Ichibē Hyōsube vs. Yhwach is a fight taking place during the Quincy Blood War which focuses on the conflict between Royal Guard Divine General Ichibē Hyōsube and the Emperor of the Wandenreich, Yhwach, after the latter leaves his Schutzstaffel to battle the rest of the Royal Guard.
Prelude[]
Kirio Hikifune traps Yhwach and his forces within a Cage of Life to prevent any escape.
During the Royal Guard's battle against the Schutzstaffel in the Soul King Palace, after the Wandenreich is trapped inside Kirio Hikifune's Cage of Life to prevent any escape, Ōetsu Nimaiya quickly cuts down Sternritter "M" Gerard Valkyrie, "X" Lille Barro, "C" Pernida Parnkgjas, and "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar after bringing out the incredibly sharp Sayafushi, which he thanks Yhwach for giving him a chance to use. However, in response, Yhwach merely pulls out his Medallion and throws it between the branches of the Cage of Life toward the Greater Soul King Palace.[2]
Yhwach is transported outside of the Cage of Life by switching places with his Medallion.
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 Hyōsube claims to be impressed by Yhwach escaping from the Cage of Life and Nimaiya commends him for a brilliant rising, Jugram Haschwalth inquires about whether the Royal Guard are going to pursue Yhwach, only for Tenjirō 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.[2]
Ichibē warns Yhwach that he risks losing his voice from saying Ichibē's name.
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.[2] Moments later, Ichibē draws two lines several meters apart across the platform with his Zanpakutō brush and promises to defeat Yhwach within this space, only for Yhwach to observe that this is small since Ichibē will die three steps away from the boundary.[3]
Battle[]
Ichibē attacks Yhwach with Senri Tsūtenshō after reminding him not to say his name.
After drawing a Seal on the other end of the walkway to bar entrance to the Greater Soul King Palace, Ichibē turns back and tells Yhwach to not to say his name so lightly before a gigantic hand created by Senri Tsūtenshō slams into a startled Yhwach from the front, sending him hurtling back through the air. Appearing next to Yhwach in the air with Shunpo, Ichibē explains that this technique sends anything it hits flying 1,000 ri away, and when Yhwach finds himself unable to speak as he tries to attack in turn, Ichibē reminds him that he was warned of the possibility of losing his voice from saying Ichibē's name.[4]
Yhwach manifests his Sankt Bogen in the air to propel himself back upward.
Upon manifesting another Senri Tsūtenshō hand in the air, Ichibē orders Yhwach to fly back another 1,000 ri and reflect on what he has done before bringing the hand down on Yhwach, who is left falling toward the ground at high speed. However, Yhwach digs his fingers into his own throat with enough force to draw blood and infuses it with Reishi, allowing him to give himself a voice and manifest his Sankt Bogen in the air below to fire six massive Heilig Pfeil upward, one of which impales Yhwach himself and propels him back up to a surprised Ichibē's level as the latter narrowly evades the other projectiles.[5]
Ichibē promises to kill Yhwach for his disrespect and refusal to heed Ichibē's warnings.
Having been lightly scratched by one of the Heilig Pfeil, Ichibē stands behind Yhwach and comments on the absurdity of him shooting himself to get back up before calling him a rascal despite his age because of his refusal to avoid saying Ichibē's name and insistence on coming back after being slapped away as punishment. With Yhwach breaking the Heilig Pfeil in his abdomen without injury, Ichibē promises to kill him for not listening before readying his brush while Yhwach manifests his Reishi Sword.[6] Seconds later, Ichibē and Yhwach clash with great force as Yhwach notes that Ichibē's expression has changed quite a bit.[7]
Yhwach has the strength of both arms suddenly halved by the power of Ichibē's brush, which cuts names.
After admitting he did not think the latter's face could become so terrifying just from making up his mind to kill him, Yhwach separates from Ichibē and thrusts his sword at the former's head, and after being propelled backward by blocking a strike of Ichibē's brush with his left arm, Yhwach declares that this seems to be the extent of Ichibē's change. However, Ichibē points out Yhwach using his arm to block the brush and reveals it cuts names, not flesh. A surprised Yhwach's arms swiftly fall limp as Ichibē informs him that the name of his arm has been cut in half, leaving him with an "ar", and that his arms have consequently lost half of their strength and capability, which is why they feel so heavy. With Yhwach struggling to raise his sword with both hands and lunging forward to slash at Ichibē, the latter casually dodges this and observes how gentle Yhwach's attacks have become before slashing his brush down the length of Yhwach's body and smacking it into his chest to send Yhwach hurtling back, where he crashes into the edge of the platform and lands between the two lines Ichibē drew earlier. Noting Yhwach is now just "Yhw", a manically grinning Ichibē inquires about how it feels for the leader of the Quincy whose power has been halved to be smashed to pieces by the leader of the Shinigami he despises.[8]
Yhwach creates a massive ring of Reishi around the Greater Soul King Palace.
Ichibē observes that a thousand years was too short for Yhwach to repent and dismisses this since he will ensure Yhwach repents for all eternity this time, only for a chuckling Yhwach to begin gathering Reishi into an orb in his palm while he recites an incantation, which culminates in the collected Reishi surging outward and forming a massive ring around the Greater Soul King Palace as Uryū regains consciousness and sees this. With the spell complete, a smirking Yhwach initiates Auswählen, causing bells to toll and thick, vein-like pillars of Reishi to descend with tremendous force from the ring to the replaced Seireitei below.[6]
Liltotto and Giselle have their Quincy: Vollständigs absorbed by the Auswählen.
In the rubble, the remaining Soldat and Sternritter are struck by the pillars, with those directly caught in the light screaming in agony as their power is drained and those who manage to evade it, like Sternritter "G" Liltotto Lamperd and "Z" Giselle Gewelle, still having their Quincy: Vollständigs absorbed, to their bewilderment. Quickly realizing that this is Yhwach's doing, Sternritter "H" Bazz-B demands to know if this is how he treats his followers and Liltotto frantically wonders what they are to him as their incapacitated comrades are unable to avoid the beams and are stricken where they lie among the rubble.[6]
Askin is revived and has his Quincy: Vollständig, Hasshein, partially activated.
Once it finishes gathering power, the ring of Auswählen condenses into a sphere that enlarges to envelop Yhwach, engulfing the nearby Cage of Life with enough force to completely shatter its branches. As Kirinji expresses confusion at this from one of the branch pieces falling through the air, power begins falling from the enlarged sphere onto the unprotected Vestibule Road, where Senjumaru Shutara holds out her mechanical hands in confusion while Pernida's and Askin's Quincy: Vollständigs partially activate, granting them each wings and a halo. Seeing this, Ichibē comments on Yhwach's ruthlessness in sacrificing his comrades.[6]
Haschwalth explains the effects of Auswählen as a transfer of power from unnecessary Quincy.
Yhwach asserts that comrades help each other so they can resurrect and move forward as Gerard and Lille are revived by their respective Quincy: Vollständigs, Aschtonig and Jilliel, partially activating in turn. Getting up alongside Uryū, Haschwalth explains to a perplexed Nimaiya that Auswählen collects the lives and power from unnecessary Quincy to redistribute them to others in need.[6] After asserting that no one can take anything away from him, Yhwach tells Ichibē to understand this right now and declares that no one can take anything from him because everything in the world exists for him to take.[9]
Yhwach intercepts Ichibē's Bakudō #62. Hyapporankan with Blut Vene Anhaben.
In turn, Ichibē merely shakes his head while asserting that Yhwach does not know how generous he has been. Claiming to have reduced Yhwach's power by half for his sake, to Yhwach's confusion, Ichibē proclaims that Yhwach would have his reputation tarnished among the Quincy if he lost while at full strength and launches himself down toward Yhwach, where he admits that reputation does not matter when one is dead prior to unleashing Bakudō #62. Hyapporankan, prompting Yhwach to extend Blut from his hand and form a spherical barrier around himself with Blut Vene Anhaben that intercepts and destroys the beams before they can touch him.[10]
Ichibē destroys the barrier around Yhwach with Ura Hadō: Sannodō — Teppūsatsu.
With Ichibē's interest piqued by this, Yhwach explains that the technique extends Blut Vene outside of the body to increase the range of its protection. In response, Ichibē performs Ura Hadō: Sannodō — Teppūsatsu, manifesting a large dragon's head around himself that blows a powerful wind at Yhwach, shattering the Blut Vene Anhaben barrier and allowing Ichibē to grab Yhwach by the throat. However, Yhwach observes that Ichibē has touched him and Blut veins begin encroaching on the latter's body up to his face as Yhwach elaborates that Blut Vene Anhaben corrodes everything that comes into contact with it.[11]
Despite Yhwach claiming that he is going to take the left half of Ichibē's body, Ichibē decries this being possible and simply flexes the muscles in his face and left arm, shattering the Blut and causing Yhwach's facial veins to bulge before exploding in a shower of blood. Leaping back from Yhwach, Ichibē expresses disbelief at him trying to trespass in a Royal Guard's body and decides that it is time for Yhwach to be punished for his insolence prior to releasing his Shikai, Ichimonji, which paints a black streak through the air in the wake of his brush as its head transforms into a blade.[12] As living beings in the Seireitei below begin to have black leech from their bodies, Yhwach looks over the blade and note that he does not sense any Reiatsu from it even though it is quite large. However, Yhwach's eyes widen in alarm upon seeing the blade briefly transform back into a brush, leaving him confused, and Ichibē questions if Yhwach cannot understand what he is seeing. After summoning his Reishi Sword, Yhwach clashes with Ichibē three times, each splashing more ink onto his blade, and separates from him before wondering what Ichimonji is supposed to do.[13]
Yhwach finds himself unable to say the name of his Reishi Sword after it is covered in ink.
After observing that Ichimonji has only splashed ink around without cutting anything, Yhwach inquires if the ink can cut names in half like the brush can, which he mocks since Ichibē knows Yhwach can restore names and capabilities cut in half with his own sword. However, upon concluding that Ichibē cannot defeat him with Ichimonji and vowing to win with his Spirit Weapon, a startled Yhwach finds himself unable to actually say the name of his Reishi Sword and is left speechless, leading a grinning Ichibē to invite him to say the sword's name prior to revealing that Yhwach knows it no longer has a name.[14]
Yhwach initiates Sankt Altar to steal Ichibē's power for himself.
Informing Yhwach that Ichimonji removes the names of anything it coats with its ink, Ichibē elaborates that this also strips the afflicted things of their power, which means that both Yhwach's sword and his Quincy Cross are now useless, before wondering if Yhwach really believed he could win with those.[15] In turn, Yhwach decides to simply steal Ichibē's power by using his own power instead of something with no name and initiates Sankt Altar, which forms a large Quincy Zeichen above Ichibē before the energy accumulating around Yhwach's hand draws the black color from Ichibē's beard and eyebrows into itself.[16]
Yhwach is almost completely covered in ink by Ichibē after the latter regains his power.
As he asserts that Ichibē's black has become his own power, Yhwach unleashes it in the form of blue flames that engulf Ichibē. However, when Yhwach turns and begins to walk away from the flaming Ichibē, he stops and looks back in bewilderment while the flames dissipate to reveal an unharmed Ichibē with the black returned to his hair,[16] who reveals that while Yhwach did steal his power, the power of Ichimonji encompasses all of the color black in the world and that beings of all species, living and dead, contribute their black to his power, which he concludes by slashing Ichimonji at Yhwach and covering most of his body with a massive splash of ink.[17]
Ichibē activates his Shin'uchi, Shirafude Ichimonji, the first evolved Zanpakutō.
With the massive splash of ink extending off either side of the walkway, Ichibē addresses the man formerly known as Yhwach, and after musing that losing his name must be agonizing for Yhwach, Ichibē decides to give him a new name and activates his Shin'uchi, Shirafude Ichimonji, which turns the blade of his brush back into bristles that emit a white energy, forming a large circle around Ichibē himself. Ichibē observes that the modern term for this would be Bankai, though he admits that he does not use that term for his Zanpakutō because Ichimonji became the first evolved Zanpakutō long before the term Bankai existed.[18]
After renaming Yhwach to "Black Ant", Ichibē stomps him through the Vestibule Road and crushes him with two Senri Tsūtenshōs.
Informing Yhwach that Shirafude Ichimonji can be used to write a new name on anything that has had its name removed by the ink of Ichimonji, Ichibē uses Shirafude Ichimonji to write "Black Ant" on Yhwach's body, addresses him as such, and inquires about how it feels to possess the power of a black ant, which he describes as a frail and fleeting life. When Yhwach admits he never could have imagined this, Ichibē assumes he is referring to the gap between their powers and asserts that Yhwach's fate ends here. Demanding Yhwach atone for all the Shinigami he has killed by being crushed to death, Ichibē uses Senri Tsūtenshō to stomp Yhwach through the platform with a massive leg, bids him farewell, and crushes him between two palms.[19]
Yhwach suddenly recovers and returns to the platform to stab Ichibē in the chest.
However, while continuing to hurtle through the air, Yhwach clarifies he never could have imagined being able to see this much with his eyes closed just before his eyes suddenly gain an additional pupil, pushing both to the corners of each socket. Seconds later, the platform behind Ichibē is pierced by a thick beam of Reishi, and as he turns around in confusion, Ichibē spits up blood upon finding himself being stabbed in the chest by a Reishi sword held by Yhwach, still covered in ink. Grabbing the blade with both hands, Ichibē demands to know why Yhwach is not dead yet and is shocked to see the characters on the latter's chest starting to flake off alongside the ink covering his body.[20]
Yhwach awakens his true power, The Almighty, that lets him see everything, including the future.
Upon rushing at Yhwach with Ichimonji pointed at his face, Ichibē is flabbergasted to find himself stabbing empty air when Yhwach moves behind him with Hirenkyaku. Ichibē attacks Yhwach three more times and misses with each slash, leaving Yhwach to identify his new power that lets him see everything as The Almighty.[21] Presuming that Ichibē wants to know why he is not dead, why his powers are not working, and why he is going to die, Yhwach explains that his eyes opening means he can now see everything into the distant future, know everything that will happen, and render himself immune to death and harm from all powers that he sees with The Almighty.[22]
Ichibē initiates Futen Taisatsuryō to completely eradicate Yhwach with a pitch-black shrine.
In turn, though, Ichibē simply refutes the idea of him losing and ridicules Yhwach's arrogance following the removal of his "Black Ant" name. After inquiring about how Yhwach intends to win with all the black covering his body, Ichibē reminds the former that all the black in the world still belongs to him and performs a lengthy ceremony to initiate Futen Taisatsuryō, which creates a massive mausoleum around Ichibē with darkness taken from a hundred nights 100 years in the future while he describes how the skulls and graves here are dedicated to Yhwach and will turn his flesh, blood, and bones black to completely eradicate them.[23]
Yhwach kills Ichibē with a powerful blast after revealing that The Almighty renders him immune to anything he perceives and understands.
Ichibē concludes that Yhwach's Soul will not even enter the cycle of rebirth and will be obliterated, only to be shocked when Yhwach mirrors his sentence about falling into a pitch-black hell. As he reminds Ichibē that there is no room for comprehension or countermeasures against his power because all that he sees and knows his powerless against him, Yhwach gains a third pupil in the center of each eye, prompting Ichibē to ready to attack him with Ichimonji. Yhwach asks Ichibē if the latter still believes him to be nameless and proclaims that he is Yhwach, the one who will rob Ichibē of everything, before raising his hand and blasting Ichibē with enough force to destroy his torso, leaving his head and limbs to bloodily fly through the air and land on the ground near Yhwach's feet.[24]
Aftermath[]
Yhwach creates a long set of Reishi stairs to reach the Greater Soul King Palace.
Yhwach walks over to the Seal placed by Ichibē, whom he notes died three steps short just as predicted, and destroys it by simply placing his hand on the barrier, opening the path to the stairs approaching the Greater Soul King Palace. While the last candle on the Blood Oath's Seal flickers out, with Senjumaru's portion burned through from her death, Yhwach declares that the Royal Guard have fallen, and as the Schutzstaffel kneel on either side of him, Yhwach begins walking toward the end of the Vestibule Road and breaks down the pillars lining it to create a long set of glowing blue stairs leading directly to the Greater Soul King Palace, which he begins ascending.[21]
Ichigo and his friends reach the Soul King Palace and discover the aftermath of Ichibē's battle against Yhwach.
As he ruminates on his thousand years of life, the losses that he and the other Quincy have suffered, and their first invasion of the Seireitei, Yhwach concludes that all of this will be consummated by the Soul King's death and inquires if the latter can hear his footsteps before setting foot in the Greater Soul King Palace before the Soul King, whom he informs that this is the sound of bells tolling for the king of three worlds. Some time later, the replica Tenchūren crashes into the Vestibule Road, where Ichigo and his friends disembark as a confused Sado wonders if the silence means that the battle is over, only for the group to gasp in horror upon seeing Ichibē's severed head lying on the floor.[21]
Ichibē revives himself by having Ichigo call his full name to take a small part of the latter's power.
As Orihime rushes over to Ichibē, Ichigo identifies him to the others. Suddenly, with Orihime attempting to revive Ichibē with Sōten Kisshun, Ichigo hears Ichibē's disembodied voice telling him to call Ichibē's name, and after expressing confusion to his friends, Ichigo says Ichibē's full name aloud, causing Ichibē's eyes to open as a black mass forms underneath his head, raising it aloft and eventually dissipating to reveal his restored body while a startled Orihime falls back. After thanking a terrified Ichigo, Ichibē explains that all power resides in names and having Ichigo call his name let him take a tiny portion of Ichigo's power to restore his body with, to Ichigo's bewilderment.[21]
Ichibē beseeches Ichigo to protect the Soul King because no one else can.
Laughing uproariously at this since their combined powers make it quite possible, Ichibē calms himself and requests that Ichigo stop Yhwach due to the Royal Guard being defeated and his own power taking too long to be fully restored. While asserting that there is no one else strong enough to do it, Ichibē assures Ichigo that he can stop Yhwach without killing him and emphasizes that the Soul King is the key to the world, meaning that his death will cause the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo to collapse. Though apologetic over forcing this task upon him, Ichibē beseeches Ichigo to protect the Soul King, which Ichigo accepts.[21]
Yhwach impales the Soul King with his Reishi Sword.
Ichigo and his friends run toward the Greater Soul King Palace as within, Yhwach reaches the Soul King in his crystal, bids him farewell, and raises his Reishi Sword before shoving it through the Soul King's chest and identifying the latter as his father, the one who has seen the future.[21] On the Vestibule Road below, Ichibē apologizes to Ichigo and his friends because they cannot defeat Yhwach, only to assure them that this is fine since it is what peace is all about and presume that Yhwach believes the same thing.[25]
References[]
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 536, page 16
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bleach anime; Episode 390
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 605, pages 5-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 605, pages 7-12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 605, pages 12-16
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Bleach anime; Episode 391
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 606, pages 10-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 606, pages 11-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 607, pages 4-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 607, pages 7-10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 607, pages 10-14
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 607, pages 14-18
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 608, pages 1-8
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 608, pages 8-10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 608, pages 10-11
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Bleach anime; Episode 392
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 608, pages 14-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 609, pages 1-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 609, pages 5-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 609, pages 11-15
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Bleach anime; Episode 393
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 610, pages 6-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 610, pages 8-14
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 610, pages 14-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 613, pages 1-3