Corrosion of Conformity

As a frightened Nel Tu names him, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez rolls the limp Ichigo Kurosaki over with a kick, exposing the wound punched through his chest by Ulquiorra, which he says he anticipated. Ignoring Nel's pleas, he produces a bound and gagged Orihime Inoue from beneath a cloak, drops her before Ichigo, frees her mouth, and sits on the rubble to order her to heal the young man.

In the distant cell, Ulquiorra confronts Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia and asks what has happened. Nel blames herself for Ichigo's injuries, recalling that he shielded her from a Cero, but Grimmjow silences her with a threat and tells her to simply watch. Orihime finds she cannot deny the enormous spiritual pressure churning around the wound, and when she wonders who could inflict such a thing, Grimmjow names Ulquiorra, just as Loly tells the same Espada that Grimmjow was the one who stole Orihime away.

Grimmjow explains that Ulquiorra habitually leaves an identical hole on the opponents he finds interesting, and vows to punish him for poaching. Ulquiorra abandons the two Arrancar in the cell. Ichigo's fingers twitch and he comes to, recognizing Orihime and Nel, but Grimmjow snaps at her to stop wasting time. Pressed by Ichigo about his intentions, Grimmjow states plainly that he wants him restored so their kill can be clean, leaving Orihime stunned. When he asks whether she would rather let Ichigo die and warns that Ulquiorra is near, the Espada abruptly manifests behind him with Sonido and fixes him with a glare.

Grimmjow reveals the captured Orihime and forces her to heal the barely conscious Ichigo. He explains that Ulquiorra unconsciously marks intriguing foes with a matching chest wound and declares his intent to punish him. Ichigo regains consciousness, and Grimmjow admits he only wants him healthy so their fight can reach a true finish before Ulquiorra suddenly appears behind him.

The eighth chapter of the thirty-first volume, DON'T KILL MY VOLUPTURE, it turns the spotlight from the Szayelaporro duel back to Ichigo's crippled state. Its scenes were adapted into Episode 164 of the anime, Ishida's Strategy, the 20-second Offense and Defense. The closing panel sets up the three-way tension between Grimmjow, Ichigo, and Ulquiorra resolved in the next chapter.