Fighting Aizen
On the ruins, two figures stood several feet apart, Liu Hao and Aizen, silently facing each other.
Their gazes collided in the air, sparking an invisible flame. Then, as if simultaneously receiving some silent command, the Reiatsu emanating from their bodies began to rise at an astonishing speed!
A profound Reiatsu surged around Liu Hao like a tidal wave, forming a faint, indistinct silhouette on his body. The silhouette was blurry, yet it exuded a chilling sense of oppression, as if some powerful being was slowly awakening within Liu Hao.
Aizen's gentle yet unfathomable Reiatsu was also rising wildly! Unlike Liu Hao's, his Reiatsu was not violent, but rather like an undercurrent in the deep sea, calm on the surface, but containing a power capable of devouring everything!
The Reiatsu of the two collided violently in the air! An invisible shockwave spread in all directions, once again blasting away the ruins beneath their feet! The huge boulders were blown away like pieces of paper under the impact of this Reiatsu!
Then--
They moved at the same time!
Their figures transformed into two streaks of light, colliding instantly!
Clang--!
Swords clashed, metal clanged!
Sparks flew everywhere, and another shockwave erupted!
Their figures passed each other, then they turned around at the same time and rushed towards each other again!
Ding ding--!
The clash of swords was endless! Each collision unleashed blinding sparks and violent shockwaves!
The two moved at an unbelievable speed, so fast that the Soul Reapers and members of the Visored watching couldn't even see their movements! They could only see two blurry figures frantically crisscrossing the ruins, and hear the continuous, metallic clang of metal striking metal!
Liu Hao's sword is fast, accurate, and ruthless! Every strike is aimed directly at Aizen's vital points, without the slightest unnecessary movement!
Aizen's sword is equally sharp and incomparable! Every swing of the sword carries a sharpness capable of cutting through anything!
The battle between the two had transcended the comprehension of ordinary Soul Reaper. It was not merely a contest of strength, but a clash of wills, a battle of beliefs!
During the battle, strange changes began to appear on Liu Hao's body.
The Reiatsu around him began to gather and condense in a special way. It didn't simply surround him, but rather seemed to have a life of its own, weaving, intertwining, and merging within him!
Their paths crossed for the last time—their figures collided once more!
However, this time--
Liu Hao did not use the Imperial Sword to block Aizen's Zanpakuto!
He simply faced the blade, powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, with his own body!
At the same time, the Imperial Sword in his hand slashed fiercely towards Aizen's shoulder!
Laugh--!
The sound of a blade piercing flesh was dull and grating.
Aizen's Zanpakuto struck Liu Hao's shoulder.
However, the expected scene of blood splattering did not occur.
The blade, sharp enough to cut through steel, seemed to strike some slippery, indestructible substance the instant it touched Liu Hao's body! The blade grazed Liu Hao's shoulder without harming him in the slightest!
However, Liu Hao's Imperial Sword struck Aizen's shoulder hard!
Pfft--!
The sword pierced flesh, and blood splattered!
A horrifying, deep wound, exposing the bone, stretched diagonally from Aizen's shoulder to his back! Red Reishi blood gushed from the wound like a fountain!
Aizen couldn't help but take a few steps back! He steadied himself, his gaze fixed on Liu Hao, and for the first time, an undisguised shock appeared in his deep eyes!
His gaze fell on Liu Hao's shoulder, on the spot where his Zanpakuto him.
There, a stream of iridescent light was slowly spreading.
The light was dazzling and magnificent, flowing over Liu Hao like the aurora borealis. It started from his shoulders and spread outwards, gradually covering Liu Hao's entire body!
Under the glow, a dark black robe was visibly taking shape!
The robe was entirely black, yet it shimmered with iridescent light. Its wide sleeves, long hem, exquisite patterns, and imposing style made it seem not to be made of fabric, but rather woven from pure, highly concentrated Reiatsu! Even just looking at it, one could feel the heart-stopping power it contained!
Liu Hao stood atop the ruins, clad in a flowing, dark Mysterious Robe, holding a jet-black Imperial Sword, his body enveloped in a profound and abyss-like Reiatsu. Moonlight shone upon him, casting a long, majestic shadow behind him.
At that moment, he seemed no longer to be the carefree Liu Hao, but a true Emperor reigning over the world.
Aizen tightened slightly as he watched this scene.
For the first time, a slight stiffness appeared on that ever-present, composed smile.
Liu Hao looked at him, a faint, slightly mocking smile playing on his lips, "Surprised?"
He gently shook the Mysterious Robe he was wearing, and the iridescent light shimmered slightly with his movement. "Actually, there's no need to be surprised."
He took a step forward, his steps calm and elegant, as if strolling in a leisurely garden. "You know that the Arrancar used to deal with me is named 'Emperor-Slayer'... so you should know that since my Zanpakuto is called Imperial Sword, the wielder should at least have an Imperial Robe worthy of this Imperial Sword, shouldn't he?"
Aizen watched him silently, the stiffness on his face slowly fading, replaced by a composed smile. But in his deep eyes, an unprecedentedly earnest light shone. "I see..."
He paused, his gaze falling on the flowing black Mysterious Robe, his tone carrying an undisguised hint of inquiry. "However, this Imperial Robe of yours... is probably not so simple, is it?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Hao's smile deepened, "Of course it can't be too simple."
He raised his hand and gently stroked the Mysterious Robe he wore, the movement as tender as if he were caressing the most precious treasure. "Without a Reiatsu mass that absolutely surpasses mine... it is impossible to break its defense."
He raised his head, Aizen's gaze, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "In other words, once I don the Imperial Robe, I can let you... chop me down at will."
A barely perceptible glint flashed in Aizen's eyes.
He didn't speak, but the smile on his lips grew even wider.
Liu Hao looked at him, and the moment his words fell, his figure vanished again!
The next moment, he was already standing in front of Aizen!
The Imperial Sword in his hand was swung out once more!
Aizen's reaction was incredibly fast. Almost at the same instant Liu Hao appeared, his Zanpakuto was already swung out!
The blade slashed towards Liu Hao's body once more!
Clang--!
Swords clashed!
No, they don't intersect.
Aizen's sword struck Liu Hao, and Liu Hao's sword struck Aizen!
Liu Hao still did not block.
He just stood there, letting Aizen's Zanpakuto him.
The blade, sharp enough to cut through steel, struck the flowing Mysterious Robe, yet left not a single scratch! The blade glided across the Mysterious Robe as if it had struck some slippery, indestructible substance!
Liu Hao's Imperial Sword once again left a deep, bone-revealing wound on Aizen's body!
Blood splattered!
Aizen's brow furrowed slightly, but he did not back down.
He increased the output of his Reiatsu!
The Zanpakuto Liu Hao began to emit an even more intense Reiatsu! He was determined to suppress the attack, even if it couldn't harm Liu Hao, he wanted to use pure power to overwhelm him!
However, the moment he increased his Reiatsu output, Liu Hao's Imperial Sword changed direction, with the tip pointing directly at his face!
Without hesitation, he thrust his sword out!
This sword strike was swift and ruthless, aimed straight for Aizen's brow!
Aizen's pupils contracted slightly! He abruptly turned his head, and the sharp tip of the sword grazed his cheek! The blade cut his skin, leaving a small bloodstain!
At the same time, the Zanpakuto he had been pressing down suddenly exerted its power!
Liu Hao's body swayed slightly from the force, but that was all. His flowing, Mysterious Robe remained completely intact.
Liu Hao seized the opportunity, and with a quick turn of his Imperial Sword, he changed to a side slash, aiming at Aizen once again!
Aizen stopped trying to withstand the attack. He pushed off with his feet and instantly floated backward, creating distance between himself and Liu Hao!
He glanced down at his Zanpakuto, then at Liu Hao's perfectly intact flowing-colored Mysterious Robe, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.
Liu Hao stood still, not giving chase. He simply watched Aizen quietly, a faint hint of mockery in his smile, "What, don't you believe your sword can't hurt me?"
He gently shook the Imperial Sword in his hand, his tone carrying a hint of amusement, as if saying, "You're too naive": "I'd rather be injured again than not give it a try."
He paused, his gaze deepening. "I admit, your Reiatsu is indeed very strong. But..."
He took a step forward, his flowing Mysterious Robes fluttering slightly with his movement. "That doesn't mean I'm weak, okay? Otherwise, why would I dare to try and defeat you?"
Aizen listened quietly, his smile growing ever wider.
He nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of understanding, as if saying "I see": "I am indeed somewhat unwilling to give up, and I want to give it a try."
He paused, his gaze falling on the flowing, dark Mysterious Robe, his tone carrying an undisguised admiration. "I didn't expect your Imperial Robe to be so special. Even those with Reiatsu at your level cannot harm you."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through the Mysterious Robe and see its true nature. "No, it should be said... as long as your Reiatsu cannot absolutely overwhelm you, even tearing the Imperial Robe will not be enough."
He shook his head slightly, with a hint of emotion in his tone. "It's really... a terrifying ability."
He paused, then changed the subject, his gaze becoming even sharper. "However, your aura has changed."
Liu Hao's brow twitched slightly.
Aizen continued, his tone as certain as if stating a fact. "The reason you never wear the Imperial Robe in battle... is probably because it takes a huge toll on your Reiatsu."
Liu Hao was silent for a second.
Then he smiled.
That smile carried a hint of nonchalance, as if someone had seen through him but didn't care. "That's true."
He raised his hand and gently stroked the flowing, dark Mysterious Robe he wore. "The Imperial Robe was formed by materializing my Reiatsu through my Imperial Sword. Its defensive power is virtually limitless... As long as my Reiatsu can be maintained, it can withstand any attack."
He paused, his tone becoming more casual. "So, maintaining it consumes a lot of Reiatsu. That's why I don't usually wear it."
He raised his head, Aizen's gaze, a faint glint in his eyes that seemed to say, "But you don't need to worry": "Normally, I could sustain this for ten days to half a month under normal circumstances."
He chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness in his smile, "But just now, taking two blows from you already drained a lot of my Reiatsu."
He tilted his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of sincerity, as if praising an opponent. "You really are impressive, Aizen."
Aizen chuckled softly upon hearing this. His laughter was gentle and composed, yet carried an indescribable undertone, as if saying, "That's all there is to it": "In that case... how many more attacks can you withstand from me now?"
He raised his hand and gently tore open the front of his shirt.
His shirt was open, revealing the Hōgyoku, a gemstone with a ghostly blue glow embedded beneath his skin in the very center of his chest.
The Hōgyoku was now slowly shimmering with a faint light, from which several pale purple, vein-like patterns of light extended. These patterns spread to the two wounds on Aizen's shoulder and cheek that Liu Hao had slashed, sealing the wounds completely!
Liu Hao could clearly see that the two wounds, which were originally deep enough to expose the bone, were stopping bleeding and beginning to heal at a visible speed under the cover of purple light patterns!
Aizen lowered his hand, letting his robes hang open, the Hōgyoku shimmering with an eerie yet beautiful light under the moonlight. He looked at Liu Hao, his smile deepening, "Look."
He pointed to the Hōgyoku on his chest, his tone nonchalant. "The Hōgyoku is protecting its master. The damage you caused me has been sealed off by it. It will slowly heal."
He paused, his gaze returning to Liu Hao, a hint of amusement in his smile suggesting, "And what can you do about it?": "But you... expended a tremendous amount of Reiatsu."
He tilted his head slightly, his tone carrying a calmness as if he were awaiting an answer, "What are you going to do?"
Liu Hao listened quietly, his smile remaining unchanged.
He merely flicked the Imperial Sword in his hand, his tone as casual as if he were chatting about everyday matters. "Well, how should I put it..."
He paused, a confident smile playing on his lips, "If it were an attack of that caliber just now... I could probably keep going at it with you for a whole day, you believe me?"
Upon hearing this, Aizen's eyes flashed slightly.
In that radiance, there was surprise, admiration, and a hint of barely concealed... excitement.
He chuckled softly, a gentle and composed laugh that carried an indescribable undertone, as if saying, "Then let's give it a try": "Is that so?"
He slowly raised the Kyōka Suigetsu in his hand, the tip of the blade pointing at Liu Hao: "Then... let's try again!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Aizen vanished!
It's not Shunpo, it's not Sonído, it's pure, extreme speed of movement!
The next moment, he was already standing in front of Liu Hao!
The Kyōka Suigetsu in his hand transformed into sharp blades of light, slashing towards Liu Hao from all directions!
The blades flashed like lightning, their cold gleam like snow, weaving together a dense, impenetrable net of death!
As Liu Hao gazed at the overwhelming flashes of sword light, a slight glint appeared in his eyes.
He no longer directly confronted the problem as he had done before.
He raised his Imperial Sword and casually parried a few blows.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With three crisp sounds, he deflected three flashes of sword light.
Then--
He stopped blocking.
He just stood there, letting Aizen's sword cut into him!
One cut!
Two cuts!
Three cuts!
Four cuts!
Five cuts!
Each strike landed squarely on the flowing, dark Mysterious Robe!
Every strike was firmly blocked by the Mysterious Robe, leaving not even a scratch!
Meanwhile, Liu Hao's Imperial Sword struck Aizen repeatedly during this process!
Laugh--!
Another deep wound that exposes the bone!
Laugh--!
Another one!
Laugh--!
Another one!
Blood gushed from Aizen's body, staining his white haori and the ruins beneath his feet!
But Aizen's smile never disappeared.
The pale purple light emanating from the Hōgyoku on his chest grew brighter and brighter! Every time Liu Hao wounded Aizen, those purple light patterns would rapidly spread to the wound, sealing and healing it!
And so, the two of them, one slashing at the other, hacked and slashed wildly!
Swords flashed, blood splattered!
This is the most primitive, the most insane, and the most reckless way to fight!