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For the episode of the same name, see March of the StarCross.

MARCH OF THE STARCROSS is the fifty-sixth volume of the Bleach manga series.

Publisher's summary[]

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

Bleach All Stars[]

All-Stars
キルゲ・オピー
Quilge Opie
Ep146NelCharaPic 浦原 喜助
Kisuke Urahara
Ep368QuilgeCharaPic ネル・トゥ
Nel Tu
Ep329UraharaCharaPic

Ep351SadoCharaPic2 井上 織姫
Orihime Inoue
Ep366IchigoCharaPic
茶渡 泰虎
Yasutora Sado
Ep347OrihimeCharaPic2 黒崎 一護
Ichigo Kurosaki



Chapters[]

490. March Of The StarCross 2[]

The Sternritter prepare to invade the Seireitei as Ichigo Kurosaki's battle against Quilge Opie continues.

Summary:

490Cover

The cover spread of 490. March Of The StarCross 2.

In Silbern, the Sternritter are relayed an order from Yhwach to equip themselves and assemble at the Gate of the Sun immediately to commence their invasion of Soul Society due to Ichigo Kurosaki, one of the Special War Powers, engaging their forces in Hueco Mundo, where Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth stands at the forefront.

Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie observes that all the Heilig Pfeil he fired hit their mark and tells Ichigo that he can do better, only for Ichigo to drop his Shikai, Zangetsu, out of the plume of smoke engulfing him and muse on how he was told Quincy only use bows as the smoke clears to reveal him holding Quilge's Heilig Pfeil with his bare hand. Throwing the Heilig Pfeil back at a stunned Quilge, who is engulfed in a strong explosion upon impact, Ichigo drops to the sands below, and when Orihime Inoue runs toward him with Yasutora Sado, Ichigo throws a motionless Nel Tu to her so Orihime can look after her prior to turning around and firing a Getsuga Tenshō into the cloud of sand surrounding Quilge when six more Heilig Pfeil are fired at him from within it, with the Getsuga Tenshō intercepting all of them and disappearing into the cloud.

From within the sand cloud, Quilge commends Ichigo's performance and emerges while admitting shame at his own lack of skill. However, Ichigo assures Quilge that his Heilig Pfeil are much stronger than Uryū's are, though he clarifies that it has been a while since he has been hit by one of the latter's, prompting a surprised Quilge to assert that Uryū's Heilig Pfeil being weaker than his own is impossible, to Ichigo's confusion. When Ichigo questions what he means, Quilge realizes that he has said too much and apologizes while sheathing his Reishi Sword and musing that he will have much to report to Yhwach after the battle. Though Ichigo questions who Yhwach is, Quilge declines to answer this and explains it will not do Ichigo any good to know because he has just been ordered by Yhwach to kill Ichigo right here, which makes it pointless for the latter to gain information on the Wandenreich.

Quilge invites a startled Ichigo to take a good look at the power he must have heard about, the Quincy: Letzt Stil, and pulls off his right glove to reveal a Leiden Hant with the emblem of the Wandenreich emblazoned on the back, which creates a massive Reishi cross around him as Ichigo recognizes the technique that Uryū once used. Upon shattering, the Reishi cross falls apart to reveal Quilge, who has gained two large wings, gloves with large wristguards, large boots, and a large Heiligenschein all composed of Reishi, which he identifies as being properly called a Quincy: Vollständig.

Upon seeing the resulting explosion of force from this in the distance from several hundred meters away, Pesche Guatiche tells Kisuke Urahara to hurry, though the latter reminds Pesche that he is the one who suggested they save Dondochakka Birstanne while Ichigo is distracting the enemy as he carries an upside-down Dondochakka on his back. With Dondochakka musing on how close this was, Pesche explains that he did not think it would be so difficult and kicks Dondochakka in the back for choosing to hide in the sand on top of being heavy. Suddenly, Urahara looks behind them in alarm as Yhwach stands calmly in the air above the Seireitei.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


491. Toden Engel[]

Quilge Opie demonstrates the power of the Quincy: Vollständig against Ichigo Kurosaki.

Summary:

491Cover

The cover page of 491. Toden Engel.[2]

In Hueco Mundo, Orihime Inoue crouches next to Loly Aivirrne, Menoly Mallia, Emilou Apacci, Franceska Mila Rose, and Cyan Sung-Sun, whom she heals with Sōten Kisshun as she remains inside the barrier with Nel Tu and Yasutora Sado. Watching Ichigo Kurosaki stand across from Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie, who has activated his Quincy: Vollständig, Orihime notes that something is not right since there was no Reishi shockwave from this activation and she does not feel any Reiatsu from Quilge either. After wondering if Ichigo can feel the pulsation of his power, Quilge appears behind Ichigo faster than the latter can react, manifests his Reishi Sword, and declares that he will punish Ichigo before bringing his sword down, creating an explosion of force upon impact.

In the past, in his Study Chamber beneath the Urahara Shop, Kisuke Urahara pulls Ichigo aside to tell him about the Quincy: Letzt Stil while obfuscating where he learned the information from since he believes the latter should know of it. Urahara informs Ichigo that the Quincy: Letzt Stil is the reason Uryū Ishida lost his Quincy powers and details how using the Sanrei Glove aids a Quincy by heightening their Reishi absorption abilities before letting them gain a Quincy's greatest power upon removal, which is the Quincy: Letzt Stil. However, Urahara clarifies that it is also the final power that can be obtained by a Quincy because activation of it uses up a Quincy's power and eventually causes them to lose their abilities altogether.

In the present, Ichigo leaps out of the resulting sand cloud and mentally questions if this is the same power that Urahara told him about due to how strong Quilge seems and turns around to defend himself from Quilge, who soars out of the cloud as well and crosses swords with Ichigo. Having noticed, Quilge realizes what he is thinking and clarifies that this is a wholly different power from Quincy: Letzt Stil. With his sword managing to graze Ichigo's cheek once they separate, Quilge begins repeatedly clashing with Ichigo and explains that the Quincy: Letzt Stil is a relic of the past which died out 200 years ago due to its fragile nature, with Sōken Ishida being the only one to cling to it due to his rejection of the Wandenreich's research and evolution. While Ichigo blocks an overhead strike with both hands on Zangetsu and is pushed to the desert below, Quilge concludes that the difference between this and the Quincy: Letzt Stil is like that of heaven and earth, but Ichigo merely notes he is glad this is not the power Uryū used because it would make him look creepy.

Upon seeing an upset Quilge recoil slightly at this, Ichigo notes that he has eased the pressure on his blade, moves back, and fires a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō that rips through the landscape before him, only for the clearing sand to reveal Quilge unharmed despite having Ichigo's Shikai, Zangetsu, pressed against his neck. Advising Ichigo to aim his strikes as the former leaps back, Quilge claims that Ichigo would not find any weaknesses even if he did before proclaiming that Ichigo finding his form creepy is the correct response since the atrocious Shinigami should find their executioners horrifying and eerie. Quilge holds his sword aloft and begins forming a cross-shaped mass of Reishi at the tip by absorbing Reishi from his surroundings with Sklaverei, causing Sōten Kisshun to be torn apart before a stunned Orihime's eyes, and while Sado observes that everything made of Reishi in Hueco Mundo is converging on Quilge through this technique and Orihime realizes that she did not feel a shockwave earlier because Quincy absorb Reishi rather than emit it, Quilge names his Quincy: Vollständig as Piskiel and tells Ichigo to receive its power.

Suddenly, before Quilge can attack, he is punched several dozen meters away by Ayon, to Orihime's shock. With Quilge wondering what this monster is, Mila Rose infers that Quilge let down his guard once he believed they could no longer fight, Sung-Sun reminds him that he should not have underestimated them, and Apacci tells Ayon to show Quilge his power.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


492. Balancer's Justice[]

Ayon pulverizes Quilge Opie as 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru explains the history between the Shinigami and the Quincy.

Summary:

492Cover

The cover page of 492. Balancer's Justice.

When Ayon turns to look at the Tres Bestias, Franceska Mila Rose wonders what he is looking at and Cyan Sung-Sun refuses to believe he is worried about them, but Emilou Apacci assures Ayon that he does not need to mind them and can cut loose, prompting Ayon to open his eyes and roar loudly, generating waves of force that radiate across the desert. Apacci explains to Ichigo that Ayon is a being born from the fusion of the severed left arms of the Tres Bestias who possesses great power and an unpredictable nature prior to warning him that he and his friends should get out of here if they do not want to die since they are not the enemy of the Tres Bestias this time. With Ayon lunging toward him, Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie asserts that the former cannot overcome his Quincy: Vollständig, only for Ayon to punch Quilge hard enough to make him bleed.

Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, Ryūnosuke Yuki and Shino Madarame are angrily ordered to find their post with 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru by another Shinigami, leading them to frantically run off as Shino chastises Yuki for taking so long in the bathroom. As they run, Yuki brings up the question of why they have to fight the Quincy, and when an incredulous Shino reminds him that the Wandenreich declared war on them, Shino clarifies that he is asking about the reason that Shinigami and Quincy are at odds with each other to begin with when they share the goal of destroying Hollows. With the two of them coming to a halt, Kajōmaru approaches them and muses that the rumor about the Shin'ō Academy leaving such things out of their classes was true after all. Though an awestruck Shino bows to him and apologizes for being late to deploy, Kajōmaru assures her that it is alright and notes that they have time to talk since the alarms have not rung yet before noting that the biggest difference between Shinigami and Quincy lies in the way they dispose of Hollows, with Shinigami cleansing their Souls and sending them to Soul Society while Quincy kill Hollows and completely extinguish their Souls.

Once Yuki confirms that he is aware of the Shinigami previously being called Balancers, Kajōmaru explains that this indicates the essence of a Shinigami's job because the Souls that exist in the Human World and Soul Society are evenly distributed at all times while remaining separated by the Dangai so they do not come into contact with each other and potentially cause the collapse of the two worlds by disrupting the balance between them. Kajōmaru details how they both send Souls to the Human World from Soul Society as living organisms and guide dead Souls to Soul Society without discrimination, which allows them to keep an eye on the total number of Souls and adjust the balance with the Human World accordingly, but observes that Quincy disrupted the balance by destroying Souls that became Hollows so they cannot return to Soul Society, leading to the number of Souls increasing only in the Human World until the equilibrium eventually falls apart and Soul Society flows into the Human World to destroy both realms completely.

With Yuki and Shino alarmed by this concept, Kajōmaru recounts how the Shinigami had approached the Quincy for a dialogue in order to prevent this destruction, only to be rejected each time, which eventually led to the Quincy extermination being carried out 200 years ago to prevent the encroaching destruction of the world after endless debate within Soul Society and continued conflicts with the Quincy themselves. After observing that their goals do not mesh and the grudge born of that genocide will never fade, Kajōmaru concludes that the Shinigami and Quincy have no choice other than fighting and asks Yuki if he understands, though Yuki insists that he has a single question to ask. When Yuki questions if the Shinigami are fighting for the sake of justice, Kajōmaru observes that self-defense or conquest take place when one side is justice, but muses that this war is occurring because both sides are just.

Back in Hueco Mundo, Ayon repeatedly punches Quilge, who coughs up blood, and brutally pounds him into the desert sand over and over with his fists, leaving Orihime Inoue horrified within her rebuilt Sōten Kisshun and Yasutora Sado unnerved at how out-of-control Ayon is. Eventually, Quilge is left embedded upside-down in the sand with only his legs and parts of his wings remaining visible, to the delight of the Tres Bestias. Despite this, when Apacci admits her surprise at Quilge remaining intact even after this beating and approaches him, she is stabbed through the chest by his Reishi Sword, to her, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun's shock. As Apacci collapses, Quilge stands up and notes that this level of power was not reported to him as he pushes his broken neck back into place and muses that he must ask Yhwach to adjust the strength of their Blut before promising that they will all die here first.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


493. Light of Happiness[]

Quilge Opie empowers himself by absorbing Ayon with Sklaverei as the invasion of the Seireitei commences.

Summary:

493Cover

The cover page of 493. Light of Happiness.

Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie begins repairing his Quincy: Vollständig, Piskiel, with Sklaverei and tells Ayon that he will be the first to die, only to correct himself and clarify that Ayon will live instead. As a roaring Ayon rushes toward him despite Franceska Mila Rose's warning, Quilge tears the flesh off Ayon's bones with Sklaverei as well, causing him to collapse while elements of his appearance are integrated into Quilge's body and Piskiel, which results in two large eyes appearing on Quilge's wings, his teeth growing large and lipless, and his left arm gaining a huge amount of muscle mass. During this process, Quilge details how Sklaverei is the basic Quincy ability of Reishi absorption taken to its limit to become Reishi subjugation and admits that he did not want to use it since it makes him unsightly.

In response, Rose picks up Emilou Apacci and leaps away alongside Cyan Sung-Sun, who lands before Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado to use Muda, shedding her skin and creating a large dome that camouflages the area around them. Upon sensing the disappearance of their Reiatsu, Quilge notes that this decision to go into hiding and keen sense for danger is very beastlike. Within Muda, Mila Rose clarifies that rather than saving Orihime and Sado, she and Sung-Sun can see that the two of them have enough Reiryoku to cause even more problems if Quilge absorbed them. Though she initially does not know who they are, Mila Rose recognizes Orihime as the princess brought to Las Noches by Sōsuke Aizen and expresses disbelief at her returning to Hueco Mundo, but Sung-Sun insists that they ask about this later and outlines how everything in Hueco Mundo and Soul Society being comprised of Reishi means Quilge's Sklaverei will quickly rip their bodies apart and prevent them from even attempting to battle him.

However, after Sung-Sun explains that Muda completely conceals their presence with optical camouflage and Reiatsu partition, which will allow them to remain inside it while moving to Ichigo Kurosaki's location, Quilge absorbs the section of Muda behind her and praises this as a smart move, only to claim that she failed to take their difference in power into account and initiate Sklaverei once more, resulting in Mila Rose and Sung-Sun having parts of their skin bloodily ripped off. Seeing the same phenomenon occur on her arms and face, Orihime desperately shields Nel Tu as Sado experiences the same phenomenon on his chest and neck. While passively watching this, Quilge observes that such struggles always reaffirm his beliefs, laments how unsightly the deaths of the weak are, and coldly tells those before him to die. Suddenly, a black Getsuga Tenshō from behind him shatters his Heiligenschein while Ichigo comes down on Quilge with his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, and forces him into a blade lock as the Getsuga Tenshō explodes in the distance. Ichigo notes that Quilge cannot use Sklaverei anymore once his Heiligenschein is destroyed, and after admitting that it takes courage to actually act on this beyond just realizing it, Quilge expresses annoyance at how difficult it is to deal with Ichigo.

Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru notices Ryūnosuke Yuki sweating in a battle stance and assures him that there is no need to be so tense, since most of the damage from the last incursion occurring near the Black Ridge Gate means that the enemy should enter through the gates, which will allow them to receive word from one of the gates when this happens. However, Yhwach merely notes that this makes sense while standing in the air above the assembled Shinigami, and though Kajōmaru assures the startled Shinigami that Yhwach cannot do anything to them while outside the Shakonmaku, a terrified Yuki points out that Yhwach is already inside the Shakonmaku just before several gigantic Reishi pillars erupt behind Kajōmaru, causing Yhwach to muse that conflict is a bitter affair.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


494. The Closing Chapter Part One[]

The Sternritter begin their assault on the Gotei 13.

Summary:

494Cover

The cover spread of 494. The Closing Chapter Part One.

With gigantic pillars of Reishi erupting across the Seireitei, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki watches his subordinates rush past in confusion while 8th Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi, 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira, and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai look outside in astonishment at the pillars. As 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru realizes that these are pillars of blue fire instead of light, 3rd Seats Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu express disbelief at the Reishi density and sheer number of the pillars prior to Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki running past them and declaring that she is headed toward the base of the pillars due to the high likelihood that the enemy leaders should be there, leaving Sentarō and Kiyone to look at each other.

Simultaneously, in the wreckage of his office, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asserts that he is stepping out and tasks 1st Division 3rd Seat Genshirō Okikiba with guarding the barracks, which the latter affirms. Near the Third Division barracks, Izuru stands before one of the pillars alongside his subordinates and asks the Shinigami Research and Development Institute technician behind him about how much longer his analysis will take, though the technician apologetically explains that the sheer density of the Reishi is making his instruments malfunction. Upon being asked by Izuru if he believes the enemy is in the pillars too, 3rd Division 3rd Seat Rikū Togakushi confirms that he cannot think of anywhere else they would be as 5th Seat Taketsuna Gori claims to be yawning from the boredom of not getting to fight the enemy yet, which prompts 6th Seat Asuka Katakura to express hope that Taketsuna bites his tongue in surprise by yawning when the enemy comes out.

Suddenly, the technician announces that he has detected a Reiatsu within the pillar with a 93% match to the previous sample collected and concludes that it is a Quincy, alerting those present. Once he sees Sternritter "H" Bazz-B's silhouette within the pillar, Izuru orders his subordinates to attack, but a beam of fire blasts out of the pillar and between the other Shinigami to punch through Izuru, leaving a large hole in the side of his torso and severing his right arm. Alarmed by this, Rikū admonishes Bazz-B for performing such a dishonorable surprise attack and has Taketsuna and Asuka release their respective Shikai, Shunjin, Katakage, and Mogaribue to confront Bazz-B themselves. However, this is interrupted when Bazz-B rushes forward and slams his fists into Asuka and Taketsuna's heads, driving them into and crushing them against the pavement, before quickly killing a stunned Rikū as well.

With the other Shinigami fleeing in terror at the sight of this, Bazz-B lowers his hood and apologetically proclaims that they have been ordered to kill everyone while Sternritter "O" Driscoll Berci, Sternritter "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine, and Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt emerge from their own pillars. Above them, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth tells the mobilizing Gotei 13 to tremble because the Sternritter are about to purge them. Within the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, a researcher informs 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon that even though they have detected enemy Reiatsu in sixteen locations across the Seireitei, Reiatsu belonging to Shinigami is disappearing in locations where they have not detected any invaders, with the likely reason being that the technicians accompanying them were killed before they could transmit their findings. Learning that the Reiatsu of Izuru and three of his seated officers have disappeared and that 86 Shinigami have been killed in the western districts, Akon is left speechless at the Gotei 13 sustaining over 1,000 casualties in the first seven minutes of the invasion and expresses disbelief that they could ever win this battle as Ichigo Kurosaki continues battling in Hueco Mundo.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


495. Bleeding Guitar Blues[]

The captains of the Gotei 13 confront the Sternritter.

Summary:

495Cover

The cover page of 495. Bleeding Guitar Blues.

In front of the Third Division barracks, a Jigokuchō flies to Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, who stands over several dead Shinigami and acknowledges the information relayed to him about the disappearing Reiatsu of his lieutenant, Izuru Kira, three seated officers, and 27 other Shinigami. Across from Rose, Sternritter "U" NaNaNa Najahkoop notes that this did not seem like good news and inquires about whether someone died. Though Rose questions if there is a reason to answer this, a grinning NaNaNa elaborates that Sternritter "H" Bazz-B landed near Rose's subordinates and messed up if he left any of them alive. However, Rose counters that it is not artful to find faults among one's comrades like this. Looking at his Zanpakutō, Rose muses that he always gets flashes of inspiration from looking at Izuru and recalls that simply holding a guitar near him causes melodies to flow out like tears, meaning that he and his guitar would be devastated if Izuru were gone. In turn, NaNaNa admits that he does not understand art and promises Rose that he and his guitar will not get the chance to cry because he will be dead in five minutes, but Rose merely notes that NaNaNa really does not understand art and explains that he is already crying from the deaths of so many of his subordinates before warning NaNaNa that he should not expect to make it out of here alive.

Meanwhile, at the Sixth Division barracks, several Shinigami are impaled on the Reishi Thorns of Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt as others nearby wonder why none of their attacks are working and why the dying Shinigami on the thorns are screaming in terror. Upon seeing his comrades fleeing, one of the Shinigami desperately asks them to come back because they are to protect the Seireitei with their lives rather than save themselves and closes his eyes as he confronts Äs alone. Suddenly, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai embeds his Shikai, Zabimaru, in the ground between them and praises the Shinigami for his proclamation. With the Shinigami relieved to see him, Renji promises to take over from here.

During this, at the Seventh Division barracks, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine cuts several Shinigami in half with her Reishi Sword prior to being stopped when Captain Sajin Komamura grabs her wrist and is left aghast by a young girl fighting for the Wandenreich, though Bambietta counters that Soul Society must be seriously understaffed if they promoted a dog to captain. Across the Seireitei, Sternritter "O" Driscoll Berci confronts 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi while 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku approaches Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone. Elsewhere, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng sees Sternritter "K" BG9 around a corner, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake is confronted by a black-haired Sternritter, and 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya glares at Sternritter "I" Cang Du, who stands on a wall opposite him.

Back at the Sixth Division barracks, Renji repeatedly attacks Äs with extending strikes of Zabimaru, only for Äs to effortlessly block them without injury using his Blut Vene-enhanced skin. Just as Renji notices Äs' veins glowing blue whenever he blocks a strike and decides to speed up his attacks after questioning if it is a unique ability or one that all Quincy possess, Sternritter "S" Mask De Masculine comes down on him from above. When Renji leaps away at the last second, leaving him to punch the ground, Mask follows him into the air, only for 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki to intercept Mask's next strike with his Shikai, Senbonzakura, to Renji and Mask's surprise. Approaching them, Byakuya asserts that there is no reason for Renji to hold back because the Wandenreich wishes to destroy the Seireitei, which means that Renji should cut them down with everything he has got.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


496. Kill The Shadow[]

The captains of the Gotei 13 decide to bait the Sternritter into using their Medallions in order to figure out how to break the seals on their Bankai.

Summary:

496Cover

The cover page of 496. Kill The Shadow.

At the Blue Stream Gate, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth approaches 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru and the other Shinigami stationed nearby. When Kajōmaru promises to stop him, Haschwalth permits him and the other Shinigami to run since none of them are worth the time of the Sternritter, and when Kajōmaru is offended by this mockery, Haschwalth observes that Kajōmaru is so overcome by fear that he has subconsciously shifted the matter from life and death to restraining Haschwalth, only to declare that the war has already begun. With Kajōmaru screaming and rushing toward him, Haschwalth vertically bisects the former with his sword, causing his blood to splatter across the ground.

Meanwhile, at the Sixth Division barracks, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki asserts that the despicable Sternritter are the ones responsible for Chōjirō Sasakibe's death and for causing bloodshed in the Seireitei, which is why there is no need for his lieutenant, Renji Abarai, to show them pity. With Renji insisting that he was not showing pity, Byakuya responds to Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt attempting to move by surrounding the latter's hand with his Shikai, Senbonzakura, and ordering him not to do so, and when Renji warns Byakuya that their swords cannot cut the skin of the Sternritter, Byakuya denies this being possible and intensifies his assault, causing a startled Äs' hand to be cut in several areas despite his Blut Vene. Once Mask runs over to Äs in confusion and concern, Byakuya suggests that he not make any sudden movements either while destroying the floor beneath Mask with Senbonzakura, causing the latter to fall through the hole into the building below as he screams in alarm.

After asserting that this battle is now two against one, Byakuya reforms his sword before instructing Renji to finish Äs off with his Bankai should the latter seal Byakuya's own, to Renji's shock. Byakuya recounts how Chōjirō's report revealed that the Wandenreich possesses some method of sealing their Bankai and responds to Renji asserting that this is why they cannot use their Bankai by pointing out that the Sternritter are not an enemy that can be defeated without using Bankai. Simultaneously, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura instructs his lieutenant, Tetsuzaemon Iba, to observe how Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine seals his Bankai because discovering a way to break the seal will be the key to winning this battle, with 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya telling his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, that he will be using it close to her so she can fight with him and discover a way to break the seal once it is sealed in another part of the Seireitei, though 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng muses to her lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, that there will be no problem if they dispose of their opponents before their Bankai are sealed.

However, when Byakuya, Komamura, Suì-Fēng, and Hitsugaya activate their respective Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, Jakuhō Raikōben, and Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, the individual Medallions of Äs, Bambietta, Sternritter "K" BG9, and Sternritter "I" Cang Du are pulled out and used to absorb those Bankai, causing Byakuya to realize they were stolen rather than sealed.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


497. Kill The Shadow2[]

The captains of the Gotei 13 learn that the Sternritter can steal their Bankai.

Summary:

497Cover

The cover page of 497. Kill The Shadow2.

With Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt, Sternritter "K" BG9, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine, and Sternritter "I" Cang Du having stolen their opponents' Bankai with their Medallions, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng is left aghast and 7th Division Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba demands to know what this is while 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto wonders what just happened. As 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda is left speechless, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya stares down in shock, and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai expresses disbelief, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura looks up at the sky and realizes that his Bankai is gone.

Begging Hyōrinmaru to say something to him and receiving no response, Hitsugaya falls to his knees in despair, but when Rangiku expresses concern for him, Hitsugaya questions what she is doing and orders Rangiku toto tell the rest of the captains to not use their Bankai because the Sternritter can steal them, prompting Rangiku to cut open her thumb, draw a sigil along her arm, and initiate Bakudō #77. Tenteikūra to relay this to the other captains across the Seireitei by connecting to their minds. Upon learning of this, 9th Division Captain Kensei Muguruma is left aghast, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki is startled, 3rd Division Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi is shocked that Bankai can be stolen, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake closes his eyes in sorrow, 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako angrily wonders what his fellow captains are doing, 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana observes that three other captains have had their Bankai stolen, and 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi angrily slams his fist against a wall while berating the captains for not waiting until his analysis was completed as Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto leaps away.

During this, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku observes that they are fortunate because while Mayuri can usually devise a solution to any problem within a day given enough information, he severely lacks information this time and the Gotei 13 had no idea of when they would learn what the abilities of the Wandenreich are, which means that someone would eventually need to become a sacrifice because they cannot win without their Bankai. In turn, Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone dashes toward Shunsui with Hirenkyaku, shoots off his hat, and evades Shunsui's counterattack by activating his Quincy: Vollständig, Grimaniel, before reappearing behind Shunsui and shooting out his right eye. With blood dripping from his socket, Shunsui admits that he is more disturbed than he thought despite his attempt to put on a brave face and asserts that this is a problem.

Simultaneously, at the Blue Stream Gate, a horrified Shino Madarame kneels beside the corpse of Hidetomo Kajōmaru and screams his name as Ryūnosuke Yuki and several other Shinigami stand speechless behind her. Above them, when Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth asks him what should be done since this unit seems to have already lost its will to fight, Yhwach decides to leave it up to Haschwalth and explains that he can spare the Shinigami if he believes they will be better off that way, which Haschwalth acknowledges. Back at the Sixth Division barracks, Renji attempts to activate his Bankai as well, but his captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, stops him and insists that they must not lose Renji's Bankai as well, only for Renji to frantically demand to know how they are supposed to fight the Sternritter otherwise.

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

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


498. The Dark Rescuer[]

The Shinigami Research and Development Institute learns that Ichigo Kurosaki is battling the Wandenreich in Hueco Mundo and is immune to having his Bankai stolen.

Summary:

498Cover

The cover page of 498. The Dark Rescuer.[3]

In the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, the technicians rush to connect their communication circuit to Ichigo Kurosaki through his Substitute Shinigami Badge at 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon's request, only for one of them to pause in confusion and explain to Akon that the badge is in the Human World while Ichigo is not, with the latter's Reishi trail pointing to Hueco Mundo. While the other technicians express bewilderment at this, Akon learns that the Substitute Shinigami Badge is at the Urahara Shop and is likely underground due to the spiritual interference they are receiving while locating it, which allows him to deduce that Kisuke Urahara is with Ichigo and leads Akon to request that they connect to Urahara instead.

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

When asked by Akon about the situation, Urahara observes that they are about even, but corrects himself and states that Ichigo is actually winning, to Akon's surprise. Nearby, Quilge's Medallion fails to steal Ichigo's Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, and Quilge screams in frustration at this still not working before Ichigo attacks him, sending Quilge crashing through a structure while Urahara relays to Akon that Quilge's attempts to seal Tensa Zangetsu are not working, to the shock of those listening. Watching Urahara scratch his leg and refuse to simply walk into the fight since it is dangerous alongside Dondochakka Birstanne, Pesche Guatiche calls him stupid for being so relaxed prior to Urahara revealing that he knows Soul Society has been invaded and that Akon contacting him must mean things are dire, which is why he wants to know how things are going over there.

Simultaneously, Quilge flies through the air and ruminates that while he did receive Daten about not letting Ichigo use his Bankai because it cannot be stolen with a Medallion, this is the only factor he was told about, leaving him in disbelief at Ichigo surpassing him so easily despite him using his Quincy: Vollständig and absorbing Ayon. Slammed into the desert below by a Getsuga Tenshō fired at him by Ichigo once the latter drops down onto him, Quilge emerges from the sand cloud with his Reishi Sword raised and fires a barrage of Heilig Pfeil at Ichigo, who casually slashes through them with his sword and brings up Asguiaro Ebern also trying to seal his Bankai. Though he initially declines to answer when Ichigo questions why they are trying to do this and mentally details how he is stuck using Blut Vene to withstand Ichigo's attacks while needing to turn that off so he can effectively counterattack with Blut Arterie, which leads him to wonder if it is time to call for reinforcements, Quilge is enraged by Ichigo suggesting that the Wandenreich are afraid of Bankai and begins yelling about their fearlessness, only to be interrupted when a blast of energy punctures his chest from behind Ichigo, leaving a large hole in it.

With Quilge collapsing, Urahara stands on a rocky outcropping behind Ichigo with his hand emitting smoke and thanks the latter for disrupting Quilge's defensive Reishi long enough for him to deal a fatal blow. Tossing the Denreishinki to Ichigo, Urahara informs him that they have an emergency and that he must head to Soul Society through the nearby Garganta with Akon filling him in, which prompts Ichigo to raise the Denreishinki to his ear as Akon asks him to listen without giving in to despair.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


499. Rescuer In The Dark[]

Ichigo Kurosaki learns of the war in the Seireitei and the combat capabilities of the Sternritter.

Summary:

499Cover

The cover page of 499. Rescuer In The Dark.

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

Simultaneously, in the Garganta, Ichigo learns that the Gotei 13's losses include the Reiatsu disappearances of 2,245 unseated Shinigami, 56 seated officers, and one lieutenant, with these numbers increasing every second and being necessary for Ichigo as a reference point, as well as extensive structural damage. When Ichigo questions if the disappearance of their Reiatsu means that all of these Shinigami are dead, Akon admits that they do not know and assures Ichigo that the lieutenant mentioned is not Rukia Kuchiki or Renji Abarai, though he clarifies that he did not mean anything by it when Ichigo asserts that this is not what he was asking. Akon elaborates that there at least sixteen individuals within the enemy ranks who possess Reiryoku greater than or equal to a Gotei 13 captain called the Sternritter and dressed in distinct white uniforms unique to Quincy, with this faction having sustained zero losses and not lost once to the Gotei 13 so far. With Ichigo wondering what their abilities are, Akon notes that they have not received any information other than that they are Quincy, but reveals that they possess the ability to take possession of a Shinigami's Bankai.

Though Ichigo refuses to believe this, Akon counters that it is not up for debate because they received this information directly from 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura, and 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, all of whom had their Bankai stolen, leaving Ichigo astonished by this. Suddenly, Urahara joins the call to provide Ichigo with information on the enemy by detailing how he collected data during Ichigo's earlier battle with Quilge and typing on a keyboard projected by a device functioning as a computer, where he explains that the Quincy have three major abilities and starts with their Quincy: Vollständig, which shows the most obvious changes to their form and combat ability but which they have no knowledge of beyond what Ichigo has witnessed firsthand.

Urahara notes that Blut allows the Quincy to pump Reishi into their veins and enhance either their offensive or defensive capabilities without being able to use both systems at once, which prevented Quilge from effectively attacking Ichigo earlier because he had to constantly allocate his Reishi to Blut Vene due to his inability to keep up with the high-speed combat of Tensa Zangetsu and allowed Urahara to deliver the finishing blow when Quilge briefly shifted to Blut Arterie when enraged by Ichigo's words, all of which will make the switching of Blut systems pivotal in the coming battles against the Quincy, before concluding that their third combat attribute is the Bankai-stealing Medallions, which he will be learning the workings of by analyzing Quilge's. After stating that the important thing here is the inability of the Wandenreich to steal Ichigo's Bankai, Urahara admits that he does not know exactly why this is the case, only to theorize that the Wandenreich was waiting to attack until Ichigo was stuck in Hueco Mundo and is being more cautious of him than of anyone else, which is exactly why he should go to Soul Society. With Urahara concluding that this is a dangerous battle and promising to follow Ichigo shortly, Ichigo agrees to be careful.

However, Ichigo and Urahara's conversation is interrupted when a blast of Reishi flies past Ichigo and forcibly closes the exit in front of him, leaving Ichigo bewildered and trying to contact Urahara, who has a Heilig Pfeil embedded in his back and looks down to see Sado and Orihime with large holes punched into their bodies. With Urahara mentally berating himself for believing he was down, Quilge stands up with Ransōtengai and refuses to let Ichigo reach Soul Society since Yhwach ordered him to keep Ichigo at bay even at the cost of his life before firing another blast of Reishi into the Garganta that spreads out around Ichigo and encases him in a circular set of bars, to his alarm. Laughing maniacally at this, Quilge declares that this is unfortunate for Ichigo, who was so close to reaching and defending Soul Society but now lacks the means of escaping his prison, and concludes that he must wait there until Soul Society falls while the other end of the Garganta is forcibly closed by Reishi as well.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:

Author's Notes[]

Volume 56 Intro Image
My wallet broke. Half of me is in shock for having lost my favorite wallet, but the other half of me is happy that I get to search for a new one. Now that I think about it, that's how I usually feel when I lose stuff.

-Tite Kubo

References[]

  1. Volume 56 on Shueisha BOOKS
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 translation "Dead Angel"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 This chapter originally appears as "The Black Rescuer" in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.

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THE BLOOD WARFARE MARCH OF THE STARCROSS OUT OF BLOOM

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