Having received the recognition and protection of Satoru Gojo, the last shred of hesitation in Yuta Okkotsu's heart vanished into thin air.
He poured all his focus, will, and soul into the duel against one of the strongest vengeful spirits in Japanese history before him.
The jet-black grudge wrapping around Taira no Masakado was like physical armor, and every swing of that massive nodachi carried a screech that tore at the eardrums and a chill that sliced straight through the soul.
He did not rely on intricate Cursed Techniques, but rather fought using the killing instincts of a veteran warrior from a millennium ago, along with the nearly endless power of grudge gathered from the resentment and fury of countless samurai.
Each strike was heavy and powerful, enough to crumble mountains and split stones.
Yuta Okkotsu pushed his speed to the limit, coordinating with the massive body and violent power of the Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit—the Queen of Curses—that Rika helped construct, engaging in a life-or-death struggle.
"Rika, left flank!"
With a thought from Okkotsu, the Queen of Curses let out a sharp screech, her massive claws enveloped in overwhelming Cursed Energy, striking at Taira no Masakado's left side like a landslide.
At the same time, Okkotsu himself circled around from the right, his katana gathering highly compressed Cursed Energy to slash out a crescent-shaped blade aura.
Taira no Masakado roared, neither dodging nor parrying. With the fierce, unstoppable momentum of his nodachi, he slashed head-on at the Queen of Curses' claws, while his other hand condensed resentment into a demon-faced shield to take Okkotsu's strike head-on.
Boom! Clang!
Two loud noises erupted almost simultaneously.
The Queen of Curses was knocked backward, staggering, with deep, bone-visible wounds appearing on her claws, but the Cursed Energy surging at the wounds quickly repaired them.
Okkotsu's blade aura exploded against the demon-faced shield; although it didn't fully break the defense, it dimmed the resentment-forged shield significantly.
However, Taira no Masakado's counterattack followed. After tanking the attack, he moved like lightning, his nodachi tracing a bizarre arc that bypassed the Queen of Curses' defense to strike directly at Okkotsu's body.
Before the blade even arrived, the cold killing intent and grudge almost froze Okkotsu's soul.
"Yuta!"
In his mind, Rika's anxious call rang out. It wasn't through sound, but a tight connection on the soul level.
Under this life-or-death pressure, Yuta Okkotsu felt the "Infinite Cursed Energy" within him—which usually felt like a vast ocean that occasionally rippled and was difficult to fully control—as if a giant boulder had been thrown into it, stirring up unprecedented waves.
But this time, the waves did not spin out of control; instead, under the forced guidance of his will, they became more condensed and more obedient.
The vast Cursed Energy that once required deliberate guidance and control now seemed to become an extension of his limbs; wherever his mind went, the Cursed Energy flowed like an arm directing a finger.
"Haaah!"
Okkotsu's eyes flashed with intensity. He no longer retreated, but instead poured all of his newly realized, refined control over Cursed Energy into his katana.
The blade was instantly enveloped in a layer of thick, impenetrable black Cursed Energy. This blackness was incredibly deep, as if it could swallow even light.
He no longer pursued wide-range slashes, but instead condensed all his power into the tip of the blade.
"Rika, bind him!"
The Queen of Curses responded to Okkotsu's will. Regardless of her own injuries, her massive body suddenly surged forward. Countless black tentacles made of Cursed Energy shot out from her body like tough vines, wrapping layer upon layer around Taira no Masakado's body and his sword-wielding arm.
Taira no Masakado's movements suddenly stalled!
Now is the time!
Yuta Okkotsu followed his blade, man and sword seemingly becoming one, transforming into a bolt of black lightning that pierced directly into the center of Taira no Masakado's resentment armor, aiming for the pulsing, heart-like core of gathered resentment.
Taira no Masakado sensing the fatal threat, let out a heaven-shaking roar. The resentment surrounding him boiled as he tried to break free from the Queen of Curses' bindings.
The black tentacles shattered inch by inch, and the Queen of Curses let out a painful wail, but she held on tight, buying Okkotsu that crucial split second.
"Puchi—"
The blade, concentrated with all of Yuta Okkotsu's focus and his transformed Cursed Energy, pierced with pinpoint accuracy into that core of resentment!
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a violent reaction sound like a red-hot branding iron plunged into cold water.
Taira no Masakado's massive body stiffened suddenly. He looked down at the katana embedded in his chest, his crimson, frenzied eyes flickering violently. That millennium of resentment, unwillingness, and anger seemed to find an outlet, rushing madly along the blade toward Yuta Okkotsu.
"Yuta! Be careful!"
Rika exclaimed on the soul level.
Okkotsu grunted, feeling countless shards filled with negative emotions piercing his mind like ice picks, attempting to corrupt his soul and drag him into an endless abyss of resentment.
But he gritted his teeth, his eyes remaining firm.
He remembered the little moments of his peaceful life with Rika, the smiles of his friends, the trusting gaze of his teacher, Gojo, and even more so, his original intention as a Jujutsu Sorcerer—to protect others.
"I have felt your resentment!"
Okkotsu's voice echoed on the soul level, carrying an unquestionable clarity and firmness. "However, dwelling in the past and inflicting pain upon innocent people is by no means the right path!"
"Your era has ended! The future of this world will be protected by us!"
[Copy Cursed Technique • Jacob's Ladder]
Boom!
The infinite Cursed Energy within him erupted once again, but this time, it was no longer a brutal impact, but possessed a quality of purification and tolerance. Like warm sunlight dispersing haze, it forcibly pushed back and purified the millennium-old resentment that was trying to corrupt him!
Under the impact of Okkotsu's Cursed Energy, which contained his firm will and purification power, the core of gathered resentment within Taira no Masakado flickered violently like a candle in the wind, and finally—
"Crack..."
A slight cracking sound rang out, and the core of resentment shattered completely!
Taira no Masakado's massive body began to weather away like a sand sculpture, and the jet-black resentment turned into wisps of black smoke that rose and dissipated. The frenzied expression on his hideous face gradually calmed, eventually revealing a hint of indescribable, relief-like confusion, before completely vanishing into the air.
Ancient Vengeful Spirit—Taira no Masakado, exorcised!
"Ha... ha..."
Yuta Okkotsu knelt on one knee, supporting his body with his sword, gasping for air.
That last strike had nearly exhausted his focus and stamina.
The figure of the Queen of Curses also became much fainter, slowly merging into his shadow to recuperate.
Satoru Gojo's figure appeared instantly beside him and patted his shoulder, his tone carrying undisguised approval: "Well done, Yuta. You didn't just master your power; you conquered the fear and corruption within your heart."
"Now, you truly possess the capacity of a Special Grade Sorcerer."
Okkotsu raised his head, and although exhausted, his eyes were bright and firm: "Teacher, I can still fight."
"I know."
Satoru Gojo looked in another direction, where the battle between Fushiguro and Emperor Sutoku had also reached a fever pitch, with the roar of Mahoraga and the Curses of the sky-filling raven feathers intertwining. "However, it looks like they need a little 'encouragement' over there too."
He smiled and said to Okkotsu: "You adjust yourself first, then go support Fushiguro. As for me..."
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