KriegsErklärung

Inside the Captain-Commander's office, Luders Friegen mocks how effortlessly he slipped past Yamamoto's defenses, but Yamamoto counters that his own presence is guard enough. Luders grants the point, then warns that this will be the old commander's final show of pride.

Over in Karakura, Ebern rains Reishi fire down on Ichigo, who dodges and shears the blasts apart with his Shikai Zangetsu, all the while puzzling over an enemy who carries a Quincy Cross like Uryu's yet wears an Arrancar's mask. Sensing that Ebern is goading him into a Bankai release, Ichigo resolves to oblige, since the man's aims remain a mystery, and calls up Tensa Zangetsu.

Thrilled, Ebern produces a Medallion and triggers it, spawning an enormous X of energy he swears will undo Ichigo's Bankai. Beams of light snare Ichigo as Ebern intones a chant in German, and though the coat along his left arm splinters away, Ichigo shatters the light with a single stroke and drives a Getsuga Tensho straight into his stunned foe.

Back in Soul Society, First Division Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe hangs pinned to the wall by an immense Heilig Pfeil. As Yamamoto reels, Luders tells him to spare his grief, calling Chojiro's end the hopeless death awaiting every Shinigami, and proclaims that the Wandenreich will wipe out Soul Society within five days.

Luders declares the Wandenreich's intent to raze Soul Society within five days and gravely wounds Chojiro Sasakibe with a Heilig Pfeil. In Karakura, Ebern deploys a Medallion meant to seal away Ichigo's Bankai, but Ichigo breaks free and strikes him down with a Getsuga Tensho, leaving the enemy's Bankai-stealing power an ominous unknown.

The fourth chapter of Volume 55, THE BLOOD WARFARE, its German title translates to "Declaration of War." It was adapted into Episode 367 of the anime, "THE BLOOD WARFARE."