After 15 years, Kurosaki Ichigo's adventures as a Shinigami will come to an end this month, although "Bleach" Chapter 685 also featured a message that an "important announcement" is forthcoming.
According to Anime News Network, mangaka Tite Kubo will publish the final chapter of "Bleach" in the next issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump, to be released on Aug. 22. The 73rd volume of the manga also revealed that the 74th volume will be final one.
This may feel like a sad farewell to the manga, which was first seen in Shonen Jump in August 2001 and had since spawned anime adaptations, feature films, rock musicals, and video games. The final story arc in the series started in February 2012, and fans are making guesses on how it will end and what the announcement would be. CinemaBlend says that it would be thrilling if a "Bleach" spinoff that explores the origins of Soul Society would follow.
The penultimate chapter shows that it has been 10 years since the Shinigami and their allies defended Soul Society and the world against Yhwach, and they are almost done rebuilding the place. On this day, they are gathering for a special event - the promotion ceremony of the new captain of Gotei 13, Kuchiki Rukia. But then, as the ceremony is ongoing, those in charge of surveillance detect some odd reading on their sensors - it seems similar to the reiatsu emitted by Yhwach a decade previously.
The final chapter of "Bleach" is expected to reveal what this odd reading is and who or what is emitting the reiatsu, and it could be a shocking revelation. Hofmag listed down some speculations and guesses on what Chapter 686 might disclose, such as Aizen being alive, Ichigu and Uryuu die together with the final antagonist, and Ichigo and Uryuu having captured Yhwach instead of having killed him.
Fans will find out what the real conclusion is and what Tite Kubo has in store for the manga's loyal followers in "Bleach" Chapter 686, expected to be released on Aug. 22.