Inside the Smallpox Deity's domain.
The place looked like a mass burial ground. Tombstones stood everywhere, and the trees were withered, creating a chilling scene.
"A brat without a domain is nothing more than livestock waiting to be butchered in front of me."
The curse sneered, hands raised as it prepared to activate the guaranteed-hit technique of the domain.
"I don't think so."
At this moment, Noritoshi had already drawn his bow. Several arrows wrapped in cursed energy turned into streaks of light and shot straight toward the still-smug curse.
"Pointless tricks…"
The Smallpox Deity reached out to catch them.
But in the next instant, something unexpected happened.
Just before reaching it, the three arrows suddenly curved, slipping past its hands and going straight for its head.
Clang!
The arrowheads, empowered by cursed energy and stronger than bullets, struck the curse's skull with a metallic sound. The attack failed to break its defense. It only forced it back a few steps before the arrows snapped and fell to the ground.
"They changed direction… a technique?"
The Smallpox Deity rubbed its forehead and muttered while looking at the broken arrows.
"So tough?!"
Noritoshi's narrow eyes widened in shock at the sight.
"Don't spread your cursed energy too thin. It's not some small fry. Even if it's nothing in front of Fushiguro-sensei, it's not something we can exorcise casually."
Todo held his fists upright in front of him. While thinking calmly, he deployed a Simple Domain large enough to cover both of them.
Because of the opponent's technique, he could not engage in close combat. And a Simple Domain could not be used for mobile offense. Their only option for now was for him to support Noritoshi and create a chance for the latter to finish the exorcism.
But it was unrealistic to keep Noritoshi standing in one place and firing. The Simple Domain would not last forever.
The urgent issue was to find out whether the guaranteed-hit effect activated instantly and whether it could target multiple people at once.
"Flowing Red Scale: Blood Arrow!"
Noritoshi's right eye widened. Blood seeped out and gathered into a solid mass on his forehead. His circulation surged like a pump, boosting his physical ability.
Under his control, one of the blood packs in the quiver behind him burst. All the blood wrapped around a single arrow, which he drew and fired.
This arrow was far stronger than the ones before.
"Then I'll start with you."
The Smallpox Deity had no intention of giving Noritoshi the chance. It had already noticed that Todo avoided close combat. Its right fist slammed into its left palm.
"It's coming!"
Todo could feel the pressure of the domain's guaranteed-hit effect. His Simple Domain was slowly cracking.
Meanwhile, Noritoshi's blood arrow shot forward. Its speed and power made even this special grade curse feel a slight sense of danger.
Clap!
The Smallpox Deity did not dodge. Instead, it activated its technique again and switched the target to the incoming arrow.
Boom!
A coffin appeared out of nowhere and sealed it inside. Then a massive stone fell from the sky, smashing the coffin deep into the ground.
The Smallpox Deity's guaranteed-hit effect could target anything that carried cursed energy.
'So it's not instantaneous!'
What Noritoshi had used as an attack instead gave Todo new information.
The opponent's technique had at least two stages in its activation, and that gave them a clear visual cue. More importantly, when the curse used its technique on the arrow, the pressure on the Simple Domain disappeared.
That meant it could not activate it on multiple targets at the same time.
And its defense was not that strong.
The two men exchanged a glance. The plan was already set. That was the tacit understanding forged through Mukuro's relentless training.
"Go!"
They stepped forward at the same time and charged from two different directions.
Abandoning long-range attacks?
The Smallpox Deity was momentarily confused.
But after a brief hesitation, it made its decision.
The big one had stronger attack power and posed the greater threat. But a single punch would not kill him, while the disease attached to its body would severely affect that brute. After one or two more hits, the man would be badly injured.
So… it would eliminate the archer first.
Clap!
The Smallpox Deity leapt into the air, avoiding both attacks while activating its technique.
Whoosh!
At the very last moment before the technique completed, Noritoshi fired three more arrows with clearly insufficient force. He was then sealed in a coffin and crushed into the ground by falling stone.
Clap!
This time it was Todo's applause.
The first clap.
The first arrow in the air switched places with the blood-soaked Blood Arrow that had been buried underground by the curse's technique.
"Useless! That level of force can't even break my defense…"
The Smallpox Deity did not change its hand sign as it mocked Todo.
Kamo, trapped in the coffin, was using Falling Blossom Emotion to resist, so the guaranteed-hit effect could not complete instantly. And even though this arrow carried more cursed energy, the lack of initial velocity meant it could not reach its true power.
There was no need to dodge. It was not afraid.
But…
Clap!
The second clap.
Todo and Noritoshi switched places.
"Blood Manipulation: Crimson Binding!"
As soon as Noritoshi escaped the coffin, he activated his technique. The blood on the Blood Arrow detached and turned into a net that rushed toward the Smallpox Deity.
"Huh?!"
The curse instinctively reached out to block it.
And because of that, the technique that Todo had been holding back with his Simple Domain was interrupted early.
This was the opening they had been waiting for.
Still standing on the ground, Noritoshi burst another blood pack from the quiver behind him. The blood raced along his body to his palm.
Clap!
His hands came together. Under Flowing Red Scale, heat seemed to rise between them.
Clap! Clap!
The third and fourth claps rang out in succession. Todo and Noritoshi switched positions with the remaining two arrows in the air.
"Watch closely, my brother!"
At the last exchange event, all it took was a simple explanation of Black Flash's principle for Yuji to use it in a fight against him. Todo refused to fall behind. The pendant on his chest swayed. Even though Yuji was not here, he believed his brother would feel his resolve.
On the other hand, Noritoshi had finished charging as well.
"Black Flash!"
"Convergence: Piercing Blood!"
The two men's combined full-power strike crashed directly into the Smallpox Deity's head.
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