In the ruined city, the heavy stench of blood filled the air.
Rivers of crimson spread, turning everything into a grotesque landscape.
Emperor Sutoku floated above it all, surrounded by an endless sea of blood.
Like Choso, he could convert Cursed Energy into blood and wield Blood Manipulation. The difference was overwhelming. His Cursed Energy was so vast it felt immeasurable.
That sheer volume created this hellish ocean.
When quantity reached such extremes, it became something else entirely. Within the raging tide of fresh blood, even a Special Grade Cursed Spirit would be destroyed instantly.
Yet this was only the beginning.
Sutoku's hollow eyes fixed on Geto Suguru as he slowly raised his hand.
"Blood Manipulation, Blood Army."
The blood around him began to condense, forming armored soldiers. In moments, a massive army stood before Geto.
One man creating an army, one man capable of destroying a nation. This was true Special Grade power.
This was the real potential of Blood Manipulation.
The reason the Kamo clan never reached this level was simple. None of them possessed enough Cursed Energy.
Just like the Limitless required the Six Eyes, and the Ten Shadows Technique needed Mahoraga to reach its peak, Blood Manipulation demanded overwhelming energy to reach its true form.
There was no such thing as a weak cursed technique, only limitations in those who used it.
"Kill!"
The blood army roared and surged forward like a flood. Cavalry charged as warhorses screamed. Wherever they passed, nothing remained.
Against such a tide, individual strength meant nothing.
Yet Geto Suguru only smiled.
"A battle like this?"
"Too bad you ran into me."
"Cursed Spirit Manipulation, Cursed Technique Reversal, Bestow."
He slammed his hand against the ground. Darkness spread like ink, forming a vast shadow beneath him.
From it, countless Cursed Spirits crawled out.
In an instant, another army was born.
Again, one man against the world.
Geto stood atop a flying pelican Cursed Spirit, rising into the sky as he looked down at Sutoku.
Sutoku looked back. His empty eyes ignited with something new, a spark of battle.
Across their armies, the two smiled like generals about to command war.
And then it began.
"Kill!"
"Roar!"
Both sides charged.
The collision was like two massive waves crashing together.
Flesh tore apart, blood splattered, soldiers and beasts fell endlessly. The battlefield turned into a grinding machine of death.
Ancient war unfolded in the ruins of a modern city.
Above it all, the two commanders moved.
Geto rode the pelican straight toward Sutoku. Sutoku leapt up to meet him without hesitation.
"Blood Manipulation, Blood Star Cluster!"
Blood condensed into a solid mass, forming a massive warhammer. Sutoku swung it down with crushing force.
Geto did not dodge.
Instead, he grinned wider.
"So you fight up close too."
He pulled out Yūun and met the attack head on.
Bang!
The clash echoed through the air.
The cursed tool proved superior. Sutoku's warhammer shattered instantly.
"Piercing Blood!"
Drops of blood shot forward like bullets. Geto summoned a squid-like Cursed Spirit to block them.
Then he struck back with Yūun, sending Sutoku flying. At the same time, Cursed Energy gathered in his palm.
"Maximum Technique, Vortex."
A concentrated blast of Cursed Energy pierced straight through Sutoku's body.
But before Geto could react, a terrifying surge of energy erupted.
The sea of blood began to converge.
It wrapped around Sutoku and expanded, forming a colossal figure nearly a hundred meters tall.
Its body was crimson, with a demonic face, a long nose, elegant robes, and massive wings that darkened the sky. A long sword hung at its waist.
"Cursed Technique Release, Blood Great Tengu."
Geto stared up at it.
"…Seriously?"
The Great Tengu drew its blade and slashed downward.
A massive arc of energy tore through the air, carrying a violent storm.
The pelican beneath Geto was split in two instantly.
The attack carved a massive trench across the الأرض, stretching for hundreds of meters.
"Cursed Spirit Manipulation, Rainbow Dragon."
Countless rainbow-colored dragons emerged from the shadows, merging into a single colossal dragon.
Geto stood atop its head, facing the towering Tengu.
The Tengu struck again, aiming to split the dragon in half.
"Jogo."
Geto summoned Jogo, sending it directly into the path of the attack.
Boom!
The explosion knocked the blade off course.
The Rainbow Dragon surged forward, wrapping itself tightly around the Tengu. Its jaws tore into one of the wings, ripping it clean off.
The two giants roared as they struggled, their power shaking the battlefield.
Geto moved swiftly between them, closing in on the Tengu's core.
"Maximum Technique, Vortex."
A blast tore through its chest.
Reaching inside, Geto dragged Sutoku out.
At once, the massive body began to wither. Without its core, the Blood Great Tengu collapsed into a flood of blood.
The Rainbow Dragon crushed Sutoku in its jaws, reducing him to nothing.
Below, the blood army vanished completely.
Geto cracked his neck.
"Looks like I won."
"Yes… it seems I lost."
Geto paused.
At the brink of death, Sutoku's eyes regained clarity.
"He woke up."
Sutoku smiled faintly.
"A final moment of clarity, perhaps. You are strong. It is an honor to face you at the end."
Geto nodded.
"The feeling is mutual. Fighting one of the four great vengeful spirits is not something I will forget."
"Vengeful spirit… right."
Sutoku seemed to recall something.
"Tell me… what became of the Emperor?"
Geto hesitated, then answered.
"The current Emperor, Naruhito, along with Prince Fumihito and over thirty members of the imperial family, were assassinated by Kenjaku."
Sutoku froze.
Then he burst into laughter.
"Retribution… such sweet retribution!"
His laughter echoed as his body crumbled into dust, fading completely from existence.
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Patreon = _Zeph