Bleach Chapter 638 - 643 Review

Given how I've left six chapters un-reviewed, I'll do my best to cut down on the details.

Science Vs. God

From the start of chapter 638 to the end of 643, Pernida vs. Mayuri can be accurately described as a battle between the concepts of science and the divinity.  Mayuri is the premier scientist of the Gotei 13, and Pernida is the Left Arm of the Soul King, one of the closest things in the series that people can describe as "divinity". 

Despite this, Mayuri looks down upon Pernida and sees it as merely a specimen to be captured and studied, as observed by their banter at the beginning of the fight.  However, Pernida is quick to put Mayuri on edge from the very start, able to use "The Compulsory" to take control of even the ground and form it into hands to attack Mayuri with, which not only causes the self-destruct mechanism on his Sun Armour to activate, but also forces Mayuri to use the Hirenkyaku function he installed in his boots to avoid "The Compulsory" on the ground.

This is very impressive on Mayuri's part, as he showed himself capable of developing a technological-based version of the high-speed technique that Quincy use naturally.  While this does stop "The Compulsory" laced in the ground from affecting Mayuri, Pernida itself has some secrets of its own, as shown when the pinky finger that Mayuri blew off as a sample revealed an eye of its own and struck Mayuri with "the Compulsory", necessitating Mayuri ripping his own arm off and re-arranging all the nerves and blood vessels in it at a rapid pace to counter it. 

The Essence of the Godhand

According to Mayuri, there is apparently a book in the Soul Society's anthologies that talks about the Soul King and the abilities which he and his Arms possessed.  The Right Arm governed "Stillness", while the Left Arm governed "Advancement".  The latter is indeed a trait that is observable of Pernida throughout the entirety of the fight, both through its speech and mental faculties, and its ability. 

The main means by which Pernida uses this power is through "the Compulsory", but that is for later; the immediate sign of this is how his pinky he lost (and the middle finger he deliberately pulls off) both grow into left arms themselves.  I'll go into detail a bit later, but such an ability leads me to believe that Pernida's true essence is not as an "arm of flesh".  What if Pernida started off like Mimihagi - an "arm of shadow" - but its "Advancement" ability led to it eventually developing a body of flesh over its original self? 

That said, Mayuri was undaunted by Pernida splitting itself into three.

Demon Womb Wrapped In Disease

Specifically, he was undaunted because he "reconfigured" his Bankai to have an entirely new ability - rather than emit poison gas and possess the form originally had, Mayuri's Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo "Demon Womb Wrapped In Disease" now has the ability to "give birth" to a new Ashisogi Jizo based on the data he sends to it during battle.  The initial form takes the appearance of a large, deformed, demonic looking infant with a cut in the middle of its chest, and it is from that area that it violently gives birth to a new Ashisogi Jizo - a black-eyed multi-limbed abomination tailor-made to counter "Compulsory", specifically by having 70,000 different epidermal layers of nerves spread out across its skin.  This leaves Pernida's attacks initially ineffective, as "The Compulsory" simply peels away with each layer of skin it comes into contact with, and is thus devoured. 

We do learn more about how his Bankai came to be later on, but it does show how twisted Mayuri is as a scientist.  Not even his own Bankai, which is meant to be a reflection of his own self, is safe from his experimentation, and the demonic appearances of the aspects of his Bankai illustrate this quite clearly.  It is a horrific device, even if it can be interpreted as one of the most dangerous abilities in the series, able to counter virtually any opponent. 

But in this case, Mayuri forgot something as Pernida promptly blasts its way out of the Ashisogi Jizo using a Quincy Bow and Arrow, which it proudly states to Mayuri once free.

"I have always been a Quincy"

Although Mayuri confesses he didn't forget, he just simply couldn't imagine the Left Arm of the Soul King identifying itself as a Quincy.  That is when Pernida's character changes completely for a moment, and makes this bomb-shell of a declaration:

Quote by BadKarma:

Pernida：――――滅却師を名乗る事が
------How can referring to myself as a Quincy
Pernida：恥知らずとはどういう事だ
Be brazen?

Pernida：余は
I
Pernida：もとより滅却師である
Have always been a Quincy

A lot of people in the past were inferring the possibility that Pernida was likely enslaved or brain-washed by Yhwach (I think some cited the chains as evidence of this), but Pernida's statement here changes things. 

First off, while it would not be obvious in the English language, Pernida's very style of speaking changed when he made that statement, which is more noticeable in the original Japanese raw.  If I recall correctly, I heard it said that one of the ways Pernida refers to itself is in the same style that a person of royalty would refer to themselves.  This would be why Mayuri surmised that Pernida may have been regaining its memories from when it was part of the Soul King, meaning it was effectively the Soul King's voice that spoke through Pernida.

Secondly, Pernida saying that it has always been a Quincy has implications for the Soul King itself.  If the Soul King is also a Quincy, then it places the nature of the Thousand Year Blood War in an entirely new light, with this statement setting it up.  This has been further building on what has been indicated ever since Yhwach called the Soul King his father - the Soul King seems to be less a ruler of Soul Society, and even less a figurehead monarch, and more like a prisoner puppet.  A Quincy was imprisoned and used by the Soul Society and the Shinigami to act as the "lynchpin" of the worlds, and Squad Zero are less his "retainers" and more like his "wardens". 

It raises more questions to the mysteries that are hidden behind the curtain of this war. 

Nemuri Nanagou

Pernida then continues its attack, using five arrows for each finger (including the two that regrew themselves), and fires a barrage of arrows at Mayuri that are laced with "The Compulsory", which actually tag Mayuri and managed to force him to sacrifice his left arm.  Pernida was even able to use the nerves on the ground to bend an arrow back towards Mayuri.  It would have actually struck him dead on as well, if Nemu did not step in to save Mayuri, sacrificing one of her own arms in the process and risking her life. 

We've always known that Mayuri never treated Nemu very kindly ever since the Soul Society, and he shows the same mind-set here, scolding Nemu for acting on her own, and even revealing her true name - Nemuri Nanagou, "Sleeping #7), referring to how difficult it would be to raise the "next" Nemu in the same way as the current one due to all the events they've been through.

After finishing his scolding, Nemu then hands Mayuri the Hojikuzai to restore his lost arm, and Nemu does the same, who comments that Mayuri forgot to bring the Hojikuzai with him as he usually does.  Writing it off as creepy, Mayuri then leaps into battle against all three Pernida again, activating the max-power of his Hirenkyaku to dodge the storm of arrows they fire at him, all the while relaying a plan to Nemu.

To simplify: While Mayuri spreads a concentrated narcotic anesthetic throughout the battlefield to dull Pernida's nerves, Nemu will inject a "Nerve Freezing Agent" directly into the nerves of "The Compulsory", thereby freezing Pernida's blood flow and killing.

Now to clarify one I've heard some protests thrown around:  this is not one of those "conveniences" of story.  A "nerve freezing agent" would affect any living being, and Pernida counts as one of those.  Mayuri could use such an agent against any opponent, since it is also virtually perfect for capturing a specimen intact (which is what Mayuri sees Pernida as).  So yes, Pernida is a specimen Mayuri wants to study, but he's made it clear that he will kill Pernida if that is what it takes. 

The process is successful, and the nerve freezing agent spreads to the main body and freezes it completely, and proceeds to do the same to another Pernida, a process which seems to imply that all three arms are linked through Pernida's "Compulsory", rather than acting independently (unless there are three different arrows that Nemu injected with the agents).

With the agent beginning to work on the third Pernida, Mayuri declares victory...

Advancement

Only for the remaining Pernida to break off its thumb before the nerve can take affect, and Pernida responds in a manner that is quite similar to Zaraki's own manner of speaking.  It is then that Mayuri realized too late - Pernida's "Advancement" is directly linked to "The Compulsory", as his nerves collect information from anything its nerves attach themselves to and matures through that method.  This causes Mayuri concern, since it means that Nemu's reflexes and speed won't be enough to keep up with nerves that have reached Zaraki's level, and he orders her to retreat.

Behind him, Pernida sheds its skin like the "Demon Womb Wrapped In Disease" Ashisogi Jizo, and prepares to strike down Mayuri. 

This is how Pernida has been able to "advance" throughout the fight, but Zaraki is not the only character whom Pernida has affected with "The Compulsory" and most likely has gained information from.  The other two are Mayuri and Nemu.  As of the most recent chapters, we don't know if these instances will have an effect on the battle (I'll address it later), but Pernida could end up being all the more dangerous if it gathered enough info from Mayuri and Nemu to mature itself further - gaining an intellect like Mayuri's and Nemu's abilities.  .

Mayuri's Masterpice

As the events of chapters 641 and 642 play out in the Wahrwelt, we cut to flash-backs of Nemu's childhood as she is speaking with Akon, inter-linked with events in the present where Akon explains to a Squad 12 member named Kuna the nature of the project that created Nemu - "The Nemuri Artificial Soul Project".  Mangapanda called it "Godly Soul", whereas Mangastream and CNet128 @ MangaHelpers translated "Artificial Soul".  Given that we already know that Nemu was created with a combination of Artificial Soul and Gigai technology, I'll go with the "artificial soul". 

As with all things, science doesn't start off "perfect".  The first three Nemuri were failures, only stringy masses being the result of the first three projects.  While the Fourth and Fifth were also failures, they progressed further along to a point that Mayuri could exploit the remains.  The brain of the Fourth was used to fix the mind of another 12th Division member.

The Fifth was used by Mayuri to modify his Zanpakuto and to become a Captain.  This definitely explains a lot about Mayuri's Bankai.  We know that it was split in half by Uryu in the Soul Society arc, and that Mayuri self-destructed it when Szayel took it over in the Arrancar saga, yet it was able to be restored both times, despite Mayuri's assertion that "Bankai" cannot be restored to the way they are.  This puts what Mayuri said by "modifying" his Bankai into clearer context - technically speaking, Mayuri never attained his Bankai in the proper manner, and so his Bankai would not follow the rules of other Bankai, given that it is essentially made from the fetus of Nemuri #5.

They eventually got all the way up to a living infant with Nemuri #6, but that one died at the age of two because of the life-span of artificially created soul cells. 

But Nemu was successful.  She surpassed the two year life-span, and became Mayuri's dream and masterpiece - an Artificial Shinigami, the creation of a new soul out of nothing.  Some translations attribute that line of dialogue to mean "to create in the same way God creates".  But it also gives the reason why he called it "Nemuri" - it was essentially his dream despite him being awake, and every day Nemu was alive he was living out that dream.  As Akon says, Nemu was Mayuri's masterpiece, and her evolution throughout her childhood and into the present day was proof of that.

The Fruits of Sacrifice

Back in the Wahrwelt, Nemu has sprung to Mayuri's aid, saving him while obliterating the main hand at the same time.  The reason why Nemu is now displaying enough power to decimate the body of a Schutzstaffel is because she is pushing her body to within 0.8% of what her body can handle before it collapses.  While Mayuri is angry that Nemu is acting on her own again against his orders, and reiterates her purpose to grow and evolve, Nemu responds by saying that she can best show that by protecting Mayuri, claiming it is her purpose. 

She thus deposits Mayuri on a nearby building, and Mayuri comments on the humiliation of having to entrust a battle to Nemu.  She confronts the remaining Pernida (the third one might actually be dead or still recovering), shaves off 6% of her soul, and fires it as a technique called Gikon Jurrinjuu ("Artificial Soul Heavy Ring Cannon"), and blasts it right into Pernida's eyes.

Now, I'll make it clear - I was deeply moved and amazed by chapter 642.  I was in awe of the end result of what Mayuri created in Nemu, the power she displayed, and on one forum I even called Mayuri a God in my excitement.  More than that, one could be led to believe (as I was) that there was indeed a Human side to Mayuri's monstrous character, to have worked so hard to create Nemu and raise her. 

But what truly amazed me was the power Nemu displayed.  Pernida easily defeated Zaraki, one of the Special War Potential, while nowhere near as developed as the current Pernida.  Yet Nemu seemingly obliterated it, one of the Schutzstaffel who defeated Squad Zero after Yhwach's Auswahlen.  I even made myself think that Nemu could be confirmed as one of the Special War Potentials with such a level of power. 

True, I will admit that I fully expected Pernida to come back even from that (in a new form, I might add), but I was still in awe all the same, and was expecting the possibility of Mayuri sacrificing himself for Nemu in later chapters.

But this is not the standard Shounen.  This is Bleach, written by Noriaki Kubo, and this man doesn't play by the house rules. 

The Eldritch Hand of God

Which finally brings us to the most recent chapter. 

At the beginning, it is shown clearly that Nemu's exertions did take a toll on her.  She not only pushed her body to close to its absolute limit, but she also cut off 6% of her soul as a final attack to destroy Pernida, and virtually all souls in Bleach do not recover from having a substantial piece of their soul taken away from them (Starrk's wolves and Yhwach are likely the exceptions). 

But it genuinely does look like Pernida was destroyed.  Its body was blown apart, and it appears to be disintegrating and falling to pieces, as Nemu falls down to the ground alongside Pernida's remains and lays her eyes on her father and creator, Mayuri.

Then the pieces of Pernida's falling all lay eyes on her. 

This is what I mean by Pernida originally having a form like Mimihagi.  Nothing living does not simply recover from an attack intended to obliterate their body like that.  One of the closest things I've seen to this in another series was Majin Buu, and he was literally made of magic and a personification of evil.

Hell, the last time we saw anything in the Bleach series with regenerative powers like this, it was James, the manifestation of Mask De Masculine's "The Superstar", who I would not be surprised to find that he was a physical manifestation of Yhwach's soul fragment in Mask - the Schrift "S".  After all, Yhwach did talk about James returning to him in chapter 565. 

But this reminds me more of the torrents of the Soul King's power than anything else.  I think it is the eyes that do it for me.  Just as the Soul King's power manifested itself as those little shadowy Cyclopes, Pernida is now replicating itself through any limbs that are taken off the main body, even if the main body was blown up. 

Every one of these pieces of Pernida's body contains its will - and most likely the will of the Soul King as well - and they are all linked to Pernida's one mind.  That is why I do not believe that what happens at the end of the chapter will kill Pernida. 

But that's for later. 

Immediately after laying eyes on Nemu, the pieces of Pernida's body generate fingers, and send out "The Compulsory" to rip through Nemu. 

With one last look of fear at Mayuri and a soundless scream, Nemu is then ripped apart into a torrent of blood by Pernida.

That remains are an arm and her cerebrum. 

A Monster Reborn

Mayuri can only look on in disbelief at the scene, his daughter's blood splattered around and upon him, Pernida reforming itself, and Mayuri can only think of Nemu's name in despair.

Which his subconscious, taking the form of Szayel Aporro Granz, picks up on and begins chastising Mayuri for it. 

Now this was a brilliant narrative device on Kubo's part.  I watched other reviewers before making this one, so my perception is slightly influenced by them, but I definitely agree on how Szayel is used here.  It really does show us that Mayuri's fight with Szayel had a greater impact than beyond Mayuri looting his lab to find Arrancar to use for his "Revenant Experiments" (felt like using something other than "zombie").  We are seeing that Szayel's fight with Mayuri definitely did leave a mental imprint upon Mayuri, manifesting as the Arrancar itself. 

Szayel then breaks down the current Mayuri, piece by piece, by reminding Mayuri of what he said to Szayel - Perfection is meaningless, despair is inherent in perfection, "I myself despise perfection".  In other words, because Nemu died in such a manner, it meant she was far from perfect, and that left Mayuri room to go back to the drawing board and make another Nemuri better than her.

Then Mayuri's Szayel delivers the final blow - "Now I get it.  It's that good-for-nothing flesh marionette...You actually fooled yourself into thinking that thing was "perfect"."  He then tells Mayuri that he should be grateful to Pernida for destroying Nemu, since it removed the air of hubris that Mayuri had been breathing.  Szayel ends by claiming to not know whether or not to laugh or cry, and Mayuri "grabs" Szayel and dissipates him, Mayuri fully agreeing with "Szayel's" words, because he himself doesn't know whether to laugh or cry because a scientist of Szayel's ilk - one that believed themselves to be perfect because they developed the ability of rebirth ("Gabriel") to make themselves immortal.

This is where Mayuri returns back to those cold, amoral, monstrous roots that we first saw of him in the Soul Society Arc.  People may claim that Szayel manifested because of the narcotic anesthetics that Mayuri was also exposed to, but that does not ignore one fact - that "Szayel" is Mayuri.  This "Szayel" was to Mayuri's mind what the "Zaraki" that appeared in Ichigo's Inner World during his fight with "White Zangetsu" was to Ichigo - an innermost representation of an aspect of their instincts and themselves as reflected by an individual they fought in the past. 

In Mayuri's case, "Szayel" reminded Mayuri of his core aesthetic as a scientist, what makes Mayuri so dangerous.  However, with it comes the loss of attachment he had to Nemu, as he reminded himself through "Szayel" that Nemu was not "perfect", and that he could simply create another Nemuri. 

That is what brings about Nemu's tragedy, and also the tragedy of her name, Nemuri.  To Mayuri, Nemu was nothing more than the substance of a dream to him, one he can simply recreate anew.  For Nemu, the dream was the 'purpose' she made for herself - to protect Mayuri - a man who could care less now if she were to lose her life in the process of that. 

To Consume to Advance

With Mayuri coming to the realization that returns him to the monster he has always been, Pernida then assails Mayuri with two separate hands - one presumably being the other Pernida that was affected by the nerve agent, the other being the one that recovered from Nemu's attack.  However, the one that recovered now has multiple eyes covering its entire hand, and its original eye was replaced by...a mouth and a tongue, and both hands proceed to use "The Compulsory" or that tongue to devour Nemu's corpse.

Mayuri lets Pernida do so, but he takes the cerebrum for himself, and keeps Pernida away with a last-resort electrical discharge from one of the head-rings that are in place of his ears (count on Mayuri to always have functional fashion), and tells Pernida to hurry with devouring Nemu, because he will die before he finishes digesting her. 

As Pernida's body starts to suffer the effects of what Mayuri implied, the scientist explains what happens: in order to surpass the life-span of artificially created soul cells, Mayuri installed a special organ into Nemu's pituitary gland, a function that accelerates the cellular division and growth of cells within the body.  Nemu's brain was modified to regulate these processes so they do not run out of control. 

Without the cerebrum, there is nothing to slow the accelerated cellular division of growth and cells in the body.  Essentially, by devouring Nemu's pituitary gland without the brain, Pernida is now afflicted with cancer that affects the whole body, and his physical body will keep on "regenerating", dividing and replicating cells until it self-destructs, and the chapter ends with just that happening to Pernida (or at least one of them). 

Now, I've heard people complain how Pernida wanting to devour Nemu was just a device used by Kubo to get Pernida to kill itself through the method seen in the chapter, but I think they are too quick to do so.  Pernida's ability is "Advancement", and it used its "Compulsory" to gain information for the sake of advancement.  It makes sense that Pernida would want to consume Nemu's corpse because it wants to "advance" further, and what better way of "advancing" than to devour the corpse of the enemy that did so much damage to it in the first place?

It is also akin to what Mimihagi attempted to do against Yhwach.  Yhwach stated that Mimihagi was trying to "consume" him when it lashed out in its final attempt against Yhwach, so Pernida simply shares an ability its counterpart possesses, and possibly the same ability Yhwach used when absorbing both Mimihagi and the Soul King's body. 

But as I said, I don't think this will be enough to finish Pernida off.  Even if both hands are affected by the pituitary gland, Pernida is still the "Left Arm of the Soul King".  Part of what "Advancement" means is also to adapt and evolve to counter threats to its life, not simply "gain information and mature".  Who is to say that Pernida will not eventually "advance" to a point where it too can control the cell division, since it has not only consumed Nemu's body but it previously used "The Compulsory" on her arm once before?

But if that is not the case, then I think that Pernida will survive its body self-destructing due to this cell-division.  I suppose we will just have to wait and see.

Yes, I know that people would likely want this fight over and done with, but it'd be anti-climactic if Pernida went out this way without us learning all there is to know about it, and what its behaviour implies of the Soul King himself.

[Discussion] Are the Quincy Pre-Destined For Extinction?

I was in a bad mood one day, saw a post that sparked some of my cynicism in regards to the Quincy's position, and this little essay came out of it. 

Quote from: Polgarena @ Bleach Asylum

Thank you, everyone, for your great contributions! :loyal


Bazz-B was not done just yet. He was struggling, as his fist on the ground showed, even though his body got slain. Burner Finger 4 provoked Haschwalth to react in a pretty emotional manner, revealing Bazz-B’s full name - Buzzard Black! I love it, but during the time I was reading the chapter I thought that this was the first sign of Bazz-B’s defeat/death.

In the flashback three more years passed. Jugram with that hat looked funny (good that he doesn’t fashion it anymore), but I really enjoyed Bazzard’s good looks in that "oldish" uniform. I thought Hubert would end up being Algora, but oh well, Kubo thought otherwise. The relations between Sternritters weren’t ideal even back then, so it’s good to know that some things never change. Hascwalth’s “I’m watching” panel was excellent. It was terrifying for a moment, and Hubert felt that.

Bazz-B wanted to fight badly. He wanted to resolve their problems with fists. But Jugram was smarter. In a way. He didn’t want to fight, and not only because fights between Sternritters were punishable by death, but because they’re not a good tool to resolve conflicts. Of course, it’s not like he was all “in the right” and Bazz-B “in the wrong”, because by avoiding fights, Jugram also avoided interaction. And without interactions conflicts can never be resolved.

Cue the current fight. The moment when Jugram cut Bazz-B’s had hurt even me. But it wasn’t the gore that hurt, it was Bazz-B’s face. That’s the face of utter defeat if you ask me. It was sad. And now that we’ve seen the magnificent Burner Finger 5, Bazz-B’s hopes of survival decreased even more.

People can say what they want about this chapter, Jugram’s and Bazz-B’s characters. They can say they’re badly written, that the last few chapters were Kubo’s grasping at straws... They may question the point of these chapters, as the glorious character development ship sailed long time ago for Sternritters. People have their rights not to like something. But, the only thing that I didn’t like in this set of 4 chapters is the fact that Bazz-B’s (99,99%) gone [he sustained a diagonal/vertical slash]. And I’m sad; not that much for Bazz-B himself, because this counts as a beautiful “gone in the blaze of glory” death. I would have wanted him to live of course, but I’m sad for the Quincies in general. I now really fear that Kubo envisioned the future of Bleach-verse without them.

Sadly, I must agree with you on this, with the way things are going, even with the emphasis placed on the fact that Ichigo also has the blood of a Quincy in him, which he inherited from his mother.  More than anything else, Ichigo has identified himself as a Shinigami, and just as a Shinigami.  In the Arrancar Saga, Ichigo feared his Hollow side; in the Lost Agent Arc, his Fullbring powers were just a means to an end to regain his Shinigami powers; in the Thousand Year Blood War, learning about his Quincy heritage and coming to terms with "old man Zangetsu" were just stepping stones towards him repairing his Bankai and attaining his true Zanpakuto.

But that's not over yet.  I am sure I am not the only one who noticed it, but Ichigo has not drawn Old Man Zangetsu's blade even once since Yhwach manipulated Ichigo into killing the Soul King.  One would think that Ichigo would draw both Zangetsu when he was fighting back against Yhwach, but he only used "White Zangetsu's" Zanpakuto to fight.  Even when he was preparing to defend himself from Grimmjow (before Neliel's interruption), he only had the one drawn.  I do not know if these are simply recent details, or will develop into plot points later on, but the incident with the Soul King might be causing Ichigo to reject his Quincy side, whether he himself is conscious of it or not. 

It hasn't simply been this arc either, but an over-arching theme throughout the series up to this point.  From the start, the Quincy were depicted as a danger to the system making up the Bleach-verse - the more Hollows they kill, the more they upset the balance of souls, and run the risk of the Soul Society and Living World mutually destroying one another when they blend together as a result of the balance being lost.  Ryuuken, the one who inherited Souken's title as "The Last Quincy", was content to simply let the Quincy die out with Souken's generation.  And to be honest, in his eyes, why not?  Yhwach has his claws into every Quincy in the modern day, and he used the Auswahlen to kill every last Gemischt Quincy barring Uryu to regain his power, including Katagiri, all for the sake of finishing the war that began one thousand years ago. 

And at this rate, I would not be surprised if that war was instigated by the Quincy in the first place, since that is the direction the flash-backs pointed us towards.  After all, Yhwach created the Stern Ritter with that very purpose in mind.  In other words, Kubo has been painting the Quincy from Day One as the aggressors; as the one element in the system that does not belong; the aberrant souls that endanger the world's existence just by fighting against Hollows to survive and to protect souls; the group of people who produced an individual as horrible as Yhwach; the race who brought down the Soul Society and killed the Soul King, the entity whose existence stabilizes the world.

Quincy and Shinigami fighting alongside one another?  Souken's dream?  I would not be surprised if one of Uryu's reasons for joining the Vandenreich is eventually revealed to be that he realized that Souken's dream was doomed from the start.  It was a pre-destined doom, because Yhwach and the Stern Ritter were going to begin their war against the Seireitei once again no matter what happened.  Yhwach is not the problem, but the Quincy race as a whole.  They've all held onto feelings of hate for the Shinigami for far too long for there to be reconciliation.  The only one who envisioned such a world was Souken Ishida, since it has been all but made clear that every other Quincy in existence outside of the Ishida Clan was all-in for war against the Shinigami.

While I do hope that Bazz-B may survive, that will likely be in vain, and Bazz-B's death likely shows the inevitable fate of the Quincy race - extinction after an empty existence of hate and vengeance.  Bazz-B spent the entirety of his unnaturally long life, which was likely only so long because of Yhwach's Schrift, challenging Haschwalth to see which one of them was stronger and for what?  In the end, he effectively threw his own life away in a suicide run.  He had a chance to fight alongside the Shinigami, but he instead went on his own path, and made his own grave. 

It is not simply the fate the Quincy made for themselves, but the Shinigami would likely not stand for any other fate.  In this war, the Gotei 13 lost too much to the Vandenreich.  Yamamoto was destroyed by Yhwach, a number of the friends and allies of the remaining Shinigami were killed by the Stern Ritter, and now the Quincy have succeeded in killing the Soul King and claiming the Soul King Palace as their Wahrwelt.

Shutara said the Quincy were even worse than Aizen, whom she claimed was the embodiment of evil.  What is worse than the embodiment of evil? 

Chaos.  Throughout many mythologies and folklore, one of the greatest evils in any religion has always been an entity embodying Chaos.  In Bleach, the Quincy have been set up as that element of Chaos from day one, and Yhwach is its embodiment.  Haschwalth put it best - Yhwach's very existence is built around sustaining himself through the death and chaos of battles.  The war with the Shinigami is just another war with which Yhwach sustains himself, and also means the elimination of the one power that halted his endless conquests in the past. 

I will not be surprised if that becomes the true reason why Quincy fight Hollows to begin with - their arrows do not "erase" Hollows from existence, but Hollows killed by a Quincy's arrows or power have their souls absorbed by Yhwach, regardless of whether they were ever aware of it or not.  In other words, all the Hollows every killed by any Quincy in the past thousand years has all been for the sake of Yhwach absorbing more souls to sustain himself, so as to avoid regressing to the state he was born in - mute, crippled, blind, deaf. 

The fact that Quincy may have existed before Yhwach was born does not matter anymore.  They are nothing more than carriers for Yhwach's soul, nothing more than the vessels by which Yhwach sustains himself and absorbs souls through every Hollow they will ever kill and through their own deaths. 

Because of how they are all linked to Yhwach, I will not be surprised if their extinction is the only way to permanently kill Yhwach.  After all, Yhwach has a piece of his soul in every Quincy, and it is likely that those souls would sustain Yhwach even after his heart his stopped, as the "Kaiser Gesang" began with him regaining his heartbeat, meaning the only way to keep him from coming back would be to kill every Quincy that bears a piece of his soul.

This war has done the opposite of what was spoken of between Ichigo and Uryu in the Sub Shinigami arc - it has shown that there can never be peace between Shinigami and Quincy.  It is not simply a matter of killing Yhwach, because he has never been the source of that blood feud between Shinigami and Quincy - too much conflict between Shinigami and Quincy has taken place for there to be peace, and the Quincy Massacre of 200 years ago occurred without Yhwach's influence so he was not responsible for it.

In the current world system, the Shinigami are the essential aspect - they are the ones who purify Hollows and send them to Soul Society as normal souls, and they are the ones who lead souls to Soul Society to maintain balance between the Living World and the Soul Society.  The Quincy are aberrant - they destroy Hollows, and every Hollow they kill upsets the balance of souls and threatens to destroy the world.

The only way this could be justified, and the only way the feud between Shinigami and Quincy could ever stop, is if the current world is unnatural.  After all, the current world is heavily reliant upon the Shinigami - they are the only ones with the power to guide souls to Soul Society, they maintain a "balance of souls" that is necessary to keep the world as it is, and they are the only ones with the power to purify a Hollow's soul and send it to Soul Society.  We know they even created the Soul King, the entity who stabilized the flow of souls into and out of Soul Society and held the worlds together.  Yhwach even mentioned that, before the Soul King was created, the Soul Society was unstable due to the souls constantly flowing in and out of it. 

This means that the Soul Society and the Living World existed without the Soul King, and the implication is that the Shinigami, at one point, did not control the flow of souls into and out of Soul Society.  In the modern day, the Shinigami are the only ones with the power to send souls to Soul Society; before the Soul Society, souls apparently flowed into and out of the Soul Society at their leisure.

However, for such a thing to be so would be for it to require the Shinigami to be equally at fault, if not more so.  But they've been protagonists for too long for it to suddenly be revealed that they created this world and the Quincy have been depicted as a group that disrupts the balance for far too long for them to be suddenly given a pardon, even if the current war has left any hope of peace out of the question.  Moreover, the current system is depicted as beneficial, since it brought stability to the Soul Society, which once suffered instability because souls were constantly flowing in and out of Soul Society.  With the Shinigami being the only ones that can send souls to Soul Society, likely as a result of the Soul King's power, the flow stabilized. 

In addition, the Soul King has been so entrenched into the system of the world now that his removal threatens to cause the collapse of all three worlds.  Were the worlds once dimensions overlapping each other in the same space, just as the Vandenreich and the Seireitei were, and did the Soul King's power cause them to separate?  Have they always existed as separate from one another?  We cannot know for certain, but that would make or break this idea either way. 

Moreover, the question such a reveal would present would be whether to let the world return to its natural state, or to continue maintaining the system that the Shinigami artificially created through the Soul King.  When you weigh the positives and the negatives together, the world created by the Shinigami would be seen by the protagonists as preferable to the worlds reverting to their original state, whatever that world was like, and if the Quincy's extinction will be the necessary foundation stone for the world's stability, then so be it. 

But within all of this lies the question - what about Ichigo?  Would he allow the Quincy to be made extinct, including his former friend, Uryu?  Couldn't Ichigo, since he was the one who told Uryu that Soken wanted Shinigami and Quincy to fight together as allies, be the one who tries to make peace between Shinigami and Quincy and end their blood feud?

To the first: Yes.  To the second: No.

Yes, because Ichigo identifies himself as a Shinigami.  As a result, the death of every Shinigami also affected him as much as it has affected the Gotei 13 Shinigami themselves.  Furthermore, Yhwach killed his mother, and Yhwach was the one who forced Ichigo to strike down the Soul King through his Quincy blood.  As I mentioned before, Ichigo has not drawn the "Quincy Zangetsu's" Zanpakuto even once since then, and I would not be surprised if it comes up as a plot-point later of him rejecting his Quincy heritage in favour of his Shinigami heritage. 

Does it clash with his entire revelation about both of his Inner Spirits being Zangetsu and his Zanpakuto?  Yes, but the nature of his blood and its link to Yhwach was not yet an issue back then.  For that matter, the fact that Ichigo's Quincy blood caused him to kill the Soul King when he grabbed Yhwach's swords means that it was Quincy Zangetsu itself that made Ichigo cut the Soul King down.  There's bound to be repercussions as a result, and I'm almost certain that we'll see it subtly when we no longer see Ichigo drawing the Quincy Zangetsu out to fight against the Schutzstaffel, Haschwalth or Uryu.

No, because the Vandenreich's existence and actions against the Shinigami have made peace between Quincy and Shinigami impossible.  There's been too much blood-shed between them for any peace to come about, and both sides will forever hold grievances against one another, regardless of who survives.  One might make the argument that Bazz-B and Co siding with the Shinigami is evidence they can still make peace, but that is not true.  None of the Gotei 13 even noticed that the Quincy disappeared, despite noticing immediately that Mayuri was not with them.  For the Shinigami, the only benefit to having the Quincy was towards opening the Gate so they could reach the Soul King Palace, and the same holds true for Bazz-B and Co, who only approached the Shinigami because they desired revenge against Yhwach. 

In Ichigo's case, Yhwach killed his mother, as I have mentioned before, on top of his identity as a Shinigami.  The only issues he has had when confronted by a Quincy thus far has been with Uryu, and that is only because he considered Uryu his Nakama.  Ichigo's own nature will not allow him to seek peace between Quincy and Shinigami - his only desire is to protect everyone he considers an ally or friend, and the Quincy's only desire is to destroy all the Shinigami, the ones whom Ichigo considers to be his allies and friends.  The two views are irreconcilable, and I will bet that events in the coming future will also make Ichigo and Uryu irreconcilable as well.  All Uryu has to do is kill one Shinigami (even if that Shinigami is Mayuri, the one had it coming for a long time), and that will be the end of it.

But does that not clash with Ichigo being the one to tell Uryu that it was Souken's dream to see Quincy and Shinigami fighting together as allies?  Yes, but the current war has made that impossible, as stated before.  Because the Vandenreich had been in the Seireitei's shadows for a thousand years, and the Quincy have been planning for this war for those thousand years, Souken's dream was pre-destined to die the moment the war started.  Furthermore, Uryu joining the Vandenreich is what buried it permanently, because the only way Souken's dream could have remained alive is if Uryu had stayed with the Nakama, instead of joining the Vandenreich for whatever reason.  But as we saw, that did not happen, and events have been set up that will permanently drive a rift between Uryu and the Nakama in the future.

As things stand, that is the destiny the Quincy face in their future - the Monks of Destruction will eventually face their own, final destruction as the foundation stone for the Soul Society's peace.  The only way things could be turned around is if some dark truth is revealed about the world the Shinigami govern came about and how it was created, but that will never happen, because the Shinigami have been protagonists for too long for that to suddenly be turned on its head.

If you disagree with this, feel free to speak your defense for the Quincy. 

If you agree with this, voice your reason for why you believe this will be the case.

Bleach 634 - 637 Reviews

The Last Stand

One thing to be said about Bazz-B is that he is determined.  Even when Haschwalth blew him through the walls of the Silbern with the force of his swing and severely wounded him, he is still determined to not back down in the face of his former friend.  If anything, Bazz-B is not a man who simply accepts what is said, but is a man of action - he will only believe something once he truly sees it happen. 

Moreover, as Bazz-B prepares Burner Finger 4 to continue fighting Haschwalth, his former friend reveals what his full name actually is - Bazzard Black.  The Burner Finger 4's power is impressive even in base, as it completely vaporized the wall and pillar where Bazz-B's attack cut when he Haschwalth dodged.  Because of Bazz-B's temper, his belief in his own strength and antagonism with Haschwalth, he believed that Haschwalth was afraid of losing to him. 

Dream Fulfilled

As we see through the flashback, Bazz-B wanted this fight for a very long time, but Haschwalth's loyalty to Yhwach (and hopefully his past friendship with Bazz) meant he always refused, no matter how much Bazz-B tried to provoke him.  It is also in this flashback that we see why Bazz-B is so intent on fighting Haschwalth - he feels he has not truly lost yet.  As I said in the last section, Bazz is a man of action - he won't believe in something unless he sees it happen first-hand.  In this case, it was Haschwalth being stronger than him that he did not believe, and he wanted a fight to determine who was truly the stronger. 

But as Bazz-B says later on in the chapter, things never go as you want them to.  Haschwalth lops off Bazz-B's arm (which vaporizes another section of a pillar as the arm goes flying), and Bazz-B decides to pull out all the stops with Burning Full Fingers, a blazing torrent of heat emitting from all five of the fingers on his remaining hand...Only for Haschwalth to deal one last blow before Bazz-B could even attack with it.

With that, Bazz-B lost the fight he always, but he's not sad because he lost, but because he thought it'd be more shameful than it actually was.  At the end of the road, Bazz-B was quite accepting of the fact that he lost, which has been a rarity among the Stern Ritter.  We do not see what Haschwalth's feelings are over this matter at all, but the last we've seen of Bazz-B for now is him reflecting on when he first met Haschwalth, as he passes out from his injuries. 

I don't know if Bazz-B is actually dead.  For my part, I hope that he is not dead.  After all the guy has been through, I do hope that he manages to make it out of this war alive, and remains an ally of the protagonists.  But until it is completely clarified, I'll leave his fate up in the air. 

The Exchange of Power

Meanwhile, Giselle and Liltotto thought it'd be a brilliant idea to try and take out Yhwach on their own.  Predictably, it ended with their defeat.  We see Giselle on the ground in a pile of his/her own blood, while Liltotto pretty much had her stomach blown open and pouring out blood, lamenting how she couldn't even put a scratch on Yhwach before finally kicking the bucket. 

I never really felt much sympathy for these particular two Stern Ritter, but I do feel sympathy for their attempt at revenge against Yhwach being in vain, although they should have known they could never take out an awake Yhwach.  Why not wait until Yhwach was actually asleep (not that it would do good against a man who can see the future).

At any rate, with the intruders dealt with, Yhwach goes back to his throne and settles down for a nap, and we see Haschwalth acquire "The Almighty" while the Emperor sleeps.  In other words, it seems it is their abilities that switch, since Haschwalth did not appear to have gained the Soul King's power as well when the switch occurred.  Having "The Almighty" himself now, Haschwalth calls the ability to see into the future "a cruel power", which is not that far from the truth, since Haschwalth is now burdened with the knowledge of all that will happen before it even occurs.  Something in the future must have made Haschwalth say those words, so let us see what that will be.

Schutzstaffel on the Move

Then we get an update on all the Schutzstaffel.  Gerard got back luck with City #1, because he did not find any opponents whatsoever, and he's quite mad at his compatriots for his having no enemies to fight while they will have enemies.  I find it interesting that Gerard did not mention Uryu at all, which makes me consider the possibility that he really has a soft spot for Uryu. 

Off-topic: WRITE YOUR FANFICS!!

Meanwhile...Ichigo and Co completely lost track of both Askin and Grimmjow and decide to split up to find the latter, despite the former hiding on the building RIGHT NEXT TO THEM! 

Ichigo sensed Rukia and Renji's reiatsu just fine, and Yuushiro was able to do the same for Yoruichi's reiatsu, so what kept them from sensing Askin and Grimmjow when they were virtually right on top of them?  The only explanation I have is that both of them concealed their reiatsu to hide from each other and everyone else, but still...

Well, as Ichigo and Co split up, Askin decides to take a rest and pulls out a coffee canister to pour himself, only to ditch the coffee break when Grimmjow pops up right behind them. 

But that was actually what Askin wanted, since he fires off a "Gift ball" at Grimmjow, who swats it away and immediately falls down.  For those who are curious, the German "Gift" means "poison" (learnt that tidbit from "Grimm"), and it fits Askin's deceptive attitude quite well. 

And just like that, Askin took down one of Ichigo's former rivals with just one attack.

Next up among the Schutzstaffel we see is Lille Barro, who has come across the Gotei 13, and moves like a true professional sniper and goes for the guy at the back of the pack with "The X-Axis" first, which happens to be Hisagi in this situation.  Based on his dialogue, Lille Barro is all business in this situation, and he's likely going to silently pick off the Shinigami one by one, but I wouldn't be surprised if he starts rapid-firing once the Shinigami realize they are losing members. 

Madness, Insanity, Bloodlust

Which leaves us with Pernida, who has come across Zaraki and Mayuri's group.  While they banter over what Pernida is supposed to be, Zaraki goes in for the attack, but Mayuri warns him to back away.  While Pernida did manage to mangle an arm, Zaraki also cut Pernida in return...Which really aggravates Pernida as its "head" starts distorting, leaving even Mayuri commenting on how creepy Pernida's behaviour was, which is ironic coming from him. 

In the meantime, Zaraki and Mayuri's subordinates are commenting on the fight, and they share the sentiment that their Captains would not want their help until they are called.  BTW, where is Hanataro.  I don't think I've seen him at all these past two chapters.

Anyway, Pernida then proceeds to turn Zaraki's right arm into a windmill, which Zaraki responds to by ripping his own arm off and taking his blade from his dead arm's fingers before it is twisted into a puddle of blood.  The two begin bantering again and Mayuri tells Nemu to stop the bleeding of Zaraki's arm (WHERE'S HANATARO?  DID HE GET LOST OR FALL BEHIND?), leaving Zaraki to mutter to himself how he can cut Pernida without getting close to him. 

Nimaiya, Zaraki is not, because he finishes his train of thought by concluding that he just has to cut Pernida in two before he can use his power on him, and lunges in for another attack (which I thought would have gone better if Zaraki had used Nozarashi).  Nimaiya had the right idea to throw his sword at Pernida, because Zaraki's attack failed to kill Pernida, and he gets both of his legs broken for his troubles...

And Ashisogi Jizo through the back for good measure, with Mayuri activating "Fear Factor 4" to emit a sound that paralyzes anyone who hears it (without their ears covered) for four seconds, sans Mayuri and Nemu,  because just stabbing Zaraki only paralyzed the limbs, with Fear Factor 4 paralyzing the entire body.

Mad Shinigami, Mad...

Mayuri has never been a team player, and will never be one.  The man does things his own way, morality or ethics be damned.  The sad thing about it is that it tends to prove itself to be very effective, and we are getting back to the Mayuri of old - the one with no moral qualms about what he does so long as the job gets done. 

Since Ashisogi Jizo's "Fear Factor 4" saved Zaraki and also paralyzed Pernida, Mayuri concludes correctly that Pernida's "The Compulsory" is linked to his nerves, which he sends into the target to hijack their bodies and control them.  It seems to work well enough that Pernida can even use it against plants, given what he did to the "Cage of Life".  Mayuri is proven correct, as the acid he used on the black tendrils Pernida sent out causes the Stern Ritter intense pain.

Now that Mayuri knows what Pernida's ability is, he comments to the paralyzed Zaraki that what he did was necessary to save, and even remarks how impressed he is that Zaraki can move after "Fear Factor 4", stating that he now has motive to improve on Ashisogi Jizo further.

Then Mayuri goes full-blown psycho.  He glamorizes his back-stabbing Zaraki as a "noble sacrifice" to learn Pernida's ability, saying that "noble victories are always preceded by noble sacrifices".  While one can understand the meaning behind the statement, only a madman could apply it to the current situation, all the while asking the enemy to donate their body for experimentation.

Ikkaku is rightfully pissed off by Mayuri painting what he did to Zaraki in that light, while Nemu is...actually concerned.  When Yumichika comments on how Mayuri is still the same as always, she states that she hopes that is the case.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again: we have been getting death-flags for Mayuri throughout the past year, and we may finally see those warnings come to fruition.

As to what is worse than the current Mayuri, we may soon get our answer, because Pernida completely loses it, rips apart his cloak and reveals he is...

...Mad Hand

A hand with a eye in the center bearing two irises, with the fingers chained together. 

This I did not expect in the slightest, and I sincerely applaud Kubo for going beyond what my expectations were.  Then Mayuri drops another bombshell on us by stating what exactly Pernida is.

Pernida is the Left Arm of the Soul King.

Pernida proceeds to break the chains and transform itself further, eventually becoming a giant left arm looming over the streets of the city, the muscles at the end of the arm presumably rooted into the ground.  While Ikkaku asks if the Soul King was that huge (no, not the last time I checked, though I don't know anymore), Mayuri replies he doesn't know, but he states that Pernida's reiatsu is almost the same as the reiatsu from Ukitake when he lost consciousness (HALLEUJAH HE'S ALIVE!!).

Then Mayuri states the conclusion that most of the fandom reached when we first saw Mimihagi - if the Right Arm was in Ukitake, then it made sense for the Left Arm to be floating around somewhere.  But for my part, I did not think that we'd see the Left Arm so soon, much less be one of the Schutzstaffel. 

What is interesting to note is that, unlike its "brother", Pernida has two "eyes" on its hand compared to Mimihagi's one "eye".  Moreover, Mimihagi's "eye" was on the back of the hand, while Pernida's "eyes" are on the palm (unless there is an eye to each side of the hand).  Given Pernida's "eyes" are reminiscent of Yhwach's first stage of "The Almighty", could this mean that Pernida can see the future with its eyes as well, since Yhwach said that Mimihagi should be capable of that, despite Yhwach being stronger than it.

Darkness of the King, The Lost Past of the Shinigami

As Mayuri blocks Pernida's nerves with a bio-engineered umbrella that screams as it is twisted into a mass of flesh, Mayuri states the one thing that must be on everybody's minds: why is the Soul King's left arm working for Yhwach? 

Given what we have seen in the past twenty chapters, I think the answer to that is the same as why the overflowing torrent of the Soul King's power took form and attacked the Gotei 13 - the Soul King's enemies are the Shinigami.  Mimihagi might have aimed to protect the Soul Society, but it was also in a contract with Ukitake, so it would not be impossible to assume that Ukitake's will blended with Mimihagi's own. 

But the Mini-Mimihagi and Pernida seem to be another matter.

Ever since the Soul King was first stabbed by Yhwach, we've been getting continual evidence that the Soul King is a much darker entity than the "lynchpin of the world" we have been told he is. First was the nature of Mimihagi, the "Right Arm of the Soul King"; the torrents of the Soul King's power attacking the Shinigami; Yhwach's appearance after absorbing the Soul King, and now Pernida, the Left Arm of the Soul King that has aligned itself with Yhwach, the Soul King's son.

Two of these developments point towards one possibility - the Soul King has a burning hatred for the Shinigami, while the developments as a whole show us clearly that, whatever the Soul King is/was, it was never Human. It all calls into question the Shinigami's past history, and what exactly they are fighting for.

Euphoria of the Scientist

But Mayuri doesn't have the readers' concerns, since he's more excited about the prospect of a new organism standing in front of him, and he can't wait to sink his intellectual teeth into Pernida's body and to learn everything he can about it - how it can speak, how it can hear, what organs does it possess, what power does it have, what secrets does it have - and everything Pernida has done is driving Mayuri further and further into excitement, he might as well be reaching mad scientist heaven, completely ignoring Ikkaku's warning to run while urging the Left Arm of the Soul King to show him more.

To which Pernida replies:

"Left...Arm...Name is...Wrong.  Per...nida...Pernida."

Mayuri, don't annoy Pernida any further.  You might not survive what comes down the road next if Pernida decides to shed its flesh and go Master Core on your ass.

Bleach Chapters 624 - 633 AKA. Volume 69 Review

My apologies for not keeping up with this for to anyone who has been following this blog of mine.  I'll be sure to try to keep up to date with the chapters from now on.  For now, here is a special blog post.

Defeating the Same Foe Together 1

Poor NaNaNa.  Although the feat is an achievement in of itself in the context of the series, he was only able to immobilize Aizen for five minutes with "The Underbelly".  It just goes to show what a monster Aizen is, since he recovered so quickly from an ability specifically designed to go after the weak spots in an individual's reiatsu - and that was when Aizen's reiatsu was restrained. 

While it is nice to see Shinigami and Quincy work together after all that has happened between the two races (though I mainly care about Bazz-B out of the three), Aizen is the one who put it best - they are not protecting Soul Society together, but simply going after the same enemy.  We'll see this placed into perspective later, but the interesting thing is that Aizen begins to lament on how Ichigo set foot into the Soul King Palace before him, and states that he is very difficult to forgive. 

Despite the fact that Aizen's manipulation of Yhwach's senses ended up saving Ichigo in the first invasion, it is clear that Aizen still has not forgiven Ichigo for his previous defeat.  This could lead to some very interesting exchanges between the two in the future, but any of Aizen's musings were over-shadowed by something else that took place in later chapters...

Trying Too Hard at Humor?

I can only say this: in the current situation, Kubo might be trying too hard to insert humor into a rather dark situation.  While we do get to see how Ichigo and Co survived their fall - Inoue used her Santen Kesshun to catch everyone, and Yoruichi had pulled them up to one of the Squad Zero Palaces - the arguably misplaced humor comes when we see Kon pop up out of Ichigo's Shihakusho (been wondering where he was), causing Ichigo to knock the back of his head against Inoue's head, knocking him out cold. 

I'll get into why I have particular gripes about this later, but I have to condense ten chapters into one review.

After the bout of comedy, Ichigo and Co begin discussing how they will counter-attack the Quincy.  While Ichigo does state he can make reiatsu footholds to make it on his own while everyone else can use Inoue's Santen Kesshun, they'd be wide open targets if they were attacked on the way up. 

But for this, Yoruichi has a plan, and it is related to a stake we saw placed on the ground in chapter 624.  She then tells someone to come out, and a Garganta opens in the Soul King Palace.

Espada, Xcutioners and Screams 1

"IT'S GRIMMJOW FREAKIN' JAEGERJAQUEZ!!"

That is a brief summarization of a good portion of the fandom's reaction to the ending of chapter 624.  People have been waiting YEARS for confirmation on his fate and his return to the manga - I recall people going crazy in chapters 500 and 518, when all we saw were his Zanpakuto and his arm.  After all, he was one of the most popular characters in Bleach by a long-shot. 

It was nice to see that Grimmjow did not change at all, and he still seems quite determined to settle the score with Ichigo (how he'd beat the current Ichigo would be something requiring Segunda Etapa, but even that might not be enough).  But as we quickly saw, Grimmjow did not come alone, because Neliel came with him.

ADULT Neliel, not the child Nel.  So strikes the divine thunderbolt of science once more, as Neliel explains that she is now able to change between adult and child form at will because of a special bracelet that Urahara made for her.

Anyone recall what I said about science in Bleach?  My opinion still stands on there, since spiritual physics is not something anyone in the fandom would be an expert on.  The bracelet likely has to do with stabilizing Neliel's spiritual power, since it leaking out of her broken mask is what caused her to revert to child form in the first place.  I read that a lot of people were disappointed that she reverted back to child form before finishing off Nnoitra the first time around, so this will satisfy many readers (and many of her fanboys) since we now get to see adult Neliel fight again.

Jealousy Lingers

Also, I have to comment on this, because it'll stick in my mind until I say it: Inoue was jealous, plain and simple.  I'm not buying into Sado's guess that Inoue was thinking that Urahara made something unnecessary again (case in point, Inoue's outfit), because Neliel was once the Third Espada.  I don't know what kind of training Inoue and Sado did in Hueco Mundo, but Urahara sending two former Espada to Ichigo's aid says to me that Urahara knows that Ichigo needs much more help than those two.

As to why Inoue would be jealous, let me count the ways - Neliel is an adult, well-developed woman who is not shy about being affectionate with Ichigo, and there is precedent for Inoue being jealous of Neliel before:








Yes, I know that I'll be getting a lot of responses to linking these particular pages, and a lot of people will protest my choices.  But here is the deal - in both of those scenes, Inoue was wanting to heal Ichigo's wounds, but Ichigo's attention in both cases was focused on Nel.  In the first case, Ichigo was in awe of Neliel's power against Nnoitra, to the point where he did not even hear Inoue's words.  After that, you have Inoue's rather sad face as she looks in Neliel's direction.  That on its own would be confusing. 

The next scene, however, could set it in context.  Ichigo is even more wounded than before, and Inoue is once again about to heal Ichigo's wounds, but Ichigo tells her to heal Nel first, resulted in a shaded panel with a focus on Inoue's reaction.  Why?  Why would Inoue react like that to Ichigo's request?  I won't go into it any further because I don't want to step on any more, but I'll just link Inoue's reaction to adult Neliel in chapter 625:



HOW IS THAT NOT THE FACE OF JEALOUSY?  Her panicked and clearly flustered reaction to Sado's words practically sells it. 

Okay, moving on.

Espada, Xcutioners, and Screams 2

Of course, Grimmjow does not take to being interrupted by Neliel glomping Ichigo, and the two exchange words about their respective positions as Espada briefly, and Grimmjow seems intent on proving he is the stronger one because their numbers under Aizen do not matter anymore.  However, he is interrupted by a person that I was not thinking I would see again.

In the Garganta, there was a big black box, and inside that box was Riruka.  The last time we saw Riruka, her send-off seemed permanent - she left Karakura Town and wanted Ichigo and Co to forget about her at the end of the Lost Agent Arc, but now she is here alongside Yukio (one of the Fullbringers I wanted to see come back), and Yukio tells everyone to get inside the box. 

In more ways than one, Ichigo is not only the main character, but also the audience surrogate in the story, because he reacts the exact same way as all us readers did when demanding Yoruichi to explain what the heck was going on in full detail.  I'm fully on Ichigo's side here, as Yoruichi's demeanour to Ichigo's demands to know what is going on is too cat-like (pun intended, apologies to my own cats).  And yes, Ichigo, you were in the dark as much as we were.

Then Kubo went and made the Valley of Screams canon.  He made "Memories of Nobody" canon.  This is further backed up in a later chapter where Ichigo admits that he has been to the Valley of Screams once before, despite the event never happening in the manga, only in the movie.  Are the events of Ichigo going to the Valley of the Screams the exact same as in the movie?  Who knows?  Is this still a big deal?  YES.

Either way, the in-manga explanation is that there are multiple Valley of Screams, both big and small, and they are able to remain stable and sustain themselves in the normally unstable Garganta for reasons unknown, likely due to the very structure of their reishi being different.  Urahara wanted to exploit, so he sought out the two Fullbringers who abilities were ideally suited for his purposes - Yukio being able to create pocket dimensions with his "Invaders Must Die", and Riruka's "Dollhouse" to encapsulate a small Valley of Screams inside a box.  When that was combined with Yukio's Fullbring, it was turned into a room with rails.  How it managed to get up to the Soul King Palace is because of that stake that Yoruichi had planted, and she planted a similar one next to the Soul King (his chrysalis, at least), which will allow them to sneak into the Soul King Palace and launch their surprise attack.

Yoruichi, do you believe you are in the Bleach-verse, or Fairy Tail?  It's only in Fairy Tail where surprise attacks on a vastly superior enemy work even when they have already humiliated you.  Pernida straight up mutilated your arm and Yhwach wiped the floor with Ichibei.  No matter who Urahara sends you as back-up, or how many people, you aren't closing that gap, especially since the gap has become even wider. 

Shopkeeper's Mask

But before we get into that, I need to make a comment on Urahara.  As is clear from his reactions to the Soul King's death with the Gotei 13 in contrast to his plan involving the Fullbringers, Urahara is not showing anyone his full hand - not the Shinigami, not the readers, and not Ichigo.  The man would not have planned to send Grimmjow and Neliel up to the Soul King Palace to assist Ichigo (showing that the Soul King Palace is not blocked from access via the Garganta) if he did not expect Ichigo to initially fail to defeat Yhwach and protect the Soul King. 

The entire scenario is suspect, when you think about.  Ichibei sent them to Yhwach without giving them any prior warning about his abilities, and we readers saw that Ichibei knew that Ichigo and Co could not defeat Yhwach.  Who is to say that Urahara is not wearing a similar mask? 

As we saw in recent chapters, Shunsui spoke of deciding upon a new Soul King after they defeat Yhwach, which I will get into more later.  Given Ichigo's unique nature, Kirinji's words about the Soul King "falling for Ichigo", and Shunsui's comment about Ichigo not being able to come back to the Living World, it seems all the signs are pointing towards the Shinigami wanting to make Ichigo the new Soul King.

The horrifying part is that this may be what Urahara meant when he said that Ichigo's future would be taken away from him if he regains his Shinigami powers - it will inevitably lead to Ichigo being made to take the Soul King's place, as he may be the only individual qualified, given his nature.  Isshin knew about the Auswahlen - something that caught the Squad Zero off-guard when Yhwach used it to revive the Schutzstaffel - so Urahara likely knew that Yhwach was coming back.  It really puts things in a depressing light, now that I think about it - could the whole series have been Urahara grooming Ichigo to become the Soul King's successor?  It does have symmetry with Uryu being declared Yhwach's successor, but that was by the man himself.  As of now, Ichigo is not aware of the possible fate that awaits him.  What can it be called when the villains are more honest with their intents and end-goals than the "protagonists"?

If I recall correctly, Kubo only said that the Vandenreich were the enemies, not the antagonists.

The New God

Even if Yhwach is making a very strong case for himself.

Yhwach succeeded in doing what he set out to do, and has completely absorbed the Soul King into himself.  The end result of said absorption is...less than Human:



Given he's a character drawn on paper by a mangaka, it is technically correct to call Yhwach the son of an ink blot.  From an in-story context, Yhwach is claiming to be the son of what I can only call an eldritch being.  That is the only thing I can call the former Soul King (which no longer exists), ever since we first saw Mimihagi.  Not only was Mimihagi the Right Arm of the Soul King, but it was also independent of the original Soul King, and it might have three more siblings out there in the form of the Soul King's missing left arm and legs.

The image above is the end result of Yhwach absorbing all that excess power into himself.  It's so vast that it seems to have physically changed Yhwach.  He might be still adapting to the power (I suspect a good clash with Ichigo might cause it to stabilize), since it seems like a covering of black over his eyes and not an actually physical change, since the eyes seem to shift around his body. 

Either way, it is still unnerving, even to his own subordinates sans Haschwalth, but the power brought about by Yhwach absorbing his "father" (still don't understand how that works) is monumental, as he casually peels apart the Vandenreich and reassembles it in the Soul King Palace. 

Wahrwelt

Wahrwelt - such is the name of the new palace that Yhwach created over the Soul King's rotten tombstone.  The fact that Yhwach was able to do this so easily and in the space of a few seconds speaks volumes of the power he now possesses due to absorbing the Soul King.  It took Ichigo half a day to cross the distance between the Soul King Palace and the Seireitei at full-speed Shunpo; Yhwach's Soul King-fuelled feats keep on crossing that distance in seconds. 

It is at the time that Yhwach is doing this that Ichigo and Co arrive at Yoruichi's marker, and the Shinigami finally complete the Gate to reach the Soul King Palace...except it is not there anymore, as Yhwach completely renovated the place soon after absorbing all of the Soul King's power.  Yhwach even changed the nature and density of the reishi in the atmosphere to make it so the Shinigami cannot make footholds with their reiatsu, as Yuushiro and Ichigo learnt the hard way.

Yoruichi, Ichigo and Co, and the Gotei 13.  Are you all absolutely certain that you think you can still defeat Yhwach after this?  Yhwach has absorbed the Soul King and re-built the Vandenreich as the Wahrwelt over the Soul King Palace, the Schutzstaffel that were empowered by Auswahlen crushed Squad Zero.  You are essentially going up against six Quincy on the level of Yamamoto and Aizen, while Yhwach is pushing Deicide-levels of power now that he's absorbed the Soul King. 

The clock will run down on the current battle, and this arc in-universe will go on to the ninth day that Yhwach's "Kaiser Gesang" mentioned at minimum.  You are not winning this one.  Sorry about that.

Regardless, the Schutzstaffel are set to defend the Wahrwelt, and they and Uryu have been sent to the five points of Wahrwelt to stand guard against intruders.  The first to come into combat was Askin, and Grimmjow wasted no time in trying to get his claws into him, and probably falling for Askin's trap in the process.

Meanwhile, Mayuri is off doing his own thing separate from the Gotei 13, only he has the unwanted company of Zaraki Kenpachi, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Hanataro, who were left behind when the others went through the door. 

Defeating the Same Foe Together 2

Remember what I said about the Shinigami and Quincy "working together"?  It is clear that is not the case, since Bazz-B and Co took the express route up to the newly-named Wahrwelt through the Gate of the Sun, which definitely seems like a teleportation device usable by only the Quincy, since Bazz-B and the others used it to get right to the top of Wahrwelt, where they intend to dispose of both Yhwach and Haschwalth on their own. 

Normally, it would be suicidal (even with a plan it would be suicidal) but we do see that Bazz-B has a plan behind his actions, and it all centers around Jugram, Grandmaster of the Stern Ritter and the one who wears the "Mask of the Ruler" while Yhwach sleeps.  When night falls and Yhwach sleeps to store his power, his power will switch with Haschwalth's power.  That is when Bazz-B intends to kill Haschwalth and Yhwach's power with him, because night is about to fall.

Night is about to fall...

NIGHT IS ABOUT TO FALL!!

I'm sorry, but I must puzzle through this.

It was the morning when Ichigo arrived in the Seireitei from the Soul King Palace, as the Vandenreich superseded the Seireitei at about 5 PM (a clock tower indicated as such), and Ichigo left for the Seireitei three hours after the Vandenreich began its attack.  At the most, based on Ichigo's own estimates, he should have arrived at around 8 AM the next day in the morning hours. 

Immediately after Ichigo's arrival, when there was still a hole in the Soul King Palace's defenses for 6000 seconds, Yhwach and Co took the opportunity to head up to the Soul King Palace.  Ichigo and Co followed after them in a pseudo-Tenchuren made by Mayuri based on the Shiba Cannon's design. 

In the mean-time, the Shinigami began to build the Gate to connect the Seireitei to the Soul King Palace via the Tenshiheiso, and Urahara explicitly stated that they only have this opportunity because Ichigo broke through the barrier surrounding the Soul King Palace.

The events of chapter 612 to 623 came in rapid succession of one another, with no place present for a skip in time in between those events.  It should have still been the morning of the second day, based on that.

But in chapter 630, Bazz-B tells Jugo to look outside, because night is about to fall soon.

Now, I don't know if the connection made with the Tenshiheiso to the Soul King Palace only required the barriers to be open for a short period of time and did not require the barriers to remain open after that (it is a gate through Space-Time, after all), because to go from morning to just about night is a space of time much longer than 6000 seconds. 

So, Kubo, are you trying to tell me that it took half a day for Yhwach to completely absorb the Soul King, and for the Gotei 13 to complete the Gate?  Was Ichigo knocked out for that long as well?

That's it.  That's all I'll say.  Moving on.

Friends

To get back on track, as Bazz-B and Haschwalth continue their fight, we are given flash-backs to when Bazz-B and Haschwalth first met - one thousand years ago.  I'll admit that this was a bit surprising, because most of us likely expected Quincy to have the life-spans of normal Humans.  Perhaps this longevity is a result of the Schrifts that Yhwach gave all his Stern Ritter, but this likely makes the Schutzstaffel, along with Haschwalth and Bazz-B, older than most of the Shinigami cast, ironically enough.  In hind-sight, it does explain Askin's familiarity with how the Vandenreich came to be.

At any rate, Bazz-B and Haschwalth both met each other when they were just children in ye old Middle Ages Europe.  In fact, they both met each other when Haschwalth was out hunting for a rabbit and Bazz-B wanted to show off his skills as a Quincy "prodigy".  While Bazz-B lived in a "small castle", as he calls it (some I know mistook it for a town in the initial flash-back panel that opened this mini-arc), Haschwalth apparently lived in the woods with a...very abusive uncle, to put it lightly.  Because Bazz-B took pity on Haschwalth, he took him under his wing, and he told him that they would become the strongest Quincy.

What firmly set this flash-back one thousand years ago is the fact that Yhwach showed up half a year later and burnt the entire area down - castle and forest alike, killing Bazz-B's family and Haschwalth's uncle. 

The Mysteries of the Man Named God, and the World That Was

As much as the flashback is about Haschwalth and Bazz-B, it is in equal parts about unveiling more about the nature of Yhwach.  In this flashback, it was established that Yhwach was two hundred years old at this point, which makes him much younger than I had originally imagined the "Father of the Quincy" being, which is something that people also called Yhwach back then. 

But Bazz-B doesn't care about that, as he's hell-bent on killing Yhwach, and he brings Haschwalth along with him, probably assuming they are both equally invested in seeking revenge for the deaths of their family members (though I doubt either miss Haschwalth's abusive uncle that much).  While the two of them trained for five years, Yhwach most likely continued conquering until there was nothing left in the Lichtreich ("Empire of Light/Light Realm") to conquer, at which point he turned his sights upon the Soul Society and the creation of the Stern Ritter.

Now, we need to have a bit more clarification on this, I think.  We heard that Yhwach ruled over the northern territories of where Bazz-B and Jugo lived, and Zeidritz mentioned that Yhwach had conquered everything in the Lichtreich.  Does this mean that Yhwach was the ruler of his own country in the Living World, or did he successfully conquer the entire world, and called it the Lichtreich as a result?

Since the Quincy are spread out across the world, based on the names of various Stern Ritter, it would not surprise me if Yhwach actually did conquer the world at some point with his power.  If Yhwach did indeed conquer the whole world, that could give new meaning to what he meant by "reclaiming the world in nine days" - he was not referring to the Soul Society, but the Living World.  Conquering Soul Society was just a stepping stone towards that final conquest, where Yhwach brings both the Living World and the Soul Society under his rule in the "true world".

But if that is the case, then we know that the Shinigami-Quincy War of a thousand years ago is what led to the collapse of the Lichtreich. 

The question is why no history in the Living World has any record of that time period.

The Mysteries of the Man Named God, and the Aberrant Quincy

While Bazz-B and Haschwalth were training, Bazz-B kept on growing stronger while Haschwalth has displayed no abilities of the Quincy whatsoever - he could not gather spirit particles, and he could not even form a bow.  While that is not true now, since Haschwalth did display the ability to gather spirit particles when confronted with Nanao's barrier, it seemed to be true back then. 

From this, we hear from Bazz-B that there was a folktale about Quincy born incapable of gathering reishi every few decades, and that those Quincy were considered incomplete/disabled/aberrant and culled while still young.  In a way, Haschwalth is probably fortunate his uncle kept him around despite his abusive nature - had he ended up with anyone, he'd have been culled.

According to Bazz-B, such an event had not happened for centuries, meaning Haschwalth was the first Quincy in a long time to be born like that.  Despite that, he could not abandon him.

After five years, Algora and Hubert came to the town near Bazz-B and Haschwalth were training, and they announced to the local townsfolk that Yhwach was establishing a new army - the Stern Ritter - and were looking for recruits from the local town.  Algora announces that the Stern Ritter would lead the invasion of the Soul Society, claiming that Yhwach feels that Soul Society would become a threat if left to their own devices, and states that anyone who wants to fight for the survival of the Quincy should step forward.

Technically speaking, Algora is correct on both accounts, given our hindsight.  The newly formed Gotei 13 virtually exterminated the Quincy in the Shinigami-Quincy War of a thousand years ago, most likely erased the Lichtreich from not only the history books but also from all Human memories, as well as all memory of the Quincy.  After all, Algora seems to be addressing an entire village of Quincy (normal Humans can't feel spiritual pressure), so there were once much more wide-spread than they would be in the current setting.

Bazz-B sees the Stern Ritter as a chance for him and Haschwalth to get close to Yhwach, and Bazz-B drags Haschwalth along with him to confront Algora about joining the Stern Ritter.  When Algora rejects Bazz-B's request, Bazz-B pushes the issue with Algora and the two almost come to blows. 

Cue Yhwach arriving and knocking everyone in the village (and Bazz-B) down with his reiatsu.  While Algora apologizes to Yhwach for being provoked into a fight with Bazz-B, Yhwach pays it little heed, as he came to the village to pick up the one who will be his right-hand man - Haschwalth Jugram.

The Quincy Who Give and Share Power

Bazz-B doesn't take it well, to say the least.  After he spent five years of his life training for the purpose of getting close to Yhwach and killing him, he is passed over in favour of the one who "has no talent".  Even if Bazz-B and Jugo did share the same wish, Bazz-B had always assumed he'd be the one to do it, if one of them was unable to.  Even Haschwalth says that he thinks Bazz-B is more suited to be Yhwach's Right-Hand Man.  Algora does not like the fact that Haschwalth is questioning Yhwach, but His Majesty interrupts to explain his reasoning.

We clearly see at this point that Yhwach does have "The Almighty" (contrary to a theory I once made on their connection when chapter 632 initially came out), and that he had seen Haschwalth's confusion already.  He then explains why Haschwalth was not only the only Quincy standing when Yhwach reiatsu-crushed everyone else, but also why he has been unable to collect reishi and form Heilig Bogen, and why he is choosing him to be his Right-Hand Man.

Haschwalth is just like Yhwach, a Quincy with the ability to share power.



It looks like you omitted something from your explanation to Uryu, Haschwalth.  Even so, it remains to be seen if Haschwalth's power works in the exact same way as Yhwach's own.

Yhwach has been searching for a Quincy like Haschwalth for a long time, since not one Quincy had been born in the past two hundred years with the same abilities as Yhwach.  That is when it clicked in Bazz-B's mind - the true nature of those "incomplete" Quincy from folklore -  and a number of possibilities clicked in my own mind. 

In a sense, it is tragic.  Apparently, Quincy like Haschwalth and Yhwach were born every few decades, but they were all culled at a young age and unable to realize their potential because the Quincy race as a whole did not understand what their power actually was.  On the other hand, Yhwach was the last one of these produced, but it seems he hit the jackpot even among such Quincy because of the specific nature of his ability "to share power".

While Yhwach can share power, grow it and take it back (as explained back in chapter 565 in detail), he is certain that Haschwalth probably cannot do the same.  It would make sense, if the abilities of such Quincy are as varied as those of normal Quincy and all the other races. 

Now, given Yhwach can see the future, do not tell me that he did not pick his following words with the intent of driving a rift between Haschwalth and Bazz-B - Yhwach out-right states to Bazz-B that he must have felt his power increasing daily during all the time he spent with Haschwalth, and belittles him for thinking that it was the result of his own efforts and power.

According to Yhwach, it is because Haschwalth was unconsciously sharing power with Bazz-B that he became so strong in the first place; that he became a "genius".  In short, Yhwach broke Bazz-B down completely, tore down his perception of himself, and made him realize his place.  He then finishes by telling Haschwalth to come with him, and that he needs him by his side.

While we all know Yhwach's true nature, and Haschwalth may have come to regret his decision, based on his words to Uryu in 565, it is hard to not feel the sad joy in Haschwalth's eyes.  For once, he is not being told that he needs someone else to take care of him, and that there is someone who says they need him.  Yhwach gave Haschwalth what he desired most - to feel genuinely wanted by someone - and tore away everything Bazz-B had.

Fallen Friendship

Bazz-B dropped all pretense of subtlety in his following rage and fires a Heilig Pfiel straight at Yhwach, only for Haschwalth to catch it before it can strike Yhwach.



That look in Haschwalth's eye as he catches the arrow terrifies me.  Bazz-B's devastated and wounded expression to the act makes me want to hug him.  That right there almost feels like the entire turning point in their respective personalities, and the point where their friendship was irreparably damaged. 

Bazz-B simply looks broken in the above panel.  Yhwach has completely deconstructed all his efforts in the last five years of his life by telling him how he owes it all to Haschwalth, and he also turned former friends against one another by giving Haschwalth the one thing he could never refused and must have craved for his entire life - someone who cares about and needs him, and someone who gave his life purpose by revealing what he truly was. 

After losing his home and family, revenge on Yhwach, his friendship with Haschwalth, and his pride were all that Bazz-B had left.  Yhwach crushed Bazz-B's pride with the truth about Haschwalth's nature, and the above scene is when both Haschwalth and his quest for vengeance were both taken from him, a moment paralleled in the present time of the story where Haschwalth caught Bazz-B's Heilig Pfiel in a similar manner, and struck him down. 

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Is this the end of the flash-back?  Absolutely not.  From the current point in the flashbacks, we do not know when or how Bazz-B got into the Stern Ritter, or what changed his perception of Yhwach so drastically and change him into a loyal Stern Ritter of Yhwach.  It took getting hit by the Auswahlen for Bazz-B to get back on track for revenge in the modern day, even if it means bringing down his former friend with Yhwach.  What changed this is still something we need to see, so Bazz-B is not dead yet.

Opened Doors of the Mind

I mentioned possibilities that clicked in my own mind before, and I suppose it is time to elaborate on what I meant. 

Here's the brief version from my initial reaction to the chapter:

Damn, that is some very heavy stuff.

So Haschwalth is a Quincy that is the same as Yhwach - one born every two hundred years with the ability of giving and...sharing his...powers...

*thinks back to Ginjo*

Oh my God...

*remembers Urahara's explanation for Inoue and Sado awakening their powers*

Oh my God!

Now for my explanation in full. 

I have always felt that Ginjo may have been the Shinigami Representative going back two hundred years ago, and his being like Ichigo and the Cross he wears has made me think that Ginjo is also the child of a Quincy and a Shinigami, much like Ichigo. 

The recent revelation about Haschwalth bears significance for both Ginjo and Ichigo, but I'll get to Ginjo first.  It never crossed my mind before because it was believed that Yhwach was the only Quincy with "the power to share power", but this flashback has shown that not only is Haschwalth the same as Yhwach, but that such Quincy have always been born from every few decades to at least two centuries. 

Back in the "Lost Agent Arc", Ginjo was able to use his Badge Fullbring to steal Ichigo's Fullbring from him, and he also displayed the ability to share that Fullbring with the Xcutioners, and it was established that Shinigami Representatives and Fullbringers could share their powers with one another, according to Yukio.  I had assumed once that it was due to how they were opposites - Fullbringers as Humans with power derived from Hollow reiryoku, and Ginjo and Ichigo being the children of Shinigami and Quincy. 

While that still stands, it could also be connected to both Ginjo and Ichigo being born as Quincy with "the power to share power", with Ichigo born 200 years after Ginjo, just as Haschwalth was born 200 years after Yhwach.

In Ichigo's case, it ties back into Urahara's initial explanation for Inoue and Sado awakening their spiritual powers.  He explained it as Ichigo's uncontrolled spiritual power affecting the spirits of those around him, but it could very well just be a half-truth - it is a result of being close to Ichigo, but the catalyst was not simply his reiatsu.  Rather, Ichigo was the same as Haschwalth - he unconsciously "shared powers" with those nearby when he was in his Shinigami form and fighting Hollows. 

As the Hogyoku is also a factor, alongside the remnants of Hollow reiryoku left over in their bodies from Hollow attacks, we have a train of logic to work with - the Hogyoku makes manifest the heart's desire so long as the target possesses the power necessary to beget their desire.  If Ichigo does have "the power to share power", then the power he unknowingly shared with Inoue and Sado is what gave Inoue and Sado "the power necessary to beget their desires", with the remnants of Hollow reiryoku being what the Hogyoku's influence acted upon to cause them to manifest their powers as Fullbring.

Post-Script: In the "Lost Agent Arc", it was established that Ichigo had no power or reiatsu whatsoever until a few days prior to chapter 425, when Inoue and Uryu started sensing reiatsu from him.  It might be unrelated, given Ginjo's later explanation (while under "Book of the End", however), but Ichigo first came across Ginjo in chapter 424.  Who is to say that Ichigo's reiatsu didn't start coming back initially because Ginjo had "shared power" with Ichigo, and that is why Ichigo's Fullbring developed so quickly, akin to how Bazz-B developed his powers at a rapid rate due to being near Haschwalth? 

Bleach Chapter 623 Review

Shooting Down Heaven DENIED!
Aizen has made good on his word of destroying the shroud with his reiatsu, as the Vice-Captain and Ikkaku look on in fear of Aizen about to attempt this monumental feat.

The only one among who tries to act to prevent Aizen from doing so is Rukia, but she is grabbed by the shoulder by Kyoraku. To me, it is clear why Rukia is the one who tried to stop Aizen from shooting down the Soul King Palace. Ichigo and Co are still up in the Soul King Palace (as far as they all know), and Aizen shooting it down would endanger them as well.

But Kyoraku had good reason for stopping Rukia - Aizen didn't need to be stopped as all, since all the reiatsu he was gathering for the technique that was going to shoot down the Soul King Palace (can I assume that thing would have been Hado #99 or something like that?) suddenly dispersed, surprising even Aizen.

As Kyoraku explained, Aizen's restraints are designed to restrain his reiatsu around his body, meaning it was futile for Aizen to try to shoot down the Soul King Palace, and calls the restraints the pinnacle of Soul Society's technology, the proud controller of that technology being Kurotsuchi Mayuri.

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Now, people have complained a lot about the inventions that people like Urahara and Mayuri have created in the past (exempla gratia, the Reiatsu Amplifier), but I do not have such complaints. After all, look at the technologies that humankind has pioneered in the last century alone. Modern medicine, automotive vehicles, nuclear energy, computer technologies, the Large Hadron Collider, the space station, the Lunar landing, cloning, anti-matter, et cetera are all examples of how much humankind has accomplished with science.

Hell, we've even gone and done the once-impossible by achieving Negative Kelvin temperatures and learning they're hotter than infinitely hot temperatures.

As a result, the various inventions of the Bleach scientists - including Mayuri - do not surprise me, especially considering that some of them mimic the abilities of certain characters anyway. I'll be truly impressed if Mayuri decides to go full-on mad scientist and creates a spiritual nuclear bomb, or anti-reishi.

The Immortal Sinners of Muken

As to why the restraints exist, here we have Mayuri drop a very fascinating piece of information about the prisoners of Muken - all of them are immortal.

Mayuri tells us that, as long as a Shinigami's heart keeps beating, their body will produce reiatsu. The reason why such restraints are needed for the Muken prisoners is that they cannot killed, and because no one in Soul Society could stop their hearts. That is why Soul Society's technological prowess was focused towards creating something capable of restraining their reiatsu along with their body. Mayuri can control the extent of this restraint, which explains why he could use Kurohitsugi - Mayuri loosened the restraints enough for him to use it, and completely shut him down when he tried to shoot down the Soul King Palace.

While it does act as a means of not showing us the full scope of Aizen's power just yet, it does bring to light a very interesting plot point that I wish Kubo will address in the future. I really want to know exactly who the prisoners in Muken are, how they cannot be killed, and what did they all try to do that got them locked up down there in the first place.

But what is more is what it entails: not even Yamamoto could kill these prisoners with all his power, even Zanka no Tachi. The Sokyoku could not kill them either, and that thing has enough concentrated power to destroy Soul Society, if it was ever used for that purpose. In other words, we seem to have a group of truly immortal characters inside the Muken.

While we don't know who they are, we do have a number to them - six prisoners in Muken, counting Aizen (that's all I will say on the matter). From the old "Spirits Are Forever With You" novels, Azashiro Kenpachi was among those other five prisoners. I can imagine some people will not be happy if Azashiro is made canon.

Either way, there is a lot of potential to be had with the other four prisoners, and I hope that Kubo will take the time to make use of them.

Attack of the Remnants

Although Aizen is interested in testing whether or not his reiatsu can break the restraints, he is stopped from doing so by an interrupting NaNaNa, who unveils his ability and we finally learn the name of his Schrift - Stern Ritter "U - The Underbelly". NaNaNa, by observing the opponent's reiatsu, can establish a grid pattern on the enemy by which he can target the holes in the target's reiatsu, and paralyze them by attacking those points - which he does so against Aizen, who is not even made unconscious by the attack.
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It seems we now know why NaNaNa was so confident in taking down Renji, having observed him for so long, but it also shows how circumstantial his power is. If the enemy does not give NaNaNa enough time to analyze their reiatsu (e.g. against Byakuya), his ability cannot be used. But still, to have an effect on Aizen as he is now shows how dangerous the ability is.

In addition to that, we now have one of the remaining three Letters revealed to us. That only leaves "N" and "K" as unrevealed, which makes me think that Kubo still has something planned for their holders. I have a feeling that Robert is not going to stay dead, if my idea that his letter means "The Never-ending" comes true.
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Accompanying him are Liltotto, Giselle, and Bazz-B, and NaNaNa states that the Quincy have issues with Aizen shooting down the Soul King Palace.

As Kyoraku said, their timing couldn't be worse, and he asks for a progress report on the gate. As we saw last chapter, they lost all the reiatsu they built up for the Gate, meaning they now have to start from scratch, and Kyoraku decides to buy time for the Shinigami by taking on all the Stern Ritter by himself.

"The Priorites of "B", "G" and "Z" do not Match with "U"

More of Giselle's zombies show up, and Mayuri states that he's actually surprised by that turn of events, guessing that Giselle must be a zombie herself/himself, to which Giselle just makes the silliest face of mockery at Mayuri imaginable.

Kyoraku then asks if NaNaNa having the same problem with Aizen shooting down the Soul King Palace means the Quincy have come to join forces with the Shinigami, to which NaNaNa answers in the negative, stating that Yhwach is up in the Soul King Palace.

This goes to show the different views the Stern Ritter all have of Yhwach. While Liltotto and Bazz-B were visibly upset at Yhwach targeting them for the Auswahlen, but NaNaNa still remains loyal to him despite being one of the Auswahlen's targets. It is possible that NaNaNa is one of the older Stern Ritter, and that his views of Yhwach are different from Robert's own.

While NaNaNa is confident he can paralyze all the Shinigami with his Morphing Pattern (what Mangahelpers calls it), Bazz-B fires a beam of heat clean through NaNaNa, putting him down for the count. Does this mean that NaNaNa is dead? No, I do not think so. No one has been killed by the Burner Finger yet. NaNaNa might be different because he's weakened from the Auswahlen, but it'd be a shame if he was killed off just like that.

Bazz-B then states that the Quincy will help the Shinigami, because the Vandenreich exists in the Seireitei's shadows, and the fall of the Soul King Palace would mean Seireitei's destruction as well, which is bad for the Quincy too. While Mayuri clearly does not trust Bazz-B's words, Bazz-B does point out the condition on which their help will be received: in exchange for the Quincy helping them to rebuild the Gate, they want to go up to the Soul King Palace with the Shinigami to kill Yhwach for forsaking them.

I still do not know what the Gotei 13 group or the Quincy think they can do against the Schutzstaffel and Yhwach - the same individuals who defeated the Royal Guard - but I suppose that is not a concern with the end of the world potentially approaching. This will undoubtedly be a shaky offer for many of the Shinigami to accept, so I hope that certain Shinigami (i.e. Rukia, Renji, Kyoraku) will help along the alliance.

The Power Taken

Now, onto the fact that the Stern Ritter still have their powers. Given the nature of Auswahlen, it was likely assumed by all of us that the Stern Ritter had their powers completely taken from them, and some of them their lives. Since Meninas and Candice are not in this group, I will assume that they were the other two who had their life-force taken alongside Robert to revive the killed Schutzstaffel (I don't think Askin was killed by Nimaiya, just incapacitated).

As to why they still have their abilities, I assume that what Yhwach took from the Stern Ritter was the Schrift. Remember, the Schrift did not "give" the Stern Ritters their abilities - the Schrift is a means of imparting a more powerful part of Yhwach's soul onto an individual's soul. The Quincy, like all races in Bleach, possess their own, natural-born abilities.

Because of this, I believe that the Schrifts are also the source of the Quincy's Vollstandig. When the Auswahlen came down, one of the things that we saw happen was the wings of Liltotto's Vollstandig disappear. As a result, I believe that the Vollstandig takes advantage of the power of the Schrift bestowed upon the Quincy to activate the form. It also fits with the Auswahlen's concept of "Power Redistribution": Yhwach took the Schrift he had distributed to the Stern Ritter and redistributed the power they accumulated to the Schutzstaffel.

In other words, while the Quincy still have their natural abilities, they no longer have the ability to access the Vollstandig.

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While the Shinigami are back to square one in creating the Gate, they now have the Quincy assisting them in their endeavour to reach the Soul King Palace, which promises for interesting interactions in the future. Furthermore, Mayuri's explanation about Aizen's restraints also revealed that the prisoners of Muken are immortals that no one in the Soul Society could kill.