Hearing Toshiro's words, Ashido leaped up, using the downward momentum to slash at Toshiro's head.
Seeing this, Toshiro immediately raised his sword horizontally to block.
Clang!
A metallic clang rang out, followed by a powerful force.
Judging from the previous attack, Ashido's strength was definitely considerable. Combined with the impact force of the descent, Toshiro momentarily felt unable to withstand it and almost stepped back.
Seeing this, Toshiro immediately extended his free left hand, pressed it against the blunt side of his Zanpakuto, then pushed forward with both hands simultaneously.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
After Toshiro exerted force with both hands, Ashido was pushed back several steps.
Seizing the opportunity, Toshiro immediately closed in on Ashido and slashed.
Swish!
A flash of blade light, Toshiro's attack shot towards Ashido.
At the critical moment, Ashido stamped his right foot hard on the ground, stabilizing himself, then swung his sword to meet Toshiro's attack.
Clang!
The sound of blades clashing rang out, but this time, Toshiro didn't feel much force from Ashido's sword.
"A feint?" Toshiro exclaimed in surprise.
Ashido used the reaction force from the blade clash to rapidly retreat, widening the distance between them.
Shunpo!
Ashido's figure flickered, instantly disappearing from Toshiro's sight.
"So fast!" Toshiro praised.
"But, I found you!"
Toshiro suddenly turned and swung his sword.
The vanished Ashido happened to appear behind Toshiro.
Ashido appeared behind Toshiro, about to launch an attack, but never expected Toshiro's reaction to be so quick, turning and attacking almost the instant he appeared behind him.
Helpless, Ashido had to raise his sword to block.
Clang!
Their blades pressed against each other, then both exerted force simultaneously.
Screech screech screech-
Zanpakuto ground and collided, sparks flying everywhere.
"Truly impressive strength. Powerful force, excellent Shunpo. You're quite skilled," Toshiro praised.
To Toshiro's compliment, Ashido didn't respond, still answering with silence.
Regardless of whether Ashido responded, Toshiro continued speaking, "Judging by your Shihakusho, your use of Shunpo, and your Zanpakuto, you're a Shinigami from the Gotei 13, right? Which division?"
Ashido still didn't speak. Seeing he couldn't overpower Toshiro, he actively disengaged and retreated.
Then, he leaped into the air, forcefully kicked off the cave wall, and used the impact force to charge at Toshiro again.
"Same trick again? Useless!" Toshiro said.
"Bisection!"
Toshiro gripped his sword with both hands, gathering his full strength, and met the descending Ashido head-on.
Boom!
Blades clashed. And this time, Ashido was directly slashed away by Toshiro.
Thud!
Ashido's body slammed into the cave wall, then rolled down.
"Cough, cough..."
Ashido coughed a few times, then stood up from the ground.
Seizing this chance, Toshiro's figure instantly flashed before Ashido.
Swish!
Toshiro's Zanpakuto shot towards Ashido.
But this time, Ashido showed no intention of counterattacking at all.
In the end, Toshiro's Zanpakuto abruptly stopped. By then, Toshiro's blade was already pressed against Ashido's neck. Had Toshiro been a fraction slower, Ashido would have been dead for sure.
Shiing!
Toshiro sheathed Hyorinmaru back into the scabbard on his back.
"Why did you suddenly stop fighting?" Toshiro asked.
"Ashido."
Ashido suddenly answered with something unrelated.
"What?" Toshiro was taken aback.
"My name. Ashido," Ashido explained.
"I was asking why you suddenly stopped fighting," Toshiro said, somewhat exasperated.
Ashido also sheathed his Zanpakuto on his back and explained, "I attacked earlier to test your strength."
"Test my strength?" Toshiro asked.
"This forest is extremely harsh. Surviving here is very difficult," Ashido explained.
"So, what do you think of my strength?" Toshiro asked with interest.
"Your strength is formidable. I am completely no match for you. Probably stronger than many Captains of the Gotei 13," Ashido said after some thought.
"You're too humble. The strength you just displayed is already comparable to a Captain. If you used Bankai, who knows how strong you'd be," Toshiro couldn't help but be surprised by Ashido's strength.
"It's not humility. I truly couldn't be your opponent. Because I can't even perform Shikai, let alone Bankai," Ashido said.
"What?!" Toshiro exclaimed in surprise.
"You can't release your Zanpakuto? Impossible, right?" Toshiro said, finding it hard to believe.
'The strength Ashido displayed just now could rival a Captain-level figure, yet he claimed he couldn't use Bankai, not even Shikai?'
'Could such a thing really happen? No, wait, such things do exist,' Toshiro suddenly thought of Zaraki.
Zaraki became Captain of the 11th Division, possessing extraordinary combat power. Similarly, without releasing his Zanpakuto, he had Captain-level strength.
Having Captain-level strength without releasing one's Zanpakuto… such things indeed existed.
"For some reason, I just can't release my Zanpakuto. The reason my strength can rival Captain-level is simply because I've constantly honed my swordsmanship, Shunpo, and studied how to achieve maximum effect with minimal power. As for Reiatsu, I'm completely incomparable to Captain-level," Ashido explained.
'It seems Ashido's situation is different from Zaraki Kenpachi's,' Toshiro thought to himself.
Zaraki had purely immense Reiatsu, so much that even without releasing his Zanpakuto, his Reiatsu reached Captain-level.
Ashido, however, compensated for the gap with Captain-level strength through combat techniques, achieving Captain-level combat power through this method.
During their fight just now, Toshiro felt Ashido's swordsmanship was excellent… concise yet highly effective. His Shunpo was also very fast. Each attack didn't contain extremely strong Reiatsu, but its power was not to be underestimated.
"Oh, right. Since you've told me your name, I should introduce myself too," Toshiro said.
"I am Hitsugaya, Hitsugaya Toshiro. Third Seat of the 10th Division," Toshiro introduced himself.