However, Shiroha only felt his body lighten as he leaped into the air, soaring effortlessly.
"The feeling's not right..." Uehara Shiroha frowned as he moved using Tenjin Shunpō.
Just now, he had clearly used the Quincy's [Blut] technique.
[Blut Arterie] boosted his attack speed and acceleration, while [Blut Vene] greatly enhanced defense. But those two couldn't be used at the same time. That was a basic principle.
And yet... "Uncle Zangetsu" had just made his move.
This "Yhwach" was starting to lose his composure.
It seemed Shiroha's earlier taunt had gotten under the silver fox's skin.
White was as fast and fierce as a wildfire, while Zangetsu remained calm and steady like a seasoned veteran. Together, their teamwork was impressive.
Unfortunately for them, their opponent was Uehara Shiroha.
Their cooperation simply wasn't enough.
After all, Ichigo still had too much of his power sealed away, and his strength fluctuated wildly. One moment up, the next down.
But even if Ichigo unleashed his full power, he still wouldn't be able to defeat Shiroha.
The reason was simple—Ichigo's control over his strength was far too shallow.
After their attack, the confident grin on White's face froze. Even the Hollow mask covering him showed a fine crack.
He was the one who attacked first… yet he was the one who got hurt. How was that even fair?
He'd been careful, only unleashing his full strength at the very last moment.
In the past, he never would've held back like that.
But caution didn't make any difference here.
The problem was the opponent's movements were downright abnormal.
White had never seen footwork like that—able to withstand an attack, then instantly counter from behind.
What kind of speed did it take to pull that off?
On the surface, all he could do was defend against this freakish speed.
But White knew one thing. If he wanted to win, he had to gamble. He needed to land a fatal blow.
Even if it was a desperate move, he had to take that one chance. There wouldn't be another.
Meanwhile, the spectators finally noticed that Ichigo's Reiatsu had become overwhelmingly heavy and terrifying.
There was no need for proof. Anyone using spiritual perception could feel it. This Reiatsu was strong… and inhumanly vicious.
That kind of bloodthirsty, violent killing intent—they were all familiar with it.
Only Hollows gave off that kind of presence.
Yet even with this monstrous power, Ichigo was nearly crushed by Shiroha.
Everyone watching knew it—Shiroha had been holding back. If this were a fight to the death, Ichigo might already be gone.
Sure, Ichigo's potential was undeniable. After becoming a Hollow, he could grow even stronger.
But what was truly frightening was Uehara Shiroha.
No matter how far Ichigo's hollowfication pushed him, Shiroha stayed calm. He faced it head-on. And he crushed it—effortlessly.
That kind of overwhelming strength was simply beyond comprehension.
At that moment, White unleashed his ultimate move.
The black Hollow Cero, destructive enough to rip through anything, merged with the Bankai Tensa Zangetsu in his hand. The result was an unimaginably terrifying slash.
Tensa Zangetsu itself was forged from ultra-high-density Reiatsu, able to fire powerful slashes at lightning speed.
Now it fused with a Hollow's Cero.
The combination… was devastating.
If Ichigo had used this move when fighting Grimmjow, his opponent would've been obliterated on the spot. The black crescent-shaped slash roared out like a tidal wave of destruction, tearing through everything and blotting out the sky and earth.
The entire underground base plunged into darkness and started shaking violently.
The powerful barriers set up by Hachigen Ushōda were pierced, layer by layer, and teetered on the verge of collapse.
A single slash… and it felt like the world was ending.
The ground split apart, massive, bottomless ravines opening up out of nowhere.
The Visored were stunned. Without hesitation, they retreated, flying back at top speed.
As they withdrew, Orihime and Hachigen hastily rebuilt the barriers, desperately trying to contain the onslaught of black Reiatsu.
At the same time, they couldn't help but worry about Shiroha.
He hadn't moved. From beginning to end, he stood there with the air of a victor. Calm. Unshaken.
And now, he was planning to block this attack head-on.
But to stand there and take a hit like that… was that even possible?
As the terrifying black slash came crashing in like a dark tsunami, Shiroha merely raised his hand and gave a casual wave.
In an instant, his Reiatsu exploded outward.
A storm of power erupted, dispersing the incoming slash and clearing away the black Reiatsu.
Around him, an absolute safe zone formed. Like the eye of a hurricane—dead calm at the center, even as chaos raged around it.
Seeing this, White wanted nothing more than to bail.
He suddenly understood Ichigo's earlier fear.
For once, White agreed—this wasn't cowardice. It was common sense.
If your strongest attack couldn't even scratch the guy… and he hadn't even moved?
It was like an ant trying to knock over a mountain.
This wasn't about winning or losing anymore.
They weren't even in the same league.
"Pure Reiatsu can actually do that? That's impossible!" Shinji's voice trembled. The other Visored stood in stunned silence.
In their world, when facing an attack like that, you needed a Zanpakutō to block it. That was just how it worked.
A Shinigami without a sword was completely different from one with a Zanpakutō.
And yet, Shiroha hadn't even drawn a blade. He'd simply released his Reiatsu… and wiped out the slash.
It made no sense.
It defied every law of combat they understood.
On the battlefield, White voiced the question they were all thinking. "How did you do it?"
As far as White knew, even at the same level, a Shinigami's defense was weaker than a Quincy's or a Hollow's.
But Shiroha had broken that rule.
He'd used his body to take on White's attack—an attack even an Arrancar's hierro or a Quincy's activated Blut couldn't withstand.
And Shiroha was standing there, completely unscathed.
How?
It wasn't just White who wanted an answer. Uncle Zangetsu, Ichigo, and the surrounding Visored were all holding their breath, waiting.
Shiroha answered calmly, "It's simple. Your understanding of Zanpakutō and Reiatsu is far too shallow. And your Zanpakutō… and your Reiatsu… are far too weak."
He had already reached a state where man and sword were one.
His Reiatsu carried the power of Shunkyō, allowing him to deflect all the black flashes and slashing waves before they even reached him.
From the outside, it looked like White's attack was swallowing him whole.
But in reality, none of it ever touched his body.
Even if it had, it wouldn't have mattered.
The universal barrier was more than enough to block it.
In terms of defense, Shinigami Reiatsu, Quincy Blut, and Hollow hierro were all beneath the surface knowledge of the universal barrier.
As for Reiatsu itself… it could change the world. It could even create one.
But the way Shinigami, Quincy, and Hollow used Reiatsu was far too basic.
Uehara Shiroha had combined countless skills and abilities, pushing them all to their absolute limits.
That was how he could fully maximize the use of Reiatsu.
And with that alone, he was able to suppress Ichigo—even when Ichigo was drawing on the power of the Soul King's backup.
After drawing out Ichigo's true potential, Shiroha didn't waste any more time.
He calmly gripped Shunkyō in his right hand and took a single step forward.
"I see you." The moment Shiroha moved, White tensed up. Clutching Zangetsu tightly, he exploded with Reiatsu, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap.
Right now, White felt stronger than ever.
The seals that had been binding him were starting to loosen.
This time… it was going to work!
Then he hit the ground, flat on his back.
"Nope." Shiroha slowly sheathed his sword.
To everyone watching, it looked like he hadn't even moved.
White had managed to catch a glimpse of his movement—but what he saw wasn't Shiroha's attack. It was his return.
By the time White realized it, he was already down.
As Shiroha spoke, a faint black shadow flickered behind Ichigo. No one noticed it—no one except Shiroha. Not even Ichigo himself was aware.
The moment that shadow appeared, time and space seemed to stutter. The world felt like it froze for an instant.
That was the power of the Quincy inside Ichigo's inner world.
The purest Quincy power—the source of all Quincy.
It carried the inheritance of Masaki Kurosaki's pure-blooded Quincy lineage, as well as the fragmented soul of Yhwach.
This power was immense. It could control both blood and shadows. It was the power of a god.
Just moments ago, "Uncle Zangetsu" had even loosened his suppression on White, in order to protect Ichigo.
But in the face of Shiroha's overwhelming power, it didn't matter.
Shiroha pinned them down instantly.
The combined might of the Mind Gem and Shunkyō Reiatsu snuffed out the flames of the Quincy King like they were nothing.
Nobody else even understood what had just happened.
They didn't sense the clash. They didn't grasp the level of power being thrown around.
All they knew was that Ichigo had been defeated.
The Visored could only stare. As far as they saw it, Shiroha hadn't used any fancy techniques. But his Zanpakutō had clearly reached an inhuman level.
The skills and mastery contained in his movements were something no ordinary Shinigami captain could ever reach in their entire lives.
Shiroha wielded that level of mastery with ease, integrating it into every casual motion.
It was flawless. Completely natural. As if it was just the way things were.
This was strength and skill fused into one—a realm they couldn't even dream about.
In Shiroha's hands, a Zanpakutō became an overwhelming force of oppression. Even standing at a distance, they felt crushed by it.
And even if Shiroha relied on nothing but his Zanpakutō, he could wipe out a captain's Bankai… and probably take down dozens of Shikai without breaking a sweat.
At that moment, Ichigo came to. His face was pale as he fell to his knees.
His whole body ached. His Reiatsu, physical stamina, and mental strength were completely drained. He felt like he'd aged thirty years in an instant.
It was like he'd overdrafted his life energy—and now the bill was due.
The emptiness hit him hard, all at once. It was overwhelming.
On the outside, his injuries didn't look serious.
But in reality… they were.
Shiroha's strike had first shattered the Hollow mask and armor on Ichigo's body.
Then the Substitute Shinigami Badge—the very symbol of his Shinigami powers—cracked.
Even the Blut Vene barrier "Uncle Zangetsu" had formed was pierced straight through.
That one sword strike broke through all three of Ichigo's powers—Hollow, Shinigami, and Quincy.
And when those three powers were damaged at once, it drained his strength on every level: body, soul, and mind.
The only reason Ichigo was still conscious was because Shiroha had held back.
Off to the side, Orihime finally snapped out of it. She rushed forward, summoning the Shun Shun Rikka for emergency healing.
But something was wrong.
Her power wasn't working.
The residual Reiatsu clinging to Ichigo's wound was blocking her ability completely.
Orihime hadn't fully developed her Shun Shun Rikka yet. Back when she faced Ulquiorra, even his leftover Reiatsu had messed with her powers.
Now, against Shiroha, whose Reiatsu was at the upper limits of a Shinigami… it was hopeless.
Her expression turned desperate.
Seeing this, Shiroha casually waved his hand, retrieving the leftover Reiatsu from Ichigo's wounds.
"You've got the same problem as Ichigo," he said flatly. "Your understanding and control of your power are immature. Your mind, body, and skill aren't in sync. Your fundamentals are weak."
In truth, the entire plot of Bleach was the story of Ichigo learning to master his power.
Aizen's greatest creation wasn't the Hōgyoku—it was Ichigo himself.
It wasn't until the very end that Ichigo completed his true Bankai and fully mastered his powers.
And as far as Shiroha was concerned, the Visored weren't qualified to teach him.
Instead of endless lectures on technique, it was better to show him his own weakness with pure strength.
Beat the lesson into him.
That way, Ichigo could grow. Find enlightenment. Become a proper tool… and a capable front-line fighter.
There was something fulfilling about training the next generation with the "Iron Fist of Love."
Meanwhile, White had been beaten back into Ichigo's inner world.
His face twisted in fury and frustration. But all of it was useless.
Just now, "Uncle Zangetsu" had loosened some of his seals for Ichigo's safety.
Normally, the power Ichigo used as a Hollow or a Shinigami was just a fraction of what he had.
The rest was sealed by the Quincy power within him.
But faced with Shiroha, who was too strong and too unpredictable, "Uncle Zangetsu" had stepped in.
He used Quincy power to assist Ichigo, loosening the seals and letting more of his Hollow and Shinigami strength pour out.
For that moment, White had more power than usual.
And yet… he'd still been crushed.
Cleanly.
It was clear now—they weren't even on the same level.
Even "Uncle Zangetsu," in his Yhwach form, was stunned.
He stared at the closing shadow rift in the air and muttered to himself.
"One strike. He broke through the triple defenses and closed the shadow channel..."
"This isn't just space manipulation."
"He's winning with his first sword draw."
"How terrifying…"
"So…" Ichigo's voice was quiet as he finally spoke. "What exactly are you trying to teach me?"
His expression was innocent. Honest.
He wasn't being sarcastic. He wasn't trying to make a joke.
He genuinely didn't understand.
And he was nervous, worried he'd disappointed Shiroha somehow.
Orihime watched Shiroha too, hopeful.
She wanted Ichigo to control his Hollow power even more than Ichigo himself did.
More than anything, she didn't want to see him turn into a monster.
She'd already experienced that helplessness with her brother once.
She wasn't going through it again.
Nearby, the Visored whispered among themselves. They glanced at Ichigo and Orihime with pity.
"They're still so pure," one of them muttered. "So innocent… stupid, really."
"I've always thought that kid wasn't too bright."
"Come on, it's obvious! He just wants to beat you up!"
"Little Strawberry, you blockhead!"
"Maybe he's just inexperienced?"
"No, this isn't inexperience," another said, shaking their head. "This is pure stupidity."
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Marvel : The God Of Punishment System
I Am Raditz
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