So That's How It Is

The moment that special hand seal appeared, Xuan had already prepared his defenses. He kicked out with both feet, and the shadow that had just formed at his feet was kicked away. The black shadow pounced on Sukuna with four arms, while Xuan immediately left the location pointed to by the Uraume Domain.

As Xuan had expected, Sukuna planned to repeat his old trick—although it wasn't his plan, how could Xuan not be on guard?

But with the appearance of the Shrine, Xuan's expression changed.

Although she didn't directly destroy her own domain, the domain that Sukuna created—belonging to Uraume —was also open-ended.

What was originally a harmonious domain, like the yin and yang symbol, suddenly became a disadvantageous domain battle where Xuan was caught in the middle.

Chimera!

Xuan Meng shouted, and the shadow enveloping Sukuna dissipated with Sukuna's slash. The black shadow that was gathering was also kicked away by Sukuna.

Expansion Cursed Technique is a technique that allows Xuan to summon Limitless number of Shikigami by combining several Shikigami. However, the Expansion Cursed Technique of the Ten Shadows limits the durability of the Shikigami, and the Shikigami summoned by the Expansion Cursed Technique will result in a situation where 1+1<2.

Although his situation was precarious, Xuan's smile did not disappear as he watched the Chimera fly away—the two domains attacked his domain from both sides, and soon, his domain was on the verge of shattering.

"What a brilliant plan, Sukuna!"

"I don't need your praise, you brat!"

Piercing Ox.

After silently reciting the command, Xuan's body suddenly rammed into Sukuna —the domain, which was already on the verge of collapse under the combined attack of the two domains, exploded with a loud bang as Xuan's body crashed into Sukuna.

This explosion was not the Sukuna had anticipated; it was not the explosion of a single domain shattering.

It was a tremor caused by the shattering sound of the Cursed Energy from the simultaneous explosion of the two realms.

How is that possible?

Seeing Xuan's hand gripping his body from behind, Sukuna stared at the increasingly distant Uraume's domain. After a brief moment of thought, he understood.

At the instant Xuan accelerated and collided with him, his body was in a state where he could move between shadows. So, in that instant, their domains overlapped and exploded together—but!

"Ice Condensation Spell - Frostnagi".

"You're really careless!!! Zenin Xuan!!"

The instant he lost his domain, Sukuna's consciousness immediately sank—the face that appeared before Gen had transformed into Uraume's face.

Are these two souls so deeply intertwined?

Before Xuan could react, Sukuna, who had been clenching an ice-condensing spell in his palm, slapped Xuan's side, the biting cold instantly striking Xuan.

Xuan endured the ice-condensing spell, half of his waist was encased in ice and snow—and at that moment, the giant beast Xuan had just summoned, named Chimera, instantly appeared behind Sukuna.

"What?"

At the same time, the Trisolarans' attack violently tore off Sukuna's two arms, and the giant Great Serpent's jaws bit directly at the back of Sukuna's neck. However, before the Chimera could strike, Sukuna quickly turned around, and his remaining two hands instantly struck the Chimera's body.

The Chimera sent flying by Sukuna, crashing into the city and creating a huge cloud of gray dust.

Xuan broke free from the control he had just been under, Reverse Cursed Technique instantly healed the wounds on his waist and abdomen. Xuan clapped his hands repeatedly, and the three expansion Shikigami he had just released appeared beside him.

Expansion Cursed Technique: Chimera.

It is a strange creature with the body and head of Tiger Funeral, the head of Round Deer growing on its back, and the tail of Great Serpent.

Although it's a 1+1+1=2 creature, unlike Xuan's Cursed Technique, once summoned, the Chimera is Shikigami with its own self-circulating Cursed Energy.

Moreover, four can be summoned at once.

Although its combat power was only equivalent to a speed bump in the battle against Sukuna, this one alone was enough to give Hajime Kashimo, who had activated her Cursed Technique, a hard time.

"Zenin Xuan!! Are you afraid of me?!"

Of course, the speed bumps in this battle only apply to himself and Sukuna. As for whether Uraume's consciousness, which appears due to Sukuna's sinking consciousness, can quickly deal with him...

Obviously not.

Seeing Uraume holding the Cursed Energy from Sukuna but unable to disperse the Chimera with two punches, Xuan also revealed a smile on his face.

"Come and talk back to me when you can shatter the Expansion Cursed Technique with a single punch!"

There's really no reason not to be happy.

After trembling for a while, Uraume's Ice Condensation Spell finally brought the Chimera to the end of its mission—and accordingly.

Xuan's fist instantly struck Uraume's chest—with a muffled thud, Uraume, controlling her four-armed body, slammed into the Sendai ground.

"Chimera! Charge!"

With a roar from the Chimera, three more Chimera flew out from behind Uraume.

Xuan's body also made a dash in mid-air, flying towards Uraume.

In the instant they were close, Sukuna, who had just sunk into the depths of his consciousness, reappeared. As his four eyes resurfaced, one hand caught Xuan's incoming fist, while the remaining three grabbed three Chimera.

Bang!

With a loud bang, the hand that Sukuna used to catch Xuan's punch instantly exploded, but the remaining three hands grabbed the Chimera and slammed them down where Xuan was. As the three Chimera crashed into Xuan and exploded into pools of Cursed Energy, Sukuna also saw the pair of golden eyes that appeared in the shadows.

"Domain Expansion"

Sukuna stared in disbelief at Xuan Na's already closed index finger. As the hand seal was formed, an overwhelming Shadow Sea burst forth from Sukuna's eyes—and the instant the shadows touched Sukuna, he was dragged into the Shadow Sea.

Xuan's Cursed Technique Burnout time is almost 2/3 of Sukuna's —this often means that when the domains shatter simultaneously, Xuan's domain will unfold before the second domain clash.

The sea of black Cursed Energy completely enveloped Sukuna. Realizing the danger, Sukuna was unable to open his mouth because he kept swallowing the ' Eight Fixed Waters ' in his mouth. He used the Ice Condensation Curse, which could freeze the Shadow Sea of Cursed Energy.

"New Moon"

"Demon Hour"

Bass!!

Finally, Sukuna's Cursed Technique Burnout away—the slash cut through Xuan's body—interrupting Xuan's Chaos incantation, which was originally intended to beat the drowning dog.

"You're quite the fighter, Sukuna."

"How dare you speak to Sukuna like that?!"

"Shut up, Uraume."

"Yes..."

Sukuna stepped onto the Shadow Sea, which was enhanced by his own Cursed Energy, to prevent himself from falling in—he had lost 1/10 of his Cursed Energy shortly after falling in, although he was recovering rapidly now, if he stayed any longer...

He's going to die.

But now, Sukuna suddenly understood something.

"Ah... I see!!"

"Domain Expansion."

Sukuna looked at Xuan, who was suspended high in the air, and pressed the middle and index fingers of both hands together.

"The Malevolent Shrine."