Szayelaporro Laughs, The Net Trapping Renji is Complete

Szayel Aporro Laughs, The Net Trapping Renji is Complete is the one-hundred-sixty-second episode of the Bleach anime.

As Ichigo battles Ulquiorra, Renji struggles with his fight against Szayel.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: February 27, 2008
 * English Airdate: October 31, 2009
 * Opening Song: After Dark
 * Ending Song: Kansha
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 270 (from page 17), Chapter 271, Chapter 272 (to page 15).
 * Kanji: 笑うザエルアポロ、恋次包囲網完成
 * Romaji: "Warau Zaeruaporo, Renji hōi ami kansei"
 * Arc: The Hueco Mundo arc Part 1

Summary
Ichigo Kurosaki activates his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, and Ulquiorra Cifer watches on as he leaps into the air, causing dust to fill the area. As the dust clears away, Ichigo is revealed to have donned his Hollow mask as well. Ichigo then charges at Ulquiorra and swings his blade down on the Arrancar. Ulquiorra attempts to block the blow with his arm, but the force of the attack proves too much for him and Ulquiorra is sent crashing through several pillars. As Ulquiorra goes back to fight Ichigo, he wonders how his opponent can possess reiatsu that is exactly like that of an Arrancar. Ichigo suddenly fires off a Getsuga Tenshō at Ulquiorra, claiming that he's done for, and the Arrancar attempts to block the attack with only his bare hands. However, the force of the attack proves too much for him, and Ulquiorra is engulfed by the attack, seemingly defeated.

As Ichigo's Hollow mask breaks away, Nel Tu charges at Ichigo, and they crash into a pillar. She begins crying over the fact that Ichigo was overdoing it by using Hollowfication, and states that she thought he was going to die. After Ichigo apologizes to Nel, he tells her that their leaving. All of a sudden Ulquiorra gets back up from the blow relatively unharmed, and states that he's surprised that he couldn't stop the attack, even with both hands. He then asks Ichigo if that's all he had, but Ichigo doesn't respond and only looks on in shock. Ulquiorra judges from this response that the answer is yes and remarks that it's a pity. He then fires a green Cero at Ichigo, and the blast ends up sending his opponent through another room in Las Noches.

Ichigo carries a now unconscious Nel and begins running away from Ulquiorra, but the Arrancar catches up to him and sends Ichigo flying into a nearby tower. As Ichigo gets out of some rubble, Ulquiorra appears directly in front of him. He tells Ichigo that he has impressive reflexes to have brought out his mask again when he used his Cero, but remarks that this time the mask shattered before it could stay out for even a second. Ulquiorra then tells his opponent to give up as he can't use his mask again. However, Ichigo brings his blade to Ulquiorra's chest and asks him if he really thinks that he's going to give up. Ichigo remarks that since Ulquiorra is the top Espada, this entire war will be as good as over once he defeats him. However, Ulquiorra pulls down the blade, ripping his shirt open, and reveals the number 4 tattoo on his chest. As Ichigo looks on in shock, Ulquiorra states that he is only the fourth strongest Espada and stabs Ichigo's chest with his arm. Ulquiorra tells Ichigo that he can't defeat him, and that even if he could there would still be three more Espada stronger than him that he would have to overcome. He then pulls his hand out of Ichigo's chest and tells him that no matter how many times he may stand up, his side will never achieve victory. He then leaves the tower, telling Ichigo that he overestimated him and that if he can still stand up, he should use that strength to leave Hueco Mundo, but if he can't, then to just stay there and die. Ichigo's Zanpakutō then reverts back to its Shikai form.

Orihime Inoue senses Ichigo's defeat and remarks that it's impossible that both he and Rukia Kuchiki were defeated. Someone then opens the door to the room and Orihime gets up, believing it to be Ulquiorra. However, it turns out to be Loly and Menoly, and Loly remarks that the "princess" is all alone. Loly then tells Orihime that they’re going to play a game.

Renji Abarai swings his Zanpakutō at Szayel Aporro Granz but the Arrancar easily blocks it with his own Zanpakutō and begins to mock his opponent. He tells Renji that his reaction was just as he anticipated and claims that a mere Shikai won't be able to hurt him. However, Renji suddenly puts more force behind his attack and is able to slightly wound Szayel. Renji then tells his opponent to be quiet and to get out of his way. He swings his Zanpakutō at Szayel again, but the Arrancar easily dodges, once again claiming that Renji's movements are easy to read. However, Szayel is caught off guard when Renji's Zanpakutō goes back and attacks him from behind. Szayel is forced to move out of the way and he appears slightly closer to Renji. Szayel doesn't think much of this but Renji tells him that him moving from his spot proves that he can't completely read his moves. He then tells Szayel that Zabimaru is an extension of his arms and legs and that the fight has only just begun. He then removes his cloak and swings his Zanpakutō at Szayel again. Szayel begins dodging his attacks, only to be trapped inside of Renji's Zanpakutō.

Renji uses his Zanpakutō to completely engulf Szayel but after the attack ends, Szayel is shown to have disappeared. All of a sudden Szayel appears directly in front of Renji and the Arrancar tells him that his lack of intelligence is unfortunate; reminding him that he knows everything about him. Renji begins angrily attacking Szayel, but he easily dodges all of his attacks and eventually breaks a small part of his Zanpakutō. He throws it to Lumina and Verona for them to play with and begins mocking Renji again. Szayel tells his opponent that he's now bored of his simplistic Zanpakutō and tells him that he's putting an end to this. After Renji's Zanpakutō goes back to its sealed form, Szayel calls his Fracción out. Renji looks on in shock and asks Szayel what they are, and he explains that all of the Espada are allowed to have Fracción, which are Arrancar with numbers of 11 are higher. He states that some Espada might have no Fracción, while others might have a small army of them. He then remarks that his Fracción are unique as they were Hollows that he personally experimented on that were turned into Arrancar. Renji questions the meaning of this and goes to attack again, but is stopped by Medazeppi, who appears from under the floor and directly in front of Renji. Szayel remarks that their putting an end to this pointless talking and that this will be the finale. Medazeppi attacks Renji and sends him flying across the room. He then goes up to Renji again, grabs him, and throws him into the ground. Medazeppi then attempts to grab Renji again.

Loly remarks to Orihime that she has got a nice room and sits on the couch there. She also tells Orihime that she must be popular since 5 people have come to rescue her and Sōsuke Aizen even gave her this room. Loly asks Orihime if she thinks she’s popular as well but Orihime states that she doesn't. Loly angrily throws Orihime across the room and tells her not to get cocky. She then warns her to stay away from Aizen and puts her foot on Orihime's head. Loly asks Menoly if they should beat her up and Menoly agrees and states that they'll stop when she starts crying. Loly then begins to continuously slam her foot on Orihime's head.

Renji stops Medazeppi's attack by bringing his sealed Zanpakutō to his hand and causing a minor cut across it. As Medazeppi begins screaming in pain, Szayel remarks that he's going to have to increase the numbers in his data a bit as he didn't expect him to last this long. Medazeppi blindly thrashes around the room, hitting anything in his sight and eventually causes Renji to fall down. Medazeppi uses this opportunity to punch Renji but he is stopped by a barrage of arrows from Uryū Ishida. Uryū remarks that Szayel made a mistake by not making the walls out of Sekkiseki and states that he could feel Szayel's reiatsu from three layers of wall away. Uryū then asks Renji what's wrong and states that he looks beat up.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
As Jūshirō Ukitake gets prepared to drink tea, he is attacked by Soifon, who is able to successfully hold him down to a tree. Kiyone Kotetsu then appears and Ukitake asks what's happening. Soifon states that she has no choice but to do this and she unsheathes her Zanpakutō. She attacks Ukitake, making rips in his shirt, and Kiyone takes pictures of him while apologizing.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 2) Ulquiorra Cifer
 * 3) Nel Tu
 * 4) Orihime Inoue
 * 5) Loly Aivirrne
 * 6) Menoly Mallia
 * 7) Szayel Aporro Granz
 * 8) Renji Abarai
 * 9) Lumina
 * 10) Verona
 * 11) Medazeppi
 * 12) Rukia Kuchiki (flashback)
 * 13) Yasutora Sado (flashback)
 * 14) Nnoitra Gilga (flashback)
 * 15) Uryū Ishida (flashback)
 * 16) Cirucci Sanderwicci (flashback)

Fights

 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ulquiorra Cifer (concluded)
 * Renji Abarai, Uryū Ishida & Mayuri Kurotsuchi vs. Szayel Aporro Granz

Power and Techniques Used
Hollow techniques used:

Techniques used:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:

Other powers: