Chapter Summaries

Aizen openly betrayed the Seireitei, revealed that he had killed Central 46, and brought Rukia before the gathered captains to extract the Hōgyoku. He obtained it after Gin and Kaname Tosen stopped Renji’s attack.

• Shunsui Kyoraku and Jūshirō Ukitake learned that Aizen had acted openly and called for reinforcements, including Urahara Kisuke and Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Toshiro confronted Aizen, and Retsu Unohana revealed that Aizen had killed everyone in Central 46 and intended to destroy the prison.
• Kaname Tosen brought Rukia to Aizen as Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki arrived, and Gin Ichimaru openly declared their betrayal of the Seireitei.
• Aizen reached into Rukia’s soul to remove something within her, while Renji attacked him with Zabimaru and then Bankai.
• Kaname Tosen and Gin Ichimaru repelled Renji, and Aizen took the Hōgyoku from Rukia and celebrated having it in his hands.

Aizen revealed his control over Central 46 and declared war on the Seireitei, while his Arrancar allies and the Visored arrived. Madara Uchiha and Ren then appeared, setting the stage for a confrontation between Aizen’s plans and Ren’s promised grand show.

• Aizen admitted that he had controlled Central 46 and that Rukia had been kept alive because she was useful to him.
• Renji Abarai attacked Aizen, but Ulquiorra Cifer intercepted the attack and wounded him.
• Aizen revealed that the Hōgyoku had enabled him to create Arrancar and declared war on the Seireitei.
• Urahara Kisuke and the Visored arrived, and Shinji Hirako accused Aizen of experimenting on them through Hollowfication.
• Madara Uchiha appeared, dismissed Aizen’s defection as unimpressive, and asked him to compare it with Ren’s grand show.
• Ren arrived on the Thunder Emperor Throne as lightning flashed across the sky.

Ren and Aizen faced the assembled forces of the Seireitei as Ren hinted that he intended to awaken Yhwach and bring the Quincy into the conflict. The Captain-Commander and Zero Division attacked, but Ryder stepped in to confront the Captain-Commander.

• Ren greeted the Captain-Commander and Retsu Unohana, while White Fang, Ryder, and Ren's other subordinates assembled to protect him.
• The Captain-Commander declared that Ren and Aizen would be killed, and Ren warned him to wait for the other spectators to arrive.
• Four members of Zero Division descended, and Isshin Kurosaki joined them as the Seireitei's forces faced Ren's group and Aizen's Arrancar.
• Ren told Aizen that the Quincy and their creator, Yhwach, had not yet arrived, prompting the Captain-Commander and Zero Division to charge.
• Ryder transformed into a Vampire and sent a flood of blood against the Captain-Commander's flames.

Ace and Tobirama Senju revealed their paired Zanpakuto and clashed with Oetsu Nimaiya and Tenjirō Kirinji. As the battles spread across the field, Kayle faced Senjumaru Shutara while the others fought their own opponents.

• Ryder dodged the Captain-Commander's flames and countered with the Blood Sea as the two attacks reached a stalemate.
• Ace released his Shikai, turning his Asauchi into twin Zanpakuto, and attacked Oetsu Nimaiya with a Divine Dragon and a Mad Lion.
• Ace and Oetsu Nimaiya charged through the storm of their attacks and clashed blades in the air.
• Tobirama Senju released twin Zanpakuto and countered Tenjirō Kirinji's hot spring water with Water Release techniques.
• Kayle stepped up to fight Senjumaru Shutara after the others declined to face her.

Ren and Aizen’s forces turned the Seireitei into a massive battlefield while Ren confronted Isshin Kurosaki over his plan to awaken Yhwach. Ryuken Ishida arrived with Ichigo captive and revealed that he intended to awaken Yhwach for his own reasons, exposing Isshin’s plan to use Ichigo as a weapon and leaving the combatants stunned.

• Kirio Hikifune’s seed-grown trees helped Ren’s subordinates hold off Zero Division, while Aizen sent his Arrancar Legion into battle against the Death Gods and Visored.
• Aizen opened a spatial rift and released his Hollowfication Legion, enraging the Captain-Commander as Ryder’s Blood Sea swallowed his flames.
• Isshin Kurosaki challenged Ren, who declared that he would awaken Yhwach, but Ryuken Ishida’s Spirit Arrow interrupted Isshin’s attack.
• Ryuken arrived carrying an unconscious, chained Ichigo and said he planned to use the power within him to awaken Yhwach.
• Ryuken accused Isshin of treating his son Uryu as a follower while using Aizen and the Seireitei as stepping stones for Ichigo’s growth, leaving Aizen and the battlefield stunned.

Ryuken Ishida revealed his hatred of Isshin Kurosaki and seized Ichigo Kurosaki, prompting Isshin to attack. Ren intervened, and their clash left Isshin wounded while Ren learned how his blood-fueled Bankai worked.

• Ryuken Ishida blamed Isshin Kurosaki for Masaki’s fate and threatened revenge while holding Ichigo Kurosaki by the throat.
• Isshin Kurosaki charged to save Ichigo, and Ren ordered Ryuken to continue awakening Yhwach before intercepting Isshin.
• Isshin activated Bankai—Blood Moon and fired blood-red Getsuga Tenshō, but Ren countered with techniques drawn from Zanka no Tachi.
• Ryuken explained that Isshin’s Bankai used blood to intensify its flames and could ignite an opponent’s blood.
• Ren and Isshin exchanged powerful flame attacks that destroyed Seireitei buildings, and Ren cut Isshin across the abdomen.

Ren and Isshin Kurosaki fought amid flames that devastated the Seireitei, while Ryuken used his blood to trigger a painful transformation in Ichigo Kurosaki. The chapter left Isshin unable to reach his son as Ichigo’s body was consumed by the effects of Ryuken’s blood and strange energy emerged from within him.

• Ren taunted Isshin Kurosaki, then struck him with Draw-Sword Heaven-Cleave as Isshin’s blood intensified the flames.
• Isshin Kurosaki countered with Super Getsuga Tenshō, and their attacks destroyed mountains and more than half of the Seireitei.
• Ren blocked Isshin as he tried to reach Ichigo Kurosaki, while the flames burning Ren’s blood appeared to strengthen his body.
• Ryuken revealed his resentment toward Isshin over Masaki and dropped his blood into Ichigo’s mouth despite Isshin’s pleas.
• Ichigo Kurosaki roared in agony as blood-drawn patterns eroded his skin and a special energy burst from within him.

Ryuken Ishida used his blood to awaken Ichigo Kurosaki’s Quincy power and revive Yhwach, prompting the Captain-Commander to order a rescue. As the captains charged toward Ichigo, Whitebeard struck them with an Airquake, leaving their attempt in peril.

• The Captain-Commander realized Ryuken Ishida had used a Quincy sacrificial technique to awaken Ichigo Kurosaki and Yhwach, while Ichigo screamed as his power surged.
• Ryuken Ishida laughed at Yhwach’s awakening, and Isshin Kurosaki blamed Ren for allowing it while acknowledging that Yhwach had caused Masaki’s death.
• The Captain-Commander ordered everyone to save Ichigo Kurosaki and eliminate Ryuken Ishida, but Ace used his Float-Float Fruit to bury Oetsu Nimaiya beneath rising ruins as Ren’s forces overwhelmed Zero Division.
• The division captains broke through the Espada and rushed toward Ryuken Ishida, while Aizen called the Espada back to evolve with the nearly fused Complete Hōgyoku.
• Ren challenged Isshin Kurosaki’s confidence, and Whitebeard unleashed an Airquake that shattered the air and sent a massive shockwave toward the charging division captains.

Whitebeard’s strike sent Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya Kuchiki crashing into the ground, while Ren, Ryder, Isshin Kurosaki, and the Head Captain fought amid flames engulfing Seireitei. As Ichigo Kurosaki’s power erupted, the old man Zangetsu emerged from his body.

• Whitebeard struck the advancing captains with a powerful blow that drove Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya Kuchiki into the ground.
• Isshin Kurosaki attacked Ren with Getsuga Tenshō, but Ren countered with Heavenly Sin and Iron Body, then fought Isshin amid a sea of fire.
• The Head Captain charged Ryuken Ishida, but Ryder blocked him with a Blood Sea, and the Head Captain unleashed Remnant Flame: Center—Blazing Sun.
• Ryder’s Blood Moon collided with the Head Captain’s Solar as their battle and Ren and Isshin’s fight continued across the burning Seireitei.
• Aizen sensed that the Hōgyoku had completed its fusion and prepared to merge with it.
• Ichigo Kurosaki roared, released a powerful aura, and expelled the old man Zangetsu from his body.

Yhwach returned to Seireitei, where Ryuken Ishida revealed that he had awakened him to gain power and then tried to kill him. As Yhwach summoned his empire, Aizen’s evolved Espada and the Sternritter assembled for battle.

• Ren fought Isshin Kurosaki and told him that Yhwach had been revived, while the Captain-Commander and others stopped fighting to watch Yhwach appear.
• Yhwach recognized Ryuken Ishida as his descendant and named him heir to the Wandenreich, then gave him blood that awakened and perfected his Quincy abilities.
• Ryuken Ishida attacked Yhwach and admitted he had revived him so he could kill him, then escaped Yhwach’s Medium Heilig Pfeil by using Hirenkyaku.
• Yhwach realized Seireitei had changed and summoned his empire, causing a palace to rise from the shadows and light to flare around Aizen.
• Aizen’s evolved Espada and Arrancar gathered as an army, while the Sternritter emerged from an ice palace and knelt to greet Yhwach.

Four rival legions gathered in the ruined Seireitei, and Yhwach ordered the Sternritter to attack, especially the traitor Ryuken. Ren’s allies charged into battle as the fighting began, leaving the armies locked in a chaotic clash.

• Yhwach, the Death Gods, Aizen’s Arrancar, and Ren’s subordinates assembled as four legions across the Seireitei.
• Yhwach ordered the Sternritter to kill their enemies and capture Ryuken alive.
• Ren urged his forces to attack, and Madara Uchiha charged into battle first.
• Qing Zhi challenged Toshiro with Ice Age, while World rushed forward and Whitebeard and Sengoku fought side by side.
• Aizen sent the Espada to attack, and Morgana and Kayle countered their Cero attacks with dark energy and thunder.

The battle erupted across Soul Society as Ren and Yhwach confronted each other amid the fighting armies. Ren destroyed Yhwach’s massive Heilig Pfeil and blocked his blade, but Yhwach launched a sphere of Spirit Particles at him.

• Yhwach attacked Ryuken Ishida for betraying him, but Ren intervened with a slash from Heavenly Sin.
• Ren’s strike clashed with Yhwach’s Medium Heilig Pfeil, triggering the fighters to unleash their full power across the battlefield.
• Whitebeard used Airquake, Madara Uchiha summoned Susanoo, and Hashirama Senju formed a Wood Golem as the armies suffered heavy casualties.
• Yhwach fired a massive Heilig Pfeil at Ren, who melted and swallowed it with Zanka no Tachi, North—Tenchi Kaijin before charging him.
• Ren and Yhwach exchanged blows, and Yhwach sent a sphere of Spirit Particles toward Ren, who reached out to grab it.

Ren and Yhwach’s duel escalated into a five-way battle with Aizen, the Captain-Commander, and Isshin Kurosaki. The chapter ended as all five unleashed powerful attacks that collided across the Seireitei.

• Ren crushed Yhwach’s Spirit Particle orb and blocked his Blut Arterie-enhanced strikes, then broke Yhwach’s arm with Iron Body.
• Ren attacked with Zanka no Tachi: East—Rising Sun Blade, while Yhwach restored his arm and countered with a sword strike.
• Aizen fought the Captain-Commander and Isshin Kurosaki, using swordsmanship and Kido while relying on the Hōgyoku’s power.
• Yhwach’s arrow and the spreading battle pulled Ren, Yhwach, Aizen, the Captain-Commander, and Isshin Kurosaki into a melee across Seireitei.
• Ren, the Captain-Commander, Aizen, Isshin Kurosaki, and Yhwach unleashed powerful attacks that collided in a massive energy storm.

The Soul Society battle intensified as Ren’s allies unleashed devastating attacks against the Death Gods. Ren then transformed a mountain into a black, lava-filled Hell and summoned the dead from worlds he had encountered.

• Ryder and Retsu Unohana remained locked in battle as Ryder held back because he understood Ren’s feelings toward her.
• Hashirama and Madara Uchiha combined Wood Release and Fire Release, but Tenjirō Kirinji extinguished the flames before Qing Zhi froze the battlefield.
• Hashirama and Madara Uchiha joined their powers to create an armored Thousand-Handed Guanyin that struck the Death God army.
• Aizen and Yhwach questioned whether Ren could control his powerful subordinates, while the Commander-General recognized Hashirama’s strength.
• Ren drove Heavenly Sin into a mountain and unleashed Eighteen Levels of Hell, turning the mountain range into black lava and summoning the dead from worlds he had encountered.

Ren, the Captain-Commander, Yhwach, and Aizen unleashed immense flames across Seireitei while Isshin Kurosaki and the Captain-Commander struggled to face them. The Captain-Commander proposed using Isshin’s Blood Moon to create a vastly strengthened Mugetsu, but Isshin resisted because it would require a terrible sacrifice.

• The Captain-Commander summoned Hollows from his flames, and they battled the Devils Ren had summoned.
• Aizen fused with the Hōgyoku to its third stage, while Yhwach ignited Spirit Particles and Ren and the Captain-Commander added their own flames, filling the sky with a vast ring of fire.
• Isshin Kurosaki joined the Captain-Commander and warned that Ren, Yhwach, and Aizen had yet to reveal their full strength.
• The Captain-Commander suggested that Isshin use Blood Moon to unleash the Final Getsuga Tenshō—Mugetsu, powered by the blood of Captain-level fighters.
• Isshin Kurosaki refused the plan, knowing that using Mugetsu would demand a grave sacrifice.

The Captain-Commander sacrificed his blood and life to empower Isshin Kurosaki’s Blood Moon, allowing Isshin to unleash Final Getsuga Tenshō—Mugetsu. Ren, Aizen, and Yhwach were caught in its devastating slash, and the chapter ended with all three engulfed.

• The Captain-Commander used his blood to ignite Isshin Kurosaki’s Blood Moon, then drove the blade through his own heart and gave up every drop of blood.
• Isshin Kurosaki laid the Captain-Commander down and unleashed Final Getsuga Tenshō—Mugetsu at Ren, Aizen, and Yhwach.
• Ren countered with Great Dark Heaven, while Aizen transformed and Yhwach fired his strongest technique to resist Mugetsu.
• Mugetsu burned through their attacks and engulfed Ren, Aizen, and Yhwach.

Ren faced Isshin Kurosaki’s Mugetsu without retreating and entered his Zanpakuto Space, where he learned he could finally attain Bankai. Tang San and the Demon Whale King explained that they would be sacrificed to awaken his true sword, Zhu Xian, and Ren returned to the battle as Mugetsu still engulfed him.

• Isshin Kurosaki’s Mugetsu shattered Ren’s Sword Aura and swallowed him after Ren charged forward to block it with Heavenly Sin.
• Ren entered his Zanpakuto Space and learned from the masked man that facing Mugetsu had cut through the shackles preventing his Bankai.
• The masked man revealed himself as Tang San, while Ren’s Hollowfication appeared as the Demon Whale King.
• Tang San explained that he and the Demon Whale King would disappear as sacrifices for Ren’s Bankai, Zhu Xian, the sword within Ren’s soul.
• Ren awakened within Mugetsu and calmly endured the burning Sword Aura as his bone marrow strengthened his body.

Ren completed his Bankai, Zhu Xian, and used its Immortal Sword to cut apart Isshin Kurosaki’s Mugetsu. The sword absorbed Ryujin Jakka and its flames, while Aizen and Yhwach emerged from the fading Sword Aura.

• Ren awakened Zhu Xian by sacrificing two Zanpakuto and realized he needed to strengthen the incomplete Immortal Sword through slaughter.
• Ren swung Zhu Xian and split Isshin Kurosaki’s Mugetsu open, leaving a passage through its blood-red Sword Aura.
• Isshin Kurosaki was stunned that Ren had cut through his powerful Final Getsuga Tenshō.
• Ryujin Jakka flew toward Ren, but Zhu Xian subdued it, broke it apart, and absorbed it.
• The Mugetsu Sword Aura dissipated, revealing Aizen and Yhwach; Aizen marveled at the strength of Ren’s slash.

Ren killed Yhwach with Zhu Xian, devoured his energy, and destroyed more than half of the Knight Legion with a single sword strike. As Ren absorbed the sword’s power, Isshin Kurosaki and Aizen watched in terror, while Aizen realized the Hōgyoku needed more energy to evolve.

• Yhwach attacked Ren, but Ren vanished and drove Zhu Xian through Yhwach’s heart.
• Zhu Xian devoured Yhwach, and Ren drew in the energy it returned to him.
• The Sternritter charged Ren after their king died, and Ren’s sword strike cut down more than half of the Knight Legion.
• Isshin Kurosaki and Aizen stared at Ren in horror, and Aizen realized the Hōgyoku had reached its limit without more energy.
• Ren awakened from absorbing the energy and flicked his finger.

Ren demanded the Death Gods and Arrancar submit after defeating Yhwach, while worrying that killing them would destroy souls he might later want to summon. More than half the Death Gods surrendered, but Isshin’s side prepared a plan involving Ichigo, and Ren ordered his followers to slaughter those who resisted.

• Ren offered the assembled forces submission or death, and the Death Gods debated while the Arrancar waited on Aizen’s lead.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi surrendered, followed by many members of the Sixth Division and, after Yoruichi called to Soifon, much of the Second Division; over half the Death Gods soon submitted.
• Isshin and the Zero Division discussed using the King Hollow and Soul King’s energy to empower Ichigo for another Final Getsuga Tenshō.
• Isshin attacked Ren with a Getsuga Tenshō, but Ren cut through it with the Zhu Xian Sword and killed many ordinary Death Gods.
• Ren declared the chance to surrender over and ordered his followers to kill the resisters; Madara Uchiha and Hashirama charged into the Death Gods’ ranks.