The Soul Society’s Department of Research & Development is observing a sudden surge in the number of Hollows being destroyed in the World of the Living, raising concerns among staff.

Arrancars Nel Tu and Pesche Guatiche have come to seek Ichigo’s help explaining that Hueco Mundo is under attack by an unknown enemy. Unable to ignore the situation, Ichigo and his friends decide to set out for Hueco Mundo.

With help from Kisuke Urahara, Ichigo and his friends arrive in Hueco Mundo to confront Quilge Opie and learn that their latest enemy are Quincies. Meanwhile, captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are also coming to the same conclusion regarding the identity of the intruders who infiltrated the Soul Society to declare war against Head Captain Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto. After hearing the full report, Yamamoto orders all captains to prepare for the coming war, five days from now. Elsewhere, Yhwach, leader of the Wandenreich, plots his next move.

The Wandenreich mobilizes its elite force, the Stern Ritter, to annihilate the Soul Society. Creating massive flaming pillars of Reishi as a distraction, the Stern Ritter easily enter the Soul Society to bring carnage to the Soul Reapers.

The Soul Reapers find temporary solace in learning that Ichigo is on his way to the Soul Society. But Quilge Opie uses his power to imprison Ichigo inside the Garganta. As he tries to break free, Ichigo begins to hear, through his Soul Phone, the screams of the Soul Reapers falling to the enemy's onslaught. Amid screams of terror and despair, a familiar voice reaches Ichigo, telling everyone not to give up. Meanwhile, having lost his Bankai to Äs Nödt, Byakuya Kuchiki orders Renji Abarai to figure out the enemy’s ability while he acts as a decoy.

Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto confronts Yhwach for the first time in a thousand years. As Yhwach finally draws his sword against Genryusai, the Soul Reapers notice an abnormal change taking place across the Seireitei.