Megumi watched as Jiro's body collapsed limp and dead as he looked to Kiyotaka, feeling very disturbed at the fact that Kiyotaka had drowned him, as Kiyotaka broke the nails in his hand.
Megumi sighed, saying, "Well... that's one way to deal with him".
Kiyotaka looked to him and said, "Don't feel pity for him. I could tell from the expression on his face that he's a sadist. No doubt he's killed and possibly tortured innocents on the regular. It's quite fitting, actually, that in the end he was just as helpless as his victims."
Megumi nodded as he sighed, saying, "You're probably right."
Megumi turned to him, asking, "How did you know that this would work?"
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "There was no need to investigate the mechanisms of his physical durability. All humans need air, and he wasn't particularly physically strong either, so I decided the box of water strategy was feasible. Even if it didn't end up being feasible, it would have given me more information based on how his technique interacts with the water surrounding him."
Megumi nodded, saying, "That makes sense. This guy's technique probably isn't something grand like damage nullification, though. If that were the case, he likely wouldn't have waited until after Gojo was sealed to act. In fact, he'd probably have been one of the main people to assist with the sealing process."
Kiyotaka nodded, saying, "He wasn't there, though. Mechamaru confirmed who was there, and he wasn't one of them. There were only the Disaster Curses, a humanoid Curse and the thing using Suguru Geto's body."
Megumi sighs and says, "The veil is down, so we should be able to make progress now."
Kiyotaka shook his head and said, "Don't get overconfident. There's still a lot that could go wrong from this point on."
Megumi nodded, thinking, 'He's right. We're not in the clear yet.'
Kiyotaka's eyes widened as he saw Ino falling from the tower, and he jumped up, saying, "Manifest!" as he created mass under Ino to increase wind resistance and slow the speed of his fall, and then he caught him and landed on the ground safely.
Kiyotaka laid him on the ground, supporting his neck as he began checking his vitals and saying, "Ino-Senpai is at least a Semi-Grade 1 Sorcerer. Whatever beat him this badly... is a significant threat. I would deal with it, but if Gojo-Sensei is unsealed, then everything will be resolved."
Megumi nodded as he said, "I'll take care of Ino-San. You go and do what you need to do."
Kiyotaka nodded and said, "Don't die out there."
"You're the one heading towards Special Grade Curses right now."
Kiyotaka laughed for just a split second before running towards Shibuya Station as he saw a crowd of People surrounded by Transfigured Humans and Curses, making him think, 'Not good!'
That's when a bullet pierced one of them as he saw Mai and, thinking, 'Good. She's still dealing with them. It doesn't seem like she's run out of bullets yet either.'
Inumaki was there as he spoke into a megaphone, saying, "Don't Move!"
Kiyotaka looked to him, nodding and saying, "Take care of the civilians with Mai."
Inumaki nodded, saying, "Tuna Mayo".
Kiyotaka ran past him and all the Curses and Transfigured Humans, thinking, 'Those two will be able to handle this easily. I just need to do my part.'
Kiyotaka ran towards the entrance to Shibuya Station, thinking, 'I'm almost there. Just a little further ahead.'
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Kiyotaka ran down the stairs to see Choso waiting there, as he thought, 'A Curse User?'
Choso turned to him, shouting, "Ayanokoj Kiyotaka!"
Blood manifested in front of Choso as he said, "I'll avenge my brothers!"
Kiyotaka thought, 'Blood Manipulation? Brothers? He's a Death Womb Painting!'
Choso clasped his hands together, and steam came out from his hands, making Kiyotaka think, 'That level of compression!'
A line of blood fired from Choso's hands as Kiyotaka threw himself to the side, thinking, 'Trying to block that at my current level is suicide!'
Kiyotaka then chanted, "Manifest", as a block of mass appeared behind him, functioning as cover.
Kiyotaka took a breath, thinking, 'That attack is faster than the speed of sound!'
Choso then chanted, "Piercing Blood" as he fired the blood at a single point, as the mass began to crack.
Kiyotaka, feeling the mass crack, then thought, 'Trying to close the distance is too risky. I need to find another solution to this.'
The blood stopped as Choso called out, "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. There's something I have to ask you. Did my little brothers leave behind any last words?"
Kiyotaka looked to him and said, "I was only there for the death of Eso. His last words were [Older Brother. I... failed...]."
Choso's eyes flared in anger, blood spurting up from the line on his nose, thinking, 'No. You did not fail Eso! I will avenge you here and now! You, Kechizu and Tanso! Watch over me. This is your older brother!'
Blood burst out from his back as it flowed in the air towards Kiyotaka, forming spikes as they started firing from above, as Kiyotaka began dodging the attacks, thinking, 'These ones don't have the same high compression. I can dodge them!'
Kiyotaka enhanced his hearing, gearing it towards the sound of the blood moving as his eyes locked onto Choso.
Kiyotaka rushed forward, shouting, "Manifest!" as he fired spikes at Choso, who dodged them, having his Convergence interrupted as Kiyotaka slammed his fist into Choso's arm, thinking, 'Stop him from using it. If I can do that, it should be fine.'
Kiyotaka felt a lack of follow-through as he jumped back, dodging small projectiles of blood as a crystal-like red substance cracked and fell from Choso's arm, making Kiyotaka think, 'He reinforced his arm like that? He's good.'
Choso used convergence as Kiyotaka thought, 'He's ready to use another one of those. I need to gain an advantage.'
Kiyotaka then chanted, "Manifest as smoke flowed from his mouth and onto the field.
Choso looked confused before he fired it, chanting, "Piercing Blood!"
Kiyotaka rushed out of the smoke towards Choso, thinking, 'He's fired it so now I have a chance to... wait no. He might have a counter.'
Kiyotaka then chanted, "Manifest!" as he fired spikes.
Choso dodged them, thinking, 'Those are annoying.'
Kiyotaka closed in thinking, 'End it here!' as he slammed his fist into Choso, who threw up his arms, being sent flying back as Black Sparks flew.
The solidified blood on Choso's arms shattered, crumbling away as his arms shook, making him think, 'That power. No wonder Eso stood no chance against him. It wasn't a fight. It was a slaughter.'
He gritted his teeth while thinking this.
Kiyotaka took a deep breath, savouring the lightness in his head, before using Kinetic Anchor to propel himself, making Choso think, 'His speed increased drastically!'
Kiyotaka disappeared into the bathroom, making Choso think, 'He's luring me in? He's like a hunter.'
Choso stood there thinking, 'He's a smart one. He's definitely planning something.'
Then he heard a voice call out, "Are you coming to avenge your brothers or not? Perhaps... the value of the lives of your brothers isn't that important to you?"
Choso's anger flared as he rushed into the restroom to see the sprinklers activated as Kiyotaka struck him from behind.
Choso gritted his teeth in pain, thinking, 'It left a puncture mark?!!' as he was sent flying, hitting the wall of the bathroom.
Kiyotaka looked to him and said, "If our positions were swapped, it would be a death sentence for me, but... since they aren't, the guillotine is hanging over your head now."
Choso looked to him, thinking, 'What are you talking ...' when suddenly the balls of blood hovering near him burst as he looked shocked, thinking, 'What? Convergence dissolved? Why?'
Kiyotaka sighed, thinking, 'It worked. The coagulation in his blood really is turned off' and he then said, "I do apologise for what I said earlier. In the end, what I require is victory because victory means survival. Also, I need to repay someone who saved my life. It was just a dirty trick. Nothing personal."
Choso took a stance and chanted, "Flowing Red Scale- Stack", as Kiyotaka rushed forwards, throwing blows as Choso blocked them, thinking, 'I can't see his Cursed Energy. I don't know if he's feinting or throwing a serious punch.'
Kiyotaka slammed his fist into Choso as he coughed up blood, thinking, 'Without external blood manipulation, I'm being overwhelmed.'
Kiyotaka grabbed Choso's arms, holding him as he chanted, "Manifest", peppering Choso's body with several small projectiles as holes appeared in his body.
Choso groaned in pain as the blood from those holes shot out at Kiyotaka, who dodged, thinking, 'He's not slowing down from blood loss? In fact, his physicals have improved after he chanted just now. He can't die from blood loss. I see.'
Kiyotaka sighed as he felt a cut on his face from the blood Choso had shot out as he thought, 'Don't put holes in him. Noted.'
Kiyotaka then chanted, "Manifest" as spikes flew towards Choso, who dived into a stall to avoid them.
Kiyotaka looked to the stall, thinking, 'There's no water spraying in here. Not a bad spot to head to if it wasn't a trap I set to lure you there.'
Kiyotaka clasped his hands together pointing at the stall and chanted, "Piercing Mass", as a liquid condensed between his hands and fired through the door of the stall while thinking, 'By giving the attack distinction from the others, it makes it more predictable, but in exchange, through a binding vow, I'll increase the speed and firing speed by 15%.'
Choso choked out in pain, stumbling out of the blood splattered on the floor, indicative of an interrupted Convergence as he thought, 'He... copied Piercing blood and made its speed and activation faster?'
Choso looked to Kiytoaaka and thought, 'I've taken so much damage. This is becoming bad. I might not be able to avenge my brothers like this.'
Kiyotaka punched at Choso's face, who dodged to the side, only for Kiyotaka to elbow him in the face with that same arm, making Choso stumble back, thinking, 'His martial arts and physical strength are incredible.'
That's Choso steadied himself and got into a stance as he drew out blood from his body, activating coagulation so that it would clot and not dissolve in the water as it hardened into knives.
Kiyotaka then said, "You've chosen to gamble with your life for your goal. I can respect that kind of resolve."
Kiyotaka got into a stance and said, "I'll end this quickly and send you to your brothers. That way, I can achieve my victory, and you can see them again."
Choso took a breath, hardened the blood in his hands and rushed in, throwing his hand forward as Kiyotaka knocked his arm off to the side, and Choso chanted, "Supernova!"
The blood on Choso's hand exploded out, hitting Kiyotaka on the face, forming a scar on his nose bridge as he jumped back, thinking, 'So you can still fight back, huh?'
He wiped the blood off his nose bridge, thinking, 'That'll leave a scar' as Choso formed blood knives in his hands and Kiyotaka began reinforcing his body more strongly with Cuersed Energy. Something that Choso couldn't notice.
Choso clasped his hands together as Kiyotaka's eyes widened, thinking, 'Is he serious?'
He rushed towards Choso thinking, 'Either you're trying to reach full charge, in which I'll get to you first, or you'll release one that doesn't have enough speed, and I'll dodge it. Another option is that you've made a binding vow, but I doubt it, so the only thing you could be doing right now is a feint!'
Kiyotaka stopped in his tracks and kicked the water on the ground into Choso's face as he looked stunned for a second, as Kiyotaka knocked Choso's arms outward, disrupting any chances of a surprise Piercing blood as he then proceeded to slam his fist into Choso's torso, only to hear a crack as flecks of solid blood broke off, making Choso think, 'You fell for it!' when suddenly Cursed Energy hit Choso as he thought, 'A double Impact?!!' as he doubled over thinking, 'Not good!'
Choso coughed up blood, thinking, 'That hit shattered right through my defences.'
Kiyotaka stood there thinking, 'This guy is way too strong. Even after all those blows, he's still fighting.
Choso rushed in thinking, 'At the very least, I'll weaken you enough that Mahito can kill you!'
They went into an exchange of blows as Kiyotaka blocked Choso's attacks, thinking, 'He's forfeited himself to weaken me rather than killing me and just like that, his output has decreased. I see. That's something to take into account.'
Choso created blades out of blood, swinging them at Kiyotyaka, who dodged the attacks, only for Choso to chant "Superno..."
Before he could finish the chant, Kiyotaka slammed his fist into Choso's stomach, saying, "Higher level and more complex Jujutsu requires hand signs or chants. Sometimes both."
He then proceeded to slam his leg into Choso's torso as he was sent flying into the wall.
Choso slowly got up as his legs shook. The impact from all those attacks was getting to him, and he was running out of Cursed Energy as he said, "As the Older Brother of Eso, Kechizu and Tanso, I will ensure that you die! Whether it be by my hands or Mahito's."
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "I have no intentions of dying."
Kiyotaka got into a stance as he rushed towards Choso, preparing to finish the fight as they went into an exchange of blows, with Choso thinking, 'How many attacks have I landed on him? Five? Maybe 6? He's landed so many on me.'
Choso made a wolverine claw out of blood, cutting through the stalls, but Kiyotaka dodged it, grabbing his arms and slamming his foot into his torso before letting go and charging up Cursed Energy into his fists, ready to continue as Choso tensed up.
Choso lifted his arms to guard, but to him it seemed like Kiyotaka's fist suddenly accelerated past his guard, slamming into his face as he thought, 'How did his striking speed increase?'
Kiyotaka had added mass behind his elbow and then accelerated it forward to help his arm forward, enabling it to strike faster and with more force as Kiyotaka thought, 'After a while, I should be able to do this consecutively.'
Choso's eyes went white as he yelled out and slammed his fists into Kiyotaka, who thought, 'That's some power!' as he gritted his teeth and slammed his leg into Choso's face, causing him to spit out blood.
Choso looked to Kiyotaka, his eyes still white as he was now fighting from pure determination as they went into another exchange, as Kiyotaka felt more force thinking, 'He's going for the kill again and his output increased. So it's about focus and determination.'
Kiyotaka seemed to understand as he was hit by another blow, being pushed back as he stopped himself from sliding while thinking, 'So this is the power of an Older Brother. How monstrous.'
Choso clasped his hands together and shouted, "Piercing Blood," as it went through Kiyotaka's side, and he grunted in pain.
Kiyotaka chanted Manifest, creating a ball as he kicked it, and it slammed into Choso's face, forcing him back and stunning him as Kiyotaka thought, 'In this state, his focus is so high that his Jujutsu is enhanced?'
Kiyotaka rushed in, funnelling Cursed Energy into his hand as he slammed his fist into Choso as Choso impacted the wall, and Kiyotaka pushed through, causing Choso to be punched through the wall as he fell to the floor limp.
Kiyotaka took deep breaths, thinking, 'That was much more difficult than I anticipated. I still have a lot of room to grow.'
Kiyotaka held his wound, thinking, 'This damage is no good.'
Kiyotaka looked down at Choso, thinking, 'He's still alive. If I don't kill him now, he might recover.'
Kiyotaka prepares his hand, ready to finish off Choso, when he suddenly hears something and chants, "Manifest!" and he creates mass as a shield on his arms, and something hits it before exploding, and Kiyotaka is flung back into a wall, thinking, 'What was that?'
Jogo stood there, saying, thinking, 'First, he killed Hanami, then Dagon died at the hands of those sorcerers, and right now he almost killed Choso. Things aren't looking good.'
Kiyotaka saw Jogo and thought, 'Not good. This is bad. It's this guy. While I acknowledge to Gojo it's reasonable to call him weak, this guy is actually very strong. Probably the Strongest Curse here in Shibuya. How am I going to deal with this?
Kiyotaka got into a stance as Jogho thought, 'I mustn't underestimate him. He's strong.'
Kiyotaka sweated thinking, 'It would be difficult enough to fight him at full strength, but my physical condition has taken damage, and on top of that, I've used up a lot of Cursed Energy. I might actually lose this fight.'
He took a stance, thinking, 'But I have no intention of losing,' as he focused sharply, and he thought, 'I'll exorcise him and then get to Shoko-San to get healed. After that, I'll head to B5 and free Gojo-Sensei.'
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To Be Continued
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