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Name: Ishikawa
Race: Human
Level: Second Stage
Physique: Top (580016 / 1000000)
Reiatsu: Top (519029 / 1000000)
Hakuda: High Level (66540 / 100000)
Shunpo: Top (13886 / 1000000)
Zanjutsu: High Level (54903 / 100000)
Zanpakuto: High Level (84362 / 100000)
...
Current Experience: 175944.
Walking through the Fourth Division Barracks, Ishikawa looked at the system interface, somewhat hesitant about how to allocate his points.
If considering the long-term, Physique would undoubtedly be the most suitable attribute to invest experience in, because as long as his Physique was high enough, there would be no bottleneck for Ishikawa.
Reiatsu, on the other hand, could be completely enhanced through Reiatsu Imprint.
But what Ishikawa needed at the moment was not growth potential, but pure strength!
Enhanced Physique could increase the upper limit of Ishikawa's spiritual body, affecting strength, defense, recovery...
But Reiatsu was more comprehensive than Physique, whether in terms of enhancing strength, defense, or increasing the lethality of Zankensoki.
And most importantly...
Allocating Physique points at critical moments could truly save his life.
Ishikawa's current regeneration ability was already on par with a Hollow's super-fast regeneration.
But just like a Hollow, Ishikawa's regeneration ability also couldn't repair vital parts. To quickly heal vital parts, especially critical spiritual body acupoints like Soul Binding, he could only rely on Physique point allocation to recover.
Because of this, Ishikawa always had the habit of reserving experience points and then allocating them during battle.
This time was no exception; Ishikawa planned to reserve sixty thousand experience points, just in case.
115944?
Ishikawa pondered for a moment, then looked at Itto Kaso, which had just appeared in Hado, and directly added 15944 to it.
[Hado No. 96: Itto Kaso] High Level (4394 / 100000)
The investment of nearly sixteen thousand experience points allowed Ishikawa's mastery of Itto Kaso to directly skip activation, beginner, Low Level, and even intermediate, reaching the High Level stage.
As long as the Kido mastered reached this level, its power was already formidable enough.
Moreover, the knowledge instilled in his mind was sufficient for Ishikawa to understand the rules of incantation construction, thereby achieving the ability to cast without chanting.
Although the power after abandoning the chant was still not as strong as a full chant, in a battle where every second counted, there would rarely be an opportunity for a complete chant.
Counting the sixty thousand reserved, there were exactly 160,000 experience points left.
Ishikawa looked at this value, his expression somewhat hesitant.
He was wondering whether to use 100,000 of these 160,000 to improve his strength, or... to gamble all 160,000 on Unohana Retsu, in exchange for more experience points.
"Hey!"
A call came, and Ishikawa looked up.
He saw Zaraki standing outside the Comprehensive Relief Station, holding a large wooden wine barrel in his hand. Seeing Ishikawa's gaze, he grinned: "I'm treating you to a drink!"
"..."
Ishikawa's steps into the Comprehensive Relief Station paused, and he almost retreated back into the Fourth Division Barracks.
"Little Woodwood... Little Woodwood."
Yachiru poked her head out from behind Zaraki, a happy smile on her flushed little face: "We've come to play with you!!"
Ishikawa rolled his eyes at her words. You're not here to play with me, you're here to play me.
He glanced at the large wine barrel Zaraki was carrying, and the corner of Ishikawa's mouth twitched slightly.
Did this guy actually bother to come back?
Ever since the fight with the Espada in Rukongai last time, this bastard had been staying at Ishikawa's Everything Store, refusing to leave no matter who came looking for him.
After several attempts to persuade him, Ishikawa finally gave up on the idea of making him leave.
"To treat you to a drink, I rushed here from Rukongai overnight!"
Zaraki patted the wine barrel: "I got this from the shop you drank at yesterday. You must really like to drink it."
By the end of his sentence, Zaraki's face was full of anticipation.
Late at night, the moment Ishikawa released his Reiatsu, he felt a familiar aura from it.
It was the feeling Ishikawa had given him when they first met.
Crazy and belligerent!
He had actually sparred with Ishikawa many times. Although fighting the usual Ishikawa also made him feel very happy, the usual Ishikawa completely lacked the pure fighting spirit he had encountered the first time.
And yesterday...
He once again felt that pure fighting spirit in Ishikawa's Reiatsu.
Without any hesitation, Zaraki directly grabbed his sword and rushed towards Seireitei.
Unfortunately...
Soon after, Ishikawa's aura disappeared.
Without a target to track, Zaraki, under Yachiru's command, ran from late night until morning before returning to Seireitei.
The first thing he did upon returning was to ask Ikkaku and Kiyone about what had happened last night.
Because the aura Ishikawa had unleashed late last night was too terrifying, the events of the incident had already spread throughout Seireitei by early morning.
Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika naturally couldn't have been unaware.
When he heard from the two of them about Ishikawa getting drunk and challenging Unohana Retsu, the excitement in Zaraki's heart almost reached its peak.
Indeed, this guy really suited his taste!
After all...
Unohana Retsu had always been a target he wanted to challenge as well.
"Before fighting her, let's have a fight first."
Zaraki's face was filled with fanatical fighting intent: "Then, how about the winner goes to challenge her?"
"Only a ghost would fight you."
Ishikawa rolled his eyes in annoyance. Fighting Unohana Retsu would bring him great benefits.
Fighting this guy...
What good would that do?
"Didn't you not find her yesterday?"
Zaraki didn't give up, but instead earnestly persuaded: "How uncomfortable is it to hold it in without venting? You can vent it on me first, and I even brought you wine."
...Ishikawa.
Why did that sound so awkward?
"Come on, drink first, then fight after drinking!"
"I don't mind you two fighting, but can you not fight here?"
Before Ishikawa could reply, an incredibly gentle voice suddenly entered both Ishikawa's and Zaraki's ears.
Following the sound, they saw Unohana Retsu, accompanied by Kotetsu Isane, standing at the entrance of the Comprehensive Relief Station, looking at the two of them with a gentle expression. However, her eyes had become somewhat narrowed, causing Ishikawa and Zaraki to almost instinctively tense up.
"Moreover, now is not the time for you two to fight."
Unohana Retsu looked deeply at the two of them. After her words fell, her narrowed eyes gradually receded, and her aura at that moment also returned to its original dignified and gentle state, as if these words were also spoken to herself.
"However, this is understandable, after all, neither of you attended yesterday's Captains' meeting."
"Uh~"
Ishikawa paused slightly, remembering what Ogido Harunobu had said earlier.
(You don't need to worry, Captain Unohana, and the other Captains, all went to the Head Squad for a meeting last night. It's said to be about matters related to the Human World, and they haven't returned yet...)
Previously, Ishikawa's attention had been entirely on the events of yesterday, and he hadn't paid much heed.
Only after hearing Unohana Retsu's words did Ishikawa recall Ogido Harunobu's words.
Discussing matters related to the Human World?
Could it be...
"Arrancar attacked the Substitute Soul Reaper and others in the Human World."
Unohana Retsu slowly said: "However, the Arrancar that appeared this time were all incomplete individuals. The two Arrancar that appeared in the Human World were eliminated shortly after."
"But the appearance of incomplete Arrancar indicates that Aizen has already begun his actions. It won't be long before complete Arrancar appear."
Unohana Retsu paused, then looked up at Ishikawa and Zaraki: "Even the Espada you once fought might become even stronger with the help of a fully unsealed Hōgyoku."
Hearing this, Ishikawa frowned.
Meanwhile, Zaraki's eyes lit up with excitement: "So, are we going to Hueco Mundo now?"
"Shut up!"
Ishikawa glared at Zaraki in annoyance, then smiled at Unohana Retsu: "Captain Unohana, please continue..."
"Originally, according to our plan, we were to remain inactive before Aizen began his actions, after all, the incident with Central 46 and the defection of three Captains had already severely weakened the Gotei 13."
"But the Arrancar appeared too quickly."
Unohana Retsu glanced at Zaraki and shook her head: "Regarding what Zaraki said about going to Hueco Mundo, Captain Komamura also brought it up in yesterday's meeting, but Commander Yamamoto rejected it."
"Because rushing into enemy territory can easily lead to falling into traps and becoming trapped in Hueco Mundo. The current Gotei 13 must avoid this."
"Most importantly..."
"Even if we all went to Hueco Mundo, we might not encounter Aizen. He might even trap us in Hueco Mundo while we're there, and then go to the Human World to achieve his goals."
As Unohana Retsu said this, a strange glint flashed in her eyes: "The chief Librarian of the Great Spirit Book Gallery, Sage Amakado, has been searching for traces of Aizen's past data inquiries these past few days. At that time, Aizen looked through information about the 'Royal Key'... which is the key to the Soul King Palace."
So it was true?
Ishikawa wasn't surprised by Nayura's search for Aizen's traces, as Nayura had already told Ishikawa her thoughts earlier.
The reason she thought of searching for Aizen was because when Aizen disguised Central 46, he had forbidden her, the chief Librarian, from entering the Great Spirit Book Gallery, as if he didn't want her to discover anything.
And that was indeed the case!
"Therefore, we absolutely cannot rashly shift the battlefield to Hueco Mundo, otherwise, if Aizen achieves his goal, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Royal Key!
Ishikawa's brows furrowed tighter.
Although the Royal Key was a key, it was also a fusion that possessed immortal properties.
Aizen had already fused with the Hōgyoku; if he were to fuse with the Royal Key as well, the combination of the two might truly make him an immortal and indestructible existence.
Ishikawa didn't particularly understand the Royal Key.
But he could confirm that the Royal Key was a manifestation of the Soul King's power.
Because according to the information in his memory, the Royal Guard in the Soul King Palace... also known as the Zero Squad, had their members' bones restructured by the Soul King's power, and these restructured bones were precisely the key to entering the Soul King Palace—the Royal Key.
After the Zero Squad members' spiritual bodies were remade with the Soul King's power, as long as the Soul King remained, they were immortal and indestructible beings. Even if killed, all members could revive by calling out their names to regain power, though it would take a long time for their strength to fully recover.
After Aizen fused with the Hōgyoku, he already possessed immortality, so the immortality of the Royal Key wasn't what he cared about.
But...
The Royal Key was a material manifestation of the Soul King's power!
And the Hōgyoku~
Ishikawa also hadn't studied the composition of the Hōgyoku, nor had he even seen it.
But if there were no surprises, the Hōgyoku, to some extent, should also be considered a material manifestation of the Soul King's power.
If these two substances were combined, and if he could then pass the Zero Squad, Aizen might truly be able to achieve his goal of replacing the Soul King in the Soul King Palace... and a Soul King who could move freely, truly filling the vacant throne of heaven...
As for the Gotei 13...
Even if they wanted to help, they simply couldn't get to the Soul King Palace.
From this perspective, the battlefield definitely couldn't be chosen in Hueco Mundo.
After centuries of Aizen's arrangements, it wouldn't be difficult to trap the Captains who went to Hueco Mundo for a period of time. Ishikawa himself had once been trapped in Hueco Mundo, and it was Urahara Kisuke who eventually rescued him.
"But the appearance of Arrancar in the Human World cannot be ignored."
Unohana Retsu said gravely: "Even if it might be a conspiracy to disperse the Gotei 13's forces, Soul Society must send people to guard the Human World to prevent those artificially created Arrancar from causing destruction."
"Moreover, to obtain the Royal Key, Aizen will inevitably target the Human World, so Commander Yamamoto has decided to place the decisive battle with Aizen in the Human World!"
"But before that, the Gotei 13 cannot all go to the Human World at once, to prevent Aizen from taking the opportunity to invade Soul Society. Therefore, Commander Yamamoto plans to dispatch a small squad to first guard the Human World."
Unohana Retsu paused, then continued: "These are the main contents of yesterday's meeting."
"Regarding the selection of the squad members, it's still ongoing. When complete Arrancar appear in the Human World, this squad will first engage them, and the Gotei 13 will provide support as the situation dictates."
Provide support as the situation dictates?
Ishikawa's gaze immediately became somewhat strange. This phrase basically meant there might be no support.
At least until it's confirmed that Hueco Mundo has emptied out...
The Gotei 13 will not go all out, to prevent their main base from being ambushed.
Whoever goes will be unlucky!
This thought immediately flashed through Ishikawa's mind, accompanied by a bad premonition.
"And Ishikawa, who has the most experience in confronting Arrancar and the so-called 'Espada'..."
"Stop!!"
Even though it was Unohana Retsu speaking, Ishikawa still waved his hand and interrupted: "I'm just a temporary worker. Isn't it too much to ask me to risk my life?"
"Hehe, Ishikawa doesn't want to go?"
Unohana Retsu smiled slightly: "Don't worry, this proposal was made by Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri, but Commander Yamamoto rejected it." With that, she looked deeply at Ishikawa: "Commander Yamamoto's reason for rejecting it is... you need to stay in Soul Society."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri~!
That bastard.
Ishikawa realized that every scientist in Soul Society seemed to have a grudge against him.
"I can do it, I'll go!!"
Unlike Ishikawa, Zaraki's eyes lit up.
Actually, he had barely been listening to what Unohana Retsu was saying... he only knew that going to the Human World meant he could encounter those Espada again.
That alone was enough for him!
—MDZZ.
Ishikawa glanced at Zaraki, cursing in his heart, but at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Let whoever wants to go, as long as it's not him.
Ishikawa had just been considering...
Whether to unite with Central 46 to put pressure on Commander Yamamoto.
"As for Ishikawa's challenge to me, I might have to disappoint you."
Unohana Retsu changed the subject, carefully sized up Ishikawa, then shook her head slightly:
"Now is not a good time for a battle."
Battle!?
Ishikawa's eye twitched, and he chuckled awkwardly:
"Guidance... it was just guidance..."
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