Isshin Shiba's opponent was Schrift 'D', Askin.
They were fighting in a relatively open area.
This area was covered by a green, circular zone. This was the poison pool Askin had released.
"Hey, hey! It looks like you're using some kind of cheating item!"
Askin, The Deathdealing, saw Isshin Shiba take out a syringe and inject some unknown liquid into his arm.
"Your ability is just too dangerous. If I didn't use this, I wouldn't even be able to move."
Isshin Shiba grinned.
The Professor had used Reigai puppets to get intel on the Wandenreich in advance.
He even knew the abilities of many of the strong Sternritter.
Because of that, they made some preparations for certain tricky abilities.
'The Deathdealing' ability allowed Askin to designate a specific substance as lethal.
By designating Reishi as the lethal substance, the enemy would get 'Reishi poisoning'.
While it wouldn't kill them directly, they would be paralyzed and unable to move.
The drug he just injected was developed by the Technology Development Bureau specifically for 'The Deathdealing'.
"The immunity drug will last for 3 to 5 minutes..."
Isshin estimated the time. "I have to go all out. Dragging this on will be bad for me."
"You're completely unaffected by the poison pool... How strange. Why do the Shinigami know so much about my ability?"
Askin (The Deathdealing) raised an eyebrow. "Could it be that Sōken Ishida betrayed us?"
He had never shown his ability in front of Shinigami before.
But the Shinigami knew it well. It made him suspect Sōken Ishida, who went to the World of the Living.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Spiritual Pressure surged in Isshin's body. His Zanpakutō lit up, and a burning Getsuga swallowed Askin.
A moment later, the fire faded. Askin was charred black, but he wasn't dead.
He could adapt to his opponent's Spiritual Pressure and become immune.
"Is that your strongest move?" Askin smiled faintly.
"That level isn't enough to be lethal. In fact, because of that attack, you can't kill me anymore."
No matter what move Isshin used next, it would require Spiritual Pressure. And he had already adapted to Isshin's Spiritual Pressure.
"I really hate fighting opponents like you..."
Isshin sighed. If he could, he really wanted to switch opponents.
But this was a battlefield. A captain-level fighter had to stall Askin (The Deathdealing).
"Since you know my ability so well, you must also know I can change the 'lethal substance', right?"
"So... how will you counter this!"
Askin bit his palm and began to lick his own blood.
His blood instantly turned into the 'lethal substance'!
The more blood in your body, the worse the poison!
"Of course I was prepared for that."
"Before I came, my blood was replaced with another substance that can temporarily act as blood."
"Want to guess what it is?" Isshin smiled.
"You really prepared thoroughly..." Askin spread his hands, looking helpless. "How am I supposed to guess that..."
"However, that drug you just injected seems to be wearing off."
"The effect really lasts that short a time?"
Askin noticed that although the lethal blood was useless, Isshin was starting to be affected by 'Reishi poisoning' again.
"Well, Lieutenant Mayuri never saw your ability in person..."
"Being able to develop an immunity drug like this is already amazing," Isshin said, frustrated.
Mayuri had developed the drug based only on Katori Sora's description.
But it didn't last long. When it wore off, Isshin would be a lamb for the slaughter.
Askin attacked Isshin with poison balls.
Isshin's movements were much slower. He was clearly affected by the 'Reishi poisoning'.
"But you don't seem worried at all!"
"Because I've already stalled for long enough."
Isshin smiled. He had sensed that his Professor's opponent's Spiritual Pressure had vanished.
"So you were waiting for backup..."
Askin turned his head, and a black blade filled his vision.
He sensed a death threat and quickly jumped away.
Squelch—
But the black blade was too fast. His abdomen was still cut open.
"So fast!"
Askin's expression changed.
The next moment, a purple sphere enveloped the area, including Sora and Isshin.
Askin had already entered his Vollständig state.
Complex molecular structures appeared all over his body.
A star-cross halo made of molecular structures was above his head.
Overlapping, molecular-bond-shaped wings were on his shoulders.
And tiny, highly toxic Reishi particles floated in neat rows around his arms.
Vollständig: Hasshein!
The wound on Askin's abdomen healed quickly, returning to normal.
After entering his Vollständig, he gained amazing recovery. As long as it wasn't a fatal wound, he could heal instantly.
"I couldn't kill him in one hit. This is going to take some work."
Sora looked disappointed.
Askin's ability was one of the most durable, even more so in his Vollständig.
He could adapt to the opponent's Spiritual Pressure even faster and become immune.
However, Sora's ability was the perfect counter.
Hollow power is poison to Quincy.
Even Askin, who controlled lethal doses, couldn't become fully immune to Hollow Spiritual Pressure.
And Sora just happened to have mastered Hollowfication.
The next moment, a white mask formed on Sora's face, and his Spiritual Pressure surged.
"Hey, hey, hey— How do you have Hollow powers!"
Askin felt that terrifying Hollow Spiritual Pressure.
His face changed, and he could no longer keep his casual attitude.
"Rule-based abilities are strong. But if you meet an opponent who counters you, there's not much you can do."
Askin heard the voice come from behind him.
He looked down. The black blade had already passed through his heart, sticking out of his chest.
He couldn't become immune to the Hollow Spiritual Pressure. His heart was instantly torn to pieces by the surging power.
Squelch—
When the black blade was pulled out, it took all of Askin's strength.
He spit up blood and collapsed.
"So... fast... cough, cough..."
At that moment, the Spiritual Pressure and lethal toxins inside the purple sphere rose rapidly.
Isshin Shiba couldn't stand and fell to the ground.
"A Shinigami with Hollow powers... a deadly combination... But... when I die... the power of the Gift Ball Deluxe... increases..."
Askin, The Deathdealing, took his last breath.
While he was alive, he kept the lethal toxins in the purple sphere held back to avoid harming himself.
When he died, that restraint would be released.
The lethal toxins erupted.
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