Fighting Kenpachi Zaraki (10)
Kenpachi Zaraki was forced to stop. He looked around at the six identical Imperial Guards, a flash of anger and resentment in his eyes. His hands gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his breathing rapid and heavy, his chest heaving violently.
He raised his head and looked at Liu Hao, who sat on the Imperial Throne. His eyes were full of anger, like an enraged lion or a tiger driven to the brink of despair.
"Liu Hao!" Kenpachi Zaraki's voice boomed like thunder in the empty space, filled with anger, anxiety, and a hint of pleading he himself didn't even realize, "What are you going to do to Yachiru?!"
Liu Hao did not answer. He simply sat on the Imperial Throne, looking down at Kenpachi Zaraki with a dignified and composed expression, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The voice of the Imperial Guard rang out behind Kenpachi Zaraki. The voice was cold and calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, carrying only an undeniable declaration. "Kenpachi Zaraki, you cannot get close to the Emperor unless you defeat me."
As soon as the words fell, the Six Paths Imperial Guards moved simultaneously. They charged towards Kenpachi Zaraki from six different directions, at six different angles, and at six different speeds. The six Tang Dao drew six black arcs in the air, which intertwined to form an impenetrable net of death, enveloping Kenpachi Zaraki within it.
Kenpachi Zaraki had no choice but to turn around and fight the Imperial Guards again. But this time, his opponent was not one person, but six. Six Imperial Guards with the same speed, the same strength, and the same skills attacked him simultaneously from all directions.
Although his Zanpakuto was wild and his strength was terrifying, no matter how fast he was, he couldn't deal with attacks from six directions at the same time; no matter how strong his defense was, he couldn't block the slashes of six Tang Dao at the same time. He was clearly at a disadvantage.
A Tang Dao stabbed at him from behind. He dodged to the side, but the blade still slashed his shoulder, and blood gushed out. Another Tang Dao slashed at him from the left. He raised his sword to block, but the impact made his arm go numb, and his hand split open again.
Another Tang Dao came thrusting from his right side. He had no time to dodge and could only watch helplessly as the blade pierced his waist. A sharp pain came from the wound, making his body shudder violently.
Blood continued to gush from his wounds, staining his body dark red. New wounds kept appearing on his body, some deep enough to expose the bone, some over a foot long, some on his chest, some on his back, some on his arms, and some on his legs.
The crisscrossing wounds, densely packed, made him look like a shocking figure, but his injuries healed quickly after he was injured.
But Kenpachi Zaraki Zanpakuto tightly, and continued to fight the figures of the Six Paths Imperial Guards. Each of his strikes was more ferocious than the last, each attack more powerful than the last, and each parry more resolute than the last.
At the same time, Yachiru Kusajishi had already followed the Imperial Princess to Liu Hao's side.
She stood below the Imperial Throne, raised her head, and looked up at Liu Hao, who sat high above. From her angle, Liu Hao's figure appeared exceptionally tall, exceptionally majestic, and exceptionally unapproachable.
Golden light from the Imperial Throne poured down from above, enveloping Liu Hao in a sacred glow. His Imperial Crown shimmered with dazzling brilliance in the light, and the divine beast patterns on his Imperial Robes seemed to move slowly. He looked like a deity who had stepped out of mythology, like Emperor who had descended from legend.
But Liu Hao's gaze towards Yachiru Kusajishi lacked the haughtiness of Emperor; instead, it carried a gentle, elder brotherly warmth. A warm smile, like the spring sunshine, dispelled the chill and darkness of the Muken.
"Little Hao, why did you call me over?" Yachiru Kusajishi asked, tilting her head, her big eyes full of confusion and curiosity.
Her voice was clear and childlike, as melodious as Ginrei Kuchiki and as sweet as a bird's song. Her hair was tied into a small ponytail at the back of her head, swaying gently as she tilted her head, making her look exceptionally cute.
Her face wore an innocent smile, as if she were not facing an entity that could decide her fate, but chatting with an old friend.
Liu Hao smiled authoritatively and said, "Little Deer, don't worry. I'll handle your problem with Captain Zaraki."
Liu Hao's voice was gentle yet firm, like a father making a promise to his daughter, or an elder brother making a guarantee to his younger sister. His gaze fell on Yachiru, a gaze that held an indescribable tenderness as well as an unquestionable determination.
Yachiru Kusajishi tilted her head, a hint of confusion flashing in her large eyes. She thought for a moment, then asked, "So, Little Hao, how are you going to solve this?" Her voice was filled with curiosity, but also a touch of nervousness.
She knew that what Liu Hao was about to do would change her relationship with Kenpachi Zaraki, change her way of being, and change her destiny. She didn't know what awaited her, but she was willing to believe in Liu Hao, willing to believe in this older brother who had been so kind to her from the very first time they met.
Liu Hao did not answer Yachiru's question directly. He turned his head to look at the Imperial Princess standing to the side, extended his palm, palm up, fingers slightly spread. His movements were slow and solemn, as if he were performing some ancient ritual, as if he were summoning some dormant power.
The Imperial Princess smiled, a glint of light flashing in her beautiful eyes. With a gentle flick of her wrist, a purple bead appeared in her hand. The bead was crystal clear, emitting a faint purple glow, and some kind of power seemed to be slowly flowing within it, like a dormant volcano, a lurking dragon, or a flower bud waiting to bloom.
The moment everyone saw the bead, they gasped. It was none other than the Hōgyoku they had taken from Aizen.
The Imperial Princess gently and carefully placed the Hōgyoku in Liu Hao's palm. The Hōgyoku rolled slightly in Liu Hao's hand, then lay there quietly, emitting a faint light. The light flickered, like a sleeping life breathing, like a waiting soul anticipating hope.
Liu Hao lowered his head, looking at the Hōgyoku in his palm, a slight smile playing on his lips. He spoke slowly, his voice calm and indifferent, as if stating a pre-planned fact. "The reason I didn't destroy this Hōgyoku before was that I intended to use its power to resolve the issue between you and Captain Zaraki."
As soon as he finished speaking, seven-colored light began to gather in Liu Hao's hands. The light surged from his palms like spring water gushing from the ground, like sunlight shining through the clouds, like life being born from death.
The light was red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet; the seven colors intertwined to form a magnificent rainbow, illuminating the entire Muken.