Black Flash

Only then did he realize that Ken Kaneki had also acquired Yuki Tsukumo's Cursed Technique.

Just one punch.

That was all it took to send the careless Uraume flying.

The scene looked remarkably like the time Satoru Gojo had sent Uraume flying with a single punch!

"I surrender."

Tachibana Mio had clearly recognized his Cursed Technique too and promptly surrendered.

She had no choice.

Combat simply wasn't her forte.

Besides, she didn't have much Cursed Energy left. Boosting others consumed Cursed Energy.

However.

Kaneki showed her no mercy.

He lunged forward, tore off her arm with one hand, and punched her away with the other.

She was pretty tough.

She didn't die.

But she could no longer fight.

He casually tossed the arm into his shadow without finishing her off, switched to [Projection], and became a blur as he went straight for Kenjaku.

Unless they severely wounded Kenjaku.

They would all die!

Kenjaku, now blind in one eye, was in no hurry to heal his injuries with Reverse Cursed Technique.

Instead, he stalled for as long as possible.

He let his blood flow.

With his extensive knowledge of Barrier Technique, he had already more or less figured out what Okkotsu had done to withstand his Open-Barriers Domain.

He also understood.

It couldn't last long at all.

He only needed to wait until his domain crushed Okkotsu's into collapse. Then it would be time to reap their lives.

He released countless Low-Grade Cursed Spirits to buy time.

The sheer number of Cursed Spirits even enveloped him.

His figure disappeared completely.

As a result.

Open-Eyed Rika's hands moved so fast they left afterimages, every swipe of her claws sending purple blood spraying.

Both Okkotsu and Yuki Tsukumo were shocked by the number of Cursed Spirits he possessed.

In the original story.

Chapter 137 had mentioned it.

Even at that point, the number of released Cursed Spirits had already reached at least ten million.

Just then!

Great Serpent thrust Kenjaku high into the air from his hiding place among the Cursed Spirits.

Now.

Everyone could see where he was.

Kenjaku was healing his injuries with Reverse Cursed Technique while stitching his skull back together.

The next second!

Using [Projection], Kaneki raced across the swarm of Cursed Spirits to reach him, extending a hand to touch his body.

Seeing this.

Kenjaku murmured softly, "[Projection], huh..."

As his words fell.

A surge of gravity slammed Kaneki into the ground just before he could touch him, along with Great Serpent, who had lifted him into the air.

Even the nearby Cursed Spirits were pressed down.

"That was close..."

Kenjaku chuckled again.

Certain of victory, he had regained his usual unruffled composure.

Meanwhile.

Both Okkotsu and Yuki Tsukumo seized the opportunity.

Okkotsu stepped onto Rika and charged straight at Kenjaku, while Yuki Tsukumo raced toward him over the swarm of Cursed Spirits.

The Gravity Cursed Technique lasted six seconds!

Its effective range was a radius of two to three meters centered on the sorcerer.

Even if he used Cursed Spirit Manipulation during the downtime.

He couldn't stop them both.

As long as they denied him the chance to release a large number of Cursed Spirits, they could win!

Then...

Okkotsu and Yuki Tsukumo fought through the crushing gravity and engaged Kenjaku directly.

They couldn't ignore the gravity completely.

But.

They could struggle free and attack Kenjaku!

Faced with their attacks, Kenjaku released a few Cursed Spirits to hold Okkotsu off temporarily, then chose to deal with Yuki Tsukumo first.

That's right.

Once again, he chose to underestimate Yuta Okkotsu.

With gravity assisting him, Kenjaku blocked Yuki Tsukumo's attack and gave her a point-blank "baptism" with a miniature [Uzumaki].

Yuki Tsukumo still fell for the same trick as in the original story.

Kenjaku hadn't released the Cursed Spirits to cover Gravity's downtime, but to keep her from noticing the miniature [Uzumaki].

Then.

He ducked down.

And prepared to unleash a miniature [Uzumaki] at Yuki Tsukumo's abdomen.

Cursed Energy originated in the abdomen.

Once the abdomen was hit, using Cursed Energy became difficult.

At that critical moment, Kusakabe charged into the battlefield with Choso and Naobito Zenin.

"New Shadow Style: Simple Domain."

As Simple Domain activated, the gravity Kenjaku had released weakened.

Its restraint diminished.

Okkotsu swung his sword fiercely.

Kenjaku dodged in time, losing only his right arm!

Yuki Tsukumo also kept her vital organs out of the way, but a chunk of her left flank was gouged out, just like Kaneki's.

"Blood Meteorite!"

Choso's blood condensed into a solid mass, reinforced with Cursed Energy, and pierced Kenjaku's chest.

Right below his heart.

It had almost pierced his heart!

But.

Under the weakened gravity and thanks to his own evasive movement, he had successfully shifted the point of impact.

It wasn't enough to prevent him from maintaining his domain.

Naobito Zenin reached out with his right hand to touch Kenjaku.

Before he could make contact.

A sharp crack rang out.

A savage smile appeared on Kenjaku's blood-soaked face.

A palm-sized Cursed Spirit emerged in front of Kenjaku and was frozen by [Projection].

Okkotsu's domain was finally crushed into collapse by gravity.

Kenjaku's domain spread without restraint.

Kaneki, who had been on the ground moments earlier, appeared behind Kenjaku like a phantom.

He punched the back of his head again and again.

After taking several punches, Kenjaku's smile grew wider and more malicious.

It was nothing more than a dying struggle.

Without Yuki Tsukumo's Cursed Technique, Kaneki couldn't inflict any real damage on him.

As he thought that...

The smile froze on his face.

Dark red lightning appeared in the corner of his vision.

On the final frame of that one second, Kaneki's last punch actually produced a Black Flash!

-Black Flash!

That single punch sent Kenjaku flying.

Already grievously wounded, Kenjaku could no longer maintain his domain after that blow.

Boom!

Kenjaku's Open-Barriers Domain collapsed completely.

"It seems..."

Having entered the Zone, Kaneki smiled. "Fate favors me a little more this time..."

With that.

Two Divine Dogs, one black and one white, emerged from the shadows on either side of Kenjaku.

Both opened their bloody maws and lunged to bite him.

He twisted aside to evade the white dog, but Black Dog clamped firmly onto his left flank.

Kenjaku let out a savage laugh.

He drove his elbow into Black Dog's head again and again. Blood poured from Black Dog's battered head, but he refused to let go.

At that moment.

Kaneki and the others all charged at Kenjaku.

Strike while he was down and finish him off!

"Maximum output." Uraume unleashed a Cursed Technique. "Ice Formation: Frost Calm!"

In an instant!

Everyone, Kenjaku included, was encased in ice.

The entire Tombs of the Star Corridor froze into an ice palace.

Kenjaku received special treatment and broke free of the ice with ease.

"Go!"

Uraume shouted.

As the shout rang out, cracks appeared in the ice trapping the others and spread at a visible speed.

Seeing this.

Kenjaku didn't hesitate. He followed the other two and swiftly fled the Tombs of the Star Corridor.

Before leaving.

He even destroyed his own frozen arm.

They hadn't gotten far.

Before the Jujutsu High group shattered the ice and emerged.

They caught sight of the unmistakable fist-shaped dent in the back of Kenjaku's head.

Seemingly sensing their gazes.

Kenjaku turned back and glared at Kaneki with crimson eyes.

His eyes were crimson because they were bloodshot.

Part of that.

Was from anger.

But most of it was from being hit by [Black Flash].

"After them!"

Okkotsu and Choso charged forward without hesitation, only for Kaneki to call them back.

"Why?"

Choso was puzzled.

"In China..."

Kaneki explained, "There's an old saying: don't pursue a desperate enemy."

"It means you shouldn't press an enemy with nowhere left to run too hard, lest they turn and fight to the death."

That saying.

Fit their current situation perfectly.

Kenjaku still had the strength to strike back.

Who knew whether pursuing him would push him to unlock his potential, heal his burned-out Cursed Technique with Reverse Cursed Technique, and expand his domain again?

So.

Not pursuing him was the best option.

As long as they had time, they would be in a better position than they were now the next time they faced a situation like this.