Bleach Vol. 61

Within his inner world, Ichigo confronts the spirit he had always known as Zangetsu. The spirit admits that he represents Ichigo’s Quincy powers and had suppressed much of his Soul Reaper potential to protect him. Ichigo nevertheless accepts both him and the Hollow within himself as Zangetsu. Ōetsu Nimaiya completes the forging process, producing Ichigo’s true Zanpakutō as a pair of blades.

Yhwach assembles the Sternritter and names Uryū as his successor, provoking disbelief and resentment among the Wandenreich’s established officers. He privately explains that Uryū survived the Auswählen that killed his mother and possesses a power capable of surpassing his own. The Wandenreich then begins its second invasion by replacing Seireitei with the hidden Quincy empire that had existed within its shadows.

The scattered Soul Reapers confront their attackers under hostile conditions. Bazz-B overwhelms Tōshirō Hitsugaya’s attempts to compensate for his stolen Bankai, while BG9 defeats Suì-Fēng despite her newly developed Shunkō. As the Quincy offensive expands, Soul Society’s defenders struggle against enemies who have already taken their strongest weapons.