Recaps

Grimmjow forced Ichigo Kurosaki to fight while protecting Orihime Inoue and Nel, steadily exhausting and wounding him as he challenged Ichigo’s reasons for fighting. Grimmjow unleashed Pantera’s Claw, and after Ichigo’s Getsuga Tenshō stopped only part of the attack, the remaining claws continued toward him.

• Grimmjow aimed his attacks at Orihime Inoue and Nel, forcing Ichigo Kurosaki to block, shield them, and absorb the blows until he was badly wounded and exhausted.
• Orihime Inoue feared that she and Nel were holding Ichigo back, while Nel insisted that Ichigo had hidden power and would win once pushed to his limit.
• Grimmjow taunted Ichigo about restraining his power and argued that the desire to battle was its own reason, while Ichigo insisted that he fought to protect others.
• Grimmjow leapt into the air and unleashed Pantera’s Claw, sending five giant blue Reiatsu claws toward Ichigo.
• Ichigo countered with Getsuga Tenshō, but the attack destroyed only two claws directly, while the others curved around the blast and continued toward him.

Ichigo Kurosaki defeated Grimmjow after awakening a golden power, then admitted that his desire to fight was part of him. As Nel prepared to face the approaching Nnoitra Gilga and Tesla, Ichigo recognized the fifth Espada Liu Hao had warned them about.

• Ichigo Kurosaki used a golden Getsuga Jūjishō to destroy Grimmjow's Pantera's Claws and knock him unconscious.
• Ichigo admitted to Grimmjow that he desired to fight powerful opponents and accepted that desire as part of his strength.
• Nel and Orihime Inoue joined Ichigo, and Orihime worried over his injuries while Nel celebrated his victory.
• Nel became serious and announced that she would take on the next opponent.
• Nnoitra Gilga and his Fracción, Tesla, approached, and Ichigo identified Nnoitra as the fifth Espada Liu Hao had warned them about.

Nelliel revealed her true form as the former 3rd Espada and chose to face Nnoitra herself. After they clashed over their old rivalry and Espada ranks, Nnoitra charged, and Nelliel met his scythe with her Zanpakuto.

• Nel transformed into her adult form, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, and told Ichigo Kurosaki she would handle Nnoitra.
• Grimmjow recognized Nelliel as the former 3rd Espada, while Ichigo Kurosaki realized how powerful she was.
• Nelliel confronted Nnoitra and said they should settle their old scores; Nnoitra mocked her and claimed his current strength surpassed her old rank.
• Nelliel reminded Nnoitra that she had ranked above him, provoking his anger and a challenge to prove their strength in combat.
• Nnoitra charged at Nelliel with his giant scythe, and she drew her Zanpakuto and met his attack.

Nelliel outmaneuvered Nnoitra and countered his tongue-fired Cero with her Cero Doble, heavily damaging him. Nnoitra then released Santa Teresa, restoring his injuries and reaching his peak as the battle continued.

• Nelliel redirected Nnoitra’s scythe attacks and struck his exposed chest, sending him crashing across the sand.
• Nnoitra fired a Cero from his tongue, but Nelliel stopped it, absorbed it, and returned it as a stronger Cero Doble.
• Nelliel’s mixed Cero blasted Nnoitra into a crater and damaged his Hierro, leaving him wounded and wary.
• Nnoitra declared that he would show Nelliel his true power and released Santa Teresa.
• Nnoitra’s Resurrección healed his wounds, restored his Hierro, and left him standing at his peak.

Nelliel faced Nnoitra after he released his Resurrección, Santa Teresa, and endured his six-armed scythe assault. She exploited his momentary imbalance to launch a powerful slash at his exposed upper body, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Nnoitra transformed into Santa Teresa and attacked Nelliel with four scythes, believing he had overwhelmed her.
• Nelliel disrupted the force of Nnoitra's four scythes at their point of convergence and kicked at his exposed chest.
• Nnoitra revealed two more arms, caught Nelliel's leg, and thrust a hardened arm toward her abdomen.
• Nelliel dodged the thrust, seized Nnoitra's arm, freed her leg, and threw him off balance.
• Nelliel used the opening to unleash a powerful diagonal slash across Nnoitra's exposed upper body.

Nelliel badly wounded Nnoitra and dismissed his arm regrowth as an inadequate substitute for true regeneration, provoking him into a furious renewed assault. She then released her own Resurrección, Gamuza, as their fight continued.

• Nnoitra tried to block Nelliel’s slash, but she cut deeply across his torso and severed two of his newly grown arms.
• Nnoitra regenerated replacement arms and scythes, but Nelliel pointed out that he had not healed his major wound and was wasting Reiatsu.
• Enraged by Nelliel’s words, Nnoitra attacked her with all six scythes, while she evaded and deflected his strikes until his exertion worsened his wound.
• Nelliel raised her Zanpakuto and invoked her Resurrección, releasing Gamuza in a cocoon of white light.

Nelliel transformed into her Resurrección, Gamuza, and overwhelmed Nnoitra with a spear attack. After she fatally pierced him, Nnoitra asked whether his death in battle had meaning, then died before Nelliel answered.

• Nelliel completed her Resurrección as Gamuza, and Nnoitra recognized the form and felt its overwhelming pressure.
• Nelliel hurled her double-ended spear through Nnoitra’s defenses, sending him crashing through the ruins and into a stone wall.
• Nnoitra insisted the battle was not over and tried to attack Nelliel despite his grievous injuries.
• Nelliel drove her spear through Nnoitra’s chest, pinning him to the wall.
• Nnoitra recalled Nelliel’s words about meaningless battles and asked whether his death had meaning, then died without receiving an answer.

Nelliel defeated Nnoitra, but Kenpachi Zaraki arrived too late and immediately sought another fight before learning she was on their side. Elsewhere, Soul Society reinforcements reached the battles in Las Noches, where Mayuri Kurotsuchi stole Szayelaporro Granz’s Dolls and provoked his fury.

• Nelliel withdrew her lance from Nnoitra, whose body crumbled into ash after he murmured that they had no choice and it was their nature.
• Kenpachi Zaraki arrived with Yachiru Kusajishi and challenged Nelliel, then backed down when Ichigo Kurosaki explained that she was an ally.
• Liu Hao, Rukia, and Uryū Ishida encountered Byakuya Kuchiki as they hurried toward Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado’s battlefield.
• Liu Hao sensed Mayuri Kurotsuchi near Renji and Sado, while Szayelaporro Granz prepared to finish off the exhausted Soul Reapers.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi snatched Szayelaporro’s Dolls and examined their construction, prompting Szayelaporro to demand them back and threaten him.

Coyote Starrk abducted Orihime Inoue and took her toward Aizen’s White Tower, prompting Ichigo Kurosaki and Nelliel to pursue. Liu Hao joined them, and the group set out to bring Orihime home.

• Coyote Starrk appeared beside Orihime Inoue, announced that Aizen wanted to see her, and vanished with her before Ichigo Kurosaki and Nelliel could stop him.
• Nelliel sensed that Starrk had gone toward the White Tower, and Ichigo Kurosaki vowed to rescue Orihime Inoue.
• Liu Hao left Rukia and Uryū Ishida with Byakuya Kuchiki and headed toward Ichigo with Pesche and Dondochakka.
• Liu Hao caught up with Ichigo Kurosaki and Nelliel, who told him that Starrk had abducted Orihime Inoue.
• Ichigo Kurosaki reported that Nnoitra had died in battle with Nelliel and that Grimmjow had survived their fight.
• Liu Hao reassured Nel about Nnoitra’s final battle, and the group continued toward the White Tower to retrieve Orihime Inoue.

Aizen announced that he would attack Karakura Town to create the Oken, while revealing that he had trapped Soul Society’s strongest fighters in Hueco Mundo. After Aizen departed, Liu Hao led Ichigo Kurosaki and the others toward the Fifth Tower to rescue Orihime Inoue from Ulquiorra Cifer.

• Aizen welcomed Orihime Inoue to Las Noches and told her he planned to destroy Karakura Town and take the core of its Spiritually Dense Land to create the Oken.
• Kaname Tōsen used Tenteikūra to broadcast Aizen’s attack plans to the invaders and Soul Reapers throughout Las Noches.
• Aizen revealed that the Garganta passages had been sealed, trapping the Soul Society forces in Hueco Mundo while he and his allies moved to attack the World of the Living.
• Ulquiorra Cifer escaped his spatial prison and remained in Las Noches to guard Orihime Inoue as Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen entered a Garganta.
• Liu Hao calmed Ichigo Kurosaki and declared that they would rescue Orihime Inoue, find a way out of Hueco Mundo, and confront Aizen.

Liu Hao led Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to the Fifth Tower, where the seventh Espada, Zommari Rureaux, blocked their way. After mocking Zommari and redirecting him toward Byakuya Kuchiki, Liu Hao effortlessly stopped his speed-based attacks and left him furious and uneasy.

• Ichigo Kurosaki worried that the group could not return to the World of the Living, and Liu Hao told him Mayuri Kurotsuchi would find a way past Aizen’s Garganta blockade.
• Liu Hao and his companions reached the plaza beneath the Fifth Tower, where Zommari Rureaux appeared and blocked their path.
• Liu Hao tried to persuade Zommari to fight Byakuya Kuchiki instead, provoking Nel’s laughter and leaving Ichigo Kurosaki, Pesche, and Dondochakka stunned.
• Zommari attacked Liu Hao with his fast Sonído, but Liu Hao caught his Zanpakuto blades with his bare hands and dismissed his speed as insufficient.
• Liu Hao continued taunting the enraged Zommari while Nel laughed uncontrollably.

Liu Hao blocked Zommari Rureaux’s Resurrección ability with Dankū and drew the Imperial Sword to unleash Imperial Flame: Blazing Graveyard. Zommari was trapped in the flames and his scream fell silent.

• Zommari Rureaux released his Resurrección, Gōrō, after Liu Hao failed to interrupt it with Byakurai.
• Zommari’s marking waves struck Liu Hao, but Dankū repelled them and imprinted their marks on its surface.
• Liu Hao explained that he knew how to counter Zommari’s ability and raised the Imperial Sword as his Reiatsu terrified the Espada.
• Zommari launched hundreds of marking waves at Liu Hao, but Dankū remained unbroken as Liu Hao drew the sword three inches.
• Liu Hao used Imperial Flame: Blazing Graveyard, surrounding Zommari with pillars of fire and magma.
• A huge pillar of fire engulfed Zommari, and his scream faded into silence.

Liu Hao killed Zommari Rureaux and led Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to the top of the Fifth Tower to retrieve Orihime Inoue. There he negotiated with Ulquiorra, provoked Yammy Llargo into attacking, and caught Yammy’s punch with one hand.

• Liu Hao’s flames burned Zommari Rureaux to nothing, leaving only fragments of his Zanpakuto and a vitrified stretch of ground.
• Liu Hao, Nel, Ichigo Kurosaki, Pesche, and Dondochakka continued to the Fifth Tower, where they found Ulquiorra guarding Orihime Inoue and Yammy Llargo blocking their way.
• Liu Hao asked Ulquiorra to let them take Orihime Inoue and explained that the remaining Espada faced several Soul Reaper Captains and a likely defeat.
• Yammy Llargo angrily charged at Liu Hao and swung a powerful fist at his head.
• Liu Hao caught Yammy’s fist one-handed and pointed out that Nel and Ichigo could fight back, then told Yammy he was not strong enough to make him warm up.

Liu Hao effortlessly defeats Yammy and entrusts Ichigo Kurosaki with fighting Ulquiorra Cifer. Ichigo begins battling Ulquiorra in the sky above Hueco Mundo while Liu Hao and Orihime Inoue follow to watch.

• Liu Hao kicks Yammy through a tower wall, then slaps him out of the tower and sends him plummeting toward the desert.
• Liu Hao tells Ulquiorra that Aizen is his true target, then leaves the fight against the Fourth Espada to Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Ichigo attacks Ulquiorra with two swords and fires a Getsuga Tenshō, but Ulquiorra dodges it and escapes through the damaged wall.
• Ichigo pursues Ulquiorra into the sky, and Liu Hao praises Ichigo while reassuring the worried Orihime Inoue.
• Orihime Inoue forms the Santen Kesshun barrier and carries Liu Hao, Nel, Pesche, and Dondochakka upward to watch the battle.

Ulquiorra led Ichigo Kurosaki to the true space above Las Noches and released his Resurrección, then overwhelmed him in a fierce exchange of attacks. Liu Hao and the others arrived as the fighters clashed, but Liu Hao insisted Ichigo had to win the battle himself.

• Ulquiorra opened a rift in the false sky above Las Noches, and Ichigo Kurosaki followed him into the desert realm beyond it.
• Ulquiorra explained Lord Aizen’s restrictions for the battlefield and released his Resurrección, Enclose, Murciélago.
• Ulquiorra attacked Ichigo with Moonlight Swords, wounding his shoulder and forcing him to defend himself against a barrage of strikes.
• Ichigo counterattacked and locked blades with Ulquiorra, refusing to retreat despite his injury.
• Orihime Inoue, Liu Hao, Nel, Pesche, and Dondochakka emerged into the battlefield, and Liu Hao refused to intervene, saying Ichigo had to finish the fight himself.

Ichigo Kurosaki fought Ulquiorra in Above the Canopy, enduring a relentless series of sword attacks while his golden power surfaced in desperate moments. The chapter ended with Ichigo bloodied but still facing Ulquiorra after managing to create some distance between them.

• Ulquiorra wounded Ichigo Kurosaki with a Moonlight Sword and a powerful kick, then pursued him through the air with successive attacks.
• Golden light appeared in Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes, allowing him to catch a Moonlight Sword and narrowly evade another before counterattacking with Zangetsu.
• Ulquiorra dodged Ichigo Kurosaki's slash and said that Ichigo's mind was no longer as focused before launching another assault.
• Ulquiorra outmaneuvered Ichigo Kurosaki, cut his back, and drove him across the sand with repeated Moonlight Sword attacks.
• Ichigo Kurosaki stopped his backward flight by anchoring Zangetsu in the sand, blocked Ulquiorra's descending strike, and retreated more than ten meters to face him.

Ichigo Kurosaki confronted his dependence on Liu Hao, Zangetsu, and his companions, then resolved to take responsibility for his own battles. His renewed Reiatsu let him surprise Ulquiorra with a two-sword assault, forcing Ulquiorra to retreat as Ichigo’s attack continued.

• Ulquiorra told Ichigo Kurosaki that the arrival of Liu Hao and the others had made him fight as though he expected them to rescue him or finish the battle for him.
• Ichigo Kurosaki recognized that he had relied on Liu Hao, Zangetsu, and his companions instead of bearing the full responsibility for his fights himself.
• White mocked Ichigo Kurosaki for depending on others, while Zangetsu urged him to use every source of power and guidance as a means to fight for himself.
• Ichigo Kurosaki thanked Ulquiorra for helping him understand, declared that he would use his blades and abilities rather than depend on others, and his Reiatsu surged.
• Ichigo Kurosaki charged Ulquiorra, clashed blades with him, and fired a golden Getsuga Tenshō from his second sword.
• Ulquiorra abandoned the blade lock and dodged backward, but Ichigo Kurosaki’s crescent slash grazed his chest and scorched his Hierro.

Ichigo Kurosaki fought Ulquiorra after Ulquiorra unveiled his Segunda Etapa and overwhelmed him with relentless attacks. As Ichigo’s focus returned, a surge of Reiatsu transformed his appearance and turned Zangetsu pure white, leaving his new power revealed but untested.

• Ichigo’s second Getsuga Tenshō shattered Ulquiorra’s Black Cero, prompting Ulquiorra to acknowledge Ichigo’s strength before releasing his Segunda Etapa.
• Ulquiorra revealed that he alone among the Espada could achieve Segunda Etapa, then vanished from Ichigo’s perception and attacked at overwhelming speed.
• Ichigo narrowly dodged Ulquiorra’s lethal claws as the two fought across the desert, while Orihime Inoue asked Liu Hao whether Ichigo could win and Liu Hao urged her to keep watching.
• Ulquiorra’s assault wounded Ichigo repeatedly, but Ichigo regained his focus on the fight as golden light strengthened in his left eye and a faint white halo appeared on Zangetsu.
• After the fighters separated atop stone pillars, a white Reiatsu whirlwind enveloped Ichigo, who rose with a black Hollow horn, a golden left eye, and a newly pure-white Zangetsu.

Ichigo Kurosaki awakened the true form of his Soul Reaper and Hollow power and began fighting Ulquiorra with newfound control and strength. After Ichigo survived Ulquiorra’s strongest attacks and struck from behind, he brought down his white Zangetsu as the battle continued.

• Ichigo Kurosaki transformed, and Liu Hao explained to Orihime Inoue that Ichigo had awakened his Hollow power and was controlling it.
• Ichigo Kurosaki described how his black short Zangetsu represented his Quincy power while his white long Zangetsu embodied his fused Soul Reaper and Hollow powers.
• Ulquiorra fired a Black Cero, but Ichigo Kurosaki casually dispelled it with a golden Getsuga Tenshō.
• Ulquiorra hurled a Lanza del Relámpago, and Ichigo Kurosaki dodged it before appearing behind him.
• Ulquiorra blocked Ichigo Kurosaki’s short-sword strike with a newly formed lance, but Ichigo brought down his white Zangetsu in a powerful slash.

Ichigo Kurosaki overwhelms Ulquiorra, whose High-Speed Regeneration drains his Reiatsu, until Ulquiorra accepts defeat and asks to die. Liu Hao challenges Ulquiorra to find meaning in protecting Hueco Mundo, then leaves with Ichigo and the others while Ulquiorra remains beneath the moon, pondering the heart.

• Ichigo Kurosaki cuts off Ulquiorra's arm and wounds his chest, but Ulquiorra heals himself with High-Speed Regeneration.
• Ichigo Kurosaki repeatedly wounds Ulquiorra, draining his Reiatsu until Ulquiorra admits he is outmatched and asks Ichigo to kill him.
• Ulquiorra explains that he believes he has no reason to exist after failing the mission Lord Aizen gave him.
• Liu Hao tells Ulquiorra that Hueco Mundo is his homeland and urges him to consider protecting it instead of serving Aizen's ambitions.
• Ulquiorra begins questioning what it means to protect Hueco Mundo as Liu Hao, Ichigo Kurosaki, and the others depart.
• Orihime Inoue asks Liu Hao about Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra, and Liu Hao reassures her as the Santen Kesshun carries them toward the spatial rift.

After returning to the battlefield beneath Las Noches, Liu Hao prepared to take Ichigo Kurosaki and Retsu Unohana through Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s Garganta to reinforce Karakura Town. They left the injured and other companions behind as Yammy fought Kenpachi and Ulquiorra remained Above the Canopy, contemplating.

• Liu Hao reassured Orihime Inoue that Ichigo’s awakened Hollow power was under control, then told Ichigo to train until he could enter the form at will.
• Liu Hao and the others found the captains treating Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado while Kenpachi Zaraki fought Yammy Llargo, who grew into a gigantic form by building up his anger.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi finished stabilizing a Garganta, and Retsu Unohana agreed to join Liu Hao and Ichigo on the journey to Karakura Town.
• Liu Hao refused to take the injured and other companions, including Orihime and Nel, through the Garganta, and they stayed behind as he, Ichigo, and Retsu departed.
• After the Garganta closed, Renji, Orihime, and Nel watched the light disappear while Ulquiorra continued contemplating Above the Canopy.

Liu Hao, Ichigo Kurosaki, and Retsu Unohana traveled through the Garganta toward Karakura Town as Ichigo wondered whether Aizen could be defeated. In Karakura Town, Aizen emerged from Castle Ignition, killed Starrk and wounded Harribel, then challenged the remaining Soul Reapers and Arrancar.

• Ichigo Kurosaki asked Liu Hao whether Aizen would really lose, and Liu Hao said that every enemy had weaknesses and every plan could fail.
• Aizen emerged from the collapsing Castle Ignition and confronted Starrk, who explained that Liu Hao had urged him to survive the battle and protect Hueco Mundo.
• Aizen struck Starrk down, and Lilynette caught him as he fell and cried out over his injuries.
• Aizen attacked Harribel after revealing he had no use for the Espada; Harribel's Tidal Surge hit an illusion, and Aizen wounded her from behind.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake recognized that Aizen had discarded Starrk and Harribel, and Aizen turned his sword toward the Gotei 13 and the Arrancar.

Aizen provoked Shinji Hirako, and Gin Ichimaru critically wounded Hiyori Sarugaki when she charged at Aizen. As Hachigen Ushōda tried to save Hiyori, Kaname Tōsen revealed his complete Hollowfication to Sajin Komamura and Shūhei Hisagi.

• Aizen taunted the Visored and claimed their deaths had been inevitable since a hundred years earlier.
• Hiyori Sarugaki charged Aizen, but Gin Ichimaru pierced her abdomen with Shinsō, and Shinji Hirako caught her as she fell.
• Shinji Hirako asked Hachigen Ushōda to keep Hiyori alive until Liu Hao and Ichigo Kurosaki returned, while Aizen explained his views on trust and dependence.
• Kaname Tōsen told Sajin Komamura and Shūhei Hisagi that he had a power greater than Bankai, then transformed through complete Hollowfication.
• Tōsen declared that Aizen had bestowed his new power upon him and challenged Komamura to defeat him.

Kaname Tōsen’s Hollowfication let him overpower Sajin Komamura and cut down Shūhei Hisagi, while he defended his pursuit of power as a way to escape fear. Hisagi used the half-step Tōsen had taught him to survive, and Komamura unleashed Bankai, but Tōsen stopped its enormous sword with one hand.

• Kaname Tōsen revealed his Hollow mask, and Sajin Komamura and Shūhei Hisagi confronted him over his transformation.
• Tōsen struck Hisagi down and blocked Komamura’s Tenken before kicking Komamura through a ruined building.
• Tōsen questioned why Komamura despised Hollowfication, but Komamura condemned him for betraying his friends and subordinates for power.
• Hisagi attacked Tōsen with Kazeshini and explained that Tōsen’s own half-step sword lesson had helped him dodge the fatal blow.
• Tōsen pierced Hisagi’s abdomen and admitted that he had pursued power because he feared being assimilated and dying.
• Komamura unleashed Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, but Tōsen stopped its giant sword with Suzumushi and said Komamura could not defeat him with Bankai alone.

Shinji Hirako released Sakanade and used its ability to reverse Aizen’s sense of direction, but Aizen adapted and wounded him. Aizen explained that Kyōka Suigetsu’s control of all five senses surpassed Sakanade, then turned his attention toward the brightening Garganta passage.

• Shinji Hirako released Sakanade and filled the area with pink mist, creating an inverted world for Aizen.
• Shinji Hirako explained that Sakanade reversed directions, including the direction Aizen saw and the direction he slashed, then wounded Aizen’s right arm.
• Shinji Hirako attacked again, but Aizen struck him and left a deep wound across his back.
• Aizen dismissed Sakanade as a limited illusion and contrasted it with Kyōka Suigetsu’s control over all five senses.
• Aizen said Shinji’s caution a hundred years earlier had been wise, but claimed absolute power made such techniques meaningless as he looked toward the brightening Garganta passage.