"The range of your Cursed Technique is only about twenty meters!"
"You must have used your full strength just now, so the maximum temperature you can control is probably around seven hundred degrees," Kenjaku said calmly, exuding confidence from start to finish.
Twitching her eyelids, Riko Amanai's heart pounded in vigilance. He had deduced her Cursed Technique after just a single exchange. This pressure felt exactly like facing Yuki-sensei.
"In that case..." Kenjaku's lips curved into a smile as he eyed Riko Amanai, "I just need to attack you from beyond twenty meters. Though I excel in close combat, my long-range strikes are no less dangerous."
Clapping his hands, he unleashed, "Blood Manipulation: Piercing Blood!"
A stream of blood shot toward Riko like a razor-sharp arrow.
[Star Sorrow: Heat Breath]
Riko immediately activated her Cursed Technique, and the searing air evaporated the incoming blood.
"Oh right, the boiling point of blood is only around a hundred degrees. Blood Manipulation won't work here!"
Kenjaku's wicked smile deepened as he realized her advantage. Stomping the ground, concrete shattered into jagged pieces. He kicked the debris toward Riko like a striker playing soccer. The stones flew like cannonballs, their kinetic energy horrifying.
Concrete's melting point was far higher than her Cursed Technique could manage. She had no choice but to dodge and look for a chance to get within twenty meters, the only range where her technique could inflict damage.
Kenjaku, cunning as ever, denied her that opportunity, kiting her with long-range strikes while draining her stamina.
(Based on the fanbook, Kenjaku's Taijutsu only falls behind Toji and Maki, on the same level as Shion Gojo—already absurd.)
Bang!
Exhausted, Riko was struck in the abdomen. Though her Cursed Energy blocked most of the blow, the force sent her crashing into a sedan, denting it.
"Pfft!"
Coughing blood, she lost consciousness. Kenjaku advanced with a smile but stopped a few steps in.
"What a cunning little girl. Planning to get me close so you can use your Cursed Technique, huh?"
Tch!
The seemingly unconscious Riko sprang up and lunged, successfully closing the distance.
"Hehe..."
Kenjaku laughed mockingly, thick Cursed Energy encasing him like armor. A simple temperature-based technique wouldn't touch him. He wanted to see her hope turn to despair.
But then, his pupils constricted. A chilling aura surged up his spine to his crown. Even the Kenjaku inside his mind shuddered.
[Star Sorrow: Absolute Zero]
Riko reached out, a cold sneer on her lips, unleashing her strongest technique. Though it lasted only a millisecond and required contact, Absolute Zero could freeze the opponent's body and thoughts, leaving them completely immobilized. One precise punch would shatter their head in that instant.
"Reverse Cursed Technique: Gravity!"
Riko's body suddenly grew heavy, movements sluggish. Kenjaku seized the chance to retreat, narrowly dodging her strike.
Seeing her so close yet powerless, despair surged in her heart. Just a little more…
Having dodged, Kenjaku panted, eyes wary. For the first time, this girl had threatened his life. Unthinkable.
Slowly, his smirk curled into manic laughter.
"Hahaha… So close! You almost killed me! Truly regrettable! To think someone as weak as you hid a Cursed Technique that could threaten me. Fascinating! Absolutely fascinating!"
"Thank you for your sacrifice. I'll be more careful next time, or an accident might really happen."
Kenjaku advanced, murderous intent visible. Pulling her out now would prevent a future threat.
But just as his hand rose to strike, a sphere shot toward him with a sonic boom.
Kenjaku crossed his arms, but the force sent him flying.
"The mass… so massive!" he muttered, lifting himself from the ruins, staring at his trembling hands.
"Riko, are you okay?"
Yuki Tsukumo stepped forward, supporting Riko, followed by Nanako and the others. Reinforcements had arrived.
"I'm fine, Master," Riko said shakily, giving Yuki a reassuring smile.
"Well done, my disciple," Yuki said, patting her head before glaring at Kenjaku. "Is it you, you old monster, bullying my disciple?"
The sphere disassembled into a strange mechanical insect—Yuki's shikigami, O-rin.
"Tch!" Kenjaku wiped blood from his mouth, eyes cold. "Just a Special Grade, that's all."
"Oh? What if there's another?"
Yuta Okkotsu stepped from the shadows, his Dojigiri Yasutsuna stained with Cursed Spirit blood.
Toji Fushiguro appeared leisurely, eyes sharp with battle intent.
Kenjaku froze.
"Hey, need some help, Kenjaku?"
Uraume appeared.
"Perfect timing," Kenjaku breathed, relief briefly flashing. "Go stall that woman. I'll deal with the other two."
Yuki turned to Riko. "Take Nanako and the others and leave. The coming battle is beyond your level—you won't be able to help."
"Understood," Riko said, leading the youngsters away.
The air thickened. Uraume and Yuki stepped aside, wordlessly engaging in combat.
[Star Rage: Herculean Strength]
[Ice Coagulation Cursed Technique: Frost Calm]
Kenjaku smirked at Yuta and Toji. "Well then… let's begin."
Bang!
Toji, former Sorcerer Killer, ignored martial ethics entirely. Before Kenjaku could finish, he was already in front of him, the Inverted Spear of Heaven slashing at high speed, drawing blood with each strike.
Kenjaku grunted.
You won't even let me speak, huh?
[Super Gravity]
Even Toji struggled under the sudden gravity increase. Kenjaku slammed a heavy punch into his face.
"Fall!"
Yuta's mouth glowed with runes. Suddenly, Kenjaku felt himself crushed by Super Gravity. His body distorted as he collapsed.
Bang!
Kenjaku hit the ground, limbs broken. Toji and Yuta attacked in sync, weapons slashing mercilessly.
[Blood Manipulation: Blood Star Cluster]
Blood exploded in attacks, temporarily forcing them back. Kenjaku rose, battered but recovering rapidly.
"Reverse Cursed Technique? That disgusting trick again?" Toji's eyes twitched.
Yuta steadied himself. "We kill this person today!"
"Kill me? Hahaha…" Kenjaku's laugh was manic. "You insects think you're worthy of me? You filthy Jujutsu Sorcerers are short-sighted, greedy fools! You can't comprehend what I'm creating! I am a god, a prophet, the architect of a new world!"
"Hmm?"
Kenjaku froze. "The boundary-breaking vajra… shattered?" Three reinforcements had returned. His sickly smile faded, replaced by cold calculation.
"Uraume, that's enough. Let's go!"
===
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