Domain Expansion • Death-Bound Curse

With his cursed technique released, Hajime Kashimo truly lived up to the title of Thunder God. His entire body became a storm of cursed energy, and what followed would be a bloody slaughter. His supercharged brain told him it was time to unleash his superhuman strength.

Wonderful. I haven't felt this good in decades.

This is how a battle should be-utterly exhilarating.

Yet even with his overwhelming advantage, the Thunder God solemnly formed a hand seal against Xia Xia's Domain Expansion. As for why he did not counter with a Domain Expansion of his own-don't ask. That would be rude.

"I never expected you to be a jujutsu sorcerer of this caliber. Though I suppose it makes sense."

As Hajime Kashimo spoke, he cunningly stalled for time, carefully observing the domain gradually unfolding around him.

He had faced plenty of jujutsu sorcerers capable of Domain Expansion.

Hollow Wicker Basket could neutralize a domain's sure-hit effect to some extent. All he needed to do next was find a way to defeat his opponent inside the domain...

That was how the strong thought.

Come to think of it, why hasn't an offensive cursed technique come at me after all this time? Is this a rule-based domain, or something else? His barrier technique must be formidable. I can't let my guard down.

All right, let's observe a little longer.

Once I've built up enough power, I'll finish him in a single blow.

"Don't worry. My Domain Expansion has no actual means of attack, nor does it possess a sure-hit effect. In exchange, even if I die, this domain will destroy any opponent who isn't too far above my level along with me."

"When it ends, if I'm already dead, it will automatically use Cursed Execution on every surviving individual inside the domain."

Seeing his doubts, Xia Xia delivered those terrifying words with a smile. By revealing information as a binding vow, he further strengthened his domain and cursed technique.

[Domain Expansion • Death-Bound Curse]

"..."

Hajime Kashimo's thoughts ground to a halt.

The moment I entered this domain, I noticed three problems...

You're telling me this thing has no sure-hit effect and is just an octagonal cage? Did I activate Hollow Wicker Basket for nothing? No, your domain's sure-hit is a saturation strike after death. That means its sure-hit can't be neutralized.

What do you mean, a domain that keeps working after its sorcerer dies? And if you die, it directly uses Cursed Execution on any enemy who isn't too much stronger than you?

What a fascinating death-triggered skill set.

You're so young, yet instead of learning anything decent, all you do is commit atrocities. Even your domain is an ultimate move that takes everyone down with you?

"What exactly do you mean by using Cursed Execution on opponents who aren't too far above your level after you die?"

Despite his profound shock, Hajime Kashimo's thirst for knowledge drove him to ask.

"Isn't it obvious? After I die, the only way to escape Cursed Execution in my domain is to forcibly cancel it out with a Domain Expansion."

"Barrier techniques like Hollow Wicker Basket are completely useless. Trying to cheat your way through it is laughable."

"In other words, any weakling who can't use Domain Expansion is doomed to die from the moment he steps inside."

Xia Xia looked at him as though he were an idiot.

Got any more stupid questions?

Was Xia Xia's domain powerful?

No. At best, it could probably kill opponents around the level of an ordinary Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer. After all, every Special Grade could use Domain Expansion. Even Isshin, that "little prodigy" who could not last half an exchange against Hajime Kashimo, could do it.

Use this domain to use Cursed Execution on Hajime Kashimo?

What a joke. Even Xia Xia himself did not believe that.

Come on, man. A domain with Cursed Execution this lousy should theoretically be escapable by anyone at our level. I only activated it to squeeze in a little extra damage and make my record look better. I was worried you'd walk away without a scratch even after I died.

Yes, it was all about ceremony.

Hajime Kashimo answered him with silence.

But what if? I'm saying, what if? This is purely hypothetical, so don't read into it. I have a friend-really, just a friend-who can't use Domain Expansion, but he's still very strong. He's a Special Grade...

I'm asking whether this friend of mine would be doomed if he happened to enter your domain.

What if a Special Grade Sorcerer couldn't use Domain Expansion?

What if...

I'm done pretending. I'm a warrior, so I'll say it straight: who the fuck is this garbage domain specifically targeting?!

What if I could survive after using Mythical Beast Amber?

Unbelievable.

Hajime Kashimo was filled with conflicting emotions. He had activated Mythical Beast Amber and made a Death Binding Vow, so he would certainly die after this fight. Now there was no choice left to make—even without activating it, he would not survive.

He hated the feeling of being so thoroughly targeted.

"What are you standing around for? Fight!"

Seeing Hajime Kashimo standing there as though petrified, doing absolutely nothing, Xia Xia felt an inexplicable anger rise within him. He also recalled how Isshin had died.

New grudges piled onto old hatred. After briefly comparing everything that had happened, he concluded that Hajime Kashimo was looking down on him.

Damn it. I've already resolved to take him down with me, and I still can't do it? Am I really so weak that Hajime Kashimo won't even take me seriously?

Who do you think you're looking down on?!

Regardless of how strong I am, or whether I started with a despicable sneak attack, this is a fight to the death. At least take me seriously!

You might once have been the Thunder God, unmatched beneath the heavens, but now you're just a decrepit old man burning through his future and his life for a brief return to youth!

I waited over a decade. I infected you with a virus, waited for you to grow old and sick, learned Domain Expansion, practiced swordsmanship for over a decade. Hajime Kashimo... you...

Forget it. Take this!

The slash fell like a drifting maple leaf. Unlike Isshin's extravagant swordplay, which had poured down like torrential rain, this strike was plain and unadorned, aimed straight at the enemy's neck, chest, and vital points.

One slash was actually three. Three differently shaped long blades only split apart as they left their sheaths: one cut off the way ahead, another cut off retreat, and the third slashed at Hajime Kashimo himself.

They flowed seamlessly, without the slightest discrepancy, as though simultaneously crossing time, descending from the past, present, and future with the sole aim of certain death.

His swordsmanship had truly matured, clearly bearing the traces of many schools. As a martial fanatic, Hajime Kashimo could tell that his opponent had integrated most of Japan's sword styles and developed his own understanding of them.

Shinto-ryu, Jigen-ryu, Kurama-ryu... Aside from those commonplace schools that had existed since ancient times, if he was not mistaken, there were even traces of Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, contemporaries who had only recently made names for themselves... That last slash bore a resemblance to the legendary [Renowned Sword • Tsubame Gaeshi].

(Four hundred years ago, Hajime Kashimo might have lived long enough to see Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro in his later years. Come to think of it, these legends were surprisingly close together in time. Whatever. Chalk the slight discrepancy up to divine providence; there was no need to examine it too closely.)

Not bad.

In terms of martial skill alone, Amabuki Xia Xia could already kill every fully certified master in all the existing swordsmanship schools in a pure sword fight. Apart from the true master swordsmen, he should have been unmatched in this country.

"Excellent!"

Thrilled at the sight of such skill, Hajime Kashimo realized his opponent was not merely a shameless, despicable assassin, but a kindred spirit who genuinely pursued the pinnacle of martial prowess. In that instant, his impression of Xia Xia changed completely-with swordsmanship this beautiful, even assassination seemed like just another part of his tactics.

A martial fanatic's world was that simple. If you could demonstrate martial skill that earned his admiration, he would unilaterally regard you as a kindred spirit, immediately leaping to mutual respect between heroes.

"A warrior follows his heart. Those mundane rules are nothing but cages that imprison heroes like you and me."

"So you have that kind of resolve too!"

Hajime Kashimo forgave Amabuki Xia Xia and decided to destroy him with his strongest lightning, bestowing "mercy" as a warrior.

The electric charge he had casually planted on Xia Xia during the earlier ambush had already marked his location. What came now was lightning that had locked onto its target and could not possibly be dodged!

Facing the three blades right before him, Hajime Kashimo neither dodged nor evaded. He knew the weapon might be a demon blade cursed tool that would prevent him from manipulating cursed energy if it struck, but what did that matter?

In his Mythical Beast Amber state, he was cursed energy itself. If this demon blade that locked away cursed energy actually worked, he should have died outright during the ambush, unable to use his cursed technique at all. Hahahahaha! You little thief, your demon blade is utterly useless!!!

Until my cursed technique ends, I won't die!

With no finesse whatsoever, he tanked all three true-damage slashes, absorbing every bit of damage through sheer stats. The Thunder God, whose movement had not been sealed off, turned his fingers into a blade, grasped a strand of lightning in his palm, and thrust at Amabuki Xia Xia's head.

"What are you babbling about?"

"You old bastard, you sure talk a lot."

Hajime Kashimo's lightning could not be dodged. So, just as he had tanked those three slashes, Xia Xia would activate super armor, take the full damage, and stubbornly refuse to die.

He had a clear understanding of his own strength.

Under normal circumstances, he would die.

Xia Xia was actually a glass cannon. Every point in his skill set had gone into damage; he had no defensive means whatsoever.

What he needed to do next was simple:

Are you done talking?

Time for me to start borrowing.

"Thunder God who knows nothing of love, bear witness-there will always be creatures upon the earth who dare to face the thunder's radiance."