The instant those words left his mouth, cursed energy began flowing from Konoe Mayoru.
At the same time, the special-grade cursed spirit’s expression went blank.
It was not because it sensed the killing intent in Mayoru’s voice.
It simply could not comprehend the impossible sight before it.
Its technique—the crimson, flower-like blades that ignited the blood and organs of anyone they touched, condemning them to an agonizing death— Those blades now circled Mayoru and no longer obeyed their original master.
Instead, they followed the boy as though they had completely submitted to him.
‘How is this possible?’ This was its technique, the ability it had possessed since birth.
Why had it lost control over its own power while an enemy wielded it freely?
The spirit had already been bewildered when Mayoru reflected its guaranteed-hit attack.
Yet compared to what it was witnessing now, even his immunity to the sure-hit effect seemed understandable.
For a moment, it completely forgot to attack and merely watched its technique dance around him.
“Surprised?” Mayoru opened his palm and allowed one of the petal-like yet razor-sharp blades to hover above it.
“Having your own technique stolen must be terrifying, right?” “But honestly, this isn’t my fault.
You saw how terrible my cursed-energy control was earlier.” “Even if I can perceive an enemy’s cursed-energy flow, directly controlling their technique is normally difficult.” “Techniques are complicated.
I can’t analyze all of them with my current processing power in such a short time.” “That’s why I usually just reflect them.” “But you’re different.” Bang!
Several petal-like blades shot forward and exploded across the cursed spirit’s face.
Flames erupted through the scattering smoke, drawing a miserable howl from the creature.
“You used your technique on me far too many times.” “I’ve already calculated how your cursed energy flows, the signs before your technique activates, and even the fundamental nature of the technique itself.” “Now I can use the technique you attacked me with more smoothly than you can.” “Like this…” Through its screams, the cursed spirit witnessed the most shocking sight yet.
Every trace of its technique that had been unleashed earlier gathered together in one place.
Countless crimson lights ignited like flames and formed the shape of a flower.
It was so beautiful that it seemed almost suffocating.
Like a flower blooming on the far shore of death, it rested upon Mayoru’s fingertip.
The cursed spirit fell into a daze.
It forgot that they were inside its Domain and that its face had been burned beyond recognition.
It merely raised its head and stared blankly at the flower.
It understood the sight better than anyone because it was formed from its own technique.
Gathering every attack it had released into a single point would naturally create something like this.
But why?
Mayoru’s cursed-energy control had been so terrible before.
Yet the activation method he now used resembled its own and somehow appeared even more…
Beautiful.
“Let’s compare firepower!” The boy’s voice rang out from nearby.
It was pure provocation.
After believing he had mastered the principles of the technique, Mayoru was challenging its original owner to a direct contest of power.
It was like stealing someone’s girlfriend, then flaunting her right in front of them.
Even a cursed spirit could sense the malice behind his actions.
By now, the spirit had finally calmed down.
Perhaps its shock had reached such an extreme that it wrapped back around into clarity.
For the first time, its intelligence gained the upper hand.
It should dismiss the Domain and escape immediately.
There might still be a chance to survive.
However…
“That…
is how trash thinks!” The cursed spirit released a distorted roar.
It forgot its pain and the misery of its earlier defeat, gathering another flower-shaped cluster of blades in its hand.
Even cursed spirits possessed pride.
It knew Mayoru would probably win, but it could not allow him to trample upon its own technique without resistance.
No further words were needed.
The same flower-like mass of blades formed within the cursed spirit’s hand.
It poured every last trace of cursed energy into the attack and aimed it at Mayoru—and at the stolen technique hovering before him.
“…Come!” Sensing the spirit’s resolve, Mayoru gave a slight nod.
In the next instant, two nearly identical techniques erupted simultaneously.
Both resembled flower petals, yet each possessed terrifying sharpness.
…
The cursed spirit suddenly found itself standing within a pure-white space.
Everything around it was blank, as though nothing existed there.
‘Did I…
lose?’ After struggling to gather its thoughts, the spirit finally reached that conclusion.
Its last memory was of their techniques colliding.
They had compared firepower, and Mayoru had defeated it using its own technique.
Was that the result?
It still had countless questions, but none of them mattered anymore.
The only conclusion was that it had lost.
It had been defeated by its own cursed technique.
At the far end of the white space, it saw a familiar figure.
It should have hated him.
Mayoru had toyed with it throughout their entire battle.
Yet for some reason, the unintelligent special grade now felt only a faint loneliness.
‘He was too strong.’ ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t make him use his full strength…’ Such a thought even appeared in its mind.
Perhaps Mayoru was in a good mood.
When he looked at the cursed spirit now, his earlier arrogance was gone.
Instead, he offered genuine praise.
“Be proud.
You were strong!” The spirit suddenly felt its nose sting.
It raised a hand to its eye and stared blankly at the liquid gathering there.
“What…
is this?” “Who knows?” Mayoru casually waved a hand.
“I’ve never cried before.” …
Outside the Domain, Kei’s face turned deathly pale after hearing Sakiko’s explanation.
Even someone completely unfamiliar with jujutsu could immediately understand how dangerous a Domain was.
“Can we break through the Domain’s outer shell?” “Domains are normally difficult to destroy from within, but their shells are fragile from the outside.” Although Sakiko was only a half-trained sorcerer, her theoretical knowledge was clearly solid.
“Breaking the shell means entering the Domain directly and placing yourself within the enemy technique’s guaranteed-hit range.” “Normally, that would be suicide.” Sakiko did not say anything further, but Kei understood.
Even so, she refused to give up.
“Then is there really no way to save Konoe-nii?” Sakiko lowered her head and clutched her arm in silence.
Kei stood frozen as tears suddenly spilled from her eyes.
At that moment, both girls felt a tremor coming from within the Domain.
Cracks spread across its outer shell as the barrier began to collapse.
“Is it over?” Kenjaku observed the battle from afar with a thoughtful expression.
“That took longer than expected.
It seems the boy managed to resist for quite some time inside.” He did not believe Mayoru could win.
The best counter to a Domain was another Domain, and the advantage provided by a guaranteed hit was simply too overwhelming.
Kenjaku began considering whether it was time for him to intervene.
He had never thought highly of cursed spirits.
Even among special grades, a special-grade sorcerer could effortlessly eliminate most special-grade cursed spirits.
Still, this particular spirit interested him.
A special-grade cursed spirit with an innate Domain was more than worthy of being controlled.
“Perfect timing.” “Most people are already exhausted after using Domain Expansion.” “This spirit should be suffering from technique burnout and depleted cursed energy.
Capturing it should require almost no effort.” As for Mayoru, Kenjaku had already assumed he was dead.
He moved into the shadows and waited for the barrier to shatter, prepared to act immediately.
Then the Domain collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Within it lay the cursed spirit’s broken remains.
Its horrific condition revealed the severity of the damage it had suffered.
Flames consumed its body, and it had long since stopped moving.
Standing beside the corpse was Mayoru.
He had not suffered a single injury.
He appeared relaxed, refreshed, and completely at ease.
Both Kenjaku and Sakiko looked as though they had seen a ghost.
Kenjaku, in particular, could not conceal his shock.
“He survived?” “No…
He isn’t even injured.” “Not even the theoretically guaranteed hit of a Domain could touch him?” Mayoru did not notice the disbelief surrounding him.
He simply looked down at the cursed spirit as its burning body gradually turned to dust.
Then he spoke with complete satisfaction.
“What a delightful battle.” “I probably won’t forget you for the rest of the day, cursed spirit!” …