Bleach Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Bleach Wiki

MALA SUERTE! is the twenty-third volume of the Bleach manga series.

Publisher's summary[]

The Arrancar, Hollows that have attained Shinigami-like powers, have descended on Karakura Town. Led by Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, they plan to eliminate anyone who poses a threat to them. And their deadly hunt doesn't stop with Ichigo and the Shinigami--the Arrancar are after anyone with even a trace of spiritual powers!

Bleach All Stars[]

All-Stars
斑目 一角
Ikkaku Madarame
Ep117EdradCharaPic2 茶渡 泰虎
Yasutora Sado
Ep237IkkakuCharaPic エドラド・リオネス
Edrad Liones
Ep158SadoCharaPic

Ep320RukiaCharaPic 井上 織姫
Orihime Inoue
Ep216IchigoCharaPic2
朽木 ルキア
Rukia Kuchiki
Ep215OrihimeCharaPic 黒崎 一護
Ichigo Kurosaki



Chapters[]

198. The Icecold Discord[]

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez learns of Ichigo Kurosaki being spared by Ulquiorra Cifer as the Shinigami Strike Force makes arrangements to stay in Karakura Town.

Summary:

198Cover

The cover page of 198. The Icecold Discord.

With Ulquiorra Cifer having returned to Las Noches alongside Yammy Llargo following their expedition to Karakura Town, Sōsuke Aizen sits on a high throne before them and requests that Ulquiorra share everything he experienced in the Human World, prompting Ulquiorra to comply by pulling out his left eye and crushing it in his palm like glass to initiate Solita Vista, which spreads the shards through the air and among Aizen and the other Arrancar present as they close their eyes and see what Ulquiorra saw, primarily the defeat of Ichigo Kurosaki. Following this, Aizen brings up Ulquiorra determining that Ichigo was not worth killing, and when Ulquiorra affirms this and reiterates his orders to kill anyone who might be a threat to the Arrancar, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez accuses him of being compassionate and claims that he would have killed Ichigo with the first strike had he gone to Karakura Town instead.

As Ulquiorra looks back to glare at him, Grimmjow criticizes Ulquiorra for not using his permission to kill while Shawlong Koufang concurs by noting that Ulquiorra should have killed Ichigo simply because the latter stood up to him regardless of his threat level. Turning to Yammy, Grimmjow observes that he has sustained significant injuries and that it seems more like they could not kill Ichigo rather than them choosing not to. Though an annoyed Yammy reminds him that it was Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin who proved too powerful for him to handle, Grimmjow simply counters that he would have easily killed them as well. Before Yammy can initiate a fight over this, Ulquiorra tells him to calm down and clarifies to Grimmjow that Ichigo is not a problem to them at the moment, to Grimmjow's confusion, before explaining that Aizen is concerned about Ichigo's growth rate rather than his current power level since Ichigo possesses tremendous potential.

Ulquiorra elaborates that Ichigo's powers are extremely unstable and that he might prove useful to the Arrancar if he does not simply destroy himself in the future, which is why Ulquiorra let him live, and when an incredulous Grimmjow questions what they will do if Ulquiorra is proven wrong and Ichigo stabilizes his powers in time to fight them, Ulquiorra bluntly concludes that he will deal with Ichigo in this scenario and asks a stunned Grimmjow if they still have a problem. In response, Aizen grants responsibility for Ichigo to Ulquiorra and instructs the latter to do as he likes, with Ulquiorra accepting this as Grimmjow fumes behind him.

Meanwhile, in Ichigo's room in the Kurosaki Clinic in Karakura Town, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto inspect Kon's Gikongan after pulling it out of his plushie body and express amazement at it being able to animate a stuffed animal like this, with Renji having assumed it was a wind-up doll and Rangiku noting that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute makes interesting things. While Renji puts Kon's pill back inside the plushie, an exasperated Ichigo inquires about when they plan to leave, prompting Renji to assert that they are not leaving until the Arrancar have been defeated. However, Ichigo reveals that they will not be able to sleep at his house since there is not enough room for all of them, which leads to a shocked Rangiku wondering if even she cannot stay.

With a flabbergasted Ichigo confirming that she in particular cannot stay and questioning if the Strike Force intended to make themselves at home here, Rangiku begins unbuttoning her shirt to expose her breasts. Despite Ichigo reacting with astonishment to this and ordering Rangiku to button her shirt back up as he covers his eyes with his fingers and claims that he has an iron will, an unimpressed Rukia Kuchiki points out that he is still peeking through his fingers at Rangiku. Following this, while the sun begins to set, Rangiku decides to stay with Orihime Inoue, leading Kon to bleed from the nose at the mental image of Orihime and Rangiku naked together as Rangiku responds to Ichigo wondering if Orihime has been informed of this by cheerfully stating that Orihime will not turn her down when she asks. Nonchalantly chopping Kon down to the ground with her arm when he attempts to join them as a mascot, Rangiku walks off with her captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, whom she invites to come with her while he stoically refuses.

11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa decide to leave as well, and when Ichigo asks him if they have somewhere in mind, Ikkaku denies this and explains that they will be finding beds on their own since they never intended for Ichigo to take care of them, leaving Ichigo to caution Ikkaku to hide his wooden sword when in public while Renji announces that he is going to the Urahara Shop. After musing on Urahara having been the one who got Ichigo ready to fight the Gotei 13 in just a few days, Renji declares that he has always wanted to meet him and that he has a few things to ask Urahara as he walks away. While Rukia warns Renji to be careful since Urahara is a strange man, Ichigo asks her where she will be staying, and when Rukia immediately attempts to run back into the Kurosaki Clinic, Ichigo frantically stops her and counters her assertion that he already knew where she was going to sleep by reminding Rukia that his family already saw her and that she needs to make up a story to tell them.

Nearby, Yumichika smells a Hollow and suggests that he and Ikkaku take care of it, only for Ikkaku to brush this off due to Zennosuke Kurumadani being assigned to the area as Yumichika muses on the strange scent of the Hollow. Simultaneously, at her house, Tatsuki Arisawa sits on her bed and recalls seeing Ichigo's Shinigami form pulled out of his body by Rukia prior to admonishing herself for worrying about it. Meanwhile, as Orihime recounts the events of the past few days to her shrine of Sora Inoue, she remembers Rukia snapping Ichigo out of his depressive mood and sadly admits to being somewhat envious of her forceful personality, with Yasutora Sado lying on his back and looking out the open door of his apartment while Orihime's Sōten Kisshun heals his right arm.

Elsewhere in Karakura Town, Keigo Asano finishes detailing his encounter with Rangiku to Mizuiro Kojima by proclaiming that even a uniform can be a weapon on the right person by shattering his self-control, but Mizuiro bluntly promises to leave him here if he does not shut up, and as a startled Keigo questions what is wrong, Mizuiro assures the person he is speaking to on the phone that he was not referring to them and begins walking off. Suddenly, when Keigo begins chasing after Mizuiro, he notices a winged Hollow flying through the air above and stops in confusion before Mizuiro addresses him by his last name, which Keigo demands that he not do while informing Mizuiro of the monster he just saw in the sky, though Mizuiro continues to address him by his last name as they leave. However, in the sky above them, a Garganta opens to reveal a smirking Grimmjow.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


199. Ugly[]

10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto comforts a distraught Orihime Inoue over her conflicting feelings about Rukia Kuchiki.

Summary:

199Cover

The cover page of 199. Ugly.

At the Kurosaki Clinic, Rukia Kuchiki tearfully concludes her story next to an exasperated Ichigo Kurosaki by claiming that she has lost everything and does not even have money for food, prompting an openly weeping Isshin Kurosaki and Yuzu Kurosaki to immediately agree with each other that she can stay with them for as long as she wants. Though Ichigo criticizes Rukia for cheekily giving him a thumbs-up because it could lead to his family realizing that it is all an act, he changes his mind upon seeing Isshin and Yuzu telling the poster of Masaki Kurosaki on the wall that Isshin now has a third daughter. With Karin Kurosaki staring at Ichigo during this, a Garganta opens in the air above Karakura Town to reveal Shawlong Koufang and Nakeem Grindina.

Meanwhile, Orihime Inoue finds 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto asking to spend the night at her apartment and admits that it is fine with her despite not knowing why she was chosen, prompting a grateful Rangiku to hug Orihime and assert that she knew the latter would not turn her away as she invites Orihime to take a bath with her since her outfit has left her sweaty and feeling compressed despite Orihime protesting that Rangiku is hurting her. After bluntly telling her captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, that he can join them if he has no other place to go and closing the front door to Orihime's apartment, leaving Hitsugaya sitting on the roof above and dismissing this, Rangiku gets in Orihime's bathtub and begins taking a bath as she assures Orihime, who is sitting outside the door, that the temperature is perfect and that the slightly small size of the tub is not a problem before inquiring about why Orihime is so somber. When a flustered Orihime claims to be fine, Rangiku threatens to do painful things to her if she does not talk, unnerving Orihime.

Orihime brings up how amazing Rukia is for snapping Ichigo out of his depressive state with just one kick despite how long he had been feeling that way and hunches up while calling herself a bad person due to thinking that she wanted Ichigo to be happy, only to find herself feeling jealous of Rukia after she cheered him up. With tears running down her cheeks, Orihime declares that she considers Rukia to be kind, strong, and beautiful and that she loves her for cheering up Ichigo, but does not know why she feels this way when she is alone at home and not when she is at school. However, as Orihime criticizes herself for sounding so self-absorbed, Rangiku opens the door to stand naked before a confused Orihime prior to hugging and ferociously tickling her sides, leaving Orihime laughing uncontrollably and hitting her head on the wall. Coming to a stop on top of Orihime, Rangiku calls her foolish for not realizing that she does not need to be jealous since Ichigo needs both her and Rukia right now as a kid who can barely stand on his own. As she elaborates that jealousy is not necessarily a bad thing and points out how Orihime is doing her best to deal with her feelings instead of taking the easier routes of running away from them or lashing out at someone, Rangiku concludes that Orihime doing this means that she is a good person, which leads Orihime to cry into a supportive Rangiku's chest.

Elsewhere in Karakura Town, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez sits on the corner of a rooftop and looks up to see Shawlong, Edrad Liones, Yylfordt Granz, Nakeem, and Di Roy Rinker standing in the air before him. After assuring Grimmjow that no one saw them, Shawlong observes that he sensed several different, powerful Reiatsu across Karakura Town despite Ulquiorra Cifer's report, prompting an unimpressed Grimmjow to perform Pesquisa alongside his Fracción and deduce that reinforcements from Soul Society were called in, which he asserts would not have happened if Ulquiorra had simply killed Ichigo. Irritated by this perceived mercy on Ulquiorra's part, Grimmjow addresses his Fracción by name and orders them to kill anyone who has even a trace of Reiatsu without holding back.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


200. Night of Sledgehammer[]

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and his Fracción begin their attack on Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends.

Summary:

200Cover

The cover spread of 200. Night of Sledgehammer.

At the Kurosaki Clinic, Rukia Kuchiki is perplexed to find that Ichigo Kurosaki's family has put her bed with those of Karin Kurosaki and Yuzu Kurosaki, which Ichigo dryly notes is the normal thing to do. When Rukia protests that she was going to sleep in Ichigo's closet and had brought furniture to brighten it up, Ichigo rejects this notion and takes offense at her calling his closet dirty. Simultaneously, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai sits against a telephone pole opposite the Urahara Shop, where Jinta Hanakari peers out at him from a slat at the bottom of the shutter covering the door and informs Kisuke Urahara that Renji is still there as Urahara expresses confusion at what Renji wants since he has no business with a lieutenant from Soul Society.

Elsewhere, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame sits on the roof of a building with 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa and brings up the onigiri they purchased earlier, which he observes the intricate and neat packaging of in their complex wrapping paper and how they are in all the local stores before revealing that a sales girl told him they are replaced dozens of times each day, something he considers impossible. With Ikkaku concluding that the sales girl could not possibly have the skill to pull this off and that something nefarious must be going on behind the scenes, Yumichika concurs and admits that he was just thinking the same thing. At Orihime Inoue's apartment, 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto finishes eating dinner with Orihime and praises the quality of the food, to Orihime's surprise. When Rangiku notes that the food was a lot better than it looked, Orihime tearfully thanks her due to no one ever eating what she prepares despite how much she cooks to the point that she was beginning to think something was wrong with her taste buds. With Orihime and Rangiku enjoying ice cream for dessert and relishing in how good it tastes, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya sits on the rooftop above them and realizes that he is hungry.

Meanwhile, in the air above Karakura Town, a grinning Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez stands with Shawlong Koufang, Edrad Liones, Yylfordt Granz, Nakeem Grindina, and Di Roy Rinker, whom he orders to begin and not spare anyone now that they have located everyone before they leap down toward the city below, alerting the Shinigami stationed across the area. Upon sensing their Reiatsu, Ichigo realizes it is like that of Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo, which he alerts Rukia to. Seeing six marks on the screen of her Denreishinki, Rukia is aghast at how many Arrancar are here, and when Ichigo asks her if they are coming this way, Rukia observes that they seem to just be probing for Reiatsu at this point, but warns Ichigo that this means they are making a list to kill everyone with even a hint of Reiatsu. Mortified by this and grabbing his Substitute Shinigami Badge, Ichigo recalls that Uryū Ishida has none right now and inquires about Orihime and Yasutora Sado, prompting Rukia to assure him that Hitsugaya and Rangiku will be able to protect Orihime prior to informing Ichigo that one of the Arrancar is headed toward Sado.

Simultaneously, Ikkaku and Yumichika exit their Gigai and express excitement at the prospect of facing the Arrancar while preparing to move out as Hitsugaya swallows a King Gikongan and orders it to hide his Gigai, which it complies with. After Rangiku joins him on the rooftop and he draws his Zanpakutō, Hitsugaya questions where Orihime is, and once Rangiku assures him that her Gigai will keep Orihime safe, Hitsugaya warns her that the Arrancar are coming. Suddenly, Shawlong and Nakeem appear before Hitsugaya and Rangiku with Sonído, shocking Rangiku with their speed, and Shawlong greets them before attacking Hitsugaya, who manages to block Shawlong's slash from behind. After introducing themselves to each other, Hitsugaya and Shawlong separate, with Shawlong calling himself lucky for having found the 10th Division Captain and Hitsugaya countering that he has instead had fatally bad luck.

Elsewhere, Sado sits up on the floor while Shun'ō and Ayame fly away from his restored arm, which he inspects. Despite Shun'ō warning him that he is not fully healed, Sado assures him and Ayame that he is okay and that they can return to Orihime's apartment in order to heal her. When Sado runs outside with his Fullbring, Brazo Derecha de Gigante, manifested, Di Roy expresses disappointment at him not being a Shinigami and attempts to stab his left hand into a surprised Sado's chest, only for Ichigo to arrive in his Shinigami form and grab Di Roy's left hand before he can complete his attack while criticizing him for evaluating his attack before he has won the fight, which a chuckling Di Roy accepts. However, Di Roy decides instead to kill Ichigo and his friends, then tell the other Arrancar that none of them were any good as Yylfordt confront Renji and Edrad confronts Ikkaku and Yumichika.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


201. Wind & Snowbound[]

Rukia Kuchiki reveals that she has regained her Shinigami powers and faces off against Di Roy Rinker.

Summary:

201Cover

The cover page of 201. Wind & Snowbound.

With Di Roy Rinker freeing himself from Ichigo Kurosaki's grasp, a stunned Yasutora Sado stands behind the latter and mentally observes that Di Roy would have killed him with his strike had Ichigo not shown up when he did, due to the stopped attack still puncturing Sado's skin. When told by Ichigo to stand back, Sado protests that his arm was healed by Shun'ō and Ayame, but Ichigo insists that Sado let him handle this, leading Sado to recall Yammy Llargo mangling his Fullbring, Brazo Derecha de Gigante, and agree to Ichigo's request before running off and ignoring Rukia Kuchiki when she encounters him in the street and inquires about his wellbeing, which leaves her confused. As he continues to run, Sado wonders if Ichigo does not trust Sado to watch his back anymore and if they will ever be able to fight as a team again.

Back outside the house Sado was resting in, a grinning Di Roy questions how he should kill Ichigo, who rips the bandage off his head and notices Rukia approaching him from behind. After confirming her identity, Rukia asks Ichigo what he told Sado, and when a sweating Ichigo states that he just told Sado to stay back and let him handle this, Rukia requests that he step back as well, to Ichigo's astonishment. However, Ichigo is left further shocked upon seeing Rukia holding a Chappy Gikongan dispenser as Rukia asserts that she should handle this since Ichigo is too tense and pops the Gikongan into her mouth, causing a release of energy that swirls around her. Warning Ichigo that he could get himself killed fighting like this, Rukia stands in front of her Chappy-controlled Gigai in her proper Shinigami form with her Zanpakutō at her hip.

When Ichigo expresses surprise at Rukia having gotten her powers back, Rukia explains that she could not get her powers back before due to being in Kisuke Urahara's Gigai and that she regained her Reiryoku with ease once she discarded that Gigai and lived in the Reishi-rich Soul Society. Suddenly, Chappy leaps toward a startled Ichigo and repeats Rukia's instructions for him to step back, leaving Ichigo irritated and perplexed by who she is supposed to be. Rukia informs him that this is Chappy, the Gikongan most popular with female Shinigami whom she was trying to purchase before when she ended up with Kon instead. With Ichigo expressing disbelief at Chappy potentially inhabiting his own body instead and relief that Kon does instead, which Chappy takes issue with as Ichigo discovers her surprising strength, Di Roy leaps forward and strikes at Rukia, who blocks with her Zanpakutō and is pushed down the block by the force of his strike while Ichigo calls out to her in concern.

Upon being pushed into the air by Di Roy swinging his arm upward, Rukia lands on the side of a telephone post and pushes herself off it to slash at Di Roy, who blocks her blade with the side of his hand and introduces himself. However, when Rukia attempts to do the same, Di Roy cuts her off and notes that he does not waste time learning the names of those he kills. In response, Rukia tells Di Roy to at least remember the name of her sword and releases her Shikai, Sode no Shirayuki, which turns the blade of her Zanpakutō pure white and causes a long, flat tassel to become attached to the bottom of the handle. With Di Roy shocked to see a white Zanpakutō, Rukia initiates Some no mai, Tsukishiro, creating a freezing circle on the ground encompassing both herself and Di Roy, who sees ice beginning to encompass his lower body from the feet up and frantically jabs his hand into the ice covering his foot. Leaping high into the air with a bleeding foot, Di Roy proclaims that the sky is his domain and mocks Rukia for having a sword that only freezes the ground as he lifts the bandages covering his right eye and prepares to fire a Cero. However, Di Roy swiftly finds himself frozen in a tall pillar of ice originating from the circle while Rukia clarifies that the domain of of Sode no Shirayuki is everything within its circle instead of the ground and walks away as the pillar shatters into tiny pieces.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


202. Mala Suerte![]

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez confronts Ichigo Kurosaki as 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame faces off against Edrad Liones.

Summary:

202Cover

The cover page of 202. Mala Suerte!

In Rukia Kuchiki's Gigai, Chappy restrains Ichigo Kurosaki by holding his arm behind his back while pinning him to the ground and promises to force him to remain still if he does not do so on his own. Despite Ichigo protesting that he cannot remain still when she is hurting him like this, Chappy responds to him threatening to beat her up if she does not stop by asserting that she will kill him before he can kill her, visibly unnerving Ichigo by exceeding her orders to simply hold him down, and wrenches his arm further behind his back as Rukia approaches them and questions what they are doing. Upon seeing Rukia, a startled Ichigo frantically asks her if she is okay and if she defeated Di Roy Rinker, prompting Rukia to point out that she obviously did since she is still here while Ichigo notices her Shikai, Sode no Shirayuki.

Chappy informs Ichigo that Sode no Shirayuki is currently regarded as the most beautiful Zanpakutō in all of Soul Society due to its blade, guard, and hilt all being completely white, though Ichigo admonishes her for ruining the mood when she finishes her sentence by making a hopping noise, and explains that Rukia has the potential to be a seated officer, but the increased danger that seated officers face compared to regular Shinigami led a certain person who did not want her to be exposed to peril to pull some strings and have her removed from seated officer candidacy, which Chappy reveals was 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, to Ichigo's surprise. When Chappy concludes this by making a hopping noise once more, an unimpressed Ichigo determines that exposition is not her forte and requests that Chappy get off of him, only for Chappy to wrench his arm once again while an exasperated Rukia tells them to stop this. Suddenly, Ichigo and Rukia experience a powerful Reiatsu as Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez stands in the air above them and comments on Di Roy's death meaning that he will simply have to kill them both himself before introducing himself to an intimidated Ichigo.

Around Karakura Town, Shawlong Koufang notices Di Roy's death, Yylfordt Granz criticizes him for dying after begging to accompany them and muses that not even Sōsuke Aizen could save him from his incompetence, and a grinning Edrad Liones asserts that whoever fought Di Roy was lucky due to the latter never being strong enough to become an Arrancar and warns 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa that they are not so lucky because he is not Di Roy prior to performing Palma Plancha, which creates a large explosion of force that dwarfs the surrounding buildings. Several blocks away, Keigo Asano nervously wonders what that noise was at this time of night and attributes to hoodlums whom he does not want to encounter tonight while lamenting Mizuho Asano forcing him to get a drink for her when it is so dark out.

Recalling how he has been seeing strange things lately and how it has creeped him out despite not believing in ghosts, Keigo remembers seeing the Hollow earlier and notices Zennosuke Kurumadani running toward him. After identifying Zennosuke as the guy who is always fighting monsters and a potential source of company for him, Keigo cheerfully greets Zennosuke and questions if he is filming again, but Zennosuke ignores him and continues running down the street, leaving Keigo to observe that he now feels worse than he did before and that he still has not seen Zennosuke's television show yet, which he theorizes could be on cable.

However, Keigo is interrupted when a powerful explosion occurs at the intersection in front of him, and as he scrambles back in shock, Keigo sees Ikkaku standing in the clearing dust with blood streaming down from a wound on his forehead. When a frightened Keigo recognizes Ikkaku as one of the people who came to Karakura High School today and demands to know what he is doing running around in the middle of the night while bleeding and carrying a sword, a surprised Ikkaku recognizes him in turn before Edrad hits him in the face with another Palma Plancha that sends Ikkaku crashing into the ground next to Keigo. A laughing Edrad inquires if this is the best that the Shinigami can offer, leading Keigo to pick up on his mention of shinigami and wonder what he is talking about prior to Ikkaku getting his attention and suggesting they make a deal, to Keigo's surprise and reluctance.

After detailing how he and Yumichika need a place to stay tonight and how Edrad is going to kill Keigo, though the latter points out that Edrad might just want to kill him instead, Ikkaku promises to save Keigo from Edrad if Keigo lets them stay at his house for a while. With a stunned Keigo expressing confusion at this, an angered Ikkaku orders Keigo to give him an answer, prompting Keigo to agree as a pleased Ikkaku stands up and faces Edrad, whom he asks about the identity of. Initially responding with his Arrancar number, Edrad pauses and dismisses this since there is no point in introducing himself to a dead man, only for an unimpressed Ikkaku to comment on his poor etiquette and explain that he always tells those he trains to introduce themselves to their victims because someone who is about to be killed at least has the right to know the name of their killer. Introducing himself as the 3rd Seat of Kenpachi Zaraki's division, Ikkaku instructs Edrad to take note of his name since it is the last one that the latter will ever hear.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


203. Mala Suerte!2 "El Monstruo"[]

Edrad Liones continues his battle with 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and decides to utilize his Resurrección.

Summary:

203Cover

The cover page of 203. Mala Suerte!2 "El Monstruo".

A wounded 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame battles Edrad Liones through the streets of Karakura Town using his Zanpakutō and 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 in his other hand, forcing Edrad to partially draw his own Zanpakutō from its sheath to defend himself, which prompts Ikkaku to observe that he realized his vulnerability and chose to keep his arm. After pushing Ikkaku back, Edrad criticizes himself as disgraceful for having to draw his Zanpakutō against a mere Shinigami, and as Ikkaku promises to make Edrad release its power next, a bewildered Keigo Asano watches the fight from nearby and wonders who the two of them are.

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, only for Yumichika to casually state 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, though he 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 and that it will be easy to find an opening as he slams his left hand into the ground where Ikkaku is standing, forcing the latter to leap high into the air. However, 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 the former's head off like he intended to. 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 Ikkaku pulls two teeth out of his mouth and deduces that Edrad's Palma Plancha consists of him filling his hand with Reiatsu to strike opponents with. Impressed by Edrad knocking out two of his teeth with this, Ikkaku tosses the teeth away and decides to have 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon make him some new ones prior to vowing 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. Though Ikkaku assumes that this is Edrad acknowledging his skill, Edrad denies this and points out that Ikkaku fights for sport instead of to win while promising to show him what it is like to be completely outmatched so he never makes the mistake of fighting an Arrancar for fun again before entering his Resurrección, Volcánica, which visibly unnerves Ikkaku. Calling Ikkaku's reaction impolite, Edrad notes that this is how Arrancar release their Zanpakutō as he stands before Ikkaku with gigantic arms terminating in tall shoulder spikes arching over his head, which is encased in white armor. After bringing up Ikkaku's philosophy of introducing himself to those he is about to kill, Edrad fully introduces himself to a stunned Ikkaku.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


204. Mala Suerte!3 "Monstruo Sangriento"[]

Faced with the overwhelming power of Edrad Liones's Resurrección, Volcánica, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame is left with no choice but to use his true level of power as well.

Summary:

204Cover

The cover spread of 204. Mala Suerte!3 "Monstruo Sangriento".

As Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki stare nervously at him, a smiling Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez lands on the street several meters away from them while Rukia recognizes his Reiatsu as being that of an Arrancar, only to mentally express fright at how incredibly strong it is. 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 that it is not her, which he expected. With a disgusted Rukia being thrown to the ground by Grimmjow, a shocked Ichigo rushes toward Grimmjow, who grins sadistically over his shoulder at Ichigo.

Elsewhere, Edrad Liones explains to an astonished 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame that 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 that releasing their Zanpakutō also releases their true power and appearance, meaning that this is his true form and his Resurrección, 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 Asano, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa contacts the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and requests a large spatial freeze around Ikkaku due to the enemy's destructive power increasing beyond what they expected. After noting that a number of Humans could get caught up in the fight and that 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 in addition so they do not take any chances, and once this is acknowledged, Yumichika asks that a division funeral be prepared for Ikkaku as well.

Meanwhile, Edrad punches an injured Ikkaku into the ground and sends him crashing through the side of a building into the air with a swipe of his hand 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. Descending to the ground below, 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 due to how well he fought, 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 that the others hopefully will not notice because of how busy they are. After complaining about how he did not want to use this, Ikkaku instructs Edrad to watch closely and not tell anyone about this prior to activating his Bankai.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


205. Mala Suerte!4 [Tempestad de la Lucha][]

11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame demonstrates the incredible offensive power of his Bankai, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru.

Summary:

205Cover

The cover page of 205. Mala Suerte!4 [Tempestad de la Lucha].

As a large, wide tornado crackling with Reiatsu forms in Karakura Town, Keigo Asano is left bewildered by it while 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa notes with a smile that 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame has decided to use his Bankai. Within the tornado, a stunned Edrad Liones picks up on Ikkaku's mention of Bankai, prompting Ikkaku to confirm this as 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 with them. Though Edrad calls this impressive, Ikkaku counters that his Reiatsu is not high enough to impress Edrad yet and instructs him 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 while grinning ferociously. Though Edrad manages to block the spade with his forearm, he grunts in pain and disbelief at the spade cutting into his arm and emits a jet of fire from the opening on his left shoulder to push Ikkaku back with a burst of flame. With 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 and 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 for the final time in an explosion of Reiatsu and fire.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


0.side-A the sand[]

Ichigo Kurosaki ruminates on the changing world and the nature of fate.

Summary :

0ACover

The cover pages of 0.side-A the sand.

At the Kurosaki Clinic, Ichigo Kurosaki responds to Isshin Kurosaki waking him with an attack by countering his strike and heading downstairs for breakfast provided by Yuzu Kurosaki, whom he thanks prior to heading to Karakura High School. Upon being approached by an excited Keigo Asano with the latest Bad Shield CD in class, Ichigo is left confused as to what it is, and when a shocked Keigo insists that Ichigo said he liked Bad Shield the other day, Ichigo does not remember doing so while Mizuiro Kojima notices the CD and praises the show, only for Keigo to deny having asked him. With Keigo arguing with Mizuiro about who the better actor on the show is and being told that one of them dies in the second DVD, Ichigo internally muses that the world takes a new shape every time the sun and moon touch.

Simultaneously, Chizuru Honshō learns that Orihime's favorite snack is gotsubokko and that she likes frankfurter kranz as well, leading her to declare that the results of her love test indicate the two of them are a perfect match prior to Tatsuki Arisawa angrily stomping her head into the desk and asserting that the test was rigged. Upon seeing Ichigo headed for the door, Orihime asks him if he is leaving, which leads Ichigo to state that he has to go and bid a blushing Orihime farewell as Uryū Ishida eyes him from the other side of the classroom. While the sun begins to set, Ichigo ponders how the one unchanging thing is his powerlessness and comes across a telephone pole with a splatter of blood at its base, where an elderly Plus informs him that the Plus of the young boy is gone. Ichigo internally lists how he can only see, touch, and talk to spirits while taking a toy airplane out of his bag and holding it up, which leads the elderly Plus to observe that he brought it with him for nothing.

Though Ichigo claims that this does not matter since he just found the airplane in his closet, he grows somber and muses on how Pluses sometimes disappear for reasons he does not know, leaving behind only bloodstains visible to him alone and the faint smell of fear, which leads him to painfully realize that he cannot protect them no matter how strong he becomes and offer the airplane to the elderly Plus, only for the latter to decline it and suggest that Ichigo leave it here instead. After visiting the Dead Girl and promising with exasperation to come back tomorrow, Ichigo rubs the Dead Girl's head and tells her to not cry anymore before walking while she waves and encounters Yasutora Sado, whom he greets with a smile, while concluding that they are the grist if fate is a millstone, which leads him to desire a strong blade and enough strength to shatter fate in order to protect his loved ones.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


0.side-B the rotator[]

Summary:

0BCover

The cover page of 0.side-B the rotator.

In the Seireitei, Rukia Kuchiki expresses shock at the news that she is being transferred, which prompts 13th Division 3rd Seat Kiyone Kotetsu to deny this and clarify that Rukia is simply being stationed in the Human World for a month, similar to when she went there with Kiyone as the latter's assistant. However, upon seeing that Rukia does not recall this at all, 13th Division 3rd Seat Sentarō Kotsubaki claims that she completely blocked it from her memory and refutes that he is not some sort of potted plant when an angered Kiyone tells him to go bury himself in the front yard of the barracks.

As he walks into the room, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake explains that Rukia will be patrolling a one-ri area of Karakura Town, something that should not be difficult for someone with her skills, leading Kiyone to frantically express concern for Ukitake not being in bed right now. After assuring Kiyone that he is feeling much better today, Ukitake notes that he came to see Rukia off personally since he thought that she might be anxious about her first solo assignment despite its short duration, which she formally thanks him for while am embarrassed Ukitake assures her that she can drop the formalities. When asked if she has told Byakuya yet, Rukia admits that she believed this was too trivial to bother Byakuya with, to the point where she was considering leaving without telling him.

Though saddened by this, Ukitake assures Rukia that this is alright if it is how she feels and promises to tell Byakuya for her before urging her to go with peace of mind, which Rukia happily accepts. Meanwhile, at the Sixth Division barracks, 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori sits before Renji Abarai with 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira as she relays his promotion to 6th Division Lieutenant and cheerfully congratulates him on it. Initially casually thanking Hinamori for this, Renji quickly bows and formally expresses his gratitude, but an embarrassed Hinamori requests that he stop being so formal.

Sitting against the left wall connecting to the entrance, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame muses that Renji is now one step closer to Byakuya and suggests that he tell Rukia due to them now being on equal standing as a noble and a lieutenant. After Ikkaku reminds him that it has been forty years since he talked to her and that the two used to run around the Rukongai together, Renji is informed by Izuru that he should hurry because Rukia is leaving for a month-long assignment to the Human World this afternoon. Despite Hinamori insisting that she and Renji rush after Rukia, Renji declines and decides to tell her when she gets back since his promotion ceremony is a month from now while Rukia walks through the central Senkaimon and observes that fate is a crushing millstone which they believe to be guided by an infallible power even though they are the ones making it turn.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


Shinigami Women's Association[]

The Shinigami Women's Association convenes to discuss a potential new Denreishinki design.

Summary:

SWACover

The cover page of Shinigami Women's Association.

At a meeting of the Shinigami Women's Association, Chairwoman Yachiru Kusajishi gets the attention of the group, only to pause and ask Deputy Chairwoman Nanao Ise what is on the day's agenda, startling the latter with her lack of a greeting. With Yachiru glaring at her by craning her head back, a nervous Nanao brings up the business of designing a Denreishinki for female Shinigami and reminds the others of their instructions to submit a design that would appeal to all of them.

In response, 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto holds up a design of a sparkling, oval-shaped Denreishinki that would be purple or gold since she thinks pink is overused, only for Nanao to reiterate that the design has to be something they all like; 4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu holds up a design of a heavily-reinforced Denreishinki meant for tall people that will not break even if dropped from a height of over six feet, though Nanao points out that this is not a common problem; 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng holds up her design of a Denreishinki resembling a combination of a cat and a bee that is meant to homage Yoruichi Shihōin, but an exasperated Nanao repeats that the design must appeal to everyone and promises to smack Yoruichi if she has to; and 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi holds up a heavily censored design, causing an aghast Nanao questioning how they would even sell something so obscene.

With Nanao angrily demanding to know what they are all thinking since this is such a serious matter, Yachiru agrees and holds up her design of a Denreishinki with different edible components, and as Nanao reacts in shock upon seeing it, Yachiru proclaims that it is decided and has the new Denreishinki produced and advertised, resulting in Rukia Kuchiki taking interest upon seeing it on a television screen.

Characters in order of appearance:


Author's Notes[]

Volume 23 Intro Image
It's been four years since I worked with my first editor, yet his is still the first name in my address book. I'm surprised just how little my social life has changed in the past four years. My resolution for this year is to make a new friend whose name will come before "Asada".
-Tite Kubo

Trivia[]

  • The Viz publication of this volume changed its title to "¡MALA SUERTE!".

References[]

  1. Bleach 23 (Japanese). Shueisha.
  2. Bleach, Vol. 23. Viz Media.
  3. Spanish for "Bad Luck!"
  4. Spanish for "The Monster"
  5. Spanish for "Bloodstained Monster"
  6. Spanish for "Storm of the Scuffle"; this chapter originally appears as "Mala Suerte!4 [Monstruo Monstruoso]" (Spanish for "Monstrous Monster") in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.

Navigation[]

CONQUISTADORES MALA SUERTE! IMMANENT GOD BLUES

Advertisement