Zoro mulled over what Sukuna had said.
Claiming that it's pitiful to choose to form a group despite having such power?
'Nonsense.'
Precisely because one has power, forming a group is essential. This world is full of problems that cannot be solved by strength alone.
Just as Zoro, Toji, Satoru, and Suguru, no matter how strong they were, needed more than just brute force to completely reform the jujutsu world.
Forming a group, in other words, creating an organization, brings together people with various ways of addressing problems in one place.
So that even in situations where brute force is inappropriate, they can still overcome obstacles.
Well, Zoro hadn't formed a group to get help from others; it just happened that the people around him secretly made him their leader.
For the record, Zoro didn't even know they were close. In fact, he didn't even know they had met.
Zoro rolled his eyes as he remembered those who suddenly came to him, boasting that from now on, they would unite their strength to support him, so he should feel free to order them around without worry.
But more importantly.
"What's this talk about groups and all? If you destroy Shibuya, where will I drink and with whom?!"
"...."
Seeing the sincerity on Zoro's face, Sukuna decided not to continue the conversation.
"Well, fine. If that's what you think."
Hold on to that pathetic sentiment as you die.
Sukuna stretched.
Kaa——ang!
Zoro's sword clashed heavily with Sukuna's leg, both strengthened by cursed energy. Sukuna smiled slightly.
"Let's start with some light hand-to-hand combat."
Boom! Boom! Boom boom boom!
The clash of sword and leg created explosive sounds. The black aura of Haki and cursed energy collided, producing a distinct heavy vibration.
'In pure martial arts, he's on par with my father.'
And his control of cursed energy and the resulting physical enhancement are as precise as Gojo Satoru's with his Six Eyes.
Zoro's lips twisted into a smirk.
'Pick one or the other.'
Considering how his father obtained immense physical abilities at the cost of never having cursed energy,
And how Satoru was born with the ability for precise atomic-level manipulation of cursed energy with his Six Eyes, at the cost of lifelong eye strain,
It seemed excessive for Ryomen Sukuna to possess both abilities without any apparent penalty.
'Well, I suppose I'm excessive too.'
Zoro's black Haki suddenly flared up like gasoline poured on a fire. He pulled his two swords behind him and swiftly slashed.
"Tora Gari!"
Swish!
The tiger-striped slash instantly cut off Sukuna's left leg. Sukuna quickly used reverse cursed energy to instantly regenerate his body.
Just as Zoro was about to follow up with another attack, Sukuna aimed a punch at Zoro's solar plexus.
Boom!
Sukuna's hand was repelled with strong force before it could reach Zoro's abdomen. He then unleashed countless invisible slashes, as powerful as those that could decapitate the special-grade curse, Jogo, in one blow, directly at Zoro.
Boom boom boom boom!
Zoro was pushed back, acquiring several shallow cuts on his muscular torso. He noticed the bloodstains on his clothes but didn't mind.
He wasn't the only one bleeding.
Thud!
Sukuna's left hand fell to the ground.
Splash!
Seeing the blood gushing from his severed left wrist, Sukuna narrowed his eyes. When had this happened? Sukuna's sharp mind quickly deduced the answer.
'He counterattacked almost simultaneously when I unleashed my slashes.'
And he managed to sever a hand in the process.
Whoosh.
Sukuna used reverse cursed energy to regenerate his hand, just as he had done with his leg earlier. He looked back at Zoro.
'I sensed he was no ordinary foe from the beginning…'
But he hadn't expected him to be this challenging, even after consuming 10 more fingers. This was unexpected.
Zoro, seemingly aware of Sukuna's thoughts, smirked.
"What's the matter? Surprised? Suddenly clammed up."
"..."
"It's not like I haven't faced someone of your caliber before."
The Sukuna before him was not at full strength, possessing only 14 fingers' worth of power, roughly 70% of his full potential.
'I've fought against those at this level or even stronger many times.'
Special Grade Vengeful Spirit Rika, Zenin Toji, and Gojo Satoru flashed through Zoro's mind.
Facing Sukuna at full strength with all 20 fingers might be different, but with 14 fingers, Zoro was confident he could handle it.
It wasn't impossible to extract Yuji from Sukuna either.
Meanwhile, Sukuna acknowledged that the situation wasn't turning in his favor.
'It seems I'll have to reveal a bit more of my hand.'
"■"
"Open."
Whoosh.
A small flame ignited at Sukuna's fingertip, forming a thin ribbon of fire around his body. He asked,
"Do you like fire?"
Zoro chuckled briefly. Whether he liked it or not, he was familiar with it. Both his enemies and Zoro himself frequently used fire.
"I've got some history with it."
"Really? Well, it's not an uncommon technique."
Fire has always been both a feared element and a useful tool for humanity since ancient times.
'Now that I think about it, that curse I killed earlier had flames coming out of its head.'
Well, it wasn't information important enough to remember. Sukuna casually dismissed it from his mind.
"Whoever's fire you've encountered before, mine will be different."
"Well…."
Zoro recalled a rain of magma fists that seemed capable of burning and sinking an entire island in his previous life. Strictly speaking, that wasn't fire, but magma.
Would Sukuna's fire be on the same level as that?
Sukuna ignited a flame on his fingertip, as if drawing an arrow. Though the flame was small, it illuminated the surroundings more brightly than any light.
"Brace yourself."
"You too."
Sukuna's eyebrow twitched at Zoro's words.
"Arrogant bastard…."
Click. Zoro crossed his arms, holding his swords. The sharp blades gleamed darkly and magnificently, like the ocean at midnight.
"Three-Sword Style—"
Zoro charged straight at Sukuna. Sukuna watched him and then released the fire like a drawn bowstring.
Whoosh!
The fire flew towards Zoro.
What had been a small flame quickly grew as it flew, expanding to seemingly engulf Zoro, the building he stood on, and even the entire city.
The massive flames, burning bright red and menacing, opened their destructive maw towards Zoro.
This was truly a fire demon.
Zoro ignored the growing flames, keeping his eyes fixed on Sukuna behind the fire as he continued to charge forward.
In the end, the important thing was cutting down the opponent.
Sizzle.
Flames caught on Zoro's clothes, swords, and body.
In the intense heat that felt like it would burn his soul, Zoro firmly gripped the swords, now heated to the point where they could have melted the flesh off his hands.
Slash, slash, slash!
Zoro cut through the wall of flames, reaching Sukuna. Sukuna's eyes widened as Zoro swung his burning three swords.
"—Burning Ogre Cutter!"
Slash, slash, slash!
The three slashes carved a large X-shaped wound across Sukuna's torso.
Boom—!
The massive flame, now a single red dot, exploded as if a volcano had erupted, sending a red pillar of fire into the sky, raining fire down.
[Umbrella, umbrella, umbrella.]
Geto's massive curses appeared from somewhere, using their bodies to block Sukuna's flames from falling onto the city.
Though the power of the flames was reduced by Zoro's slash, it was still Sukuna's technique. If the flames fell onto the city, they would surely burn down the roads and buildings.
Standing behind Sukuna, Zoro, still engulfed in flames, looked back at the recently slashed Sukuna. Despite being wrapped in fire, Zoro's gray eyes were sharp and clear, unaffected by the blaze.
"This is the second time I've used Burning Ogre Cutter… It's not bad each time."
Whoosh!
Zoro swung his sword in the air. Strong Haki flowed through his sword and body, snuffing out Sukuna's fiery flames as if covered by a cloth.
One of the effects of powerful Armament Haki was the nullification of techniques.
Feeling the scorching pain all over his body, Zoro thought,
'It's not like I didn't get burned at all, but it's bearable.'
There was no hindrance to continuing the battle. To Zoro, this amount of damage was almost nothing.
Despite being nearly cut in half across the torso, Sukuna smiled knowingly.
'He can't kill me.'
That guy could have finished Sukuna off. He could have slashed his head to pieces before using the reverse curse technique. But he didn't.
'Probably because I'm sharing this body with the kid.'
A weak and exploitable trait. Sukuna, chuckling briefly, healed his wounds with the reverse curse technique and stood up.
"You really are human."
"Quit stating the obvious and keep fighting."
"I'd like to play a bit more, but... it's getting boring."
If you wanted to win, you should have killed me just now. Sukuna didn't bother to hide his smirk.
That's why you're going to die.
Sukuna positioned his hands with the middle and ring fingers extended, the index and little fingers folded, and the palms facing each other in front of his face—a gesture resembling a prayer before eating.
It was a unique hand sign, representing Enma Daio, the King of Hell.
"Domain Expansion."
Malevolent Shrine.
...
[Author's Note]
Vote with your power stones, it motivates me to keep posting chapters.
If you're interested, you can read 20 advance chapters on my Patréon.
patréon.com/fumiaki