Bleach Vol. 41

Ichigo’s transformed body overwhelms Ulquiorra with immense speed, regeneration, and destructive power. Acting entirely on instinct, he severs Ulquiorra’s arm and defeats his Segunda Etapa despite the Espada’s attempts to destroy him with Lanza del Relámpago. When Uryū Ishida tries to stop the transformed Ichigo from mutilating his defeated opponent, Ichigo attacks Uryū as well. Ulquiorra intervenes by destroying Ichigo’s horn, causing the accumulated energy to explode and restoring him to human form.

Ulquiorra’s internal organs cannot regenerate, leaving his body to disintegrate. As he reflects upon the human heart he had dismissed as meaningless, he reaches toward Orihime Inoue before vanishing. Ichigo awakens without memories of his transformation and is disturbed to learn how the battle ended.

Elsewhere, Yammy Llargo releases Ira and reveals that the Espada rankings run from zero to nine, making him Espada Zero. In the replica of Karakura Town, Soi Fon confronts Baraggan Louisenbairn, while Tōshirō Hitsugaya battles Tier Harribel and Shunsui Kyōraku faces Coyote Starrk.