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[Hefster]

Clickie --Click here to view--

Notice how his mask has started to gain more thicker lines. Each time he fights with his mask on he improves his skills and becomes stronger. But it also closes the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow. The classic example of yin and yang, black and white, good or bad, that we see in stories. Ichigo is in a way becoming 'bleached' and so becomes a mixture of both of these making him a character of both sides of the coin.

Right this was pure gold. Also notice how his mask actually splits in half when he screams or what appears to be roaring. That's new also and could indicate his Hollow growing more powerful as well.
We actually might see another Ichigo vs. Hichigo during the fight against Uliq, I expect something similar to what happened with Zangetzu and Ichigo when he first fought Kenpachi in the SS Arc.

[Kyuudaime]

Clickie --Click here to view--

This page was so badass...Seriously I can understand why Kubo leaves his backgrounds empty. With the way he draws his characters you only focus in on them and with all the fine detailing that he does you can get a good perspective of how that character is feeling. Looking at the panel I was actually stunned by Ichigo's action and it left me quite perplexed. It gives off an amazing vibe with a sense of fury and basically 'awakening of a sleeping beast' ready to be unleashed.

Once Ichigo knew that Inoue was safe, he didn't hold back. Just pure carnal and raw rage. He craves fighting and was just waiting to put on his mask and unleash his full power. Man I don't but I have to say this was one of the best drawn panels of Ichigo putting on his mask. You can just sense his strong desire to fight and this just reinforces the fact that he did come to HM to fight strong opponents. He desires battle and testing his power and the only thing besides that is protecting his friends. Once protecting his friends is not an issue he seeks battle and hardening himself as a warrior.

Notice how his mask has started to gain more thicker lines. Each time he fights with his mask on he improves his skills and becomes stronger. But it also closes the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow. The classic example of yin and yang, black and white, good or bad, that we see in stories. Ichigo is in a way becoming 'bleached' and so becomes a mixture of both of these making him a character of both sides of the coin.

I really like where Kubo is taking him with this direction because it doesn't make him a "pure" male protagonist but rather one who also holds a darker side to him. I for one think its bring a lot of depth and makes him more dimensional and strays away from your typical Shounen male lead.

That's so sick dude!
Like seriously

Right this was pure gold. Also notice how his mask actually splits in half when he screams or what appears to be roaring. That's new also and could indicate his Hollow growing more powerful as well.
We actually might see another Ichigo vs. Hichigo during the fight against Uliq, I expect something similar to what happened with Zangetzu and Ichigo when he first fought Kenpachi in the SS Arc.

Well, I can't tell if it happened in the manga, but around this chapter in the manga his mask "splits in half" as you put it... in the anime at least.

[Paradox Jast]

Gaaaah, all the manga's I read are entering their interesting moments, battles, etc...






KICKASS!

[psycho666]

Freaking epic chapter! (this is sort of late, but whatevs). That hollow transformation page was awesome in the literal meaning of the word, can't wait to see those two get all bloodied up and emotional!

[Paradox Jast]

Chapter 345

Thoughts... --Click here to view--

It's like their power levels keep leapfrogging.

On another note... Ulq is supposed to be... a dragon, I guess? Reptilian eyes with a crested head and wings...

[Vyse]

Nah dude, he's a bat.. note the ears and the rain of blood. VAMPIRE BAT?

Lol, this is turning more and more DBZ with each chapter. Before, Ichigo was all "I can only wear this mask for five seconds, or like six chapters, but that's all I need to defeat you," but now he has time to talk and let Ulq powerup. And it seems like Ichigo has Goku's ability of adjusting to stronger enemies if they fight for a stretched period of time, so Ulq should go for the kill now that he's still overwhelming, or Ichigo will pull off something new. Maybe it's time for a new fight to decide who's the king, and who's the horse?

I don't know why Rukia was in there for like two pages though, but I guess that cocky guy just had to show why Ulq is superior and that Ichigo is fighting a way tougher enemy. Stay tuned for chapter 346, same place, same time next week!

[KungFuTruffle]

He is most definitely a bat. But more important than that, I think, is this:

Ulquiorra barely changed at all. When we saw the others use their Resurrection forms, they became completely different. Grimmjow turned into a panther, Nnoitra became a praying mantis, Nel became an antelope or something, etc.

But Ulquiorra stayed mostly the same. Leading me to think that Rank 4 Espada and above are, like people have thought, Vasto Lorde. It would make sense. When we were shown that shadow image of one, it looked almost human.

Grimmjow used Gran Rey Cero inside of Los Noches without much of a problem, but Ulquiorra states that using that attack would destroy the place if he did it. Meaning there's a huge difference in their powers.

I mean, it took all Grimmjow had just to make a dent in Ichigo. But Ulquiorra has taken off half of Ichigo's mask with a single move.

That's a lot of power. Way more than we've seen so far.

Hitsugaya and the other Captains may have bitten off more than they can chew.

Edited by Gravity, 13 February 2009 - 08:42 PM.

[iwant2bnaruto]

Ulquiorra barely changed at all. When we saw the others use their Resurrection forms, they became completely different. Grimmjow turned into a panther, Nnoitra became a praying mantis, Nel became an antelope or something, etc.

But Ulquiorra stayed mostly the same. Leading me to think that Rank 4 Espada and above are, like people have thought, Vasto Lorde. It would make sense. When we were shown that shadow image of one, it looked almost human.

I thought that there wasn't much to Ulquiorra's transformation in terms of physical changes too. Your thought about the top 4 Espada being Vasto Lordes brings that into perspective. If we take that even further, then it's frightening to think how powerful Aizen may truly be. Considering the description of power that Hitsuguya gave about Vasto Lordes, it would take an inconceivably powerful being to keep them subjugated.

It's difficult to believe that Ichigo can defeat Ulquiorra's resurrection form by himself. Despite whatever increase in ability he has gained since his battle with Grimmjow, Ichigo barely survived Ulquiorra's attack. Perhaps completely releasing Hichigo, banking on the hope that his hollow persona is far more powerful in Huceo Mundo, he stands a chance. Ultimately, I think that one of (if not all four) the captains present will have to step in and aid Ichigo.

[True]

Ulquiorra's resurrection was pretty cool looking and his release was even named after a bat. Though if had said "I'm the GODAMN Batman" it be a lot cooler.

As for whether Ichigo can take on Ulquiorra, its been forshadowed a long while back that Ichigo can indeed beat him.

Clickie --Click here to view--

Reaching his full potential by grasping Shirosaki's strength Ichigo should defeat Ulquiorra.

[Miss Soupy]

Ichigo himself has the strength to defeat Ulquiorra, but he can't really harness his own power while he is worrying about controlling his hollow. The reason his hollow is so powerful is because he, oddly, seems to have much better control of Ichigo's power. If Ichigo does allow his hollow more control (which, I do believe there is evidence that Ichigo is losing his grip anyways), I imagine he will have a doubly hard time reeling him back in, if he even can. Also, I believe Ulquiorra's understanding of Ichigo's true power has increased greatly since he made the observation on his power earlier. The way Ulquiorra spoke to Ichigo in this chapter, it is like he is giving him pointers. I think there is a reason Ulquiorra wanted Ichigo to use his mask because Ulquiorra doesn't seem the type to care about how he defeats an enemy but instead that he does it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thus I smell a secret agenda...

Oh and Ulquiorra's resurrection is the sex XD

P.S. I hate Kubo for making Orihime into a broken record

[Illmatic]

Ulquiorra's release is something, but I think Ichigo can win this one

[psycho666]

Epic win on this chapter, Ulquiorra is gonna kick ass, you can always tell when they go with a big boom and change their outfits XD. Though I wonder how Ichigo will counter, this will most certainly be a huge growth on his part in strength and capacity, I'm kind of torn on how he's gonna defeat the 4th Espada now.

[Kyuudaime]

*Waiting on Shinji to step in*
This chapter = win

[Derock]

I expect craziness in the next chapter!

[Kyuudaime]

346 is out.
Wow, Ichigo needs something stronger then getsuga tenshou, there's no way he can beat Ulquiorra like how he is.

[KungFuTruffle]

This is getting rather one sided, and quickly. Ulquiorra is insanely strong, incredibly fast, and seems to have more tactical ability than Ichigo.

I don't see Ichigo getting out of this with his usual "Hit It Until It Stops Moving" approach. Either Ichigo shapes up fast, or someone else needs to bail him out.

Any of the Vizard Captains would work, I'd think. They have the strength, the mask, and the Ban Kai like Ichigo, but they also have way more experience.

And I miss Shinji.

[Derock]

Seeing how Ulquiorra pull out his Cero like that, I'm scared how Ichigo going to survived this... The attack looks like the "Black wave Version 3 of Kamehamaha."

[Kyuudaime]

Hmm...
Cero
Gran rey cero
Cero oscuras (win)

Black cero = coolness

Come on shinji, back up Ichigo.
I know you wanted to fight Ulquiorra ever since you saw him.

[True]

Ulquiorra proves that he is quite powerful in this chapter.

Also, I'm guessing Shirosaki makes his apperance to save Ichigo next chapter. Countering the black cero with a white Getsuga.

Makes sense since:

1)Ichigo needs a severe powerup. While he has just about the same power as Shirosaki, he doesn't have the same level of skill.
2)The black/white theme of Bleach fits well with a potential counter for him to use.
3)The last sin is Lust and that can relate to blood lust -> killer instinct -> Shirosaki.

Either way I wonder how Ichigo is going to protect himself from the black cero.

[Kyuudaime]

Ulquiorra proves that he is quite powerful in this chapter.

Also, I'm guessing Shirosaki makes his apperance to save Ichigo next chapter. Countering the black cero with a white Getsuga.

Makes sense since:

1)Ichigo needs a severe powerup. While he has just about the same power as Shirosaki, he doesn't have the same level of skill.
2)The black/white theme of Bleach fits well with a potential counter for him to use.
3)The last sin is Lust and that can relate to blood lust -> killer instinct -> Shirosaki.

Either way I wonder how Ichigo is going to protect himself from the black cero.

Or Shirosaki pulls out a white cero.
That would be way too bad ***.

Edited by Kurosaki Ichigo, 20 February 2009 - 10:32 PM.