“Play your melody, Shiun!”

Muyang shouted while pointing Shiun toward Zaraki.

Upon chanting the release incantation, Muyang’s Zanpakuto immediately changed shape into a completely different type of sword with purple lightning circulating around its blade and a sliver of blood adding its menacing aura.

After feeling the surge of Reiatsu and power surging inside his body, Muyang’s confidence skyrocketed. With his Reiatsu surpassing that of Zaraki’s and his Zanpakuto’s abilities, he believed dealing with Zaraki wouldn’t be so hard now.

Zaraki was clearly excited since he couldn’t help but grin, “That’s Shikai… are you a Shinigami? Not that it matters as long as I can enjoy this fight.”

Hearing Zaraki’s words, Muyang slightly smiled and brandished the Zanpakuto in his hand as he said indifferently: “be careful now, I won’t show mercy like earlier.”

“Try me.”

Muyang started off by using the lightning on his legs, enhancing his speed significantly. He disappeared from sight and reappeared in front of Zaraki, thrusting his Zanpakuto into Zaraki’s waist.

“Dang~ “

Zaraki blocked Muyang’s first attack in the nick of time. However, Muyang backed off so fast that Zaraki didn’t have the time to counterattack.

“Oho, so you can keep up with my speed… Not bad.” Muyang slightly smiled. He would commend his opponent if they did deserve it.

“Haha, it’s nothing really. You’re pretty fast, the last one was pretty close.”

“Oh, really?”

Knowing he was being taunted, Muyang smiled and said, “What about this one then?”

Muyang suddenly moved so fast that a dozen or so afterimages surrounded Zaraki.

“It’s a child’s play.” Zaraki said mockingly.

“Is that so? Well, stop this then.”

Muyang immediately stormed toward Zaraki along with his afterimages. It was like a dozen people were ganging up on Zaraki.

Despite mocking him earlier, Zaraki was cautious of Muyang’s attack.

“Dāng dāng dāng dāng “

Zaraki did his best to block the attacks directed at him, but even he couldn’t keep up with all the afterimages as he was wounded in various part of his body and his clothes were torn apart.

Muyang then shook his head while waiting for Zaraki’s response.

“Sure enough, it’s child’s play. You’re fast indeed, but your strike lacks power. It doesn’t even hurt one bit.”

Muyang hated to admit it, but Zaraki was right. He hasn’t mastered his Zanpakuto’s abilities yet.

At his current state, he couldn’t harness his Zanpakuto perfectly. If he enhanced the speed, he’ll be lacking on strength. Zaraki indeed received many wounds, but all of them was insignificant as it was minor injuries.

“Tsk, I still have ways to go.”

Muyang cursed his own shortcoming and raised his Zanpakuto. He believed that he could defeat Zaraki even though he hasn’t mastered his Zanpakuto’s abilities yet.

“Ding dang ding dang”

The fierce battle once again resumed. Muyang originally thought that he was better than Zaraki in every aspect, and he should be able to easily defeat him, but he miscalculated one thing, willpower.

Although he has been through a lot of this after coming to this world, including killing 100 or so people that has somewhat boosted his willpower, a half-ass will power like Muyang’s wouldn’t be able to best Zaraki!

Their prolonged fight finally took a toll on their body as they both panted, trying to catch their breath. Both Muyang and Zaraki almost hit their limit, but Zaraki was in a better state due to his personality that would excite him the more thrilling the battle he was in.

“I completely underestimated you.” Muyang said as he wiped the sweat from his face.

Muyang didn’t have a room to breathe like earlier. The wounds on his body were still throbbing. Although the bleeding has stopped, it significantly hindered his movements, especially the wound on his chest, the biggest one so far.

Meanwhile, Zaraki was in no better condition. With 2 mortal wounds that he suffered, he was only a few inches away from losing his life.

At first, Muyang thought that he should defeat Zaraki without killing him so it wouldn’t affect the anime plot in the future, but after fighting him firsthand Muyang immediately scratched out that idea. Considering Zaraki’s personality, Muyang would die for sure if he let his guard down for even a second.

As Kimura Kazuya said, once one drew their sword, the bloodbath would follow, and one may not spare any effort once they’ve drawn their sword if they wanted to survive. That was how you show respect to your opponent as well.

“Since we both almost reach our limit, let’s settle this with the next attack.”

Muyang said to Zaraki as he was afraid his body couldn’t take it anymore.

“So, one strike decides everything? Count me in!!!”

The ground shook and yellowish Reiatsu that resembled a skull burst out of Zaraki’s body.

“Aaaaaaa!” A faint azure Reiatsu also burst out of Muyang’s body. Although it didn’t seem as flashy as Zaraki’s, it was no weaker for sure.

With both hands clenching his Zanpakuto, Muyang used everything he got to intercept Zaraki’s attack. Their fierce Reiatsu collision set off a gust of wind, destroying everything around them and created a big hold where they stood.

Zaraki fell down along with his Zanpakuto.

With a thump, Zaraki fell to the ground, and Zanpakuto fell weakly in his hand.

“Seems like it’s your win.” Muyang murmured as he watched Zaraki fell to the ground.

“Brsss!”

Muyang vomited a mouthful of blood as fell to the ground, using his sword that he embed into the ground to support his body that has lost its strength.

“I lost despite having the upper hand in every aspect!”

“As expected of Zaraki. You managed to push me this far even though I’m supposed to be stronger than you.”

Muyang sat while looking at Zaraki with mixed feelings. He was the first character in the anime that he encountered and that encounter was not very pleasant as it was a battle to death right off the bat.

As a bunch of thoughts occupied Muyang’s mind, the fatigue caught up and he fell asleep before realizing it.