Chapter 104

Some idiot injured my knee in training, and as I've been moving around a lot due to unfinished university business, I've run out of time to rest the injury properly. Fortunately, now that I've rested and taken medication, I feel much better, and the constant pain has finally subsided.

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"That was raw cursed energy..."

After sending Ryu flying, Itadori clenched his fist with a cautious expression. In front of him, a trail of destruction caused by his powerful punch. Even though he hadn't landed a Black Flash, his punch, driven by his speed, should have been enough to inflict severe damage on someone of Jogo's level.

Still, he felt Ryu's body resisting his punch, a clear sign that the reincarnated sorcerer was far from being out of the fight.

Yuji sighed. He hadn't expected to face such a powerful sorcerer. Unlike Yuta, he didn't have reverse cursed energy to help him recover from one fight to the next.

Ryu must be strong. Forcing Yuta to push himself wasn't something just anyone could do, so Itadori wasn't going to underestimate him.

Even though he had blocked the previous attack, he had felt the pressure on his body, and the skin on his hand had been torn. If he had been even slightly weaker, or if he hadn't reinforced his body in time, he would definitely have been in serious trouble.

"Kogane!" Calling out to the shikigami, Itadori watched as the animated skull appeared cheerfully.

"Yes?!" it asked eagerly.

"What's that guy's cursed technique?"

Kogane paused for a moment upon hearing the question, seemingly searching for the information.

"Normally, I can't give out that information, but for you, I can make an exception!"

"I appreciate that." Itadori gave a grateful smile.

"His name is Ryu Ishigori, and his cursed technique allows him to fire concentrated blasts of pure cursed energy! He's really strong, so I recommend being careful!"

Itadori nodded and turned his gaze forward, noticing the debris where he had flung Ryu shifting slightly.

"He has to charge his cursed energy before firing, right?"

"Mmm..." Kogane thought for a moment before replying. "The longer he charges, the more powerful the blast."

"Got it, thanks." Itadori patted the shikigami on the head in gratitude. "Keep me updated if another sorcerer gets close, alright?"

Kogane nodded excitedly. "Normally, I wouldn't do that, but I'll make another exception!"

As Kogane disappeared, Itadori smiled briefly before turning his attention to Ryu, who was already emerging from the rubble.

"So, close combat is the best way to deal with this guy…" Itadori muttered, ignoring the throbbing pain from his torn skin. He clenched his fist as cursed energy danced around his body. "Looks like I'm the worst opponent for him."

"..."

When Ryu got to his feet, he immediately turned to face his opponent. Initially, he believed the damage to his abdomen was nothing more than a punch that hit his internal organs, but he was wrong.

Standing upright, he could clearly feel that at least one rib was broken, with others cracked. The pain was unbearable.

'This is going to take a while to heal.' Fortunately, he could use reverse cursed energy, though only at a level sufficient to immediately heal superficial wounds.

Such damage could be alleviated, but it would take at least half a day to heal to an acceptable degree.

This even made him reconsider his life-long decision to focus so much on enhancing his raw cursed energy...

'Nah!' With a toothy grin, he spat out some blood as cursed energy enveloped his body. 'No use dwelling on the past, because right now…'

Taking a step forward, his eyes locked onto the young sorcerer who seemed ready to fight. 'I have something sweet in front of me!'

The cursed energy concentrated intensely in his pompadour, his gaze never leaving his target, because he knew if it did, he'd be in trouble.

"Kid, are you going to be enough to fill my stomach?!"

The glow in his pompadour grew even more intense, bright enough to blind Itadori, who squinted in response.

"Show me!"

!

"Granite Blast!"

With an excited shout, a massive burst of cursed energy surged toward his opponent, destruction trailing in its wake.

But faced with such power, Itadori didn't flinch. He simply kept his eyes on the enormous beam barreling toward him.

It was indeed an impressive power, one that could have been fatal to many of his previous opponents.

'But...'

Before the attack could reach him, his body vanished without a trace, the explosion continuing onward to destroy only the environment in its path.

'It's useless if it doesn't hit the target.'

!

Ryu, who had been grinning as he unleashed his devastating attack, immediately went on alert when his cursed energy dispersed.

'Again? But I was sure I kept track of his cursed energy!' He spun around abruptly, his eyes darting everywhere. 'Where is he?'

"Looking for me?"

Before he could react, Ryu's eyes widened as a voice sounded to his side. He turned, but instead of seeing his opponent, he was met with a fist inches from his face.

Bam!

The punch landed squarely, forcing his head back with a force that shook his entire body.

'Terrifying!' Ryu thought, retreating quickly and raising his defenses, ignoring the blood streaming from his nose like a waterfall. 'I can't take my eyes off him for even a second!'

Itadori, watching his opponent retreat, closed the gap with incredibly fast steps that even confused the reincarnated sorcerer.

'How does he move so fast?! It's like he's gliding over the ground!'

Gritting his teeth, Ryu barely managed to block a punch aimed at his face. But the impact was still powerful enough to shake his body, leaving him even more astonished.

'This kid has surprised me four times already!' He tried to back away, but Itadori didn't let him, pursuing him with a flurry of attacks that Ryu struggled to block. 'What are they feeding people in this era?!'

Bam!

Blocking a high kick, Ryu wasn't fast enough to lower his guard in time, and a punch landed on his already injured abdomen with enough force to send a wave of pain through his body.

'Damn, I need to get some distance!'

With a push from his legs, he leapt back several meters, cursed energy glowing in his pompadour almost instantly.

"Uh?"

But just as he was about to fire his attack, he was shocked to find the boy already in front of him, grabbing his hair and pulling his face down.

Boom!

An explosion erupted as his face hit the ground, the impact of his own attack leaving him momentarily disoriented as he pushed himself up with a burst of energy.

"How crafty..." He hadn't gathered enough energy for the attack to cause serious harm, so aside from a few scattered cuts across his face, he seemed relatively fine. "You're really impressive, kid!"

Itadori, who had patiently waited for the sorcerer to get back up, watched him with a dispassionate look. "Do you really want to keep going? Are you really going to waste your second chance like this?"

His question was genuine. As much as Itadori wanted to focus on his objective, he was willing to give Ryu a chance.

Throwing away a second chance at life just for the thrill of a fight? Itadori enjoyed the sensation of battle too, and even though Ryu was a reincarnated soul from another era, he couldn't see the sense in it.

He understood that the value of life might hold a different meaning for Ryu, but it still irritated him to see someone throw their life away so recklessly...

Then again, these were his own thoughts. Others could think differently. The rush of adrenaline could be tempting for many, after all.

Perhaps he was being a bit hypocritical. After all, at the start of it all, he had chosen to risk his second chance at life for people who, only days before, had been fictional characters in his eyes...

Even if he hadn't had much choice in the matter.

"Wasting it?" Ryu, confronted by the question, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I wouldn't say I'm wasting it. I lived a peaceful life before I died. I met a beautiful woman, had kids, and died comfortably in my bed."

Pulling a comb from his pocket, he began straightening his disheveled pompadour caused by the explosion. "In fact, I think it would be a waste not to keep going. After all, the only reason I chose to reincarnate was because, during my past life, I only faced modest opponents who could never fill my stomach.

"So what if I die? I have no regrets, so I don't need to cling so tightly to this second life."

Itadori blinked, clearly surprised by the profound words that betrayed this man's cocky appearance.

That was... quite reflective. A different way of seeing things.

It made him understand what drove his opponent.

"I see..." Itadori nodded, cracking his knuckles as cursed energy erupted from his body like intense flames. "If that's the case, then I won't hold back."

Ryu flashed a toothy grin, pocketing his comb as cursed energy began radiating around him in excitement. "That's what I wanted to hear!"

If a good meal was what Ryu wanted, Itadori would humbly provide him a banquet.

Taking a step forward, Ryu moved his arms in a stylish manner as cursed energy concentrated on his pompadour.

And there would even be dessert!

Boom!

The cursed energy split into numerous beams that shot toward Itadori, the young sorcerer deftly evading the attacks as he closed the distance.

"Hahaha! This is amazing!"

Ryu laughed as the boy dodged his attacks with ease, his body glowing with cursed energy that bolstered every muscle.

'Here he comes!'

Preparing himself, he smiled as Itadori charged at him like an unstoppable bull.

Bam!

When the two collided, Ryu was pushed back slightly as he blocked a punch from the boy. His eyes struggled to keep up as he was bombarded by a flurry of attacks coming from every direction.

'Damn it! He's too fast!' He found himself cornered, his arms moving almost randomly as he tried to block the punches flying at him. 'My best chance is to keep my distance!'

Cursed energy gathered in his fist as he continued to struggle against the relentless assault, his opponent's attacks landing on his face repeatedly.

'Now!'

Fighting the urge to vomit after a punch landed squarely on his stomach, Ryu seized the opportunity, launching his cursed energy-charged fist toward Itadori's face in near desperation.

Swoosh!

But just before it could connect, his eyes widened in shock as a sharp pain shot through his leg, his stance collapsing beneath him.

'What was that?' He glanced down to see a deep gash burning above his knee. 'How... How did that happen?!'

"I told you, didn't I?"

Ryu blinked as his opponent's voice rang out. Lifting his head, he was met with those same predatory eyes staring him down.

"That I wouldn't hold back anymore."

"..."

Ryu swallowed hard. He hadn't realized it before, but now he could see clearly.

He had truly gotten himself into a dangerous situation.