The Gate-Eyed Demon's hand pressed against the barrier, and its Cursed Technique began to activate. A door-shaped outline started to appear on the barrier.
But the next second, a mournful scream erupted from the Gate-Eyed Demon's mouth.
A large amount of Cursed Energy with purifying properties burst from the door-shaped outline on the barrier, and the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, the Gate-Eyed Demon, was instantly purified by that Cursed Energy.
"This power... could it be the Netherworld Barrier?!"
Suguru's eyes widened in surprise.
He had not guessed wrong.
The Pillar of Heaven had originally grown by absorbing the power of the Netherworld Barrier.
After realizing that the Pillar of Heaven could no longer seize control of all barriers outside Tokyo as he had intended, Abe no Seimei immediately adjusted the Pillar of Heaven in Kyoto.
The giant tree, which had been pierced and broken by Satoru's Purple, became the outer shell of the massive barrier on the ground, while the underground roots abandoned the remaining stump on the surface and connected to the newly formed barrier.
The immense power of the Netherworld Barrier was continuously absorbed by the Pillar of Heaven's roots and supplied to the barrier on the ground.
And the Netherworld Barrier, personally set up by Master Tengen to purify and suppress the generation of curses, naturally had a strong restraining effect on Cursed Spirits.
"This is a bit troublesome."
Suguru murmured softly.
He had dared to charge straight into the Cursed Spirit army and reach the barrier precisely because many of his Cursed Spirits were skilled at dealing with barriers.
But he had not expected Abe no Seimei to use the Netherworld Barrier, which countered his Cursed Spirits, to create the barrier trapping Satoru.
In Suguru's view, this was a measure Abe no Seimei had prepared specifically against him to prevent him from assisting Satoru.
If that was the case, had they also prepared measures against the others?
If they had even prepared countermeasures against them, then Satoru's situation must have been planned even more thoroughly.
"In that case..."
Suguru's mind raced, and soon another plan came to him.
If Cursed Spirits would not work, then he would go himself.
As long as he did not summon Cursed Spirits, the power of the Netherworld Barrier would have no restraining effect on him, a human.
Another Semi-Special Grade Cursed Spirit in the form of an insect was summoned by Suguru.
Then Suguru began to extract this Cursed Spirit's Cursed Technique.
This was Suguru's Maximum Technique: Uzumaki.
There were two ways to use Maximum Technique: Uzumaki.
One was to use it directly, gathering his chosen Cursed Spirits into one entity and attacking the enemy with ultra-high density and immense Cursed Energy.
This was a powerful strike gained by sacrificing the advantages of Cursed Spirit Manipulation, such as numbers and tactical variety.
It was only unfortunate that in the original story, he encountered the combination of Yuta and Rika.
The second method was what he was doing now, extracting the Cursed Technique of a Semi-Grade 1 or higher Cursed Spirit for his own use.
After devouring the Cursed Spirit, Suguru immediately turned to look at his family members, who were desperately covering him.
They were split into groups of several people, fully resisting the continuous tide of incoming Cursed Spirits.
"This won't do."
The dark Cursed Spirit space unfolded, and tens of thousands of Cursed Spirits surged out like a tide.
To ensure that his family members would not be sacrificed while he extracted the Cursed Technique, Suguru released tens of thousands of Cursed Spirits as cannon fodder without hesitation.
Cursed Spirits could be caught again if they were lost, but once family members were gone, they were truly gone.
However, the situation was even more dangerous than Suguru had imagined.
Countless Cursed Spirits surrounded them. Although there were not many powerful Cursed Spirits among them, since Kenjaku had taken those to fight Satoru, the remaining Cursed Spirits still met the conditions for quantity to become quality.
Especially in this complex battlefield, Cursed Spirits that jujutsu sorcerers failed to completely exorcise were immediately devoured by other Cursed Spirits, who then seized their Cursed Energy.
Moreover, Suguru keenly noticed that although these Cursed Spirits' movements seemed chaotic, there was a certain order to them overall.
Some of the stronger Cursed Spirits even understood how to cooperate with each other.
'Someone is commanding these Cursed Spirits!'
Suguru immediately realized this.
"Takako!"
"What is it?"
Hearing Suguru's voice, Takako immediately lowered her altitude and came to his side.
"Find the commander of these Cursed Spirits and eliminate it."
"Alright."
Upon hearing this, Takako flew into the air as if gliding.
Takako's Cursed Technique was very versatile, which also made her skilled in stealth.
Coupled with her ability to fly through her Cursed Technique, Takako became the strongest assassin among Suguru's family members.
Soon, Suguru completed the extraction of the Cursed Spirit's Cursed Technique, and an insect horn formed from Cursed Energy appeared on his right hand.
Clink, tear.
Suguru activated the Cursed Technique, and a tiny crack appeared on the barrier.
Suguru finally saw the situation inside the barrier.
"Satoru is injured?"
Suguru looked at Satoru in disbelief as he moved at high speed within the barrier, dodging countless attacks.
In his memory, Satoru had always defeated all enemies head-on, and moments where he was injured or forced to dodge were extremely rare.
The first time was Toji's sneak attack, and the second was his battle with Sukuna.
But even in those two battles, Satoru had never looked this disheveled.
Seeing this scene, Suguru grew anxious, desperately urging his Cursed Technique forward as he tried to tear open an opening in the barrier large enough for him to pass through.
However, Suguru, distracted by his concern for Satoru, did not notice the ground beneath his feet loosening.
A Cursed Spirit burst out of the ground, sending Suguru flying into the air.
"Get out of the way!"
Suguru angrily summoned Mahito.
Mahito's hands transformed into mantis-like blades. With a few flashes of cold light, the Cursed Spirit was cut into several pieces.
At the same time, because of the Cursed Spirit's command to obstruct Suguru, Takako, hidden in the air, also discovered the Cursed Spirit commander.
It was a Cursed Spirit with only one eye and one leg, along with a stout, cylindrical body.
Special Grade Cursed Spirit, Kunen Hiko.
A being rumored to know all things, bearing the title of God of Wisdom.
After locking onto her target, Takako immediately began to quietly approach.
Soon, she noticed Kunen Hiko's single eye looking at her.
'Exposed?'
Takako immediately realized this, then released the sky that had been distorted by her Cursed Technique to conceal her body and swooped down toward Kunen Hiko.
Soon, one Cursed Spirit after another blocked Takako's path.
"No, I can't break through at all."
Not only could she not break through, but Takako also accumulated many wounds.
"This won't do."
Takako steeled herself, crossed her arms, and unleashed her Domain.
"Domain Expansion: Empty Sky Heaven's Net!"
The Cursed Spirits in front of her, as well as Kunen Hiko, who was still tens of meters away, were all captured by the Domain.
The moment she captured Kunen Hiko, Takako sensed that Cursed Spirits were already attacking the outer shell of her Domain.
Takako grabbed with both hands, and everything within the Domain twisted and deformed as if being sucked in, then converged in her hands.
"That bastard better catch it."
"Ugyo Rodan!"
Takako shot all the Cursed Spirits twisted into a ball in her hands in one direction.
Crack.
The Ugyo Rodan broke through the already nearly shattered Domain and flew into the distance.
"Hmm?"
Ryu, who was fully immersed in battle, noticed a powerful attack flying toward him.
"It's that woman."
Ryu grinned. After nearly ten years of acquaintance, although he did not particularly like Takako, he had come to understand her to some extent.
This was an enemy that had to be dealt with, but one she herself found very difficult to handle.
"Granite Blast."
The full-power Granite Blast instantly collided with the Ugyo Rodan, and Kunen Hiko's form quickly shattered and disappeared.
"Not bad, battle maniac."
Takako, already in Cursed Technique Burnout, smiled as she looked at the disappearing Kunen Hiko in the air.
Then, with a crazed expression, she engaged in a fierce battle with the countless surging Cursed Spirits.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)