Chapter 34: Second Round

Chapter 34: Second Round

Everything around him began to change. Tall buildings became towering desolate mountains, and asphalt roads turned into dirt paths overgrown with weeds, with white bones occasionally visible protruding from the soil every few steps.

On the withered trees that used to be streetlights, several silhouettes vaguely hung, not to mention the dark, indistinct, grotesque figures all around. However, looking further into the distance, one could see that the cityscape remained as it was.

"Domain Expansion?"

Kamihara Hajime recalled Gojo Satoru mentioning this to him, describing it as an awakening of a Spellcaster's talent, a technique that couldn't be systematically mastered through learning.

It contained elements of barrier techniques, and its most prominent feature was its ability to guarantee 100% hit rate for the user's Technique against enemies, while also enhancing the user's Technique.

Some might learn it through sudden enlightenment, while others might never grasp it in their entire lives, which is why only a handful of Jujutsu Sorcerers currently possess this Technique.

But Gojo Satoru said that typical Domain Expansion is a closed barrier, isn't it? Yet, this one seems to be an exception...

Gojo Satoru, who was in the distance, also had his gaze drawn by the scene. Looking at that abnormal sight, he naturally understood that it was an unknown Domain Expansion, and not a conventional closed type.

"Hajime might not be able to handle it. I need to speed up, and this annoying rope... Unfortunately, it won't last much longer, will it?"

Migel, on the opposite side, was utterly speechless with suffering. At this moment, he had even prepared himself for death. During his brief entanglement with Gojo Satoru, the precious cursed tool he brought from his homeland was reduced to a mere stub, not to mention the powerful Cursed Spirits that died for him, otherwise he would have been finished long ago.

"Suguru Geto, if I die here, I won't let you off even as a ghost..." Migel awkwardly dodged the pursuing Gojo Satoru, murmuring to himself.

As Shuten-dōji unleashed her Domain Expansion, Kamihara Hajime activated his Technique. Instantly, he felt the burning sensation of the blood-flame. He decisively brought Nanami Kento, who was still within the range, out of the Domain and treated him. Fortunately, Nanami Kento's injuries were not severe and could be healed with Reverse Cursed Technique.

During the retreat, Kamihara Hajime noticed that the burning sensation lessened as he moved further away from Shuten-dōji. Perhaps this was one of the costs, in exchange for a larger range.

Having escaped to a safe zone, Kamihara Hajime could have simply left, waiting for Gojo Satoru to return and deal with the matter. However, there was Minamoto Naine's body and Shuten-dōji's unknown growth potential. The scene of her absorbing Cursed Spirits and then summoning other powerful Cursed Spirits to strengthen herself was still vivid in his mind.

A Cursed Spirit capable of performing Domain Expansion, yet not at its full power, and with Suguru Geto's matter still unresolved, there was no telling what else she might do if she escaped.

He had to kill her here!

Minamoto Naine's soul was still unable to fully manifest on this complex battlefield, but she couldn't participate in this battle anyway. Nanami Kento also didn't possess the healing ability of Reverse Cursed Technique, and he wouldn't last long in the Domain, which meant... Kamihara Hajime had to face it alone.

"Entering this Domain essentially means being continuously attacked by Shuten-dōji's Technique. That flame seems to be able to absorb other Cursed Energy and even flesh. This means that while I am in her Domain, I will suffer continuous damage, and the closer I get to Shuten-dōji, the more intense it will be."

"Constantly using Technique Reversal will eventually reach my limit. I can only go all out and see if I can successfully kill Shuten-dōji. Let's see if I reach my limit first, or if I exorcise this King of Hundred Ghosts first!"

Time Wheel Spin

Kamihara Hajime, gripping Onikiri, re-entered Shuten-dōji's Domain, immediately feeling his Cursed Energy and vital energy continuously draining away.

Moreover, his Technique only accelerated his own time. Shuten-dōji's Technique, which permeated this space, could still inflict damage on Kamihara Hajime. In fact, as long as Kamihara Hajime remained within it and continued to approach Shuten-dōji, he would continuously be affected by the Technique.

Kamihara Hajime no longer had the leisure to deal with the terrifying Cursed Spirits manifesting from Shuten-dōji's Domain. Operating his Technique at full power, he endured the continuous, invisible damage and swung his blade at Shuten-dōji's arm.

But the opponent was clearly prepared, knowing Kamihara Hajime's unusual speed. From the start, she protected the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi in her hand with layers of defense, making it so that Kamihara Hajime could only seize it by cutting off her sword-wielding arm.

However, the strength of her body had now increased by another degree. Kamihara Hajime's full-power attack could barely break through her flesh. And when Kamihara Hajime reached his limit of endurance and needed to use Technique Reversal to recover, that instant was Shuten-dōji's counterattack.

Kamihara Hajime's body, which had been eroded by Shuten-dōji's Technique for a long time, was already battered beyond recognition. Some areas had even cracked like weathered leather, revealing the bloodless interior.

As Kamihara Hajime reversed himself using Technique Reversal, Shuten-dōji's injuries were also instantly healed by the Cursed Energy seized from Kamihara Hajime within the Domain and the power she had absorbed from other Cursed Spirits.

Shuten-dōji, realizing she could now perceive his movements, also sensed the immense power she had seized from him. Her mind began to race.

"It wasn't power absorbed in an instant, otherwise my body would have been cut open just now instead of just having two arms almost severed. And those numerous slashes... incomprehensible speed... bizarre recovery methods..."

The grotesque grin on Shuten-dōji's face twisted even more. She didn't immediately try to attack Kamihara Hajime, but instead once again stirred her Cursed Energy to strengthen the effect of her Domain and her own defense.

"It's time! This brat's Technique is related to time, otherwise, his incomprehensible speed and unusual recovery methods cannot be explained."

"Such a Technique... This is... so exciting! I will personally take your head, but it's a pity you haven't grown up yet, and you're about to fall here."

Shuten-dōji intended to rely on the Domain's guaranteed hit, large-area attacks, and her own high defense to drag Kamihara Hajime until he could no longer endure. While Onikiri was excellent at damaging flesh, it wasn't enough against her multiple layers of defense.

As long as the most important Totsuka-no-Tsurugi remained in her hand, she would surely win!

Shuten-dōji, her thoughts somewhat adrift, recalled a figure from her dusty memories. It was that person, wielding Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, who had cut off her head, ending the era of the Hyakki Yagyō...

"Minamoto no Yorimitsu..."

This was one of the few human names she remembered. The enmity between her and that person had even formed a Curse, making one of the restrictions on her reappearance the bloodline of the Minamoto Family, and specifically, a Jujutsu Sorcerer.

"Perhaps every era will have a few dazzling humans. This young man might be like that in the future. Humans always have this happen. Is this what he calls 'destiny'?"

The next instant, Shuten-dōji found herself losing track of Kamihara Hajime again. Then, several blood arrows burst from her demonic body. One arm, which had been blocking, was already severed, and the other was barely hanging on.

And the other Spider Cutter in her hand, without her careful protection, was snatched away by Kamihara Hajime. However, Shuten-dōji didn't care about this. In yet another extremely brief interval, even her thoughts hadn't been interrupted from the previous one.

"Spider Cutter's ability is 'poison', which can slow down and harm the enemy's Cursed Energy and even nerves. But it's useless against him, his speed is already fast enough. Just don't let him get Totsuka-no-Tsurugi..."

Shuten-dōji recalled the story of these three swords. Unlike historical blades, these three cursed tools originated from the same source in the history of the Jujutsu World and were given together to Minamoto no Yorimitsu to slay her, the King of Hundred Ghosts.

These three swords each possessed unique abilities: Onikiri could sever all 'flesh' bodies, Spider Cutter carried a poison targeting Cursed Energy, and Totsuka-no-Tsurugi had an extraordinary defense-piercing ability against all Cursed Energy-derived defenses.

While not absolute, when these three swords were used together, any enemy facing them would undoubtedly experience fear.

Furthermore, when these three swords were held by the same person, there was a hidden power—that one Technique... which annihilated her body. Therefore, he absolutely must not get Totsuka-no-Tsurugi.

Shuten-dōji, who couldn't hide this intention anyway, didn't try to conceal it. In another interval, she plunged the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi into her own body, binding it with herself as a "chain."

Kamihara Hajime, who had targeted Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, wasn't too surprised. This cursed tool, rumored to have cut off Shuten-dōji's head, must have some counteracting effect on her. At the very least, with its defense-piercing ability, seizing it and cutting open her body would surely make it much easier.

...

Shuten-dōji, with half her neck restored, coldly watched Kamihara Hajime, who was once again unharmed but looked quite fatigued. Her body was now three meters tall, her towering and majestic demonic form maintaining a defensive posture in a somewhat disheveled manner.

But her heart was as calm as a beast in ambush, waiting only for the final hunt. Although her situation was also rapidly deteriorating, Shuten-dōji was still in a much better state compared to Kamihara Hajime.

"Reverse Cursed Technique... Although this young man also possesses it, his Reverse Cursed Technique is not very advanced. It seems he only uses it as a source of reverse Cursed Energy. If... Hahaha! There is no 'if'!"

Shuten-dōji, who had now had her twenty-third consecutive opening, keenly seized a flaw Kamihara Hajime revealed. The latter, after all, could no longer sustain himself and failed in another attempt to activate Technique Reversal. In his moment of distraction, he saw a grotesque demonic hand reaching out, its sharp fingertips already touching his clothes.

"It's a pity, I've almost shredded her body, but the Domain's effect is truly unfair. The guaranteed hit damage and the ability to absorb my Cursed Energy... it seems I can't help you get your body back. I've harmed you. Nanami Kento was right, Jujutsu Sorcerers are garbage; if you're not strong enough, you face the unexpected risk of death at any moment."

"You have to face the anger of powerlessness."

Kamihara Hajime looked at Shuten-dōji, or rather, Minamoto Naine's original face, now grotesquely twisted and mutated beyond recognition. He activated his Technique again with his remaining Cursed Energy.

"It seems I'm running out of time. Why do I feel a bit unwilling?"

A suppressed rage inexplicably surged in his heart, like magma slowly spreading from a mountain ridge. Its immediate danger wasn't obvious or swift, but its internal temperature was enough to engulf everything in its path—a burning heat that didn't boil.

Kamihara Hajime closed his eyes, allowing various emotions to collide within him, yet his mind was entirely focused on the transformation of Cursed Energy, that is, on a deeper understanding of Reverse Cursed Technique.

It couldn't be systematically taught; there were only basic principle explanations. This was the entirety of Reverse Cursed Technique. In some sense, it seemed as rare as Domain Expansion. Kamihara Hajime had previously, whether by talent or luck, successfully refined reverse Cursed Energy, initially coming into contact with Reverse Cursed Technique. However, his effectiveness was quite far from that of Ieiri Shoko and Gojo Satoru.

The extent of the injuries he could heal was far less than the range his Technique Reversal could achieve. Although he coveted Gojo Satoru's perpetually active Technique state, he hadn't made much progress and couldn't use Reverse Cursed Technique to heal his brain and thus remove the continuous burden of using his Technique on his brain.

But now, in a situation where life and death could be decided at any moment, Kamihara Hajime, with a remarkably calm mind, wanted to try. At this moment, his thoughts stretched very, very long, and at the same time, they were incredibly clear, thus reaching an unprecedented state of enlightenment.

"Perhaps... Jujutsu Sorcerers are all madmen."

Shuten-dōji's outstretched demonic hand successfully gripped Kamihara Hajime's body. Joy gleamed in her blood-red pupils; the scent of victory was right before her! Kill him, then leave here, and once she recovered her full strength, she would bring the Hyakki Yagyō back to the human world!

Just as she was about to wring out delicious "juice" from Kamihara Hajime's body to satisfy her appetite, her vision suddenly blurred. The body she held had vanished, and the young man stood before her again, his aura fully restored.

"Impossible! He wasn't already at his limit, was he? Is he at the end of his rope? Or—" Shuten-dōji didn't dare to contemplate the worst possibility, yet it already caused turmoil in her heart.

"Round two, begins."

Kamihara Hajime said, holding Onikiri in his left hand and Spider Cutter in his right.

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