Chapter 43 The Strongest of the Modern Era
"Limitless" is not invincible.
Its essence is to fold the "infinite" distance between the self and the outside world.
Kamui, however, is the ultimate Dojutsu for manipulating space and interfering with distance.
When Kamui's spatial distortion power, breaking the plane with a point, is highly concentrated on the tip of the blade, it doesn't forcibly break through the "infinite" distance. Instead, it uses a more overbearing method —twisting, deflecting, and even temporarily "erasing" that segment of infinitely superimposed space.
Screech!
A strange sound, like cloth being torn, echoed.
Gojo Satoru's azure Rikugan / Six Eyes suddenly contracted, and for the first time, genuine astonishment appeared on his face.
In his perception, the "infinite" distance between himself and the colossal blade was forcibly pierced and flattened by some power.
The scarlet blade tip, wreathed in Kamui's power, broke through the absolute defense of "Limitless," charging straight forward with unstoppable, sharp brilliance.
Although the vast majority of Hollow Technique: Purple's energy was still surging forward, it was painstakingly blocked by the other gigantic arm of the Complete Body Susanoo, erupting in continuous, terrifying explosions that utterly reduced the surrounding earth to nothingness.
But this single strike that breached the defense had already declared a certain outcome.
The blade tip stopped abruptly, just an inch away from Gojo Satoru's glabella.
The power of Kamui and the scarlet Cursed Energy wrapped around it slowly dissipated, and the soul-shivering sharpness faded away.
The Complete Body Susanoo slowly retracted the colossal blade, and its massive body began to dissipate into pure Cursed Energy particles, revealing Toho Hiroshi within.
In his eyes, the pattern of the Mangekyo Sharingan slowly rotated, carrying a hint of fatigue, yet still sharp.
On the other side, the "Limitless" force field around Gojo Satoru was restored. He stood still, touched his unharmed forehead, and then looked at the massive abyss ahead —a crater resembling a meteor strike, caused by the aftereffects of Hollow Technique: Purple and the impact absorbed by the Susanoo.
He was silent for a few seconds.
Suddenly, he voluntarily deactivated "Limitless," allowing the mountain wind to ruffle his white hair.
He raised his head, looked at Toho Hiroshi in the distance, and revealed an incredibly complex smile, mixed with extreme excitement and recognition.
"Impressive."
He spoke, his voice clearly piercing the ruins and reaching Toho Hiroshi's ears.
"I lost."
He frankly admitted the result.
If Toho Hiroshi hadn't held back his strength at the last moment, that strike would have severely wounded or even killed him.
Although he might not have died thanks to the Reverse Cursed Technique, the mere act of breaching "Limitless" was enough.
For the first time in his life, Gojo Satoru had his proud absolute defense breached in a direct Cursed Technique confrontation.
Toho Hiroshi calmed his surging Cursed Energy, and the Mangekyo in his eyes slowly returned to normal.
He looked at Gojo Satoru, nodded, and said nothing more.
Everything was understood without words.
In this battle, there were no losers; both of them had touched upon and surpassed their former selves.
Gojo Satoru grasped the Reverse Cursed Technique and "Purple," stepping into a brand new domain.
As for Toho Hiroshi, he pushed the power of the Mangekyo and his own Cursed Technique to a higher peak, finding the potential to counter "Limitless."
In the distance, Geto Suguru, standing atop a Cursed Spirit, watched the earth-shattering confrontation unfold entirely.
Especially when he saw Toho Hiroshi's final strike pierce through "Limitless," his pupils sharply contracted, and he unconsciously clenched his hand, his fingernails almost digging into his palm.
An indescribably complex emotion surged within him —shock at his comrade's power, introspection regarding his own strength, a trace of imperceptible loneliness, but ultimately, it all turned into a long, silent sigh.
The Cursed Spirit beneath his feet stirred slightly, reflecting its master's turbulent heart.
The wind swept across the mountainous terrain, now reduced to ruins, kicking up dust, as if drawing the curtain on this confrontation that marked the pinnacle of a new era.
The title of the strongest, perhaps, had never needed re-evaluation as much as it did at this moment.
"Toho, you are now the strongest in the Jujutsu World."
Gojo Satoru slowly walked closer and patted Toho Hiroshi on the shoulder.
There was no trace of dejection from defeat on his face; instead, he seemed quite relaxed and cheerful: "You are strong. Your growth over this past year is beyond imagination."
"I almost doubt whether that pathetic state I first saw you in was real or fake."
Hearing this, Toho Hiroshi's expression darkened, but he couldn't help but laugh: "Where was there any pathetic state? It was just... never mind."
Gojo Satoru laughed along: "Alright, let's not mention those awful things. Geto and the others are probably getting anxious waiting for us to return. Let's head back quickly!"
"Mm, let's go."
The barren mountain area, where the smoke had cleared, was left only with horrific traces, as if ravaged by a natural disaster.
Two figures, one following the other, stepped across the scorched earth and ravines, heading toward Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Gojo Satoru walked with his hands in his pockets, humming an off-key tune, as if the earth-shattering battle they just had was merely a post-meal warm-up.
Only the light in his azure Rikugan / Six Eyes, not yet completely calmed and resembling the depths of the universe, revealed the transformation and fierce battle he had undergone.
Toho Hiroshi followed half a step behind him, his expression calm and his breathing already steady.
The consumption of the Complete Body Susanoo was enormous; even with his current Cursed Energy reserves, he felt a slight fatigue, but more so, a sense of clarity after a satisfying exertion.
The faint searing pain brought by the Mangekyo Sharingan was instantly and rapidly eliminated because Toho Hiroshi activated the Reverse Cursed Technique.
"So, that last move of yours..."
Gojo Satoru suddenly turned his head. He had put his sunglasses back on at some point, covering those overly intimidating eyes, but the curiosity in his tone was almost overflowing: "Did you completely see through the structure of 'Limitless'? Or did you simply'shove' it open with stronger spatial power?"
"It was interference."
Toho Hiroshi explained succinctly, "'Limitless' is not impregnable. Its essence is an extreme application of space. And Kamui happens to work on space as well. It wasn't a violent breakthrough, but rather, at the most critical point, I briefly twisted the 'coordinates' of the spatial layers you established, creating a 'pathway.'"
"Huh?"
Gojo Satoru exclaimed dramatically, "That sounds like finding the only keyhole for a door of infinite thickness, sticking the key in, and turning it? That's quite a cheat ability."
He paused, his tone becoming slightly more serious: "But thanks. For holding back at the end."
"It was just sparring."
Toho Hiroshi said indifferently.
Gojo Satoru burst into hearty laughter and clapped him hard on the back: "Don't worry, even if you hadn't held back, I wouldn't die~ Although I just mastered the Reverse Cursed Technique, its efficiency isn't any lower than yours."
While joking, the two of them already saw Geto Suguru and Amanai Riko waiting at the edge of the woods.
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