Summary
Szayel Aporro Granz is a middle-ranked Espada, identified by the number 8 and the concept of madness. A member of the Granz family, he is the younger brother of Yylfordt Granz, though he possesses significantly greater power. He is an Arrancar of average build, standing 185 cm tall, with shoulder-length pink hair and golden eyes. His hollow mask remnants form rectangular glasses, lending him a scholarly demeanor. His attire deviates from standard Arrancar fashion, featuring a shorter hakama that reveals shin-covering socks, a shirt with excessively long sleeves and extra chest seams rather than a jacket, and later, a cape. Serving as the team’s scientist, Szayel develops spiritual equipment for the Arrancar. He utilizes devices like the rokureichū to implant into subjects, allowing him to analyze the spiritual power of opponents through those they have defeated. He is skilled in creating tools to manipulate and suppress spiritual energy, a capability demonstrated during his fight with Renji Abarai. Sharing Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s sadistic nature, he views other beings primarily as research material. Szayel embodies the stereotype of a meticulous intellectual. He is fastidious, adhering strictly to detailed plans and throwing tantrums when they are disrupted. Arrogant and condescending toward both allies and enemies, particularly non-hollow entities, he hopes Aizen will eliminate non-hollows once Aizen becomes the king of Soul Society. Despite his disdain, he can mockingly considerate, such as quieting his followers to allow an opponent to speak. While outwardly polite to Aizen, his private gestures suggest resentment, and he sometimes acts without Aizen’s approval. He commands numerous Fracción, hollows he modified into Arrancar with Aizen’s help. Notable subordinates include Lumina and Verona, round, barefoot Arrancar with sparse hair. Like Mayuri, Szayel treats his creations as expendable fodder. After eating Lumina to heal himself, he dismisses Verona’s protest by stating he would simply create a replacement. Szayel first appears when Aizen informs the Espada of the invasion by Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora Sado. Disobeying orders to remain idle, Szayel deploys his Exequias but faces no punishment. He later engages Renji, Uryū, Pesche Guatiche, and Dondochakka Bilstin, emerging victorious through his resourcefulness and analysis. His final confrontation is with Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who had observed Szayel’s abilities via organisms in Uryū’s body. Mayuri counters by replacing his own organs with artificial ones, releasing his bankai to consume the Espada, and using Szayel’s ability to reform himself within Nemu Kurotsuchi. However, Mayuri had prepared a failsafe drug that drastically augmented Szayel’s perception, making one second feel like a century. Unable to physically keep up with his accelerated mind, Szayel is paralyzed. Mayuri then stabs him, noting that the drug ensures every injury will feel like it lasts a hundred years.
