Bleach

That joke is dead horse level tired.

@bear: I've been calling Ichi getting Quincy powers for a while. It's in the rules that Ichi gets all the powers.

Meh.

Anyone got a favorite opening? I'm really feeling 23 (Stay Beautiful) right now, but I've always liked Happy People and Thank you tops. The first was also pretty good, but I don't really remember any of the rest.

Also, whileI was watching Stay Beautiful, I also decided to look up a couple scenes. Like this one.

I appreciate that they give the song names in the corners. I also wonder... where did some of this stuff come from? Hopefully more stuff about the history may also reveal more about the noble families, or where the SS items originated, or whatever. I'd call it unlikely, but Kubo's been impressing me lately.

Also, if Ichigo was that powerful then, and could maybe keep up with most of the captains, "A million soul reapers" must be really weak.

Hanataro was the one who beat what's his face. The one with the sword.

I wonder if Ichigo forgot Renji was holding a sword...

edited 10th Oct '12 5:32:08 PM by wanderlustwarrior

I highly doubt a single member of the Royal Guard is as strong as Yamamoto. This chapter pretty much said he was the most powerful Captain when he formed the Divisions. If every member of the Royal Guard is Shunsui-level, that makes them a stronger force than the Gotei 13.

Which they should obviously be. I figure Yama stayed in the 13 cause it was his thing, but everyone else who got promoted up to Royal Guard was better than most of the SS.

Ha, bankai rare. ...isn't it still the day of the execution?

Seriously though, that running around thing Ichigo did was so cool. He seemed so much stronger then than now... Also, it's hilarious to see Byakuya in denial and calling Ichigo out on arrogance.

edited 10th Oct '12 5:42:47 PM by wanderlustwarrior

Man, that scene was seriously pretty awesome. Watching Ichigo just sort of beat the shit out of people is nice.

So, I have this sneaking suspicion that Mayuri and the Vanderquincy who was turning the 12th division members against each other are currently competing to see who can kill Mayuri's minions faster.

edited 10th Oct '12 7:13:35 PM by Gilphon

But Mayuri is being a good sport and refraining from using the many, many bombs he installed inside them.

wait, when did that happen with the 12th squad?

Back when he worked at Laboratory 5 with Zolf Kimblee.

They were talking to Ichigo on the phone, and then the gate guardians showed up and started killing them, and then they started killing each other, and then we saw somebody wearing a pointy-toed quincy boot standing nearby.

Uryu, finally getting his revenge on the 12th division.

I find Bach's tactic of bringing in the Mooks only after the initial invasion interesting. It looks to be highly effective as all of the Shinigami are demoralized from Yama's death.

Also, I wonder if Busby, Nanana, and Nodt's attack on Yama was a planned thing. Although I am not sure what purpose it would serve.

Oh, and I totally thought "Heil Hyrda" when I saw the Soldat.

edited 10th Oct '12 8:47:17 PM by Galeros

I have to wonder...who will be Captain-Commander (over the survivors, of course) after Yamamoto? Personally, I would think either Unohana or one of the original Gotei 13 Captains (who may be part of the Royal Guard) or any of the Royal Guard would replace Yamamoto. Or...the Gotei 13 is temporarily disbanded until the Vandenreich are defeated/destroyed and the Royal Guard/Spirit King take direct command over the surviving Gotei 13 and their allies.

I think Ukitake will die after going out in style by crushing a major opponent with his Bankai, but suffering an epic Heroic RRoD because of the strain it would put on his weak body. Then, after all the dust settles down, Unohana will be Captain-Commander, and Ichigo will end up Captain of the 13th Division, with Rukia as his Vice-Captain.

Fuck yes.

Tempting...but unlikely. Ichigo is not a Shinigami - he is a substitute. Though its certainly possible - if what Juha Bach said is true, then at least some of the Royal Guard are bloodthirsty killers/warriors who tend to respect strength. Seeing as Ichigo is monstrously powerful, well...

However, it is also unlikely that Ukitake would go out the way you mentioned - its not in his character.

edited 11th Oct '12 5:47:34 AM by BloodRavenFan

or Orihime could just bring the captain commander back....

In theory, she could...but she wouldn't do that. She doesn't have the urge or need to use her reality-altering powers to their fullest. Besides...I think its better this way. I will miss the old man...but perhaps his death will shock Soul Society out of complacence. Idealism is nice and all...but as Juha Bach said: after the Gotei 13 (who he described as 'dreadful' at the time) exterminated the Quincy, they became soft as a result of the long peace. I mean...even Ichigo is willing to compromise and kill people, as shown when he mortally wounded Ginjo. Its implied Ichigo never really forgave the man, but simply stopped hating him because he was dead. Now with the war on...the Gotei 13 (or what's left of it) should give up petty ideals like honor and justice and concentrate on winning/surviving, no matter the cost. I'm sure that out of the Gotei 13, Soi Fon, Aizen, Shinji, Kyouraku (assuming he's alive), Kenpachi, Mayuri, Urahara, and even Yoruichi would agree. The entire Royal Guard probably would to.

edited 12th Oct '12 2:28:04 AM by BloodRavenFan

Personally I would like to see an Eye-Patch wearing Kyoraku become the new Captain-Commander. He already showed during his fight with Starrk that idealism gets thrown to the side in a fight to the death.

Best chapter ever, except possibly the following chapter.

Maybe Ichigo and all the otherswill actually die, enabling them to become shinigamis... And thus, Ichigo wouldn't just be the Karakura representative anymore, enabling him to go and lead the 13th... And as an added bonus, he decides to make the 13th division a permanent outpost in the human world, based in Karakura. That might actually work, as an ending.

So how do you guys think this arc so far compares to all the others?

I feel that it is not as good as the Soul Society arc yet, but on term with the first arc.

Same if not better than SS arc. Some of my friends who ditched Bleach are actually coming back.