Bleach Manga Chapter 358 – King of the Clouds
Aaaand the Tercera Espada is out! From the way things turned out this chapter, Halibel’s death is practically certain. Whatever Toushiro’s new technique is, Halibel seems quite shocked and afraid. Like one of you mentioned last chapter, it’s sad to see such a beautiful girl go. 
It’s a bit annoying that Kubo translates her name as Harribel, instead of Hallibel, which sounds much cuter. Harribel reminds me harry Potter, which totally destroys my mojo. Way to goof up, Tite-san…
Now, let’s go back to the more important part of the chapter. Picking up where he left off last time, the author shows us Hallibel’s devastating water attack. Her abilities consist of producing water through Tiburon’s gills. As some of you might now, a high-pressure water stream is able to instantly cut even through inches of solid steel. However, it looks like she’s only able to control the water she summons and she can only change it’s trajectory, speed and consistency during the summoning. Or, at best, she can only control the water she created herself. On the other hand, we’ve got Toushiro, who can’t create ice unless there’s water in his surroundings. In the last chapter the young Captain thought the Espada’s abilities were actually working to his advantage, but Halibel tried her best to prove him wrong.
After stopping his opponent’s attack, Hitsugaya uses “Guncho Tsurara” (Icickle Flock) to divert Halibel’s attention and sneak up behind her. The blonde isn’t very impressed and after melting the first attack with “Hirviendo” (Boiling Splash), she easily defends against the second by breaking through it.
Hallibel is a bit angered by the fact that small ice-crystals started forming on her beautiful skin and releases her anger in the form of numerous offensive moves, like La Gota (Droplette) and a Cero. Her attacks are weak, however, and Toushiro dodges them without much trouble. The shinigami realises that his foe is waiting for an increase of humidity the air, so that she can use some sort of special move. He decides to act ahead of her and declares a technique of his own – “Hyouten Hyakkasou” (Ice-Heavens Hundred Flower Burial)
This skill is one that has yet to be tested in bankai mode. The only logical reason for Hitsugaya not to use it in previous battles is probably because it’s unstable or uses up a lot of reiatsu. You can see the dark rain clouds gathering behind him, as if foreboding the arrival of a terrible evil. My expectations are that both Toushiro and Hallibel will use their strongest techniques, yet the shinigami will win by a cross-hair. According to Hitsugaya’s own words ”You are in the greatest danger when you execute a flawless strategy”, so this final clash should be quite interesting.
In the other battle, Soi Fon and Omaeda look pathetic in front of Barragan’s time-control skills. Omaeda, as usual is quite cowardly, his only thoughts solely concentrated on coming up with an escape plan. In his inner-mind ramblings, he even comes to the conclusion that Barragan is more dangerous than Aizen, but I think we all know that’s a bit extreme. There’s no way Barragan would obey Aizen if that were the case. The fat man’s logic is on the right track concerning the battle strategy – there’s no way to get close to the Espada, so there’s no way to escape, and his Breath of Death is strong and fast enough to rival even Soi Fon’s shunpo.
During Omaeda’s inner ponderings, Soi Fon comes up with a plan, but she needs the chubby Vice-captain to act as a decoy. Of course the mere thought of having to stand up against the monster all by himself makes the bloke nearly shit his pants. I can only imagine what his heart-rate must be after hearing his Captain’s orders to chop off his own limbs, if needed. Barragan chases after Omaeda, who runs away in a comical fashion. Even though the 2nd Division Vice-captain is a “lazy, cowardly, fat grease-ball, who only cares about money and his family’s busyness”, as Soi Fon put it, he’s a loyal subordinate, who always pulls through. So I think he’ll do a good job and prove his worth in the upcoming chapters.
On the issue of Soi Fon’s power- she not only has her bankai, but also shunkou:
This is a technique invented and perfected by Yoruichi, which Soi Fon also managed to discover on her own accord. It’s very probable that Yoruichi revealed some unknown secrets of this kidou technique to her apprentice. And since we already know that kidou spells are very effective against the Espada’s special abilities (like Byakuya’s spells against Zommari), I think it’s safe to conclude shunko will have a vital role in this battle. Now if only we could see that damn bankai already…
Oh, and this just came into my mind yesterday and I can’t get rid of it.
Tags: bleach manga chapters
May 22, 2009 8:34 am 7 Comments
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By Pretend3r, May 22, 2009 @ 10:12 am
Very nice summary today.
The only comment i still wonder about is the fact that the current captains are able to beat the espada. Toshiro actually might seeing how well he pairs up with Harry potter, or hallibel as the rest of us calls her.
In short. Goods things to come. The only other time i’ve seen toshiro blacken the sky was with the fight against gin, but then he was only fighting with his Shikai.
By BSK17, May 25, 2009 @ 9:17 am
i just can’t wait for the next chapter to come out to see what this new tech is.
but i don’t think hitsu will be able to beat halibel. for a couple of reasons. first, he himself said he never tried it in bankai mode. this would mean that he hasn’t had much practice with it and thus the tech is imperfect or unstable (but no doubt it’s powerful since this is clearly a major card).
second, we all saw how strong ully was. ichigo had to go rampage mode to defeat him. and halibel is stronger than ully, meaning hitsu has to have power equal to ichigo’s full hollow form to beat her.
what could soi fon be up to? and why isn’t she going bankai even when things aren’t looking good for her? omaeda is in serious trouble. barragan could make short work of him if he doesn’t have a plan.
By ssj sousuke, May 25, 2009 @ 9:34 am
I think its funny that if Omaeda sees power stronger than his captains, he automatically assumes this guy is stronger than even Aizen. I agree J that if this were the case, there is no way “his majesty” would bow to him.
I am excited to see Hitsugaya’s move, but I think that when he uses it, Halibel will be capable of using her best move. I think best case scenario, they both take each other out, but Hitsugaya survives by a thread, making him the winner.
BSK, I don’t think Halibel is stronger than Ulquiorra’s second released form. I think in his first released form, Ulquiorra is in fourth as the rank states, then his second release places him either right behind Barragan or Stark, jumping up one or too places. But J even believes his second form makes him the strongest Espada of all.
By Byakushi, May 25, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Nah, I think Ulquirroa’s 2nd release is as strong as Barragan’s. It’s weaker than Yammi’s, in any case.
By mart1, May 25, 2009 @ 10:29 am
“why isn’t she going bankai” Bankai takes a lot of energy, Soi Fon is waiting for an assured hit, because she will probably only have one. I think thats why she needs Omeada’s distraction.
I think that it goes Aizen, Stark, UL. 2nd release, Barragan, and Halibel. this is because if Ul. used his regeneration ability, Barragan’s time/acid wouldn’t really have any effect because he could keep coming back.
By BSK17, May 29, 2009 @ 11:20 am
oameda thinking barragan is more dangerous than aizen is simply because barragan has a terrifying power. everything around him ages and withers away. just being near him is dangerous. in aizen’s case, even though he is stronger, he has no such aura or anything except his powerful spirit energy.
By BSK17, May 29, 2009 @ 11:28 am
another thing, ully said aizen didn’t see him in his second released form. that doesn’t mean aizen was unaware of it.
but since aizen didn’t take him to earth to fight the shinigami, it would only mean that either aizen didn’t know that ully wasn’t the 4th strongest or that ully wasn’t stronger than even halibel.