Liu Zhigang

Epithets:

• The Hero of China

• China's 7-Star Hunter

• Sword Demon of China

• Berserker

• Butcher

Gender: Male

Address: China

Rank: S-Rank

Class: Fighter

Occupation: Hunter

Skills:

• Energy Slash Attack

• Ruler's Authority

• Spiritual Body Manifestation

Weapon: Dual Swords

In the original timeline, Zhigang was a muscular and handsome young man with dark yellow eyes and long black hair that he wore in a ponytail, with several large additional strands of hair dangling from his head like leaves from a tree. When agitated or using his powers, his eyes glowed bright yellow. He was also usually seen wearing red or yellow cloaks with thick black collars, black pants, and black boots.

In the revised timeline, Zhigang's hair turned white due to becoming an old man and the fact that he did not become a hunter again until several decades after the timeline was originally reset with the Cup of Reincarnation.

In the original timeline, Zhigang was brash and battle-hungry, as displayed by how he expressed disappointment at not being able to fight the Ant King. He was also very blunt in conversation, as displayed when he said to a Chinese reporter that Sung Jinwoo was worlds above him in strength and dismissed those who believed otherwise as fools. However, he did act friendly and humble towards those who had gained his respect.

In the revised timeline, Zhigang retained most of his original character traits and his overall personality did not change much, aside from having a strong interest in martial arts. He also had a great amount of determination and willpower, as shown by how he refused the offers made to him by the Itarim even though he could have gained immense power in exchange, and successfully resisted their attempts to possess his body for two years.

Jeju Island Arc

In the immediate aftermath of the Jeju Island Raid, Zhigang took part in defending the Chinese east coast area and at one point, easily slaughtered hundreds of ants in a single strike.

Japan Crisis Arc

When word got out that a giant from the Tokyo S-Rank Gate was crossing the ocean to China, Zhigang intercepted and easily killed the beast off the Chinese coastline before it could make landfall. However, he was still somewhat surprised by the giant's strength and noticed that Jinwoo was able to take the giants down more easily than he did. As a result, Zhigang began to take an interest in him and eventually asked the Korean Hunters Association to send him all the public information that they had on Jinwoo at the time.

International Guild Conference Arc

As the strongest hunter in China, Zhigang was invited to represent his country at the International Guild Conference and was intrigued to learn that the primary suspect in Christopher Reed's murder was Sung Il-Hwan, Jinwoo's father. After the conference's conclusion, Zhigang approached Jinwoo for a chat, shook his hand, and congratulated him for his victory against Thomas Andre.

Ragnarok

Several decades later in the revised timeline, Zhigang regained his powers and his status as one of the strongest hunters in the world. However, due to not being a Ruler's vessel anymore, he was not as powerful as he was in the original timeline and was thus given a ranking of six stars by the Chinese government instead of seven.

When the Itarim eventually approached Zhigang and offered him more power if he allowed them to take control of his body, he refused to serve their cause and was able to resist their attempts to possess him by force for the next two years. Liu while being powered by the Itarim still retained his will but it was a continuous struggle and was forced to wander Asia in order to prevent collateral damage, occasionally release his power. Hence he would target field dungeons to use his condition to his advantage to protect his homeland. Due to his seemingly destructiveness the media while labeling him the pride of China also called him a berserker.

Asura Guild Arc

He also encountered Sung Suho during his time in India and initially attacked him, mistaking him for a criminal. However, Zhigang was already exhausted when the battle began, and Suho summoned Greed to wear him down. Suho deliberately held back, as Beru had informed him who Liu had been in the previous timeline and that he was currently half-possessed by the Itarim. Once Liu was weakened, Suho used the Spring Water from the Forest of Echoes to free him from the Itarim’s control. After regaining his true self, Liu was able to recall his memories of the original timeline and figure out that Suho was Jinwoo's son.

As the vessel of a Ruler and a National Level Hunter, Zhigang is one of the strongest hunters in the world. He was also the strongest hunter in Asia until Jinwoo surpassed him in strength and was noted to be vastly superior to Goto Ryuji, Japan's strongest hunter, in raw power by a Chinese navy captain who had seen them both in action firsthand.

In the revised timeline, despite his old age and only being a 6-Star hunter, Zhigang was easily able to battle against Greed, a General-grade shadow, while resisting having his body being possessed by an apostle of Itarim. Sometime later, he regains his 7-Star title and his former strength as a National Level Hunter.

• Master Swordsman: Zhigang is a swordsman of the highest caliber, as shown when he sliced a giant into several pieces almost effortlessly.

• Immense Speed: Zhigang is extremely fast and can move at incredible speeds, enabling him to defeat and kill his opponents almost instantaneously.

• Energy Slash Attack: Zhigang is able to unleash explosive slashes of energy by swinging his swords. This attack has a wide range and is incredibly powerful, as it was able to easily wipe out a massive horde of ants that were flying towards him.

• Ruler's Authority: Zhigang is able to control and move objects via telekinesis.

• Spiritual Body Manifestation