Bankai Training Begins Again (2)

Shinji Hirako shook his head. "Although there was a time when I couldn't understand Ziyun, and didn't know why he distanced himself from us or why he hid himself, since he came to find us this time, I've had the same feeling I had back at the Shin'ō Academy —he's still that free-spirited companion who always proved reliable in crucial moments."

He paused, then continued, "Perhaps he's been 'hiding' in the Fourth Division for too long, so long that we've almost forgotten what he was originally like. But seeing him now, releasing his Reiatsu so freely and engaging in such a wild battle... makes me feel that he's still a comrade we can rely on."

People familiar with Liu Ziyun, such as Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, and Kensei Muguruma, all nodded in agreement.

"Yes," Love Aikawa remarked, "Back in the academy, he was always like this—only showing his cheerful and outgoing side to us. Towards others, he always kept his distance, even deliberately appearing mediocre. Looking back now, I think he was preparing for the future even back then."

Just as everyone was marveling at the scene, the battle inside the Barrier had already entered a fierce stage.

This time, Liu Ziyun, Life-Taker, and Tulu held nothing back. They attacked with all their might, each collision causing the space to tremble violently, and each clash causing cracks to appear in the Barrier.

What's even more alarming is that this time, none of the three sides used the ability to quickly heal their wounds. They let the knife wounds accumulate on their bodies and let the blood stain their robes, yet they still fought with all their might, without the slightest hesitation.

Because any extra expenditure of Reiatsu could be the key to victory or defeat.

After dozens of rounds of fierce fighting, all three had reached their limits.

Life-Taker and Tulu stood side by side, opposite Liu Ziyun. Life-Taker had a deep wound on his left arm that exposed bone, while Tulu's right leg was trembling incessantly, clearly also seriously injured.

Liu Ziyun in even worse condition—he had three crisscrossing knife wounds on his chest, his left shoulder was almost split open, and there was a penetrating wound in his right abdomen, from which blood was gushing out.

"Ziyun," Life-Taker voice, though still gentle, carried a hint of weariness, "It seems we have the upper hand. You have more injuries than we do."

Liu Ziyun panting; he could "feel" the blood flowing from his wounds and his strength rapidly fading. But he did not give up.

"A temporary lead," Liu Ziyun said through gritted teeth, "I will catch up."

Tulu sneered, his tone still hard despite his own serious injuries. "Are you sure you don't want to widen the gap even further? In your current state, how long can you hold out?"

Liu Ziyun a deep breath—this action aggravated the wound on his chest, bringing a sharp pain. But he didn't show it, only saying in a low voice, "It seems... I'll have to show some skill."

"We know your capabilities perfectly well," Tulu exposed mercilessly. "And what you can do, we can do too. You couldn't possibly be hiding greater power—because we are one."

"Ah, it's the skill you all know." Liu Ziyun's lips suddenly curled into a strange smile. "However... I've never used it while 'sober' before."

The moment he finished speaking, Liu Ziyun's Reiatsu underwent a strange change.

The originally smooth and flowing Reiatsu suddenly became violent, chaotic, and filled with a destructive desire. It was a near-mad power, as if it wanted to tear everything apart and destroy everything.

Even more astonishingly, under the impact of this violent Reiatsu, Liu Ziyun's wounds began to heal at an astonishing speed. Deep, bone-revealing knife wounds disappeared without a trace within seconds, penetrating wounds closed rapidly, and even the lost blood seemed to return to his body.

But the price for all of this was— Liu Ziyun's eyes, those eye sockets that had been empty for nearly a hundred years, suddenly ignited with two balls of blood-red flames.

It wasn't real flame, but a burning crimson light composed of pure Reiatsu. The light was filled with madness, destruction, and an almost instinctive Killing.

"Using it while conscious... could it be..." Tulu's words trailed off, and for the first time, his expression showed a genuine change—it was wariness, shock, and even... a hint of fear.

Life-Taker also took a step back, gripping the knife tighter. "Ziyun, you..."

"Life-Taker, Tulu," Liu Ziyun's voice changed—no longer its usual calm or playful tone, but filled with barely suppressed madness and excitement, "You all need to be careful. You know, every time I enter this state, I lose my mind. That's why I've always been afraid of this state, and always tried my best to avoid it..."

He paused, a hint of determination in his voice. "But this time is different. This is the first time I've 'voluntarily' entered this state, and I don't know what the consequences will be. If it weren't for the group of reliable partners outside, if I didn't know they were there so that even if I lost control, they could stop me... I wouldn't dare use this move."

A crimson light burned wildly in his eyes, the light seemingly possessing its own life, pulsating and flickering erratically.

"I'm coming--"

Before he finished speaking, Liu Ziyun had already disappeared from the spot.

The next second, he appeared before the Life-Taker, his knife slashing down with a frenzied, all-consuming madness.

This strike had no technique, no method, only the purest, most primal power and madness.

Life-Taker barely managed to raise her knife to parry, but the moment they made contact, her expression changed—the power of this strike far surpassed any of her previous attacks. She was sent sliding backward for more than ten meters before she could barely regain her footing.

And there was no chance for rescue Tulu.

Before he could react, Liu Ziyun's second slash had already arrived.

"Clang--!"

Tulu parried with all his might, but the moment his blade touched Liu Ziyun's blade, cracks began to appear. It wasn't a difference in strength, but something deeper—as if Liu Ziyun's blade was imbued with an essential power capable of eroding and destroying everything.

Outside the Barrier, everyone was stunned by what they saw.

As they watched Liu Ziyun's crazed state and felt the abnormal Reiatsu emanating from him—a pressure that contained both a mad, destructive urge and a frenzied desire for rebirth—everyone was filled with shock.

But at the same time, when they heard Liu Ziyun say, "If it weren't for a group of reliable partners outside," a warm feeling welled up in everyone's hearts.

This guy, who had stayed away from them for nearly a hundred years in order to "survive" in Soul Society, this guy who always seemed cynical and unfathomable... had always regarded them as his most reliable partners.

Even in the most dangerous moments, even when things were on the verge of spiraling out of control, he still believed in them and still relied on them.

"Ziyun..." Shinji Hirako murmured softly, his eyes flashing with a complex light.