A level after Ban Kai

[Impel Down]

The only powerups Ichigo can reach from here are:

Finding out what his Bankai actually does
Getting his mask on longer
Using hollow powers


So, I guess you can't really go beyond bankai unless you're a Vaizard.

[IchigoSoul]

Bankai is the final release of the sword but how about the person who wields their sword? Maybe like the guy from the OVA, he combined with his sword and went crazy...Maybe the final release is both the shimigami and the sword becomes one or in sync with each other. Not like the OVA but as stated, the sword has a inner personality, when the person wielding the sword understand the sword and gets to know it more, or know its every behaviour, like a friend, that is when that time comes, the sword will trigger the shimigami to unlock his own body's power, so it is a human release; similar to in naruto, lee and gai's gate release. Unlocking both the sword and your self's power, you become stronger.
This might happen, as the sword is like a person, and when you completely trust them as your partner and friend, this happens....
I can even picture how this would happen...Ichigo on the verge of death, zangetsu broken into two...At this point, both person and sword is on the verge of dying then this release happens....

[THM Nindo]

Hi guys,

I was wondering if you though that there could be a stronger release than Bankai, kinda a like a 3rd release.

Giving that Shikai means "First release" and that Bankai means "Complete Release", I'd say that there shouldn't be anymore release, but I can't help to think that Ichigo and the others will need a power boost.

We know that Ichigo is already powered up by his hollowfication, but that won't be enough to beat Aizen (assuming he's the one who will fight him).

But, if there was a 3rd level, the shinigamis would know about it, right?
So, could there be a level that no one as attain yet?

I think it's possible (especially after having read Dragon ball ), but I don't know if that will happen, what do you think?!

[Forever_Melody]

Well if there is one, the general Shinigami public are unaware of it as Bankai is referred to as "the final stage in the Zanpakuto arcanum"

And really, it's not as if Bankai isn't enough. There comes a point where the individual comes into play as well. I mean, if we take Yamamoto, his Shikai alone is enough for most foes just by the pure skill he has as a Shinigami. It's the level of mastery of the power which is an important factor rather than the power itself.

The Zanpakuto is a physical manifestation of the person's spirit power so in turn, the person must be strong and skilled enough to wield this power and use it to its utmost.

[kkck]

I thought shikai meant initial release and bankai meant final release.

[Forever_Melody]

Yes, that's their initial translation by name, but Byakuya refered to Bankai as "the final stage of the Zanpakuto arcanum"(at least in the American SJ) when he said it was blasphemous that Ichigo attained this stage. In the translation on onemanga, it is referred to as "the ultimate technique of a soul cutter"

[Onomatopoeia]

If their is another level then I don't think Ichigo should get it until he actually works on his Bankai, Shikai and his Vizard form until the point where he actually has skills. Even then I doubt their would be another level.

[InfinityMan]

Maybe Shinigami merge with their Zanpaktou, and the two entities become one-in-the-same, drawing on each-other's powers effortlessly.

Whatever the power up is, Kirio Hifiukune could have mastered it, warranting her promotion to the Royal Gaurd. Yamamoto could have also mastered it and remained in the Gotei 13 just to keep the rest of the divisions in line.

[gfire2]

there could be another level but i think its an unknown forbidden rule that only a selected few know about it because it might involve some hollowfication or step into grey area between shinigami and hollow

[Bo Ashi]

If we go acording to the traditional shonen rule, Ichigo will reach a step no one knew of, or only thought was a legend before the end of the manga. Personally i would rather see him just sharpen his skills and as people said before learning how to use his bankai and hollow powers in a more effective way. We have already seen him experimenting with the Getsuga (attaching it to his sword an such) and if he want to defeat Uliquorra he has to evolve at least one step further i guess.

[redcometfm]

3rd Zanpakuto level = Royal Guard.

[c420smokey]

I always thought after reading about the bankai I thought there might be a third one, one that very dangerous to achieve, like you had to pierce your soul link (the thing Ishida goes for to finish battles) with your Zanpaktou, but one must not be afraid to die and must trust in their spirit because even the slightest miss and you would pierce your heart.

[Gecko Moria]

Well if there is one, the general Shinigami public are unaware of it as Bankai is referred to as "the final stage in the Zanpakuto arcanum"

And really, it's not as if Bankai isn't enough. There comes a point where the individual comes into play as well. I mean, if we take Yamamoto, his Shikai alone is enough for most foes just by the pure skill he has as a Shinigami. It's the level of mastery of the power which is an important factor rather than the power itself.

The Zanpakuto is a physical manifestation of the person's spirit power so in turn, the person must be strong and skilled enough to wield this power and use it to its utmost.

If Kubo did invent a level after bankai it would be a huge mistake on his part. Most bankai are already extremely powerful like Yamamoto (thanks Melo). And Aizen said himself that shinigami were limited unless they gained hollow powers. If there was a level after bankai, the super-villain should have it surely. Personally to me, the level after bankai is the hollow release power.

[Eddy01741]

I think that Ichigo should at the VERY LEAST master bankai before he goes on to gain new powers.

Has Ichigo mastered Shikai? Questionable, but I think that he can still do more with his shikai (look at how almost every time he fights he brings out bankai immediately). I think other fundamentals in general might help him with fighting in just shikai too (shunpo in particular, if he is just so fast that hte opponent can't keep up, he has no need to use bankai to defeat them). And then Bankai, the most advanced and complex bankai we have seen by far is Byakuya's bankai, and he is only a mid-upper tier captain. He can 1. Make his "flower petal blades" from the equivelent of zanpakutou to attack the opponent, 2. Surround his opponent with these mini flower petal blades now compressed into swords (including his own sword), and he can trap the opponent that way as well as call down extra ones to restrict the opponent, and 3. Compress ALL his petals into himself and his zanpakutou, for an ultimate form. Ichigo needs to find different things he can do with his bankai, I think that he should have more than just getsuga tenshou as a bankai ability. That said, I think the non projectile getsuga tenshou is already a development for ichigo, to wield the power of getsuga tenshou behind his own sword strikes is a great idea.

[deathgod6664820]

i think there will be a level after bankai and that ichigo will be the one to have it. to me all the law as far as shinigami are at a loss when it comes to ichigo, he's the only one to have a all time shikai release,bankai in 3 days, and inner world. his sprit power is threw the roof while other shinigami who have been shinigami for over hundreds of years hasent show sprit power near his, plus its not his current power its he's potential even azien said this.

other shinigami release there zanpaktou with the name and a action like howl, or dance or sing etc.. what's ichigo's?
the only zanpaktou release we seen from him is his bankai release and when he learned his zanpaktou name, normal shinigami have two release in battle.

another thing is we have seen low level shinigami defeat arrancar's with shikai alone , but bankai captain's have to use bankai to defeat arrancar's why is this shouldnt it be the other way around? low level shinigami should have to use bankai if they have it or lose, and bankai captain's should only need shikai to win right?

but back to the topic ichigo would be fearsome with just his sprit power and hand's alone like when he knocked out 3 vice. but he has just one release command of his zanpaktou why, idk but that sound's like room for another release and i'm a wear of bankai being the final stage of the zanpaktou, but what about the full release of the shinigami power(sprit pressure, retusu i no i spelled it wrong)and the zanpaktou power. i think this could work ur thought's