Chapter Summaries

Aizen was sentenced to Mukken, and Duan Mu, sitting as Sage Amanmen, intervened to spare Ichimaru Gin from the Sōkyoku Execution. Ichimaru Gin was instead sentenced to ten thousand years in the Police Force jail under Toshiro Hitsugaya and Matsumoto Rangiku’s supervision, while Duan Mu hinted that he was keeping a bet with Rangiku.

• Soul Reapers and captains escorted Aizen and Ichimaru Gin into the Central 46’s underground courtroom for sentencing.
• A veiled Duan Mu entered through the Pure Tower Forest Residence door and took the vacant seat behind plaque 38.
• The sages sentenced Aizen to eighteen thousand years in Mukken, then increased the sentence to twenty thousand years after Duan Mu agreed with the change.
• The chief judge sentenced Ichimaru Gin to the Sōkyoku Execution, but Duan Mu argued that Gin’s strength and contribution to stopping Aizen warranted reconsideration.
• Nayula and the other female sages supported Duan Mu, and the Central 46 approved his sentence of ten thousand years in the Police Force jail, supervised by Toshiro Hitsugaya and Matsumoto Rangiku.
• As Rangiku took Gin’s chains, Duan Mu told her he was fulfilling his promise from their bet.

Duan Mu went to the 2nd Division to clear up rumors that he had confessed to Soi Fon, only to find that his explanation left her colder. Soi Fon dismissed the rumors and assigned him to manage the Maggot's Nest.

• Duan Mu heard Seireitei residents spreading exaggerated stories that he had confessed to Soi Fon and planned to marry her.
• Duan Mu abandoned his plan to avoid Soi Fon and went to the 2nd Division, where Hachi Haneha and Omaeda treated him as Soi Fon's future husband.
• Omaeda told Duan Mu that Soi Fon had returned and was in a poor mood because Yoruichi had chosen to remain in the Human World.
• Duan Mu entered Soi Fon's office and explained that he had meant only to express respect and invite her to share a meal.
• Soi Fon said she had not misunderstood anything, then ordered Duan Mu to manage the Maggot's Nest.

Tier and the Espada struggled to choose a ruler for Hueco Mundo while Las Noches remained largely unrepaired. Duan Mu arrived with a plan to repair it, leaving the Espada to provide the workers.

• Tier proposed finding someone to manage the scattered Arrancar and repair Las Noches, but Halibel refused to become the new queen.
• The Espada considered their candidates and concluded that Duan Mu was the person best suited to rule Hueco Mundo.
• Duan Mu arrived at Las Noches with Nelly, Pesche, and Dondochakka, and Tier teased him about rumors linking him to Soi Fon.
• Duan Mu introduced his Yorozuya business and explained that he had contacted someone capable of repairing Las Noches.
• Duan Mu told the Espada they would need to gather workers for the repairs.

Duan Mu oversaw the repairs to Las Noches and reassured Halibel’s Fracción that he had no desire to rule Hueco Mundo. After earning their favor, he spoke with Grimmjow about why Hueco Mundo did not need a king, leaving Grimmjow to walk away without pressing him about the Soul King.

• Duan Mu directed the reconstruction of Las Noches while Urahara Kisuke led repairs to the sky canopy, and he sent Ludobon to gather wood from the Forest of Menos.
• Duan Mu approached Apache, Sun-Sun, and Mira-Rose to ask about their living quarters, introduced the Yorozuya, and explained that he did not intend to become Hueco Mundo’s king.
• Duan Mu recounted how Tier had captured him and how they had become friends, telling the three Fracción that he helped Hueco Mundo’s residents because they were his friends.
• Duan Mu’s explanation raised the favorability of Halibel, Mira-Rose, Apache, and Sun-Sun, while he considered advancing the restructuring of their Hollow Cores.
• Grimmjow challenged Duan Mu’s lack of ambition, and Duan Mu argued against having a Hollow King and warned that the Soul King was not what Grimmjow imagined; Grimmjow left without asking more.

Duan Mu finished rebuilding Las Noches and discussed the future of Hueco Mundo with Urahara Kisuke. He rejected the idea of ruling the Arrancar, defended modifying them as a way to preserve the balance between the Three Worlds, and ended by accusing Urahara of tampering with the rebuilt sky.

• Duan Mu reflected on earning more than 120,000 Experience while rebuilding Las Noches and expanding his circle of acquaintances.
• Urahara Kisuke asked Duan Mu for payment, but Duan Mu argued that Urahara owed him for their partnership, so Urahara agreed to work for free.
• Urahara Kisuke reported that Karakura Town had stabilized and Ichigo Kurosaki remained unconscious, likely needing another week to recover from temporal reversal.
• Urahara Kisuke questioned Duan Mu about modifying the remaining Espada and warned that the Arrancar's evolution could become uncontrollable.
• Duan Mu said he would not take control of Hueco Mundo and argued that strengthening the Arrancar would help preserve the balance between the Three Worlds.
• Duan Mu accused Urahara Kisuke of tampering with Hueco Mundo's rebuilt sky, and Urahara admitted it.

Duan Mu reconstructed the Hollow Cores of twelve Arrancar, including Stark and Lilinet, while remaining wary of the Wandenreich and its king’s Almighty. In the darkness, an unseen being opened their eyes after sensing the changes in Hueco Mundo, and a mocking woman revealed that Duan Mu’s Spiritual Void Crest had been causing them pain.

• Duan Mu explained that reconstructing a Hollow Core formed a mutual connection with him, then Halibel, her Fracción, Ulquiorra, and others came forward for the procedure.
• Duan Mu chose to continue using his reiatsu and flesh for the reconstructions as he tried to understand the changes behind Tier’s Second Resurrección and his own body.
• After Duan Mu said he hoped Stark would become stronger, Stark agreed to undergo the reconstruction and brought Lilinet with him.
• Duan Mu modified all twelve Arrancar over a day, while purple pillars of light spread across Hueco Mundo and were sensed in Soul Society.
• An unseen being opened their eyes in the darkness, and a mocking woman said Duan Mu’s Spiritual Void Crest had been causing them pain and disrupting their plans.

After returning from Hueco Mundo, Duan Mu resumed his commission work and considered how to gain experience and manage the rising romantic favorability of several women. The chapter leaves him confident that he can lower Isane's and Soi Fon's romantic values, while Konai and Sugi Natsuhane wonder whether Isane can defeat Soi Fon.

• Duan Mu returned to his routine after the Gotei 13 and Central 46 tacitly left his Hueco Mundo actions unexamined, while Rukia returned to the Kuchiki Clan and prepared to become a Lieutenant Captain.
• Central 46 delayed Yamamoto's request to reinstate Shinji Hirako, Kensei Muguruma, and Rojuro Otoribashi as captains because of their Hollow powers.
• Duan Mu reviewed his abilities and experience, deciding that work and expanding his circle of friends were more useful to him than secluded cultivation.
• Duan Mu avoided Kotetsu Isane and Kotetsu Kiyone because he feared Isane's romantic feelings, and he remained wary of Soi Fon's changed attitude toward him.
• Duan Mu met Konai and Sugi Natsuhane while working in Seireitei, then left believing he could find a way to lower Isane's and Soi Fon's romantic values.
• Konai and Sugi Natsuhane agreed that Duan Mu was gentle, and Sugi wondered whether Isane could beat Soi Fon.

Duan Mu visited the Human World, where he reunited with Ichigo Kurosaki and learned that Ginjo Kugo and Tsukishima were preparing to act. He returned to the Soul Society with Lisa’s books and continued training, while Ichigo’s troubles remained ahead.

• Ichigo Kurosaki followed a familiar figure and reunited with Duan Mu, who said he had come to see him and decided not to interfere with his troubles.
• Duan Mu used Bakudo #26: Kyokō to observe Ginjo Kugo and Tsukishima without being detected, then spoke with Urahara Kisuke, who was monitoring events.
• Duan Mu told Urahara Kisuke that he had come to buy books for YDM Bookseller and explained that he had no intention of acting against Ginjo Kugo and Tsukishima.
• Duan Mu purchased Lisa’s requested books, returned to the Soul Society, and went back to training while Lisa checked the order.

Duan Mu used Kurotsuchi Mayuri’s trial to impose restrictions on the Technical Development Bureau and prepare Soul Society to detect future invasions. After returning to Yorozuya, he found Shiba Kūkaku waiting with three unexpected recruits, including Ichigo Kurosaki and Urahara Kisuke.

• Duan Mu argued that Kurotsuchi Mayuri should lose his director position, citing the Technical Development Bureau’s failures compared with Urahara Kisuke’s achievements.
• Duan Mu and a sibling settled on punishing Kurotsuchi Mayuri by cutting his extra research funding, ending unauthorized Rukongai research, and requiring stronger surveillance and invasion alerts.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri accepted the punishments and asked whether he should report his supervisory results to Duan Mu’s Yorozuya.
• Duan Mu left Central 46 through a secret passage and returned to Yorozuya in Rukongai.
• Shiba Kūkaku introduced three men as potential tavern staff and bouncers, including Ichigo Kurosaki and Urahara Kisuke, whom Duan Mu recognized as people who had nearly killed him.

Duan Mu learned that the Wandenreich had begun disrupting the balance and invaded Hueco Mundo, then rushed to the Human World to attack its Quincy forces. He spared one Quincy before activating Bankai, intending to force Yhwach to return while Tier and the others held out.

• Kurotsuchi Mayuri received reports of rapidly worsening spiritual-balance disturbances and secretly sent the information to Duan Mu, telling him the Technical Development Bureau's possible response.
• Duan Mu ordered Uzuki and Man'ya Ori to stay with Kūkaku, told Ishida Sōgen to assemble Nishijin-ori and relocate everyone if he did not return within a day, then entered Hueco Mundo through a Garganta.
• Duan Mu sensed Quincy hunting forces across Naruki City and found them killing Hollows as Hollow signatures vanished throughout the Human World.
• Duan Mu killed the Quincy gathered on a department-store rooftop, then let one surviving young Quincy escape into a shadow-like mist.
• Duan Mu activated Bankai, planning to attack the Wandenreich's headquarters and destroy the Shadow Domain so Yhwach would be forced to return while Tier and the others held out.

Duan Mu entered the Wandenreich through a passage created with Jumei and unleashed his full power, causing the Quincy to kneel and their spiritual forms to collapse. He began analyzing the Shadow Domain to expose it within the Seireitei, and killed Berenike Gabriel when the Sternritter tried to stop him.

• A Quincy returned to the Wandenreich from the Human World and bragged about escaping a Soul Reaper, but Duan Mu stabbed him through the throat.
• Purple flames and mist opened a passage into the Wandenreich, and Duan Mu stepped through as his spiritual pressure shook the world and overwhelmed the Quincy.
• Duan Mu recognized the surviving Sternritter and began using Jumei to analyze the Wandenreich, intending to make the hidden world appear within the Seireitei.
• Berenike Gabriel used his Schrift, The Question, to object and influence Duan Mu to stop, but Duan Mu resisted and lifted him into the air with an invisible grip.
• Duan Mu crushed Berenike Gabriel, whose blood burst across the darkness.

Duan Mu analyzed Yhwach’s limitations and chose to force him to return from Hueco Mundo by making the Wandenreich manifest, hoping to save Tier and the others. As the Seireitei’s captains sensed Duan Mu’s plan taking shape, the story showed the Sternritter attacking Hueco Mundo and being met by Tier, Stark, and other defenders while Yhwach watched.

• After the unknown man died, Duan Mu reviewed how Yhwach’s soul-granting ability worked and concluded that opening The Almighty early would leave Yhwach’s power incomplete.
• Duan Mu chose to make the Wandenreich manifest so Yhwach would abandon Hueco Mundo and return, then let his Zanpakuto suppress his emotions as he carried out the plan.
• An abnormal reishi storm appeared in the Seireitei, and Soi Fon and Kurotsuchi Mayuri recognized Duan Mu’s presence within it.
• In Hueco Mundo, As Nodt defeated the Pikaro by spreading fear among them, and the Sternritter prepared to kill the wounded children.
• Tier, Stark, and other defenders arrived and attacked the Sternritter, while Yhwach watched and told a golden-haired young man to let the Sternritter suffer.

Askin Nakk Le Vaar poisoned Sun-Sun, Apache, and Liltotto with his Deathdealing, then fought back against their fused Yawō and Second Resurrección. Roga rescued the three women and revealed a weapon and spiritual pressure matching Ishida Uryū’s as she faced Askin.

• Askin revealed that his poison pool had exposed Sun-Sun, Apache, and Liltotto to Spirit Particle Poisoning, then knocked them down with his Deathdealing.
• Stark refused to approach Askin or take his attention away from Yhwach, while the three fallen women used their fused form, Yawō, to ambush Askin.
• Askin survived Yawō’s assault, caught its fist, and forced it into the ground before Sun-Sun, Apache, and Liltotto entered Second Resurrección and collapsed under his toxic gas domain.
• Roga Paramia arrived and used threads to pull the three women away, then blocked Askin’s arrows with a weapon identified as Silberklinge.
• Askin recognized that Roga’s weapon and spiritual pressure matched Ishida Uryū’s and wondered what she was.

Tier Harribel used vibrations carried through reishi to destroy Yhwach’s arrow and injure the Sternritter, prompting Yhwach to recognize the Arrancar’s potential and unleash his power. As fights continued across Hueco Mundo, Grimmjow’s battle was interrupted by the sudden appearance of an ocean, while the Sternritter who trapped Neliel prepared to approach her cage.

• Tier Harribel collapsed Yhwach’s reishi bow and arrow with vibrations, causing reishi weapons across the battlefield to explode and wound nearby Sternritter.
• Yhwach crushed a vibrating mass of reishi, decided to recruit the powerful Arrancar, and erupted with overwhelming spiritual pressure; Starrk told Harribel that Lilynette’s ability could find no weakness in him.
• The Sternritter gradually recovered their advantage by activating Quincy: Vollständig, and Bazz-B challenged Grimmjow after their clash.
• Bambietta, Liltotto, Candice, Meninas, B. G.9, Giselle, and Kyliel fought Neliel, until Kyliel imprisoned her water dragons with his Schrift, Jail.
• The Sternritter approached Neliel’s cage, while Grimmjow noticed an ocean appearing in Hueco Mundo and Bazz-B’s flames abruptly went out.

Halibel broke Kiruge’s Reishi Prison by eroding it with an ocean she created, then unleashed her transformed power against the Sternritter. Yhwach used Auswählen to revive and strengthen the Sternritter by sacrificing the scattered Quincy soldiers, and the battle resumed with Grimmjow charging Bazz-B.

• Halibel created a vast ocean over Las Noches, and its erosion shattered Kiruge’s Reishi Prison.
• Halibel emerged in a new mermaid-like form and attacked the Sternritter with waves that protected Arrancar and battered their enemies.
• Roga endured Askin’s poisons and pursued him with attacks formed from Negación threads.
• Yhwach used Auswählen to turn the scattered Quincy expeditionary soldiers to ash, then used their reishi to heal, revive, and strengthen the Sternritter.
• Bazz-B returned to life with his power restored, and Grimmjow charged at him to continue their fight.

The Sternritter regained strength and brought the battles across Hueco Mundo closer to a stalemate, while the Arrancar fought back with reinforcements and evolving abilities. The conflict shifted dramatically when Tier and Stark fell from the sky beneath an azure, godlike figure, leaving the Espada stunned.

• Apache, Sun-Sun, and Mira-Rose joined Dordoni after Roga used Negación Silk to purge their poison, while Lady Nelly's two Fracción arrived to support Gantenbainne.
• Ludobon defended the Ninth Tower as his skeleton soldiers grew stronger through repeated deaths, matching the power gained by the enemy hero and his revived companion.
• Halibel continued holding back several Sternritter, while Grimmjow battered Bazz-B and called on Nain to fight alongside him.
• As Nodt fought beside Loyd Lloyd, who imitated Ulquiorra but could not reproduce his purple markings and was harmed by the power he had copied.
• Tier and Stark plummeted toward Las Noches beneath a figure surrounded by azure flames, abruptly halting the Espada's battles.

Duan Mu sealed Gerard's Miracle and accelerated the Wandenreich's analysis, while Stark changed into a wolf-like form to resist Yhwach. Yhwach suddenly withdrew with the Sternritter, leaving the battle's outcome uncertain.

• Duan Mu blocked Gerard's attacks, then sealed the Miracle linked to the Soul King's heart and returned to analyzing the Wandenreich.
• Lille Barro shot Duan Mu repeatedly, but Duan Mu recovered instantly and reduced Gerard to his original form with a touch.
• Duan Mu merged with his Zanpakuto and accelerated the Wandenreich's disintegration as Seireitei began to appear within the darkness.
• A blond young man disrupted the manifestation of Seireitei, but his Shadow Hexagram expanded beyond his control and began making the Wandenreich manifest.
• Stark transformed into a wolf-like form and resisted Yhwach's attack, after which Yhwach vanished with the Sternritter in shadowflames.
• Stark split into two figures and descended with Tier, while the surviving fighters wondered why Yhwach had retreated.

Yamamoto and the Gotei 13 learned that Duan Mu had drawn out the hidden space within Seireitei while the Espada fought off an invasion in Hueco Mundo. As the enemy returned and the space sealed around Duan Mu, he realized his plan had succeeded and focused on surviving so he could keep Yhwach from leading an attack on Hueco Mundo.

• Akon told Yamamoto that Duan Mu had caused the anomaly to manifest and that Central 46 had evacuated Seireitei's residents into its assembly hall.
• Akon reported that the Gotei 13 could not enter the coexisting space, while strange forces had invaded Hueco Mundo and the Espada had won a temporary victory.
• Akon sensed a terrifying aura returning to Seireitei, and Yamamoto ordered the captains to prepare for battle, find a way to support Duan Mu, and coordinate with Urahara Kisuke.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri demanded that his staff send him the data and images Urahara Kisuke had transmitted.
• The space overlapping Seireitei grew illusory as Duan Mu's aura weakened, while Unohana Retsu, Soi Fon, and others maintained their defensive positions.
• Inside the Shadow Domain, Duan Mu saw that the space had stabilized and the seal had taken hold; he accepted that he had succeeded and resolved to survive so Yhwach could not lead troops to Hueco Mundo soon.

Duan Mu invaded the Wandenreich and confronted Yhwach, revealing that he had prepared his Bankai’s power within the Shadow Domain. He trapped the Sternritter in Jumei’s Shikai domain and began fighting Yhwach, whose knowledge of Duan Mu’s abilities had fallen behind.

• Duan Mu appeared in the Wandenreich, summoned Jumei, and challenged Yhwach while the Sternritter reacted in disbelief.
• Yhwach recognized Duan Mu’s role in changing the Ten Blades and realized Duan Mu had anticipated the Wandenreich’s ability to plunder Bankai.
• Duan Mu released his Bankai’s power into the Shadow Domain, forming enormous purple eyes above the Wandenreich.
• Gray mist filled the Wandenreich and isolated its inhabitants from one another, while Duan Mu remained able to see and move among them.
• Duan Mu used Jumei’s Shikai domain to create a one-on-one arena with Yhwach, then split Yhwach’s Holy Arrow and sent his slash toward him.

Duan Mu fought Yhwach in the Shadow Domain, countering his bow, External Blut, and Altar of Usurpation while demonstrating overwhelming speed and power. When Yhwach drew strength from the Wandenreich’s Quincies, Duan Mu realized the home-ground advantage had made them all part of Yhwach, leaving the battle at a dangerous turn.

• Duan Mu crushed Yhwach’s Great Saint Bow and punched through his External Blut, sending him flying and forcing him to acknowledge Duan Mu’s strength.
• Duan Mu unleashed his full Spiritual Pressure and cut Yhwach in half with a slash delivered at extreme speed.
• Yhwach healed by using Auswählen to absorb hundreds of Quincies, then attempted to steal Duan Mu’s power with Altar of Usurpation.
• Duan Mu’s body resonated with the Spiritual Void Crest, broke the pentagram, and regained his power, prompting Yhwach to hesitate.
• Pillars of light connected the Quincies across the Wandenreich to Yhwach, and Duan Mu realized the domain let Yhwach merge with their power rather than simply absorb them.