Beginning Bankai Training Again (3)

As Liu Ziyun -of-control, frenzied state, a complex yet gratifying emotion welled up within Life-Taker. She could "sense" that her master, whom she had accompanied for nearly a century, had finally dared to confront the darkness and madness deep within his own heart.

[You've finally... dared to face this state.] Life-Taker sighed softly deep within his consciousness, a sigh tinged with both relief and an unspeakable sorrow. [Otherwise, how could you truly progress? How could you master that power that belongs to you, yet also terrifies you?]

But the battle wouldn't stop because of her sentiments. The instant Liu Ziyun swung his blade at Tulu, Life-Taker instinct dictated that she raise her own blade, silently chanting, "Abyssal Wall."

A pale golden, almost tangible wall instantly materialized before Liu Ziyun's blade. Complex Runes flowed across the wall, each Runes flashing and rotating, forming layer upon layer of protective netting. This was Life-Taker's forte—a defensive skill capable of absorbing, dispersing, and even reflecting enemy attacks.

The moment Tulu wall appeared, Tu Lu reacted—he didn't try to fight it head-on, but retreated rapidly, his figure disappearing from the spot like a ghost, and reappearing in the air a dozen meters away. Years of fighting side by side had given him an intimate understanding of Life-Taker abilities, and he knew that during the brief period when the "Abyssal Wall" blocked his way, he had enough time to adjust his position and find another opportunity to strike.

Liu Ziyun's blade did not pause for a moment despite the obstruction of the "Abyssal Wall".

The crimson Tulu, fueled by its frenzied state, seemed to possess its own will. The crimson light swirling around the blade pulsed wildly, like flames yearning for destruction and annihilation. The moment the blade touched the pale gold wall, there was no sound—the wall was sliced in two silently, like butter cut by a hot knife.

But the Tulu had already receded; the blade had only torn his clothes at the shoulder, leaving a shallow white mark on his skin, without causing any real harm.

His attack missed, Liu Ziyun did not pursue. He stood still, his eyes, burning with blood-red flames, coldly "watching" the Life-Taker and Tulu, his voice filled with suppressed madness and desire. "You... seem to be able to enter this state too. Come on, let me see... your full power. Let's settle this once and for all."

These words caused Tulu and Life-Taker to exchange a glance.

Even in such a tense moment, the two maintained an almost telepathic understanding. They didn't need words; a mere glance was enough for them to understand each other's thoughts.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Tulu's lips, a dangerous glint flashing in his sharp eyes. "We've been underestimated. But... it's not time for us to get into that state yet."

He paused, a playful provocation in his tone. "But since you've brought out your trump card, we won't spoil your fun—we'll show you what we can do even without going into a frenzy."

The moment the words fell, both Tulu and Life-Taker unleashed astonishing power.

That wasn't the frenzied, destructive aura of Liu Ziyun, but a more restrained, deeper, and more dangerous aura—like an undercurrent in the deep sea, with a destructive power hidden beneath a calm surface.

The two charged at Liu Ziyun, one in front and one behind, like a well-trained army.

With Life-Taker at the forefront, the blade in his hand gleamed with a platinum-gold light, a light so holy and solemn that it seemed capable of purifying all filth; with Tulu following, black mist swirled around the dark red blade, a mist containing a pure will to destroy, as if to reduce everything to nothingness.

Faced with such an offensive, Liu Ziyun did not choose to dodge—or rather, in his frenzied state, he had lost the rational judgment to "avoid danger." He simply charged forward on instinct.

"Clang--!"

The first strike clashed with the blade of Tulu.

A terrifying power erupted between the blades. Liu Ziyun could "feel" that the power contained in this Tulu far surpassed any previous attack—it was not a simple slash, but a more fundamental attack that struck directly at the soul. At the moment the blades collided, he could even "feel" his own soul trembling.

But he did not back down. In his frenzied state, the tremor only fueled his fighting spirit. He flicked his wrist, deflecting the Tulu blade, and then turned to face the Life-Taker coming from the other side.

Her Life-Taker swordsmanship was completely different from his. If the attack of Tulu was ferocious, direct, and aimed at killing with a single blow, then the attack of Life-Taker was precise, circuitous, and aimed at winning through skill. Every strike of hers was just right, and every attack was aimed at Liu Ziyun's weakest point.

The blades clashed again.

This time, Liu Ziyun could "sense" a strange force emanating from the Life-Taker blade—not a physical impact, but a kind of conceptual "stripping." It was as if the Life-Taker blade could sever his connection with something, making him "incomplete."

Just as Liu Ziyun was dealing with the Life-Taker attack with all his might, Tulu launched another surprise attack from the side.

This time, he didn't use a knife, but instead raised his left foot—a precise and tricky side kick aimed straight at Liu Ziyun's abdomen.

If it were the usual Liu Ziyun, he might have been able to easily dodge this attack. But now, his judgment was clouded by his frenzied state, and his attention was distracted by the Life-Taker attack, causing him to react a beat slower.

"Bang!"

A solid kick landed on his abdomen. A sharp pain shot through him, Liu Ziyun's body involuntarily bent backward, his breath catching in his throat.

Life-Taker seized the opportunity, and with a swift turn of his blade, he was about to pierce through Liu Ziyun's defensive gaps.

But at that critical moment, Liu Ziyun made a move that surprised everyone.

Instead of retreating, he took a step forward and rammed his shoulder into the Life-Taker blade.

"Pfft--"

The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out. The Life-Taker blade pierced through Liu Ziyun's shoulder blade, protruding halfway from his back.

But at the same time, Liu Ziyun's left hand had already grabbed the wrist of the man Life-Taker knife, while his right hand swung the knife at Tu Lu, who was Tulu at him again from the right.

Tulu never expected Liu Ziyun to retaliate in such a suicidal way. Caught off guard, he was struck squarely in the chest by the knife.

"Ugh--!"

With a muffled Tulu, Tu Lu flew backward, his chest wound so deep that bone was visible, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

Using the recoil from the slashing and Tulu, Liu Ziyun pulled back sharply—the blade embedded in his shoulder was forcibly pulled out, raising a cloud of blood mist.

Then, he turned around and swung his knife at the Life-Taker again.

Life-Taker retreated rapidly, simultaneously using "Abyssal Wall" again.

A pale golden wall rose between the two. But this time, Life-Taker seemed Deadly was prepared—the moment the wall rose, she began to retreat, creating enough distance between them.

As before, the wall crumbled like paper under Liu Ziyun's blade.

But this time, the broken walls did not simply disappear.

The fragments spun and rearranged in the air, transforming into countless pale golden arrows that rained down on Liu Ziyun.