Bleach

[Khalil]

Honestly, I think that's what might happen, Nuriko. I was expecting another "inner fight" and possibly let Hollow Ichigo fight for a bit.

[Eaglestrike]

I never really liked the idea of Ichigo being able to turn into a complete hollow and have control since during his "defeating of inner hollow" we were shown how out of control he was, and we were told early on during Urahara's training, that if he were go go full hollow, he'd have no control (at which point Urahara said he'd kill him if he didn't regain his Shinigami powers).

/random predictions

We get another "inner battle" after Ichigo gets his ass handed to him by Ulq and becomes completely drained spiritually. During this inner battle, Ichigo actually loses to his darker half. The so called "horse and king" switch places as he threatened to do should Ichigo ever give him the chance. At this point the "wreckless hollow version" of Ichigo emerges (the one who fought Byakuya momentarily, not what he saw while the Vizards were trying to contain Ichigo's transformation) and this would be what defeats Ulq. Ichigo could then reclaim his body somehow after, maybe with Unahona's help.

After this, they could actually go down the path later where during Ichigo's next big fight (whether it's against Aizen or whoever), Shinigami Ichigo realizes he needs Hollow Ichigo's power and but still have Shinigami Ichigo's control, we get a final "inner battle" where they decide to team up (fu-sion-ha?) or work together, or something and thus whatever emerges is his "final form" or "final power up" or...whatever.

I'm pretty sure Ichigo using the Hollow Mask is his "fusion" and using the Hollow powers. Now there's a chance his "Hollow" could level up, seeing how Hollow's have varying levels of power and forms and then he'd have access to more abilities...

[Kisamoo]

I'm pretty sure Ichigo using the Hollow Mask is his "fusion" and using the Hollow powers. Now there's a chance his "Hollow" could level up, seeing how Hollow's have varying levels of power and forms and then he'd have access to more abilities...

Ichigo doesn't need to evolve more as a hollow, he needs to learn how to use his bankai. I'm sure he has an arsenal of hidden abilities only the inner hollow knows about (like the black getsuga). Even Renji's bankai is more than a 1 trick pony and he achieved bankai only a couple of days before Ichigo.

[Guitarman]

Betting Ichigo's hollow is a Grand Ultra Vasto Lorde or w/e. The power increase will probably come from the inner hollow either respecing ichigo or realizing it has to give all its strength to him to survive. If anything is holding back it's probably the hollow, imo.

[Merovingian]

Ichigo still need to master the hollow, maybe he will reappear again in this fight and finally master his power.


Edit:
This is the chapter he fights the inner hollow.

http://www.onemanga.com/Bleach/221/17/

[saracrow]

On the idea that the VLs are the least hollow looking of them all, wouldn't the inner hollow of ichigo be that? Completely human looking, other than the off colors?

I wish they would have given us more information on the vizard transformation, but I'm pretty sure Ichigo did not go through the same process as his hollow-ization came when he was just a spirit, unlike the others who were attacked by Aizen. This may make him something completely different. So I'd like to assume he's using the vizard disciplines to control his other side, that he's not really a vizard, hence the limited control he has over it.

[gandorf]

It's always possible that even during ichigo Vs grimjoww he was holding back. Just because the first guy he fought told him he can't hold back against other espada doesn't mean he isn't. It would explain why ichigo at the last second had all that power and was able to defeat grim.

They also never said how much stronger being there made ichigo. If it made chad stronger with his hollow powers then it has to have an effect on ichigo.

[Souj]

imo the espada have been looking more and more human in their released form as their number goes down. dont know if this has anything to do with anything, or means anything at all. just an observation.

[Kisamoo]

Kubo usually has nice design skills but Ulquiorra's release just looks stupid. After reading the chapter again, trying to ignore the suckyness, that's the next thing that stuck out. Let's hope the fight picks up and makes up for everything.

[Khalil]

It's always possible that even during ichigo Vs grimjoww he was holding back. Just because the first guy he fought told him he can't hold back against other espada doesn't mean he isn't. It would explain why ichigo at the last second had all that power and was able to defeat grim.

They also never said how much stronger being there made ichigo. If it made chad stronger with his hollow powers then it has to have an effect on ichigo.

I really doubt Ichigo was holding back during his Grim fight. He got his ass handed to him and just barely beat him. If Ichigo is to get a power boost, which he'll definitely need for Ulq, he needs to have another inner fight with his Hollow and retain more control over it or let the Hollow side come out to play for a bit, lol.

[kuronosan]

Kubo only believes in the power of DEM.

[Sqwunk]

imo the espada have been looking more and more human in their released form as their number goes down. dont know if this has anything to do with anything, or means anything at all. just an observation.

I was under the impression that Ulq and above him were VL's based on the silhouette of a VL that was given to us, and it looked like a perfect outline of Ulq. Just because Aizen had Nnoitra and the others looking for VL out in the wilderness doesn't mean he hadn't already obtained some of them. Possibly just that he was trying to increase the number of VLs he had under his power.

[aru]

i'm not so sure he is one. yes, he does look like the silhouette we were shown, but then shouldn't the other top 3 look just like that as well? he may have been a former one that had "fallen" for whatever reason (maybe a similar explination as Nell's fall) and this is his reduced form.

[CrimsonAngel]

idk the espada have been getting killed pretty fast, so if 4-1 are vasto lordes there are probably more hidden in aizen's army, or else the next hundred chapter's are going to be really dull with only 4 enemy's, plus aizen&company

[Zilong]

im sure they'll conclude the aizen arc in less than 100 chapter, then start on a new evenly less thought out arc if he didn't get cancelled before that

[Souj]

idk the espada have been getting killed pretty fast

Is there some other alternate reality where you are reading bleach at?

[Maguspk]

My friend who doesn't read the manga mentioned the anime was doing the past episodes and I asked "turning back the pendulum? Like with SS 100 years in the past?" and he said "yup." So I'm wondering, what episode do I start back on, I left off at the omg captains in Kororkururuauraur town episode. Right before the filler started I believe.

Or, is my friend an idiot and it really isn't the pendulum arc?

[Sqwunk]

My friend who doesn't read the manga mentioned the anime was doing the past episodes and I asked "turning back the pendulum? Like with SS 100 years in the past?" and he said "yup." So I'm wondering, what episode do I start back on, I left off at the omg captains in Kororkururuauraur town episode. Right before the filler started I believe.

Or, is my friend an idiot and it really isn't the pendulum arc?

Pendulum Arc started on the episode of this past week. They are kind of stretching it out by adding more story to it, but it's not bad, they're doing good with it so far.

I don't think that Espada 1,2,3 are the same shape as Ulq because they just used him to show what the base VL might look like. Idk, it could possibly be just a coincidence.

[CrimsonAngel]

Is there some other alternate reality where you are reading bleach at?

Well think about the only remaining esapadas are 1-4 maybe yammy, and if grimm is still alive he's probably not an enemy, and the others all died within 80 chapters... So... yea they died pretty fast

[Souj]

Well think about the only remaining esapadas are 1-4 maybe yammy, and if grimm is still alive he's probably not an enemy, and the others all died within 80 chapters... So... yea they died pretty fast

that was more of a joke pointing out how dragged out Bleach has been.