Chinese People Can Fly

[Rika] was the external cursed technique and cursed energy reserve left with Yuta Okkotsu after Rika Orimoto passed on. By connecting with Rika through his ring, Okkotsu could use the [Copy] technique, fully manifest Rika, and draw on the cursed energy she supplied. The connection could last for five minutes.

The [Cursed Speech] he had just used was a technique Yuta Okkotsu had copied from his friend Toge Inumaki.

"Boring? Perhaps. If you want to win, you have to use every means at your disposal."

Unmoved by Lu Yun's disappointment, Yuta Okkotsu considered how to defeat him.

He's just like Gojo-sensei.

Lu Yun's Elementalization and Satoru Gojo's Limitless could both practically be called absolute defenses.

The difference was that Limitless prevented attacks from ever reaching the sorcerer, while Lu Yun's Elementalization allowed attacks to hit him without causing damage.

To hurt Lu Yun, then, he couldn't focus on making his attacks land as he would against Satoru Gojo. He had to neutralize the technique's effect or annihilate the lightning itself.

"This is going to be troublesome."

Having identified the heart of the problem, Yuta Okkotsu felt a headache coming on.

Doesn't that mean even expanding my domain won't help against Lu Yun?

Satoru Gojo had destroyed all the cursed tools capable of neutralizing cursed techniques, and Cursed Speech could only cause minor interference against an opponent of comparable strength. There was probably only one way Okkotsu could hurt Lu Yun.

"Rika, cover me."

"Okay~"

Rika charged at Lu Yun first. Okkotsu lowered his body and quickly followed, using her massive frame to conceal his movements.

"Still struggling?"

As expected of Okkotsu, the legendary rank-climbing king. Even now, he won't concede and still wants to attack?

I acknowledge your dedication.

Lu Yun folded his arms, paying no heed to the approaching Rika and Okkotsu.

As far as Lu Yun was concerned, mastering Elementalization had already made him invincible.

He wasn't bragging. With his cursed energy reserves and efficiency, he could maintain elemental transformation for an entire day, provided he didn't use any large-scale skills.

Even if he stood there without moving, Okkotsu couldn't do anything to him.

But Okkotsu had interrupted his improvisation earlier, and the petty Lu Yun wasn't about to let him off so easily.

I have to make Okkotsu suffer a little!

If physical attacks won't work, I'll use magic.

"Eight-Foot Thunder Tomoe."

He spread his palms outward. Specks of lightning flickered, then instantly shot from his hands.

If charging up gets me interrupted, I'll fire without charging.

A dense barrage of lightning shells rained down, enveloping Okkotsu and Rika in the blink of an eye.

"You won't hurt Yuta!"

Facing the lightning projectiles that blotted out the sky, Rika leaped into the air and shielded Okkotsu, paying no heed to her own safety.

Though they lacked the terrifying power of his charged lightning cannon, with Lu Yun's current stats behind them, the Eight-Foot Thunder Tomoe still inflicted considerable damage. Every lightning tomoe had enough power to exorcise a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit.

The tomoe-shaped lightning projectiles slammed into Rika's massive shikigami body with a series of dull thuds, blasting her pale frame black.

Okkotsu couldn't help feeling guilty about leaving Rika to endure the lightning barrage alone:

"I'm sorry, Rika. It'll be over soon."

"I love you most of all!"

At Okkotsu's response, the shikigami Rika's aura surged further. A slit opened in her previously featureless forehead, and an enormous eye emerged from within.

The strengthened Rika met the endless stream of lightning tomoe head-on, swinging her arms to knock away every projectile that tried to approach Okkotsu.

Lu Yun scoffed:

"Making your shikigami take every attack for you? You womanizer!"

Yuta Okkotsu's expression didn't change:

"How rude. This is pure love."

With Rika covering him, Yuta Okkotsu quickly closed in on Lu Yun, completely unhindered by the lightning tomoe.

"Even if you get close, what can you do to me?"

Lu Yun remained unfazed, watching Yuta Okkotsu with interest instead.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Reaching Lu Yun, Okkotsu raised the black sword in his hand. A strange fluctuation surged from the palm gripping its hilt and enveloped the entire Samurai Sword.

All flash and no substance.

Right up until the cursed tool was about to strike him, Lu Yun maintained his dismissive attitude. Then Okkotsu brought both hands down, and the raised Samurai Sword drew closer and closer to Lu Yun's body.

The Thunder Beast Cloak covering his body was sliced open as though it offered no resistance at all. Lu Yun's pupils abruptly contracted.

How is that possible?!

Yes, rather than passing through it, the blade had cut a gap in it as though it were solid.

Instantly realizing something was wrong, Lu Yun jerked backward while deliberately dispersing the parts of his body within the sword's reach into scattered lightning.

With no body left to obstruct it, the sword slammed into the ground, its sharp blade leaving a cut half a meter deep.

The scattered lightning coalesced again. Still shaken, Lu Yun stared at Okkotsu as blood dripped from the arm he hadn't moved out of the way in time.

That was close. I almost screwed myself over.

Lu Yun hadn't expected Yuta Okkotsu to actually possess a way to hurt him.

What was that?

His gaze fixed on the sword in Okkotsu's hand as Lu Yun carefully sensed the fluctuations in cursed energy.

Okkotsu couldn't possibly have another cursed tool capable of neutralizing cursed techniques. The damage just now had to be connected to that fluctuation in cursed energy.

"Oh? Did I miss? You really are fast, Mr. Lu Yun."

Yuta Okkotsu wasn't discouraged by his failed strike. Seeing his attack work lifted his spirits, and he raised his sword into a ready stance again.

"That was Domain Amplification, wasn't it?"

Lu Yun suddenly asked.

Okkotsu smiled faintly:

"You figured it out already? You really are impressive, Mr. Lu Yun."

Indeed, the only means Yuta Okkotsu had of damaging Lu Yun was Domain Amplification.

Domain Amplification essentially coated the user's body or weapon in an empty domain without a cursed technique's effect. When an opponent's technique touched that layer, the domain neutralized it, rendering the opponent's technique ineffective.

Okkotsu had exploited precisely that principle, coating the Samurai Sword cursed tool in Domain Amplification to neutralize the Elementalization granted by Lu Yun's technique. That was how he had managed to hurt him.

However, Domain Amplification had its drawbacks too.

While using Domain Amplification, the user couldn't use their innate cursed technique and had to fight with Taijutsu, cursed energy manipulation, or weapons alone.

Once Lu Yun understood that, he instantly devised a countermeasure.

Isn't that simple? I just have to keep you from touching me.

Okkotsu charged forward with his sword again. Seeing this, Lu Yun turned into lightning and abruptly scattered.

This time, rather than retreating backward, left, or right, he flew straight up.

Under Lu Yun's control, his body, now entirely transformed into lightning, rose straight into the sky without the slightest sign of falling.

Below him, Yuta Okkotsu remained frozen in place, his figure growing smaller and smaller. Lu Yun couldn't help gloating:

"Dumbfounded, huh, Yuta Okkotsu? Chinese people can fly!"