Yuta made a call to Kiyotaka and asked, "How are you doing in your colony? Anyone left that will kill others indiscriminately?"
"No one's left. It's fine over here."
Yuta nodded and said, "Alright. I'll call everyone else and then add a rule to allow players to move between colonies so we can all meet up and discuss our next move."
"That's fine. If communication over Kogane becomes insufficient and movement between colonies becomes necessary, then that should be helpful. Go ahead."
Yuta smiled as the call ended, saying, "But wow, Ayanokoji-Kun is really strong. He managed to pacify an entire colony on his own. He'll probably become stronger than me soon."
Ryu looked shocked, saying, "You're kidding."
Yuta shook his hand and said, "Back when we fought, if I hadn't called Rika, then he would have managed to kill me eventually. He's definitely stronger after talking with Tengen-sama now as well."
Ryu sighed, saying, "Hey! You're making me think I haven't actually had my dessert, Okkotsu. Shame on you."
Yuta laughed awkwardly and said, "Sorry. I'm just happy to see my friends becoming more and more amazing."
Ryu sighed, thinking, 'This guy seriously is a softy.'
Yuta made a call to Megumi, saying, "Fushiguro, how are you doing over there?"
Megumi sighed and said, "I'm fine. I'm exhausted, so I just need a day to rest. Okkotsu-Senpai... thank you."
"It's fine. I'll do my best to keep helping out."
The call ended as Yuta then called Hakari.
"Everything's fine over here, Okkotsu. Add the rule if you want."
He then called Maki, saying, "Are you doing alright over there, Maki-San?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. Noritsohi and I are doing fine over here. No big problems."
Yuta sighed, thinking, 'I'd like to check in on Tengen-sama, but... no one there is a player, so I can't contact them from within a colony.'
Yuta sighed and said, "Kogane, add a rule to allow players to freely enter and exit colonies."
"Processing... processing... processing..."
Ryu's Kogane came out and announced, "Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong! A player has added a new rule to the Culling Game. Rule 13: Players can move freely, enter and exit colonies."
Ryu sighed and said, "Now what, Okkotsu?"
"I'll go meet up with everyone. Try to stay out of trouble, okay?"
Ryu sighed, saying, "Yeah. Yeah. Yeah"
"Also, wear a coat. You'll catch a cold."
Yuta, as Ryu, laughed, and Yuta left, thinking back to his conversation with Uro.
[Uro stood there and said, "I've seen it. Be it a Sorcerer or a Cursed Spirit, those who surpass the bounds of being strong all have overwhelming egos. They don't concern themselves with other things. they're calamities."]
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Kiyotaka looked shocked as Shiro stood in front of him with markings, thinking, 'It can't be.'
[Shiro] smirked and said, "Yo, Ayanokoji."
Kiyotaka slowly opened his eyes to see Shiro standing in front of him without any injuries and markings running along his face as he said, "Yo. Ayanokoji."
"Sukuna!"
Sukuna smirked and said, "It turns out you have a better mug than this guy. I guess I'm losing out on that much at least. Does that make you feel better?"
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A Few Minutes Earlier
Kiyotaka stood there seeing Takuya off as he thought, 'I'll try to help the rest of you find peace as well.'
Then he heard a voice say, "Enchain," as his eyes closed
Sukuna took control and smirked, saying, "You're really interesting, Ayanokoji, but your body is a cage", as he imbued his essence into Kiyotaka's pinky finger and ripped it off.
Sukuna smiled and said, "Everything after this is just a wild gamble."
He walked over to Shiro, who was still unconscious and forced the severed finger down his throat.
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Kiyotaka checked his hand, seeing a missing pinky finger as he thought, 'I recovered in some manner after the fight with Jogo. I was never sure as to how, but... I did suspect Sukuna. I made plans to keep away from Fushiguro, whom I knew Sukuna had plans for as a countermeasure, but in the end, isn't this a much worse situation?'
"I thought you had some plans with Fushiguro."
Kiyotaka said this as Sukuna smirked and said, "I did, but... this kid's technique is interesting too. And he was vulnerable, so I took my chance."
"I see."
Kiyotaka said this as Sukuna sighed, saying, "Well then, let's see how fun a fight with you will be."
Kiyotaka got into a stance, thinking, 'I can't win this on my own. His strength is beyond me right now. Especially with Shiro's Cursed Technique at his disposal.'
Sukuna then said, "You copied my Cursed technique. You called it Slicing Mass, right? Let me show you the real thing."
Sukuna waved his hand as a cut appeared across Kiyotaka's chest, and he backed off, healing himself as Sukuna laughed, saying, "Oh wow. You're even more durable now, aren't you?"
Kiyotaka gritted his teeth, thinking, 'That cut is so deep. It stings. I can't use Reversal to avoid the slashes. If I do that, then he can Equalise while I'm in that state and after losing my Cursed Technique, I'll die on the spot.'
Sukuna looked to Kiyotaka, thinking, 'More durable than that Okkotsu brat. Probably better in that regard than anyone I've met or seen through your eyes, excluding Satoru Gojo. Probably.'
Sukuna rushed towards Kiyotaka, who lifted his hands, thinking, 'He's targeting me while I'm still healing?!!'
Sukuna grabbed Kiyotaka's arms, chanting, "Cleave."
His arms were cut off, only to heal back in as Kiyotaka thought, 'That move adjusts according to the opponent's durability, but if I focus on healing faster than the damage can cut me, I can reduce the damage.'
Sukuna looked surprised as he laughed gleefully, saying, "Looks like you're one of five who've survived a direct Cleave from me."
Kiyotaka looked to him, thinking, 'This is a losing battle, and he hasn't even used Shiro's Technique yet.'
Kiyotaka rushed in thinking, 'Don't let him...'
Sukuna then lifted his hand, chanting, "Dismantle", as a net of slashes blanketed over Kiyotaka, who felt the cuts but thought, 'Hold on, that should have hurt more' as he pushed through the pain and slammed his leg into Sukuna, sending him flying into a building.
Kiyotaka then called out, "Kogane! Send the message [I Need Help] to the player Rokusuke Koenji."
Kogane came out and said, "Sending... Sending... Sending..."
Kiyotaka then focused as he used Cursed Technique Reversal to make modifications to his body, thinking, 'I'll need everything I can get to stand a chance.'
Sukuna got out of the rubble, thinking, 'This Shiro kid. Is he actually managing to suppress me? Let me see. All the way down to 10% output. I'll only be able to give him papercuts at this point. I'll have to use that.'
Kiyotaka sweated thinking, 'Shiro is probably reducing his output. I need to take advantage!'
Kiyotaka jumped off the air towards Sukuna as the two went into an exchange of blows, as Sukuna began blocking his attacks with a smirk, thinking, 'Even if my output is lowered, my physical strength isn't.'
Sukuna slammed his fist into Kiyotaka's arms, whose eyes widened as he was sent flying through 3 buildings.
Kiyotaka got up, spitting some blood off to the side, thinking, 'Even a single attack like that can send me flying.'
Sukuna appeared in front of him with a smirk as Kiyotaka chanted, "Manifest", and several huge spikes appeared above Sukuna as one of them hit him and slammed him into the ground.
Kiyotaka took a breath, thinking, 'Alright, I've recovered from the hit.'
That's when Sukuna appeared behind him as Kiyotaka moved his arm and blocked the attack being sent into the ground as a crater formed, and Kiyotaka thought, 'I can't do it. Not like this. He'll just keep flinging me around like a ragdoll until my Reverse Cursed Technique overloads.'
Sukuna jumped off the air, landing in front of him and saying, "You survived another hit, Ayanokoji. I wasn't holding back either."
Sukuna stared at Kiyotaka, who was healing himself as Sukuna thought, 'His reaction time is better than almost everyone that I've met too. How fun.'
That's when Sukuna's eyes widened, and Koenji rushed in behind him, saying, "I didn't expect you to call upon my assistance, Ayanokoji-Boy. I shall grace you with my assistance!"
Kiyotaka's eyes sharpened, thinking, '2 vs 1. We can win this!' as he charged in as well.
Sukuna grinned, thinking, 'I can only equalise with one of them. I'll choose Ayanokoji and exclude Cursed Energy from the equalisation. This will be fun.'
Kiyotaka began exchanging blows with Sukuna, thinking, 'You can equalise all my other abilities all you want, but you can't equalise with my mental abilities or martial arts.'
Kiyotaka dodged and grabbed Sukuna's arm before throwing him towards Koenji.
Koenji launched a kick as Sukuna kicked off the air, jumping over it, thinking, 'He's as fast!'
Kiyotaka then chanted, "Manifest!" as many spikes formed and fired towards Sukuna, leaving a trail like a Gatling Gun as Sukuna ran up the wall, backflipping as he did for the fun of it.
Koenji ran up the wall, chasing Sukuna, and slammed his fist into him. Sukuna blocked it only to be sent flying up as he waved his hand, firing a dismantle that Koenji dodged and shouted, "That power is brilliant! Let's have some fun, Koenji Rokusuke!"
Kiyotaka appeared above him, saying, "Don't forget about me", axe-kicking Sukuna down towards Koenji, and saying, "Batter up, Koenji. Go for a home run!"
Koenji lined up Fluid staff shouting, "Gladly. Let me show you my majestic and beautiful strength!" and Koenji then slammed it at Sukuna, who blocked with his arms, which shattered as he was sent flying through three buildings.
Sukuna got up, healing himself, thinking, 'Those two are interesting. Koenji Rokusuke. He's probably worth 9 fingers. As for Ayanokoji. Probably 11. Right now, I'm at 15 fingers of my strength, even if the output of my Shrine is down to 10% thanks to this vessel. Thanks to this vessel's Cursed Technique, I've mitigated the disadvantage I've had to a point where I can win. Now my slashes can cut them properly.'
Kiyotaka rushed towards him as he dodged a slash, and he and Koenji began pressing him. Sukuna smirked, grabbing at Koenji only for Kiyotaka to throw up his leg, knocking Sukuna's hand away as Koenji slammed his fist into him, sending him flying through a building as Sukuna grinned, flipping himself mid-air to land on his feet as he let off a dismantle that both Kiyotaka and Koenji dodged.
Sukuna smirked as Kiyotaka and Koenji came at him from two sides, and he blocked both of their punches as a shockwave erupted from the impact and then disappeared, unleashing another dismantle as they both ducked before jumping off the ground and rushing towards Sukuna.
Kiyotaka slammed his fist into Sukuna, sending him through a wall as Sukuna grinned, shouting, "Let me have even more fun, you two!!!"
Sukuna crashed through another wall, being sent out of the building as he jumped off the air and started to run up the building, as both Kiyotaka and Koenji followed after him.
Sukuna aimed two dismantles at Koenji, who used the fluctuations in air pressure to dodge in mid air as Sukuna shouted, "You two are both truly magnificent!!!"
Sukuna ran up the building, casually dodging a Piercing Mass attack as he smiled with glee and stood on the roof as Kiyotaka and Koenji ran up, arriving there.
Sukuna smirked and said, "You two have truly given me such fun."
Koenji smiled and said, 'Why of course I have. I am a perfect existence after all. All else should fall to their knees before me."
Sukuna smiled as he pointed to Koenji and said, "I like you."
Koenji rushed in as Kiyotaka followed him. The two started to overwhelm Sukuna, who thought, 'What fun but... that'll be the end of it.'
He slammed his leg into Kiyotaka, sending him through the roof and down through several floors as the building began to collapse, while thinking, 'No one left to cover for him.'
Sukuna smirked and said, "Let's have a taste."
Keonji ran forward, thrusting Fluid Staff at Sukuna, who disappeared from sight and appeared behind Koenji, taking a bow as he chanted, "Cleave."
Blood burst out from Koenji as he fell to the floor, unconscious, and Sukuna laughed, saying, "Still alive? You're one of six, then! Not on the same level as Ayanokoji in terms of durability and healing through, are you? That's why you're unconscious. I wonder if you'll stay alive long enough to maintain that 6th spot."
Kiyotaka rushed up the building and chanted, "Manifest!" as Patient Edge appeared in his hand, and he drew it from its sheath and slashed the ceiling to the roof.
Sukuna jumped up, dodging it, laughing as he said, "Not bad, Ayanokoji!"
Kiyotaka began using Reverse Cursed Technique Output on Koenji, saying, "Come on. Wake up."
Sukuna smirked and said, "That Cleave almost killed him, you know. He won't be getting up so easily."
Kiyotaka clicked his tongue and then... he heard it.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Heat Return!"
The flames burst out at Sukuna, who jumped back, thinking, 'Oh? Someone wants to play with fire?'
Sakurako Yuki arrived asking, "Is that Shiro? What are those markings, and why is he attacking you and Koenji?"
"He's possessed by an ancient Sorcerer named Ryomen Sukuna."
Yuki's eyes widened as she bit her lip and said, "Let me handle Koenji. I'll take him to the infirmary and come back soon."
Kiyotaka nodded, handing him off to her as she rushed off using bursts of flame from her feet to carefully lower herself to the ground before breaking off in a sprint towards the Infirmary.
Kiyotaka rushed forward towards Sukuna, dodging slashes as he thought, 'Come on. Survive!'
Sukuna smirked, allowing Kiyotaka to hit him as Kiyotaka slammed his fist into Sukuna and Sukuna jumped back, saying, "Just me and you now, Ayanokoji."
Kiyotaka sweated thinking, 'I can't beat him on my own. I have to find a way to counter Shiro's Technique. Not so that I can win but so that Gojo-Sensei can.'
Sukuna smirked and chanted, "Maximum Technique: Technique Equalisation."
Kiyotaka expected to completely lose grip of his technique, but he found something strange, thinking, 'He's not trying to shred me with Dismantle or Cleave? He could definitely do that if he wanted to. Why is he doing that? Wait, all this time I've been seeing fluctuations in his cursed Energy. Is it difficult to use two Cursed Techniques simultaneously? I see. Using one lowers the output of the other.'
Sukuna smirked, thinking, 'He's already figured it out, huh?'
Kiyotaka looked to Sukuna, thinking, 'The drawback of the technique is usually that you have to rely purely on physical abilities and Jujutsu, but in Sukuna's case, it's lowered output for Dismantle and Cleave.'
Sukuna smirked and asked, "Well, gonna make a move?"
Kiyotaka took a stance as white energy surrounded him, and Sukuna thought, 'I can't see it, but he's probably using that thing he used against that Takuya brat.'
Kiyotaka rushed forward towards Sukuna as they went into an exchange, and Kiyotaka slammed his fist into Sukuna's jaw as he was sent flying up, crashing through a building as Kiyotaka took a stance, chanting, "White Domain: Acceleration Room" as he jumped up after Sukuna, and they went into a mid-air exchange, crashing throug through the room as Sukuna grabbed Kiyotaka's arm, cutting it off with a Claave and then slamming his leg into Kiyotaka, who blocked with his reamining arm as he was sent flying back down through the building as it began collapsing.
Sukuna appeared on the ground thinking, 'That's not enough to take you down, is it?'
Kiyotaka got up out of the rubble as his arm healed and he thought, 'I'm down to 40% of my reserves, and I haven't dealt a single meaningful attack. I don't think Yuki will be making it back. Maybe she's been caught up in dealing with something else?'
Kiyotaka sighed, thinking, 'He knows all my tricks, so I'll just have to invent a new one. Right now, I can feel my Cursed technique, which means one of the conditions for Equalisation is being able to perceive your opponent with one of your five senses. Awareness of your opponent. I think that what's important.'
Kiyotaka prepared something and then walked out of the building and into Sukuna's view, who called out saying, "You're doing well, Ayanokoji, but you'll be running low on steam soon enough."
Kiyotaka looked at him, thinking, 'I don't think his reserves have dropped that much at all. There's barely any change in his Cursed Energy at all.'
Kiyotaka rushed towards Sukuna, matching fists with him when Kiyotaka landed a punch on Sukuna's chest, and a piercing effect triggered, making Sukuna think, 'His cursed Technique is active? That's impossible!'
Kiyotaka slammed his fist into Sukuna's side, pushing him back as Sukuna laughed, shouting, "I don't know how you managed it, but you're surprising me yet again, Ayanokoji!"
Sukune let out a slashing attack as Kiyotaka threw up his arms, and mass appeared between the slash and his arms, blocking it.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had created an autonomous Shikigami shaped like a white snake that was imbued with his Cursed Technique, allowing for the remote use of his technique through it. Since it did not have mass, it was invisible via Kiyotaka's Cursed Energy Trait, but could be converted into visible mass on command. However, the Shikigami cannot perform Mass Sorcery's Maximum or Reversal Techniques and must be within a 10-meter radius of Kiyotaka to function properly. If it is destroyed, Kiyotaka will not be able to summon it again for 24 hours.
Kiyotaka jumped into the air in quick succession, arriving behind Sukuna, who thought, 'Even I can't do it in such quick succession. He's uniquely talented in that regard due to using Kinetic Anchor.'
Kiyotaka charged Cursed Energy into his hand and slammed it into Sukuna as Black Sparks flew, making Kiyotaka think, 'That light-headedness is back! Now, I can perform at 120% of my abilities!'
Sukuna swung his arm back, unleashing a dismantle as Kiyotaka dodged it and slammed his fist into Sukuna again as Black Sparks flew, and Sukuna thought, 'Two in a row?'
Sukuna slammed his fist into Kiyotaka, who coughed up blood as he was impacted onto the ground, but he swung his leg up, slamming it into Sukuna's side as Black Sparks flew, and Sukuna jumped back, saying, "Three in a row! Not bad, Ayanokoji!"
Kiyotaka got up, rushing at Sukuna, thinking, 'This feels so amazing! It's as if someone is blessing me so that I'll win!' as he slammed his foot into Sukuna, sending him flying back.
Kiyotaka rushed forward, thinking, 'I can win! I can win!'
"Domain Expansion: Malevelent Shrine"
Sukuna said this as he made the hand signs, and Kiyotaka sweated, thinking, 'Winning a Domain Clash is impossible. I can't win. Focus on surviving! Focus on surviving! Focus on surviving!' as he dismissed his Shikigami before it could be torn to shreds.
The slashes rained down on Kiyotaka, who focused everything on the Reverse Cursed Technique healing through Sukuna's slashes, thinking, 'These are [Cleaves]. If I lose focus, he'll cut me in half'
Kiyotaka gritted his teeth as Sukuna smirked, thinking, 'He's getting better and better at the Reverse Cursed Technique. How fun.'
Kiyotaka panted in exhaustion, thinking, 'If not for those Black Flashes enhancing my state of mind, I'd already be dead.'
Kiyotaka stood there as he thought, 'I've lost so much Cursed Energy. I don't have much left. About...30%. I'm... exhausted.'
Kiyotaka fell backwards, and the domain barrier fell as his eyes closed and he lay there defeated but alive, as Sukuna smirked and said, "Not bad. I had some fun."
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Chapter?
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