Chapter 137: Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū vs. 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva
"What in the world is happening?"
The members of the Zoldyck Family at the edge of the arena looked up at the sky, sensing the immense pressure emanating from behind the clouds. The butlers' breathing grew labored. Even Zeno and Silva wore grave expressions, exchanging glances. The ability to influence weather itself—what kind of power was this?
If those outside the arena felt such intensity, Netero—directly targeted by Mord's aura—faced far greater pressure.
"This is how it should be. It's been so long since I've felt this exhilarated."
In that moment, Netero felt as if he had returned to his youth, challenging the world's strongest fighters. A smile spread across his face. He pressed his palms together, crossed his right leg over his bent left, and steadied himself on his left foot. A solemn, majestic aura burst forth from his body, coalescing behind him into a colossal 100-Type Guanyin.
The Zoldyck butlers, already shaken by the thunderous pressure, now witnessed the manifestation of a divine entity. Those with weaker resolve felt their legs buckle, nearly dropping to their knees in worship.
Even the portly Milluki's legs trembled uncontrollably. Just as he was about to collapse, a firm, reassuring hand landed on his shoulder. Instantly, the pressure lifted. Milluki looked up to see his usually taciturn father.
"Watch closely. This might be the most spectacular battle in decades."
Mord grinned, his smile widening as he observed the gigantic 100-Type Guanyin in the distance.
"Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū!"
A brilliant golden light shot from Mord's Zanpakutō, piercing the dark clouds above and soaring through the sky. Empowered by the lightning energy from Mord's blade, the clouds began to swirl violently, forming a massive vortex reminiscent of a whirlpool at sea. Countless golden lightning serpents materialized out of thin air, crackling across the heavens.
The vortex grew increasingly turbulent, plunging the entire summit of Kukuroo Mountain into complete meteorological chaos. Massive electric serpents writhed and twisted within the whirlpool until gradually, the rotation ceased, transforming into an oval-shaped forbidden zone of lightning.
Viewed from a distance, it appeared as if a noble's canopy had emerged in the sky above Mord's head, except this canopy was composed of terrifying lightning.
"How beautiful," Canary murmured, lifting her head to gaze spellbound at the distant golden canopy in the sky.
"Retreat another hundred meters!"
Zeno commanded gravely.
Though they were already some distance from the battlefield, he still felt unsafe and issued the order.
The butlers of the Zoldyck Family immediately complied, stepping further back.
Standing beneath the canopy now, Mord resembled a thunder god descended to earth, looking down upon all living beings as mere ants.
Beneath the dazzling lightning radiance, his pitch-black eyes fixed upon the colossal Buddha statue on the opposite side of the battlefield—one that similarly overlooked all mortal existence.
Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū versus 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva!
This had become a battle between deities.
Any mortal who came into even the slightest contact with this conflict would face eternal damnation and be utterly crushed to dust.
Compared to when he activated Bankai against the Phantom Troupe in Yorknew City's abandoned district, Mord's condition was significantly better this time.
Back then, after unleashing Bankai, he had nearly reached complete exhaustion, only managing subsequent lightning attacks through sheer force of will.
This time, with his Nen Ability level elevated to B+, though Mord still felt a substantial depletion of his Nen energy, he hadn't reached the point of complete exhaustion.
"Heaven's majestic power, guided by my blade!"
As Mord swung his Zanpakutō downward, a terrifying bolt of lightning shot forth from the canopy above him, streaking directly toward Netero.
The fearsome lightning split the sky, arriving before Netero in an instant.
Only then did the thunderous roar finally erupt.
Netero laughed heartily, "I never imagined I'd live to see the day when I could challenge the heavens themselves."
100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva!
Ninety-Ninth Hand!
Netero slowly brought his hands together in prayer, his movements leaving countless afterimages in the air as if multiple arms had suddenly materialized.
The enormous Guanyin statue behind him began to move.
Dozens of massive arms sprang into action, striking out against the incoming heavenly lightning. Each palm strike generated howling gales and made the very air tremble.
Countless palm strikes rained down like a violent storm.
Watching the distant colossal Guanyin statue, Mord marveled inwardly at the sheer magnitude of this Nen energy.
The aura felt to Mord as if it had transcended the mundane world entirely.
Lightning bolts continued to shoot forth from the canopy above Mord's head, all aimed at Netero.
The hundred hands of the enormous Guanyin statue had transformed into countless afterimages, clashing directly with the lightning bolts.
Where the two energies met, the air vibrated violently, sending spatial ripples expanding outward in all directions. Wherever these ripples passed, the earth shattered and massive boulders instantly disintegrated.
Netero's strength was of the purest kind.
Chrollo was powerful too, but as evidenced in his battle with Hisoka, he required extensive preparation, needed to analyze his opponent's abilities, and had to borrow various forces to assemble a path to victory.
His strength came with conditions.
The same could be said for Hisoka. His strength relies heavily on favorable terrain—in a restroom, he is an undisputed god of war, but when he went to Heavens Arena, Chrollo blasted him beyond recognition, nearly costing him his life.
Netero was different from both of them.
And this pure pinnacle of martial arts was precisely what Mord pursued.
All paths lead to the same origin.
"So terrifying."
"These two are monsters, true monsters!"
Zeno and the others realized that retreating a hundred meters was far from enough. He and Silva shielded the rest as they retreated all the way to the mountainside.
As the dust settled, Kukuroo Mountain's summit lay in ruins. A deep rumble echoed from the distant volcano, which should have been dormant.
Mord glanced at it and sheathed his blade.
"Shall we call it a day?"
Netero glanced at the crater behind him and replied, "It seems we have no choice."
The next moment,
A deafening roar reverberated throughout the Kukuroo Mountain range.
Scorching magma erupted from the once-silent crater.
Zeno looked up at the erupting volcano in the distance and remarked with a headache, "Those two had their fun, and now we're left to deal with the aftermath."
It was worth noting that a vast forest lay at the foot of the mountain range.
If the volcanic eruption ignited it completely, the Zoldyck Family would lose their home.
Fortunately, when they chose to settle near the volcanic range, they had already considered such scenarios and prepared contingency plans.
Though solvable, it didn't mean there would be no losses.
"Had you summoned a few more lightning bolts just now, I might not have been able to hold on," Netero said to Mord with a light laugh.
"Like hell I believe that."
Mord looked at Netero and laughed in response.
Though their battle had ceased due to the volcanic eruption, the ceasefire wasn't because of the volcano.