Chapter 37. The Point of "Death" (Part 5)

"Domain Expansion: Coffin of the Iron Mountain!" his raspy voice echoed throughout the area.

Jogo's domain spread over us, and the world around us changed.

Massive volcanic walls erupted around us, spewing streams of molten magma. The ground beneath our feet cracked and melted, turning into boiling lakes of lava. The air was thick with suffocating heat, and it seemed like the very air caught fire at the touch. The roar of erupting lava and the crackle of scorching rocks made it feel like we were in the heart of hell. An ordinary Sorcerer would have burned to ashes here instantly, but for me, this was merely a warm-up before the real fight.

As a Pyromaniac, I felt no discomfort. Sure, I wasn't completely immune to fire, but the level Jogo was showing was still not enough. The flames dancing around felt like gentle caresses, warm and welcoming. So, it's safe to say I was in my element, like a fish in water.

"I can't lose," Jogo's chest heaved up and down rapidly. His eyes gleamed with determination despite the fatigue, and every breath he took was filled with desperate resolve. "I won't lose to any of you! And it won't be for Hanami or Dagon... No, not at all! I will burn you because I want to!"

Sukuna, with his perpetual smirk, looked even more excited after hearing this.

"Not bad!" Sukuna laughed, his voice brimming with excitement and challenge. "Cursed spirit, this is exactly what I wanted to see! Genuine and all-consuming desire to win! Yes, cast aside everything that holds you back, and show your true power!"

Immediately after this, without any warning, about a hundred miniature volcanoes erupted around us. Before I could count them accurately, each one exploded with a deafening roar, spewing molten lava and fiery bursts in all directions. The ground trembled beneath our feet, and the air filled with heat and smoke, creating the sensation that we were in the heart of a volcanic inferno. The entire world around us plunged into chaos and destruction.

In that moment, time slowed down for me. I saw dozens upon dozens of streams of fire, like scorching spears, rushing towards me. They cut through the air with terrifying speed, leaving trails of ash and charred remnants in their wake. Fire was everywhere, consuming everything in its path, leaving no chance for escape. I felt waves of heat crashing over me, ready to incinerate all living things.

At that moment, I understood that I was facing not just a curse, but a being who had put everything on the line. He was no longer holding back, no longer hesitating, and no longer uncertain. No, now, the only thing I saw in him was conviction.

Jogo had changed significantly. He was no longer the curse I had fought before. It wasn't just about the half of his head, which, although restored, remained forever scarred from our last encounter. His strength and power had grown to new limits. He had become a being truly deserving of the title of special grade among special grades. The number of mini-volcanoes and the speed at which he created them were truly astonishing. Even if we were outside his domain, it would be deadly. But here, inside, this attack became truly terrifying. Any other Sorcerer, even one who had mastered simple domains or something else to counter Domain Expansion, would perish instantly, not even understanding what had happened.

I believe there are only three Sorcerers capable of standing against Jogo right now. And I was one of them.

Not to brag, but even among them, I was "special." Unlike other Sorcerers, during my training, I paid special attention to developing my Domain Expansion, domain amplification, and simple domain abilities. I knew these were the key skills that could save me in the most challenging situations, so I honed my mastery to perfection, striving to be the best of the best. And I succeeded. Even Satoru acknowledged that I could activate my simple domain faster and more effectively than anyone else, and my defense was the most robust and reliable. This was the result of long years of training and struggle. And now, in the face of this fiery storm, I felt ready to face any threat.

In less than a tenth of a second, my simple domain flared up around me, creating a protective barrier.

However, before I could exhale, words reached my ears that would haunt my nightmares:

"Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine"

And once again, the world around us changed.

Sukuna's domain returned us to Shibuya, though it didn't make things any easier. Before my eyes rose a grotesque shrine. Gigantic ribs, like crooked columns, jutted out from the ground. In their shadows lay heaps of skulls and bones, piled in chaotic mounds. The air was thick with the stench of death and decay, and the faint light filtering through the bones cast eerie shadows. The walls of the tomb were covered in symbols and runes, emitting a grim glow. Sukuna himself stood atop this dreadful structure, looking down at Jogo and me like a king upon his subjects. His four eyes burned with demonic fire, and his eternal smirk played on his face, full of contempt and delight at the unfolding chaos.

But before any of us could react, I tasted blood. In the next moment, my body was covered with countless cuts. Blood soaked me, my clothes, my hair, and my bones, gradually pooling at my feet, where pieces of flesh were scattered. Simultaneously, I heard a splash in a nearby puddle. Jogo lay on all fours, unrecognizable. His skin was slashed with numerous deep cuts, blood dripping down his body, soaking the ground beneath him. Jogo's eye, filled with pain and horror, darted around, trying to understand what had happened.

At that moment, it felt like I was sinking deep underwater. A chill and moisture washed over me… I remembered this feeling.

"This is what death feels like," — the voice of my grandfather echoed in my head.

He said those words to me after I encountered my first curse.

…

It was early morning. The sun lit up the sky, bathing everything around in a beautiful pink hue. My grandfather and I had come to my first assignment — an ordinary curse, the kind Sorcerers dealt with every day across the country.

We were near an abandoned factory. Old, rusted gates creaked in the wind, and tall smokestacks loomed over us like grim sentinels. The area in front of the factory was cracked and overgrown with grass pushing through the asphalt. The air smelled of dampness and decay, and the wind carried echoes of the past when the factory was still alive.

My grandfather, leaning against a white minivan, looked at me with his empty eyes. Lighting a cigarette, he spoke in a voice full of calm and coldness:

"Don't play the hero. Remember: heroism is a sign of miscalculation. Just stay focused and take your time."

I nodded, feeling the tension build inside me. This was my first fight in years, and my first encounter with a curse at all. A mix of fear and nervousness buzzed in my chest, and a hundred thoughts swirled in my head.

My grandfather waved his hand, and I saw a wall of darkness rise around us, forming a shroud.

I took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air fill my lungs, bringing with it the faint scent of dew and freshness. Yet, even this cliché action didn't do much to quell my anxiety. My hands still trembled, but I gripped my sword tighter and took a step forward. I wasn't ready for the fight, but I knew there was no running from it. Determination and fear intertwined in my heart, making it beat even faster.

My body, as if guided by an invisible force, led me deeper and deeper into the abandoned building. As I moved from room to room, I felt my sweat-drenched clothes stick to my skin, causing an unpleasant chill. My muscles tensed, ready for an unexpected attack, like taut strings ready to snap at any moment. Every rustle and shadow seemed like a potential threat, sharpening my focus. I kept moving forward, despite the doubts within, knowing that there was no turning back.

And then I saw it — the curse resembled a hunchback, but its body was grotesquely distorted and swollen to inhuman proportions. Its skin was a poisonous shade of purple, covered in dark veins pulsing with a sinister light. Its eyes, burning with a crimson fire, were filled with hatred and madness. The creature emitted a low growl, as if from the depths of hell, and each of its steps was heavy and resounding.

The curse attacked first, lunging at me with surprising speed for its size. I barely managed to dodge, leaping to the side. Adrenaline surged through my body, making my heart pound even faster. My muscles gradually stopped trembling, and I felt my strength returning. At that moment, the curse attacked again, and I dodged once more, but this time, I managed to counterattack instantly. Our movements were swift and sharp, each strike accompanied by the thunderous clash and flashes of cursed energy.

The battle raged on until, at one point, I lost my rhythm, tripping over some protrusion. The curse seized this opportunity, swinging wide in my direction. I instinctively raised my sword in defense. But when the creature's claw came down on me, my grip wasn't strong enough, and the sword slipped from my hands, sending me crashing into a beam.

My head throbbed, my body ached and trembled. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the curse approaching me. Its face bore a foolish grin, eerily similar to Sukuna's smirk, filled with contempt and sadistic pleasure.

And in that moment, it felt like I lost myself. I don't know why, but only when I stood on the brink of death did I truly stop being afraid.

I remember, as if in a trance, fortifying myself with cursed energy to the maximum and charging at the curse. Knocking it off its feet, we both ended up on the floor. After rolling a few times, we found ourselves near my sword. I immediately grabbed it and started stabbing the curse's body. Once, twice, five times… I lost count of how long it lasted, only coming to my senses at the sound of footsteps and the sight of a pile of ash at my knees.

It was only then that I realized that when I crashed into the beam, one of its spikes had pierced my abdomen. Looking down, I touched my stomach with my hand. My white palm immediately turned crimson with my blood. I looked up and saw my grandfather calmly walking towards me. Squatting down, still with a cigarette in his mouth, he said:

"This is what death feels like… Neither god nor devil will lend you a hand. So remember this feeling, and the next time you experience it, do what you did today… Stand up and fight! Fight! No matter how terrible and cruel the enemy may be, it doesn't matter! No matter how harsh and terrifying they may be, so what! Fight!"

...

Fight!

...

Fight!

...

Fight!

"But will your desire be enough?" my consciousness caught the painfully irritating voice of Sukuna.

As I awoke from this dream, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with air, as if drawing in all the power and determination I had. With each breath, I felt my energy overflow, filling every cell of my body with strength.

Immediately after, I activated my simple domain. The space around me shifted, and I found myself in a protected area, its boundaries flaring with bright light, like fiery lines cutting through the air. Simultaneously, I began using reverse technique, channeling positive cursed energy to heal my wounds. Within seconds, I felt all my injuries closing, the pain vanishing as if it had never been there.

In that moment, my mind was exceptionally clear. All fears and doubts disappeared, leaving only determination and cold clarity.