Landing softly, it takes a moment for anyone to even notice me. My energy is still sneaky like that.
"Heyooo!" I call out into the suddenly very active courtyard. "I'm looking for a Tiara no Masakado?! I have been commanded by the Emperor to kill this man!"
I made sure to use a very serious tone, because this is a very serious matter that is, at least ostensibly, the Mandate of Heaven!
...Wait is that a China thing? Tsk, what a waste of words, I should have used a different tone.
Eh, doesn't matter.
The soldiers arrange themselves around me, speartips poking a ring that surrounds me, while some other guys with bows draw and prepare to loose at me.
It's all very intimidating, you understand.
I would definitely be shivering with fright were it not that I am actually too scared to even shake!
I kid, obviously. I'm kind of bored, and I'm trying to temper my expectations here.
I feel like I'll wind up doing something unwise if I keep letting myself be disappointed.
I really need to stop measuring myself against humans. That thought brings a swell of many different emotions that I elect to ignore for now.
Ah well.
I mostly ignore the people around me, focusing instead on the Sorcerers present, since that's where my purview lies here.
There are a few of them, but only one feels like a Grade One while the rest... Well, it's surprisingly difficult to tell apart the rest of the Grades. I'm sure there's a variety.
The only presence that really stands out is the one I presume to be my target, and I look up when I notice him begin his approach.
The Grade One trails behind him by the shoulder, and I watch with a smile as the men between us part into rows at attention before him. It's impressively cinematic. Real 'important guy' vibes, like he's Darth Vader or something, but with two swords.
Shame that the danger I feel isn't even slightly close to what I imagine I'd feel standing in front of Darth Vader. I'm pretty sure that guy like, twisted a planet at some point or something.
I honestly cannot remember the feats from Star Wars, it's just that Darth Vader's aura is hard to forget even after all this time.
He's like a fictional Sukuna.
Probably less of an asshole though, funnily enough.
"Identify yourself, Sorcerer."
I turn my eyes to the Grade One guy briefly, before simply dismissing him entirely and returning my attention to the presumed Taira.
"Special Grades are supposed to be overwhelming you know?" I politely inform him. "I'm feeling distinctly whelmed."
It's not even an exaggeration at all, this guy has the eyes of a corpse. Not in the glassy sense, but in that there is no life to him at all. It's as if he's been drained entirely of energy, as if he has stolen my own boredom and magnified it by a thousandfold.
I feel like he'd be willing to just die if I asked him to.
It's... kind of scary, actually. Like a potential vision of the future.
I can empathise with those eyes.
I don't want to end up like him.
But, as soon as those scary thoughts come, so too do they leave, flowing through me like a breeze. Because I have no need of such concerns.
I will not become this man, for one simple reason alone.
I am too Strong.
///
Taira no Masakado
///
He had become too strong.
Perhaps that would be an oversimplification, but there is truth to it.
He has long since surpassed Humanity.
He knows that there are those few Humans that he cannot kill, but even more certainly than that, he knows that there is not a single Human that can so much as draw his blood.
He is both too strong and too weak.
Too strong to find any more stimulation among Humanity, yet too weak to stand among the Gods.
He has plateaued at the precipice.
In the past, there was much joy to be found in every battle he fought. Every time, he felt himself growing stronger, ever more untouchable by the day. It was exciting.
Now?
Now he is not sure if he remembers what excitement feels like at all.
Everything is just so... dull.
Today will be no different.
He cares not for Sumitomo's scheming or his pride. He cares not for the overthrowing of Michinaga, or for any manner of political manoeuvring.
His only motivation to follow that schemer's plan is a vague feeling of insult at the idea of his daughter marrying a commoner, of all things. If Sumitomo hadn't approached him, he likely would have simply pressured his clan to throw the foolish idea off, he has enough strength to have done such a thing.
But why bother? There is no point. It is not as if anything can be done to stop him.
He is inevitable.
So he went along with it, and now he is going to find this 'Narauko' that he was told of and kill the boy. After that, he will simply 'apologise' for his 'rash actions' and all will be forgiven, simply because he cannot be held accountable.
And on the off chance that he is proven mistaken?
Well, he is too old to remain deluded on the matter, because he almost hopes that he is proven mistaken. Maybe then, someone might finally kill him.
The simple truth, after all, is that Masakado is fully willing to antagonise the entire Realm out of one selfish desire.
He just wants to die.
"Who are you to speak so carelessly?" Masakado's aide fills the silence in lieu of his own reply, taking an aggressive step forward. Not that their 'guest' seems to pay it any mind, even as his aide moves to roughly poke the man's chest. "Identify yourself immediately, or you will be removed."
Unfortunately, their guest catches the limb by the wrist before contact can be made.
A shame, Masakado thinks with a mental sigh, though he doesn't really care either way.
There is a reason he keeps this aide around, even though they are fairly useless in most things. Their Technique is convenient.
Higher Flattery. An unassuming name for such a potent ability.
"Hey I felt something weird just now," their guest comments, smiling genially even as he continues to hold the wrist tight. "Were you trying to use your Technique on me? Having physical contact be an activation condition is pretty harsh, and I feel like there are even more conditions wrapped all up around you~. What kind of unfair Technique do you have to require such harsh conditions~? Exodia-sama~?"
The blatant mockery is easily ignored, but Masakado does find his interest being piqued ever so sightly. It would seem that this man has good eyes. He can barely feel their Cursed Energy, but his instincts still tell him that the man before him is strong.
With perception like that, they might be one of the Special Grade candidates he has been hearing of. Either a Minamoto or a Fujiwara, if the features are anything to go by.
It is unfortunate, but Masakado's hand falls to his sword either way. Higher Flattery is a Technique that allows the user to temporarily steal the Technique of another Sorcerer. Quite the potent ability, even if it is indeed mired down by many conditions.
It is just unfortunate that it has no effect on Masakado.
Their standard tactic for swiftly dealing with potentially dangerous unknowns is for his aide to surreptitiously activate their Technique, and then for Masakado to take their head as they are distracted and helpless.
Clearly, this man's perception has rendered such a plan moot, and so a swift and sudden strike has become the most optimal path to take.
It wouldn't be the first time this has happened, and Masakado can count on one hand the number of Sorcerers that have managed to survive his strike anyway. This will be no differen—
"Mah, I'm here to kill you anyway, it's only fair, right?" The stranger interrupts his thoughts, and Masakado watches with something akin to befuddlement as the man pulls his aide's hand closer and presses it against his own chest.
In the stunned silence that follows the brazenly suicidal act, the man raises a brow and smirks at his aide, who is too caught off-guard to even activate his Technique.
"Well? Don't keep me waiting, I'm curious~."
A beat passes, but his aide doesn't hesitate to do exactly that.
Out of habit more than anything else, Masakado acts in the same moment that the Technique activates, drawing his sword in a blinding arc for the man's neck.
He isn't too surprised to see the man lean back enough to avoid decapitation, and he hops even further back to avoid the following downswing.
Masakado does not pursue any further, having lost the element of surprise entirely. Continuing the fight now or later would no longer make a difference, and so it has become more optimal to learn what Technique has been stolen first and to act second.
He resheathes his sword as he turns to his aide, not really all that bothered about the intruder. It's not like they can hurt him anyway.
He doesn't ask what Technique his aide got, they've done this enough for such to be expected, so he merely waits for his answer.
His aide opens his mouth to give one, "It's called Ten Shadows—" and then promptly punches himself square in the face.
...Masakado would perhaps have questioned if the man had lost his wits, were it not for the hysterical laughter abruptly springing from the intruder.
It does not take a genius to have an idea of the situation.
His aide tries to speak again, frustration visible on his face before it is once again punched by his own fist.
A trick? Is this why he allowed the contact? Did they send a Sorcerer with a Technique that counters his aide's? It would make sense. They know that he himself cannot be harmed, so taking a valuable tool hostage would be tactical.
The laughter makes him doubt this assertation however.
"Hahahahaha! Why— Ahahahaha why are you hitting yourself!! Hehehahaha!"
Masakado watches as the man falls to the ground in hysterics, his words barely legible over the laughter, and he considers attacking again whilst they are distracted. However, he feels that this may be a bait, and decides against it.
He also notices that the man somehow no longer possesses a shadow, which is rather strange to see, visually.
"What!? Is!" His aide yells out, each word followed by self abuse. "Happening!!?"
"Hahahahahaha! Y—haha! You invited me straight into your Soul, dummy! Haha, what did you think would happen?! Hahahaha, oh Kami I need to record this!" True to word, the stranger reaches into his sleeve, only to pause before bursting back into renewed laughter. "I can't! Hahahaha~!"
Masakado watches his aide flail around for a moment before accepting that he will get no more use from that direction.
His attention turns back to the laughing Sorcerer. There are no more tricks to be deployed, and so there is no longer any reason to delay.
He draws his sword again and thrusts it at the man rolling on the floor. A surprisingly sturdy barrier appears in his path, and he recognises it as Tengen-sama's work even as his sword pierces through, barely slowing.
Unfortunately, it does slow enough for the man to roll out of the way and spring back to his feet with a shameful yelp.
"Hey! Can't you see I'm—!" The complaint is cut off with yet more laughter as Masakado's aide attempts a frontal flip and eats dirt. "Hahaha, I'm in the middle of something~?"
Masakado ignores him and continues his assault, drawing his other sword as he does.
Another barrier springs in place to stop him, but the Positive Energy flowing from his Sword of Extermination unravels it near instantly, leaving the man open. However, he remains fast, and Masakado only manages to score a cut halfway to bone, instead of severing a limb.
"Alright fine," the man huffs, glaring at him in a manner more akin to a pouting child than an angry warrior. "Be boring."
As he says that, Masakado hears a sharp crack!
He closes his eyes in a very brief moment of mourning, already knowing what he will see before he turns. It is no surprise when he watches his aide collapse to the ground with head on facing the wrong direction.
Annoying, he thinks, still not too bothered. The idiot was a useful tool, but hardly irreplicable.
It is more an inconvenience than a loss.
A shadow darts from his aide's corpse and reattaches itself to the intruder.
Some form of shadow puppetry, then? Masakado muses.
"I'll only kill you now," the intruder states, glancing at the men surrounding them. "I was only sent here to kill Sorcerers, and I have decided that I won't kill anyone weaker than Grade One. So let's relocate so your men don't become collateral."
Masakado is not particularly fond of this man's casual vernacular, but he would indeed prefer if his men were to still be here once he has killed this Sorcerer, so he agrees.
It is annoying that this man is as fast as he is, it will be difficult to kill him, but Masakado isn't concerned.
He will win eventually, it is inevitable.
He cannot lose, after all.
///
Narauko
///
It's a good thing I kept my expectations low. This guy's weak.
Unless he was holding back a whole bunch, then he's just barely faster than Ki and Nagayasu were. He did cut pretty deep with that sword of his, but he only got that far because I forgot that Reverse Cursed Technique can unravel Cursed Techniques like that.
Now, leading Masakado a safe distance from the little fort he took over, I figure there's no point in playing around too much.
That Grade One guy was pretty funny, I can admit that much, but man, talk about a lame Technique. Having my Technique stolen from me was an interesting experience, but that's about it.
I already know what my own Technique looks like, I'd rather see something new.
Speaking of, I should probably see if Kamo-Sensei was being honest.
As I think that, I side-step a sneak attack from Masakado. This guy really has no shame.
"Aren't you Nobles s'posed to be honourable and all?" I ask, and his face remains exactly as passive as I have seen it be.
"I would rather be done with you quickly if possible," he actually responds, surprising me.
I don't think he meant his words as banter though, so I just nod sagely along with them.
"You're not the first person to say that," I comment as I reach into my thigh and pull out my Max Elephant sniper rifle. Masakado doesn't seem in a rush to stop me, so I just shrug, take aim and fire at his forehead.
He really could have dodged, I couldn't have telegraphed my intentions more clearly if I tried.
Evidently, he has no need to dodge, as the beam of water shoots straight into his skull and accomplishes absolutely nothing. The water parts around his face without leaving even a mark, continuing on to carve a couple of trenches in the earth behind him.
He didn't even flinch.
Heh, I guess that is pretty funny.
The effect is lessened slightly since I already saw that Onmyōji guy. The one that could root himself in place and turn invulnerable.
Masakado rushes forward, and I can surmise that his plan is probably just to wear me down until he wins.
Evidently, he has no idea who I am.
Physically speaking, he's strong enough that I have to pay attention to not wind up bleeding all over the place, but he is decidedly still human. Though I'm not sure if he can even be called that, really. There's no passion to him, which is rather ironic.
What kind of Sorcerer is passionless? I feel like he could be more dangerous, but his Cursed Energy is just so dull that I don't really feel any kind of threat at all.
I kind of like it. In a weird way.
It's an artistic level of despondence, I think. Like that one painting with the sad jester in all red, I have no idea what it was called. Something Polish probably. I remember liking that painting.
Though it could never compare to the classic, 'yo bro is it safe down there in the woods? yeah man it's cool'. Now that was some real art.
But I digress.
Masakado abruptly falters in his assault as his leading leg plunges into his shadow, and I take the opening to bring my hands together in the shape of a wolf.
It was only after losing it that I realised how Great Serpent was probably my second favourite Shikigami. Definitely my favourite to use in battle, and now it's just gone and turned into a tail for Nue. It's kind of cool, kind of sucks.
Either way, "Ice Bear."
From between my feet, rising like an uppercut comes my bear. Ice spreads to cover Masakado even as the bear swings both claws at the man's falling face.
At the same time, Divine Dog crawls out of the ground behind the man and swings its claws down onto his back.
Masakado takes it all without so much as blinking. He even pulls himself out of the floor as if the ice coating him doesn't exist.
He kind of reminds me of a less dangerous Nagiko. Same kind of invulnerability, just without the unstoppable force aspect of it. Nagiko would have torn through my Shikigami like butter, but he's just got the defensive part.
"I know I still haven't managed to hurt you yet," I begin talking as I resume my avoiding of his sword. "So this might seem pre-emptive, but is this really all you have? From the way people talk—" An impressive twist of the sword very nearly reaches me, but all he can really cut is my train of thought. "—about you, I was expecting more, and I wasn't expecting a lot in the first place. Max defence and somewhat impressive physical stats is like the most boring build ever. Didn't you put any points in INT? At least get some decent equipment to make up for your blank skill sheet man. You know, I've had the thought for a while, but I feel like there should be a Grade above Special for Sukuna and I. The only real difference between you and a Grade One to me is that I have to pay some attention. I guess you're at least strong enough that I don't fancy trying to catch your sword. I like doing that, it's really funny, but I think you'd just cut through my arm and I get enough of that from Sukuna, y'know?"
"Chatter all you want," Masakado replies without halting his assault. He's really dead set on using this lame-ass tactic. "I am aware of my limits. I may not always win, but I have never lost."
I almost roll my eyes. How is this guy a Sorcerer?
"That sounds like something a loser would say. How can you call yourself strong with a mindset like that? Or did you only develop this mindset after becoming strong?"
His assault hitches for the briefest of moments before continuing as if what I saw was a mirage, but I do not doubt myself.
It seems I hit the nail on the head there.
"Second place is the first loser," I continue, speaking words that are only true in the context of Sorcery. "Losing doesn't have to be a bad thing you know? If you pretend that you never lost, then you will never try to improve, because there's no need if you aren't losing, right? That's dumb. Just accept your losses and seek new avenues of strength. You're in a unique position to do that, what with whatever your Technique is. You can skip a lot of steps and just try out new things. Have you even bothered to try and learn Touki?"
As I speak, I get Divine Dog to attack again while kicking Masakado in the shin in the moment before in order to make him stumble into it.
My Shikigami continues to have no effect, but he did stumble. Ergo, my kick had an effect. That's interesting.
"Touki cannot be learned by any but the weakest of Sorcerers," Masakado counters, and I almost stumble at how confidently he says that.
I don't immediately refute, as my moment of distraction puts me in a poor spot and I have to focus on keeping all of my insides on my inside for a moment.
His form really is good, so there aren't a lot of openings, but I want to confirm something. So I immediately disregard my thought of keeping my blood on the inside and let a cut land so that I can trade, punching his chest at the same time.
He stumbles back a single step, seeming rather surprised by that fact himself.
"Okay, I think I get what's going on here," I roll my eyes as he launches straight back into his rather ineffectual assault. "That other guy could steal Techniques, so if we're being thematic here, then is your Technique to be immune to other Innate Techniques or something?"
As I say that, I rapidly create and release an orb of pure Cursed Energy at him. The attack would struggle to hurt any half decent Sorcerer, but the point was only to land it. It does even less than expected.
"So it's just Cursed Energy in general that you're immune to then? I don't feel any absorption happening or anything. I suppose I can see where your confidence comes from with such a boring Technique. You're probably even immune to Domains aren't you? Nagiko isn't, so I suppose you have that over her. Maybe if it was Sukuna sent here, he'd get bored and leave, I don't know if he can actually do much without Cursed Energy. Unfortunately for you..."
White fire flows from my skin as I pull out my Touki, and I can't help but grin as I then catch his sword mid-swing. It really does feel cool to do every single time I do it.
"Not possible," Masakado whispers, staring with wide-eyes at the fire coating me. It's like he's forgotten we're in the middle of a fight.
Then again, I don't think either of us have really been all too invested in this. His style is just way too boring.
"Not probable," I correct. "It's not like Touki is the only option anyway, where are your Extension Techniques? Your Reverse Cursed Technique? I guess you never learned that because you've never gotten hurt, right? Man, so much wasted potential. I guess that's what happens when you live without impetus. I get you, man, I was the same way back when. Without any external stimulation, it's easy to fall into a funk and just do nothing at all."
Seeing him still lost in his own head, eyes wide as if in revelation, I reach forward and grab the man by his face before winding around and throwing him really really hard at a nearby hill.
He breaks the sound barrier immediately, and barely a second later a fresh crater dents into the targeted hill, ending up a plume of dust.
It's genuinely so crazy to have this much strength available to me like I'm a Superhero in a movie or something.
Hopping over, I crouch over the man's prone form. He's hardly taken too much damage, but he's not exactly in good shape either.
It really is a good thing that I didn't come here expecting an actual fight.
"You can't really make any excuses this time," I inform him. "You're going to die. Can't get a clearer loss than that, right? Are you going to accept that?"
I stare down at him, genuinely curious as his mind visibly churns. He rapidly goes through a number of expressions, culminating in an abrupt clarity as he glares at me with eyes of pure denial.
It's a pretty look, and I'm almost late to react as I admire those eyes.
His hands slap together and a pulse of Cursed Energy surrounds us. In the same moment, I will Escape Rabbit into being.
The world around us flashes.
"Domain Expansion—"
And then the world flashes again as the barrier is shattered by my Shikigami outside.
Despite myself, I actually got a little bit expectant there, so it is with a sigh of disappointment that I grab Masakado and hurl him back to the fort. I don't wanna have to drag him the whole way. Better to just kill him by the gate. It'll probably help the soldiers realise they should go home too.
Most of them are bound to be simple peasants, so if they're fast enough, they can probably just return to their normal lives without suffering any retribution for this crap.
Plus, there's no way in Yomi that I'm going to be dragging Masakado's corpse all the way back to the capital. They'd probably want to behead him and parade the skull around or something, and I just don't think that's a very cool thing to do.
"Hm?"
Turning my attention back to Masakado, I see him struggling back to his feet, expression one of deep focus.
Apparently never learning my lesson, I feel some expectation return, and I smile as this man grows before my very eyes. Not literally, but whatever is going on in that head of his is meaningful, I can tell that much. It's like he's finally waking up from that tired sort of haze that comes first thing in the morning.
I take out my camera and snap a picture.
I'd have loved to have recorded that guy punching himself, but he had my Shadow so I couldn't get the camera.
Putting the camera back in my shadow, I regard the stoically standing man as he glares back at me.
Why do I feel like I'm a bully here?
Oh, right. Cuz he's weak.
I blink as something happens. I'm not entirely sure what, but something has just happened.
Squinting, I look closer at Masakado, who is clenching and opening his hands, looking at them as if he has never seen them before. What did he just do?
His glare returns a moment later, with a grim smile this time, and then he takes a step forward and a yelp leaves me as I barely lean back in time to avoid being decapitated. I still lose a chunk of my throat, but that's easily fixed.
The next second dissolves into a blur as I coat my arms in shadows and dodge, block and deflect what feels like a hundred attacks all happening at the same time.
Holy shit did he give up his entire Technique to enhance his body?
Barely avoiding a downswing, I slide in and slam an elbow into his sternum, throwing the man back but not worsening his injuries.
"Hahahaha! Are you stupid?! Kon!"
The Shikigami blinks into existence, biting down on the man and doing absolutely fuck all.
Eh? Where is this strength coming from then?
"I made a Vow," Masakado says, and I dispel my Shikigami and let him Reveal His Hand. "To permanently give up my Technique against anyone but you, in exchange for physical strength that will only be brought to bear against you. I will not lose."
I'm being targeted~. Now this is how a Sorcerer is supposed to act.
"Damn," I sigh. "Can you stop making this so fun? My emotions are going wooshy wishy right now, you're putting me through a real rollercoaster."
"I have no idea what that means."
I snicker at the blunt admission. It feels like there's some life to his voice that wasn't there before. I have mixed feelings about that, since I'm still going to kill him.
He charges again, very fast, but for all his skill, we've already covered how he lacks in imagination.
His sword cleaves halfway through my stomach and then snaps into stillness.
Standing by his side, I take a moment to observe the elegant swan sitting gracefully atop Masakado's frozen sword. Masakado himself is equally still, and looking at him, I notice how his irises have malformed slightly into the image of a sitting swan.
My newest Shikigami—tamed in the middle of my fight with Bez-chan—is kind of a brain-fuck. Real weird to interact with.
Substitute Swan is rather unique among my Shadows in that it is of limited use. It's basically a get-out-of-jail-free card; Tamamo inspired me with that bullshit clone swapping thing she can do.
Basically, once per day—measured at sunrise of course—I can 'activate' Substitute Swan. I then have all of ten seconds with a safety net.
Extra lives are kind of lame, but the fact that this is more reactionary than just a straight up crutch makes up for it. It's a fun ability, adds some laterality to combat.
If I take lethal damage during those ten seconds of activation, then whoever dealt the damage will be locked in an illusion where they can only perceive my Swan for one full second. Additionally, upon activation I can teleport anywhere within my shadow's length as a radius.
So if it's early or late in the day and my shadow is drawn all the way out, then I can teleport anywhere within the area of an imaginary circle made from rotating my shadow around me.
Lastly, Substitute Swan will manifest physically in the place I was standing when I took the instance of lethal damage, and will remain summoned until the attacker next blinks.
That last part is the biggest risk in my opinion. It's a period of guaranteed vulnerability where my Shikigami could easily be killed.
Which naturally incentivises me to only use the Technique in duels, or generally in fights where I am confident I can defend the Shikigami for at least a moment after it saves me. Or I can just cast Dazzle. Bright lights make people blink.
Also, 'lethal damage' is basically a nonfactor since I have Reverse Cursed Technique, as it counts 'lethal' as something that would be lethal to a normal person.
Like a sword to the heart, for instance.
I was honestly prepared for it to not work at all, considering this guy's Technique. I wonder what the distinction is that this got through? Was I wrong to think that he would be immune to Domains?
Masakado snaps back into awareness, and I reflexively punch him in the face before he can gather his bearings.
He surprises me by surviving.
I have actually stopped pulling my punches for the most part. I mean, it's not like that was as hard as I can hit obviously, but I wasn't joking with Nagayasu earlier.
Walking up to the prone man, he is clearly very dazed, struggling and blindly grabbing at the floor. The tenacity is admirable, if nothing else.
I watch, feeling oddly like a cat playing with its food, as Masakado rolls back onto his front. I watch as he shakily pushes himself onto his hands and knees, bleeding profusely all the while. Surely he's gotta run out of blood eventually right?
"I..." His voice comes out as if each word is its own battle. "Do not... Lose."
I roll my eyes. "You're still on that? Forget about losing for a moment. If you don't win, you will die. Well, you will die anyway, that's what happens when you launch pointless uprisings like this. Honestly, what a waste."
"I refuse," I hear Masakado mutter, barely, and I continue to watch, even knowing that I should have just ended this by now. But... Well, I guess I'm just a selfish guy, because I want his final moment to be beautiful. So I let him work through it. "I... refuse it."
He sounds... almost shocked? As if his own words surprise him as he speaks them.
I don't dare speak or act, not wanting to interrupt his moment.
Slowly, unsteadily, he pushes himself up.
"I no longer wish to die," he whispers, so quietly that I barely understand him. I feel like an intruder, inserting myself into a moment that should only be his. It's perfect. I love it so much that a tear leaves my eye from the grief of the fact that this will be his final moment.
"I... refuse it," he continues, voice gaining strength as rises back to his feet and I watch with glee and terrible sorrow as his wounds steam and knit closed, finally stemming the tide of blood as he raises he head to glare straight into my eyes, his final words coming out in a roar.
"I want to live!!"
I step forward, and the budding excitement in Masakado's energy immediately halts as he jolts into stillness, my palm pressed against his forehead.
"I'm glad." The soft whisper of my words completely contrasts his own as I smile to him. "I'm so, so happy for you, Masakado."
I shift forward as Masakado falters, and I catch and gently lay him down on his back, using a brush of Cursed Energy to keep any blood from spilling over into his eyes.
He has a hole in his skull, now. My job here is to kill him, and no amount of personal growth on his part can change that fact. So upon seeing him figure out Reverse Cursed Technique, I simply hardened some Touki into a blunt spear sticking out of my palm, and directly targeted the part of the brain responsible for Reverse Cursed Technique.
This fight is over.
"Perhaps Izanami-sama will find you a purpose to fit this renewed passion of yours," I continue to the wide-eyed man, even as his final breaths come and go. "May you find safe passage through Yomi."
A sigh leaves me.
Job's a done'n.
I give the fort another look as I stand, but that ain't none of my business, so I turn and I leave. I don't have a diary to write in, but I do have friends, and I wanna gush to someone about this. Maybe Nagiko? I feel like she'd appreciate the moment more than anyone else I know.
I'm only a few steps away when I feel movement again, and I loudly groan, hang my head, cross my arms and stomp like a properly grumpy teenager.
"Come oooon, man~!" I whine as I feel Masakado's energy wibble and wobble. That is proper terminology, I know this because I said it. "Just take the loss alreadyyyy~."
Swinging my head up to stare at the sky, I continue to act grumpy as I twist around and behold a freaky lookin' guy crawling out of Masakado's back.
Riiight.
Rule number one for killing other Sorcerers is to do so with Cursed Energy, else they become Vengeful Spirits after death.
But this dude was immune to Cursed Energy, so I didn't use any while killing him.
So now I gotta do it twice.
Greaaat. The deadpan is real.
"If a proper economy existed yet, I'd definitely demand double pay for double work, this sucks."
Stealing other Techniques is boring. Immunity Techniques are boring. Extra lives are boring. This whole thing is boring.
Then again, it is just a normal mission really, not all of them can be fun. Though, even weak Curses tend to have more interesting Techniques than this immunity crap.
The Vengeful Spirit rises to full height and lets out a loud roar, which would have impressed me more were it not for that fact that Cursed Spirits roar all the time. It's a Curse's prerogative to be scary after all, and that's a classic method. I've become inured to it.
This Curse looks like it is at least trying to look human, but couldn't quite decide what that meant. It has an odd number of wings sprouting entirely haphazardly across its body, there is a long tail-like appendage coming out of its mid-back and it has gills unevenly spaced throughout the body.
It's also bone-white and mostly humanoid, just for it's face that is completely blank except for the mouth, which is the only remaining feature. It is also grinning rather sinisterly at me.
Scary~.
As it takes a heavy step forward, I notice one last feature. One that stands out a bit to me as being odd.
Hovering just behind its back; a golden, eight-handled wheel.