Wartime Coordination

Wartime Coordination is an event taking place during the Quincy Blood War, focusing on the Gotei 13 and Wandenreich's respective efforts to coordinate their armies and respond to each other's moves during the second invasion of the Seireitei.

Prelude[]

On June 18th, the Wandenreich's Schatten Bereich engulfs the buildings, encircling wall, and Shakonmaku of the Seireitei, replacing the entire city with the Wandenreich's city while Yhwach, Uryū Ishida, and Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth stand atop Silbern. In the SRDI, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon and Hiyosu struggle to understand what is happening due to their measuring equipment delivering impossible readings. As Akon realizes the Seireitei is gone, Yhwach asks Uryū if he knows the Kaiser Gesang, which Uryū recites as the confined Quincy king regaining his heartbeat in 900 years, his mind after 90 years, and his strength after 9 years. However, Yhwach reveals there is a fourth verse stating that the king will regain the world in 9 days and invites Uryū and Haschwalth to join him in the last nine days.^[2]

The Seireitei Replaced[]

Standing in his former office while the other captains, lieutenants, and their subordinates express shock and bewilderment at this, Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku looks out over the frozen city with his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, and admits that he was not expecting them to lose their territorial advantage when he set traps across the Seireitei in anticipation of another unannounced invasion. Watching this from miles away in the Sakahone district of the Rukongai, 13th Division 3rd Seats Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu call out to their captain, Jūshirō Ukitake, in panic as he sits shirtless within a strange temple.^[3]

Simultaneously, in the former Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Hiyosu frantically fiddles with one of the control terminals and informs the other technicians that nothing is showing up on the screen, and when he refuses to believe that the Seireitei is gone despite this, Akon inquires if Hiyosu is refusing to believe the instruments they developed themselves and asserts that he should know the numbers he is seeing are everything. Though Hiyosu tries to point to the instruments still being here as proof to the contrary, the surrounding equipment is suddenly removed by the Schatten Bereich as well, leaving a frightened Hiyosu to demand to know what is going on.^[4]

Atop Silbern, Yhwach declares that the Shinigami could never comprehend this and explains how the Quincy had to flee from the Human World to Soul Society a thousand years ago after they lost the war and were left with nowhere else to go, where they were able to use Reishi to form a hidden city in the shadows of the Seireitei where the Gotei 13 did not expect them to hide and call it the Wandenreich. Back in the former SRDI, Sternritter "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar calls the invasion successful and point out that, unlike the Human World, Soul Society is brimming with Reishi.^[5]

With Askin revealing this let the Quincy build up their strength for a thousand years within the shadows, Haschwalth approaches Shunsui and Nanao to inform them that the Wandenreich simply appeared within the Shakonmaku once more rather than breaking through it, just as they did last time they invaded. Though Nanao is shocked by this, Shunsui thanks Haschwalth and welcomes him to the Captain-Commander's office, musing that Yhwach has capable subordinates given how quickly Haschwalth arrived. Once Haschwalth introduces himself as the Sternritter Grandmaster, Shunsui introduces himself as the Captain-Commander and apologizes for only being recently appointed, something he assumes Haschwalth does not know.^[6]

After a pause, Shunsui questions if Haschwalth came here because he indeed knew that, leading Haschwalth to confirm this, and when Shunsui calls him impatient for not wanting to enjoy the battle he has waited a thousand years for, Haschwalth asserts Yhwach loves peace and believes shorter battles are better, which is why he ordered the Wandenreich to annihilate the enemy instantly. Meanwhile, in the former SRDI, Askin responds to the technicians demanding to know how he got here by reminding them that he has always been here and wondering if their department is intelligent in name only. Suddenly, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi confirms this.^[7]

With a doorway appearing in the air behind Askin, Mayuri's face emerges from the light within as he notes that the Quincy operating from within the shadows meant that there were two worlds existing in the same space without ever interacting, which he finds to be absurd. Stepping out of the doorway with both himself and his lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, clad in garments emitting bright light, Mayuri clarifies that he does not mind absurdity and responds to his subordinates' shock over his attire by explaining that the data he collected from the last invasion let him deduce that the Wandenreich were somehow making use of shadows. Declaring that he simply modified his laboratory to not emit any shadows as a result, Mayuri invites Askin to find out whether his department is intelligent in name only before he leaves, to Askin's irritation.^[8]

However, after examining Mayuri between his fingers, Askin gives up on fighting him and bluntly states to a confused Mayuri that he will take too much time to defeat. When Mayuri wonders what this means, Askin clarifies that killing Mayuri would require trying too many scenarios, something which he is bad at since he prefers getting fights over with as quickly as possible, and tells the latter to fight someone else. However, when he tries to leave and finds himself unhindered, a surprised Askin turns back to Mayuri and questions if the latter is not going to come out of here, prompting Mayuri to confirm this and tell Askin that he can go wherever he wants since Mayuri needs more time to analyze Askin's Reiatsu.^[9]

Additionally, Mayuri surmises that Askin is trying to goad Mayuri into entering his territory, leading Askin to call him scary and express relief at not giving away his abilities. Suddenly, the whole building shakes and Mayuri recognizes 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng's Reiatsu as one of his technicians announces that she is overwhelming the enemy without her Bankai, which prompts Askin to muse this is just as Yhwach predicted and confirm to a shocked Mayuri that the battles still falling under predictions means the Gotei 13 is still in danger.^[10] Some time later, an army of Soldat advance through the streets and attack the Shinigami of the Seventh Division.^[11]

In response to this, Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba blocks one of their swords with his Zanpakutō. While 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori is pushed back across the ground by other Soldat and forces herself to halt by embedding her Zanpakutō in the stone, 4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu hides from more Soldat.^[11] Meanwhile, in the former Captain-Commander's office, Haschwalth is cut off from Shunsui and Nanao 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.^[12]

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, forcing Nanao to admit that they cannot.^[13]

Suddenly, Nanao and Shunsui notice the explosion produced by Sternritter "K" BG9's attack on 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.^[14] Shortly afterward, in the former SRDI, Mayuri observes that two Reiatsu have disappeared and is informed that they belonged to 10th Division Captain Tōshirō 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.^[15]

Bankai Reclamation[]

Mayuri asks Urahara to repeat what he just said, and 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.^[16]

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 SRDI, 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 Akon has them confirm the locations of all the captains and lieutenants while having their insects move out to link the Wandenreich's systems and technology to this room.^[17]

Though the systems fail to connect, Akon asserts 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 this is his invention to Mayuri, 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 before bringing up how an Arrancar's Resurrección is nearly identical to Bankai, as it consists of them releasing the true form of their power stored within their Zanpakutō.^[18]

However, after positing that Quincy should be able to steal them just as they can Bankai, 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.^[19]

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.^[20]

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.^[21]

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.^[22] With the captains successfully reclaiming their Bankai, as Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine and "F" 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.^[23] Elsewhere, Shinji stands among dozens of dead Shinigami before the Soldat that killed them, absorbs a Shin'eiyaku, and declines to give up just because he is outnumbered.^[11]

Despite his anger over his comrades being killed, Shinji admits that there are some techniques he cannot use with them around, and as the Soldat ready their Heilig Bogen and aim Heilig Pfeil at him, Shinji promises to turn their logic and reality upside-down as he activates his Bankai, Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari, which engulfs him in the petals of a large metal flower just before the Soldat begin killing each other around him. Shinji explains that his Bankai reverses perceptions so everyone sees their allies as enemies and attacks them prior to slashing a Soldat across the back.^[11]

Shortly afterward, 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 spikes of energy form on their chests before their Quincy: Vollständig are activated. With several Shinigami watching the light in confusion, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine reveals that she had been unable to use it until now because keeping 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura's Bankai prevented her from doing so, making her grateful toward the Shinigami for letting her use it. Watching this from his outdoor throne, 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.^[24]

However, with Mayuri noting that things have gotten a bit complicated and questioning what to do now, Urahara is contacted by Ichigo Kurosaki,^[25] who informs Urahara of his descent toward Soul Society 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. Ending the call, Ichigo muses that Urahara did not say anything about how the battle was going, pulls fabric from his cap down over his eyes, and decides to hurry before accelerating downward.^[26]

Forces Regrouping[]

As evening falls, Haschwalth stands across from Shunsui and Nanao on the other side of Hakudan Keppeki, where he observes the battle seems to be evening out, prompting Shunsui to call this analysis modest and affirm 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 claim he had almost forgotten how the Quincy can absorb Reishi.^[27]

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.^[28]

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. Soon afterward, Sternritter "I" Cang Du and 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.^[29]

BG9 pleads with him to let them continue to fight since they were revived by Quincy: Vollständig after their defeats, but 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 left shoulder and neck^[30] turned to iron and stopping his blade while Cang reminds Haschwalth that he is "The Iron".^[31]

After noting that it is not difficult for him to stop Haschwalth's blade, Cang 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.^[32] Some time later, within Mayuri's hidden laboratory, one of the technicians monitoring the replaced Seireitei brings up a topographical map of the city produced by the Wandenreich and announces that the Gotei 13 has roughly 42% of its forces currently alive, but its active military strength is less than 30%, prompting Akon to curse at the Wandenreich trampling them in such a short amount of time as Urahara muses that they used the chaos to crush the Gotei 13's chain of command.^[33]

At Akon's behest, the technicians detail that Suì-Fēng is currently injured and being transported by Marechiyo to the first-aid station following her battle against BG9, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Reiatsu has disappeared after his battle against Cang with Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto's status remaining unknown, and 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki is not responding to any of their calls, though Akon bluntly asserts that they can ignore this. In response, one of the technicians reveals that 9th Division Captain Kensei Muguruma and 3rd Division Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi are alright.^[33]

Once the technicians conclude that Kensei and Rose are currently assessing their surroundings, Urahara observes that the remaining unseated Shinigami will just be hunted down by the Soldat at this rate, and after criticizing them for getting worked up just because their superior officers were killed since it indicates an inability to think and act for themselves, Mayuri contacts Shunsui and sarcastically suggests he rejoice at the news of the Gotei 13 losing only 70% of its combat capability while he was sipping tea with the enemy. In turn, Shunsui admits that he ran out of tea and the enemy was about to sip on his blood.^[33]

Telling Shunsui to do his job, Mayuri connects him to the Denreishinki of all remaining division members across the city and assures him that he can handle this since it is only 30% of their forces, which leads Shunsui to thank Mayuri for the fair assessment of his capabilities prior to addressing the Shinigami, sending the new map to their Denreishinki, and ordering them to use it to rendezvous at one of the remaining five barracks and receive orders from a senior officer so they do not have to exhaust themselves by continuing to fight alone now that the Wandenreich has changed the map, resulting in dozens of Shinigami running across the city.^[33]

Yhwach Sleeps[]

Later that night, Yhwach sits on his outdoor throne in Silbern and muses that James is dead before praising the latter's performance and having the latter's Soul return to him. Elsewhere in Silbern, Uryū approaches the entrance to Yhwach's throne room, only for Haschwalth to inquire about what Uryū wants with Yhwach. Explaining that Yhwach is asleep because he can only fulfill his role as the Father of the Quincy by saving his strength in that state and that nothing is allowed to disturb him, Haschwalth responds to Uryū acknowledging this by reiterating his question about what Uryū wants, only for Uryū to counter that he does not need to explain the business he has with Yhwach to Haschwalth before observing that the latter also seems much different from his daytime appearance. In turn, Haschwalth notes that he and Yhwach represent two halves of a balanced scale.^[34]

Elaborating that he assumes the Mask of the Ruler whenever Yhwach falls Haschwalth and states that they are connected prior to correcting himself because Yhwach is connected to all Quincy. With Uryū remaining silent at this, Haschwalth acknowledges that he has a right to know the details as Yhwach's successor and explains that Yhwach possessed the power to share his Soul with those around him since he was a child; while all Quincy can gather Reishi from their surroundings and turn it into their own power, Yhwach alone held the opposite power to share his Soul, and while he initially did so through touch, Yhwach eventually discovered a stronger method by engraving letters signifying abilities directly onto the recipient's Soul to give them a deeper and more powerful portion of his Soul.^[35]

When Uryū expresses confusion at Yhwach managing to engrave a Soul, Haschwalth reveals that Uryū's own Soul has already been engraved and reminds him of the cup of Yhwach's blood that he drank, which completed the ritual by having him take a part of Yhwach into his own body. Slamming his hand into the door next to an alarmed Uryū's head, Haschwalth assumes that he is having regrets and notes that it is too late since Uryū lost his path of retreat from the Wandenreich the moment he joined them, despite likely only doing so to avenge his mother, Kanae Katagiri. Additionally, Haschwalth informs Ury�� that not only will everyone who has received a piece of Yhwach's Soul return their power to him upon death, but pieces of Yhwach's Soul were scattered across the Seireitei during the Wandenreich's first invasion, leaving Uryū speechless.^[36]

Haschwalth asserts that this battle is for Yhwach due to all the Sternritter and the Shinigami who have come into contact with pieces of Yhwach's Soul offering their own Souls to him upon death. Summarizing this as Yhwach only becoming stronger and living longer no matter who dies during this battle, Haschwalth notes fighting is Yhwach's means of living since he will revert to his senseless, immobile state if he ever stops absorbing Souls and concludes he will never end the fighting because there is no way to escape it, meaning both Haschwalth and Uryū live and die for Yhwach. With the dawn breaking, which Haschwalth notices, Yhwach awakens and thanks the Souls of the dead who have allowed him to see the world clearly again.^[37]

Yhwach's Departure[]

The next day, Askin watches the battle between Kenpachi and Sternritter "V" Gremmy Thoumeaux from afar with a pair of binoculars while sitting with a picnic basket, where he comments on how impressive it is for Kenpachi to be keeping up with Gremmy like this. When Askin wonders why Yhwach let Gremmy out anyway, Sternritter "L" PePe Waccabrada concurs with this from behind Askin and asserts that a monster like Gremmy should be locked up for the rest of his life, though Askin counters that PePe is a monster as well, which PePe does not deny. Getting up, Askin respond to PePe inquiring if he is going somewhere by confirming that he is getting away from here because he has no intention of staying and getting caught up in the catastrophe that Gremmy is about to cause, which leads PePe to admit that they are not safe even at this distance.^[38]

Askin muses that while the world makes fun of people who cannot do anything more than imagine, seeing someone who can change the world with just his imagination makes him realize how peaceful it is that those people cannot do anything with theirs.^[39] Shortly afterward, as the meteor summoned by Gremmy falls from the sky, Sternritter "H" Bazz-B looks up in panic and exclaims that this is not funny while demanding to know what Gremmy did. Around the replaced Seireitei, several Soldat and Shinigami look up in alarm alongside PePe and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, who wonders what this is. Elsewhere, Askin questions if this is possible and asserts that it is why Gremmy should have remained locked up as one of the sweating Shinigami tries to reassure the others that the Shakonmaku will obliterate anything that tries to pass through it from the outside.^[40]

However, the meteor breaches the barrier without stopping, leading the Shinigami to realize that it has too much mass to be destroyed and prompting them to flee for their lives alongside the Soldat. Watching this from Silbern, Haschwalth orders the Soldat to protect Yhwach, who looks up solemnly from his throne room balcony.^[41] Moments later, with the meteor destroyed by Kenpachi, Marechiyo carries Suì-Fēng and his younger sister, Mareyo Ōmaeda, on his back as he faces a squadron of Soldat with his Zanpakutō and laments that he could easily take them on if Suì-Fēng were awake.^[42]

Suddenly, Shinji commends Marechiyo for coming all this way while carrying two people as Hinamori incinerates the Soldat with her Shikai, Tobiume. Claiming that he decided to help Marechiyo because he was touched by this, though Hinamori assures Marechiyo that he is lying and would have done so even if he were not, Shinji leaps down alongside Hinamori and has her begin tending to Suì-Fēng as he infers that Marechiyo intends to help Kenpachi despite his injuries. When a startled Marechiyo points out that Shinji is heavily injured himself, Shinji acknowledges this and explains that Hinamori's Kaidō skill is not on par with that of the Fourth Division, but dismisses this and clarifies that rather than warning Marechiyo against going, he is insisting that they go help Kenpachi no matter how injured they are.^[43]

Shinji deduces that Marechiyo can also sense Kenpachi's Reiatsu and that the Sternritter plan to kill the latter while he is weakened because they believe doing so will instantly turn the tide of the war, which he admits is probably correct because the Reiatsu he can feel across the city indicates that there are very few combatants in the Gotei 13 left who can still fight, meaning that Kenpachi dying now will tilt the odds in the Wandenreich's favor. However, with Shinji concluding that they have to stop the Sternritter from killing Kenpachi at any cost, Bazz-B thanks him for this level-headed analysis and stands on a rooftop above them while asserting that the Sternritter cannot let anyone aid Kenpachi. In response to Shinji questioning who he is and if he is here to stop them, a grinning Bazz-B reveals that he already has and uses Burner Finger 3 to melt the side of the building into lava that quickly envelops Shinji and Marechiyo.^[44]

After Bazz-B assures the two of them that they will die a much easier death than Kenpachi by being instantly reduced to skeletons,^[45] Ichigo reaches the replaced Seireitei and begins battling the Bambies to protect Kenpachi. Observing Ichigo's arrival from atop the tower behind Silbern, Yhwach invites Haschwalth and Uryū to begin the ceremony, and as he notices this from below, Askin realizes it is beginning and wonders if he will be chosen.^[46] Shortly afterward, with Haschwalth forming the key on the roof of the tower to start the ceremony, Yhwach addresses Ichigo as the one who will guide them to the light,^[47] knowing that his voice reaches Ichigo.^[48]

Thanking him for making Yhwach's invasion of the Soul King Palace possible, to Ichigo's shock, Yhwach reveals that the robe Ichigo is wearing is Ōken clothing, woven from the bones and hair of Royal Guard members, in order to force him though the 72 barriers between the Seireitei and the Soul King Palace, as well as protect him from the friction caused by doing so where all other materials would be insufficient. Though he praises the magnificent resistance and protection of the clothing that makes it the best garment a Shinigami can wear, Yhwach announces that the sheer defensive power of it means that the 72 barriers it broken cannot be closed for the next 6,000 seconds, alarming Ichigo, who immediately begins rushing toward the tower as several of his Shinigami allies engage the Sternritter behind him.^[49] Upon reaching the tower, Ichigo is shocked to see Uryū standing alongside Yhwach as Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado join him through a Garganta from Hueco Mundo. Though Ichigo demands that he explain what is happening or say something while Orihime and Sado watch nervously, Uryū remains silent before he, Yhwach, and Haschwalth disappear in the pillar of light as it ascends into the clouds.^[50]

The pillar of light creates a large gap in the clouds before a powerful blast rockets out from the tower and across the surrounding area, and while shielded by Orihime's Santen Kesshun, Ichigo continues screaming Uryū's name. In the aftermath, as rain begins to fall across the replaced Seireitei, Orihime sits with Ichigo and Sado under her Santen Kesshun in the rubble, where she assumes that Uryū is the one who created the blast and calls him impressive prior to wondering if it was Yhwach who did so instead. However, with Ichigo remaining solemn, Sado hosts him into the air and throws him into the side of a building, prompting an angered Ichigo to question what that was for, only for Sado to ask him what he is doing.^[51]

Sado points out that while he and Orihime are just as shocked as Ichigo by this, it does no good for them to worry about it because Uryū must have had reasons to join the Wandenreich and it does not change what they have to do. Admitting Sado is right, Ichigo states Uryū is too stubborn to be talked out of it anyway, which Sado agrees with while Orihime notes Uryū would be mad if he heard this, and decides to chase him down so they can ask him why. With Ichigo promising to smack Uryū and bring him back regardless of whether or not his reason makes sense, to Sado and Orihime's amusement, Urahara appears on a nearby chunk of rubble and observes he arrived a bit too late before offering a ride to the Soul King Palace, which Ichigo accepts.^[52]

A Trip to the Soul King Palace[]

Soon afterward, in Mayuri's hidden laboratory, Urahara types on one of the consoles as Ichigo, Orihime, and Sado stand in front of a replica of Kūkaku Shiba's Kakaku Taihō,^[53] where Ichigo questions when Urahara found time to build it beneath the 12th Division barracks, only for Urahara to reveal that Mayuri is the one who began building the base structure after foreseeing the potential outcome of the Wandenreich invading the Soul King Palace around the time that the Royal Guard visited the Seireitei, with Urahara himself only putting on the finishing touches on it after arriving during the second invasion.^[54]

When Ichigo admits to being impressed by this since he thought Mayuri was just crazy, Urahara asserts that Mayuri is a genius second only to himself, but clarifies that this is not an exact replica because the Kakaku Taihō is uniquely built using Shiba Clan secrets, which means that their replica will disintegrate after a single shot, to Ichigo and Orihime's shock. Assuring them that this just means they have to hit their target on the first try, Urahara elaborates that their true problem is a lack of energy to fire the replica and responds to Akon informing him that his guest has completed her assignment and returned to Soul Society.^[55]

Meanwhile, having moved inside the cannon, Sado decides to bring something up and asks Ichigo what he thinks about Orihime's clothes, causing him to stare at her in silence for several seconds as Orihime blushes profusely. With an embarrassed Ichigo remarking that he does think Orihime is revealing a bit too much, a panicking Orihime assumes that Ichigo believes her to be an exhibitionist and frantically explains to Ichigo that she is wearing this because Urahara lied to her rather than because she is a pervert, prompting Sado to recall Urahara claiming that Ichigo would love it if she wore this outfit as Urahara warns Orihime, who is attempting to conceal herself with her arms, that her outfit is designed to spill her breasts out from the sides if she closes up the middle, to Orihime's further distress.^[56]

Suddenly, Yoruichi Shihōin sticks her hand between Orihime's breasts and tells her not to cry before standing in front of them and slapping Ichigo, whom she viciously berates for thinking Orihime enjoys wearing this dress instead of being tricked into it by a pervert and criticizes for not simply saying that he finds her attractive in it, all while Orihime begs her to stop. From behind them, a chuckling Urahara states that he was not expecting the dress to cause such a stir and expresses delight that it was worth the effort to design. At Urahara's prompting, Yoruichi reveals two rows of glass bottles containing a mysterious substance within her coat, which he is pleased by. After Ichigo wonders what these are, Urahara details how he sent Yoruichi to investigate the distortion that the Quincy were causing at the boundary between the Human World and Soul Society, which he believes was designed to cause confusion among the Gotei 13 and split up their ranks between the two realms.^[57]

Urahara explains that a large amount of energy is created whenever the distortion appears and disappears, one massive enough to connect the two worlds, and with Ichigo realizing what this means, Urahara concludes that Shinji directed Hiyori Sarugaki and the other Visored to collect the energy for a situation like this, as they knew someone would be building the launch pad, before announcing that they will be traveling to the Soul King Palace.^[58] Some time later, a section of the ground in the replaced Seireitei opens and the replica Tenchūren emerges as loud music plays while, in the chamber below, Ichigo yells at Urahara to turn down the music.^[59]

In response, Urahara claims that he cannot hear this and claim that playing the music is important because it helps establish a mood for this, leading Ichigo to indignantly realize that Urahara actually can hear him. Counting down from 3, Urahara prepares to launch Ichigo, Orihime, Sado, and Yoruichi^[60] before Ganju Shiba suddenly rides into the cannon chamber on Bonnie and reprimands Ichigo's group for forgetting about him. As the entrance to the cannon opens to reveal him, Orihime, Sado, and Yoruichi within, an annoyed Ichigo admits that he recognized the voice and questions if Ganju is here because he has nothing better to do.^[61]

With Ichigo inquiring if Ganju wants to grow as a person or wishes to be popular with women, Ganju counters that he is not going out for drinks, joining a school club, or playing in a rock band. When Ganju wonders if Ichigo remembers who launched the Tenchūren, Ichigo points out that it was Kūkaku and not Ganju who did so, both of which Ganju readily confirms while Ichigo observes that he does not give up easily. Ganju reveals that the Royal Guard handed something over to Kūkaku when she launched them and pulls out a roadmap to the Soul King Palace given to him by Kūkaku that he claims Ichigo and his friends require in order to reach it.^[62]

Briefly aghast, Ichigo asks Urahara if this is true while the latter inquires if Ichigo believes he has not prepared for this. However, Ichigo merely questions if Ganju is sure about this because the upcoming battle will be more dangerous than any other. In response, Ganju proclaims that this is exactly why he is coming, and after a smiling Ichigo acknowledges his resolve, Ganju joins them inside the cannon while Urahara completes the launch sequence and fires the replica Tenchūren, whose engine ignites and launches it into the sky in a zig-zagging pattern, shocking Ichigo as he realizes that this is why it can only be used once.^[63]

Shortly afterward, within the replica Tenchūren, Ganju observes that this situation has become very messy and admits that he believed the Shinigami were going to win prior to questioning what Yhwach intends to do after abandoning Silbern in the Seireitei. When Sado asks him what exactly is at the Soul King Palace, Ganju bluntly states that he does not know because he has never been there himself, and when Orihime brings up him calling himself an expert on the subject, Ganju clarifies that Kūkaku told him all about it. After Ganju claims he is simply not familiar with the small details, Sado expresses disbelief at this, leaving Ganju laughing.^[64]

During this, Yoruichi asserts that the enemy entering the Soul King Palace means they are after the Soul King. Detailing how he is a god-like being that rules over the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo, Yoruichi admits she has only ever heard of him without actually meeting him to confirm this, and with Sado and Ganju presuming Yhwach intends to replace him and become a god, Ichigo wonders if it is even possible to replace the Soul King and reveals he saw strange visions when training in the Soul King Palace before explaining that the Soul King is supposed to be the foundation of the world and an irreplaceable entity.^[64]

In turn, an irritated Ganju asks him what the enemy's objective is supposed to be in this case, with Ichigo unable to answer. Once Ganju decides that they just have to defeat the enemy regardless of their goal, Ichigo agrees^[64] as Orihime notes that this brings back memories of when they saved 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki, where Yoruichi was still in her cat form and Uryū was part of their team, prompting Yoruichi to note she can still turn into a cat if Orihime wants her to. When Orihime wonders if he will come back with them, Ichigo firmly declares that he will because they decided to smack Uryū and bring him back after they defeat Yhwach, though he quickly claims that this is obviously secondary while a pleased Orihime agrees.^[65]

Aftermath[]

Later, as rain begins to fall across the replaced Seireitei, Yūshirō Shihōin leaps across the rubble with a large bundle of items held above his head and urges his sister, Yoruichi, to wait for him. Elsewhere, Urahara draws a line in the mud with his cane outside of Mayuri's hidden laboratory before being approached by Hiyori, who wears a baseball cap and questions why he is doing this instead of making preparations inside with the others. In turn, Urahara asserts that he was preparing while waiting for Hiyori, Love Aikawa, Hachigen Ushōda, and Lisa Yadōmaru, who wait behind Hiyori in their civilian clothing, to get here.^[66]

When Hiyori asks him where the "cat hag" went, Urahara informs her that Yoruichi has already departed for the Soul King Palace, and as a smirking Hiyori promises to tell Yoruichi that Urahara knew she was the one being referred to, Urahara attempts to have the Visored come inside. However, Hiyori stops him and inquires about his reasoning for letting Ichigo and the others go on ahead instead of waiting for the Visored to arrive so they could all go together, prompting Urahara to state that the situation has changed. In turn, Hiyori denies this being relevant and demands to know what Urahara will do if the group dies from going ahead.^[67]

With Hiyori warning Urahara against being willing to let Ichigo and Yoruichi die solely to delay the enemy, a shocked Yūshirō expresses disbelief at Yoruichi having already left from behind them and falls to his knees as he laments having brought so many things to help her when Yoruichi contacted him after not hearing from her for a long time. Apologizing to Yūshirō, Urahara explains that Yoruichi had to go ahead for the sake of the Seireitei and assures Yūshirō that the items he brought will still be of use to her before having Yūshirō follow him inside, leaving Hiyori to recall how much she hates him using this phrase to justify his actions.^[68]

Meanwhile, in a cave formed by the rubble in the replaced Seireitei below, Sternritter "Z" Giselle Gewelle sucks on the flesh of a zombified Bambietta Basterbine to ingest the latter's blood, and when the latter pleads with Giselle to not take too much blood because she does not want to die yet, an enraged Giselle grabs Bambietta's face to slam her head into the ground and demands to know what she is talking about. While repeatedly bashing Bambietta's head into the rocks beneath her, Giselle reminds her that she is already dead and that the blood in her body is Giselle's, which she wants back, prior to cracking Bambietta's head open with her final slam, which kills her.^[69]

Momentarily startled by this, Giselle begins fiercely cradling Bambietta's body and proclaims that she is cute when she is dead as Sternritter "G" Liltotto Lamperd peers in from the entrance behind them with her Quincy: Vollständig, Gagael, active and confirms that Giselle is not dead, as she suspected. Having activated her own Quincy: Vollständig, Azhalbiora, Giselle affirms this while her wings illuminate the cave. Upon noticing the blood and scuff marks on Liltotto's face, Giselle questions what happened to it and if she lost her earlier fight against the Shinigami, prompting Liltotto to clarify that PePe did this to her.^[70]

With Giselle calling this embarrassing and wondering what happened to PePe, Liltotto reveals that she ate him and that he tasted terrible prior to informing Giselle that the enemy defeated Sternritter "T" Candice Catnipp and she had to incapacitate Sternritter "P" Meninas McAllon because PePe took control of the latter. As several Soldat stand nearby,^[71] Liltotto assures Giselle that Candice and Meninas should still be alive and that they can be recovered. However, once Liltotto states that they cannot allow their forces to be diminished while Yhwach is gone, Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone places his Reishi Pistol against her forehead.^[72]

While a confused Liltotto asks him what he is doing, Robert observes that Yhwach has gone to the Soul King Palace, and with Liltotto repeating her question, Robert points out that he did not take them with him. Though Liltotto brushes this off since they can just keep fighting until he comes back down, a distraught and panicking Robert declares that this means they are doomed because they have been deemed unnecessary for the upcoming battle, alarming Liltotto, prior to explaining that neophytes like Liltotto do not understand Yhwach's terror. After reminding Liltotto that the Sternritter exist for Yhwach and musing that there are no lies in Yhwach's existence, Robert proclaims that Sternritter who are deemed unnecessary become fodder for Yhwach's Auswählen.^[73] Simultaneously, in the Soul King Palace far above, Yhwach initiates Auswählen, causing bells to toll and thick, vein-like pillars of Reishi to descend from the ring to the replaced Seireitei below.^[71]

With the Soldat who are finishing off Shinigami being confused by the sight of the pillars hitting the ground in the distance,^[71] Robert is immediately stripped to the bone and killed by the pillar that hits him. Upon seeing this, a nervous Liltotto tackles Giselle to pull her back inside the cave of rubble just before one of the pillars strikes the ground where they were standing, but is bewildered alongside Giselle when the wings and halos of their respective Quincy: Vollständigs begin disintegrating from their Reishi being forcefully absorbed into the pillar even though they were not directly struck by it.^[74]

While Giselle realizes that the pillar is draining their powers and Liltotto questions what is happening,^[75] Mayuri watches Sternritter "U" NaNaNa Najahkoop be struck by one of the pillars alongside Nemu and deduces that the power inside the Souls of the stricken Sternritter is being absorbed. Elsewhere, as Meninas helps Candice walk through the rubble, they are both struck by a pillar, and with the stricken Soldat screeching in pain from the flesh being ripped from their bones,^[71] a furious Liltotto demands to know what they even mean to Yhwach, who simply calls them comrades as his Schutzstaffel are revived by their power.^[76]

Screaming in agony from being caught in the center of one of the beams, Bazz-B responds to Renji wondering what is going on by asserting that this is what he wants to know and angrily inquiring if this is Yhwach's way of doing things. With the stolen power gathering around Yhwach's hands, Giselle frantically assures Bambietta's corpse that she will not die, leading Liltotto to refuse to die here as well alongside Bazz-B. During this, Shunsui looks over the city and tells Nanao and his other lieutenant, Genshirō Okikiba, that he is leaving the barracks because the Soul King Palace is in danger.^[77]

Shortly afterward, Shunsui observes the rubble of the city and wonders if the structures of the Seireitei will return intact even if they remove the Wandenreich before turning to Ukitake, who assures him that they will just rebuild if this does not happen. Admitting that he knew Ukitake would say this, Shunsui hops down to his level and responds to Ukitake stating that the Kamikake was prepared in expectation of the enemy being allowed to invade the Soul King Palace by musing that it was successful as Ukitake's shadow lengthens to form a humanoid silhouette framed by a large ring and with an oversized eye in the center of its chest.^[78]

Shunsui assumes that Ukitake can push himself to some degree now, and while a smiling Ukitake chastises him for speaking like a doctor, Shunsui walks past him and promises to catch up later. When Ukitake inquires about where he is going, Shunsui simply claims that he is going to Central 46.^[79]

References[]

Navigation[]

Quincy Blood War
Major Participants	Ichigo Kurosaki • Uryū Ishida • Yasutora Sado • Orihime Inoue • Kisuke Urahara • Isshin Kurosaki • Gotei 13 • Royal Guard • Visored • Tier Harribel • Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez • Wandenreich • Sternritter • Asguiaro Ebern
Events
Fights & Events	The New Shinigami Guardians & the Broken Balance • Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Asguiaro Ebern • Rise of the Wandenreich • Return to Hueco Mundo • Wandenreich vs. The Arrancar • Fall of the Seireitei • Ichigo Kurosaki & Ayon vs. Quilge Opie • Byakuya Kuchiki vs. Äs Nödt • Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto vs. Driscoll Berci • Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto vs. Royd Lloyd • Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto vs. Yhwach • Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Yhwach • The Royal Guard Arrive • Royal Training • Kenpachi Zaraki vs. Retsu Unohana • The Rise & Fall of Masaki Kurosaki • Isshin Shiba & Masaki Kurosaki vs. White • Soul Society: Battle Ready • Rise of Uryū Ishida • Wartime Coordination • Tōshirō Hitsugaya & Rangiku Matsumoto vs. Bazz-B • Suì-Fēng vs. BG9 • Tōshirō Hitsugaya vs. Cang Du • Sajin Komamura vs. Bambietta Basterbine • Kensei Muguruma & Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi vs. Mask De Masculine • Renji Abarai vs. Mask De Masculine • Rukia Kuchiki vs. Äs Nödt • Yachiru Kusajishi vs. Guenael Lee • Kenpachi Zaraki vs. Gremmy Thoumeaux • Ichigo Kurosaki vs. The Bambies • The Gotei 13 vs. The Sternritter • Battle of the Zombies • The Royal Guard vs. The Wandenreich • Ōetsu Nimaiya vs. the Schutzstaffel • Ichibē Hyōsube vs. Yhwach • Fall of the Soul King • Bazz-B vs. Jugram Haschwalth • Mayuri Kurotsuchi & Nemu Kurotsuchi vs. Pernida Parnkgjas • Shunsui Kyōraku vs. Lille Barro • The Gotei 13 & The Visored vs. Gerard Valkyrie • Nanao Ise vs. Lille Barro • Uryū Ishida vs. Jugram Haschwalth • Yoruichi Shihōin vs. Askin Nakk Le Vaar • Kisuke Urahara vs. Askin Nakk Le Vaar • Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Yhwach: Rematch • Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Yhwach: Final Fight