There was no time for thought. Hasegumo could only lunge after the Daitengu as it charged toward the fallen Tetsuya Yamagami.
Drip. Drip. Blood slid slowly down the Daitengu's blade. Hasegumo looked down; Yamagami had been sliced clean in half at the waist. His expression was peaceful, as if he had slipped away before the pain could even register.
Hasegumo's face remained calm. Stay cool, he told himself.
Without a moment's hesitation, the Tengu banked through the air toward him, unleashing a horizontal slash intended to claim his torso just as it had Yamagami's. Hasegumo parried the blade upward with the back of his left fist and countered with his right.
Just like the final strike that had "killed" the Tengu moments ago, his right fist carried a pitifully small amount of Cursed Energy. Yet, the impact sent the Tengu spiraling backward with an irresistible, staggering force.
However, this punch didn't buy him the time he'd expected.
Cursed Energy surged. Within the Innate Domain, the wind shifted.
The gale became frantic, violent. In a heartbeat, the Daitengu halted its retreat. Catching the wind, it rode the draft back at him, launching a fierce assault with even greater velocity.
Facing a blade aimed straight for his throat, Hasegumo simply tilted his body to the side. He brought his left palm and right fist together, driving an elbow strike into the Tengu's flank. Black lightning crackled. The Tengu's waist exploded under the impact of the Black Flash, sending it tumbling across the ground. It rolled twice before slowly rising to its feet.
The Daitengu sheathed its blade. It had initially hoped to use the reach of its weapon to trade wounds and crush Hasegumo. Now, it realized that even in its restored, peak form, a weapon with such a long recovery time was useless. It couldn't touch him; it only left openings for Hasegumo's counters.
Maximum Technique: Temporal Rift After a period of preparation, the user uses their technique to "stamp" a specific point in time into their ritual. When the user sustains fatal damage or chooses to trigger the technique, they draw upon the power of time to fully restore their physical state to that specific moment.
The essence of the technique is "borrowing" time from other living beings. It can only be used once per day.
By utilizing the technique offered by Kiyotaka Kansuuryuu, the Daitengu had been restored. Even though it had succumbed to a death it hadn't even perceived, the "stamped" state triggered automatically, bringing it back to full health.
Currently, Hasegumo only had forty percent of his Cursed Energy remaining. His condition was abysmal compared to the start of the fight, and he had lost his crucial support, Yamagami.
How do I win? With that single thought, Hasegumo dove back into a brutal melee with the Daitengu.
What neither Hasegumo, the Daitengu, nor the original owner of the technique—Kiyotaka Kansuuryuu—knew was that while those who possess the power of time are few and far between, Kiyotaka was not the first. And none who wield the power of time ever get the "time" to grow. Not a single one has ever fully developed their potential; the moment the technique awakens, death begins its slow approach.
Time is an inviolable domain established by the heavens. Those who wield it could theoretically live forever or interfere with history at will. Consequently, an unseen force guides them, leading them toward madness and eventual ruin.
Right now, the two were locked in close quarters. The Tengu prioritized Cursed Energy for speed and offensive power, attempting to trade blows and grind Hasegumo down in a battle of attrition.
Hasegumo seemed to have no way to break the deadlock. However, unlike before, he had found a gap to fully heal his injuries. Since he no longer needed to buy time for anyone, he evaded every potentially damaging strike through Dissipation of Force or pure agility.
The Daitengu was brimming with energy. Even when a Black Flash occasionally broke its defense, it simply surged its energy to knit itself back together instantly. They were at a stalemate.
But the Daitengu didn't realize that Hasegumo had entered a trance-like, abnormal state. This was a side effect of the time-based technique; the time "borrowed" for the resurrection was balanced out by returning perceived time to the surrounding beings.
In the midst of the melee, Hasegumo had entered a perpetual "flashback" state.
To his eyes, everything in his surroundings moved in slow motion. He watched the dust kicked up by their struggle rise on the howling wind. He saw the Tengu's foot sweeping toward his shin. He even found the time to glance over his shoulder at the two halves of Yamagami's body.
How do I win? Martial arts? Jujutsu? My skills and technique give me the right to stand here, but to exorcise this thing... it's not enough. And my energy is almost dry.
Innate Techniques, Martial Arts, Barrier Techniques... Domain Expansion? With my pathetic grasp of barrier theory, I can't construct a Domain.
Open your imagination. Don't be restricted. Imagine freely!
The howling wind... it has a certain beauty to it, doesn't it?
This world is actually quite exquisite.
Freedom. Just a little more freedom.
If a technique had no limits, what would it look like?
What is the ultimate expression of power?
"Haha."
"Hahaha!"
A genuine smile broke across Hasegumo's bloodied face. The sheer, heartfelt joy in his expression made him look almost ghoulish.
"Maximum Technique: Unrestricted Liberation!"
One minute and twenty-five seconds had passed, but to Hasegumo, it felt like an entire day. In that long, dilated stretch of contemplation, he had reached enlightenment.
The Cursed Energy covering Hasegumo's body suddenly retracted into his core. In an instant, it transformed into Positive Energy.
In the Daitengu's vision, the black-and-blue aura surrounding the youth turned a brilliant gold.
Hasegumo left his shin completely undefended. With a sickening crunch, the Tengu's kick shattered the bone in his left leg.
However, a straight punch followed. It was a strike carrying every last drop of Hasegumo's energy. The Tengu's head was like snow meeting the sun; it dissolved instantly under the impact.
"I'm not done yet!"
The remaining energy in his right fist flowed instantly to his left. He delivered a rising uppercut that punched straight through the Tengu's abdomen and up into its chest.
The gale died down. The oppressive clouds broke, and the dark sky was swept clean by the morning sun.
As he watched the Daitengu's body slowly dissolve, Hasegumo thought he saw the spirit of a little boy give him a final, grateful bow.
Hasegumo ran a hand through his hair, clearing his face. The golden aura vanished, and his shattered shin knit itself back together in a heartbeat.
He walked slowly toward Tetsuya Yamagami's remains.
"Hold on a second... I think he's still saveable."
Hasegumo knelt down, pushed the two halves of the body back together, and began channeling Reverse Cursed Technique.
Maximum Technique: Unrestricted Liberation The ultimate art developed by Hasegumo, based on his innate technique: Cursed Energy Liberation.
Standard Cursed Energy is negative energy; overloading the body with it causes physical collapse. Conversely, Reverse Cursed Energy (Positive Energy)—produced by multiplying Cursed Energy—possesses the power to heal.
When Unrestricted Liberation is active, the user can freely modify the form of their energy, converting their entire pool into Positive Energy in an instant. Furthermore, during its activation, manipulating standard Cursed Energy no longer causes physical breakdown. The user can allocate energy for offense and defense exactly as they envision.
Because everyone's Cursed Technique and personality are unique, the energy within their bodies carries slight variations. It is this difference that causes a wounded person's spirit to instinctively reject healing from a non-concordant source.
After grasping his Maximum Technique, Hasegumo had achieved a total understanding of the essence of Cursed Energy. Every manipulation felt effortless. His proficiency with Reverse Cursed Technique had skyrocketed; by slightly adjusting the "frequency" of his positive energy, the limitation of being unable to heal others simply ceased to exist.
As the Reverse Cursed Technique hummed, "Yamagami" and "Tetsuya" slowly became Tetsuya Yamagami once more. However, he remained unconscious.
Hasegumo handed Yamagami over to Kiyotaka Ijichi (who had arrived as backup) and returned to the dojo.
"That's the story, Uncle Gen. This is the letter Kiyotaka left for you."
"I see. What a waste."
Uncle Gen looked at the letter. His face was a mask of stoicism, but his trembling hands and raspy voice betrayed his turmoil.
Hasegumo patted Gen Ijichi's shoulder. "Don't get depressed over those who are gone, Old-Timer. It looks like I'm the only one left to carry the Shingen-ryu banner now."
He turned and walked toward the training floor, muttering under his breath, "Everyone involved in that mess was killed by the Tengu anyway. Except for that guy who gave me the letter, and he's gone crazy from the shock. I guess that's a wrap on that chapter."
"This is reporter Yu Wenbo reporting. The massive, freak windstorm at the Gozen Shrine in Lu County has resulted in the total destruction of the shrine. Casualties are estimated at over sixty..."
"Hey, Uncle. How's the recovery coming?" Hasegumo asked, placing a gift on the bedside table. He looked at Tetsuya Yamagami, who was propped up in his hospital bed.
"Not great, kid. My technique is gone. I had some specialists look at it; they said the oxygen deprivation to my brain caused damage. The 'circuit' for my technique was destroyed."
Yamagami rubbed his head. "My energy pool has shrunk, too. What happened after I passed out? Did more enemies show up?"
"I figure it was that Tengu's technique," Hasegumo said. "Uncle, that shot of yours popped its head like a grape, but then shing! It just resurrected at full health. I was still processing that when it sliced you up."
"Then how are you fine? Did a stronger sorcerer step in?"
"Don't sell me short, Uncle!" Hasegumo struck a pose, flexing. "When I saw you die, I went into a rage. I had a breakthrough, saw the light, and then I used an ashtray to cave that Curse's skull in."
Yamagami looked at Hasegumo miming an ashtray-beatdown and laughed until he was out of breath. "I see. Well, your energy control definitely isn't what it used to be. I can't feel a lick of Cursed Energy on you anymore. By the way... who brings cigarettes as a gift to a hospital patient? Usually, it's fruit or milk."
"Uncle, your skin looks terrible. You clearly aren't the fruit-eating type. Besides, those gift baskets are insanely expensive. They cost as much as two cartons of smokes."
Hasegumo tossed the empty ashtray into the air and caught it. "This is a better fit for you."
"Thanks," Yamagami said seriously. "If you hadn't been there, I'd be dead for real this time."
"A man's thirties are his golden years. Don't go thinking about dying. As for saving you—you saved me first. My head was a mess back there; if you hadn't yelled at me, I probably would have died at the start."
"So, Uncle. Now that your technique is gone, are you going to stay a sorcerer?"
"I'm retiring. I've saved up plenty of money over the years. I know my limits; without a technique, I'd struggle to handle a Grade 2. No point in making life hard for myself. Besides... the fact that you can use Reverse Cursed Technique on others means your level is incredibly high."
"Yeah. As long as I have energy, I can heal myself in a heartbeat."
"Keep that a secret. Don't go healing people left and right, or the vultures at the Association will target you."
"Got it, Uncle. So, what's the plan for retirement?" Hasegumo asked, curious.
"Eh, I'll probably open a small shop for mechanical repairs. The Association didn't take my gun permit away. I'll drink some tea, work on my inventions... live a quiet life." Yamagami's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
Hasegumo swiped an apple—likely from a different visitor—off the table. He took a bite and headed for the door. "Don't go dying on me, Uncle. See you when I see you."
"That kid... always so carefree. Must be nice."