Turn to Heavenly Light and Wither!

An ink-black scroll slowly unfurled within Asano Kiyoshi's mind. As the dark ink surged, flowers seemingly formed from congealed blood stretched from the horizon, creating a Road of Firelight. Amid the rolling sea of crimson blossoms, layer upon layer of rich floral fragrance swept over him, carrying an inexplicable faint sorrow that enveloped and consumed him.

As Asano Kiyoshi looked on, the scroll began to display a detailed description of that blood-red sea of flowers:

"Unlocked! Road to the Underworld!

Description: The Road to the Underworld, also known as the Road of Firelight, is formed from countless Lycoris Radiata. The flowers bloom for a thousand years and fall for a thousand years; flower and leaf shall never meet. They can never touch one another, never glimpse one another's visage, like heaven and earth and their point of intersection.

Ability One: Beneath the Road to the Underworld lie countless bones; when skeletons are spent and blood runs dry, ten thousand crimson flowers weep. Lycoris Radiata require blood and bones for nourishment. For every 'valuable' enemy the Host kills, the Lycoris Radiata will absorb a portion of their abilities as nutrients to aid its growth. The abilities obtained generally include spiritual power, special soul laws, physical strength, and unique skills.

Ability Two: Youthful Bloom Does Not Linger for the Young. Endless is my sorrow—when will it cease? When drifting catkins fall with flowers, I climb the tower alone. I am willing to turn myself into bones and use my own flesh and blood to nourish the flowers, all for the chance to see you once more. After unlocking the Road to the Underworld, all recovery abilities used by the Host will receive a permanent bonus!

Detailed Effect Explanation: Any recovery ability used by the Host will provide a maximum health bonus. That is: all negative effects such as hidden injuries, illness, toxins, and curses can be removed by recovery abilities used by the Host. The effectiveness of removal depends on time and the Host's own abilities. Recovery abilities include, but are not limited to, Kaido, High-Speed Regeneration, medicine..."

Watching the bright red flowers dance across the sky, Asano Kiyoshi was speechless for a moment. Such breathtaking beauty was enough to make one fall silent and weep.

What could move Asano Kiyoshi to tears even more were the Road to the Underworld's two abilities. If the Gate of the Underworld's two abilities had given him the capital to resist unsolvable abilities and grow stronger, then the Road to the Underworld's two abilities had completely removed the limits on his potential. The ability to absorb an enemy's powers meant that, in theory, as long as Asano Kiyoshi absorbed enough strength, he might reach the Soul King's level.

The second ability turned Asano Kiyoshi into someone who could both fight and heal. Moreover, it meant that he could train by overtaxing his body. As long as the degree of exhaustion roughly matched the degree of healing, he would suffer no harm.

More importantly, he could now rid the people he cared about—Teacher Ukitake, Captain-Commander, Granny Hana...—of their hidden injuries and illnesses.

And that was not all. More importantly, during his battle with that Pig-faced Hollow, his Reiatsu had been thoroughly tempered, successfully advancing to Fourth-Seat Reiatsu!

It was precisely thanks to the spiritual power bonus provided by reaching Fourth-Seat Reiatsu that he had barely managed to defeat that damned Pig-faced Hollow.

As his gaze fell upon it, the scroll displayed Asano Kiyoshi's current ability values:

"Host: Asano Kiyoshi

Slash: 34 (The qualitative transformation of your Soul Body has greatly enhanced your abilities. As long as you have enough spiritual power, just keep cutting!)

Hakuda: 33 (The tempering of your Soul Body has made your body as tough as steel. Enjoy the thrill of battle to your heart's content!)

Kido: 40 (Perfect Reishi control, perfect timing, perfect understanding of Kido. You have reached your current peak.)

Hoho: 37 (Though your control over Reishi is good, you are not yet accustomed to your strengthened body, so you are somewhat rusty.)

Reiatsu: Fourth-Seat Reiatsu 2% (Can currently be improved through Reishi tempering and killing enemies!)

Overall Rating: 144 (You possess strength close to Fifteenth Seat in an ordinary squad. Now, you have taken another step closer to grasping fate!)

War Soul Blade: Underworld

Shikai Phrase (Half): Turn to Heavenly Light and Wither—Road to the Underworld!

Shikai Ability: After Shikai is unlocked, all abilities and skills of the Gate of the Underworld and the Road to the Underworld receive double bonuses! Note: Special abilities are not included; the absorption effect in the first ability of the Road to the Underworld is excluded.

Bankai Phrase: ???

Next Unlockable Scene: Home-Viewing Platform (Current Unlock Progress: 2%)"

Looking at his attributes, which had almost completely changed, Asano Kiyoshi felt deeply moved. At last, he had gained enough strength to barely establish himself.

However, he did not become complacent over these minor improvements. He remembered that Ichigo Kurosaki had gone from an ordinary Shinigami to possessing strength comparable to a top-class captain in just two short years. Gin Ichimaru had graduated from Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy in three months. Toshiro Hitsugaya had taken less than ten years to grow from an ordinary child who could not even control his own power into someone with captain-level strength!

Compared to them, his own talent was nothing special. Even though his abilities possessed tremendous potential, before he had fully grown, he was still only a genius, with nothing to do with being strong.

His mentality and experience were both inferior to those old monsters'. Besides, there were many bizarre things in the world of Shinigami, and enemies could very well develop something specifically to counter his abilities.

Even someone as powerful as Head Captain Yamamoto had been thoroughly manipulated by Aizen and Yhwach. Whether it was Captain-Commander's compassion or his concerns, both counted as weaknesses.

Even Yhwach, who possessed The Almighty, lost his power because of a single arrow and was then cut down by Ichigo. Asano Kiyoshi had no grounds to be arrogant.

After steadying his mindset, Asano Kiyoshi closed his eyes and sensed the abilities granted by the Road to the Underworld.

As the scroll manifested, a dark-red, bewitching flower appeared beside Asano Kiyoshi. With its appearance, he could clearly feel his recovery speed increase dramatically, while his body seemed to grow ever lighter.

Some injuries he had sustained in Rukongai were slowly recovering as well. The shallower scars had already vanished completely, leaving behind only fair, smooth skin.

Feeling that exceptionally vigorous life force, Asano Kiyoshi smiled faintly, unable to suppress the joy in his heart.

At that moment, a breeze carrying the scent of moisture drifted in through the window. On this early summer afternoon, it felt refreshingly cool.

Just as Asano Kiyoshi rested with his eyes closed, a pair of shadowed eyes swept past his hospital room. Tsunayashiro Kojiro stood at the corner of the hospital corridor, looking at Asano Kiyoshi with sorrow and hatred filling his gaze.

He covered the bruises beneath his sleeves, then let out a long sigh and walked toward the hospital exit.

It had rained in the Soul Society today. As the summer heat dispersed, the atmosphere became somewhat oppressive and silent.