My p@treon followers actually read chapter "90"...
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Geto raised an eyebrow.
Ryosuke took a few steps toward him. "Suguru Geto, former student of the Tokyo Jujutsu school. The one who dreamed of a world without those pathetic beings without cursed energy, those 'monkeys,' the one who wanted to reign over a new era, an era where only sorcerers would have the right to exist." He paused, his smile widening as he added in a voice almost amused: "Unfortunately, you have the will, but not the ability."
This time, Geto's face tightened slightly. A faint furrow creased his brow.
"To be honest, I thought I'd have to wait months before seeing you. But here the heavens deliver your pretty face to me today, like an unexpected gift." Ryosuke spread his arms as if to welcome a divine blessing, his exaggerated gestures adding a theatrical touch to his words. "It delights me. Truly, I'm glad to see you."
No sooner had he finished than a massive serpent appeared out of nowhere, lunging from the shadows with blinding speed. Its gaping jaws targeted Ryosuke directly. But before the beast could reach him, its body disintegrated into a cloud of ashes.
Geto, who had stepped back, observed with a sharp gaze. Before he could react further, a presence behind him made the air shiver. Ryosuke was there, as if he had teleported.
Geto immediately moved away, leaping back several meters. A gigantic curse plummeted from the sky with cataclysmic force, crashing down on Ryosuke in a titanic explosion. The ground trembled under the impact, clouds of dust and debris rising like an opaque veil.
Yet when they cleared, Ryosuke emerged, unscathed.
As he advanced, the ground around him began to change. The earth trembled again, twisting and warping into a massive field of stone spikes. Razor-sharp and towering, they burst from the ground in an instant, forming a colossal prison that encircled both Geto and Ryosuke.
Geto stopped, calmly examining the structure before fixing his eyes on Ryosuke.
"So, you planned all this. You seem ready to face me."
Ryosuke only shrugged, nonchalant.
Suddenly, a gleaming blade pierced his chest, driving straight into his heart. Ryosuke's eyes widened in shock as a massive curse materialized behind him, holding the bloodied weapon. The curse yanked the blade free, blood spilling out, before raising its weapon to decapitate him in a single strike.
But just as the blade was about to fall, it froze in place, suspended in time. Ryosuke, ignoring the curse behind him, turned his gaze to Geto, a twisted smile stretching across his lips despite the blood pouring from his wound.
"I thought you wanted to recruit me," he taunted.
Geto, silent, watched the scene. A fleeting glimmer passed in his eyes, but he remained impassive.
Beneath their feet, the ground suddenly glowed, a blinding radiance flooding the prison of spikes.
As the dust slowly settled, it revealed a scene both chaotic and awe-inspiring. At the center of the ruins, an enormous curse, resembling a half-dragon, half-serpent creature, rose into the air, beating massive wings covered in dark scales. On its back stood Suguru Geto, calm as ever, gazing into the horizon.
A dozen meters above the ground, Ryosuke appeared as well, floating. His arms were crossed, and his mocking smile hadn't left his face. He positioned himself at Geto's level, their eyes locking in heavy silence.
Geto tilted his head slightly. "Impressive, young man. I must admit, your technique is intriguing. Tell me… does your power allow you to shape matter as you desire?"
Ryosuke arched a brow. "Not bad. You're more observant than I thought."
Geto smirked. "However…" He paused, a strange gleam in his eyes. "You didn't only manipulate the ground. You interfered with one of my curses. So I wonder… does your power extend to the soul itself?"
Still hovering, Ryosuke let out a light, almost childlike laugh.
"Correct."
Geto slowly nodded, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. "Fascinating. A power like that, and at such a young age… it's a rarity." Crossing his arms, his expression softened slightly. "I'll be honest with you. I don't want to waste a raw diamond like you. Join my cause. Together, we could achieve far greater things than you imagine. Create utopia."
Ryosuke exhaled a long sigh, his smile fading. "I expected as much… but I must say, I'm slightly insulted."
Before Geto could reply, a crushing wave of cursed energy burst from Ryosuke. The air vibrated under the unleashed power, and the sky seemed to darken for an instant. The ruins trembled again.
Ryosuke slowly lifted his head. "It's my fault, I suppose. I didn't show enough… fear."
Suddenly, a rapid movement drew his attention. A curse, like a massive serpent, lunged out of nowhere and coiled around his neck with blistering speed. Ryosuke, however, did not move an inch.
Geto slowly raised a hand, conjuring a red staff adorned with intricate patterns. For the first time, a spark of seriousness flashed in his eyes.
"Too bad," Geto murmured. "I'll have to kill you here and now."
With a sweeping motion of his tri-staff, Geto unleashed an invisible shockwave that shattered the surrounding stone spikes like twigs. The vibration of the attack echoed through the rocky arena, but Ryosuke, still floating, didn't move. A simple motion of his hand gathered the debris, reshaping it into a thick barrier that rose between them.
A feral grin curved Geto's lips as he aimed his weapon at Ryosuke, and dozens of curses burst from the shadows, growling and hissing like ravenous beasts.
They charged at the young sorcerer with terrifying speed, jaws wide open, ready to tear him apart. But halfway through, their bodies began to disintegrate, crumbling into a rain of ashes.
Geto frowned. With a fluid motion, he leapt forward, piercing through the barrier in an instant. His tri-staff sliced through the air, aiming straight for Ryosuke's skull.
Caught off guard by his speed, Ryosuke couldn't react in time. The weapon struck his head violently, launching him like a cannonball through the stone spikes. His body crashed heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust and rubble.
Geto landed gracefully, resting his tri-staff on his shoulder.
Beneath the debris, Ryosuke slowly rose, his body unharmed.
"I'm still waiting for you to kill me," he said, a provocative smile tugging at his lips.