At the training ground, Yaga and the others had already moved to a high vantage point atop an ancient tower, observing the battle from above. The tower itself exuded a sense of historical weight.
In the center of the field, three figures fiercely assaulted a single white-haired figure.
From time to time, a bolt of lightning would strike that white-haired target.
Shoko watched the fight with great interest.
Because she could naturally use Reverse Cursed Technique and even output it externally, Shoko had always been regarded as a precious talent in the Jujutsu world and was heavily protected.
As a result, she hadn't witnessed many battles, especially not one at this level.
The seamless coordination between Eichi and his shikigami, and Satoru's overwhelming ability to respond instantly to all attacks, were both novel and fascinating in her eyes.
On the battlefield, Eichi himself was feeling a bit helpless.
He had a method to break through Limitless, but a trump card only worked when used unexpectedly.
So, he couldn't rush. He had to wait for the right moment.
Facing the near-cheating power of Limitless, Eichi decided to apply intense pressure and try to force Satoru into making a mistake.
It wasn't an unrealistic plan. After all, the current Satoru hadn't made Limitless fully automatic yet.
However, he was no longer the same person from a few years ago, the one who would get distracted by sudden attacks and subconsciously let Limitless drop.
The current Satoru was already a battle-hardened powerhouse.
Eichi's encirclement continued.
Thinking about it, Satoru seemed to get surrounded a lot.
Even if it was just Eichi and his own shikigami this time.
"Muda muda. (It's useless.)"
Eichi's punch once again stopped just in front of Satoru.
The distance between the punch and Satoru was less than a centimeter, but in truth, it might as well have been infinite.
A side kick sent Black Divine Dog flying.
Satoru grinned at Eichi.
"So, what's the loser going to do, Eichi?"
He spoke as though victory was already his.
Six Eyes and Limitless, taken alone, weren't overpowered.
But when combined, they created a terrifying synergy.
Especially when wielded by someone like Satoru, a genius among geniuses.
His Cursed Energy reserves weren't endless, but thanks to the precise manipulation granted by Six Eyes, he maximized every bit of it.
Through that absurd control, Satoru kept his energy consumption and recovery perfectly balanced.
That's why he always seemed like he had infinite Cursed Energy.
Since that was the case, Gojo Sanction Plan A, activate.
Receiving Eichi's command, Qiongqi, which had been idling in the distance like a stationary lightning turret, spread its wings and flew into the sky.
White Divine Dog faded into the shadows.
"Oh? More tricks?"
Satoru wasn't concerned about Eichi's sudden change in tactics. In fact, he looked even more intrigued.
He had absolute confidence in himself.
No matter what Eichi pulled, Satoru believed he could win.
He even looked forward to seeing the frustrated expression Eichi would make after losing.
If Eichi knew what he was thinking, he'd definitely say, "Celebrating too early. No wonder you lose."
Qiongqi circled overhead, rapidly gathering countless wind currents into a massive, swirling storm.
"Trying to outlast me in a Cursed Energy contest?"
Satoru guessed.
"And Black Divine Dog is likely hidden to strike at the critical moment, keeping me locked in Qiongqi's attack range?"
He felt confident he had already seen through Eichi's strategy.
Blue.
A miniature black hole formed in front of him, its terrifying suction force seemingly enough to shred Eichi to dust.
Eichi clasped his hands together, summoning a vast stream of water that surged forward.
"Oh? Max Elephant's ability?"
"Yeah, but now it's called Giant Elephant."
"Interesting. Then call it out. Let me see."
"As you wish."
White Divine Dog sprinted behind Eichi and dissipated.
Eichi formed hand seals.
"Giant Elephant."
Moo—!
A Giant Elephant, even slightly larger than Qiongqi, materialized.
Under Satoru's curious gaze, the Giant Elephant charged with thunderous footsteps, sharp tusks pointed straight at him.
The tusks halted just in front of Satoru.
"Pretty strong."
Satoru judged, feeling Limitless devour a considerable amount of energy to block the impact.
The raw strength, Max Elephant's signature water ability, and—
Satoru's Six Eyes caught the movement. A snake tail, hidden behind the Giant Elephant, suddenly lashed out.
He struck it with his palm, flinging it aside with ease.
"Interesting. But the weakness is also obvious."
Blue.
Satoru waved his hand, and Blue descended from above.
The Giant Elephant, too slow to dodge, was struck head-on.
"Bit too clumsy, isn't it?"
He smiled.
"It's too soon to celebrate, Satoru."
"Hmm?"
He glanced again.
The Giant Elephant hadn't taken as much damage as expected.
"Enka, huh?"
"You guessed right, but there's no prize."
"Also…"
Eichi pointed toward the sky.
"It's coming."
Qiongqi, having completed its charge, dropped the massive spherical storm down toward Satoru.
The Giant Elephant, recovering from its hit, also stood and charged again.
The Giant Elephant's attack wasn't the issue. The real problem—
Satoru looked over his shoulder at Eichi, who had positioned himself not far behind.
"If I try to escape, Eichi will intercept me."
"In that case..."
His Six Eyes sharpened. Confidence radiated from him.
"I'll break through from the front."
He clenched his right fist and struck the Giant Elephant's head with immense Cursed Energy.
His left hand pointed to the sky, launching another Blue to meet the descending storm.
The snake tail lashed out again, briefly halting Blue at the cost of its own destruction.
The trunk rose, unleashing a powerful torrent of water.
Satoru struck the Giant Elephant again.
The water stopped.
But that didn't matter. The Giant Elephant had already done its job.
The spherical storm crashed down.
A golden chess piece appeared in Eichi's hand.
The violent windstorm that seemed ready to tear everything apart collided with Satoru's Limitless.
He retaliated at full strength, defeating the Giant Elephant swiftly.
"Hm?"
A sudden surge of Cursed Energy behind him caught his attention.
The storm's interference disrupted the precision of his Six Eyes.
"Woof!"
White Divine Dog charged into the storm.
"Divine Dogs? The Cursed Energy feels familiar... but something's off."
He quickly repelled it with a few strikes.
Then, Eichi appeared.
"I expected you to act about two seconds earlier."
"Showing up now is good enough."
"You really won't let me leave this storm, huh?"
Satoru didn't think the storm itself was a threat. At worst, it just forced him to increase the Cursed Energy used on Limitless.
Another torrent of water gushed out.
The downed Giant Elephant once again disrupted his vision and movement.
"It didn't disappear? Then the Divine Dogs—"
He glanced at the Divine Dogs getting up again in the distance, then at Qiongqi still hovering above.
"Isn't Ten Shadows Technique limited to two summons?"
"True, only two at once," Eichi replied, "but White Divine Dog isn't summoned as a Ten Shadows shikigami this time, but as a Heroic Spirit Shikigami."
Just then, a translucent figure fully cloaked in a purple hood appeared behind Satoru.
Spiritual Base Shadow – Caster Medea.
Using Eichi's pressure, and aided by the storm and water flow interfering with Six Eyes, Medea had successfully approached undetected.
She drew a uniquely shaped dagger and stabbed it into Satoru's lower back.
Rule Breaker. Originally an anti-mage Noble Phantasm, in this world it functioned like the Inverted Spear of Heaven, canceling all techniques of the target it pierced.
For jujutsu and shikigami alike, it was fatal.
Under its effect, Satoru's Limitless was forcibly dispelled.
"What?!"
At that moment, Eichi stepped forward and took a stance.
"Grit your teeth, Strongest."
Power surged from his feet, through his waist, and into his fist.
It was a punch containing everything he had.
"Gojo Ascension Punch!"
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)