In a vast underground cavern, Asido and Shirayuki Uehara, full of food and drink, were engaging in a sparring match.
Knowing Asido’s strength, Shirayuki Uehara naturally wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity for practice.
Asido was also very curious about Shirayuki Uehara’s strength.
Thus, the two began a friendly but tense and exciting exchange.
The moment they clashed, Asido drew his blade, and with a swift step, slashed directly at Shirayuki Uehara’s right arm.
Shirayuki Uehara reacted quickly, raising his sword to block.
However, the instant their blades met, Asido’s figure vanished.
So fast!
Shirayuki Uehara was also slightly startled, and then he sensed Asido’s location again, to the right and behind him.
This time, Asido chose to swing.
Shirayuki Uehara nimbly dodged.
Facing an enemy he was encountering for the first time, Asido acted very rationally. He didn’t recklessly engage in close combat but instead constantly probed his opponent.
During the fight, Asido controlled the distance well, constantly moving to find opportunities, while his blade never strayed from Shirayuki Uehara’s vital points.
Both only used Shunpo, Hakuda, and Zanjutsu to fight.
For hundreds of years, Asido had used these three basic Shinigami techniques to slaughter countless Gillian and Arrancar.
Asido had reached the peak of mastery over these three techniques.
At this point, Shirayuki Uehara realized that Asido wasn’t just fast.
If he were purely fast, he wouldn’t be so difficult to deal with.
Thanks to Yoruichi Shihōin, Shirayuki Uehara had quite a lot of experience dealing with speed-based enemies.
But Asido’s strongest point wasn’t his proficient Captain-level Shunpo, but his formidable experience and skill.
As it was now, every move Asido made was incredibly reasonable, his timing was perfect, as if he had anticipated Shirayuki Uehara’s reaction.
They had only exchanged a few moves, yet the fellow seemed to have seen through him, that’s the benefit experience brought.
Shirayuki Uehara sighed inwardly, "Truly a fierce individual who has been hacking down Hollows in Hueco Mundo for hundreds of years, this battle experience and combat skill are truly terrifying."
Of course, this was because Shirayuki Uehara hadn't used any of his system abilities.
And he wasn't going to use them.
After all, the purpose of Shirayuki Uehara fighting Asido was to learn these combat experiences and combat skills.
This was his weakness.
However, now was the perfect opportunity to make up for it.
After the fight, Shirayuki Uehara closed his eyes and rested his mind in the cave, while secretly dissolving the shadow clones in the Broken Sky Space.
Just now, these shadow clones had witnessed the entirety of their fight.
By absorbing the memory of each shadow clone, Shirayuki Uehara was essentially re-experiencing this high-intensity battle from another perspective.
Before, he didn’t have time to practice it thoroughly.
Now that he had the time and opportunity, Shirayuki Uehara didn't want to waste a moment.
So, he fully immersed himself in the fight with Asido.
…
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Asido, who had initially been aloof, once again looked at the blade at his neck and displayed an expression of disbelief.
This expression was the same as when he first met Shirayuki Uehara.
Until now, he couldn’t believe that Shirayuki Uehara had actually surpassed him.
After all, ten days ago, Asido was still able to suppress Shirayuki Uehara with his advantage in experience and skill.
But now, no matter how hard he tried, he was at a disadvantage.
It was as if Shirayuki Uehara had only taken ten days to close the gap of several hundred years of experience.
This growth rate was truly monstrous.
Therefore, Asido sincerely said, "You’ve completely surpassed me, you’re a genius!"
"Don’t say that. I've also learned a lot from you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have progressed this quickly." After speaking, Shirayuki Uehara withdrew Broken Sky.
The past few days of training had once again significantly strengthened Shirayuki Uehara’s strength.
As they parted ways, Shirayuki Uehara left Asido with a few bottles of fine wine, then departed with a carefree air.
From beginning to end, Shirayuki Uehara never asked Asido if he wanted to return to Soul Society.
Because he already knew the answer.
For Asido, staying here was the only way to prove that his companions had existed.
Therefore, Asido would absolutely never leave this place.
Looking at Shirayuki Uehara’s departing figure, Asido’s expression was complex.
Then, he turned around and prepared to continue killing Hollows.
After getting to know Shirayuki Uehara, Asido felt that his previous efforts hadn’t been in vain, at least he had helped this talented Shinigami.
Although it was only a little bit of help, he was still very satisfied.
…
In a luxurious private room, back at the Expeditionary Force headquarters, Shirayuki Uehara had once again completed his daily routine for the day.
【Spiritual Pressure +1, Flash Steps +1】
In an instant, a warm current surged through his limbs and spiritual veins.
Shirayuki Uehara could feel his spiritual pressure had increased again.
Hueco Mundo’s spiritual particle concentration was higher than Soul Society’s, making it easier for Shinigami to grow stronger.
Coupled with the system’s rewards, Shirayuki Uehara’s growth was naturally even faster.
Thinking about this, he opened his character panel to take a look.
Name: Shirayuki Uehara (Shirayuki)
Position: Seventh Seat of the First Division
Spiritual Pressure: Third-Rank Spirit Power (Captain-level)
Zanpakuto: Broken Sky (Second Stage Release)
Zanjutsu: Captain-level
Hakuda: Captain-level
Kidō: Captain-level
Shunpo: Captain-level
Abilities:
1. Shadow Clone Technique (B-Rank Ability, Mastered)
2. Substitute - White Album (S-Rank Ability, Mastered)
3. Breathing Technique - Sun Breathing (B-Rank Ability, Proficient)
4. Angelic Power - Omnipotent Barrier (S-Rank Ability, Skilled)
5. Magical Technique - Flash Steps (A-Rank Ability, Skilled)
Items:
1. Disguise Glasses (B-Rank Item, Kryptonian Artifact)
2. Five Thunder Spells (C-Rank Item, Cultivation Talisman)
3. Death Qi Gloves (D-Rank Item, Supernatural Artifact)
4. Horse Amulet (A-Rank Item, Magical Artifact)
The current panel looked a lot more comfortable.
Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Kidō had all reached Captain-level, and it was that steady, flawless Captain-level.
Just with this basic panel, he could beat ten Kenpachis.
Not to mention, Shirayuki Uehara also had various powerful abilities.
For Shinigami, spiritual pressure is the foundation.
Without a foundation, even if one’s combat power is strong, it won’t last long.
Of course, to make it in the world of Shinigami, besides a deep spiritual pressure, you need at least one unique skill.
The most invincible are those all-rounders, powerful in all aspects, like Aizen.
Shirayuki Uehara is on this path.
Others only have one special skill, he’s going to train eighteen different skills, mastering them all, without a single weakness.
So, Shirayuki Uehara’s plan for the future was very simple: to take more special missions, to farm more proficiency.
With enough time, he’ll naturally become invincible.
Just then, Shirayuki Uehara heard a knock at the door.