The Devilish Research! Szayelaporro's Plan

After breaking Dordoni's Zanpakutō, Ichigo leaves the wounded Arrancar behind, and Dordoni chooses to hold off Rudbornn Chelute and the Exequias so Ichigo can advance, urging him in his heart to abandon mercy and fight like a demon. Meanwhile, in Sōsuke Aizen's throne room, Szayelaporro Granz confesses that he dispatched the Exequias without authorization to finish the injured intruder, and Aizen calmly forgives him upon learning he extracted a record of Ichigo's Reiatsu from Dordoni for his research. Gin observes that Aizen seems to relish watching the invaders draw nearer.

Elsewhere, Uryū Ishida dodges through collapsing pillars as Cirucci Sanderwicci hurls her bladed disc at him, while Renji Abarai is dragged along and piledriven by an overexcited Dondochakka.

Uryū realizes he can bend his Heilig Pfeil in flight to outmaneuver Cirucci's straight-line attacks, and he shatters dozens of pillars while pressing his advantage. Cirucci then reveals she baited him into clearing the field, demonstrating that she too can curve her disc's path in any direction. The reversal drives Uryū to block with his Ginrei Kojaku, which is torn through, wounding his shoulder as an unseen figure watches from a nearby doorway.

Following the fluctuations of her friends' Reiatsu, Rukia Kuchiki climbs a long staircase and emerges under an impossible blue sky within Las Noches. Aaroniero Arruruerie greets her and leads her into a darkened room, where he removes his mask to reveal the face of the long-dead Kaien Shiba, leaving Rukia utterly stunned.

The episode adapts portions of Chapter 254 through Chapter 256, along with pages from Chapter 262 and Chapter 263, within the Hueco Mundo arc. The anime expands Uryū's fight with Cirucci and rearranges the timing of Rukia's encounter with Aaroniero. The closing Illustrated Picture Book shows Ukitake's illness flaring as he and Hitsugaya are left short-handed guarding the Ōin.