The second episode ofBLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3, “KILL THE KING”, was an eventful affair as Ichigo and company arrived at the Soul King’s Palace to confront Yhwach, whose objective of killinghis father, the Soul King, seems to be complete; however, this assumption enables the Quincy King to manipulate Ichigo into completing the task which would have been impossible for Yhwach.
This insane twist also comes in an episode where we learn the Soul King’s actual name, and catch a glimpse of the primordial universe that Yhwach and his father once lived in – the universe before the separation of the realms. The third cours of the final arc of the anime adaptation of Tite Kubo’sBLEACHis shaping up to be an intense affair filled with shocking revelations.
Yhwach’s Pain
Yhwach Recalls The Moment the Realms Were Created
The second episode ofBLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3, episode 2 picks up from the previous episode’s shocking conclusion as Yhwach has stabbed the Soul King, putting the balance of Soul Society, the Dangai, Hueco Mundo and the Human World at risk. Massive tremors can be felt across theBLEACHuniverse, and Rukia thinks the best person to ask about the situation is Kisuke Urahara, who is situated at the 12th Squad’s surveillance facility with 8th Squad Lieutenant Nanao Ise and several others. On their way there, Rukia and Renji run into Soi-Fon, Omaeda, and Shinji Hirako and the group makes their way to Kisuke. Yhwach recalls a primordial time before the creation of the realms, a time he remembers fondly.
In his flashback, a younger Yhwach is seen shedding a tear as his father, the Soul King, separates the realms from each other, thus creating a distinction between life and death and introducing death to the universe. The Soul King was soon thereafter mutilated, and used as the linchpin that maintained the balance and flow of souls, something which Yhwach believes the Soul King foresaw. This vision is one that Ichigo also sees, with alternating shots of Yhwach and Ichigo’s eyes, followed by those of the Soul King, implying connection, which is later revealed to bea glimpse at the twist at the endof the episode.
Ichigo vs Yhwach, Rematch
Real Strength Is On Display
He could see everything in the three worlds even a thousand years into the future with his discerning eyes. He even foresaw the tragedy of us Quincies Soul King Adneyus saw it all and still chose to abandon the Quincies. This is why I have set my path. I will kill my father and create a new world.
Ichigo and the others arrive, and he and Yhwach engage in a brief conversation about his strange eyes, with an extremely ominous rendition of On the Precipice of Defeat adding to the feeling of finality that this battle presents. Armed with his dual-Zanpakuto, Ichigo engages Yhwach in battle, initially appearing to have the upper hand.
It is a flashy, high-speed battle in which none of the others dare to interfere at first. In the beginning, Yhwach does not usethe power of his Schriftto see through and change the fate of Ichigo’s attacks, but after getting knocked down, Yhwach acknowledges Ichigo’s new strength, and even talks to him about his memories of the distant past, memories Ichigo should also have access todue to going through Irazusando. He reveals that he hasn’t been using his ability, and activates The Almighty, changing the tides of battle completely. Ichigo is immediately overwhelmed, and sent flying all over the place just as he had just done to Yhwach.
He lands back in front of his friends and the Soul King, bleeding profusely, but a resolute Ichigo gets back up and charges Yhwach once more, whileOrihime’s Santen Kesshun materializes behind him, completely healing his wounds. The fight continues, but this time, Yoruichi steps in with one of her unique techniques that creates a maze of tripwire-like reishi that would have trapped just about anyone else, but the Quincy King tells them that he foresaw it all as he repels his attackers, causing an explosion that burns away the curtain hiding the Soul King’s prison.
Checkmate
Ichigo Is Manipulated Into Helping Yhwach’s Cause
Ichigo and the others are shocked by what they see, and immediately Ichigo attempts to pull the sword protruding from the Soul King’s chest, not realizing that Yhwach set that whole thing up as a trap. Ichigo’s right arm glows intensely as his Blut Vene activates, and Yhwach explains that he imbued his sword with his own reishi, which is now reacting tothe Quincy DNA in Ichigo’s blood; DNA that cannot excuse the existence of the Soul King. Ichigo struggles to resist, but his arm moves as if it has a will of its own, and with the sword he extracted from the Soul King’s chest, Ichigo watches in horror as his arm swings downwards, bisecting the crystal housing the linchpin of the realms.
The tremors that could be felt across the realms evolved into a violent shaking as the Soul King’s death means the balance of souls is no longer being maintained. Thus, the realms begin their death march towards each other; towards unity. To add insult to injury, Yhwach tells Ichigo that this could only have happened with his power, as it takes an entity with the powers of a Shinigami, Hollow, Quincy, Human, and Fullbringer to destroy the crystal in which the Soul King had been sealed since time immemorial.
The beginning of the end has begun. Episode 2 had dramatic and engrossing visuals for the Yhwach and Ichigo, and the various revelations regarding the cosmology of the series were very well portrayed, and this part has a dark atmosphere that calls back to the series' earlier days but has elevated that prevailing eerie feeling that underpins the world ofBLEACH. An especially unsettling moment came during the Ichigo and Yhwach fight, asIchibē Hyōsube apologizes to Ichigoand the others because they will not defeat Yhwach, but also says “that’s what peace is all about”, implying that he intends to use Ichigo and the others as sacrificial pawns.
