Maximum Technique.
An extension of a cursed technique possessed by either a sorcerer or a cursed spirit, pushed to its absolute limit.
In a sorcerer's arsenal, this was the next best thing after his own domain.
Unfortunately, in the modern era of jujutsu, there are not many who can perform such a feat, to push their technique to its absolute limit outside a domain.
However, one such feat was currently taking place, right in the night sky of Shibuya, a star had started to take birth. Heat and light emitted out of it in torrents as it lit up the night sky.
In reality, this was no star. This was Jogo, and he was preparing his ultimate technique.
A technique which was even more powerful than his own domain in raw output alone. While a domain provides a sure-hit effect, the usual cursed technique inside a domain is not that different for the most part.
Upon having the option between a domain expansion with uncertain chances to kill Mahoraga in one shot before the Divine General adapts, or a maximum technique which was Jogo's highest destructive power,
There wasn't even a choice to be made. The answer was as clear as the burning ball of fire up in the night sky of Shinjuku.
And while Jogo was preparing the fire, down below, darkness spread.
From the soles of my feet to the end of my eyesight, the darkness spread, only stopping at the urban setting of the environment, buildings and roads obstructing further expansion.
Behind me rose a giant towering cross, even dwarfing the likes of Mahoraga.
However, something was missing. The darkness was spilling out, not condensing, not overtaking the environment as it was supposed to.
That was because there was no barrier to hold it.
No… it wasn't an open barrier domain of the legends. This was a no-barrier incomplete domain born out of sheer desperation and my gamble.
'Remove the sure-hit effect.'
'Remove the barrier too.'
I don't need them.
One by one, I traded away everything which made my domain a domain, for a one-time execution to be able to face a monster such as Mahoraga.
And the result was apparent.
As I sacrificed the usual parameters and advantages of my domain, a sharp spike in my cursed energy was evident.
It surged. Higher and higher until I felt my output soaring. It was a trade I made, obviously.
Removing those effects let me improve my CE output and stack it on the already 120% I was carrying after the last Black Flash.
Energy filled my body. It felt like I could form a black hole with a mere punch of mine.
A false sense of power, however, it was intoxicating.
The darkness reached Mahoraga as well, sweeping under his legs like black fog. And the result?
Nothing.
Nothing happened. Without the sure-hit effect of the domain, that darkness was just the material manifestation of my domain. It was harmless, and if something was harmless, there was no need to adapt to it.
Both of us looked at each other. Silence stretched between us until it finally broke apart with a deafening booming noise as both of us launched at each other.
Craters formed where we once stood, leaving behind a trail of dust, and then a shockwave was released at the point we met again.
Both of our fists collided, resulting in a shockwave that tore out from the collision. I felt it in my bones; they almost felt like they were vibrating.
Then the pain shot out as the clash ended, and I was thrown three steps back by the sheer physical blow alone. However, Mahoraga too was affected this time, forced to take a step back by the clash.
Physical difference in weight aside, this was the closest I could get to his physical might currently. And what did it cost me?
Everything, almost.
Mahoraga's ever-grinning mouth gave out a chilling smile, which put a damn grin on my face as well.
I felt like I was losing my sanity the longer I stayed here. It was maddeningly infuriating and fun at the same time.
The wheel on top of Mahoraga turned once again, the adaptations never stopping.
"BRING IT ON!" I shouted, eager to see what I had in this state.
Mahoraga was oblivious. Rushing at me with all of his speed, he slammed his massive hand right at my face, ready to dig me six feet down in one clean punch.
I wasn't planning on taking that. Instead of stepping back, I pulled my own punch back and hit Mahoraga right at the knee before his strike could arrive.
It didn't work how I expected it to, honestly. The strike still plastered me to the ground, and I wasn't even defending against it this time, but much of its power was gone since I disturbed his balance.
Groaning, while lying flat on the ground with my head humming, I looked out to see Mahoraga had pulled his leg back like a soccer player and then kicked out.
I was the ball.
Before that devil's foot fell on me, I wrapped as much cursed energy as I could muster around me, because the next moment I felt like I had been hit by a cannonball.
I was airborne, with probably a few more broken bones, and got slammed into a tall building, kicking up dust and destruction upon impact. I got engraved into the wall like a piece of modern art.
The world around me spun until I saw a shadow falling right toward me. My eyes went wide with shock as I barely shifted my body before a meter-long sword pierced right next to me.
Mahoraga slammed into the same spot of the building like an angry Hulk smashing things in New York, this one just a tad bit smarter with a long-ass sword attached to him.
Cold sweat broke out just thinking about what would have happened if I had shown even a heartbeat of delay there.
Spotting a small gap, I dove down to get away from his hulking figure and land on safer ground, at least comparatively, but halfway through I felt my leg get grabbed.
'Oh no...'
Before I knew it, everything became hazy and I was slammed into the side of the building and then tossed up like I was some freaking frisbee.
I flailed around helplessly mid-air when a giant shadow appeared behind me, still mid-air, mind you.
"For god's sake, give me a..."
A Herculean punch cut my rant short as I was sent soaring back towards the earth in a diagonal direction. The reunion was nothing short of diabolical.
Like a pachinko ball, I bounced around three times before finally, somehow, I don't know how, but somehow landed on my feet with one badass moment in the entire fight to call my own.
Sliding back on both legs with blood splashing all over the place, my entire figure was bloodied, but I stood.
BOOM!
A few meters away, Mahoraga landed with his ever-so devilish grin plastered on his face.
The fight for a second came to a standstill. I just stood there, breathing—heavy and labored to the point I felt like I wasn't getting enough air if the building's suffocation was anything to go by.
Light-headed and blurry vision. Troubled breathing, hearing, standing, and continuing to exist altogether.
Suddenly, my knees gave out and I fell back to the floor, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Surprisingly enough, that actually felt a bit better in my already terrible condition.
A single punch.
I gave up almost everything in my domain for a single punch which too didn't do any damage. Just pushed him back one step.
And now I was already in this state. The helplessness of weakness, only in moments such as this are reavealed.
I tried to get up, but my body wouldn't move. It had reached its limit. There wasn't much left to give.
'Come on... please, one last time. Get up!'
Tears seemed to pool in front of my vision. I was so close. If I fell here, I'd regret it for my entire afterlife.
"COME ON... RISE..."
I didn't know what caused it, but giving up now didn't even feel like an option anymore.
Nah... I'm way too far in for that.
I'll win.
Even if it kills me, I'd rather die a winner than live as a loser.
So get up.
Get. The. Fuck. Up!
And, surprisingly enough—to the point that I never could have believed I would actually do it—I got up.
I saw the walking disaster back to aura farming as he approached me with an ever-plastered grin on his face.
And that's when I realised what made me get up.
It was no longer survival instinct.
This was EGO!
xXx
A/N : Let be honest, he was cooked no matter how much buff he get by trading away his domain's parameters. But you see, A man's Ego is a dangerous thing !
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