Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck vs. Nnoitra Gilga

Ichigo Kurosaki & Nelliel Tu Odelschwancki vs. Nnoitra Gilga is a fight initially between Ichigo and the 5th Espada Nnoitra Gilga but Ichigo is on the losing end from the start until he is saved by the intervention of Nel, who is revealed to be the former 3rd Espada.

Prologue
Nnoitra Gilga observes Ichigo Kurosaki as he fights Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez; studying Ichigo's attacks until they finished. When Grimmjow is defeated, Nnoitra attacks him, wounding the 6th Espada further. Nnoitra says that Grimmjow is a bad loser and that Ichigo is his opponent now. Ichigo asks him who he is, wondering if he is an Espada, but Nnoitra doesn't respond. When he attempts to finish Grimmjow off, Ichigo blocks the attack, asking him why he would try and attack someone who can't move. Nnoitra deflects Ichigo away from him and tells Grimmjow how he can't stand him, seeing that he lost to the enemy and then has his life saved by him. He then asks Ichigo for his name, telling him he will remember it for the short time he will be alive.

Fight
Nnoitra then attacks Ichigo with his Zanpakutō, destroying the ground where it lands, though Ichigo dodges the attack. Nnoitra is immediately upon him attacking him relentlessly. When Orihime tries to intervene, Nnoitra has Tesra Lindocruz subdue her, prompting Ichigo to tell him to let her go. Nnoitra laughs at him and sticks out his tongue, showing that he is the 5th Espada and stating that it means that the trash he just got all beat up fighting and barely won against is weaker than him and that it's over for Ichigo, and says that he is sorry as he has already forgotten his name.

As they continue fighting, Nnoitra notices that Ichigo is moving well against him, he asks if this isn't the first time he has faced someone with a long weapon. Ichigo responds that it is in fact the second. Nnoitra is unimpressed and he changes direction and attacks Ichigo from behind. Orihime yells at him to stop, as Ichigo is already badly injured. Nnoitra plainly tells her to shut up, asking her if she is stupid, and saying that he is doing this because he is injured. He states that this is a battle, so it's not going to be fair, as fighting is a monster born from unfairness and intolerance. He continues making his speech, noting Ichigo is foolish to think no one will come after him after busting into the enemies's headquarters. He admits that he was watching Ichigo's fight with Grimmjow from the very beginning, and he already knows everything he is capable of.

Ichigo goes to attack Nnoitra, but Nnoitra states that he is too slow and he places his Zanpakutō up to counter Ichigo, who dodges it and gets close enough to attack the Espada. Nnoitra grabs Ichigo's blade with his bare hand even sliding it along the length of the blades edge with no injuries, much to Ichigo's surprise. Nnoitra draws him in closer and tells him that he guesses the blade just looks sharp, before he head-butts Ichigo, sending him flying into a nearby structure. As they fight, Nnoitra notices Nel, and says that she has become pathetic, and asks if her broken mask aches. Ichigo then questions how Nnoitra knows Nel. Nnoitra explains that he wondered why she was here, figuring Ichigo brought her not knowing who she really was. Ichigo is confused, not knowing what Nnoitra means, so the Espada explains that she is Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, an ex-Espada.

Nel tries to deny the accusation, prompting Nnoitra to step on her, but Ichigo blocks the attack and Ichigo tells Nel not to worry, but then he is kicked away by Nnoitra. Nnoitra comments that it does seem as though she has lost her memory, but after getting her head broken it's no wonder she has forgotten all that has happened. Ichigo questions what does he mean by broken, and Nnoitra explains as he picks Nel up by her head that he is the one who broke her head. Ichigo yells at him to stop and becomes enraged, charging at him, Nnoitra counters only for Ichigo to get in close and attempt to slash him.

Ichigo then realizes his blade has made contact but done nothing. Nnoitra asks if he has already forgotten that there is no way he can cut him with that blade. He then kicks Ichigo again, sending him further away. he starts to explain that Nel always made him mad just like Ichigo is doing right now, thus he broke her head from behind and threw her out of Las Noches. Ichigo screams at him to let her go and rushes to attack him but Nnoitra counters and throws Nel away in the process. As he goes over to a wounded Ichigo he states that its time to end this and he grabs Ichigo's sword arm and breaks his wrist. Seeing Ichigo hurt triggers Nel's transformation into her original form, much to Nnoitra's surprise.

Nnoitra states that she has returned to her original form. Before he reacts, she uses Sonído to move Ichigo to a safe distance away from him. After a small talk with Ichigo, she reassures him that they are still friends, and Nel resolves to face Nnoitra. Although Ichigo is uncertain at first, her former rank is revealed as the 3rd Espada. Nelliel rushes to attack Nnoitra and cuts him across the chest before he can react, surprising him entirely. He tries to attack her, but she effortlessly kicks his Zanpakutō away, pushing him off balance and sending him a distance away from her. He eventually stops himself and fires a Cero at her, causing Ichigo to scream, out trying to warn her. Nelliel simply places her hand up, stopping the blast entirely much to Nnoitra's surprise. She then sucks the entire blast into her mouth and fires a Cero Doble at him, causing a large explosion. Tesra lets Orihime go as he runs off to aid his master but no sooner than he does that he is sent flying away into nearby debris. Nnoitra appears injured along his right side, asking Tesra who told him to let go of that woman to which he apologizes. Nnoitra smiles at Nelliel and asks what is wrong. He notes that her face is asking why he is still alive. He then admits that he forgot about her Cero Doble, her trademark technique. He then explains to her that she doesn't get it as she has forgotten one thing. Since she left Las Noches, he asks her how many years have passed since she disappeared. He then says that she shouldn't think the power of the current Espada is the same as when she was an Espada and that the number on her back is meaningless now.

The two Arrancar continue to battle with both facing each other evenly. As they fight, Nnoitra asks if she remembers calling him a beast and even saying their strengths weren't even. He then gloats asking how does it feel being beaten to death by the same beast. Nelliel then kicks his Zanpakutō away as Nnoitra goads her, Nelliel tells him it's such a pity as it will be difficult to transform again after only just returning to her original form. Therefore she didn't want to resort to it, and she begins to release her Zanpakutō.

Nnoitra realizes what she is doing moves to stop her, but isn't fast enough and is forced back by the release of Reiatsu. He is quickly overwhelmed as Nelliel uses her "Lanzador Verde" technique which he tries to stop with his Zanpakutō, but the attack succeeds on getting through regardless slamming him against a slab of rock.

Nelliel goes to Nnoitra and tells him that it's over but he should not despair as she will not take his life. Then, in an instant she reverts back into a child, much to everyone's surprise. Nnoitra steps on her and laughs, and then kicks her, prompting an enraged Ichigo to attack again, only to be slammed into the ground. After getting bored with fighting Ichigo he commands Tesra to finish him off, to which Tesra releases his Zanpakutō and proceeds to beat Ichigo mercilessly. Nnoitra then forces Orihime to watch as Ichigo is brutalized.

Aftermath
Tesra continues to beat up Ichigo, who is unable to fight back. When Nnoitra comments that Ichigo is just about finished, but then he is saved by the arrival of Kenpachi Zaraki.