Chapter 139: Have You Learned It?

The Wind Sword, wreathed in scorching flame, pierced straight into Mahoraga's chest.

At that instant, the Pox God's Domain collapsed.

The burial ground shattered like glass. The night sky, tombstones, damp earth, and sickly moonlight broke apart, giving way to the forest beneath the Curtain.

In the next moment, Yuji's crimson spiritual clone leaped out from his body and charged straight toward the Pox God.

The sudden turn stunned everyone present.

Inumaki and Kamo recognized Yuji immediately. Their expressions shifted with disbelief and relief, though neither had the luxury of speaking. Megumi lay unconscious near a tombstone fragment, his body still carrying traces of the disease.

Far away, through the projection formed by a Cursed Spirit's eye, Kenjaku and the others also watched with renewed interest.

Not only them.

Inside Yuji's body, Sukuna's attention had sharpened as well.

He had noticed Megumi Fushiguro long ago, but until now, most of his interest had been fixed on Asuramaru. The appearance of Mahoraga changed that.

The Ten Shadows Technique.

A Shikigami no one in history had ever tamed.

A ritual that could drag outsiders into mutual destruction.

Sukuna's eyes narrowed with thought.

If his attempt to seize Asuramaru failed, perhaps this brat could serve as a backup vessel.

But for now, what interested him more was Mahoraga's ability.

Inside Yuji's body, Asuramaru was also watching.

While Yuji fought desperately outside, the two existences within him were, in a sense, sitting back and enjoying the show.

The Wind Sword pierced through Mahoraga's chest, and the flames driven by the gale erupted from within. Fire spread through its massive body, racing along muscle and bone, burning from the inside out.

Mahoraga felt the flames roasting its body.

Then it smiled.

That strange, savage smile widened across its face, and its target shifted from the Pox God to Yuji behind it.

One of its large hands grabbed the sword embedded in its chest.

It tried to snap it.

Yuji did not hesitate.

His other hand tightened around Arcana, and he thrust it into Mahoraga's abdomen.

This time, the strike cut into the soul.

Even Mahoraga could not remain unaffected. Milky-white blood spilled from its mouth.

Yuji adjusted his breathing.

"Hinokami Kagura: Dance!"

He exerted force through both swords.

The flames surged. His twin swords cut diagonally in a circular arc, drawing a burning wheel across Mahoraga's body.

Mahoraga was split open from the middle.

But just as its upper half was about to slide away, the wound closed.

The flesh reconnected.

The torn body restored itself at frightening speed.

At the same time, the wheel above Mahoraga's head turned.

Yuji noticed it immediately.

"Asuramaru, what's going on? Did this Shikigami use some kind of ability?"

Before he could retreat, Mahoraga's fist had already arrived.

Yuji crossed both swords in front of him and barely blocked the blow.

The impact still sent him flying backward.

His body shot straight into the sky.

"My arms... are they broken?!"

In midair, Yuji could not feel his hands at all.

A moment later, Asuramaru's self-recovery healed the damage, forcibly restoring his arms.

Then Asuramaru's irritated voice sounded.

"Don't ask me everything. Can't you see for yourself?"

Yuji gritted his teeth.

"I'm not your nanny," Asuramaru continued. "Also, let me remind you. Demonization has a time limit."

Yuji's expression changed.

"At most, you can last thirty minutes. If you exceed that limit, you will completely turn into a demon."

Asuramaru's voice remained calm.

"You have about ten minutes left. Remember this well, obtaining power always comes with a price. Even I can't change that."

Yuji had not known.

His previous battles had never exceeded that limit, so he had never realized how dangerous Demonization truly was.

But the part he cared about most was different.

"What happens if I turn into a demon?"

"Nothing much," Asuramaru replied. "You just lose your sanity."

The answer was too calm.

Too indifferent.

Yuji's heart tightened.

If I lose my sanity, will I become a monster?

For a moment, a familiar figure appeared in his mind.

Gojo-sensei.

The corners of Yuji's mouth lifted slightly.

"Even if I become a monster," he said, "as long as Gojo-sensei is around, he'll definitely be able to kill me."

He had completely pushed Sukuna out of his mind.

Then his gaze turned downward.

Mahoraga was charging up from below.

Yuji could feel it clearly.

With his current strength, defeating this monster was almost impossible.

But he was no longer the ordinary high school student who had first stepped into the world of Jujutsu. He had seen death. He had seen cruelty. He had seen what hesitation could cost.

His grip tightened.

"I want my death to have meaning."

The wind roared past him.

"I want to die surrounded by people."

His voice rose.

"Please, Asuramaru!"

For a moment, Asuramaru seemed to hear another voice overlapping with Yuji's.

Tanjiro.

They were not exactly alike. Their personalities were different. Their paths were different.

Yet in certain places, they were painfully similar.

That feeling from the past returned for an instant.

Asuramaru sighed.

"I really can't do anything about you."

Then his voice sharpened.

"I'll increase the Demon Power output. But this will also shorten the time before you turn into a demon. Is that fine with you?"

Yuji answered without hesitation.

"Thanks!"

A massive amount of Demon Power erupted inside his body.

Yuji felt his muscles tearing.

His bones groaned.

His physical body could barely withstand the surge. Every second felt like something inside him was being shredded and forcibly repaired.

But right now, he was stronger than ever.

Mahoraga leaped from below.

Yuji gripped both swords and poured as much Demon Power as he could into them.

"Getsuga Tensho!"

Two pitch-black crescent slashes fell from the sky.

They struck Mahoraga head-on and smashed it back down into the deep forest below.

The impact threw up a huge cloud of dust and broken branches, blocking everyone's view.

Yuji hovered in the air as he slowly descended, his gaze never leaving the smoke below.

Then Asuramaru warned him.

"It's coming."

The words had barely fallen when countless trees burst through the dust.

They had been uprooted and hurled into the air, flying toward Yuji like cannonballs. Each trunk tore open waves of wind, crashing toward him with terrifying force.

Yuji looked at the incoming trees.

At that moment, a memory surfaced in his mind.

A figure stood before him.

Tanjiro Kamado.

He held his sword with both hands, demonstrating one sword form after another. His movements were steady, precise, and gentle, carrying a warmth that did not lessen their sharpness.

Then Tanjiro turned his head.

His smile was soft.

"Those who master their path will arrive at the same place."

His voice seemed to echo beside Yuji's ear.

"There are times when a person absolutely cannot back down."

Tanjiro looked at him and asked gently,

"Have you learned it?"

It was the first time Yuji had felt such overwhelming gentleness.

Just seeing that smile made him feel as if he were wrapped in a warm embrace.

Asuramaru sensed something unusual.

He did not know what was happening.

Not until the trees were already upon him did Yuji finally move.

The twin swords erupted with blazing flames.

His breathing grew heavy.

"Total Concentration."

The turbid air he exhaled ignited into fire.

"Thank you."

It was unclear whether he was speaking to Asuramaru or to Tanjiro.

At that moment, Yuji's aura changed.

His eyes turned bloodshot.

Blood stained the whites of them.

Demon Power erupted beneath his feet, propelling him through the air. Yuji charged straight toward the incoming trees, twin swords moving with a rhythm far smoother than before.

The flames burned everything in their path to ash.

Towering tree trunks, hurled with enough force to crush stone, were cut apart by the burning swords as if they were nothing.

One slash.

Another.

Another.

He carved his way through the barrage.

When he reached the right distance, the flames on his swords erupted with even greater power.

It was as if he were gambling everything on this single strike.

"Burn!"

Yuji raised both swords above his head.

"Hinokami Kagura: Sun Halo Dragon!"

The scorching flames wrapped around the swords and transformed into a giant dragon.

.....

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