Bleach

We don't actually know what Yhwach knew about the Bankai. Royd had Yhwach's memories and Yamamoto himself commented on what Yhwach had not seen a thousand years ago.

There's an implication Yhwach came very quickly from the first division's barracks when Royd fell, but he makes a comment that essentially repeats Yamamoto's speculation about why Royd didn't immediately steal the Bankai. However, that's not automatically a sign that Yhwach overheard that (and therefore witnessed the Bankai) given that repeating something they can't possible know is often a Kubo tactic to show how perceptive or well-planned a character has been.

Given that Yhwach does ask Yamamoto if he's used all his power, there's a big question mark over what of the Bankai Yhwach witnessed first-hand. He does, however, make a crack about using it against Yamamoto now that he's stolen it, which does imply a tit-for-tat on how Yamamoto might feel having his chickens come home to roost they way he tried it on what he was thought was Yhwach. (Given that this occurs after the theft, we don't know for certain if Yhwach's knowledge comes from the theft or is a sign he witnessed the Bankai unfolding before revealing himself.)

tl;dr — we can't guarantee Yhwach knew the Bankai details before stealing the Bankai given that it was Royd playing it out (with some implication that Yhwach wouldn't have known until Yamamoto actually used the Bankai, leaving the question mark being what Yhwach did or didn't witness while the Bankai was active against Royd).

I'm not talking about human emotion. I'm talking about the very concept of his existence. He was born a vegetable, a complete lock-in - no senses and no mobility - but with the power (right from birth) to share and steal souls. His entire existence had to remain based on the sharing and stealing of souls just to maintain whatever status quo he could reach from previous soul-exchanges.

Not only did his entire existence depend on the ability to steal and make use of souls, but his abilities were designed from the very beginning to do exactly that. He could make the argument that he existed exclusively for the purpose of sharing and stealing souls, and he wouldn't be wrong because he could do nothing else - and to stop doing what he was doing would be to revert back to the vegetative lock-in state he was born into, which means his survival depended on him not stopping.

In his case, selfishness and greed isn't a luxury, it's a survival trait. And it's why his existence, his concept of existence, and his compatibility with the existence of everyone else is such a huge problem for everyone concerned in the story. That's why he's Blue-and-Orange Morality.

edited 30th Dec '16 8:42:10 PM by Wyldchyld

Well, Yhwach asks flat out if Yamamoto wants him to use his dead subordinates against him. That much, at least, is something he knows about and that was the big 'issue' for Royd emotionally. Itis up in the air what Yhwach knows before the fight (and Yhwach states only he can handle Zanka no Tachi's power), but by the end of it, he's definitely aware of at least the South usage.

Given how Yhwach is shown to treat his subordinates, Yamamoto killing those guys probably just saved Yhwach the trouble of doing it himself.

Yes, covered in my previous post, above the quote (I added the bit below the quote, however, as you and Hamburger were responding).

edited 30th Dec '16 8:46:40 PM by Wyldchyld

I still want to know what Zankai no Tachi: North is even supposed to be; the wiki isn't very informative on the subject.

About the Royd acting as his ability copies the memories, personality( though the manga said sprit and likeness. Here's the bit on the wiki about it. " Like his brother, Loyd, Royd can transform himself into the exact physical likeness of another person. In doing so, he can replicate the memories and personality of this individual, allowing him to flawlessly impersonate his target. While Royd and Loyd could both copy appearances, only Royd could replicate people's memories and personality, whereas Loyd could instead copy their powers and techniques."

Its not that Yhwach doesn't care for his subordinates. Hell he even praises Royd before killing to learn everything that happened during his fight with Yamamoto. Though the main two reasons that Yhwach gets angry at the south technique is he that he does care for his subordinates and He is being forced to harm what is his.

We know it is a giant burst of flame that is just as strong as his west technique though it may be That it sends all the flames of his Bankai out in a wave to erase everything in front of him out of existence and it may end his bankai. So it could be a way to ensure the destruction of his foe while ending his bankai to prevent it destroying everything around him .

May be it's the Bankai equivalent of a solar flare or a coronal mass ejection... as imagined by a person who is very creative and artistic, but not so good with the science.

science is heresy

Science is whatever Mayuri can bend kido and reishi into achieving.

edited 1st Jan '17 5:29:03 PM by Wyldchyld

Bleach science is good science

It is not blasphemy

Well a lot of the shit Mayuri makes is pretty blasphemous.

edited 1st Jan '17 5:37:50 PM by slimcoder

Well he has been often depicted as the hermaphrodith demon Baphometm the patron of the left-hand, which encourages the blasphemous (be it good or bad). This make his opponents in the final arc kinda symbolic, since they were the sexually ambiguous Giselle and the literal left hand Pernida.

Anyway someone decided to translate/summarize the first Spirits are forever with you. I've to say it is much, much better than we the loose descriptions that had been floating around, indiciated. The nurse Arrancar was according to the summaries an antagonist, when in truth she is actually the heroine of the novels alongside Don Kanonji, Kenpachi and to a lesser extent Uryuu. It also explains things like why Mayuri wasn't punished for what he did to the Quincy.

http://tenshiscave.tumblr.com/post/155204377572/summary-spirits-are-forever-with-you-i-ch1-2

Also a summary of what else happens in the Ren Ruki Novel:

Rukia and Renji invited Gotei members to have some sake (like a tea party) where they announced they were getting married like this,

Rukia’s face gets redder and redder from anxiety when Renji, finally, stands up straight nervously with her next to him. She deeply thanks everyone for coming and Renji spills it with a “We- we are getting married!” declaration and there’s shocked silence for a moment until Rangiku, Hanataro, Kiyone, and others congratulate them, people aren’t surprised by them getting together (I think this part is translated? But I’ll put it here because I found it really cute and humorous how it was written.)

Rukia goes to Byakuya’s place to inform she’s going to do the marriage enrollment, Chiyo appears again (Rukia’s servant & friend from Makoto-sensei’s last novel The Death Save The Strawberry) to help her).

Iba takes care of Komamura’s dog, Goro. I haven’t seen any confirmation on the wolf cubs’ relation to Komamura (I sort of skimmed here a bit sorry)

Renji and Rukia run into Iba & the doggos on their way and they get friendly here

Rukia and Renji are packing and looks to be getting a mansion/house to live in together in the first central ward area due to the upcoming establishment of marriage (this is before the ceremony)

Everyone’s fave forgotten shinigami Ryuunosuke Yuki & others appear here for a short bit to help with moving and duties (he’s confirmed alive at least? they don’t do anything important)

Ryuusuke & other members give them some device box from Urahara-san that flashes into white smoke, Urahara greets them which Rukia & Renji try to reply to and are surprised by being congratulated for their marriage. It is a recorded voice mail. They also receive a gift from him with the device. (He’s being shady about some technology gift they must keep a secret? Don’t quote me on this part.)

Renji & Rukia have a meal at Byakuya’s place in silence which makes Renji nervous and they look to get a kimono because Byakuya asked about his dress earlier with Rukia. Later all three go to get their marriage papers officialized and announced as an official couple, the two get emotionally happy over this on finally being married.

The wedding ceremony section:

It starts with Orihime at a park by the train station where she and Renji&Rukia meet up Rukia asks how the shop is prospering since Orihime works as a regular employee at a bakery’s cake store called “AB Cookies” ever since after high school graduation three summers ago Because Orihime relied on distant relative’s living expenses, but since they would only give assistance until high school graduation, she had to look for work.

Just from the air that Renji and Rukia seem more intimate than before, Orihime wonders happily with a big smile - “Oh, you two started dating, isn’t it?!” Orihime’s intuition is sharp although dull many times (?)

Rukia is taken aback by the suddenness that she’s laughing nervously and stumbling for words. “Inoue, Renji and I… We entered today… ah……. ah oh yeah um… entering… We entered to get married.” sort of thing. Orihime is really happy to hear this that she’s begun to cry tearfully with a shining smile

Wondering if Rukia has told Ichigo yet, Rukia tells her she wanted to tell her female best friend first of the news before heading over to see Ichigo

Riruka works at Yukio’s enterprise company, works as a designer in the apparel department Jackie Tristan too works at the same company but she flies all over the world to developing countries as charity, so they rarely see each other in person

Orihime calls Riruka and talks about Rukia getting married and the ceremony is approaching in a couple of weeks, she wanted to make a wedding dress for her at first. Riruka yells that it’s not possible for a beginner to do in two weeks in which Orihime thinks over again with the suggestion of a wedding veil instead. They agree and order the materials.

Ichigo is a university student coming home from afternoon class (doesn’t mention what field/career)

Tatsuki does karate

All the human friends are gathered at Kurosaki Clinic including Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro and the two Kurosaki sisters

The later four’s careers aren’t mentioned

They’re all eating cakes Orihime brought from AB Cookies and working on the veil progressively together and it takes them hours until completion

Orihime liked flowers since a long time ago. They are putting texture of strawberry flower petals on the hem of the veil. In the language of flowers, it means happy family which she says would be perfect as a motif on the veil for the loving couple which everyone sewed some petals on then put the gold embroidery through. (Ichika isn’t really mentioned in the novel but it’s a speculation on connecting the dots where her name comes from with this info drop)

Uryu is a medical student in medical school. He’s mended his relationship with his father but does not answer any more questions about it.

Chad’s sparring partner is named Daniel (安堂ダニエル) a heavyweight Japanese champion, he leaves after getting the call

Yuzu says Orihime acts as a mother so she is very happy when she’s around (thanks to her borderline incestuous behavior this sounded a bit weird). Karin agrees when asked and says she’s reminded of her mother, Masaki, and looks at the large poster in the room when they talk more about it fondly.

Orihime wears a pink dress made of fluffy chiffon material at the wedding ceremony (putting this here for the colorists/editors)

After the ceremony is done with Renji and Rukia being wed, there’s a feast.

The girls including Orihime and Rangiku all excitedly take pictures of Rukia and with Rukia by putting their faces together behind the camera (A lot are camera happy haha)

Kyoraku borrows Rukia for a moment and they leave to have some privacy because Kyoraku has a story to tell her and gives a gift wrapped in cloth to her Rukia is really surprised it’s the 13th squad’s haori and gets overwhelmed by emotions Ukitake had told Kyoraku he wants to retire one day so he originally tailored a haori to give to Kaien but then he lost his life

Kyoraku did not give it to Rukia until today because he was waiting for her heart to grow (to strengthen her heart for leadership). Also hands her an envelope with a heavy banknote inside, Rukia tries to not accept but Kyoraku tells her it is from Ukitake and pleads for her to please accept

Rukia swears an oath to herself that it won’t be too far in the future she will be captain with the haori, she just needs more time Four hours after the reception, the humans are now leaving to head home and they give gift bags.

There is a message from Isshin given to Rukia. Isshin tells he is the uncle to Kaien. At the time of his nephew’s death, he was the tenth captain so it was a shock. Of course, he had heard the circumstances from Ukitake, and thought Rukia needed a helping hand/comfort most, so he visited the 13th barracks many times but when he saw Rukia’s painful profile/look, he could not call out anything.

Renji tells Rukia to remain and he’ll escort the humans to the senkaimon so that they can head home because he is a part of the 6th squad. What follows after are the last few pages with Renji + Ichigo and Ichigo + Orihime which are translated

After the Ichigo and Orihime sketch page is the postscripts, credits and ads of old Bleach novels and the new novel coming out Hisagi’s 2017 novel will reveal the mystery of the world, the Fullbringers and Arrancar, the Soul King, and the great aristocrat houses

Anyone else finds the physical absence of Isshin, Ryuken and Urahara strange?

@Wyldchyld So it would look like a pillar of fire being shot out of his sword swing or something?

Wait a minute, Isshin was a captain while Rukia was a Soul Reaper?

How did she not recognize him?

You'd think she'd know what all the Captains' names were and what they looked like, I mean there are only 13 of them.

I mean pending some ceremony why would a rank and file know another squad's captain? It's not like the squads often function collaboratively.

Well, since Ichigo is at university in this novel, it's safe to assume that Yuzu and Karin are still students.

http://tenshiscave.tumblr.com/post/155845930842/we-do-knot-always-love-you-snippet-translation

If anyone ever wondered where Rangiku was during the invasion, turns out that she used Haineko to prevent the debris to fall down into the Seretei.

And some information about the Isane, Kiyone and Yachiru:

There was one of Isane and Kiyone talking. Kiyone was vice captain of 4th div, and it turns out it was at Isane's request. Naturally, there were emotional reasons - Unohana was to her as Ukitake was to Kiyone (this was already alluded to in the 13th blades, that both have a crush on their captains), so they would be emotional support for each other. But she also revealed that Kiyone was a genius at Kaidou, which was why Yamamoto had put her in 13th division... without her, Unohana was having to make visits to Ukitake too frequently, so Kiyone's healing ability for Ukitake spared her from having to do all that.

And their conversation also confirmed that Yachiru had not been seen since the battle with Gremmy. Isane then confirmed that Yahiru was Zaraki's zanpakutou... at least, she described the moment when she last saw Yachiru. She had just been healed by Isane, but her bones were still not fully mended. And suddenly, Yachiru charged into the battle scene with Zaraki and Gremmy, after Gremmy erected the platform, saying, "Finally, finally, I can have the privilege of being called by Ken-chan." Presumably that was when Zaraki went into shikai to deal with the meteorite.

But We saw Yachiru!

at the moment Zaraki charged the Meteor

Anything on a.) unseen Bankais, or b.) surviving Sternritter known yet?

Nothing on either. There is no word whatsoever about the Quincy race in general. The only thing we got were a few sentences about Ryuken paying the costs for Uryuu's studies. Uryuu actually refuses to answer questions about Ryuken beyond that. He and Isshin are suspiciously absent. It seems that both left their homes.

If I had to guess both are now living with their races. Isshin with the Shiba family and Ryuken with wherever the Wandenreich is. Historically and symbolically speaking it would make sense that Ryuken would be the new leader, since the hospital chief and the grandmaster are supposed to be the same person. Unless Haschwalth miraculously survived and studied medicine during the time skip.

The novel is mostly just about the Shinigami and the Seretei. Beyond Yhwach being the Soul King and Ichibee being Ambiguously Evil not much about the bigger plot and questions. I think that was something of a preview for the Hisagi novel. I think that will answer questions about the Quincy and at least give us Hisagi's Bankai. Giving his previous works, I wouldn't be surprised if we even find out what Robert and BG 9 were. The Hisagi novel should at least address the fates of the Quincy in general and those of Askin and Lille. Both were alive the last time we saw them and even if it was something like with Yammy in Lille's case, we at least saw Yammy die after he was off-screened.

I would btw recommend reading Spirits are forever with you. Turns out is really well written and suffered a bad case of Tainted by the Preview and the content of the book being completely taken out of context or flat out wrong.

The advertisements for the Hisagi book are btw this: A secret left behind by Tosen will lead Hisagi to a fight against a secret enemy and the discovery of the truth behind the world, the Soul King, the noble families, Ginjou and the Arrancar.

edited 15th Jan '17 1:44:49 AM by bandersnitch

What else is new?

I don't even know how you'd go about reading the novels since they haven't been published into English.

The chapters for the Kenpachi novel have been translated/summarized on tumblr.

http://tenshiscave.tumblr.com/post/155204377572/summary-spirits-are-forever-with-you-i-ch1-2

http://tenshiscave.tumblr.com/post/155528837547/summary-spirits-are-forever-with-you-ii

Here is also a summary of Death Saves the Strawberry: http://pastebin.com/nA8TeVSy

Or if you meant We do knot always love you. Every so far translated chapter should be here: http://missstormcaller.tumblr.com/

edited 15th Jan '17 6:16:20 PM by bandersnitch

...so the Soul Society designates a special position of power to criminals and vagabonds who kill the previous one?

I mean, this is legit? When Kenpachi did it, I don't know, it just sounded like a one-time thing.

It was very specifically not a one-time thing, but one of the methods to become a Captain. it's just that it was intended to be more formal than Zaraki's fight, which just happened to meet all the conditions to qualify.