Who Becomes the New Soul King in Bleach? Explained
In Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3, Ichigo Kurosakiâour beloved yet tragically fated heroâunwittingly unleashed catastrophe. Lured into Emperor Yhwachâs cunning trap, Ichigo, against his will, killed the Soul Kingâthe sacred lynchpin that kept the delicate balance between the realms: the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the world of the Living. In a cruel twist of fate, Ichigoâs immense power, which so often saves the day, became the very tool used to set the world on the path to ruin.
As the previous episode, aptly titled âKill the King,â drew to a close, the very fabric of reality began to unravel. Ichigo, horrified, realized too late that Yhwach had weaponized his own strength against him. The world was crumbling before his eyes, spiritually and physically, as the ground quaked beneath the weight of the Soul Kingâs demise.
What Happened After the Soul Kingâs Death
The Soul Kingâs death sent shockwaves across all three realms. With the lynchpin gone, the foundations that held the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the world of the Living together were now teetering on the edge of collapse. Tremors spread across the realms, and panic ensued. Kisuke Urahara, ever the calculating genius, along with other key figures at the Seireitei, could foresee the impending doom. They knew the clock was tickingâif a new Soul King wasnât found soon, everything would cease to exist.
The question arose: who would take on this monumental role? The answer wasnât to be found in the anime itself but in Ryogo Naritaâs Canât Fear Your Own World light novel series, which explores the aftermath of the Thousand-Year Blood War. The answer was as dark and twisted as the war itself.
In a dark twist of fate, Yhwach, the very man who orchestrated the Soul Kingâs demise, became the next Soul King. After Yhwachâs defeat, his bodyâinfused with the essence of the Soul King and Mimihagiâwas used by the Soul Society to prevent the collapse of the realms.
But why Yhwach? During the final moments of the Thousand-Year Blood War, Yhwach had forced Ichigo to slay the Soul King. Jushiro Ukitake, in a desperate attempt to salvage what was left, had sacrificed his own life in the Kamikake ritual. His body was consumed by the right arm of the Soul KingâMimihagiâwho briefly held the realms together. Yet, Yhwach soon absorbed both Mimihagi and the Soul King, merging their powers with his own.
Yhwach | Source: Disney Plus
Though Ichigo eventually severed Yhwach in half, ending his reign of terror, the world still hung by a thread. With the lynchpin of the realms gone, the Soul Society had no choice but to use Yhwachâs body, infused with the essence of the Soul King, to stabilize the realms. Ironically, the man who sought to destroy everything became the very keystone that prevented the worldâs collapse.
Why Not Ichigo?
One question lingeredâwhy not make Ichigo, the hero who had saved the world time and time again, the new Soul King? The answer lies in Canât Fear Your Own World. Ichibe Hyosube, the enigmatic Manako Osho, had indeed considered using Ichigo as the next Soul King, a failsafe should the situation spiral further out of control. He was willing to do whatever it took to protect the realms, even if it meant betraying the hero who had just saved them all.
However, with Yhwachâs remnants available, Ichigo was spared from this grim fate. But had Yhwach not been there, Ichigo might have been forced to become the worldâs next lynchpin, bound to an existence far beyond what anyone could comprehend.
The Ironic Legacy of Yhwach
The death of the Soul King Adyneus was one of the most significant moments in Bleach, sending the world into chaos. Yet, in the end, the Soul Society found a way to restore the balance, albeit in the most ironic way possible. Yhwachâthe one who sought to annihilate the realms and recreate the world in his imageâbecame the very key to their salvation.
Though it was far from a perfect solution, using Yhwachâs body to replace the Soul King was the only way to prevent the worldâs destruction. It was a cruel irony, yet also a fitting end for the Quincy King, whose ambition to reshape the world ultimately left him as nothing more than a tool to preserve it.
Does Bleach Anime Require a Remake?
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About Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is the final arc of the Bleach franchise. It premiered on October 11, 2022, and its 52 episodes are streamed by Hulu.
The arc deals with Yhwach, the leader of the Quincies, who has declared war on the Soul Society. Ichigo and the Soul Reapers will face this despicable enemy.
Hollows and Soul Society residents are disappearing, and Ichigo needs to defeat Yhwach before he lays waste to the entire universe.
