Don't Forget Till You Die

Nnoitra drags his crescent-bladed weapon through the sand and closes on Ichigo, who demands to know whether the newcomer is an Espada. When the grievously wounded Grimmjow curses him, Nnoitra leaps to finish the fallen Arrancar off, forcing Ichigo to block the blow with Tensa Zangetsu. Ichigo points out that Nnoitra is the one striking down a man who cannot even move, and the Espada disengages, mocking Grimmjow for being protected by the very opponent who just beat him. After Ichigo gives his name, Nnoitra sneers that he will try to remember it until Ichigo is dead, then attacks in earnest.

Ichigo quickly finds himself straining to hold back the enormous, deceptively heavy weapon wielded by Nnoitra's thin frame. Driven back into the dunes, he is further rattled when Nnoitra has Tesra flash behind Orihime and force her to the ground. As Ichigo protests, Nnoitra tells him to keep his eyes on the fight and reveals the number 5 tattooed on his tongue, making clear he far outranks the opponent Ichigo only narrowly overcame. He admits he has already forgotten Ichigo's name and swings for his face.

Deeper inside, Uryu, Renji, Pesche, and Dondochakka race up a staircase in Szayelaporro's palace, reasoning there is no point lingering in a room that neutralizes their powers when their real goal is rescuing Orihime and the others. They reach the doorway at the top, only to find themselves standing back in the very chamber they just fled. Stepping out in a fresh, undamaged outfit, Szayelaporro asks whether they enjoyed the run and announces that the second act is about to begin as he readies his Zanpakuto.

Nnoitra Gilga formally engages Ichigo and displays his Espada rank of 5, establishing himself as a threat well beyond Grimmjow. Tesra subdues Orihime, removing Ichigo's support. Szayelaporro reveals his control over the palace by looping Uryu and Renji's escape back to their starting room and prepares to release his own power.

The chapter opens the thirty-third volume and was adapted in Episode 190, Hueco Mundo Chapter, Restart! It runs two threads in parallel, the Ichigo versus Nnoitra fight in the sands and the Uryu and Renji standoff with Szayelaporro indoors, which the volume develops together.