Chapter 229: Sul-sagana: The Horizon of Dawn that Purifies the Seas
While it may not be common knowledge, cursed spirits can survive even after losing vital organs like the heart; this is especially true for the more powerful ones.
In the process of manifesting from a "curse" into a physical entity, they are indeed influenced by reality's rules, requiring them to follow physical laws to maintain a body.
...But as beings filled with the negative energy known as cursed energy, their bodies are clearly not as fragile as normal organisms.
The existence of a heart serves only as a physical boost to the circulation of blood and cursed energy within them; even without that rhythmic push, cursed energy can still drive the movement of internal fluids. Of course, for spirits weak enough, the loss of even a small body part might mean their meager cursed energy cannot sustain them—no rule is ever absolute.
However, when the heart—an organ of extreme importance to any living being—is snatched away, even a Special Grade cursed spirit of Dagon's level is considered to have suffered a massive blow.
The most direct manifestation of this was the entire ocean domain, which, lacking a stable supply of cursed energy, began to fluctuate uncontrollably.
Waves no longer under Dagon's precise control churned and swirled, reaching a violent intensity that no human creation could withstand. Yet, Dagon's eyes remained fixed on the scale holding its own heart, and the deep, unfathomable pool of cursed energy on the other end that it could not comprehend.
If it were merely surpassed in the quality of cursed energy, it wouldn't matter; there is no such thing as "absolute despair" in this world, only more desperate circumstances and emotions waiting to emerge.
But why did the opponent's total volume of cursed energy defeat it with such overwhelming dominance?
Fundamentally, this was irrational! Cursed energy is judged by negative emotions, not just emotion itself.
If the human before it possessed such terrifying and deep cursed energy, then what kind of horror must be lurking within his soul? It was enough to outweigh even cursed spirits like themselves, who were birthed from the collective negativity of all mankind.
"Indeed, as you say, we are born from human negativity, so the human race is not to be underestimated... but so what?
Even if a comparison is made, I should only lose this thoroughly if I were compared to the negativity of all humans combined!
Assuming you truly won this duel with your own cursed energy, and not through some insidious means...
Then compared to me, you are clearly the one more likely to bring a devastating blow to humanity! Everything else can deceive, but cursed energy laid bare like this cannot!
Admit it, you can't save humanity; you are more likely to be the one who destroys it all!!!"
By the final sentence, Dagon was practically screaming from its throat. Being defeated wasn't enough to drive its emotions into such a state of collapse; the crucial point was knowing that, with its cursed energy completely crushed, there was truly no possibility of victory.
It had lost. Not just that—it would die, and even Jogo on the outside would likely not survive, unless he had already abandoned Dagon and fled.
Paradoxically, Dagon, who cared deeply for its family, found itself hoping that Jogo didn't care for it that much. If he didn't, he could cast aside this burden and flee to preserve his life. Furthermore, the other two companions it cared for, Hanami and Mahito, had already been killed by Emiya in previous battles.
It could be said that Emiya was the human Dagon hated most in this world—and the only one it could hate. Tragically, no matter how profound that hatred was, it could not defeat Emiya with emotion alone. No matter how its cursed energy surged with its turbulent feelings, it remained a mere drop in the ocean compared to Emiya.
From Emiya's perspective, he felt no negative emotion for what he was doing. To him, these cursed spirits were all beings whose deaths were well-deserved. If there was anything regrettable, it was likely that Dagon, while killing humans, had never prepared itself for the day it would be killed by one.
Emiya never expected such a creature to feel remorse; even if it did, it would only elicit disgust. What was the use of meaningless words? Those who had perished would not return regardless.
"If there ever comes a day when humanity faces destruction because of my existence, then I will make a choice without hesitation, just as I will kill you without hesitation."
The choice Emiya spoke of was not directed at humanity, but at himself.
He would stand against all humans or even the world for the sake of his sister, and he would also give up his life for all humans without a second thought. The former was his responsibility as a brother; the latter was the dream he inherited from Kiritsugu and a core part of his nature. Life, often seen as the most precious thing by others, was the point Emiya cared for least... because in his life, there were many things more important than life itself.
"Damn you... do you think you're the only one who can disregard life and death?!
If I let you leave this Domain now, Jogo will surely suffer at your hands... So even knowing I will lose, I will absolutely not deactivate my Domain!
Come! Show me how long I can hold out under your pressure! Even if I am no match for you, only a Domain can counter a Domain... As long as I don't deactivate it, you can never escape from the inside!"
Unfortunately, Dagon did not know that at this very moment, Jogo's condition on the outside was no better. Jogo was at risk of being absorbed by Kenjaku's [Cursed Spirit Manipulation], becoming a puppet that could never escape bondage, or simply consumed as fodder for his technique.
Even for cursed spirits, such an end was infinitely more painful than death.
Had it known this, Dagon might have deactivated the Domain immediately to abandon Emiya and fight Kenjaku to the death. But strictly speaking, its logic was correct: in the eyes of the jujutsu world, a Domain is a solid and absolute trap. To break it from the inside with anything other than another Domain would require a massive attack from the outside or unimaginable barrier skills.
Regardless, the premise of being outside the Domain was non-negotiable. If inside, under normal circumstances, even the strongest attack shouldn't be able to break through the distorted space of a Domain, and the most exquisite barrier techniques could only neutralize some of the Domain's effects, not erase its existence entirely. The only flaw of this perfect offensive method was the massive amount of cursed energy required to maintain it—a limit that didn't apply to Dagon, who was quite proud of its energy reserves.
As long as conditions allowed, Dagon could maintain its Domain for over an hour... and that was exactly what it intended to do. In its own Domain—this boundless sea—if it focused solely on evading Emiya's attacks, it believed he would have no effective way to target it.
Once the time spent trapping Emiya reached a certain point, Dagon believed Jogo would understand its intent and choose to flee.
As long as its remaining life could save its last family member, Dagon felt it was worth it.
"As I said... in this ocean, I will not lose!"
As long as it achieved its goal, it wasn't a failure, right? After finishing its final words, Dagon didn't even bother with the Special Grade cursed object floating before it that had taken its heart. Instead, it turned and dove without hesitation into the churning ocean, disappearing from sight.
In this sea made murky by the storm, even if Emiya wanted to find it by searching for cursed energy, it would be impossible. The Domain was saturated with its energy as interference; Dagon wasn't going to just hide foolishly.
BOOM!
The moment Dagon dove into the sea, several monsters as large as the previous giant fish, accompanied by countless smaller but more lethal piranhas, erupted from the waves, leaping together toward Emiya's position.
"If you truly have such resolve, then I must hold you in higher regard."
"Trace on!"
Densely packed blades formed behind Emiya in an instant, firing in waves at the incoming swarm, easily suppressing the stampede that would have made anyone else's skin crawl.
The blades pierced flesh and sank beneath the sea, followed by massive explosions as [Broken Phantasm] was triggered, "carving" circular craters into the ocean one after another.
However, just doing this would make finding the hidden Dagon nearly impossible. Thus, Emiya did not stop his projection. The blue circuits of [Gradation Air] continued to weave behind him, and after ten full seconds, a massive blade-body gradually revealed itself.
"...What is that?!"
Dagon, lurking beneath the surface, was constantly observing the situation. What it could not understand was why such a gargantuan blade existed in this world. Even for a cursed tool, who could possibly wield it? Despite its rational mind failing to grasp the weapon's origin, its instinct screamed at Dagon to be on high alert, its eyes fixed unblinkingly upon it.
Fortunately, Emiya soon provided the explanation—
"Sul-sagana. Also known as: The Horizon of Dawn that Purifies the Seas.
The blade is composed of lava-like peaks and pure fire. It is a Divine Construct capable of incinerating and exorcising even the Myriad Seas, embodying the concept of the [Horizon].
Never mind this false Domain; even in a real ocean, the original of this blade could dissolve and dissipate all opposing things, including the sky and the sea.
Jogo once fell before Sul-sagana, but I doubt a fellow like that would describe the mental journey of his failure and brush with death... But you only need to know that this Divine Construct is even stronger now than it was then."
Even if Emiya lacked the ability to manifest the Divine Construct directly from myth, after another month of growth, he was naturally much stronger than before. This improvement wasn't just in pure combat power; regarding Divine Constructs he previously couldn't even project, Emiya could now sufficiently refine their abilities and power.
It wasn't that Emiya wanted to bring up Jogo just to belittle him again; he was simply speaking the truth.
Using a Divine Construct that could burn the entire ocean to cinders to deal with a Dagon hiding in a sea-based Domain was perfectly appropriate.
Once a Domain is expanded, attacks from the inside normally cannot harm the essence or existence of the Domain. But Emiya thought of an excellent solution. Since the essence of this Domain is the "Ocean"... if Sul-sagana could directly cleave away the concept of the ocean, could a Domain based on it continue to exist?
Even if not, the power of this Divine Construct was enough to easily erase the seemingly vast ocean within the Domain. Then, Emiya could end the Domain by directly attacking the caster. He would know the result soon enough.
"I know you won't reveal yourself voluntarily at a time like this, so there's no need for further words...
Sul-sagana!!!"
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