14Final Main Part of the three-part one-shot is here. This chapter contains events that took place in-between the finale of the previous chapter and also the final events of the manga's Shibuya arc chapters 131-136. Enjoy and happy reading.
A/N#1: If you haven't been reading the manga yet, now is the time to catch up on it cuz this past two months had been a rollercoaster unlike anything else!
Shout-outs to savagemaster1999, sten227 and r6fizzz in the end notes.
Disclaimer: Gege Akutami owns Jujutsu Kaisen. I'm just a fan.
The Shibuya Incident: (the) Honorary Arrangement
III
ShNnkKt!
Three lines, bent in an angle, literally exploded in to existence as Takumi's eyes widened slightly at the burst of Cursed Energy that made it past him and into the buildings behind, gaze meanwhile focused on his adversary in front; the one they called the King of Curses, Ryōmen Sukuna, as he kept the grinning face locked at Takumi.
"Okay, you can redirect Kai like blindfold. ((Sukuna grinned wider)) Seems I will have to make do with a little bit of moving to slaughter you down while I'm out."
"Confident aren't ya? ((Takumi also grinned)) Exactly what I expected from you, King of Curses. ((Takumi slowly pumped out his aura)) That is a proposal I could surely get behind of."
'Sorry Satoru-yuuung~ Guess I'm playing with the King first~'
Mahoraga had been exorcised and, unfortunate for Takumi, it was Sukuna who had taken that final shot and fully destroyed it before it could even try to adapt after the attack from Takumi. (('To take on a Gokunoban and still not fully perish.')) Takumi wondered if Mahoraga was far from being just an adapting shikigami and if it couldn't be something else even.
But it was all speculation, for now, so Takumi merely didn't give much mind. Looking at Sukuna in front Takumi got ready, even though, he seemed lax. Takumi disappeared as soon as Sukuna moved as well, as their fists met each other and subsequently, a fist fight had taken place that tore through the streets of Shibuya.
The first of the honoured battles to come had certainly taken place and no one in the Jujutsu world was ready for it.
-Back in Orchard Road crossing-
Udagawacho
When Mahoraga was unleashed onto the streets of Shibuya, Uraume couldn't help the shiver that ran through their spine when they witnessed it first as the aura it reeked of, exploded outwards and clashed with their own, pushing against it.
They couldn't help but be intrigued at the supposed legendary summon of one of the most well-known Sorcerer family as Mahito on the other hand had been totally surprised at the turn of events, whereas Chōsō was surprisingly nowhere to be found.
As soon as Mahoraga was fully summoned it had turned its attention to the huge gathering in front of it and immediately attacked in an indiscriminate fashion. Mahito had been screaming something but Uraume didn't give any mind towards his words as they only kept their eyes upon the new event that had inadvertently taken place with their own master in the midst of it
(("Do not forget nor neglect your preparations. It won't be long until I am finally free."))
That was what their master, Sukuna, had told them before departing towards the adversaries that were left in the area. (("See you later, Uraume.")) It had brought a sense of long-lost redemption in their soul when they heard their master looking ever the more confident and alive. It had brought the deep-seeded loneliness that gnawed at Uraume, when they had reincarnated in this era without their master in sight, to rest, but now, it was, all, coming together.
The moment when Uraume saw Sukuna's features overtake Yūji's after they fed the unconscious frozen boy all the fingers they had retrieved from Jōgo and some they themselves also had, Uraume couldn't help the small satisfaction they found. Ten fingers from Jōgo and one they had themselves, in the boy's body and Sukuna was pleased after he had taken control. Now, Uraume's purpose was fulfilled and they were ready to serve again.
"I shall await your return, Master.", was all that Uraume had spoken.
They had watched for a moment as their master toyed with the sorcerers and especially give a somewhat more interested look upon one of the sorcerers with black hair that had Uraume narrow their eyes as well.
Now, they could only watch as Sukuna was launched away into the sky and into a distant building as the towering bulky shikigami gave chase after the King of Curses' flying form.
Clenching their hands Uraume gritted silently but they knew that they had preparations to do as well. As much as they wanted to aid Sukuna they already knew their orders, they already knew their task. It was frustrating at that moment but Uraume calmed their self as they kept their eyes on the distant caved-in building the shikigami dropped in to. Sukuna would need their expertise on the finer parts of the supposed ritual they had planned and Uraume didn't want to leave anything less than perfect.
Fifteen fingers worth of power, Uraume noted, was within Yūji's body and thus they had the utmost belief that Sukuna would emerge victorious and Uraume even reasoned that they would seemingly just have been an obstacle around here at the moment. Uraume turned away and began to slowly trek their way out.
'I shall make do for the bath preparations. It is only a matter of time before master fully revives and everything would need to be at their best. I shall be waiting for your return.'
With that thought in mind Uraume had been getting ready to proceed to their next destination (("Jeez, can't you even at least try and greet me back? I've been calling out your name for a while you know?")) but Mahito appeared before them, eyes dimmed and an annoyed expression on his face; Uraume didn't stop walking.
"That was Jōgo's parchment in your hands. I know what it looked like."
With not a single step stopping, Uraume crossed by the Cursed Spirit without a single reply to which Mahito merely grinned psychotically at the response he was given as his eyes darkened and he merely spoke in a low tone.
"Is that so~ No response? Why~ it does seem like you don't like us, Cursed Spirits, much from the beginning. ((Mahito brightened up suddenly)) But that's ok~~! ((His personality again shifted)) I don't like you or Sukuna either."
"That's Lord Sukuna to you."
It was safe to say that Mahito's tone wasn't appreciated when Sukuna was mentioned so nonchalantly, as Uraume stopped a few feet away from Mahito and turned their head to look back at him. Mahito couldn't help but merely giddy up.
"Hmm~, your Lord, not mine. ((Uraume's eyes sharpened at that as their face showed small amounts of rage for a bit)) I told Getō that I wanted to fight Itadori but Chōsō found him first and I didn't even get to play with him before he was taken over. ((Mahito's aura darkened)) Suppose Jōgo won that bet then, although, I can't sense him anymore, why's that?"
An uninterested look on their face with narrowed eyes; a somewhat annoyed Uraume merely observed the Cursed Spirit for a moment as Mahito merely continued on speaking, "You didn't mention anything about that bomb-head and it's weird he is not around and you had his parchment. ((Mahito's gaze also caught something)) Also, where's Chōsō? Bastard got to fight Itadori and it still kind of pisses me off a bit but I don't see him anywhere. Wasn't he around-!" ((Both Mahito and Uraume suddenly stood still))
fwrP! SLauusSH!
Instinctively reacting, Uraume had created a wall of ice to block whatever attack had been thrown as they jumped back a few distance before seeing the ice wall get slashed through. (('Heat?!')) Their eyes narrowed but Mahito had caught a glimpse of the attacker and had dived in towards the cracking ice.
Enlarged arms went for a smashing fist attack but before he knew it, (("Huh?")) Mahito had been slashed and burned (('Flames?!' Uraume wondered)) from the front of his hands to the shoulders, barely missing his neck and head when Mahito had reflexively dodged the attack that came out of nowhere. Eyes widening, Mahito healed his hands, even though it seemed to take time, (('This is just like before! And fire?!')) as he steadied himself and turned to look at the aggressor that he could tell was a sorcerer from the energy they leaked.
It seemed like there was no shortage of new players in the current game…..
"Hey there Cursed Spirits~ Want to have some fun since our masters are busy~? ((A female figure, Tsubaki, came into view with her sword)) Just one rule! Loser gets rickrolled!"
…and neither Uraume nor Mahito had any idea of who she was.
Before either of the Cursed Spirits gave any response Tsubaki moved as she first dived in towards Mahito, getting inside his range (('So predictable~')) as he expected her to. But to Mahito's surprise as soon as he tried to close the gap between him and Tsubaki (("Bad idea.")) his hands combusted into flames as Tsubaki slashed him from waist to shoulder.
'Wha-!' Mahito didn't understand but he knew when situations were dangerous. So he launched a point blank Battai that sent Tsubaki flying away towards Uraume who had been ready with an ice attack, but before they could unleash the technique….
ffFschwWooOOM!
…a distant blast, towering and lighting up the night skies of Shibuya, brought everything to a standstill.
Distracted by the explosion that triggered a short memory for the briefest of seconds in Uraume's mind, they were not ready to counter the attack that Tsubaki unleashed upon them as their chest was slashed while their head was barely grazed. They created another ice wall as Tsubaki made a few distance while Uraume caught their footing while simultaneously healing their self as the shockwave from earlier passed over them all.
Everything that wasn't on their plan had been happening so fast. They now were short in Cursed Spirits after Jōgo and Dagon got killed, Hanami was killed by Satoru, Chōsō was nowhere to be found and only Mahito remained, with the dozen other fodder sorcerers spread in the city. But amongst all these, Uraume now had a different concern starting to gnaw from within as well. Because Uraume could recognise it, the energy from that earlier explosion was very similar and it turned Uraume's apprehension up.
'That was ((A brief flashback of Uraume's fight with Takumi played in their mind)) like back then… Is that sorcerer…. Is that sorcerer facing master?!'
Meanwhile Tsubaki merely grinned as she felt the shockwaves reach her and said out smirking widely, "Wheww~ that's some big explosion! Sensei must be kicking all you Cursed Spirit master's butt!"
That statement incensed Uraume like no other as his Cursed Energy levels increased while Tsubaki looked excited.
But also, it wasn't only Uraume and Tsubaki that had things to ponder upon the explosion.
The sorcerer group, which had retreated into one of the buildings with their own injured and exhausted members, also felt every bit of the sensation that washed over them when the shockwaves reached their vicinity. It had raised their apprehensiveness to the situation at hand as well and a grievously injured Nanami spoke up after witnessing the ground shake.
"Seems like monsters are still lurking around."
"Nanami-!" "It's alright Fushigoro- hggk! -damn it, ((Nanami looked at the gaping wound on his torso)) the wound is too deep."
"It's looking bad Nanami. You're bleeding too much….and your hands."
The cut from Sukuna could not be dodged by the normal sort of sorcerers. A technique that was invisible to read, and only divine luck and honed reflexes was responsible for the dodge that happened at the first slash. But that wasn't to be for the next, nor for the slaughter that followed.
When Sukuna had dropped in their vicinity and Nanami had engaged him alongside the Zen'in clan head Naobito, it was to no apparent success as they were swiftly cut down and only Megumi's summoning of Mahoraga had resulted in the apparent distraction of the King of Curses such that he and Naobito were still alive. But barely, it seemed so.
Naobito had lost his right arm and a whole portion of his left gut while Nanami himself had a gaping slash on his front with broken arms and a concussion that flared up momentarily. It was not looking good and Nanami knew it.
"Megumi, we should start prioritizing medical." Maki spoke up. "I don't think those Cursed Spirits are interested on us, so someone should go and contact some of the rescue team members. Sukuna is fighting Mahoraga but right now, we need to get Nanami and this old geezer ((Naobito grunted)) out of here as soon as possible."
She was right. Megumi knew it, that at the moment, it was the right call to make. (("Tch, it pisses me off to leave like this but I can back you up on this once!")) Even Nobara, begrudgingly even as it seemed, had accepted to retreat as she had been really shook for a moment when Sukuna had made his appearance. It was a testament to the amount of terror the reincarnated Cursed Spirit could inflict upon anyone he faced.
But the conundrum was that Megumi did not want to leave Yūji alone like this, even though he was possessed.
'Now he has eaten even more fingers, we don't even know how many he was fed-!'
BoooOOM!
Another explosion shook the grounds as the gathered sorcerers again grit their teeth at the destructive effects the techniques it seemed were being dished out, far inward the city. But that wasn't what had Megumi's attention, even though his allies cursed out expletives at the seemingly horrible situation at hand, no.
When this time an explosion occurred Megumi could feel a severance of a connection. A rush of Cursed Energy and then Megumi had, suddenly, keeled over breathing heavily as Maki and the others looked over at him with concerned faces.
'Shit, is he that strong?!'
It mattered not to what his allies were concerned of over him when Megumi had only one thing going through his mind at that very moment.
'Mahoraga was exorcised?!'
Unbeknownst to them, a transfigured sorcerer slowly made its way towards the unsuspecting team.
-Around Spotify O-EAST-
Dōgenzaka, Shibuya City
DHhhoOOM!
The wall of a building exploded outwards as two figures came flying out the dust.
"That's a nice look there Sukuna! Let me see it one more time!"
A punch sent Sukuna through another building as Takumi landed on the street and while he was busy dusting off his clothes a huge piece of boulder came, flying, through the hole. Takumi punched it through but Sukuna had followed it up and landed a kick to his torso. Takumi got sent flying a short distance when Sukuna followed it up with a Kai which Takumi barely could redirect outwards again as his eyes narrowed at the technique displayed by Sukuna.
'That was closer than before. This technique of his, it has the same level of output every time I redirect it. It is unseen to the naked eye that's for sure but I can still see the lingering Cursed Energy outline that the technique follows. ((Takumi's eyes narrowed further)) It's hard to keep up with its casting speed. ((Takumi sported a smile)) Heh, so it's faster than my Kyoku (曲, Bend).'
Kyoku (Bend) was a technique inspired by the application of Satoru's Mukagen (Limitless) that created the neutral form of it known as Mugen (Infinity). A Jutsushiki Junten (Cursed Technique Lapse), unlike the ability of Mugen, which slowed down anything between the infinite amount of space of its caster and the outlying attack or action taken, Kyoku's ability was to redirect any kind of attack, that used Cursed Energy or not, away from its caster by bending it away from them.
It did that by creating an unstable flowing film of pure Cursed Energy around the caster, like a form-fitting barrier, that constantly changes its viscosity, like unstable water, to interact and bend away attacks. The pure Cursed Energy being one of the main aspects of the technique, it made it such that any attack, that the caster was aware of or have experienced once, was calculated and then bent away, regardless of their area of effect. Just like the refraction of light.
Inferior to Mugen, Kyoku could only be used when the caster was aware of or anticipating the attack happening and after activation it had a passive state of ten seconds with a cool-down period of twenty seconds, Takumi knew it was possible to go through his technique. (('Hmm, if he can keep that same casting speed constant, then it might be troublesome to deal with. He hasn't used anything other than that slash, and that is strange.')) It was one of the drawbacks of this technique.
Also, since the technique only redirected attacks by creating the film of Cursed Energy, unlike Mugen's infinite space creation, it was prone to attacks that had far more concentrated potency or characteristics that focused energy in a certain density or width. Kyoku could not be brute forced in but it still needed the user's focus to function more thoroughly.
'His technique is deadly. Other Cursed Techniques may be flashy and they cover a lot of ground so my Kyoku easily reads them but Sukuna's has an edge. Even normal slash attacks aren't like that. ((Takumi traversed the building sides as Sukuna gave chase)) It is not just a huge mass of Cursed Energy thrown at you but kinda like a precise controlled Cursed Energy with a deadly effect. My guess(?) ((Takumi's eyes narrowed)) It could potentially cut through Kyoku even, if I'm not aware. I don't know how many fingers he has consumed but it would be safe to assume that he ingested a lot, coming from what I remember of that parchment I saw. Judging from the damage his technique has left, still inconclusive but definitely dangerous.'
Moving closer, Takumi transformed a piece of a bench into an oversized battle-axe and threw it at Sukuna as he dodged the projectile and then caught it in his hands. Takumi dashed in towards Sukuna's vicinity to attack but then Sukuna merely smashed the battle-axe in hand to where Takumi appeared. The ground shook but Takumi had redirected the smash with his hand-to-hand and then broke the battle-axe apart with an enhanced punch. Sukuna didn't mind as he dodged the oncoming kick and then landing near to Takumi he merely launched a punch to the side that was blocked. Grabbing his hand Takumi spun him outwards and threw him away towards another building on to its top floors.
'Civilians, who are still alive, besides the sorcerers around, are gathered around the ShinQ and the underground station levels. Well that's good for me.' ((Takumi reasoned))
Steadying himself on one of the windows of the building he was thrown into, Sukuna merely grinned as he saw Takumi dash in towards where he was at when he launched another set of Kai that he missed again. (("Tch, it's still up.")) Sukuna watched his technique get redirected away but amongst the time he had been fighting he had also been slowly getting the feel of his opponent's techniques and tactics as well when he had to block a kick from Takumi. Turning himself whilst sticking to the building walls, Sukuna tried to send a punch towards Takumi's torso but Takumi merely let Sukuna's fist get bent away from his torso and then pushed him through the building with a shockwave. (("Haah!"))
Flying through the air after breaking through the other side of the building they were at, Sukuna and Takumi free fell towards the grounds but Sukuna had been able to grab Takumi's shirt (("Oh?!")) and then threw him to the ground beneath them as Sukuna landed over a ledge.
'He can redirect Kai. He can redirect physical attacks. Whenever I try to aim for a spot at him it's all bent away. (("Hmph, what an annoyance.")) He can also create weapons from the surrounding materials it seems, so he probably can do matter manipulation hmm? ((Sukuna's eyes narrowed still)) But still, the most problematic of his techniques is definitely this redirection that he can do. ((Sukuna was intrigued)) Unlike the one I have seen used by that blindfold, this one though, seems to have a lapse between its activation and de-activation times…
….I can still touch him at those small intervals, so it's most probably not always passively active. On top of that ((Sukuna felt intrigued even more)) all of his techniques, that he has shown, are all over the place, and his aura itself is very different to what Cursed Energy feels like. Hmph, whatever. The technique he can use to bend away Kai, or my attacks, needs time to activate it so it's definitely not automatic like blindfold's technique nor is it absolute. For now, the only difference I can make out in either of our techniques is activation time, ((Sukuna watched Takumi appear from the dust and debris all okay)) and my technique is just faster.'
With a grin on his face (('Ahh well, I'm going to cut him into pieces anyway.')) Sukuna entered the fray again as he took a stance while Takumi also readied himself, as well, by wrapping his fists with Cursed Energy.
"You Jujutsu Sorcerers just don't ever quit, do you?"
It seemed like Takumi heard what Sukuna had said from the ledge above him when Takumi merely sent a grin back at Sukuna and replied,
"Aauuww? But I'm not just any ordinary sorcerer you know?"
"Hmph, special or whatever, you're still just like every other vermin I've squashed. ((Sukuna's eyes narrowed)) Just another meat on the chopping board."
"Pft, so original. I've heard better insults from ten year olds while playing online multiplayers."
With no other verbal given for a reply, Sukuna and Takumi disappeared and met in the middle of the street, sending shockwaves from the contact, as Sukuna went in for a blow but Takumi moved down, locking Sukuna's legs, as he went for a counter punch but Sukuna shook Takumi off and then launched a kick that Takumi had to block. Sukuna manoeuvred his body towards the back side of Takumi as he tried to elbow his head but Takumi ducked as before Sukuna could do anything more-
DghroOM!
-a giant slab of cement and asphalt became a barrier between them as Takumi then proceeded to punch it the same time Sukuna did from the other side as the construct crumbled and exploded while two figures flew out of the smoke-dust.
(("Hmph, ok.")) Sukuna smiled as Takumi toppled a tank of water that was on one of the rooftops. Freezing the water, inside, whole, Takumi created a giant ice spike that rocketed towards Sukuna who merely pointed his hands like claws and then destroyed the spear altogether into several pieces before it could even reach him.
'Oh? I was wondering when he was going to use his other elemental techniques. That's a start.'
Dashing in with a smirk Sukuna met fist for fist with Takumi, again, as they started another short bout of close-quarter combat on a building terrace. Takumi blocked a right hook as he caught that fist and pulled in Sukuna but Sukuna planted his feet firmly and pulled Takumi instead as Takumi had to dodge the kick that followed. Takumi steadied himself and then, he sent a horde of spikes created from the terrace surface towards Sukuna but he merely sliced through them and then sent a slash attack that Takumi had to block by creating a wall. The wall was sliced through, when, Sukuna reappeared and then tried landing a kick but he got bent away and Takumi found that perfect angle to land a solid punch.
DHhhgghHwwwwrooOMM!
The six-floor building was brought down to the ground.
"Sheeeshh, you're tough. Even when you're not at full power, ((Takumi kept his eyes at Sukuna who landed on a different building ledge)) you're this good of a fighter. I applaud your zeal of being strong Sukuna. You are truly something else."
"You think I care for verbose compliments from insects like you? It's the same discourse of an Elephant and an Ant. ((Sukuna grinned maniacally)) I will kill you before this brat even wakes up."
"Heheh, you can surely try. ((Takumi stretched his body)) It's been a while since I've popped my joints as well and this is good exercise."
'Sukuna hasn't used any other techniques besides that one slash he has been using to try and bypass my Kyoku. Satoru-yuuung never mentioned nor does anyone seem to have an idea of what his Innate Technique actually is but is it really as simple as just a slash? ((An intrigued expression crossed Takumi's face)) I can definitely see the slash lines but that is inevitable as he uses Cursed Energy but the energy takes form as the split happens and they vary in design as well. Is that really ((Takumi remembered the various times he had to use Kyoku to counter Kai)) his Innate technique?
Seperation? Rending into pieces? Precise cutting power? Does he divide the space? Or, wait-! Does it breakdown everything related to Cursed Energy? But that would become a part of separation. I did feel a weird interaction with my Kyoku when Kai always made contact. Of all the slashing attacks I've witnessed, Sukuna's is pretty unorthodox and then…..
…...there's the flaming arrow that he used. ((Takumi's eyes narrowed)) It can't be said that the flaming arrow isn't another extension of one of his techniques. It must be something related to his Innate Technique but how? A slash and a flame arrow, two completely different types of attacks, two techniques? ((fake Suguru popped up in Takumi's memories)) That fake used Suguru-yuung's technique but if it is like that with Sukuna as well….' "…..is it possible?" ((Takumi gazed at the grinning Sukuna))
"Oh? That gaze of yours is intense. Let's see how long you have that on, sorcerer."
"Is that right? Try me, Slither knock-off." (('Whatever technique you use, I will take it all head-on myself, King of Curses!' Takumi thought grinning))
With his right hand and two fingers out Sukuna sent a Kai but Takumi had disappeared even before the attack landed as he appeared above Sukuna (('That was fast!')) and landed a heel kick which Sukuna blocked but was sent through, two floors down, a small building.
Dashing out in to the street Takumi gave chase to Sukuna's form as he appeared unharmed. Landing near to Sukuna Takumi sent a left jab which Sukuna dodged and sent an elbow towards Takumi's face. Takumi blocked the elbow and rotated inwards and tried for a right hook towards Sukuna's torso but Sukuna jumped over Takumi, grabbed his shirt and threw him away towards another building. He gave chase as Takumi flew out of the terrace with a spike made of cement headed straight towards Sukuna but he sliced it to pieces before jumping his way towards Takumi's form.
"Jutsushiki Hanten: Choku."
Whereas Kyoku redirected all attacks away from the caster, Choku was its technique reversal that directly pulled in a selected target by expanding the armor-like Cursed Energy of Kyoku into a wider, cubic shaped barrier with a range of 50 meters both in front and back of the caster by stopping everything else within the barrier barring the target and caster themselves. Mahito had already experienced it once. (("Hgghk!")) Sukuna experienced it for the first time when he felt everything stop except for him as he got pulled in faster than anything he had experienced and the next thing he knew-
FwdhoOM!
-Sukuna ate dirt but Takumi wasn't finished as he appeared above Sukuna and drove a fist to his body. Sukuna disappeared before the punch landed and made some distance between them as his face had bruises to its front. (('What the hell was that?')) Healing himself quickly Sukuna had to block a kick to his face as he spun and tried kicking Takumi's head back but Takumi blocked it too and tried to counter with an elbow to the knee. Sukuna pushed back Takumi with a jerk as Takumi lost his balance while Sukuna got behind him. Aware, Takumi quickly reinforced his body as Sukuna sent a vicious right jab to his back and sent Takumi flying towards a wall. Sukuna merely grinned as his wounds healed and dashed in.
Giving chase, Sukuna had to block the left kick that came at him when Takumi seemed to manuever himself (('Hmm-!')) and getting under the guard of Sukuna, Takumi sent another kick to his head from low ground right into his chin. Unable to quickly guard, Sukuna ate the kick and was sent through the ground floor roof of the building and Takumi dashed with several earth spikes headed towards Sukuna. Sukuna on the other hand, unconsciously, even for him, the feeling that was coursing through, deep down; he was slowly starting to enjoy the fight.
(('Not bad, insect! You seem to be able to play well!')) Sukuna grinned and then slashed through each and every spike and then got into another short brawl mid-air as both him and Takumi exploded out the buildings and into the open city, again. Bending away the oncoming fist when Sukuna tried to catch Takumi's own punch, (('It's still active?')) Sukuna merely raised his eyebrows as he had slowly started getting used to the technique's rhythm, which helped when he dodged the oncoming elbow jab and got inside Takumi's range. Sukuna then moved with Takumi's actions as when Takumi leaned back and went to grab him, Sukuna simultaneously went in as well. Dodging the first strike, Sukuna went in for a haymaker but Takumi let it graze his side as he avoided it and tried for a double ear strike but Sukuna disappeared and appeared to Takumi's right as they both landed in the streets.
(('Let's see.')) Another Kai slashed the buildings down but Takumi had already been moving and got inside Sukuna but Sukuna had already been prepared. He blocked the strike then moving forward, got right besides Takumi, not even letting him finish his attack. Already wary of Sukuna's counter Takumi had been moving to block the punch towards him with Kyoku when Sukuna stopped millimetres from his front as before Takumi could think on the next move…
"Hachi (Cleave)."
ShlrRRkssShhH!
…he was slashed on his front side from shoulder to hip.
First-Blood was claimed by the King of Curses himself as Takumi's eyes widened in disbelief. Takumi kicked Sukuna away as he made a few distance while Sukuna on the meantime had his eyes narrowed with surprise. But eventually he grinned as he steadied himself and watched the bleeding Takumi a few distance in front of him.
"Heh, moving his head to avoid it but, it seems like I got through his technique. So it's not impenetrable after all." (('He didn't get cut in half? That is actually surprising.'))
The widened eyes of Takumi looked at his injury as he raised his gaze towards Sukuna again. Quickly healing his wound by using Reverse Cursed Technique, (("Oh?")) which didn't go unnoticed by Sukuna, Takumi merely smiled wide and then planted his hands to the ground. Another array of spiked asphalt were created and aimed straight for Sukuna as Takumi jumped on one and dashed in towards the re-incarnated Cursed Spirit but Sukuna dodged the spikes and dashed in towards Takumi as well.
Both of them met fist for fist again as Takumi sent a right hook but Sukuna dodged and then launched a Kai that slashed through all spikes and then tried to punch the imbalanced Takumi but Takumi blocked the punch and grabbing his hand threw Sukuna away. Takumi gave chase towards Sukuna's form when Sukuna merely steadied his footing, landing on the edge of a building and then dashed in towards Takumi who had tried to clothesline Sukuna but Sukuna ducked and then swiped his legs underneath Takumi but Takumi jumped. Sukuna dashed towards where Takumi landed and let loose a punch that shattered a wall but Takumi let loose another cement spike that grazed Sukuna a bit while Takumi appeared to the side and then kicked Sukuna away to the streets below.
Takumi landed and gave chase to Sukuna when Sukuna re-appeared overhead Takumi and let loose another set of Kai that had Takumi redirecting it. Re-inforced cement spikes gave chase to a dodging Sukuna as Takumi ran along the building walls and into one of the spikes where Sukuna landed and dashed in towards him. Takumi threw a left jab which was blocked and then Sukuna tried to grab Takumi but his hands bent away as Takumi kicked his guts and sent him flying down but Sukuna steadied himself. He quickly blocked the kick that came after and manoeuvring his body, Sukuna moved and before Takumi knew it, two sharp lines cut through his front again as he landed on the opposite side of a building edge while Sukuna grinned with his right hand stretched, fingers curled in like a claw.
For a moment everything stood still and then, Takumi felt the blood gush out but he didn't move to hold the wound. He could only stay still for a few moments as he kept his gaze on to his front while intrigued thoughts ran through his mind.
'He can adjust the slashing efficiency! He can slash through Kyoku. Is this a different slash?!'
Kyoku bent away attacks. If the attacks came in large bursts, like an explosion or physical attacks or any techniques that had some measure of flat and larger surface area, Kyoku could bend them away. A slash was different than a punch or an explosive shockwave. With the lowest surface area to interact with when coming in contact, Kyoku worked differently for slashes but it still could redirect them after experiencing it once. Sukuna had two kinds of slash attack. Hachi was different than Kai.
Whereas Kai acted as a default slash attack for Sukuna, Hachi could be adjusted based on Cursed Energy levels and toughness of the object. This is why Kyoku's viscosity-like property could redirect Kai, for it had a constant output on its slash and contact area, thus being easier to be computed by Kyoku's ability and countered. But Hachi was different and was able to bypass that ability due to its various adjustment factors that led to Kyoku not being able to compute the damage on the first slash and getting bypassed completely. Hachi could go through Kyoku, for Kyoku didn't have enough of its cumulative viscosity adjust to the change and augmentation upon the slash technique itself to completely redirect it in time.
Akin to a blade cutting water, an impossible phenomenon that was made possible, Takumi merely seemed to feel elated about it, if his face was to be seen by anyone else.
'If my natural aura hadn't been reinforcing my body constantly, that attack would've probably slashed me in half.'
Even though he had two gaping slash wounds on his front side, Takumi merely smiled even more with widened curious eyes as he used Reverse Cursed Technique to heal himself, again, and turn towards Sukuna while Sukuna merely grinned even more. (('So he has two types of slash I'd say. One is something, like, a default slash that wants to split even. This recent one, this is a slash that wants to cut through.')) The grinning face of Sukuna also, in turn, elated Takumi's own battle lust at the current moment of time, and Takumi couldn't help but relish in that feeling.
'This rush that I feel, this inner emotion of exhilaration, it's been a while since it's appeared back! ((Takumi looked at his healed injuries)) To revel in these emotions of joy and tension, it's been so long since something new had given me entertainment. Surely, Sukuna, you're like the boss to this quest game of Life!'
"Just like a new extension to my favourite game." 'And yet you feel so unsatisfying because you are incomplete!'
Still smiling, Takumi merely kept his gaze at his already healed injury as the shirt he wore had various long, tears running down its front and sighed a bit. (('Well, that's the shirt gone.'))
The first time when Kyoku got bypassed, when Takumi felt the first sensation of being wounded and had moved his head to avoid damage, it wouldn't be far off to say that Takumi was definitely shocked for a moment. But then, a sensation took over instantly, consumed his being when he had seen the first pint of blood explode from his wound and he had seen the injury he was sporting. It didn't induce panic. It didn't incur any thoughts of mortality.
It had merely been exhilarating.
The second time when Kyoku was bypassed, Takumi was just too thrilled when he got cut, again. Takumi couldn't help the rush of high-end enthusiasm in him since something he thought couldn't happen, had occurred and excited him. Takumi, now, was in too much spirits.
'Kyoku is no Mugen. Mugen is a top-tier technique improved even more by Satoru-yuung after all. An impenetrable neutral defense that would always be active around his person. ((Takumi turned his gaze towards Sukuna)) Kyoku only redirects attacks, bending them away from my person. It was never meant to stop or slow an attack like Mugen does and I already knew it had weaknesses but he really tore through its specialty huh? ((Takumi's smile grew with his aura)) Very nice! Things are just getting started slowly.'
((Takumi whispered)) "Heh~ Powerful and intelligent. What a Curse you are, Ryōmen Sukuna."
With no more words spoken Takumi dashed in as Sukuna threw cars over at him but he dodged them and then let loose a Soraku by planting his hands towards the streets beneath. Earthen spikes burst out of the area around Takumi with a circular radius of 40 meters as Sukuna had to jump towards a building to dodge the spikes as they reached heights of up to 20 feet. Takumi took advantage of the long spikes to dash and weave towards Sukuna atop as Sukuna also grinned and let loose another Hachi to tear through the spikes.
The earth/asphalt spikes all crumbled down but Takumi had appeared right over Sukuna and sent a kick to his head but Sukuna merely angled his head to the side and dodged it while he tried to grab Takumi's legs. Takumi didn't give him a chance to grab his leg as he kicked Sukuna from the bottom with his other leg, surprising the re-incarnated Cursed Spirit and sent him flying a short distance. Landing on a streetlight, Takumi kept his gaze on the place where Sukuna was kicked into.
'He can bypass Kyoku but that's alright. Now I have a slight idea as to how fast and sharp his slash techniques, actually, are. It is only a matter of time before I can nullify them. ((Takumi's eyes focused in)) I still am in doubts as to what his Cursed Technique is but if he is only going to throw around slash attacks might as well try and up the pace then. He most probably used the first slash to gauge the damage ratio needed and then, when confirmed, used the second one to try and slice me down in one swipe. But then again…
….he hasn't used that arrow in a while too. Is that a shot per day system? On top of that, the flames still confuse me. Whatever, ((Takumi's excitement grew again)) show me more, King of Curses. Show me how much of a Curse you are!'
Filled with exhilaration, for the battle he had been having, Takumi couldn't help but forget about Satoru for a moment. On the other hand Sukuna had been having thoughts of his own.
'Hachi can slash through his technique. I will just turn up the damage then. Surprising how he has been able to survive through the slashes and not be dead but I guess a good Reverse Cursed Technique usage has him hanging on. It won't be long before this brat wakes up. Tch, might be the time I can try and use my Domain to finish it before that. But wait, hmmm, but this sorcerer brat's technique is another thing as well. ((Sukuna saw Takumi upon a streetlight as the dust receded slowly from around himself))
I cannot sense any sliver of Cursed Energy from him but there is energy inside his body. Different, but I know the sensation and it's definitely not Cursed Energy. His techniques though, ((Sukuna was intrigued)) every technique till now, barring one, they have Cursed Energy in them. And he has a variety of them as well. So how can he, an insect who doesn't seem to have any Cursed Energy, be able to perform this many Cursed Techniques that has Cursed Energy? Not to mention…
((A brief flashback of Takumi using Gokunoban plays in Sukuna's mind)) …that attack of his, back then, didn't have a shred of Cursed Energy but the energy that I can sense from his body. Also, Mahoraga didn't heal for a short while early on after getting hit, didn't it? It seemed to be struggling to use its ability initially. That energy, what is that energy?'
"Guess this age has something new to offer for sorcery this time around. Heh, what a pain in the ass you are, ((Sukuna's eyes narrowed at Takumi)) all you insects with your new tricks."
Loathe he was to admit but Sukuna was starting to enjoy the fight a bit in the moment, subconscious as it was as well. Looking at the sorcerer before him Sukuna started to instantly gather Cursed Energy around his hands but before Sukuna could resume the fight (('Hmm, hold on what is this?')) something else had suddenly caught his attention. A familiar feeling of unity, of a soul fragment, that pulsed in the wake of his presence. Here, around the place that he was in, he could feel it clearly.
'There is a finger nearby.'
Unbeknownst to Sukuna and Takumi, their battle had left quite a few collateral casualties in their wake, allies and foes alike. And unknown to them, the Shibuya night sky was filled with different birds in black flying around and the visions they shared of the battle were explicitly transmitted to a certain blue-haired female sorcerer.
-Wevu St, Shibuya-
'It's you! It really is you!'
While Sukuna and Takumi were having their glorious battle of the greatest sorcery techniques, Mei Mei couldn't believe the vision she was getting from her birds when they transmitted those images but at last, she knew who the mysterious person was that had come in to Shibuya. A rush of memories, mostly relevant ones on her mind, enlightened Mei Mei of the identity and the very effect it could have on the events that were happening.
'How could I forget?! You couldn't act when Gojō was active but now, it makes perfect sense!'
"Ui Ui, (("Hmmm~ Nee-chan?")) Papa's visiting." Ui Ui's eyes widened and the excitement his body expressed had Mei Mei smiling as she combed her fingers through her brother's hair, eyes still closed in concentration as she watched the vision she shared with her birds.
"Mei-san, did you find anything?"
A male voice called out beside her as Mei Mei opened her eyes and let the connected vision slowly deactivate. She turned to her left to see, one, Tōdō Aoi and Nitta Arata, who had followed after Tōdō when he had proceeded to enter battle zone.
The moment Tōdō was informed about the sealing of Gojō Satoru he had been on the move instant. Reaching Shibuya even before some of his entourage could Tōdō had a brief talk with Shoko and Principal Yaga and then headed out into the city. It was lucky that Tōdō had come across Mei Mei and her brother, both sporting slight injuries, to which Nitta proceeded to heal them shortly after. Mei Mei smiled as she replied, while stroking Ui Ui's head beside her.
"Oh yes I sure did. I know now who it is that tore through the barriers in Shibuya."
!
That very sentence sent a jolt of shock to the two student sorcerers as Tōdō and Nitta couldn't help but be intrigued by the claim. The breaking of the barriers had been a major case of controversy for the sorcerer administration as they didn't know, even now, who it really was that had taken the barriers down. For Mei Mei to know who it was, now they could check if whoever it was, truly was an enemy or an ally in this mess of current circumstances.
Not to mention they could still sense the enormous amounts of Cursed Energy that was permeating from the inner parts of city. It had all of them at alert.
"Is that so, Mei-san?"
"Wait, you really know who it was that brought down the barriers around the city, Mei-san?"
Merely growing her smile Mei Mei replied, "I'd say if it weren't for the administration we wouldn't have been needed in this mess as he can easily clear out the playing field, besides Getō. In the world of Special Grades ((Tōdō's eyes narrowed at the claim)) he is an anomaly himself as well. An asset, and right now….
((A vision of Takumi fighting Sukuna across the streets is seen)) ….he is currently fighting the King of Curses across the city."
Tōdō and Nitta's eyes widened as Ui Ui trembled a bit besides Mei Mei.
"Sukuna has awakened? ((Nitta asked with a slight tremble in his voice)) Is he, is he the one that is fighting right now Mei-san?"
"Yes he is. Also, the one who broke down the barriers. Both him and the King of Curses are battling it out as you can feel the tremors. (("Brother." Tōdō whispered in concern)).
"Wait, someone is fighting the King of Curses right now? ((Nitta shivered)) Sho-shouldn't we help them then?"
"Mmhmm ((Mei Mei chuckled)) It's easy to say that we should help him but there's nothing to worry about. (('Really?' both Nitta and Tōdō had doubts)) I only have the incentive to help out here till now so I won't butt in for that as I haven't been paid enough for it. ((Tōdō and Nitta sweatdropped)) Also, we would only be a burden at this rate if we were to engage alongside him. ((Mei Mei focused on her crow's visions again)) In simple business terms, I haven't been paid and you cannot enter because your product is irrelevant in their market. Also, dare I say you know the person of interest, Tōdō-san. (("Hmm?")) Does the name Shimizu Takumi ring a bell? Or should I say…..
((Mei Mei's eyes turned mischievous)) …the person who had proposed to Takada-chan and she almost accepted it out of sheer-…"
Badum!
As if a trigger went off in the inner soul of Tōdō, a pulse of heartbeat rang whilst Nitta (("Hehe, senpai, calm, senpai~ Hehe, senpai, what's wrong?")) tried his best to stay standing beside the raging aura laden Tōdō who seemed to have a very intense face on him. His darkened eyes shone with small white dots as after a few short seconds of silence Tōdō spoke in whispers, "Aaah, I see. Yes, I know that name now. How could I forget? It is all coming back Mei-san. ((Numerous memories of Tōdō being pranked by Takumi played in Tōdō's head)) So he is back, huh. The home-wrecker with an impressive smile. My one and only…..
((Tōdō sported an intense look)) ….Love Rival!"
((A scene, with exploding confetti and a chibi-fied Tōdō and Takumi, are seen with gloves, facing each other off while a chibi-fied Takada-chan with an angelic but risqué clothing with wings, cheered on overhead, is imagined))
"Aaah, is that so~" ((A chibi Mei Mei spoke while Nitta sweatdropped, Ui Ui meanwhile stood with a flat look))
"Shimizu Takumi? Who is he Mei-san?"
"You're a first year so you won't know him. ((Nitta raised an eyebrow at Tōdō's reply and smirk)) Just keep in mind that if he is here then we can handle the other things we need to. OK!"
At that, Nitta was absolutely stunned. Being a new sorcerer student of the academy Nitta wasn't privy to a lot of the more historical side of the academy as he was only starting out his sorcerer journey, so it made Nitta wonder about this person named Shimizu Takumi when high-grade sorcerers like the ones beside him, whose feats he had heard and seen, spoke with such confidence and favourably upon that person. (('I guess he is someone on the levels of Gojō-san then.'))
"So then, where was he all this time? I haven't heard any mention of him till today, not even from you Tōdō-senpai."
When the question was dropped Tōdō's eyes dimmed, even Mei Mei's, when after a short moment Tōdō said, "He disappeared (?)"
'Huh?'
"So it happened to you as well? It is crazy isn't it, Tōdō-san? Even I am stumped at this part. ((Mei Mei looked with gleaming eyes)) He seemed to have just vanished from my memory and I never even knew about it. When Getō mentioned his name there was a rush of memories and only then was I able to remember back. ((Mei Mei grinned)) It is so interesting to think about it, it's a mystery how he was able to pull it off."
Now Nitta was confused even more. It seemed, from the words of Tōdō and Mei Mei, Nitta figured that this Shimizu Takumi seemed to have fully disappeared from the memories of the two sorcerers. (('That would make sense why he wasn't mentioned much.')) But Nitta had some questions to ask (('But how could he be forgotten just like that?')) and before he could proceed, a distant explosion brought all of the sorcerers back from their reveries (("That was close." Tōdō spoke, eyes narrowed)) as Mei Mei kept her crow's visions concentrated. It seemed a fight had moved close by and everyone narrowed their eyes at the ominous energy felt.
"Ano, Mei-san. ((Nitta started)) Earlier you said you faced Getō-san. Is it really true?"
"Hmm, yes it is and yes it is not." ((Tōdō and Nitta focused back))
"It is and it is not?" ((Nitta mumbled))
"What do you mean by that, Mei-san?"
"You see Tōdō-san, Getō Suguru had already been dead since the Kyoto incident, as you may remember. Gojō Satoru had killed him and that was the edict that was known to all. Whoever I fought definitely had the body of Getō. ((Mei Mei's eyes narrowed)) But it is not Getō, specifically, who had come back."
"Wait, what does that mean Mei-san? Not Getō who had come back. Hold on… that would mean-!..is that possi-!"
"Someone else is inside Getō's body." ((Tōdō cut off Nitta's thoughts as Mei Mei nodded))
It was a ridiculous notion to even think of for the first year Nitta but Tōdō only had concern written over his face. Tōdō didn't want to believe at first but he had been a person who was shown a world vastly different than what he had ever seen, by someone whom he would always be glad to have met in his life. With that fact said, in a world filled with monsters like Gojō Satoru and his own teacher, Tōdō was of the belief that almost nothing was impossible in the realm of Jujutsu Sorcery.
"Whoever it was, knew how to use the innate Jurei Sōjutsu left on the body of Getō Suguru." (('And also pretty efficiently. That Gokunoban: Uzumaki that he used, I never once saw Getō use it that way when he was alive.' Mei Mei thought to herself))
She was lucky, if she was to speak for herself.
Mei Mei knew it was a very close call that she had escaped unscathed, for the most part, ((Ui Ui, shaking, beside her, clutching her dress)) after she had fought, what she could call, a sound reversal of events, of a Kōhai getting the better of their Senpai.
'Whoever the creep was, using his body like this, it must've certainly been a shock to Gojō as well.'
The fight merely confirming her suspicions that she had all along, she knew it now, relatively clear, the fact that the Getō Suguru, who was alive, was not really Getō Suguru. And whoever the imposter was, he was the one responsible for all the shenanigans currently going on Shibuya.
'Hmph, was this the reason how Gojō got sealed? Seeing a dead man return from the dead could potentially have something to do with it, otherwise ((Mei Mei looked intrigued)) why would Gojō just let himself get sealed like that? But…
((Mei Mei contemplated))….he is here now. I wonder how much of a shock the higher ups are going to be going through when he appears before them, or he may probably not. My~ what a dilemma. It's a good thing I didn't use that and stayed here. ((Mei Mei's eyes filled with glee)) This is a far better situation to profit of.'
"So what do we do next?"
"Hmm? Aah, Tōdō-san, well, I can't be going anywhere now. I have a personal interest around this place to keep an eye on our asset. ((Mei Mei merely eye-smiled)) On the other hand, you two can go meet up with Nanami's group. I will have a surveillance done to see where they all are and you two can head out."
"You won't be heading out with us?"
"As I said Tōdō-san, I have a personal interest here that would be very beneficial for us if we can broker a deal right now. Now shush, let me just have a quick look and you two can be on your way now. Chop-Chop~"
.
.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Shibuya, around Yoyogi Hachimangu, a bike was on the move as its rider, a female with blonde hair, dome helmet on, with goggles, leather jacket and jeans, with boots on revved the engine to speed up. Smoke wafted off in the distance amidst the sky-high building lights that could be seen in the darkened skies.
"Hmmm, what are the old heads up to now?"
vRrrROoOMM~
-Inside Bunkamura City Hall building-
Dōgenzaka, Shibuya City
"You got this from here, Fushigoro."
That was the only thing that Megumi could remember. That was the only thing that Megumi had running through his head as he ducked the attack that came towards him and then summoned Nue to ram into the Cursed Spirit as he was thrown away through a wall. Nue flew back to pick Megumi up as he grabbed onto Nue's legs and was taken to the top floors of the city hall building that his entourage were currently in. To the far bottom floor of the building his eyes caught Maki trying to get out of the hole in the wall she was thrown into while Nobara seemed to be visibly exhausted from the attack that she had used before, right when everything had gone to hell again.
'Stupid Gojō-sensei, getting himself sealed just like that. Now Cursed Spirits have a full on free-for-all and we couldn't even detect this one!'
While Takumi and Sukuna battled it out into the inner parts of Shibuya, on the far cultural part of the city it had been a surprise attack which had totally disrupted the state of calm that Megumi and his entourage had when they were slowly trying to pull themselves together.
As the entourage had taken their plans to retreat with the injured members in to the building that Sukuna was thrown into, moments earlier, they had hoped to regain some form of momentum and also rethink their plans to go ahead with whatever was to be done until they could reach to the location of Satoru wherever he was sealed. But it just didn't go according to plan when they fell for the trick again.
A, unknown to them, transfigured sorcerer had passed them by and had just introduced himself as a helper when Mahito had shockingly appeared out of the sorcerer's body and proceeded to take out Naobito first while Nanami, also sensing the Cursed Spirit, tried to save the clan head but for naught. Naobito already perished from Mahito's technique and before the group could get their bearings back, Mahito had engaged in a one-sided brawl with the grievously injured Nanami, who was tittering between unconsciousness and consciousness. Nanami had tried to counter valiantly but the gleeful Mahito had quickly been able to take advantage of his injuries and had overwhelmed him with his attacks. All the while mocking him as Megumi and the others tried to distract the Cursed Spirit by attacking but they were all quickly blasted further into the building with a Battai.
"I might have not been able to fight Itadori, but I'll gladly serve him your corpses!"
That was what Megumi and the others heard Mahito shout before Nanami had given one last look and one last advice (("….got this…Fushi…")) at the students and was killed in front of them while they were being blasted away.
Now, in the present, Megumi sent Nue to pick up Maki and Nobara as Mahito jumped back in to their locations and tried to cut off Nue's path but couldn't reach the shikigami. Elongating his hands (("You think you will be escaping me?!")) Mahito tried to grab onto the flying shikigami gaining distance but suddenly he couldn't move. (("What the-?")) Megumi had been able to lock onto Mahito's shadow as he surprised the Cursed Spirit by emerging from underneath his shadow and sent him flying away with a kick as Megumi didn't give any room before summoning-
"Gyokuken: Kon!"
-as the black dog leapt towards the Cursed Spirit in blinding speeds and was able to tear through Mahito's whole left torso.
Eyes widening Mahito changed shape and ricocheted off of the walls as he transfigured his body to be bounceable. Seeing an opportunity, Maki had jumped over and tried to cut the changed Mahito but she missed her slash when Mahito's body smashed her through the pillars and furniture of the room. Nue had only been able to carry Nobara away as she recovered from her concussion when Nue was also smashed away as the bouncing Mahito kept ricocheting around the room.
'Shit I am running low on Cursed Energy. Maki-senpai won't be able to hold for long and Nobara won't be able to hold him even though she can do more damage, but to even escape now, we need to exorcise this Cursed Spirit first. ((Megumi gritted his teeth)) But bastard took down Nanami, I don't think even Maki-senpai will care for a retreat now.'
Looking at the chaotically bouncing Mahito Megumi dashed in as Maki took to run as well, recovering from the previous attack. (("Maki-senpai!")) Megumi reached into his shadow as Maki drew closer to him, as well as Mahito from the top. (("Catch!")) Something was thrown towards Maki and before Mahito could control his reforming bouncing body-
ThwaacCKmM!
-a brutal one-handed strike sent the Cursed Spirit through several pillars and walls as Maki appeared alongside Megumi, with her, holding a three-section staff.
Special Grade Cursed Tool, Yū-un (Playful Cloud). The only weapon that did not have an imbued Cursed Technique, which, for this very reason, its strength depended upon the wielder's own strength.
"This feels disgusting to use every time Megumi."
The Cursed Tool made its presence known as Mahito emerged from the hole he was sent through while he healed his head and smirking at Megumi and Maki. It was surprising to Mahito when he incurred the strike and had tried his best to minimize the damage but it had still left a hell of a lot of damage on his person.
'So that is the prized Yū-un, Special Grade Cursed Tool. Looks scary.'
"Megumi, you ready?" "Yeah, let's go, Maki-senpai."
With no moment to rest Maki dashed in as Megumi summoned (("Datto!")) a swarm of rabbit shikigami, blocking Mahito's view but he tried to push through them when Maki appeared overhead and smashed him with Yū-un. Mahito blocked it but his hands broke while Megumi appeared to his back with a blade in hand and proceeded to slash him but Mahito shrunk himself and dodged the slash, creating a short distance between him and the sorcerers.
'Gotcha.', Megumi merely signalled with his fingers.
Instantly, Nue appeared from the shadows of the roof and electrocuted Mahito, during his recovery, as it smashed into the Cursed Spirit and shocked him with current while sending him flying outside the building and into the empty, destroyed, streets again. (('He had this shikigami still?!')) Rolling his self to a stop Mahito merely licked his lips as he grunted while, laying down amongst the rubble. Taking a short breather from that attack Mahito stood slowly as he shook himself out of the kinks that Nue's electric attack produced on him as the shikigami just vanished.
'Sheesh, these kids are really getting tedious to handle. Three on one, not much of a good odd but if it isn't for that shadow boy then the other two are just easy kills, even though that one girl seems to be able to damage me more. ((Mahito smiled dimly)) The seven-three sorcerer is already dead. I still have enough in my tank that I can try and use my domain again but I can't be sure on that. I could try and kill that girl first, the one that damaged my soul directly as she has become a pain in the ass….
((Mahito sighed)) I wish I could've done more with the seven-three sorcerer, but oh well, these are Itadori's friends aren't they? I should not complain when I'm getting something out of this. Of course, Itadori might just drown even more deeper in despair once I present him all their corpses~' "Hehehe~"
BoooOOOM!
A huge explosion reached the skies of Shibuya again as Mahito turned towards a distance to the place where he was with Uraume before. Eyes narrowed, Mahito could only wonder,
'Is he seriously having trouble with that girl?'
Then a punch out of nowhere sends him through a building again.
-Around Inokashira-dori St-
Udagawacho
'Who is this girl?!'
Emerging from the hole of the building that they were sent through, Uraume narrowed their eyes but had to quickly block a kick that was aimed right at their face, as it sent them flying again through the window on the other side of the building. Falling towards the streets, Uraume steadied their self when they landed before dodging away another set of slashes from Tsubaki. Gathering Cursed Energy (('Hikori Juhō…')) Uraume sent a blizzard attack which spread through the whole street, freezing the entirety of the alley, they were currently fighting in.
Before they could rest, the ice was slashed through again as Uraume felt a searing heat besides their head before dodging a swipe from the blade. (('Fast!')) They had to dodge a couple more slashes that were being sent towards them right after as well. Freezing the ground they tried to unbalance Tsubaki but the ice seemed to never form or simply melted away wherever Tsubaki stepped.
'Her Cursed Energy has heat properties so my ice loses its toughness every time it gets close. I cannot freeze the air around her as it's constantly being heated up! She's a walking flame.'
Ducking another slash Uraume merely swung behind Tsubaki and let loose another freezing attack, this time with reinforced Cursed Energy as they seemingly froze-in Tsubaki in a big block of ice. (('This ice should be enough.')) But to their surprise, moments later, the ice was slashed through. Coating their hands with ice Uraume blocked the incoming sword strike as they felt their ice slowly melt but they launched ice spears from around their vicinity. Tsubaki let out a large burst of Cursed Energy as it exploded outwards, launching Uraume away, as well as melting the ice spears via the heat.
Steadying their self, Uraume narrowed their eyes as Tsubaki on the other hand, also had their caution up when facing Uraume. Unknown to Uraume, Tsubaki was starting to feel apprehensive in the fight with a touch of glee.
'This one is trouble. His ice attacks are very fast and it's only my technique that has kept me alright till now or I would've been frozen solid so many times. ((Tsubaki kissed her teeth)) He is powerful, really powerful. I might need to take it more seriously throughout the fight….
((Tsubaki gazed at her visible Cursed Energy remnants))
….the property is working fine but I only got a few minutes before my body starts feeling the burn. I'll try to finish him before that happens.'
When Tsubaki had engaged the Cursed Spirits and Sorcerers she had assumed that aside from raw power the enemies would have next to no fighting potential. The first few kills had given her a misconception over time because presently, when she had started off the fight with the ice user while the other Cursed Spirit had seemingly vanished in the midst, Tsubaki quickly came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to be an easy battle.
'Elemental users are monotonous anyway so countering them is eas-!'
"*Toyaki (Frost Burn)!"
Before Tsubaki could further think about anything else-
fwwWOOOMMSHMHSH!
-a torrent of blizzard-like wind tore through the streets as Tsubaki could only watch while the blizzard engulfed her whole being even before she could try and move. The area around her legs that she stood at being frozen instantly, Tsubaki could only be seen disappearing into the blizzard that Uraume had created from their technique.
Toyaki was an extension technique that brought down the temperatures in the atmosphere so low that in the affected area, any matter that was caught, fully, got eroded away from the blizzard-like attack. Non-living objects would simply crumble away while living beings would all seemingly cease to function and then shatter away. The technique was called as such because in the aftermath of the technique-
wooosS~
-the area looked like it was razed down by a widespread raging form of frozen flames. Before Uraume, the alley they were at, merely ceased to exist around 200 meters in front; the remains crumbled down as building parts were totally destroyed while all forms of living objects, in sight, turned black and blew into the wind, like ashes, amongst the white expanse of the layering snow and the frozen tufts on the outward buildings.
'That should do it. I don't know who she was but she shouldn't survive that attack. Toyaki rends everything down by freezing them to their lowest point where they start to break down.'
Still, Uraume's narrowed eyes (('But what is this apprehensiveness in me?')) kept watch at the place where they last saw Tsubaki when, suddenly, a few moments later, amongst the ashen rubbles, something stirred. As if rising like an un-dead Uraume watched Tsubaki emerge from the ashes around as one of her arms, the left one, was missing its entire portion down from the elbow. With her hair having bits of melting ice flakes and various black patches on her exposed skin, Tsubaki slowly stood, facing her opponent as she took deep breathes to steady herself.
Saito Tsubaki was alive and Uraume stood surprised.
'Did she sacrifice her hand to tank the brunt of my technique?! A Binding Vow?!'
A clutch Binding Vow to enhance her whole body and Cursed Energy for the moment when the attack landed till the attack stopped, Tsubaki sacrificed her left arm so that her remaining entire body could tank the damage. (("Sheesh, that was a close one."))
"You! Whoever you are ((Uraume created multiple ice shells and froze the air around)) you will not be living to see the next sunrise."
Saying that, Uraume launched the ice shells but Tsubaki had disappeared, leaving a trail of blazing red flames, and appeared right over Uraume who had to block the oncoming slash with an ice wall. Tsubaki slashed through it as Uraume froze the vicinity entirely. But that didn't stop Tsubaki as she went for a low slash but Uraume froze the path of the swing; the slash lost its power. Uraume went for a jab with their frozen tipped hand towards her armless left side but Tsubaki ducked and went for a mid-torso kick which Uraume blocked. Grabbing Tsubaki's leg with reinforced hands Uraume threw Tsubaki away as the sorcerer steadied herself mid-air to land safely and then a shadow fell over her.
GhrROoM!
A huge block of ice smashed down on top of Tsubaki while Uraume steadied their self but then, a short moment later, Tsubaki blasted out of the ice with visible flames around her form. Uraume created several reinforced frozen binds to capture the advancing Tsubaki and tried to halt her movements but to no avail. Brute-forcing her way through the freezing binds that Uraume's technique created Tsubaki merely advanced and then kept on piling slash attacks that had flame-like characteristics as it melted any kind of ice formation around her.
'Where is she getting all this Cursed Energy from?! She can still move as such with that injury?!'
Uraume had to block a kick that came out of nowhere (("You look so apprehensive!")) as they froze Tsubaki's leg for a brief moment before their ice got melted, but Uraume was able to create a short distance from that small action.
"Awww~ Come closer. I haven't even gotten your name all this time!"
On the other hand, even though she may have been projecting a bit of bashfulness with the tone she had been speaking with, Tsubaki was starting to feel the effects of her technique usage on her body and Cursed Energy, and also the effects of the fight as well.
'The Binding Vow worked, but fighting with one arm is a disadvantage. That technique of his came out of nowhere but I don't think he can use it continuously. It must've dipped some of his reserves, I can feel it. Auugh, such a hassle. It could also be that the vow strengthening my technique is giving me an advantage now but one arm is still a big difference. ((Tsubaki smacked her lips))…
…I miscalculated. My body won't be able to keep from burning if I prolong the heat properties in my Cursed Energy after that stunt I pulled but I figure I still have around 50 seconds on the timer. Damn it! Sensei is gonna have a field day making me run errands after this one.'
A blast of her Cursed Energy melted the huge block of ice headed towards her as she jumped on the remaining block of ice piece and dashed in towards Uraume who disappeared into the heights of a nearby building and sent another barrage of ice shards and ice walls simultaneously. With flames now, visibly, enveloping her blade Tsubaki let out a huge slash akin to a big burst of Cursed Energy that destroyed the walls and the shards, but not completely, because Uraume quickly piled on another layer of ice attack upon the advancing form of Tsubaki.
'So he wants to keep piling it on? ((Tsubaki had to create some distance as she dodged the attacks)) Well this situation is already a lot harder than Germany. ((Tsubaki grinned)) This just means I can most probably use that this time!'
Dodging another barrage of ice shards, Tsubaki started to dash around the razed alley way as she picked up speed and jumped around the area.
'I guess one hand will make it a lot more difficult but he doesn't know that. Might as well give it a try and see what happens. Control is shot anyways, guess I'll see if I've found my edge, like sensei mentioned.'
Gripping the Nōdachi in her remaining hand Tsubaki dodged another set of ice as she started her technique. Simultaneously, Uraume started their, own, different technique as well.
'To think that she can still move this way, even without an arm and after a sacrificial vow! ((Uraume watched as Tsubaki dodged another set of attacks)) And her flames, those flames are getting bigger, as well as her increasing Cursed Energy output! And with the moves! Those moves aren't random as well. The dodging ((Uraume's eyes narrowed)) is she setting up her own technique?'
"Hikori Juhō: Shutsuryoku Saidai (Ice Formation: Maximum Output)…..
((Uraume was not wrong))
…..Shimonagi (Frost Calm)."
As the freezing happened in a blink of an eye so did Tsubaki land the final step to the dance.
Saito-ryu Jigokugiri Battōjutsu (Saito School's Hell Cutting Sword Draw Technique). A series of sword drawing slash techniques that Tsubaki had created, herself, on the journeys she had with her sensei. Sword Techniques that brought out the best of her own Innate Technique.
Tsubaki's family had been part of an old sword-mongering clan that leant their services to the highest bidder or whoever needed their debts paid in blood. Being no stranger to sword arts as her family had their own style, Tsubaki had been able to create her very own style as well that she could use to maximize the potential of her own Innate Technique's unique properties with a blade.
"Iaikata: Katon (居合型: 火遁, Sword Drawing Form: Flame Release)…
((As the ice covered, almost, the whole of the street area in front, Tsubaki's Cursed Energy burst out in flames while she took a stance))
….Goka Rengoku (豪火煉獄, Majestic Flame Punishment)!"
FwRp!
The flames disappeared as the edges of the blade, Tsubaki held, glowed and she swung it.
The tip of the blade touched the ground once….
CHnn~
….while the ice attack completely enveloped the street area around, Tsubaki completed the horizontal right upward slash….
DhsScchHooOOMM!
….and the ice in front was split apart all the way to its origin, bringing the entirety of the frozen mass over the area to come crumbling down a short moment after.
Jujutsu Techniques' mastery had always been co-related with the mastery of subtraction. A sorcerer's skill was judged on their ability to remove exclusive requirements to fully activate a technique, like hand-signs or incantations or even dances. Tsubaki had excluded nothing on her technique. The technique would be elevated to 120% of its original output.
Swish~!
But it didn't reach Uraume because the technique was still incomplete and therefore, (('So it really does make a difference with an arm.')) the pure, increased, effectiveness of the technique, which would've been achieved by both hands, was lost for the sake of only maximum power output; and Uraume had plenty of power as well.
They appeared right above the one-handed Tsubaki as they gathered ice on their fingertips and, a second later let loose a piercing ice attack that rocketed towards the female sorcerer. It was at that moment that the flaming property of Tsubaki's Cursed Energy had ended.
Simultaneously, the ice pierced through Tsubaki.
"All you Jujutsu Sorcerers are of the same old adage 'Good vs Evil' when Master Sukuna is beyond anything you sorcerers could ever label him for. ((Uraume landed in front of the bleeding Tsubaki)) Master Sukuna is about to return and the only thing you should be doing is offering him your selves and praying on his honour ((Uraume's eyes narrowed))…
…Master gave me a few tasks to complete and you're in my way sorcerer. I don't know who you are but I'll gladly remove you if you stop me from my duties to my master."
Uraume gathered a huge amount of Cursed Energy as the air, around, slowly froze. On the other side, Tsubaki had decided that she would not hesitate any longer and so, she started using Reverse Cursed Technique which took Uraume by surprise, but it didn't stop Uraume from launching their attack.
Had the attack landed it would've surely been a very, very, bad situation for the recovering Tsubaki.
Shnkt!
But unknown to both, they had an observer. A silent watcher who, seeing the turn of events, gripped their weapon and then appeared right before Tsubaki….
"*Battō: Sword Drawing: Jinkaku (Concealed Blade)."
….Then they slashed the ice attack as an explosion of fog and frozen air filled the destroyed streets of the city again when the techniques collided.
-Back with Megumi and co.-
A break.
Megumi needed a break.
DhhrGhHrm!
Blasted through another building, Megumi was cushioned by Panda as they both steadied themselves while Toge held Mahito at bay with his technique making Maki smash Yū-un onto Mahito's face, sending him flying.
"Megumi! Are you alright?!"
"It's okay Panda-san, I'm ok. ((Megumi grunted)) That Cursed Spirit is coming back. You should probably get to Maki-senpai first. Inumaki-san seems to be struggling."
Merely nodding, Panda jumped back onto the fray when Mahito blasted out with Battai and two transfigured beings with him. Toge had tried to use his technique but it seemed he had reached his limit as well as instead of his technique he could only cough out blood. Seeing that, Mahito had sent one of the transfigured humans towards Toge but Nobara had saved the Jugon (Cursed Speech) user by attacking the being. But that attack merely seemed to distract the being as both Nobara and Toge were punched away towards Megumi's direction.
"Nue."
The bird shikigami had again come in clutch as it saved the injured sorcerers from getting further damaged but Megumi couldn't hold it for long as the shikigami disappeared quickly into the shadows. The Tokusa no Kage user sat back down, exhausted, but the transfigured being had already been on the move -
"Explode!"
-but it never reached the three as it literally exploded mid-run while Toge coughed out even more blood while Nobara caught him whilst he staggered, almost keeling over.
Clutching the wound on his right shoulder Megumi watched as Panda and Maki engaged Mahito and the other transfigured being, which got destroyed pretty quickly by Maki. Mahito seemed to have also seemingly slowed down quite a bit than before as the fight progressed, this Megumi noticed. But it didn't take any precedence on his thoughts when they themselves were so low on power as well.
Glancing at the exhausted Nobara (("Oi, oi, what the heck? Is Patch-face getting stronger?!")) and Toge a few feet away Megumi couldn't help but grit his teeth as he knew, reinforcements right now could only stall this type of situation. If they were to gain any kind of advantage on this battle right now, they needed something new and they had to exorcise this Special Grade that was, in front of them, fighting right now before they could progress forward.
'I'm running low on Cursed Energy. Right now, I can only summon Nue or Kon or Dattō. Banshō is out of the picture for now until my reserves get filled back. This is such a fucked up mess, why did you have to go and get yourself sealed you stupid teacher!'
"Inumaki-san! Can you use your technique one more time?" Megumi asked as Toge nodded back to him with a response. (("Salmon."))
After Panda had crashed onto their battle, Inumaki Toge had also joined in to the fight after a short while, right when Nobara got into a pinch. Toge had been tasked with evacuation and rescue as with his Cursed Technique he could persuade the normal populace quite easily. He had been right around the area and thus had also pitched in with their help but Mahito wasn't a Special Grade for nothing.
As with what happened with Hanami during the Sports Exchange Event, Toge had been able to deal damage to Mahito at the beginning, but it gradually took a huge toll on Toge himself as well. Megumi knew Toge had sustained damage, a lot, as per the shaky low voice that Toge replied with earlier.
"Tch, my nails can do damage but bastard's dodging them all. Freaking Curse Spirits of Tokyo! ((Nobara glanced at Megumi)) You got anything, team mate?"
((Megumi scoffed)) "I only have enough Cursed Energy for a few more summon. Inumaki-san, ((Toge listened)) I have a plan. Kugisaki, get over here, we need to do this fast."
Summoning Mahoraga had been a huge gamble that seemed to have not played out as Megumi expected. With low reserves, the fight had been dragging on for long and Megumi did not like it any more than the toll it had taken over his mentality as the fights had progressed. All the deaths, all the losses, Megumi did not know what to do anymore but if anything was for certain, it was the fact that without Satoru's involvement things had gone to shit.
And if anything were to be salvaged, the retrieval and unsealing of Gojō Satoru was paramount.
On the other side of things, Mahito had been relentlessly focused upon by Maki and Panda even though Maki seemed to have slowed down quite a bit with the injuries that she had sported on her, Panda also had a vast amount of damage upon him as well.
'That Panda is interesting. A self-sustaining puppet? Well, if I can breach the core and destroy them it will be an easy end to it. ((Mahito contemplated)) Hmmm, should I just use my Domain? It's been such a damn hassle that I just want to end this fight now but I still haven't found it yet… ((Mahito looked at his hands))
…the true meaning of my soul, of my technique's interpretation.'
"Bōgyofunō Doramingu Bīto (Unblockable Drumming Beat)!"
Mahito quickly blocked the oncoming punch but, keeping true to its name, the resonating vibration of the Cursed Energy attack, which belonged to Gorilla Mode: Panda, was un-blockable and coursed through Mahito's body and sent him flying away. (('Tch, that attack is really un-defendable huh?')) Trying to steady himself Mahito created a transfigured human blade to stop himself as Panda appeared overhead.
"Hah! You seem far, more, angrier now Panda-chan! Want a Bamboo stick?~" ((Mahito mocked with a transfigured human bamboo))
"You!" Growling, Panda merely dashed in as he sent punches towards Mahito who dodged quite a lot of it and as he got close to the Cursed Spirit, Panda unleashed a two hand knuckle smash that destroyed the street they were at.
Panda looked for the Cursed Spirit when Mahito appeared behind him and drove a punch to his back with a giant fist (("Hah~!")) that sent Panda rolling but Panda steadied themselves. Turning they saw Maki try to get a strike out with Yū-un but Mahito kept her busy with various transmuted weapons on his hands. (("Maki!")) Calling her name out Panda drove a fist to the ground in front and sent a devastating shockwave attack that raced towards Mahito as Maki repositioned her-self and got out of the way of the attack.
The attack reached Mahito but he launched out of the explosion while grinning and tried to catch Maki when suddenly he had to block the nails that were sent towards him. (('Aa-aa-aaa~ Not this time.')) Mahito looked to dash in (('Huh?')) but he couldn't move as he saw his legs were captured by the tongues of two frogs that came out of his shadows partially. (('Shikigami-?'))
ThwacCK!
A powerful strike from Yū-un had Mahito reeling as he couldn't block the second one that struck his chest and launched him backwards. Crashing into a wall Mahito stood only to have Panda overhead but Mahito merely grinned and got inside Panda's guard and pierced him through.
'I got your core!'
"Nice one Cursed Spirit. (('Huh?!')) But that was a feint. ((Mahito's eyes widened as Panda grabbed his head and threw him away)) I can fake where my cores are by manipulating their Cursed Energy."
Recovering from the throw Mahito repositioned himself and sent a Battai but they were destroyed by Kon who disappeared into the shadows. Mahito looked to dash in but he had to duck the Cursed Energy filled nails that headed towards him. With the nails missing their target they gathered in heaps around the walls and ground where Mahito stood and then shortly after (('Oh, that technique!')) the nails rattled as Cursed Energy built up.
Deciding to move away Mahito got ready, but then (("Don't Move!")) Toge had been able to use Jugon as Mahito's eyes widened in surprise. (('C'mon, again with this shit!')) He couldn't move.
Already experiencing Kanzashi once Mahito concluded that he could most probably tank the damage of the technique, but unfortunate for him, the building of the wall near him was of the back of a restaurant where the kitchen was located. With the gas lines quite near to the explosively rattled nails, when they went off-
BoooOOomM!
-the gas erupted as well. A huge explosion engulfed the street area as Mahito disappeared into the inferno while the sorcerers had to shield their eyes from the blaze in front of them.
'Was that it?' Megumi wondered.
"You think it was enough?" Panda hoped, to which Toge replied with,
"Fish-flakes…."
Before Megumi and the others could stop it, a flaming figure flew out of the explosion. (('Wha-?!')) Mahito, badly burned and hurt as he was, had jumped towards the far end of a building's edge while he tried to recover from his wounds. Keeping the escaping Cursed Spirit in his vision, Megumi gritted his teeth as numerous clones seemed to pop up and advanced on to them.
'He cloned himself again! He needs to time to recover from that explosion.'
"More clones ((ph-Thuu!)) really?!" Maki gritted as she clutched Yū-un more tightly.
The clones gathered on every sorcerer student that were there as all of them started to fight the clones along with the left-over transfigured humans that advanced upon them as well, around the area, while Megumi dived into one of the nearby shadows. Maki jabbed through a clone (("All, this damn fodders, are gonna do is wear us down even more!")) while Panda tried to give chase but was stopped by the other transfigured human. Toge and Nobara had taken to support as they were more injured than the rest, and also due to the fact that they could provide long range attacks. On the other end, Mahito sat in an inconspicuous place healing his burnt flesh wounds.
'That explosion rattled me but it's a lot better compared to if I was hit with another of that nail attack. This is taking time to heal though.'
Knowing the recovery for an adult body would take time due to larger area Mahito had shrunk his self and sent out duplicates to distract the other sorcerers as he then proceeded to recover.
'I think I need to finish this once and for all. I am close to understanding it but I still need to learn more.'
For Mahito it was straightforward path that he led himself on. Ever since he was born, knowing of his cause of birth, it had led to the growth of a curious mind that disregarded everything else except for their, own, pleasure. Getō had once mentioned that Cursed Spirit like them had the potential to grow beyond the level they were at. That they could become a kind of calamity that ruled the pitiful humans over, whose negativity had been the leading cause of Mahito's own creation.
A collective thought of negativity that had been given form. Of human's disgust over its own species.
'Well, let's see how it plays out this time. Hmmm~~'
While Mahito readied his technique he had completely disregarded the shadow overhead. That was a mistake as Mahito didn't see the blitz attack that came upon him in the form of a full Family-Sedan.
(('Huh?')) KraasSCcChH!
Launched through the walls of the building and onto the other side, Mahito couldn't help but laugh (('Jeez! Did he just launch that car through shadows! That brat!')) as he got almost crushed by the vehicle. But Mahito had quickly changed shaped and then landed at a safer distance, as the car exploded on the other side, while the clones all converged again upon his location. Everyone else fighting in the street had also gathered and surrounded him after they followed the converging clones.
Grinning, Mahito couldn't help the pompous feeling that gathered within.
"Aaah~ A full-house on my landing? Haha! I didn't even know I was so important for you guys ahahaha!...
….((he whispered)) but that's just what I want."
'I can do that. If I can't use it fully, I will use it partially. Lessen the ultimate burden but the effect will be the same. Cut the process. Simplify the image. Execute it faster. I know I can do it.'
Expanding one's domain had always been one of the most, pinnacle, of techniques that a sorcerer could do whilst taking a huge toll upon the sorcerer's own Cursed Energy and technique. It was an exhausting technique thus opening a domain multiple times was something that the sorcerers deemed impossible.
During this night, Mahito had already opened a domain once but that domain was cancelled out when Nobara hit him with a Tomonari, enhanced by a Kokusen, which dealt a massive amount of damage to his soul and had compromised his ability to keep his domain intact. If Mahito were to expand his domain again on the same output scale he initially did, he knew, he would be in a lot more trouble as his soul was originally harmed at that time.
'I have seen it ((Mahito remembers the fight with Gojō Satoru)) back in that tunnel.'
But this time, Mahito thought of something different and completely new. Something that, Mahito theorized, had never been done or seen by the sorcerers around him besides the one person who did. An application of the technique that could, supposedly, not put strain on his energy and soul if done right. Something that he had, himself, witnessed and experienced. And if it weren't for that, he wouldn't have known to be able to do this now. ((Mahito opened his mouth as hands formed inside it while doing hand-signs))
The sorcerers that had surrounded him felt a pulse. They felt the build-up of Cursed Energy but it was already in motion. The technique had already been started before they even knew about it.
"Ryōiki Tenkai."
A Domain Expansion of 0.2 seconds.
"Jihei Endonka."
And all four of the sorcerers, in and around Mahito, were already ensnared in it.
'I did it!'
Mahito laughed as the sorcerers around felt the sensation of it, the subtle feeling of a barrier technique, but couldn't figure out what before Nobara and Toge felt a sudden sensation of mutating process in their neck and left hand respectively.
'Wha-?!' 'Huh?' 'Did th-!' 'When-?!' ((Nobody in the area knew they had already experienced the domain))
Only one person wasn't caught in the domain, and that was Megumi, (("Kugisaki! Inumaki-san!")) who emerged right next to Toge's shadow. He saw the effects of the sure-hit take hold and seeing the hand mutating Megumi slashed the arm off Toge, in quick succession, as it exploded.
But at that very moment, filled with frantic excitement (('Gotcha!')) Mahito had also dashed towards the still sorcerers and his target wasn't anybody else (('You're dead now, Nail girl!')) but the very defenceless Nobara who had been affected by the technique.
After expanding one's domain, techniques become unstable and cannot be used for a set time. Mahito's technique hadn't returned.
"Seiteishirazu (The Well's Unknown Abyss)."
A pair of toads with wings suddenly appeared from inside of Nobara's shadow as they shot their tongue towards Mahito (("Ahha! Toads that can fly?!")) and restrained him. Meanwhile, recovering from their stupor, Panda had jumped right on towards the top of the restrained Mahito as they smashed down on the Cursed Spirit. But Mahito had been able to free himself already and had quickly dodged the attack, only landing near the shaking Nobara when Yū-un smashed down beside him, one of its pole-arm piercing the ground.
Blocking the kick that followed Mahito tried to punch back but the pole-arm section that was on the ground was ripped out and the trajectory hit the back of Mahito's head. But Mahito had caught the one part of Yū-un and yanked in Maki as he sent a direct punch to her gut, right when Panda appeared besides them and Mahito had to dodge the rushing haymaker. (('I feel you~ shadow~')) Quickly changing his direction he turned and moved towards Nobara when, suddenly, Megumi appeared before him. But that didn't stop Mahito's attack.
"Kokusen."
The sparks never choose who to bless. Mahito had reached the apex of flow.
DhoOM!
A flash of black, as the punch landed onto the guts of Megumi, completely passing the blade that the sorcerer student had propped up to block the punch, but to no avail. Fushigoro Megumi had lost consciousness as soon as that punch landed with a flash as he and Nobara (("MEGUMI!" "Kugisaki!")) were blasted away while Mahito relished in bliss.
'I feel it! I see the core.'
The blessing of the sparks brings with it a heightened sense of self, which Mahito indulged in, and amidst that sensation of fulfilment… ((Clap!))
….there comes, an applause.
-Back with Tsubaki-
"I am tired."
"No wonder, Oji-san. You look like you'd keel over any moment."
"THIS IS, ALL, YOUR FAULT, SO STOP SASSING ME YOUNG LADY!"
A non-committed shrug was the reply to him (("GRRRR~")) as Tsubaki and, one, Kusakabe Atsuya stood frozen and shackled by a huge reinforced ice block that was surrounded by a massive lime green body with sharp bone-like scales that belonged to a serpentine Cursed Spirit towering over them.
"Oh my, don't start fighting now. It's actually pretty interesting that we have a new face around here." Fake Suguru spoke out from a distance as Uraume stood a couple steps behind him.
"You… ((Kusakabe started)) are you really Getō?"
Narrowed eyes couldn't help but stare down the fake as Kusakabe didn't know how this was possible.
'I thought Gojō had finished him back in Kyoto. Was he alive this whole time?'
Before fake Suguru had entered the fray, Kusakabe had been able to save Tsubaki from the ice attack that Uraume had launched. Tsubaki was surprised that the uncle she had met along with the Panda actually followed her back and, eventually, had been able to save her from a very perilous situation.
..(("You're here? Waah, you went beyond my expectations, Oji-san."
"This isn't any charity young lady! I would rather be home than here but I couldn't leave you alone anymore! ((Focused on Uraume)) I also need to know more about your sensei."
"Heh, thanks though."))..
They both proceeded to fight back, with Tsubaki deciding it better to put her Reverse Cursed Technique on hold and try and end the fight alongside Kusakabe. They had been dead-even for a short moment when suddenly, they were ambushed by, ironic for Tsubaki, a catfish Cursed Spirit that had the ability to seemingly swallow you to the ground.
The surprise addition of that particular Cursed Spirit had unbalanced their fight as Uraume was able to freeze them both but Tsubaki had been able to blast the ice around with pure Cursed Energy and her long sword. It was then that fake Suguru had made a quick appearance and blasted the two with a horde of Cursed Spirits. It was then, Kusakabe was struck with disbelief when he saw a, seemingly, dead man walking and had been close to being killed if not for Tsubaki saving him back at a crucial time as well.
(("Get your shit straight Oji-san. I can't heal myself with this attacks coming so you gotta work over time a bit."
"Don't remind me, you-((Tsubaki's eyes flashed))-I mean, Tsubaki."))
After that, Tsubaki and Kusakabe showed immense skill with blade that had the fake Suguru quickly re-assess the fight, pressuring them more alongside Uraume's attacks…
….and then he saw something. Something that had peaked fake Suguru's interest as he proceeded to capture, instead of killing, the two sorcerers.
"Haha, of course you'd want to know that, Atsuya. Everybody wants to know how I'm still alive!"
Saying that, fake Suguru quickly turned his attention towards Tsubaki and then continued.
"I almost killed you two but you my dear, that brand on your left shoulder. ((fake Suguru's eyes narrowed)) Anyone else may overlook it for a tattoo but I know it is not. Such an irony really, a Namazu for tattoo, in that very, specific, spot. You are from the Saito family aren't you little girl?"
When fake Suguru revealed her family name Tsubaki couldn't help but only raise an eyebrow for a reply. On the other side, Kusakabe merely looked incensed as he was ignored quickly, but he also sighed out because he truly did not want to stay around the place anymore, freezing as it was in the ice prison he was in.
"Pff, that white haired fem-boy behind you could be your little girl, squinty eyes but not me. I am Tsubaki! ((Tsubaki stated)) And yeah, what of my family name? You want to call my mommy and daddy? Oh wait, they're dead. ((Tsubaki grinned while Kusakabe looked disturbed)) I don't need leeches like them in my world."
"Oh? ((fake Suguru was intrigued)) Well it did come to my notice of your family being wiped out. The main branch still lives though, but it seems that you are an outlier. I had listened to the whispers in the underground. Surely a change and murder like that couldn't be kept under wraps. Saito Genji was a prominent member in the underground high table of Japanese Yakuza after all…. ((fake Suguru walked up towards Tsubaki))
….It's a surprise though, to see you back here. Everyone had been under the assumption that you had already been disposed of as well or better yet, away from the country. But it seems, ((fake Suguru grinned)) Shimizu Takumi is quite connected in this circumstances isn't he? My, how interestingly this has developed. It's a really different course to my plans, but it does make it far more exciting."
The appearance of Saito Tsubaki had been a surprising addition to the whole turn of events, and not just simply due to the fact that her family, despite its reputation, had ties with the sorcerer association as well.
'The Saito family aren't, prominently, a sorcerer family unlike the Kamo and Zen'in, and they have never meddled in jujutsu affairs at all unless they were specially called for. Having an army of sword masters on par with the Fujiwara sorcerers, does help with the connection. ((fake Suguru kept his gaze on Tsubaki)) But the main reason they had ties with the Jujutsu Administration was due to the distinct characteristic of the family producing only a single sorcerer member in their lineage at one time. But only one sorcerer inherits the family technique that seems to have always appeared randomly, a very rare technique with only three recorded users in the clan history.
The Saito family Sōden Jutsushiki, Kunshu (君主, Sovereign).'
Kunshu was said to be a technique that was unique to the Saito family, not only due to its randomness in appearance like the Rokugan (Six Eyes), but also for the special ability it had. The ability to imbue natural properties onto their very, own, Cursed Energy. This, supposedly, gave Kunshu...
'….the ability to create elemental attacks or techniques of any kind with their own Cursed Energy. But ((fake Suguru pondered)) the wielder themselves aren't immune to those elemental techniques they produce and the technique's potency is dependent upon the understanding of the elemental properties. The family used their techniques by applying the concept of Kan'i Ryōiki, forming an area or space where any kind of elemental techniques is realized and used. ((fake Suguru scoffed))
It also, on the other hand, has been declared as one of the most inefficient techniques regarding Cursed Energy usage. An ability that needs total understanding of the properties and expends a lot of Cursed Energy when compensated for the lack of the same…'
This was only what fake Suguru knew from the old records in the administration.
'…but it seems like that particular drawback hasn't affected her output that much, now that's surprising.'
"How are you alive Getō?!" Kusakabe screamed from the sides one last time.
"Oh, Atsuya. I thought you'd have frozen off till now. But it seems your naturally built talent really works wonders for you in this instance. Quite a good work there." Fake Suguru replied, flippantly.
"No.. you can't be Getō. ((Kusakabe's eyes narrowed)) He never spoke so flippantly at that, and he was no gloater like you. What do you think you're trying to do with all this shit?!"
"Sheesh, ((fake Suguru merely smiled)) I do wonder why is that?" Saying that, fake Suguru merely let his smiling face be the only reply to the suspicious, and angry, look that Kusakabe had on his face but before he could shout back Tsubaki interrupts.
"Jeeee, is that all? ((fake Suguru blinked)) I thought you'd want to try and torture us, or me, for my family secrets or something (("I am so not following you back anymore young lady." Kusakabe grumbled)). So you're a fake? Wow, guess this situation's a lot fucked up and I thought I'd seen some stuff."
"Oh? And what situations have you seen? So young yet, you're quite a character yourself aren't you, Saito Tsubaki? ((fake Suguru focused her as he walked)) A once, in a generation, sorcerer with a special technique of their own. ((fake Suguru stopped a few meters in front)) I would like to see what potential your family technique will bring in the coming event. Is it worth it to be saved and brought into the world of Curses that, I'm prepared for, to come forth? It is a reach but we can never know, unless we try."
A smirk formed on Tsubaki's face. "Thanks for coming closer, sleek eyes."
"Huh?"
"Sokushi (則賜, Rule, bestow)."
Before he could react-
DhrookrrassSH!
-Cursed Energy residues that lay around the feet of fake Suguru seemingly vibrated and exploded outward with the debris and ground while Uraume reacted quickly and shielded both their selves and fake Suguru. The ice held on but the area had already been damaged around.
"Oh, what's this? ((fake Suguru watched Tsubaki get free alongside Kusakabe)) A new application of her technique?"
The serpentine Cursed Spirit was slashed in half as well and, fake Suguru , seeing that, let loose a stream of Cursed Spirits onto the free sorcerers. On the other side, Tsubaki had reached the point of full focus. The sparks blessed her attack as a Kokusen was unleashed, ((fake Suguru's eyes widened)) along with a devastating slash that flayed every Cursed Spirit in front of her. Even Kusakabe couldn't believe it, if his wide eyes were any indication.
(("Amazing.")) Fake Suguru grinned and let loose another torrent of Cursed Spirits.
But Tsubaki had felt the rush of clarity, a short moment of enlightenment. It was her very first Kokusen. Everything felt…
'So clear.'
An unconscious use of Reverse Cursed Technique brings back Tsubaki's lost hand as it regenerates right when she is piled upon by Cursed Spirits. Uraume (("She can still use Reverse Cursed Technique?")) stood behind fake Suguru as they seemingly saw Tsubaki get overwhelmed by the attack.
Vrrrrrrr! (('Hmm?')) SpphlAAaaaAaArsSghHK!
The pile of Cursed Spirits turned into scraps as soon as Tsubaki let loose another devastating burst of Cursed Energy and the pile exploded outwards, disappearing into the air while she came in to view, with a fully regenerated hand, with wear and tear on her clothes. Tsubaki kept a smile on her face as Kusakabe stood a few steps behind, gripping his own blade and sheathe.
'A Kokusen enhanced slash and a rapid Reverse Cursed Technique right after. ((fake Suguru chuckled)) Hmph, she can do advanced techniques I see.'
Ironically, even Kusakabe had the same thoughts (('Kokusen and an instant Reverse Cursed Technique?!')) running through his mind. To say he was in disbelief would be an understatement.
"You have turned out to be quite a menace for now, Saito Tsubaki." Saying that, fake Suguru proceeded to summon a Cursed Spirit…
ffssszzzoooOOOM~
…that proceeded to tower over the entire street they were in.
"*Keshin Ryū (Nāga Incarnate)."
A giant half-humanoid and half-serpent figure, with a cobra-esque head with slit-crimson eyes and a garland-like crown, a feminine torso with beaded jewellery and green silky attire, bow and arrow in its hands with elongated fingers, and a serpent's lower half; the Cursed Spirit leered at Tsubaki and Kusakabe while thrumming with Cursed Energy. For a moment, Tsubaki had a shiver run down her back when she saw the Cursed Spirit fully appear forth. (('Jeez, this Jurei Sōjutsu. That Cursed Spirit, bloody hell, doesn't look indigenous to Japan.'))
"If you are going to be this much of a pain then I guess I won't play around anymore. ((fake Suguru reeled in)) It's only fair I bring out something that would clearly take you two down for good, once and for all…
((A melodious hiss follows as a pulse of Cursed Energy flows over them. Tsubaki suddenly bleeds from her mouth, as well as Kusakabe))
'What the-?!'
….a borderline Special Grade Curse, derived from an old Asian Divine Being that poisons the world. With an ability that can poison even natural phenomena ((fake Suguru saw Tsubaki stagger)) let's see how you scale up against this one, shall we?"
The air pressure around Tsubaki and Kusakabe increased and Kusakabe started to cough and heave with wide eyes. Breathing heavily herself, Tsubaki, meanwhile, staggered as she tried to keep standing. The area around her and Kusakabe had turned a purple hue, with the Cursed Energy filled space pressing her down and slowly showing its effects as nobody amongst the two could keep their moves steady.
'Shit, ((Tsubaki looked around)) this isn't a domain. It's like a default status affect area. We need to get out of range. ((She saw Kusakabe crumble over, coughing)) Ok, that man is gone for now-((*cough!*))-Huh? Wait, why is- ((Tsubaki watched the blood on her hands))
-why is Reverse Cursed Technique not working?!'
"Oh, you seem to have a predicament there. ((fake Suguru spoke up)) Has the technique hit you? ((Tsubaki's eyes narrowed)) Didn't I mention that this one has the potential to poison the world? ((fake Suguru merely kept explaining)) Keshin Ryū's melodic hiss turns everything that uses Cursed Energy into poison. Your body will slowly weaken, flame attacks will create noxious fumes, the air will become suffocating, healing techniques turn toxic,…
((fake Suguru smiled)) ….it essentially enforces the event of poisoning into every phenomenon with Cursed Energy."
Smiling, fake Suguru kept watch over the coughing Tsubaki and the already fainted Kusakabe and continued speaking.
"Your technique may give you the ability to materialize any type of elemental attacks or techniques but Keshin Ryū poisons Cursed Energy itself. Once ensnared, anything you create will be turned toxic, even Reverse Cursed Technique. ((fake Suguru gathered a few more curses)) It's a shame you seemed to have found a new way to utilize your family technique, but sadly it isn't enough. This is how you will be meeting your-"…
Deuduedeuduedeuduedeuduedeu~
-"….huh?" ((fake Suguru got confused for a bit))
The sound of a motorbike echoed in the streets as fake Suguru, along with Uraume (("Hm?! Who's that-!")), turned their heads towards a distance and saw a small silhouette grow bigger as it approached his location. Stopping at a distance, the rider of the bike, a female, got off the vehicle and after removing her helmet fake Suguru couldn't help the irritated grin that appeared on his face.
"Tsukumo Yuki."
"Is that you for real? Getō."
On to the side, Uraume merely kept watch with narrowed eyes as Keshin Ryū turned towards Yuki as well. (('Now who is this?')) It was getting annoying for Uraume as time went on, simply due to the fact that the situation seemed to be getting out of hand very quickly in the past few hours. New players, both of whom seemed to be extreme outliers of the Jujutsu Society, Uraume couldn't help but think on when they would be able to proceed towards their master. (('Master is still fighting.'))
"Hmph, now this is a surprise. ((fake Suguru couldn't help the frivolity)) I thought you had been out of the country doing tantalizing research on your theory."
"Heh, I didn't know you were behind all this. Don't you remember, I asked you once ((Yuki smiled)) what kind of girls you were into and you never gave me an answer back."
"Is that really all you wanted to know again Tsukumo?"
"Well, I did ask another question on your methods, about creating a world with no more Curses. ((A shikigami floated near Yuki)) I told you that human beings' biggest asset moving forward was to break away from the leanings of Cursed Energy to evolve further."
"Hhah! What a naïve outlook. It shows your immaturity on this topic. ((Yuki smiled, irritated, at the reply)) If human beings are to evolve even further ((fake Suguru continued)) it's only fair to see how it would occur when we optimize Cursed Energy itself for everyone."
"Really now? Is that right?"
"I thought you had abandoned your research in that field after the death of one Zen'in Toji."
"Well, actually I was talking to Getō. But to clear your doubts I was never just stuck on one research to be fair. ((Yuki smirked)) And I think I bought enough time for now anyway."
Sklch!
"Hmm-!" Fake Suguru's eyes widened as he felt a burst of Cursed Energy from behind. He and Uraume turned quickly to see Tsubaki had disappeared and Kusakabe standing up in better shape than he was before. Fast was an understatement when Tsubaki had appeared directly over fake Suguru and the Cursed Spirit.
"Tenka (天火, Heavenly Flame), Goken (五剣, Five Swords), Onimaru (鬼丸, Demonic Circle)." ((Tsubaki chanted in quick succession))
"Iaikata: Shikifuku (居合型: 式服, Sword Drawing Form: Regalia)… ((Cursed Energy flared))
...Hiraku (朏落, Sickle Moon Fall)."
fwzzzdhooooOooOOOMM!
A crescent moon shaped downward slash of pure white Cursed Energy that had black patches on to it, and fake Suguru tried to have Keshin Ryū attack but Uraume had been faster. A wall of ice had been constructed but it was just not enough. (('Wha-?!'))
The ice wall was slashed through and through with, both, Uraume and fake Suguru disappearing from the spot while the streets exploded. (('She definitely has a new way of utilizing her Cursed Technique.' Fake Suguru pondered))
The slash didn't stop and almost split the Cursed Spirit that had been summoned but it also launched a sonic attack. It had weakened the initial blitz power of Tsubaki's technique and only suffered a gash to its whole front torso. Hissing maniacally, Keshin Ryū advanced with its bow and arrow in hand charging up an attack…
"GARUDA (Garuda)!"
…but it never finished as in that very moment, Tsukumo Yuki had appeared out of nowhere, right next to the summoned Cursed Spirit and brutally blasted its head out from a smashing attack with her shikigami, Garuda. Fake Suguru couldn't help but narrow his eyes (('Is that a shikigami?')) at how Yuki had destroyed his special Cursed Spirit with naught but a single strike from that weapon that he saw on her hand as he and Uraume landed on a nearby ledge.
"Tch, Special Grade Sorcerer Tsukumo Yuki. You just appeared at the most unnecessary moment." ((fake Suguru saw Atsuya making his way out)) 'Hmph, so he got healed? Did she find another new way to utilize her technique?'
Due to there being less information in the Jujutsu Administration's old catalogues, fake Suguru didn't have the full know-how about Kunshu, unlike Tsubaki.
Kunshu gave the ability to imbue natural properties on to its wielder's Cursed Energy. But that was only the basic state of its ability that everyone could access when Kunshu was inherited and they only used it for elemental techniques. With the Saito family primarily being a non-sorcerer family, they had never gone further with the technique, until Tsubaki managed to decipher it completely, along with the help of her sensei, Takumi.
Thus, unknown to fake Suguru, Kunshu not only gave the ability to imbue natural properties, it could actually imbue concepts onto one's Cursed Energy. The more concrete an image of the concept was the more, easier, and less Cursed Energy consuming it became to utilize. This very ability itself made Tsubaki be able to override any kind of change to her own Cursed Energy. The former users never really visualized the technique with concepts and thus were unable to bring out the full potential.
But a sacrifice was made for that ability to manifest.
'That blade of hers isn't ordinary. Just like Mei Mei's axe it has a certain signature to it but far more potent. ((fake Suguru kept his gaze on Tsubaki)) Her Cursed Energy readings have, also, been weird since I've seen her. It's as if she were playing with her Cursed Energy prope-!' ((fake Suguru suddenly turned to look at his right with narrowed eyes)) "Hmm?!"
A distant rumbling was heard and destruction of several buildings came into fake Suguru's notice as he narrowed his eyes towards the newly drifting smoke and dust in between the gobos.
'So, he seems to be enjoying. ((fake Suguru turned his attention towards the advancing sorcerers below)) I guess it's time I see to Mahito.'
-Near Exit A8, Hachiko Square-
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
"Why are you strong, Sukuna?"
A raised eyebrow was the only gesture that was given as Takumi watched Sukuna gulp down the finger that he had taken prior to this question. A bloody mess in front of him, with pieces of human flesh spread afloat a pool of blood.
Hasaba Mimiko and Hasaba Nanako were just tragic souls. Saved by the arrival of Getō Suguru during their darkest moments, the only thing they had longed for was the presence of their saviour. A saviour, whose body had been taken over by a sorcerer that they knew nothing about. Holding on to that one piece of Sukuna's finger that they had for themselves, the sisters had planned for a trade.
An offering for a single request, or a wish even.
To kill the sorcerer that had taken over their master, their saviour's, body.
If only benevolence had been something that was present in that person, maybe they could've gotten away with it. If kindness was a trait that that person, whom they were giving the offering to, even had it then maybe they could've saved Getō Suguru's body.
But then again….
….whoever Nanako and Mimiko were, for the person of their interest, now they were just minced bloodstains upon the land of Shibuya.
"Why am I strong? ((SlrrRp!)) Interesting question there, sorcerer.
Sukuna merely licked his thumb once and then focused at Takumi. (("Oh is that so?"))
"Hm, but even more interesting, is that you didn't save these two brats that I slaughtered right in front of you as you arrived. You didn't even try….
((Takumi merely looked non-plussed))
….and as we have brawled and fought I have come to realise this from you. ((Sukuna madly grinned)) You don't seem to care about Gojō Satoru being sealed off, unlike the other morons this brat associates himself with."
Laughing Takumi merely said, "Hah! You still didn't answer my question King of Curses but I guess I'll go first. (("Hm?"))
…They were merely NPCs, insignificant, ((Takumi kept a smile)) and Gojō Satoru doesn't need me to free him. I'm just here for an adventure, and you are the raid boss I've come across."
"Hm, ((The smile surprised Sukuna)) is tha-!"
"Now, you tell me Sukuna. ((Takumi, interrupted Sukuna, still smiling)) Why are you strong?"
"Hah, cheeky brat. ((Sukuna grinned back)) Now why should I answer you that? Matter of fact, why are we even talking ((Sukuna swung his arm as Takumi disappeared into another explosion)) when we could continue where we left off."
Being uninterested on the question would be a false claim as Sukuna was intrigued by the conversation that Takumi wanted to start with but then again, it didn't matter to him. He didn't know the identity of the sorcerer before him still, aside from being someone who was matching him blow for blow in his current state, so he didn't care for the conversation at all. With the way the whole situation was going, Sukuna only wanted to fight now.
And he wanted to continue it further.
"I find your story fascinating."
The reply had Sukuna blinking as Takumi reappeared unharmed.
"Ryōmen Sukuna. They called you a Calamity given form. A heinous individual, so malicious, that no one else could match him in techniques or any form of battle. A Curse upon the holy lands of old Nihon. Unrivalled strength with an unmatched ferocity. A kind of Natural Disaster that fed on the humans and sorcerers alike. You were called the strongest. ((Takumi contemplated on))
Then you made your presence known in this era, after around a thousand years since you had disappeared. You became a Cursed Object even, how convenient. ((Takumi giggled)) And then your fingers gaining such power through the years, even when they were found on their lonesome they could enhance Cursed Spirits to uncanny levels. When Satoru-yuung mentioned about you, I found myself completely fascinated ((Takumi glanced at Sukuna with focused eyes)) why is it that you are so strong and yet it has no precedent other than pure destruction…
…is destruction the only good enough cause of action to grow and stay strong in this world of Curses, I wonder….
….or is there another precedent I do not know about. Something, that, only you know."
"You think I'm keeping secrets?" ((Sukuna smirked))
"Strength has always brought changes. ((Takumi merely smiled)) So my inner curiosity wants to know, for what reason of change ((Takumi raised an eyebrow)) is your strength so ineffable to the Jujutsu world?"
"My, my ((Sukuna's expression turned intrigued)) you're asking a lot, aren't you sorcerer?"
With an expression of utter malice and a grin Sukuna continued, "If you want to know about my true strength, why not continue the fight and find out for yourself? ((Sukuna's eyes darkened)) Come….
….let me show you."
Glee-filled smile growing on his face Takumi merely took out a lighter as he lit it and then, right before Sukuna, (("Oh?")) the small spark of flame slowly turned into a basketball sized fireball while Takumi went through hand motions, completing the technique. In return, Sukuna grinned even more madly as he simultaneously pulled out his flame technique as well that had Takumi narrow his eyes.
"Ok sorcerer! (('Open .')) Let's fight fire with fire first."
Identical grins and the flames being moulded, given form to a blazing arrow; with no other words spoken except for the growing gleeful, maniacal, expressions, identical, on both of the combatants' faces, completing the motions, the flame attacks were unleashed. As they met in mid-air, a massive explosion shook the city skylines while shockwaves shattered glasses and upturned everything mobile.
ChwwoOM!
It wasn't a lie to say that Sukuna's flame attack was far more refined and powerful and thus when it eventually overpowered Takumi's flames Takumi could only smile (("Jeez!")) as he was engulfed in the fiery blaze that followed through and lit the night skies of Shibuya. Sukuna merely watched the sight with his hands in pockets as he kept his focus on the flaming embers still visible after the attack had commenced. But then…
(("Hm!")) ….the flaming embers started to erratically move and flicker around as Sukuna's eyes narrowed. Right in the next moment the embers vanished from in front of him completely as Sukuna felt a presence overhead.
DghoOM!
Dodging the explosive punch that shattered the street he was at, Sukuna smiled wider as he saw Takumi appear, (('That is new.')) landing on an overpass, with his hands on flames.
"Are those my flames?"
((Takumi grinned as he took a stance)) "Come and find out."
Grinning madly, Sukuna dashed in, Cursed Energy gathered in hand, as Takumi moved as well. Dodging the first punch Sukuna tried to go for a low body punch but Takumi blocked it as Sukuna piled on a series of fast paced punches. Takumi blocked most of the attacks when at one jab Takumi moved slightly to avoid it while he got inside the guard of Sukuna and was able to land a flaming punch that blasted Sukuna away through another building wall. The flames cleared away from Takumi as his burnt hands came into view which he healed using Reverse Cursed Technique.
'Sheesh, those flames aren't ordinary.'
On the other hand, as Sukuna recovered from Takumi's flaming attack he introspected,
'Heh, to even try and control my flames? That was unexpected. ((Sukuna looked at the spot where the punch had landed)) That would probably leave a mark but he got me. He used my flames. He can bend away attacks. He most definitely controls matter. But the other thing is, that punch right now, ((Sukuna remembered)) he is holding back, I know this far too well, and it somehow pisses me off.'
Dgh-badUM!
'Shit, the brat's gaining consciousness! ((Sukuna gritted his teeth)) Tch, well I already had seen what I wanted to see anyway ((Megumi and Mahoraga come into Sukuna's thoughts)) but this sorcerer has something interesting going on for him too, especially that energy.'
Footsteps echoed as Takumi walked inside the building Sukuna was at.
"Are you enjoying this fight Sukuna? I sure am."
The question reached Sukuna's ears and he couldn't help but reply with a snark, "Hmph, just because you had landed some blows on me, now you think you are on my level?"
"Didn't I ask you why you're strong?" Takumi questioned back.
"Hmph, is that supposed to answer my question?"
"Not if you won't give me your answer Sukuna~"
"Funny you thi-hrrghk!- ((Sukuna trembled as he gritted his teeth)) Damn brat!"
"Hmm?" Before Takumi could even question, (("Just you wait." Sukuna whispered)) Itadori Yūji had seemingly taken back control of his body as he, blinking around for a bit, Takumi (('Hmm? Did he get suppressed?')) only watched a clueless Yūji, shake his head.
"Hey there, Itadori Yūji-wuuun~" Takumi proceeded to greet with a nonchalant wave when Yūji's gaze caught his form at a distance.
"Huh? Umm ((Yūji floundered)) Who are you?"
"Oh? Oh! I see, you wouldn't know about me. ((Takumi grinned)) No worries kido! I am Shimizu Takumi, a friend of your sensei. "
"Huh, a friend-" ((Yūji gets cut off)) "And you house Sukuna inside you don't you?"
At that comment Yūji's eyes narrowed. "Hmm? Yeah, I do."
'Truly a magnificent being you are for a vessel Itadori Yūji. Being able to suppress Sukuna, it's not suprising that the old coots wanted him dead from what Satoru informed me about.'
"Good! I just want you to give him control back as I have unfinished business with him." ((Takumi grinned))
"Hmm?"
"Don't worry about it. Satoru-yuung knows I can handle it." Takumi said, non-chalant.
"Huh? But if you're a friend of sensei ((Yūji had a small hope emerge)) you should know he-!"
"I know he has been sealed Yūji-wuun." ((Yūji halted)) "Then.."
"But I don't have any interest in that currently. ((Takumi cut him off again)) I am here for an adventure Yūji-wuun. Satoru-yuuung will come back, don't worry about it but for now, Sukuna ((Takumi's smile grew)) he has my full interest."
A tight clenching of fist and a shocked expression is the unspoken reply from Yūji hearing that and he growled, "You...
...who even are you?"
"As I said Yūji-wuun. I'm a friend. ((Takumi narrowed into Yūji)) And I have some unfinished business with Sukuna."
"I won't-!" ((Takumi's hands clapped into a mudra)) "Too late, Itadori Yūji-wuun."
That voice was heard right next to the ears of Yūji as his eyes widened when he felt Takumi's presence behind him. (('Wha-?! I didn't even see him move?!'))
"You are special, Yūji-wuun ((Takumi poked the back of Yūji's head as Yūji went still)) but I kinda want Sukuna at the moment."
choom!
A sharp blast of Takumi's natural aura concentrated onto his fingers, and Yūji was knocked out as soon as that pulse blast hit his being as he fell towards the ground, eyes rolled back to whites.
Ba-dhum!
But Itadori Yūji had the soul of the King of Curses as well, and seeing the opportunity in hand (("Hehe, you brat!")) Ryōmen Sukuna jumped onto the chance as whilst falling, changes overcame Yūji's outward body again when before his body touched the ground, Sukuna had already taken over.
Dashing and creating a short distance between Takumi and himself, Sukuna grinned wide as he looked at Takumi again.
"Tch, damn brat can be a burden sometimes."
"Interesting. ((Takumi had a smile grow)) So you can truly be suppressed by him and can only conditionally take control. My, Sukuna, becoming a Cursed Object surely has its demerits doesn't it?
"You may be slightly better than the sorcerers I've come across for now, ((Sukuna smirked)) but that still means you are just another fish I need to debone first."
"Will that possibly give me your answer to my question?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" ((Sukuna grinned slyly))
A smirk forming on his face (("Cheeky~")) Takumi dashed in, with Sukuna merely grinning further. It didn't matter now, how, the situation came about but Takumi could only express glee at Sukuna's re-emergence and he was ready to continue the battle.
But before Takumi could reach the Cursed Spirit, Sukuna, had already started his technique when he joined his hands to form a specific mudra or hand-sign. Takumi's eyes narrowed when he was only a couple feet away as he saw the hand-sign formed by Sukuna, which, he quickly deduced (('Oh that is….')) had to be…
"Ryōiki Tenkai."
.
.
(( Let it be known that the sorcerers around Shibuya felt the pulse touch them all as it washed over the entire region. A standstill for the many that were just small fries to the ones who had been at the top of this battlefield's stage. Every last person was notified of the evil aura that spread out the Shibuya land and everyone, now, knew….
Ryōmen Sukuna had opened a Domain.
'Haha, this is so surprising from you Sukuna. ((Fake Suguru was elated)) It seems you are enjoying yourself now.' ))
.
.
A standard Domain Expansion was a barrier technique where sorcerers, who had realised their innate domain, would expand it outwards but only within the confines of the barrier constructed. Then they imbued it with their Cursed Technique all throughout the barrier extension, making one able to utilize their technique with far more effectiveness.
"Fukuma Mizushi (Malevolent Shrine)."
But Sukuna's domain was different.
fwooOssH~
A Chinjudō (Tutelary Buddhist Shrine) construct with giant grotesque maws for its main four entrances took form while being surrounded by dark coloured water and horned bull skulls in the ground and base. It's roof having horned effigies, as well as skull-like decorations hanging from it. What was the most shocking feature of Fukuma Mizushi (('Waa~' Takumi's eyes widened with awe)) was one thing.
"Now, ((Sukuna was excited)) I kill you."
Fukuma Mizushi was a barrier-less Ryōiki Tenkai.
FFfwwpHH!
Before Takumi could react, (('Hmm?')) numerous gashes exploded out on his body (('So, it is that?')) as before Takumi could reach Sukuna, Fukuma Mizushi had already been activated giving him no time to counter.
fwwP! FFwP! fFWp! FwWP! Fwwp! FhwP! ffwp!
Blood erupted violently all around the vicinity of Takumi as he was swarmed with continuous rapid slash attacks as if flaying the scales off fishes. It seemed to be, that Shimizu Takumi was on the verge of harrowing defeat in the hands of the greatest demonic sorcerer of the jujutsu society.
'I am truly glad Sukuna, ((Takumi, whilst being slashed, watched Sukuna's maniacal grin)) you are worthy of the title "King".'
Could water be held without a beaker? Could you paint a picture in the air? As impossible as those seemed, Sukuna's Ryōiki Tenkai was that very thing made possible in present. Realizing one's innate domain without a barrier was truly like painting a masterpiece not on a canvas but on thin air, a truly divine technique.
On top of that, with the domain being barrier-less, one is given an "escape route" for a Binding Vow which, in turn, further increases the technique's guaranteed hit effect area; a maximum of nearly 200 meters in radius. Sukuna had narrowed the technique's effects on towards the area around Takumi's vicinity. Hachi for anything with Cursed Energy and Kai for anything inanimate, until Fukuma Mizushi was deactivated…
VrrwwWoOOMM!
…it would relentlessly attack everything within its guaranteed hit's effective range.
'Hmph, ((Sukuna kept his eyes where Takumi disappeared into dust)) I used both Kai and Hachi to leave nothing to chance. ((The dust slowly subsided)) He is done for. Farewell sorcerer.'
((A body came into view)) "You were a good passing of time brat!" ((Sukuna mocked))
The shrine still in place behind him, Sukuna kept watch as the bloodied body of Takumi came into view amidst the receding dust and smoke from the area. He was merely feeling the satisfaction of a victory when-
"Hmm?!" ((Sukuna's eyes narrowed))
-a pulse of energy comes from the bloody minced body of Takumi that lay in a pool of his own blood. Sukuna was about to use his technique when-
"Jutsushiki Hanten: ((Sukuna was too late to react)) Choku."
-everything stops and he is pulled in like vertigo, (('Shit! It's that same technique!')) same as, once, before when they had fought. Before Sukuna could react further, Takumi had recovered enough to have secretly transmuted the ground beneath, coating a hardened form of it with Cursed Energy onto his right hand. As Sukuna reached Takumi's vicinity it was all, the sorcerer needed, and then he launched a devastating blow right into the guts of the incapacitated Sukuna, as well as at Itadori Yūji's.
The overwhelming pressurized pull and the brutal, enhanced, right punch on the front right after, normally it wouldn't have been much for Sukuna but this time, it was damaging enough to send Sukuna away to the back of the recesses of Itadori Yūji's soul. Simultaneously, his shrine also collapsed as well as the domain with it.
"You did well. ((Sukuna could still hear him from the inner most part of Yūji's soul)) I was close to death but I came back again. ((Takumi healed with Reverse Cursed Technique while holding Yūji's unconscious body)) Had to use it a lot more for you though and I gambled it with the Jutsushiki Hanten."
Born with a special constitution and a unique technique, Shimizu Takumi was one of the few outliers of the jujutsu world. Fukuma Mizushi did hit Takumi and relentlessly attacked him, but he had a different aura. Something that was far more refined and abundant; closely linked to his Innate Technique. Fukuma Mizushi had damaged Takumi but it couldn't damage Takumi's very self.
"This round goes to me Sukuna, hope you don't mind. ((Takumi giggled)) I know you're still incomplete, I can sense it. ((Takumi looked at the unconscious Yūji in his hand)) I want to fight you as the boss you are. Right now you're just a glitch programme. You need to be sorted out. I need you complete. ((Takumi flashed a smile))
So don't go losing to Satoru-yuung! Hehe~"
Saying that, Takumi laid Yūji down on the levelled-down empty street. The battle between the strongest had come to an end, for now.
While Takumi healed his injuries back from the devastating attack, two pairs of footsteps drew closer towards his vicinity. As they approached him from the back, a female voice spoke,
"You really are a handful, aren't you?"
Takumi could merely only smile.
-Back around the Dōgenzaka Dist.-
A silence pervaded in to the battlefield.
It wasn't every day that Tōdō felt nervous. But when faced with the imminence of death incarnate in their face, one couldn't help the shudder they felt for even in the most, briefest of moments it appeared.
A smoking crater, bodies strewn around, with only him, Noritoshi Kamo, a grievously injured Maki and Nishimiya Momo keeping their gazes onto the figure in the crater, Tōdō could only tense himself as he felt that the battle they were having might've just gotten a bit too dangerous.
"Hey there~ ((Mahito's voice cut the silence)) Guess who? Hehehe~"
A figure emerged from the smoking crater that was left as it came in to view. Mahito appeared with a transformed body as he seemed to have shed his human form altogether for a much more menacing appearance complete with sharp elbow outgrowths, better physical features and a crown-like plate covering his face.
Tōdō Aoi, along with everyone still conscious, felt the heavy presence of malice looking at the new form of Mahito and Mahito couldn't help but indulge on the remnants of fear in the air.
'That's right. I found it, ((Mahito was elated)) my core. Thank you stupid, sorcerer brats!'
When the sparks blessed someone, it brought them closer to enlightenment. The fight had pushed Mahito to the limits and he was chosen by the sparks in the midst of all the chaos. Through the sparks, Mahito had found the ultimate answer to the hurdles of jujutsu sorcerers he faced right now.
A technique that shall grant him a self of complete brutality and efficiency in battle, this technique he called…
"Hensetsu Soku Reitai (Instant Spirit Body of Distorted Killing)."
A/N: First off, Huge appreciation to savagemaster1999 for being the first comment on this fanfic. You're GOAT'ed for being amazing and your request has been taken into consideration. Fear not, for your request was already cooking in my mind even before you had put it out. Also, shoutout to sten227 for being the second comment, you're also GOAT'ed for that, along with the recent commenter r6fizzz. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
Also, good choices savagemaster1999. I personally had been going for either Mamoru Miyano or Megumi Ogata for Takumi's JVA and either of Yukari Tama or Satomi Arai for Tsubaki's JVA. I don't know much about the dub VAs cuz I don't watch anime dubbed, no offense. Shishishi~
A/N: Back to the fic. I tried and couldn't fit everything in this chapter so I had to split it into an epilogue as well. The final epilogue portion to the Shibuya Fanfic AU will be done pretty soon and it will be uploaded to conclude the whole one-shot. Thanks for reading!
Until Next Time!
Other Stories –
They Said A Storm Was Coming: 75% in progress
We Left As Skeletons: 60% in progress
What Heaven Tastes Like: In hiatus