Facing Graphees (1)

"Then let me see your performance." Sōsuke Aizen's voice was like a soft whisper descending from the clouds, carrying a hint of anticipation and amusement, as if he were watching a good show about to unfold.

His hands were gently clasped across his chest, and his Kyōka Suigetsu was casually tucked into his waistband. He exuded a detached and composed air, as if everything before him was merely a stage play he had meticulously orchestrated, and he was both the director and the sole audience member.

As his words fell, the white figure named Griffith Torrend moved.

Its speed was unbelievable, exceeding the limits of visual perception, so fast that space itself seemed to lose its meaning before it. One moment it was standing in front of Aizen, the next it was already in front of Liu Hao!

A fist covered in pale white Hierro, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound as it tore through the air, slammed down towards Liu Hao's face!

This punch contained no fancy techniques, no complicated moves, only pure, extreme killing intent stripped of all superfluous emotions!

The force of the punch hit him hard, ruffling the hair on Liu Hao's forehead.

However, Liu Hao simply looked quietly at the Visored in front of him who had lost his mind and was only driven by fighting instincts. There was no tension or fear in his eyes, only a faint, almost pitying pity.

He raised his left hand.

That hand, without any Reiatsu or defensive Kidō, was simply and casually raised.

Then, gently bring your five fingers together.

"Smack..."

A soft sound.

Griffith's fist, powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, was firmly held in Liu Hao's palm!

The terrifying force from the fist vanished without a trace the moment it touched Liu Hao's palm. Liu Hao remained completely still, without even flinching.

A faint, indescribable fluctuation seemed to flash in Griffith's empty eye sockets—perhaps doubt, perhaps bewilderment, or perhaps the most primal reaction of his fighting instincts to the "abnormality."

But Liu Hao didn't give it any chance to think.

His right hand, gripping the Imperial Sword, was raised high.

Then, he slashed down fiercely!

The blade flashed like lightning, its cold gleam like snow!

This sword strike had no fancy techniques, no dazzling moves, only the simplest, most direct, and most deadly strike!

Griffith's fighting instincts screamed a warning! Before it could even think, its body reacted instinctively, violently breaking free of Liu Hao's grip on its fist!

Pfft--!

Blood splattered! The shattered fist, along with half of its forearm, had been forcibly severed by itself! The cut was a bloody mess, and red Reishi blood gushed out like a fountain!

Using the force of that struggle, its body flew backward wildly!

But that sword light was too fast.

It was so fast that it didn't have time to completely avoid it!

Sizzle--!

The sword light cleaved down from the top of Griffith's head, along the middle of his body, all the way down to his hips!

A straight, deep wound that exposed the bone stretched from the top of its head all the way to its abdomen!

Crimson Reishi blood, like a burst dam, gushed wildly from the wound!

Griffith staggered back several steps, looking down at the horrific wound on its body that had almost cleaved it in two. In its empty eye sockets, something extremely faint seemed to be fluctuating violently.

Then, it raised its head, looked up at the sky, and let out a deafening roar!

In that roar, there was no pain, no fear, only a pure, primal fighting spirit, seemingly emanating from the abyss!

Before the roar had even faded, the Zanpakuto diagonally across its back suddenly erupted with a blinding white light!

The light was as intense as the blazing sun, instantly engulfing its entire body! A white Reiatsu storm spread wildly in all directions from its center, tearing away the surrounding ruins and ripping the earth apart!

Amidst the storm, terrifying sounds echoed as bones twisted, flesh multiplied, and forms reshaped!

A few seconds later--

The storm has passed.

A completely new existence appeared before everyone.

That was a... demon.

A true demon, crawling out of the depths of Hell.

Its size had swelled several times over, reaching a height of five or six meters, and its entire body was covered in a jet-black, steel-like carapace. On its back grew a pair of enormous, snow-white wings, which formed a striking contrast with its demonic body, perfectly blending holiness and evil.

Its head had completely lost its human form, transforming into a ferocious demon head with two curved horns. Its hands had become enormous claws covered in black armor, each finger as sharp as a dagger. Behind it dragged a long tail covered in barbs.

It hovered in mid-air, its pure white wings fluttering gently, its body surrounded by a dark, flame-like aura of Reiatsu. It lowered its head, its blood-red eyes, burning like Hell, fixedly staring at Liu Hao below.

Liu Hao raised his head and quietly observed this new opponent. His face showed no surprise, no fear, only a faint interest, as if he were appreciating a work of art.

He turned his head and looked at Aizen, who was still smiling calmly not far away, his tone as casual as if he were asking about today's weather, "Wonderweiss's Resurrección form is called 'Extinguishing Fire Prince'... It's specifically used to seal Old Man Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka."

He paused, his gaze returning to the demonic Visored: "So, what's the name of this Griffith's Resurrección form?"

Upon hearing Aizen, Aizen's smile deepened. He spoke softly, uttering two words: "Slay... the Emperor."

Emperor-Slayer.

These two words, spoken lightly by Aizen, echoed heavily in the air.

Upon hearing this name, Liu Hao's expression gradually changed.

The change was from initial indifference, to a slight moment of surprise, and then... an undisguised, heartfelt joy.

Then, he tilted his head back and burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha... Good! Good! What a great name!!"

His laughter echoed across the empty ruins, carrying an indescribable joy, as if he had met a kindred spirit.

Aizen looked at him, his amusement growing stronger. He tilted his head slightly, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Oh? Is that so?"

Liu Hao's smile faded as he looked at Aizen again. A complex light flickered deep within his eyes. He gently shook his head, a hint of regret in his voice. "Aizen, if you hadn't taken the wrong path... honestly, you could definitely have been my confidant."

Liu Hao paused, his gaze deepening. "Since your wish is to 'Emperor-Slayer'... then let me see just how far you can go."

Having said that, he turned his head and looked again at Griffith, who was suspended in mid-air—no! It was "Emperor-Slayer."

A faint, slightly provocative smile curled at the corner of Liu Hao's lips, "A wild beast, yet possessing the ambition to 'Emperor-Slayer'."

He took a step forward, the tip of his Imperial Sword pointing diagonally at the ground, a faint yet chilling Reiatsu swirling around him. "Come on, let me test... whether you, this beast, are worthy."

The moment the words left his mouth, Griffith moved.

No, it was "Emperor-Slayer" that moved.

Its speed was unbelievable, more than ten times faster than before! With just a gentle flap of its pure white wings, it appeared in front of Liu Hao as if it had teleported!

A massive claw, covered in jet-black armor, descended from above with the force to tear everything apart, slashing fiercely down towards Liu Hao's head!

This single claw strike is enough to split a small mountain in two!

Faced with this fatal blow, Liu Hao made a move that surprised everyone—

He slowly sheathed the Imperial Sword back into its scabbard at his waist.

Then, he raised his left hand.

His seemingly slender arm was like a toothpick compared to a giant tree, compared to the enormous claw that could crush him whole. However, just as the claw was about to touch his head, his left hand grasped its wrist with perfect precision!

His five fingers were clasped together, gripping tightly like iron clamps!

Griffith's movements froze instantly!

A flicker of disbelief flashed in its blood-red eyes; it couldn't comprehend how this seemingly insignificant human could possess such terrifying power!

Liu Hao didn't give it any time to think.

He grabbed Griffith's wrist and suddenly pulled him to the side!

Griffith's massive body involuntarily tilted to the side under this overwhelming force!

At the same time, Liu Hao clenched his right fist and swung it out!

That punch was incredibly fast!

It was so fast that Griffith didn't even have time to raise his other claw to block!

Bang--!

A dull, resounding crash, like the sound of leather being struck!

Liu Hao's fist slammed solidly into the face of Griffith, the ferocious demon leader!

The immense impact sent Griffith's head snapping backward! Its entire body flew backward as if struck head-on by a speeding train!

However, it had barely flown two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) away—

Liu Hao's figure had already appeared beside it!

He reached out and grabbed Griffith by the neck! His hand gripped Glafis's throat like an iron clamp, rendering him immobile in mid-air!

Then--

With his other hand, he clenched his fist again and swung it out!

Bang--!

Another punch!

This punch landed squarely on Griffith's face!

The immense impact caused its massive body to change direction again, flying violently in another direction!

Boom--!

Griffith's body smashed through a dilapidated building, plowing a deep trench in the ground, and flew dozens of feet before finally coming to a stop!

Liu Hao stood still, slowly withdrawing his fist and gently shaking the blood off his hands. He looked at the figure that had crashed into the rubble in the distance, a faint, almost soliloquized sigh in his voice, "That head... it's really tough."

He paused, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips, "Didn't even manage to smash it with two punches."

In the distance, amidst the ruins, Griffith's body trembled violently.

It struggled to its feet from the ruins, its pure white wings now covered in dust and blood, but its blood-red eyes burned with an even more intense fighting spirit.

It raised its head and looked at the tiny human figure in the distance.

Then, it opened its ferocious mouth and extended its long, snake-like tongue.

On the tip of the tongue, a dark, ethereal light gathered and compressed wildly!

That was Cero —not an ordinary Cero, but a pure, ultimate, all-consuming black Cero!

Boom--!

A pure black beam of Cero, over a meter in diameter, shot out from the tip of its tongue! Wherever the Cero passed, the air was completely ionized, and space itself seemed to be torn apart with countless fine cracks!

It was like a pillar of death shot out from Hell, hurtling towards Liu Hao!

Faced with this terrifying attack that could level the entire area, Liu Hao merely raised his hand slightly.

Then--

With a casual wave of his hand.

"Smack..."

A soft sound.

That black Cero, powerful enough to destroy everything, was shattered by his bare hands!

Black light scattered and splashed, blooming in the air like fireworks before quickly disappearing into nothingness.

However, just as the Cero was dispelled—

Griffith's figure had already appeared in front of Liu Hao!

Its one claw, with its five fingers together and its fingertips gathering a jet-black Reiatsu powerful enough to pierce through anything, was like the sharpest spearhead, stabbing straight toward Liu Hao's chest!

This strike was swift, ruthless, and precise!

The distance was so close, the speed so fast, and the angle so tricky--

Almost unavoidable!

A faint, almost instinctive flicker of excitement flashed in Griffith's blood-red eyes.

However--

Liu Hao simply watched the claw approaching.

His face was expressionless.

There was not even an intention to dodge.

The sharp claws drew ever closer to his chest.

Three feet.

Two feet.

One foot.

Half a foot.

One inch--

Just as those sharp fingertips were about to pierce his chest—

Liu Hao's body tilted slightly to one side.

The sharp claws grazed his chest! The nails tore his clothes, but didn't hurt his skin at all!

At the same time, Liu Hao's right hand had already grasped the hilt of the Imperial Sword.

A flash of sword light!

Laugh--!

Griffith's arm, with its claws protruding, was severed at the elbow! The severed arm spun several times in the air before crashing heavily to the ground, red Reishi blood gushing out from the cut like a fountain!

Griffith let out a shrill roar and retreated frantically!

Liu Hao did not pursue.

He simply stood there quietly, the Imperial Sword in his hand pointing diagonally at the ground, a trace of red blood on the blade.

He looked at the figure in the distance, clutching his severed arm and staggering backward. There was no smugness or mockery in his eyes, only a faint disappointment, as if saying, "Is that all you've got?"

In the distance, Aizen watched this scene quietly, his smile remaining calm.