Yhwach, the Quincy progenitor and monarch, emerged as the Soul King's son approximately 1,200 years ago. Born with severe physical limitations—lacking sight, hearing, speech, and mobility—he displayed no fear. An innate ability allowed him to distribute soul fragments through touch, healing recipients' afflictions while gradually absorbing their knowledge, talents, and abilities. Upon these individuals' deaths, the fragments returned to Yhwach, restoring his senses and mobility. This cycle earned him reverence as a deity, and he adopted the name "Yhwach." His bloodline flows through all Quincy, establishing him as their foundational ancestor and king. Yhwach later refined his soul-sharing by engraving letters onto Quincy souls, creating the Schrift system to grant deeper, more potent powers. Lille Barro became the first recipient. Yhwach assigned himself "A" for "The Almighty." He founded the global Lichtreich empire and its elite guard, the Sternritter. Encountering young Quincy Jugram Haschwalth, he recognized him as his "other half" due to complementary abilities, appointing him chief advisor and successor. Approximately 1,000 years before the main events, Yhwach led the Quincy against the Soul Reapers. Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto incinerated his body in battle, forcing Yhwach into dormancy and collapsing the empire. Centuries later, he reawakened, forming the hidden Wandenreich within Soul Society's shadows. He initiated the Quincy Blood War to annihilate the Soul Reapers and achieve his ultimate goal. His appearance evolved: youth featured soft, round features without facial hair; 1,000 years ago, he appeared younger with shoulder-length hair and stubble; adulthood brought a tall, middle-aged form with pronounced cheekbones, a broad chin, long black hair, mutton chops, and a mustache. He typically wore a white double-breasted trench coat bearing the Wandenreich insignia, white trousers, boots, and a tattered maroon-black cloak fastened by a red ribbon. Absorbing Mimihagi spread black ocular patterns across his left eye, face, and chest. Full absorption of the Soul King shrouded him in oozing darkness, leaving only fragments of limbs, face, and torso visible. Yhwach embodied contradiction: professing peace while waging relentless war, seeking swift resolutions to minimize suffering. He disdained justice and honor, praising the original Gotei 13's brutality but condemning their modern counterparts as weak. Though addressing subordinates as "sons" and occasionally showing appreciation—like granting Royd Lloyd a merciful death—he deemed all expendable. His Auswählen technique stripped power and life from "impure" or useless Quincy, including high-ranking allies like Gerard Valkyrie and Haschwalth. His primary motivation stemmed from experiencing every Quincy's death agony, driving his obsession to eradicate the fear of death by collapsing the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo into one realm. His relationship with the Soul King was complex. He wept at Adnyeus' sacrifice to stabilize the three worlds but blamed his father for Quincy persecution. Viewing the Soul King's mutilated imprisonment as eternal humiliation, he sought to kill him and dismantle the world order. This contempt infected Quincy with his blood, compelling them to pursue the Soul King's demise. Abilities centered on soul manipulation and foresight. The Almighty let him perceive all futures, select advantageous outcomes, and negate opposing powers. Schrift distribution created the Sternritter's diverse combat capabilities. Auswählen reclaimed soul fragments to replenish his strength or revive elites at donors' expense. This power extended to stealing Bankai via specialized medallions during the Blood War. In his plan's culmination, Yhwach infiltrated the Soul King Palace, slew the Soul King, and absorbed his remains and Mimihagi, becoming reality's new linchpin. The three worlds collapsed until Uryū Ishida's Still Silver arrow and Ichigo Kurosaki's assault interrupted him. Defeated, Yhwach condemned a world eternally burdened by the fear of death as the realms began separating.