#he seems legitimately regretful every time he has to us ichigo

[thorneprincess]

common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

ICHIGO BECOMING THE SOUL KING WOULD BE A FUCKING DISASTER AND YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT.

For once, it would go completely against Ichigo's themes. He is literally known as the breaker of destiny and chains. Him killing YWHACH was a final middle finger to anyone who says prophecies and fated encounters are a thing. Cutting off his limbs and sealing him away in a giant fuck you crystal would such an antithesis to his character that if Bleach actually ended like that, I would have burned down my collection.

Secondly, the SS would have totally fallen into civil war if that happened in teams of in favor and against Ichigo being killed for "the sake of the universe." One side would think about what best for the afterlife (Soi Fon, Sajin, maybe even Toshiro since the three of them are kind of bootlickers) versus those who are like "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK GUYS, ICHIGO SAVED OUR ASSES MULTIPLE TIMES AND THIS IS HOW YOU THANK HIM?" (All the visored captains) along those who would be forced onto neutrality (Retsu as the healer division, Mayuri cause he doesn't care and Shunsui and Byakuya cause they would be too busy from honor vs duty constipation.) There's no way the manga could have just ended there. It would be even more open ended than what we have now.

And finally, IT'S A FUCKING SHOUNEN SERIES FROM THE MID 2000S. OF COURSE THE MAIN CHARACTER WASN'T GOING TO FUCKING DIE. IT'S LIKE THINKING THE MAIN COUPLE ISN'T GOING TO END UP TOGETHER IN YOUR EVERY DAY SHOUJO MANGA. KILLING OFF THE MAIN GUY AND SUCKING ALL THE HOPE OUT OF THE SERIES IS SO AGAINST THE GENRE THAT IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY THE FANS WHO WANTED THIS ENDING ARE EVEN HERE.

You want something grimdark with a depressing ending : )?

GO READ A FUCKING SEINEN AND LEAVE US THE FUCK ALONE.