MARCH OF THE STARCROSS (volume)

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

Publisher's summary
When a mysterious group of warriors calling themselves the Wandenreich attacks, Ichigo Kurosaki heads to Hueco Mundo to help his friend Nel Tu. And when the Wandenreich takes the fight to the Soul Society, an all-out war between Shinigami and Quincy breaks out!

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

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Jugram Haschwalth
 * 2) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 3) Bazz-B
 * 4) Quilge Opie
 * 5) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 6) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 7) Orihime Inoue
 * 8) Yasutora Sado
 * 9) Pesche Guatiche
 * 10) Kisuke Urahara
 * 11) Dondochakka Birstanne

491. TODEN ENGEL
Quilge continues to battle Ichigo, showing him the difference between his and Uryū's final Quincy form. As he prepares to use his main move, Quilge 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) Quilge Opie
 * 10) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 11) Kisuke Urahara (flashback)
 * 12) Uryū Ishida (flashback)
 * 13) Ayon

492. BALANCER'S JUSTICE
Ayon battles Quilge, 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) Quilge Opie
 * 10) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 11) Shino
 * 12) Hidetomo Kajōmaru

493. LIGHT OF HAPPINESS
Quilge unveils a new ability as the Wandenreich 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) Quilge Opie
 * 9) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 10) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 11) Hidetomo Kajōmaru
 * 12) Yhwach

494. THE CLOSING CHAPTER PART ONE
The Wandenreich 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) Bazz-B
 * 17) Driscoll Berci
 * 18) Askin Nakk Le Vaar
 * 19) ‎Unnamed Male Sternritter
 * 20) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 21) Äs Nödt
 * 22) Jugram Haschwalth
 * 23) Ikkaku Madarame
 * 24) Yumichika Ayasegawa
 * 25) Sajin Komamura
 * 26) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 27) Suì-Fēng
 * 28) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 29) Akon
 * 30) Ichigo Kurosaki

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

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) Shūhei Hisagi
 * 8) Driscoll Berci
 * 9) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 10) ‎Unnamed Male Sternritter
 * 11) Suì-Fēng
 * 12) BG9
 * 13) Jūshirō Ukitake
 * 14) Askin Nakk Le Vaar
 * 15) Cang Du
 * 16) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 17) Mask De Masculine
 * 18) Byakuya Kuchiki

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

Summary

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Hidetomo Kajōmaru
 * 2) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 3) Shino
 * 4) Jugram Haschwalth
 * 5) Äs Nödt
 * 6) Renji Abarai
 * 7) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 8) Mask De Masculine
 * 9) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 10) Sajin Komamura
 * 11) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 12) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 13) Marechiyo Ōmaeda
 * 14) Suì-Fēng
 * 15) BG9
 * 16) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 17) Cang Du

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) BG9
 * 3) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 4) Cang Du
 * 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 Sternritter
 * 23) Shino
 * 24) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 25) Jugram Haschwalth
 * 26) Royd Lloyd (using Yhwach's appearance)
 * 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 Quilge.

Summary :

Characters in order of appearance
 * 1) Akon
 * 2) Kisuke Urahara
 * 3) Hiyosu
 * 4) Rin Tsubokura
 * 5) Quilge 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) Quilge Opie
 * 9) Jugram Haschwalth
 * 10) Members of the Sternritter
 * 11) Bambietta Basterbine
 * 12) Akon
 * 13) Suì-Fēng (flashback)
 * 14) Byakuya Kuchiki (flashback)
 * 15) Sajin Komamura (flashback)
 * 16) Tōshirō Hitsugaya (flashback)