Chapter 3: A Surge of Attributes

In the face of impending doom, Katsuki remained surprisingly composed. Instead of succumbing to fear, he recognized an opportunity for substantial gain. There was no need for second thoughts.

The clash between the 10th Division members and the Menos Grande promised a bountiful harvest of attributes. A golden opportunity to enhance his abilities.

Meanwhile, the standoff between the two Shinigami and the Menos Grande persisted, intensifying the already tense atmosphere.

A deafening roar reverberated through the night as the Menos Grande continued its low-pitched growls. Sensing the Shinigami's hostility, it leaned forward, its emotionless vertical pupils locked onto their Zanpakuto.

"Asai, stick to the plan," urged Honda Shinigami.

"I'm on it," responded Asai.

Asai and Honda exchanged a meaningful glance. But before they could execute their plan, the Menos Grande struck first.

With a thunderous crash, the ground beneath the Menos Grande's feet rippled. Utilizing this rebound, it unleashed a surge of ferocious power, vanishing like a phantom in the blink of an eye.

"Incredible speed!" Asai exclaimed in disbelief. The Menos Grande was too swift for him to evade, forcing him to rely on his instincts and position his Zanpakuto defensively.

"Watch your back, Asai!" Honda's warning came just in time as the Menos Grande reappeared behind Asai.

Their blades clashed with a resounding clang as Asai swiftly turned to confront the menacing foe. Sparks danced across the night sky, briefly illuminating the darkness.

"Are you okay, Asai?" Honda rushed to his comrade's side, genuine concern in his voice.

"I'm fine, but this creature's explosive power is nothing short of terrifying," panted Asai, his gaze fixed on the Menos Grande. "Thankfully, its Reiatsu isn't stable; otherwise, I'd be in pieces by now."

"Unstable Reiatsu?" Honda furrowed his brow, puzzled by this revelation.

"Yeah, this Menos Grande isn't like the others. In addition to its usual violent Reiatsu, I sensed a trace of Shinigami Reiatsu within it," Asai stated, his narrowed eyes reflecting the danger of the situation.

"What? Shinigami Reiatsu within a Hollow?" Honda was momentarily dumbfounded, shaking his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. "That can't be right. How could a Hollow possess Shinigami Reiatsu?"

Katsuki, who had been observing from a distance, couldn't help but react.

"Wow, the Shinigami world has its own twists and turns?" He couldn't contain a wry smile.

Shinigami also had their own complexities and mysteries? Who would have thought!

But Katsuki swiftly redirected his focus to the ongoing battle between the Shinigami and the Menos Grande, which had now yielded a treasure trove of attributes strewn across the ground.

[Ding! Detected Reiatsu attribute. Do you wish to pick it up?]

[Ding! Detected Shunpo attribute. Do you wish to pick it up?]

[Ding! Detected Zanjutsu attribute. Do you wish to pick it up?]

A cascade of notifications overwhelmed Katsuki.

"Pick them up immediately!"

Surveying the scattered orbs of light, he couldn't help but break into a grin. For the first time, he realized that even amid a supernatural conflict, he could reap substantial rewards.

This method of advancement was nothing short of extraordinary!

[Ding! Host gained +3 Reiatsu.]

[Ding! Host gained +3 Shunpo.]

[Ding! Host gained +3 Zanjutsu.]

The once emotionless system notifications now resonated as heavenly music in Katsuki's ears.

In a short span, his attributes had skyrocketed!

"Hmm, this is peculiar. Why did I gain so many attributes at once?" He promptly discerned the pattern.

[It's because the strength of the entities from which the attributes originate varies,] the system declared promptly. [All dropped attributes manifest with values relative to the entity's strength.]

"I see," Katsuki comprehended.

Initially, during the brawl between the two thugs, he could only acquire Strength attributes, with values barely surpassing fractions of a point, resulting in minimal power augmentation.

However, the attributes bestowed by the Shinigami and the Menos Grande were entirely distinct. Not only did they give Reiatsu and Shunpo attributes, but their values had multiplied manyfold.

This underscored the glaring disparity in power!

"System, can you display my attributes panel?" Katsuki, who had seized an opportunity for significant growth, couldn't contain his anticipation.

The next moment, the attribute panel materialized.

[Host]: Homura Katsuki

[Strength]: 8.8

[Agility]: 3

[Spirit]: 10

[Reiatsu/Reiryoku]: 45

[Shunpo]: 27

[Zanjutsu]: 33

[Abilities]: None

After meticulously scrutinizing the attribute panel, he nodded in satisfaction.

As the system had earlier said, his encounter with the Shinigami and the Menos Grande had also bestowed him with attributes of various natures, thereby inducing a transformation in his panel.

"System, the values appear rather high. What about ordinary members of the Gotei 13?" Katsuki sought to draw a comparison.

[An average Gotei 13 member typically registers around 500 in the four primary combat skills, while a seated officer typically scores around 5,000. It's important to note that these are just benchmarks, as the combat prowess of each Shinigami varies,]

The system supplied with precision.

"I see, the system is truly remarkable!"

By comparing the values, Katsuki came to appreciate even more the marvel of attribute picking. In just this brief skirmish, his Reiatsu had nearly reached fifty, which equated to a tenth of an average Gotei 13 member.

Should the entire battle conclude, it was plausible that his attributes would increase severalfold.

Even the most skilled hackers couldn't achieve such rapid progress!

"With the Ultimate Attribute-Picking system, I can simply relax and play the role of a 'salted fish.' Sooner or later, I'll rise to prominence," Katsuki remarked contentedly.

Life was turning out to be quite an exhilarating adventure.

It felt as though he had reached the pinnacle!