Both sides launched into action simultaneously.
Artoria was the first to charge toward Kenjaku.
Dozens of Cursed Spirits also moved immediately to intercept her.
"Great Waterfall Spell."
Eichi fully activated Max Elephant's Technique.
A torrent of water surged forward, halting the charge of the incoming Cursed Spirits.
Artoria stepped across the rushing water, bypassed the spirits, and rushed straight toward Kenjaku.
To catch the bandits, first take down their leader.
The skeletal Cursed Spirit beside Kenjaku moved.
Its right arm extended, and the slender hand transformed into a hardened bone blade.
Clang.
Artoria's strike was blocked by the bone blade.
With that, the identity of the Cursed Spirit was revealed.
Special Grade Cursed Spirit, Bone Woman.
Another Cursed Spirit moved from behind Kenjaku.
She raised her body, and a white silk thread fired from the spider-like abdomen at her lower half toward Artoria.
Special Grade Cursed Spirit, Jorōgumo.
One near, one far. The two Special Grade Cursed Spirits worked in tandem to entangle Artoria.
"Even while surrounded by two Special Grade Cursed Spirits, she hasn't shown a single opening."
Though Artoria appeared to be on the defensive, there wasn't a scratch on her.
Kenjaku understood that Artoria was only temporarily at a disadvantage due to her unfamiliarity with Bone Woman's combat style, where her entire body could morph into a weapon.
For any melee fighter, an opponent like a walking hedgehog was difficult to handle.
But given time, she would adapt. Defeating Bone Woman and Jorōgumo would not be an issue.
"Moo!"
Since Qiongqi couldn't be summoned for the moment, Eichi called out Giant Elephant to join the battle.
The massive beast charged forward like a tank the moment it materialized.
Eichi himself launched a direct assault on Kenjaku.
Dozens of lightning bolts were swallowed by the floating, gaping mouth of the Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
The dog-shaped Cursed Spirit beside Kenjaku also bared its fangs and lunged at Eichi.
Eichi appeared unfazed and moved to meet the attack head-on.
Just before the creature struck, Eichi suddenly ducked.
From his shadow, a blade imbued with intense positive energy burst forth, piercing straight through the Cursed Spirit.
Mahoraga.
"Did he hide Mahoraga in his shadow beforehand?"
Kenjaku immediately recognized what had happened.
With a wave of her hand, dozens of Cursed Objects flew into the air.
The aerial Special Grade Cursed Spirit immediately swallowed them all.
As it devoured the Cursed Objects, Kenjaku began weaving layers of Domain around Mahoraga.
The surrounding Cursed Spirits charged recklessly at Mahoraga.
But due to the overwhelming difference in strength and the Sword of Exorcism's natural advantage against Cursed Spirits, they were destroyed one by one.
After cutting down several Cursed Spirits in his path with his katana, Eichi turned his gaze toward Kenjaku.
Is that a Domain?
He hurled his katana straight at Kenjaku.
Whatever she was planning, stopping it took priority.
Kenjaku sidestepped the throw.
"Bind."
At her command, layers of Domain rapidly formed around Mahoraga.
Simultaneously, a terrifying attack was nearing completion.
"Special Grade Cursed Spirit, Taotie. It can grow stronger by devouring Cursed Energy and can unleash all it has consumed in a single burst, like this."
In the sky above, the gaping maw of Taotie swelled as it gathered immense amounts of Cursed Energy.
The next moment, a massive Cursed Energy blast was launched toward Mahoraga.
Eichi instantly dispelled the summoning.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield. The shockwave swept across everything.
Eichi immediately recalled Giant Elephant and grabbed Artoria, retreating from the blast zone.
"Furube, Yurayura..."
Stabilizing himself, Eichi began summoning Mahoraga again.
"I won't let you succeed."
Kenjaku emerged from the fading smoke.
Taotie followed closely behind.
Bone Woman and Jorōgumo re-engaged Artoria.
Eichi raised an arm, intercepting Kenjaku's attack.
Purple lightning crackled over his body.
Enhanced by energy, Eichi clashed head-on with Kenjaku and Taotie.
He leapt high and delivered a powerful kick squarely into Taotie's snout.
Kenjaku closed in from behind. As Eichi's attack landed, her own strike connected with him.
Eichi crossed his arms to brace as he was slammed into the ground like a cannonball.
Kenjaku didn't allow a moment's pause.
Taotie's enormous jaws opened, descending to devour Eichi.
Kenjaku circled behind, intending to coordinate the strike.
Caught between the two, Eichi smiled.
Kenjaku noticed.
Why is he smiling?
He hasn't formed hand seals. He can't be summoning. Does he have another trump card?
Kenjaku's mind raced.
A Heroic Spirit?
That Emiya who disappeared for a day!
A flash of movement confirmed her suspicion.
A sharp arrow tore into Taotie, embedding into its body.
Then—Broken Phantasm.
"Roar!"
Taotie howled in pain.
As Kenjaku prepared to react, Eichi closed in.
"Now it's your turn to be surrounded."
Excitement lit up Eichi's face.
His fists began raining down on Kenjaku like a storm.
Whoosh!
A twisted arrow flew toward Kenjaku's head.
To dodge, she took a punch from Eichi directly.
Another arrow followed.
Then, from behind, the sound of something cutting through the air.
The arrow that had missed her just moments ago curved unnaturally midair and came back around.
Akahara Hound?
Information was everything in battle between Jujutsu Sorcerers.
Kenjaku knew this well and always gathered intel beforehand.
In the original story, she had collected intel on every Special Grade sorcerer except Yuki Tsukumo, who had ties to Tengen.
That alone showed her attention to detail.
Compared to that, gathering information on Heroic Spirits, whose records were almost entirely public was even easier.
I can't get hit by Akahara Hound. If Emiya uses Broken Phantasm on it...
Kenjaku made her decision.
Her gaze swept through the battlefield, calculating the trajectory of both Akahara Hounds and Eichi's movements.
Then, a crushing force descended on Eichi.
Anti-Gravity Mechanism.
The abrupt spike in gravity froze Eichi in place.
Kenjaku, unaffected, quickly distanced herself.
She signaled Taotie to target Emiya next.
She brought her fingers together into a sign.
"Domain Expansion…"
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ 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.)