âAnother one?â The Hollow said with a smile once the smoke dissipated, and Muyangâs figure emerged from the smoke.
âYou look very strong, unlike those weaklings earlier. They taste pretty bad too, but you should be different!â
âDid you eat them?â Muyang said with a cold glare.
âYeah, theyâre pretty bad, but itâs still more delicious than most souls out there! I will never forget that tasteâŠâŠâŠâŠaahhhh!!!â
The Hollow suddenly screamed while holding onto his right hand, where blood was gushing out. Although he had a mask on his face, it couldnât contain his scream.
âHow dare you cut off my arm, Shinigami!â
The Hollow glared at Muyang hatefully. His right arm was lopped off, and blood didnât stop gushing out from the wound.
âZi~Zi~â
The Hollowâs hand twitched, and in the next second, it grew back so fast that it was visible to the naked eye. It pointed its newly-grown hand toward Muyang and said, âyouâre so dead, Shinigami. Blame yourself for pushing my buttons!
âHigh-Speed Regeneration!â Muyang said with one eyebrow raised, âThatâs more like it! Itâd be boring if you die so easily!â
âAs if the likes of you can kill me!â
âPlay your melody, Shiun!â After blocking the attack with his Zanpakuto, Muyang mocked the Hollow: âIs this all you got?â
âHmph, donât push your luck, Shinigami!â The Hollow relentlessly attacked Muyang instead of responding to Muyangâs provocation.
âDÄng dÄng dÄng dÄngâ
Muyang swung his Zanpakuto calmly, blocking all the Hollowâs attack without even taking a step from where he stood since the very beginning.
âIf this is all you got, this is gonna be over before you know it.â
âDonât get too cocky, Shinigami!â
The Hollow couldnât even land a single attack, and Muyangâs words definitely got under his skin. As a result, he roared in anger and pointed his fingertip at Muyang, where a red Cero was condensed. Unlike his Cero earlier, its power this time was on a whole different level that Suzuki Kusu was trembling even though she was hiding.
âCero!â
Even though he saw the Hollow was ready to fire Cero at him, Muyang didnât even budge, as if he had no intention to dodge it at all.
âCaptain !!â
Seeing Muyang didnât budge from his spot, Suzuki Kusu realized that he planned to take it head-on and couldnât help but yell out of worry due to the immense Reiatsu she felt coming from the Cero.
Muyang did not even raise his Zanpakuto to block it. Instead, he simply raised his left hand to stop the Cero.
âWhat! Does Captain plan to stop that Cero with one hand??â
Suzuki Kusu felt like his heart almost stopped beating. She knew that her Captain was really strong, but was it really wise to stop that Cero with one hand?
âEven a Vasto Lorde canât stop my Cero with one hand. It seems that you really want to die that bad, Shinigami!â
The Hollowâs pride was in tatters seeing Muyang tried to block his Cero with one hand.
âbang!â
The Cero hit Muyangâs arm, but it was immediately repelled toward another direction, destroying a big tree in its path.
Suzuki Kusu was in awe as Muyang actually repelled it with one hand.
âImpossible⊠How did youâŠ?â
Hollow looked at Muyang in disbelief. He at first thought that the power of his Cero was lower than usual. However, his assumption was proven wrong as the ground where his Cero was repelled to was razed. In terms of firepower, it was, in fact, more powerful than usual, yet how did the Shinigami before him repel it with one hand and remained unscathed?
The Shinigami before him easily blocked all his attacks, including his devastating Cero, and with one hand, no less. Moreover, the Shinigami lopped off his arm, and he didnât even see him coming. From all those facts, the Hollow concluded that the guy in front of him was not an average Shinigami that he normally preyed on!
The Hollow glanced at the white Haori Muyang was wearing. He didnât pay attention to it a moment ago, but upon seeing the white HaoriâŠ
âYou are a Captain?â
âOh? You actually know about Captain?â Muyang asked with raised eyebrows.
âI have heard about it from my companions before, but I havenât seen one before. I didnât expect to meet one here.â
âI see.â Muyang nodded, then raised the Zanpakuto in his hand, âPlay your melody, Kaze no Sora!â
Following Muyangâs chanting, the shape of his Zanpakuto changed again. The hilt suddenly turned into azure blue with one meter-length blade. In addition, it had thorn-like small blades on its edges around 30 cm from the tip.
Following the change in his Zanpakuto, Muyangâs Reiatsu skyrocketed again. Sensing Muyangâs massive Reiatsu, the Hollow fell into despair. He was no match against Muyang earlier, and now that Muyangâs Reiatsu skyrocketed once again, it might be asking too much just to run away.
âIs this the so-called Bankai? It sure seems strong.â
âBankai?â Muyang sneered. âDonât overestimate yourself. I donât need to use Bankai to deal with the likes of you.â
âNot Bankai? As far as I know, a Shinigami Zanpakuto can be released twice, namely Shikai and Bankai. You have released Zanpakuto once before, yet youâre saying that is not Bankai?â
âThis is not Bankai. Itâs just another Shikai, thatâs all. Well, since you wonât understand anyway even if I explain it to you, feel free to consider it as a Bankai. Many people think so as well.â
âI donât really have to go this far to defeat you, to be honest. The only reason why I show you this form is only out of respect for my men that you killed in cold blood.â Muyangâs tone was getting more and more terrifying.
âGoodbye, Shinigami.â Hollow poked his fingertip into thin air, and Garganta was slowly opened. The Hollow stepped into Garganta with one foot and the other still outside before turning toward Muyang and said arrogantly, âI will spare you this time out of pity, but remember that the next time we meet will be your end, Shinigami!â
âWho gives you the permission to leave?â Muyang raised Zanpakuto in his hand and swung it at the Hollowâs direction gently.
An azure compressed air blade was discharged from Muyangâs Zanpakuto, cutting off one of the Hollowâs legs that was already in Garganta. After lopping off the Hollowâs leg, the compressed air blade seeped into the Garganta, and then the Garganta gradually became unstable, forcing out the Hollow before vanishing.
âDamn you!â
The Hollowâs leg twitched before growing back just like last time, and he glared at Muyang. Obviously, he didnât expect that the Shinigami could cancel out Garganta.
âItâs a relief that you didnât die by that attack earlier. Fortunately, you are not as fragile as I thought.â Muyang composedly said as he saw the Hollowâs High-Speed Regeneration, but his next sentence immediately made the Hollow shudder, âI wonât let you die that easily.â
âHigh-Speed Regeneration really is a convenient ability.â Muyang praised the Hollowâs regenerative ability.
Muyangâs words and tone right now made him the most dreadful existence in the Hollowâs eyes.
âCan you do a simple math? You know, just simple addition and subtraction.â Muyang asked the Hollow out of the blue.
âWhat do you plan toâŠâ
âbssskk~â
The Hollowâs chest was stabbed, and blood was gushing out of it.
âIâm asking whether you can do simple math or not,â Muyang asked menacingly.
âI⊠I do.â
âVery good.â Muyang sounded less intimidating after hearing a satisfying answer, âOh, the wound on your chest is already closed? As expected of High-Speed Regeneration!â
âNow, what is 1000 minus 7?â
â993 .â The Hollow obediently answered this time.
âVery good.â Muyang nodded as he was satisfied with the Hollowâs answer, then suddenly⊠âRikujĆkĆrĆ!â
Six thin, wide beams were slammed into the Hollowâs midsection, restraining the Hollowâs movement.
âWhat are you planning to do? I know I am no match for you, just kill me already!â
âYou want to die? I wonât let you off the hook that easily! You killed 24 of my men, so I have to kill you 24 times!â The Hollow felt like he heard the voice of a demon.
âNext, I want you to keep subtracting the result by 7 starting from 1000 minus 7. Otherwise, it will be more than 24 times!â
Before Muyang proceeded, he used Shunpo and suddenly reappeared in front of Suzuki Kusu, using a KidĆ to put her to sleep. Itâd be better for her not to see what was about to happen.
âOkay, letâs get started.â Muyang looked down at Hollow kneeling on the ground. âLetâs do it again from the top. What is 1000 minus 7?â
Muyangâs face was like that of a demon!
ââââââ
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