MARCH OF THE STARCROSS (volume)

 is the fifty-sixth volume of the Bleach manga series.

490. MARCH OF THE STARCROSS 2
While the Stern Ritter gather for their attack on Soul Society, Kirge Opie goes all out to swiftly defeat Ichigo Kurosaki.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Unnamed Vandenreich Member
 * 2) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 3) Kirge Opie
 * 4) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 5) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 6) Orihime Inoue
 * 7) Yasutora Sado
 * 8) Pesche Guatiche
 * 9) Kisuke Urahara
 * 10) Dondochakka Birstanne

491. TODEN ENGEL
Kirge continues to battle Ichigo, showing him the difference between his and Uryū's final Quincy form. As he prepares to use his main move, Kirge is approached by an unexpected "guest".

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Loly Aivirrne
 * 2) Menoly Mallia
 * 3) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 4) Orihime Inoue
 * 5) Yasutora Sado
 * 6) Cyan Sung-Sun
 * 7) Franceska Mila Rose
 * 8) Emilou Apacci
 * 9) Kirge Opie
 * 10) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 11) Kisuke Urahara (flashback)
 * 12) Uryū Ishida (flashback)
 * 13) Ayon

492. BALANCER'S JUSTICE
Ayon battles Kirge, while Ryūnosuke Yuki and Shino learn about the difference between Shinigami and Quincy.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Ayon
 * 2) Franceska Mila Rose
 * 3) Cyan Sung-Sun
 * 4) Emilou Apacci
 * 5) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 6) Orihime Inoue
 * 7) Yasutora Sado
 * 8) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 9) Kirge Opie
 * 10) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 11) Shino
 * 12) Hidetomo Kajōmaru

493. LIGHT OF HAPPINESS
Kirge unveils a new ability as the Vandenreich begins its invasion of Soul Society.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Emilou Apacci
 * 2) Cyan Sung-Sun
 * 3) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 4) Franceska Mila Rose
 * 5) Orihime Inoue
 * 6) Yasutora Sado
 * 7) Ayon
 * 8) Kirge Opie
 * 9) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 10) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 11) Hidetomo Kajōmaru
 * 12) Juha Bach

494. THE CLOSING CHAPTER PART ONE
The Vandenreich assault on Seireitei commences, devastating the Gotei 13.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 2) Nanao Ise
 * 3) Shūhei Hisagi
 * 4) Izuru Kira
 * 5) Renji Abarai
 * 6) Hidetomo Kajōmaru
 * 7) Sentarō Kotsubaki
 * 8) Kiyone Kotetsu
 * 9) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 10) Genshirō Okikiba
 * 11) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * 12) Reishi Investigation Team member
 * 13) Rikū Togakushi
 * 14) Taketsuna Gori
 * 15) Asuka Katakura
 * 16) Unnamed Vandenreich Member
 * 17) Unnamed Stern Ritter members
 * 18) ‎Unnamed Male Vandenreich
 * 19) Driscoll Berci
 * 20) Äs Nödt
 * 21) Ikkaku Madarame
 * 22) Yumichika Ayasegawa
 * 23) Sajin Komamura
 * 24) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 25) Suì-Fēng
 * 26) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 27) Akon
 * 28) Ichigo Kurosaki

495. BLEEDING GUITAR BLUES
The Gotei 13's captains and lieutenants square off against the Stern Ritter.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi
 * 2) NaNaNa Najahkoop
 * 3) Äs Nödt
 * 4) Renji Abarai
 * 5) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 6) Sajin Komamura
 * 7) Unnamed Male Stern Ritter
 * 8) Shūhei Hisagi
 * 9) Driscoll Berci
 * 10) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 11) ‎Unnamed Male Vandenreich
 * 12) Suì-Fēng
 * 13) Unnamed Stern Ritter
 * 14) Jūshirō Ukitake
 * 15) Unnamed Stern Ritter
 * 16) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 17) Unnamed Stern Ritter
 * 18) Byakuya Kuchiki

496. KILL THE SHADOW
The Gotei 13's captains and lieutenants square off against the Stern Ritter.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Hidetomo Kajōmaru
 * 2) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 3) Shino
 * 4) Unnamed Vandenreich Member
 * 5) Äs Nödt
 * 6) Renji Abarai
 * 7) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 8) Unnamed Male Stern Ritter
 * 9) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 10) Sajin Komamura
 * 11) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 12) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 13) Marechiyo Ōmaeda
 * 14) Suì-Fēng
 * 15) Unnamed Stern Ritter
 * 16) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 17) Unnamed Stern Ritter

497. KILL THE SHADOW 2
While the captains realize their mistake in using their Bankai, Shunsui begins fighting one of the Quincy.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Äs Nödt
 * 2) Unnamed Stern Ritter
 * 3) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 4) Unnamed Stern Ritter
 * 5) Suì-Fēng
 * 6) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 7) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 8) Marechiyo Ōmaeda
 * 9) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 10) Renji Abarai
 * 11) Sajin Komamura
 * 12) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * 13) Retsu Unohana
 * 14) Kensei Muguruma
 * 15) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 16) Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi
 * 17) Jūshirō Ukitake
 * 18) Shinji Hirako
 * 19) Mayuri Kurotsuchi
 * 20) Nemu Kurotsuchi
 * 21) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 22) Unnamed Male Vandenreich
 * 23) Shino
 * 24) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 25) Unnamed Vandenreich Member
 * 26) Juha Bach
 * 27) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 28) Akon

498. THE DARK RESCUER
Akon establishes contact with Kisuke, who updates him on the situation in Hueco Mundo while Ichigo gains the upper hand against Kirge.

Summary :

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Akon
 * 2) Kisuke Urahara
 * 3) Hiyosu
 * 4) Rin Tsubokura
 * 5) Kirge Opie
 * 6) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 7) Pesche Guatiche
 * 8) Dondochakka Birstanne

499. RESCUER IN THE DARK
Ichigo travels to Soul Society while Akon and Urahara provide updates.

Summary :

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Hiyosu
 * 2) Rin Tsubokura
 * 3) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 4) Yasutora Sado
 * 5) Orihime Inoue
 * 6) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 7) Kisuke Urahara
 * 8) Kirge Opie
 * 9) Unnamed Vandenreich Member
 * 10) Members of the Stern Ritter
 * 11) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 12) Akon
 * 13) Suì-Fēng (flashback)
 * 14) Byakuya Kuchiki (flashback)
 * 15) Sajin Komamura (flashback)
 * 16) Tōshirō Hitsugaya (flashback)