Thud—
Suguru closed the door behind him. For some reason, he didn't want the sisters to witness what was about to happen.
"Phew…" His breath fogged in the cold night air.
"Um… Geto-sama? Are you all right?" Sawa's voice trembled slightly.
Suguru brushed back his damp bangs, eyes glittering. "I'm fine. You… you're just going to die."
As he spoke, the air behind him tore open, and grotesque cursed spirits slithered out of the rift.
"Monsters!"
"Help!"
"Run!"
Villagers screamed and scattered like startled birds. Suguru remained motionless, scanning the shadows.
"Sawa, stop hiding and step into the light."
A sheepish chuckle, then Sawa Gojo stepped forward, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, you got me."
Suguru's lips curved into a cold smile. "We're best friends—I'd recognize your cursed energy anywhere."
Sawa shrugged nonchalantly. "So? Planning to stop me?"
Suguru sighed, massaging his temples before looking Sawa dead in the eye. "I've always wondered how big the gap is between us."
"Then why don't you fight me and find out?" Sawa grinned. "Just don't cry when you lose."
He meant to provoke, but the words cut deep; Suguru had chosen slaughter over ideals, a vent for his rage. Fine. Let Sawa's fists bring him back to reality.
"Technique Reversal: Blue!"
Countless cursed spirits swarmed Sawa like a swarm of angry hornets.
Suguru unleashed his next move without mercy. Fresh from their panic, the villagers who caught sight of the grotesque figures fled even faster.
"Technique Reversal: Red!"
A repelling force burst outward, shredding spirits and leveling nearby huts.
"Blue: Spirit Fusion!"
With a roar, dozens of rainbow dragon spirals merged into a colossal super rainbow dragon avatar.
"New trick?" Sawa's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he responded with a Red blast.
Roar—
The super rainbow dragon bellowed, its massive tail whipping at the Red energy. The two forces collided in midair.
Boom!
The blast veered off, gouging a crater in the distant mountain and shearing away half its peak.
The super rainbow dragon's tail lay in tatters, but Suguru merely waved his hand and more rainbow dragon spirals coalesced, restoring its form.
"Nice. How's this?" Sawa chanted quickly:
Nine Ropes
Polarized Light
Crow and Declaration
Between Surface and Interior
He merged Blue and Red into a single purple orb.
"Imaginary Technique: Purple!"
The sphere's fictional mass unleashed a bone-shaking force that blended attraction and repulsion.
Suguru whistled in admiration. "Classic Sawa—your Purple's even stronger than Satoru's!"
ACHOO!
Back at Jujutsu High, Satoru Gojo sneezed in the bathroom, oblivious to the battle unfolding miles away.
Facing the Purple orb, Suguru fed his super rainbow dragon avatar a steady stream of cursed energy.
It held its size but grew in resilience and power. With a deafening roar, it lunged and swallowed the orb whole.
The creature writhed, purple ichor bleeding from its form until—boom!—it exploded, raining violet droplets across the clearing.
"Barely held it?" Sawa called out, impressed. "But not enough, Suguru!"
Clang!
Sawa deflected Suguru's sudden close-range strike. Amid the chaos, Suguru swung Playful Cloud, the impact echoing like thunder against Sawa's arm.
Sawa winced—and then grinned. "You broke through my Limitless barrier? The same domain extension I taught you?"
"And this," Suguru panted, hefting Playful Cloud, "is my Special Grade tool. And yes, I finally paid off its loan."
"Tch! I was going easy on you!" Sawa laughed, dodging the next swing.
"Hand-to-hand? You'll regret challenging me."
Shinbu Style: Twin Sun Scorch!
Bang bang bang!
They blurred across the battlefield in a whirlwind of afterimages, sparks, and ringing metal.
"Come on, Suguru!" Sawa taunted. "Is that all you've got?"
Suguru's eyes flared. "Don't underestimate me!" With a guttural shout, he unlocked new speed—shonen-style limit break and all.
But Sawa, ever unshaken, landed a precise Black Flash that halted Suguru's surge mid-stride.
Suguru countered instantly with his own Black Flash.
Black Flashes—rare feats for most sorcerers—became their baseline, flashing in rapid succession until Suguru's vision swam with sweat.
"Heh… I can't win at hand-to-hand," Suguru admitted, footing back and sheathing Playful Cloud to form hand seals.
Sawa frowned, sensing his friend's resolve. "Domain Expansion? You know it won't end well."
Suguru laughed, breath ragged. "You'll never know unless I try."
"Domain Expansion: Myriad Manifestations!"
Sawa's eyes gleamed as seals spun around him.
"Domain Expansion: Dustless Realm!"
Their domains clashed in a searing burst of light. As expected, Dustless Realm's counter-effect overwhelmed Myriad Manifestations.
"Damn it… hold on!"
Suguru clenched his teeth, pouring every remaining drop of cursed energy into sustaining his domain. But it flickered.
"You've done enough," Sawa said softly as Dustless Realm's blinding light consumed Myriad Manifestations.
Suguru felt the world go white, forced to close his eyes against the brilliance.
"I… lost…"