Why Did Ichigo Kill The Soul King In Bleach TYBW?

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Bleach TYBW episode 28 delivered a shocking twist when it came to the fate of some of its major characters.

Ichigo Kurosaki, the hero destined to protect Soul Society, ended up killing the Soul King, the very being he swore to defend.

He had entered the Soul King Palace with the intent of stopping Yhwach, but instead, he became an unwitting pawn in the Quincy king’s grand scheme.

Naturally, the look of horror and disbelief on Ichigo’s face mirrored our own as viewers. So, what exactly transpired here? Why did Ichigo kill the Soul King?

Why Did Ichigo Kill the Soul King?

The simple answer is that Ichigo did not kill the Soul King out of his own volition. He was manipulated by Yhwach, who harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Soul King and sought to eliminate him.

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Ichigo’s intention was to protect the Soul King from Yhwach’s attack. And it was with this intention that he arrived at the Soul King’s palace.

However, Yhwach, with his ability to see the future, anticipated Ichigo’s arrival and laid a trap.

When Ichigo was fighting Yhwach, he saw that Yhwach’s sword was already thrust into the Soul King. In an attempt to save the Soul King, Ichigo touches the sword and pulls it out.

However, the sword was imbued with Yhwach’s Reiatsu. And when it came into contact with Ichigo, it triggered the Quincy blood within Ichigo, forcing him to attack the Soul King against his will.

This is evident from the Blut Vein which showed up on his arm! As soon as the sword was pulled out, Ichigo then unwillingly proceeds to cut up the Soul King’s crystal into two.

As Yhwach mentioned, Ichigo’s actions, will and basically everything was connected to Yhwach’s will at that point.

Yhwach exploited Ichigo’s hybrid nature, using his Quincy heritage as a weapon against him. It is safe to say that Ichigo, caught in a web of manipulation, was powerless to resist as he struck down the Soul King.

This act had devastating consequences, destabilizing the Soul Society and throwing the balance of the realms into chaos.

Since Ichigo was able to strike down the Soul King, one question naturally comes to mind. Was he really stronger than the deity he cut down?

Was Ichigo Stronger than the Soul King?

The question of whether Ichigo was stronger than the Soul King is a complex one, with no easy answer.

We can, however, analyze the situation and explore some possibilities based on what we’ve seen in the series:

1. Ichigo’s Potential:

Ichigo, as a unique hybrid with Shinigami, Quincy, Human, Fullbringer, and Hollow powers, possesses immense potential.

He’s been described as a Soul King candidate himself, suggesting his capabilities could rival that of the Soul King.

Throughout the TYBW arc, Ichigo undergoes significant transformations, further unlocking his power. It’s possible that his latent potential surpasses even the Soul King’s, though he may not be able to fully access it at this point.

This latent potential, combined with Yhwach’s manipulation, might have been a factor in Ichigo being able to harm the Soul King.

However, it’s important to note that potential doesn’t equate to current power. It’s unlikely that Ichigo, at that moment, was stronger than the Soul King in his prime.

2. The Soul King’s Lack of Resistance:

The Soul King is depicted as a passive entity, seemingly devoid of free will. He exists solely to maintain the balance between the realms, acting as a linchpin holding everything together.

If you are aware of the Soul King’s past, you’ll know that he had offered little to no resistance when he was about to be sealed by the five ancestral beings of the world of yore (check out the article linked below for more details).

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It’s possible that the Soul King, lacking any desire to fight or even live, simply did not resist Ichigo’s attack. This could explain how Ichigo, despite not being at the Soul King’s level of power, was able to kill him.

I am more inclined to believe the second assumption!

Ultimately, the reason behind Ichigo’s ability to take down the Soul King likely lies in a combination of factors, including Yhwach’s manipulation, Ichigo’s latent potential, and the Soul King’s own passive nature.

While Ichigo may not have been stronger than the Soul King in a direct confrontation, the circumstances surrounding the event allowed for this tragic outcome.