Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Yoshino Sōma

Battle
Soon, Ririn also senses the Bount and alerts Ichigo. The two arrive in the alley just before the Bount can devour the woman's soul. He moves to attack her, but she throws the unconscious woman at him and escapes down another alley. He pursues her and succeeds in cornering her, but she is able summon a fire beast that she calls Goethe. Ichigo dodges the Doll's fire attacks and manages to cut off one of the Doll’s arms, but it easily reattaches itself to the doll.

Back at the fight, Ichigo continues to slash Goethe but it continues to regenerate whatever damage Ichigo does. He can’t find a way to stop the Doll and begins to lose patience until Ririn reminds him to stay calm and collected to find a weakness. Spotting a weakness in the Doll's heart, Ichigo hits it and the Doll seems to disintegrate. However, the victory is short-lived as the Doll re-forms and subsequently blasts them into a nearby building. Goethe powers up a pair of fireballs, but Ichigo is pinned in the rubble. Goethe releases the blasts but they never reach their destination as a lightning bolt comes crashing down from the sky. Ichigo is astonished as a familiar face lands in front of him: Rukia.

Aftermath
Rukia stands in the flames in front of Ichigo, the threat of the Bount’s Doll still looming ahead. But as Goethe charges up an even larger fireball, numerous snakes appear and entangle the Doll. The flaming doll disappears as the snakes fall and turn into metal pipes, and the male Bount that Orihime and Sado encountered appears nearby. Ichigo questions Ryō's appearance but Ryō uses his Doll, Fried, to bind Yoshino before she can reactivate her Doll. Ichigo speaks up again, but Fried turns a nearby metal rod into a snake to attack. With Yoshino as his captive, Ryō makes his escape.