The Battle Against Kenpachi Zaraki (Nine)

During the fierce battle with the Imperial Guard, which was like a storm, Kenpachi Zaraki's attention was almost entirely drawn to the cold and powerful opponent in front of him.

Imperial Guard's swordsmanship was as sharp as the winter wind, each strike carrying a chilling killing intent; his speed was as fast as lightning on a summer night, each flash catching people off guard; his strength was as great as an autumn landslide, each collision making Kenpachi Zaraki's arm go numb.

The two moved swiftly across the field, the clash of swords echoing continuously, sparks flying, and rubble flying everywhere, turning the entire Muken upside down.

However, just as the fierce battle reached its climax, Liu Hao, sitting on the Imperial Throne, shifted his gaze from the battlefield to the Imperial Princess beside him.

The gaze was calm and profound, devoid of words, yet carrying a tacit understanding that only the two could comprehend. It held a question, a confirmation, and a gentle warmth—as if asking: Are you ready? As if saying: It's time to begin.

Imperial Princess felt Liu Hao's gaze, and a gentle smile appeared on her graceful face. That smile was like a cherry blossom in spring, beautiful but fleeting; like the first ray of sunshine in the morning, warm but not dazzling; like a mountain stream, clear and tranquil.

She nodded slightly, the movement so subtle it was almost imperceptible, yet it carried a firm resolve and gentle obedience. Her long hair swayed gently behind her, the strands shimmering with starlight—the overflow of her inner power, the manifestation of Liu Hao's Bankai.

The Imperial Princess took a step and walked towards the sidelines. Her steps were light and elegant, each step as if she were walking on clouds, on water, or in a dream.

Her target is Yachiru Kusajishi, who is standing on the sidelines.

Yachiru Kusajishi stood there, her hands clenched tightly together, her knuckles white from the force, her lips trembling slightly, her gaze fixed on Kenpachi Zaraki, who was engaged in fierce combat in the arena.

When the Imperial Princess walked up to her, Yachiru Kusajishi realized someone was approaching. She looked up at the Imperial Princess with her large, bright, jewel-like eyes, her gaze filled with bewilderment.

Her eyes blinked, her eyelashes fluttering gently like butterfly wings. She looked innocent and adorable, making one want to reach out and pat her head. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to ask something, but in the end, she didn't ask anything. She just stood there quietly, waiting for the Imperial Princess to speak.

The Imperial Princess lowered her head, looking at the little girl with eyes full of tenderness and affection. She spoke softly, her voice like a spring breeze across a lake, like a gentle rain nourishing the earth, like a mother's whisper in her child's ear, "Come with me to the Emperor. The Emperor is preparing to resolve the problems between you and Kenpachi Zaraki."

These words were spoken casually, as if they were just stating an ordinary matter. But the moment Yachiru Kusajishi heard them, a complex light flashed in her large eyes.

There was anticipation, tension, and a hint of fear in that light. She knew what Liu Hao was referring to; she knew about the question concerning her connection with Kenpachi Zaraki, the question about the essence of her existence, and the question about whether she would disappear.

She was silent for a moment, something seemed to flicker slightly in her large eyes. Then, that familiar smile reappeared on her face—that innocent, radiant smile, like the sunshine.

She smiled and nodded, her movements light and lively, as if she were about to face only a fun game, not a ritual concerning her very existence. She took small steps, following the Imperial Princess towards Liu Hao's direction.

But as she walked away, she couldn't help but turn back and look at Kenpachi Zaraki, who was engaged in a fierce battle in the arena.

Her gaze lingered on Kenpachi Zaraki for a moment, then she turned and followed the Imperial Princess forward. Her small figure appeared particularly thin and fragile in the dim light, but her steps were firm and composed, without the slightest hesitation or retreat.

Kenpachi Zaraki, who was in the arena, sensed something was wrong the moment the Imperial Princess led Yachiru Kusajishi toward Liu Hao. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the small figure moving away from the battlefield and heading toward Liu Hao.

His pupils contracted sharply, and his eyes instantly turned bloodshot, like burning coals, like boiling magma, like a bloodthirsty beast.

"Yachiru!" The name flashed through Kenpachi Zaraki's mind, and an unprecedented anxiety and anger surged within him. He didn't know what Liu Hao was going to do, why the Imperial Princess wanted to take Yachiru away, or what awaited Yachiru.

But he knew that Yachiru was the most important person to him. He couldn't let anyone take her away, couldn't let anyone hurt her, couldn't let anyone take her away from him.

A violent power erupted from Kenpachi Zaraki's body, like a volcanic eruption, a tsunami, or the collapse of the heavens and the earth. His Reiatsu soared to a new level in that instant. The strength, ferocity, and terror of that Reiatsu made everyone on the sidelines feel a suffocating sense of oppression.

His hair billowed upwards from the impact of the Reiatsu, his clothes fluttered in the Reiatsu, and larger cracks appeared on the ground beneath his feet. These cracks spread outwards from him like a spider web, as shocking as the cracked earth itself.

Kenpachi Zaraki Zanpakuto and slashed fiercely at the Imperial Guard. The power of this strike far surpassed any of his previous attacks. The force was like a mountain collapsing, a tsunami crashing, or the sky falling, causing the Imperial Guard's Tang Dao to tremble violently and forcing the Imperial Guard to stagger back several steps.

Kenpachi Zaraki seized the opportunity, his body suddenly turning as he tried to rush towards the Imperial Princess and Yachiru. However, the Imperial Guards reacted even faster.

As he moved, the figures of the Six Paths Imperial Guards appeared simultaneously around Kenpachi Zaraki. These figures were not afterimages or illusions, but real, tangible clones with the same power and speed.

Six figures surrounded Kenpachi Zaraki, forming an impenetrable encirclement. Each figure held Tang Dao, the tip of which was pointed at Kenpachi Zaraki. Black flames burned in their eyes, and their entire bodies exuded a chilling killing intent.