Too Early To Win, Too Late To Know (episode)

For the chapter of the same name, see Too Early To Win, Too Late To Know.

Too Early To Win, Too Late To Know is the twenty-fourth episode of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and the three hundred and ninetieth episode of the Bleach anime overall.

Yhwach commences his invasion of the Soul King Palace as Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends launch themselves toward it from the replaced Seireitei.

Summary
Over a thousand years ago, within Silbern in the capital of the Lichtreich, Yhwach sits at a table across from Ichibē Hyōsube, who explains that he has come as a Balancer overseeing the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo to propose a non-aggression pact between Soul Society and the Lichtreich. With Zeidritz, Hubert, Argola, and a female Quincy standing nearby, Ichibē proposes that Yhwach should let the Balancers worry about the world while he enjoys the prosperity of his empire.

Despite Ichibē assuring him that they will not interfere with the unification of the Quincy by the Lichtreich and proclaiming that this is a mutually beneficial offer which he has no reason to refuse, Yhwach counters that it is a deception and accuses Ichibē of talking to him like he is an ignorant child, though Ichibē denies this being his intention. With Ichibē confirming that he indeed knows nothing, Yhwach brings up the three worlds once being one and inquires about who set boundaries on that peace by separating life and death, prompting Ichibē to reveal that it was the Soul King and affirm that the latter also brought the fear of death to people.

Yhwach asserts that he knows the anguished cries of the Souls that have returned to him and the vindictiveness of those who flee death so they can cling to their lives while gathering Reishi to himself, and when addressed by name as Yhwach demands to know if this is truly his response to that, Ichibē casually warns Yhwach to not say his name so casually, only for Yhwach to question where one can find peace in the three worlds and open his eyes, revealing that each has a second pupil, before declaring that he can see it all while Ichibē promises to show him in turn and holds out his left hand, which begins forming a large eye.

Seeing this, the Quincy woman steps out and fires dozens of Heilig Pfeil bullets from her Spirit Weapon at Ichibē, but he simply holds up his right fist, stopping the Heilig Pfeil in midair while causing the surrounding air to shimmer and ripple, and propels the Heilig Pfeil back at the woman, who is shielded from the barrage alongside Zeidritz and Hubert by Argola. With the eye on Ichibē's palm opening to reveal two pupils, Yhwach receives visions of the Soul King's past, sees Ichibē present for its events, and is left aghast by the state of the Soul King as Ichibē reaffirms that he knows nothing and states that the Balancers maintain the fragile world.

In response, Yhwach glows with Blut Vene and calls the Soul King pitifully repulsive prior to grabbing a startled Ichibē's left hand, reminding him that Yhwach can see it all, and inquiring if Ichibē believes he can kill Yhwach with his left hand, which has Yhwach's Blut Vene spread along it. After Yhwach describes the hand belonging to his father as being nothing more than a sacrifice for his child because it can only give life without taking it away, Ichibē admits that Yhwach's eyes are troublesome, only to assert that they cannot see through the Soul King as his left hand boils and bubbles over Yhwach's right hand.

With Ichibē's hand exploding, a large phantom of the hand with its eye appears and engulfs Yhwach, who is shocked to find his two pupils in each eye merging back into one as Ichibē wonders if he believed he could acquire the Soul King's left hand for free and departs while revealing that Yhwach's eyes will never fully open again until the day he dies and telling Yhwach to lead a modest life. Soon afterward, Yhwach sits alone at the table and claims to be glad that his eyes have closed because he no longer has to see the Soul King's humiliation and tells his father that he has become a mindless and hideous lump of flesh to be worshipped.

Promising to give the Soul King a new purpose, Yhwach tells him to vanish along with this world and become a grave to the three worlds. In the present, Yhwach stands before the Soul King Palace alongside Uryū Ishida and Jugram Haschwalth, who assures Yhwach that he knows the latter's pain. However, Yhwach counters that he is not feeling a shred of emotion from looking at this decaying grave, prompting Haschwalth to apologize, before proclaiming that they will end this world of deceit and create a new world of peace with their own hands. In turn, Haschwalth produces a Shadow from his hand and summons several Soldat from it.

With the Soldat landing beside Yhwach, Senjumaru Shutara stands at the top of the stairs before them with a dozen Divine Soldiers flanking her. Meanwhile, in the replaced Seireitei below, Kisuke Urahara is startled in the hidden laboratory below the Twelfth Division barracks when Ganju Shiba rides into the cannon chamber on Bonnie and reprimands Ichigo Kurosaki's group for trying to enter the Soul King Palace without waiting for him, the self-proclaimed expert on it. As the entrance to the cannon opens to reveal him, Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Yoruichi Shihōin within, Ichigo expresses surprise at Ganju's arrival.

When asked by Ichigo why he is here, Ganju calls this a stupid question and wonders if Ichigo remembers who launched the Tenchūren, only for Ichigo to point out that it was Kūkaku Shiba and not Ganju who did so, both of which Ganju readily confirms while Ichigo observes that he does not give up easily. Once Ichigo reiterates his question, Ganju declares that he intends to defeat the Quincy and pulls out a roadmap to the Soul King Palace given to him by Kūkaku that he claims Ichigo and his friends require in order to reach it. However, Ichigo merely questions if Ganju is sure about this because the upcoming battle will be more dangerous than any other.

In response, Ganju proclaims that this is exactly why he is coming, and with Orihime and Sado amused by this, a smiling Ichigo acknowledges his resolve while Urahara begins the launch sequence by opening the hatch above the cannon and raising the replica above the surface. With Ganju inside and at Urahara's countdown, the replica's engine ignites and launches it into the sky in a zig-zagging pattern, shocking Ichigo, who did not expect it to fly like this. Across the battlefield, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, Lieutenant Renji Abarai, 13th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, and Bazz-B watch the smoke trail in surprise.

While Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku, 1st Division Lieutenants Nanao Ise and Genshirō Okikiba, and an incapacitated Robert Accutrone look silently at the smoke trail, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi calls it an ugly liftoff that could not have been adjusted any more poorly as he stands beside his lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi. Back in the Soul King Palace, Senjumaru observes that it has been a long time since she has seen Yhwach and asserts that defeating Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto has gone to his head if he is entering the Soul King Palace uninvited before Haschwalth has the Soldat attack.

At Senjumaru's command, the Divine Soldiers leap forward and quickly cut down the Soldat, who collapse in pools of their own blood across the platform. Despite this, Yhwach begins walking forward, and when an unimpressed Senjumaru tells him to become rust on the Soul King's blade for his discourtesy, the Divine Soldiers all come down on him with their swords stabbing toward him, only to find themselves slashing away from Yhwach in a circular pattern around him. When the Divine Soldiers attempt to stab Yhwach again from the side and end up pointing their swords away from him in a circular pattern once again, Senjumaru is left bewildered.

Emerging from a Shadow at Yhwach's feet, Nianzol Weizol calls Senjumaru and her Divine Soldiers discourteous and identifies his power as The Wind, which causes every enemy he finds to bend and warp to avoid his body. Upon hearing this, Senjumaru notes that this would mean he cannot bend enemies whom he cannot detect just before the area behind him is revealed to be composed of fabric sheets that more Divine Soldiers rush out of to attack him from. However, their swords abruptly bend away from Nianzol before they can pierce him while he clarifies that he finds enemies through instinct so that they always bend away from his body.

Nianzol holds out his index finger and moves it toward the Divine Soldiers, who begin warping around it and are eventually split in two by the force of The Wind pushing their bodies in opposite directions away from it, as he apologizes for the lack of clarity since he has been repeatedly told he does not explain things very well. In turn, Senjumaru reappears much closer to a startled Nianzol and assures him he does not need to worry about this since they all have their bad habits before asserting enemies are harder to see they closer they are, especially if they are touching one's body, while holding a sewing needle and thread in her mechanical hand.

Suddenly, Senjumaru reveals that she retailored Nianzol's robe with her own design while he was dealing with the Divine Soldiers as Nianzol sees the Royal Guard's insignia on the bottom of his coat and finds himself unable to slip out of it. Noting that she produced the finest garment for him and claiming that he should be grateful to even get to wear it as a foot soldier, Senjumaru concludes that he should not expect to remove it while alive just before dozens of spikes impale Nianzol and protrude from his body through the robe, killing him instantly while Senjumaru admits that her bad habit is failing to remove her sewing needles from her garments.

With Senjumaru apologizing for not explaining herself clearly, Nianzol's corpse falls to the ground. Simultaneously, within the replica Tenchūren, Ganju observes that this situation has become very messy and admits that he believed the Shinigami were going to win prior to questioning what Yhwach intends to do after abandoning Silbern in the Seireitei. When Sado asks him what exactly is at the Soul King Palace, Ganju bluntly states that he does not know because he has never been there himself, and when Orihime brings up him calling himself an expert on the subject, Ganju clarifies that Kūkaku told him all about it.

After Ganju claims he is simply not familiar with the small details, Sado expresses disbelief at this, leaving Ganju laughing while Yoruichi asserts the enemy entering the Soul King Palace means they are after the Soul King. Detailing how he is a god-like being that rules over the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo, Yoruichi admits she has only ever heard of him without actually meeting him to confirm this, and with Sado and Ganju presuming Yhwach intends to replace him and become a god, Ichigo wonders if it is even possible to replace the Soul King and reveals he saw strange visions when training in the Soul King Palace.

Ichigo explains that the Soul King is supposed to be the foundation of the world and an irreplaceable entity, leading an irritated Ganju to ask him what the enemy's objective is supposed to be in this case, with Ichigo unable to answer. Once Ganju decides that they just have to defeat the enemy regardless of their goal, Ichigo agrees as Orihime notes that this brings back memories of when they saved Rukia, where Yoruichi was still in her cat form and Uryū was part of their team. With Uryū staring up at the Soul King Palace and Blut Vene-like veins stretching across his eyes, Orihime wonders if he will come back with them.

In turn, Ichigo firmly declares that he will because they decided to smack Uryū and bring him back after they defeat Yhwach, though he quickly blushes and claims that this is obviously secondary while a pleased Orihime agrees. Back on the Vestibule Road, Nianzol's corpse falls off the side of the platform upon being pushed by Senjumaru, who observes that their blades can finally reach Yhwach. However, Yhwach merely questions if this is true and creates another Shadow that Lille Barro, Gerard Valkyrie, Pernida Parnkgjas, and Askin Nakk Le Vaar emerge from while he addresses them as his own Royal Guard.

With Lille asserting that they already know the answer, Askin realizes that he was the only Sternritter to be brought up from below and muses that he has to prove himself, prompting Gerard to boisterously confirm this and promise to cut down Askin himself if he proves to be useless. As Askin admits that he would not want this to happen just after he managed to survive, Gerard discards his cloak, draws his Spirit Weapon, Hoffnung, and declares that a woman's slender arms cannot block his sword before rushing toward Senjumaru and slashing down at her, shattering the sewing needle that she blocks with and drawing blood from her.

While the attack blows a hole in the Vestibule Road, Senjumaru leaps back and calls out the Second-Level Divine Soldier, who lands behind her with a loud boom as Gerard comments on its size. Despite this, Pernida stares impassively at the Second-Level Divine Soldier, and when Senjumaru wonders if he has something to say, Lille reveals that he does not care about its size just before the Second-Level Divine Soldier is brutally twisted and crushed into a ball, leaving Senjumaru to stare in shock at it. Assuming that Senjumaru is realizing the Soul King Palace might fall, Lille casts aside his cloak to reveal his Spirit Weapon, Diagramm.

After claiming that the losing side is always late to realize and react, Lille concludes that the Soul King Palace fell the second Yhwach set foot in it and fires a bullet-shaped Heilig Pfeil that punches a hole through the top of Senjumaru's head. With blood pooling from the hole in Senjumaru's head once her corpse collapses, Pernida crumples her remains into a ball and rolls it off the side of the platform, leaving Gerard to observe that this was easy and question if the Royal Guard cannot do any better. In response, Lille reminds Gerard that no enemy has ever proven a challenge to them and shoots down all five of the cities before them.

Announcing that everything in their way has fallen, Lille kneels before Yhwach and invites him to proceed. Suddenly, with Yhwach remaining stationary, the falling cities in the air behind Lille are revealed to be fabric that ripples and withdraws behind him, leaving Lille bewildered and demanding to know what is happening while the rest of their surroundings also pull away as fabric to reveal tree branches surrounding the platform and an unharmed Senjumaru, who reveals that this was a false Soul King Palace constructed to lure them in while the real one is being hidden by Ichibē, whose midair seal reveals itself alongside the real palace.

Surprised by Senjumaru revealing this, Ichibē deduces that she has done so because the cage is ready, and when Lille levels Diagramm and fires a Heilig Pfeil at him, the nearest tree branch rapidly grows and stretches to intercept his shot, to Lille's surprise. After popping out from behind the branch, Kirio Hikifune confirms that it is ready and admits that she has not had to create a womb this big in a long time while the rest of the fabric withdraws to reveal a Cage of Life surrounding the platform. With Askin and Gerard unnerved and confused by this, Lille fires three more Heilig Pfeil at the branches, only for them to do minimal damage.

Upon seeing the last Heilig Pfeil intercepted by a smaller branch that grows from one of the main branches, Lille observes that the branches cannot be pierced even with consecutive shots to the same area and grow more branches instantaneously to block anything moving between their gaps, which Gerard considers a disgrace to The X-Axis, but Hikifune clarifies that they actually were pierced and explains that manipulating food equates to manipulating life, with her cooking to shape lives and her ingredients coming from her own body, before revealing that this tree bears fruit by feeding on her Reiatsu.

Inferring that Lille's Heilig Pfeil are composed of highly concentrated Reishi, Hikifune claims that the Cage of Life could never pass up something so delicious and asserts that it grows faster than it can be pierced or damaged, meaning that their abilities can never escape it no matter how much they struggle. As he tells the four Schutzstaffel to not be surprised just yet, Tenjirō Kirinji drops down into the Cage of Life from the center and introduces himself while Senjumaru reveals herself behind several layers of fabric and Hikifune swings down onto the platform with branches to do the same.

A spotlight shines down between the Royal Guard and the Schutzstaffel as Ōetsu Nimaiya lands in its center with Sayafushi in a tank of gel and introduces himself as the number one Zanpakutō creator prior to drawing Sayafushi, declaring that there is no path for the Schutzstaffel to walk on, and inviting them to come at him all at once because the Royal Guard's fight begins here. However, Nimaiya notices the blade of Sayafushi rattling and laments that this is likely due to him not drawing it in a while just before Gerard leaps forward and slashes horizontally at him, creating a shockwave that damages the nearby branches.

With Gerard impressed by him casually leaning back to evade this, Nimaiya claims that it is simple manners to dodge another man's hug, but when Gerard decides to continue his attack, Nimaiya asserts that it is his turn and moves past Gerard, who abruptly collapses. As Askin expresses disbelief at what he is seeing, blood spurts high into the air from a stab wound in Gerard's torso, leading Nimaiya to remind the remaining Schutzstaffel that he is the number one member of the Royal Guard whose blade cuts down everyone in a single swing. When Lille accuses him of using a strange trick, Nimaiya wonders what he is talking about.

Asserting that he can tell Nimaiya is using a trick just by looking at him because there is no way a blade that has been soaking in jelly and whose blade is wobbly can kill Gerard, Lille raises Diagramm and fires a Heilig Pfeil, but is shocked to see the projectile split into two pieces that are deflected to either side of Nimaiya without injuring him. Upon being asked what he did, Nimaiya asserts that he did nothing aside from hold up Sayafushi at the right angle to intercept the Heilig Pfeil, slicing it in two, prior to cutting through Lille's subsequent Heilig Pfeil and slashing him across the chest.

With Lille's hand and part of Diagramm severed by this, Nimaiya walks away from him while a large amount of blood spurts from his chest and throws Sayafushi through Pernida when the latter's hood starts wriggling before moving to Pernida's falling body with Shunpo, pulling Sayafushi out of it, and slashing a startled Askin across the chest. Despite this, Askin remains alive on the ground, which prompts Nimaiya to praise him for moving backward in time with the slash because he realized how sharp Sayafushi is, though Askin merely notes that Nimaiya saw through it before the latter cuts his throat open with another slash.

Nimaiya turns to Yhwach and explains that he considers Sayafushi to be a failure because its edge is too sharp and its blade is too smooth, preventing it from ever chipping no matter how much he cuts with it, before claiming that it would put swordsmiths like himself out of work and revealing that he cannot create a sheath strong enough to hold it, which means that he could not send it down to the Seireitei as a complete sword. However, as Nimaiya thanks him for storming the Soul King Palace so Sayafushi can be put to use, Yhwach pulls out his Medallion and throws it between the branches toward the main palace.

With those present watching in confusion, the Medallion passes through the branches and is suddenly replaced by Yhwach in midair, leaving it to fall back on the platform where he was standing while the Royal Guard and Haschwalth express shock. As Ichibē claims to be impressed by Yhwach escaping from the Cage of Life and Nimaiya commends him for a brilliant rising, Haschwalth inquires about whether the Royal Guard are going to pursue Yhwach, only for Kirinji to counter that he is wondering the same about Haschwalth and observe Yhwach is heading toward Ichibē, whose bloody stench cannot be washed away by his hot springs.

Musing that Kirinji says such terrible things about him when he is not around, Ichibē turns to Yhwach for his thoughts as the latter stands in the air before him. When Yhwach addresses him by name and asserts that Ichibē will let him through, a grinning Ichibē gets up and recalls how he has chastised Yhwach many times for saying his name lightly before warning Yhwach that he risks losing his voice from this.

Fights & Events

 * The Royal Guard vs. The Wandenreich
 * Ōetsu Nimaiya vs. the Schutzstaffel

Powers and Techniques Used
Zanpakutō Techniques:

Hohō Techniques:

Kidō Techniques:

Quincy Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:

Spirit Weapons:
 * (flashback)

Schrifts:

Items:

Anime Notes
Removed Content= Added/Expanded Content= Changes=
 * Tenjirō Kirinji confronting Yhwach and his Soldat by boiling the latter with his hot spring water and attacking the former with Kinpika, only to find himself unable to cut Yhwach due to The Wind.
 * Ichigo begging Kisuke Urahara to turn down the music he turned on for the launch of the replica Tenchūren, only for Urahara to decline since he believes it is important for moments like these.
 * Ichigo Kurosaki listing off mundane reasons for Ganju Shiba to have come to the hidden laboratory, with Ganju denying each one since they do not fit the situation.
 * Ganju showing his map to the Soul King Palace to Ichigo and mentioning that the Royal Guard gave it to Kūkaku Shiba, prompting Ichigo to ask Urahara if it is truly necessary and Urahara countering that he prepared for it.
 * Ichigo realizing that the replica Tenchūren can only be used once because it is rocket-powered.
 * Senjumaru Shutara questioning why the Divine Soldiers were unable to cut Yhwach when he made no effort to dodge their attacks.
 * Yoruichi Shihōin assuring Orihime Inoue that she can still turn into a cat if the latter wants her to.
 * Nianzol Weizol explaining that The Wind prevented Kirinji's hot spring water and Kinpika from hitting him, with Kirinji realizing this is why he could not attack Yhwach.
 * Senjumaru telling Nianzol that he said too much about The Wind.
 * The Divine Soldiers screaming as Nianzol bifurcates them.
 * Senjumaru reminding Nianzol that she did not say the enemy he could not detect was the Divine Soldiers.
 * Nianzol accusing Senjumaru of lying about resewing his robe, only for her to deny this and indicate that her quick work is why she has the epithet "Thousand Hands".
 * Yhwach summoning more Soldat to contend with the remaining Divine Soldiers and mentioning that the Schutzstaffel will deal with the Royal Guard.
 * A smaller hand reaching out from Pernida Parnkgjas's cloak as he begins warping the Second-Class Divine Soldier.
 * Gerard Valkyrie chastising Lille Barro for killing Senjumaru in Yhwach's path, prompting Lille to ask Pernida for help cleaning it up.
 * Yhwach meeting with Ichibē Hyōsube over a thousand years ago to discuss a non-aggression pact, only to become aggravated upon learning of the Soul King's responsibility for the state of the world, which results in him attacking Ichibē and losing access to The Almighty when Pernida Parnkgjas enters his body, though Yhwach simply decides that he will undo the current state of the world and end the Soul King's humiliation.
 * Yhwach proclaiming that he, Jugram Haschwalth, and Uryū Ishida will end the current world of deceit and create a new one of peace.
 * Orihime and Yasutora Sado being amused by Ganju proclaiming that he is coming with them.
 * Several Shinigami and Sternritter watching the replica Tenchūren launch from around the Seireitei.
 * The Divine Soldiers finding themselves facing away from Yhwach after attacking him for the first time, causing them to stab at him from the sides instead.
 * Ichigo and his friends discussing what awaits them in the Soul King Palace and Yhwach's intention to replace the Soul King, with Ichigo wondering if such a thing is even possible.
 * Senjumaru pushing Nianzol's corpse off of the platform, leaving it to fall to the Seireitei below.
 * Lille asserting that the Schutzstaffel already know the answer to Yhwach's question.
 * Askin Nakk Le Vaar lamenting the idea of Gerard Valkyrie killing him after he already evaded death.
 * Kirinji dropping down through the Cage of Life to confront the Schutzstaffel and introducing himself as Senjumaru reveals herself behind cloth and Kirio Hikifune swings in on branches to do the same.
 * Lille's Heilig Pfeil approaching and being cut by Sayafushi in slow motion.
 * Yhwach throwing his Medallion out of the Cage of Life, allowing Uryū Ishida to switch him with it using Antithesis so he can escape and confront Ichibē, with Nimaiya praising his exit and Kirinji responding to Jugram Haschwalth asking if the Royal Guard will pursue him by wondering if Haschwalth will not because he is confronting the blood-soaked Ichibē, who is amused by this description.
 * In the manga, Yhwach responds to Senjumaru calling him foolish for invading the Soul King Palace by attempting to walk past her; here, he instead remains stationary while the Soldat advance, only for the Divine Soldiers to cut them down.
 * In the manga, the hatch above the replica Tenchūren is opened as part of a first launch sequence before Ganju's arrival, which takes place after Nianzol Weizol confronts Senjumaru; here, the hatch opens after Ganju gets inside the replica Tenchūren because there is no first launch sequence, with the event taking place after Senjumaru confronts Yhwach with her Divine Soldiers.
 * In the manga, Ichigo's discussion with his friends about retrieving Uryū takes place immediately after the replica Tenchūren is launched; here, it instead takes place after Senjumaru kills Nianzol.
 * In the manga, Senjumaru brings up Nianzol's apparent weakness to enemies he cannot perceive after the Divine Soldiers begin rushing toward him from behind; here, she instead does so beforehand.
 * In the manga, Gerard claims a woman's arm cannot stop his sword after attacking Senjumaru; here, he instead does so beforehand.
 * In the manga, the two halves of Lille's Heilig Pfeil cut by Nimaiya hit two branches of the Cage of Life behind him; here, they instead hit two sides of the platform that the other members of the Royal Guard are standing on.
 * In the manga, Yhwach confronts Ichibē after reviving and empowering the Schutzstaffel with Auswählen, allowing Pernida to break the Cage of Life; here, he instead confronts Ichibē while the Schutzstaffel are still incapacitated by making use of Antithesis.