Joining the Battle! The Strongest Shinigami Army Appears

As Tesra Lindocruz moves to finish a fallen Ichigo, Kenpachi Zaraki intercepts the strike and cuts the Fraccion down before Nnoitra Gilga's warning can reach him. A stunned Ichigo learns that Urahara, on Yamamoto's orders, stabilized the Garganta so the captains could cross into Hueco Mundo. Kicking Ichigo out of his path, Kenpachi squares off against Nnoitra while Yachiru playfully boots the interfering Ichigo aside.

The captains fan out across the fortress. Mayuri Kurotsuchi materializes behind Szayelaporro Granz at his ruined lab, startling Renji and Uryu with his altered appearance and trading barbs before their fight begins. Out in the desert, Unohana and Isane reach the Exequias as they close in on Sado and Gantenbainne, and Unohana warns Rudbornn Chelute that they seek only to heal, not to fight, so long as no hand is raised against them.

Byakuya Kuchiki appears to stop Zommari Rureaux from killing Rukia. Zommari boasts of his Gemelos Sonido, the fastest step among the Espada, and spawns clones that pierce Byakuya, only for the captain to reveal he escaped with the Onmitsukido technique Utsusemi. Byakuya coldly informs Zommari that the true gulf between them is not arrogance but raw power.

Kenpachi saves Ichigo and slays Tesra before engaging Nnoitra. Multiple captains enter Hueco Mundo through the stabilized Garganta, with Mayuri facing Szayelaporro and Unohana's team arriving to heal the wounded. Byakuya intervenes for Rukia, counters Zommari's Gemelos Sonido clones with Utsusemi, and declares his superiority over the Espada.

The episode adapts chapters 298 and 299 during the second part of the Hueco Mundo arc. It marks the dramatic entrance of the captain-class reinforcements and unveils Mayuri's redesigned look. Velonica provides the opening and Hitohira no Hanabira the ending. An Arrancar Encyclopedia segment hosted by Gin introduces Zommari and his signature speed technique.