Chapter 10: Yorozu...4

Chapter 10: Yorozu...4

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The silence in the cave was broken as the Pikachu's final blast of cursed energy echoed off the walls. The temperature rose palpably, and the air was so thick that breathing was nearly impossible. Yorozu, gasping for oxygen, watched as his liquid metal spread rapidly, covering every crack and corner of the cave. His plan was simple yet bold: to prevent the cursed Pikachu from continuing to use the walls as conductors of his electricity.

The Pikachu, despite its regenerative state, was exhausted, but its unquenchable hatred drove it to continue fighting. Each spark it emitted was weaker than the last, but they still crackled intensely. Watching the metal take over his battlefield, he knew he had to act fast, or he would lose any advantage.

The air was poisonous to both of them now, but Pikachu, being a cursed creature, didn't need as much oxygen as Yorozu did. As she struggled to stay conscious, Pikachu began to gather all the remaining energy in his body for one last attack. He knew he didn't have much time left.

Breathing heavily, Yorozu leaned against a wall, feeling her vision blur. The liquid metal had sealed off much of the cave, but the effort of keeping that technique going was draining her faster than she had anticipated. "I... can't... give in," she thought, gritting her teeth.

Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the cave. Cursed Pikachu, charged with the remaining energy, launched a massive attack towards the sorceress. A blinding bolt of lightning broke the silence, crashing into the layer of liquid metal. The impact was so powerful that the walls began to shake, and the ground beneath Yorozu's feet cracked.

Yorozu barely had time to react. Using the last of her energy, she directed all of the remaining metal towards herself, creating a protective barrier around her. The beam hit her defense with brutal force, pushing her back several meters. Although she had avoided the direct hit, the energy blast was enough to launch her against one of the cave walls.

The cursed Pikachu, exhausted and in its final moments, looked at Yorozu, who now lay motionless on the ground. The sparks that once emanated from its body began to fade, and its body collapsed back into a pile of bones and scattered cursed energy. It knew it had reached its limit.

The cursed Pikachu, consumed by despair, understood that its time was running out. Its body was on the verge of disintegrating, but the deep hatred that fueled it gave it one last idea. Aware of its exhaustion, it began to plan something risky: a binding vow.

Despite its already low sanity, the cursed creature had a spark of ingenuity within it, an intelligence that should not be underestimated. Realizing that she couldn't continue fighting without an additional source of energy, she decided to take an extreme measure. With a distorted roar, Cursed Pikachu called upon the ancient power of jujutsu: the Binding Vow.

She knew that this dangerous agreement would allow her to regenerate her cursed energy, at the cost of a severe restriction. Pikachu pledged not to move an inch for the next 20 hours, which would be a huge risk in the middle of a fight. But in her current state, she had no other choice. As she made the oath, she felt a surge of cursed energy run through her body, restoring the strength she had lost. Electric sparks began to surge again, glowing with renewed intensity.

Meanwhile, Yorozu lay on the ground, dazed and exhausted. Her muscles ached, her head throbbed, and her vision barely managed to focus. She knew the situation was critical. The liquid metal she had spread across the cave had done its job, but maintaining that technique had left her on the verge of unconsciousness. However, hearing the cursed Pikachu's roar and feeling the shift in the air, he knew something had changed.

Forcing himself to his feet, Yorozu observed the creature. Though he was standing, the signs were clear: the Pikachu wasn't moving. Despite the renewed energy enveloping him, something was holding him back. "A binding vow..." he muttered, recognizing the trap the creature had fallen into to regain its strength. This gave him a small window of opportunity, but it also meant the next attack would be devastating if he didn't act quickly. Yorozu knew he didn't have much time before Pikachu unleashed its newfound energy. With shaking hands, he began to channel what little of his own power he had left. He wouldn't be able to beat it in a direct confrontation, but perhaps, if he managed to encase the Pikachu in its own liquid metal while the creature was immobilized, he could stop it before it was too late.

The metal began to move again, flowing across the walls and floor, as Yorozu directed his last reserve of power towards his enemy. The cursed Pikachu, though motionless, noticed the movement around it. Its gaze flashed with fury, unable to move but aware of what was coming. It let out an electric shriek that echoed throughout the cave, attempting to intimidate its opponent.

Yorozu gritted his teeth, knowing he only had one try. As the liquid metal approached the creature, it began to slowly envelop it, sealing every part of its cursed body. Pikachu resisted with everything he had, but his immobility prevented him from escaping. Yorozu sweated profusely, struggling to maintain control. Each second seemed like an eternity, and the Pikachu's cursed energy increased with each electrical pulse he tried to unleash.

Finally, the metal completely covered the Pikachu, forming an unbreakable prison around it. The air in the cave momentarily stilled, as the glow of the liquid metal absorbed the light of the cursed energy. Yorozu fell to her knees, exhausted and on the verge of collapse. She had managed to contain the creature, but she knew this was not a definitive victory.

The next 20 hours would be critical.

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