As Yhwach arrives at the real Soul King Palace, he runs into the last member of the 0 Division as well as the leader of the Royal Guards, Ichibe Hyosube.
Ichibe is a large and broad individual with a bald head, red eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a long black beard. He wears the standard Shinigami uniform beneath a white, long-sleeved haori decorated with the Royal Guard's emblem. The top of his uniform is open enough to expose his hairy chest. He also wears a large set of red prayer beads around his neck and a pair of single-toothed tengu geta.
Upon Yhwach's arrival Ichibe draws a line on the ground and hops back before drawing another line and informing Yhwach that this area is where their battle is going to take place.
Landing on the platform where Ichibe drew the lines, Yhwach notes that the distance seems a bit too long before claiming that he is going to defeat Ichibe three paces before this and referring to Ichibe by his full name once more.
Ichibe draws the kanji for "Seal" in the air before reminding Yhwach of how he said that doing this would result in Yhwach's throat being crushed as an enormous hand rushes toward Yhwach, who expresses shock as it sends him hurtling away from the palace.
As Yhwach struggles to move, Ichibe appears above him and states that this is Senri Tsutensho before explaining how it sends anything it hits flying 1000 ri away.
Yhwach lifts his hand and attempts to say something, but is shocked when he cannot speak, prompting Ichibe to point out how he warned him about his throat being crushed before hitting Yhwach with Senri Tsutensho once more while telling him to reflect on what he has done.
As he hurtles downward, Yhwach pierces his throat with two of his fingers and proclaims that he gives himself voice once more before manifesting Sankt Bogen below him and firing its Heilig Pfeil, one of which pierces his chest and sends him flying up to Ichibe, who notes he must kill Yhwach now.
Yhwach breaks the Heilig Pfeil in his chest as Ichibe scratches his head while noting that Yhwach refuses to not say his name and be sent away for his actions before stating that he is the same petulant child despite having aged.
As Ichibe proclaims that Yhwach leaves him no choice but to forfeit Yhwach's life because of his refusal to listen, Yhwach forms his Reishi sword as Ichibe draws his brush.
Ichibe and Yhwach begin clashing in earnest, with Yhwach noting that Ichibe appears to have become much happier after deciding to kill him.
When Yhwach stabs at him, Ichibe moves back before swiping his brush at Yhwach, who repels it with his forearm before demanding to know if this is all Ichibe has got.
Noting Yhwach has forfeited his arm, Ichibe reveals his brush cuts through names as a shocked Yhwach's arm falls to his side.
Ichibe explains how the name of Yhwach's arm has been cut in two, leading to his physical strength and abilities being halved, and claims Yhwach's attacks are sluggish when Yhwach slashes at him again before slashing Yhwach vertically, which sends him crashing into the palace walkway.
As Ichibe asks him how he feels about being cut to pieces, Yhwach proclaims he is not suffering yet as Spiritual Energy gathers around him.
Noting that Ichibe fears his powers so much that he needed to halve them, Yhwach states there is no better feeling than this before revealing he can simply restore his powers, shocking Ichibe.
Yhwach asks Ichibe if he does not understand and states that no one can take anything away from him so easily before proclaiming that everything in this world exists for him to take it as the Spiritual Energy columns around him bend and hurtle toward Ichibei, who stops them by clasping his hands together around them before they can reach his head while noting Yhwach takes kindness for granted.
Ichibe claims that he specifically chose to remove half of Yhwach's ability for the sake of preserving his dignity, confusing Yhwach, before explaining how the reputation of the Quincy would be permanently tarnished if he beat Yhwach while the latter was at full strength.
Leaping into the air, Ichibe notes Yhwach's reputation will mean nothing if he is dead before using Bakudo #62. Hyapporankan, causing several rods of light to form around him before hurtling toward Yhwach, who responds by injecting his Blut Vene into the ground in order to use Blut Vene Anhaben, which blocks the rods.
As the rods shatter against the barrier, Ichibe recognizes the technique, prompting Yhwach to explain how it is a defensive barrier that extends outside the body.
Ichibe states this is fascinating and leaps back before using Urahado Sannodo Teppusatsu, creating an aura in the shape of a large dragon's head around himself that rushes toward Yhwach and shatters Blut Vene Anhaben.
When Ichibe grabs him by the throat, Yhwach reveals Blut Vene Anhaben absorbs everything around it to sustain its usage and proclaims the left side of Ichibe's body will be rendered useless as Blut Vene veins snake up Ichibe's arm.
However, an irritated Ichibe asks Yhwach if he thinks his body can be overcome so easily before reversing the flow of the veins into Yhwach's face, which ruptures.
Yhwach clutches his face as Ichibe leaps back before noting Yhwach has stormed the Soul King Palace and attacked the Royal Guard, who serves the Soul King himself.
Telling Yhwach to stop being so insolent unless he wants Ichibe to kill him, Ichibe releases his Zanpakuto, Ichimonji.
Looking at Ichimonji, Yhwach notes its size and the fact that he cannot sense any Spiritual Pressure emanating from it before expressing surprise when it seemingly returns to its sealed form before becoming a blade again.
Ichibe taunts Yhwach about being unable to tell the difference between a pen and a sword before attacking him, forcing Yhwach to block with his sword.
As he and Ichibe clash, Yhwach wonders what Ichimonji is and points out how Ichibe is simply spraying ink everywhere before asking him if he is going to halve his powers once more.
Proclaiming everything he needs will come back to him no matter how many times Ichibe takes his powers away, Yhwach begins to claim he will defeat Ichibe with his sword, only to stop in shock.
Ichibe asks Yhwach if he was saying something and wonders what the name of his sword is before revealing Yhwach's sword does not have a name anymore due to the ink of Ichimonji covering it and that anything without a name loses its powers.
Ichibe points out how both Yhwach's sword and his Quincy Cross have been covered in ink before asking him if he really thinks he can win now.
Gesturing with his hand, Yhwach proclaims he will simply take Ichibe's power with one of his own powers and forms five spheres of Spiritual Energy above his fingers before sending them into the air above Ichibe and using Sankt Altar, causing the spheres to engulf Ichibe with beams of light. However, Ichibe shrugs off the technique and explains to Yhwach that he did steal his power before revealing that Yhwach cannot actually wield it because it is power over darkness, which simply returns to Ichimonji, as Yhwach stares in shock while blackness leaves his clothing in tendrils.
Proclaiming all of the darkness in the world is his to control, Ichibe covers Yhwach's face with ink.
As a large amount of ink splashes off of either side of the walkway, Yhwach's entire body is covered in ink, prompting Ichibe to note it must have hurt for Yhwach to lose his name before proclaiming that he will grant him a new one as his master.
Ichibe activates his Bankai Shirafude Ichimonji and explains how this form used to be known as an Evolved Zanpakuto prior to him naming it Bankai before revealing that he can use his Bankai to grant names to anything the ink of Ichimonji covers.
Using Shirafude Ichimonji to give Yhwach the name Black Ant, Ichibe explains how Yhwach's power is now equal to the ants at his feet, prompting a stunned Yhwach to wonder if this is the end.
Ichibe confirms this and states this is where Yhwach will receive his punishment for killing so many Shinigami.
Ichibe proclaims Yhwach will die like an ant and manifests a giant leg and foot above Yhwach before stomping him through the floor with it.
Watching Yhwach hurtle downward, Ichibe puts Ichimonji on his back and bids him farewell before using Senri Tsutensho with both hands in order to crush Yhwach in mid-air.
However, Yhwach claims he is hurt that Ichibe thought he has finished already while his eyes were closed as his pupils and irises split in two before bursting through the floor behind Ichibe, who turns around in surprise as
Yhwach's Spiritual Energy Broadsword embeds itself in his chest. Coughing up blood, Ichibe demands to know why Yhwach is not dead before noticing the kanji he painted on Yhwach's body fading away as Yhwach uses The Almighty.
Pulling his sword out of Ichibe, Yhwach notes that Ichibe must be wondering how he could survive such an attack and why the name he gave Yhwach is gone and explains how he can see far into the future with his eyes opened, which allows him to know and understand all abilities, before stating this is the power of The Almighty.
However, Ichibe merely wonders if Yhwach believes he is going to win and claims the name "Yhwach" never meant anything, to begin with before asking Yhwach how he can win with all of the black still surrounding him.
Pointing out how he controls all black, Ichibe draws on the black from Yhwach's body with Ichimonji and surrounds himself with it before beginning to chant an incantation.
After drawing concentric circles on the ground with the blackness, Ichibe stabs Ichimonji into the ground and uses Futen Taisatsuryo, which he claims will completely obliterate Yhwach's soul and leave it unable to reincarnate.
However, Yhwach reiterates how everything he sees is powerless because he comprehends it before obliterating Ichibe's torso.
Yhwach walks past Ichibe's remains while noting he was correct in predicting that he would defeat Ichibe three steps before the area he outlined before destroying the barrier Ichibe created in front of the main palace.
Observing that all of the Royal Guard have been defeated, Yhwach proclaims the Soul King is next as he looks at the main palace and grins.
Soon afterward, Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends arrive at the palace in the fake Tenchuren, where they discover Ichibe's remains.
As Orihime Inoue runs forward to try and heal him, Ichibe mentally calls out to Ichigo, whom he asks to call his name.
When Ichigo calls his name, Ichibe appears unharmed before them and thanks him for doing so. After explaining how he took some of Ichigo's power to rebuild his body, Ichibe reveals the other Royal Guard has been defeated and that Yhwach is going to kill the Soul King before asking Ichigo and his friends to stop him from doing so to protect the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo, prompting Ichigo and the others to run toward the main palace.
At this moment an enormous amount of Spiritual Pressure comes crashing down the entire Soul Society as well as Soul King Palace.
Weaker people like Orihime and Sado collapse and feel as if they were being crushed while stronger ones are still standing but they were wondering what it was.
"This Spiritual Pressure. There is no doubt..." Ichibe exclaims as he remembers someone with similar Pressure as this.
But Pressure vanishes soon after and Ichigo with his friends rushes to the Soul King.