Thread:ShonenChicoBoy/@comment-8914761-20150207021638/@comment-18812574-20150207152544

Ash wrote: Another thing: What happened to the Royal Guardsmen?

Sei wrote: Honestly, I'm thinking to just keep them as they are. But I'm open to suggestions as to their fate.

I wrote: It would be interesting if the guy who creates Asauchi dies:

1) Someone would have to take his place, creating "fake" asauchi

2) This would result in erratic and sometimes self-destructive powers emerging. Perhaps there is a severe caveat, ie, any damage inflicted on a released zanpakuto is incurred on the user as well. Or something along those lines.

3) Perhaps, in order to compensate, all the zanpakutos of dead officers are collected and "purged" of whatever powers/soul they once possessed, becoming empty vessels once again.

4) This could lead to a severe problem with a "black market" of blades, so to speak, with people murdering each other to get their hands on a "real" zanpakuto.

EDIT: I know this is going to sound totally wonky, but what if someone (Yhwach, Haschwald or somebody) actually succeeded in killing the Soul King. Instead of the complete destruction of all mortal realms, *ahem* the Royal Guard sacrifice themselves, merging their beings (the "key" portion) with the Hogyoku in order to create a stable, automatic "generator" type thing that replaces the function of the Soul King, keeping the worlds in balance and all. Then all the diabolical bad dude has to do is break in and destroy the "generator." Viola. End of the world. This could nicely explain how the Royal Guard met their fate.

BUT all of the above is just me brainstorming, so feel free to ignore me completely/use this as fodder for different (better) ideas.

But like I've said: no information has been released as to whether or not the RG will be involved with the FC at all. So I'd say either a) wait or b) go ask Sei.