Chapter 109: Aggressiveness Needs Improvement
Kagutsuchi, commonly known as Kagu-tsuchi or Ho-gu-tsuchi, is the last deity born from Izanagi and Izanami during their period of giving birth to gods in Japanese mythology.
Because his function is that of the god of fire, he is also referred to as Ho-no-Yagisao-no-Kami, Ho-no-Kagabiko-no-Kami, or Ho-no-Kagutsuchi-no-Kami.
Sorcerers often give a new name to the Cursed Technique they develop based on their Innate Technique, which also counts as a type of Binding Vow.
Incantations, hand signs, and certain necessary activation conditions for some techniques are all indispensable components of a Cursed Technique.
Training in Cursed Techniques is the pursuit of the ultimate subtraction—that is, gradually simplifying the conditions for executing a technique until it can be activated instantly without even hand signs or incantations.
Just like Ryomen Sukuna, he can actually completely dispense with most conditions to instantly activate Cursed Techniques; it's just that adding conditions as a Binding Vow when executing a technique can still gradually increase the technique's power.
Didn't the Special Grade Cursed Spirit in front of him also never chant any incantations when using its Cursed Technique?
The reason why Emiya chose Kagutsuchi as the name for his Cursed Technique, besides the naturally occurring passive significance, was mainly to use the name of a deity to enhance the power of his technique, with psychological factors possibly contributing to the bonus.
Incidentally, Emiya had also read the manga Naruto, although the manga hadn't progressed very far at that time.
As Emiya swung the sword in his hand, the intensely burning black flames instantly covered the entire thorn patch.
The hard yet dry branches crackled loudly under the scorching flames, and the red, living-organism-like seeds also struggled painfully.
"How could this be?! My Cursed Technique should be able to absorb any form of Cursed Energy!"
Hanami was completely unable to understand why its Cursed Technique was being destroyed by the opponent; clearly, this flame should also be a special manifestation of Cursed Energy.
"What a coincidence, my Cursed Technique's effect is to return everything that is currently burning to its original form and gradually melt it.
But it looks like my Cursed Technique is clearly superior now!"
The outcome of a Cursed Technique clash depends not only on the intensity of Cursed Energy and the precision of the technique but also on the compatibility between the two, which is a significant influencing factor.
Between plants and fire, the latter clearly suppresses the former.
As the thorns blocking his way were gradually swept away by the flames, Emiya pressed forward, unequivocally bringing the flaming blade in his hand down on the enemy.
Tear—!
Hanami's previously proud defense lost all meaning under the blade, which was doubly enhanced by both magic and the Cursed Technique; Kanshou and Bakuya easily pierced its epidermis. Wielding the twin swords, Emiya quickly slashed at it several times before suddenly kicking it, forcing it to involuntarily put distance between them.
Hanami's body flew dozens of meters in the air before barely tumbling onto the ground.
At the same time, its damaged body was already covered with several gashes traversing its body.
No blood leaked out, because the pitch-black flames were still continuously burning at its wounds, enlarging the wounds while simultaneously suppressing the Cursed Spirit's exaggerated regenerative abilities.
It's not that Emiya didn't want to resolve the Cursed Spirit in one go, but conditions did not permit it.
Didn't I mention it before? The effect of Flame Release: Kagutsuchi is to return everything that is currently burning to its original form and melt it; even the Noble Phantasms in Emiya's own hands must naturally be included in this category.
His body would not be affected, but everything external would be.
It was fortunate that Emiya, who can endlessly project swords, obtained this Cursed Technique; otherwise, even if other sorcerers possessed such an ability, they would only be able to try fighting with their fists.
After all, no matter how rich they were, they couldn't withstand the consumption of having to replace a weapon every time they used the Cursed Technique.
As Emiya threw the nearly burned-out blade aside, Hanami struggled to support its body and stand up again.
"What a dangerous Cursed Technique.........."
The black flames were still burning on its body; just a few more attacks like that could easily deplete its body.
"Trace on."
Emiya, whose Cursed Technique's effect had been boosted by having explained its ability, chose not to continue conversing with the opponent and instead projected a new Kanshou and Bakuya into his hands.
"Not only does the Cursed Technique have unparalleled destructive power, but the weapons can also be materialized infinitely?!"
Seeing this scene, Hanami's eyes nearly popped out; Hanami who could also materialize vegetation out of thin air using Cursed Energy, naturally understood what kind of concept this was.
This meant that once it was cornered, it would be pressed to the ground and abused at will.
Facing this extremely disadvantageous situation, Hanami quickly made the judgment most beneficial to itself—
Run away!
Without any hesitation, Hanami immediately turned and ran into the forest behind it, this remarkably decisive action even stunned Emiya for a moment.
It just spoke of wanting to enjoy the battle, so why is it running for its life less than a few minutes later?
Of course, driving the Cursed Spirit directly out of the venue of this exchange event would be a good thing, but the students might not have all evacuated from the barrier yet, so how could Emiya allow this Cursed Spirit to leave his line of sight?
"Trace on!"
While chasing after the fleeing Cursed Spirit, Emiya also didn't forget to project several blades behind it, attempting to hinder the opponent's escape.
However, achieving such a thing in a forest was too difficult.
Not to mention the density of the trees, Hanami could still continuously manipulate its Cursed Technique to summon vegetation to block these incoming explosive projectiles; the number of blades that could truly reach its vicinity was negligible.
Smash—!
After several minutes of running and chasing, Hanami finally reached a relatively open area, where it leaped into the river flowing through the forest.
The rapid current swept over it, which, although unable to directly extinguish the special flames generated by the Cursed Technique, was enough to weaken them to the extent of slowing down its somewhat exaggerated recovery ability.
"The forest will indeed be swallowed by fire, but the ocean can also extinguish fire, right?
Once I'm here, your Cursed Technique will have difficulty working... and water is the source of life for the forest.
Whether in the forest or the water source, my power will be supported by the planet; I am different from humans who only cruelly plunder!"
It seemed that Hanami felt confident again.
It's just that this kind of language lacks the level of aggression even a temperamental individual like Jogo possesses.
The Cursed Spirits' verbal aggressiveness is still too low.
"Quite clever... but unfortunately, I never said this wasn't an advantageous terrain for me.
You're celebrating too early, Cursed Spirit."
"Trace—on!"
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