Bleach Vol. 43

Hachigen Ushōda joins Soi Fon and Marechiyo Ōmaeda against Baraggan, whose Respira ages and destroys everything it touches. After persuading Soi Fon to fire her Bankai at the Espada, Hachigen contains the explosion within his barriers. Baraggan survives but loses part of his body, allowing Hachigen to exploit the fatal weakness in his power by transferring his own decaying arm inside the Arrancar. Consumed by Respira, Baraggan recalls his former reign over Hueco Mundo and makes one final attack against Aizen before disintegrating.

Elsewhere, Starrk overwhelms Love Aikawa and Rōjūrō Otoribashi with spiritual wolves created from fragments of his and Lilynette Gingerbuck’s shared soul. Kyōraku returns to the battle and uses the shifting rules imposed by Katen Kyōkotsu’s children’s games to wound Starrk. As they fight, Starrk remembers the loneliness that led him and Lilynette to join Aizen’s army.

Kyōraku ultimately defeats Starrk, while Mashiro Kuna’s Hollow mask breaks during her battle with Wonderweiss Margela. Kensei Muguruma intervenes to protect her. Having lost his leading Espada, Aizen personally cuts down Tier Harribel, declaring that she is no longer useful to him.