Chapter Summaries

Gerard Valkyrie revived in a gigantic, light-filled form and fought Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, repeatedly regenerating while his attacks devastated Rukongai. After Gerard destroyed dozens of districts, Kuruyashiki unleashed his forbidden Bankai, whose enormous mouth began swallowing Gerard as he protested that it was not a proper fight.

• Yhwach transported Gerard Valkyrie and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi from the Soul King Palace to Rukongai after Gerard transformed into his giant final form.
• Kuruyashiki attacked Gerard with Ceros and a powerful slash, but Gerard repeatedly regenerated and retaliated with a massive Reishi sword.
• Gerard swung a ten-thousand-meter blade and destroyed dozens of Rukongai districts, killing countless wandering souls.
• Enraged by the destruction, Kuruyashiki activated his Bankai, causing a gigantic mouth to emerge from the earth and suck Gerard toward it.
• Gerard objected that Kuruyashiki was not fighting him directly, but Kuruyashiki refused to cross blades and let his Bankai continue swallowing him.

Yhwach sent the restored Gremmy Thoumeaux to fight Sōgo Shihoin’s chosen champion, Ichigo Kurosaki. Ichigo and Gremmy clashed in a space Gremmy created, but Gremmy copied every Getsuga Tenshō, leaving Ichigo unsure how to fight without another technique.

• Yhwach’s power returned after the Schutzstaffel died, and he demanded that Sōgo Shihoin send out another opponent.
• Yhwach summoned Gremmy Thoumeaux, who claimed his imagination had become stronger since his previous defeat by Sōgo Shihoin.
• Sōgo Shihoin chose Ichigo Kurosaki to face Gremmy, and Ichigo entered the fight with his Zanpakuto.
• Gremmy created a private space for the battle, and Ichigo struck first with Getsuga Tenshō, which Gremmy copied.
• Ichigo donned his Hollow mask and fired a stronger Getsuga Tenshō, but Gremmy duplicated that attack too.
• Ichigo kept using Getsuga Tenshō as Gremmy mirrored each strike, and Ichigo realized he knew no other moves.

Ichigo tried to outwit Gremmy Thoumeaux, who imagined copies of Ichigo’s Getsuga Tenshō and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s Garōgairō, but Gremmy stayed calm and admitted that Sōgo Shihoin was stronger than him. Ichigo released Bankai and revealed his combined Quincy, Soul Reaper, and Hollow powers, while Yhwach called Ichigo his lost child, alarming Isshin Kurosaki.

• Ichigo enlarged his Getsuga Tenshō, and Gremmy Thoumeaux copied it and imagined monsters resembling Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s Garōgairō.
• Ichigo tried to provoke Gremmy, but Gremmy recognized the tactic and explained that he considered himself invincible because he had no enemies.
• Ichigo questioned Gremmy’s claim of invincibility, and Gremmy admitted Sōgo Shihoin was beyond his imagination while still insisting he was invincible.
• Ichigo released Bankai, revealing a form with Quincy, Soul Reaper, and Hollow powers, and challenged Gremmy to defeat him.
• Yhwach called Ichigo his lost child, and Isshin Kurosaki wondered whether Yhwach was trying to claim his son.

Ichigo Kurosaki revealed his combined Soul Reaper, Hollow, and Quincy powers, while Sōgo Shihoin and Sōsuke Aizen both claimed to be his true father. When Gremmy Thoumeaux summoned a world-destroying meteorite, Ichigo defeated him with Final Getsuga Tenshō, leaving Ichigo exhausted and believing his journey was over.

• Shinji Hirako and Mayuri Kurotsuchi reacted to Ichigo Kurosaki's Bankai and recognized his Soul Reaper, Hollow, and Quincy powers.
• Sōsuke Aizen claimed that his efforts had created Ichigo, but Sōgo Shihoin declared himself Ichigo's father and invited Ichigo and Yhwach to become his sons.
• Ichigo explained that Sōgo Shihoin had traded his brains for his overwhelming strength, and Gremmy Thoumeaux realized why he had lost to him.
• Furious, Gremmy summoned a meteorite more than ten kilometers across and challenged the group to stop it.
• Ichigo unleashed Final Getsuga Tenshō and defeated Gremmy, then panted and lamented that his Soul Reaper journey and mission were over.

After Ichigo Kurosaki killed Gremmy Thoumeaux, Yhwach began another contest by sending Mask de Masculine against Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Mayuri summoned his zombie Espada to overwhelm Mask, whose miraculous recovery led Mayuri to order Kaname Tōsen to trap him in Bankai.

• Ichigo Kurosaki killed Gremmy Thoumeaux, and Yhwach regained the power of Schrift V, The Visionary.
• Sōgo Shihoin sent Mayuri Kurotsuchi to fight, and Yhwach chose Mask de Masculine as his opponent.
• Mask de Masculine summoned his cheering companion, but Mayuri argued that the contest's rules allowed him to summon fighters with his own ability.
• Mayuri brought out his zombie Espada, and they attacked Mask de Masculine together; a joint Cero pierced his abdomen.
• The bald boy cheered Mask de Masculine back to full health, so Mayuri ordered Kaname Tōsen to use Bankai, trapping Mask and his companion in Enma Kōrogi.
• Inside the darkness, Mask de Masculine lost most of his senses and felt several attackers cut him apart.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi defeated Mask de Masculine by using his Superhuman Drug to overwhelm Mask’s senses and thoughts, after which Yhwach reclaimed Mask’s power. Yhwach said he would evolve into the ultimate life-form before fighting Sōgo Shihoin, who mocked the idea by recalling that the last one had stopped thinking.

• Mask de Masculine repeatedly revived as his bald child companion cheered him on, eventually returning in a stronger form with several clones of the child.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi released Mask from Kaname Tōsen’s Bankai and injected him with the Superhuman Drug, making his mind process the world far faster than his body could respond.
• Mask found everything unbearably slow and boring until he stopped thinking, while his clones also fell silent.
• Yhwach declared Mayuri the winner and reclaimed Mask’s power in black mist.
• Mayuri mocked Yhwach’s offer to spare him, and Sōgo Shihoin taunted Yhwach as Yhwach announced he would become the ultimate life-form before their final battle.

Yhwach sent Loyd Lloyd, who could copy his appearance and powers, to fight the Soul Reapers, and Sōgo Shihoin ordered Baraggan to test him. Baraggan’s aging power overwhelmed Loyd Lloyd’s attacks, and the chapter ended with Baraggan sending his decay toward the fake Yhwach.

• Yhwach sent Loyd Lloyd to face the Soul Reapers after boasting about the coming battle.
• Loyd Lloyd transformed into Yhwach, and Sōgo Shihoin ordered Baraggan to confront him.
• Baraggan reluctantly stepped forward after Sōgo threatened him and warned Loyd Lloyd that death awaited him.
• Loyd Lloyd attacked with dark power, but Baraggan’s decay erased it.
• Baraggan revealed that he had awakened his aging power himself and called himself a god.
• Loyd Lloyd fired Reishi arrows, and Baraggan unleashed decay that aged the sky, Reishi, and space before surging toward him.

Baraggan defeated the false Yhwach, who exhausted his power and exploded, while the real Yhwach absorbed that power and chose Bambietta Basterbine to fight Lilynette. The chapter left the next battle about to begin, with Bambietta trying to stand her ground against Lilynette.

• Baraggan overwhelmed the false Yhwach with his decay power, and the false Yhwach unleashed his final power before exploding.
• Baraggan mocked the real Yhwach over his subordinate's demise, then returned to Sōgo Shihoin as Yhwach absorbed the fallen fighter's power.
• Yhwach named Bambietta Basterbine as the Quincy fighter for the next round, and Sōgo chose Lilynette to face her.
• Bambietta's Quincy companions watched and mocked her, while Sōgo reassured her and Shaoling Fon confronted him over his private thoughts.
• Yhwach announced the start of the match, and Lilynette taunted Bambietta as Bambietta prepared to fight back.

Lilynette and Bambietta held a swimsuit contest in Hawaii, with Sōgo Shihoin, Yhwach, and Kisuke Urahara judging. After Lilynette edged ahead with a surprise reveal, Retsu Unohana entered and won perfect scores, leaving Bambietta stunned.

• Bambietta proposed a contest of feminine charm instead of fighting, and Lilynette accepted after Sōgo Shihoin encouraged her.
• Sōgo Shihoin transported everyone to Hawaii and created a changing room stocked with swimsuits, while he, Yhwach, and Kisuke Urahara became judges.
• Bambietta earned high scores in a light-blue striped swimsuit, then Lilynette appeared in green and received lower scores.
• Lilynette slipped and revealed more, prompting the judges to raise her scores to tens and leaving Bambietta admitting she had underestimated her.
• Retsu Unohana appeared in a bikini and received three perfect scores of one hundred, then declared that everyone would lose to her in any swimsuit.

The Bleach world swimsuit contest turned into a standoff between Yhwach and Sōgo Shihoin, who agreed to let the remaining fighters decide the battle. After Tenjirō Kirinji killed Jerome Guizbatt in one strike, Shunsui Kyōraku faced Berenice Gabrielli, whose insults made the usually laid-back captain turn serious.

• Bambietta rallied the Female Sternritter, and the women from both sides joined the swimsuit contest as Sōgo Shihoin judged them.
• Yhwach rejected Sōgo Shihoin’s proposal to end the whole battle in a draw, but agreed that the girls would stop fighting and the others would decide the outcome.
• Yhwach sent Jerome Guizbatt to fight, and Sōgo Shihoin dispatched Tenjirō Kirinji, who cut Jerome down with one slash.
• Yhwach chose Berenice Gabrielli as his next fighter, and Sōgo Shihoin sent Shunsui Kyōraku to meet him.
• Berenice Gabrielli mocked Shunsui Kyōraku as a good-for-nothing old man, prompting Shunsui to release his Zanpakuto and vow to kill him.

Shunsui Kyōraku killed Berenice Gabrielli with Kageoni, and Yhwach used Auswählen to absorb the surviving Sternritter’s power and challenge Sōgo Shihoin. Sōgo accepted a one-on-one fight, and their swords clashed as the battle began.

• Shunsui Kyōraku used Kageoni to appear behind Berenice Gabrielli and behead him.
• Sōgo Shihoin told Yhwach that his knights were nearly defeated and urged him to give up his plan.
• Angered that Sōgo Shihoin did not take him seriously, Yhwach unleashed Auswählen and absorbed power from the surviving Sternritter.
• Yhwach announced his plan to merge the three realms and create a world without Hollows or Soul Reapers, then challenged Sōgo Shihoin and his knights.
• Sōgo Shihoin dismissed the knights and agreed to fight Yhwach alone.
• Yhwach drew a black katana, Sōgo Shihoin drew Sayafushi, and their weapons collided in a burst of energy.

Sōgo Shihoin confronted Yhwach after Yhwach claimed to be God, while the people Sōgo had saved watched and trusted him. Their swords clashed in a battle of rules, and Sōgo challenged Yhwach’s claim that he represented creation.

• Yhwach released the power of all twenty-six Schrifts, terrifying the Soul Reaper captains with his immense Spiritual Pressure.
• Shunsui Kyōraku questioned whether Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai could defeat Yhwach, while Shinji Hirako and Gin Ichimaru mocked Sōsuke Aizen for being weaker than him.
• Kenpachi Zaraki, Retsu Unohana, and other former Kenpachi longed to fight Yhwach, while Sōya Azashiro lamented that he could not help Sōgo Shihoin.
• Shaoling Fon worried about Sōgo, but Yoruichi Shihōin, Sanka Shihoin, Yushiro Shihōin, Lilynette, and Tier Harribel expressed confidence in him; Kaien Shiba, Kūkaku Shiba, Sōjun Kuchiki, and Kōga Kuchiki watched, alive thanks to Sōgo’s actions.
• Sōgo told Yhwach that no gods existed and that he was only part of the world, then swung his Zanpakuto at him.
• Yhwach blocked Sōgo’s sword and insisted that he created everything, but Sōgo challenged him to consider how many Quincies remained and accused him of bringing destruction.

Sōgo Shihoin and Yhwach clashed over their opposing visions for the world, while Sōgo realized Yhwach’s strength was part of a plan connected to the Soul King. Sōgo released Sayafushi and challenged Yhwach to begin the final battle, but Yhwach remained confident that victory was his.

• Sōgo Shihoin and Yhwach traded blows and argued about destruction, destiny, and the meaning of life.
• Yhwach declared that he wanted Soul Reapers, Hollows, and humans to live together, while Sōgo rejected his plan to return the world to one.
• Sōgo recognized that Yhwach’s power was being brought to the level needed to support the three realms as the new Soul King.
• Sōgo recited Yhwach’s abilities, then released his Bankai and called forth Sayafushi.
• Sōgo found that Sayafushi could not effectively damage Yhwach and accused him of lacking the Soul King’s resolve.
• Sōgo completed Sayafushi’s final release, and Yhwach declared that he would defeat him as the world’s final battle began.

Sōgo Shihoin defeated Yhwach by revealing a power that ruled the present, then explained how Yhwach would sustain the three realms and warned that Hell needed guarding. After the battle, the survivors discussed their duties and whether to conceal the Soul King's truth, leaving Sōgo Shihoin questioning the need for secrecy.

• Sōgo Shihoin unleashed his true Bankai and surpassed Yhwach, who realized he could only defeat Sōgo Shihoin in futures that would never become the present.
• Yhwach gave up fighting, declared he would wait for Sōgo Shihoin to be replaced, and stabbed himself with a Quincy blade.
• Sōgo Shihoin gathered the Five Great Noble Clans and explained that the world repeated its cycle, that Yhwach would sustain the three realms, and that Hell was nearing its limit.
• Sōgo Shihoin assigned the Tsunayashiro Clan to guard Hell and told Baraggan to manage Hueco Mundo, while he offered to keep Bambietta, Meninas McAllon, Candice, and Liltotto under the Second Division's watch.
• The Big-Eyed Monk asked everyone to hide the Soul King's condition and claim he remained alive in the Soul King Palace, but Sōgo Shihoin questioned the point of keeping the truth secret.

After the war, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai stepped down from the Gotei 13 and left to travel with Chōjirō Sasakibe, putting Shunsui Kyōraku in charge of rebuilding Soul Society’s forces. The new leadership took shape as Sajin Komamura also departed, leaving Tetsuzaemon Iba to lead the Seventh Division, while Sōgo Shihoin’s expanded Second Division became a major force.

• Sōgo Shihoin told Jūshirō Ukitake not to let the Soul King’s presence within him define his life, while Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku joined Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai for a private walk.
• The Big-Eyed Monk tried to recruit Kenpachi Zaraki and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi into Squad Zero, but both refused, and the other captains returned to the ruined Seireitei.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai ordered Shunsui Kyōraku to take over the Gotei 13 and accelerate training at Shin'ō Academy, then left Soul Society with Chōjirō Sasakibe.
• Sajin Komamura chose to return to the mountains, entrusted the Seventh Division to Tetsuzaemon Iba, and departed despite Iba’s misgivings.
• The Gotei 13’s new captain and lieutenant roster was established, while Sōgo Shihoin’s Second Division expanded its corps to include Fullbringers and the surviving Quincy under Aura Michibane and Bambietta.

Kūkaku Shiba decided to leave her post as captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division and appointed Rukia Kuchiki as her successor. Rukia underwent the captain's examination and revealed her Bankai, impressing the examiners.

• Kūkaku Shiba told Rukia Kuchiki she would become captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division, despite Rukia's doubts about being ready.
• Kūkaku Shiba learned that Ganju Shiba had mastered Shikai, found him recovering after Miyako beat him, and encouraged him not to give up.
• After a month of preparations, Rukia Kuchiki appeared before Byakuya Kuchiki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and Sōgo Shihoin for her captain's examination.
• Rukia Kuchiki released Sode no Shirayuki's Bankai, Hakka no Togame, and the examiners praised its beauty and power while Byakuya warned that it was dangerous to use.

Rukia Kuchiki passed her captain examination, and Sōgo Shihoin took Byakuya Kuchiki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya into secret training to strengthen their Shikai. After three months of fighting their Bankai spirits, both surpassed their former limits and regained Bankai stronger than before.

• Rukia Kuchiki passed her examination after Sōgo Shihoin, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and Byakuya Kuchiki approved her, and Kūkaku Shiba left to prepare her inauguration ceremony and banquet.
• Sōgo Shihoin explained how Byakuya Kuchiki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya could strengthen their Shikai, then used modified Quincy Medallions to seal their Bankai and summon Senbonzakura and Hyōrinmaru.
• Byakuya Kuchiki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya fought their Bankai spirits with only their Shikai, losing repeatedly as Sōgo Shihoin trained them.
• Over three months, Tōshirō Hitsugaya expanded his Shikai ice dragon to tens of thousands of meters, while Byakuya Kuchiki strengthened his Shikai until its sea of cherry blossoms overcame Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
• Byakuya Kuchiki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya defeated their Bankai spirits, regained their Bankai, and unleashed them with enough force to destroy Yoruichi Shihōin's secret training hall and send cherry blossoms raining across the Seireitei.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya returned to the Tenth Division and discovered the mess Rangiku Matsumoto had left behind, while Byakuya Kuchiki resumed his duties and welcomed Rukia Kuchiki’s promotion to captain. Byakuya agreed to arrange a grand banquet for Rukia and left to prepare it.

• Tōshirō Hitsugaya confronted Rangiku Matsumoto after finding the Tenth Division captain’s office full of neglected reports and empty sake bottles, and Rangiku tried to flee.
• Byakuya Kuchiki returned to the Sixth Division, praised Renji Abarai’s work, and gave him three days off to rest.
• Rukia Kuchiki and Ganju Shiba encountered Renji Abarai, who discovered his face was stained with ink and hurried away to wash.
• Rukia Kuchiki told Byakuya Kuchiki that Kuchiki Ginrei wanted a banquet for her captain promotion and asked for Byakuya’s opinion.
• Byakuya Kuchiki insisted the Kuchiki Clan celebrate Rukia’s promotion with a grand banquet and left to make preparations.

The Kuchiki Clan planned a grand banquet to celebrate Rukia Kuchiki becoming a captain, while its elders discussed strengthening the clan’s influence. At the gathering, Shunsui Kyōraku tried to uphold the rules but watched Sōgo Shihoin ignore them and enter without waiting.

• Kuchiki Ginrei, Sōjun Kuchiki, and Kōga Kuchiki agreed to let Rukia remain with the Thirteenth Division and hold a lavish celebration for her promotion.
• Shunsui Kyōraku explained to Nanao Ise that the Gotei 13 needed the Kuchiki Clan’s support to stabilize Soul Society, then told her not to expect special treatment.
• Sōgo Shihoin cut through the waiting line with Second Division squad leaders following him, and the Kuchiki steward welcomed him inside after reprimanding the guards.
• The Kuchiki steward recognized Shunsui Kyōraku and Nanao Ise and invited them into the banquet hall, where the noble clans and Gotei 13 captains had gathered.
• Shunsui Kyōraku lamented that he was the only one following the rules, and Sōgo Shihoin told him that rules were for people without power.

The Kuchiki Clan celebrated Rukia Kuchiki becoming captain, and Sōgo Shihoin praised the clan before Kisuke Urahara and the others arrived through a Senkaimon. Rukia received gifts from her friends, but her reunion with Ichigo Kurosaki was interrupted by Rurichiyo Kasumioji, who reminded him of their agreement to pose as a couple.

• Sōgo Shihoin gave a toast for Rukia Kuchiki’s promotion and congratulated the Kuchiki Clan on its Captain-level fighters.
• Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, Ichigo Kurosaki, and their companions arrived through a Senkaimon, whose technology Sōgo Shihoin identified as coming from Ōetsu Nimaiya.
• Rukia Kuchiki learned that Ichigo Kurosaki’s Spiritual Pressure had never truly been lost and heard Ichigo complain that Uryū Ishida had gained power from Yhwach.
• Orihime Inoue, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora Sado gave Rukia Chappy-themed gifts, while Ichigo Kurosaki gave her chocolates he had decorated himself.
• Rurichiyo Kasumioji grabbed Ichigo Kurosaki’s arm and reminded him to honor their agreement to pose as a couple at important occasions.
• Rukia Kuchiki asked Byakuya Kuchiki why he had invited Rurichiyo, and Kuchiki Ginrei explained that he had handled the invitations after Byakuya made a very short guest list.