No one had ever reached the pinnacle of the heavens before. Neither you, nor I, nor the gods. But now, the intolerable emptiness of heaven's throne is coming to an end. From this moment forward, I will ascend to the top.
If I had never had any encounter with the story of Bleach, the events in Volume 20 would have left me completely stunned. You can have your own opinions about Bleach, but the blatant betrayal that occurred was something no one could have foreseen, and it will surely go down as one of the most shocking events in the history of anime. And regardless of what you think about Bleach, you cannot deny the brilliance of its antagonist.
*SIRI, PLAY "TREACHERY" BY SAGISU SHIRO*
(If you haven't watched Bleach, it means you're not familiar with Sagisu Shiro's works. Please, if you enjoy listening to great soundtracks, give his music a try. You might discover a true gem. Thank you.)
The antagonist (I'm deliberately not revealing his name to avoid spoiling the story for those who don't know) is not only extremely intelligent and shrewd but also incredibly powerful. He effortlessly defeated both Ichigo and Renji - and Ichigo had previously fought (and won against) Byakuya and Zaraki as equals. I have a feeling that even if every captain were to face him, none of them would succeed. It would be a real bloodbath. Just thinking about it gives me chills.
"It's difficult to step on ants without crushing them."
With the antagonist finally making his appearance, we learn the identity of the culprit behind the Central 46 massacre and, to be honest, behind everything that has happened up until now. After wreaking havoc in the Soul Society, the villain leaves gracefully while the protagonist and all the other characters are powerless to stop him. All they can do is stand there helplessly and watch it unfold.
And wait for the antagonist's next move.
Anyway, with Volume 20, the Soul Society saga comes to an end. I can't believe it's already over. It passed by so quickly! It's as if I blinked and suddenly there was the last page. But I'm not sad at all - the end of the Soul Society saga means that the Vizards will soon make their appearance! I'm so excited to see them all! ✨☺️✨
Some things I need to discuss:
~ "Hey. When is your birthday, Rangiku?" "I don't know. Things like that had no meaning for me before I met you." "Then... The day we met is your birthday. All right? What do you say, Rangiku?" - This flashback scene between Matsumoto and Gin broke my heart, especially because I know what's going to happen in the future (I know, but I'm not ready)
Such an amazing volume!! It turns out that Captain Aizen has been pulling the strings behind everything all along. He meticulously planned every single detail right up until the very end. The inner turmoil and conflict within the Gotei 13 was all because of his devious machinations. His power is truly on a completely different plane compared to the other Captains he has fought against. In fact, it's almost questionable if what took place could even be called a proper fight. All of this elaborate plan was just so he could obtain the Hogyuko and make his escape with the Menos. I really have no idea what is going to happen next in this thrilling story, but deep down I have a strong feeling that we definitely haven't seen the last of Aizen. He is such a complex and powerful character that I'm sure there are still many more surprises and twists in store related to him.
Bleach, Vol. 20 picks up right where the previous volume left off. It contains the next ten captivating chapters (169–178) of the ongoing manga series, along with a bonus chapter titled "Blooming Under a Cold Moon".
Tōshirō Hitsugaya discovers the members of the Central 46 Chambers all dead and pursues Izuru Kira. Kira reveals that Momo Hinamori had also entered the chambers. Guided by Gin Ichimaru, Momo learns that Sōsuke Aizen is alive, only to be impaled by her captain. When Hitsugaya arrives, Aizen tells him that Gin was his co-conspirator. Hitsugaya unleashes his bankai to avenge Momo but is defeated and nearly killed. Then, Squad Four Captain Retsu Unohana appears, denouncing Aizen's treachery.
Aizen reveals that every Soul Reaper in the Soul Society has been under the hypnosis of his zanpakutō, except for the blind Kaname Tōsen, who is his other accomplice. As Isane Kotetsu relays this revelation to the high-ranking Thirteen Court Guard Squad members, Aizen arrives at Tōsen's location. After Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji, and Sajin Komamura are defeated, Aizen explains that the entire execution was arranged to obtain the Hōgyoku, hidden in Rukia's gigai by Kisuke Urahara. After extracting the Hōgyoku, with the Thirteen Court Guard Squads surrounding them, Aizen and his accomplices escape into a portal to Hueco Mundo.
This volume, written and illustrated by Tite Kubo, finally clarifies the events surrounding the arrest and execution of Rukia Kuchiki and the rescue mission by Ichigo and his group. It was all part of Aizen's plan to retrieve the hidden artifact. However, his ultimate plans remain a mystery as he escapes. Overall, Bleach, Vol. 20 is a great continuation that keeps the series highly intriguing, leaving readers eager for more.