A black and crimson Cero slashed across the sky, and wherever it passed, space fractured like shattered glass, forming spiderweb-like cracks. Even the air was torn into twisted fragments, carrying an aura of destruction as it blasted towards the ground.
Boom!
A deafening roar shook the earth violently. The golden barrier, which had previously withstood countless Void Beast, shattered instantly like fragile Colored Glaze. Golden runes dissolved into specks of spiritual light within the Cero, dissipating into the air.
Tsunayashiro Kyogen, Shiba Enjo, Ichibei, and others were violently thrown back by the shockwave. They spat out large mouthfuls of blood in mid-air, and the blood droplets were vaporized by the residual Cero before they could even hit the ground.
The few of them fell heavily to the ground, so exhausted that they couldn't even stand up for a short while. They could only watch helplessly as a second Cero gathered again, blasting down with an even more intense aura of destruction.
"Master, help me!"
Ade's pupils constricted. He quickly spread his hands and summoned his Zanpakuto. The blade was as transparent as an ice crystal formed in winter, with a pale blue spiritual flame burning on its surface. The black Cloth strips wrapped around the hilt rattled in the spiritual pressure.
"Shikai, Myriad Phenomena Binding Void Prison Realm!"
With a low roar from him, the Zanpakuto instantly shattered, transforming into countless ice-blue chains that surged like a tide towards the approaching Void Beast.
The chains pierced through the bodies of the Void Beast. Wherever they passed, the Void Beast were instantly frozen into crystal-clear ice sculptures, densely impaled on the ground, forming a temporary ice wall.
However, this ice wall was nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot in front of the Cero.
Just then, Li Yu, controlling the Ophiuchus Gold Cloth, took a few steps forward. The bright golden Cloth, gleaming with a cold luster under the light of the Cero, directly blocked the path of the Shinigami.
"Master, be careful, don't take it head-on!"
Ade couldn't help but exclaim. He knew too well the power of this Cero. Even he would instantly turn into spiritual particles if he took it head-on, let alone trying to resist it with his body.
Boom!
The Cero fiercely struck the chest plate of the Ophiuchus Gold Cloth. A dazzling golden flash erupted between heaven and earth, and the strong light instantly blinded everyone, who could only feel the immense shockwave rushing towards them.
When the light gradually faded and everyone opened their eyes, they saw that the Ophiuchus Cloth was still completely intact. The red gem in the center of the chest plate even flickered slightly. Only the white cape on its back was lifted by the air current, fluttering in the air, as if the previous attack was merely a gentle breeze.
The Shinigami's pupils instantly constricted, and their faces were filled with shock.
"So... so strong!"
"Lord God above, he can even take Kaositer's Cero head-on?"
Their hearts were filled with awe. If they had taken that blow head-on, they would have long since dissipated into spiritual particles. Even if they were only grazed by the aftershock, most of their bodies would have been vaporized.
But Master Ade, with just a suit of armor, was able to easily withstand it. This power had long surpassed the understanding of the entire Bleach World.
Li Yu frowned slightly. Although the Cloth appeared unharmed on the surface, he could see from his attribute panel that this single blow had depleted over 800,000 durability from the Cloth.
The strength of the Void Beast was indeed extraordinary.
He knew in his heart that if he wanted to completely kill Kaositer, he would likely need his true body to personally descend.
Fortunately, the Ophiuchus Cloth possessed the characteristic of being indestructible. In just a few seconds, its durability had recovered by over 500,000, and the silver serpent patterns on the armor plates glowed faintly again.
When Ade saw Li Yu block the Cero, his heart was instantly filled with a sense of security, and his eyes were full of admiration. As expected of Master, this power was simply god-like!
He gently stroked his re-formed Zanpakuto, took a deep breath, and his spiritual pressure began to surge wildly around him.
"Master, this is a technique I created by imitating your abilities. Please enlighten me! Bankai, Frost Thunder Annihilation!"
Ade's body trembled violently, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. He slowly swung his sword and struck.
On the ground, countless gigantic ice pillars rose from the earth, piercing through Kaositer's black mist body like sharp ice spears, leaving transparent ice holes within the black mist.
At the same time, countless purple lightning bolts descended from the sky. The lightning and ice pillars intertwined, transforming the entire battlefield into an ocean of ice and thunder.
The power of this strike far exceeded imagination. The remaining Void Beast on the battlefield were instantly frozen or shattered, completely clearing the area!
Roar!
Kaositer's body trembled violently, letting out a painful wail, and the black mist became somewhat thinner.
Ade, meanwhile, leaned on his Zanpakuto, panting heavily, his face as pale as paper. Clearly, a technique of this level was a huge burden for him as well.
The Shinigami seized the opportunity to get up, picked up their Zanpakuto again, and charged towards Kaositer's black mist.
This battle lasted for several hours. It wasn't until a faint light appeared on the horizon that Kaositer's movements gradually slowed, yet he still enveloped the area, refusing to retreat.
Everyone returned to the underground village to rest. Looking at his severely wounded and weak companions, a trace of worry flashed in Ade's eyes.
Li Yu looked at Ade.
"With Kaositer's power, killing you would be effortless. How have you managed to survive until now?"
Ade nodded slightly.
"Kaositer refuses to kill us, and he always refuses to leave... I also don't know what his purpose is."
Li Yu's expression shifted slightly. Based on his understanding of the Bleach World, Void Beast were not mindless monsters. The Great Void Beast in Hueco Mundo, even if hostile to the Shinigami, could still communicate.
Kaositer had always remained here, neither launching a fatal attack nor willing to leave. There must be a reason behind this.
He vaguely felt he had grasped the key issue and said faintly.
"You wait for me here, I'll be back shortly!"
As his voice fell, the Ophiuchus Cloth transformed into a golden light, shooting straight into the sky, instantly piercing through Kaositer's black mist body and entering its interior.
Immediately upon entering, countless negative consciousnesses surged like a tide: despair, anger, wailing, pleading... These consciousnesses intertwined and merged, forming a vast mental torrent.
Fortunately, Li Yu was currently in his divine avatar state, capable of processing countless pieces of information per second. If it were his main body, he would likely be completely dominated by negative emotions the moment he came into contact with these consciousnesses.
He floated within Kaositer's body. It was pitch black all around, making it impossible to distinguish up, down, left, or right. As far as the eye could see, there were blurry human faces everywhere in the black mist; some were crying, some were roaring in anger, and others showed expressions of despair.
The Ophiuchus Cloth, under the protection of divinity, emitted a faint golden light, slightly dispelling the surrounding negative consciousnesses.
Li Yu's voice, like thunder, resounded throughout Kaositer's massive body.
"I am Li Yu, Ade's Master. If you have any requests, you can tell me!"
With his ability to understand all languages across all realms, no matter what race the other party was or what language they spoke, he could clearly understand.
Similarly, his words would automatically transform into a sound that the other party could comprehend.
The black mist next to the Cloth gradually churned, and before long, a childlike voice was the first to enter Li Yu's mind.
"Live... to live!"
Immediately after, countless consciousnesses surged in like a tide.
"Break free... from chaos!"
"Be independent... don't be devoured!"
"I want... solitude!"