| Content
| - 2.840184E8
- 3.15576E10
- 777600.0
- thumb|190px|left|Cover of 541. THE BLADE AND ME 2.
In his inner world, Ichigo recalls that the first time he fought Yhwach, he felt like he was summoned there in front of him. He tried not thinking about the reason, as he didn't even have any information except that he was the enemy. But the first time he looked at him, it quickly reminded him of someone he knew.
Ichigo calls out to Zangetsu and asks him what all this means. Zangetsu responds by saying that he is not the real Zangetsu and that everything he has heard from Ōetsu Nimaiya is true. At this moment, the surrounding buildings in his inner world begin to break and go into water. Ichigo asks if he is really Yhwach. Zangetsu answers this question by telling him that he both is and isn't, but is in fact the source of Ichigo's Quincy power. Ichigo shouts that he doesn't even understand whether Zangetsu is an ally or an enemy, with Zangetsu responding that he is neither. He also tells Ichigo that his words are straight from his heart and that he has never told him a lie except about his name.
When he couldn't use his Zanpakutō powers, when his life was in danger, the one who saved Ichigo was not him; in fact, it was always his inner Hollow. Zangetsu goes on to say that he didn't want him to become a Shinigami, which is why he tried to suppress his growing potential and always tried to be the core of his power. When Ichigo asks why he did this, Zangetsu answers that he wanted to keep him away from fights and danger, because if he became a Shinigami, it would mean that he would one day have to kill Ichigo. He then summons a sword, which he says is Ichigo's real Zanpakutō.
Zangetsu then says that Ichigo's determination as a Shinigami eventually lead him to a change of heart, and he began helping him. He tells Ichigo that he couldn't be more proud of who he's become. Zangetsu then begins to cry and fade away. Ichigo says that he still has questions for him, but Zangetsu tells him that all this time he has only been using a fraction of his power and that it is now time to claim his real Zanpakutō and fight with his true strength. As Ichigo grabs the real Zangetsu, he is engulfed in light.
- thumb|190px|left|Cover of 549. The StormBringer.
Several Shinigami cheer when Hitsugaya successfully deals a blow to Bazz-B.
Meanwhile, BG9 reiterates its question about Suì-Fēng's location for the third time. Ōmaeda again claims he doesn't know and would not willingly divulge the information if he did know. BG9 changes tactics and extends one of its tentacles through a nearby wall, impaling his sister. BG9 states that it detects other people similar to Ōmaeda in the area, and will kill them all if Ōmaeda doesn't cooperate. An enraged Ōmaeda attacks BG9, who pins him up against a wall and then takes out a mini-gun, but before it can fire, the gun is destroyed.
Suì-Fēng drops the broken piece of the mini-gun, commenting on the advanced weapon. BG9 questions how he did not detect her, to which Suì-Fēng retorts that as the Onmitsukidō's commander, she knows how to hide her Reiatsu. Responding to BG9's question on her appearance, Suì-Fēng states that the technique she used was Shunkō. BG9 had believed this ability to be incomplete, but Suì-Fēng explains how she perfected Shunkō, and blasts it with her improved technique.
Elsewhere, Hitsugaya and Rangiku turn to leave. To their shock, however, Bazz-B gets up and asks why they would leave the "preliminary test." He then states that he has yet to begin to fight. At Suì-Fēng's location, BG9 also gets back up, eyes glowing.
- thumb|190px|left|Cover of 543. Letters.
Yhwach announces to the Sternritter that Uryū Ishida will be his successor at a gathering of his troops. Many of the Sternritter are outraged that Yhwach chose a stranger as their future leader, and they ask Yhwach to reconsider his decision. After the gathering disperses, arguments break out among some Sternritter, particularly Bazz-B, as they had all anticipated and accepted that Jugram Haschwalth was most fit to be Yhwach's successor.
Bazz-B asks Haschwalth if he feels anything about what has just happened, and Haschwalth replies that it is Yhwach's decision to make. Bazz-B calls Haschwalth a coward for his inaction and then gets increasingly angrier. He starts shouting that the seat should be his, if it doesn’t bother Haschwalth who the successor is. Bazz-B is told to calm down, and he states that he is already perfectly calm, even more so than Haschwalth.
Sternritter “D,” Askin Nakk Le Vaar intervenes, sarcastically mentioning that they are both calm. When Bazz-B asks why he is here, Nakk Le Vaar states that he is here to help him as they have people who are spying on them. Nakk Le Vaar mentions that they should stop this fighting, as nothing will come out of it. He looks toward Haschwalth and tells him that nothing comes out of fighting except poison. He asks if they understand, and then labels Haschwalth as his next king.
Meanwhile, in Yhwach's throne room Uryū Ishida is drinking something. Yhwach declares that when he finishes the beverage, the ceremony will be over and his powers will soon awaken. He then bestows Ishida with a Schrift, allowing him to bear the designation of “A”, just like that of Yhwach himself.
- thumb|190px|left|Cover of 545. Blue Stripes.
At the Kurosaki Clinic, Yuzu prepares some food and tells her father and sister that lunch is ready. While she waits for her busy family to come, Yuzu wonders when Ichigo will return from training camp.
Meanwhile, Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki stare at each other. Renji complains that he does not like to stay still or point his sword at his friends. When Rukia states she also does not like to point her sword at her friends, Renji notes he still is not used to the air, prompting Rukia to state the Reishi concentration in the atmosphere is abnormal. Stating even though she does not feel like she is being pressed down any more, but it still feels like she is moving in water, Rukia says they cannot tell how this Reishi concentration will affect them. Hearing her Denreishinki ring, Rukia answers and tells Renji it is Tenjirō Kirinji, who reports that Byakuya Kuchiki has recovered.
At the hot springs, Kirinji states that Byakuya's "bath" is the longest someone has ever stayed there and asks if he feels dizzy. Telling him there is no need to worry, Byakuya states he is still not strong enough to feel headstrong, and since he has survived this far, he will take this opportunity to become strong enough to justify the pride he once held. Stating it is great Byakuya has recovered, Renji realizes he will have to go through the same process they endured. Recalling Senjumaru Shutara's palace, Renji states it was a hellish event, prompting Rukia to say she does not want to remember it and that she feels sorry for Byakuya who will have to go through the same ordeal. Ichibē Hyōsube walks in and notes when they first came here, the Reishi concentration was so dense they could not move or speak. When he asks if they are ready to train with him in the inner room, they affirm this.
Meanwhile, Shinji Hirako tries to persuade Hiyori Sarugaki to undertake a task for him. When Hachigen Ushōda tells her she has a parcel from Soul Society, purportedly from Shinji and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Hiyori states she just has to do it. She ropes Lisa Yadōmaru and Love Aikawa in to the team to fix the distortion between the Human World and Soul Society.
Elsewhere, Keigo Asano, Mizuiro Kojima and Tatsuki Arisawa wonder where Ichigo went. When Tatsuki asks if he asked Karin and Yuzu, Keigo reveals they said he went to a soccer training camp, but tournaments ended last month. Mizuiro states since Sado, Orihime and Uryū are also gone, it must be something related to Soul Society, and they will be back eventually. Shunsui Kyōraku approaches and greets them and states that he came to tell them something important regarding their parting with Ichigo.
- thumb|190px|left|Cover of 548. The Thin Ice.
Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda is in distress, wondering what to do. His younger sister, Mareyo, comes up to him and begs him to stay, since she is scared. Marechiyo, however, says that he has to go, as it is his duty to protect his family and serve the Gotei 13. Before he can go, the Sternritter BG9 confronts him, and Marechiyo immediately recognizes him as the one who stole his captain's Bankai.
Bazz-B recognizes Hitsugaya and notes who stole the captain's Bankai. While they exchange introductions, Rangiku goes to tell the Shinigami to defend another location. However, the Shinigami who were told to retreat note how thin the ice is and are concerned about Hitsugaya's wellbeing. As they fight, Bazz-B begins taunting the captain about the thinness of his ice, which Bazz-B can easily melt with his flames. Rangiku returns to Hitsugaya's side and informs him of the Shinigami retreating as ordered. Rangiku releases Haineko the pair combine their Shikai abilities to create a "vacuum multilayer ice wall". He explains this to Bazz-B as well as how his Shikai and Bankai function. The Sternritter tries to attack, but is unable to penetrate the ice and he instead is struck by Hitsugaya's counterattack.
- thumb|190px|left|Cover of 550. Blazing Bullets.
Askin Nakk Le Varr declares that it would take too much time to kill Mayuri than he is willing to spend doing so. As he turns to leave, he asks Mayuri if he's going to follow him. Mayuri decides to let him leave, stating that he wants to analyze Askin's Reiatsu, also theorizing that Askin wants to lure Mayuri into his territory. They then sense Suì-Fēng dealing a hard blow to her opponent. Askin states that Yhwach expected the Bankai-less captains to master new fighting techniques. Mayuri points out the implications of what Askin said, to which Askin confirms the Gotei 13's strength.
Elsewhere, Bazz-B melts all the ice Hitsugaya created, shocking the Shinigami. They wonder how he could be alive if Hitsugaya just cut him up, to which Bazz-B said he cut up his mantle and sheds it.
As Suì-Fēng turns to leave, BG9 extends its tendrils to attack her. Suì-Fēng dodges and counters, and asks how it could still breathe, calling it a monster. When BG9 emerges and states that it has never breathed, Suì-Fēng asks if it is a robot and mockingly states Mayuri would like to meet it. BG9 unveils its arsenal of missiles and states that it was able to get valuable data from Suì-Fēng's Mukyū Shunkō, but also states it is disappointed at how it doesn't need to use her Bankai. It then fires the missiles, which Suì-Fēng dodges. However, one of BG9's tendrils pierces her wrist and the Sternritter attacks her up close.
Bazz-B explains that during the previous invasion, two other Sternritter and himself were able to survive a direct blast from Yamamoto's Zanpakutō because Bazz-B's his flames were strong enough to offset those of the late Captain-Commander. Bazz-B expresses his disappointment that he couldn't demonstrate how powerful he is on Hitsugaya, since he lacks a Bankai. After a brief attack fails to hit the mark, Hitsugaya orders Rangiku to retreat while he sets up a barrier to hold him off. However, Bazz-B uses Burner Finger 1 to break through the barrier and blast pierce Hitsugaya's chest.
- thumb|190px|left|Cover of 542. THE BLADE IS ME.
Still within his crumbling inner world, Ichigo reminisces about the false Zangetsu and his inner Hollow, concluding that neither of them ever lied to him. He realizes that "Zangetsu" had saved him several times in the past with Quincy power, including the Quincy's Shadow and Blut. Ichigo decides that despite the imposter's admission, both he and the inner Hollow are "Zangetsu." He then asks if Zangetsu is okay with this.
Outside of the inner world, Nimaiya continues to forge Ichigo's Zanpakutō. Ichigo abruptly grasps the Zanpakutō while it is still within the flames, much to the dismay of Nimaiya's assistants. However, Nimaiya states that it is okay; stating that the sword is done, he tells Ichigo to take it out. Ichigo pulls out the Zanpakutō, unleashing an immense wave of Reiatsu that evaporates much of the sea around the palace. As his assistants look on in awe, Nimaiya explains that the huge volume of water was needed to cool down the newly forged sword. He asks Ichigo if he can do it with "those" Zangetsu.
Ichigo looks down on the new Zangetsu, now a pair of blades, one larger than the other. He resolves to never again ask Zangetsu to lend him power, to stay out of his way, or to fight by his side, and that he will fight on his own. He silently gives him thanks, now understanding that Zangetsu is him.
Meanwhile, in the Wandenreich's headquarters, the Sternritter are assembled before their emperor. Yhwach stands before them, announcing that he has some information to share with them.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)