202 Chapter 172 - Training Match.
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[Kisuke Urahara. POV.]
The tension in the underground training area was palpable. I could feel the waves of energy emanating from Adam, even as I tried to read the uncertainties playing across his face. He seemed both confident and anxious, a volatile mix that made him unpredictable.
"Are you ready?" I asked, breaking the silence. Adam turned to me, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine.
Adam nodded, trying to hide his excitement, terribly might I add.
"Feel free to start," I said, motioning for him to take the first move.
Without warning, he lunged at me, his movements a blur. But I'd anticipated this, sidestepping just in time as his fist slammed into the spot I'd just vacated, creating a crater.
'So, he can use Shunpo...' I thought, taking a few steps backs.
As I moved, weaving through his attacks, I could perceive every detail: the slight tremor of Adam's muscles, the tiny beads of sweat forming on his brow.
'He's strong, but uncontrolled' I thought, dodging another of his attacks.
He wasn't used to fighting as a soul.
I smiled wryly, drawing Benihime from its sheath. The crimson blade gleamed menacingly, its energy pulsating in response to the challenge. "Awaken, Benihime."
Let's see how he deals with an enemy capable of using his Shikai.
"Judge all things in this universe! Zanryuzuki!" Adam grinned, releasing his own Shikai before moving forward meeting my blade.
His advance was relentless, his every attack fueled by raw power and emotion. But for all his strength, he was still unbalanced, still coming to terms with this new version of himself.
Though he was undoubtedly stronger than when his body was holding him back, he was weaker without it. Because right now, he couldn't control his power as well as he did before.
Smiling, I danced around him, using Benihime to parry and counter his attacks, trying to guide him rather than overpower him.
Our blades clashed repeatedly, sparks flying with every impact, illuminating the dim training area in a spectacular display of force.
Adam shouted "Uchuryu No Kiba!" as he thrusted his sword forward, releasing a powerful force that reverberated through the air. The energy created by the sword seemed to bend and distort the very space around us, sending shockwaves that rippled across the room.
'His connection with his Zanpakuto is impressive,' I mused as I dodged his attack. The way the energy flowed between Adam and his blade was seamless, a true testament to their bond.
Few achieved such synergy, especially in such a short span of time.
That alone was telling.
However, as our little dance intensified, it became clear that he had much to learn. He had the raw power, the connection with his Zanpakuto, but he lacked the restraint and understanding that came with mastery.
It was like watching a storm, wild and untamed. Potent, yet directionless.
'His strikes...' Each one bore the weight of intent, but they lacked finesse. There was a desperation to them, a hunger. Was it validation he sought, or perhaps an escape from something? A past scar, a memory, or maybe a fear?
I wasn't entirely sure.
But amidst the chaos of his moves, there were moments, fleeting as they were, that showed potential. When his focus aligned just right, when his emotions were in check, even for a split second, the brilliance of his abilities shone through.
Those moments... they were glimpses into the warrior he could become. If only he could harness that potential, temper it with understanding and patience.
Benihime responded to him differently too.
There was an undercurrent of... curiosity? My Zanpakuto has always been attuned to the energies around me, and its reactions to Adam were intriguing.
It wasn't just the challenge of the fight; it was something more profound.
A resonance, perhaps?
I guess time will tell.
Time to finish this.
"Are you certain you can return to them with this power?" I said, forcing a flicker of doubt, a momentary lapse in his concentration.
Window open, I took advantage, redirecting his strike and landing a blow of my own. It wasn't enough to injure, but it was enough to unbalance.
Adam stumbled backward, landing in the Kido trap I had set hours before he even woke up. "I guess you win, that was a low blow though."
It was.
Using his emotional pain to create an opening to end the fight, was quite possibly one of the lowest blows there were out there.
However, those were the kind of blows everyone needed to be ready for.
"My apologies," I replied, not sounding apologetic at all.
"I feel weird," Adam sighed, sheathing his blade. "I feel stronger, but somehow weaker..."
Oh, so he had noticed.
Perhaps there was more to him than I had thought.
"That's to be expected, you're not in sync with yourself, Adam," I said gently, sheathing Benihime. "You were used to using your power a certain way, and now that you don't have to, you're back to your training wheels."
Adam looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and determination. "I need your help."
It didn't take a genius to know what he was going to ask.
He wanted my help to go back home, wherever that was. As much as it pained me to admit it, from a scientific point of view, I didn't know where he had come from, but I knew he didn't belong here.
Perhaps his point of origin was the same that mysterious creature that had invaded the soul society had.
I wasn't sure.
Either way, I was more than glad to help. After all, he would help us as well. Against the very person that saved him from falling into the hands of Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Aizen.
I smiled, offering a hand to help him up. "To go back to them."
Adam frowned. "Do I talk that much when I'm sleeping?"
I chuckled, "You do. And you talk about them a lot. The people you left behind."
As he took my hand, pulling himself to his feet, I could feel the shift in his energy. The raw, uncontrolled power was still there, but there was something else now: a spark of understanding, a glimmer of hope.
It was a start.
