Aaroniero Arruruerie is undeniably one of the most peculiar characters within Tite Kubo’s renowned shonen series, Bleach. As the Noveno Espada in Sosuke Aizen’s formidable army, Aaroniero is primarily recognized for his unique confrontation with Rukia Kuchiki—a duel that forced Rukia to confront the haunting visage of her deceased mentor, Kaien Shiba.
Harnessing the power of his Zanpakuto, Glotonería, Aaroniero could absorb Reiatsu and special abilities from various Hollows. By assimilating Metastacia, the Hollow responsible for Kaien Shiba’s demise, Aaroniero not only acquired Kaien’s powers but also gained Metastacia’s ability to merge with others. He exploited Kaien’s likeness and powers to torment Rukia, a strategy that ultimately led to his downfall.
Instead of delivering a swift defeat, Aaroniero chose to toy with Rukia, ultimately granting her the opportunity to overcome him despite his superior strength. Although often labeled as the weakest Espada in Aizen’s ranks, it’s evident that had his arrogance not led to his undoing, he could have utilized Glotonería to ascend as potentially the strongest member of the Espada.
Exploring Aaroniero’s Untapped Potential in Bleach’s Espada Hierarchy
Who Reigns as Bleach’s Most Powerful Espada?
Among the elite group of Arrancars—Hollows that shed their masks to gain Shinigami-like abilities—within Aizen’s army, the Espada represent the pinnacle of power. Their strength is ranked numerically, with lower-numbered Espada theoretically stronger than those ranked higher.
In their base forms, Coyote Starrk, as the Primera Espada, is widely considered the most powerful. Interestingly, Yammi Llargo, typically the Diez Espada, could elevate to Cero Espada during his Resurrección, hinting at a temporary dominance over even Starrk’s formidable Reiatsu.
Despite his endurance and sheer might, Yammi lacked finesse, suggesting that while his Resurrección was the strongest, effective combat strategies evaded him. On the other hand, Cuatro Espada Ulquiorra Cifer possessed the unique capability to transform into a higher Resurrección stage known as Segunda Etapa.
Tite Kubo deliberately left the title of the strongest Espada ambiguous, inviting debate among fans. Starrk, Yammi, and Ulquiorra each present compelling arguments for the title.
Starrk showcased incredible speed, swordsmanship, and Reiatsu that justified his Primera Espada rank. His tendency to appear unimpressive at times was mainly due to his lack of motivation and reluctance to engage fully in combat. Conversely, Yammi wielded unparalleled raw power but struggled to capitalize on it effectively.
Meanwhile, Ulquiorra distinguished himself as the only Espada capable of achieving a second transformation, endowing him with remarkable strength and near-unmatched regenerative abilities. His Segunda Etapa was enigmatic, raising questions about how much more formidable he could become compared to his fellow Espada.
Theoretical Unlimited Potential of Aaroniero
Regardless of who holds the title of strongest Espada, each Arrancar represents an aspect of human mortality through their abilities and personalities. Aaroniero embodied the concept of “Greed,” consistent with his insatiable hunger for absorbing Hollows to claim their powers.
By the time of his demise, Aaroniero had absorbed approximately 33,650 Hollows, epitomizing the embodiment of greed itself. This relentless pursuit enabled him to evolve from a lowly Gillian—a basic Menos Grande Hollow—to an Espada.
Disturbingly, Aaroniero’s appearance reflected his estrangement from humanity, featuring grotesque characteristics. His core identity was forged by the primal instincts of Hollows, shaping his motivation to consume others.
His power of absorption resulted in a perpetual cycle of greed, prompting an ongoing quest for consumption that drove his advancement as Noveno Espada. If he had avoided his fatal error against Rukia and focused on surviving to capitalize on the destruction in Hueco Mundo, Aaroniero’s fate could have shifted significantly.
Consuming Yammi alone would have significantly enhanced his powers, granting him unmatched Reiatsu and further abilities from Yammi’s Resurrección. Moreover, absorbing Nnoitra Gilga’s tough Hierro or Szayelaporro Granz’s tactical abilities could have fostered an unstoppable force by merging their strengths into his own.
Aaroniero prided himself on his limitless potential through consumption, yet his arrogance and foolish actions sealed his fate. The indecision that led to his demise against Rukia stripped him of the chance to feast upon the remains of fallen Espada and gain unfathomable strength.
Having replicated Kaien Shiba’s attributes, including the Shikai release of Nejibana, Aaroniero’s potential for future strength magnified dramatically had he harnessed the abilities of other fallen Espada.
With the capabilities of Resurrección Yammi alone being comparable to that of Starrk or Segunda Etapa Ulquiorra, and the added powers from other Espada, Aaroniero would have become an entity to fear. Furthermore, his ability to amalgamate all their powers in his Resurrección form would present an alarming threat.
Unlike his fellow Espada, who emerged from higher classes, Aaroniero’s ascension from a Gillian was a compelling journey underscored by infinite potential; yet, hubris clouded his perspective, leading to his catastrophic defeat.
This fatal blunder ultimately prevented him from attaining monstrous strength through the fallen bodies of his comrades.
The Future of Aaroniero in the Bleach Universe
Throughout his bout with Rukia, Aaroniero’s arrogance allowed him to underestimate his opponent, setting the stage for Rukia’s ultimate victory. She executed a surprise attack by utilizing moisture from the environment to craft an ice blade that pierced through and froze Aaroniero’s head.
The annihilation of one of the heads within his glass prison sent shockwaves through him, marking the end of his reign. Since that day, Aaroniero has not reappeared in mainstream Bleach manga or its anime adaptations.
However, he made a return in the one-shot, “Imaginary Number 01 – The Unforgivens,”released by Tite Kubo to promote the movie Bleach: The Hell Verse. In this chapter and its related anime adaptation, episode 299, Aaroniero, alongside Szayelaporro Granz, found themselves in Hell after their defeat.
Facing off against Taikon, Gunjo, and Garogai, who worked under Shuren, Aaroniero attempted to use his Resurrección but was ultimately overwhelmed. They were left incapacitated, mocked for their arrogance by their new foes.
While the movie content and its tie-ins may be non-canonical to the main storyline, recent developments in the manga, particularly in “Bleach: NO BREATHES FROM HELL,”depict Szayelaporro trapped in Hell, suggesting a similar fate may befall Aaroniero.
This chapter hints at Szayelaporro’s significant power enhancements, raising the question of whether Aaroniero also experienced a similar boost. It appears that Bleach may be setting the stage for a potential rematch against Shinigami such as Renji and Rukia, who have grown stronger since their initial encounters, making future confrontations an intriguing prospect.