Battle Against Kenpachi Zaraki (8)
The Imperial Guard stood there, the severed arm now fully restored. A new arm had grown from the cut, its skin fair and smooth, its fingers long and strong, indistinguishable from the original arm.
The severed muscles, bones, blood vessels, and nerves had all completely regenerated, showing no trace of injury whatsoever. Imperial Guard moved his newly grown arm, his fingers bending and stretching, his wrist rotating and flipping, the movements fluid and natural, as if the arm had never been severed at all.
Kenpachi Zaraki's pupils contracted sharply. He had seen many kinds of regenerative abilities, the Soul Reaper's Kaidō, the Hollows' High-Speed Regeneration, and even some special items and drugs, but he had never seen such a fast regeneration speed.
From the moment he severed the Imperial Guard's arm until now, only a few seconds had passed. In those few seconds, the Imperial Guard not only did not collapse from the severed arm, but had also completed the complete regeneration of the arm. This regenerative ability was beyond his comprehension.
The Imperial Guard's expression remained cold and stern, but his voice was lower and more powerful than before. "Defeated? Just one slip-up."
He paused for a moment, held the Tang Dao horizontally in front of him, and gently stroked the blade with his left hand. The movement was slow and gentle, as if he were caressing a sleeping lover, or as if he were awakening a warrior about to awaken.
His face was reflected on the blade, his eyes burning with black flames, cold and intense, like the karmic fire of the depths of Hell, like a black hole at the end of the universe.
"Kenpachi Zaraki," the Imperial Guard's voice echoed in the empty space, carrying a solemn declaration, a resolute will, and an unstoppable power, "Now, I'll show you my true strength."
The moment the words fell, the Imperial Guard's aura suddenly erupted.
The sheer power, ferocity, and terror of that aura sent a shiver down the spines of everyone present. It was no ordinary aura, but the aura of someone who had long held a superior position, the aura of someone who had long resided beside Emperor, looking down upon all living beings.
Kenpachi Zaraki watched the Imperial Guards change, the surprise in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by an even more fervent excitement. His lips parted in a wide grin, revealing an almost maniacal smile, a smile filled with heartfelt joy, a satisfaction of finally achieving his goal, and a ecstatic delight in the face of a formidable foe.
"That's more like it!" Kenpachi Zaraki's voice was filled with excitement and anticipation. He gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, leaning forward slightly like a beast about to pounce on its prey. "This is the kind of opponent I've been looking for! Come on, Imperial Guard! Let me see your true strength! Let me see just how strong you really are!"
The Imperial Guard remained silent, merely raising his Tang Dao, its tip pointing at Kenpachi Zaraki. Black flames burned within his vertical pupils, flames both cold and intense, like the karmic fire of the depths of Hell, like a black hole at the edge of the universe. A faint smile played on his lips, a smile cold and sharp, like the winter wind, like a blade drawn from its sheath.
Then, he moved.
His figure vanished from the spot, moving so fast it seemed to transcend time itself. Only a faint black afterimage remained in the air, lingering for a moment before dissipating like smoke blown away by the wind.
The next second, the Imperial Guard appeared in front of Kenpachi Zaraki, his Tang Dao raised high, the blade gleaming with a ghostly blue light, a light that was cold and deadly, like the aurora borealis in the Arctic, like a ghost in the deep sea.
Kenpachi Zaraki's pupils contracted sharply, his fighting instincts went into overdrive, and his body began to react the instant the Imperial Guards appeared.
He raised his Zanpakuto, holding it horizontally in front of him, preparing to block the Imperial Guard's attack. But the Imperial Guard was too fast, so fast that Kenpachi Zaraki's reaction seemed sluggish, so fast that his block seemed powerless, so fast that his defense seemed laughable.
The Tang Dao fell.
A pale blue arc flashed across the sky, like a shooting star streaking across the night, like a shark swimming in the deep sea, like a tiger pouncing from the jungle. The arc was beautiful yet deadly, carrying an unstoppable force, an irresistible will, and an inescapable destiny.
"Clang--"
A deafening metallic clang exploded in the air, sharp and loud, like two mountains colliding, like two bolts of lightning striking each other, making everyone's eardrums buzz.
A dazzling burst of sparks erupted where the swords clashed, the sparks standing out starkly in the dim light, like fireworks blooming in the night sky, like the first rays of sunlight at dawn.
Kenpachi Zaraki's body was thrown backward by the immense force, his feet carving two deep furrows in the ground, sending pebbles flying and dust billowing everywhere.
His hands were numb, and the gash between his thumb and forefinger split open again, gushing blood that stained the hilt of his knife. A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth, a sign of internal organ injury from the shock. A flash of shock crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an even more intense excitement.
He steadied himself, raised his head, looked at the Imperial Guards standing not far away, grinned, revealing his teeth stained with blood.
"Good!" Kenpachi Zaraki roared, his voice filled with excitement and admiration. "That was satisfying! Again!"
He pushed off the ground with both feet and charged towards the Imperial Guard, Zanpakuto high, its blade gleaming with a cold light. The Imperial Guard also rushed forward, his Tang Dao drawing eerie blue arcs in the air, constantly clashing with Kenpachi Zaraki's Zanpakuto.
"Clang clang--"
A series of metallic clanging sounds exploded in the air, like firecrackers, like drumbeats, like a roaring waterfall. Two figures clashed repeatedly on the field, swords clashing and sparks flying. Both were incredibly fast, incredibly strong, and unwavering in their will.
The Imperial Guard's swordsmanship became even more ferocious, each strike carrying deadly intent, each blow aimed directly at vital points. His Tang Dao drew arcs of dark blue in the air, those arcs intertwining to form an impenetrable net, enveloping Kenpachi Zaraki within it.
Kenpachi Zaraki's swordsmanship remained unrestrained, but he was also constantly improving. Each of his strikes was more precise than the last, each attack more powerful, and each parry more stable.
The crowd on the sidelines watched the breathtaking battle intently. No one spoke, no one moved, and no one even dared to breathe heavily. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto gripped his cane tightly, Retsu Unohana's gaze deepened, Yachiru Kusajishi's knuckles turned white from gripping his cane, Isane Kotetsu's lips trembled slightly, and Ichigo Kurosaki leaned forward slightly.
On the Imperial Throne, Liu Hao sat quietly, overlooking the battle. His gaze was calm and profound, as if watching a play whose ending he already knew. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips, a smile with an indescribable meaning—was it admiration, anticipation, or something else entirely?