Unveiling the Ultimate Powers in BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War

Highlights

The battle between the Zero Squad and Yhwach intensifies, with Yhwach using a fearful ability to gain the advantage.

Kisuke Urahara and the remaining Visored faction make ready for Ichigo's group's imminent arrival at the Soul King's Palace.

The Quincies, previously believed to be vanquished at the false Soul King Palace, regain their powers and gear up for another round of combat.

Warning: The content below contains spoilers from BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2, Episode 12, "The Master". You can watch this episode on Hulu and Disney+.

As the battle between the Zero Squad and Yhwach intensifies, the Quincy King unleashes a formidable power to gain the upper hand. On the ground, Kisuke Urahara, Hiyori Sarugaki, and the remaining Visored members make their own preparations for Ichigo's group's arrival at the Soul King's Palace. Meanwhile, a certain Quincy is revealed to have survived her encounter with a Shinigami Captain.

Packed with awesome action, the first half of the BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 finale, "The Master" shows just how serious a final stand this battle.

Justification

Hiyori Sarugaki – BLEACH Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 Episode 12

The BLEACH narrative has consistently highlighted the questionable nature of the Soul Society as an institution. Its proponents and defenders, while not inherently "good," operate based on their perception of justice. This notion forms the foundation of the BLEACH universe, which justifies various crimes committed in the name of maintaining a specific type of peace. The Shinigami, in their pursuit of order within Soul Society and the three worlds, have resorted to horrific acts, including the eradication of the Quincies a millennium before the series' events. In the opening scene of "The Master," Urahara encounters Hiyori Sarugaki and the other Visored individuals, alongside Yūshirō Shihōin, Yoruichi's younger brother. In his characteristic nonchalant manner, Urahara reveals that Ichigo's group has already departed. Hiyori's tone adopts an accusing nuance as she questions Urahara's decision to let them leave before her and the others could arrive.

Evidently, the original plan to send Ichigo and the others up there together was changed at the last minute. Hiyori suspects that Urahara knows they are at a disadvantage. The only reasoning that makes sense to her is that Urahara purposely sent them up there, fully aware that they could die. Knowing him, he probably believes it's acceptable if they perish as long as they impede the enemy. Hiyori is familiar with Urahara's tendency to act "for the sake of the Seireitei" and carries a deep resentment towards it. One piece of evidence supporting her suspicions is that Urahara's face is never seen close up during their conversation. Unlike Kurotsuchi, Urahara is portrayed as a more palatable "mad" scientist. However, there is a reason why Urahara's successor is someone as abhorrent as Kurotsuchi – they are both willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Beyond Urahara, Ichibē Hyōsube, the leader of the Royal Guard, is another individual who is willing to sacrifice anyone necessary to maintain the current world order. This is why Ichigo underwent his training at the Soul King's Palace. The belief that "the end justifies the means" has consistently allowed numerous atrocities to occur throughout BLEACH's history.

Battle Commence

The battle between Hyōsube and Yhwach in Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 Episode 12 is fierce right from the start. Hyōsube unleashes a series of powerful attacks, sending Yhwach flying. Yhwach retaliates by shooting out multiple giant arrows from his Sankt Bogen, but none of them hit their mark. However, Yhwach manages to redirect one of the arrows, grazing Hyōsube in the process. This enrages Hyōsube, who turns around with a disturbingly determined look in his eyes, ready to kill Yhwach. Meanwhile, in the Cage of Life created by Kirio, Oh-Etsu prepares to face off against Haschwalth, while Shutara and Uryū engage in their own battle. As the cage is destroyed, Kirio quickly replaces it, and Kirinji uses a powerful torrent of water to separate the two closest minions of the Quincy King, allowing Oh-Etsu to focus on Haschwalth and advance towards Yhwach. However, their plans are disrupted when Askin Nakk Le Vaar activates his power, turning Oh-Etsu's blood into a deadly toxin with his Schrift D – The Deathdealing ability.

Ritual of Sacrifice

The showdown between Kirinji and Haschwalth reaches its climax as the Quincy suffers a devastating blow. After absorbing Nakk Le Vaar's revelation about his ability's essence, Oh-Etsu makes a drastic sacrifice by slitting his own throat to induce bloodletting. This desperate tactic is normally fatal, as it results in a significant loss of blood that renders a person incapable of sustaining their life; however, thanks to Kirinji's replenishing red waters that substitute for blood, Oh-Etsu regains his full potential and swiftly strikes Nakk Le Vaar once more. Meanwhile, in Yhwach and Hyōsube's encounter, the monk discloses the true nature of his Zanpakutō – it severs not physical objects but rather their very names, thereby diminishing the potential of anything it slices in half. Although it appears that Yhwach is at a disadvantage with Ichimonji's blade having wounded him, this turn of events only triggers the activation of the Auswählen.

Ukitake Mimihagi – BLEACH Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 Episode 12

In a dark cave, Sternritter Z – The Zombie, Giselle Gewelle, is feasting on the blood she had given to her deceased comrade, Bambi. When Bambi pleads with Giselle to leave enough blood for her to survive, Giselle ruthlessly slams her head against a nearby rock, then gazes fondly at her lifeless friend. Liltotto discovers them and explains the situation. However, the Auswählen's light suddenly strikes the battlefield, stripping away the powers of those deemed unnecessary by Yhwach. For the first time, Liltotto displays genuine emotion as she questions their worth in Yhwach's eyes all this time. Despite not being directly hit by the light, both Liltotto and Giselle have their Vollständig forms forcibly taken from them. Determined to survive, Liltotto and Bazz-B declare that they refuse to die in such a place, symbolizing that the journeys of these Quincies are far from over. The Quincies who were incapacitated at the fake Soul King Palace regain their full powers, assuming their respective Quincy: Vollständig forms.

In the post-credits scene, Kyōraku meets up with Jushiro Ukitake, the 13th Squad Captain who hasn't been seen since episode 2. Ukitake is aware of the invasion of the Soul King Palace, and Kyōraku deduces that the "Kamikake" ritual must have been successful. Kamikake, also known as "Divine Possession," is a ritual that can be performed by someone who has had a body part taken by the god called Mimihagi, worshipped in certain parts of Rukongai. As Ukitake's shadow transforms, an ominous appearance emerges with a gigantic eye appearing at its center. This scene reveals what Ukitake was doing during his brief appearance in front of the strange statue shirtless – he offers his body, which once harbored one of the sentient body parts of the Soul King, to serve as a replacement if necessary. The anticipation leading up to BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3, especially with the focus on Mimihagi in the reveal trailer, suggests that this next installment may be the darkest in the series yet.