Eichi slowed the frequency of his attacks, his consciousness diving into the Shadow World.
Soon, he discovered the root of the problem.
Someone was interfering with the Ten Shadows Technique array, which was founded on the Ten Sacred Treasures, deep within the Shadow World.
Abe no Seimei's words reappeared in Eichi's mind.
"Your Cursed Technique was originally just controlling shadows. It was Taira no Masakado who transformed shadow techniques into the Ten Shadows Technique."
Eichi remembered that at the time, after learning of this, he had sighed and wished he could meet this talented ancestor.
He never expected to actually meet him now.
Eichi began to contend with Taira no Masakado from afar, each of them vying for control over the Ten Shadows Technique array.
Ever since his Maximum Technique awakened with the help of the Holy Grail, and his soul entered the Shadow World and came into contact with the Ten Shadows Technique array, Eichi had conducted in-depth research on it.
The Ten Shadows Technique array was already covered with Eichi's traces and Cursed Energy.
Therefore, even though Taira no Masakado was the creator of the Ten Shadows Technique array, he was temporarily unable to seize control of it or sever the connection between Eichi and his Shikigami.
The situation fell into a stalemate, which was the last thing Eichi wanted to see.
"If that's the case..."
Eichi's gaze sharpened, and he controlled Qiongqi to rush toward Emperor Sutoku alongside him.
Under a powerful attack that traded injury for injury, Emperor Sutoku was struck down to the ground by the two of them working together.
Qiongqi and Eichi were also left with terrifying curses.
Eichi immediately canceled Qiongqi's summoning.
Due to Taira no Masakado's interference, summoning new Shikigami would be extremely troublesome for Eichi.
However, Eichi did not care. Since the Ten Shadows Technique was not working well, he would fight as a Master and use the power of Heroic Spirits.
"Archer, come to my side immediately."
A crimson Command Spell disappeared.
Emiya, who had originally been rushing toward Kyoto, instantly appeared beside Eichi.
"I am the bone of my sword."
The two exchanged glances, and Eichi instantly conveyed the battle plan to Emiya.
A familiar chant appeared on the battlefield.
On the ground, the battle between Taira no Masakado and Mahoraga continued.
From Taira no Masakado's performance, it seemed that he also intended to summon the Shikigami of the Ten Shadows Technique to fight.
However, Mahoraga's fierce assault left him no time to put down his longsword and form hand seals.
"Since you're so unwilling to let me summon Shikigami, then neither of us will summon any."
Eichi grinned.
The next second, a large amount of magical energy appeared in the Shadow World, and a massive array enveloped the Ten Shadows Technique array.
Mahoraga disappeared, and Taira no Masakado could no longer feel his connection with the Ten Shadows Technique array.
"Unlimited Blade Works!"
Just then, a massive surge of magical energy erupted with Emiya at its center, and countless streams of magical energy spewed from the ground like flames.
Emiya, Artoria, Taira no Masakado, and Emperor Sutoku all vanished from their original positions.
"Interesting."
Sukuna immediately understood Eichi's intentions when he saw Artoria disappear and only the two of them remaining on the field.
Countless slashes and magic bullets collided in the air.
Continuous explosions echoed through the large lakeside park.
Eichi maintained the barrage of magic bullets and swooped down toward Sukuna.
Continuing such long-range attacks would only be meaningless mutual attrition, unable to decide the winner.
So Eichi decided to close the distance.
A purple light flashed and disappeared.
Wielding the long sword Monohoshizao, Eichi used the momentum of his dive to unleash an incredibly swift slash.
Pfft.
Monohoshizao's suddenly extended attack range threw off Sukuna's prediction of Eichi's attack.
A deep wound appeared from Sukuna's right shoulder to his left abdomen, deep enough to expose bone.
Sukuna immediately retaliated with a powerful, almost point-blank Dismantle.
Eichi raised his long sword to block and was sent flying by the unavoidable slash.
"Dismantle!"
Countless slashes covered the area where Eichi fell, and a huge cloud of dust rose from where they landed.
Monohoshizao shot out of the smoke, flying toward Sukuna's face.
Sukuna tilted his head slightly, but his peripheral vision caught Monohoshizao constantly disintegrating.
"Could it be?"
Sukuna immediately sensed that something was wrong.
A blue figure rushed out of the smoke.
"Cleave: Spiderweb."
Without using Domain Expansion, Cleave required Sukuna to make physical contact with the target of his Cursed Technique to release it.
Therefore, the current Sukuna could not directly use Cleave on Eichi from a distance.
However, the use of Cleave was not so rigid.
For example, now, through contact with the ground, Sukuna used the ground as the target of his Cursed Technique, slashing it with countless spiderweb-like cracks.
The purpose of this attack was obvious, to destroy Eichi's support point and interrupt his next move.
The suddenly shattered and uneven ground indeed caused Eichi a lot of trouble, just as Sukuna expected.
But what Sukuna did not expect was that the Heroic Spirit Eichi relied on, using the smoke to obscure Sukuna's vision, was Cú Chulainn.
"Gae Bolg!"
Since his balance was unstable, Eichi simply did a backflip in midair and hurled the crimson spear in his hand.
Gae Bolg, the Spear of Piercing Death Thorns, was a Noble Phantasm capable of reversing karma.
The moment the Noble Phantasm was used, the "result" of the heart being pierced was created first, and the "cause" of the spear piercing the heart occurred afterward.
Unless one possessed unbelievable luck or some special means, this was a fatal blow that reversed karma.
Pfft.
Under Sukuna's disbelieving gaze, the crimson spear pierced his heart.
Eichi also fell to the ground, losing his support and balance from throwing the spear.
Sukuna immediately pulled out the spear and used Reverse Cursed Technique to heal his heart.
But he soon discovered that a curse was hindering his heart's recovery.
Although this curse was not impossible to resolve, it indeed caused Sukuna a great deal of trouble while healing his heart.
"Tsk."
Sukuna showed an annoyed expression.
Earlier in the juvenile detention center, Sukuna had removed his heart to prevent Yuji from regaining control of his body, threatening him with death.
He never expected to experience the feeling of losing his heart again so soon.
"Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine!"
"Domain Expansion: Throne of Heroes!"
A shrine atop countless white bones and a sacred, solemn throne appeared at the same time.
Countless slashes crossed the Domain boundary, blocked by the numerous Heroic Spirits Eichi temporarily summoned through his Domain.
Then, one of Eichi's eyes emitted a chilling red light, his muscles instantly bulged, and a huge axe-sword appeared in his hand.
"Roar!"
Eichi let out a roar like a Vicious Beast, then leaped high and smashed down toward the shrine where Sukuna sat.
"Tch."
Sukuna dodged the terrifying blow, and countless slashes landed on Eichi.
Pfft, pfft, pfft.
Countless blood blossoms bloomed across Eichi's body, but they quickly recovered under Reverse Cursed Technique and the Twelve Trials.
Under the enhancement of the Twelve Trials, Eichi's physical body itself had become a Noble Phantasm.
Sukuna frowned. He had also noticed the terrifying nature of Eichi's body.
Many of the countless slashes that had just landed on him had no effect.
Most of Eichi's injuries were caused by Cleave.
Thus, Eichi transformed into a violent and fearless Vicious Beast, engaging Sukuna in a wild, brutal fight.
Rumble.
Malevolent Shrine collapsed under Eichi's relentless, injury-for-injury assault, and Sukuna began to move at full speed to escape the range of the Throne of Heroes.
The fierce battle continued.
Not far from the battlefield, two figures who had separated from the convoy appeared.
(To be continued.)