King of Curses vs. King of Curses

In the very center of Shinjuku, amidst the ruins, stands a small white house that resembles an isolated island at sea.

At that moment, the owner of the cottage was sitting in his seat, admiring everything around him.

"It's December 24th... right?"

Bandages soaked in black blood bound Xuan tightly, revealing only his lifeless, dim golden eyes.

"Uh... yes."

The serpent nymph flapped its wings in the Sky Manipulation, its four eyes fixed on Sky Manipulation crows circling overhead.

"Gah... those surveillance cameras, shouldn't we just shoot them all down?"

"Just ignore it."

"Gah... Even so, those lowly sorcerers could never defeat you."

Xuan did not respond to Nue's words, but instead lowered his hand. Nue, having nowhere to roost, flapped its wings and took flight again, circling around the house.

Glug, glug.

"... Master Xuan."

Emerging from the black shadows, Mahoraga was kneeling before Xuan. Even though she wasn't particularly tall, she was now much larger than the skeletal Xuan.

"Oh... my dear Little Mo, may I dance with you before we begin the battle?"

Xuan's voice was weak, as if he might die at any moment, but Mahoraga did not agree to Xuan's request—instead, he turned his face slightly to the side.

"Let's dance together one last time after the battle is over."

"I'll look forward to it... As for now?"

Xuan nodded, then looked into the distance—after gazing for a while, he stood up, and a black shadow emerged from beside him.

"Let me up, Mahoraga."

"Yes."

Step, step.

Satoru Gojo and Ryomen Sukuna strolled through the streets of Shibuya, observing the extensive destruction caused by Sukuna and the massive meteorite left behind by the Jogo.

"If you want me to apologize, I won't... at least not now."

Sukuna looked at the streets along the way and Satoru Gojo walking ahead of him.

"After we finish this match, there's another one waiting for you, Sukuna."

At this moment, Ijichi followed behind, and faced with the conversation between the two the Strongest, he chose not to speak.

"But if you hold back because of this, we won't have another match."

"Well... I know that without you saying it."

After a few normal banter, Satoru Gojo put on his formal expression.

"Next, let's talk about the plan. We need to use Utahime Iori's Cursed Technique 'Independent Forbidden Zone' to enhance the effect of our Cursed Technique... Your solution will start first— Sukuna, you need to use your maximum output solution to ambush Zenin Xuan, and then withdraw from the battlefield as much as possible after two minutes."

"... To welcome you, Zi?"

"Right."

"Such powerful Cursed Energy is bound to leak out. Don't you think this sneak attack plan is incredibly foolish?"

"That's why I brought Ijichi."

"He?"

Sukuna glanced at Ijichi behind her, the "contempt" in her eyes falling on Ijichi's eyes, making the latter want to apologize again.

"Ijichi's Barrier Technique skills are the Strongest I can capture. We've tested them; they're undetectable within a kilometer, let alone five kilometers."

"Really? That's that Zenin Xuan."

Sukuna had doubts about the feasibility of the plan, but having come this far, he had no reason to object. The two chatted as they walked to the rooftop of the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel.

At that moment, Utahime Iori and Gakuganji, who were on the rooftop, also turned around and looked at Satoru Gojo.

"Let's get ready to begin."

With Satoru Gojo's command, Sukuna stood within the restricted area created by the Utahime. Then, to the "music" of Gakuganji and the "dance" of the Utahime, Sukuna began to perform his first complete Cursed Technique in a thousand years.

"Dragon Scales."

"Recoil."

Sukuna bent his legs slightly, one in front of the other, then crossed his palms together and rubbed them together, beginning to summon his Cursed Energy.

"Paired Shooting Stars."

As he alternated his feet, his hands suddenly parted, and the hand filled with Cursed Energy snapped shut, aiming at Xuan's location and raising his fingers.

"Untie."

With the surge in Cursed Energy brought by the isolated forbidden zone, coupled with complete Binding Vow —and the inability to obtain bonuses through complete Cursed Technique procedures in the future— Sukuna traded a 500% power release.

"Satoru Gojo."

The transparent slash, accompanied by overwhelming destructive power, was launched instantly, while Sukuna suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Satoru Gojo behind him.

"I'll stall him for a minute, then hide in the shadows to disrupt his shadow abilities. You must deliver an attack as effective as mine within a minute—or I'll kill you."

Having said that, as his slash tore through a large section of the city, Sukuna stomped his feet on the ground and, accompanied by an explosion of lightning, charged towards Shinjuku.

"Do you need to tell me?"

Watching Sukuna into the distance, Satoru Gojo chuckled twice.

"Utahime, sir."

"Ah."

The first time she was alone in the restricted area had taken a heavy toll, and the Utahime was taking a short rest. Upon hearing Satoru Gojo's words, she finished resting and nodded to Satoru Gojo.

Let's begin.

The slash that tore through space and the world was blocked by Mahoraga the moment it touched her. The immense Cursed Energy tore a bloody gash in Mahoraga's body, seemingly about to rip her apart at any moment. Just as she was about to be unable to withstand all the attacks that followed, Xuan Tan made his move.

Mahoraga and the other Shikigami fell to the ground and disappeared like water, while Jie was neutralized and made contact by the tsunami-like shadow he stirred up with his raised hand.

The moment the attack was easily neutralized, Sukuna also arrived on the battlefield—four eyes staring at Xuan's dim golden eyes.

tread--

With a light tap of his foot on the floor, Sukuna suddenly appeared in front of Xuan, unleashing a Cursed Energy- enhanced punch at him.

Boom!

A heavy thud suddenly erupted, and as the entire floor sank downwards, Xuan's seemingly frail body casually received Sukuna's attack.

"Nue·Hun."

Sukuna instinctively defended against the Lightning, but Xuan did not summon Lightning from anywhere to strike him. Instead, a black shadow poured out from the blocked part, covering Sukuna's arms. The tingling electric current that surged through him made Sukuna's hands tremble violently, shaking off Xuan's attack.

The shaken shadow instantly transformed into a small Nue, carrying electricity as it slammed towards Sukuna —the Nue summoned by the Expansion Cursed Technique launched this fierce attack at the cost of its life—

call--

Sukuna casually swung his hand, severing Nue's body in an instant. But then, Xuan lunged forward again, his hand, wrapped in black bandages, slapping Sukuna's arm.

"Divine Dog - Hun."

"Eight!"

The Cursed Energy activated simultaneously at the point of contact canceled each other out. Sukuna immediately stomped her feet on the ground and retreated sharply, raising one hand and slashing it in Xuan's direction.

The strike landed on Xuan's body, but was instantly absorbed and neutralized by the bandages on his body, causing him no damage whatsoever.

"Piercing Ox ·Hun."

"Piercing Ox!"

Upon hearing Xuan call out the name, Sukuna immediately summoned Piercing Ox. At the same time, the two bulls collided, and the explosive force instantly destroyed the original white house, turning it into ruins.

Sukuna looked at the half-crippled Piercing Ox lying in the Shikigami Space with astonishment and doubt, his feet planted on the ruined ground, his four eyes fixed on the unharmed Xuan in front of him.

is that so...?

According to Kenjaku, Zenin Xuan had learned how to inscribe the Mahoraga's seal on his body—but the seal inscribed under those circumstances would not be effective for long.

The bandage was inscribed with the magic seal of the Mahoraga and soaked in Curse blood, so it was covered with the marks of the Ten Shadows. Under these circumstances, his own Cursed Technique could not cause any damage.

"It's a pity, I still really liked that house."

A giant hand formed from shadows lifted Xuan and gently placed him on the ground. Then, a massive Piercing Ox Niu Hun, as large as a small mountain, appeared behind him.

"Gyuki, didn't I tell you not to exert force behind you?"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but to ensure you aren't injured by the impact of the heave, I couldn't control my speed any further."

"Well, you can talk to Little Mo about that later."

"Yes..."

Sukuna looked at this creature that resembled a bull but had human-like arms and was covered in gray-gold fur. Based on its abilities, he could tell that it was a combination of the Tiger Funeral and the Gyuki.

"Zenin Xuan... you and your Shikigami really have a deep brotherly bond."

"I don't think I need your evaluation; isn't that obvious enough?"

No objections to this name?

In this world's memories, this is the first time I've called out this name—based on my memories from the original world, Xuanben should be someone who deeply hates the Zenin Clan.

Maki Zenin -- No, that guy doesn't even exist in this world...

However, the Zenin Clan exists in the mind of Megumi Fushiguro in this world... and so do the Heavenly Restriction.

It looks like something terrible has happened.

Ryomen Sukuna didn't investigate further, but instead stomped his feet on the ground.

The magic seal of the Mahoraga and the things that the Mahoraga itself is adapted to exist independently. The upper limit of this defense is something that even my 500% counterattack just now could not damage.

Seeing the bandages slowly healing on Xuan's hand, Sukuna knew that these bandages, like those of the Mahoraga, had the characteristic of regenerating on their own if not destroyed by a single blow. Therefore...

As long as you successfully drag it out until you reach the Satoru Gojo, you'll be fine.

Based on this, the Zenin Xuan in front of him had never been used to being a "Malevolent Shrine," and...

That method was effective for Zenin Xuan.

Thinking this, Sukuna raised her hand.

"Domain Expansion."

"Domain Expansion."

Two seals were formed simultaneously. As always, Zenin Xuan's domain Domain Expansion. In the previous battle, he had not activated his domain because he only had 15 fingers and because activating his domain in the battle with Zenin Xuan would affect Satoru Gojo's performance.

In this world, no one else besides himself possesses Open Domain. Once the Open Domain is activated, half of his plan to influence Zenin Xuan will have been achieved.

"The Malevolent Shrine"

"Dark and Obscure Yama"

...?

The open domain barriers collided simultaneously. Unlike the surging, ocean-like Eight Fixed Waters, the moment Yama was unleashed, its spiderweb-like shadow threads swiftly suppressed Sukuna's Open Domain. Sukuna's eyes narrowed, and he immediately formed hand seals, beginning to maintain Malevolent Shrine's domain.

what happens?

In Sukuna's eyes, another figure appeared behind Zenin Xuan —it was Mahoraga.

So that's how it is—while fighting, he had Mahoraga increase the output of his domain barrier, expanding it to envelop my domain barrier, so the expanded barrier instantly covered mine...

What a pity, Zenin Xuan!!!

"Dragon Scales! Recoil, Paired Shooting Stars!"

Megumi Fushiguro's mouth opened from the side of Sukuna, and Sukuna immediately raised her hand—

"Untie!"

bass--

The slash that severed space struck Xuan and Mahoraga in an instant. In a flash, Jie tore Mahoraga's cloth strips, completely separating Xuan's upper and lower body—this was a move that Mahoraga had mastered during his special training with Satoru Gojo. With Mahoraga's help, Sukuna had also fully understood the principle behind this move.

The fully chanted slash instantly severed Xuan's waist and abdomen, but the opponent's Cursed Energy did not break at that moment. Instead, it immediately repaired the waist. At the same time, the wheel on the head of the separated Mahoraga spun, and his feet stepped into the air. The air exploded, instantly sending Mahoraga directly in front of Sukuna.

Snap!

Sukuna raised her hand and grasped the Sword of Extermination that emitted a white light, her arm reaching towards Mahoraga's waist.

"Eight"

The Cursed Energy erupting from his palm instantly spread across Mahoraga 'Mahoraga abdomen, severing him completely at the waist—but Mahoraga, with his waist severed, did not stop at all.

"Untie"

The instant Mahoraga uttered the incantation, Sukuna immediately turned his head, and the slash from the Sword of Extermination severed his left arm in an instant. Without hesitation, he immediately regenerated his left arm.

Troublesome... Does this guy know all of Zenin Xuan's techniques?

Suddenly, sticky flesh grew from the waist that had lost its connection and stuck to Mahoraga's body, while Mahoraga's attack immediately surged fiercely towards Sukuna.

Mahoraga's left fist suddenly swelled up, and he threw a hook punch straight at Sukuna's face. Sukuna dodged to the side and threw a hook punch at Mahoraga, followed by a straight kick that sent Mahoraga flying.

Then, Sukuna's slash and Mahoraga's slash shot towards each other at the same time, creating a large explosion of Cursed Energy in the air in a short moment.

Damn, he's really tough to deal with.

The spiderweb-like domain continued to encroach on Sukuna's domain, and at that moment, Sukuna unsurprisingly made a choice.

"Life Return, Three Realms Eye, Heavenly Thought of Scarlet."

Sukuna's body instantly transformed into a ball of light—to Xuan's astonishment, the ball of light flew towards him. After a brief delay, their domains shattered simultaneously, turning into countless Cursed Residue of Cursed Energy.