Darknives Anime & Manga Blog

Kira’s smart. He understands he can’t use his zanpakutou against Abirama’s long range attacks. He resorts to hado, running and dodging instead.

Abirama doesn’t want to give him time to think of a plan and doubles the attack rate. It doesn’t seem like he can run out of feathers. Kira was looking for a way to make him attack him directly. Once he does, he uses Wabisuke.

Abirama crumbles under his own weight. Kira gives a more detailed description on his zanpakutou’s philosophy. It was cool, what he told about his squad, it kind of fit well with Gin being the Captain. But, the Bleach fillers are completely different from this mind set.

His sword’s shape was also to allow an easier kill once the enemy is down unable to move. Wabisuke has become one of my favorite zanpakutou.

The war is surely going well, i think some really bad stuff is going to happen, this surely won’t be a 100% happy ending.

Oath Under The Rose

This chapter was still about Yumichika. His determination to not show his zanpakutou’s ability is absolute. He wouldn’t mind dying in order to preserve his honor, because of his division’s philosophy, just like it had already been explained a long time ago when he fought Hisagi.

He uses some of the energy his zanpakutou collected on him self. I think this means that he and the others who win, are still going to fight. Maybe, it won’t just be one-on-one battles like in the other arcs.

The fracion fighting Hisagi is constantly growing his attack level to test Hisagi. Neither Hisagi nor Kira have started to fight seriously. I can’t wait to see Hisagi’s chikai.

The arc is going to well and I expect it to get better as it goes on. I’m guessing Kira is going to be the focus of the next chapter.

Black Briers & Brambles

Yumichika has an appropriated reaction to Coolhorn’s transformation. The small talk about "beauty" continues. Coolhorn exaggerates his attacks greatly by adding all kinds of adjectives to it’s names.

Coolhorn uses a special move that inprisons both of them inside of giant flower. They are now in private, which is good for Yumichika. Just like Ikkaku about his bankai, Yumichika doesn’t want his chikai to be known. He’s now free to use it.

Ikkaku briefly interrupts his fight to check on Yumichika. I think his battle is gonna be the focus of the next chapter.

Yumichika finally shows us his powers. His zanpakutou releases some kind of plant arms that surround and bind Coolhorn. His zanpakutou then sucks his enemy dry using his reiatsu to bloom it’s flowers.

I didn’t think this fight would end so quickly but, I guess it’s better this way with everything that is going to happen. His zanpakutou would probably still have more hidden powers once it sucked his enemies but, I doubt he will have to use it again. Bleach is probably coming to an end after this arc.

Still, he surprised me by being so strong but, I suppose I should have guessed it, since even Hisagi lost to him.

Beauty Is So Solitary

This chapter starts with some insight into Gin and Tousen. Gin is one of my favorite characters, because he’s one of the most interesting and one I can’t figure out even a little. The same way that I can’t really tell what he means when he says he’s glad to see Kira doing ok.

It doesn’t seem like time is going to be wasted from now on. The Espadas instantly release their zanpakutous.

The focused fight, for now, was Yumichika’s. Not the one I’m most interested on. His opponent kind of reminds me of the art style of Battle Royal. He seems way stronger than Yumichika but, Yumichika is probably faster and more tactical, since his zanpakutou ability is related to reiatsu leeching.

Anyway, if you think of the Espada’s releases as level up like Bankai, then, I think this characters are going to be seriously overpowered.

Kuruhon’s transformation is not very cool. I can’t wait to see Yumichika and Shuhei’s shikais.

Ants & Dragons

The four guardians have no problem with this minor hollows. The leading Espada sends his four Fraccions to battle them. The numbers of battles happening simultaneously just increased again. I’m really getting hyped. I just hope Cubo can pace the story well.

This Fraccions all looked weird in their own way. A religion fanatic, a cooky one, a beauty obsessed one (probably gay too) and a stupid one.

The most interesting dialog for me, came from Kira. This character’s psychological problems regarding Gin betraying Soul Society haven’t been addressed properly.

The fillers have already meddled in this and the current arc is also using his character as a main one but, seeing his pissed off look, like he’s finally feeling rage and not pity for himself was cool. I hope he kicks some serious ass and has a chance to do something to Gin himself.

I don’t think there will be any battles in the next chapter, because some more duels have to be decided. The Vaizard are probably only going to intervene if Soul Society really needs help or if Aizen comes out of his "prison".

Things are getting more and more interesting. I can’t wait.

Five Towers / Four Pillars

Ichigo reaches Inoue and Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra recognizes his strength and draws his sword. This is a major step for Ichigo, since Ulquiorra always looked down on him, didn’t draw his sword, talked arrogantly and never worried to finish him up.

But will Ichigo really be able to win? When he fought Grimjow the first times, he at least looked to be winning when in Vaizard mode. This meant that if Grimjow releases, they would get leveled with each other more or less.

But, with Ulquiorra, he didn’t even draw his sword against Vaizard Ichigo. So, even if Ichigo has gotten stronger, it still seems to me like Ulquiorra has the advantage.

In the human world. One of the unknown arrancars takes the lead. He seems smart and figures out how Soul Society arranged for Karakura Town to be protected. He sends him men to destroy the supporting pillars. The arrancar seem pretty confident but, the "elites" were stationed to protect them. They are truly the most powerful shinigami below Captain level. I think that with this and the fact that the Vaizard are coming, will really put Aizen’s plans down. I’m not even worried with the outcome. Victory seems certain. Of course something will happen to level things up. Also, Aizen was really confident, and he’s not dumb to be so without a good reason.

Really, this final arc will be really long. At least if Kubo is planning on using all the characters in fights. And I hope he does, it’s about time for everyone to get wild, he have already waited enough to uncover the shikai’s and bankai’s of many characters. And you never know.. the "elites" may all have a bankai by now.

Also, I think that more to the end, we will see the so called Royal Family (I’m not sure if this was their name anymore). I’m guessing Aizen will be able to get a least a little into it, so that we at least meet this new characters.

I’m guessing the main focus will still be Hueco Mundo on the next chapter. But, I’m not really sure.

Six Hearts Will Beat As One

Ichigo dashes forward for Orihime. Two hollows appear but, he just leaves them be. He’s eventually stoped by the Exequias. Their leader is probably of Privalon Espada level. He won’t be much of a problem but, he’s got soldiers many soldiers with him and Orihime could be killed at any moment.

Renji, Sado and Rukia come to take care of them. They all seem to be healed. Ichigo is now able to move forward.

Meanwhile, Orihime and Ulquiorra are having a deep conversation. Orihime understands the stupidity of coming to Hueco Mundo to protect her friends, because she should have known they would come to help her.

Ulquiorra doesn’t understand what that "heart" means and how humans can talk of such a thing when they relate to others. He actually seems pissed and I think would really kill Orihime now if Ichigo didn’t come.

He seems somewhat shocked with Ichigo’s arrival. Can Ichigo take him down? And what’s gonna happen in the real world.

Swang The Edge Down

Bleach is back on the main storyline.

A little spirit girl is running from some hollows. She’s about to be caught when one of the hollows suddenly explodes. At the same time, a huge reiatsu is felt, the girl is brought to her feet, some hollows collapse and the other hide. The final war is about to begin.

I really liked the cool way the author used to get back to this situation. He really made us realize the tension and reiatsu flowing around.

The Gotei 13 are planning of fist taking out the Espada as quickly as possible and then focus everyone on Aizen and his closer subordinates.

Even with their number, they don’t think they can take all of them together, since Aizen’s deception ability could cause major trouble even if he was alone against all of them.

With this in mind, the old man releases his zanpakutou and instantly surrounds Aizen, Gin and probably Tousen with a massive fire technique. Escaping it will take some time but, Aizen doesn’t even won’t to escape. He states there’s no reason for them to interfere. Are those Espada really that powerful? Aizen seems completely confident in them. I mean, they are just 3.. their subordinates are probably not a problem and the Lieutenants will probably be the ones to engage them.

After all, it’s six on three..

Anyway, I don’t think Aizen is expecting the Vaizard. They are probably stronger than the Captains, because they are older, more experienced and have the extra hollow powers.

The plot then shifts back to Hueco Mundo. Orihime is not afraid anymore and has absolute confidence in her friends. Ichigo is coming for Ulquiorra, I don’t remember if there are anymore Espada on Hueco Mundo, if not, Ichigo’s fight is going to be the last there.

Also, was the comanders attack from his shikai or bankai? He didn’t shout bankai but, maybe he’s so experienced that he doesn’t need to say it. Or maybe the others just shout "bankai" to look cool lol. It’s just that the attack seemed way to powerful for a shikai.

Let Stop The Pendulum

Just as a quick overview, awesome chapter

After bringing them in, Urahara can’t make them return to normal. He needs a little more time and is about to go out to think when he’s detained, Tessai too.

They go into questioning. Urahara is accused of being the perpetrator behind the Vaizard’s condition. It seems they already had an eye on him. Probably, Aizen had already predicted him to interfere and had already prepared things so that he would be framed for this.

Tessai is also detained, because of his use of forbidden Haidou.

Before anyone realizes what’s happening, Yoruichi comes in and rescues them. She has already brough the Vaizard’s into hiding as well. She was confident that Urahara could deal with them, also she obvously believes Urahara’s not guilty.

Urahara promises to save them. He was sussesful, seing how they are now alive. He probably went into hiding in the real world afterwards with Yoruichi.

The "past" arc is over. The story ends as if Shinji was telling it. We now know that the Vaizard’s and Urahara are friends. They owe their lives to Urahara. They have been waiting all this time to get back at Aizen, it’s time now and payback is in order.

Seriously, this chapter really got me pumped for the next ones. Seeing Shinji talking about payback as all the Vaizard’s leave their place to join the fight was really cool.

I wonder if Urahara and the others ever straithed things out with Soul Society when they finally realized Aizen’s plans. Maybe they did so but, I wonder if Aizen knows that they are alive.

Ulquiorra was really curious about Ichigo’s condition, which means he didn’t know about the Vaizards, does this mean Aizen didn’t know too? He was also curious, just before he left Soul Society. This means Aizen is gonna be taking one serious blow when he see’s his former Captain alive, stronger and with hollow powers.

Turn Back The Pendulum 11

Urahara and Tessai arrive. Tousen immediately volunteers to take them out. When he said that, I just though "Who does he think he is?". A mere Lieutenant hoping to match a Captain and the Commander of the Kidoshuu? I don’t think Tousen is that strong yet.

Aizen tells him to stop. Tousen doen’t comply immediately and Tousen tells him again. This time Tousen completely stops and asks for forgiveness. Was that "pressure" Aizen releasing his reiatsu?

Although in metamorphosis, Shinji is still conscious and the time to joke with Urahara lol.

Aizen tries to hide the truth and lie to Urahara but, I think is just joking. There’s no way that lie would ever work in that situation.

Urahara already has some knowledge to what’s happening, the hollow metamorphosis. Aizen was already predicting his knowledge in the area. Was already thinking of using him? Although he doesn’t know about the Hougyoku yet.

After saying this, I think he shows his reiatsu again. Urahara looks really surprised in a bad way. Was Aizen already Captain level or above at this time? There was something early in the series about someone needing to have the double of a Captain’s normal reiatsu. And I think Aizen had it.

Urahara’s coming is good for Aizen. He states their experiment is over and prepares to leave. Tessai immediately tries to stop them with a really powerful Hadou. Not only an high level one but, also from probably one the best at using it. Aizen nullifies it without breaking a sweat. He doesn’t even recite the encatation.

Is he really that powerful? Or is he using his hypnosis technique? The way his zanpakutou really works hasn’t been revealled yet. We only know it can fool a person’s senses, not it’s limitations or "rules". Did he already have bankai?

Tessai uses a forbidden spell (another reason for leaving Soul Society) to allow them to instantaneously take everyone to Urahara’s place where he’s going to use the Hougioku to try to save them.

Can’t wait to know more and how Aizen is going to deceive everyone and get Urahara and the others to be forced to leave.