Chapter Summaries

Sōgo Shihoin wandered Hueco Mundo in search of someone to talk to, then encountered the lonely Vasto Lorde Starrk. After Sōgo invited her to join his game, Starrk introduced herself as Lilynette Starrk.

• Sōgo Shihoin wandered Hueco Mundo, where his overwhelming spiritual pressure destroyed the Hollows he encountered.
• Sōgo opened Ōetsu Nimaiya’s bundle and found a Zanpakuto that absorbed Reishi and made food instead of the companion he had hoped for.
• Starrk reflected on how her immense power had left her isolated and had unintentionally killed those around her.
• Sōgo rolled an Adjuchas into a ball and hurled it into ten Gillians, destroying them and leaving the Adjuchas badly injured.
• Sōgo tried to speak with Starrk, and she eventually nodded and confirmed she understood him.
• Sōgo introduced himself and offered Starrk his hand, and she shook it and gave her name as Lilynette Starrk.

Sōgo Shihoin befriended Lilynette and offered to teach her and help her recover her memories. He convinced her to begin with Menos Grande Bowling, and they set off to find a ball-shaped Adjuchas.

• Sōgo Shihoin told Lilynette that he was not yet a Soul Reaper and would not kill Hollows, easing her fear that he might attack her.
• Sōgo Shihoin learned that Lilynette had removed her mask and remembered little beyond talking to herself while alone.
• Sōgo Shihoin gave Lilynette a shihakushō and named himself her teacher.
• Sōgo Shihoin proposed Menos Grande Bowling as a way to help Lilynette recover her memories.
• Sōgo Shihoin and Lilynette set out to find a ball-shaped Adjuchas to start their game.

Baraggan ordered Szayelaporro to warn Lilynette and her Soul Reaper companion to stay away from Las Noches. Elsewhere, Sōgo Shihoin trained with Lilynette and prepared hot pot, but realized he had no pot.

• A Vasto Lorde subordinate told Baraggan that Lilynette and her Soul Reaper companion had been killing Menos Grande and asked permission to attack them.
• Baraggan dismissed the subordinate’s threat and ordered Szayelaporro to forbid Lilynette and her companion from coming within a thousand li of Las Noches.
• Sōgo Shihoin praised Lilynette as she defeated several Menos Grande during their training.
• Sōgo Shihoin used Ōetsu’s food-making machine to produce ingredients for hot pot after Lilynette said she did not need food.
• Sōgo Shihoin realized he had forgotten to bring a pot.

Sōgo Shihoin and Lilynette shared Sichuan hot pot with the pink-haired Menos Grande, who introduced himself as Szayelaporro and became obsessed with Sōgo’s power. The chapter ended with Szayelaporro declaring Sōgo the ultimate life-form he had long sought and asking to study him.

• A pink-haired Menos Grande approached Sōgo Shihoin and Lilynette with an offer of a medicinal cauldron in exchange for seeing Sōgo’s matter-generating machine.
• Sōgo used the cauldron to cook spicy hot pot, and Lilynette and the Menos Grande eagerly ate with him.
• Sōgo learned that the Menos Grande was named Szayelaporro and that he had evolved to Vasto Lorde class through special means.
• Szayelaporro asked Sōgo how he had become so powerful, and Sōgo said he had been born that way.
• Szayelaporro asked to study Sōgo, then declared him the ultimate life-form he had been searching for.

Sōgo Shihoin, Szayelaporro, and Lilynette discussed how Hollows evolved and whether removing a mask made someone an Arrancar. Szayelaporro offered to help control their Spiritual Pressure, and Sōgo promised to take him and Lilynette to Soul Society if he succeeded.

• Sōgo Shihoin and Szayelaporro discussed how Lilynette's broken mask and Soul Reaper-like appearance suggested that Hollows and Soul Reapers shared an origin.
• Szayelaporro asked Lilynette how she became an Arrancar, and she explained that she removed her mask because it was heavy and frightened potential friends.
• Sōgo wondered whether Soul Reapers could evolve by putting on masks, and Szayelaporro agreed the idea was possible.
• Szayelaporro offered to conduct tests and make devices to help Sōgo and Lilynette control their Spiritual Pressure, requesting Sōgo's cooperation and hair.
• Sōgo promised to take Szayelaporro and Lilynette to Soul Society for entertainment if Szayelaporro solved their Spiritual Pressure problem.

Sōgo Shihoin and Lilynette disrupted the balance of Menos Grande hunting grounds, prompting Baraggan Louisenbairn to launch a war against the Soul Reapers in Hueco Mundo. After the attack reached the Gotei 13, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi volunteered to lead the response.

• Sōgo Shihoin and Lilynette spent months controlling wild Menos Grande, driving many into Las Noches and causing conflict over hunting grounds.
• Baraggan Louisenbairn ordered his forces to assemble for an expedition after the influx of Menos Grande disrupted the balance he had maintained.
• A Baraggan general led one Vasto Lorde, fifty-five Adjuchas, and countless Gillian to attack a Soul Reaper outpost near the Forest of Menos.
• The Menos Grande overwhelmed the outpost with Ceros and killed many Soul Reapers, while one dying Soul Reaper urged his comrades to warn the Gotei 13.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asked the captains how to respond to the uprising, and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi volunteered the 11th Division and received approval.

Haruko and the Soul Reapers in Hueco Mundo were overwhelmed by Menos Grande until Kuruyashiki Kenpachi and the Gotei 11th Division arrived and turned the battle around. After their victories forced the Hollows into hiding, a Vasto Lorde took command and confronted Kenpachi, who led his division into the attack.

• Haruko fled the Menos Grande assault, but an Adjuchas cornered her and prepared to eat her.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi killed the Adjuchas and led the Gotei 11th Division in driving back the Menos Grande.
• A month later, an Adjuchas reported the Soul Reapers’ victories to a Vasto Lorde serving under Baraggan, who decided to lead the Hollow army himself.
• Half a month later, the Vasto Lorde attacked the Soul Reapers with an army of Adjuchas and Gillian.
• Kenpachi charged the Hollow forces and told his men to divide the enemies among themselves while he faced the Vasto Lorde.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi fought Baraggan Louisenbairn’s Vasto Lorde general and revealed his Shikai after being wounded. He killed the general, and the Soul Reapers routed the remaining Menos Grande.

• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s Spiritual Pressure protected him from the Menos Grande’s attacks as he fought on the battlefield.
• A Vasto Lorde general serving Baraggan Louisenbairn wounded Kuruyashiki Kenpachi and mocked him before his subordinates.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi released his Zanpakuto’s Shikai, summoning monsters that devoured the Menos Grande and pinned the Vasto Lorde in place.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi killed the Vasto Lorde general, who called out Baraggan Louisenbairn’s name as he died.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi ordered the Soul Reapers to wipe out the remaining Menos Grande, and they fled as the 11th Division pursued them.

Baraggan approved Szayelaporro’s plan to invade Soul Society and assigned him the surviving Adjuchas. Meanwhile, Tier Harribel watched Sōgo Shihoin from afar, recalling how he had saved her three months earlier and inspired her to evolve.

• Baraggan threatened the surviving Adjuchas after hearing that Soul Reapers had defeated his forces and killed one of his generals.
• Szayelaporro defended the Adjuchas and offered to invade Soul Society to destroy a division of Soul Reapers.
• Baraggan approved Szayelaporro’s plan and allowed him to take the surviving Adjuchas as his troops.
• Tier Harribel watched Sōgo Shihoin and remembered how he had arrived three months earlier, killed the Adjuchas attacking her, and told her to work hard at evolving.
• Harribel began following Sōgo Shihoin from afar, feeling her lost emotions return as she watched him.

The Tenth Division marched to Kusajishi District to deal with what they believed were a few minor Hollows, but Szayelaporro and his forces ambushed and wiped out nearly the entire division. Szayelaporro escaped to Hueco Mundo with the captain and other Soul Reapers as captives, prompting Soul Society to launch an investigation.

• The Tenth Division captain led his members toward Kusajishi District to teach them the dangers of fighting Hollows, while Kuruyashiki Kenpachi offered help and then let them continue alone.
• Szayelaporro trapped the division, whose Spiritual Pressure was isolated, and attacked with more than a dozen Adjuchas; even the captain's Bankai could not defeat him.
• After sensing that his two bait Adjuchas had been killed, Szayelaporro retreated through a prepared Garganta with the still-living captain, while the Adjuchas carried away other Soul Reapers.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi arrived to find the Tenth Division's dead and dying members, and the division was reported wiped out apart from those who remained at its barracks.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and Squad Zero responded to the attack, and Tenjirō Kirinji descended to investigate.
• At his research base, Szayelaporro kept the captured Soul Reapers and planned to use them to perfect his evolution and help Lord Sōgo suppress his Spiritual Pressure.

Sōgo Shihoin, desperate for sunlight, set out with Lilynette to find Szayelaporro and asked Tier Harribel to guide them to Las Noches. Their arrival alarmed Baraggan and the surrounding Menos, while Szayelaporro mistakenly believed Sōgo had discovered his secret Soul Reaper research and was coming to punish him.

• Sōgo Shihoin decided to seek Szayelaporro’s help after complaining that he had gone over a year without sunlight.
• Tier Harribel appeared and offered to guide Sōgo and Lilynette to Las Noches, where Baraggan and Szayelaporro lived.
• Sōgo promised Harribel hot pot, and the three traveled across the desert toward Las Noches as nearby Menos watched in fear.
• An evolving Adjuchas and his companions predicted upheaval and discussed preparing to leave Baraggan’s territory.
• Baraggan sensed the trio’s Spiritual Pressure, rose from his seat, and prepared to confront them.
• Szayelaporro panicked in his laboratory, wrongly assuming Sōgo had discovered his Soul Reaper research and come to kill him.

Sōgo Shihoin asked Szayelaporro to help brighten Hueco Mundo, and learned that Baraggan Louisenbairn would have to approve the plan. Sōgo and his companions entered Baraggan’s palace and faced the king, who demanded a reason for their arrival.

• Szayelaporro hid the Soul Reaper specimens and the unconscious Tenth Division captain inside Angel as Sōgo Shihoin arrived.
• Sōgo asked Szayelaporro about his Spiritual Pressure research and proposed building a sun for Las Noches.
• Szayelaporro suggested building a painted luminous ceiling instead, explaining that Baraggan Louisenbairn hated bright things and would need to be persuaded.
• Sōgo, Lilynette, and Tier Harribel headed to Baraggan’s palace while Szayelaporro stayed behind to clean up his laboratory.
• The three entered Baraggan’s hall, where Baraggan identified himself and threatened them unless they gave a suitable reason for trespassing.

Sōgo Shihoin challenged Baraggan Louisenbairn to test whether Baraggan’s decay ability could harm him. Baraggan’s power failed against Sōgo, who revealed overwhelming Spiritual Pressure, leaving the King of Hueco Mundo stunned.

• Lilynette and Tier Harribel confronted Baraggan, who declared that his Decay made him a god and the rightful ruler of Hueco Mundo.
• Sōgo Shihoin approached Baraggan despite the warnings from Lilynette and Tier Harribel, and explained that Soul Reaper was a profession rather than a race.
• Sōgo proposed that Baraggan serve him for a hundred years if Baraggan’s ability could not hurt him, while promising to submit if it could.
• Baraggan grasped Sōgo’s palm and used Disappear, but his decay ability had no effect.
• Sōgo removed his blindfold and revealed Spiritual Pressure greater than Baraggan’s, leaving Baraggan overwhelmed and bewildered.

Sōgo Shihoin spent decades enjoying Hueco Mundo while Baraggan guarded its sunlight and Szayelaporro pursued research into Arrancar transformation. Fifty years later, Sōgo sensed he would soon surpass the limits of a Soul Reaper, while Szayelaporro prepared to return to Soul Society for more research.

• Sōgo Shihoin called Baraggan “Little Skull” and asked him to help guard Hueco Mundo’s sunlight.
• A month later, Sōgo relaxed beneath artificial sunlight while Lilynette questioned his use of an umbrella and Tier Harribel took notes on his remarks.
• Szayelaporro told Sōgo that Baraggan had secluded himself to watch the moon and left his palace in Szayelaporro’s care.
• Alone, Baraggan studied a strand of Sōgo’s hair and found that it did not age, while keeping the sky canopy device nearby.
• Over the next fifty years, Sōgo built a luxurious water park with Szayelaporro’s help, and Szayelaporro and Tier Harribel became Arrancar.
• Sōgo said he was close to surpassing Soul Reaper limits, while Szayelaporro defended his slow research and planned another trip to Soul Society.

Szayelaporro lured Soul Reapers to a Hollow attack in Kusajishi District, hoping to capture Kuruyashiki Kenpachi as research material. Kuruyashiki fought through the Menos Grande and spotted Szayelaporro escaping through a Garganta, then attacked him.

• Szayelaporro sent ordinary Hollows to attack souls in Kusajishi District and watched from hiding.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi led the 11th Division to the district, leaving his lieutenant and ten Soul Reapers behind.
• Kuruyashiki ordered his subordinates to rescue civilians, then faced five or six Adjuchas and dozens of modified Gillians.
• Haruhiko saw Kuruyashiki surrounded and fled to report back to the lieutenant.
• Kuruyashiki released Garōgairō and overwhelmed the Menos Grande, while Szayelaporro opened a Garganta to retreat.
• Kuruyashiki spotted Szayelaporro, threw an Adjuchas into the Garganta, and attacked him.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi defeated the Menos Grande attack after Szayelaporro injected him with an unknown substance and escaped. As the captains joined the 11th Division’s celebration, Sōya Azashiro arrived and challenged Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, who accepted.

• Szayelaporro stabbed Kuruyashiki Kenpachi with a syringe, injected him with an unknown substance, and fled through a Garganta.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi recovered and helped the 11th Division defeat the remaining Menos Grande.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and Retsu Unohana arrived in Kusajishi District and joined Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s victory banquet.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi discussed the escaped Vasto Lorde and Soul Society’s strength with Shunsui Kyōraku and Retsu Unohana.
• Sōya Azashiro challenged Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, who accepted and stood to fight him.

Sōya Azashiro challenged Kuruyashiki Kenpachi and used his released Zanpakuto to seize control of the fight, critically wounding him. Kuruyashiki survived and accepted defeat, naming Azashiro the Eighth Kenpachi and new captain of the 11th Division.

• Sōya Azashiro accepted Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s invitation to fight outside while Shunsui Kyōraku and Retsu Unohana watched.
• Sōya revealed that he had already released his Zanpakuto, weakening Kuruyashiki’s Spiritual Pressure and disrupting his control.
• Kuruyashiki released Garōgairō, but Sōya stopped the summoned monsters and struck him with wind blades that tore open his chest.
• Sōya collapsed from exhaustion, and the 11th Division members drew their Zanpakuto in anger as they believed Kuruyashiki had died.
• Kuruyashiki stopped his division members and declared that Sōya had defeated him, naming him Azashiro Kenpachi, the new captain of the 11th Division.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi lost the Kenpachi challenge to Sōya Azashiro and appeared to die, but the Vasto Lorde substance inside him transformed him into a Soul Reaper-Hollow hybrid. He entered Hueco Mundo and confronted Szayelaporro in his laboratory.

• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi refused to use Bankai, entrusted the 11th Division and his lieutenant to Sōya Azashiro, and urged him never to hold back in a Kenpachi challenge.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi said farewell to the 11th Division and walked away as his Spiritual Pressure disappeared, prompting Soul Society to believe he had died in the challenge.
• A strange white substance emerged from Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's chest and covered him, transforming him into a confused Menos Grande who wanted to kill Szayelaporro.
• The Stealth Force reported that Kuruyashiki Kenpachi had taken a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande down with him.
• Szayelaporro recalled refining the Vasto Lorde into liquid and injecting it into Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, then watched the transformed Kenpachi emerge from a Garganta inside his laboratory.

Szayelaporro’s experiment fused Kuruyashiki Kenpachi with a Menos Grande, creating a powerful Hollowfied creature that nearly killed him. Sōgo Shihoin saved Szayelaporro and confronted the creature, whose transformation supported Sōgo’s theory about how Hollows and Soul Reapers evolved.

• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s fused form fired a Cero that destroyed Szayelaporro’s laboratory and badly wounded him.
• Szayelaporro tried to retreat, but Kuruyashiki Kenpachi appeared beside him, severed his arm, and blasted him across the desert.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi prepared another Cero against Szayelaporro, but Sōgo Shihoin appeared and blocked the attack.
• Sōgo kicked Kuruyashiki Kenpachi away, while Tier Harribel questioned Szayelaporro about the experiment.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi rose again and faced Sōgo, who observed his form and reflected on how Hollows and Soul Reapers evolved.

Sōgo Shihoin fought Hollowfied Kuruyashiki Kenpachi and continued beating him for a week after discovering his High-Speed Regeneration. The Hollow mask receded, leaving Kuruyashiki Kenpachi alive but amnesiac, unable to recognize himself or the others.

• Sōgo Shihoin crushed Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s Cero, punched him away, and blasted him with Hadō #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi attacked Sōgo Shihoin from behind, but Sōgo severed his sword arm before Kuruyashiki regenerated it.
• Sōgo Shihoin discovered Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s High-Speed Regeneration and began pummeling him without pause.
• Sōgo Shihoin kept beating Kuruyashiki Kenpachi for a week, occasionally having Lilynette and Tier Harribel join in for practice.
• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi’s pale covering receded, and the revealed man asked Sōgo Shihoin, Lilynette, and Tier Harribel where he was and who he was.