The mirror cracked under the weight of the explosion, its surface splitting like glass—then shattered outward. The explosion reflected back on itself, creating not one but two violent shockwaves.
BOOOMMMMM!!!
BOOOMMMM!!!
The world was drowned in fire and sound. Dust choked the air, fragments of stone and wood hurled outward like bullets, and the once-grand mansion was reduced to splinters and a massive crater at its heart. For a moment, the battlefield was unrecognizable, nothing but ruin, heat, and smoke.
From the haze, Sutoku's laugh echoed. But his thoughts burned sharper.
"What the hell? Did he… reflect that blast back at me? Another cursed technique…? Just how many does this boy have at his disposal? Tch. No matter. I'll have to end this quickly. I've yet to fully incarnate—draw this out, and my form will weaken."
But before the emperor could take another step, a single word slashed through the dust.
"Slip."
Sutoku's eyes widened as his feet betrayed him, skidding on the rubble as though the ground itself conspired against him. His stance faltered, and for a moment, he stumbled.
Ren stepped out of the haze, shirt burned away, chest heaving with steam rising off the cursed energy-clotted wound. His torso was carved raw, his arms scorched, but his face burned with fury. Across his cheeks and tongue, fangs and serpent eyes glowed—the mark of Cursed Speech.
Ren's voice was jagged with rage and exhaustion.
"Fucking hell, he still could output this much? even though he just used a domain? Ugh, the mirror barely reflected most of the explosion… I have to end this NOW!"
His hand snapped downward.
"Magnetic Decree: Iron Rule!"
The ground screamed. All the broken steel, nails, pipes, and rods scattered from the mansion's corpse convulsed upward, bending unnaturally toward Sutoku. With a wet crack, an iron rod pierced straight through his stomach, the force staggering him mid-step.
Sutoku's body jerked, but before his hand could reach for the wound—
FWOOSH!
A blazing fox-shaped fireball burst against his face. Ren's voice was a growl.
"Foxflame Mirage: Foxflame!"
Three more streaks of flame shot forward, chasing Sutoku down. But the Emperor's hand carved through the air again, quick as brushstrokes.
散.
"Scatter!"
The fireballs broke formation instantly, spiraling apart as if their targets no longer existed. They hissed past him, vanishing harmlessly into the smoke. Sutoku ripped the iron rod from his gut, blood spraying before a familiar white glow swirled over the wound.
But instead of retreating, Sutoku lunged forward, sprinting at Ren with wild joy. His smile was manic, his eyes gleaming.
"HA! You're the best! Your cursed technique, whatever it is, is wonderful! but… You're bad at close combat, right?"
Ren's breath hitched. He kept muttering—
"O ancient veil, grant me—"
But Sutoku was already there. His fist slammed into Ren's gut like a hammer.
THUD!
Ren's body doubled over, spit and blood flying from his mouth before he was sent crashing backward across the broken ground. His vision blurred, ribs screaming. Sutoku was already on top of him, the wound in his stomach sealing with white light as he healed mid-rush.
Ren's palm shot forward desperately. "Foxflame Mirage: Foxflame!"
Three more foxfires erupted. At the same time, his will surged outward. "Magnetic Decree: Iron Rule!"
Iron rods shot up alongside the fire, the air screaming with cursed energy. Sutoku didn't slow. He slipped between the rods, ducked fireballs, and his body weaved effortlessly as though he'd practiced these motions for centuries.
Ren hissed another word, forcing his cursed energy into the sound.
"Divine Illusion—"
BAM! POW! THUD!
Sutoku's fists and legs moved in a savage rhythm, punching, kicking, and restlessly thrashing Ren back! To the point, Ren uses "Overdrive" while breathing fast, his cursed energy bursting to match Sutoku's speed. Sparks and shockwaves erupted as they clashed.
But it was one-sided very clearly…
Ren's guard broke with every blow. He staggered under Sutoku's mastery, his ribs aching, blood dripping.
"HA! Your weakness is hand-to-hand? How disappointing, you know? I am the most skilled in hand-to-hand! because my cursed technique leaves me weak in close-quarters hand-to-hand I mastered hand-to-hand! You rely too much on your cursed technique! which is why you will lose!"
CRASH!
Ren's body was hurled through what remained of the mansion's wall, debris collapsing with him.
Sutoku roared with laughter as he rushed through, tireless…
But Ren's hand darted down into his shadow.
SPLRT—
The worm leapt out, spitting something unnatural. A black, metallic shape.
Ren's fingers closed around it—
BANG!
The recoil almost broke his wrist, but the gun barked fire, the bullet tearing straight into Sutoku's shoulder.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Six shots. Six flashes of fire.
The Emperor staggered. One bullet pierced his shoulder, another buried deep in his leg, blood spraying. He moved with inhuman speed, barely dodging the rest, his body twisting out of their path.
Sutoku hissed in pain. His steps faltered. His blood dripped into the ruins.
And yet—he laughed.
"HAHAHAHA! Oh my… What is that? What kind of tool is that, boy? More tricks… tricks upon tricks. Delightful! But you cannot win with tricks and cursed techniques alone!"
His voice rose as the white glow enveloped his body once again. The bullet holes closed, the blood vanished, and his flesh sealed smooth. He stepped forward through the smoke, smiling like a god returned.
"You'll have to rival the very peak of sorcery to defeat me. And look—" Sutoku spread his arm wide, his aura swelling, oppressive and boundless. —I have recovered my cursed technique output. It's over now."
The battlefield trembled beneath his words, the world bending around the Emperor's overwhelming presence.