Bleach 288

1
Szayel: Well, then, shall I give you an explanation...? Though I've already done more than enough of that... // Let's just get the discussion done. / You can think of this area as like a part of my own body. / There are cameras embedded in every wall... / ...and I can rearrange the corridors as and when I wish. // For you to attempt to flee from the room where I left you is equivalent to a fly trying to flee the open mouth of a dragon. / All I had to do was move the corridors you were running along until you were eventually led back to this very room. // Now, then... / Can't you stop making that terrible face at me? // "We ran through long corridors..." / "...ran up flights of stairs..." / "...and ended up in the same room." // "This has to some kind of bad joke..." / Those kinds of ridiculous faces. // This sort of trivial matter isn't what I'd call a "bad joke".

2
Szayel: For inferior beings like you... // ...to irritate me to this extent... // ...and even force me to fight you at my full strength... // Now, THAT is what I would call... // ...a "bad joke".

3
Szayel: Sip... // Fornicarus.

4
Szayel: ...Ah...

5
Szayel: ...Ohh......
Protagonists: ...Wha...... // ..What the hell... // ...is he...?!

6-7
Szayel: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..................................

8
Szayel: ...So sorry to keep you waiting.

9
Szayel: It's about time... // ...for us to raise the curtain on the second act you've all been itching to see. // ...Ah... // ...No, / I'm sorry. // Let me revise that statement. // More accurately speaking... // It's about time for the second act...

10
Szayel: ...to end.

11
Renji: What's that?!
Ishida: I don't know!!
Dondochakka: Aaaaaaaagh~~~!!
Ishida: Dodge it!! // I don't know what it is, but we have to avoid contact!!
Pesshe: It... it's all very well saying that, but...
Dondochakka; There's no way we can do it....!!

12
Dondochakka: A... a "me" appeared...!!!
Ishida: ...Wha... // ...Damn...

13
Szayel: Hahahahahahahahahahahahah!

14
Szayel: ...Now then. / It seems all of the characters are accounted for. // Let us begin immediately! // I'm sure you can guess just by looking, but these enemies possess your own abilities. // You can't make a single mistake any more... // ...However... // You should be happy. // I'll tell you one thing that you should be pleased to hear. // The device I was using to seal your powers in this room... // ...has been deactivated. // Now... // You need not hold back. // Take the stage with yourselves...

15
Bleach 288
The Bad Joke
Szayel: ...and begin the killing. // KUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Renji: Dammit...
Ishida: "You must confront yourself before you confront the enemy"...huh? // It's just like a Zen dialogue. // This certainly is... // a "bad joke".
[side text: Renji vs. Renji!! // Ishida vs. Ishida!!]

16
Noitra: Hah, you move pretty well! // This isn't your first battle against an opponent with a long weapon?!
Ichigo: It's my second!!

17
Noitra: Is that right.
Ichigo: Ugh...
Orihime: Stop it! // Stop this... / Kurosaki-kun is already injured!
Noitra: You shut up!! / Are you an idiot?! // I'm fighting him because he's injured!!!

18
Noitra: This is a battle. / Of course it's gonna be unfair. // That which is called "battle"... // ...was a monster originally born of unfairness and intolerance. // "I can't stand that guy..." / "I can beat that guy..." // "I can't forgive that guy..." // We make enemies for all sorts of reasons... / And from the moment you make an enemy... // ...until one of you draws his last breath - you're in a battle. // To come bursting into the middle of an enemy stronghold... / ...have a great flashy battle like that... // ...and not expect someone to come after you... / That's just a bad joke, Shinigami.

19
Ichigo: Come at me.
Noitra: I was watching your fight with Grimmjow from the very start. // I know exactly what I'm dealing with.
[side text: The overwhelming strength of the Espada! The chance of victory is...?!]
[bottom text: Next issue, a battle to the death, with colour pages!!]