A Brazen Beating (3)

Shinji Hirako's brows furrowed even more, but he remained motionless, staring intently at Liu Ziyun, as if searching for something.

But others couldn't resist.

Lisa Yadōmaru —the former Lieutenant of the Eighth Division —was the first to react. She wiped her face with her right hand, and a female-style Visored covered her face. Then she leaped high into the air and drew her Zanpakuto.

"Defeat him, Iron Paddle Dragonfly!"

The Zanpakuto transformed in her hands, becoming a massive, oar-like weapon. She gripped the hilt with both hands and slashed down fiercely from above Liu Ziyun, the blade tearing through the air with a piercing shriek.

At the same time, Kensei Muguruma charged forward again. This time, his fist blades changed from sharp blades to heavy gauntlets, and his attack method changed from slicing to pure impact. He circled around to Liu Ziyun's side and threw a punch straight at Liu Ziyun's abdomen, attempting to form a pincer attack with Lisa Yadōmaru.

Faced with this situation of being attacked from both sides, Liu Ziyun finally made a new move.

He raised his right hand to meet the Iron Paddle Dragonfly that Lisa Yadōmaru slashed down.

"Clang--!"

The deafening clang of metal clashing echoed through the training ground. Liu Ziyun gripped the massive blade with one hand, standing firmly in place without even a crack appearing in the ground beneath his feet.

At the same time, his body turned slightly to the side, Kensei Muguruma's full-force punch grazed his abdomen, missing its mark.

Then, Liu Ziyun raised his right foot and lashed out like a whip, kicking Kensei Muguruma hard in the face.

"Snap!"

A crisp cracking sound rang out. Kensei Muguruma's Visored shattered, and he flew backward again. This time, the force of his impact on the Barrier was even greater, causing the entire Barrier to tremble slightly.

Just as Liu Ziyun kicked Kensei Muguruma, a petite figure appeared behind him.

Hiyori Sarugaki – a person who has just awakened from a coma, her face once again covered by Visored, and the Zanpakuto she holds in her hand has been released.

"Sever him, Kubikiri Orochi!"

The Zanpakuto transformed into a massive serpentine sword, stabbing towards Liu Ziyun's waist from behind. This attack was extremely cunning, and the timing was perfect, striking at the very moment when Liu Ziyun's old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated.

But Liu Ziyun seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.

He lowered his right hand, which was gripping the Iron Paddle Dragonfly, and the massive blade blocked the path of the Serpent's Belly Sword.

"Clang--!"

Another loud clang of metal clashing rang out. Hiyori's sneak attack was perfectly blocked.

"You're awake." Liu Ziyun's voice was chillingly calm. "But I won't forget anyone. Even if they've fainted, it's the same, because as long as they're not dead, they're a threat."

After saying that, he suddenly released his grip on the Iron Paddle Dragonfly. Lisa Yadōmaru leaned forward due to inertia, while Liu Ziyun's figure had already disappeared from the spot.

The next second, he appeared beside Lisa Yadōmaru, raised his right foot, and kicked her hard in the waist.

"Bang!"

Lisa Yadōmaru was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the Barrier before sliding to the ground, unable to get up for a moment.

Almost at the same time, Liu Ziyun's figure disappeared again and reappeared behind Hiyori Sarugaki.

"And you."

He raised his right foot and kicked Hiyori Sarugaki hard in the buttocks—not a vital spot, but humiliating enough to render her incapacitated once again.

"Bang!"

Hiyori Sarugaki was sent flying again, this time crashing face-first to the ground with a muffled groan, and then lay still.

Liu Ziyun stood in the center of the training field, looking around at the remaining few people. His breathing remained steady, and even his clothes were not disheveled, as if the fierce battles just now were merely a warm-up for him.

"You guys..." His voice was filled with undisguised disappointment, "Why didn't you all attack together? Three captains and one Lieutenant were just watching the show, one captain and two Lieutenant were testing me... Did you really think I wouldn't dare to kill?"

His tone suddenly turned icy. "You're all so weak, what use are you to me after all the trouble I went through exposing so much of you?"

These words were like the final fuse.

"You bastard! What did you say?! Die!"

Upon hearing these words, Hiyori Sarugaki, who had just gotten up, completely lost her mind. She rushed towards Liu Ziyun again without regard for anything, wiped her face with her right hand, and a new Visored re-formed. She once again held her Zanpakuto in her hand, the blade wrapped with violent Hollowfication Reiatsu.

This time, Liu Ziyun finally drew his sword.

His right hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, and then, the moment Hiyori Sarugaki rushed in front of him, the blade was drawn.

"Killing is nothing more than an impromptu game—"

The blade traced a graceful arc through the air.

"Tulu."

When Shinji Hirako and the others heard this unfamiliar Release Phrase and saw the Zanpakuto in Liu Ziyun's hand that was completely different from the one they remembered, they were all stunned.

That was no longer an ordinary Tang Dao. The blade had turned dark red, its surface shimmering with a blood-like sheen, and black mist swirled around the edge. The entire sword exuded a chilling, pure aura of Killing.

"Get out of the way!" Shinji Hirako finally reacted and shouted loudly.

But it was too late.

A flash of light appeared.

A deep, bone-revealing wound appeared from Hiyori Sarugaki's right shoulder to her left abdomen. Blood gushed out, and her Zanpakuto in two. She flew backward like a rag doll, crashing heavily to the ground, unable to move again.

This time, she didn't faint. She just stared wide-eyed at the wounds on her body and the broken Zanpakuto in disbelief.

Liu Ziyun sheathed his sword, looked at the fallen Hiyori Sarugaki, and said calmly, "See? I told you you were trash. And the more trashy you are, the louder you yell."

These words completely shattered Shinji Hirako's last shred of restraint.

He drew his Zanpakuto, covered his face with Visored, and his eyes, which were always half-open, were now fully open, flashing with a cold light.

"Liu Ziyun..." Shinji Hirako's voice was low and dangerous, "You've gone too far."

Behind him, Kensei Muguruma, Lisa Yadōmaru Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Mashiro Kuna, Hachigen Ushōda —all the Visored members who were still standing—had drawn their Zanpakuto and covered their faces with Visored.

The Reiatsu of the eight people erupted simultaneously, creating a terrifying storm in the training ground.

Standing at the center of the storm, Liu Ziyun finally showed a serious expression.

"That's more like it," he said softly, his right hand resting on the hilt of the knife again. "Now... let's begin the real 'weighing'."