Hi folks...thanks to the guys from Mangastream, we got ourselves a pretty good Bleach chapter.
Bleach is pretty hot these days, since Aizen started to fight, taking on several captain-level fighters all by himself. This chapter catches a glimpse of what Aizen is all about.
Let's do a little recap of what happened until now. Aizen invaded Karakura town, followed by his 2 fellow traitors and the Espada 1, 2, and 3.
As things progressed, the Espada and even Tousen were defeated, though at a high cost. Most of the captains are injured or fatigued, except Kyouraku probably, who defeated his enemy in the most leisure manner.
It was a pretty important moment when Ichigo came back to defend his hometown, but instead he got humiliated by Aizen. This humiliation was easily forgotten as the captains showed united front in order to defend Ichigo from Kyouka Suigetsu, and to make Aizen drop his guard for a moment.
This week's chapter was written in this spirit(the first half at least). To use teamwork in fighting in order to make use of Ichigo's advantage of not witnessing Kyouka Suigetsu's release so far.
The same shikai, which wasn't powerful enough to blast away Starrk's wolves is grabbed by Aizen and he pulls Rose by it. Noticed the frightened face of Rose? Guess what's next...
Kubo doesn't even bother to show us the whole panel, he just draws a stream of blood, making us understand that is was a clean, surgical cut.
Very nice battle so far. But still as hard as I try, I'm not impressed. All these shinigami whose shikais were not enough to beat the Espada, and who are fatigued or injured, are still trying to use the same methods.
Teamwork and make Aizen drop his guard? Or Ichigo is the only one who can defeat Aizen for reasons we already know?
This is getting to get a bit funny, because Aizen didn't even use Kyouka Suigetsu so far. The only time it was when Kyouraku tried to cut him. That's why these younglings should step aside and let the seniors take care of him, or just use bankai, for Christ's sake...well...
The truth is I'm not impressed by Aizen at all, but Gin tells me that there's more to his power, without using Kyouka Suigetsu. Let's just hope he will forced to demonstrate this power.
As we see above Ichigo is very concentrated and searches THE MOMENT. Sadly for him, this moment seems a bit far, becuz calmness is the only thing Hitsugaya lacks. Last week he went into Bankai mode, in the hopes of murdering Aizen. He doesn't seem to listen even to his senior captain Kyouraku who advised him, to be calm.
Then we know U'll remain captain forever...
These are some heavy words. Even Kyouraku seems to be really serious and listens to what Hitsugaya is shouting. Finally Hitsugaya stops the mindless talking and commences the attack. As seen early in the SS arc, where Aizen owned Hitsugaya, by using Kyouka Suigetsu, we could thing things will be as fast as they were back then.
But let us note, that early in the series, when Aizen was executing his failsafe plan, he was in a hurry and that's why he took out Hitsugaya in a matter of seconds. This time he has all the time in the world. That's why he just dodges the first attacks, and he doesn't even bother to counterattack.
Aizen's calmness is foreshadowing that his powers are more then we expect. Judging from Gin's statements I think only Gin knows the true depth of his power, power which the rest of the folks only assume he has.
[center]Oh, please...not one reader will fall for that...
The apparent carelessness is soon rewarded by two giant weapons, a sword and a club. We recognize these weapons as Koma's Tengen and Love's Tengumaru. So these two at least know that Aizen is not to be taken lightly and rapidly jump in the help Hitsugaya.
I told U at the beginning. The chapter is written in the spirit of playing in team. Komamura knows this, but he takes time to apologize that he jumped in.
Seeing Hitsugaya's reply I got relieved a bit. So the kid didn't actually lose his mind. My guess is that he concentrates his anger and uses it to focus on Aizen and to deal some heavy blows. But my assumptions are pretty useless, becuz until now all three captain's attacks were dodged, heck Tengen's sword is easily cut into 2 by Aizen.
Until now there's no surprise. Shikais were useless against an Espada so I don't think anyone expected that Aizen will be put into discomfort by facing Shikais. Oh yeah, there's a bankai in the play, but Aizen had a previous showdown with that, so still no surprise.
Things turn a bit dark, when Gin remarks that not giving chance for Aizen to use Kyouka Suigetsu is not enough to beat him, and that everybody misunderstands Aizen's power.
Did I mention the spirit of teamwork for catching Aizen off guard?
Oh yeah...teach us...
Yes I mentioned it, but I also mentioned that things get darker. Notice how Aizen's face is coloured in gray instead of white how we were used to it?
This is the moment when the hopes we built up in the first part of the chapter get demolished in a matter of seconds by Aizen.
We knew that Aizen is pretty strong, even in terms of physical strength, not just reiatsu-wise. So an excellent and precise control of reiatsu, backed up by insane physical strength does things like this...
Whoah...Koma's bankai got trashed with one shot...again...
So first is Komamura. His bankai, from which logically comes that himself as well, is severely injured. The sword is shattered, a hand is off. This is the result of Aizen getting serious, he's merciless and proceeds to finish Komamura off.
Hitsugaya can be glad he is protected by the fans, becuz the next who are falling as preys are Rose and Love. Poor things are trying to attack from behind, when Aizen explicitly told them that his weak spot are always covered. This time it's not a barrier(Aizen wasn't serious then), but it's a more humiliating move. Aizen just loves to face his enemies bare-handed doesn't he. But even now the 2 vizards are using only shikais. I wonder what are they thinking.
Don't be scared Rose...it won't hurt a bit...
The same shikai, which wasn't powerful enough to blast away Starrk's wolves is grabbed by Aizen and he pulls Rose by it. Noticed the frightened face of Rose? Guess what's next...
Kubo doesn't even bother to show us the whole panel, he just draws a stream of blood, making us understand that is was a clean, surgical cut.
Very nice battle so far. But still as hard as I try, I'm not impressed. All these shinigami whose shikais were not enough to beat the Espada, and who are fatigued or injured, are still trying to use the same methods.
Teamwork and make Aizen drop his guard? Or Ichigo is the only one who can defeat Aizen for reasons we already know?
This is getting to get a bit funny, because Aizen didn't even use Kyouka Suigetsu so far. The only time it was when Kyouraku tried to cut him. That's why these younglings should step aside and let the seniors take care of him, or just use bankai, for Christ's sake...well...
The truth is I'm not impressed by Aizen at all, but Gin tells me that there's more to his power, without using Kyouka Suigetsu. Let's just hope he will forced to demonstrate this power.
We'd like to see some of that, too...
This chapter's beiginnig rocked. Everybody attacked, tried to deal with Aizen. But as Gin said, are they really misunderstanding Aizen's power. I mean at least the vizards should know better. That's why I'm disappointed a bit. The fight scenes were great, Aizen stomping them was fun to watch, but I hoped that these people will take this more seriously, at least like Aizen did. That was one of the few positive things in the chapter. Aizen actually shown with a serious face. In counter to that each of his opponents were afraid, in pain, or angry. That's not worthy of neither Gotei or the former Gotei.
That's why this is a 7/10. I would love to give it more, but this was a one-sided chapter and there was absolutely no plot development. It was spectacular, how Aizen dealt with all those petty attacks, but I dare to say I wasn't that impressed of Aizen either. Trashing a powerful bankai unreleased is sure a great feat, but as we know he is on Yama's or Kenpachi's level in terms of strength(not to mention reiatsu level and control) it's not that much of a surprise. I hope what Gin said in the last panels will actually happen, opportunity to show his monstrous strength, therefore...
Predictions/Want to happen:...I'm sure everybody wants what I want as well, and I think it will happen, but not necessarily in the next chapter. We all want Shinji and Kyouraku to jump in. But let's not forget, that Soi Fon and Lisa are still around. I don't expect them to do much, so is they get owned quickly, we might see some action from the top dogs.
I won't go as far as a prediction, because I think we are in a position from where Kubo can take us anywhere. He can continue the fight and make everybody lose slowly and then switch somewhere else(HM, Kensei, probably having Gin fight), which is the most probable, or he can just make the switch before the top-dogs enter. I would sure love to see Byakuya and Kenpachi finish their thing and come back to aid the people in Karakura. I think that would move the plot a bit forward and make things more intertesting.
)!!
