Difference

Uro Takako's cursed technique could use "surfaces" to grasp the "sky."

By distorting and shattering space, it inflicted damage upon her enemies.

At least, that was how it worked before a domain was expanded.

The essence of Uro Takako's cursed technique, "Sky," was to soften or harden space, then apply force to that hardened or softened space.

A domain was a skill that could only be used once a sorcerer's understanding of their cursed technique had reached its pinnacle—expanding a domain granted a sure-hit effect to the technique.

After realizing that her cursed technique could not inflict significant damage on Xuan's body, Uro Takako immediately changed her strategy.

Originally, Blue Sky Horizon dealt damage by repeatedly launching Uro's Bullet while the opponent fell in a straight line, preventing them from retaliating during their descent and thereby swiftly defeating them or weakening their condition.

However, before expanding her domain, Uro Takako made a binding vow—at the cost of losing this domain's sure-hit effect, she greatly enhanced her ability to construct cursed techniques within the domain.

"Uro's Bullet!"

As Xuan surveyed his surroundings, half the sky above his head suddenly shattered. Along with the broken space, an immense force blasted toward him.

The force capable of shattering half the sky struck Xuan's body in an instant, pressing him downward.

As he accelerated at tremendous speed, Xuan could also feel the space beneath him condensing into shape again and again. This time, the force Uro Takako used to strike the space was the force acting upon Xuan himself.

Xuan's body smashed through hundreds of condensed spaces in succession. Uro Takako used the force directed at Xuan as the power to shatter space, using his body and that downward acceleration to fire hundreds of Uro's Bullets within three seconds.

Then, once again.

"Uro's Bullet!"

Once again, Uro Takako appeared behind Xuan.

As she swung both hands, the space behind Xuan abruptly shattered.

"That's what I'm saying."

With a wave of Xuan's hand, the black shadows formed by his projected cursed energy gathered into a black, pliant wall between himself and Uro Takako.

The force transmitted through Uro Takako's shattered space slammed into the wall. As all that force seeped into it, the shadow wall began to quiver like jelly.

"What?"

At the same moment, surprise appeared on Uro Takako's face.

An innate cursed technique could manifest in multiple ways, each entirely different from the others. That was completely possible.

Lightning, for instance, could manifest as super acceleration and the emission of electricity.

Uro Takako had seen people whose single cursed technique manifested in two utterly different combat styles.

Sukuna.

Just as Uro Takako hesitated and the shadow wall between them gradually dissipated with the loss of cursed energy—

"Better dodge."

"Dog: Release."

A third form of manifestation?

The instant she heard the voice, Uro Takako immediately dodged. Yet the whistling blade still severed her left leg in an instant. She winced in pain, then immediately pulled up the space around herself and concealed herself within the azure sky.

"Listen, I have important things to do... I can play with you for seven minutes at most."

Xuan beat his wings, flying upward at a speed equal to his descent.

Not even a scratch on him?

Hidden within space, Uro Takako operated her Reverse Cursed Technique while staring intently at the hovering Xuan—once he understood that this domain had no sure-hit technique, he had already deactivated Hollow Wicker Basket. The information advantage she held over him had been completely neutralized, while his advantage over her far exceeded anything she had imagined.

Lightning, shadows, and slashes similar to Sukuna's—

Was it from then?

Among shikigami users, quite a few could make binding vows and use their shikigami's techniques without summoning the shikigami itself.

Was he a shikigami user?

Lightning, flight, shadows, slashing attacks...

And that enormous bird that had only appeared for a few seconds, yet had blotted out the sky.

Was it the Ten Shadows Technique?

Could a Ten Shadows Sorcerer do something like this? Use Nue's abilities without summoning Nue...

That sniffing... could it have been Divine Dog?

And with that enormous amount of cursed energy... had the Zenin Clan produced such a powerful sorcerer?

"Uro's Bullet!"

Once again, the attack capable of shattering more than half the sky landed at Xuan's side—but before it struck, Uro Takako had already reached a conclusion.

From the moment she first appeared, Xuan's gaze had never once left her position.

"You can see me? You're not relying on scent?"

Watching Xuan casually block her attack once more, Uro Takako became completely certain that the man before her could "see" her.

"Pretty simple, right?"

Xuan looked at Uro Takako's fully healed wound.

"When you use the Reverse Cursed Technique, your cursed energy briefly conflicts with the cursed energy inside the domain. As long as I catch that instant of conflict, I can lock onto your position. Well—once I pinpoint that tiny incompatibility between you and the domain, I can determine where you are."

"You make it sound so easy!"

Xuan crossed his arms.

"After all, there's still a difference between people like you and people like me, isn't there?"

Uro Takako took a deep breath.

"What do you mean by that? Is this the contempt a clan-born sorcerer has for someone like me?"

An impatient expression appeared on Uro Takako's face, and the turbulent currents within the domain instantly calmed.

"What do you mean?"

"The technique you use—isn't it the Ten Shadows Technique? As the head of the Zenin Clan, how could you possibly understand someone like me?"

"Ha..."

"My strongest attack couldn't even scratch you—kill me or torture me, do as you please."

Looking at Uro Takako, who appeared ready to die without hesitation, Xuan could only make an expression that was hard to hold back.

"Although, under normal circumstances, a Ten Shadows Sorcerer would basically be guaranteed the position of Zenin Clan head... I'm the exception to that rule."

"Hm?"

"I wasn't born into the Zenin Clan, nor am I the head of the Zenin Clan—of course, I don't want to kill you either."

"Why?"

"Ha, are you asking why I'm not the head of the Zenin Clan? Well... probably because it sounded like too much trouble. Although I do have considerable strength and am a user of the Ten Shadows Technique, so theoretically I would indeed be the designated candidate for head of the Zenin Clan—but by the time I gained this much power, I no longer cared about the Zenin Clan."

"Even with power within your grasp?"

Uro Takako looked utterly incredulous—he clearly possessed strength that placed him above most people, as well as the right identity, yet he had brushed it all aside with a casual "too much trouble"?

"After all, I'm a rogue sorcerer. If I barged into the Zenin Clan recklessly, I might have to purge the current clan head, right? Then I'd have to bring in newcomers from my own faction. Besides, when I first made a name for myself, they couldn't even recognize the Ten Shadows Technique. I have no desire whatsoever to return and lead people that blind. Before I agreed to join the Culling Game at Kenjaku's invitation, they were still planning how to get rid of the Gojo Clan's Six Eyes."

Uro Takako's unusual eyes swept over Xuan.

"...You're right. We really are different."

As the turbulent currents in the sky gradually subsided, Uro Takako's barrier shattered as well—Xuan and Uro Takako slowly descended from midair.

Xuan came to a stop on the rooftop, his gaze sweeping over Uro Takako before he silently looked up at the sky.

"So, you really are an exhibitionist after all?"