Seeing the forest in the distance, and Dhruv's Shikigami stuck to the branches with numerous corpses of the curse users hanging from it, a man with a pompadour exclaimed, "Those trees...and that monstrous amount of cursed energy—it's the Senju!"
"Show me the names of the players who've gained points within the last minute," he commanded.
"Yes, sir!" Kogane replied.
**SENJU HIROSHI**
- Points: 70
- Rules: 0
- Current Colony: Sendai
A woman hanging in the air upside down was also observing. "Tsk, even in this era there exists the Senju. Even if Dhruv's Shikigami is no more, here comes a far more troublesome opponent...this sucks."
"Dhruv stood no chance. That clan of monsters, but it's only one Senju. Things shouldn't be that hard," the man said, knowing that the moment Dhruv was gone, another stronger cursed spirit would attack.
*Scchhrkkk* *Scchhrkkk* *Scchhrkkk*
Hiroshi heard the skittering of cockroaches. From below, an incalculable number of cockroaches were attempting to eat the trees, the corpses, and the remaining stragglers of curse users. Hiroshi saw some of them turned to skeletons within seconds.
"Cockroaches...disgusting," Hiroshi muttered. "Shinboku No Jumon: Resonance Blast."
From across the multiple branches of the trees, flowers bloomed, and from the flowers, black beams of energy were fired.
This was supposed to be Tailed Beast Balls, but Hiroshi substituted his Cero for the same effect of vaporizing destruction.
The Ceros hit the horde of cockroaches and began doing it in a sweeping motion, reducing the surrounding trees and buildings to dust—a complete 100-meter wipe.
Seeing Hiroshi's attacks obliterating a massive chunk of the structures in the area, the man exclaimed, "What the hell is that output!?"
From beneath the rubble emerged a humanoid cockroach.
"That's Kuroroushi," Kogane appeared, explaining.
When Kuroroushi realized that he was at a disadvantage against Dhruv, he immediately went into hibernation, triggered by his desire to survive. He has an unlimited appetite; the more he eats, the more cockroaches he can produce via parthenogenesis. Now, Kuroroushi is in a state of starvation, and the first thing he saw was Senju Hiroshi. He instinctively decided that the God of Sorcerers would be his next meal.
A decision that would be the end of him.
Hiroshi stood atop his wood constructs, calmly observing Kuroroushi and his festering life blade, a weapon that blended life and death in its grotesque design.
"Quite a unique weapon," Hiroshi commented, maintaining his cool demeanor, "but it won't save you."
With surprising speed, Kuroroushi extended his wings and lunged towards Hiroshi, aiming to strike. Hiroshi casually sidestepped the attack, effortlessly evading the cockroach-man's assault. In the same fluid motion, he used both hands to slam Kuroroushi onto the wooden floor beneath him. Before the cockroach-man could react, Hiroshi cast his technique, "Shinboku no Jumon: Tree Bound Burial." The wooden floor swiftly enveloped Kuroroushi, sealing him away just as Hiroshi had done with Jogo in the past.
Aware that he was being watched, Hiroshi smirked in the direction of Ryu Ishigori and Takako, who had observed the entire encounter.
"He found us!" Ryu Ishigori exclaimed.
Suddenly, a black beam of energy shot towards Ryu and Takako at incredible speed. Both curse users managed to dodge the attack, but the buildings behind them bore the brunt of the beam, leaving a curved void in its wake.
A wooden dragon carried Hiroshi forward, slithering across the landscape and curling around the bridge where the man and woman stood moments before.
Upon closer inspection, Hiroshi realized he had read about these curse users in the Clan Archives.
"I know only one woman who uses the sky as clothes," Hiroshi thought.
The woman had a fit build, lightly tanned skin, and long pink hair that she usually manipulated to jut upward, keeping it in the same shape as it would be if her body were upside-down. She had thin eyebrows and large eyes with black sclera and dark pink irises.
Takako didn't wear any clothes at all except for her accessories. She sported two matching bracelets on both her wrists, thick hoop earrings, and a choker around her neck. Rather than using clothing, Takako used her cursed technique to cover the private sections of her otherwise exposed body by making them appear transparent.
She was the Captain of the Sun, Moon, and Stars Squad of the Fujiwara Clan and was the Whetstone, the main opponent of the Senju Clan's Gyokkō (Jade Light) at the early days of the Senju, the backbone of the clan. She was a known adversary, and her clashes ultimately led to the birth of the 'Senkō Butai' (Thousand Skills Corps), the elite of the Senju Clan's sorcerers.
The Fujiwara Clan did not take kindly to the existence of the Senju Clan, and thus the Senju rose to the challenge.
The birth of the Gyokko and the Senko Butai enabled the Senju Clan to best the Fujiwara Clan's Sun, Moon, and Stars Squad and the Five Void Generals, ultimately asserting dominance over Heian-Kyo. It is worth noting that both organizations of the Fujiwara Clan were wiped out by the King of Curses prior to his sealing; nevertheless, the reformed ones remained a challenge.
The birth of both Senju organizations paved the way for the Senju Clan's dominance in Heian-Kyo. Throughout the remaining years of the Fujiwara, they attempted to reclaim Heian-Kyo from the Senju several times but failed until their power waned in the Kamakura Period.
"Simply put, an exhibitionist," Hiroshi said as he turned to the pompadour man, "Ryu Ishigori, the Humanoid Cannon."
Ryu Ishigori was relatively tall with a muscular body, well-defined jawline, sleek cheekbones, soft eyes, and thin eyebrows. He had brown hair and proudly sported a vintage pompadour hairstyle directly connected to his cursed technique.
He wore a dark jacket with extensive fur trim around the neck and wrists. The coat was left open, revealing Ryu's chest and the necklace he wore. He had a belt with a large buckle tied around the waist of his dark pants and wore similar-colored shoes.
From the Edo Period, Ryu was most famous for eliminating 60 members of the Gyokko and 10 members of the Senko Butai, gravely injuring the 30th Patriarch of the Senju Clan before his downfall.
However, the 30th Patriarch had only the spell of the Divine Tree without the massive amounts of cursed energy reserves to support the casting, explaining the grave injury.
Ryu's main purpose in attacking the Senju Clan was simply because they were the strongest clan at that point in time. Initially, he intended to fight the Gojo and Zenin Clans, but both practitioners who inherited the prized techniques of their respective clans had recently died, leading him to target the Senju.
The Senju Clan possessed complete information about Ryu's cursed technique.
Cursed Energy Discharge: Ryu could shoot directed blasts of cursed energy from his cannon-shaped pompadour. He was the only sorcerer who could release the same amount of power regardless of whether his cursed technique was activated or not.
Granite Blast: Ryu's signature attack, a directed beam of hyper-concentrated cursed energy.
"Former Captain of the Sun, Moon, and Stars Squad and a criminal... quite a treat. Why don't we settle our historical differences, hmm?" Hiroshi said, standing with open arms, daring his opponents to attack.
"You Senju really like to stick your noses where it doesn't belong," Takako remarked.
"It's because we like to stick our noses where it doesn't belong that we find ourselves in the position of ruling the world today," Hiroshi retorted.
"Doesn't matter. As a Senju, you've always been the good guys. But seeing one massacre curse users without batting an eye is a first for me," Takako observed.
"Well, let's just say this particular Senju has ambitions that require that kind of mentality," Hiroshi smirked.
While they conversed, Ryu had already distanced himself to take aim at Hiroshi. "Flirting? I'm quite starved!" he taunted, unleashing a "Granite Blast!" A massive energy beam shot forth from his pompadour.
Hiroshi sensed the attack and pointed in its direction. "Maximum Output: Gran Rey Cero!" An even larger beam of black cursed energy erupted from Hiroshi's finger. Simultaneously, a clone of Hiroshi emerged and engaged Takako Kuro.
"As much as I enjoy looking at attractive women, these hands are rated E for Everyone," Hiroshi's clone quipped as it activated Domain Amplification, nullifying much of Takako's cursed technique and forcing her into close combat.
The Gran Rey Cero and Granite Blast clashed mid-air, creating a colossal explosion of black and yellowish-orange energies. However, Ryu quickly realized his Granite Blast was outmatched. He dodged to the side as Hiroshi's Gran Rey Cero slashed across Sendai and struck the barrier.
"What a meal!" Ryu exclaimed with a smirk.
Hearing this, Hiroshi, who had closed the distance, appeared in front of Ryu. "A meal? That was just a snack. Here's another appetizer—a knuckle sandwich!" With that, Hiroshi delivered a powerful left punch that sent Ryu hurtling through several buildings.
Ryu emerged from the rubble and immediately fired off multiple shots from his pompadour—eight energy beams aimed directly at Hiroshi. Recognizing the incoming threat, Hiroshi swiftly assessed the situation and adjusted his strategy. He pointed his finger, preparing to counter Ryu's barrage.
"Cero Metralleta!"
Hiroshi unleashed a rapid barrage of Cero bursts in response, each aimed precisely to intercept Ryu's incoming energy beams. The battlefield erupted into chaos as the colliding energies created explosions and devastation. Ryu, realizing he couldn't match Hiroshi in raw cursed energy output, left the building he was standing on just in time before it was vaporized under the onslaught of Cero blasts.
"This meal leaves me hungry for more!" Ryu exclaimed
displaying his enthusiasm despite the intense battle.
Hiroshi observed Ryu closing the distance and prepared to fire another Cero, but Ryu surprised him with a request. "Please, let's fight up close. I want to savor this one."
Initially thinking Ryu was joking, Hiroshi decided to indulge him, finding some amusement in the request. He knew that relying solely on the Spell of the Divine Tree to crush his enemies could become monotonous.
"Is that so?" Hiroshi responded, smirking. "My fists hit harder than my beams, you know."
"Then it's going to be an excellent buffet," Ryu replied confidently, preparing for the close-quarters combat.
The exchange between them was swift and intense. Ryu swung a left hook, which Hiroshi blocked, countering with a powerful gut punch. Ryu absorbed the blow and retaliated with an uppercut, but not before taking a slice across his face from Hiroshi's elbow strike. As Ryu attempted another right hook, Hiroshi seized his wrist, swiftly slamming him onto the ground. In a fluid motion, Hiroshi grabbed Ryu's face and dragged him across concrete and through buildings, leaving dragging marks as he culminated the sequence by throwing Ryu forcefully to the ground below.
Ryu stood up and patted the dust off himself, smirking at Hiroshi. "Truly, you are far better than that Senju Patriarch I fought. Tell me, I know you are a Senju, but are you from the Senko Butai?" Ryu asked. Hiroshi landed a few meters in front of him.
"No, I am the 41st Patriarch," Hiroshi introduced himself.
"That makes it even better!" Ryu exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
Ryu took the initiative again, feinting an attack which Hiroshi attempted to swipe away. Using the opening, Ryu landed a solid hit to Hiroshi's side. But as he connected, Ryu felt an unusual sensation. "A wall? No... a tree," he concluded, recognizing the texture of Hiroshi's cursed energy as resembling tree bark. Before he could process further, Hiroshi swung a hard left, aiming for Ryu's face. Ryu managed to redirect a portion of the force into the concrete, creating an additional crater in the street.
"Hoh, redirection. You're good," Hiroshi commented, before delivering a gut punch that sent Ryu staggering backward. Even with his advanced cursed energy output, Ryu felt his bones crack under the impact of Hiroshi's punches.
Hiroshi's strikes caused damage reminiscent of black flashes, a testament to the precision and power he wielded. "His punches... at first, I thought they were like explosions. I was wrong. It's like the entire weight of a tree is being projected onto his fists, releasing cursed energy at pinpoint timing, something close to a black flash," Ryu analyzed, observing the smirking Hiroshi.
Despite the pain and damage, Ryu's excitement only grew.
"Truly, you are my dessert, Senju!" Ryu exclaimed, smirking as he saw Hiroshi close at hand. "Granite Blast!" His pompadour fired a point-blank energy beam at Hiroshi, sending him streaking across the sky. Ryu gave chase, closing the gap rapidly. The moment Hiroshi landed, Ryu was right behind him. As Ryu prepared to throw a punch towards the downed Hiroshi, Hiroshi countered with a punch of his own, creating shockwaves as their fists collided.
Hiroshi was the first to recover, delivering a two-piece combo—a left and a right—that nearly knocked out Ryu. Ryu's ears rang, and his vision blurred as he struggled to stay conscious.
Just as Hiroshi was about to finish Ryu off, Takako Uro crash-landed a few meters away. Hiroshi's clone, who had been fighting Takako, nodded to him.
Takako stood up and briefly gazed at Ryu. In that millisecond, both curse users came to an understanding.
Almost instantly, the three of them chanted in unison:
"Doooomain Expansion!"
"Domain Expansion!"
"DOMAIN EXPANSION!"