Chapter 85: Ryou vs Zaraki Part 2

The fight shifted in my favor once I started using Reiatsu. With only half of my reserves left for cursed magic, I still had a full supply of Reiatsu to draw on. But as the battle went on, it became clear Zaraki was still holding back, even after taking off his eyepatch and switching to both hands. I parried a strike that forced me back slightly and countered with a slash that cut into his upper shoulder. I followed with another attack, which he blocked, and for a brief moment, we struggled in a test of strength. 'He's physically stronger than me, even with all my enhancements. Monster.'

Condensing Reiatsu into Muramasa, I released it, creating an explosion between us. As the dust settled, I yelled. "What the hell are you doing?!" Zaraki, bleeding from most of his body yet looking far from exhausted, yelled back. "What?!"

I clicked my tongue and charged, shouting. "You're still holding back! You coward!" I raised my broken katana overhead as Zaraki did the same.

The impact of our blades sent a tremor through Muken as we locked in a fierce clash. "Come on, Zaraki! Show me more!" I broke away, used Shundō to get behind him, and raised Muramasa, pouring a quarter of my Reiatsu reserves into the next strike. I swung down, unleashing a sword arc nearly twice as large as anything I'd released so far. Zaraki readied himself to block, and I yelled. "That Kenpachi title will be mine!" As the attack engulfed him.

I waited, scanning the rubble left behind, but when I turned away, however before I could take a step I felt a sudden change in the air. Looking back, I saw Zaraki standing thirty feet away, sporting the largest grin I'd seen yet. 'It seems like this has only just begun.' I clenched Muramasa, barely managing to block as Zaraki blitzed forward with an overhead strike. 'Damn!' The bones in my arms cracked slightly under the force, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. Zaraki kicked at me, and I Shundō away, releasing another sword arc that he destroyed with a swing of his blade. 'So he's broken past that wall.'

He was back to fighting with one hand again, and the change seemed to suit him more. "I love fighting!" he yelled, his grin spreading wider as he rushed at me. I blitzed toward him as well, using his waist-high slash as a springboard to launch myself into the air, releasing a downward slash. It barely cut into him before he grabbed my leg and slammed me down into the ground, leaving a crater. I pushed off his leg just in time, using a Shundō to get away before his next attack could split me in two. Retrieving Muramasa that I had dropped when I got slammed, I blocked his overhead strike, he grinned like he'd won the lottery.

He added more force to the clash, lifting my feet off the ground and leaving my arms exposed to his next move. 'Shit.' He unleashed a massive sword slash at point-blank range, larger than anything I'd thrown at him. I dropped Muramasa to shield my chest, feeling the impact as the strike collided, sending me hurtling through the stone pillars one by one.

I blacked out for a second, but gritting my teeth, I stopped channeling cursed magic through my arms and switched to Reiatsu, shattering the sword slash. I fell to the ground, wiped the blood from my lip, and looked down, noticing a bruise forming just below my ribs. There was no time to check it further, as Zaraki was already blitzing towards me. 'Blocking that took more Reiatsu than I'd planned, I should have a little over half my reserves left.'

I clicked my tongue and Shundō'd towards Zaraki, and we resumed clashing. He was matching my speed now, which I realized too late as a piercing strike slipped through my guard, stabbing straight into my chest and through my heart. In the heat of the moment, Zaraki drove the blade through me and into a nearby pillar, leaving me hanging from it.

'Damn… I can keep my body running with cursed magic, but will it work with Reiatsu?' As my vision began to darken, I saw Zaraki's wide eyes as he withdrew his sword from my chest and the pillar, flinging it behind him. "Wait, are you gonna die?" he asked.

With some effort, I muttered. "I've been stabbed…" I felt my blood pouring onto the ground. "In the fucking heart. What do you think?"

He gripped my arm tightly as he started cradling me, the darkness spread further. 'Damn it, is this how I die? In another man's arms?'

"No." he said, almost as if to himself. "Don't die. We haven't fought enough!" I coughed, feeling blood bubble from my mouth, and spoke softly. "Zaraki… you're not alone anymore." The last thing I saw before my heart stopped was Zaraki gently lowering me to the ground, then walking away, carrying the Muken key.

Drip.

Drip.

I shot up with a gasp, quickly scanning my surroundings. When I turned, I saw Zaraki standing about a hundred feet away, his head turned in my direction, eyes wide, a grin slowly spreading across his face. I pushed myself to my feet, gathering the shattered remains of Muramasa.

"No." I spoke firmly as Zaraki turned fully toward me, pointing his sword with that same manic grin.

I shook my head. "No, I lost the challenge."

'How the hell am I still alive with a stab wound to the heart? And why is it beating again?' I thought, rubbing my chest, feeling the faint rhythm that shouldn't be there. I walked toward Zaraki, who was now frowning. "You'll have plenty of people to fight besides me." I said, taking the key from him.

He clicked his tongue in irritation as we began making our way to the exit, his sword still loosely at his side. As we walked, he glanced over, a trace of his grin returning. "So, you planning on challenging me again someday, to take the Kenpachi title?" I let out a sigh in reponse.