# 166 - The Murderous Intent Boils! The Joyful Grimmjow 

Ichigo pulls out his Hollow mask and Grimmjow releases his sword, Pantera. With both in their most powerful forms, the battle begins in earnest again. The fight is intense with both sides exchanging strong blows. As Ichigo's mask breaks apart bit by bit, Nel urges a frightened Orihime to cheer for Ichigo since he is doing it for her.

# 165 - The Murderous Intent Boils! The Joyful Grimmjow 

Uryuu and Renji recover from their battle with Szayel Aporro while Orihime continues to heal Ichigo's wounds. Ulquiorra appears and questions Grimmjow about his intentions. They get into a fight but Grimmjow manages to seal Ulquiorra in another dimension. Now free to fight the fully restored Ichigo, the two draw their swords attack. Using a massive blast, Grimmjow forces Ichigo to pull out his Hollow mask and the battle begins for real.

# 164 - Ishida's Strategy, the 20-second Offense and Defense 

Uryuu and Renji continue fighting against Szayel and with Renji's help, Uryuu pulls out a secret weapon to use against Szayel. The attack seems to be a success at first but Szayel has his own secret technique. Meanwhile, Grimmjow appears before Nel with Orihime in tow. What does Grimmjow have planned? Will Ulquiorra have something to say about it?

# 163 - Shinigami and Quincy, the Battle with Madness 

Loly and Menoly continue to mistreat Orihime and Loly is about to finish her off when the wall shatters and who should enter but Grimmjow. Meanwhile, Uryuu takes up the battle against the Fraccion of Szayel when his initial strike has no effect whatsoever on the Espada. Renji might be able to lend a helping hand but can the two hope to defeat Szayel when he can predict their every move?

# 162 - Szayel Aporro Laughs, the Net Trapping Renji is Complete 

Renji continues his battle with Szayel Aporro while Ichigo faces off against Ulquiorra. Not knowing Ulquiorra's rank and strength, Ichigo wastes no time and he quickly goes into his Hollow form to battle. Ulquiorra reveals a deadly secret which shocks Ichigo and the tables turn. Can Ichigo defeat Ulquiorra and save Orihime?

# 161 - The Cruel Arrancar, Ulquiorra's Provocation 

Everyone on the Arrancar side, sees Rukia's and Aaroniero's death. Meanwhile, Renji continues his fight with Szayel Aporro, who was Ilfort's brother, and Szayel is easily winning, since he made the room to block Renji's bankai. Ichigo senses Rukia spiritual power drop and Ulquiorra comes in when he notices. Ulquiorra is trying to provoke Ichigo into fighting him, and gets what he wants when he tells Ichigo that he forced Orihime into Hueco Mundo.

# 160 - Testament - Your Heart is Right Here... 

Rukia continues her fight with the 9th Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie. She still has mixed feelings about fighting him and she is struck by his trident. As she lies on the tip of his weapon, barely conscious, she goes through a series of flashbacks of her time with Kaien. Her memories revive her with only enough time for one final desperate attack.

# 159 - Sado Yasutora dies! Orihime's Tears 

Chad realizes Noitora's fearsome strength too late and he falls. The others sense it including Orihime but they are all powerless to do anything about it. Meanwhile, the 8th Espada, Szayel Aporro Grantz appears before Renji and Dondochakka.

# 158 - Right Arm of the Giant, Left Arm of the Devil 

Chad is struggling in his battle with Gantenbainne Mosqueda until his right arm takes it true form. Chad quickly gains the advantage due to his increased speed and strength and he starts to beat Gantenbainne. Backed into a corner, Gantenbainne releases his zanpakutou and Chad replies in kind by releasing his newly powered up left arm. With his full power Chad beats Gantenbainne Mosqueda in one hit. As he walks away from the battlefield, Nnoitra appears.

# 157 - Ishida's Trump Card, Seele Schneider 

Ishida continues his fight with Cirucci and reveals a secret weapon, Seele Schneider. Meanwhile, Chad continues his battle and reveals one of his own secrets.

# 156 - Ishida & Pesche, the United Attack of Friendship 

Ishida and Pesche continue their battle with Cirucci Thunderwitch a Privaron Espada. They manage to gain the upper hand when Pesche uses his technique Infinite Slick, but Cirucci releases her zanpakutou making things much more complicated.

# 155 - Rukia Retaliates! Release the Desperate Kidou 

Rukia continues her battle with the 9th Espada, Aaroniero. Rukia is still struggling with Aaroniero because of his resemblance to Kaien, but she finally gets the upper hand when she releases a double kidou spell that reveales Aaroniero's true face.

# 154 - Rukia and Kaien, the Sorrowful Reunion 

Rukia talks with Aaroniero Arruruerie, whose face is that of Kaien Shiba. Aaroniero says that he is Kaien and explains how he got there after Rukia killed him. Aaroniero then asks Rukia if she would offer her life for the man she killed. Rukia wants to accept, but she says she can't until she rescues Orihime. Aaroniero then says he will forgive her if she kills her friends and brings them to him. Rukia immediately realizes that this is not Kaien and she attacks. However she is at a disadvantage because Aaroniero has Kaien's memories of her training and fighting skills.

# 153 - The Devilish Research! Syazel Aporro's Plan 

The Espada Szayel Aporro sends out the execution unit named "Exequias" to go after Ichigo who should be injured from his battle with Dordonii. Aizen questions him on why he did it and Szayel apologizes saying he wanted to make sure they killed him. Aizen forgives Szayel but also sees through his plot to to further his research. Meanwhile, Uryuu tries to figure out how to beat his opponent, Cirucci Thunderwitch.

# 152 - Ichigo Strikes Back! This is my Bankai 

Ichigo is pushed to the limit and releases his bankai to protect Nel. Also by the urging of the arrancar he takes on his hollow form. Is it enough to beat such a strong opponent?

# 151 - The Raging Storm! Encounter with the Dancing Arrancar 

chigo continues his battle with the Privaron Espada (Fallen Espada) Dordonii. He is struggling with Dordonii's attacks since he refuses to go Bankai on anyone less than an Espada. However, Dordonii is proving to be a formidable opponent and he has not even released yet. Wanting Ichigo to fight to his fullest, Dordonii releases his zanpakutou Giralda. Can Ichigo possibly win without the power of Bankai?

# 150 - Oath! Back Here Alive Again 

Ichigo and the others break into Las Noches successfully. However, they immediately are thrown off course when Nell falls into an old abandoned tunnel and forces the others to go in after her. When they get out, they are then forced to split and each go down separate hallways. Meanwhile, Orihime is taken to see Aizen.

# 149 - Through the Crumbling Forest, a Million Menos 

Ichigo, Renji, Uryuu and Chad catch up to the Adjuchas and rescue Nell and her siblings. A battle ensues between their group and the Menos who are led by another Adjuchas. Meanwhile, as Rukia and Ashido head toward Ichigo, their way is blocked by the leader of the Adjuchas, appointed by Aizen himself as a guardian of the Forest. Ashido and the Adjuchas begin fighting and Rukia is able to give a helping hand. Now she must reunite with Ichigo and try to escape the underground Forest.

# 148 - Ashido, the Shinigami who came from the Past 

Nell and her group are captured by a group of Adjuchas and Ichigo sets out to find her with the others. Meanwhile, Rukia sets out to find her friends with Ashido's help. They are confronted by Adjuchas and Gillian along the way and forced to battle. Ashido's past is eventually revealed as they travel and Rukia learns about the story behind his mask.

# 147 - The Forest of Menos! The Search for the Missing Rukia 

Lunuganga catches Ichigo and the others by surprise and sucks them underground. They awake to find themselves surrounded by Hollow with Rukia missing. Suddenly, they are joined by a whole group of Menos Grande. Meanwhile, Rukia wakes up and has similar encounters with Hollows. She escapes only to find a couple of Menos herself. A strange figure with a mask appears to save her. Just who is this unknown person who wields a zanpakutou?

# 146 - The Name is Nell! The appearance of the strange arrancar 

Ichigo and the others intervene to save a little girl from 3 Hollows only to find that she is really an Arrancar named Nell. After a short episode, they are interrupted by the appearance of a Guardian who blocks their path to the castle. The guardian seems invulnerable to all their attacks until they get a helping hand from some friends.

# 145 - The Espada Gathers! Aizen's royal assembly 

Chad and Uryuu finish off their opponents and escape into the barren desert of Hueco Mundo. Aizen gathers the Espada together and informs them of the situation. Meanwhile, Ichigo and the others must survive the desert of Hueco Mundo and make it to Aizen's castle in one piece.

# 144 - Ishida?Chad, the quickening of a new power 

Ichigo. Uryuu and Chad arrive in Hueco Mundo to find themselves in strange building. They are able to survive and avoid most of the traps but they must then find a way out of the building and deal with the guards who are there to get rid of any trespassers who dare to enter. Finally, Chad and Uryuu’s new powers will be tested in a real situation.

# 143 - Grimmjow's Revival 

With Urahara's help the gateway is opened and Ichigo begins his journey to Hueco Mundo with Chad and Uryuu. Unbeknownst to Ichigo, they were followed by someone who Ichigo thought had been dealt with. In Hueco Mundo, Orihime is given tasks to demonstrate her power. If she is not able to complete them, then surviving among the Arrancar will not be a very easy task.

# 142 - Strict Order! The Forbidden Rescue of Inoue Orihime 

Ichigo wakes up and finds his hand healed. Realizing it was Orihime he is joined by Hitsugaya who tells him that something urgent has happened. Ichigo finds that Orihime has either been kidnapped or killed by an Arrancar. He says no because his hand was healed. Commander Yamamoto says that it means that she joined of her own will and is a traitor. He calls back Hitsugaya’s group to Soul Society to prepare for the battle. Now alone, Ichigo must know find a way to get to Hueco Mundo by himself.

# 141 - Goodbye..., Kurosaki 

As the Soul Reapers recover from the battle with the Espada and Ichigo lies bandaged and asleep in bed, Orihime has to finish preparations to leave with Ulquiorra. She has 12 hours to get ready and she can only say goodbye to one person. She walks around town as she tries to decide who will be that one person she sees before she leaves them all behind.

# 140 - Ulquiorra's Scheme, the Moment when the Sun Sets 

After saving Rangiku from death, Urahara commences his fight with Yammy. Luppi continues his battle with the others and Hitsugaya manages to come and help them up. Meanwhile, Ichigo is struggling to fight Grimmjow after losing his mask. Rukia shows up to help but they are no match. All seems lost when help in the form of Hirako appears to help. The conclusion to the battle with the Espada begins!