Fall of the Soul King is an event taking place during the Quincy Blood War that revolves around the Emperor of the Wandenreich, Yhwach, reaching the Soul King and enacting his plan to kill him and destroy existence. During this, Ichigo Kurosaki and his group enter the Soul King Palace to stop him while the remnants of the Gotei 13 and the Visored enact a plan to join them.
Prelude[]
Yhwach kills Ichibē Hyōsube after awakening The Almighty.
During his battle against Ichibē Hyōsube, after having his name and power stripped from him by the former's Shin'uchi, Shirafude Ichimonji, Yhwach finally reawakens The Almighty after 999 years and uses it to first regain his power, then summarily overpower Ichibē, who is aghast at it allowing Yhwach to see the future and all of his own movements. Though Ichibē attempts to completely destroy Yhwach by stealing one hundred nights' worth of darkness for Futen Taisatsuryō, Yhwach nullifies the technique by comprehending it and obliterates Ichibē's torso with a blast from his hand.[2]
Uryū Ishida shoots Senjumaru Shutara through the heart after trapping her in her own Bankai with Antithesis.
During this, Sternritter "A" Uryū Ishida is broken out of the seal that Senjumaru Shutara's Bankai, Shatatsu Karagara Shigarami no Tsuji, placed him in through a mysterious empowerment granted by Yhwach's awakening. Initially still unable to overcome Senjumaru's colossally powerful Bankai, Uryū has his Quincy: Vollständig forcibly activated in an incomplete form, which strengthens his Antithesis enough to let him switch places with Senjumaru in the fabric that she trapped him in and kill her with a Heilig Pfeil through the heart, shocking everyone in Soul Society as they sense her Reiatsu disappear.[3]
Senjumaru's death frees the other Schutzstaffel from their tapestries.
With his eyes glowing red and crackling with Blut, Uryū grits his teeth and kneels as his wings surge in size and strength before dispelling his Quincy: Vollständig in a blast of energy. After confirming that his Blut is back under control, Uryū watches Shatatsu Karagara Shigarami no Tsuji disintegrate and is approached from behind by the other Schutzstaffel, whose seals have also been undone, as Yhwach walks over to the Seal placed by Ichibē, whom he notes died three steps short just as predicted, and destroys it by simply placing his hand on the barrier, opening the path to the stairs approaching the Greater Soul King Palace.[3]
Yhwach creates a long set of Reishi stairs to reach the Greater Soul King Palace.
The last candle on the Blood Oath's Seal flickers out, with Senjumaru's portion burned through, while Yhwach declares that the Royal Guard have fallen, prompting Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth to assert that their thousand years of prayer are about to be rewarded. As the Schutzstaffel kneel on either side of him, Yhwach begins walking toward the end of the Vestibule Road and breaks down the pillars lining it to create a long set of glowing blue stairs leading directly to the Greater Soul King Palace, which he begins ascending as he ruminates on his thousand years of life, the losses that he and the other Quincy have suffered, and their first invasion of the Seireitei.[3]
Ichigo and his friends reach the Soul King Palace and discover the aftermath.
Concluding that all of this will be consummated by the Soul King's death, Yhwach inquires if the latter can hear his footsteps and sets foot in the Greater Soul King Palace before the Soul King, whom he informs that this is the sound of bells tolling for the king of three worlds.[3] Some time later, the replica Tenchūren crashes into the Vestibule Road, where Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends disembark as a confused Yasutora Sado wonders if the silence means that the battle is over, only for the group to gasp in horror upon seeing Ichibē's severed head lying on the floor. As Orihime Inoue rushes over to Ichibē, Ichigo identifies him to the others.[4]
Ichibē revives himself by having Ichigo call his full name to take part of the latter's power.
Suddenly, with Orihime attempting to revive Ichibē with Sōten Kisshun, Ichigo hears Ichibē's disembodied voice telling him to call Ichibē's name, and after expressing confusion to his friends, Ichigo says Ichibē's full name aloud, causing Ichibē's eyes to open as a black mass forms underneath his head, raising it aloft and eventually dissipating to reveal his restored body while a startled Orihime falls back. After thanking a terrified Ichigo, Ichibē explains that all power resides in names and having Ichigo call his name let him take a tiny portion of Ichigo's power to restore his body with, to Ichigo's bewilderment.[5]
Ichibē beseeches Ichigo to protect the Soul King because no one else can.
Laughing uproariously at this since their combined powers make it quite possible, Ichibē calms himself and requests that Ichigo stop Yhwach due to the Royal Guard being defeated and his own power taking too long to be fully restored. While asserting that there is no one else strong enough to do it, Ichibē assures Ichigo that he can stop Yhwach without killing him and emphasizes that the Soul King is the key to the world, meaning that his death will cause the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo to collapse. Though apologetic over forcing this task upon him, Ichibē beseeches Ichigo to protect the Soul King, which Ichigo accepts.[6]
Yhwach impales the Soul King with his Reishi Sword and bids farewell to him as his son.
Ichigo and his friends run toward the Greater Soul King Palace and up the stairs at the end of the platform, leaving Ichibē sitting solemnly behind them. Back in the Greater Soul King Palace, Yhwach reaches the Soul King in his crystal, bids him farewell, and raises his Reishi Sword before shoving it through the Soul King's chest and identifying the latter as his father, the one who has seen the future.[3] Moments later, Ichigo experiences a strange vision of Yhwach's past, where he witnessed the Soul King dividing the Primordial Sea into the Three Worlds, while riding Orihime's Santen Kesshun to the Greater Soul King Palace, leaving him shaken and confused about what he has witnessed. Meanwhile, on the Vestibule Road below, Ichibē continues to sit alone as tremors continue to rock the replaced Seireitei, where 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai wonders what is going on and 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki admits that she has never felt anything like this before, which cannot be good. Elsewhere, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi deduces that the Wandenreich removed the keystone that holds the Three Worlds together and ruminates on what they could be aiming to accomplish.[7]
Ichigo and his friends reach the Greater Soul King Palace and confront Yhwach.
With Sternritter "H" Bazz-B, "G" Liltotto Lamperd, and "Z" Giselle Gewelle looking up at the sky as the latter shakes Bambietta Basterbine's corpse, Ryūken Ishida inspects some chunks of Still Silver in his hand before Karakura Town begins shaking as well, prompting him to look out of his window and Isshin Kurosaki to stand outside the Kurosaki Clinic while beginning to realize what this means. Back in the Soul King Palace, Yhwach tells the Soul King that these are footsteps toward a new world and promises to put an end to the latter's endless humiliation before being confronted by Ichigo and his friends.[7]
Confrontation in the Greater Palace[]
Yhwach explains that his triple-pupiled eyes are those of a true Quincy which can see everything.
When Ichigo declares that they are here to stop him, Yhwach claims to have been expecting Ichigo, and with the curtains behind him closed to obscure the Soul King, he asserts that he foresaw Ichigo coming to stop him from killing the Soul King, to Ichigo's confusion. An unnerved Orihime points out Yhwach's triple-pupiled eyes, prompting Ichigo to inquire about what they signify and leading Yhwach to explain that they are the eyes of a true Quincy that can see everything, which has put the future of both Ichigo and the Soul King in the palm of his hand. In response, Ichigo grabs the handles of both blades of his Shikai, Zangetsu.[7]
Ichigo and Yhwach begin their battle with a fierce clash that produces a powerful shockwave.
With Ichigo asserting that he will not let Yhwach complete his plan because he has grown powerful enough to stop him, Yhwach notices his dual blades and invites him to use them, though he warns Ichigo that they may break again as his hands glow with blue flames. Rushing forward with Shunpo, Ichigo clashes fiercely with Yhwach, producing a radial shockwave that explodes out of the Greater Soul King Palace and fills the surrounding air with dust and smoke, before reappearing outside of it and waiting to see Yhwach appear within the cloud below. Once Yhwach becomes visible, Ichigo moves next to him and fires a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō.[7]
Ichigo overpowers Yhwach in a second clash after moving faster than he can follow.
Unable to react in time, Yhwach's eyes widen as the Getsuga Tenshō slams into his face, producing another explosion while Ichigo's friends watch from below, having evacuated from the Greater Soul King Palace onto Orihime's Santen Kesshun. Upon flying out of the resulting smoke cloud, a surprised Yhwach sees Ichigo reappear behind him and barely manages to manifest his Reishi Broadsword in time to block the latter's subsequent attack, which sends them hurtling down toward Tenjirō Kirinji's city. When Yhwach attempts to stab his free hand into Ichigo's face, Ichigo narrowly evades this and thrusts his smaller sword down toward Yhwach.[7]
Yhwach summons his Sankt Bogen for a point-blank shot at Ichigo when the latter pins him.
Ichigo and Yhwach crash into the top of Kirinji's hot springs, destroying the pool barrier, as Ichigo kneels over a pinned Yhwach and is startled to find the latter blocking the tip of his smaller blade with the Blut Vene-infused palm of his free hand. After admitting that this was a good attempt, Yhwach preempts Ichigo's next attack by summoning his Sankt Bogen at ground level and firing a horizontal shot at Ichigo, decimating the surrounding area and letting Yhwach return to the air. However, Yhwach is surprised to see Ichigo unharmed and infers from the energy crackling around his wrist that he countered with a Getsuga Tenshō.[7]
Ichigo and Yhwach fiercely clash dozens of times as they move through the air between cities.
Praising Ichigo's cleverness in this tactic, Yhwach exerts his blue Reiatsu and rushes toward Ichigo for another clash that pushes them off the edge of the city and into the open air, where Ichigo exerts his own golden Reiatsu and speeds up to cross blades with Yhwach dozens of times as they fly and intersect through the air and across another city. Once he catches Ichigo in another blade lock, Yhwach inquires if he is not going to fight back and proclaims that the only future left for Ichigo if he fears is death, to Ichigo's bemusement, prior to disengaging and leaping back to initiate Qual Kreis, which forms a circle of Heilig Bogens around Ichigo.[7]
Ichigo overwhelms Yhwach with Getsuga Jūjishō, which destroys his Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger.
Suddenly, with Yhwach telling him to rest in darkness once more, Ichigo quickly slashes through all the Heilig Bogens and their Heilig Pfeil before they can reach him, and with an alarmed Yhwach setting up Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger in turn, Ichigo fires Getsuga Jūjishō at him, shattering the defensive barrier and colliding with a shocked Yhwach in a massive cross-shaped explosion. While a stunned Orihime watches with her friends and comments on this being Ichigo's new level of power, Yhwach hurtles out of the explosion and crashes into the shrine at the top of Ichibē's city, demolishing it and leaving Yhwach lying in a crater in the floor.[7]
Yhwach reveals that he has been fighting with The Almighty deactivated this whole time.
After reappearing in the air above a prone Yhwach, Ichigo asserts that it is over, only for Yhwach to acknowledge that his training with the Royal Guard indeed made him stronger and infer that Ichibē had him enter the Irazu Sandō to gain its everlasting memories and revelations, startling Ichigo with his knowledge of it, before raising his head to show his normal eyes and revealing that he has not been using his triple-pupiled eyes for their entire fight, to Ichigo's shock. While standing up, Yhwach cracks his neck and declares it is time for him to take action prior to reactivating The Almighty and adding the pupils to his eyes.[7]
Yhwach effortlessly dodges all of Ichigo's attacks by foreseeing his exact course of action.
A gigantic column of crackling blue flames fills the air above the city, forcing Ichigo to move much further into the air with Shunpo, before condensing into an even larger instance of Qual Kreis with Yhwach standing behind the Heilig Bogens. Frantically blocking the subsequent barrage of giant Heilig Pfeil, Ichigo eventually cuts through them with a Getsuga Tenshō and rushes toward Yhwach, who simply reappears behind him every time Ichigo attempts to attack him and states that he can clearly see Ichigo's every move. As he laments Ichigo's inability to see the difference in their power, Yhwach grabs Ichigo by the face.[7]
Yhwach overpowers Ichigo and promises that he will only face further despair if he resists.
With Blut veins extending from his hand into Ichigo's face, Yhwach sees Ichigo raising the long sword of Zangetsu and disparages him for trying to attack even after finally seeing the difference between them before unleashing a column of energy that engulfs Ichigo and blasts him upward into the underside of the Greater Soul King Palace. While Ichigo coughs up blood in the rubble, Yhwach moves up to stand upside-down next to him and promises that Ichigo will fall further into despair for as long as he keeps trying to resist, and when Ichigo attempts to declare that he will defeat Yhwach and protect everything, Yhwach interrupts him.[7]
Yhwach returns to the Soul King's chamber after effortlessly incapacitating Ichigo.
Having predicted what Ichigo would say, Yhwach responds to Ichigo swinging his longer sword toward his face by reiterating that he has seen Ichigo's future and counterattacking with enough force to propel Ichigo up the side of the Greater Soul King Palace and through the floor of the Soul King's chamber, where his friends are aghast to see him collapse face-down on the ground as Yhwach rises through the hole next to him. Down in the replaced Seireitei, Renji observes that the tremors are not stopping, leading Rukia to suggest that they head to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute because Urahara might know something.[7]
Suì-Fēng, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, Shinji Hirako, and Momo Hinamori look over the city.
Excited by this idea, Renji assumes that he knows where the building used to be, but an annoyed Rukia tells him that it is in the opposite direction. Elsewhere, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng and her lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, look over the trembling city alongside 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako and his lieutenant, Momo Hinamori, while Shinji points out that the tremors have been going on for a long time. When Marechiyo wonders if the other captains and lieutenants are okay as he holds his unconscious sister Mareyo Ōmaeda, Suì-Fēng reminds him that they should be fine if Marechiyo himself was able to survive this.[7]
Jūshirō Ukitake desperately tries to heal Kenpachi Zaraki's severe injuries.
As Marechiyo ponders this, Shinji praises Hinamori for healing them and laments her inability to fix Suì-Fēng's sharp tongue, leading Hinamori to frantically apologize to the latter after initially acknowledging this. With Suì-Fēng wondering what the tremors and change in the air mean, Shinji claims there is no point in wondering and threatens to leave Suì-Fēng behind if she does not stop talking, only for a dismissive Suì-Fēng to depart with Shunpo, leaving Shinji to complain about her going on without them. Simultaneously, in an intensive care ward, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake applies Kaidō to 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.[7]
Akon and his fellow researchers make preparations for a gate that Urahara is working on.
With Ukitake begging Kenpachi to not die yet and a member of the Fourth Division tending to 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi nearby, Mayuri and his lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, work on a trio of healing capsules outside. Meanwhile, within the hidden laboratory, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon tells a researcher of Urahara's requirement for vast amounts of Reiatsu to create the gate that he is working on as 1st Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise asks Urahara about the conflict they are embroiled in being the result of enmity between the Shinigami and Quincy going back one thousand years, which Urahara confirms.[7]
Yhwach reveals the true name of the Soul King, Adnyeus, and his similar power of foresight.
However, when Nanao questions why Yhwach went to the Soul King Palace without completely eradicating the Shinigami if this is the case, Urahara stops typing on his keyboard and looks up with a frown. Back in the Soul King Palace, Yhwach infers that a prone Ichigo also saw the eternal world that once existed, as well as the darkness which threatened it and was repelled by the power of the Soul King, and laments someone with the power to overturn the world instead being used to stabilize it before revealing that the Soul King, with the true name Adnyeus, saw everything in the three worlds a thousand years in advance, including the tragedy of the Quincy.[7]
Ichigo prepares to resume his battle against Yhwach despite the latter's revelations.
While Yhwach asserts that the Soul King foresaw this and still chose to abandon the Quincy, Urahara explains to Nanao that the Quincy faced near-extinction twice simply for not fitting into the system of this world and that there can consequently be only one reason for their king storming the Soul King Palace. With Yhwach concluding that this is why he has chosen his path and revealing that he will kill his father to create a new world, a struggling Ichigo gets to his feet with blood dripping from his face and readies his swords against Yhwach, who wonders if he has a reason to do so, prompting Ichigo to reaffirm that he came here to stop Yhwach.[7]
Ichigo attacks Yhwach with a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō after Orihime heals him.
Ichigo proclaims that he is here to protect the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo, and despite Yhwach countering that the Quincy blood within him can never forgive the Soul King, Ichigo leaps forward as Orihime follows and rapidly heals his injuries with Sōten Kisshun, to Yhwach's surprise, allowing him to unleash a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō. However, on the Vestibule Road below, Ichibē apologizes to Ichigo and his friends because they cannot defeat Yhwach, only to assure them that this is fine since it is what peace is all about while Yhwach casually holds back Ichigo's blade with one hand.[7]
Rukia and Renji discuss the possible origin of the tremors rocking the replaced Seireitei.
Down in the replaced Seireitei, Rukia and Renji fly over the rooftops as Renji worries about the possibility of the Royal Guard being defeated, leading Rukia to ruminate on the intense Reiatsu that they felt earlier being the product of one of the Royal Guard using their Bankai or something just as powerful. Though Renji assumes that these tremors are the result of that, Rukia admits that this would just be the ideal explanation and admits that she has a bad feeling about the safety of Ichigo and his friends, which prompts Renji to remind her that he and Rukia just have to trust their friends who went up to the Soul King Palace to stop Yhwach.[7]
Marechiyo Ōmaeda claims that he will never let anyone speak ill of Shinji Hirako again.
Smiling at this, Rukia admits that she did not know Renji could come up with such good advice, which Renji takes as a compliment until he realizes what she is implying as the two of them land outside the laboratory, where they are greeted by Suì-Fēng, Marechiyo, Shinji, and Hinamori.[7] When Renji inquires about how he is feeling due to his bandages, Shinji begins to explain that it is not as bad as it appears, but Marechiyo interjects to announce that Shinji is fine and recounts how he saved Marechiyo and Mareyo from Bazz-B's Burner Finger 3 with his Shikai, Sakanade, which has left him deeply grateful to Shinji and willing to protect the latter from any criticism. In turn, Renji recalls how Marechiyo called Shinji an outsider and made fun of him behind his back the most when the latter first rejoined the Gotei 13.[8]
Rukia, Renji, and Shinji join Kisuke Urahara in the laboratory after meeting up outside of it with Suì-Fēng, Marechiyo, and Momo Hinamori.
With Renji questioning why he brought Mareyo here at all, Suì-Fēng slams her fist into a sputtering Marechiyo's side and clarifies that the wounds sustained by herself and Mareyo have only just finished healing due to the hard work of Hinamori. Once Suì-Fēng tells him to ease up on Marechiyo because the latter could not have left his sister in a warzone, a stunned Renji complies and muses that Suì-Fēng has become quite a bit less strict.[9] After Shinji notes that everyone has found their way here, the group enters the laboratory, where Urahara claims to have been expecting them, though Shinji denies this. While Urahara insists that he really does need their help, Rukia steps forward and inquires if he knows what the true cause of these tremors is, prompting Urahara to sigh and assert that he does not know for certain.[7]
Yoruichi Shihōin surrounds Yhwach with layers of Tenshi Heisō: Hissaki Kumoi.
Despite this, Urahara warns Rukia that these tremors are tied to the safety of the Soul King as Yhwach calls Ichigo arrogant for claiming he can protect everything, but when he inquires if Ichigo believes that he is the only one who can do so, Ichigo counters that someone else being able to do the same is not a reason for him to stay out of this fight. As Yhwach comments on the absurdity of Ichigo seeking to protect the Soul King despite knowing he is a sacrifice to Soul Society, Yoruichi surrounds him with layers of Tenshi Heisō: Hissaki Kumoi, mocks Yhwach for talking so much, and warns him not to touch the strings unless he wants to be torn apart.[7]
Yhwach reveals his impalement of the Soul King to Ichigo and his friends.
In response, Yhwach sets the strings alight with blue Reishi flames and dispels the crumbling strings with a shockwave that sends some of the smoldering pieces flying onto the curtain behind him, causing them to begin burning up as well. With Yhwach revealing that he foresaw Ichigo finding Ichibē and being sent here too late at his urging, Ichigo and his friends are mortified to see the Soul King with Yhwach's Reishi Sword driven through his chest suspended in the air behind the curtain. However, when Ganju demands to know if Yhwach killed the Soul King, a sweating Yoruichi realizes that the Soul King is somehow still alive.[7]
Ichigo succeeds in pulling out the Reishi Sword, but has his arm controlled by it.
In turn, Ichigo swiftly moves past Yhwach and to the crystal with Shunpo to grab onto the Reishi Sword, which he begins attempting to pull out while his friends call out to him. Noticing this, Yhwach encourages him to pull out the Reishi Sword, which he should be capable of doing, and as a yelling Ichigo slowly manages to pull the Reishi Sword out of the Soul King's chest and crystal, Yhwach concludes that he can now destroy Soul Society with his own hands. Suddenly, Blut veins run up Ichigo's right arm and the side of his face from the Reishi Sword, forcing him to hold it back in a swinging position.[7]
Ichigo is forced by Yhwach's Reiatsu to cut the Soul King in half and kill him.
Yhwach asserts that he foresaw this as well and informs Ichigo that the Quincy blood within him can never forgive the Soul King before proclaiming that Ichigo must slay the Soul King because of the Quincy blood coursing through him while a screaming Ichigo is forced to slash the Reishi Sword horizontally at the crystal, where it embeds in the side and slowly pushes through the material until it cuts the Soul King diagonally in half. With his friends aghast at this, Ichigo falls to his knees as Yhwach congratulates him and details how he transferred the Reiatsu within his Reishi Sword with Ichigo in order to call to his Quincy blood.[7]
A vast wave of energy emanates from the Soul King's corpse following his death.
Further claiming that Ichigo's actions and will are connected to his own will, Yhwach reveals that he needed someone with the power of a Human, Quincy, Shinigami, Fullbringer, and Hollow to fully break the Soul King's seal, to Ichigo's disbelief, and states that Ichigo's awakening of his Shinigami powers and later acquisition of his true Zanpakutō were all for this moment where he ended the Soul King's life in front of Yhwach. While Yhwach concludes that this is what he foresaw, a vast wave of energy expands outward from the Soul King's corpse and envelops the entirety of the Soul King Palace.[7]
Mizuiro Kojima, Keigo Asano, and Tatsuki Arisawa discuss the ongoing earthquake.
Traveling downward, the energy slams into the replaced Seireitei, toppling buildings and shaking the laboratory with incredible force just before the ceiling caves in, which forces the researchers to flee as Urahara remains shocked at the readings he is getting. With Hueco Mundo and the Human World being rocked by tremors even more violent than before, Mizuiro Kojima scrolls through a social media app and notes to Keigo Asano and Tatsuki Arisawa that there is still no news on where the epicenter of this apparent earthquake is. Though Tatsuki questions how such an earthquake can exist, Mizuiro ruminates on the possibility of it not being a normal one.[7]
The other Shinigami are left aghast as Urahara warns them that the Three Worlds are going to cease to exist.
Keigo expresses disbelief at what Mizuiro is implying as Tatsuki looks down sadly at the Soul Ticket given to her by Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku and thinks of Ichigo. Back in the laboratory, an unharmed Urahara looks up in astonishment and deduces that this is the result of the Soul King dying, leaving Nanao aghast while Shinji questions what the Royal Guard is doing. While Ukitake looks up solemnly, Rin Tsubokura frantically worries about what happened to Ichigo and Akon wonders what is going to happen now, leading Urahara to warn them that Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the Human World will all cease to exist. Above them, Yhwach invites a speechless Ichigo to watch the end of Soul Society with him.[7]
Advent of Mimihagi[]
Jūshirō Ukitake announces that he will take the place of the deceased Soul King.
However, down in Urahara's laboratory, Ukitake firmly and confidently announces to the other Shinigami present that he will be taking the dead Soul King's place while a dark aura manifests behind him. Surprised by this, Urahara questions if it is even possible, but Ukitake merely asserts that he will explain later as he discards his captain's haori and strides forward to the center of the platform in the middle of the laboratory before removing the upper half of his shihakushō as well. Seeing the shadowy aura taking the shape of a large vertical eye on his back, Urahara, Suì-Fēng, and Shinji gasp in shock.[10]
Ukitake begins his chant to Mimihagi as the aura coalesces in the shape of an eye, the symbol of Mimihagi.
Ukitake's 3rd Seats, Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki, recognize the symbol, and as a stunned Rukia calls out to him, Ukitake draws his Zanpakutō and holds it in a combat stance prior to reciting a chant to Mimihagi, whom he asks to unleash the power stored within his organs. While Ukitake continues his chant, the shadowy aura behind him expands and lengthens to resemble an enlarged Mimihagi just before he coughs up blood, but when Rukia expresses concern for him, Ukitake orders her to stand by and explains that Kamikake expands the stilling power of Mimihagi from his lungs to all the organs in his body, letting it claim them and turning himself into the right arm of the Soul King.[11]
Ukitake reveals that Kamikake will turn him into the right arm of the Soul King.
With a tattoo of Mimihagi manifesting across Ukitake's torso, a stunned Rukia asks him if he performed Kamikake in anticipation of this moment, prompting Ukitake to confirm this and detail how he has thought about this day since his life was first saved before declaring that nothing would make him happier than to sacrifice the life he once lost for the sake of the Gotei 13. Though Rukia demands to know what will happen to the Thirteenth Division if he perishes, Ukitake merely apologizes for constantly making things hard for her, which leaves Rukia recalling her full history with Ukitake before shrieking in anguish.[12]
Ichigo continues to attack Yhwach after being forced to kill the Soul King.
In turn, Ukitake reminds Rukia of what he told her about there being two types of battles one can fight, to her astonishment, and screams in agony while coughing up even more blood once the Mimihagi aura morphs into an open hand. In Muken, Shunsui mentally recounts Ukitake's creed of battles being either to defend life or defend honor, and after deciding which kind of battle he is fighting, Shunsui walks forward and invites Sōsuke Aizen to talk. Simultaneously, in the Greater Soul King Palace above, Ichigo attacks Yhwach, who easily blocks the slash of his own Reishi Sword and questions if Ichigo still has a reason to fight him.[11]
Yhwach proclaims that all of existence will crumble thanks to Ichigo's actions.
Yhwach continues to evade and counter Ichigo's rapid subsequent attacks as he points out how the Soul King was created to stabilize Soul Society because of the great number of Souls that pass through it, with his absence meaning that Soul Society, the Dangai, Hueco Mundo, and the Human World will all cease to exist, which he blames Ichigo for after pushing him back with a wave of his hand. Nearby, Yoruichi tells Orihime to restore the Soul King with her powers while they distract Yhwach, which Orihime affirms, prior to rushing toward Yhwach with Sado and Ganju Shiba, who flank her on either side and run diagonal away from her.[11]
Orihime's Sōten Kisshun fails to restore the Soul King and instead shatters.
Leaping into the air, Ganju turns part of the floor into a large cloud of obscuring sand with Seppa while Sado manifests his left Fullbring, Brazo Izquierda del Diablo, and runs forward to throw a powerful punch at Yhwach, who catches it with his right hand just before Yoruichi attacks him from the side with a lightning variant of Raiōken. However, Yhwach stops this with his left hand despite the powerful shockwave it produces, and when Orihime attempts to heal the Soul King with Sōten Kisshun, the two halves only briefly meld together before falling apart as the barrier shatters, to her shock.[11]
Darkness bursts from Ukitake's eyes and mouth as he completes the Kamikake ritual.
Alarmed by this, Yoruichi finds herself and Sado blasted back with great force by Reishi flames surging from Yhwach's hands, with Ganju being knocked down by Sado crashing into him, as Yhwach calls them foolish for believing a mere Human could revive the Soul King. With Yhwach proclaiming that the Soul King cannot be revived no matter what powers they use, Sado points out the red color of the crystal that the Soul King is encased in fading, leading Ganju to wonder if there really is not anything they can do. Suddenly, darkness bursts from a screaming Ukitake's eyes and mouth, coating his body and allowing the aura of Mimihagi to extend into the sky.[11]
The shadowy Mimihagi encases the Soul King, with Yhwach unable to see its future.
While the long hand reaches upward and passes through a jagged hole that it creates in the Shakonmaku, the tremors rocking the replaced Seireitei slowly cease, to Urahara's surprise, and Yhwach is astonished alongside Ichigo and his friends to see the shadowy Mimihagi encasing the two halves of the Soul King, where the hand opens an eye on its palm. When Yhwach questions what it is, Yoruichi mentally observes that he was unable to foresee it coming with The Almighty, and upon attempting to see the future actions of Mimihagi, Yhwach's pupil temporarily cracks, leading him to realize that he cannot see its future.[11]
Suì-Fēng points out that the current stability will only last as long as Ukitake lives.
Down in the laboratory, Sentarō, Kiyone, and Rukia are mortified by the sight of Ukitake's twitching body as Urahara looks up through the holy in the ceiling, only for Suì-Fēng to bluntly ask him how long Ukitake will last in this state. Expressing doubt that this would be enough to make Ukitake a replacement for the Soul King, Suì-Fēng theorizes that this stability will only last so long as Ukitake is alive, to the shock of everyone else, and asserts that it is true when Marechiyo protests, but Urahara admits that he does not know the answer because this is the first time he has seen or even heard of Kamikake, preventing him from knowing how long Ukitake has.[11]
Shunsui Kyōraku stands before a row of keyholes in the ground within Muken.
Urahara addresses Rukia, Renji, Byakuya, Hisagi, and 11th Division 5th Seat Ikkaku Madarame while declaring that they must find a way to save the world while Ukitake is standing in for the Soul King. Upon being told by Yūshirō Shihōin that the Tenshi Heisō is ready and they can begin, Urahara clarifies that they do not have enough collective Reiatsu for what he needs.[11] Simultaneously, down in Muken, as he stands before a row of keyholes in the ground, Shunsui observes Aizen's lack of response and wonders if he is against communicating with Reiatsu or if Muken is making it impossible for him to do so.[13]
Sōsuke Aizen frees himself from the rest of his restraints after having his mouth unlocked.
Withdrawing a long and thin box from his kimono, Shunsui takes off the lid to reveal a set of twenty keys and reveals that these will unlock different parts of Aizen's restraints, though he has only been permitted to use three of them. After kneeling down and unlocking the seal on Aizen's mouth with one key, Shunsui asserts that he should be able to talk with his mouth instead of Reiatsu now, and though he ruminates on how it would be tough for most people to talk after two years of their mouth being shut, Shunsui states that it should not be a problem for Aizen. Suddenly, Aizen confirms this and walks toward an astounded Shunsui.[14]
Shunsui offers to get Aizen out of Muken after using the other two keys on him.
With Shunsui alarmed at Aizen doing this with only his mouth unsealed, Aizen stands before him in the remnants of his restraints and inquires if he is going to use his remaining two keys,[15] only for Shunsui to quickly insert two more keys into the locks on Aizen's left eye and ankle prior to asking how it feels for Aizen to be able to use those now. In turn, Aizen comments on how Shunsui has not changed much, with Shunsui uncertain about whether or not to take this as a compliment prior to asking Aizen if he wants to get out of here. When Aizen notes he did not ask to be let out, Shunsui counters that a man who wanted to stay would not tell him to use the other two keys.[16]
Shunsui reveals that the key to Muken has been embedded in his heart as a precaution.
However, Aizen points out that a man who does not want him to leave would not come with a key embedded in his own body, leading Shunsui to admit that Aizen saw right through him and get to his feet before pulling aside his kimono to reveal a surgical scar on his chest and revealing that embedding the key to Muken in his heart was the condition for being allowed to come here and partially unlock Aizen's restraints. In turn, Aizen deduces that this will leave the gate to Muken sealed forever if Shunsui dies and that Central 46 thought he would go so far as to kill Shunsui for the key, which he considers typical of them.[17]
Shunsui reveals several attendants and a chair that he intends to transport Aizen in.
Attributing this to the Central 46 simply wanting to protect the wellbeing of Soul Society, Shunsui encourages Aizen to leave it at that and takes a step to the left to reveal a row of attendants and a transportable chair with a crossed back behind him, which he invites Aizen to sit on so they can carry him up to the surface of the replaced Seireitei. With Shunsui assuming that Aizen misses breathing the fresh air of Soul Society, Aizen simply stares at him and remains silent. Suddenly, one of the attendants behind Shunsui begs his pardon and rushes forward with a length of fabric in his hands as he asserts that he must bind Aizen before he is seated.[18]
One of the attendants has his fingers erased upon getting too close to Aizen.
Before Shunsui can react, the attendant's fingertips are erased upon getting too close to Aizen, leaving him screaming in pain and confusion while his blood sprays profusely from his ten finger stumps. In response, Aizen calls him foolish for not realizing the restraints merely condense his Reiatsu around his body instead of eliminating it, which causes organic matter that gets close to him to be vaporized, as one of the drops of blood is erased upon touching the Reiatsu barrier around his eye. After turning back to Shunsui, Aizen questions if the former really believes he will fight for the sake of Soul Society, but Shunsui merely claims that he believes they have similar interests.[19]
The shadowy Mimihagi confronts Yhwach after wrapping itself around the Soul King.
Calling Shunsui amusing, Aizen looks down and wonders if Shunsui really wants him to breathe the air of a Soul Society that is still about to be crushed by Yhwach.[20] Meanwhile, in the Greater Soul King Palace above, as Ichigo and his friends watch in disbelief, Yhwach deduces that Mimihagi is part of the Soul King because he cannot see it with The Almighty. After questioning if Mimihagi's time in Soul Society led it to become protective of the Shinigami, Yhwach demands an answer from it, but Mimihagi merely curves the shape of its eye downward like an inverted smile in response, which only makes Yhwach even angrier.[12]
Yhwach attacks Mimihagi with blue flames, which it counters by exerting its own Reiatsu.
Yhwach recites the legend of the Soul King's left hand controlling advancement and his right hand controlling stillness, which means the Soul King is simply hanging onto his life by a thread with this, and begins approaching Mimihagi while releasing a radial shockwave that briefly inverts the colors of the surrounding area when Ichigo tells him to wait. Once he admits that he never thought Mimihagi would stand in his way, Yhwach lunges forward and begins blasting blue flames from his hand toward Mimihagi, who responds by exerting its own Reiatsu in expanding circles that repel the flames behind Yhwach and out of the Greater Soul King Palace.[12]
Ichigo shatters the Blut on his arm in time to intercept Yhwach's next attack.
As Yoruichi mentally notes that Mimihagi is the Soul King's right arm, Yhwach wonders why someone who could foresee the future would attempt to interfere with his right arm and inquires if the Soul King's will does not reside within Mimihagi. With Yhwach preparing to blast away both the Soul King and Mimihagi, a grimacing Ichigo yells while shattering the Blut covering his right arm, which allows him to drop Yhwach's Reishi Sword and intercept Yhwach by grabbing the latter's right arm with his left hand before Yhwach can complete his attack, creating a shockwave and dispelling the energy that Yhwach gathered.[12]
Yoruichi sets up the Sankotsu no Jufu around Mimihagi to solidify it as the new Soul King.
In response, Yhwach questions if Ichigo truly intends to oppose him even now while Yoruichi runs past them, places the Chizeimon, Tesshimon, and Kozanmon sheets around Mimihagi and the Soul King, and thanks Ichigo before setting up the Sankotsu no Jufu between the sheets and revealing that she intends to solidify Mimihagi as the new Soul King with this because it has stabilized Soul Society. With Orihime and Ganju cheering her on, Yoruichi instructs Ichigo to not let Yhwach get any closer, which prompts Ichigo to release Yhwach's arm so he can grab the larger sword of Zangetsu with both hands.[12]
Yhwach blocks Ichigo's slash with Blut Vene after Ichigo withstands his Heilig Pfeil.
Ichigo attempts to fire a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō, but Yhwach quickly forms a massive Heilig Pfeil between his hands and unleashes it before Ichigo can complete his attack, creating a powerful blast of energy that surges off the side of the Greater Soul King Palace as Orihime and Sado call out to Ichigo. However, the clearing smoke reveals Ichigo standing with only light scratches, having blocked the projectile with his sword, and a smirking Yoruichi informs Yhwach that the future he saw will never come to be. When Yhwach raises his hand again, Ichigo slashes down with his sword, forcing Yhwach to block with Blut Vene in his wrist.[12]
Uryū shoots Yoruichi in the back after sneaking up on his friends.
Though Yhwach tells him to move, Ichigo reminds Yhwach that he is here to stop the latter from destroying the Three Worlds, but Yhwach questions why Ichigo only intends to "stop" his sworn enemy and claims that his inability to vow to kill the man who killed his mother is a sign of his weakness. Left aghast at this, an angered Ichigo rears back to attack Yhwach again, only for a Heilig Pfeil to hurtle in from outside the chamber and embed itself in Yoruichi's back, shocking everyone other than Yhwach as they turn to see Uryū standing outside the chamber with his Heilig Bogen formed and pointed at them.[12]
Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Uryū Ishida[]
Yhwach blasts Ichigo away with a shockwave from his hand while approaching Mimihagi.
Suddenly, due to her lack of concentration, the inner barrier of Sankotsu no Jufu begins to crack and explodes before a panicking Yoruichi can fix it, exposing the Soul King and Mimihagi within. With a cursing Yoruichi pulling the Heilig Pfeil out of her back, Ichigo demands to know what Uryū is doing, but is startled when Yhwach bypasses him to approach Mimihagi and attempts to stop him, leading Yhwach to blast Ichigo several meters away with a shockwave from his hand prior to reaching the Soul King's crystal. However, Yhwach's attempt to reach for Mimihagi is interrupted when Yoruichi hits him with several Destructive Spheres.[12]
Pernida Parnkgjas forcibly twists and mutilates Yoruichi's arm at Yhwach's command.
As the residue trails off of an unmoving Yhwach, Yoruichi explains that the second set of spheres will destroy whatever the first set hits and pulls them out on a rope. In response, Yhwach calls upon Sternritter "C" Pernida Parnkgjas, who appears behind Yoruichi with its eyes glowing and forcibly twists and mutilates her left arm so she can no longer throw the Destructive Spheres. After blasting a stunned Yoruichi off the side of the Greater Soul King Palace with another shockwave, leaving her to fall into the sky below, Yhwach touches the outer barrier of Sankotsu no Jufu, causing it to crack around and underneath his hand.[12]
Yhwach rips Mimihagi off of the Soul King after Uryū moves Ichigo away from him.
When Ichigo moves behind Yhwach with Shunpo and prepares to attack him once more, Uryū fires another Heilig Pfeil at him from the side, forcing Ichigo to cut through it instead and be pushed several feet away from Yhwach by its momentum. With Ichigo shocked to be staring down Uryū, Yhwach commends the latter and brutally rips the shadowy Mimihagi off of the Soul King, which causes the Greater Soul King Palace to begin listing and creates a huge diagonal fissure in the side, with Sado having to catch Ganju by the collar when he almost falls off and Pernida being left to topple off the side of the rubble.[12]
Ichigo cuts through the Heilig Pfeil' that Uryū fires at him after he moves.
Standing on a level apart from Orihime, Sado, and Ganju, Uryū tells Ichigo to not interfere with Yhwach, only for Ichigo to demand once more to know what Uryū thinks he is doing. As his friends watch in disbelief, Uryū pulls back another Heilig Pfeil and warns them that he will shoot if any of them move. A grimacing Ichigo steps forward, prompting Uryū to fire the Heilig Pfeil, and after slashing through it with his larger sword, a frustrated Ichigo inquires if Uryū knows why he and his friends are here. In turn, Uryū states that he heard they came here to stop Yhwach and simply asserts that he does not intend to let this happen.[12]
Ichigo prepares to battle Uryū after learning that he is choosing to side with Yhwach.
Though Ichigo declares Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo will cease to exist if they do not stop Yhwach, Uryū merely asks if Ichigo thinks he has come here without knowing that, leaving Ichigo stunned at the notion that he has known the whole time and questioning why Uryū is standing on that side when he knows what is going to happen and why his friends are here. After Uryū claims he is siding with Yhwach because he is a Quincy, an aghast Ichigo can only grip his larger sword with both hands and assume a combat stance while Uryū pulls back two more Heilig Pfeil and promises they can only stop Yhwach when he is dead.[12]
Orihime, Yasutora Sado, and Ganju Shiba are confronted by the Schutzstaffel.
Nearby, Sternritter "M" Gerard Valkyrie flies up with Pernida under his arm as Sternritter "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar and "X" Lille Barro join him in converging around Orihime, Sado, and Ganju while the wings of their Quincy: Vollständigs disappear. When Gerard notes that he expected a massive army to be trying to stop Yhwach, an irate Ganju proclaims that the three of them are an army by themselves, piquing Gerard's interest as Ganju tells Orihime and Sado that they can do this. Nearby, Ichigo runs through the billowing clouds of dust toward Uryū and cuts through his two Heilig Pfeil before coming down on him with a vertical slash.[12]
Uryū demonstrates the ability to fire Heilig Pfeil from the wake of his hands.
Backstepping away from this, Uryū ducks underneath Ichigo's follow-up slash and proceeds to fire over a dozen point-blank Heilig Pfeil at Ichigo by simply swiping his hands through the air and generating them in the wake of his movements, leaving Ichigo shocked at his ability to create them without a Heilig Bogen. After bumping shoulders with Ichigo, Uryū evades a quick slash of his smaller sword and leaps high into the air to unleash Licht Regen, bombarding Ichigo with a hail of Heilig Pfeil that breaks the ground beneath him and drops him into a lower chamber, where Ichigo pushes the rubble off himself after a few seconds.[12]
Ichigo unconsciously shields himself with Blut Vene, to Uryū's astonishment.
Suddenly, a Heilig Pfeil hurtles out of the darkness behind Ichigo, forcing him to quickly leap away, and when he runs over to its source, Ichigo discovers that Uryū has vanished just before the latter begins firing dozens more Heilig Pfeil upward through the ground beneath Ichigo's feet. As Ichigo runs along the floor and narrowly evades these projectiles, Uryū capitalizes on him briefly looking to the side by firing a Heilig Pfeil directly at his head that grazes the left side of his face, but is astonished to see Ichigo unconsciously shield himself against the blow with Blut Vene running up from his left collarbone and shoulder.[12]
Ichigo pins down Uryū with his larger sword after catching him off-guard with a Getsuga Tenshō.
Ichigo fires a Getsuga Tenshō that Uryū barely dodges at the last second, leaving it to burst through the side of the Greater Soul King Palace, and when he rolls to a stop on the ground, Ichigo reappears above him with the larger blade of Zangetsu pointed at his head and declares that he has got Uryū. After several seconds, Ichigo pulls back his sword, reaches down, and grabs Uryū by the collar while demanding that he stop fooling around, only for Uryū to tell him the same because Ichigo had the perfect opportunity to kill him just now. Though Ichigo insists that he would not do this because Uryū is his friend, Uryū reiterates that he is a Quincy.[12]
Uryū activates his Quincy: Vollständig and prepares to resume his battle with Ichigo.
With Ichigo angered by his insistence that this is all that matters, Uryū concludes that the world does not need Shinigami and covers his body in Blut before activating his Quincy: Vollständig and absorbing a great quantity of Reishi with Sklaverei, which grants him flechette-shaped gauntlets and boots as well as angular, flechette-bearing wings. Deciding to show Ichigo his resolve, Uryū generates hundreds of flechette-shaped Heilig Pfeil that swirl in a circle around himself as he floats in the air before Ichigo. Down in the replaced Seireitei, Ukitake's body twitches as he continues to maintain Kamikake within Urahara's laboratory.[12]
Kisuke Urahara warns the technicians that they need to focus on Mimihagi.
At the nearby monitors, a flustered Hiyosu informs Akon that the Shutara Scale readings on the border have become unstable, and when Akon wonders if it could be the Hollows again, Niko Kuna notes that there has been no increase or decrease in their population to account for that. On the platform behind them, Urahara observes that it is not an issue with the balance of Souls between the Three Worlds and indicates that they need to keep their eye on Mimihagi instead, as the right hand of the Soul King governs stillness, which leads Akon to realize that Ukitake is the one holding the Three Worlds together right now.[12]
Uryū begins his attack on Ichigo by firing hundreds of Heilig Pfeil at him.
Urahara elaborates that becoming one with Mimihagi is a process fueled by Ukitake's life force and that stabilizing the Three Worlds in place of the Soul King taxes that immeasurably. With Rukia looking away sadly, Urahara insists that they must hurry. Back in the Soul King Palace, Haschwalth walks over to the edge of the broken floor above Ichigo and looks down at him and Uryū while Ichigo stares in disbelief at Uryū's Quincy: Vollständig, which Uryū confirms is his new power prior to sending his flechette Heilig Pfeil hurtling toward Ichigo, where they extend thin spikes that fire energy beams toward him.[12]
Ichigo is overwhelmed by a barrage of beams from Uryū's Heilig Pfeil as they swarm him.
Shifting into a defensive posture, Ichigo begins rapidly slashing through and blocking the Heilig Pfeil and their beams using both swords, with Uryū directing their motions and maneuvers by twisting and rotating his right hand. As Ichigo's counters grow more frantic, several beams fired in succession from above him overwhelm his defense and start striking his armor until they knock his smaller sword out of his left hand, forcing Ichigo to run after it and blast a hole in the side of the Greater Soul King Palace with another Getsuga Tenshō in order to fly outside with Shunpo as dozens of Heilig Pfeil pursue him.[12]
Orihime blocks and redirects Gerard Valkyrie's flying slash with Santen Kesshun.
Meanwhile, Ganju leaps into the air and throws out several firecrackers to unleash Shiba-shiki Shaka Sendan: Senpen Banka, enveloping the area in front of the Schutzstaffel with fireworks. When an annoyed Gerard draws his Spirit Weapon, Hoffnung, and sends a flying slash at Ganju through the smoke to dispel it, Orihime leaps in front of him and blocks the slash with Santen Kesshun, redirecting it upward. Grinning at this, Gerard fires off another slash, but Sado rushes forward and manifests Brazo Izquierda del Diablo to counter it with a punch that releases a shockwave.[12]
Ganju traps the Schutzstaffel in Renkan Seppa Sen after distracting them.
Though Askin claims to be scared and Lille chastises them for underestimating the Schutzstaffel if they believe this will be enough to take them down, Ganju confirms that they do not and initiates Renkan Seppa Sen, which turns a large area of the ground around and underneath the Schutzstaffel into a sand pit that sucks them under the surface before collapsing into the floor beneath it. However, as Ganju cheers his success and asks Orihime if she saw how cool he was, the structure around them rumbles prior to Gerard, Askin, Lille, and Pernida flying back out with their partial Quincy: Vollständigs reactivated while Gerard laughs heartily.[12]
Mimihagi stops Yhwach from approaching the Soul King by holding him back with its Reiatsu.
With Lille admitting that this was well played on Ganju's part, Askin warns him and his friends that they made a fatal mistake if this is everything they have got as Pernida's eyes glow, to the shock of Orihime, Sado, and Ganju. Simultaneously, when Yhwach attempts to reach for the Soul King's crystal, the seemingly defeated Mimihagi arches over him and exerts its Reiatsu as crackling electricity to hold him back. Down in Urahara's laboratory, Rukia sees faint amounts of steam emitting from Ukitake's twitching body and realizes that he is still fighting, prompting a grieving Sentarō to lament their inability to help.[12]
Ichigo destroys dozens of Uryū's Heilig Pfeil with several Getsuga Tenshōs.
Though 4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu urges Ukitake to stop this because of how much damage it is doing to his body and tries to run over to him, her sister, 13th Division 3d Seat Kiyone Kotetsu, grabs her by the arm and tearfully shakes her head. While Yhwach struggles to break through Mimihagi's defense, Ichigo continues flying away from Uryū's Heilig Pfeil and eventually begins blasting through groups of them with Getsuga Tenshōs, allowing him to redirect toward Uryū himself. When the latter insists that Ichigo must give up because he cannot win and begins firing dozens of beams from the Heilig Pfeil around him, Ichigo tells him to shut up.[12]
Ichigo defends himself from Uryū's Heilig Pfeil while questioning his stated motives.
Veering to the left to evade the beams while they track him in a straight line, Ichigo slashes through the last one and proclaims that he is never going to let this go, and as Uryū begins directing the Heilig Pfeil to swarm around Ichigo and attack him intermittently, Ichigo responds by cutting through all the Heilig Pfeil that get close to him while dismissing Uryū's claim of siding with Yhwach solely because he is a Quincy as ridiculous. With Uryū asserting that he does not need Ichigo to understand, Ichigo continues defending himself and questions if Uryū is really going to kill him now because of this.[12]
Uryū refuses to forgive the one who set the thousand-year grudge in motion.
After bringing up how Sōken Ishida thought it would be possible for Shinigami and Quincy to coexist, Uryū admits that he once believed this as well, only to claim he was wrong while Ichigo blasts through dozens more of the Heilig Pfeil with a Getsuga Tenshō. Uryū recounts how he read Sōken's journal detailing the thousand-year duration of their grudge and Yhwach biding his time for his return while the Quincy left behind, including Sōken, were slaughtered by the Shinigami before Ichigo flies out of the cloud of smoke above him. Musing that it was always Quincy blood that was spilled, Uryū refuses to forgive the one who took everything from him.[12]
Uryū arranges his Heilig Pfeil in a cage around Ichigo that he proceeds to detonate.
Suddenly, Uryū gathers the Heilig Pfeil into a circular cage comprised of pentagonal formations around Ichigo, who sees the Heilig Pfeil glowing and angrily screams Uryū's name just before Uryū clenches his hand, causing the cage to detonate in a five-pronged explosion. Elsewhere, Gerard promises to take on Orihime, Sado, and Ganju all at once if they do not attack first, which Askin encourages him to do, and grasps Hoffnung prior to reappearing in front of the trio with Hirenkyaku. In turn, Sado quickly manifests his right Fullbring, Brazo Derecha de Gigante, and intercepts Gerard's slash that sends them flying back.[12]
Uryū decides to finish the battle with Sternenstaub, a massive Reishi projectile.
Afterwards, in the clearing smoke, a panting Ichigo stands largely unscathed before Uryū, who decides to finish it and demonstrate his resolve by setting up Sternenstaub, a massive five-pronged projectile that he draws back like a bow. When Uryū asks him where his honor is, a reluctant Ichigo lets his Reiatsu flow over his swords and fires Getsuga Jūjishō just as Uryū unleashes Sternenstaub, causing the two projectiles to collide in a massive clash of energy. Ultimately, the Getsuga Jūjishō overwhelms the Sternenstaub and pushes it back toward Uryū, who calmly stands in place while the Getsuga Jūjishō narrowly bypasses him.[12]
Uryū punches a large and jagged hole through Ichigo's side with a single Heilig Pfeil.
Calling Ichigo naïve, Uryū nods once Ichigo insists on trying to save him and their friendship. With Yhwach continuing to struggle against Mimihagi in the Soul King's chamber nearby, Uryū manifests his Heilig Bogen and creates a normal Heilig Pfeil in his hand, which he draws back, as he refuses to let Ichigo kill Yhwach. Just as Ichigo prepares to attack him, Uryū fires the Heilig Pfeil through Ichigo's upper right side, leaving a large, jagged, and bloody hole while an aghast Ichigo falls out of the sky. Atop the Greater Soul King Palace, Gerard laughs heartily and accepts Uryū as one of the Schutzstaffel as Haschwalth stares down at him.[12]
Yhwach rips apart Mimihagi after criticizing it as far inferior to what he has become.
Meanwhile, in the Soul King's chamber, Yhwach criticizes Mimihagi for wanting to consume him, the child of the Soul King, prior to Mimihagi closing its hand around Yhwach and ceasing the discharge of its Reiatsu. However, Yhwach reaches up and pulls apart Mimihagi's eye while declaring that the Soul King did not account for the difference in their power when foreseeing the future and asserts that Mimihagi is far inferior to what he is now. With Yhwach ripping apart the shadowy Mimihagi and dispersing its pieces into the air, Ukitake's body writhes in Urahara's laboratory below, to the concern of those present.[12]
Yhwach absorbs the Soul King after combining the power of his Schutzstaffel into a sword strong enough to cut through the crystal encasing him.
As his Schutzstaffel gather behind him, Yhwach approaches the Soul King and states that his role is finished because the Quincy King will reclaim the world to create a new one. Raising his hand, Yhwach commands the Schutzstaffel to give him all that they are, prompting Uryū, Pernida, Lille, Haschwalth, Gerard, and Askin to raise Reishi swords into the air above their heads, which Yhwach coalesces into a broadsword that he slashes through the Soul King's crystal, shattering it. After the two halves of the Soul King levitate in front of him, Yhwach announces that he will take everything that is the Soul King and restore the world to the way it should be while absorbing the Soul King into himself, creating a dense tornado of energy that dissipates to reveal a kneeling Yhwach, covered in darkness, who sprouts multiple eyes on his face.[12]
Return of Sōsuke Aizen[]
The darkness released from Yhwach's body slams into the Shakonmaku.
Moments afterward, a kneeling Yhwach's body ripples before darkness surges out of it and across the floor, past his alarmed and confused Schutzstaffel, to erupt from the bottom of the structure and hurtle downward. Simultaneously, within Urahara's laboratory in the replaced Seireitei, alarm bells ring and warnings flash on the screen while the Shinigami inside learn that a massive Reiatsu is approaching from above. Seconds later, the dark mass slams into the Shakonmaku with enough force to shake the entire city and begins dripping through the hole on one side left by Mimihagi's passage.[21]
Suì-Fēng is swept up by the tide of eyeball creatures before she can fire her Bankai.
When Renji questions what this was, Ikkaku points out the darkness entering the city from above, prompting Suì-Fēng to realize that it is going to engulf the city and rush outside while activating her Bankai, Jakuhō Raikōben, in an attempt to destroy it. Before she can fire the missile, the darkness engulfs Suì-Fēng alongside several buildings, taking the form of millions of small creatures with a single eyeball each crawling over structures, as the unseated Shinigami run away in fear alongside Shino Madarame and Ryūnosuke Yuki, who struggle to outpace the surging horde of eyeball creatures encompassing the buildings.[21]
The eyeball creatures sweep up hundreds of Shinigami and try to consume them.
Having moved outside the laboratory, Ikkaku, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, and Hisagi are bewildered by the tide of eyeball creatures prior to getting swept up in it alongside many other Shinigami, who find the creatures chewing on them and scream in pain. With the tide bursting through the windows of the surrounding buildings while it floods the streets, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Hisagi pop up in the middle of it, where Hisagi pulls one of the creatures off of himself and realizes that it is trying to eat him. Alarmed by this, Ikkaku proclaims that they must protect the laboratory from the creatures.[21]
Shūhei Hisagi and Ikkaku Madarame attempt to hold back the tide with their Shikai.
Hisagi, Ikkaku, and Yumichika release their respective Shikai, Kazeshini, Hōzukimaru, and Fuji Kujaku, to begin fiercely cutting through the tide of creatures, though they only succeed in briefly repelling one of the waves. As Yumichika sees another wave approaching and asserts that they are anything but beautiful, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki emerges from the laboratory with Renji and Rukia to release his own Shikai, Senbonzakura, unleashing a massive horde of blade petals that slam into the next wave of eyeball creatures and cuts through it for several blocks with great force.[21]
Aizen swiftly crushes the eyeball creatures with his overwhelmingly intense Reiatsu.
However, the wave ultimately overwhelms Senbonzakura and resumes its course toward the Shinigami, leaving Rukia in disbelief while Urahara stares nervously at the screens in the laboratory. Suddenly, before the wave can reach the laboratory, it clamps down and solidifies in a large mass, and after Renji initially expresses confusion, he is struck by the sensation of a powerful Reiatsu that crushes the eyeball creatures into paste on the ground. Bracing herself against this, Rukia looks up in shock to see the eyeball creatures receding around Aizen, who sits on his chair and criticizes the Shinigami for fighting with their Zanpakutō instead of their Reiatsu.[21]
The Shinigami are shocked by Shunsui's decision to release Aizen from Muken.
Noting that it has been a while since he saw Rukia, Aizen congratulates her on her promotion to lieutenant and claims to be glad that she was rewarded for her distinguished service. When Rukia demands to know why he is here, Aizen reveals that his sentence was lifted just before Shunsui steps in to claim responsibility, to the shock of those present. Shunsui observes that everyone must be wondering why and explains that he decided that they need Aizen's help, prompting Renji to protest this, Ikkaku to refuse to go along with Aizen's assistance, and Yumichika to affirm that it is unacceptable considering what he has done.[22]
Shunsui asserts that the Gotei 13 cannot rely on honor to save the world with.
However, once Suì-Fēng calls this disgraceful, Shunsui lowers the brim of his hat and inquires if this is about defending their own honor, to the surprise of the Shinigami, before informing them that honor will not help the Gotei 13 protect the world and concluding that using evil to defeat evil is not an evil act itself. With the Shinigami silenced by this, Aizen muses that the matter seems to be settled and suggests that Shunsui undo the restraints on his hands so he can get out of the chair, but Shunsui bluntly refuses, leading an annoyed Aizen to question if Shunsui intends for him to get rid of the remaining creatures while sitting down.[23]
Aizen initiates a massive Hadō #90. Kurohitsugi in order to destroy the remaining creatures.
As Shunsui states that he believes Aizen can accomplish this, Aizen counters that he is being given too much credit since he does not have that kind of power right now, but while another horde of the eyeball creatures descends upon them from above, Shunsui clarifies that he does not believe Aizen will sit by and watch them gnaw on his body prior to the horde smashing into Aizen's condensed Reiatsu and being blown apart by it. Walking away as Aizen lambasts his attitude, an initially flippant Shunsui is startled and orders everyone to run back to the laboratory just before Aizen initiates a massive Hadō #90. Kurohitsugi.[24]
The conclusion of Aizen's Kurohitsugi leaves the surrounding area flattened and lifeless.
Down in the laboratory after everyone retreats, Byakuya warns Shunsui that his freeing of Aizen is a grave insult to the rest of the Gotei 13, only for Shunsui to acknowledge this and request that they beat him up over it only after they all save the Seireitei. Above them, Kurohitsugi concludes, leaving a wide area around the laboratory flattened and lifeless, where an astounded Urahara observes that the spell causing this much damage without an incantation means Aizen may be even more powerful than he was during his battle against Ichigo as Renji realizes that this means he may have grown stronger within Muken.[25]
Suì-Fēng asserts that they need to destroy the canopy of darkness covering the Shakonmaku.
Nearby, Aizen comments on his chair being intact despite being struck by Kurohitsugi and muses that it is made from the same material as his cross in Muken, which amuses him. When Suì-Fēng levels Jakuhō Raikōben and asserts that they have to destroy the canopy of darkness over the Shakonmaku, Aizen assures her that this will not be necessary and details how the gravity from Kurohitsugi created a fissure in the canopy which will make it collapse when struck by his Reiatsu. With a powerful wind swirling around him, Aizen informs the Shinigami that the eyeball creatures were formed by Yhwach's power.[21]
Aizen exerts his Reiatsu as he offers to shoot down the Soul King Palace for the Shinigami.
In response to Aizen theorizing that the creatures poured out as a result of Yhwach trying to absorb the Soul King's power, Urahara questions why he believes this, prompting Aizen to point out the change in Aizen's Reiatsu and conclude that it will take time for even the Quincy King to fully contain the Soul King's power. Moreover, when Rukia asks Urahara if there is any way to reach the Soul King Palace and Urahara begins explaining his method, Aizen declares that this will not be necessary either because he will simply shoot down the Soul King Palace if they need to reach it and begins exerting his Reiatsu in a powerful beam.[21]
Mayuri Kurotsuchi reveals that Aizen's restraints keep his Reiatsu confined as well.
Aizen's Reiatsu pierces the Shakonmaku and disperses the darkness covering it while Hisagi wonders if this is even possible for Aizen to do. With Shunsui holding Rukia back from approaching Aizen, the latter's Reiatsu suddenly disappears just as it begins to intensify, leaving Aizen startled while Shunsui informs him that the technology restraining his Reiatsu is immensely strong and warns him against underestimating the peak of Soul Society's development. As Shunsui turns to him for confirmation, Mayuri approaches them from the rooftop behind Shunsui and affirms that he never intended to eliminate Reiatsu.[26]
Aizen is struck by The Underbelly before he can test the limits of Mayuri's technology.
Elaborating that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute's efforts were instead spent on restraining Reiatsu alongside the body, which he controls the extent of, Mayuri holds up a small medallion with markings and mocks Aizen for believing that his power could surpass Mayuri's technology before admitting that while he does not know if Aizen can shoot down the Soul King Palace, it would be embarrassing for him to do so while wearing Mayuri's restraints. Suddenly, as Aizen suggests that Mayuri set the restraints to maximum in order to see whether they or his own power are stronger, he is struck by The Underbelly, to his surprise.[27]
Enemies Aligned[]
A shocked Aizen is paralyzed when NaNaNa Najahkoop attacks the holes in his Reiatsu.
Atop the corner of a nearby building, Sternritter "U" NaNaNa Najahkoop stands with a U-shaped symbol of energy dissipating on his hand and brags about having thoroughly observed Aizen's Reiatsu, which is full of holes potentially due to his restraints, prior to explaining how he can measure the distribution and poke those holes to completely strip through Aizen's defenses. After concluding that it will be especially easy because Aizen cannot move, NaNaNa swipes his hand through the air, which causes spikes of energy to hit the holes in Aizen's Reiatsu and strip him of it, rendering him paralyzed and leaving him limp in his chair.[28]
The Shinigami are confronted by more Sternritter and several zombified Shinigami.
NaNaNa expresses disbelief that Aizen is still conscious, and while Bazz-B, Liltotto, and Giselle join him on the rooftop, NaNaNa observes that Aizen still will not be able to move for a while and asserts that he needs to sit back because the Sternritter cannot have him shooting down the Soul King Palace. Complaining about the poor timing for enemies to show up, Shunsui instructs Urahara to start building the gate to the Soul King Palace while they handle this situation, which Urahara quickly complies with while dozens of zombified Shinigami surround the living ones on all sides by emerging from the surrounding rubble.[21]
NaNaNa reveals that the Sternritter intend to ensure Yhwach can complete his mission.
With Mayuri admitting surprise at seeing Giselle alive, which she responds to by sticking her tongue out at him, and musing that it takes one zombie to control another zombie, Shunsui calls out to the Sternritter and agrees with them on not wanting the Soul King Palace shot down prior to suggesting that they could join forces, but NaNaNa clarifies that they can only not have the Soul King Palace shot down while Yhwach is still there. As a disappointed Shunsui prepares to fight instead, NaNaNa arrogantly questions if Shunsui believes that he can take them all on and announces that he has already observed the Reiatsu of all the Shinigami present.[29]
Bazz-B shoots NaNaNa through the chest with Burner Finger 1 before he can continue.
However, before NaNaNa can finish his sentence, Bazz-B shoots him through the chest with a Burner Finger 1 from behind, to the shock of those watching, and leaves an aghast NaNaNa to fall off the building, where his body lands hard on the rubble below. When Shunsui voices his confusion, Bazz-B asserts that they are going to help the Shinigami and moves to the ground below with Liltotto and Giselle, where he details how the Wandenreich existing in the shadows of the Seireitei means that they cannot let the Soul King Palace crash into it. In response to Mayuri questioning the idea of them being trustworthy or helping without a price, Bazz-B denies this.[30]
Bazz-B reveals that he, Liltotto, and Giselle will help in exchange for being brought along.
Bazz-B clarifies that they do want something in return, and after Liltotto promises that they will not get in the way of the Shinigami, which includes keeping the other Sternritter at bay, Bazz-B asks that they be taken to the Soul King Palace as well so they can kill Yhwach for abandoning them.[31] Some time later, while Grimmjow steps forward and cracks his neck within a Garganta, Shunsui looks out over the rubble of the replaced Seireitei and laments the situation prior to being informed by Akon that they are ready to send a message across the city, which prompts Shunsui to open his Denreishinki.[21]
Zennosuke Kurumadani helps a wounded Shinigami walk toward the SRDI.
Addressing all able-bodied personnel of the Gotei 13, Shunsui orders them to travel to the former site of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute as quickly as they can, with 13th Division 10th Seat Zennosuke Kurumadani stepping in to help up a Shinigami too wounded to stand on his own. When the Shinigami points out his own injuries after Zennosuke hoists his arm over his shoulders, a laughing Zennosuke claims that they are nothing and begins walking with him. With Rikichi Yuki receiving the same order, the other unseated Shinigami begin helping each other reach the SRDI as Mayuri presses a button, causing something to rise from his laboratory.[21]
Mayuri brings out a massive platform from which to initiate Urahara's plan.
Elsewhere, Shino walks with Yuki, whose arm is held over her shoulders, and when Yuki insists that she can let him go now, Shino refuses to leave him behind, only for Yuki to clarify that he can walk on his own now and free himself from her grasp to walk ahead, leaving an initially stunned Shino to smile and playfully punch him in the arm prior to encouraging him to keep up. Moments later, Urahara is surprised to see Mayuri and Nemu rising up on a massive platform surrounded by equally large limbs. While hundreds of unseated Shinigami approach the platform, Shunsui reveals that he needs to borrow their Reiatsu for Urahara's plan to work.[21]
Nanao Ise confronts Kenpachi Zaraki and stops him from leaving to search for Yachiru.
On the ground below Mayuri and Nemu, Ikkaku and Yumichika are startled by the arrival of Kenpachi, who inquires about the whereabouts of his lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi. When Yumichika informs him that their subordinates have not sent any word back in the process of searching for her, Kenpachi scoffs and begins to walk away, but Nanao steps in front of him and responds to Kenpachi ordering her to move by pointing out that the other Shinigami can search for Yachiru much faster than Kenpachi can, in addition to Kenpachi's power being crucial for Urahara to build his gate and not being replaceable by the Shinigami searching for Yachiru.[21]
Shunsui addresses the remainder of the Gotei 13 and the three Sternritter.
With Nanao sternly concluding that he should focus on the task at hand and asking him if she is wrong, Kenpachi remains silent for several seconds before admitting she is probably right and turning back, leaving a sweating Nanao to sigh in relief. Later, the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13, as well as the three Sternritter, stand atop the platform before Shunsui, who thanks them for coming and announces that Yhwach has stolen the Soul King's power after ascending to the Soul King Palace. Musing that Soul Society and the entire world are on the brink of destruction, Shunsui also notes they do not know the status of Ichigo's group or the Royal Guard.[21]
Hiyori Sarugaki and the Visored arrive to assist with the creation of the gate.
Shunsui declares that this leaves them with the goal of defeating Yhwach, with past grudges being irrelevant, and asserts that there will only be a path for the Gotei 13 if they succeed prior to concluding that they will protect the world, which causes the crowd of Shinigami below to cheer uproariously. Walking toward the captains and lieutenants on the upper platform, Urahara explains that they will be creating a gate to connect this space to the Soul King Palace and allow them to storm it.[21] Nonplussed by this, Shinji is further alarmed when Hiyori Sarugaki approaches them from behind with her fellow Visored and a large teapot.[32]
Hiyori pours the liquid-like contents of the tea kettle into the basin to initiate Urahara's plan.
When Shinji demands to know why she is here, an irate Hiyori reminds him that they are here because he forced them to run his errands. Having been called "bald" once again by Hiyori, Shinji points out that he is not bald at all, and when Hiyori claims that she will just ignore the loud one with the bowl cut, Shinji attempts to trick Suì-Fēng into believing that Hiyori is referring to her, only for Suì-Fēng to coldly assert that she does not have a bowl cut and will kill Shinji. As Hiyori proceeds to pour the liquid-like contents of the teapot into the basin that the captains and lieutenants are standing in, Rukia observes that it does not feel wet.[33]
Urahara reveals the substance formed by the distortions will let them form the gate.
In turn, Urahara details how this substance was formed by the distortions between the Human World, Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the Dangai, making it the source of the energy that they will need to enter the Soul King Palace. After Hiyori announces that she is done, Urahara instructs her and the other Visored to put on their shihakushō in the autopsy room, and when Hiyori begins to protest this, Love Aikawa throws her over his shoulder and walks away with Lisa Yadōmaru and Hachigen Ushōda while reminding an indignant Hiyori that Kensei Muguruma and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi are putting their lives on the line.[34]
Aizen regains his faculties as the effects of The Underbelly finally wear off.
With Hiyori falling silent once Love asserts they cannot walk away like it is not their problem, Aizen opens his eyes, prompting Shunsui to express amazement at him already being able to move again. Musing that it is an exaggeration to say he can move, Aizen observes that now is the perfect time for Shunsui to kill him, only for Shunsui to bluntly state he would have done so long ago if it were that easy and lament Aizen only being paralyzed for five minutes after being hit by The Underbelly with his Reiatsu restrained. Though Shunsui claims to feel sorry for NaNaNa, Aizen reminds him there is no need to when this is the first time he has ever been paralyzed.[21]
Suì-Fēng admonishes Urahara for assuming that the Gotei 13 would flinch at his warning.
Shunsui instructs Aizen to wait there while the gate is created if he is not up for moving yet and departs as a crackling energy string forms a large gate in front of the captains and lieutenants. While stepping back from it, Urahara reveals that this method will only work as long as the hole created by Ichigo remains and admits that there might not be a way for anyone to return. When Suì-Fēng expresses frustration at him only telling them now, Urahara apologizes and asks her to not be upset, but Suì-Fēng clarifies that she is angered by Urahara's disrespect in assuming that the Gotei 13 would cower if he told them the truth earlier.[21]
Urahara prepares to take the captains and lieutenants through the completed gate.
As Suì-Fēng lectures Urahara for not knowing better despite being a former member of the Gotei 13, Rukia reminds him that they all feel the same way about fighting for the Gotei 13, and with Ukitake continuing to twitch in the chamber below, Kenpachi asserts that he only cares about being able to crush the Wandenreich rather than respect, the honor of the Gotei 13, or whether or not he can return once it is done. After Kenpachi tells him to get them to the Soul King Palace and stop wasting time, Urahara smiles and admits that he is right while Hiyori, Hachigen, Love, and Lisa solemnly put on their shihakushō.[21]
Ichigo wakes to find himself and his friends fully healed by Orihime.
On the ground below the platform, Aizen muses on Shinigami and Quincy joining forces not to protect Soul Society together, but instead to catch up to and destroy Yhwach, prior to asserting that Ichigo is truly insufferable for being the one to both defeat him and enter the Soul King Palace before him. Meanwhile, Ichigo bolts awake on the Gatonden while screaming Uryū's name, only to find himself fully healed and looking at Orihime, who expresses relief at him being awake and collapses into his arms, to his concern. Though Orihime claims that she is just hungry, Ganju reveals she has been healing them all without any rest.[21]
Kon reveals that he is still alive despite being battered by saving Ichigo.
Once Yoruichi confirms that Orihime restored her arm and healed all of Ichigo's injuries, which Orihime giggles at, Sado inquires if Uryū really shot him, and when Ichigo affirms this, Ganju wonders if Uryū has actually betrayed them. Before he can answer this, Ichigo notices a battered Kon lying nearby, leading Orihime to inform him that Kon saved Ichigo by inflating his body to catch the latter when he came falling down. Though a solemn Ichigo begins praying for him to rest in peace alongside his friends, a dizzy Kon springs up and demands that they not kill him off yet, surprising Ichigo with his survival.[21]
Ichigo sincerely thanks Kon for saving his life, to the latter's flustered confusion.
When Kon asserts that Ichigo should be grateful that Kon was hiding in his clothes, a smirking Ichigo picks up on Kon admitting to hiding and begins squeezing his head, which prompts Kon to threaten to inflate to his muscle form and attack him, only for Ichigo to sincerely thank him instead. With a flustered Kon berating Ichigo for not beating him up so his popularity can increase, Orihime, Sado, and Ganju smile as they watch Ichigo grin at this. Nearby, an upbeat Yoruichi invites them to mount a counterattack and embeds a stake in the ground as she warns the group that there is no telling when the world will collapse with how much time has passed.[21]
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez appears within the Garganta that opens on the Gatonden.
However, when Ichigo points out that they first have to figure out how to get back up to the Greater Soul King Palace when they cannot risk being observed from outside it, Yoruichi dismisses this and orders that the Garganta in front of her be opened, revealing Grimmjow as he greets a shocked Ichigo. Simultaneously, the energy swirling around Yhwach ceases, prompting Haschwalth to observe that it is over, and as the Schutzstaffel stare in astonishment, dozens of eyes form on Yhwach's goo-like body and extend tendrils to grab the buildings in the replaced Seireitei while Haschwalth proclaims it is now a new world.[21]
The Shinigami concentrate their Reiatsu into Urahara's orbs in order to build the gate.
Atop the platform raised by Mayuri, Urahara instructs the assembled Shinigami and Sternritter to hold out their hands, which medium-sized glass orbs proceed to manifest in. With those present focusing their Reiatsu into these orbs at Urahara's request, the arch of the gate forming behind Urahara begins to thicken and expand inward to form a full door, which he nods gratefully at. However, in Mayuri's laboratory below, the technicians are startled when the screens warn them of an unknown anomaly and the ground begins shaking, causing Kuna to lose her balance and fall to the ground within the laboratory.[35]
Urahara sees the Wandenreich city being stripped away and lifted upward.
As the Shinigami express shock at this, Urahara looks to the side to see the buildings of the Wandenreich city being lifted into the air by a black eye-bearing substance, leading him and the others to realize that it is being stripped away. When Suì-Fēng questions why this is happening and what the Quincy intend to do, a frustrated Shinji points out how they can only barely begin to build one gate by comparison and demands to know if the Wandenreich have any limits to what they can do. Seeing the gate beginning to grow translucent enough to show the city and rubble behind itself, Urahara asserts that they must hurry.[35]
Grimmjow confronts Ichigo for the first time since their last battle.
Meanwhile, after maliciously greeting Ichigo and leaping out of the Garganta to land in front of him, Grimmjow comments on how long it has been since they last met and observes that the wound he left Ichigo with in their last battle has healed, prompting Ichigo to confirm this and admit that Grimmjow looks good as well, before inquiring if Ichigo believed he was dead and drawing his Zanpakutō to slash at the ground next to him, which creates a shockwave that washes over Ichigo's startled friends. With Ichigo readying the larger sword of Zangetsu, Grimmjow claims that he would never die before being able to kill Ichigo.[36]
Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck reveals that she can now return to her adult form voluntarily.
However, with Grimmjow eagerly declaring that he has waited for this moment to settle the score with him, he is swiftly and unceremoniously interrupted when Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck's breasts smack into his head from behind while she hurtles toward a startled Ichigo in her adult form and cheerfully calls out to him. Astonished by this, Ichigo is knocked down and pushed several meters back on the ground by Nelliel, who asserts that she has been waiting so long for him and explains that Urahara made a bracelet emblazoned with ram horns which allows her to switch between her child and adult forms at will and without issue.[37]
Sado assures Orihime that Urahara only had good intentions when making the bracelet.
As Nelliel notes that she can now be of help to Ichigo and will probably never go back to her child self so long as she wears the bracelet, Sado notices a stunned Orihime blushing intensely and infers that she is wondering why Urahara keeps making unnecessary things. Though Sado assures her that Urahara is simply doing the best he can, Orihime frantically tells Sado to not be silly because she would never think anything like that. Meanwhile, Grimmjow demands that Nelliel get out of his way, only for Nelliel to counter that this is her line since Grimmjow has no business coming here to start a fight with Ichigo.[38]
Riruka Dokugamine orders Ichigo, his friends, and the Arrancar to get inside the elevator.
Despite this, when Nelliel reminds him that she was the Tres Espada and consequently has no reason to take orders from a Sexta Espada, Grimmjow points out that those numbers do not mean anything with Aizen gone and suggests that they find out which one of them is superior right now. Before Ichigo can intervene, Riruka Dokugamine addresses the group through a speaker system and wonders if she is surrounded by idiots because this is not what they came here to do. The Garganta draws back further to reveal a box-shaped elevator and a door on it swings open to reveal Riruka, who orders them to get inside before they are spotted.[39]
Riruka and Yukio Hans Vorarlberna's elevator becomes "Locked" after everyone boards.
Having recognized both Riruka's voice and the form of the elevator, Ichigo is astonished to see her and Yukio Hans Vorarlberna, who leans out of the doorway and announces that he is here, as well as that the elevator was made with his Fullbring, Digital Radial Invaders. Though overjoyed to see them alive, Ichigo expresses confusion as to why Riruka and Yukio are here, leading Yukio to tell him to get onboard so they can explain everything. Once everyone has boarded the elevator, its status changes from "Open" to "Locked" while Yoruichi asks Ichigo about what parts of the situation he needs explained to him.[40]
Ichigo is astonished to learn that he is the only one who did not know about this.
In response, a flabbergasted Ichigo proclaims that she needs to explain every single thing and assumes that Orihime and Sado are as lost as he is, but an embarrassed Orihime admits that they were told about this while in Hueco Mundo and Sado apologizes, which prompts Ichigo to realize that they were holding back Grimmjow on the call with Urahara before he went up to the Soul King Palace for the first time and sit down in defeat. When Yoruichi asserts that more manpower is always better, Ichigo counters that it is unfair for him to be the only one left out, which Sado agrees with, only for Yoruichi to lazily brush this off as him being too busy.[35]
Yoruichi reveals the Dangai is surrounded by space pockets called Valleys of Screams.
With Ichigo responding to Yoruichi's claim that there was no time earlier by pointing out how she could have told him on the way to the Soul King Palace, Yukio sighs and presses a button on his console to bring up a screen above Ichigo that displays the Dangai connecting the Human World and Soul Society. Once Ichigo affirms that he already knows about this, Yoruichi reveals that the Dangai is surrounded by pockets of space filled with lost Souls that are known as Valleys of Screams, with the Garganta filling the space between these pockets and making the Reiatsu of those within it consistently unstable.[35]
Urahara recruits Riruka and Yukio to use their Fullbrings on a Valley of Screams.
Musing that no one can stand in the Garganta without constantly releasing Reiatsu to create a foothold, Yoruichi clarifies that the Valleys of Screams are an exception because they can exist as a stable Reishi space due to their different Reishi structure, which Urahara decided to use to their advantage by recruiting Riruka and Yukio. As Riruka expresses frustration at being found so easily, Yoruichi describes her Fullbring, Dollhouse, as letting her move a target in and out of her favorite objects and Yukio's Digital Radial Invaders as letting him create and reshape his own dimension at will using electricity.[35]
Urahara sees the gate beginning to break down despite everyone pouring their Reiatsu into it.
With Yukio musing that this is not exactly how it works, Yoruichi details how they used Dollhouse to put a small Valley of Screams in a box prior to modifying it into an elevator with using Digital Radial Invaders, which was only just completed and allows them to move between the two stakes she put down in the Soul King Palace. Proclaiming that the benefits of moving without Reiatsu in enemy territory are huge, Yoruichi concludes that it will allow them to mount a surprise attack and take down the Wandenreich in one shot, which Ichigo nods at. Down in the replaced Seireitei, Urahara is shocked to see the gate beginning to break down.[35]
The Visored join the Shinigami and Sternritter to contribute their own Reiatsu to the gate.
Below him, Zennosuke and Shino notice that something is not right, and when Yuki frantically questions why this is happening, Nanao reveals that they need Ukitake, who possessed far more built-up Reiatsu than any other captain due to having spent centuries sustaining his weakened and ailing body with his Reiatsu to keep it functioning without expending it. Suddenly, Lisa interrupts Nanao's despair by appearing next to her, placing her hand on Nanao's orb, and reminding her that it is not over yet while Hiyori, Hachigen, and Love approach the platform wearing the shihakushō they were instructed to put on by Urahara earlier.[35]
Mayuri Kurotsuchi restores the gate by enhancing everyone with the Reiatsu Amplifier.
At Hiyori's request, Urahara gives them orbs to channel their Reiatsu into as well before Mayuri, who concludes from the numbers he is seeing that they lack enough Reiatsu, brings out the Reiatsu Amplifier on the side of the platform for them to use. When an unnerved Urahara wonders why Mayuri never mentioned having this, Mayuri declares he never believed it would come to this and turns on the Reiatsu Amplifier, causing it to glow golden and enhance the power of everyone's Reiatsu to fully restore the gate, which takes on the appearance of a gigantic Senkaimon while Shunsui vows to make Ukitake's sacrifice matter.[35]
Yoruichi explains her plan to mount a surprise attack on Yhwach and his Schutzstaffel.
Back in the elevator as it continues to run upward along the vertical tracks, Yoruichi tells those present that they will ascend to the Greater Soul King Palace and mount an attack, as she planted a stake identical to the one below next to the Soul King when she was trying to stabilize him and Mimihagi with Sankotsu no Jufu that should let them appear right in front of the Wandenreich if they have not moved it. Instructing Ichigo to use this moment to strike Yhwach with his most powerful Getsuga Tenshō because she knows he can do it, Yoruichi asserts that they will clear his path of anyone getting in his way.[41]
Riruka chastises Orihime for feeling depressed about past actions she cannot change.
With Ganju proclaiming that the minions can be left to them, Sado asks Ichigo about Yhwach's powers since they already have a decent appraisal of those of the Schutzstaffel, only for Ichigo to look away in shame, to her and Sado's disappointment. After Orihime laments not asking Ichibē about it when they had the chance, an annoyed Riruka demands that she stop feeling depressed over the past because she is bringing down everyone else's mood as well, and when Orihime thanks her for this, Riruka is agitated further and orders Orihime to not thank her as she slaps her hoodie's wings into Orihime's eyes, to the latter's distress.[35]
The Schutzstaffel stand before Yhwach, who drips and spreads liquid darkness.
During this, Ichigo turns to Grimmjow, who is sitting on a high shelf, and inquires about why he is on their side, prompting Grimmjow to reject the notion of being aligned with him and point out that Hueco Mundo will be gone if Yhwach wins. Once Grimmjow concludes that he will not have anywhere to kill Ichigo if this happens, Ichigo smiles and admits that this is true. Meanwhile, at the Greater Soul King Palace, Uryū Ishida recalls Ichigo being forced to kill the Soul King and falling after having a hole punched in his side by Uryū's Heilig Pfeil as he stands before Yhwach, who spreads liquid darkness across the Soul King's chamber.[42]
Yhwach reveals his new appearance, covered in misshapen eyes.
Yhwach addresses the Schutzstaffel and turns to face them, revealing the upper half of his face is covered in the same darkness just before several misshapen eyes of various sizes open on them. Alarmed by this alongside the other Schutzstaffel, Askin takes a step back in fear, and when Haschwalth tells him to calm down, Askin mentally wonders what is wrong with Haschwalth for him to not feel anything at the sight of Yhwach looking like a monster. In turn, Yhwach wonders if he is scaring them with this development and promises they do not need to be afraid since they will get used to his appearance in time.[43]
Yhwach begins ripping apart the Soul King Palace with his newfound, overflowing power.
With Yhwach musing that this is what it feels like to be overflowing with power, the stone making up the Greater Soul King Palace is fractured and broken into chunks that begin rising into the air, forcing the Schutzstaffel to either run for stable ground or cling onto a chunk of rubble. Holding onto the edge of a floor piece that Haschwalth is standing on, Askin desperately points out that they are dead if they fall from this height and demands to know how Haschwalth can be so calm, but is further unnerved to see the black substance carrying up more chunks of the buildings and expresses disbelief at what he is seeing.[35]
Yhwach begins remaking the Quincy nation by creating a Quincy Zeichen with the palace.
Abruptly, the pieces of rubble stop moving, allowing Askin and the other Schutzstaffel to stand up on circular platforms floating in the air before Yhwach. Kneeling behind him, Haschwalth praises Yhwach's power as magnificent and asserts the world without the Soul King cannot exist without him before requesting that Yhwach lead them. In response, Yhwach addresses Haschwalth as his first son and proclaims he can watch the path that Yhwach will take, which starts with remaking their nation, as his eyes glow blue and the five cities of the Soul King Palace are surrounded by blue energy that intersects, creating a massive Quincy Zeichen.[35]
Aftermath[]
Yukio informs the others that he will not accompany them into the final battle.
Some time later, Yoruichi announces that they are almost at their destination, but as Ichigo confirms that they are ready, Yukio informs them that he has no intention of leaving the elevator and encourages them to do whatever they want without him, to the shock of Ichigo and his friends. An angered Ganju stomping over to Yukio, whom Orihime notes Ganju introduced himself to earlier while Yukio ignored him because of them claiming to not know each other, and berates the latter for planning to stay here while everyone else is about to risk their lives, leading Yukio to remind Ganju that he was dragged into this against his will and is not obligated to risk his life.[44]
Ichigo asserts that both Yukio and Riruka should stay behind because of the danger ahead.
In turn, Ganju asserts that risking one's life out of obligation is not risking it at all and points out that this Garganta will disappear if they lose while Yukio stays behind. However, Yukio merely wonders if Ganju plans to lose, which prompts Ichigo to step in and tell Ganju that he has lost. After instructing Yukio to stay here, which Yukio muses is what he just said, Ichigo asserts that Riruka should do the same, to her aghast frustration, and explains that their abilities will not keep them alive in this battle. When Riruka begins to protest, Ichigo reveals that he has been to a Valley of Screams before this one.[45]
Ganju Shiba praises Ichigo's growth before realizing he has always been like this.
Noting that Riruka really loves cute things and that her Dollhouse only works on things she finds cute, Ichigo states that a Valley of Screams is anything but cute and concludes that Riruka went very much out of her way to make it work for them, which he thanks her for. With a blushing Riruka furiously denying this, Ichigo asks her to do one more thing by staying here with Yukio and being ready to extract Ichigo and his friends at any time, leading Riruka to look away and grudgingly accept this. In the aftermath, Ganju observes that Ichigo has really matured, and when Ichigo wonders how, Ganju realizes that he has always been like this.[46]
The captains, lieutenants, Visored, and Sternritter prepare to enter the gate.
Down in the replaced Seireitei, Akon, Rin, Hiyosu, and Kuna press four buttons simultaneously within Mayuri's laboratory while Mayuri grins behind them. On the platform above, Urahara is relieved to see the gate solidify and announces it is finished. Up in the Garganta, the elevator reaches the top of the track and Ichigo opens the door to proceed at Yoruichi's behest. Back in front of the gate, Shunsui declares the Soul King Palace lies beyond it and bids farewell to the lower-ranked Shinigami, who affirm the departure, before Urahara opens the gate to let the captains, lieutenants, Visored, and Sternritter through.[35]
Ichigo and his friends are stunned to find themselves back in the Wandenreich city.
However, Ichigo and his friends are stunned to find the reassembled Wandenreich city outside the elevator surrounded by darkness, and as Sado identifies the buildings as those of the Quincy instead of the Royal Guard, Ganju questions where they have ended up. Elsewhere in the city, the Shinigami, Visored, and Sternritter stand flabbergasted by the scenery, with Hiyori demanding to know how they have ended up in a Quincy city instead of the Soul King Palace. When Shinji turns to him for an explanation on how they missed their target, Urahara muses that their coordinates place them right above the Seireitei.[35]
Shunsui realizes that the Wandenreich city was rebuilt over the Soul King Palace.
While Urahara asserts that they should have arrived at the Soul King Palace, an unnerved Yoruichi wonders if they did not arrive where she drove in the stake, only to accidentally knock the same stake back with her heel when she takes a step back. Looking down at this in shock, Yoruichi looks up behind it and addresses Ichigo. Simultaneously, Shunsui deduces that the Wandenreich city was lifted from the Seireitei and rebuilt over the Soul King Palace before responding to Shinji calling this impossible due to the incredibly short timeframe by stating that this merely indicates how incredibly powerful their enemy has become.[35]
The Soul King Palace is fully reshaped into a massive Quincy Zeichen with the five cities.
With those present intimidated by this, Yoruichi directs Ichigo's attention to the ruins of the Greater Soul King Palace behind their group and concludes that Yhwach has rebuilt the Soul King Palace to his liking. During this, Shunsui approaches the edge of the platform they are on and points out how it is circular, meaning this likely used to be one of the cities operated by the Royal Guard, but when Shunsui notes they cannot see the Greater Soul King Palace floating above the cities, Urahara infers the Soul King Palace fell to Yhwach and his forces, allowing it to be reshaped into a massive Quincy Zeichen comprised of the cities and a central platform.[35]
Renji catches Yūshirō Shihōin after he tries to leap to Yoruichi and begins falling.
Yoruichi realizes that they avoided being caught up in this because they were in the Garganta, which they should consider extremely lucky. Suddenly, Yūshirō detects her Reiatsu, leading Yoruichi to sense him in turn and explain his status as her brother and the current head of the Shihōin Clan following her departure to Ichigo, who is shocked to learn she has a brother and did not tell him. While Yoruichi questions why she should have told him earlier since he is not her fiancé, Yūshirō attempts to leap to her with Shunpo, but fails to find a foothold and begins falling, forcing Renji to frantically catch him at the last second.[47]
Byakuya Kuchiki reveals that the enemy has taken control of all the Reishi here.
When Renji demands to know what he was thinking, Yūshirō apologizes and reveals that he was unable to create a foothold out of Reishi, and as Renji pulls Yūshirō up, Byakuya observes that it will not be easy to do so here and reminds Renji that the Reishi density of the Soul King Palace is very high, which should normally make it easy to create a foothold, prior to theorizing that the only reason they cannot do so is the enemy having taken control of all the Reishi in the area. With Renji astonished and unnerved by this, Byakuya asserts that it would make sense for them to create a battlefield advantageous to themselves.[48]
Shunsui informs the others they simply need to defeat the enemy and install a new Soul King.
Once Byakuya concludes that this is something Yhwach would do for Quincy who rely on Reishi for their weapons, especially since he is powerful enough to kill the Soul King, Suì-Fēng points out that she has not felt the Soul King's Reiatsu since they got here and wonders if he has been killed. Despite this, Shunsui observes that he can sense the Reiatsu of Ichigo's group a great distance away, leaving him relieved that their advance party survived, and states that they simply need to defeat the enemy and install a new Soul King if the Soul King truly has been killed, which is what he believes Ukitake would say if he could speak.[35]
A massive castle bearing Silbern at the top is erected on the main platform.
After announcing that they will move forward on the path to the main platform since they cannot presently meet up with Ichigo's group, Shunsui encourages them to advance as the Gotei 13 for the sake of the courts they guard, which the Shinigami and Visored confirm. Suddenly, the structure begins shaking, causing Giselle to latch onto Liltotto, and those present watch as a massive, wide, and multi-layered castle bearing Silbern at its peak rises up from the central platform, which Shunsui quickly identifies as the enemy's stronghold while a sweating Urahara assumes they are being invited to attack it.[49]
Yhwach informs the Schutzstaffel that this castle shall be called Wahrwelt.
With Shunsui commenting on the sheer nerve of this, Yhwach sits on a throne shaped like a Hagal rune before the Schutzstaffel, who kneel as Haschwalth addresses Yhwach from the front and informs him of Ichigo and the Gotei 13 arriving simultaneously in the reshaped Soul King Palace. In turn, Yhwach declares that this castle has become the foundation for a new world, the one and only true world, and that it will one day be known as Wahrwelt, which prompts Haschwalth to vow that the Schutzstaffel will kill all of them in order to realize the future reflected in Yhwach's eyes and secure Wahrwelt for his plans.[50]
References[]
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 536, page 16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapters 609-610
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Bleach anime; Episode 393
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 611, pages 8-10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 611, pages 11-13
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 611, pages
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 Bleach anime; Episode 394
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 612, page 7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 612, page 8
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 616, pages 4-6
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 Bleach anime; Episode 395
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 12.15 12.16 12.17 12.18 12.19 12.20 12.21 12.22 12.23 12.24 12.25 12.26 12.27 12.28 12.29 12.30 Bleach anime; Episode 396
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 617, page 12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 617, pages 12 & 17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 617, pages 17-18
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 618, pages 2-3
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 618, pages 3-4
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 618, pages 4-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 618, pages 5-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 618, pages 8-9
- ↑ 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 21.11 21.12 21.13 21.14 21.15 21.16 21.17 21.18 21.19 21.20 Bleach anime; Episode 397
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 622, pages 3-4
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 622, pages 5-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 622, pages 7-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 622, pages 12-15
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 623, pages 1-6
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 623, pages 6-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 623, pages 8-10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 623, pages 13-14
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 623, pages 15-16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 623, pages 16-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 614, page 1
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 614, pages 2-3
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 614, pages 3-4
- ↑ 35.00 35.01 35.02 35.03 35.04 35.05 35.06 35.07 35.08 35.09 35.10 35.11 35.12 35.13 35.14 35.15 Bleach anime; Episode 398
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 625, pages 3-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 625, pages 5-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 625, pages 7-8
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 625, pages 8-10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 625, pages 10-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 626, pages 1-2
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 626, pages 4-5 & 8-9
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 626, pages 9-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 627, pages 1-2
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 627, pages 2-4
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 627, pages 4-6
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 628, pages 6-9
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 628, pages 9-10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 628, pages 12-15
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 628, pages 15-17