The Mascaron Drive

In Soul Society's research institute, Rin Tsubokura raises the alarm over vermillion Arrancar Reiatsu in Karakura Town, the telltale sign of Espada, and the warning spreads across the Seireitei by hell butterfly. Ukitake sends Rukia to the gate at once, and when Orihime asks to follow, he reveals he has already had the Dangai's wall stabilized so she can cross safely and quickly. Rukia races off, unsettled that the Espada have surfaced long before the Hogyoku was ever meant to wake.

Over Karakura, Ichigo releases Tensa Zangetsu and reminds Grimmjow which blade left the scar on his chest. Learning that Grimmjow discarded his own arm out of confidence, Ichigo decides to hold nothing back, silently counting the eleven seconds his mask will buy him. He calls the mask on, blitzes Grimmjow with Shunpo, and drives a point-blank Getsuga Tensho into him at a scale that dwarfs their first duel.

Elsewhere Yammy shrugs off Hitsugaya's ice, forcing the captain to weigh his Bankai, while Luppi batters Yumichika and asks Yammy to hand over the whole group so he can face them all at once with his release. At the Urahara Shop, Renji and Chad are both too spent to answer the invasion, so Urahara draws Benihime and heads out in their place. This chapter was adapted into episodes 138 and 139.