigami and a Quincy.
• Ichigo grieved that his father’s power had not saved his mother, and Hirako suggested Isshin had been doing what he could to protect him.
• Hirako invited Ichigo to return to the Visored for help understanding the Hollow power inside him, while the Visored debated the risks of letting him go.
• Ichigo returned home hoping to question Isshin, but found him missing and hid his distress from Yuzu Kurosaki.
• Ichigo entered his inner world and called for Old Man Zangetsu; Yhwach reassured him that he could take time to feel lost, then vanished as Ichigo sobbed in the rain.

Kurosaki Ichigo began the Visored’s Hollowfication training, but Arima Shizuya unexpectedly took control of his body and confronted the Visored. Arima left after asking them to consider a favor, while Hirako Shinji and the others remained alarmed about Ichigo.

• Kurosaki Ichigo joined Hirako Shinji and the Visored, agreeing to face the power within himself while they restrained him.
• Ichigo transformed into a Hollowfied state, and Hiyori attacked him to test his strength.
• Ichigo seized Hiyori and injured her, then struck the ground with enough force to stop the other Visored from approaching.
• Arima Shizuya revealed himself through Ichigo’s body and told Hirako Shinji that he was communicating with Ichigo.
• Arima asked the Visored to do him a favor and urged them to consider his proposal before his control of Ichigo’s body faded.

Kurosaki Ichigo confronted Arima Shizuya in his inner world, chose to trust him, and learned that Arima was part of his own rejected darkness. After Ichigo departed, Aizen ordered Ulquiorra Cifer to bring him to Las Noches.

• Ichigo asked Arima whether he was truly Arima Shizuya and whether he had appeared in Ichigo’s spiritual world for an evil purpose.
• Arima warned Ichigo that his origins and his mother’s death were connected to a crisis threatening the Three Realms, but Ichigo chose to focus on protecting others and moving forward.
• Ichigo recalled how Arima had comforted him when he got lost as a child, apologized for doubting him, and asked him to believe in him and lend him strength.
• Arima told Ichigo that he could not lend him power because he was part of Ichigo’s own rejected darkness, and Ichigo left the inner world.
• Aizen ordered Ulquiorra Cifer to go to the World of the Living and bring Kurosaki Ichigo to Las Noches.

The Research and Development Department detected five captain-level Spiritual Pressures leaving Hueco Mundo for the World of the Living, prompting Mayuri Kurotsuchi to alert the captains. The Arrancar began their invasion of Karakura Town, where Uryū Ishida confronted one who had already killed hundreds of people.

• Akon discovered that five captain-level Spiritual Pressures had left Hueco Mundo and ordered the captains and Captain-Commander to be notified.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi arrived, excited by the signs of Aizen Sōsuke's research, and ordered Nemuri to inform every reachable captain.
• The Arrancar emerged into the World of the Living, and Urahara Kisuke and Yoruichi sensed the danger in Karakura Town.
• Ichigo Kurosaki left his body and rushed toward the invasion, followed by Chad Yasutora and Orihime Inoue.
• A burly Arrancar devoured the souls of hundreds of pedestrians, and Uryū Ishida struck him with a spirit arrow before confronting him.

Uryū Ishida confronted five powerful Espada who had come to Karakura Town on a mission, but their Hollow power poisoned and overwhelmed him. Kurosaki Ichigo arrived, attacked Grimmjow, and prepared to face the five Espada by activating Bankai.

• Uryū Ishida recognized that the Espada had mentioned Lord Arima, then was badly injured by Yammy and learned that the Arrancar were an organized force from Hueco Mundo.
• Grimmjow and Yammy argued over who would attack Uryū, while Tier Halibel ordered the group to remember their mission and Ulquiorra identified Kurosaki Ichigo as their target.
• Grimmjow struck at Uryū, but Kurosaki Ichigo arrived and blasted him away with Getsuga Tenshō.
• Uryū warned Ichigo to run before losing consciousness, and Ichigo confronted the Espada over his friend's injuries.
• Grimmjow charged Ichigo and fought him, knocking him back and urging him to release his Zanpakuto.
• Ichigo decided he could face the five Espada and began to activate Bankai.

Kurosaki Ichigo revealed his hidden strength and blasted Grimmjow away, but Ulquiorra prepared to release his power as Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihouin, and Ichigo’s friends arrived. The Arrancar brushed off the rescuers’ attacks, and Ulquiorra released his Resurrección over Karakura Town.

• Kurosaki Ichigo calmly dodged Grimmjow’s kick, then unleashed a powerful Getsuga Tenshō that sent Grimmjow flying.
• Ulquiorra judged Ichigo too strong to defeat quickly and prepared to use Resurrección, while Yammy offered to fight.
• Kisuke Urahara attacked the Arrancar with Hadō No. 91: Senjū Kotensataiho as Orihime Inoue and Chad Yasutora reached Ichigo.
• Orihime Inoue began treating the unconscious Uryū Ishida while Chad Yasutora guarded her.
• Halibel struck Kisuke Urahara with a Hollow Flash, and Yoruichi Shihouin moved to restrain the Arrancar with a Shihōin clan technique.
• Ulquiorra released his Resurrección, declaring, “Seal the heavens, Black Winged Demon,” and black rain began falling over Karakura Town.

Ulquiorra’s Resurrección raised the Spiritual Particle concentration in Karakura Town, threatening its residents and forcing Kisuke Urahara to prepare his Bankai while Yoruichi held off the Arrancar. Soul Society reinforcements arrived through a Spiritual Particle Fixation Device that isolated the battlefield from the fragile World of the Living, and Yammy welcomed the chance to fight at full strength.

• Ulquiorra transformed, and his released power caused Spiritual Particles to rain down and endanger Karakura Town’s residents.
• Kisuke Urahara decided to use Bankai to reverse the phenomenon, while Yoruichi Shihouin attacked Ulquiorra to buy him time.
• Kurosaki Ichigo entrusted his injured companions to Tessai Tsukabishi and prepared to face the Arrancar alone.
• Kuchiki Byakuya stopped the groups from clashing, Kyōraku Shunsui deflected Halibel’s Hollow Flash, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Retsu Unohana joined the battlefield.
• Mayuri explained that the Spiritual Particle Fixation Device had isolated the battlefield in a stabilized space where the Shinigami could fight without endangering Karakura Town.
• Yammy declared that he welcomed the chance to unleash his full power.

Soul Society’s captains entered the battle against the Arrancar, but limits on their numbers and spiritual power forced them to prioritize intelligence gathering over a decisive victory. As the fighting continued, Orihime Inoue suddenly screamed behind Kurosaki Ichigo and Retsu Unohana.

• Kyōraku Shunsui urged Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin to leave, and Yoruichi warned that Ulquiorra seemed to be hiding his strength.
• Yammy mocked the six arriving captains, and Kuchiki Byakuya attacked him before Yammy released Ira and shattered his sea of flowers.
• Kyōraku Shunsui reminded the captains to restrain their power, while he, Soi Fon, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi advanced against the Arrancar.
• Retsu Unohana explained to Kurosaki Ichigo that the temporary Karakura Town could not withstand a full deployment, so Soul Society had come chiefly to gather intelligence.
• Kurosaki Ichigo heard Orihime Inoue scream from behind him.

Grimmjow abducted Orihime Inoue on Arima Shizuya’s orders, and Kurosaki Ichigo’s desperate attempt to save her was stopped by Ulquiorra. The Arrancar escaped through a Garganta with Orihime, leaving Ichigo determined to pursue them to Hueco Mundo; beneath Las Noches, the Espada reported her capture to Arima.

• Grimmjow grabbed Orihime Inoue and threatened her, prompting Kurosaki Ichigo to release Tensa Zangetsu and charge to rescue her.
• Ulquiorra struck Ichigo with Lanza del Relámpago, while Grimmjow evaded the Soul Reapers’ attacks and delivered Orihime to the platform.
• Nnoitra threatened Orihime, but Ulquiorra ordered him to let her go and opened a Garganta to take her away.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi learned that the Arrancar’s spatial technique differed from Soul Society’s methods as Yammy overpowered Kuchiki Byakuya and Kenpachi Zaraki.
• Grimmjow challenged Ichigo to come to Hueco Mundo, and Ulquiorra promised to capture him if they met again before the Arrancar escaped with Orihime.
• Beneath Las Noches, the returning Espada knelt before Arima Shizuya and reported that they had brought back the person he wanted.