The swiss-system began with random draws.
His opponent in the first round was quite average.
Although the opponent was also an adjutant, and one confident enough to compete for a Sternritter position, their strength wasn't particularly impressive.
With a single Hirenkyaku, Belts closed the distance; the opponent hadn't even manifested their Reishi weapon before Belts's spirit blade was at their throat.
The opponent was a bit dazed, seemingly not expecting Belts, a newly promoted adjutant, to be this powerful.
After winning, Belts listened to the cheers of the crowd, a slight smile playing on his lips.
His strength really had increased significantly.
Before, he had only sparred with Bartholomew Kuma or trained in the training grounds, so he couldn't really gauge his progress.
He knew he had grown stronger, but exactly how strong?
He couldn't say for sure himself.
But now, having gone from a mere foot soldier to a Quincy who could easily defeat an adjutant, he truly realized his own power.
If he were to unleash his full strength now, he might even reach Captain-level.
The value of the azure dragon fruit was substantial; it had truly transformed him.
Even putting aside the azure dragon fruit's elemental control and flight abilities, the physical enhancement alone was significant.
Furthermore, he felt that his learning ability had improved after eating the azure dragon fruit.
It was a legendary Mythical Zoan, after all; even a talentless person could change their fate by eating it.
Not to mention he wasn't exactly talentless, just an ordinary person.
Under normal circumstances, even if he couldn't become a top-tier Four Emperor like Kaido with the azure dragon fruit, becoming a First Mate, a Shichibukai, or even an Admiral was entirely possible!
"Not bad."
The Sternritter selection was a major event, and many Sternritter had come to watch.
Even Haschwalth was watching from the highest vantage point!
When Belts returned to the waiting area, he saw the five Girl Group Members again.
Are these five conjoined twins?
Belts really wanted to complain; they seemed to show up as a group of five every time.
Candice patted Belts on the shoulder with some appreciation and said, "I didn't realize you were this good, kid."
"I'm still far behind all of you, my ladies," Belts replied humbly.
"That's for sure." Bambi crossed her arms and said proudly,
"Even if you become a Sternritter, there's still a gap in rank between us!"
"Don't listen to her; her basic abilities are the worst among us," Candice exposed Bambi without mercy.
"What did you say, Candice?! You want to die?!" Bambi shouted, looking quite humiliated and angry.
"Stop arguing, you two," Lil said as if she couldn't stand them. "Look, those five old men aren't simple either."
"Hmm?" The two who were about to fight looked over and saw that the Gorosei had also finished their battles.
"These five..."
Lil fell into deep thought, as if reminiscing about something. She frowned slightly and said, "Something is strange."
"What is it?" Giselle tilted her head, deliberately acting cute.
"Their... fighting style is more similar to ours."
Lil thought for a moment before saying, "It's more like they already have a Schrift."
"How is that possible?" Bambi waved her hand dismissively. "How could they awaken a Schrift without being bestowed one by His Majesty?"
Although a Schrift is an ability within every Quincy's soul, it cannot be activated without Yhwach.
It's the same as the Shinigami outside.
A Shinigami's Zanpakuto release is also an ability of their soul, but it cannot be activated without a Zanpakuto.
In comparison, those Hollows are the real freaks.
Most abilities of Shinigami and Quincy need to be learned later or guided out through some tool or medium.
But most Hollow abilities are innate.
However, perhaps this is what is called balance.
Precisely because Hollows are too powerful by nature, they generally lack wisdom and the ability to learn.
While Shinigami and Quincy are weaker at birth, they can develop their own civilization through wisdom.
When a civilization develops to a certain point, it can surpass savage biological groups.
What can surpass a civilization must be another civilization.
For example, the Quincy civilization.
The development of the Shinigami has almost stagnated over the past thousand years; after all, they are ostensibly the masters of the Three Worlds, and no one can threaten their status.
The Quincies, however, worked hard to grow stronger and developed in the shadows for another thousand years, so it's normal for them to gain power surpassing the Shinigami.
If it weren't for Aizen and Ichigo saving the day and Uryū's betrayal during the Thousand-Year Blood War, the Shinigami would have been easily crushed by the Wandenreich.
"That's exactly why it's strange..."
Liltotto narrowed her eyes.
Belts glanced at Liltotto's expression and couldn't help but secretly admire that this woman's observation skills were indeed sharp enough.
No wonder she could discover his abnormality.
This was certainly related to Liltotto's own ability, but it also owed much to her inherent observation skills.
"Whatever, Haschwalth was the one who brought them in anyway." Bambi didn't want to dwell on those five old men and shrugged.
"Maybe they're some secret army of the Empire; we'll find out sooner or later anyway."
"Belts, do you have any confidence if you face them?"
"Hard to say," Belts smiled bitterly. "I see that those five are unusually strong; although they're rising through the rounds from the bottom, they get stronger with every battle."
"You'll run into them sooner or later," Liltotto said flatly.
In the swiss-system format, as long as they keep winning, the strongest will eventually meet.
So Belts also knew that he would definitely run into one of the Gorosei next, or even face Gorosei avatars for the next two rounds!
By the end of this day, eight people would be at 1-0 and eight people at 0-1.
Tomorrow would be the internal battles for these two groups.
Belts observed the progress of the tournament.
His and the Gorosei's battles were quite fast, but others' battles were very drawn-out.
By the end of the morning, eight battles had concluded.
In the draw after the battles, he unsurprisingly drew a Gorosei from the 1-0 group, Bakotsu of the Gorosei!
"Looks like your luck isn't very good."
Liltotto, who had also been watching the matches, said, "You drew one of the strongest ones."
"Yeah..." Belts sighed.
The Gorosei avatars are all very powerful, but it also depends on the strength of their original bodies, so they vary in power.
The strongest is naturally Saint Warcury, who possesses the power of Fengxi, and the second strongest is Sternritter N, who possesses the power of Bakotsu!
Now, this Bakotsu is also the second strongest among the Gorosei avatars!