Beginning of Despair...Ichigo, the Unreachable Blade

Beginning of Despair...Ichigo, the Unreachable Blade is the two hundred and seventieth episode of the Bleach anime.

Summary
Part of Ichigo's mask is shattered as it falls to the floor. Ichigo is shocked that Ulquiorra's speed has vastly increased in his release form and berates himself for not being able to react. Ulquiorra notes that Ichigo's mask duration is able to last much longer than their last encounter, however it still breaks easily. Ulquiorra proceeds to throw his javelin at his opponent. Ichigo tries very hard to try observe carefully as he did previously and is able to dodge the first javelin. However, he is hit on his upper right shoulder by a subsequent attack and is knocked back by its great force.

Meanwhile, Uryu comes to the conclusion that the sky of Las Noches really was fake and takes note that Orihime is all right, but he cannot be sure until Ichigo defeats Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra tries to bait Ichigo into testing his Getsuga against him to show the difference in their strengths. Ichigo angrily responds that he does not need Ulquiorra to tell him how to use his own attack and fires a Getsuga at him. Ulquiorra easily withstands the attack without a scatch and comments that Ichigo is still at a human level. Ulquiorra compares Ichigo's Getsuga with his black cero, the Cero Oscuras with Ichigo angrily responding not to associate him with that trash. Ulquiorra takes note that Ichigo has not yet seen it and proceeds to show him and explains that it is a Cero that an Espada use in their release form. The blast of the attack engulfs Ichigo in darkness and easily shatters his mask and destroys much of his clothing. The power behind the attack was so powerful that Uryu and Orihime can feel it from within Las Noches. Orihime asks Uryu to take her up to the top of Las Noches. Knowing she would ask, Uryu hesitantly agrees.

Ulquiorra knocks Ichigo into a pillar with a flap of his wing and tells Ichigo that even though he may possess powers similar to an Arrancar, their strengths are worlds apart. Ulquiorra explains that when a human or shinigami is strong enough, it is reasonable for them to seek hollow powers, but they can never be equal to hollows. Ichigo persists to continue fighting which pushes Ulquiorra's patience to its limit with Ulquiorra continuing to bash Ichigo into multiple towers.