Desperate Effort vs. Desperate Effort! The Hollowfied Ichigo

Shielded from Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's Gran Rey Cero by a masked, Bankai-clad Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue recoils at the hollowed face turned toward her, prompting Ichigo to apologize for frightening her and to vow a swift end. Below, a delighted Grimmjow rakes his fingers down his blade and unleashes Pantera, gaining a feline, armored frame with a trailing tail, mane, talons, and forearm blades. Ichigo warns Orihime to keep Santen Kesshun raised over herself and Nel Tu without ever dropping it.

Grimmjow's roar hurls a shockwave that staggers Ichigo before the Arrancar rockets up, smashing him through a row of towers and kicking him skyward. The two trade brutal exchanges across the sands, their clashing energy blasting the desert clear. Ichigo lands a horizontal gash across Grimmjow's chest and orders him to remain in his released state, insisting the fight would be dull otherwise. On an outer balcony, Tier Harribel stands with her Fracción, Emilou Apacci, Franceska Mila Rose, and Cyan Sung-Sun, all bracing against the waves of pressure, and Harribel questions whether Ichigo is truly Human given how sinister his Reiatsu feels.

When Grimmjow fires five Garra de la Pantera toward Orihime, Ichigo blocks them with his back and coughs up blood, and as he glances up, Orihime glimpses Acidwire in his place. His mask begins cracking, but he mends it with a swipe of his hand. As the battle wears on and half his mask shatters, Orihime freezes, haunted by the memory of her brother's transformation and unable to see her own reflection in Ichigo's blackened eyes.

Nel berates Orihime for withholding her support, reminding her that Ichigo fights for her sake and endures agony to do so. Roused, Orihime finally cries out, telling Ichigo he need not win or push himself further and begging him not to get hurt again. The words steady him. He catches Grimmjow's incoming jab, declares he cannot afford another wound, and carves a long slash down the Arrancar's chest.

Grimmjow releases his Resurrección, Pantera, to face the masked Ichigo on even footing. Harribel and her Fracción watch the duel from Las Noches and recognize the abnormal weight of Ichigo's spiritual pressure. Grimmjow demonstrates the destructive force of Garra de la Pantera, which Ichigo absorbs to protect Orihime and Nel. Repeated glimpses of Acidwire leave Orihime paralyzed by fear until Nel shames her into rallying. Orihime's plea restores Ichigo's resolve, and he answers by opening a deep wound down Grimmjow's front.

The episode draws on Chapters 281 through 283 during the first part of the Hueco Mundo arc. The adaptation folds in a large amount of new footage, including extended midair clashes, Sung-Sun trading barbs with Apacci and Mila Rose, drawn-out flashbacks to Acidwire's assault on Karakura Town, and recaps of Ichigo's earlier fights against Ulquiorra Cifer and Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio. Censorship softens several details, removing blood from Ichigo's mask shards and Grimmjow's chest wound and adjusting Mila Rose's outfit. Various choreography changes rework how Grimmjow launches Ichigo through towers and how their blades grind together during the exchange.