I Wouldn't Like To Lose To My Student

Although Saikyō's Hadō was impressive, Kisuke Urahara, with his vast experience, quickly regained his composure and responded instantly.

"The proud son of heaven, the iron fortress, the dragon's walk, the lion's roar, the tiger's roar, the wolf's howl, cut off the world before it collapses!"

"Bakudō #81: Dankū (Splitting Void)!"

Without any dramatic incantation, just the calm recitation of the Bakudō's name, Kisuke activated the high-level barrier technique. There wasn't even a movement from Kisuke, and yet, the moment the words left his lips, a massive, transparent barrier materialized before him, like a wall dividing heaven and earth.

Saikyō's fierce wind blades struck the barrier head-on. As the fiery explosion touched the shield, a deafening blast echoed, and the transparent barrier trembled under the surging wind and flame. But despite the intense pressure, the scene Saikyō anticipated did not unfold.

After a brief struggle, the wind blades dissipated, and the storm's offense was effortlessly nullified. The confrontation ended in Kisuke Urahara's complete victory!

"Ah, still not enough in the end," Saikyō sighed, somewhat disheartened.

He had hoped that his enhanced abilities would pose a threat to Kisuke, but that hope was dashed. Although this result was expected, Saikyō couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment.

"Saikyō, you should be proud. You pushed me enough that I had to use Dankū—and without even skipping the full incantation," Kisuke said with a playful tone, spreading his hands as if in defeat.

Despite his light-hearted demeanor, Kisuke wasn't entirely pleased. As a Shinigami with the strength of a Captain, being forced to this point by Saikyō left him feeling slightly unsettled. If Yoruichi heard about this, he'd never hear the end of it.

"Mr. Urahara, you don't need to console me. My strength is still far behind," Saikyō said, quickly recovering from his disappointment. Though the result was less than ideal, the duel allowed him to better understand the gap between himself and a Captain-level Shinigami, giving him a clear goal to pursue.

"But even if you combine three different elemental attributes, should Kūkamon be that powerful?" Kisuke asked, clearly curious. The spell's number places it among lower-ranked Hadō techniques. No matter how skilled the caster is, Kūkamon's strength should have limits.

"The power you displayed far exceeded anything I've seen!"

"Mr. Urahara, I'm not really sure. Maybe it's due to the high concentration of spirit particles here," Saikyō feigned innocence, avoiding revealing the secret of his unique talent.

"Is that so? Perhaps," Kisuke replied, though he wasn't fooled. Still, he had no intention of exposing Saikyō's bluff and smoothly changed the topic.

"Alright, we've covered Kidō. Now, it's time to focus on swordsmanship," Kisuke said, grabbing a wooden tachi from a nearby rack. "Though I'm not particularly skilled in swordsmanship, I think I can give you a few pointers."

"Mr. Urahara, using a simple wooden sword—don't you think that's a bit disrespectful?" Saikyō tightened his grip on his own sword, his eyes filled with fierce determination.

Swordsmanship, or Zanjutsu, is the foundation of a Shinigami's combat ability, and the Zanpakutō is the ultimate manifestation of a Shinigami's power. In the original timeline, Aizen demonstrated this by cutting down Captain-level Shinigami and members of the Visored without even releasing his Zanpakutō, showcasing the undeniable importance of skill in slashing.

"Saikyō, did you forget what I said earlier? In a battle between Shinigami, it's fundamentally a contest of Reiatsu. Whether it's a Zanpakutō or a wooden sword, the outcome won't change," Kisuke said, teasingly whistling, hoping to knock Saikyō's confidence a bit further.

"Ah, using mind games, huh? I see what you're doing, Mr. Urahara," Saikyō thought, recognizing the taunt. He knew that the gap in their spiritual pressure made the result inevitable. But Saikyō wasn't someone who gave up easily. The greater the challenge, the more determined he became to overcome it.

Flash!

Without wasting time, Saikyō raised his sword and slashed forward. His blade crackled with arcs of lightning, flames curled within, and a fierce wind wrapped around the edges. The strike was a vibrant blend of three elemental forces, cutting through the air at incredible speed, directly aiming for Kisuke.

"Another attribute..."

As the three-colored slash approached, the playful smile on Kisuke's face vanished. He stopped holding back and released his Reiatsu, swinging the wooden sword with full force.

Clang—

The two strikes collided, resulting in a burst of bright sparks. Fire, lightning, and wind surged around the impact point, creating a stunning visual effect.

"Ugh…"

Kisuke hadn't expected the force of the strike. He grunted as he was pushed back a few steps, his feet dragging against the ground, leaving visible marks. Although he quickly regained his balance, the fact remained—he had taken some damage in that exchange.

"Well, Mr. Urahara, who said it wouldn't make a difference? I must have heard wrong," Saikyō grinned triumphantly, enjoying the sight of Kisuke's slightly shaken expression. Watching Kisuke's surprise was far more rewarding than any verbal jab.

"Alright, Saikyō, I admit I was wrong. It seems I won't be able to brag in front of you anymore," Kisuke said, though his calm demeanor masked the storm brewing in his mind.

Kidō was one thing, but for Saikyō's swordsmanship to be this powerful? He had seriously underestimated him.

In just half a month of special training, Saikyō had made remarkable progress—growth that would have been shocking even if fueled by a rocket!

"Mr. Urahara, I know you're holding back, but I'll keep working hard. One day, I'll surpass you!" Saikyō vowed with determination. He aimed to become stronger than his mentor—a classic case of the student surpassing the master.

"Saikyō, I believe you will. One day in the future, you'll do it."

Kisuke's praise was genuine. After this sparring session, his respect for Saikyō grew even deeper.