Bankai Training Begins Again (5)

Life-Taker stared at him silently, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. "Ah... so you've just resolved the severed fate like that? But your Reiatsu has dropped so much... you don't seem to be my match."

She took a step forward, the blade in her hand regaining its platinum-gold glow. "Don't tell me you don't know— Tulu and I have always been guided by me, so I am stronger. Are you sure you can defeat me in your current state?"

Liu Ziyun a deep breath—a movement that aggravated the wound in his chest, bringing a sharp pain. But he didn't show it, only gripping the broken knife in his hand tightly. "I know... I've always known. But I believe... I can win. Come on, Life-Taker."

His voice was soft, but unusually firm.

Life-Taker at him, and for the first time, genuine anger appeared in those usually gentle eyes. "Is it because you don't want to give up, so you desperately want to defeat one of us and then press your advantage? I sense... you're underestimating me!!"

Her tone grew colder, her voice suppressing an emotion about to erupt. Even more terrifying, Liu Ziyun could "sense" that blood vessels were beginning to appear in the Life-Taker's eyes—a harbinger of her impending madness.

"The failure of the Tulu... has caused her to lose control of her sanity." Liu Ziyun instantly understood the situation. "Life-Taker has been suppressing her madness, and the Tulu is her 'shackle.' Now that the shackle is gone, she's about to lose control..."

"No, not at all, Life-Taker," Liu Ziyun said, his voice eerily calm. "You've always been strong... your skills have always surpassed mine and Tulu's. But Tulu seems to have been suppressing your madness, so you've never fought me like this before..."

He paused, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "It's also because you're so strong... that my biggest wish was to defeat you before defeating the Tulu. It seems my attempt to take a shortcut has backfired."

These words seemed to provoke Life-Taker.

Her breathing became more rapid, her eyes became increasingly bloodshot, and her aura grew more and more violent. "Then why are you continuing?! I advise you to stop before I go crazy... otherwise... I'll kill you!!"

The last few words were almost screamed out.

Liu Ziyun could "sense" that Life-Taker was desperately suppressing the madness within her. That violent aura rose and fell, clearly indicating that she was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

But he did not back down.

"Ah... because I also want to see... the strongest version of you." Liu Ziyun's voice was soft, but exceptionally clear, "Even if it means death... I hope to see the strongest version of you before I die."

As he spoke, his aura continued to rise. The mad light in his eyes, burning with blood-red flames, grew stronger and stronger, almost consuming all reason.

The Life-Taker has finally spiraled completely out of control.

"Since that's the case—then die!!" Her voice was filled with madness and murderous intent. "Ah... ah... die! Die! I'll wipe you all out! I am the only one who exists! I am the master of this world's destiny!!"

She threw her head back and laughed wildly, a laugh filled with madness and distortion, "No... no... no! I will transcend fate! Transcend time! Transcend space! Become the sole controller of all things! Fate is but a game in the palm of my hand!!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the aura Life-Taker from him exploded to its extreme.

The terrifying aura even caused the surrounding Barrier to tremble violently, and the protective Runes on the walls flickered wildly, emitting mournful cries of unbearable strain. The entire space was shaking, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Then, the Life-Taker attack began.

Her figure vanished from her spot as if by teleportation, and the next second, she appeared in front of Liu Ziyun. The blade in her hand, gleaming with a light that seemed to tear everything apart, slashed down at his head.

This strike was devoid of any skill or restraint; it was driven solely by the purest and most extreme desire for destruction.

Liu Ziyun raised his cracked knife to parry.

"Clang--!"

A deafening roar.

The knife shattered upon impact. Fragments of the blade danced in the air, reflecting the eerie light within the Barrier.

Even more terrifying was that after shattering Liu Ziyun's blade, the Life-Taker blade continued its downward slash almost without pause.

Liu Ziyun only had time to barely turn to the side.

"Pfft--"

The blade sliced from his left shoulder down to his right abdomen, almost splitting him in two. Blood gushed out like a fountain, and fragments of his internal organs spilled from the wound. He could "feel" his life rapidly slipping away.

Despite his severe injuries, Liu Ziyun made a move that surprised everyone.

He didn't try to stop the bleeding, he didn't try to treat the wound, but instead used his last bit of strength to fly backward—directed directly towards where Tulu had fallen.

His left hand reached out and grasped the hilt of the knife that Tulu was still gripping tightly.

Then, he stood with his two swords.

Although only half of the knife in his right hand remained, and the knife in his left hand was taken from Tulu, Liu Ziyun exuded a chilling aura at this moment.

He laughed Life-Taker, his laughter filled with madness and triumph. "What? Your knife's broken? You think you can defeat me by stealing one? Don't be naive, Liu Ziyun!!"

After saying that, she rushed forward again.

This time, she was faster, stronger, and the light on her blade was even more dazzling.

But Liu Ziyun did not choose to fight head-on.

He raised his left hand and forcefully flung the knife he had snatched from Tulu's hand.

The blade spun in the air, making a sharp whistling sound, heading straight for the Life-Taker face.

Then, Liu Ziyun himself, along with the flying blade, rushed towards the Life-Taker.

With Life-Taker laugh, he casually flicked his wrist, deflecting the flying blade. "What's this? Getting angry?"

Without even stopping, she plunged the knife straight into Liu Ziyun's heart.

This time, Liu Ziyun neither blocked nor dodged.

He chose to... crash into it.

"Pfft--"

The sound of a blade piercing a chest rang out.

The Life-Taker knife plunged squarely into Liu Ziyun's heart.

But at the same time, Liu Ziyun's left hand had already grabbed the wrist of the man holding the Life-Taker knife.

Life-Taker was stunned.

She hadn't expected Liu Ziyun to make such a choice.

"Accept me wholeheartedly?" Life-Taker mocked, but a tremor crept into his laughter. "This trick... I told you a long time ago it doesn't work..."

Her words came to an abrupt end.

Because Liu Ziyun's right hand, with only half a blade remaining, had already pierced her heart.

Life-Taker looked down in disbelief at the blade in front of his chest, then looked up at Liu Ziyun's face, which was so close to his.

There was no pain, no madness on that face, only a... almost liberated calm.

"I know... I know everything about you." Liu Ziyun's voice was very soft, almost inaudible. "You suppress the madness within you... the Tulu also helps you suppress your killing intent... From now on, let me be your shackles."

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his smile was unusually warm, "I'll use my heart... to bring back your sanity."

The moment the words left his mouth, the Broken Blade in Liu Ziyun's hand suddenly burst forth with a dazzling light.

It wasn't the radiance of platinum, nor the radiance of dark red, but a completely new radiance, unlike anything ever seen before—warm, all-encompassing, like the rising sun, or like the all-encompassing ocean.

At the same time, the Tulu on the ground and the blades that were knocked away into the distance also burst forth with the same light.