GATE OF THE SUN

Yhwach commands the Schutzstaffel and Haschwalth to greet the invading Shinigami so their blood can toast the new world, and the rotating Gates of the Sun teleport the guardians across the fortress. Shunsui leads the Gotei 13 and Visored toward the central castle, while Bazz-B, Liltotto, and Giselle break away to pursue their own vengeance. On separate paths, Ichigo's group and a wandering Mayuri and Kenpachi push toward the throne room, unable to link up because the dense Reishi bars footholds and Denreishinki contact.

Grimmjow ambushes Askin, who survives and flees, refusing to fight head-on and instead poisoning Grimmjow with a Gift Ball that leaves him paralyzed. From a distant perch, Lille Barro picks off straggling Shinigami one by one, gunning down Hisagi, Kiyone, and others who break from the pack, forcing Shunsui to order everyone to scatter. Amid the chaos, Uryu opens fire on Renji, and the two former comrades finally face each other.

Their duel escalates fiercely: Renji unleashes his renamed Bankai and overpowers Uryu with sheer force through a barrage of snake-tail techniques, only for Uryu to shield himself with Blut Vene and activate his Vollstandig. After a long exchange of expanding attacks and restraints, Uryu drains Renji's Reiatsu with Federzwinger, collapsing his Bankai, and a final arrow through the chest downs him, with Uryu declaring Renji lost because he held back against a Shinigami he despises. Nearby, Ichigo confronts Askin before he can finish Grimmjow.

Yhwach deploys the Schutzstaffel via the Gates of the Sun, and the invading forces split up across Wahrwelt. Grimmjow is paralyzed by Askin's poisoned Gift Ball, and Lille Barro snipes numerous Shinigami who stray from the group.

Renji and Uryu fight a decisive duel in which Renji debuts his renamed Bankai Soo Zabimaru, but Uryu drains his Reiatsu with Federzwinger and shoots him down. Ichigo steps in to stop Askin from killing Grimmjow.

This is the thirty-third episode of the Thousand-Year Blood War anime and the 399th overall, adapting parts of chapters 629, 630, and 635. Its title poem is credited to Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

The adaptation greatly expands the Renji versus Uryu fight and adds Lille's picking off of multiple Shinigami, along with the Sternritter reaching Silbern through Shadows rather than a Gate of the Sun as in the manga.