The　advantages　of　step-feed　and　intermittent　aeration　have　been　well-documented,　however,　combining　them　to　enhance　nitrogen　removal　in　anaerobic/oxic/anoxic　systems　has　been　rarely　explored.　This　study　established　the　non-single-form　anoxic　stages　by　step-feed　and　intermittent　aeration　and　finally　enhanced　the　nitrogen　removal　of　real　municipal　wastewater　with　step-feed　anaerobic/oxic/anoxic/oxic/anoxic　operation　mode.　Results　revealed　that　Candidatus_Brocadia　increased　from　0.00　%　to　0.21　%　in　the　suspended　sludge　system,　contributing　54.7　%　of　the　nitrogen　removal.　Partial　nitrification　(PN)　and　endogenous　partial　denitrification　(EPD)　supplied　nitrite　for　Anammox.　A　comprehensive　multi-pathway　nitrogen　removal　system,　encompassing　PN,　nitrification,　partial　denitrification,　Anammox,　EPD/Anammox,　and　denitrification　was　constructed.　The　system　effectively　reduced　total　inorganic　nitrogen　concentration　to　3.6　±　1.2　mg/L　at　a　carbon/nitrogen　ratio　of　3.0　±　0.3,　achieving　a　nitrogen　removal　efficiency　of　95.3　±　1.5　%.　This　study　provides　a　novel　approach　for　the　advanced　treatment　of　municipal　wastewater　and　enrichment　of　anaerobic　ammonia-oxidizing　bacteria.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd