Bleach Speculation (Chapters 300+)

[uc pseudonym]

This is awesome in my book. Nel appears significantly more intelligent, though her personality is uncertain, and she obviously has no intention of messing around. Hopefully this will mark a more interesting development in this arc.

[Mave]

Nuts to the actual plot - All I'm waiting for is for Nell to kick some serious behind. That weird teeth Espada gets on my nerves far more than that whacko pink-head scientist.

[MasterDias]

293:

Voodoo dolls... yeah... poor Ishida...

Renji and Ishida still aren't doing so hot and Noitora managed to withstand Nel's blast. I think at this point a rescue of the rescuers is called for... Looks like we will get some backstory on Nel next week.

These are known to me and fairly interesting.

I meant to reply to this but forgot. If you have any comments/observations on those stats, I woudn't mind hearing them (although obviously not in this thread) as I found them kind of interesting as well actually.

[uc pseudonym]

This power is a bit too odd for me. It breaks the flow of the fight and makes things seem just weird. I'll be happy when he dies (and I'm fairly certain he will, given the narrative flow of the fight).

As far as Nel, she should be at least on par with Noitora. If she isn't after her opening attack, I'll be disappointed. The backstory doesn't actually interest me all that much; at this point I'd really like the plot to move forward. Still, it might give us more information about how Hueco Mundo works overall.

I meant to reply to this but forgot. If you have any comments/observations on those stats, I woudn't mind hearing them (although obviously not in this thread) as I found them kind of interesting as well actually.

Well, you just bumped the Naruto thread, so that seems a good place...

[Mave]

The flashback has helped me to hate Noitora a lot more, that the male chauvinistic egoistic pig. I now, hope Nell kills him since he's not the type who can have sense beaten into him (it didn't work last time).

[uc pseudonym]

The flashback has helped me to hate Noitora a lot more, that the male chauvinistic egoistic pig.

Yeah, that was kind of random and isn't likely to win him any fans. I'm hoping that he loses to a tag-team of Ichigo and Nel, given that he is apparently stronger than her alone. It would be nice if Orihime took out the other Arrancar (because seriously, her only attack hasn't worked since the very first time it was used) and then healed Ichigo, allowing them to win. I don't mind series with massive amounts of power, but strategy has to play a role or that gets old fast.

[Monkey J. Luffy]

I'm past 197, but I just have one question.

What in heaven's name happens to a soul when it's killed? How can that happen? What does happen?

[uc pseudonym]

We need to be changing the title sometime soon, but I'm waiting for a better number...

What in heaven's name happens to a soul when it's killed? How can that happen? What does happen?

Souls appear to be a lot like humans in how they die, though it has been stated that only destroying the head or ripping out the "soul's soul" is a sure method of killing. Evidence appears to suggest that slain souls are reincarnated in the normal world.

As for the newest chapter:
[spoiler]Kubo Tite really hit the "everything is going badly" theme hard this chapter, making explicit what has been developing for some time. While I don't mind seeing Zaraki again, I have to say that just having Soul Society people show up isn't the most creative way to solve this. Presuming there will be at least one Captain per situation I hope the others will be people we haven't already seen fight.

Note we have four potential battles if everyone gets saved:
Ichigo
Rukia (I'm guessing this Espada is #7, if he's appearing at this point)
Chad
Renji and Uryuu[/spoiler]

[Mave]

Eh, I don't mind things are going badly for the characters......but it does feel like forever.

*Ichigo about to get killed*

*Orihime goes "Noooooo, Ichiiiiigooooooo!!"

*Someone with seemingly invincible POWER emerges*

*Ichigo gets saved by this someone*

*fight fight fight*

*Invincible POWER doesn't seem so powerful anymore/loses power*

*Ichigo about to get killed*

*Orihime goes "Noooooo, Ichiiiiigooooooo!!"

*Someone with seemingly invincible POWER emerges*

*Ichigo gets saved by this someone*

*fight fight fight*

~~repeat cycle until someone assassinates Kubotite's editor*

*Mave facefaults*

[MasterDias]

Well, I was expecting Byakuya. I wasn't expecting Unohana and Mayuri actually. But I like this. We've seen too much Hitsugaya(which is actually who I was expecting.)
And their respective vice-captains are here. So Yachiru, Nemu, and Isane are in play as well.

[uc pseudonym]

I'm not terribly pleased with the collection of Captains: all three that were defeated in the Soul Society arc? At least we have Unohana, but I was hoping for some other new appearances (at least, as you said, there is no Hitsugaya). Perhaps we'll get to see Yachiru fight, though.

Right now I'm wondering whether all four of these will fight or if they will just rescue and leave (or a mix of both). If the black Espada is fought now, he's most likely #7. If so he'll probably die, which is too bad because I'm liking his character. Note if this theory is true the top three are Halibel, the bored guy, and the oldest one.

[Mave]

[goofing off]

I speculate that after these shinigami get beaten up, the next round of shinigamis will pop up.

Ichigo miraculously finds some way to defeat the Espadas after all the shinigamis got pwned. Well, maybe it's not that miraculous because Espadas have had to fight so many ppl by then.

Summary of Espada Arc: Espada kicks everyone's butt but in the end, Ichigo wins and saves Orihime because he's the lead character. And Rukia doesn't really die, btw.

Next Arc: Let's go find Airen or whatever that top bad dude's name is

[/goofing off]

Ok, you can tell that I'm getting a little tired of the long fights...XD

[uc pseudonym]

No, no, the entire series ends in this arc, which will go on for the next 30 volumes. Every character to ever appear will dramatically show up in Heuco Mundo. The battles will last so long that Ichigo and company can train while they are taking place.

Next Arc: Let's go find Airen or whatever that top bad dude's name is

Ah, poor Aizen, he's been gone so long some readers can't even remember his name. I wouldn't mind seeing him again. If the exponential power formula holds true, Ichigo is still far weaker than him and the other rebel Captains.

Random thought: if all these fights are won and presuming the new Espada is #7, that means only Espada left will be 1-4... and Yamii, who will be completely pointless.

[Doubleshadow]

I'm glad I'm not the only one growing annoyed with the string of drawn-out fights. Those Espadas have some amount of stamina I have to say. I wonder if they work out on a treadmill?

I'm glad to see Unohana in the fray,but I don't care for the total psycho anti-hero captain playing the role of rescuer. Ugh.

[uc pseudonym]

Does everyone realize what this week's chapter means? It's finally time to change the thread title.

As for the chapter, I think it seems rather likely the new Espada is going to die. He's already shown his true form and he's fighting Byakuya, who is insanely popular. This is preferable to a fight that ends without any real resolution, at least, but I'm disappointed because I rather liked him.

[MasterDias]

I think Unohana's opponent ran out on her.

Meanwhile, what in the world did the guy Byakuya's fighting turn into? That just looks creepy.

Hanotarou's appearance was a little random. I guess Byakuya needed a second to take with him since Renji was already there, but you'd think there could have been someone a bit...er, stronger.

[uc pseudonym]

The squad did say they were leaving, but I'm hoping we might still get to see Unohana act. If not, however, I suspect she will either not be important or Kubo Tite intends to reveal her power near the very end.

Hanotarou's appearance was a little random. I guess Byakuya needed a second to take with him since Renji was already there, but you'd think there could have been someone a bit...er, stronger.

I really don't have a good theory on why he's there. History suggests there's no way they'd double team him (in this case, Hanatorou would just heal), but I wouldn't think he'd come just so Byakuya can be more prideful.

And we still don't know this Espada's rank. Despite the weirdness of his form, his ability is pretty cool (and broken, like a lot of others).

[MasterDias]

And we still don't know this Espada's rank. Despite the weirdness of his form, his ability is pretty cool (and broken, like a lot of others).

Unless I misread something, I thought he said he was number 7 a few chapters back, which leaves the old guy, the girl, and the lazy guy as the top three.

[uc pseudonym]

Unless I misread something, I thought he said he was number 7 a few chapters back, which leaves the old guy, the girl, and the lazy guy as the top three.

It's possible I missed that, as I tend to skip battle jabber, but I don't remember it. He definitely seems like #7 (given how outclassed Ichigo was by Ulquiorra) so that would be logical.

[Mave]

Ah, poor Aizen, he's been gone so long some readers can't even remember his name.

My point exactly. I could have written AiLeen or AiRaRaRa but that would be too off-the-mark. XD

battle jabber

I think that pretty much sums up Chapter 299 and 300......

Not much to say on the ranking of the Espada. I really don't pay attention (I only remember Nell-sama as #3) although now that you mention it, who actually decides this ranking? Did they all fight each other in some Espada tournament thingy? Or is there some machine that can measure their kick-assability? Or did they take lots?

[Doubleshadow]

kick-assability

O.o

Alright, I'll consider that my word of the day. XD

[uc pseudonym]

Unless I misread something, I thought he said he was number 7 a few chapters back, which leaves the old guy, the girl, and the lazy guy as the top three.

By chance I found this and you are correct. With this having been established, let me take a guess at the top three:
1) Stark
2) Halibel
3) Old Guy
That is purely based on shonen stereotypes. But I figured I might as well take a guess early in case I'm right.

Not much to say on the ranking of the Espada. I really don't pay attention (I only remember Nell-sama as #3) although now that you mention it, who actually decides this ranking? Did they all fight each other in some Espada tournament thingy? Or is there some machine that can measure their kick-assability? Or did they take lots?

It is implied that Aizen can gauge their power when they are created and ranks them accordingly. However, taking ranks by force also seems possible, given how Grimmjow took his rank back and what Noitora was trying to do. Also, Nell is former #3.

Lastly, I meant to answer this before:

Meanwhile, what in the world did the guy Byakuya's fighting turn into? That just looks creepy.

For the moment I'm going to call it the Pumpkin Centaur of Doom.

[Mave]

Things got interesting when Rukia got involved....for like a split second.

Ah well.....

For the moment I'm going to call it the Pumpkin Centaur of Doom.

Or one of Cinderella's Fairy Godmother 'Boo boo's when she was a fairy intern.

[mechana2015]

I'm looking forward to the sadistic scientist face off, as having these two paired off should just be darned entertaining, though Mayuri has so many tricks up his sleeves, ears, shoes etc. that it will probably be shortish... unless he "runs experements" during the fight.

I was expecting something to come up with Byakuya's attack of a million blades thing and his mental control over it, and lo and behold, there it was.

That being said, I love nell, and I hope they fix her back to adult for good, as she seems to be pretty darn powerful still...though it might be intersting to see her throw up on someone again, just for more reactions.

[Hana Ryuuzaki]

I really don't have a good theory on why he's there. History suggests there's no way they'd double team him (in this case, Hanatorou would just heal), but I wouldn't think he'd come just so Byakuya can be more prideful.

Yeah, but Hanataro's healing ability would come in handy, right?

Well, I was expecting Byakuya. I wasn't expecting Unohana and Mayuri actually. But I like this. We've seen too much Hitsugaya(which is actually who I was expecting.)

I don't mind seeing Hitsugaya again...

No, no, the entire series ends in this arc, which will go on for the next 30 volumes. Every character to ever appear will dramatically show up in Hueco Mundo. The battles will last so long that Ichigo and company can train while they are taking place.

Are you for real? Argh, that can't be!
--
Well, I personally think that Kubo-san will throw a curveball and have Aizen be assassinated by one of the Espada, and then have said Espada take over and stop the fighting? That's what I'm hoping for...

[uc pseudonym]

If that is the end of the fight, I will be disappointed. Does anyone else feel mildly irritated at Byakuya for this fight? He was pretty much just a jerk whereas his opponent was respectful and had a more creative ability.

I'm looking forward to the sadistic scientist face off, as having these two paired off should just be darned entertaining, though Mayuri has so many tricks up his sleeves, ears, shoes etc. that it will probably be shortish... unless he "runs experements" during the fight.

While I wanted to see new characters fight, I won't mind seeing Mayuri again. He shouldn't have too much trouble, given how his opponent has already taken damage and used many of his tricks.

[Hana Ryuuzaki]

Is it me, or does Mayuri look like a pharaoh?
Yeah, Byakuya is pretty much a jerk. I never liked him. I just like his hair. *is shot*

But that was one of the outcomes that I could think of. I have many more theories...

[Mave]

Does anyone else feel mildly irritated at Byakuya for this fight? He was pretty much just a jerk whereas his opponent was respectful and had a more creative ability.

*raises hand*

Byakuya irritated me with his arrogant jerky attitude (never liked him anyway except for his character design) but I don't like the opponent, either. The ability is creative but I really think that there is just WAY too much talking (whether polite or not) in this fight.

[Doubleshadow]

This has to be the most agonizingly polite round of smack talk since Kenshin vs. Sojiro. I like it somewhat though, its far better than the normal drivel and bombast that constitutes conversion during fight scenes.

[MasterDias]

So, the entire latest chapter consisted of Byakuya owning his opponent. I can't say I'm surprised.

Meanwhile, Mayuri is apparently not doing so well...