The Devourer moved with lightning speed, Satoru noted, twisted and sending a spinning kick right into Nobara's jaw, which sent the Reprogrammed Cursed Spirit flying away with a broken jaw. Satoru noted the burst of Cursed Energy, the flux of power that surged through the Devourer's entire form. It was similar to Cursed Augmentation, Satoru realized, but applied entirely differently. Instead of a constant flow of Cursed Energy to supplement the muscles and bones, the Devourer, Kureishi Mado, created an explosion of Cursed Energy, more than what human bodies were capable of containing, and generating a sudden spike of power that lasted only for a moment. But was enough to overwhelm even Nobara, who was already pretty freaking fast.
Unfortunately for the Devourer, Satoru just learned exactly how the little trick was performed. That was... freaking cool. It'd been ten thousand years since Sukuna and the Devourers and all the other Jujutsu Sorcerers that came afterwards; a bunch of new tricks were to be expected. This was one of them. Idly, Satoru wondered just how many more new goodies the Devourers had. The last one he fought hadn't really revealed anything interesting, but that guy might've been their equivalent of a low-grade Sorcerer.
This one was, at least, five times as strong, which was nice.
Satoru smiled. "That was a good trick."
He then turned to Nobara, who was already on her feet. The Cursed Spirit bore no sign of damage. They healed through pure Cursed Energy, after all, and Nobara had a fucking boatload of the stuff, dwarfing the Sukuna he remembered by miles and miles. Even decapitation wouldn't be enough to put her down. "You know what, Nobara? You can go ahead and walk away; make sure no one disturbs my little fun time."
Nobara nodded and blurred away. Satoru turned to the Devourer, who then removed his helmet, revealing an aged, but otherwise healthy face – not quite human in proportion with all the weird bolts and metal bits that stuck out of the skin, but certainly human enough. He was also definitely bald. The Devourer grinned, his weapon cackling with Cursed Energies.
Strong, Satoru mused. Very strong.
Still, Satoru raised a brow. "Why'd you take your helmet out? Might've saved your life."
Mado chuckled, revealing rows of sharpened teeth. The dude looked like a shark, but somehow uglier. "It usually only gets in the way. I recognize you as a worthy opponent. There are very few Jujutsu Sorcerers capable of performing the same feats as you did against the Wolves of Fenris; you really did a number on them. They've been hunting for your head, ever since that little stunt of yours. I would have your name, if you are willing to offer it."
Satoru grinned. "Nice try. But you can just call me Gojo. First name basis is for friends only."
The Devourer cackled with laughter. "Ah, you saw right through me. Very well, Gojo. Duel to the death?"
"Sounds like a plan."
Satoru surged forward at the same time as Mado, their forms blurring into motion with lethal precision. Satoru made the symbol of infinity with his right hand, a smooth and practiced gesture, just as Mado brought his hands together, framing a triangular symbol with quick, fluid motions. Their grins matched - Satoru's Six-Eyes locking with the molten yellow gaze of Mado. For a moment, the air between them crackled, thick with their raw Cursed Energies, surging like twin rivers caught in a violent storm. Time itself seemed to bend and slow in response, warping under the immense pressure of the opposing forces.
In that instance, Satoru's eyes widened slightly, the Six-Eyes revealing to him the intricate workings of the Curse woven into Mado's armor. The energy flowed not like a protective shield, but as an augmentation, amplifying Mado's already tremendous physical strength and speed.
Interesting.
He barely had a second to dwell on it.
In perfect synchronization, they spoke, voices sharp and filled with challenge. "Domain Expansion."
The atmosphere around them shifted violently as space warped.
"Unlimited Void." Satoru's voice echoed, his presence like the center of gravity itself.
"Graveyard of the Fairy King." Mado's voice carried a grim, ancient power, the aura of something primordial.
Their Domains clashed like tidal waves smashing against each other, the impact reverberating across the battlefield. For a brief, intense moment, the space between them warped as the two barriers met - struggling, resisting, refusing to yield. Then, without warning, the barriers shattered - falling apart like petals of black glass caught in a gust of wind. Dark shards floated to the ground, disappearing into nothingness.
Satoru's grin widened, almost feral. The shattered domain was no surprise; in fact, it was exactly what he'd anticipated. He could sense it - Mado's control over his Domain was precise, honed to a razor's edge, perhaps even as refined as his own.
Equal?
The thought stung, just a little, but there was no denying the truth. Mado's closed-barrier domain meant he'd be shielded from the overwhelming power of Unlimited Void in a prolonged clash, forcing Satoru into a direct fight - one where strategy would win the day.
He could feel Mado's mind ticking through the same realization. They weren't just fighting with brute force; this was a battle of instincts, of skill, of who could outthink the other. The truth became clear - whoever mastered their Innate Technique better and punched harder would win.
Mado moved first, his speed blurring as he closed the distance, and Satoru barely had time to tilt his head as a fist, fast and sharp like a bullet, grazed his cheek. Domain Amplification. Without missing a beat, Satoru countered, spinning low on his heels and driving a roundhouse kick toward Mado's midsection. The Astartes' cursed armor flared, absorbing the impact, though the force of the blow still rattled him, sending him skidding back.
No, that hadn't been Mado's armor, Satoru realized. Mado performed yet another new technique, utilizing a focused burst of Cursed Energy to neutralize or dampen kinetic energy.
Satoru didn't let up. He was on Mado in an instant, his fists weaving in tight, precise patterns - one aimed at the Astartes' jaw, the other at his ribs. Mado blocked them both, arms moving like steel pistons, but not without effort. Satoru grinned through the clash, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he felt the power in Mado's strikes. They were nearly as fast as his own, enhanced by the armor's augmentation. And then, Satoru willed forth an explosive burst of Cursed Energy – the same technique Mado performed on Nobara earlier – and sent a punch right into Mado's face, breaking the Devourer's jaw, cracking his skull, and sending him hurling and flying backwards.
"Not bad," Satoru muttered, fist and knuckles covered in a layer of steam from the sudden surge of speed. "I think I'll be taking this technique."
Mado's grin remained, unshaken, as he wiped a thin line of blood from his lip, having already applied Reverse Cursed Technique to heal the damage he'd sustained. Even then, Satoru noted, he hadn't fully dealt with the effects of the punch.
"Likewise." Mado launched himself forward, the ground cracking under his feet. A powerful palm strike came toward Satoru's chest, but Satoru deflected it with a sharp pivot, the attack brushing his sleeve.
The momentum shifted again, Mado's leg sweeping low, aiming to trip Satoru. Satoru responded with a quick leap, flipping over Mado's form with an acrobatic twist, planting his foot firmly on the Astartes' shoulder as he soared above him. Before Mado could react, Satoru kicked off, sending himself spiraling through the air.
Satoru's grin widened as he extended his right hand towards Mado, the air thick with tension as the energy around him began to distort. Blood-red Cursed Energy coalesced rapidly around his fingers, swirling with violent intent.
"Technique Reversal: Red." His voice was calm, almost playful, but there was no mistaking the lethal intent behind the attack.
In response, Mado's lips curled into a matching grin. His hands came up, palms open, as he channeled his own Cursed Energy, golden light crackling between his fingers. The ground beneath him trembled, and a faint, spectral aura began to materialize.
"Surge: Bone Citadel." The words rumbled out like an incantation, filled with the weight of power.
For an instant, the battlefield went quiet as their techniques reached a critical point. Then, with a sharp, explosive sound, Satoru unleashed the repulsive force of Infinity, a crimson wave of destruction that tore through the space between them like a bullet from the gods. The red energy flashed outward, expanding rapidly, swallowing everything in its path. The earth cracked, rocks disintegrated, and the very air seemed to bend under the sheer pressure.
But as the explosion of red approached, Mado's spectral bone castle appeared in a heartbeat, a small fortress of ivory rising up around him. The ghostly bones radiated an eerie, defensive aura, but the moment Red slammed into it, the citadel shattered like brittle glass, unable to withstand the overwhelming force. The bones disintegrated, turning to ash as the repulsive wave exploded outward. Everything around Mado - barbed wire, rocks, and chunks of soil - was ripped from the ground, flung into the air like toys caught in a storm.
Satoru landed gracefully, the grin never leaving his face. His eyes narrowed, the thrill of the battle surging through him. Mado, despite the destruction surrounding him, stood in place, entirely unharmed. The Devourer's body hadn't even flinched under the assault.
Interesting.
"That's an interesting technique you've got there," Satoru remarked, voice casual, but his mind was already racing through a dozen possibilities. The citadel hadn't protected Mado, not fully - so how did he emerge unscathed?
Mado's grin widened, his posture relaxed as he dusted off his armor.
"Thanks." The golden light in his eyes flared for a moment, and Satoru couldn't help but notice how calm he was.
Still, how did he come out of that without a scratch? Satoru's mind raced. Did Mado's technique nullify kinetic energy? Maybe it canceled gravity entirely?
Or is there something else I'm missing? There was only one way to find out.
No better way to test a theory than by really testing it.
Satoru's grin returned, and he raised his hand once more, letting an even larger pool of Cursed Energy flood into his palm. He focused, channeling the energy into a concentrated mass before unleashing it with brutal efficiency. One Red Mass after another shot forth, streaks of crimson tearing through the air like a barrage of artillery shells.
The first mass shot towards Mado, detonating on impact with a deafening roar. The ground beneath them shuddered violently, cracks splintering across the surface. Yet Mado didn't summon his Bone Citadel this time. Instead, his eyes widened slightly, and he opted for a different tactic - he dodged.
Mado's movements were quick, fluid, and precise. He sidestepped the first Red Mass, then ducked under the second as it exploded inches from where his head had been. The third and fourth masses came in rapid succession, but Mado leapt sideways, narrowly avoiding the blasts. His footwork was impressive - Astartes reflexes combined with a masterful understanding of his surroundings. He wasn't just dodging; he was reading the trajectory of each Red Mass before it hit.
Satoru caught on immediately, his mind clicking through the possibilities like pieces of a puzzle.
So, there are two options here, Satoru thought. Either Mado's Cursed Technique can't shield him from multiple attacks at once, or it can, and he's trying to make me think it can't.
He unleashed another series of Red Masses, faster this time. Mado continued to evade, his movements almost too fast for the eye to track. With each explosive burst, Satoru watched carefully, analyzing Mado's every move.
He's definitely fast enough to dodge, but that can't be all. Satoru's eyes flickered with sharp curiosity. There's more to this. He's not just dodging because he has to.
The battlefield shifted again as the Red Masses tore into the ground around Mado, forming craters and sending shockwaves through the earth. Dust and debris filled the air, and yet Mado remained unscathed, moving like a phantom amidst the chaos. Each evasion was clean and calculated.
This guy's good. Satoru couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. There was something about fighting an opponent who could keep up, someone who could force him to adapt. He hadn't had this much fun in ages.
He flicked his wrist, summoning another Red Mass, but this time, he hesitated for just a fraction of a second. His eyes locked onto Mado's form, watching for any slight change, any break in the pattern. Let's see if you're hiding something.
Mado dodged again, a sharp leap backward this time, just as Satoru expected. But in that brief instant, Satoru saw it - the faintest shimmer of energy around Mado's armor, something subtle but unmistakable. There it is.
Satoru's grin widened, more predatory now. "Gotcha."
Before Mado could fully recover from the dodge, Satoru gathered Cursed Energy into his legs and surged forward, closing the gap between them in a blur. He swung his arm in a tight arc, aiming a backhanded strike directly at Mado's torso. The blow connected with a resounding thud, sending a shockwave rippling through the battlefield.
Mado's armor flared in response, absorbing some of the impact, but Satoru felt it - the subtle give in the Astartes' defenses. The Bone Citadel might have been designed to shield Mado from a singular devastating attack, but it didn't seem at all capable of defending him from numerous attacks at once. There was definitely a Binding Vow here. Absolute defense, perhaps, but only against a single attack every so often.
As Mado staggered back, regaining his footing, Satoru paused, his eyes narrowing with satisfaction. "You're not invincible after all, are you?"
Mado grinned and brought his fingers together. "Are you? Surge: Ivory Graveyard."
AN: Chapter 54 is out on (Pat)reon!