Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ulquiorra Cifer

Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ulquiorra Cifer is Ichigo's second battle upon entering Las Noches and is the first battle with a current Espada to take place in Las Noches.

Prologue
Ulquiorra reappears to confront Ichigo Kurosaki as he and Nel make their way through Las Noches. Ulquiorra tries to taunt Ichigo, stating that Rukia Kuchiki is dead after sustaining wounds during her fight with Aaroniero Arruruerie. Unsure of whether to believe him Ichigo proceeds to leave. This causes Ulquiorra to question if he can do so without killing him first to which Ichigo replies by stating he has no reason to fight him. Ulquiorra is perplexed at first until Ichigo explains that he maybe the enemy but he has yet to harm any one of his friends. Ulquiorra responds by asking if Ichigo would change his mind if he told him he is the one who kidnapped Orihime and brought her to Hueco Mundo. Upon realizing that Orihime did not go to Hueco Mundo of her own free will, Ichigo proceeds to attack but is blocked by Ulquiorra who finds it weird that her friends would come to save her even if they had doubts about her loyalty. Ichigo scolds Ulquiorra for causing Orihime to be branded as a traitor and states that he has no time to deal with him, so they should go all out; he then releases his Bankai.

Fight
Ulquiorra is initially unimpressed, but becomes shocked by the sight of Ichigo wearing a Hollow mask and launching a Getsuga Tenshō enhanced attack against the him. Ulquiorra blocks the attack with his forearm, though Ichigo manages to push him back, sending him flying through a number of pillars. As he gathers himself to launch an attack of his own, Ichigo sends a Getsuga Tenshō at him claiming the fight is now over. Despite being pushed back a considerable distance by the force of the blast as it makes contact, Ulquiorra shows his power by stopping the blast with his bare hands.

Assuming he has won Ichigo goes to leave with Nel only to find the Ulquiorra is not only alive but barely scratched by the attack. Ulquiorra is disappointed that Ichigo actually believed he wouldn't be able to stop the blast even with both hands. He then asks Ichigo if that was all of his power, when Ichigo does not respond he resolves that its quite clear that it was. Disappointed he fires a Cero at Ichigo, sending him flying through a huge hole that the Cero had blasted in the wall and out to the desert. Ichigo gets up and runs to see if Nel is okay only to find Ulquiorra moving right beside him, the Espada consequently kicks him and sends him flying a considerable distance into a large pillar. Ulquiorra then appears before him and states that Ichigo had summoned his mask before the Cero hit him thus providing him with momentary protection from the blast,impressing the Espada with his reaction time. But he deduces that this time the mask shattered in a instant and next time he wont be able to bring it out at all, he then asks that Ichigo simply surrender. Unwilling to give up Ichigo stabs Ulquiorra in the shoulder and tells him he refuses to surrender, as how he figures it Ulquiorra is the main Espada so after he finishes him off everyone else will be a simple clean-up job. Ulquiorra looks at him unfazed by the attack and grabs his sword pulling it away from him to the side causing his coat to rip open, revealing that not only is he uninjured by the attack but also that he is not the main Espada, as his Espada tattoo on his left pectoral shows that he is only number four. Ichigo can barely believe his eyes and asks if he is number four, to which Ulquiorra responds that he is the Cuatro Espada Ulquiorra Cifer, and among the Espada his power is ranked fourth. He then impales Ichigo through the chest with his bare hand and tells him that he cannot defeat him, and that even if he did there are three more Espada above him. Stating there can never be any victory for either him or his friends. As Ichigo lies severely wounded Ulquiorra expresses his disappointment that he overestimated Ichigo's abilities, as he failed to meet his expectations. Ulquiorra leaves Ichigo, suggesting to him that he retreat if able and if not die there but either way his journey has ended.

Aftermath
Ichigo is left defeated and lost, while the others continue on pressing the Invasion forward. Ulquiorra leaves returning to Orihime to tell her of the demise of her friend.