I can say that I definitely share the enthusiasm.

Regarding this week's chapter....

Rukia appearing in mangled skeletal form as part of Byakuya's fear and the 'R.I.P.' as the ending caption were quite unsettling.

But still, yikes. Ichigo is still trapped and unable to help.

Meanwhile, Byakuya tries to have Renji figure his current opponent out but is put into a situation where he loses his composure due to fear.

Speaking of which, it was neat seeing As Nodt's personal ability. I'm glad Vandenreich aren't limited strictly to the standard Quincy weapons and techniques we've known.

But...man, Byakuya was owned....if not worse.

Well, this chapter was certainly a doozie.

Yet another brutal chapter showing how serious the situation is.

Byakuya is gravely wounded and Renji strikes angrily in retaliation. Unfortunately, it looks like his Shikai isn't enough to penetrate the enemy's physical defense.

Rukia makes the 'first conflict' mistake of turning her back on the enemy to go help Byakuya and is struck down. Not a good idea when your opponent is of an elite anti-SS force a thousand years in the making.

As Nodt then starts cutting Byakuya over and over with Senbonzakura. That was brutal.

Renji was provoked into Bankai, but was pounded and defeated by the Luchador Stern Ritter before that could happen.

Byakuya, now a bloody mess, utters one final apology to the fallen Renji and Rukia before being declared dead for real by the Stern Ritter leader.

Well, if he is, it's much better than had he died last chapter. RIP, Byakuya. You were a good and fully developed character and I am sad if it is your time to go.

I thought it was funny when the King commented how the Stern Ritter's only weakness was naivety and then Kenpachi shows up with three Stern Ritter impaled on his Zanpakuto. LOL

I'd imagine the one to best match them would be one who doesn't have Bankai but just plain overwhelming physical power. [which I can see where they'd underestimate him...but I doubt the higher-ups will make that mistake]

This should be awesome, though I am a bit worried about Kenpachi. You never go after the final boss at the beginning. That never ends well. [Though I find it more likely the King will be saved for Yamamoto and the Stern Ritter Leader will take on Kenpachi instead]

The latest chapter was great...if not just because it fleshed out a character that was desperately in need of it. We even got to see the source of Yamamoto's scar.

Seeing Chojiro and Yamamoto's history was a real treat...and now I can honestly say I feel a sense of loss that the former died.

And we even got to see his Bankai, which controls the weather like Toshiro's. But with lightning instead of ice and it looked cool.

Just wish he got to use it. Yamamoto's reaction about it being much weaker than when Chojiro worked on it makes me think it would have been rather awesome.

The ending was great with Yamamoto's reaction combined with just overkilling the guy dubbed 'Overkill.' LOL

Juha Bach confirmed stronger than Aizen. He survived against Yamamoto's Bankai when Shikai was too much for the latter. [not counting a separate measure built against it]

Great idea for his Bankai BTW. I like it.