Rupture My Replica

As the smoke from Nelliel's Cero Doble clears, a worried Tesra releases Orihime and rushes toward his master. Orihime moves to heal Ichigo while he keeps staring at Nelliel, who suddenly wraps him in a crushing hug, tears in her eyes and his bones creaking, ignoring Orihime's warning that she is squeezing him to death. The reunion breaks when Tesra is flung into rubble and Nnoitra strides out of the smoke, right arm bloodied and part of his hood burned away. Reading Nelliel's surprise that he survived both Ceros, he admits he had forgotten her Cero Doble, but warns her that the Espada have grown vastly stronger during her long absence and that the number on her back no longer carries any weight.

Inside the palace, Renji dodges his clones and a hand chop from Dondochakka, scolding the Arrancar for attacking without checking who is real, before Pesche kicks him in the back. Uryu cuts in to point out the clones can be told apart by the markings around their eyes, along with Dondochakka's copies lacking his back spots and Pesche's wearing pants rather than loincloths. Szayelaporro admits he stripped those details away simply because they did not appeal to him, leaving Renji aghast, while Dondochakka keeps protesting that the marks are polka dots.

Realizing the space is too cramped, Renji activates his Bankai, Hihio Zabimaru, gambling that the copying clones will do the same. They do, and the resulting surge of energy blows Szayelaporro's entire palace apart. Standing amid the wreckage, Renji explains his reasoning, drawing a comparison to Ichigo from an exasperated Uryu. Szayelaporro then emerges unharmed, having shielded himself with Telon Balon, grumbles about reporting the destruction to Aizen, and snaps his fingers to pop the surviving clones like balloons before inviting the pair to witness the true power of Fornicaras.

Nnoitra survives Nelliel's combined Cero and declares that the modern Espada have surpassed her old rank. Uryu identifies the tells that distinguish the clones from the originals. Renji triggers his Bankai to bait the clones into copying it, obliterating the palace, though Szayelaporro shields himself with Telon Balon and prepares to show his release's real abilities.

The chapter was adapted across Episode 192 and Episode 193, Irresistible, Puppet Show of Terror. Renji's palace-leveling gambit clears the stage for Szayelaporro's Teatro de Titere to take center stage in the following chapter.