Fall of the Seireitei

 is an event taking place during the Quincy Blood War, focusing on the Wandenreich's first proper invasion of the Seireitei and the carnage they inflict upon the Gotei 13, who struggle to overcome their powerful new foes.

Prelude
With 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki nervously pacing back and forth in the room that she and the other lieutenants are gathered in for the duration of the current captains meeting, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai tells her to relax since her nervousness will not make the meeting end any sooner, and when Rukia protests this, Renji questions if he is wrong, prompting Rukia to counter that he cannot expect her to relax when they are in a crisis.

Suddenly, 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira requests the attention of his fellow lieutenants for a matter he wanted to discuss while they are all gathered here and asserts that their invasion by a rebel army, the mass disappearances of Hollows, and the sudden disappearances of Rukongai villagers are all connected to one thing, only to reveal that the Twelfth Division's report claims that the Rukongai disappearances are unconnected to the first two incidents and attributes it to a quarrel among the villagers, which led to the investigation quickly being called off despite the disappearances continuing to this day.

Noting that he wanted to discuss this with the lieutenants because it does not make sense, Izuru asks them if any of them have investigated areas of the Rukongai past the fiftieth district, prompting 11th Division Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi to confirm that 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa went to Sabitsura despite 8th Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise wondering why this matters. In response to Izuru inquiring about what Ikkaku and Yumichika found, Yachiru admits that there were only footprints concentrated in one spot and suddenly disappearing as everyone else found, which led them to believe the villagers fought each other since there were no Hollow tracks, but Izuru clarifies that he wants to know what type of footprints they found, leading Yachiru to inform him that it was bare feet and sandals.

Izuru observes that this lines up with his suspicions and explains that a study of the Rukongai found that the standard of living drops drastically just outside of the fiftieth district, with the last 550 years of statistics indicating that not a single villager has been found wearing sandals outside of the fifty-ninth district, causing Izuru to conclude that any sandal prints found in Sabitsura should belong to Shinigami. After musing that he thought it was strange of the SRDI's Reishi Investigation Unit to not be accompanying this kind of investigation, Izuru turns to 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi, whom he asks about what her captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, is hiding, though Nemu declines to answer. When Izuru promises to report this to Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Nemu asserts that he may do as he pleases since there is no way Mayuri would do anything wrong.

Simultaneously, in Silbern, Yhwach is informed of Ichigo Kurosaki entering Hueco Mundo and battling Quilge Opie, prompting him to decide to move out and explain to his unnerved subordinate that they will be invading Soul Society, since Quilge keeping Ichigo occupied for some time means there is no better opportunity to begin the invasion than now even if he does not know why the latter entered Hueco Mundo, before ordering that the Sternritter be alerted to the invasion's commencement. During this, in his damaged office in the First Division barracks in the Seireitei, Yamamoto stands before Mayuri, who confirms that he made the decision to mobilize the Twelfth Division to expunge 28,000 Souls living in the Rukongai in order to correct the balance of Souls. In turn, Yamamoto inquires about why Mayuri did not request permission since he would have received it in such a dire situation, which prompts Mayuri to assert that the recent spate of Hollow disappearances in the Human World was enacted by the Wandenreich to intentionally disrupt the balance between the realms.

Mayuri claims the loss of the Rukongai villagers is not significant when weighed against stabilizing the two worlds, with an escalation of the situation that could have occurred while he was waiting for permission being something he could not take responsibility for. Though Yamamoto counters that the SRDI could have prevented this entire situation by reporting the matter and promptly dealing with it much earlier than they did, Mayuri declares that Yamamoto is wrong and reminds the latter of how he warned Yamamoto of this possibility when Uryū infiltrated the Seireitei as a Ryoka, though Yamamoto disregarded this, prior to angrily concluding that everything which has transpired falls on Yamamoto for his failure to kill Yhwach 1,000 years ago.

The Invasion Commences
In Silbern, the Sternritter are relayed an order from Yhwach to equip themselves and assemble at the Gate of the Sun immediately to commence their invasion of Soul Society, where Jugram Haschwalth stands at the forefront. Moments later, Yhwach stands calmly in the air above the Seireitei. Down below, Ryūnosuke Yuki and Shino Madarame are angrily ordered to find their post with 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru by another Shinigami, leading them to frantically run off as Shino chastises Yuki for taking so long in the bathroom. As they run, Yuki brings up the question of why they have to fight the Quincy.

When an incredulous Shino reminds him that the Wandenreich declared war on them, Shino clarifies that he is asking about the reason that Shinigami and Quincy are at odds with each other to begin with when they share the goal of destroying Hollows. With the two of them coming to a halt, Kajōmaru approaches them and muses that the rumor about the Shin'ō Academy leaving such things out of their classes was true after all. Though an awestruck Shino bows to him and apologizes for being late to deploy, Kajōmaru assures her that it is alright and notes that they have time to talk since the alarms have not rung yet.

Kajōmaru notes that the biggest difference between Shinigami and Quincy lies in the way they dispose of Hollows, with Shinigami cleansing their Souls and sending them to Soul Society while Quincy kill Hollows and completely extinguish their Souls. Once Yuki confirms that he is aware of the Shinigami previously being called Balancers, Kajōmaru explains that this indicates the essence of a Shinigami's job because the Souls that exist in the Human World and Soul Society are evenly distributed at all times while remaining separated by the Dangai so they do not come into contact with each other and potentially cause the collapse of the two worlds.

Kajōmaru details how they both send Souls to the Human World from Soul Society as living organisms and guide dead Souls to Soul Society without discrimination, which allows them to keep an eye on the total number of Souls and adjust the balance with the Human World accordingly, but observes that Quincy disrupted the balance by destroying Souls that became Hollows so they cannot return to Soul Society, leading to the number of Souls increasing only in the Human World until the equilibrium eventually falls apart and Soul Society flows into the Human World to destroy both realms completely, leaving Yuki and Shino alarmed by this concept.

After recounting how the Shinigami had approached the Quincy for a dialogue in order to prevent this destruction, only to be rejected each time, Kajōmaru reveals that this eventually led to the Quincy extermination being carried out 200 years ago to prevent the encroaching destruction of the world after endless debate within Soul Society and continued conflicts with the Quincy themselves. After observing that their goals do not mesh and the grudge born of that genocide will never fade, Kajōmaru concludes that the Shinigami and Quincy have no choice other than fighting and asks Yuki if he understands, though Yuki insists that he has a single question to ask.

When Yuki questions if the Shinigami are fighting for the sake of justice, Kajōmaru observes that self-defense or conquest take place when one side is justice, but muses that this war is occurring because both sides are just. Moments later, Kajōmaru notices Yuki sweating in a battle stance and assures him that there is no need to be so tense, since most of the damage from the last incursion occurring near the Black Ridge Gate means that the enemy should enter through the gates, which will allow them to receive word from one of the gates when this happens. However, Yhwach merely notes that this makes sense while standing in the air above the assembled Shinigami, prompting a startled Kajōmaru to assure the startled Shinigami that Yhwach cannot do anything to them while outside the Shakonmaku.

Despite this, a terrified Yuki points out that Yhwach is already inside the Shakonmaku just before several gigantic Reishi pillars erupt behind Kajōmaru and across the Seireitei, causing Yhwach to muse that conflict is a bitter affair.

Gotei 13 vs. The Wandenreich
6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki watches his subordinates rush past in confusion while Nanao, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi, Izuru, and Renji look outside in astonishment at the pillars. As Kajōmaru realizes that these are pillars of blue fire instead of light, 13th Division 3rd Seats Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu express disbelief at the Reishi density and sheer number of the pillars prior to Rukia running past them and declaring that she is headed toward the base of the pillars due to the high likelihood that the enemy leaders should be there, leaving Sentarō and Kiyone to look at each other. Simultaneously, in the wreckage of his office, Yamamoto asserts that he is stepping out and tasks 1st Division 3rd Seat Genshirō Okikiba with guarding the barracks, which the latter affirms. Near the Third Division barracks, Izuru stands before one of the pillars alongside his subordinates.

When Izuru asks the SRDI technician behind him about how much longer his analysis will take, the technician apologetically explains that the sheer density of the Reishi is making his instruments malfunction. Upon being asked by Izuru if he believes the enemy is in the pillars too, 3rd Division 3rd Seat Rikū Togakushi confirms that he cannot think of anywhere else they would be as 6th Seat Asuka Katakura insults 5th Seat Taketsuna Gori for claiming to be bored about this. Suddenly, the technician announces that he has detected a Reiatsu within the pillar and concludes that it is a Quincy, alerting those present. Once he sees Bazz-B's silhouette within the pillar, Izuru orders his subordinates to attack, but a beam of fire blasts out of the pillar and between the other Shinigami to punch through a shocked Izuru, leaving a large hole in the side of his torso and severing his right arm.

Alarmed by this while Izuru collapses, Rikū admonishes Bazz-B for performing such a dishonorable surprise attack and has Taketsuna and Asuka release their respective Shikai, Shunjin, Katakage, and Mogaribue to confront Bazz-B themselves. However, this is interrupted when Bazz-B rushes forward and slams his fists into Asuka and Taketsuna's heads, driving them into and crushing them against the pavement, before quickly killing a stunned Rikū as well. With the other Shinigami fleeing in terror at the sight of this, Bazz-B lowers his hood and apologetically proclaims that they have been ordered to kill everyone while Driscoll Berci, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Robert Accutrone, Bambietta Basterbine, and Äs Nödt emerge from their own pillars. Above them, Haschwalth tells the mobilizing Gotei 13 to tremble because the Sternritter are about to purge them.

Within the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, a researcher informs 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon that even though they have detected enemy Reiatsu in sixteen locations across the Seireitei, Reiatsu belonging to Shinigami is disappearing in locations where they have not detected any invaders, with the likely reason being that the technicians accompanying them were killed before they could transmit their findings. Learning that the Reiatsu of Izuru and three of his seated officers have disappeared and that 86 Shinigami have been killed in the western districts, Akon is left speechless at the Gotei 13 sustaining over 1,000 casualties in the first seven minutes of the invasion and expresses disbelief that they could ever win this battle.

In front of the Third Division barracks, a Jigokuchō flies to Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, who stands over several dead Shinigami and acknowledges the information relayed to him about the disappearing Reiatsu of Izuru, three seated officers, and 27 other Shinigami. Across from Rose, NaNaNa Najahkoop notes that this did not seem like good news and inquires about whether someone died. Though Rose questions if there is a reason to answer this, a grinning NaNaNa elaborates that Bazz-B landed near Rose's subordinates and messed up if he left any of them alive. However, Rose counters that it is not artful to find faults among one's comrades like this.

Looking at his Zanpakutō, Rose muses that he always gets flashes of inspiration from looking at Izuru and recalls that simply holding a guitar near him causes melodies to flow out like tears, meaning that he and his guitar would be devastated if Izuru were gone. In turn, NaNaNa admits that he does not understand art and promises Rose that he and his guitar will not get the chance to cry because he will be dead in five minutes, but Rose merely notes that NaNaNa really does not understand art and explains that he is already crying from the deaths of so many of his subordinates before warning NaNaNa that he should not expect to make it out of here alive.

Meanwhile, at the Sixth Division barracks, several Shinigami are impaled on the Reishi Thorns of Äs as others nearby wonder why none of their attacks are working and why the dying Shinigami on the thorns are screaming in terror. Upon seeing his comrades fleeing, one of the Shinigami desperately asks them to come back because they are to protect the Seireitei with their lives rather than save themselves and closes his eyes as he confronts Äs alone. Suddenly, Renji embeds his Shikai, Zabimaru, in the ground between them and praises the Shinigami for his proclamation. With the Shinigami relieved to see him, Renji promises to take over from here.

During this, at the Seventh Division barracks, Bambietta Basterbine cuts several Shinigami in half with her Reishi Sword prior to being stopped when Captain Sajin Komamura grabs her wrist and is left aghast by a young girl fighting for the Wandenreich, though Bambietta counters that Soul Society must be seriously understaffed if they promoted a dog to captain. Across the Seireitei, Driscoll confronts Hisagi while 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku approaches Robert. Elsewhere, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng sees BG9 around a corner, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake is confronted by a black-haired Sternritter, and 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya glares at Cang Du, who stands on a wall opposite him. Back at the Sixth Division barracks, Renji repeatedly attacks Äs with extending strikes of Zabimaru, only for Äs to effortlessly block them without injury using his Blut Vene-enhanced skin.

Just as Renji notices Äs's veins glowing blue whenever he blocks a strike and decides to speed up his attacks after questioning if it is a unique ability or one that all Quincy possess, Mask De Masculine comes down on him from above. When Renji leaps away at the last second, leaving him to punch the ground, Mask follows him into the air, only for 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki to intercept Mask's next strike with his Shikai, Senbonzakura, to Renji and Mask's surprise. Calmly approaching them, Byakuya asserts that there is no reason for Renji to hold back because the Wandenreich wishes to destroy the Seireitei, which means that Renji should be cutting them down with everything he has got.

Desperate Situation: Stolen Bankai
At the Blue Stream Gate, Haschwalth approaches Kajōmaru and the other Shinigami stationed nearby. When Kajōmaru promises to stop him, Haschwalth permits him and the other Shinigami to run since none of them are worth the time of the Sternritter, and when Kajōmaru is offended by this mockery, Haschwalth observes Kajōmaru is so overcome by fear that he has subconsciously shifted the matter from life and death to restraining Haschwalth, only to declare the war has already begun. With Kajōmaru screaming and rushing toward him, Haschwalth vertically bisects the former with his sword, causing his blood to splatter across the ground.

Back at the Sixth Division barracks, with Renji insisting that he was not showing holding back or pity, Byakuya responds to Äs attempting to move by surrounding the latter's hand with Senbonzakura and ordering him not to do so, and when Renji warns Byakuya that their swords cannot cut the skin of the Sternritter, Byakuya denies this being possible and intensifies his assault, causing a startled Äs's hand to be cut in several areas despite his Blut Vene. Once Mask runs over to Äs in confusion and concern, Byakuya suggests that he not make any sudden movements either while destroying the floor beneath Mask with Senbonzakura, causing the latter to fall through the hole into the building below as he screams in alarm. After Byakuya explains that he weakened the floor so this would happen when it was stepped on and asserts that this battle is now two against one, Äs attacks him with a Reishi Thorn, but Byakuya quickly destroys it by swirling Senbonzakura around himself and attempts to surround Äs with it as well.

In turn, a smiling Äs activates Blut Vene across his entire body and repels the blade petals. Reforming his sword and cutting through more Reishi Thorns fired at him, Byakuya leaps into the air as Renji wraps Zabimaru around a distracted Äs, allowing Byakuya to fire a stream of blade petals directly at Äs' head. However, Byakuya and Renji are shocked when Äs emerges from this unharmed, having used Blut Vene to protect even his eyes from the blade petals. With Äs freeing himself from Zabimaru and creating more Reishi Thorns, a solemn Byakuya reforms his sword and assumes a combat stance.

During this, Bambietta evades a powerful downward slash from Komamura and kicks a Reishi bomb at him from the air, only to smirk despite Komamura cutting it in two once it explodes regardless. Emerging unharmed from the resulting cloud of smoke while Iba, expresses concern for him, Komamura jumps into the air and clashes with Bambietta, where he growls while the latter grins fiercely. Simultaneously, Cang shatters a wall of ice created by Hitsugaya with his Reishi Claws. Upon deflecting Cang's subsequent strike with the claws and slashing at his neck, Hitsugaya is startled to see his blade stopped with a metallic clang prior to being kicked back by Cang.

However, Hitsugaya informs Cang that he can no longer use his arm, causing Cang to look down to see his right arm being encased by ice growing along it, and sternly declares that he has no intention of holding back with so many of his comrades killed, only for Cang to tap his foot twice on the ground, rush forward, and slam his arm against Hitsugaya's Zanpakutō, destroying part of the ice while his skin below takes on a steely hue and remains unharmed as a surprised Hitsugaya is thrown through a wall by the impact, with him staring out of the resulting hole and gripping his Zanpakutō as Rangiku calls out to him in concern.

Meanwhile, at the Second Division barracks, Suì-Fēng attempts to stab BG9 with her Shikai, Suzumebachi, but is stunned when she is unable to do so. With a tendril emerging from within BG9's cloak and whipping toward her, Suì-Fēng leaps into the air and is cut on her cheek by it despite her efforts to evade the tendril, which prompts her to smear the blood with her thumb and smile. Back at the Sixth Division barracks, Renji sees Byakuya turn his Zanpakutō over in his hands to point it toward the ground, which leads him to question if Byakuya intends to use his Bankai and remind the latter of Chōjirō Sasakibe's report that the Wandenreich can seal away Bankai.

In response, Byakuya asserts that the despicable Sternritter are the ones responsible for Chōjirō's death and for causing bloodshed in the Seireitei without warning in addition to being opponents that they cannot defeat without Bankai. Simultaneously, Komamura instructs his lieutenant, Tetsuzaemon Iba, to observe how Bambietta seals his Bankai because discovering a way to break the seal will be the key to winning this battle, with Hitsugaya telling his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, that he will be using it close to her so she can fight with him and discover a way to break the seal once it is sealed, though Suì-Fēng muses to her lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, that there will be no problem if they dispose of their opponents before their Bankai are sealed. However, when Byakuya, Komamura, Suì-Fēng, and Hitsugaya activate their respective Bankai, Äs, Bambietta, BG9, and Cang use their individual Medallions to absorb those Bankai, causing Byakuya to realize they were stolen rather than sealed. Suì-Fēng is left aghast, Iba demands to know what this is, and Rangiku wonders what just happened while Marechiyo is left speechless. As Hitsugaya stares down in shock and Renji expresses disbelief, a stunned Komamura looks up at the sky and realizes that his Bankai is gone.

Begging Hyōrinmaru to say something to him and receiving no response, Hitsugaya falls to his knees in despair, but when Rangiku expresses concern for him, Hitsugaya questions what she is doing and orders Rangiku toto tell the rest of the captains to not use their Bankai because the Sternritter can steal them, prompting Rangiku to cut open her thumb, draw a sigil along her arm, and initiate '''Bakudō #77. Tenteikūra''' to relay this to the other captains across the Seireitei by connecting to their minds. Upon learning of this, 9th Division Captain Kensei Muguruma is left aghast and 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki is startled.

Elsewhere, Rose is shocked that Bankai can be stolen, Ukitake closes his eyes in sorrow, 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako angrily wonders what his fellow captains are doing, 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana observes that three other captains have had their Bankai stolen, and Mayuri angrily slams his fist against a wall while berating the captains for not waiting until his analysis was completed as Yamamoto leaps away. During this, Shunsui observes that they are fortunate because while Mayuri can usually devise a solution to any problem within a day given enough information, he severely lacks information this time.

With Shunsui concluding that the Gotei 13 had no idea of when they would learn what the abilities of the Wandenreich are, which means that someone would eventually need to become a sacrifice because they cannot win without their Bankai. In turn, Robert dashes toward Shunsui with Hirenkyaku, shoots off his hat, and evades Shunsui's counterattack by activating his Quincy: Vollständig, Grimaniel, before reappearing behind Shunsui and shooting out his right eye. With blood dripping from his socket, Shunsui admits that he is more disturbed than he thought despite his attempt to put on a brave face and asserts that this is a problem.

Simultaneously, at the Blue Stream Gate, a horrified Shino kneels beside Kajōmaru's corpse and screams his name as Yuki and several other Shinigami stand speechless behind her. Above them, when Haschwalth asks him what should be done since this unit seems to have already lost its will to fight, Royd Lloyd, who has copied Yhwach's appearance and memories with The Yourself to impersonate him, decides to leave it up to Haschwalth and explains that he can spare the Shinigami if he believes they will be better off that way, which Haschwalth acknowledges. Back at the Sixth Division barracks, Renji attempts to activate his Bankai as well, but a shaken Byakuya stops him and insists that they must not lose Renji's Bankai to the enemy as well, only for Renji to look back at him and frantically demand to know how they are supposed to fight the Sternritter otherwise.

As several dozen more Shinigami are cut down across the Seireitei, Akon presses his trembling fist against the monitor relaying this to him and demands that the other technicians put him in contact with Ichigo Kurosaki. Though a nearby technician brings up how they will need Mayuri's permission for this, Akon counters that Mayuri is on the front lines and vows to take responsibility for this.

Attack on the S.R.D.I.
The technicians rush to connect their communication circuit to Ichigo through his Substitute Shinigami Badge at Akon's request, only for one of them to pause in confusion and explain to Akon that the badge is in the Human World while Ichigo is not, with the latter's Reishi trail pointing to Hueco Mundo. While the other technicians express bewilderment at this, Akon learns that the Substitute Shinigami Badge is at the Urahara Shop and is likely underground due to the spiritual interference they are receiving while locating it, which allows him to deduce that Kisuke Urahara is with Ichigo and leads Akon to request that they connect him to Urahara instead as the technicians do so.

Shortly afterward, in Hueco Mundo, Urahara is contacted on his Denreishinki and cheerfully greets Akon while questioning how things are going over there, with Akon quickly becoming aggravated by Urahara's casual tone as Hiyosu notes to Rin Tsubokura that only Urahara and Mayuri can do this to Akon. However, when Akon urgently requests that Urahara hand the Denreishinki to Ichigo, Urahara states that this is not possible and informs him that Ichigo is currently fighting Quilge Opie, a Quincy who claims to be the captain of a hunting army, to the surprise of Akon and the other technicians. Internally, Akon expresses disbelief at Ichigo learning that the Quincy were operating out of Hueco Mundo and heading there before the Gotei 13 could before admitting that he did not expect the latter to be this unpredictable despite knowing of his reputation.

When asked by Akon about the situation, Urahara observes that they are about even, but corrects himself and states that Ichigo is actually winning, to Akon's surprise. With Quilge's Medallion still failing to steal Ichigo's Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, and Ichigo handily overpowering a frustrated Quilge, Urahara relays to Akon that Quilge's attempts to seal Tensa Zangetsu are not working, to the shock of those listening, before revealing that he knows Soul Society has been invaded and that Akon contacting him must mean the situation is very dire, which is why he wants to know how things are going over there.

Shortly afterward, once Ichigo inadvertently goads Quilge into activating Blut Arterie and dropping his defenses, Urahara punches a hole in his torso with Kidō, causing Quilge to collapse, and stands on a rocky outcropping behind Ichigo while thanking the latter for disrupting Quilge's defensive Reishi long enough for him to deal a fatal blow. Tossing the Denreishinki to Ichigo, Urahara informs him that they have an emergency and that he must head to Soul Society through the nearby Garganta with Akon filling him in, which prompts Ichigo to raise the Denreishinki to his ear as Akon asks him to listen without giving in to despair.

While Hiyosu tells the other technicians in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute to relay Ichigo escaping Hueco Mundo and heading toward Soul Society to the Riteitai so they can inform the Gotei 13 of this, Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue approach Urahara with Nel Tu, leading Urahara to ask them to retrieve the Medallion from Quilge's corpse and respond to Orihime wondering where Ichigo is by telling her that he is headed to Soul Society and promising to explain the situation later. Back in the SRDI, Rin mentally and tearfully asserts that everything will be alright with Ichigo coming to save them.

Simultaneously, in the Garganta, Ichigo learns of the Gotei 13's heavy losses from Akon, who assures him that the fatalities do not include Rukia or Renji. Akon elaborates that there at least sixteen individuals within the enemy ranks who possess Reiryoku greater than or equal to a Gotei 13 captain who are called the Sternritter, with this faction having sustained zero losses and not lost once to the Gotei 13 so far. With Ichigo wondering what their abilities are, Akon notes that they have not received any information other than that they are Quincy, but reveals that they possess the ability to take possession of a Shinigami's Bankai. Though Ichigo refuses to believe this, Urahara suddenly joins the call to provide Ichigo with information on the enemy by compiling data collected from Ichigo's earlier battle on a portable holographic computer and asserting that the Quincy of the Wandenreich have three main abilities which they use in combat.

Detailing these as the Quincy: Vollständig that obliquely augments their appearances and combat abilities, the Blut that allows them to pump Reishi directly into their veins and enhance either their offensive or defensive capabilities without being able to use both at once, and the Bankai-stealing Medallions that do not work on Tensa Zangetsu for an unknown reason, Urahara theorizes that the Wandenreich was waiting to attack until Ichigo was stuck in Hueco Mundo and is being more cautious of him than of anyone else, which is exactly why he should go to Soul Society. With Urahara concluding that this is a dangerous battle and promising to follow Ichigo shortly, Ichigo agrees to be careful. However, Ichigo and Urahara's conversation is interrupted when Quilge, having forced his body to move with Ransōtengai, seals Ichigo inside the Garganta with The Jail so he cannot reach Soul Society.

Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, several Riteitai move out as one of them informs Rin that they will be placing a Tsūdentō at each battlefield and retreating since conveying a lengthy message to the captains currently in combat is currently impossible before instructing Rin to send the message directly once the Tsūdentō are in place, which Rin affirms. With Tsūdentō being thrown into the ground and walls near the captains, lieutenants, and seated officers of the Gotei 13 across the Seireitei while one of the Riteitai is shot down by Robert, Rin speaks to them from within the SRDI and reveals that Ichigo is on his way to Soul Society.

Upon learning that Ichigo's Bankai cannot be stolen by the Quincy, those listening are shocked and elated, though Mayuri is merely annoyed by Akon acting without permission as Yuki expresses relief at this news. However, one of the researchers has his attention drawn by Akon, who reveals that Ichigo's Reiatsu has disappeared within the Garganta. Within the Reishi cage enveloping him, Ichigo repeatedly strikes the converging point of the bars with his sword and angrily wonders what it is prior to apologetically explaining to Akon that he has been trapped when the latter asks him if everything is alright.

Despite this, Akon continues telling Ichigo to respond, which leads Ichigo to realize that Akon cannot hear him anymore no matter how loud he yells. Simultaneously, in the SRDI, Akon deduces that something has gone wrong within the Garganta and orders the other researchers to determine what it is as well as to send the Riteitai to the Senkaimon that leads directly to Hueco Mundo, but is interrupted by one of the walls being broken through, eliciting cries of pain and startling Ichigo, before Jidanbō Ikkanzaka appears in the gap with blank eyes and proceeds to brutally attack the researchers despite their pleas for him to stop.

Seeing this, Hiyosu prepares to shut down the facility with Kido after noting that they have backups of all their data and urges Akon to leave since there will be no one to lead the institute if he dies here. Suddenly, Rin stabs a blade into Hiyosu's side, and when a stunned Hiyosu questions what he is doing, Rin can only react with confusion prior to Jidanbō continuing his assault as PePe Waccabrada watches from afar and chuckles maliciously. Back in the Garganta, an alarmed Ichigo curses at what he is hearing from the Denreishinki.

However, Ichigo is further bewildered when Rukia and Renji's voices come through while they realize that the enemy has attacked the SRDI. Due to the Tsūdentō placed around the Seireitei transmitting the voices of those nearby even though they are not at the SRDI, Ichigo begins hearing the screams of agony and panic from dozens of Shinigami across the Seireitei, leaving him mortified. With Rukia telling those around her that they just need to hold out until he gets here, an enraged Ichigo attacks the cage with a Getsuga Tenshō.

While Ichigo find that not even his Getsuga Tenshō can break through the bars and loses contact with Urahara as well, Byakuya is struck by one of Äs's Reishi Thorns and instructs a concerned Renji to continue watching the battle so he can strike when Äs's weakness is exposed, only to notice that his limbs are shaking and assume that the Reishi Thorns are coated in poison. However, Äs denies this and reveals that Byakuya is feeling fear for the first time in hundreds of years, since he has forgotten and pushed it down after becoming a captain and triumphing in so many battles, before detailing how he can force his opponents to feel irrational fear about everything around them. Though he refutes the idea that he has not felt fear in a long time, Byakuya has a vision of Rukia suddenly rotting to a corpse, allowing Äs to exploit his moment of distraction and stab him through the chest, and with Byakuya fully succumbing to The Fear and attacking him in rage, Äs leaps back, activates Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, and grievously wounds Byakuya with it.

As Renji attacks Äs in rage, Rukia frantically runs toward the site of the battle upon sensing Byakuya's state, only for Meninas McAllon to take offense at her running away and attack her from behind. During this, Äs begins to attack Renji with Senbonzakura Kageyoshi as well, only for Byakuya to struggle to his feet, prompting Äs to instead engulf him in a barrage of blade petals that slam Byakuya into a nearby wall. Before an enraged Renji can activate his Bankai, Mask dropkicks him several hundred meters away, leaving Byakuya to apologize to Rukia and Renji in a crater caked in his own blood.

Meanwhile, at the Blue Stream Gate, Royd and Haschwalth stand over dozens of slaughtered Shinigami, where Haschwalth observes that Byakuya has died and muses that it took longer than expected, prompting Royd to assert that the only flaw of the Sternritter is their lack of ruthlessness. Suddenly, Royd and Haschwalth are confronted by Zaraki, who stands before them with Berenice Gabrielli, Jerome Guizbatt, and Loyd Lloyd impaled on his Zanpakutō and slung over his shoulder while inquiring if Royd is their boss.

Yamamoto Enters the Battle
While Haschwalth expresses shock at his arrival, Zaraki dumps the corpses onto the ground, leaving Haschwalth in disbelief at him killing three Sternritter. In turn, Zaraki asserts that it was not too hard to overcome the powers of Jerome and Berenice with raw physical might, with only Loyd giving him a decent fight by turning into Zaraki himself. With Haschwalth stating that he now understands why Zaraki is considered a monster, Zaraki flicks the blood off his blade and proclaims that he came here to kill Yhwach rather than talk to Haschwalth before attacking a smiling Royd. Despite Haschwalth's concern for him, a smirking Royd simply blocks Zaraki's slash with his forearm, generating a powerful explosion of force around them with the impact.

Meanwhile, with Ichigo sensing the defeats of Rukia, Renji, and Byakuya and refusing to let any of them die, Hisagi finds himself overwhelmed by Driscoll, who reveals that his Schrift, The Overkill, empowers him every time he kills someone and notes that he has killed about 200 people today, including Chōjirō during the earlier incursion. However, before Driscoll can finish off Hisagi with one of his javelin-sized Heilig Pfeil, Yamamoto intervenes and diverts the projectile with his bare hand, only for an initially startled Driscoll to welcome his arrival because he intends to kill Yamamoto with his own lieutenant's Bankai.

Driscoll activates Chōjirō's stolen Bankai, Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū, and begins attacking Yamamoto with it, causing the latter to recall his past with Chōjirō, who had always tried to become his right-hand man rather than his student and revealed one day that he had attained Bankai. After remembering how Chōjirō had used Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū to leave a permanent scar on his forehead, eventually leading him to adopt the name Genryūsai, Yamamoto continues enduring blasts from Driscoll, leading Hisagi to assume that he has lost consciousness and attempt to intervene. Suddenly, a singed Yamamoto tells him to stop, declares that he knows Chōjirō is furious at his Bankai being so much weaker than it was when he used it, and incinerates Driscoll with a slash of his Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka.

With Driscoll's bones crumbling to ashes, Yamamoto bids Chōjirō farewell and assures Hisagi that he will kill the entire Wandenreich by himself before bursting high into the air and surging across the Seireitei like a blazing comet. Around the Seireitei, the faltering captains and lieutenants find themselves revitalized by Yamamoto's presence and his reverberating Reiatsu, giving them the resolve to continue their battles against the Sternritter. Simultaneously, Royd holds an unconscious, defeated Zaraki aloft by the throat and admits that he overestimated the Special War Powers before Yamamoto crashes into the ground behind him in a storm of fire and proclaims that he has come to annihilate Yhwach.

After rescuing Zaraki from Royd's grasp, Yamamoto finds himself attacked by Äs, NaNaNa, and Bazz-B, whom he brutally immolates in a massive explosion before confronting Royd directly, under the assumption that he is Yhwach, and lecturing him about his undervaluing of subordinates that will end today. After injuring Royd with Ryūjin Jakka, Yamamoto proceeds to battle him around the nearby area before unleashing a wave of flame that Royd is forced to cut through with his Reishi Sword. When Royd picks up on him noticing this, Yamamoto confirms that he has been waiting for Royd to manifest it so he could be destroyed in his entirety and activates his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi.

Though Haschwalth cannot understand Yamamoto's Bankai being a burned-out sword, Royd warns him not to underestimate it since it has the power to set anything it cuts aflame, though Yamamoto invites him to find out if its power is really the same 1,000 years later. With captains and lieutenants around the Seireitei noticing moisture in the atmosphere suddenly drying up, Yamamoto begins attacking Royd, who is alarmed to see the tip of Zanka no Tachi erase a massive chunk of the ground upon striking it and realizes that all of Yamamoto's flames are in the tip. In turn, Yamamoto decides to make Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui visible as well.

Yamamoto explains that he is now clad in the heat of the sun, preventing any attack from reaching him and scorching the entire realm, before asserting that he will have to finish this battle quickly so all of Soul Society is not destroyed by it. Failing to harm Yamamoto with a Heilig Pfeil, Royd resorts to activating Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger, a Quincy spell that he claims offers the ultimate offense and defense by striking down any enemies who enter it with the light of God. However, Yamamoto merely declares that it will not be enough to stop him and activates Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin.

With thousands of charred skeletons summoned by Yamamoto toppling Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger, Royd demands to know what they are, prompting Yamamoto to reveal that he has brought back those he has killed to fight for him as inexhaustible warriors. Though Royd initially scoffs at this going against the ethos of the Shinigami, he quickly realizes that Zeidritz, Hubert, and Argola are among the dead, to his shock, and Yamamoto interprets this as a small amount of remorse for Yhwach's actions. However, Yamamoto refuses to forgive Yhwach and fatally wounds Royd with Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin, leaving him to apologize to Yhwach for failing.

Upon hearing Royd's words, Yamamoto demands to know who he is apologizing to just before the First Division barracks are destroyed by a pillar of Reishi and the real Yhwach appears behind him. After praising Royd's performance and obliterating him with a Heilig Pfeil, Yhwach informs Yamamoto that he traveled to the Central Great Underground Prison to recruit Sōsuke Aizen, though he does not mind the latter's refusal since they have plenty of time to change that. When Yamamoto attempts to activate Zanka no Tachi again, Yhwach steals it with a Medallion, creates a Reishi Broadsword with Sankt Bogen, and slashes Yamamoto.

Cut diagonally in half by this attack, Yamamoto's top half falls to the ground, but when he attempts to leave, Yhwach finds his leg being grabbed by Yamamoto's remaining arm, prompting him to sever Yamamoto's hand and berate him for growing weak since their first battle by not having Orihime restore his left arm. Once he obliterates Yamamoto with a barrage of Heilig Pfeil, Yhwach orders the Sternritter to raze the Seireitei, prompting them to summon the Soldat and begin cutting down the remaining Shinigami. Suddenly, before Yhwach can retreat and await the arrival of the Royal Guard, an explosion in the air above startles him.

Ichigo Kurosaki Arrives
Having finally broken through the Reishi cage, Ichigo emerges in the side aperture set up above the Seireitei by the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, where Akon lets him through just before collapsing from an attack by Shaz Domino. Immediately blasting Shaz with a Getsuga Tenshō and alerting the entire Seireitei with his arrival, Ichigo determines the location and status of Rukia and Renji prior to disappearing with Shunpo, to the alarm of the other Sternritter. Shortly afterward, Ichigo stands before a dying Byakuya, who is relieved to hear of Rukia and Renji's survival and admits that he has caused much grief and heartbreak by failing to save his subordinates before begging Ichigo to protect the Seireitei as the latter glares into the distance. After sensing this, Yhwach attempts to retreat once more, only for Ichigo to throw his sword into the ground in front of Yhwach from the air above and confront him, to Yhwach's surprise and irritation.

With Yhwach confirming that he is the one who caused the destruction of the Seireitei, a furious Ichigo begins battling him across and above the Seireitei at hypersonic speeds, eventually being sent crashing down into the rubble before unleashing a Getsuga Tenshō. Withstanding this unscathed, Yhwach reaches out of the dust cloud, grabs Ichigo by the head, and shoves him down to the ground before driving his Reishi Sword into Ichigo's neck. However, before Yhwach can have Ichigo brought back to Silbern for reeducation, he realizes that Ichigo protected his neck with Blut Vene just before the latter blasts him with a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō.

Burnt by this attack, Yhwach admits that he made a mistake and confirms his suspicions by ripping the fabric off Ichigo's left arm, which is also protected by Blut Vene. Yhwach reveals that his mistake was having Ichigo delayed by an Echt Quincy like Quilge instead of an Arrancar because Quilge's Reiatsu woke the memories slumbering within Ichigo's soul that came from Masaki Kurosaki. Upon incapacitating Ichigo with Qualkreis, Yhwach prepares to deliver the finishing blow, but is stopped when he reaches his time limit outside the Schatten Bereich, forcing the Wandenreich to retreat. With Haschwalth cutting the blade of a shocked Ichigo's sword in two, Yhwach promises to return for his son, born in the dark.

Aftermath
As rain falls across the rubble of the Seireitei, 4th Division 3rd Seat Yasochika Iemura orders units 11 through 16 to the west 56th district and the rest to accompany him while prioritizing the injured and leaving the dead Shinigami for later. In the crowded Fourth Division barracks' Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho, 7th Seat Hanatarō Yamada has a critical patient on a stretcher taken to room 203 as Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu watches the commotion from the office doorway above, notes that the wounded are finally being brought in, and turns to Unohana while musing that none of them were brought in during the battle.

When Isane wonders if it was really the right choice for them to remain in the barracks during the battle earlier when they could have saved more lives on the front lines, Unohana counters that Isane should not let her feelings dictate what she says and asserts that while they could have easily vacated the barracks out of concern, Isane is not so short-sighted that she needs to be told why this would have been wrong, prompting a weeping Isane to apologize and mentally claim she is foolish for not realizing Unohana wanted to help the wounded too. However, Unohana tells Isane not to cry because Yamamoto's final order was for them to not leave their barracks.

Meanwhile, Shunsui stands solemnly in front of the large crater left by Yhwach's obliteration of Yamamoto's body. Shortly afterward, Ichigo is handed a communication from Urahara assuring Ichigo that he, Orihime, and Sado are all safe, though further details are unknown, before a bandaged 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame begins screaming at one of the nurses upon being told that Zaraki was grievously wounded and defeated in the earlier battle, which he steadfastly refuses to believe, while the nurses urge him to calm down. Suddenly, Hanatarō tells Ichigo to come over for medical treatment, though Ichigo states that he has already received first aid.

Hanatarō denies this being sufficient since Ichigo is still obviously wounded before 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako approaches Ichigo to inform him that Rukia and Renji are out of surgery. After traveling to the room that the heavily bandaged Rukia and Renji are resting in, a nurse tells Ichigo that they are no longer in critical condition, though they needed Reishi suturing in severely injured areas in addition to Reiatsu treatment, and asks him to call her if anything comes up prior to leaving the room. Addressing Ichigo, Rukia thanks him for coming to protect Soul Society, and when Ichigo admits that he was unable to do anything this time, Shinji counters that he drove the enemy leader away and should be holding his head high for preventing the situation from getting even worse.

When a member of the Twelfth Division arrives and informs him that Mayuri wishes to see him about his Zanpakutō, Ichigo runs off. As he watches this, Shinji muses that Ichigo is always busy and worrying about everyone's wounds while ignoring his own. Upon being asked by Rukia about why Ichigo had such a pained expression, Shinji informs her that he had a rough time by getting his Zanpakutō broken without being able to save anyone and asserts that there is no need to worry since he is likely just exhausted, but Rukia wonders if this is really the case and theorizes Ichigo is hiding something much more serious that he is grappling with while Ichigo continues running through the rain.

Simultaneously, the captains gather around the remnants of Yamamoto's Zanpakutō in the meeting hall within the First Division barracks. With Ukitake regretfully noting that they were unable to recover Yamamoto's body because the enemy destroyed everything else, a Riteitai enters the meeting hall and reveals both Zaraki and Byakuya have survived, though it will be difficult for them to resume their duties as captains and they may never even regain consciousness, leading Suì-Fēng to angrily tell him to get out because they are already mourning the loss of Yamamoto and cannot be expected to deal with other heavy matters right now.

Though Kensei advises her to stop this because she is embarrassing herself, Suì-Fēng counters that this is easy for him to say because he and the other Visored held a grudge against Yamamoto, to Kensei's irritation, before Komamura demands that she be silent because she is not the only one who wants to scream about this, leaving Suì-Fēng aghast. In response, Shunsui repeatedly claps his hands and approaches them while insisting that they not fight since Yamamoto would have lined them up and smacked them for doing so in front of the articles he left behind if he were still alive, leaving Suì-Fēng to seethe at this.

Shunsui, who has lost his right eye and donned an eyepatch covering it, reminds the stunned captains that the Gotei 13 does not exist to mourn the dead or cry over the destruction of Soul Society, but rather to protect Soul Society, and encourages them to look ahead since they are the Gotei 13 while the rain outside ceases and morning begins to dawn. Later that day, the captains are informed of the Royal Guard coming to visit and gather outside the Seireitei with Ichigo, where they witness the Tenchūren crashing down from the sky above before the five Royal Guard themselves emerge from within.