Battle against Kenpachi Zaraki (4)
Kenpachi Zaraki more unrestrained, more wild, and more insane than before. His eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit, a fighting spirit like an inextinguishable flame, dancing, rolling, and burning in his pupils.
His every breath carried the scent of blood, his every heartbeat was like the beating of a war drum, and every cell in his body was rejoicing, for he was experiencing the happiest thing in his life—fighting.
Once again, swords clashed, their forces collided in mid-air, sparking a dazzling burst of light. The light illuminated the entire arena, their scarred faces, and the unwavering fighting spirit in their eyes. They exerted their strength simultaneously, retreating in unison, creating a distance of over ten meters between them.
Liu Hao stood there, his Imperial Sword pointing diagonally at the ground, a drop of blood still clinging to its tip— Kenpachi Zaraki's blood. His breathing was somewhat rapid, but it quickly returned to normal.
His gaze fell on Kenpachi Zaraki, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. This man was indeed a monster. His strength, his will, his fighting instincts far exceeded the imagination of ordinary people. Even in his battle with Aizen, Liu Hao had never felt such pure fighting spirit, such fervent desire to fight.
"As expected of Captain Zaraki," Liu Hao said, his voice, though not loud, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present. His voice carried a sincere admiration and a respect for his opponent.
"Although my power has not fully recovered, my Imperial Robe can be considered an absolute defense. Only if the density of Reiatsu exceeds mine for a fleeting moment could my Imperial Robe be torn," Liu Hao continued, his voice calm and indifferent, as if stating an objective fact rather than showing off his strength. His gaze swept over the damaged areas of the Imperial Robe, and then landed on Kenpachi Zaraki.
"Even if I haven't fully recovered, there aren't many people in Soul Society who can surpass my Reiatsu density." He paused, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Captain Zaraki, can compress the Reiatsu on his blade to a density exceeding mine while swinging his sword. That's truly remarkable."
This wasn't flattery, but a heartfelt exclamation. Liu Hao was well aware of how high his Reiatsu density was. Among the entire Gotei 13, there were only a handful of people who could rival him in Reiatsu density.
To be able to compress the Reiatsu on a blade to a level exceeding one's own density in the instant of swinging it during battle requires not only immense Reiatsu, but also extremely precise control, exceptionally keen perception, and a wealth of combat experience.
Kenpachi Zaraki accomplished this, and not by chance, but multiple times. This shows that it had become an instinct for him, a fighting technique ingrained in his very being.
Upon hearing this, Kenpachi Zaraki's smile widened. He grinned, revealing two rows of teeth stained with blood. The smile looked somewhat ferocious and terrifying, yet it also contained a childlike innocence. He didn't care about Liu Hao's praise, nor about the analysis of Reiatsu density; the only thing he cared about was the battle itself.
"Haha--" Kenpachi Zaraki's laughter echoed in the empty space, a laugh filled with satisfaction, anticipation, and a hint of urgency. "Why all the nonsense? Let's keep fighting! Didn't you say there was a next phase of the battle? Let's get started! I can't wait!"
He leaned forward slightly, gripping his Zanpakuto with both hands, the tip pointing at Liu Hao, exuding a dangerous aura. His eyes gleamed with anticipation, like a child waiting for a Christmas present, a diner waiting for a delicious meal, or an addict waiting for his drugs.
Seeing Kenpachi Zaraki's impatient expression, Liu Hao's smile deepened. He took a deep breath, then slowly spoke, his voice carrying a solemnity, a reverence, a sense of ceremony as if announcing some important moment. "Let's begin the next phase of the battle."
As soon as the words were spoken, the entire space seemed to freeze. The air stopped moving, the sound stopped traveling, and time seemed to stand still.
All eyes were fixed on Liu Hao, everyone's breathing became lighter, and everyone's heartbeats slowed. They knew what was about to happen. They knew what Liu Hao was going to do.
Liu Hao stood there, his figure as upright as a pine tree, his face as calm as still water. He slowly raised his hands, grasped the hilt of the Imperial Sword, held the sword upright in front of him, the tip pointing upwards and the blade perpendicular to the ground.
His posture was solemn and dignified, like a priest performing some kind of sacred ceremony, like a believer praying to a god, like a deity about to descend to earth.
His Reiatsu began to change. It wasn't an explosion or a surge, but rather a slow rise like the tide, a gradual arrival like dawn, and a slow blooming like a flower.
His Reiatsu surged from within him, spreading through the air. The temperature, density, and purity of that Reiatsu were all higher than before. A sacred and solemn aura filled the air, an aura that made people want to kneel, to submit, and to prostrate themselves in worship.
Liu Hao's lips parted slightly, and his voice emerged from deep within his throat. It wasn't loud, but it carried a soul-stirring power. "Bankai... Emperor's Descent"
The Imperial Sword began to undergo a strange transformation in Liu Hao's hands. The divine weapon that had just been shimmering with golden light and radiating a heart-palpitating Reiatsu was now like ice and snow melting in the sunlight, gradually turning into countless tiny points of light starting from the tip of the sword.
Those tiny specks of light, as small as dust, as light as feathers, and as dazzling as stars, danced, twirled, and fluttered at Liu Hao's fingertips before slowly dissipating into the air.
Behind Liu Hao, various lights gathered, attracting, merging, and intertwining with each other, gradually outlining a blurry silhouette. At first, the silhouette was just a faint phantom, like a mirage, Kyōka Suigetsu, or an illusion in a dream. But as more and more points of light joined in, the silhouette became clearer, more concrete, and more real.
That was an imperial Imperial Throne.
The Imperial Throne slowly took shape, a process that, though slow, carried an undeniable power. As the last point of light returned to its place, as the last line of the emblem was completed, and as the last ray of light faded, the Imperial Throne was finally fully revealed.
It hovered behind Liu Hao, about a foot off the ground, slowly rotating and emanating an aura that made people want to kneel down. That aura was different from Reiatsu; it was a purer, more primal, and more essential power—the majesty of Emperor, the bearing of a king, and the authority of a ruler.
Liu Hao's Imperial Robes also changed at this moment. The original Imperial Robes were already magnificent enough, with various mythical beasts and auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on the golden robe surface. The collar was high, the cuffs were wide, and the hem reached his feet, making him look majestic and noble.
But now, the Imperial Robe has become more exquisite, more magnificent, and more perfect. The patterns on the robe have become more delicate, and the patterns of the mythical beasts seem to have come alive, slowly moving on the robe as if soaring in the sea of clouds or dancing in the sky.
A golden trim appeared along the edge of the Imperial Robe, with fine runes flowing on it. These runes emitted a faint light, which shone in harmony with the light of the Imperial Throne, making Liu Hao appear like a true Emperor.
Above Liu Hao's head, an Imperial Crown appeared. The Imperial Crown was ancient and solemn in design, with a golden ring as its main body. At the front of the ring was a huge gemstone, which was crystal clear and seemed to have flames burning, lightning flashing, and stars flowing inside.
Liu Hao slowly sat down. His movements were slow and unhurried, every detail carrying a sense of ritual, as if he were not performing a simple act of sitting down, but a coronation ceremony, a ritual of ascending the throne.
He leaned back against the back of the Imperial Throne. At that moment, his body and the Imperial Throne were perfectly aligned, as if the Imperial Throne had been made for him, as if he was born to sit on Imperial Throne.
The moment Liu Hao sat down, two blurry figures appeared on either side of the Imperial Throne. At first, the figures were just faint phantoms, like illusions in the mist, like ghosts in a dream. But as Liu Hao poured in his Reiatsu, the two figures became clearer, more concrete, and more real.