Every step that Toji took seemed to press against Uraume's heartstrings.
Her expression was solemn as she floated in the sky. Although she had absolute confidence in her own strength, she still did not dare to underestimate Toji.
According to the information Uraume had learned, Toji could even be ranked on the same level as Satoru in Gojo Satoshi's camp.
This was because Satoru had completed the Bankai of his Zanpakutō, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, some time ago. Otherwise, Toji's strength could be considered superior to Satoru's.
In this situation, Uraume did not believe her Domain alone could give her a true advantage. If she was not careful, she would most likely be caught by this man.
Uraume's attention was drawn to the two Zanpakutō at Toji's waist.
These two blades were the most special among all the Zanpakutō forged by Satoshi. After all, among all of Satoshi's creations, Katen Kyōkotsu was the only Zanpakutō forged as a pair of twin swords.
Perhaps, this pair of Zanpakutō holds even more mysterious abilities.
Uraume locked her gaze on Toji, focusing entirely on him. Yet, even in this tense moment, she lost track of his presence.
Where did he go?
A sudden gust of wind stirred behind her, startling her.
"Here. It's not a good habit to be distracted during battle, sorcerer."
Toji struck at Uraume's neck with the edge of his hand, though he had no intention of killing her. He only wanted to capture a Curse User.
However, as his strike landed, Toji's lips curved into a self-deprecating smile.
I am arrogant, thinking I can deal with a Curse User so easily. I even dared to hold back just now.
Toji, it has been far too long since you last fought against a true master.
The figure of Uraume in front of him instantly shattered into shards of ice. What Toji had struck was not her real body, but an ice clone.
Ten meters away, Uraume reappeared, her expression cold and indifferent.
"Even if you bear the Heavenly Restriction, you underestimate my innate Domain."
Uraume spoke lightly, frost swirling in her eyes as she explained the function of her Domain.
On the ground below, Zenin Naoya frowned, inwardly complaining.
Is there something wrong with this Curse User? In the middle of battle, she still has the mood to explain her Domain to Toji? Is she worried she won't die fast enough?
Seeing Toji's first strike suppress Uraume, Naoya's confidence surged. Hearing her speak so casually, he could not help but cheer for Toji.
However, beside him, Zenin Naobito folded his hands into his sleeves, his expression serious.
"The enemy's goal is to slow Toji's reactions. I don't know if he has noticed yet."
No matter how agile Toji's movements were, he was still within Uraume's Domain Expansion. Inside this Domain, Toji's movements would never be as free as outside. Naobito, who was proficient in jujutsu, had already seen within the last 24 frames that Toji's movements had slightly slowed.
He hoped this was only due to Toji's own body, and not the influence of Uraume's Domain.
Hearing his father's words, Naoya's eyes widened in shock. He opened his mouth to warn Toji, but before he could speak, Toji had already moved.
The afterimage left in the sky vanished, and Toji's true form reappeared directly behind Uraume.
"It's useless. The same trick won't work on me twice."
A confident smile flashed across Uraume's face. She was already prepared for Toji's approach. The frost around her had concentrated enough.
If Toji touched her like before, the chill would instantly freeze his body into an ice sculpture.
Yet to her surprise, his strike did not come.
Instead, a low chant echoed in her ears.
"The Flowery Winds Become Disturbed, The God Of Flowers Sings, The Heavenly Winds Become Disturbed, The Devil Of Heaven Sneers!"
In that instant, Uraume felt a powerful surge of force sweep from behind her. The gust dispersed the invisible frost she had condensed at low temperatures.
Turning around, she saw two massive black scimitars in Toji's hands.
"This is... Katen Kyōkotsu."
Her pupils shrank as a frost shield formed before her. She knew Katen Kyōkotsu's abilities were strange, so she immediately chose to defend.
However, seeing the faint smile on Toji's lips, she suddenly sensed something wrong.
"Irooni (Lustrous Demon), White!"
Toji seemed entirely unconcerned with the durability of her frost shield, swinging Katen Kyōkotsu directly against it.
Is he really planning on clashing head-on?
Uraume was shocked. She never expected that, after seeing her frost shield, Toji would still recklessly attack.
Wasn't he afraid of damaging his Zanpakutō?
Dismissing her unease as an illusion, she braced herself. Yet the next second, her expression froze.
Her strongest shield of ice was split in half by Toji's strike. Blood burst from her body, linked directly to the broken shield.
A single, seemingly ordinary swing had gravely injured her.
How is this possible?
She did not understand the ability of Katen Kyōkotsu, but quickly realized the power of this strike was not normal. It carried a special effect.
Irooni, White.
Her mind raced. Could it be that depending on the color, the blade inflicted greater damage?
Isn't this ability far too strange?
Uraume used her frost to rapidly heal her wounds, then conjured ice hail in her palms and hurled it at Toji.
"Black!"
Toji's upper body was clad in black, and the exposed surface area was large.
This was a test. The attack itself was not particularly strong. She wanted to see if Toji would choose to dodge.
As the hail rushed toward him, Toji's movements blurred. His speed left no opening, evading every shard with ease.
This confirmed Uraume's suspicion.
(To be continued.)
***
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