Bleach Speculation (Chapters 300+)

[samuraidragon]

Cannot connect to the database because: Too many connections

Gah!

I'll just have to wait until tomorrow to read it.

[Bap]

Haha, I just read 262 just now, so.. @o@

This chapter makes you wonder what exactly happens to the spirits when they die, doesn't it? xD; Like.. is there another place they go to, or what? xD;

And, didn't the Hollow leave Kaien when they killed him? D: 'cause he was able to talk to Rukia right before he disappeared? @o@a or was that only for that one moment...?

[uc pseudonym]

It seems that dead spirits cease to exist in their present form, being reincarnated into a new physical body without memory of the past. That's the implication during the Quincy arc, anyway.

Presuming the Hollow was correct, he and Kaien merged permanently - it is impossible for their essence to be unfused. I assumed he was able to talk purely so he could have his emotional scene with Rukia, but perhaps Kubo Tite was actually foreshadowing that he was capable of being in control of the fusion as well. That sounds like a theory I'd buy.

We'll be getting some answers very soon with the next chapter, hopefully.

[Bap]

Ah, the Quincy Arc? @o@a Which one's that? xD;

[samuraidragon]

Oooooooh. I just read 262. Good theory UC, I'm looking forward to finding what the heck is going on.

I just remembered that the hollow that fused with Kaien was an early attempt of Aizen to create an arrancar. Interesting, no?

By the way, it never shows when there are new posts in this thread, even though it says I'm subscribed to it. Do you have any idea why UC?

[uc pseudonym]

263 scripts have surfaced. It looks like I was correct in essence, but we don't know any specifics. Either he's terribly unstable or he has an interesting plan.

Ah, the Quincy Arc? @o@a Which one's that? xD]
It's not an exact term; I probably should have been more specific. What I mean is when Ishida first appears and we learn about the Quincy. In the explanation of why Soul Society destroyed them it is explained about souls cycling.

I just remembered that the hollow that fused with Kaien was an early attempt of Aizen to create an arrancar. Interesting, no?

That was part of why I was thinking it was likely it somehow survived. Chapter 263 confirms this, actually.

By the way, it never shows when there are new posts in this thread, even though it says I'm subscribed to it. Do you have any idea why UC?

That's odd; I can't think of a reason off hand. Do your other subscriptions function normally? This thread has never given me any problems. You aren't using quick edit by any chance, are you?

[Bap]

Ah, alright. xD

Well, 263's interesting... @o@ I hope he's not actually a bad guy though. ;_;

[uc pseudonym]

Personally, I'll hold to the belief that he isn't until more evidence is in. Seeing the actual pages, he seems perfectly sane and stable (albeit as weird as many of the characters). My current theory is that he's going to fake killing Rukia, or at least what he's doing now is just playing his role so no one else gets too suspicious.

One must wonder if Aizen doesn't know about him, however.

[samuraidragon]

I wonder whether Aizen knows all. I'll be interested to see how this Kaien thing turns out. I want to go along with the "he's faking it" theory, but I just don't want him to be bad. I also want Kaien to meet Ichigo, hehe. That would be quite interesting.

[MasterDias]

Alright, Arroniro Arleri is officially creepy. At least, the other Arrancar look mostly human.

I had slight difficulty following the last few pages however. What exactly did Rukia do to get him to reveal his real face?

[uc pseudonym]

When he dodged her kidou it blew a hole in the wall, which made her remember what he said about not doing so well in light. Then she did a bunch of kidou together which knocked out the wall; when the sunlight hit him without his mask it revealed his true face. That's the gist I got out of it, anyway.

Well, it looks like theories that he's really Kaein are essentially dead. It will be interesting to see how his scenes are done, given that he doesn't have a proper face (unless he takes off these two masks as well). Can we assume he hasn't released and just has a lance as his normal weapon?

[MasterDias]

Well, there is still the fact that he knew a bunch of stuff about Rukia's past that he shouldn't have known if he wasn't Kaien. I don't know. If he really is connected to the hollow that attacked Kaien back then....

[uc pseudonym]

I didn't mean to say he isn't that Hollow. That's probably true (and I suspect it may be why he has two masks). But I think it is clear at this point that Kaien isn't in control and he certainly isn't going to be a new ally.

[Bap]

Aw, that makes me sad. xD;

But that was a fun surprise.

[samuraidragon]

Just read 267.

Wow, wasn't expecting that. His ability is more bizare than any other in this series imho. Too bad for Rukia, her last consolation after killing Kaien is gone.

[Bap]

Wow. 33k. D: That was a pretty big osnap moment. xD;

[uc pseudonym]

I thought this was a good chapter. This makes sense over all and I like that there is a Gillian in the Espada, because that ability would be immensely powerful.

Right now it's looking like this arc is moving toward the "everyone gets annihilated" ending, of which I approve strongly. They really shouldn't stand any chance, though it appears that all the Espada are a level above them anyway (from this, I'd guess that Renji will also be defeated easily). Even Ichigo is likely to go down, given how well he fared against unreleased Grimmjow.

The question, now, is where Kubo Tite is going with it. While I have my guesses, I really don't know, and that's a nice feeling.

[MasterDias]

Yes, he has an intriguing ability.

However, this arc will have felt kind of pointless if nothing is actually accomplished or revealed during it outside of Espada character introductions.
Admittingly, I don't really know where he's going with this either.

[uc pseudonym]

Actually, the fact that they're being defeated gives me hope this arc will have a purpose to it. My hope is that wherever he's going will be much more significant than just a minor skirmish before the war that introduces some characters and lets the protagonists level up a bit.

Or they could just get saved by others near the end, in which case I'll be disappointed.

[MasterDias]

You have a point. I'm still wondering what Urahara is up to, actually.

[samuraidragon]

There's a camshot out of 268, and I have to say I'm satisfied with the outcome. While I agree with UC on everybody getting beat down, I think this was a better way to end it. Nevertheless I'm pretty sure she's out for the continuation of the arc, seeing as how she has a decent sized hole in her chest.

I'm just really glad Ichigo didn't come save her or something.

[MasterDias]

The full chapter is out actually. Mostly flashbacks, but it does appear that Rukia made a comeback. Although, I would wait until the next chapter to make sure, even if it did look like the guy's head exploded or something in the last panel...

But I still hold that everyone will probably get taken out in some way. However, if Rukia has won here, I'd expect Renji to win his battle as well so all of "Team Ichigo" would get at least 1 win in this arc.

[uc pseudonym]

Bleach has never indicated that the characters are all that vulnerable (D.Roy is the only person to die quickly), so while he'll probably be hurt by being stabbed in the face point-blank, I expect he may not be dead. If he is, for me it will cheapen the victory somewhat. However, so far I like how this has been handled.

[samuraidragon]

Actually, I think that he is dead. If the tank that holds his heads cracked then don't you think he would die?

[uc pseudonym]

Huh, I didn't think about it as a tank. That does make some sense, I guess. As much as just having a head with that shape, anyway.

However, he can also transform into an incredibly massive beast. Except for decapitation, nothing in Bleach seems obligated to be fatal. I won't deny there's a good chance he's dead, but I'm not assuming it until I see the next chapter.

[samuraidragon]

Huh, I didn't think about it as a tank. That does make some sense, I guess. As much as just having a head with that shape, anyway.However, he can also transform into an incredibly massive beast.

Yes, but he still sticks out of the top and on page 18 his illusion fades away and the tank thingie is clearly cracked all over and the fluid is leaking out. Then on page 19 (the last page) there is glass (or whatever) shards flying off in all directions. If you look on page two of 267, the two heads are floating around and there's air (or whatever) bubbles coming out of their mouths.

I'm pretty sure it's a tank.

Except for decapitation, nothing in Bleach seems obligated to be fatal.

Haha, too true.

[uc pseudonym]

Now that I look at the third picture again, I think you're right. For some reason I had in mind that he had a metal post for a head with two masks on it and some random effects. This is what I get for reading LQ, or perhaps I was just unobservant.

As for if he's dead, I can't quite tell if those are shards or just part of Rukia's attack effect. But given the look of the last panel, he certainly took a damaging attack. If his head exploded he's probably dead, but otherwise that quantity of blood is just a flesh wound for Bleach.

[samuraidragon]

Unless the blood is actually the fluid.

[samuraidragon]

Rukia's dead? Dang.

But is she really? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Ichigo vs. Uquillora? This should be interesting; I wonder if everyone is going to die.

[MasterDias]

"Onwards, Onwards...But One by One They Fall..."
But Kubo Tite isn't going to kill off the main heroine. Not like this anyway.
No one died in the Soul Society arc. Remember Hinamori.
I suspect we will get to see Renji's fight before Ichigo's however.

What's with that kid arrancar Lilinet's outfit. She looks like she's wearing underwear or something...