Fierce Fighting Concludes? Towards a New Battle!

 is the two-hundred-twenty-sixth episode of the Bleach anime.

Yamamoto effortlessly finishes Ayon and Harribel's Fraccíon and Starrk reveals himself to be the Primera. Rukia fights Rudbornn as Ichigo struggles against Ulquiorra.

Summary
Ichigo Kurosaki recounts how he used to be a normal high schooler, barring that he could see ghosts, until the day he met Rukia Kuchiki and gained the powers to become a Substitute Shinigami and protect other people. After that fateful day, the Substitute became more involved with the Shinigami's battles over time. In the midst of all this, Orihime Inoue was kidnapped by Sōsuke Aizen, and was followed by Yasutora Sado, Uryū Ishida, and Ichigo. What followed was the start of their series of battles against the mighty Arrancar Army. Later, Aizen put his plan to attack the Human World into action, and was met by the Gotei 13, who were there to stop him. The war between the Shinigami and the Arrancar is now in full swing.

To stop Aizen from destroying the reishi-rich Karakura Town, the Gotei 13 placed it in Soul Society and replaced it with a duplicate. Several scenes quickly flash by, showing the events that have transpired and battles that have taken place in the fake city. Shinigami and Arrancar clash and clash again with no holds barred in the fake town. Rangiku Matsumoto and Momo Hinamori battled against Tier Harribel's three Fraccion: Franceska Mila Rose, Cyan Sung-Sun, and Emilou Apacci. Hinamori's Kido allowed the two to gain an edge in the battle, but the tables turned immediately as the three Arrancar unleashed their Resurrección. Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, and Apacci perform their Quimera Parca technique, unleashing red beams on a single point to create a giant fireball, which expands rapidly. Rangiku, shocked, wonders what's going on, as the two Lieutenants see someone-or something-appear inside the flames. At that moment, the flames explode away, revealing the terrible beast Ayon.

Apacci smirks and explains that Quimera Parca creates Ayon, which she introduces as their pet, using the left arms of the three Fraccion in their Resurreccion. Rangiku thinks to herself that she feels as though she is looking into a bottomless pit when looking at the creature's eyes. At this moment, Ayon begins to attack and slashes through Rangiku's abdomen, causing the 10th Division Lieutenant to faint immediately. Smirking again, Apacci tells the Lieutenants that Ayon is "ungodly strong," and they'd better watch their step. Hinamori barely even has time to look up and is sent flying many blocks away by a single punch. As she sails through the air, her vision blurring, Hinamori despairs, believing they can't win against a beast which managed to defeat both of them, not to mention crack all her bones in one hit.

The Lieutenant's fall is interrupted as Izuru Kira arrives on scene and uses Way of Binding #37: Tsuriboshi to catch her. He and Shuhei Hisagi leap into action, ready to battle Ayon. Hisagi's Kazeshini wraps its long chain several times around Ayon's neck, and its wielder gives a tug, pulling Ayon away from the two fallen Lieutenants. Izuru grabs Rangiku and takes her to the net he just recently created to heal her, realizing quickly that she's in even worse shape. Meanwhile, Hisagi gives a mighty tug on his chain and even manages to yank the beast into the air, then slam him down into the ground. Aiming to finish him off, Hisagi charges at Ayon, but the beast turns his head around, and Hisagi realizes his plan failed as Ayon reaches up and grasps the 9th Division Lieutenant in his hand before smashing him into the side of a building. Hisagi groans in pain, and then Ayon lifts him to finish him off.

At that moment, Tetsuzaemon Iba charges in from behind, believing he can defeat the beast while it's distracted. Ayon slowly turns his head, and then an eye springs out of the side of his head before focusing on Iba. The 7th Division Lieutenent is blown away a split second later with a mighty crimson Cero. Now with nothing left in his way, Ayon begins to walk towards Kira, who is completely helpless against the beast, as he cannot fight and heal at the same time. Kira thinks he needs just a little longer before Rangiku is fully healed, but the beast advances faster than he can heal, and is upon the Lieutenants immediately. Kira stares up in terror at Ayon...and at the hole that has suddenly appeared in his chest.

Elsewhere, a massive reiatsu crashes through the air, causing Marechiyo Omaeda to cower in shock at this great pressure. His adversary, Baraggan Louisenbairn, and his captain, Sui-Feng, on the other hand, remain perfectly calm. Omaeda straightens and begins to ask Sui-Feng about what it was, and she answers before he can even finish the question, stating it was the work of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and telling him not to worry. Omaeda is surprised that Yamamoto himself is fighting, to which Sui-Feng replies by summoning him to her side and then punching him in the face, and when her Lieutenant begins to ask if she was thinking the same thing, the 2nd Captain, irritated, kicks him. Sui-Feng declares they came to fight, and that applies for the Captain-Commander as well; she adds for him to not be so stupid. Omaeda whines that his Captain is extremely cruel, particularly because of the place she kicked him.

Now, standing before Ayon is none other than Yamamoto. Izuru is amazed to see him fighting. Apacci and Mila-Rose complain about how foe after foe continues to hurl themselves at Ayon. Sung-Sun believe that's actually good for their side, as now although they have hurt him, the Gotei 13 will now understand what happens when they attack Ayon. Yamamoto, meanwhile, scolds the fallen Lieutenants for forcing him to go onto the front lines. Izuru apologizes, but Yamamoto won't accept it, saying that if they have time to apologize, they should use that time to focus on their enemies, prompting Izuru to look up at the beast in front of them. Ayon seems to begin to realize the existance of the hole in his chest, and upon seeing the blood pouring from it, goes into a rage, smashing his hand again and again against the hole. Yamamoto calmly waits for the beast's tirade to end. Finally, Ayon's rage rises to a fever pitch, and he lets out a savage roar, shocking Izuru, who believes at this point, Ayon should be dead. Yamamoto sighs and takes a step forward, declaring it seems he will have to punish him once again, to which Ayon responds with yet another roar, immediately regenerating the hole. With the mightiest roar of all, he begins to enlarge, and the muscles in his right arm swell to a gigantic size.

Appachi laughs that now Ayon is completely furious. Izuru is horrified by the events that have just transpired, while Yamamoto, still keeping his cool, uses Shun-po to place himself in the air. Now Ayon's arm is just as big as his torso, but this is too big for him to handle, and the weight of it causes his arm to crash down on a building, demolishing it. Ayon's eyes pop out, focusing on the Captain-Commander, and he tries to punch Yamamoto, who gets out of the way just in time, although the beast demolishes several buildings anyway. After finishing his attack, Ayon looks around for Yamamoto, who is standing right next to his arm, asking what just happened, as he didn't even manage to touch the Captain-Commander. Mila-Rose is shocked by this, and Ayon whirls to face Yamamoto, furious. The Captain-Commander calls Ayon a beast with nothing but the instinct to kill, stating this as "pitiful." The beast prepares for another attack, and Yamamoto releases Ryūjin Jakka and unleashes Hitotsume: Nadegiri. One sweeping slice, and Yamamoto stands sheathing his sword. The attack was so powerful, Ayon falls in half, either half falling to either side of him.

Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, and Apacci are shocked and infuriated by the destruction of their pet. But just when it seems over, one half of Ayon begins to twitch. Yamamoto tells him to just give up; cutting him down time and again is just irritating. The half of Ayon bursts up and attacks once again, but Yamamoto simply asks if he doesn't understand the word "stop" and calling him a child, then in a flash, Ryūjin Jakka is out of its sheath, and an inferno incinerates Ayon, finishing him off. When the flames finally clear away, Yamamoto stands alone. Izuru is impressed by how eazily Yamamto finished off Ayon.

Meanwhile, several dragons of ice fly at Tier Harribel, who dodges each one with ease. Right when she dodges the final one, Tōshirō Hitsugaya appears above her and brings his sword down, which she parries easily. Harribel notes that his concentration's improved considerably, asking if it's because his subordinate was saved by his Captain-Commander, to which Hitsugaya responds by asking what it is to her. The two struggle to push each other back, and eventually begin a heated clashing of swords. Hitsugaya leaps up and kicks Harribel's hollow blade away, then prepares to slash her, but Harribel brings it up just in time.

Yamamoto, sword still drawn, turns away and tells Izuru to strengthen his barrier; he's not quite done yet. Almost immediately, Apaccia, Mila-Rose, and Sung-Sun attack Yamamoto in unison from behind, furious about what has happened to Ayon. Completely unwavering, Yamamoto comments how impressed he is that they are willing to fight with only one arm; their other arms were sacrificed for Quimera Parca. Before the three Fraccion can reach their target, they are caught in an inferno created by the might of Ryūjin Jakka. The Captain Commander decides to show his respect for them through only giving them "a light toasting," even though it's far from that. The flames clear once more, and the three female Arrancar fall like smoking meteors, completely out of the fight. Izuru stares with awe at Yamamoto, having bore witness to the Captain-Commander's might.

Realizing the fate of her three Fraccion, Harribel is furious and begins to fill her blade with a bright yellow energy. Before Hitsugaya knows it, Harribel begins to fight much more aggresively, knocking him several meters away in a matter of seconds. Hitsugaya wonders what is happening as he watches the torrent of energy now contained in the Arrancar's weapon. To herself, Harribel tells her Fraccion that they fought well. Then she reaches up and begins to unzip her jacket. Much to Hitsugaya's shock and despair, printed on her breast is a "3," revealing herself as the Tercera Espada. Hitsugaya worries about how strong she is, even though she's only Number 3. Hearing him comment about her strength, Harribel coldly replies that she has yet to show him the full extent of her power. At this point, her jacket is fully unzipped, revealing her Hollow Mask remanents. As she begins to charge, Hitsugaya raises his sword and activates his Bankai, Daiguren Hyorinmaru. Immediately, Harribel is upon him and slashes, her sword still containing the yellow energy, and Hitsugaya barely has time to defend himself.

Coyote Starrk watches the ice fragments from Hitsugaya's Bankai being struck fly, and comments that the Gotei 13 are some tough customers, and Shunsui Kyōraku thanks him for the comment. Starrk says he was hoping he could just play around a little until everyone was finished fighting, but that doesn't seem possible, to which Shunsui replies he's glad to hear that. Then the 8th Captain looks at Harribel and guesses that she's the 3rd Espada, asking if he's correct. When given no reply, Shunsui guesses Baraggan must be the 1st Espada, as he's hoping Starrk is the 2nd. Starrks puts a hand on his face and says "I see," then pulls off his glove to reveal his "1" tattooed to the back of his left hand and tells Shunsui he's afraid he's the Primera. Shunsui says he had a feeling he was 1st, then sighs and calls it a pity, saying a fight against Starrk will be tough if he's the Primera.

Baraggan sits on his throne, staring down his opponents, and Sui-Feng returns the stare. Omaeda, afraid of the Espada's might, begins to say something to Sui-Feng, but Sui-Feng replies "Show time," as Barragan unleashes his dark red Reiatsu, readying himself to fight at full strength. Harribel similarly unleashes her yellow reiatsu, and Starrk does the same with a pillar of azure blue reiatsu. The Gotei 13 prepare themselves to battle the Espada at full strength as well.

Back at Hueco Mundo, the fighting is fiece; explosions run rampant in the dome of Las Noches. Renji Abarai swings Zabimaru again and again, clearing out more of the Exequias in his path. Grinning, Renji shouts to keep it coming and sends another attack heading their way. Yasutora Sado uses El Directo to smash the wall which several more Exequias stand upon, sending them plummeting to death. However, Chad quickly notices that more are coming. The two begin to run away before they get caught up in more fighting, but then Hollows burst up from the sand to block their path. Renji declares they won't let the Hollows get through.

More of the Exequias are mowed down by Rukia Kuchiki's Tsugi no Mai: Hakuren. Two final Exequias appear behind her, but Rukia wastes no time in cutting them down. At this point, Rukia finds herself staring down Rudbornn Chelute, the Exequias' leader. Rudbornn raises his blade, to which Rukia smiles and responds by saying that the Exequias have all been defeated, leaving Rudbornn the only one. The captain of the Exequias calls Rukia a fool, saying even if they sacrifice themselves so Ichigo may advance, only death awaits them. Rukia replies that they won't let the Arrancar get away with their plans, and she didn't plan on sacrificing herself. Rudbornn asks if that's so, and vows to kill the female Shinigami by himself, unleashing a dark purple Reiatsu as he completes his sentence. Rukia repeats that they won't be able to get away with their plans and prepares to fight. Inside one of the towers, Ichigo flies past Orihime to bring his sword down to meet Ulquiorra Cifer's. While Ichigo has a defiant look on his face, Ulquiorra's carries no emotion whatsoever. Eventually, Ichigo knocks away Ulquiorra's blade and slashes at the Espada Cuarta, but he backflips over the strike and flies down at the Substitute, still lacking any emotion. The attack strikes the ground, but Ichigo is out of the way already; though Ulquiorra quickly resumes his attack. With a few smooth strokes, Ulquiorra has sent Ichigo flying into a pillar. The Substitute jumps back up, only for the Cuarta to have knocked him to the ground again and forced to dodge Ulquiorra's attacks while still on the ground. Orihime screams Ichigo's name, as Ichigo begins a frenzied clash with Ulquiorra, who blocks all of Ichigo's attacks before using Sonido to appear behind Ichigo, and then the Cuarta is the one dealing the attacks. Eventually, Tensa Zangetsu is knocked out of Ichigo's hand, and Ulquiorra has slashed Ichigo. Ulqiorra finally prepares for a killing blow, but Ichigo grabs Tensa Zangetsu and brings it up barely in time to parry.

Ulquiorra asks if Ichigo is seriously still trying to fight; the Garganta have closed, so there is nowhere for Ichigo to heal from his battles with the other Espada, and he will stay in Las Noches until the Arrancar have killed him. Soon, Karakura Town will be destroyed, and once Aizen creates the King's Key, Soul Society will be eradicated as well; therefore, there is no way Ichigo can win. But Ichigo shouts for him to shut up, declaring he's not finished and the Cuarta shouldn't underestimate him. The Substitute begins to push back, much to Ulquiorra's surprise, declaring that the Gotei 13 will defeat Aizen, and if they don't, he will. And then Ichigo declares he will defeat Ulquiorra, at this point pushing Ulquiorra back to the point where the floor beneath his feet breaks. The Cuarta is shocked as Ichigo unleashes Getsuga Tensho, sending him surging into a pillar.

Ichigo flies after him, swearing to defeat the Cuarta, and take Inoue back home. Orihime whispers Ichigo's name as he flies towards the Cuarta, who fires off a Cero. Ichigo slams his blade against it and unleashes a point-blank Getsuga Tensho.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Ulquiorra and Nel inform Ichigo that their fight will have to resume on a later date because of studio executive decisions. Ulquiorra leaves asking to be let known when he is needed on the set, while Uryū and Chad drag the reluctant Ichigo away.

Fights

 * Battle of the Chimera: Gotei 13 vs. Ayon (concluded)
 * Tōshirō Hitsugaya vs. Tier Harribel
 * Shunsui Kyōraku & Jūshirō Ukitake vs. Coyote Starrk
 * Rukia Kuchiki vs. Rudbornn Chelute
 * Ichigo Kurosaki & Uryū Ishida vs. Ulquiorra Cifer: Final Fight

Powers and Techniques used
Kidō used Hollow techniques Zanpakutō released
 * Bakudō #37,
 * Healing Kidō
 * Bakudō #73,

Shikai:

Bankai:

Resurrección:

Techniques used

Other powers