Ichigo and his friends hear the news from Ryunosuke's Soul Phone that the Soul Society has suffered heavy casualties following an assault by unknown intruders. The next day, a still restless Ichigo is patrolling the town when he is suddenly visited by Nel Tu and Pesche Guatiche—Arrancars who accompanied Ichigo during his brief time in Hueco Mundo. The two Arrancars have come to seek Ichigo's help explaining that their home world, Hueco Mundo, is also 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.

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. Within minutes, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads suffer heavy casualties. The Squad captains rush to join the front lines, but even their attacks are ineffective against the enemies. Left with no other option, Byakuya Kuchiki and several other captains decide to perform Bankai in the hopes of turning the tide of war. But their hope quickly turns into further despair...