Chapter 72: Sukuna: I Am Free!
The so-called 'Cursed Technique Meltdown' refers to the temporary shutdown, or 'melting,' of the Innate Technique carved onto the Sorcerer's body, rendering it unusable after a Domain Expansion.
This is because the Innate Cursed Technique is not mere knowledge or a special skill, but a form of gene and instinct literally carved into the body's flesh and blood.
Similar to how forcing a gun barrel that has overheated from high-intensity use to fire again risks a breech explosion, the 'Cursed Technique Meltdown' phenomenon is analogous. To prevent brain collapse, the body's instinct will shut down the 'pathway' for the technique. This is the Binding Vow and price that must be paid when Domain Expansion attaches a sure-hit effect to the Cursed Technique.
Ryomen Sukuna had temporarily lost the ability to use his Cursed Techniques. Even if he could rely on his experience to force their use, the effect would be greatly diminished.
Although Emiya looked completely exhausted, so what?
Against an opponent of this caliber, Ryomen Sukuna wouldn't believe he had no more trump cards or means, especially since Emiya hadn't revealed much of his hand.
Furthermore, even if Yuji Itadori was stupid, this much time and the incredible commotion should have been enough to wake him up.
Sukuna was only able to temporarily occupy the body by a brief phenomenon of resonance. In this state, he had virtually no possibility of winning.
Angry?
Of course, he was angry!
He didn't just lose this duel; he felt an extreme insult regarding the persistence of that sword. He finally realized that Emiya's special Cursed Technique could not only store weapons in another space, but the forging effect was also real.
Perhaps the so-called indestructible Holy Sword truly existed in history and possessed power matching its name, but the one in Emiya's hand was merely a forgery made by him. Because of this, let alone a second one, Emiya could summon a third, fourth, or tenth one, given enough preparation.
'Annoying, annoying, annoying, annoying. Truly infuriating!!!'
Yet, for this same reason, Ryomen Sukuna was also quite curious about Emiya's Cursed Technique, wondering if this power could also summon truly suitable weapons for him.
"Don't think you've won yet, brat.
If I'm not mistaken, your ultimate goal is still to save this kid, right?
Then, I'll do something I can do now..."
Ryomen Sukuna raised his hand, his nails sharp as blades, and unhesitatingly plunged it into his own chest.
Pssh——!
Blood not only gushed from his chest, but also continuously flowed from the corner of his mouth—the body's cry of being overwhelmed. This was, after all, not a pure mass of flesh like a Cursed Spirit, but Yuji Itadori's human body. In this complex organism, the loss of any vital organ is quite fatal.
But amidst the continuously overflowing blood, a smile surprisingly appeared on Ryomen Sukuna's lips.
And in the next second—
Slish————!!!
What kind of sound did a heart, and the many blood vessels connected to it, make when they were forcibly ripped out of the flesh?
Even Emiya, who witnessed the scene firsthand, didn't know, because the blood that burst out like a high-pressure pipe had completely obscured the sound. When Ryomen Sukuna first held it in his palm, the fresh, grotesque heart was still ceaselessly beating.
"Now, I'll take this kid as a hostage!"
"...Hostage?"
Looking at the bloody, visible wound on Sukuna's chest, even Emiya couldn't help but be stunned. Vicious villains who are ruthless to others are not uncommon, but few can be equally ruthless to themselves.
"That's right."
"I can live without this thing, but this kid can't."
Saying that, Ryomen Sukuna tossed the already lifeless heart aside into the grass like garbage.
"Switching back to me means death. Even if this brat is stupid, he should know how to choose, right? How is the life of another more important than his own?"
"You only have one life, but humans who don't care about life or death are everywhere."
At the very least, Ryomen Sukuna himself would absolutely never choose to die just to stop some demon lord from being resurrected and destroying the world—things that sound laughable.
What was that? A fool to the extreme? Even if you save the world, humanity won't thank you. And the people who continue to fully enjoy this world won't be the ones you desperately tried to save. That is such a ridiculous, absurd, and impractical ideal.
"What if I told you that Itadori is the kind of person who would do such a thing?"
Emiya and Yuji Itadori were not close, that was true; after all, they had only known each other for a day. Viewing one's own life as the most important thing is indeed a human instinct.
But Emiya was willing to believe that a person willing to sacrifice himself to give his comrades a sliver of hope would never choose to cowardly cling to life. Human emotion can override instinct, which is why they are no longer mere beasts.
"Ha? You overestimate him. That guy is only slightly more sturdy and dense than other humans."
Ryomen Sukuna lightly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, the mocking smile still on his face.
"Just a moment ago, this brat was terrified before death, rambling a bunch of nonsense."
"I can assert that he wouldn't dare to kill himself. I am free now."
Ryomen Sukuna knew that he couldn't defeat his opponent right now, but that was only because he hadn't fully recovered yet. Even if he only recovered to ten fingers or more, killing the guy in front of him would be easy, and no one in the current world would be able to stop him.
In short, realizing he couldn't win, Ryomen Sukuna was about to flee.
"You talk too much, Sukuna. If you think you can truly escape from me..."
His magical energy was indeed exhausted, but Emiya still possessed a sufficient amount of Cursed Energy. He hadn't learned the Reverse Cursed Technique, but he could still use Cursed Energy to reinforce and maintain his body, and with Durandal in his hand, he could still contend with the opponent.
However, Emiya paused before he could finish his sentence.
Because the black markings symbolizing Ryomen Sukuna's presence were gradually receding from his body, and his face and expression returned to that somewhat simple and earnest look.
"Thank you, Emiya-sensei."
Only managing to utter that single sentence, Yuji Itadori's body, without the support of his heart, collapsed backward uncontrollably.
Emiya stepped forward and caught the body, but could only fall silent as he stared at the empty chest cavity. Most Noble Phantasms with powerful restorative abilities are Divine
Constructs, which he couldn't project right now, and even if he could, he didn't have enough magical energy or time.
Did he just die, Yuji Itadori?
No, a human body wouldn't completely die this quickly after losing its heart. If he could make Sukuna compromise...
"Emiya-sensei!!"
As Emiya was frantically trying to figure out a countermeasure for the current situation, Megumi Fushiguro, who had returned immediately after settling Nobara Kugisaki and other matters, rushed over.
Undoubtedly, all that lay before him was the cold body of his comrade.
"Itadori... is he dead?"
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