"Technique Release: Mythical Beast Amber!"
This was Hajime Kashimo's final trump card—the ultimate realization of his innate technique. In this state, his physical prowess and cursed energy manipulation reached a plane of existence that transcended human limits, allowing him to convert his very flesh into manifestations of electrical phenomena.
But the price was absolute. By invoking this form, Kashimo had set his life on a countdown. Once the technique flickered out, his physical body would crumble into ash.
He had intended to save this final dance for Sukuna, the undisputed King of Curses. But Suguru Geto had proven himself a worthy partner for this suicidal waltz.
"That's it! Come on! Show me how you dance!"
Kashimo roared, lunging forward with blinding speed. His mouth, now resembling a biological cannon, fired a terrifying bolt of concentrated lightning. The projectile traveled so fast it seemed to ignore the concept of distance, appearing instantly before Geto's eyes.
One of the Jogo puppets threw itself into the path of the bolt, knocking Geto aside just in time. The impact didn't just destroy the puppet; it punched a hole through several apartment complexes behind them, leaving behind nothing but glowing red slag and molten iron.
"This destructive power... it's comparable to a Hollow Purple," Geto murmured, his eyes widening as the world turned black for a split second.
Kashimo, his physical attributes amplified beyond comprehension, was suddenly inches from Geto's face. Massive amounts of cursed energy gathered in his throat, preparing another blast. It felt like staring down the barrel of a rocket launcher from half a meter away.
The two remaining Jogo puppets rushed to intercept, but they were pulverized instantly. The lightning bolt, barely slowed by the sacrifice, continued its path toward Geto.
"Domain Expansion: All-Encompassing Forest!"
Shadows flooded the world like rising ink, swallowing the light and the lightning. In a heartbeat, Kashimo found himself standing in a vast, alien dimension.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
A throne rose slowly from the darkness. Geto sat upon it, looking down like a monarch surveying a lowly subject.
"That technique of yours is impressive," Geto admitted, his voice echoing through the void. "I don't have a single move that can match that raw output, so I think I'll settle for winning with sheer numbers."
Geto snapped his fingers. The black water at Kashimo's feet began to writhe and reshape itself, giving birth to scores of high-level cursed spirits.
"With these?" Kashimo sneered. His mouth became a gatling gun of electricity, firing smaller but more frequent bolts of lightning.
Cursed spirits were torn apart by the dozens. Yet, within the domain, Geto could manifest them faster than Kashimo could kill them. As the stalemate dragged on, Kashimo noticed his own limbs beginning to fray—his body was already starting to dissolve.
Out of a sense of warrior's respect, Geto refrained from using the domain's "guaranteed-hit" effect to end the fight instantly. He waited, expecting his opponent to expand his own domain for a final showdown.
But as seconds turned to minutes, Geto's brow furrowed in confusion. Why wasn't he countering?
"Hey!" Geto called out, his voice sharp. "Your body is falling apart. Are you really not going to open your domain and fight me properly? Are you looking down on me?"
Kashimo froze. "...?"
It wasn't that he didn't want to. He simply couldn't.
Modern domains focused on the "guaranteed-kill" factor, whereas ancient ones prioritized the "guaranteed-hit." Since Kashimo's technique already possessed a natural hit-rate, he had always viewed domains as a redundant waste of energy. He was a creature of raw stats, but in this era four hundred years later, his lack of refined "mechanics" had finally become a fatal flaw.
"What's wrong? Still no domain? Are you just trying to waste time?"
"Waste my ass! I don't know how to do it!" Kashimo's furious retort left Geto momentarily stunned.
"You... you don't know how to expand a domain?"
"No! If I did, do you think I'd be saving it for my funeral?!"
"..."
Geto raised his right hand, a massive, swirling vortex appearing above his head. "In that case... goodbye. Honestly, excluding the lack of a domain, you were quite strong."
"Maximum: Uzumaki!"
The ultra-high-density cluster of cursed energy vanished from Geto's palm and reappeared directly in front of Kashimo.
BOOM!!!
The black shell of the domain dissipated. Geto stood over Kashimo, whose lower half had completely vanished. His arms and torso were turning to gray dust, drifting away in the wind.
But Kashimo was smiling. A look of pure, unadulterated satisfaction.
"So this is what it feels like to lose?"
He looked up at Geto. The sun caught Geto's silhouette, casting a long shadow over the dying warrior.
"It's... beautiful..."
With a soft sigh, Kashimo's head dissolved into ash.
Geto exhaled, stretching his aching joints. "Well, that's that. Time to go meet up with Souma. I wonder what the legendary Sukuna actually looks like in person..."
"SUGURU GETO!!! HELP!!!"
The sudden, desperate scream made Geto spin around. He saw a ragged, blood-soaked Toji Fushiguro sprinting between buildings with a level of frantic urgency that seemed impossible for the "Sorcerer Killer."
Behind him, a colossal, monstrous entity let out a roar that shook the very air.
Geto jumped behind Toji, throwing a full-power punch at the pursuer.
BANG!!!
"...?"
Geto was sent flying backward, spinning through the air several times before sticking the landing. "What the hell is that thing?"
Toji panted, his eyes never leaving the monster. "The strongest shikigami of the Ten Shadows: Mahoraga. It has the ability to adapt to any and all phenomena!"
"During the fight, it adapted to my physical combat. Now, its martial arts skills are at least on my level!"
"You couldn't have mentioned that earlier?!" Geto snapped, rolling his eyes.
He said its martial arts are on par with Toji's, and here I am trying to punch it like an idiot! I might be a 'Melee Mage,' but I'm still a Mage!
"Cursed Spirit Manipulation: Rainbow Dragon!"
The dragon roared as it lunged at the beast. Mahoraga's right arm extended, the Sword of Extermination glinting in the light. With a single, casual swipe, the dragon began to writhe as if poisoned, dissolving into ash in an instant.
Toji blinked. "Oh, right. Forgot to mention: the Sword of Extermination is imbued with positive energy. Any cursed spirit it touches dies instantly."
Geto: "..."
This thing is a literal hard-counter to my entire existence.
He grabbed Toji by the collar. "Is there anything else you'd like to share? All of it. Right now!"
"Uh... it has insane regeneration and adaptation. You have to kill it in one shot with a move it hasn't experienced yet."
"Understood."
Geto held out his hand, his eyes glowing with resolve. "Maximum: Uzumaki!"
A concentrated beam of pure annihilation lanced out. In a blinding flash of light, Mahoraga was vaporized before it could turn the wheel.
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