Chapter 236
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Although Abel's Sword Domain pales compared to the mature and complete domain of Sukuna, it still provided him with enough capital to hold his ground instead of being utterly defenseless.
Endless One-Sword Slash!
In an instant, Abel vanished from his original spot and teleported behind Sukuna. He abandoned the continued use of his cursed short sword, the Seat of Demons, and instead chose to attack with the sword intent he had condensed himself!
Pfft!
The silvery light of the sword pierced straight through the chest of Sukuna from behind.
Moreover, this time the damage wasn't limited to the physical body—as the consciousness of Sukuna was also affected!
"How is it possible to harm my consciousness? What is this thing?" Sukuna realized something was amiss with the weapon in Abel's hand.
"Condensing the sword with intent. As long as my willpower is indestructible, there is nothing in this world I cannot kill."
"A fine display of condensing the sword with intent!"
"Then let's see whether your sword intent is stronger, or if my slash is sharper!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Sukuna launched a frenzied counterattack.
Although he had lost the certainty of a hit provided by his domain and couldn't keep up with Abel's teleportation speed, he decided to stand his ground and wait for his opponent to attack.
The moment Abel appeared and initiated an attack, a fleeting 'opening' would present itself.
Sukuna would seize this opportunity to exchange blow for blow.
After all, he had an abundance of curse energy. No matter how severe the injury, he could heal immediately, and he saw no reason not to leverage this advantage.
Abel, in contrast, did not fear this damage-exchange tactic at all!
His body was nothing more than a projection from the system; death was of no consequence to him.
Furthermore, each of his attacks dealt 'real damage', causing the opponent's body to shudder. Even if they did fight to the death, the outcome was still uncertain!
Thus, the two engaged in a fight as relentless as wild beasts.
Abel, like a streak of silver lightning, left blood holes or deep bones-visible cuts on Sukuna with every flash.
Sukuna was like a rock continually struck by waves, standing strong no matter how battered his body became, and still able to respond with precise counterattacks at every opportunity.
Abel was already drenched in blood, as if he had been slashed thousands of times.
Had he not already entered his exotic ghostly form, insensible to pain, such torture would not be something an ordinary person could endure.
Megumi, forgotten by all, watched in utter astonishment.
This level of combat made him tremble with fear, almost depleting all his courage just by being present.
If he were to forcefully join the fray, he would be torn to pieces in no time!
It was understandable for Sukuna, who possessed the body of Yuji. After all, he was once the King of Curses.
But what about the human named Abel?
Why could no hint of curse energy be felt from him?
Could an ordinary human with no curse energy truly match Sukuna to this extent using only the power of his flesh?
If someone had suggested this to him before today, he would have scoffed, thinking them insane.
But now, he had witnessed it with his own eyes.
"Indeed, am I the one who's gone mad?" Megumi muttered to himself, not wanting to miss even a second of the action.
Panting heavily, Abel could no longer tell whether it was sweat or blood that covered his body.
The silver light on his forehead had dimmed to the point where it seemed like it could extinguish at any moment.
The two-faced sorcerer was also in bad shape, his body riddled with wounds, not a single piece of flesh unscathed.
"In just those few seconds, you launched a total of 132 attacks against me."
"Had I not consumed another finger in advance, my consciousness might have already succumbed to slumber."
"It's fantastic to think that after a thousand years, a human as strong as you could still emerge in this world. Delightful, truly delightful~"
"What a pity, though, your sword intent has been exhausted. Such a shame, you were so close to having a chance at slaying the greatest curse king!"
With a loud laugh from the two-faced sorcerer, a terrible curse power burst forth, instantly healing his battered body back to its original state.
While this couldn't heal the damage to his self-awareness, as he said, Abel no longer possessed the sword intent to deliver the final blow.
Snap!
As the light on Abel's forehead disappeared, the sword domain that he had barely maintained up to this point also shattered.
Exposing him once again to the opponent's domain.
"It's time to end this game; you've made it quite enjoyable for me."
"Eight!"
Spurt!
In an instant, half of Abel's neck was severed by an invisible force, and a torrent of blood gushed out.
"To think it didn't cut the head clean off. Oh well, it's not a big deal."
The two-faced sorcerer murmured, somewhat unsatisfied with the outcome.
"Is it really no use, Gojou-sensei? If you don't come soon, it will be too late."
Megumi was extremely anxious.
He also felt sad for Abel, who had become so strong and yet still met his end here.
What could have been if he had possessed the powers of curses and had the chance to enter the academy earlier?
The thought was too beautiful to imagine, but in this world, there are no what-ifs, and everything was over.
The two-faced sorcerer even dispelled his domain.
But was it truly over?
Tick-tock, tick-tock
Abel remained standing.
Suddenly, a tremendous force erupted from him and rapidly spread across the battlefield.
"What?!"
Megumi's eyes widened in shock.
The two-faced sorcerer also spun around, his face filled with uncontrollable excitement.
"To have concealed something even now; let me see if your final strike has what it takes to kill me!"
Abel ignored the two-faced sorcerer's taunts.
The opponent's last strike not only grievously wounded him but even triggered his innate ability, "Warrior's Soul," to immune a fatal effect once.
The certainty of that slicing force was indeed horrifying.
But Abel was not one to give up so easily.
Upon entering a 'gravely wounded' state, he experienced an explosive three hundred percent surge in combat power!
And that wasn't all!
Pattern Activation!
With the appearance of a pair of "Dark Wings" on Abel's forehead, his combat power soared once again!
The three hundred percent enhancement from his "Ghost" form, plus the three hundred percent surge in combat power from "Warrior's Soul," the multi-fold increase from the pattern awakening of "Dark Wings," the double power from the "Demon Blade Contract," and the exclusive skill power enhancement from "Dark Breath!"
This next slash would be Abel at his peak—Dark Breath, Seventh Form: Great Dark Heavenly Demon God!