The Soul King at this moment.
His image in everyone's mind has collapsed completely!
They don't know what the cause and effect of all this is!
Why is there no throne in this palace, nor any gorgeous decorations?
How long has the Soul King remained in this crystal?
He has no hands or feet—can he still be alive?
Who did this to him?
Could it be the Royal Guard?
Has the Royal Guard always known about this?
The audience's minds are filled with questions and confusion!
They can only look at the Three Realms Projection in shock and bewilderment to see what is truly happening.
The dark past of Soul Society seems to be slowly revealing itself to them.
This truth appears to be more terrifying than Yhwach killing the Soul King!
As for those great figures who have been studying the Soul King and the Three Realms, they were also filled with complex emotions.
Aizen chuckled softly and closed his eyes slightly.
He thought to himself:
"Really..."
"This is the Soul King!"
"A being with the highest power?"
"But in reality, he occupies the most humiliating position."
"However, even though you have been reduced to a limbless torso, you can still look at those before you with wise eyes that see through everything?"
"I truly want to know what you are thinking!"
The more Aizen contemplated this, the more ironic he found it.
"Can you predict today's events and the scene of being struck down by Yhwach in the future?"
"In your eyes, is this the world you desired?"
"I must be the one to bring this world to its ultimate conclusion!"
"And what Yhwach said about freeing you from this humiliation—perhaps that would indeed be merciful for you?"
But after considering this further, he resolved not to let Yhwach complete his plan.
A trace of coldness flashed in Aizen's eyes.
"Although Yhwach and I share some common goals, I absolutely cannot allow Yhwach to accomplish all of this!"
"The only one who will create the new world is me!"
"Soon, I must make my appearance!"
At this moment, the crowd, increasingly unable to comprehend the unfolding future, began to watch the next scene with intense focus.
[On the projection screen, Yhwach stood before the crystallized Soul King, his voice carrying both finality and a strange tenderness:
"No. You probably saw this day coming, didn't you?"
"Farewell then, Soul King!"
"You who can see into the future..."
"My father!"
Hearing this revelation, the Shinigami were shocked once again.
[Madarame Ikkaku]: What the hell? Did I hear that correctly? He called the Soul King his father. What kind of twisted plot is this?
[Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez]: Doesn't that mean Ichigo Kurosaki is the grandson of the Soul King? What an outrageous family drama!
[Tier Harribel]: So all this fighting and conflict is just a family feud? They're all related to each other, fathers and sons.
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: What are you all talking about...?
[Yhwach]: Do not worry, my son Ichigo Kurosaki, dwelling in darkness. You will slowly learn the truth in due time!
[Kyoraku Shunsui]: Ahem... Let's stay calm and not overthink this. This might just be Yhwach's usual grandiose boasting. Didn't he also claim before that he was Ichigo Kurosaki's father?
[Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni]: Indeed, this bastard would probably claim anyone as his son or father if they had even the slightest connection to him!
[Ukitake Jushiro]: After all, the Soul King possesses the power to govern the Three Realms. Yhwach is ambitious and seeks to kill the Soul King—it's not surprising he would claim such a relationship.
[Kyoraku Shunsui]: Hmph, it's just that the Soul King cannot speak now, otherwise he would surely refute such claims.
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: Right! But it's still unsettling no matter how you look at it...
[Aizen Sosuke]: What an intriguing Quincy King... Is this truly your purpose?
Although Yhwach's words indeed sparked the imagination of countless viewers, because everything Yhwach did was beyond people's comprehension, they were momentarily too overwhelmed to delve deeper into his claims.
After all, there were so many other questions demanding answers!
Soon, the scene changed once more.
[Behind Yhwach, Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions suddenly appeared in the Soul King's chamber. The vast crystalline palace seemed to dwarf their forms as they stepped into the sacred space.
After seeing Ichigo Kurosaki's arrival, Yhwach appeared somewhat displeased.
He had anticipated Ichibei Hyosube's machinations.
Poor Ichigo Kurosaki... has once again become a pawn of countless powerful beings.
He spoke with quiet contempt:
"Hmph, that damned Ichibei Hyosube!"
Turning around, he addressed Ichigo with a tone both dignified and tinged with strange affection:
"Ichigo! You poor creature who has been ruthlessly crushed by the gears of fate! Very well, then I shall use these hands to bury you completely!"
Ichigo Kurosaki, unsure of Yhwach's true intentions, responded with firm resolve:
"Yhwach, we're here to stop you."
Yhwach replied with complete indifference:
"I foresaw everything. You came here to prevent me from killing the Soul King, correct?"
Hearing these words, Kurosaki Ichigo felt confused:
"What do you mean by 'foresaw'? What are you talking about?"
When Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions saw Yhwach's eyes clearly, they all felt a chill run down their spines and were immediately filled with terror.
One eye... three pupils...
Too frightening and unnatural!
Yhwach spoke with cold detachment:
"Allow me to explain! These are my eyes that can perceive all things."
"Proof of being the true Quincy."
"Before arriving here, you witnessed Ichibei Hyosube's body torn to pieces and then resurrected, did you not?"
"You came here because you were deceived by his honeyed words."
"I can see all of this!"
Yhwach's revelation sent shivers through the entire audience.
It seemed that his boast about seeing through everything was no mere bluff.
From such a great distance, he could know what was transpiring elsewhere!
This was truly an extraordinary power!
Could it be... as he claimed, that he could actually see the future?
The perspective then shifted.
The audience witnessed an even more shocking scene!
The camera revealed Yhwach's weapon—a glowing Reishi blade formed from his Quincy powers—already piercing through the crystal and embedded in the Soul King's torso. The ethereal weapon pulsed with dark energy as it remained lodged in the motionless figure.
Yhwach had already struck!
Kurosaki Ichigo had arrived too late!
So... was it true that the Soul King possessed no power to resist?
Could he only allow Yhwach to slaughter him without resistance?
What manner of existence was this so-called Soul King?
Yhwach continued in his cold tone:
"In addition to all of the above, I have also foreseen that the Soul King is now dead. You arrived one step too late—I have already seen this outcome!"
Simultaneously, Kurosaki Ichigo observed that the Soul King within the crystal had indeed been pierced by the blade.
Ichigo rushed forward in anger, desperate to remove the weapon and save the Soul King.
Yhwach made no move to stop him:
"Do you wish to pull out the sword and save the Soul King?"
"Then pull it out!"
"If it were you, you might indeed be capable of doing so!"
After Kurosaki Ichigo grasped the blade's hilt, Yhwach displayed a playful expression and spoke with leisure:
"Use your own hands to destroy Soul Society!"
As a result, after pulling out the sword, Ichigo Kurosaki suddenly felt something strange occurring within him.
He was overcome by a mysterious will driving his actions.
He could never forgive...
He could never forgive the existence of the Soul King!
BUZZ!!!
Under the influence of this mysterious compulsion, the hand gripping the blade suddenly activated his Blut Vene!
The distinctive pattern of Quincy blood armor spread across his arm as Ichigo Kurosaki swung the blade directly toward the Soul King.
This strike descended upon its target.
SLASH!!!
Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual pressure erupted violently!
The energy swept outward in all directions.
The Soul King's crystal prison shattered into two pieces!
The Soul King's impassive eyes seemed to flash with a trace of barely perceptible relief...
He continued to gaze upon Ichigo Kurosaki, Yhwach, and the others without displaying any emotion whatsoever.
Even though his head and body had been severed, he appeared completely detached from worldly concerns and remained utterly unmoved.
Except for Yhwach, everyone present—including Inoue Orihime and Shihoin Yoruichi—stood in complete shock!
What just happened?
Why did Ichigo Kurosaki swing his sword at the Soul King? Was he being controlled by Yhwach?
CLANG!
The lower half of the Soul King's crystal fell to the floor with a resounding crash.
At this moment!
The scene froze in complete silence!
Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes were wide with horror, nearly bursting from their sockets.
"What... what just happened?!"
In response to this turn of events, Yhwach displayed a supremely confident expression:
"That is precisely what occurred. I have seen through everything."
"Ichigo Kurosaki, you possess Quincy blood flowing through your veins, and you will never permit the Soul King to exist!"
Witnessing these scenes that exceeded everyone's wildest imagination, the audience cried out in amazement once more!
[Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni]: What transpired? Why did Kurosaki Ichigo...?
[Urahara Kisuke]: It appears that, according to Yhwach's explanation, individuals with Quincy blood cannot tolerate the Soul King's existence.
[Ishida Uryu]: If I were to encounter the Soul King, would I attempt to kill him as well?
[Kirinji Tenshiro]: So Yhwach orchestrated this elaborate assault on the Royal Palace solely to eliminate the Soul King?
[Shutara Senjumaru]: We will never allow this evil man to continue existing. We must defeat him at any cost.
[Ukitake Jushiro] : Did Ichigo Kurosaki kill the so-called Soul King simply due to his Quincy heritage? Is there some unknown secret hidden within Ichigo Kurosaki's very nature?
However, the audience remained confused, lacking crucial information needed to analyze the situation further.
They could only continue watching to see what the next scene would reveal.
Looking at Ichigo Kurosaki, who held the Quincy Reishi blade while appearing utterly lost, Yhwach gazed beyond the Soul King's Palace with fiery anticipation in his eyes.
"Now, Ichigo..."
"Let us observe together!"
"Witness the end of Soul Society!"
Thus, under Yhwach's manipulation, Ichigo Kurosaki delivered the final blow to the Soul King, plunging all of Soul Society into complete apocalypse.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The entire Soul Society began trembling violently!
Even Ichigo Kurosaki and the others within the Soul King's Palace could clearly sense the catastrophic vibrations!
At this very moment, throughout Hueco Mundo, Soul Society, and the Wandenreich...
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Sounds like the shaking of heaven and earth immediately thundered forth!
The Three Realms Projection screens were shaking violently!
Countless energy fluctuations emanated from them, sweeping outward in all directions!
BUZZ!!!
Almost everyone across the Three Realms looked at their surroundings with expressions of pure shock and terror.
The spiritual particles were trembling!
Space itself was twisting!
The world was rapidly becoming dark and ominous!
GULP... GULP...
The audience—including Shinigami and Arrancar alike—could only swallow their saliva with tremendous difficulty.
Was this scene from the projection causing actual changes in heaven and earth?
In an instant, desperate expressions appeared in the eyes of both Shinigami and Hollows.
The current moment felt as long as countless eons, yet seemed frozen in a single instant!
Was this truly as Yhwach proclaimed—the end of Soul Society?
And was this really caused by Ichigo Kurosaki's actions?
In the projection, Yhwach began explaining to the bewildered Ichigo Kurosaki, who could never comprehend the current situation:
"As I stated before, nothing can be done to salvage this situation. It just so happens that you, appearing here at this moment, could deliver the fatal blow to the Soul King with your own hands!"
Ichigo Kurosaki fell to his knees, still unable to believe what was unfolding before him.
"Why... why did he have to die?"
"Why was my hand beyond my control?"
The projection showed Ichigo's anguished face as he stared at his trembling hands, the weight of his uncontrollable actions crushing down upon him as the Three Realms began their inexorable collapse around them all.