BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War KILL THE KING

As a longtime fan of Bleach, I must say that the latest episode of Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 left me absolutely speechless. The intensity and suspense were off the charts, and it felt like we were back in the early days of the series with that eerie, unsettling atmosphere that underpins the world of Bleach.

The second episode titled “KILL THE KING” in BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 was filled with action as Ichigo and their group reached the Soul King’s Palace to challenge Yhwach, who appears to have fulfilled his goal of killing his father, the Soul King. This belief, however, allows Yhwach to trick Ichigo into finishing the job, a task that would have been beyond Yhwach’s capabilities.

In a particularly intriguing episode, we uncover the true identity of the Soul King and get a brief peek into the ancient cosmos where Yhwach and his father once resided – a universe that existed prior to the realms’ division. The third season of the anime adaptation of Tite Kubo’s BLEACH is developing into an emotionally charged series brimming with surprising disclosures.

Yhwach’s Pain

Yhwach Recalls The Moment the Realms Were Created

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War KILL THE KING

In the continuation of “BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3,” episode 2, we find ourselves picking up from the surprising ending of the last episode where Yhwach has injured the Soul King. This event poses a significant threat to the harmony of Soul Society, Dangai, Hueco Mundo, and the Human World. Seismic activities are sweeping through the BLEACH universe. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Rukia decides to consult Kisuke Urahara, who is stationed at the 12th Squad’s observation post alongside 8th Squad Lieutenant Nanao Ise and others. Along their journey, Rukia and Renji encounter Soi-Fon, Omaeda, and Shinji Hirako. Together, they head towards Kisuke. As events unfold, Yhwach reminisces about a primordial era preceding the formation of the realms, an epoch he cherishes in memory.

In a past memory, a younger Yhwach is depicted weeping as his father, the Soul King, divides the realms, establishing a boundary between life and death and introducing mortality to the universe. Shortly after, the Soul King was disfigured and became the central element maintaining the equilibrium of souls, an idea Yhwach believes his father had anticipated. This vision is shared by Ichigo as well, with sequences showing Yhwach’s and Ichigo’s eyes interspersed with those of the Soul King, suggesting a link, which turns out to be a hint at the climactic revelation in the episode.

Ichigo vs Yhwach, Rematch

Real Strength Is On Display

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War KILL THE KING

With his keen vision, he was able to perceive events across the three realms, as far as a millennium into the future. He also foretold the sorrowful fate of the Quincies, yet chose to leave them. This is what led me to make my decision. I will avenge by killing my father and forge a new reality.

Ichigo and the group make their entrance, prompting a quick discussion between him and Yhwach concerning Ichigo’s unusual eyes. A chilling rendition of On the Verge of Victory sets a foreboding tone for the impending fight. Wielding his twin Zanpakutos, Ichigo squares off against Yhwach, initially seeming to have the advantage in their combat.

In the heat of a dazzling, breakneck fight, initially, none of my adversaries seem eager to intrude. At first, Yhwach refrains from utilizing his Schrift to foresee and alter the outcome of Ichigo’s assaults. However, after taking a hit, Yhwach acknowledges the newfound power within Ichigo, even engaging in conversation about memories from eons past – memories that should be accessible to Ichigo thanks to his journey through Irazusando. He discloses he hadn’t been using his ability until now, and invokes The Almighty, drastically altering the course of the battle. Immediately, I’m left reeling, tossed about just as I had previously 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, while Orihime’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

shockingly, Ichigo and the group witness an unexpected scene, prompting Ichigo to instinctively try to draw the sword embedded in the Soul King’s chest, unaware that Yhwach had orchestrated this as a trap. As Ichigo’s arm radiates intense light due to his Blut Vene activation, Yhwach reveals that he infused his sword with his own reishi, which is now reacting to the Quincy genetic material in Ichigo’s blood – a DNA strain that cannot justify the Soul King’s existence. Struggling to resist, Ichigo finds his arm moving on its own, and using the sword he pulled from the Soul King, he watches in disbelief as his arm swings, slicing through the crystal enclosure containing the key to all 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 story has reached a significant turning point. The second episode showcased intense and captivating visuals for Yhwach and Ichigo, and the intricate details of the series’ cosmos were presented skillfully. This segment carries a somber tone reminiscent of the show’s earlier phases yet intensifies the persistent unease that defines the realm of BLEACH. A particularly haunting scene unfolded during Ichigo and Yhwach’s battle, as Ichibē Hyōsube expressed regret to Ichigo and the others for their inability to defeat Yhwach. However, he also suggested that using them as sacrificial pieces is part of what peace entails.

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 is available on Hulu and Disney+.

2024-10-14 22:34