Chapter Summaries

Azer shocked the Shinigami Academy entrance examination by measuring at Second-Seat Reiwei, an unprecedented result for a new student from Rukongai. News of his extraordinary potential spread through the Seireitei, where Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni studied Azer’s file.

• The chapter explained Soul Society’s divide between the Seireitei and the districts of Rukongai, and how Rukongai residents could enter the Shinigami Academy by passing its Reiwei examination.
• Shinigami Academy staff tested applicants and announced their results, but none had reached even twenty Reiwei before Azer approached the instrument.
• Azer pressed his hand against the testing instrument, which blazed with light as a staff member announced that he had Second-Seat Reiwei.
• Shinigami throughout the Seireitei discussed Azer’s result, and reports said that the Gotei 13 Captains and Captain-Commander had been alerted.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni read a file about Azer in the 1st Division barracks and contemplated his name.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni learned that Azer, a new Shinigami Academy student with unprecedented Second-Seat Reiwei, had survived Zaraki by killing for food and water. He ordered the Gotei 13 and noble clans not to interfere with Azer’s academy life while Azer settled in and looked forward to his training.

• Chōjirō Sasakibe reported that Azer had arrived from Zaraki, killed 137 criminals for food and water, and tested at Second-Seat Reiwei upon enrolling in the Shinigami Academy.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni ordered the Gotei 13 and noble clans not to approach or interfere with Azer without authorization.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni said Azer should have time at the academy to temper his murderous nature and avoid becoming another battle maniac.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe spread Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s warning, though some nobles and members of the 11th Division still planned to act.
• Azer relaxed on a tree at the Shinigami Academy and looked forward to learning the Shinigami’s Four Basic Combat Skills and Zanpakuto.

Azer attended his first class at the Shinigami Academy, where the instructor introduced the four basic combat skills and explained the academy’s curriculum. The students headed to the training ground for their first Kido lesson, with Azer blending into the crowd.

• Azer entered the First Year, Class One classroom, where the freshmen whispered about his young age and captain-class Reiwei.
• The instructor explained the academy’s six-year program and introduced Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido as the Shinigami’s four basic combat skills.
• The instructor described upcoming lessons and said talented students might earn a Zanpakuto or attract early recruitment by the Gotei 13.
• After the instructor announced that their first Kido class was next, the students left for the training ground.
• Azer joined the Class One students at the target-filled training ground, where they met their Kido Class teacher.

The Kido Class teacher introduced Hado, Bakudo, and Kaido, then led Class One through practice with Hado No.1: Sho. Azer’s Spirit Power made his spell far stronger than everyone else’s, and the lesson continued with the teacher preparing to teach more advanced Kido.

• The Kido Class teacher explained the three types of Kido and demonstrated Hado No.1: Sho without chanting.
• Class One students practiced casting Hado No.1 without chanting, with nearly everyone succeeding quickly.
• Azer recognized a red-haired boy, a blond boy, and a black-haired girl as strangely familiar.
• Azer cast Hado No.1 and accidentally destroyed the target with an enormous burst of Spirit Power.
• The Kido Class teacher advised Azer to use about one-tenth as much Spirit Power, and Azer pierced the target’s bullseye with a still unusually powerful spell.
• The Kido Class teacher moved the lesson on to more advanced Kido.

Azer mastered the first three Kidō spells and overwhelmingly defeated his classmates in swordsmanship, winning seventeen matches in a row. Renji Abarai challenged him, and Azer realized they were both first-year students, placing the story several decades before the original events.

• Azer learned Sho, White Lightning, and Sai, and concluded that strong Spirit Power and memorized incantations were the fundamentals of Kidō.
• Azer enjoyed the Academy’s provided lunch before attending afternoon swordsmanship class.
• Azer defeated seventeen classmates in succession with ease, leaving the students unwilling to challenge him and the teacher impressed by his skill.
• Renji Abarai stepped forward to challenge Azer and introduced himself.
• Azer recognized Renji’s name and realized they were classmates decades before the original story began.
• Renji declared that he would defeat Azer.

Azer defeated Renji Abarai in a swordsmanship match, extending his streak to eighteen victories. Renji went to the courtyard to train in frustration, where Rukia found him and learned he had lost to the rumored super genius.

• Renji Abarai challenged Azer, but Azer calmly deflected his attacks and defeated him with a counterstrike.
• Renji admitted defeat, and the watching students recognized his strength despite Azer's eighteenth consecutive victory.
• After class, Renji angrily struck a tree with his wooden sword in the academy courtyard.
• Rukia found Renji and questioned why he was upset, then learned that Azer had beaten him in swordsmanship.

Rukia learned how deeply Renji Abarai resented his defeat by Azer, while Renji accepted the loss and committed himself to becoming stronger. After months of academy training, Azer mastered Shunpo and completed his study of the Four Basic Combat Skills.

• Rukia asked Renji Abarai if he was training so he could challenge Azer again, and Renji admitted he could not accept how easily he had lost.
• Renji Abarai explained that Azer’s rise from District Eighty made him determined to grow stronger, then focused on practicing his sword swings.
• As the academy days passed, Renji Abarai repeatedly challenged Azer in Swordsmanship Class but never defeated him.
• Azer learned Kido from his classes and private lessons, while swordsmanship and Hakuda offered him little practical benefit.
• Azer trained in Shunpo until he mastered it, then declared that he had comprehended all Four Basic Combat Skills.

Azer focused on mastering Shunpo while considering how to spend the decades he expected to remain in Soul Society. At the Shinigami Academy’s main gate, he learned that a Gotei 13 captain had arrived to inspect the school and recognized the captain and his vice-captain as they entered.

• Azer decided to make Shunpo his main training goal and repeatedly practiced it around the Shinigami Academy.
• Azer joined Renji Abarai, Kira Izuru, and Hinamori Momo at the academy gate, where a crowd of students had gathered.
• Hinamori told Azer that a Gotei 13 captain was coming to inspect the academy.
• A captain wearing a white haori marked with the number five entered with the 5th Division Vice-Captain, and Azer sensed the captain’s Reiatsu.

Azer met Captain Aizen Sōsuke at the Shinigami Academy and calmly fielded his offers of help. After Aizen left, Azer warned Renji Abarai, Kira Izuru, and Hinamori Momo that Soul Society was more complicated and cruel than it appeared.

• Azer sensed the concealed Reiatsu of Aizen Sōsuke and his companion as they approached the students.
• Aizen Sōsuke came over, introduced himself as Captain of the 5th Division, and praised Azer's talent.
• Aizen asked about Azer's academy life and invited him to seek guidance at the 5th Division barracks, and Azer accepted.
• After Aizen left, Kira Izuru and Hinamori Momo admired his gentle manner, while Renji Abarai envied Azer's chance to receive a Captain's advice.
• Azer warned Renji Abarai, Kira Izuru, and Hinamori Momo not to trust appearances because Soul Society was more complicated and cruel than they imagined.

Aizen Sōsuke and Gin Ichimaru discussed their plans for Azer and the new students before leaving the Shinigami Academy. Months later, Azer’s Class One gathered for a special lesson, where their teacher introduced the Asauchi that would become their Zanpakuto.

• Aizen Sōsuke told Gin Ichimaru to wait before approaching Azer, and said he would give the students prepared gifts after they left the Soul Society.
• Aizen Sōsuke arranged to recommend Gin Ichimaru for captain and said he could take the 6th Division captaincy alongside the incoming replacement.
• Azer put Aizen Sōsuke out of his mind and spent several months attending classes and practicing Shunpo, Kido, and Hakuda.
• Class One’s classes were canceled, and the students gathered in their classroom, wondering why they had been summoned.
• The supervising teacher brought scabbarded swords to the classroom and identified them as Asauchi, the prototypes of Zanpakuto.

Azer and the other elite students received Asauchi and learned how difficult it was to achieve Shikai and Bankai. As Azer poured his Reiatsu into his blade, his authority accelerated its transformation, and he heard a voice urging him to call its name.

• The Class One instructor explained how Asauchi became Zanpakuto and had the students collect their blades, with Azer receiving the last one.
• Azer sensed that his Asauchi was empty inside, unlike his existing Zanpakuto and Exclusive Armaments.
• The instructor taught the students to nurture their Asauchi, explained that Shikai was rare and Bankai rarer still, and warned that Bankai was required to become a Captain.
• Renji Abarai vowed to achieve Shikai, and Kira Izuru and Hinamori Momo shared his resolve.
• Azer poured Reiatsu into his Asauchi, and his authority made the blade turn gold as a voice urged him to call its name.

Azer met the spirit of his Zanpakuto in his inner world, learned its name, and completed their bond, awakening a blade powerful enough for Bankai. Back in class, he concealed his achievement as the instructor introduced Soul Burial and the Shinigami’s duty to purify Hollows.

• Azer entered his inner world and found his Zanpakuto spirit enthroned atop the highest mountain.
• The Zanpakuto spirit recognized Azer, revealed its name, and bonded with him as golden patterns spread across their world.
• Azer returned to class with his transformed Zanpakuto and hid it after realizing his classmates and instructor had not noticed its awakening.
• Azer decided to conceal that he could already use Bankai and watched his classmates struggle to achieve Shikai.
• The instructor explained that Soul Burial sent Whole souls to the Soul Society and that Shinigami also purified Hollows.
• Hinamori Momo answered the instructor’s question about Soul Burial, and the instructor announced that lessons would soon begin.

Class One received Asauchi and learned that Soul Burial lessons would soon be followed by combat training against Simulated Hollows in the Living World. Azer recalled that an accident might occur during the training and wondered whether the person behind it would repeat the events he remembered; several days later, the training began.

• Renji showed off his Asauchi to Rukia, and they argued until Kira and Hinamori passed by.
• Renji challenged Azer to spar with their Asauchi, but Azer declined and told him to save his energy for combat training.
• Azer revealed that students would soon fight Simulated Hollows at a prepared location in the Living World, easing Renji, Rukia, Kira, and Hinamori's fears.
• Azer remembered that something had gone wrong during combat training in the story he recalled and suspected that someone behind the scenes might cause an accident.
• News of the upcoming training spread through the first year, Class One prepared for several days, and the combat training began.

Azer and the first-year Class One students prepared for Living World field training under sixth-year Hisagi Shūhei. They entered the Dangai behind a Hell Butterfly, with Azer wondering whether an unexpected incident would force him to get serious.

• Azer teased Renji Abarai about his feelings for Rukia, and Renji angrily insisted they were only friends.
• Hisagi Shūhei introduced himself and explained that the sixth-years would lead the first-years’ Soul Burial and Hollow combat training in the Living World.
• Hisagi Shūhei answered Renji Abarai’s question about the academy teachers, explaining that the exercise would develop independence, teamwork, and leadership.
• Hisagi Shūhei opened the passage into the Dangai, warned the students not to get lost, and released a Hell Butterfly to guide them.
• Azer and the other first-years followed Hisagi Shūhei through the door, while Azer considered that he might have to get serious if something unexpected happened.

Shinigami Academy students began practical training in the Living World, where Azer used his superior Shunpo to reach a nearby town. He turned Soul Burials into a prank, sending several dozen souls to Soul Society while they cursed him.

• Hisagi Shūhei explained that Class One would practice Soul Burials until dusk and fight Simulated Hollows overnight, warning students to stay within the assigned towns.
• Renji Abarai and Kira Izuru invited Azer to join them, but he chose the nearest town and vanished with proficient Shunpo, impressing the students and Hisagi Shūhei.
• Azer reached the town and remarked on its old-fashioned appearance, estimating that it was around Showa 20.
• Azer struck a wandering soul on the forehead with his Zanpakuto's pommel, marked it for Soul Burial, and sent it to Soul Society.
• Azer repeated the prank until several dozen souls arrived in Soul Society cursing him.

Azer volunteered to fight alone in the Shinigami Academy’s Simulated Hollow practicum, suspecting that something unexpected might happen. At the training grounds, he effortlessly destroyed a Simulated Hollow with Hado #4: White Lightning and found the exercise far too easy.

• After the Soul Burial practicum ended without incident, Hisagi Shūhei explained that students would fight Simulated Hollows in teams of three.
• Azer asked for the blank draw so he could fight alone, and Hisagi Shūhei agreed based on Azer’s strength and abilities.
• As the students drew lots and headed to the industrial-district training grounds, Azer wondered whether someone would make a move during the practicum.
• A Simulated Hollow ambushed Azer on a rooftop, but he destroyed it with Hado #4: White Lightning without drawing his sword.
• Azer dismissed the Simulated Hollows as weak and wished for a real fight, such as sparring with Abarai.

Renji Abarai, Kira Izuru, and Hinamori Momo worked together to defeat a Simulated Hollow while worrying about Azer, who had gone alone. Azer effortlessly killed several Hollows, then sensed several Reiatsu signatures weakening and rushed toward them, arriving at the scene of bloodshed.

• Renji Abarai and Kira Izuru worked together to expose a Simulated Hollow, and Hinamori Momo destroyed it with a fully chanted Red Fire Cannon.
• Kira Izuru praised Hinamori Momo's Kido skill, and the three worried that Azer might be in danger while fighting alone.
• Azer effortlessly killed multiple Simulated Hollows with unchanted Red Fire Cannons and decided to stop fighting them because he feared leaving others without targets.
• Azer climbed a tower and searched the training grounds for the others' Reiatsu, but found that his sensing range was limited.
• Azer sensed several Reiatsu signatures suddenly weaken, rushed toward them, and arrived to find the scent of blood.

Azer healed the wounded sixth-years with the Twilight Holy Lance, then discovered that a gigantic Hollow with no detectable Reiatsu had invaded the training grounds. As the Hollow pursued Hisagi Shūhei, Renji Abarai, Kira Izuru, and Hinamori Momo, the fleeing group came upon a scene that filled them with despair.

• Azer used Dominion Radiance through the Twilight Holy Lance to heal the gravely wounded sixth-years.
• Azer sensed no Reiatsu from the attacker and rushed toward the first-year students.
• A gigantic Hollow attacked the students, and Hisagi Shūhei charged it before it struck him into a building.
• Renji Abarai, Kira Izuru, and Hinamori Momo hit the Hollow with Hado #31: Red Fire Cannon and pulled Hisagi Shūhei away.
• The four fled through an alley while Hisagi Shūhei explained that they could not contact the Barrier Class or the Soul Society.
• The group encountered something ahead that made them realize their situation was truly desperate.

Azer appeared just in time to save Hinamori Momo from a giant Hollow and revealed his captain-class Reiatsu to protect the academy students. He overwhelmed the Hollows with two powerful Kido spells, leaving none alive.

• Hisagi Shūhei urged Renji Abarai, Kira Izuru, and Hinamori Momo to flee, then charged toward the Hollows to buy them time.
• Hinamori Momo followed Hisagi, but a giant Hollow landed before her and swung its forelimb down.
• Azer appeared and blocked the Hollow’s attack with one hand, then told the roaring Hollows to be quiet.
• Azer released his captain-class Reiatsu, forcing the students to the ground and the Hollows to retreat in fear.
• Azer cast Hado No. 58: Tenran to sweep the giant Hollows into the sky, then destroyed them all with Hado No. 63: Raikouhou.

Azer destroyed the giant Hollows, but a powerful Adjuchas-class Great Hollow emerged and attacked him. As Renji Abarai and the others struggled to escape and seek help, Azer began to counterattack.

• Azer obliterated the giant Hollows with a blast, leaving Renji Abarai, Kira Izuru, Hinamori Momo, and Hisagi Shūhei stunned.
• Azer spotted a smaller, intelligent Hollow and identified it as a possible Adjuchas, while Hisagi Shūhei recognized it as a Great Hollow.
• The Adjuchas suddenly attacked Azer, who rescued Hinamori Momo and used Shunpo to evade its blows.
• Hisagi Shūhei urged the others to flee and notify the Soul Society, while Renji Abarai worried about Azer.
• As the Adjuchas continued its assault, Azer finally counterattacked.