Chapter Summaries

Arima Shizuya subdued Quilge and his Quincy troops, then met Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname in Hueco Mundo. The story shifted to the Soul Society, where Driscoll Berci provoked Chōjirō Sasakibe and prepared to steal his Bankai.

• Arima Shizuya arrived, put Quilge to sleep, and incapacitated the Quincy soldiers by manipulating the air around them.
• Ichimaru Gin recognized Arima Shizuya as a lingering fragment rather than the man Hueco Mundo had known, and Tōsen Kaname left in distress.
• Arima asked Ichimaru which Hueco Mundo forces had been sent to support the Soul Society, and Ichimaru indicated that Grimmjow was the only former Espada still present.
• Driscoll Berci slaughtered Soul Society guards and provoked Chōjirō Sasakibe by crushing a victim's head in front of him.
• Driscoll clashed with Sasakibe and taunted him into using Bankai, intending to steal it with his Star Badge.

Driscoll tortured Chōjirō Sasakibe to force him to reveal his Bankai, then tried to steal it with his Star Badge. Ulquiorra Cifer ambushed Driscoll, identified himself as the Fourth Espada, and killed him with Hollow power.

• Driscoll pressed his Spiritual Particle Spear against Chōjirō Sasakibe and taunted him over his dead subordinates.
• Chōjirō cast Hadō #63: Thunder Roar Cannon, then released his Bankai, Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū, after Driscoll crushed a subordinate’s corpse.
• Driscoll activated his Star Badge to steal Chōjirō’s Bankai, but an unseen attacker pierced his chest from behind.
• Driscoll used Still Silver to stabilize his wound and confronted Ulquiorra Cifer, who identified himself as the Fourth Espada.
• Ulquiorra used Hollow power to poison Driscoll, who realized the Wandenreich had been set up before he died.

Ulquiorra killed Driscoll during the Quincy probe, while Halibel explained that the death had disrupted the plan and that the invasion was not meant to become an all-out war. The Soul Society captains gathered to prepare for the Wandenreich, while Arima Shizuya remained with Candice, who dismissed the threat and sought his attention.

• Ulquiorra questioned Chōjirō Sasakibe about risking his life, and Sasakibe defended the old Shinigami's convictions.
• Tier Halibel arrived and told Ulquiorra and Sasakibe that Driscoll had been the last infiltrating Quincy and was not supposed to die.
• Halibel explained that Driscoll was among the weaker Stern Ritter and had tried to steal Bankai without activating his Schrift.
• Kyōraku Shunsui assembled the captains, identified the returning Wandenreich as their great enemy, and urged them to take the Shadow Infiltration Pill.
• Candice drew Arima Shizuya out of his thoughts, dismissed Driscoll's death and the Shinigami threat, and turned her attention to him.

Candice distanced herself from Bambietta and discussed the coming invasion of Soul Society with Arima Shizuya, who activated his Dominate ability on her. Yhwach then launched the Wandenreich’s campaign and led his Royal Guard into Muken Hell, where Aizen Sōsuke confronted them.

• Bambietta confronted Candice for missing the girls’ gathering, but Candice told her she had Arima Shizuya and wanted Bambietta to leave.
• Candice said she looked forward to leaving the Wandenreich after its conquest, and Arima Shizuya activated Saint Letter D—Dominate on her.
• At Haschwalth’s meeting, Yhwach ordered the Wandenreich to march on Soul Society and led the Royal Guard through a prepared passage.
• Yhwach and the Royal Guard entered Muken Hell, where Lille Barro had cleared the way, and descended toward their destination.
• Pale violet ghostfire appeared in Muken Hell, and Aizen Sōsuke asked Yhwach why he had come to his Soul Society.

Yhwach visited Aizen Sōsuke in Muken Hell and offered him freedom in exchange for joining his revenge against Soul Society, but Aizen refused and warned that Yhwach’s pride would lead to defeat. As the Stern Ritter’s invasion continued, Äs Nödt attacked the Sixth Division Barracks and faced Kuchiki Byakuya.

• Askin and Lille Barro reacted to Aizen Sōsuke’s taunts, but Yhwach stopped Lille from firing and confronted Aizen himself.
• Yhwach invited Aizen Sōsuke to join him, praising his ambition and offering him freedom and revenge.
• Aizen Sōsuke refused to submit to Yhwach and predicted that his pride and contempt would bring about his defeat.
• Yhwach left Muken Hell with the Royal Guard, while Arima Shizuya noticed Aizen’s missing sword and exchanged a brief look with him.
• During the Stern Ritter invasion, Äs Nödt attacked the Sixth Division Barracks and dodged Abarai Renji’s strike.
• Äs Nödt launched an attack at Abarai Renji, but Kuchiki Byakuya intervened and blocked it with a wave of pink energy.

As the Wandenreich attacked the New Seireitei, Abarai Renji left Kuchiki Byakuya to command the Sixth Division’s survivors while Byakuya faced Äs Nödt. Across Soul Society, captains found their Shikai ineffective against their opponents and prepared to use Bankai.

• Kuchiki Byakuya ordered Abarai Renji to leave the Sixth Division battle, and Renji organized rescues and defenses among the division members.
• Byakuya attacked Äs Nödt with Senbonzakura, learned that Äs Nödt wanted to provoke fear, and refused to be intimidated.
• Soi Fon tore off her captain’s haori after her Shikai failed to stop her opponent, while Komamura Sajin prepared to fight Bambi.
• Hitsugaya Tōshirō protected the wounded Matsumoto Rangiku, then saw Cang Du’s iron body revealed when his clothes froze and shattered.
• Soi Fon, Komamura Sajin, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, and Kuchiki Byakuya each moved to release Bankai.

Ise Nanao overcame her fear and used Kidō to help Kyōraku Shunsui fight Robert Accutrone, who later attacked Shunsui with Vollständig. As a surge of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s Spiritual Pressure shook Soul Society, Shunsui revealed that Robert and Yhwach had taken the bait.

• Robert Accutrone’s gunfire forced Kyōraku Shunsui onto the defensive, and Shunsui protected Ise Nanao from the bullets aimed at her.
• Feeling ashamed that she had held Shunsui back and recalling Arima Shizuya’s execution, Ise Nanao found her resolve and struck at Robert with Hadō #63: Thunder Roar Cannon.
• Robert evaded Ise Nanao’s Kidō and attacked Shunsui with the speed of his Vollständig, but Shunsui used an illusion and countered with Shadow Wraith, cutting Robert’s shoulder.
• Robert questioned how Shunsui knew about God’s Step as a tremendous surge of Spiritual Pressure erupted from Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
• Shunsui told Robert that he and Yhwach had taken the bait.

Coyote Starrk ambushed Robert Accutrone with Hollow Flashes and Hollow Poison, leaving him badly wounded and unable to control Reishi. Mask De Masculine arrived to protect Robert, and Starrk revealed a new Arrancar form as he prepared to fight him.

• Robert Accutrone’s confidence faltered as Coyote Starrk attacked him from behind with consecutive Hollow Flashes.
• Kyōraku Shunsui shielded Ise Nanao from the blast while Starrk explained that Hollow Poison had disrupted Robert’s control of Reishi.
• Starrk prepared to finish Robert, but Mask De Masculine descended and blocked the Hollow Flash.
• Mask De Masculine transformed with James’s encouragement and challenged Shunsui and Starrk.
• Starrk stepped forward, revealed that his Hollow hole had been filled by new power, and began transforming into an Arrancar’s new form.

Coyote Starrk debuted his Espada Hōgyoku Form and teamed up with Kyōraku Shunsui to kill Mask De Masculine and James. Meanwhile, Mayuri Kurotsuchi fought off a Stern Ritter intruder in his laboratory, but Gwenael Lee vanished before he could be captured.

• Starrk emerged in his Hōgyoku Form, with Lilynette restored within him, and unleashed a strengthened Hollow Flash on Mask De Masculine.
• Kyōraku Shunsui struck from the shadows and decapitated Mask while Starrk's attack killed James, finishing both Stern Ritter.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi contacted Starrk to ask about his new form and its effects as part of the Espada Hōgyoku Project.
• Gwenael Lee entered Mayuri's laboratory and identified himself as a Stern Ritter, so Mayuri triggered an electrical trap that left him apparently charred.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi arrived, but Gwenael disappeared before Mayuri could order him taken away and challenged Mayuri to a deeper exchange.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi fought the invading Stern Ritter Gremi Tomyu amid the destruction of the Research and Development Department, while Nemuri and Akon organized the division’s response. Gremi revealed that his imagination could make anything real and caused Mayuri’s bones to become fragile, leaving Mayuri collapsed before him.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi snapped off his little finger, triggering a chain of explosions that engulfed the laboratory and badly wounded Nemuri.
• Nemuri ordered the Twelfth Division to retreat and prepare for war, then persuaded Akon to inject her with Flesh Supplement so she could heal and return to Mayuri.
• Akon directed the researchers to release prototypes and follow their emergency plan as Nemuri charged back into the burning laboratory.
• Gremi Tomyu introduced himself to the gravely injured Mayuri, who used his body-embedded Loaded Kidō to recover and attack him.
• Gremi emerged unharmed, explained that his imagination could become reality, and made Mayuri’s bones as fragile as foam, collapsing his body.

Gremi revealed that his imagination could alter reality and create life, then asked Mayuri to teach him how to make a creation loyal like Nemu. The chapter left Mayuri facing Gremi’s offer of assistance in exchange for his knowledge about life.

• Gremi restored Mayuri’s ability to speak and explained that whatever he imagined became real.
• Nemu returned injured, and Gwenael Lee appeared, boasting that his Vanishing Point ability made him impossible to notice.
• Gremi twisted Gwenael Lee and revealed that he had created him; he then erased him from existence.
• Gremi told Mayuri that he had studied the intelligence archives and asked about the Soul King and Mayuri’s research into creating life.
• Gremi pointed to Nemu as an example of a creation loyal to its creator and asked Mayuri to explain how he had achieved that result, offering help with his research in return.

Gremi tried to recruit Mayuri Kurotsuchi, but Mayuri and Szayelaporro rejected him and fought back as the Twelfth Division’s Research and Development Department was destroyed. Gremi’s attempt to kill the two with his imagination appeared to fail, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Gremi invited Mayuri Kurotsuchi to help him pursue his ambition of becoming a creator, but Szayelaporro interrupted by blasting him with a black torrent.
• Mayuri recovered from Gremi’s attack, studied its effects, and refused Gremi’s ultimatum; Szayelaporro joined him in preparing to fight.
• Akon watched the Research and Development Department collapse under the fighters’ spiritual pressure and vomited blood from the shock.
• Mayuri released Bankai: Ashisogi Jizo, while Szayelaporro transformed into a new form and credited Arima’s research.
• Gremi imagined Mayuri and Szayelaporro turning to blood, but both remained unharmed, and his ability appeared to have failed.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Szayelaporro used regeneration, toxins, and puppet control to attack Gremi, but Gremi endured their assault and discovered a greater power. The chapter ended with Gremi disappearing into the air after thanking them for the revelation.

• Gremi’s imagined transformation failed to stop Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Szayelaporro because they could regenerate their bodies.
• Mayuri revealed that Ashisogi Jizo had released 1,896 concealed toxins, and Gremi struggled to resist their effects.
• Szayelaporro used his enhanced Puppet Control to record the surrounding space and tear apart Gremi’s body by manipulating his doll.
• Gremi revealed that he had imagined himself immune to toxins but still could not move freely, suggesting Mayuri and Szayelaporro had affected him in other ways.
• Gremi vanished into the air and said he had realized a power that went a step further.

Gremi broadened his understanding until he merged with Soul Society and tried to overwhelm Szayelaporro and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, but his limitless imagination caused him to collapse. Mayuri caught Gremi’s brain, while flames rose across Soul Society.

• Gremi appeared before Szayelaporro and Mayuri Kurotsuchi after realizing that understanding could expand the limits of his imagination.
• Szayelaporro used his ability to break the legs of a doll linked to Gremi, but Gremi remained unharmed after merging with Soul Society.
• Gremi pressed down on Szayelaporro and tried to crush Mayuri, but his own body began to disappear.
• Mayuri explained that Gremi’s power and lack of restraint were driving him toward self-destruction, and Gremi vanished as his brain fell away from his body.
• Mayuri caught Gremi’s brain, and Szayelaporro struggled to straighten as flames lit up Soul Society.

After the Captains defeated several Quincy, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s spiritual pressure erupted, and Kuchiki Byakuya entrusted Abarai Renji with marrying Rukia and succeeding him as Sixth Division Captain. The Stern Ritter regrouped as another overwhelming spiritual pressure rose, while Liltotto suspected someone had tampered with Candice’s mind.

• Soi Fon ordered Ōmaeda to evacuate the wounded after Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s spiritual pressure shook Soul Society.
• Hitsugaya Tōshirō defeated Cang Du, disabled him, and ordered Matsumoto Rangiku to take him into custody.
• Kuchiki Byakuya told Abarai Renji to marry Rukia and become Sixth Division Captain after the war, then said he intended to atone for his mistakes.
• Komamura Sajin rallied the Seventh Division and ordered them to support Yamamoto, leaving the wounded Bambietta to escape.
• Liltotto questioned Bambietta about her defeat, while Candice revealed signs that someone had tampered with her mind.
• Another immense spiritual pressure erupted, distinct from Yamamoto’s.

Kenpachi Zaraki left the Eleventh Division to attack the enemy headquarters, despite Yachiru's plea that he stay. He fought through the Quincy and confronted Jerome Guizbatt, whose sound-based ability seemed to incapacitate him until Kenpachi ruptured his own eardrums and counterattacked.

• Kenpachi Zaraki checked that the Eleventh Division members were alive and decided to leave in search of an opponent.
• Yachiru pleaded with Kenpachi Zaraki not to go, but he told her to stay behind and headed toward the enemy headquarters alone.
• Yachiru ran after Kenpachi Zaraki while Ikkaku Madarame, Ayasegawa Yumichika, and the other officers took charge of the division.
• Kenpachi Zaraki cut through Quincy forces on his way forward and urged the Shinigami to keep fighting.
• Jerome Guizbatt used The Roar to disorient Kenpachi Zaraki, but Kenpachi ruptured his own eardrums and drove his Zanpakuto into Jerome's neck.

Kenpachi Zaraki tore through the Quincy forces, killing their leaders as he searched for a worthy opponent. He finally confronted Yhwach, who accepted his challenge and prepared to respond.

• Kenpachi Zaraki charged into the Quincy formation despite being wounded and unable to hear, scattering the soldiers.
• Berenice Gabriel rallied the retreating Quincies and tried to stop Kenpachi with his Schrift, The Objection, but Kenpachi crushed his throat before the ability could take effect.
• Kenpachi carried Berenice's corpse onward and found a group led by Yhwach, then challenged them to fight.
• Kenpachi explained that he had killed two men who had annoyed him and asked Yhwach if he was their leader.
• Yhwach stopped Haschwalth from intervening, stepped forward, and said he would return Kenpachi's enthusiasm in kind.

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni arrived as Yhwach defeated Kenpachi Zaraki, then unleashed his Bankai and confronted the Quincy King. Despite Yhwach mocking the altered appearance of Ryūjin Jakka, Yamamoto declared that he would finish what he had begun a thousand years earlier and prepared to bury him again.

• Yhwach overpowered Kenpachi Zaraki, disarmed him, severed his wrist tendons, and seized him by the throat.
• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni appeared, prompting Yhwach to release Kenpachi Zaraki and taunt the old captain about his age.
• Arima Shizuya stopped Lille Barro from approaching Yamamoto, and Yhwach ordered the others to fall back so he could face Yamamoto himself.
• Yamamoto activated Bankai, surrounding himself with towering flames as Yhwach criticized Ryūjin Jakka’s changed appearance.
• Yamamoto attacked Yhwach, burned away part of his sleeve, and dismissed his Holy Praise Domain without dodging.
• Yamamoto raised Ryūjin Jakka and vowed to bury Yhwach again, declaring the battle over.

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni overwhelmed Yhwach with Ryūjin Jakka’s devastating techniques and summoned the Quincy dead to confront him. After Yhwach blasted the corpses away, Yamamoto prepared to deliver the final blow in a transformed, pure-white world.

• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni compressed Ryūjin Jakka’s flames and wounded Yhwach, destroying his little finger with Rising Sun Edge.
• Yamamoto used Remnant Sun Prison Garb to burn Yhwach and kick him into the ground, while telling the Royal Guard to stay back.
• Yamamoto declared that he had grown stronger since their previous battle and criticized Yhwach for relying on old tricks.
• Lille Balo raised his gun to intervene, but Yamamoto summoned the charred remains of those he had slain, including dead Quincy, with Ten Trillion Fire Funeral Formation.
• Yhwach blasted the corpses away, and the surroundings turned pure white as Yamamoto advanced with his Zanpakuto to deliver the final blow.

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni believed he had killed Yhwach, but the apparent victory was revealed as Loyd Lloyd’s sacrifice and deception. Yhwach stripped Yamamoto of his power with a specially prepared Star Badge and declared that age had made him easier to defeat.

• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni struck down the figure he believed was Yhwach with Ryūjin Jakka: North — Heaven and Earth Ashes.
• Yamamoto sheathed his blade and bid farewell to Yhwach as the battle seemed to end.
• Yhwach appeared unharmed and revealed that the fallen double was Loyd Lloyd, who had copied Yhwach’s memories and emotions to deceive Yamamoto.
• Yhwach burned Loyd Lloyd’s body and reclaimed the power he had granted him.
• Yhwach used his specially prepared Star Badge to strip Yamamoto of his power, then mocked him for growing old and acting to protect his subordinates.