Stealing Home
This is perhaps the third time this topic has been mentioned, Domain Expansion.
However, regardless of whether it's Open Domain —if two domains exist that are identical in terms of their properties, Cursed Energy, name, Barrier Technique, and Cursed Technique —then...
The two domains will be compatible and will not "neutralize" either side. Consequently, both people in the domain will lose the guaranteed hit effect because "I" have two people.
The simultaneous collision of the two pieces of water from the Eight Fixed Waters led Xuan and Kenjaku to arrive at this answer at the same time.
However, there are also differences.
Xuan floated in mid-air, looking at the Shrine composed of several Ten Shadows Technique Shikigami, and then at "Kenjaku".
"Four."
Before Kenjaku could react, several large holes appeared on his body. The shadowy Xuan twisted his body, his black rapier transforming into a long hammer.
Clang!!!
"Five--"
The long hammer swung and slammed into Kenjaku's head. The shockwave reverberated through Kenjaku's brain. As Kenjaku flew out, he twisted his body and raised his hand towards Xuan, who immediately raised his hand as well.
"Dragon Scales, Recoil, Paired Shooting Stars."*2
The two chanted incantations simultaneously, and as they had anticipated, the two slashes did not strike each other, but instead attacked each other's Shrine.
Then, almost simultaneously, both of them summoned the Sword of Extermination.
sieve...
The slashes launched by the Mahoraga who had adapted to the domain lost their effect in the hands of their respective Mahoraga, and the Cursed Energy shattered like bubbles in the sky.
After concluding that even going to great lengths to destroy the domain would be of little use, Xuan and Kenjaku acted simultaneously.
In the instant he received the attack, Xuan's body had already arrived in front of Kenjaku after the strike, while Kenjaku raised his arm—black Cursed Energy enveloped him as he passively defended himself.
The giant sword, whistling through the air, nearly pierced through Kenjaku's shoulder. Kenjaku immediately grabbed the blade, trying to stop it from cutting into his flesh, but Xuan continued to press down with force, his muscles swelling with increased Cursed Energy. The sword pressed down on Kenjaku, almost crushing him completely, while the blade sliced through Kenjaku's flesh.
The Great Sword's blade, imbued with power, slashed directly at the core of Kenjaku's Cursed Energy.
Kenjaku's face was contorted with pain, and just as he was about to be sliced apart diagonally from the shoulder, he instantly turned into light and flashed to the side.
"... Regarding injuries to the soul...?"
After escaping, Kenjaku and Round Deer's Reverse Cursed Technique also began to take effect. The burning pain from the Great Sword pressing down was imprinted on his shoulder. Following the Reverse Cursed Technique, Kenjaku's Idle Transfiguration also reunited their souls.
"Six, Avici Wails."
His dark golden eyes were filled with provocation and amusement.
"Kenjaku, your strength is even inferior to Ryu Ishigori..."
"After all, I'm not exactly a very strong person --"
As he stood up, Kenjaku flicked his finger at Xuan, a beam of light brushing against Xuan's slightly tilted cheek.
"Your technique is very crude. It's like you're using Sukuna's hand gestures to charge up a release during a fight against Sukuna."
As he spoke, Xuan's figure disappeared again.
Kenjaku immediately raised his hand to defend, black shadows condensed on his chest and arms, forming layers of defense. But then, Kenjaku was pulled towards the barrier of the Tombs of the Star Corridor.
The shadow-formed Cursed Energy knight's Spear pierced through Kenjaku's defenses in an instant, pinning him to the barrier. Xuan raised one hand and punched Kenjaku in the face.
"Seven, two remain."
Accompanied by words that sounded like a mysterious announcement, Kenjaku immediately raised his arm to block.
Bang bang bang
What followed was a barrage of punches. Kenjaku was being struck at will, and she gradually got used to the pain. With the final impact of the punches, Xuan also slid several steps on the ground, gripping his Spear.
Snap!
Sieve!
The moment Xuan stopped, he swung the Long Whip in his hand.
The Cursed Energy Long Whip snapped in mid-air with a crackling sound, accompanied by the whistling of wind being cut.
Kenjaku, supporting himself against the barrier, slowly stood up.
"You really are powerful... I originally thought you were only powerful because of your physical body, but after taking control of this body, my plans have completely deviated from what I intended."
"You don't have the ability to predict the future, do you? If things were to develop according to your wishes, then the world would be in chaos."
"Xuan, do you still remember the plans I told you about before?"
"The Great Cursed Spirit?"
"Exactly."
"What's the point of saying all that now—do you expect me to show mercy to the guy who stole my body?"
Kenjaku staggered, panting heavily. The wounds on his body were no longer healing quickly, but were slowly recovering as Kenjaku underwent Idle Transfiguration.
"You've defeated Sukuna. Now, as long as you keep the Culling Game Culling Game barrier, you can perfectly break free from my Binding Vow, right?"
Kenjaku clenched his chest, the pain affecting his brain's secretions. Accompanied by the pounding of his heart, the constant release of dopamine put him in a state of extreme excitement.
Or rather, the part that was revealed after being partially assimilated by Xuan's body.
"So, for the sake of the plan, I tampered with some things inside the Back of the Prison Realm."
Kenjaku grinned.
"You, Sukuna, and Satoru Gojo, the three of you are all dangerous 'variables' for the Great Cursed Spirit Project. It's alright to tell you now."
What exactly are you trying to say?
Xuan's relaxed expression froze. He was now a little confused. What exactly did Kenjaku want to say?
"In order to break the Mahoraga's magic seal on you, I have been constantly changing bodies and searching for new Cursed Technique, so I Innate Technique —and some time ago, I acquired a body with a very novel Cursed Technique."
Kenjaku stood up, his wounds healing as the white smoke dissipated, while Xuan gripped his Long Whip, ready to strike at any moment.
"This Cursed Technique can simulate the future and select specific scenes from it to transmit."
Kenjaku straightened up, and Xuan looked at that familiar face and revealed a smile that he would never normally show.
"You seem just as interested as you were five hundred years ago, but... let's leave it at that. Revealing the whole plan would be too arrogant of me."
"Snort."
Snap!
The Long Whip immediately extended, Kenjaku raised his hand to block the attack. But the moment it struck his arm, which was enveloped in dark Cursed Energy, Xuan twisted his arm, Long Whip wrapped around Kenjaku's neck. With a sudden pull, Kenjaku appeared in front of Xuan.
"Eight, one left."
Xuan casually kicked out, and wings instantly appeared on his back. Accompanied by black lightning, Xuan appeared behind Kenjaku —the blade of the scythe, with a designated slash, dug an extremely long rift behind Kenjaku.
"Nine, complete."
In Xuan's hand, the scythe was instantly spun into a circle, and Kenjaku, who had been attacked multiple times, was now restored by Mahoraga —but because his soul had been damaged, his Reverse Cursed Technique could not effectively repair it.
"Scattered and fragmented."
Xuan uttered the last word, and the restrained Cursed Tool finally returned all its power to Xuan. Xuan then raised his head and looked down at his past self once again.
"I don't know if you want to tell me or not, but..."
The Caduceus kept changing, eventually transforming back into the weapon most suitable for Xuan: a giant shadow scythe.
"I will try my best to spare your breath, then take out all the words you left in your mouth, and send you to reincarnation."
"I'm really looking forward to it..."
Kenjaku stood up. Although he could indeed find Xuan Dui's application of the Reverse Cursed Technique in his memory, in the current situation, if he were to lose focus, Kenjaku would definitely be killed by the continuous attacks of the scythe.
Therefore, he could only barely repair himself by relying on the Idle Transfiguration and the Reverse Cursed Technique.
"Truly worthy of being the man who defeated Sukuna..." thought Kenjaku, his eyes fixed on Gen's body as he slowly moved his feet.
Fortunately, he had already sensed that the Choso guarding Tengen's main body was at a disadvantage in the fierce battle. If he could stall for a little longer, "Suguru Geto" should be able to successfully subdue Tengen using the Cursed Spirit Manipulation.
As long as you dodge--
Just as he was thinking this, the scythe pierced his chest, tearing a huge gash across his body as if ripping through space.
"So, shall we begin?"