Ikkaku's Bankai! The Power that Breaks Everything

 is the one hundred and eighteenth episode of the Bleach anime.

11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame battles against Edrad Liones.

Summary
A wounded 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame battles Edrad Liones through the streets of Karakura Town using his Zanpakutō, and after leaping back to avoid a high kick from Edrad, he questions why Edrad is not using his own Zanpakutō, which he assumes could just be for show. When Edrad explains that the Arrancar have skin like heavy armor due to their Hierro and claims that he can defeat Ikkaku with his bare hands, Ikkaku suddenly slashes at Edrad's arm while reinforcing his Zanpakutō with its scabbard.

With Edrad forced to partially draw his own Zanpakutō from its sheath on his hip to defend himself, Ikkaku dryly observes that he realized his vulnerability and chose to keep his arm. After fully drawing his Zanpakutō and pushing Ikkaku back by slashing with it, Edrad criticizes himself as disgraceful for having to draw his Zanpakutō against a mere Shinigami, and as a grinning Ikkaku promises to make Edrad release its power next, a bewildered Keigo Asano watches the fight from nearby while sitting on the ground and wonders who the two of them are in complete confusion.

In response, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa recontextualizes Ikkaku's position of 3rd Seat as making him the second most powerful man in the most feared division of the Gotei 13. Though Keigo recognizes him from Karakura High School and is confused as to why he is not helping Ikkaku, Yumichika draws Keigo's attention to Ikkaku's overjoyed expression and explains that he is having fun fighting a formidable enemy for the first time in a long time before asserting that he does not want any help and would reject any offered to him. Keigo admits that he does not understand this and inquires if Yumichika is sure that Ikkaku will win.

However, Yumichika casually states that he is not and note that Ikkaku will die happy if he loses, to Keigo's disbelief. Meanwhile, Edrad uses Palma Plancha and his own Zanpakutō to match Ikkaku's strikes with both his Zanpakutō and its scabbard while internally observing that Ikkaku is genuinely skilled despite his rough fighting style and overconfident demeanor. Despite this, Edrad calls Ikkaku's fighting style direct and predictable due to attacking from the left with his Zanpakutō and blocking from the right with its scabbard, and after forcing Ikkaku back with a Palma Plancha strike, Edrad presumes that he can always predict Ikkaku's next move this way.

Assuming it will also be easy to find an opening, Edrad slams his left hand into the ground where Ikkaku is standing, forcing the latter to leap high into the air. Suddenly, when Edrad sees Ikkaku moving to swing his left arm and presumes the latter is attacking with his Zanpakutō, he is astonished to find himself blocking Ikkaku's scabbard, which Ikkaku had moved to his left hand, before Ikkaku slashes at his face with his Zanpakutō in his right hand. In the aftermath, blood sprays into the air while Ikkaku and Edrad separate from each other, with Edrad having been slashed across his face and Ikkaku expressing disappointment at not having cut his head off.

Internally, Edrad ruminates on Ikkaku making him think his fighting style was predictable just to catch Edrad off-guard and switching his Zanpakutō to his other hand just as Edrad made his move, which he is left aghast at the huge risk of due to Ikkaku being just as liable to deal a critical injury as be killed in the process and realizes is Ikkaku fighting for sport instead of to win. Furthermore, Edrad mentally admonishes Ikkaku for exposing himself just to lure Edrad in, which he considers only superficially clever, and for treating this like a game with his own life being disposable while an unperturbed Ikkaku casually reaches into his mouth and pulls out two teeth.

Ikkaku deduces that Edrad's Palma Plancha consists of him filling his hand with Reiatsu to strike opponents with and is impressed by Edrad knocking out two of his teeth with this. After tossing the teeth away and deciding to have 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon make him some new ones, Ikkaku vows to keep hitting Edrad and figuring out his moves until the latter is forced to release his Zanpakutō. In response, an amused Edrad admits that he underestimated Ikkaku and that it would be better to fight with his Zanpakutō released against someone like him, which Ikkaku interprets as Edrad finally acknowledging his skill, though Edrad denies this.

As he points out that Ikkaku fights for sport instead of to win, Edrad promises to show him what it is like to be completely outmatched so he never makes the mistake of fighting an Arrancar for fun again and activates his Resurrección, Volcánica, forming gigantic white arms over his own arms that terminate in tall shoulder spikes arching over his head, which is encased in similar white armor, and leaving Ikkaku visibly perturbed. Calling Ikkaku's reaction impolite, Edrad notes that this is how Arrancar release their Zanpakutō and brings up Ikkaku's philosophy of introducing himself to those he is about to kill prior to fully introducing himself to a stunned Ikkaku.

Simultaneously, as Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki stare nervously at him, a smiling Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez lands on the street several meters away from them as Rukia recognizes his Reiatsu as being that of an Arrancar, only to mentally express fright at how incredibly strong it is, especially compared to Di Roy Rinker. When Grimmjow inquires about which one of them is stronger, a startled Rukia warns Ichigo to retreat before Grimmjow stabs his right hand into her abdomen and observes it is not her, which he expected. With Rukia being thrown to the ground by Grimmjow, a shocked Ichigo rushes toward Grimmjow, who grins sadistically over his shoulder at Ichigo.

During this, Edrad tells Ikkaku an Arrancar's Zanpakutō is sealed with the core of their power inside their body, differentiating them from the Zanpakutō wielded by Shinigami, and concludes releasing their Zanpakutō also releases their true power and appearance, meaning this is his true form and Volcánica is his true power before generating flames in his fist and firing a powerful blast at Ikkaku, who is sent flying back several blocks through Karakura Town. Upon witnessing this alongside a terrified Keigo, Yumichika contacts the SRDI and requests a large spatial freeze around Ikkaku due to the enemy's destructive power increasing beyond what they expected.

After noting a number of Humans could get caught up in the fight and their safety is the top priority while building repairs can be paid for by the Eleventh Division as usual, Yumichika explains that the other Arrancar likely being more powerful than expected as well means that identical spatial freezes should be placed around the opponents of 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, Rukia, and Ichigo as well so they do not take any chances, and once this is acknowledged, Yumichika solemnly requests a division funeral be prepared for Ikkaku as well, shocking Keigo with his belief that Ikkaku will die.

Meanwhile, once a singed Ikkaku falls from the sky and slams into the ground, Edrad sends him crashing through the side of a building into the air with a flaming punch as he laughs uproariously at how much stronger he is in his Resurrección. Suddenly, with Edrad pointing out that he cannot counter this much Reiatsu, Ikkaku stops himself in midair with Hohō, to Edrad's surprise, and releases his Shikai, Hōzukimaru, to continue fighting with a smirk while Edrad follows him into the air and attacks with a flaming punch that breaks through Hōzukimaru and sets Ikkaku on fire, leaving him to fall and crash into the street below in a trail of smoke.

Descending to the ground, Edrad advises Ikkaku to give up since knowing when to quit can be a virtue for a warrior and warns Ikkaku to not get blown to pieces, but Ikkaku simply grins at him, prompting a disappointed Edrad to slam his fist down onto Ikkaku in a huge pillar of flame. However, Edrad is shocked when the smoke clears to reveal a bloodied Ikkaku standing up and bracing himself against Edrad's fist with his back as he laments how unequal their power is and observes the others will not notice because of how busy they are. After complaining about having to use this, Ikkaku instructs Edrad to not tell anyone prior to activating his Bankai.

While a large, wide tornado crackling with Reiatsu forms around Ikkaku and Edrad, several nearby windows are shattered and multiple phone lines are cut, forcing Keigo to scramble back when one sparking with electricity lands on the ground near him as he expresses astonishment at this development and a smiling Yumichika notes Ikkaku has decided to use it. Within the tornado, a stunned Edrad picks up on Ikkaku's mention of Bankai, prompting Ikkaku to confirm this while the tornado clears to reveal him standing with his Bankai, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, two massive blades linked to a third floating behind his back with a handle, before he assumes a combat stance.

Though Edrad calls this impressive, Ikkaku claims his Reiatsu is not high enough to impress Edrad yet and begins emitting it as he instructs Edrad to be impressed when he dies, prompting the two of them to leap high into the air to resume their battle. When Edrad throws another flaming punch, Ikkaku slashes his guandao upward and slashes cleanly through Edrad's outstretched fist, leaving the latter shocked that Ikkaku managed to cut him prior to looking up to see Ikkaku dropping down on him with the monk's spade pointed downward. Though Edrad manages to block the spade with his forearm, he grunts in pain at the spade cutting into his arm.

With Edrad emitting a jet of fire from the opening on his left shoulder to push Ikkaku back with a burst of flame and Ikkaku skidding back through the air, Edrad mentally deduces that rather than enhancing Ikkaku's Kidō, speed, or even defensive ability, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru is simply a huge amount of energy with tremendous destructive power, though he observes that such an offense-focused weapon is vulnerable to damage upon seeing that the spade is missing a chunk of its blade. While Ikkaku begins spinning Ryūmon Hōzukimaru around by the handle on the central blade, whose dragon crest begins to fill, Edrad internally asserts that he can still win.

Edrad mentally declares that he will crush Ikkaku before the latter can cut off his arm as he fires jets of flame from his shoulders and declares that he cannot lose in a contest of raw power. However, Edrad is startled to sense that the Reiatsu of Ryūmon Hōzukimaru is increasing, and as he comments on Edrad finally noticing this, Ikkaku explains that Hōzukimaru is lazy to the point of usually being asleep when he performs Bankai, such that the only way to wake its full power is to exchange blows with an enemy, with its dragon crest slowly turning red as it starts to wake and indicating that Ryūmon Hōzukimaru is at maximum power when it is completely filled. After the dragon crest turns completely red, Ikkaku inquires if Edrad is ready, which a smiling Edrad confirms, and the two clash in an explosion of Reiatsu and fire.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai approaches his captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, and requests that the latter not attend the lieutenants meeting while he is away, only for Byakuya to assert that captains are responsible for the duties of their lieutenants. In response, a skeptical Renji questions if Byakuya plans to attend the Shinigami Women's Association meetings as well while Rukia Kuchiki is gone, prompting Byakuya to pause and smile deviously.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Edrad Liones
 * 2) Ikkaku Madarame
 * 3) Keigo Asano
 * 4) Yumichika Ayasegawa
 * 5) Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez
 * 6) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 7) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 8) Di Roy Rinker (flashback)

Fights

 * Ikkaku Madarame vs. Edrad Liones (concluded)

Powers and Techniques Used
Zanpakutō Techniques:
 * (flashback)

Hohō Techniques:

Arrancar Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:

Resurrección released:

Anime Notes
Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes=
 * Ikkaku Madarame and Edrad Liones repeatedly clashing and moving around with Shunpo and Sonído.
 * Keigo Asano and Yumichika Ayasegawa watching as Ikkaku evades a Palma Plancha strike from Edrad.
 * Edrad's Volcánica forming its massive arms and facial armor over his body.
 * A flashback to Di Roy Rinker being killed by Rukia Kuchiki's Some no mai, Tsukishiro.
 * Keigo questioning if Yumichika requesting funeral preparations for Ikkaku means that he believes the latter is going to die.
 * The tornado from Ikkaku's Bankai activation shattering windows and severing power lines with its Reiatsu.
 * Ikkaku emitting Reiatsu and Edrad wreathing his fist in flames as the two prepare to resume their battle.
 * Edrad's Palma Plancha strike to Ikkaku does not draw blood.
 * Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's arm is not covered in blood after he impales Rukia on his hand.
 * Blood is not dripping off of Ikkaku after he withstands Edrad's downward punch.
 * In the manga, Edrad explains his Hierro to Ikkaku while the two of them are still clashing; here, he instead forces Ikkaku back with a high kick prior to explaining Hierro while they are still separated.
 * In the manga, Edrad uses Palma Plancha to block Ikkaku's Zanpakutō and his scabbard; here, he instead only uses it to block Ikkaku's scabbard.
 * In the manga, after slashing Edrad's face, Ikkaku tosses his Zanpakutō from his right hand to his left hand; here, he instead swaps his Zanpakutō and his scabbard between his hands multiple times.
 * In the manga, upon witnessing the power of Edrad's Volcánica, Keigo is left stunned; here, he instead grins in complete disbelief.
 * In the manga, after sending Ikkaku flying into the air with his first blast of flames, Edrad punches him into the ground; here, he instead lets Ikkaku fall down to the ground and bounce into the air off the concrete.
 * In the manga, Edrad's facial wound disappears during some panels after he activates Volcánica; here, it instead remains present at all times after it is inflicted.
 * In the manga, after Ikkaku releases Hōzukimaru, it remains in its yari form and is broken in the middle by Edrad's subsequent flaming punch; here, he instead splits it into its sansetsukon form and Edrad's punch bypasses it, with Hōzukimaru only being broken after Ikkaku falls down to the ground below.