User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 555 - THE HERO/@comment-4207271-20131030053245/@comment-1248963-20131030062444

What are you talking about? Kubo already said this is the final battle. While an ambiguous statement in itself, it seems pretty evident that there'll be no "partial victory/defeat-retreat and regroup-training". Various factors that support this:

1. The Shinigami were already crushed once. If they're destroyed again, it would mean all their preparations were for naught and that, even with their Bankai, they're powerless against the Quincy. If a Bankai can't defeat the Quincy, nothing can, period. The war would be lost.

2. The Quincy are in an all-out extermination mission. They're not going to say "Oh well, now that you're unconscious I'm just gonna turn my back and let you escape to regroup". Last time they couldn't complete their destruction, but the fact that all of them have released Vollstanding now means they're in for the kill and they ain't leaving no Shinigami alive.

3. The Shinigami can't abandon Soul Society. The balance of the world is already at stake, if they go into hiding that balance would finally tip off. End of the world.

4. This chapter was all about Ichigo reaching the peak of his journey; becoming an "authentic Shinigami". If even that is not enough to turn this war over, once again, nothing will.

To sum up, this is literally Soul Society's last chance to retalliate and defeat the Quincy's threat. If they don't do it now that they have all the possible weapons (Bankai, power-upped Kenpachi, Hero Ichigo) there will be no other chance to seize back control. I expect the scales to tip from one side to the other (probably next chapter will be all about Quincy's destroying everything), but the ultimate conclusion is that, if Shinigami don't win this battle, they're going to be obliterated. The End.

OTOH, I'm honestly sick of "Character A is the strongestshitever and his/her power will destroyyouandyourmomintwoseconds". Literally every character seems to be like that, so forgive me if I take whatsherface's statement about Bambietta with a grain of salt.