The more casually he said it, the more believable it sounded.
Hajime Kashimo fell silent for a few seconds, then turned his gaze back to Qingxiao and looked him over carefully once more.
He had never met Sukuna himself. Four hundred years ago, he had spent his whole life chasing the legend of that strongest sorcerer, but all he had to go on was hearsay.
Yet the pressure the man before him exuded was greater than that of any opponent he had ever faced.
A thought suddenly surfaced, growing clearer by the moment.
What if... what if this man really was stronger than Sukuna?
Then wouldn't the "strongest opponent" he had pursued for four hundred years be standing right before him?
He took the iron staff off his shoulder and folded his arms.
Hajime Kashimo looked up at Qingxiao, his eyes startlingly bright, as though he had found prey more enticing than the legend:
"If you lose, take me to Sukuna.
If you win, I'll stop looking for him and come after you instead."
Qingxiao smiled.
He flexed his wrist, his joints cracking crisply.
"Sure. Happy to oblige."
Qingxiao did not intend to use Cursed Energy. If he did, the fight would probably end very quickly.
That would be far too boring.
The two battle maniacs stood in the clearing of the Abandoned Industrial Park, facing each other from over ten meters apart.
One held an iron staff, faint arcs of electricity flickering around him; the other stood with his hands lowered, his aura unremarkable. Yet they had reached an unspoken agreement.
The dark purple sky hung low overhead, and wind swept past carrying the smell of rust. A duel spanning four hundred years began.
Hajime Kashimo struck first.
Without a wasted word or an opening stance, he pushed off