Aizen vs. Liu Hao (4)

Liu Hao stood quietly in place, his hands resting on the Imperial Sword, which had been fully unleashed. Seven-colored light flowed across the sword as if it were alive, illuminating his calm and resolute face.

He spoke, his voice calm and clear, each word striking Aizen's heart. "Then... let Captain Aizen see if I can defeat you."

He paused, gripping the sword hilt tightly with both hands. The seven-colored light intensified, enveloping his entire body. "Bankai..."

As Liu Hao slowly spoke, the seven-colored light that had been flowing across the blade of the Imperial Sword he was holding suddenly surged, becoming incredibly intense and dazzling, as if it would illuminate the entire world! Then, at the very moment when the light reached its peak—

The Imperial Sword transformed into countless tiny specks of light, dissipating in Liu Hao's hand.

It is not broken, nor has it disappeared, but rather it has merged into some higher level of existence, returning to its original form.

Aizen's pupils contracted violently at that moment!

His expression became more solemn than ever before, even carrying a hint of undisguised disbelief!

Because the moment Liu Hao uttered those words, he could no longer sense Liu Hao's Reiatsu.

It's not a weakening, not a convergence, but a complete and utter disappearance!

Liu Hao stood right in front of him, clearly visible to the naked eye, clearly within arm's reach, but in Aizen's perception, it was as if there was nothing there, as if it were just a phantom, an illusion!

This feeling of "emptiness" was more thorough, more absolute, and more... terrifying than when he sealed his power before!

Aizen's breathing became rapid involuntarily. His instincts were screaming a warning, telling him that the man before him had reached a level he could not comprehend!

And at that moment—

Liu Hao spoke.

His voice was no longer that of the carefree Liu Hao of the past, but an indescribable voice, as if from the heavens above, carrying boundless majesty. "The Emperor... descends."

Two words, spoken lightly, yet they resounded like thunder in everyone's hearts!

The moment he finished speaking, a terrifying storm of Reiatsu suddenly erupted around Liu Hao!

The storm was not violent, but rather it slowly rotated, condensed, and rose in an indescribable way, as if following some supreme rule! Within the storm, countless seven-colored rays of light intertwined and entwined, forming magnificent bands of light that intertwined and merged behind Liu Hao!

Then--

An Imperial Throne slowly materialized behind Liu Hao!

The Imperial Throne was formed entirely of pure light; the base was deep black, the backrest was dazzling gold, and the armrests were flowing rainbow colors. Every detail was exquisite, like a masterpiece crafted by a divine artisan.

The Imperial Throne was carved with countless ancient patterns that were difficult to decipher, as if recording the secrets of the beginning of heaven and earth! To one side of the Imperial Throne, the figure of the Imperial Princess quietly appeared.

She stood there quietly, holding the Imperial Sword that had just vanished in her arms.

The Imperial Sword had now returned to its original form, its blade shimmering with a warm, seven-colored light, like a slumbering divine object.

The Imperial Princess wore a faint, gentle smile, her star-like eyes quietly gazing at Liu Hao, who stood before the Imperial Throne.

In that gaze, there was pride, attachment, trust, and an indescribable sense of relief, as if saying, "You've finally made it this far."

Liu Hao turned around and slowly sat down on the Imperial Throne.

The moment he sat down--

Suddenly, an extremely dazzling light erupted from the Imperial Throne!

The light instantly enveloped his entire body, complementing the iridescent Mysterious Robe he wore! The seven-colored light on the Mysterious Robe intensified, flowing across it like a living thing, each movement making the Mysterious Robe appear deeper and more majestic!

At the same time, an Imperial Crown slowly took shape above his head!

The Imperial Crown was entirely formed of golden light, with twelve seven-colored tassels hanging from its rim, and a fist-sized, sun-like, dazzling pearl set at the top! The light of that pearl, along with the Imperial Throne, the Mysterious Robe, and Liu Hao himself, shone brightly, making him appear like Emperor reigning over the world!

Liu Hao sat upright on the Imperial Throne, wearing an Imperial Robe Imperial Crown and robes, surrounded by a faint seven-colored light. His face no longer showed the weariness and solemnity of before, but rather a detached and serene expression that looked down upon all living beings.

An indescribable Emperor's Aura suddenly erupted from his body!

That aura wasn't Reiatsu, nor power, but something more essential and pure—majesty!

That was the majesty that only a true, supreme Emperor would exude when facing his subjects!

In the distance, those standing atop the ruins felt a surge of inexplicable, irrepressible emotion welling up within them—

It was the urge to worship, the urge to bow down and submit, the urge to kneel down and shout "Long live the Emperor!"

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 who had lived for over a thousand years and witnessed countless ups and downs, was slightly moved at this moment.

A complex light flickered in his weathered eyes. He spoke, his voice aged and deep, yet carrying an undisguised... shock. "This is... that brat's Bankai?"

He paused, a faint smile appearing on his aged face, as if he were sighing over something, "Truly extraordinary... He exudes an aura of Emperor; even I am affected by it."

Retsu Unohana stood beside him, her gentle eyes fixed on the figure seated on the Imperial Throne in the distance. Her face wore that ever-gentle smile, but deep within that smile lay an indescribable... satisfaction and pride.

She spoke, her voice soft and calm, yet carrying a certainty as if saying, "I knew it": "This is also the first time I've seen his Bankai."

She paused, her gentle smile deepening, "I never expected... such domineering behavior."

On the other side of the battlefield, opposite the figure seated on the Imperial Throne—

Sōsuke Aizen, the being who had merged with the Hōgyoku, crossed the boundary between Soul Reaper and Hollows, and proclaimed himself a god, couldn't help but tremble at this moment.

His dark eyes flashed with undisguised horror and fear. He could clearly feel how the Emperor's Aura emanating from Liu Hao was oppressing his soul and shaking his will!

That oppression didn't come from power, but from... his status.

That is a higher existence, naturally suppressing a lower existence!

Liu Hao sat upright on the Imperial Throne, his head slightly lowered. His eyes, shimmering with seven-colored light, quietly gazed at Aizen below. His face was expressionless, displaying only a detached calm, as if he were looking at an ant.

He spoke, his voice carrying an indescribable, Emperor majesty that echoed across the entire battlefield, " By Imperial Decree... the Wounded, Return to Health."

The moment the words fell--

Countless rays of seven colors suddenly appeared in the sky!

Those rays of light descended from the sky, like a divine blessing, precisely enveloping every wounded person—whether it was Soul Reaper, the Visored, or even those Arrancar who had just been fighting Soul Reaper!

Where the light shone, the Miracle occurred.

Kisuke Urahara lay on the ground, his wounds, severely injured by Aizen, healing at a visible speed! His complexion returned to a rosy hue, and his breathing became steady from weak to strong! He slowly opened his eyes, and an incredulous light shone in those eyes hidden beneath the brim of his hat!

Lying amidst the ruins, Isshin Kurosaki's deep, bone-revealing wounds healed instantly under the light! He sat up abruptly, staring at his perfectly healed body, his mouth agape, but unable to utter a single word!

Yoruichi Shihōin, the "Flash Goddess" whose limbs were broken by Aizen, is now visibly recovering her original state! The twisted bones are automatically resetting, the torn muscles are regrowing, and the damaged skin is healing completely! She moves her hands and feet, and her amber eyes are filled with a mixture of shock and joy!

Hachigen Ushōda, the member of the Visored who had lost an arm, was now seeing a completely new arm growing from his empty sleeve! Bones, muscles, blood vessels, and skin grew layer by layer, gradually taking shape, and in the blink of an eye, a perfectly intact arm appeared before him! He raised his newborn arm, looking at his perfectly intact arm, his eyes filled with disbelief!

And those Arrancars —Tia Tier Harribel, Koyatai Starrk, Lilynette Gingerbak, and their Fracción —were also enveloped in that seven-colored light! Their wounds were healing at a visible speed! Those wounds that Aizen had inflicted, that brought them to the brink of death, had vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed!

The light faded.

Everyone stood up.

They stood up, raised their heads, and looked at the figure sitting on the Imperial Throne in the distance, their eyes flashing with a complex and unfathomable light.

Yoruichi Shihōin stretched her newly healed arm, feeling the surge of power within it, and couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Seriously... such a powerful ability."

She paused, then turned to look at Kisuke Urahara beside her, her amber eyes gleaming with eager anticipation. "Kisuke, should we go help?"

Kisuke Urahara stood there quietly, took out a folding fan from somewhere, gently unfolded it, and used it to cover his mouth and nose.

His eyes, hidden beneath the brim of his hat, peered through the gaps in the fan ribs at the figure seated on the Imperial Throne in the distance.

His face remained expressionless. He simply spoke, his voice as calm as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact. "I'm afraid... there's nothing we can do to help."

He paused, then gently closed and unfolded the folding fan again. "Let's just watch like this."

Upon hearing Yoruichi Shihōin's amber eyes flashed with resentment. She gritted her teeth, her tone tinged with complaint. "He's so strong, why didn't he just kill Aizen from the start? Why did he dawdle like that, making us hold the line..."

Kisuke Urahara did not answer. He simply stood there quietly, gazing at the figure in the distance, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

On the other side of the battlefield, the Arrancar who had just recovered also looked up at the figure sitting on the Imperial Throne in the air, their expressions complicated.

Emily Apache, Francesca Mila Rose, Sun-Sun — Tier Harribel's three Fracción —stood beside their master, looking up at the figure.

Apache spoke, his voice carrying an undisguised... reverence. "Lady Tier Harribel... should we go and help?"

Tia Tier Harribel stood there quietly, her calm eyes also fixed on Liu Hao in the air. She remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice calm and resolute. "Their battle... is probably beyond our control."

Upon hearing this, Emily Apache, Francesca Mila Rose, and Sun-Sun all turned somewhat pale. They knew, of course, that what Tier Harribel said was true, but the sense of powerlessness brought about by that "truth" stirred up indescribable complex emotions within them.

They could only silently look up at the two figures in the air, watching the final showdown that was about to unfold and decide everything.

Not far away, Koyatai Starrk and Lilynette Kingjerk also stood there, looking up at Liu Hao in the sky.

Lilynette spoke, her clear voice carrying a rare... seriousness. "Starrk... if he had attacked us back then, wouldn't we be dead already?"

Starrk turned his head slightly to look at the small figure beside him who had been with him for countless years. A faint, somewhat helpless smile appeared on his face, "Lilynette, this doesn't sound like something you would say."

Lilynette ignored his teasing and continued, "Because Aizen really did what he said... seeing that we couldn't bring him victory, he immediately tried to eliminate us."

She paused, her clear voice becoming more earnest. "So I think... he should be alright. He warned us to be careful before, and now he's healed our injuries."

She paused, a hint of regret in her voice. "It's just a pity about number 2."

Starrk nodded slightly, a complex glint in his languid eyes. "It's probably because Number Two died too young. And given Number Two's temper, it's a miracle he didn't do it himself."

Upon hearing this, Lilynette gave a wry smile to her small face, "They're really powerful... I can't even get involved in repaying their kindness."

Starrk looked up at Liu Hao in the air, a rare seriousness flickering in his languid eyes. He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Yes... let's do as he said... let's protect Hueco Mundo."

He paused, his smile becoming even more relieved, "Although it's not a great place, as he said, it's still our home."

Lilynette nodded, a determined look appearing on her small face. "Yes!"