Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero.

Rumor has it that the Zero Division, with its small number of members, surpasses the entire Gotei 13 in combat strength.

She had thought it was an exaggeration, but now, she was personally facing Yanagawa, who was fighting with only "clumsy and unskilled" skills.

Only then did she truly feel the gap that stemmed from the level of life itself.

At the edge of the training ground, there was Ōmaeda, who had just undergone "hellish training" and was slumped on a bench like a dead dog.

At this moment, he had long forgotten his fatigue and pain. He stared wide-eyed, his mouth agape as if he could fit an egg in it, blankly watching the two figures clashing and exchanging blows at high speed in the arena.

What did he see? Yanagawa, who was famous for his demonic arts, was actually engaged in close-quarters combat with his captain, Soi Fon, who was known for his strictness and terror?

And...it seems they're not at a disadvantage at all?

Although Yanagawa's hand-to-hand combat movements showed obvious signs of rustiness, his power and speed were undeniable!

My God, one punch and you can hear the air being pierced even from this distance! His dodges are so fast they almost leave afterimages! Is this even human? No, is this even Death?

Ōmaeda felt that his worldview had been shaken.

He had always thought that Liuchuan's strength lay in his mysterious and uncanny methods of fighting ghosts, and that close combat was his weakness.

But now... this is called a weakness? With this kind of physical fitness, he could probably dismantle the team barracks with his bare hands, right?

No wonder those old guys in Room 46 were both wary and helpless towards this guy... He's practically a human monster!

Chapter 129 Melee Mage

Inside the venue, Liuchuan was completely immersed in a peculiar experience.

He could clearly "sense" the subtle power, the changing counterattacks, and the combat intuition ingrained in Soi Fon's every attack.

He rapidly "learned," imitated, and dismantled during the battle.

His body was like a highly sophisticated instrument, imprinting the techniques demonstrated by Soi Fon onto his mind, and then, in his own way, using that extraordinary body, he tried, practiced, and optimized them.

Although I am not yet able to master these techniques and form my own "white-hat style".

But he could feel that his control over his "body" and his understanding of "close combat" were improving at an astonishing rate.

At the same time, the idea of ​​"Kido fusion" that he had discussed with Soi Fon kept flashing through his mind, and some ideas about how to integrate specific Kido into Hakuda began to quietly emerge.

A few days later, several days of immersive research and high-intensity training quietly passed by in the heavily guarded training ground of the Second Division.

Liuchuan's terrifying ability to learn and adapt was once again on full display.

Although it will take time for him to develop a unique "hand-to-hand combat style," his understanding of power generation techniques, body control, and combat rhythm is now vastly different from what it used to be.

More importantly, it combines his own profound understanding of the essence of Kido and Spiritual Particles with his analysis of Soi Fon's combat data.

He gradually identified the direction with the most potential and that best suited the swift and powerful characteristics of "Hakuda" (a type of martial arts) within the "fusion" approach—the lightning attribute Kido.

On this day, the routine high-intensity sparring had just ended, and the echoes of the collision of spiritual particles and the shallow marks left on the ground still lingered in the training ground.

Soi Fon was slightly out of breath, sweat beading on her forehead, and she was wiping her arm with a white towel.

As Yanagawa stood still, a faint arc of electricity seemed to flash across his eyes, clearly indicating that he was thinking about something.

“Captain Soi Fon,” Yanagawa suddenly spoke, his voice calm, yet carrying a hint of the composure of a researcher who has discovered a critical path.

“I have a concrete idea about the fusion of Hakuda and Kido.”

Soi Fon paused slightly in her wiping motion, her curious gaze instantly focusing on Yanagawa, filled with undisguised focus and anticipation.

In the past few days, she has witnessed firsthand Liu Chuan's rapid progress in his hand-to-hand combat skills and was even more shocked by his superhuman physical foundation.

She knew very well that once this "genius of the ghost path" put forward a "concrete idea," it would be far from empty talk.

“Please speak,” Soi Fon replied.

"Based on my analysis and experimentation over the past few days, I believe that the most suitable style for close-quarters combat, speed, and explosive power is the lightning-attribute Kido."

Liu Chuan slowly said:

"My idea is to use highly concentrated, compressed lightning-attribute demonic spirit particles, with a specific frequency and structure, to evenly cover and penetrate the body surface and even the superficial muscles."

He raised one hand, palm up, fingers slightly clenched, as if grasping an invisible bolt of lightning.

"Its effects are threefold." Liu Chuan's explanation was clear, as if he were describing an experimental model.

"Firstly, it continuously stimulates and activates the body and nerve cells, significantly improving reaction speed, muscle contraction strength, and nerve signal transmission efficiency, thereby achieving a comprehensive improvement in basic speed and strength."

Secondly, it forms a high-energy lightning barrier on the body surface, which has both physical defense and energy deflection and ablation effects. Ordinary attacks will be ionized and deflected upon contact.

Thirdly, during an attack, the condensed lightning power can be unleashed with each punch and kick, causing ultra-high temperature electrolysis and instantaneous evaporation at the point of contact, resulting in destructive power far exceeding that of a simple physical strike.

He looked at Soi Fon and concluded, "Essentially, it's about creating a 'Lightning Activated Armor' that integrates offense and defense and can greatly enhance the user."

Soi Fon pondered deeply.

Although Yanagawa's description was brief, she instantly understood its feasibility and terrifying potential!

How can one so precisely control, compress, and use the raging lightning-attribute demonic power to activate their own body?

How incredibly precise must this control over spiritual particles be? But if successful, the resulting increase in combat power...

Before Soi Fon could think it through, Yanagawa had already begun the demonstration.

"This is just a preliminary concept; its specific effects and stability still need to be verified," Liu Chuan said, slowly closing his eyes.

The next instant, a powerful surge of spiritual pressure rose from Yanakawa's body.

"Sizzle sizzle—!"

The hissing sound of electricity, like the simultaneous flapping of wings of millions of birds, rang out in the training ground!

At first, it was barely audible, but in an instant, the sound amplified dramatically, becoming clear and dense!

Under Soi Fon's gaze, countless azure arcs of electricity began to appear on Yanagawa's body!

These electric arcs did not move randomly, but seemed to have a life and will, intertwining and spreading rapidly in an extremely delicate trajectory, covering Liuchuan's entire body in the blink of an eye!

Those azure arcs of electricity, like the most loyal guards, or like a second skin, adhered tightly and obediently to Liu Chuan's body, flowing slowly.

It exudes a heart-pounding feeling.

The electric current illuminated his calm face, creating a striking image.

"This...this is..." For the first time, an undisguised shock appeared on Soi Fon's usually icy face!

She knew, of course, that Liuchuan's level of Kido was unfathomable, but witnessing firsthand how he could control the wild and unruly lightning-attribute Kido to such an erudite and precise degree was truly remarkable.

It still exceeded her expectations! What unfathomable level of control over the essence of spiritual particles, the rules of lightning attributes, and one's own power is required?

What she found particularly incredible was that Liu Chuan's Shinigami armor remained completely intact despite being covered by such a high concentration and high activity of lightning, without even the slightest scorch mark!

This defies all logic! The only explanation is Yanagawa's control over the power of lightning.

It's so precise that it can perfectly distinguish between "its own clothes"! Soi Fon admits that she can't even come close to this level of control.

At this moment, Liu Chuan, who was completely enveloped in azure arcs of electricity, slowly opened his eyes.

Even in those calm eyes, tiny sparks of electricity seemed to flicker.

He moved his hands and feet slightly, and a series of crackling sounds immediately filled the air.

"It feels... very strange," Liu Chuan murmured to himself, his voice muffled by the crackling of electricity.

"My physical activity has been greatly stimulated, my nerve reaction speed has been significantly improved, and my spiritual energy flow is exceptionally smooth... Hmm, the consumption is slightly higher than expected, but it is still within my control at the moment."

He spoke calmly, as if evaluating a new tool, but Soi Fon could clearly sense that the aura emanating from Yanagawa at this moment was several times more dangerous than when they were simply sparring before!

Chapter 130: Side effect is clothes being torn off?

That was not only due to the increase in strength and speed, but also because of the destructive energy carried by the "lightning armor" itself.

"Let's test the speed first." Liu Chuan finished speaking and subtly shifted his feet—

"call out--!!!"

A blinding blue bolt of lightning, like a real lightning strike, vanished from its spot almost before Soi Fon's visual nerves could react!

No, it didn't disappear, but rather it moved wildly back and forth across the vast training ground at a speed that exceeded the limits of the naked eye!

Soi Fon could only barely "perceive" a blurry afterimage thanks to the powerful spiritual senses of a captain-level Shinigami.

Appearing, disappearing, and reappearing in every corner of the training ground from all sorts of incredible angles and trajectories!

The air was violently torn apart, emitting a shrill shriek, and the ground was even plowed with shallow dents by an invisible force field due to the terrifying acceleration of that instantaneous burst and stop!

The entire training ground seemed to be instantly filled with countless crisscrossing blue lightning bolts!

"So fast!" Soi Fon was in a state of shock.

This speed far surpasses any master of Instant Step she knows, and may even be... close to the level of "Instant God" Yoruichi Shihouin.

No, perhaps it's even better in short-range, straight-line bursts! Is this the qualitative change brought about by lightning activating the body?

A few breaths later, the azure lightning suddenly re-condensed in the center of the training ground, revealing Liu Chuan's figure.

The electric arcs on his body flickered slightly, but his breathing remained steady, as if the speed test that had just exceeded the limit was nothing more than a leisurely stroll.

"The increase in speed is in line with expectations, or even slightly exceeds them, and the burden on the body is within an acceptable range."

Liu Chuan calmly analyzed the situation, then looked at his right fist, his five fingers slowly closing, and the azure arc of electricity covering it suddenly became even more solid.

It emitted an even more piercing "crackling" sound, and the surrounding air was slightly distorted due to the high temperature.

"Next, we will test the power and destructive effects."

Before he finished speaking, Liu Chuan lowered his body slightly, and his right fist, covered with dense azure lightning, carrying a suffocating aura of destruction, slammed down heavily onto the training ground beneath his feet!

"BOOM—!!!!!"

A deafening roar suddenly erupted! The entire training ground seemed to tremble violently!

The point of impact was not a simple collapse, but the moment the fist touched the ground, the violent azure lightning burst forth like a flood that had found an outlet, pouring in and exploding wildly!

"Snap! Sizzle—!!!"

The incredibly hard, specially made floor tiles crumbled and melted like fragile biscuits under the fist of lightning, which contained ultra-high pressure and ultra-high temperature!

A terrifying, charred crater appeared instantly in the center of the training ground, centered on Liu Chuan's fist!

The remaining sparks of electricity danced within the pit, and wisps of blue smoke rose into the air.