Chapter Summaries

Aizen Sousuke destroyed much of Spirit City to create Hueco Mundo and invited Soul Masters to join his new world. Aizen returned to the expanded Central Spirit Arts Academy, reunited with the Soul Reapers, and asked where Yhwach was as they prepared to face Aizen Sousuke.

• Aizen Sousuke used the power of Hueco Mundo to destroy half of Spirit City, ascend into the sky, and invite Soul Masters to join his new world.
• Yamamoto Shigekuni and the Central Spirit Arts Academy escaped to a remote town through a spacetime shift, where Inoue Orihime treated Kurosaki Ichigo's shoulder wound.
• Aizen realized that Aizen Sousuke was building a world of his own and might become powerful enough to overcome the King's Seal.
• Inoue Orihime welcomed Aizen back to the Central Spirit Arts Academy, where Yamamoto Shigekuni recognized that Aizen had begun mastering the King's Seal.
• Kurosaki Ichigo, Ulquiorra, and Grimmjow greeted Aizen, and Yamamoto Shigekuni began discussing how to fight Aizen Sousuke.
• Aizen asked where Yhwach was.

Aizen returned to the Central Spirit Arts Academy, learned how its allies and Soul Reapers had fared, and established the Gotei 13 to protect their base. The new divisions were assigned as Matsumoto Rangiku arrived with word that Xue Ye wanted to see Yamamoto Shigekuni.

• Kurosaki Ichigo told Aizen that Yhwach had escaped, and Yamamoto Shigekuni explained that Spirit Hall and the Tiandou Imperial Family were supporting the academy’s expansion.
• Yamamoto Shigekuni reported that many Soul Reapers sent out had died or gone missing, while Kurotsuchi Mayuri volunteered to investigate Hueco Mundo.
• Aizen appointed captains and vice-captains for the Gotei 13, assigning roles including Yamamoto Shigekuni as Captain-Commander and Kurosaki Ichigo as captain of the inner academy guard.
• Grimmjow proposed becoming captain of the Special Operations Division if he defeated Ulquiorra, and Aizen accepted the condition.
• Matsumoto Rangiku entered and told Yamamoto Shigekuni that Xue Ye wanted to see him.

Aizen returned and joined Yamamoto Shigekuni to meet Xue Ye, whose plan to bring the Central Spirit Arts Academy under imperial control was thwarted. Xue Ye proposed a joint attack on Spirit City, but Aizen declared that the Central Spirit Arts Academy and the Gotei 13 would handle it without imperial troops.

• Matsumoto Rangiku told Aizen that Xue Ye had come to discuss cooperation with the Heavenly Dou Empire and probe the Central Spirit Arts Academy's ties to Spirit Hall.
• Aizen agreed to accompany Yamamoto Shigekuni to meet Xue Ye, while Qian Renxue recognized him and reconsidered her plans.
• Xue Ye abandoned his attempt to absorb the Central Spirit Arts Academy into the Heavenly Dou Empire after seeing Aizen alive.
• Xue Ye argued that Aizen Sousuke's followers in Spirit City could become a powerful enemy and proposed sending troops with the Central Spirit Arts Academy to eliminate them.
• Aizen rejected the offer, saying the Central Spirit Arts Academy and the Gotei 13 were sufficient.

Aizen assigned the Gotei 13 to hunt Soul Masters planning to join Aizen Sousuke, preserve select souls for study, and investigate Hueco Mundo. He sent Kyōraku Shunsui and Hirako Shinji to gather intelligence, while Kenpachi Zaraki and Retsu Unohana were assigned to the Clear Sky Sect, and Aizen decided to lead the Spirit City expedition himself.

• Aizen explained that the expedition would eliminate Soul Masters intending to join Aizen Sousuke and collect rare or mutated martial soul crystals for research.
• Aizen said the Heavenly Dou Empire would be kept out of the plan and assigned Kyōraku Shunsui to investigate Hueco Mundo, with Hirako Shinji as his partner.
• Kenpachi Zaraki volunteered for the operation, but Aizen redirected him to the Clear Sky Sect after he showed little interest in hunting unknown opponents.
• Retsu Unohana joined Kenpachi Zaraki, and Aizen promised level increases through Soul Coins for those who killed their second Titled Douluo.
• After allowing hunts for Titled Douluo elsewhere to qualify for the same reward, Aizen said he would lead the Spirit City expedition himself.

Aizen assigned his divisions to investigate Spirit City, Hueco Mundo, and the Seagod Godhood while Yamamoto Shigekuni guarded the Central Spirit Arts Academy. Qian Renxue agreed to accompany him, and the next day she and Gu Yue joined him in Xue Ye's carriage.

• Aizen ordered Shihouin Yoruichi, Soi Fon, Ichimaru Gin, Inoue Orihime, Ulquiorra, and Grimmjow to carry out missions in Spirit City and around Sea God Island.
• Aizen told Yamamoto Shigekuni to stay at the Central Spirit Arts Academy, test Bibi Dong and Spirit Hall's attitudes, and guard against Yhwach.
• Qian Renxue visited Aizen, who revealed that he knew her identity and inheritance, as well as Tang San's and Bibi Dong's divine inheritances.
• Aizen explained that Aizen Sousuke had once been his subordinate and warned that he would prey on them if they failed to become gods before his return.
• Qian Renxue accepted Aizen's invitation to investigate Hueco Mundo with him, and he set their departure for the next day.
• The next day, Qian Renxue and Gu Yue rode with Aizen in a carriage provided by Xue Ye, and the two women exchanged hostile looks.

Aizen's two companions, Gu Yue and Qian Renxue, discussed their suspicions and goals while he studied the King's Seal in his consciousness space. The King's Seal revealed that Aizen's ordeal was a trial meant to prepare him to defeat Aizen Sousuke and Yhwach before becoming the Soul King.

• Dugu Yan came to find Aizen after he had already left the Central Spirit Arts Academy.
• Gu Yue recognized Qian Renxue as the Angel God's heir, and Qian Renxue explained why she hoped to grow stronger through Aizen.
• Aizen examined the King's Seal and learned that its power had not fully acknowledged him as its master.
• The King's Seal revealed that it had occupied Aizen's consciousness space and that he did not yet have his own Zanpakuto.
• The King's Seal said it would revive Aizen's enemies as part of his trial, forcing him to gain the strength to defeat Aizen Sousuke and Yhwach.

Aizen learned that the King's Seal had orchestrated his arrival in this world and restricted his power to drive him to grow stronger. After the King's Seal vanished, Aizen resolved to surpass it by making Aizen Sousuke and Yhwach submit, leaving Gu Yue and Qian Renxue shaken by his growing resolve.

• The King's Seal revealed that it had brought Aizen to this world with the Hogyoku and manipulated his system and power to force him to evolve.
• The King's Seal explained that it wanted to travel through many worlds and would keep taking Aizen to new ones whenever he dominated a world.
• The King's Seal told Aizen that he had to surpass it and make Aizen Sousuke and Yhwach submit willingly rather than simply defeat or kill them.
• The King's Seal vanished, and Aizen realized that defeating Aizen Sousuke and Yhwach would not be enough to free himself from its control.
• Gu Yue and Qian Renxue sensed Aizen's changed resolve, and both were frightened by the pride and strength they saw in him.

Shihouin Yoruichi and Soi Fon hunted down Aizen Sousuke’s devoted followers, while Ichimaru Gin searched an abandoned Spirit Hall laboratory for traces of Aizen’s experiments. The chapter ended with Gin examining the carefully arranged room for hidden clues.

• A group of Soul Masters gathered to praise Aizen Sousuke and argued over whether jumping into Hueco Mundo would let them meet him.
• Shihouin Yoruichi appeared and declared that she would kill anyone connected to Aizen Sousuke.
• A Soul Master with a Porcupine Martial Soul charged Yoruichi, but she cut his throat and killed him.
• Yoruichi defeated the scrawny Soul Master with Shunko, while Soi Fon reported that she had killed the other three Soul Masters.
• Ichimaru Gin searched Aizen Sousuke’s abandoned laboratory and began inspecting its equipment and shredded documents for clues.

Ichimaru Gin investigated Aizen Sousuke's laboratory and learned about its experiments from a spirit who revealed himself as a powerful Hollow Beast. The Hollow Beast attacked Gin, and Gin unleashed his Bankai as their battle began.

• Ichimaru Gin searched Aizen Sousuke's laboratory for evidence and used Urahara Kisuke's tool to summon spirits.
• Ichimaru Gin found a spirit who listed Aizen Sousuke's experiments, including experiments involving spirit bodies and Martial Soul mutation.
• The spirit revealed that he was Aizen Sousuke's assistant and a Hollow Beast assigned to hunt Ichimaru Gin.
• The Hollow Beast explained that it was created by fusing the souls of over a thousand Soul Masters with a top-grade Soul Jade, then attacked Ichimaru Gin.
• Ichimaru Gin dodged the Hollow Beast's attacks, found that Shinso could not pierce its Hierro, and released Bankai, Kamishini no Yari.

Ichimaru Gin fought and killed Aizen Sousuke’s Hollow Beast, learning that it combined Hollow abilities with Soul Master skills. The next day, Aizen arrived at the ruined Spirit City, where a group of Soul Masters demanded an entry fee and eyed the women accompanying him.

• Ichimaru Gin battled the Hollow Beast, whose Soul Rings let it regenerate, create a wind wolf, and split into eight clones.
• The Hollow Beast merged its clones into a giant form, but Ichimaru Gin severed its foot and destroyed its head with rapid thrusts.
• Ichimaru Gin concluded that the Hollow Beast used Sonido and might have been a Soul Beast’s Martial Soul Avatar, and planned to report what he had learned to Lord Aizen and Urahara.
• Aizen arrived in the ruined Spirit City the next day and was stopped by Soul Masters demanding an entry fee while eyeing the two women behind him.

Aizen entered Spirit City with Qian Renxue and Gu Yue and began killing the Soul Masters who worshipped Aizen Sousuke. After word of his attacks spread, the city’s believers gathered to confront him, and Aizen challenged them to prove their faith.

• Aizen refused to pay the entry fee and killed the three Soul Masters guarding the entrance, with Qian Renxue killing two of them.
• Aizen explained that he avoided becoming romantically involved with Qian Renxue and Gu Yue to protect them from Aizen Sousuke’s threats.
• Aizen killed Soul Masters throughout Spirit City who worshipped Aizen Sousuke.
• Aizen killed a group of Soul Masters who discussed him and tried to attack him, using Hado 57: Daichi Ten'yō against those who fled.
• Spirit City’s Soul Masters gathered to punish Aizen, and he challenged them to face him.

Aizen slaughtered Soul Masters who attacked him, including a group of five Soul Emperors and two of three Soul Douluos, while allowing the last survivor to escape. Meanwhile, Ulquiorra and Grimmjow arrived in Vast Sea City to investigate whether Tang San and the others had gone to Sea God Island.

• Aizen killed five attacking Soul Emperors, and Gu Yue watched without pity because they had killed Soul Beasts.
• Three more Soul Masters confronted Aizen, and the Giant Ape Soul Douluo attacked after boasting of his strength.
• Aizen snapped the Giant Ape Soul Douluo's arm and crushed his chest, then killed one fleeing Soul Master with Shunpo.
• Aizen let the other Soul Master escape, hoping he would bring reinforcements or persuade others to leave Spirit City.
• Ulquiorra and Grimmjow reached Vast Sea City and planned to ask whether Tang San and the others had gone to Sea God Island.

Ulquiorra and Grimmjow searched Vast Sea City for Tang San, then boarded a ship to Sea God Island after learning Tang San’s group had already gone there. Ulquiorra prepared to meet Tang San and assess his growth.

• Ulquiorra and Grimmjow found no trace of Tang San in Vast Sea City and decided to travel to Sea God Island.
• Ulquiorra and Grimmjow hired the Black Demon, whose captain knew the route to Sea God Island.
• The captain told Grimmjow that a group of eight, led by a blue-haired young man, had recently traveled to Sea God Island.
• Grimmjow realized Tang San had reached the island ahead of them and told Ulquiorra the news.
• Ulquiorra said he would see how much Tang San had improved.

Ulquiorra’s aura drew the Deep Sea Demon Whale to the Black Demon, and he and Grimmjow fought the immense sea beast while the captain fled. Ulquiorra realized he could not defeat it and tried to stall, while Grimmjow remained atop its back dodging its attacks.

• Ulquiorra sensed danger on deck, learned the ship was in the Demon Whale Sea Area, and realized the Deep Sea Demon Whale had noticed him.
• The Deep Sea Demon Whale rose from the sea and attacked the Black Demon with a storm of water arrows, which Ulquiorra countered with Gran Rey Cero.
• Grimmjow joined the fight, released Panther King, and struck the whale, but his attack barely pierced its defenses and left no mark.
• Ulquiorra told the captain to flee while he held the whale back, and the captain sailed away from the battle.
• The Deep Sea Demon Whale fired a blue beam at Ulquiorra, who dodged it with Sonido and recognized that he could only stall for time.
• Grimmjow dodged the whale’s wave attacks while standing on its back.

Aizen learned that Aizen Sousuke could use Hollow Beast abilities and warned his companions to stay alert. After Kurotsuchi Mayuri prepared a passage to Hueco Mundo that only Level 90 or higher could enter, Aizen went alone, leaving Gu Yue behind.

• Ichimaru Gin told Aizen about Hollow Beasts, and Aizen warned the group that Aizen Sousuke and Tosen Kaname might use them against them.
• Soi Fon explained Kyoka Suigetsu's Complete Hypnosis to Qian Renxue, who realized she had already seen its release and feared facing Aizen Sousuke again.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri reported that his World Piercing Pillars opened a passage to Hueco Mundo that barred anyone below Level 90, leaving Aizen as the only one in the group able to enter.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri completed the passage, and Aizen prepared to travel through the Senkaimon while reminding the others to hunt and cultivate high-level Soul Masters.
• Gu Yue refused to accompany Aizen because Hueco Mundo had no Soul Beasts and she could not return on her own; Aizen briefed Kyōraku Shunsui and entered the passage alone.

Aizen traversed a gigantic Soul Beast’s intestinal passage, using his Zanpakuto and ice to survive its acidic fluids and flesh spikes. He reached the stomach, met three Titled Douluo, and saw the humanoid Soul Beast guarding the esophagus.

• Aizen discovered the passage was the intestinal tract of a gigantic creature and used Bankai, Great Crimson Ice Ring to freeze its acidic fluid and walls.
• Aizen dodged the creature’s flesh spikes and advanced through the frozen passage, following the route he believed led toward its mouth.
• Aizen emerged into the creature’s stomach and met three Soul Masters who had entered before him.
• A long-haired Soul Master told Aizen that a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast blocked their way, and a bald Soul Master explained that it was a ferocious beast able to take human form.
• The bald Soul Master led Aizen up the stomach wall, where Aizen saw the humanoid Soul Beast guarding the entrance to the esophagus.

Aizen and three Titled Douluo faced the Death Beast while Aizen Sousuke watched and considered how much Aizen had grown. Aizen Sousuke reflected on how he had gathered allies against Aizen and remained determined to kill him.

• Aizen recognized that the humanoid Death Beast had roughly three hundred thousand years of cultivation and was beyond the four Soul Masters’ ability to defeat easily.
• Aizen Sousuke watched Aizen and the three Titled Douluo through a mirror and explained that powerful Soul Beasts guarded the gate to keep outsiders from entering Hueco Mundo.
• Szayelaporro left the hall to observe Aizen confronting the Death Beast firsthand, and Aizen Sousuke let him go so he could gather information.
• Aizen Sousuke recalled that he had recruited Tosen Kaname by turning him against Aizen and had persuaded the Espada to join him by claiming Aizen had abandoned them.
• Aizen Sousuke reflected that Aizen’s disappearance had helped make the Espada’s return to Aizen impossible, and he resolved that he would claim the final victory.

Aizen and three Titled Douluo fought the Death Beast, a guardian of Hueco Mundo, and Aizen’s slash wounded it. Golden Shield Douluo then used his Martial Soul Avatar and withstood the beast’s massive punch.

• Golden Shield Douluo blocked the Death Beast’s enlarged fist, while the beast warned the humans that Aizen Sousuke was no longer human.
• Musket Douluo and Hundred Blades Douluo attacked the Death Beast, but it grew tenfold, unleashed ghosts that sapped their strength, and injured Golden Shield Douluo.
• Aizen slashed the Death Beast’s back, making clear that it was a guardian of Hueco Mundo rather than one of Aizen Sousuke’s subordinates.
• Aizen urged the Titled Douluo to stop holding back, and Golden Shield Douluo activated his Martial Soul Avatar.
• Golden Shield Douluo endured the Death Beast’s punch without injury as Szayelaporro watched the data on his instrument.

Szayelaporro analyzed Aizen’s abilities as Aizen fought the Death Beast, recording deductions about his Character Templates and their compatibility. Aizen killed the beast with a decisive slash, while those watching him in Aizen Sousuke’s palace prepared to welcome him.

• Szayelaporro studied Aizen’s first slash and estimated his Soul Power and Character Template compatibilities.
• Aizen suspected he was being watched but let the three Titled Douluo continue fighting the Death Beast, planning to take the final blow and claim the Soul Coins.
• Szayelaporro speculated about Aizen’s hidden Urahara Kisuke template, his limits, and the possibility of using separate minds to master conflicting templates.
• Aizen exploited the Death Beast’s momentary falter and killed it with a slash that froze it into an ice sculpture.
• Nnoitra, Zommari, Halibel, Starrk, Barragan, and Aizen Sousuke watched Aizen’s attack, and Aizen Sousuke told them to brew Red Tea for Lord Aizen.

Aizen killed three Titled Douluo who planned to join Aizen Sousuke, then used their soul coins to raise his Soul Power to Level Ninety-Nine. The King's Seal offered him a path to godhood that required killing a Level Ninety-Nine Titled Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, but accepting the mission would seal all his Zanpakuto abilities.

• Aizen revealed that he had come to kill Aizen Sousuke and killed Hundred Blades Douluo, Musket Douluo, and Golden Shield Douluo.
• Szayelaporro watched from hiding as Aizen collected the three Douluo's soul coins and raised his Soul Power to Level Ninety-Nine.
• The King's Seal told Aizen that he could become a god by sacrificing a Level Ninety-Nine Titled Douluo.
• Aizen accepted the mission by drinking the King's Seal's cocktail and learned that his target needed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
• The King's Seal warned Aizen that it would seal all of his Zanpakuto abilities when he left the consciousness space.