Episode 272 closes the tower duel with Ulquiorra, as Rukia's team fells Rudbornn below and Ichigo's rampaging Hollow form is finally reined in. In his last moments, the emotionless Espada reaches for Orihime and glimpses what a heart might be.
Summary
Inside Las Noches, Rudbornn keeps spawning soldiers with Calaveras to wall off every attack, boasting his power has no ceiling. Rukia lays a trap: she freezes his troops so Sado can shatter them and Renji can finish him with Hihiō Zabimaru, but the true aim is to hold his focus while his own frozen weakness creeps up his body. Encased in ice, Rudbornn is then smashed by a battered, enraged Yammy, who rises vowing revenge on Uryū.
Above, Ichigo's monstrous Hollow form slams Ulquiorra down and moves to end him, only for Uryū to grab his wrist and beg him to stop before he loses his humanity. The Hollow answers by driving Tensa Zangetsu into Uryū's stomach. As it charges a Cero over the fallen Quincy, Ulquiorra severs one of its horns, collapsing the blast, shattering the mask, and returning Ichigo to human form. His Reiatsu then flows back to seal the hole in his chest, a High-Speed Regeneration that surprises Ulquiorra.
Waking to find his blade in Uryū, a horrified Ichigo cannot accept that his Hollow, not he, wounded Ulquiorra so gravely; he even asks the Espada to sever his own arm and leg to make the fight fair. As Ulquiorra moves to comply, his body begins crumbling to ash. He asks Ichigo to finish him, and when Ichigo refuses, admitting he never wanted to win this way, Ulquiorra reflects on his own growing curiosity about humans. Reaching out to Orihime and asking if she fears him, he dissolves before she can take his hand, realizing in that gesture what a heart truly is, and fades into the wind.
Key Events
Rukia's team defeats Rudbornn Chelute, who is then crushed by a resurgent Yammy. Ichigo's Hollow form impales Uryū before Ulquiorra breaks his horn and restores him. Ichigo's High-Speed Regeneration seals his chest wound. The final fight ends with Ulquiorra disintegrating, reaching toward Orihime and grasping the meaning of a heart in his last moment.
Notes
The 272nd episode belongs to the second half of the Fake Karakura Town arc and adapts chapters 352 through 354. Its Quincy Encyclopedia corner has Ryūken Ishida, enraged that Isshin's son stabbed his own, fire a barrage of arrows at Isshin and blow up the hospital while Isshin offers Ichigo as compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What episode does the Ichigo vs Ulquiorra fight conclude?
The duel concludes in episode 272, Ichigo vs. Ulquiorra, Conclusion!, which closes the tower fight inside Las Noches during the second half of the Fake Karakura Town arc.
What happened to Ichigo during his fight with Ulquiorra?
Ichigo's monstrous Hollow form took over, slamming Ulquiorra down and even driving Tensa Zangetsu into Uryu's stomach. Ulquiorra severed one of the form's horns to shatter the mask and return Ichigo to human form, after which a High-Speed Regeneration sealed the hole in his chest.
How does Ulquiorra die in Bleach?
After Ichigo refuses to finish him, Ulquiorra's body begins crumbling to ash. Reaching out toward Orihime and asking if she fears him, he dissolves before she can take his hand, grasping in that gesture what a heart truly is as he fades into the wind.
Who defeats Rudbornn in Bleach episode 272?
Rukia's team defeats Rudbornn Chelute by freezing his troops so Sado can shatter them and Renji can finish him, while ice creeps up his own body. The encased Rudbornn is then smashed by a battered, enraged Yammy.
What manga chapters does Bleach episode 272 adapt?
Episode 272 belongs to the second half of the Fake Karakura Town arc and adapts chapters 352 through 354.
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Bleach anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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- Created byTite Kubo
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
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