The Living World.
Karakura Town.
"No Shinigami or Hollows in over a month; it seems that my attribute growth is progressing slowly," sighed Katsuki as he sat inside a tavern in the city center. A month had passed since that battle, but his attributes hadn't increased significantly.
"At this rate, it will take me a long time to develop my strength."
He chuckled wryly after checking his attribute panel.
[Host]: Homura Katsuki
[Strength]: 258.8
[Agility]: 236
[Spirit]: 10
[Reiatsu]: 135
[Shunpo]: 93
[Zanjutsu]: 84
[Abilities]: Six-Rod Light Restraint
Despite substantial increases in strength and agility, these weren't the attributes he desired. While they might provide him with an advantage over ordinary humans, they wouldn't be sufficient for battles involving Shinigami and powerful Hollows. Unless, of course, these values became extremely exaggerated, they wouldn't significantly aid his combat prowess.
After all, "Reiatsu" was the essence of this world!
"If I could find the Visoreds, it would make things easier, but I still have no leads," Katsuki had originally intended to meet the Visored group and somehow join or at least find a way to be near them. That way, he could continuously absorb attributes from them, but unfortunately, a month had passed with no progress.
Not to mention, Karakura Town was quite large. Attempting to search every corner in just a month wasn't enough. Moreover, even Aizen had searched for decades, and the Visoreds' concealment methods were far from simple.
Therefore, finding this group of people would purely depend on luck!
"Ah well, let's go with the flow. At least my attributes have been steadily increasing," Katsuki's physique had become stronger due to the growth in strength and agility, and his Reiatsu had become more abundant. At the very least, he wasn't stagnating.
"Boss, this is for the drinks!"
Katsuki paid the bill at the cash register and left the tavern, carrying a jug of sake. He was ready to return to his temporary residence.
"For a whole month, there has been no response from the Soul Society. It seems that the events from last time have subsided," he quickly figured out the timeline during this month.
The point in time he had crossed into. It was roughly about twenty years before the original plotline began. So, the present world was still characterized by ancient Japanese architecture, and Aizen's Hollowfication experiments were only in their early stages. At least the crucial Hollow "White" hadn't been created yet!
"Perhaps everyone has been deceived by Aizen," Katsuki picked up the jug, took a sip of sake, and continued, "Even the Research and Development Institute doesn't seem to care anymore."
"But..."
He looked up at the night sky.
"In order to obtain rare attributes and abilities, someday I'll have to go to the Soul Society!"
Besides having the most powerful attribute picking system, Katsuki had another significant advantage - he could foresee the events of the future!
He wouldn't be manipulated by Aizen like the Gotei 13, and he knew everyone's abilities, even the existence of the Quincy.
Shinigami, Hollows, Quincy.
As long as he survived until the end.
His status panel would undoubtedly be overpowered!
Just at that moment.
In a concealed corner at the end of the street, there was a sudden disturbance.
"This is..."
Katsuki looked toward the source of the disturbance and saw a Hollow manifesting!
"Finally, I've encountered one."
If it had been before, he would have turned and fled.
But now...
After absorbing so much Reiatsu, there was no way he would run!
Roar!!!
As he observed covertly, the Hollow also noticed his presence.
Roaring incessantly, the Hollow emerged from the shadows, revealing its body.
"So, this is what you look like. You're quite disturbing."
Katsuki almost wanted to vomit.
Unlike the previous Hollowfication experiment, this Hollow didn't have a humanoid form. Its body was grotesque and hideous, covered with a white mask on its face, and it had six legs that continuously scuttled across the ground, resembling a crawling spider.
"I'm going to eat you!!!"
The Hollow let out a greedy shout.
Its grotesque body emitted a constant aura of negativity.
"If you don't drop valuable attributes, you have no reason to exist," Katsuki stood there nonchalantly, not paying much attention to this Hollow. Although he wasn't a Shinigami and didn't possess a Zanpakuto, his previously absorbed attributes were more than enough to easily dispatch this ordinary Hollow.
He was more hopeful that the Hollow would drop some attributes!
"Eat you, and I'll be able to evolve!"
The grotesque Hollow crawled across the ground, its voracious mouth dripping corrosive saliva that created several holes in the ground.
"Oh, come on!"
Katsuki leaped into the air.
The advantage of his increased strength and agility was evident now.
His explosive power even surprised himself!
"I'm going to eat you!!!"
The Hollow opened its foul-smelling mouth, trying to bite him, but it missed.
"Stop searching; I'm right here."
Before the Hollow could react, Katsuki landed on its back.
"If you don't have Hierro and Sonído, it seems your only valuable ability you could drop is High-Speed Regeneration." Katsuki raised his fist casually, despite the Hollow's frantic attempts to wriggle its body.
High-Speed Regeneration.
It was a unique ability of Hollows, allowing them to quickly heal their wounds.
However, many Hollows had to give up this ability when evolving into Arrancar to gain more power.
"It's not every day I come across a Hollow. I hope my luck shines on me," Katsuki clenched his fist tightly, and his Reiatsu burst forth.
Although the ground was filled with numerous attributes in the form of light spheres, he wasn't particularly excited.
This Hollow was too weak; even if he collected many light spheres, they wouldn't add much to his attributes.
So, he could only hope for a stroke of luck!
Boom!!!
When his Reiatsu reached its peak, Katsuki slammed his fist down with force.
The Hollow's back quickly caved in, before forming a bloody hole.
With just one punch, Katsuki had obliterated the Hollow!
[Ding! Detected a dropped ability. Do you wish to pick it up?]
The sudden notification made Katsuki's eyes light up.
"It worked!!!"
He was feeling a bit excited.
He knew that his luck had struck again.
"Pick it up immediately!"
[Congratulations, host. You have acquired a special ability: High-Speed Regeneration!]
As all the light spheres on the ground disappeared, Katsuki's status panel changed.
[Host]: Homura Katsuki
[Strength]: 258.8
[Agility]: 236
[Spirit]: 10
[Reiatsu]: 136
[Shunpo]: 93
[Zanjutsu]: 84
[Abilities]: ●Six-Rod Light Restraint.
●High-Speed Regeneration.
Although his Reiatsu attribute had only increased by one point, he now possessed an extraordinary ability.
There was no doubt about it.
His luck halo had nailed it!