The Astounding Powers of BLEACH: Unveiling the Secrets of Resurrección

Highlights

Urahara's research into the Resurrección transformation is central to the Shinigami's response to the Quincy invasion in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc of BLEACH.

The Chain of Fate symbolizes the emotional ties that bind a Plus (human soul) and if their lingering feelings of remorse are fixated on a particular individual, their Chain of Fate will enwrap that person, engendering a profound obsession in the Plus.

Arrancar, which are a type of Hollow, have severed portions of their masks, granting them abilities akin to the Shinigami, such as the power to utilize Resurrección. This transformation is regarded as the Hollow equivalent of a Bankai.

Spoilers ahead for BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2, currently available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

In Tite Kubo's BLEACH, the climactic Thousand-Year Blood War arc sees the resurgence of various concepts and characters from previous story arcs. The Shinigami and the Quincies engage in a fierce war, and a crucial aspect of the Shinigami's defense against the invasion is Urahara's investigation into the mechanics of the Bankai-stealing medallions. Surprisingly, Urahara discovers a link between these medallions and the Resurrección transformation used by the Arrancar. This connection holds great significance in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.

Fate

Introduced at the beginning of the series, Hollows are the corrupted souls of Humans who were unable to pass on to Soul Society for various reasons. The main concept is that the longer a human soul, or "Plus," remains in the human world, the higher the likelihood of being consumed by Hollows or transforming into one due to overwhelming feelings of despair, regret, or other intense emotions. When a person dies, their soul possesses a chain firmly attached to their chest, which gradually corrodes over time as their attachments to this plane fade away. This chain, known as the Chain of Fate, represents the attachments the Plus holds. If their regrets in death revolve around a particular individual, the Chain of Fate will wrap itself around that person and obsess the Plus. Removed from their physical bodies, souls experience excruciating pain from the chain and feel a strong urge to break free. However, doing so severs their connection to their body.

Encroachment refers to the gradual corrosion of the chain, which can be accelerated by surrendering to despair, Hollow attacks, or the use of supernatural powers. During this stage, the chain slowly erodes, beginning from the furthest point, with the encroachment persisting over time. The process cannot be halted, and once the Chain of Fate is fully encroached, the soul transforms into a Hollow, driven to devour the souls of the living and the dead. Once transformed, the former Plus becomes insatiable, constantly seeking to fill the void caused by their descent. While the individual they were obsessed with in life becomes their primary target upon Hollowfication, most Hollows lack reason and intellect, quickly devolving into mindless beasts. However, some exceptionally powerful Hollows retain their intelligence, the ability to speak, and, in rare cases, their memories. The purification of Hollows by Shinigami is vital to maintaining balance in the BLEACH universe. By slaying them with Zanpakutō, the soul is purified and sent to the afterlife to await their next reincarnation.

Hollow

The term "Hollow" refers to creatures with a hole on their bodies, typically in their chests where the chain of fate used to be. This hole represents the loss of their heart, which is now disguised as a skull-like mask. The powers and appearance of a Hollow are closely connected to their hearts, as explained by fKugo Ginjo during the Fullbring arc. Of all the different types of Hollows, the Menos Grande, also known as "Big Minus" in Spanish, plays a significant role in the BLEACH storyline. These Hollows have an insatiable void within them and feed on other Hollows, eventually becoming "Great Hollows" - the Menos Grande. There are three classes of Menos:

Gillians are the weakest class of Menos. They are large and lack intelligence, resembling each other in appearance. Rukia had never encountered a Gillian until meeting Ichigo, and it was realized that even a single Gillian could pose a threat to a Lieutenant. They attack in groups and possess standard Hollow abilities such as using a dimensional gate for arrival and escape, as well as unleashing a powerful beam blast called the Cero. Although lacking intelligence or personality, a Gillian has the potential to gain control over the group and evolve into the next class of Menos Grande.

The Adjuchas class denotes intermediate Hollows that have surpassed the mindlessness of Gillians and have become more intelligent and powerful as a result. They often lead the Gillians in battle. Similar to lesser Hollows (excluding Gillians), their appearances differ greatly, and they possess a variety of unique abilities. One notable ability of Adjuchas-class Hollows is their utilization of Garganta, which allows them to navigate between Hueco Mundo, the World of the Living, and other realms in the BLEACH universe.

Vasto Lordes represent the pinnacle of Hollow evolution and exhibit appearances that closely resemble humans. When Aizen merges the Hōgyoku with Vasto Lorde-class Hollows, the outcome is Arrancars who bear a human-like appearance after discarding their masks.

Arrancar

Arrancar are Hollows who have torn fragments of their masks and acquired powers similar to those of Shinigami. They possess a Zanpakutō, capable of a release known as Resurrección. Lower-class Menos Hollows can also become Arrancar, but the less evolved they are before encountering the reality-warping orb, the less human-like they appear as Arrancar and the less purpose they have. For example, Aaroniero Aarurierie took on the disguise of former 13th Squad Lieutenant Kaien Shiba to hide his true form, while Nnoitra Gilga has human characteristics but a praying mantis-like disposition. Resurrección is considered the Hollow equivalent of a Bankai, as the process of becoming an Arrancar transforms Hollows into beings with similarities to Shinigami, resulting in the Arrancar possessing both their own abilities and those of their polar opposite.

Aizen experimented with this Hollowfication when it comes to Shinji Hirako and the group that became the Visored. Similar to a Shikai, a Resurrección requires a command phrase and a name for the respective "Zanpakutō." The sword, like with Shinigami, is a manifestation of the Hollow's soul sealed within a sword. Activating a Resurrección reverts the Arrancar to its true Hollow form, explaining the use of the Spanish word "resurrection" in its name. Because the Resurrección unlocks the full potential of the Arrancar, it is comparable to a Bankai, making it a significant aspect of Urahara's research into recovering stolen Bankai, not only due to their similarities but also because of the negative effects of Hollow reiatsu on Quincies.