If you’ve been following thus far, we’ve just witnessed the end of one of the most nicest bad guys we’ve had in the Manga for a while, the Primera Espada, Coyote Starrk.

This chapter opens with additional background to Starrk’s origins and how he ended up with Sōsuke Aizen. We see Aizen stumbles upon Starrk surrounded by a mountains of the remains of hollow, that we can only assume Starrk defeated which Aizen ask’s if he indeed killed them, to which Starrk replies something to the effect of, “No, they just died”. An interesting reply, which helps to further skew the picture we all have of Starrk as increasingly we find him to be troubled, disturbed and so very lonely. I for one have mixed emotions about him,  should I sympathise with him? But I can’t he’s a bad guy, right? Or maybe it’s not supposed to be so clear cut.

Kyouraku Shunsui (Fan Art)

Aizen quickly recognises Starrks strength and attempts to recruit him and Starrk agrees, stating that he, Aizen and the rest of their team also seem to be strong enough to not die by just being in proximity to him (Starrk). Again, an odd response but one that leaves us to make the assumption that he was such a powerful individual that the other hollow could not survive around him which is why is always remained alone.

The chapter then cut’s back to Starrk falling from the sky, after being killed by Shunsui Kyōraku. Seemingly in his final breathe, his final thoughts are thoughts of thanks and failure. Thanks for Aizen for providing him with company that were just as strong as he was which meant he was no longer alone in the world, and also failure, in that he could not repay the debt he felt he owed Aizen.

With this fight over. The Primera Espada has fallen. Some might say he went to soon but it has to be said, his opponent, Shunsui Kyōraku, was a Captain of the Gotei-13 and is also quite possibly the strongest Captain in the Gotei-13 apart from the General, so in some senses it had to end sooner rather than later.

Love Aikawa then complains that Kyōraku interfered in his fight, stating Kyōraku has no style, to which Kyōraku responds:

“Only underlings get caught up in matters of style and lose the battle. A Captain can’t afford such indulgences.”

“[Said to Aikawa] Don’t try to be a good kid. Whether you owe someone or they owe you, the moment you start a fight, your in the wrong either way.”

Wow! What a few line those are! So Kyōraku does have a serious side to him. Instantly we should see that this Captain is deeper than anyone can perceive and his bright and colourful exterior belies his ability to be serious when the situation calls for it. He also hints at the fact that really there are no winner in a fight, no party can leave a fight feeling as if they have done good, because no good can come from another death. In a way I feel this almost in a way is said to honour the defeat of Starrk at his hands. I find myself just liking Kyōraku as a character more and more.

Harribel (Fan Art)

Before we have time to enjoy any more of Kyōraku coolness we switch again back to the fight underway against Tia Harribel (Tia Hariberu), the Espada Tres and Lisa Yadōmaru (Yadōmaru Risa) which has been going on, seemingly all the while the Starrk fight has been going on.

The fight is in full flow and just as Lisa releases her Zanpakutō’,  Haguro Tonbo, Hiyori Sarugaki joins in the fray with her Zanpakutō, Kubikiri Orochi, in Shikai form too. Completing the triple-team attack is Toshiro Hitsugaya.

Watching all this going on from a lofty height is Aizen, still removed from the actual fighting and instead just floating in the air watching everything take place. Only now, he decidedes to intervene.

Aizen ends Harribel (Fan Art)

As Aizen calls a halt to the fight between Gin Ichimaru and Shinji Hirako, he appears behind Harribel and immediate executes her in one single motion, slicing her almost in half.

Harribel in shock attempts to ask with her dying breathe, why? To which Aizen responds that he is “done” with her and she is not strong enough to fight for him. Just like that, he kills a comrade, but by his explanation of his actions we can only presume he saw the Espada more has pawns than comrades, fully dispensable when or if they could not perform as he expected them to perform.

The end is quite abrupt and very surprising if not a little expected at the same time, because we do know that Aizen is a cold hearted killer. Afterall he fooled everyone of the Gotei-13 into believing he was their friend and comrade only for him to betray them at the beginning of the arc.

So what now Aizen? You have finished off all your Espada. What remains for you now? What will you next plan be? I think we can rest assured there will be plenty more betrayal and back stabbing from Aizen before the conclusion of this arc.

What did you guys think of this chapter? How would you have rated it out of 10? What do you think will be Aizen’s next move? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.