The Battle with Kenpachi Zaraki Ends (2)
Upon hearing Kenpachi Zaraki's words, Liu Hao's smile deepened. Looking at Kenpachi Zaraki's unwilling expression, his eyes were full of understanding and tolerance.
Of course he knew what Kenpachi Zaraki was thinking—this man had waited too long, anticipated too long, prepared too long, finally found an opponent worthy of his full effort, finally heard the sound of his Zanpakuto, finally touched the essence of power, but the battle was stopped, interrupted, and ended.
This feeling is like a child finally getting their hands on a desired toy, only to have it taken away by an adult before they even have a chance to play with it; like a starving person finally getting a table full of delicious food, only to have it taken away before they can even eat it; like a climber almost reaching the summit, only to be pulled back down before they can even reach the top. This feeling is indeed very unpleasant.
"Captain Zaraki," Liu Hao's voice was gentle and calm, as if soothing a sulking child, or advising a disgruntled friend, "You are not my match yet. Wait until you've fully adapted to your current strength before we talk."
The words were spoken casually, as if they were merely stating an objective fact. But to Kenpachi Zaraki, they sounded particularly grating. His brows furrowed even more, his lips pressed into a thin line, and a hint of defiance flashed in his eyes.
He wanted to argue, to defend himself, to tell Liu Hao that he could continue fighting now, that he didn't need to adapt to any new power, that he only needed to speak with the knife in his hand. But when he opened his mouth, he found his voice stuck in his throat, unable to come out.
Because he knew that Liu Hao was right. He was indeed no match for Liu Hao yet. Not because he was too weak, but because he was too new—new power, new perception, new realm.
He had only just heard the sound of his Zanpakuto, only just been able to Shikai his Shikai, only just begun to understand his true power. In this state, he was like a child who had just learned to walk; he had the ability to walk, but was far from being able to run. Liu Hao, on the other hand, had been waiting for far too long on another level.
"Hmph..." Kenpachi Zaraki snorted in dissatisfaction, his voice carrying a stubborn resentment mixed with a helpless compromise.
He took his Zanpakuto off his shoulder, slammed it into the ground with a clang, the blade sinking more than a foot into the earth, standing firmly there. He crossed his arms, raised his chin slightly, and looked at Liu Hao with an expression that said, "I'm not convinced, but I won't say anything."
"Then let's fight again once I've adapted to my power." Kenpachi Zaraki's voice carried an undeniable resolve, an unwavering determination, and a promise to return. This was not a request, not a negotiation, but a declaration, an agreement, a challenge.
Upon hearing this, Liu Hao's smile grew even warmer. He looked at Kenpachi Zaraki, his eyes filled with admiration and anticipation. This man's fighting spirit was indeed unmatched.
He won't be discouraged by a single failure, won't give up because of a single interruption, and won't back down because his opponent is too strong. He will only become stronger and then launch another challenge.
This indomitable spirit, this relentless pursuit, this ceaseless evolution—that is what makes Kenpachi Zaraki terrifying, and also what makes him so worthy of respect.
"Don't worry, Captain Zaraki," Liu Hao's voice carried a firm and unwavering confidence, "There will be no shortage of battles ahead."
Upon hearing this, Kenpachi Zaraki's eyes lit up. The light was filled with anticipation and excitement, like a child waiting for Christmas, a diner awaiting a delicious meal, or an addict anticipating his drugs. His lips curled into a signature, wild smile, and his eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit.
"That's good!" Kenpachi Zaraki's voice was filled with anticipation and satisfaction. "As long as there is fighting, as long as there are opponents worthy of my sword, I will not stop! No matter how many enemies come, no matter how strong they are, I will use this sword to cut them down one by one!"
His voice echoed in the empty space, carrying a heroic spirit, a fearless courage, and an unstoppable will. It was a warrior's declaration, a strong man's confidence, and Kenpachi Zaraki's conviction.
Looking at Kenpachi Zaraki's heroic demeanor, Liu Hao smiled and shook his head, then slowly stood up from the Imperial Throne.
His movements were slow and gentle, but the moment he stood up, the Imperial Throne behind him suddenly changed. The majestic, golden Imperial Throne, carved with countless divine beasts and auspicious clouds, began to slowly dissipate from the bottom up.
The process of dissipation was quiet and swift, without sound, without light, without any warning; it simply, quietly, and irreversibly vanished from existence.
The backrest of the Imperial Throne disappeared first, then the armrests, then the seat, then the legs, and finally the entire Imperial Throne. It vanished so completely, so cleanly, as if it had never existed, as if all the majesty and nobility of the moment had been nothing but an illusion.
As the Imperial Throne dissipated, the Imperial Princess Imperial Guards standing on either side of Imperial Throne also began to fade and disappear.
The moment the Imperial Princess Imperial Guards disappeared, the Imperial Robes Imperial Crown on Liu Hao's body also began to dissipate. The golden Imperial Robe, embroidered with divine beasts and auspicious cloud patterns, peeled off piece by piece from Liu Hao's body, turning into golden specks of light that drifted into the air.
As the Imperial Robes, Imperial Crown, Imperial Throne, Imperial Princess, and Imperial Guards all vanished, Liu Hao's Reiatsu also dropped sharply in an instant.
That immense, suffocating, godlike Reiatsu receded rapidly like the receding tide, falling from a peak to a valley, from a vast ocean to a stream, from thunder to a gentle breeze. The heavy oppressive feeling in the air also dissipated, and everyone on the sidelines felt their bodies lighten and their breathing became easier.
However, just as the Reiatsu dissipated, everyone saw a trace of fatigue on Liu Hao's face. That fatigue was not feigned, not concealed, but genuine, deep-seated, and impossible to hide.
His face turned pale, his eyes dimmed, his lips cracked, and his body swayed slightly, as if he might collapse at any moment. It was the exhaustion of physical strength, the exhaustion of mental energy, and the exhaustion of the soul.
But Liu Hao did not fall. He stood there, his body swaying slightly, yet still as straight as a pine tree. His gaze, though somewhat dim, remained clear as a spring. His breathing, though a little rapid, was still steady and orderly. He was supporting his body with his willpower, fighting against the onslaught of exhaustion with his faith.
Just then, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stepped up to Liu Hao. His eyes, hidden by his eyebrows, looked at Liu Hao with an indescribable light in them—a light that contained concern, appreciation, and a hint of worry.
"Liu Hao," Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's voice was deep and powerful, each word carrying the authority and care of an elder, "What preparations have you made for going to the Soul King Palace?"
Upon hearing the Captain-Commander's question, Liu Hao slightly raised his head, looking at the aged yet dignified old man before him. A faint smile appeared on his lips, a smile that carried the carefree spirit of youth, the confidence of a strong man, and a touch of casualness that was both amusing and exasperating.
"Nothing prepared, we'll see how it goes." Liu Hao's voice was relaxed and casual, as if he wasn't going to the legendary Soul King Palace, but rather to a street in Seireitei.