Chapter Summaries

Yasutora Sado fought Arrancar No. 103, Gantenbainne Mosqueda, and adapted to his Sonído while awakening the Giant's Right Arm. After Sado's new power badly injured him, Gantenbainne entered Resurrección and launched Dragon Fist, leaving their decisive clash unresolved.

• Yasutora Sado trusted Liu Hao's judgment and continued fighting Gantenbainne despite being repeatedly outmaneuvered by Sonído.
• As Gantenbainne's attacks pressured him, Sado's footwork and instincts improved, allowing him to predict Sonído and counterattack.
• Sado transformed his Devil's Left Arm into the Giant's Right Arm and used its power to strike Gantenbainne twice, sending him crashing through a wall.
• Gantenbainne emerged from the rubble in Resurrección, with dragon-like features and increased Reiatsu.
• Gantenbainne unleashed his finishing technique, Dragon Fist, at Sado as the battle entered its decisive stage.

Yasutora Sado survived Gantenbainne’s Dragon Fist with the Giant’s Right Arm and awakened the Left Arm of the Devil during their fight. He defeated Gantenbainne with Demon’s Strike and realized his two arms formed a complete system of protection and attack.

• Gantenbainne launched his Dragon Fist, but Yasutora Sado blocked it with the Giant’s Right Arm and emerged unharmed.
• Yasutora Sado explained that his right arm was a shield and revealed the destructive power hidden in his left arm, which he named the Left Arm of the Devil.
• Gantenbainne attacked from behind, but Yasutora Sado caught his claw, disrupted its Reiatsu, and hurled him across the ground.
• Yasutora Sado used Demon’s Strike to pierce Gantenbainne’s defenses and leave him unable to fight.
• Gantenbainne’s Resurrección faded, and Yasutora Sado reflected that his shield and spear powers had completed his system of power.

After the group defeated their opponents, a trap split them into separate cells and passages. Liu Hao hurried to find Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado, while Ichigo Kurosaki and Nel identified Szayelaporro Granz as the likely mastermind and entered a passage together.

• Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora Sado finished their battles, and their companions praised their performances.
• Three rune-covered walls erupted from the ground, separating the group and blocking their sight and Reiatsu sensing.
• Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai, and Yasutora Sado broke through their barriers and discovered Liu Hao, Uryū Ishida, Rukia Kuchiki, Nel, Pesche Guatiche, and Dondochakka Birstanne were gone.
• Liu Hao warned that Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai could be in danger against high-ranking Espada, then led Uryū Ishida, Rukia Kuchiki, Pesche Guatiche, and Dondochakka Birstanne into a passage to search for Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado.
• Nel recognized the trap and passages as Szayelaporro Granz's work, and Ichigo Kurosaki entered the passage with her.

Separated into different passages in Hueco Mundo, the Soul Reapers and their allies pressed forward and encountered Espada waiting in the ruins. Rukia Kuchiki prepared to fight Aaroniero Arruruerie, Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado faced Szayelaporro Granz, and Ichigo Kurosaki escaped a looping maze with Nel.

• Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado decided to push through the passage together rather than try to find the other groups.
• Liu Hao’s group encountered Aaroniero Arruruerie, and Liu Hao told Rukia Kuchiki to fight him before he could adapt to her abilities.
• Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado met Szayelaporro Granz, who activated Reishi runes around the hall as they prepared to fight.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Nel identified a Reishi maze, and Ichigo’s first Getsuga Tenshō opened a wall that released sand.
• Ichigo Kurosaki destroyed another wall with a second Getsuga Tenshō, revealing a new passage, and he and Nel entered it.

Rukia Kuchiki sealed Aaroniero Arruruerie with a technique she had developed under Liu Hao’s guidance, but Aaroniero broke free for a last attack. Liu Hao killed him and then reprimanded Rukia for lowering her guard before confirming the enemy’s death.

• Aaroniero removed his disguise, revealed his Gluttony release, and transformed into a monster made from the Hollows he had devoured.
• Rukia dodged Aaroniero’s attacks, laid an ice formation around him, and trapped him inside an iceberg with San no Mai: Ice Prison.
• Aaroniero shattered part of the ice and launched a deadly tentacle at Rukia from behind as she turned away.
• Liu Hao intervened, severed the tentacle, and destroyed Aaroniero’s core with a single slash, dispersing the Espada and his frozen body into Reishi dust.
• Liu Hao flicked Rukia on the forehead and warned her that she had exposed herself by turning away before Aaroniero’s Reiatsu had disappeared.

Liu Hao rushed toward Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado after sensing Renji’s fading Reiatsu, while the chapter revealed how the two Soul Reapers had encountered the eighth Espada, Szayelaporro Granz. Renji and Yasutora injured Szayelaporro, but he healed himself by consuming one of his Fracción and left to change clothes before continuing the fight.

• Liu Hao explained that Rukia should have destroyed the enemy’s spirit core and analyzed how its Gluttony ability had helped it escape her Ice Cage.
• Liu Hao sensed Renji Abarai’s weakened Reiatsu after a violent roar, broke through a wall, and led Rukia, Uryū Ishida, Pesche, Dondochakka, and Nel toward the desert battlefield.
• Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado met the eighth Espada, Szayelaporro Granz, in his laboratory, where a special chamber prevented Renji from using Bankai.
• Renji and Yasutora attacked Szayelaporro together, and Renji’s close-range Hadō #31: Shakkahō set up Yasutora’s Demon’s Strike, which hurled the Espada into a wall.
• Szayelaporro consumed his Fracción Lumina to heal his wounds, then walked away to change clothes while threatening to dissect Renji and Yasutora.

Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado escaped Szayelaporro Granz’s laboratory trap by causing his Copy Bodies to unleash Bankai in unison, destroying the facility. Szayelaporro survived and, enraged by the destruction, prepared to fight them in earnest.

• Renji and Sado found a hidden passage and followed it to Szayelaporro’s Main Laboratory, where he released Fornicarás and created Copies of them.
• Szayelaporro’s Copies matched Renji and Sado’s abilities and coordinated their counterattacks, keeping the two fighters from reaching him.
• Renji realized the Copies would imitate his Bankai, so he unleashed Baboon King—Zabimaru and caused the Copies to do the same.
• The many enormous skeletal weapons collided and destroyed the laboratory, allowing Renji and Sado to escape the ruins.
• Szayelaporro protected himself from the explosion, then angrily vowed to dissect Renji and Sado and make them pay for his losses.

Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado tried to hold off Szayelaporro Granz until Liu Hao and Rukia arrived, but Szayelaporro overwhelmed them with Fornicarás and captured copies of them as Dolls. The chapter left Renji and Sado facing Szayelaporro’s claim that they were now his specimens.

• Renji Abarai sensed Liu Hao and Rukia racing toward the battlefield with two other allies, and told Yasutora Sado that reinforcements were coming.
• Szayelaporro Granz launched Fornicarás’ underground predator wings, but Renji and Sado escaped into the air with Zabimaru’s help.
• Renji fired Hikotsu Taihō and Sado struck with Giant’s Strike, but Szayelaporro’s Fornicarás made both attacks disappear.
• Szayelaporro summoned two giant Arrancar, who knocked Renji and Sado down before Fornicarás tendrils wrapped them in membranes.
• Renji tore free with Kidō and Sado escaped through brute strength, but Szayelaporro produced lifelike Dolls resembling both men and declared them his specimens.

Ichigo and Nel escaped a seemingly endless passage into a desert and found Grimmjow holding Orihime captive. Grimmjow forced Ichigo into battle, while Nel reached Orihime and explained that Ichigo’s hesitation was weakening him.

• Ichigo and Nel cut through the passage wall and emerged in a pale desert, where they spotted a distant tower and headed toward it.
• Ichigo sensed Grimmjow among some ruins, and Grimmjow revealed Orihime before demanding that Ichigo fight him for her freedom.
• Grimmjow attacked, and Ichigo met his blade while Nel climbed to Orihime’s side.
• Nel reassured Orihime and pointed out that Ichigo was holding back because he was worried about harming Grimmjow, attracting enemies, and rescuing her.
• Nel predicted that Grimmjow’s relentless attacks would force Ichigo to overcome his hesitation as their battle intensified.

Ichigo Kurosaki fought Grimmjow while struggling to access Bankai, then unleashed his restrained power to stop Grimmjow’s Gran Rey Cero from hitting Orihime Inoue and Nel. Grimmjow transformed with Resurrección and pressed Ichigo with attacks that repeatedly threatened the two women on the pillar.

• Ichigo Kurosaki told Grimmjow that he could not smoothly enter Bankai, while Grimmjow grew angry at Ichigo’s restraint and intensified his attacks.
• Grimmjow fired a Gran Rey Cero at Orihime Inoue and Nel, and Ichigo Kurosaki intercepted it with a powerful slash that split the beam apart.
• Grimmow released his Resurrección, Pantera, and attacked Ichigo with a Reiatsu-laden roar and rapid claw strikes.
• Ichigo Kurosaki blocked Grimmjow’s attacks and countered, but kept positioning himself between Grimmjow and the stone pillar.
• Grimmjow noticed Ichigo’s continued concern for Orihime Inoue and Nel and began shaping his attacks to threaten them.

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.