The BOSS Got Promoted (1)

Liu Ziyun was still immersed in the joy of successfully mastering the Complete Shikai. He stared at the Tang Dao in his hand, which emitted a three-colored interwoven light—gold, red, and black flowed across the blade as if they were alive.

He could feel an unprecedented and profound connection forming between himself and the Life-Taker Tulu; it wasn't a simple "use," but a true "resonance."

Just as he was preparing to fully experience this new power, a sudden change occurred.

The figures of those Life-Taker and those Tulu moved simultaneously.

Without warning or a word, the two men each conjured Life-Taker Tulu Blade identical to the one in Liu Ziyun's hand. Both blades emitted a tri-colored light, but the light was more solid, more... dangerous.

"Wait—" Before Liu Ziyun could finish speaking, the Life-Taker blade struck like lightning.

He instinctively raised his knife to parry, and the two blades clashed, bursting into dazzling sparks. But Liu Ziyun could feel that the power of this Life-Taker strike was far greater than ever before, causing his arm to go numb and his tiger's mouth to almost split open.

Just as he was fully focused on dealing with the Life-Taker attack, the figure of Tulu appeared like Kageoni on his left.

The knife came too fast and too cunningly. Liu Ziyun didn't even have time to react and could only watch helplessly as the Tulu blade pierced his abdomen.

The cold blade pierced through flesh and tore apart internal organs. A wave of excruciating pain washed over him, almost causing Liu Ziyun to lose consciousness instantly.

But what's even more outrageous is that Tulu gripped the hilt of the knife, twisted his wrist, and the blade spun half a circle inside Liu Ziyun's body.

"Ugh--!" Liu Ziyun finally screamed in agony. The excruciating pain caused his whole body to spasm and his vision to go black. He could feel the blade churning inside his body, hear the sound of flesh being torn apart, and smell the unique, sweet and metallic scent of Reishi's blood.

Life-Taker coldly sheathed his sword and retreated, while Tulu expressionlessly drew his blade. Blood gushed from the wound in Liu Ziyun's abdomen, transforming into crimson-black Reishi particles in the void.

"Why..." Liu Ziyun clutched his wound, staggering backward, his voice trembling with pain, "Why did this have to happen..."

Life-Taker and Tulu offered no answer, but simultaneously raised their feet and kicked him hard in the chest.

The force of that kick was enough to shatter rocks.

Liu Ziyun flying backward like a kite with a broken string, his consciousness rapidly blurring amidst the excruciating pain and impact. He could feel himself being forcibly kicked out of his Inner World, a feeling of being ripped apart as if his soul were being torn apart.

The final scene shows Life-Taker Tulu standing side by side, each holding the same but more perfect Life-Taker Tulu Blade as the other, their faces expressionless.

In his Inner World, only after Liu Ziyun's consciousness completely disappeared did the Life-Taker and Tulu relax their tense stance.

Life-Taker stared down at the knife in her hand, the three-colored light flowing in her palm as if it had a life of its own. An expression of near-obsession, unlike anything she had ever seen before, appeared on her face.

"Ziyun succeeded," Life-Taker said softly, his voice filled with indescribable joy. "Look at this knife in my hand now, isn't it especially beautiful?"

It was indeed a dazzling and mesmerizing knife. The blade was long and straight, with golden patterns intertwined like threads of fate on a dark red base, while black halos flowed along the edges like the shadows of death. The entire knife exuded a beauty that was both sacred and eerie, as if it could cut through everything and bestow everything.

Tulu looked down at the knife in his hand, a rare hint of emotion appearing on his usually cold face. "Yes... this is our true nature. I don't even know how to describe the beauty and elegance of this knife. It is a weapon, an art form, and the embodiment of our very soul."

Life-Taker glanced at Tulu in surprise, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, "Uh... I didn't expect you to say such cheesy things, it's so unlike you."

"Joy is inevitable." Tulu didn't refute, but continued to gaze at the blade. "After all, we've waited too long for this moment. From the initial separation, to the subsequent reunion, and now to this complete awakening... it's all been worth it."

The two remained silent for a moment, feeling the resonance between the blades in their hands and the depths of Liu Ziyun's soul. The feeling was like long-separated limbs finally returning to the body, both strange and familiar, both exciting and calm.

"Next comes Bankai." Tulu finally raised his head, a sharp glint in his eyes. "I wonder if Ziyun is ready?"

Life-Taker sighed softly, "The training of Bankai... do you mean one-on-one combat or a group brawl?"

"Right now, he's only good for ganging up on people," Tulu commented mercilessly. "I'd probably kill him in a one-on-one fight. After all, our current state is on a completely different level than before. The awakening of our Complete Shikai has given us a qualitative leap."

Life-Taker nodded in agreement. "However, killing him is impossible. We've regained our rationality and can control our power. But if we did that, he might be beaten to the point of questioning his existence, and he probably wouldn't be able to master Bankai even in a hundred years."

A sly glint flashed in her eyes. "I really want to see his frustrated expression, that look of anticipation mixed with unfulfilled desire. After all, he gave up the shortcut and chose to master the Complete Shikai first, which indirectly increased the difficulty of the Bankai. Maybe... we should go easy on him?"

"A group fight is already holding back, okay?" Tulu rolled his eyes. "If he were to follow the normal training process, he should first master the Bankai of either Life-Taker Slayer or Tulu, and then fuse them. Now he has to face two fully awakened Zanpakuto at the same time... This has more than doubled the difficulty."

Life-Taker blinked. "Alright, if all else fails, let him do it one sword at a time. First, master Life-Taker's Bankai, then master Tulu's Bankai, and finally try fusion. It'll be slower, but at least it'll be safer."

Tulu was taken aback by the Life-Taker suggestion, and after a long while, he said helplessly, "You really spoil him."

"We are him, spoiling him is spoiling ourselves," Life-Taker said matter-of-factly, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. "Why shouldn't I be good to myself?"

Tulu was speechless at those words, and could only close his eyes to rest, standing there quietly, feeling the power fluctuations emanating from the blade in his hand. Seeing this, Life-Taker also stopped talking, sat down cross-legged, placed the knife horizontally on his lap, and began to meditate.

The figures of the two gradually faded into the void of their Inner World, leaving only two swords radiating tri-colored light, silently hovering there like sleeping deities.