For the episode of the same name, see HEART of WOLF.
HEART OF WOLF is the sixty-second volume of the Bleach manga series.
Publisher's Summary[]
Unable to use their Bankai special abilities, the Shinigami captains are at a severe disadvantage against the invading Quincy army. Urahara has a plan to turn the tide of battle, but will it be enough as the Quincy continue their onslaught?!
Bleach All Stars[]
| All-Stars | ||
| バンビエッタ Bambietta Basterbine |
|
バズビー Bazz-B |
|
蒼都 Cang Du |
|
|
日番谷 冬獅郎 Tōshirō Hitsugaya |
|
| 狛村 左陣 Sajin Komamura |
|
黒崎 一護 Ichigo Kurosaki |
Chapters[]
551. The Burnt Offerings[]
As 1st Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise demonstrates her new Kidō spell, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya is forced to flee from Sternritter "H" Bazz-B.
Summary:
The cover page of 551. The Burnt Offerings.
In the former Captain-Commander's office, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth is cut off from Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku and his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, by Hakudan Keppeki, which he creates a ripple in by tapping it with his sword, causing him to deduce that he cannot get through it and wonder if it is deflecting or instead absorbing his power. With Nanao explaining that this barrier temporarily protects against all Quincy powers, Haschwalth infers that she created this Kidō, which leads Nanao to assert that her talent with it is the only reason she is a lieutenant, though Shunsui denies this, and that creating something like this is easy prior to criticizing the Wandenreich for leaving traces of their Reiatsu all over the Seireitei during their first invasion because it made the development of such countermeasures almost inevitable. However, Haschwalth asks Nanao if the other captains are able to use Hakudan Keppeki as well, and when Nanao admits that they cannot, she and Shunsui notice the explosion produced by Sternritter "K" BG9's attack on 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng as Haschwalth admonishes her for just perfecting the spell and not refining it to be used by others because it has prevented the captains from dying in battle instead of being subjected to a one-sided slaughter.
Down on the ground, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya runs from Sternritter "H" Bazz-B. When Bazz-B taunts him for fleeing despite being a captain, Hitsugaya erects a wall of ice between them, though Bazz-B reiterates that it will not reach him and immediately cuts through this with a flaming wave of his hand, only to find himself surrounded by a thick icy fog. Annoyed by this and admonishing Hitsugaya for his reliance on tricks, Bazz-B disperses the fog with Burning Stomp to see Hitsugaya standing a few meters away, and when Bazz-B chastises him for not coming up with a better plan while within the fog, Hitsugaya admits that there was no time to plan, but reveals that he set a trap as Bazz-B notices six sigils surrounding him on the ground and ice forming on his wrist prior to initiating Rokui Hyōketsujin, which encases Bazz-B in a thick pillar of ice.
Despite this, Bazz-B quickly melts the ice and responds to Hitsugaya's disbelief by claiming that he feels the same and questioning if Hitsugaya is trying to make him angry enough to use a second finger. With Hitsugaya erecting another wall of ice in front of himself, Bazz-B fires Burner Finger 2 at him, creating a tall vertical explosion as Hitsugaya is slashed across the chest by two diagonal streaks of flame that break the blade of his Zanpakutō. Suddenly, with Hitsugaya collapsing, Sternritter "I" Cang Du lands behind Bazz-B and asserts that he will be taking over the fight from here because of their agreement to leave the captains to the ones who stole their Bankai.
Simultaneously, in the former Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Mayuri observes that two Reiatsu have disappeared and is informed that they belonged to Hitsugaya and Suì-Fēng, leading him to note that he is indeed the only one who can fight without Bankai. Suddenly, Kisuke Urahara contacts Mayuri, affably greets him, and reveals that he has completed the method for regaining Bankai.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 381: Peace from Shadows
552. The Fundamental Virulence[]
While Sternritter "I" Cang Du prepares to finish off 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Kisuke Urahara divulges the details of his discovery regarding the Wandenreich's ability to steal a Bankai.
Summary:
The cover page of 552. The Fundamental Virulence.
With Sternritter "I" Cang Du having arrived to finish off a gravely wounded 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Sternritter "H" Bazz-B asserts that Yhwach will punish him for stealing a kill. In response, Cang reminds Bazz-B that it was Yhwach's order for the captains to be killed by their own Bankai, which Bazz-B scoffs at, and pushes his cloak aside to reveal and drop 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, who has been slashed across the side of her neck, to Hitsugaya's alarm. Bringing up Rangiku being Hitsugaya's precious lieutenant, Cang declares this is why they will die together, introduces himself, and explains that it is his style to ensure those who live together die together as well before activating Hitsugaya's Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru. After noting this must be the first time Hitsugaya is seeing it from the other side, Cang calls Daiguren Hyōrinmaru beautiful prior to apologizing for how it will be the one thing of Hitsugaya's to survive his death.
Simultaneously, in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi asks Kisuke Urahara to repeat what he just said about finding a way to reclaim the stolen Bankai. With Urahara elaborating that he found a flaw in the method used by the Quincy to steal Bankai that will not only let them prevent any more from being stolen, but return the currently stolen Bankai to their owners as well, one of the technicians is vocally impressed as the other hushes him. However, though he praises the discovery and Urahara claims it was easy, Mayuri brushes this off to focus on Urahara installing a communication device in his clothes without permission. Calling this a serious crime as Urahara realizes that he is about to hang up and begs him not to do so, Mayuri presses the device in his headpiece to end the transmission, only for Urahara to emerge from a Senkaimon behind him and announce that he was joking.
After hopping out and apologizing for startling the technicians, Urahara explains that he was calling from the Dangai and asks for Mayuri's help, and when Mayuri points out how the Wandenreich has crippled the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Urahara reminds him that they still have access to Mayuri's hidden laboratory and commends him for deducing the Wandenreich's usage of shadows. With Urahara once again requesting his help, Mayuri has Urahara and his technicians move into the lab, where 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon has them confirm the locations of all the captains and lieutenants while having their insects move out to infiltrate the Wandenreich's systems and technology so it can be linked to this room. Though the systems initially fail to connect, Akon asserts that this is to be expected since they have never done this before and orders the technicians to keep trying until it works.
From within his robe, Urahara pulls out a small pile of black pills on a cloth and identifies them as Shin'eiyaku. After confirming to Mayuri that this is his invention, Urahara details how he decided to stay in Hueco Mundo when he heard of Bankai being stolen because he witnessed the clue to preventing that while he was there. Bringing up how an Arrancar's Resurrección is nearly identical to Bankai because it consists of them releasing the true form of their power stored within their Zanpakutō, Urahara posits that Quincy should be able to steal them just as they can Bankai. However, Urahara points out how not a single Resurrección has been stolen by a Quincy even though the Wandenreich took enough of an interest in the Arrancar to forcibly conscript them as soldiers and concludes there can only be two reasons for this, which Mayuri infers are a complete inability to steal Resurrección or a disadvantage that would come from doing so, and with Urahara smiling at this, Mayuri notes Urahara's research ruled out an inability to steal Resurrección, which means there logically must be a disadvantage from doing so.
Suddenly, the technicians successfully locate the captains and lieutenants inside and outside the Seireitei. With Bakudō #77. Tenteikūra set up, Urahara begins speaking to the captains and lieutenants by introducing himself and claiming that they may not know who he is, though a grinning 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako counters that everyone knows who Urahara is. As Ikkaku and Yumichika, Hisagi, and 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda see a Shin'eiyaku on the ground near them, Urahara explains that he has sent these to them and that they will react to anyone who possesses Bankai that touches them with a hand, foot, or sword by evaporating from the touchpoint and permeating the inner part of the recipient's Soul. Seeing a Shin'eiyaku in front of him, Hitsugaya slowly reaches out and touches it with his finger, causing it to engulf his fingers in glowing energy while Cang expresses confusion.
Back in the laboratory, Mayuri admits that something about the Quincy had always bothered him because he did not believe their hostility against Hollows was based on resentment as the legends about them claim, since hostility stems from a difference in ideology and it is impossible to continue hating those who do not possess will or ideology, leading him to hypothesize that such a fundamental and intrinsic fear could only come from that which endangers one's life. Urahara concurs with this and elaborates that Quincy have no antibodies against Hollows, making the latter poison to them and causing Encroachment induced by Hollows to not only weaken their spiritual powers, but decay their Souls and eventually kill them, which means that they cannot even undergo Hollowfication like Shinigami can. After concluding that this is why they must hunt Hollows, Urahara muses that if the Shinigami absorb a small amount of Hollow power for a short period of time, their Bankai will also become poison to Quincy as a shocked Cang's left ice wing breaks off in a shower of blood.
Characters in order of appearance:
- Bazz-B
- Cang Du
- Rangiku Matsumoto
- Tōshirō Hitsugaya
- Mayuri Kurotsuchi
- Kisuke Urahara
- Akon
- Coyote Starrk (flashback)
- Baraggan Louisenbairn (flashback)
- Ulquiorra Cifer (flashback)
- Yammy Llargo (flashback)
- Emilou Apacci (flashback)
- Cyan Sung-Sun (flashback)
- Franceska Mila Rose (flashback)
- Asguiaro Ebern (flashback)
- Tier Harribel (flashback)
- Shunsui Kyōraku
- Nanao Ise
- Shinji Hirako
- Marechiyo Ōmaeda
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 382: The Fundamental Virulence
553. Frozen Cross[]
10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya and 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng fight back against Sternritter "I" Cang Du and "K" BG9 as Kisuke Urahara's invention takes effect.
Summary:
The cover page of 553. Frozen Cross.
While wondering why he just lost the left wing of 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, Sternritter "I" Cang Du sees Hitsugaya standing up with a left wing of ice forming on his back, and when Cang demands to know what he did since there are no irregularities with the Medallion, Hitsugaya admits that he does not know and theorizes that Hyōrinmaru wants to come home.
Meanwhile, on a rooftop, Sternritter "K" BG9 kneels over an incapacitated 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng behind a Reishi wall and extends tendrils from his chest toward her body, but her lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, grabs her and moves her to a nearby rooftop with Shunpo before the tendrils can reach her. Expressing surprise at Marechiyo still being able to move, BG9 dissipates the wall and stands up. As BG9 states that he wished to extract more data from Suì-Fēng before she dies, Marechiyo drops a Shin'eiyaku into Suì-Fēng's palm, causing it to evaporate in a golden glow, and tells her that it should bring her Bankai back, though he admits that he did not understand Urahara's explanation.
However, when BG9 begins walking toward them and asks Marechiyo to speak up since the sensitivity of his sonic collector automatically drops after a close-range explosion, he stumbles and realizes with disbelief that his connection is weakening, prompting Suì-Fēng to inform him that her Hollowfied Bankai is weakening him. Though Marechiyo is startled by her having heard the announcement as well, Suì-Fēng counters that it was impossible for her to stay asleep with that annoying voice in her ear and activates her Bankai, Jakuhō Raikōben. After ordering Marechiyo to brace himself, which he readily affirms, Suì-Fēng responds to BG9 questioning why her Bankai is with her by suggesting he analyze it himself and firing the missile at BG9, who is engulfed in a massive explosion that blasts through the clouds.
During this, Cang criticizes Hitsugaya for assuming the Sternritter did not train to control the Bankai they acquired and sends a powerful wave of ice toward the latter with a slash of his Reishi Claw, only for it to stop and divert its course upward before it can hit Hitsugaya's wing. When Hitsugaya tells a confused Cang that he should stop since Hyōrinmaru cannot attack himself, Cang comes down on his head with a powerful kick that is blocked by a sheet of ice, tells him to stop acting like Hyōrinmaru has a mind of its own, and delivers several more rapid kicks to Hitsugaya's wing prior to kicking him into the air and asserting that he does not believe in pantheism.
Suddenly, with Cang following him into the air, Hitsugaya refers the matter of Cang's belief to Hyōrinmaru, who confirms it, and notes that it has been a while since he heard Hyōrinmaru's voice before welcoming him back as an altered Hyōrinmaru appears behind him. With Cang realizing that his remaining wing has disappeared, Hitsugaya stands in the air with both wings and an icy extension on his sword prior to noticing a mask-like fragment of ice covering his left eye, which he attributes to the momentary Hollowfication of his Bankai that Urahara mentioned and decides to accept the presence of. Alarmed by this, Cang fires Shé Jìn Zhǎo at Hitsugaya, but the latter merely points his sword down at Cang and unleashes a wave of ice. In the aftermath, with Cang frozen inside the center of a massive cross of ice, Hitsugaya stands on a rooftop, details how this is the symbol of Hyōrinmaru, and apologizes for not making it a pentacle.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 382: The Fundamental Virulence
554. Desperate Lights[]
Uryū Ishida and Yhwach observe the ongoing conflict while 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako and 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura confront Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine.
Summary:
The cover pages of 554. Desperate Lights.
Having watched the defeat of Sternritter "I" Cang Du from afar, an unimpressed Sternritter "H" Bazz-B disparages Cang for losing like this and departs. Back on the rooftop, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya notes that it is over and begins walking toward his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, whom he promises that he will be with her soon, only to collapse while his right wing shatters and a shadow approaches him. As Bambietta Basterbine and Äs Nödt watch the Bankai leave their Medallions, Uryū Ishida stands beside Yhwach in the latter's throne room and muses that Yhwach predicted the Shinigami would find a way to regain their stolen Bankai, which Yhwach confirms.
Simultaneously, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine blows up a large portion of a tower behind her, gruesomely killing multiple Shinigami perched on its side, and admonishes her fellow Sternritter for panicking over the loss of a power they never owned to begin with, which she considers idiotic. Additionally, Bambietta points out how 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura is not even here despite being her mandated opponent, which she did not realize until she saw the stolen Bankai leave her Medallion earlier, and complains about not being informed of his absence earlier before turning to the Bambies for their thoughts on the matter, only to discover that Liltotto Lamperd, Candice Catnipp, Meninas McAllon, and Giselle Gewelle are not there either. Angered by this because it makes her look like she is talking to herself and because Liltotto was the one who suggested they act as a group today, Bambietta demands that her friends show themselves and unleashes a vast explosion from her body that levels the surrounding area.
With Bambietta promising to smoke out her friends as retribution for them embarrassing her, Komamura tells her to stop and crashes down in front of her. Upon seeing that Komamura is wearing full-body armor and a helmet, Bambietta observes that it did not take long for him to come back and questions why he is wearing a bucket, prompting Komamura to assert that it was a gift. Deciding that she will just take it off him later, Bambietta suggests that this is too early for the hero to show up and that Komamura should have waited until the Seireitei had been further destroyed, but Shinji appears behind her and decides they cannot be heroes because they are not patient enough to wait for this to happen.
Suddenly, as she wonders who he is, Bambietta begins to see the world around her warp and twist. When a grinning Shinji inquires if she is feeling sick, Bambietta wonders what is happening, prompting Shinji to reveal that this is the effect of his Shikai, Sakanade, reversing her sense of direction and making it impossible for her to fight effectively, and admit that he has also been practicing speaking backward so his opponents can still understand him while Bambietta rushes toward him in frustration. Reappearing behind Bambietta and telling her that it is useless, Shinji introduces himself, though Bambietta is unable to understand him due to hearing his words reversed, and disappears when the world warps around Bambietta once again, causing her to collapse. As he approaches her from behind, Shinji muses that he is not a fan of killing girls and apologizes.
Simultaneously, Yhwach explains that he knew the Shinigami would take measures to regain their Bankai after losing them and would eventually discover a method of reclamation, but tells his Sternritter to rejoice despite his prediction as a spike of energy forms on Bambietta's chest before her Quincy: Vollständig is activated. With Komamura watching the light and Shinji questioning what this is, Bambietta reveals that it is Quincy: Vollständig and that she had been unable to use it until now because keeping Komamura's Bankai prevented her from doing so, making her grateful toward the Shinigami for letting her use it. As several other Sternritter, including Cang and Sternritter "I" BG9, have their Quincy: Vollständig activate as well in pillars of Reishi, Yhwach proclaims that the Shinigami will soon regret regaining their Bankai and that the hope-filled battles are now over because true despair begins here.
However, with 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi noting that things have gotten a bit complicated and questioning what to do now, Kisuke Urahara is contacted by Ichigo Kurosaki.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 382: The Fundamental Virulence
- Episode 385: The White Haze
555. THE HERO[]
As Ichigo Kurosaki heads towards the Seireitei, the Bambies discuss the activation of their and Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine's Quincy: Vollständigs.
Summary:
The cover spread of 555. THE HERO.
In the Soul King Palace, Tenjirō Kirinji stands on the Vestibule Road with Senjumaru Shutara, where he announces that the Royal Guard are ready and tells Ichigo Kurosaki that he should be too, prompting Ichigo to step forward in a heavily-layered garment and confirm this. When Ichigo begins looking around in confusion, Kirinji questions what he is looking for, prompting Ichigo to inquire about the absence of the Tenchūren that the Royal Guard reached the Seireitei with. In response, Kirinji bluntly reveals that it is not here because Ichigo is going back on foot, and with Ichigo flabbergasted by this, Kirinji derides his response and has Senjumaru tap the platform, causing a large circular portion of it to retract and begin extending a circular flight of stairs down into the clouds below.
With Ichigo staring down in confusion, Kirinji explains that his trip down will be on foot since the Royal Guard cannot be sending the Tenchūren down all the time even though they would love to help him and asserts that it will simply take Ichigo a week if he uses Shunpo. Despite Kirinji eagerly expecting a panicked response from him over the prospect of the Wandenreich attacking in this time, Ichigo readily acknowledges this, to Kirinji's befuddlement, and reminds the latter that he said it was not too far before declaring that it will only take him about half a day if he hurries. Laughing heartily at this, Ichibē Hyōsube approaches them from behind, praises Ichigo's confidence, and assures him that he does not need to worry about reaching the Seireitei ahead of the Wandenreich since the second invasion began three hours ago.
After a brief pause of disbelief, Ichigo hurtles down the gap in the center of the stairs and reprimands Ichibē for not telling him earlier, prompting Ichibē to remind Ichigo that he was training three hours ago. Upon reaching the other Royal Guard, Kirio Hikifune throws him a pack of onigiri to eat if he gets hungry along the way, prompting Ichigo to catch them and promise to sneak off to eat them if he gets hungry in the middle of battle. Watching Ichigo hurtle downward, Hikifune observes that he has changed, which Kirinji affirms, and recalls how shaky his Reiatsu used to be, though Ichibē denies him getting stronger and rephrases it as him growing and getting stronger. When an annoyed Kirinji inquires about the difference, Ichibē concludes that Ichigo has become stronger in both body and spirit, making him a true Shinigami.
Shortly afterward, Ichigo calls Kisuke Urahara and informs him of the situation prior to surmising that it will take him a bit longer to reach the Seireitei, which Urahara acknowledges as he tells Ichigo to be careful. After a pause, Ichigo acknowledges that he will sound cocky, but requests that Urahara and the others hold out even if the battle gets bad because he will finish it when he gets there, prompting a smiling Urahara to promise that they will be waiting for him. After ending the call and musing that Urahara did not say anything about how the battle was going, Ichigo pulls fabric from his cap down over his eyes and decides to hurry before accelerating downward.
Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine stands with her Quincy: Vollständig active before 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura and 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako, who wonders what this is prior to being struck by a powerful and concentrated explosion. Elsewhere, on a rooftop, Sternritter "T" Candice Catnipp notices the wings of her own Quincy: Vollständig, Barbarriel, coming out due to resonance, prompting Sternritter "Z" Giselle Gewelle to recall that Candice just learned to use the ability and declines to do the same herself since it tires her out, though an irritated Candice claims that she does not want to either. Looking over the city, Sternritter "P" Meninas McAllon observes that Bambietta seems to be using it, and as Sternritter "G" Liltotto Lamperd affirms this since Bambietta was already enraged by their disappearance earlier, Giselle calls out Bambietta using the technique as scary because her stupidity might end the entire war very quickly.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 383: HEART of WOLF
- Episode 385: The White Haze
556. The Wolfsbane[]
Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine demonstrates the great power of her Quincy: Vollständig against 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura, who is forced to protect 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako and his lieutenant, Momo Hinamori, by unveiling the secret of his clan.
Summary:
The cover pages of 556. The Wolfsbane.
Having been struck by a powerful explosion from Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine, 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako is sent flying back into the surrounding rubble, where another Reishi projectile from Bambietta strikes and engulfs him in a second explosion, leaving his chest smoking with a large wound, as Bambietta calls him messing up her sense of direction lame and declares that she will simply destroy everything around herself with The Explode if she cannot determine up or down.
After flying into the air and blanketing the ground below with explosions, Bambietta is startled when the smoke clears to reveal 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura standing over Shinji. With Bambietta mockingly smiling at this, 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori leaps into the air behind her while calling out to Shinji, and when Bambietta asks her whose lieutenant she is, Hinamori attempts to attack her with her Shikai, Tobiume, only for a manically grinning Bambietta to fire dozens of Reishi projectiles at her, forcing Komamura to grab Hinamori and pull her out of the air before she gets hit by the ensuing explosion.
Landing on a rooftop below, Komamura chastises Hinamori for being so reckless and warns her that the projectiles cannot be stopped by Tobiume or without armor. Suddenly, Bambietta flies right behind Komamura and deduces from this assumption that Komamura believes his helmet can protect him, prompting Komamura to draw his Zanpakutō and slash at her. After evading this and flying higher into the air, Bambietta fires a projectile at him as Komamura mentally notes that he instead believes his armor will be sufficient to turn the projectile aside since bombs have a momentary pause between impact and detonation, allowing his armor to negate the impact and his strong body to turn it aside instantly for deflection. However, just before the projectile strikes him, Komamura notices something about it and moving his head to the side at the last second as his left forearm blocks the blast.
Expressing slight disappointment and praising this, Bambietta details Komamura's response and attributes his action to animal instinct before confirming that her projectiles cannot be blocked. While revealing that the Reishi projectiles are not bombs themselves, but instead turn anything they touch into a bomb, Bambietta concludes that trying to deflect them at the last minute will not do anything and fires dozens more projectiles at Komamura, who has Hinamori get behind him just before the projectiles engulf the two of them in a massive explosion. However, with Bambietta inferring that only his armor is destroyed and hoping to see what lies beneath, she is confused when the smoke clears to reveal Komamura with a Human face and body.
In the past, Komamura stands before the defeated Wolfman Clan Elder while still in his wolfen form. When a stunned Komamura repeats that their clan's secret technique is called the Humanization Technique, the Elder affirms this and explains that the clan was sent to the Animal Realm for the sins they committed during their past lives, but were not resolved by this and so returned to Soul Society, before revealing that temporarily breaking the chain of sins that binds them allows them to return to the forms they had before they were condemned to being beasts, which lets them gain immense power in the form of the Humanization Technique. With Komamura wondering how it can be done, the Elder tells him to give up his heart. Told to tear out his heart and offer it to the Elder in return for the technique being bestowed upon him, Komamura simply looks at his hand, but when the Elder assumes he cannot do this and asserts that this is fine since Komamura has no obligation to throw his life away for the Shinigami, Komamura counters that he does because Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto took him in after he abandoned his clan to avoid having to hide any longer, leaving him with a vast debt to repay, and the Quincy killed Yamamoto, meaning that he must now do whatever it takes to avenge the latter, before ripping his heart out of his chest while the Elder watches.
In the present, with Bambietta staring at him in shock, Komamura grabs his sheathed Zanpakutō and activates Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe, which summons his Bankai and shatters the armor encasing it while flames begin burning in its eye sockets.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 383: HEART of WOLF
557. 命はとうに置いてきた[]
7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura overwhelms Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine with the raw power of his armorless Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe.
Summary:
The cover spread of 557. 命はとうに置いてきた.[2]
Bewildered by 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura appearing as a Human and summoning his armorless Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine narrowly dodges a powerful strike from Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō and flies back as she comments on the lack of wolfen traits even in Komamura's Bankai, questions if there is a wolf beneath its monstrous visage, and fires dozens more projectiles at it.
However, after Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō blocks the projectiles with its left hand, Bambietta is shocked to see the resulting hole in its palm rapidly closing up as its tissue is restored, leading Komamura to explain that Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō is an armored Bankai imbued with life and that Dangai Jōe strips it of its armor, leaving only its Reiatsu and power behind and preventing The Explode from properly harming it. With Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō slamming its hand down into her and a building below, Bambietta blows through its hand with another explosion and flies out of the smoke cloud with a singed uniform as she asserts that its Reiatsu being exposed means Komamura's weaknesses are as well, due to The Explode letting her turn whatever she fires her own Reiatsu at into bombs, and detonates several projectiles along the length of the left arm of Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, only for Komamura to state that becoming a bomb and exploding is only frightening to something that is alive, such that there is no fear to be had when something is not alive.
With Bambietta confused by this, Komamura clarifies that the life of Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō lies within its armor, meaning that Dangai Jōe strips it of its life as well. While ripping off her damaged cloak, Bambietta demands to know what Komamura is talking about since she knows how Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō works from possessing it up until a few moments ago and is aware that its status is linked to that of its possessor before firing a dozen more projectiles directly into the chest of Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, resulting in a corresponding explosion on Komamura's own chest. Despite this, an initially confident Bambietta falters in her claim that Komamura is vulnerable even if Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō is not when she sees that his heart is missing from his chest, leaving a gaping hole on the left side.
Komamura details how his body is now an empty shell meant for nothing more than the defeat of Bambietta's people and reveals that the Humanization Technique offers his clan temporarily immortal bodies in return for their hearts, which means that he cannot die so long as he is in this form. Alarmed by this, a frightened Bambietta begins fleeing, with Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō leaping into the air after her and preparing to attack, and fires hundreds of projectiles behind herself as she expresses disbelief at Komamura throwing his life away since the point of battle is to avoid dying, which makes his choice apparently pointless. However, Komamura counters that he has staked his life instead of throwing it away since Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto did the same for this war and proclaims that he had left his life behind before he even entered this battle while having Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō slash its sword into Bambietta, creating a massive explosion.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 383: HEART of WOLF
558. 狼の心臓[]
As Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine is defeated, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura pays the price for using the Humanization Technique.
Summary:
The cover page of 558. 狼の心臓.[3]
Within his cave, the Wolfman Clan Elder praises 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura for proving that he is one of them and expresses pride in him as the cup containing the latter's heart begins to overflow with blood.
Meanwhile, having been attacked by Komamura's armorless Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe, a stunned Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine realizes that her projectiles are not detonating in time. With Bambietta deducing that the force of the attack from Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō is pushing the projectiles back into her body before they can explode and expressing disbelief at this, the resulting explosion immolates her and sends her crashing into the ground below as Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō lands nearby and looks at Silbern in the distance. Suddenly, as it begins approaching Silbern, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō falls to its knees alongside Komamura ands begin cracking while its head shatters. Komamura begs the Humanization Technique and his heart to last a little longer so he can reach Silbern and kill Yhwach before forcing himself to stand up as his canine teeth begin to lengthen into fangs.
Simultaneously, the Elder wonders if Komamura has noticed that his feelings are a desire for revenge and that he is throwing his life away for vengeance just as he once saw Kaname Tōsen do, but assures him that this is fine since revenge is their clan's true form and that he has finally come back to their clan. With his ears transforming into large wolfen ones, Komamura sees his left arm transform into a large, four-fingered paw. Initially unsure of what this is, Komamura has fur envelop his body and feels his face protruding outward while his feet transform into furred paws as well, leading him to realize that this is the price he must pay. Confirming this, the Elder notes that Komamura will soon lose his Human body forever and transform into a beast of revenge prior to encouraging him to let his anger reach its limit, curse his place in life, and wallow in his vengeance so that the Elder can sustain himself on it and live on. After thanking Komamura for becoming a beast that cannot speak for him, the pleased Elder leans down and consumes Komamura's still-beating heart.
Back in the city, Komamura lies on the ground, now a fully-transformed and ordinary-sized wolf, and muses that this is the price of selling his soul for revenge and sullying the name of the Gotei 13 rather than taking his words to Tōsen as a warning to himself. Suddenly, his lieutenant, Tetsuzaemon Iba, appears nearby with Shunpo, hoists Komamura over his shoulders, begins walking toward Silbern, and asserts that he did nothing wrong before declaring that they will confront Yhwach and avenge Yamamoto.
Elsewhere, Bambietta lies among the rubble in a different location with smoke coiling off her body and expresses disbelief at losing to a Shinigami, as well as at being the first of the Bambies to lose, prior to denouncing the situation as unacceptable. However, she is interrupted when Sternritter "T" Candice Catnipp, Sternritter "G" Liltotto Lamperd, Sternritter "P" Meninas McAllon, and Sternritter "Z" Giselle Gewelle appear and stand over her, with Giselle promising to help her since they would be lonely without her despite Bambietta's frantic pleas for her to stop.
During this, 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai fall toward the replaced Seireitei from the Soul King Palace, with Renji correcting Rukia on the Seireitei being replaced by the Wandenreich city before Rukia urges him to hurry since it will soon grow dark.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 383: HEART of WOLF
559. THE NIGHT RIGHT[]
As Yhwach passes judgement on Sternritter "K" BG9 and "I" Cang Du, Sternritter "S" Mask De Masculine attacks 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame, and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa.
Summary:
The cover page of 559. THE NIGHT RIGHT.
Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth stands across from Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku and his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, on the other side of the latter's Hakudan Keppeki, where he observes that the battle seems to be evening out, prompting Shunsui to call this analysis modest and affirms that he sees it the same way, only for Haschwalth to clarify that it would have been meaningless for him to come here if it were any other outcome because it is his job to tip the scales in their favor. Upon seeing Haschwalth draw his sword, an alarmed Shunsui moves in front of Nanao with his arm outstretched just before Hakudan Keppeki is destroyed in a large blast of force, prompting him to note that he had forgotten how the Quincy can absorb Reishi.
In turn, Haschwalth confirms that he has been gradually absorbing Reishi from his side of the barrier and admits that this took him longer than expected before praising the technique, which Nanao decides to take as a compliment for now prior to drawing a hexagon on the ground, causing Hakudan Keppeki to reform as a series of hexagonal plates in front of Haschwalth, and pointing out that she also had time to form a new barrier during this. With Haschwalth musing that this looks different than the original iteration of the barrier, Nanao inquires if he thinks it looks weak because it is not a single layer, and after deducing that its obvious fragility and weak Reishi bonds must be a trap, Haschwalth grasps his sword with both hands and decides to resort to rougher measures.
Suddenly, the Wandenreich emblem appears in the air behind Haschwalth, who acknowledges what he has been told and reveals that he is being called back to Silbern before beginning to depart, prompting Shunsui to question if he is really leaving after coming this far. Once Haschwalth asserts that Yhwach's orders are absolute, Shunsui asks him when he will return, and with Haschwalth asserting that he will do so when the order is given, Shunsui promises to be waiting for him with some fine tea when this comes.
Elsewhere, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame observes that night has fallen, and when 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa questions if it has not already been nighttime for a while, Ikkaku clarifies that it was just cloudy before and that night has now fallen across the entire Soul Society, which he does not like since the shadows are now darker. Behind them, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi climbs over a pile of rubble and recognizes Ikkaku and Yumichika, who wonder what he is doing here. As he approaches them, Hisagi explains that the different terrain made him lose his way and that the Wandenreich have spread high-density Reishi across the Seireitei to prevent the Gotei 13 from tracking them. Suddenly, with Ikkaku bringing up how the Wandenreich have been appearing from the shadows and warning Yumichika and Hisagi that this means traveling at night would be exactly what they want the Shinigami to do, Sternritter "S" Mask De Masculine falls down onto them.
Simultaneously, Sternritter "I" Cang Du and "K" BG9 kneel against two posts they are tied to within Silbern, where Yhwach announces that judgement of the defeated is about to commence and beckons Haschwalth to come forth. Though BG9 pleads with him to let them continue to fight since they were revived by Quincy: Vollständig after their defeats, Yhwach merely observes that they were fortunate to escape death before Haschwalth draws his broadsword and asserts that while Cang and BG9 should be grateful for their good fortune, battles should be fair and lives that were saved by good fortune will be removed with an equal amount of misfortune.
However, when Haschwalth slashes at Cang's neck over BG9's pleas, he is startled to find Cang's right shoulder and neck turned to iron and stopping his blade while Cang reminds Haschwalth that he is "The Iron", meaning that it is not difficult for him to stop Haschwalth's blade, and invites Haschwalth to try to cut him prior to refusing to be killed by anyone other than Yhwach. In turn, Haschwalth merely describes this as Cang's second good fortune, to the latter's shock, and inquires if Cang can see the scales of balance tipping behind him before effortlessly slicing vertically through Cang's right side.
Back outside, Mask pins down Hisagi with his elbow and counts to three in order to declare victory. Turning to James, a triumphant Mask muses that although he has finished off every captain they could find, it is lackluster for them to not have a crowd witnessing his feats, which James agrees with. Suddenly, two lights burst through the clouds and descend into the city several miles away, where 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai land.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 382: The Fundamental Virulence
- Episode 383: HEART of WOLF
- Episode 385: The White Haze
560. Rages at Ringside[]
Confronting Sternritter "S" Mask De Masculine alongside 3rd Division Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, 9th Division Captain Kensei Muguruma demonstrates the explosive power of his Bankai.
Summary:
The cover pages of 560. Rages at Ringside.
Having noticed 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai's arrival in the replaced Seireitei, Sternritter "S" Mask De Masculine admits that he does not know who they could be since they fell so far away and muses on the predicament of whether or not he should go after them before turning to James, who points out that the spectacle these two made would ensure Mask getting the spotlight if he defeats them. Alerted by this, Mask decides to go after them and encourages James to keep up before 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi's Shikai, Kazeshini, wraps around his ankle. Despite Hisagi refusing to be defeated just because Mask reached a three-count, Mask yanks on the chain of Kazeshini to pull Hisagi toward him, delivers a brutal clothesline to Hisagi in midair, and affirms that he does believe he won from that prior to attempting to stomp on a prone Hisagi.
However, he is interrupted when 9th Division Captain Kensei Muguruma stops Mask's foot with his own and admonishes Hisagi for getting knocked out without displaying the results of his training before introducing himself to Mask when the latter asks him if he is associated with these Shinigami, leaving Mask elated to be facing a captain. Despite Mask explaining that he regrettably cannot fight Kensei because he is on his way to investigate the fallen objects, 3rd Division Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi approaches him from behind and decries this since Mask has two captains to face, making them an excellent choice if he wants to garner a reputation. With Mask intrigued by this, Kensei promises that they will not take too much of his time and activates his Bankai, Tekken Tachikaze, to gain a pair of gauntlets on his fists connected by a band behind his head.
In response, Mask rips off his cloak, promises to defeat Kensei in a ten count, and launches himself toward Kensei with Star Dropkick, only for Kensei to casually block his feet with his right gauntlet while being pushed back several meters and express disbelief at Hisagi being defeated by such a weak attack before switching his left gauntlet to a set of spikes and driving it into Mask's stomach. With the surrounding area being cratered and Mask collapsing in pain at this, leaving James concerned at a single hit doing this to him, Kensei picks him up by the collar and explains that his Shikai, Tachikaze, can detonate things in the trajectory of its blade, while Tekken Tachikaze compresses the force of those explosions into his fists. Burying his right gauntlet in Mask's midsection, which causes the latter to begin vibrating from the repeated tremors racking his body, Kensei declares that this explosive force will continue to assault Mask so long as the gauntlet remains in contact with his body and sends Mask flying hundreds of meters away into a building.
While Rose muses that Kensei will not be needing any help from him, a despondent James tells Mask that he cannot lose, and as a nonplussed Kensei notes that the enemy's weakness is making them look like the villains here, Hisagi pushes himself up from the ground nearby and warns Kensei that he needs to take out James first just before James begs Mask to come back, which causes Mask's eyes and mask to glow with golden light while he jumps down from the building, lands behind Kensei and Rose, and sends them flying with powerful punches prior to introducing himself and declaring that James's cheers are the source of his power.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 383: HEART of WOLF
- Episode 384: Rages at Ringside
Author's Notes[]
 |
I hope the magic works! -Tite Kubo |
References[]
[]
| THE LAST 9DAYS | HEART OF WOLF | HEAR,FEAR,HERE |