Is My Zanpakuto Schizophrenic? (2)

Life-Taker sighed helplessly and pulled the Tang Dao from Liu Ziyun's shoulder. She withdrew it gently, even using Spiritual Power to seal the wound and stop the bleeding.

"Tulu..." she tried to persuade him. "Ziyun has already..."

"Shut up," Tulu interrupted coldly. "What an arrogant guy."

He was speaking about Liu Ziyun, but his eyes were on Life-Taker. "Ziyun, you're no match for this guy right now. So—"

She looked at Liu Ziyun, her gaze serious. "Use me. Fight alongside me."

Liu Ziyun was startled. "Use you?"

"That's right." Life-Taker nodded. "Don't you already know my name? Then call it."

She paused, then reminded him softly, "Existence is to change fate—Life-Taker."

Understanding dawned on Liu Ziyun, and the words almost burst from his lips. "Existence is to change fate—"

He tightened his grip on the Asauchi, took a deep breath, and shouted the name with all his strength. "Life-Taker!"

"Hummm!!!"

The Asauchi erupted in dazzling golden light!

Within the light, the blade began to change shape, extending and reforming... until it became a Gold-hued Tang Dao identical to the one in Life-Taker's hand!

Pale gold patterns flowed along the blade, and a warm glow shone along its edge. Beautiful as it looked, Liu Ziyun could sense the terrifying power contained within it.

He tightened his grip on Life-Taker, feeling the warmth of the blade, and suddenly felt much more reassured.

"Are you ready?"

Tulu's voice brought him back to reality.

The icy-faced man's eyes were now shining with excitement—the look of a hunter who had spotted his prey.

"Then let's begin our slaughter." He licked his lips and gave a savage smile. "Will someone as weak as you be able to earn my acknowledgment?"

The moment he finished speaking, Tulu vanished!

It wasn't Flash Step or high-speed movement. He was simply... fast!

So fast that Liu Ziyun had no time to react!

"Splurt!"

A single slash ran from his left shoulder to his right side, deep enough to expose bone!

Liu Ziyun was sent flying, arcing through the air before crashing heavily onto the street dozens of meters away, shattering the stone pavement beneath him.

"Cough, cough..."

He used his sword to push himself up and looked down at the wound on his chest. Blood was gushing out.

Holy crap... he's strong!

He looked up at Tulu, his eyes full of shock.

Tulu was still standing where he had been, holding the pose of his swing. And the sword in his hand... still looked like an Asauchi!

He didn't even release his sword! He wounded me in an instant with nothing but an Asauchi?!

Liu Ziyun sucked in a cold breath.

But something even more alarming came next. He looked down at Life-Taker in his hand, and there, on the blade near the Tsuba, was a... shallow nick! It was small, but it was definitely there!

Cold sweat broke out all over Liu Ziyun.

How can the gap be this big?!

With just an Asauchi, he not only wounded me, but even nicked Life-Taker?!

How am I supposed to fight him?! We're on completely different levels!

In the distance, Life-Taker watched the scene and couldn't help shaking her head with a laugh.

Of course, she knew what had happened.

That face-conscious guy Tulu had actually released his Zanpakuto the instant he struck Liu Ziyun. It had only been for an instant, but he had indeed released it.

After the slash, he had immediately restored his sword to the form of an Asauchi, and had even deliberately used his power to "create" a nick in Life-Taker's blade, all to give Liu Ziyun a show of force.

Childish, Life-Taker complained inwardly. He's just like Ziyun, willing to suffer rather than lose face.

Still, she had no intention of exposing him.

After all... this was part of the trial too.

On the field, Liu Ziyun took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He tightened his grip on Life-Taker and silently chanted, Heal.

Golden light lit up the wound, and the cut, deep enough to expose bone, healed at a visible rate. After a few seconds, only a faint white scar remained.

Good thing the healing ability works.

Liu Ziyun breathed a sigh of relief, then his gaze sharpened—

He gripped the sword with both hands, poured all his Reiatsu into the blade, and swung fiercely at Tulu in the distance!

"Hummm!!!"

A crescent-shaped arc of golden sword energy shot through the air toward Tulu with an ear-piercing shriek!

Liu Ziyun had put all his strength into that strike.

He was confident that even a Captain-level Soul Reaper couldn't completely disregard it.

But Tulu...

He merely leaned slightly to one side.

"Whoosh!"

The sword energy flew past the edge of his clothes and struck a high-rise building in the distance—

"Boom!!!"

A huge hole was blasted through the building, sending rubble flying.

Tulu didn't even blink.

He turned to look at Liu Ziyun, speaking as calmly as if he were commenting on a dish.

"Naive."

"You clearly know my speed far surpasses yours. How could a slash like that possibly hurt me?"

Liu Ziyun: "..."

What do I do...?

His mind raced. Close combat? Tulu's sword is too fierce. I'm afraid Life-Taker will be damaged.

Ranged attacks? I can't hit him.

There's just no solution!

"Your fighting really is dull," Tulu said again, his disappointment plain. "Don't you often train and communicate with us the way they do in anime? Why are you still making such a basic mistake?"

He took a step forward, his gaze sharp. "Do you think fighting is a turn-based game where you take turns slashing at each other?"

Liu Ziyun gritted his teeth. "How can that be the same?!"

He protested loudly, "I want my battles to be wild, to be artistic! But I don't want victory that comes from hurting my companions, disregarding the consequences, and using any means necessary!"

He tightened his grip on Life-Taker, his gaze resolute. "That's not what I want! I want you all to stay with me and fight at my side! Not to treat you like tools, throwing you away after using you and replacing you when you break! If winning means damaging Life-Taker, or even breaking her... then I'd rather lose!"

He spoke those words with ringing conviction.

Tulu fell silent after hearing him out.

Several seconds passed before he gave a short laugh.

But there was no mockery or contempt in that laugh.

Only... a complicated emotion.

"Naive."

He repeated the word, but his tone was completely different. "Do you really not know why we exist?"

He raised the Asauchi in his hand, its edge reflecting cold light in the sun. "We are your swords. We are your power, your will, the desires buried deepest in your heart. Even if we're damaged, even if we disappear, we must accomplish everything you wish for—"

He paused, then enunciated each word. "That is why we exist. You hold yourself back, afraid of losing us, afraid of damaging us, afraid of trouble..."

He shook his head. "If you keep your sword hidden in its sheath, how can you defeat your enemies?"

Those words struck Liu Ziyun's heart like a heavy hammer.