Streams of golden light wove frantically across Gerard's severed shoulder.
With a series of explosive cracks as bone grew, an even thicker golden arm burst from his body.
The enormous severed arm that had crashed into the rubble dissolved into pure motes of Reishi light, all pouring back into the newly grown limb.
Gerard bent down and grasped the Sword of Hope lodged in the deep crater, its broad blade dragging a trail of searing sparks across the marble ground.
Kenpachi Zaraki stood atop a ruined spire, carrying the enormous, door-shaped cleaver over one shoulder, the fighting spirit in his eyes almost spilling over.
"You regenerate pretty fast, big guy."
Kenpachi Zaraki grinned, baring his stark white teeth.
"If one slash killed you for good, I'd be sorely disappointed."
"Then witness the true power of a warrior of God!"
Gerard threw back his head and roared. The muscles in his right arm bulged as his enormous sword swept upward with a howl.
The raging wind tore dozens of palace foundations straight out of the ground ahead.
Kenpachi Zaraki showed no intention of backing away. He shattered the spire beneath his feet as he launched himself off it, tracing a sharp arc through the air.
He gripped Nozarashi's long hilt with both hands and drove it straight down toward the golden broadsword several times larger than his body.
The two enormous weapons collided head-on high above Wahrwelt's Central Square.
Golden, sacred Reishi and golden-yellow, berserk Reiatsu ground furiously against each other at the point of contact.
Visible shock waves exploded outward in a ring, scattering every cloud within several hundred yards.
With unparalleled cleaving force behind it, Kenpachi Zaraki's Nozarashi sank deep into the center of the Sword of Hope's spine.
Crack.
A crisp cracking sound echoed through the air.
Nozarashi