Alliance

'When is this mountain head gonna release his domain?' Takashi thought with an exhausted and impatient face. The fight had taken quite a toll on him, especially the previous stunt that he had just pulled off. If he had to guess, he had about 15-20% of his reserves, plus the injuries he accumulated during the fight.

Takashi knew that if he had been even slightly slower in executing his plan, he might have ended up trapped within Jogo's Domain, facing certain defeat.

Typically, a Domain Expansion manifested under one second, the fastest one being 0.2 seconds. This plan was really reckless, after all, it relied entirely on his reaction speed, instincts, timing, and the hope that Jogo wouldn't expect such a bold move.

But Takashi had always been one to take risks when he believed in his abilities. He believed in the power of understanding and finding alternative solutions, even in the face of seemingly impossible challenges.

As seconds ticked by, Jogo's Domain finally began to crumble, revealing a frustrated Jogo. His crimson eye glared at the determined human, who stood his ground despite the exhaustion evident in his posture.

"How? How did y-"

Just as Jogo was about to speak, Takashi wasted no time in capitalizing on this opportunity, he knew that he had to beat up Jogo quickly, before he could use his Cursed Technique again.

Summoning the last reserves of his cursed energy, Takashi charged towards Jogo with a burst of speed. The ground beneath him shook with each step, and his amber eyes blazed with determination.

Jogo, caught off guard by Takashi's sudden assault, tried to retaliate, but his movements were sluggish, and his flames lacked their usual ferocity. He attempted to form a defensive barrier, but it was feeble, barely managing to withstand Takashi's attack.

"This is payback for interrupting me!"

Takashi roared as he unleashed a barrage of cursed energy projectiles, each one precisely aimed at exploiting Jogo's vulnerabilities. The weakened cursed spirit struggled to evade the attacks, and the projectiles struck true, causing him to roar in pain.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Jogo refused to go down without a fight. He mustered what little strength he had left and launched a desperate counterattack. Flames erupted from his body, but they were dimmer and far less potent than before.

Takashi, relying on his instincts and reaction speed, expertly dodged Jogo's weakened strikes until he saw an opening in Jogo's defense. Seizing the opportunity, Takashi channeled his remaining cursed energy into his right fist, infusing it with the power of the Encompassing Abyss.

As drool could be seen flowing down from Takashi's mouth, his cursed energy turned black as he connected the punch into Jogo's chest with pinpoint accuracy.

The impact sent shockwaves through the air, and Jogo was knocked back, his form flickering uncontrollably as his purple blood smeared through the air.

As Jogo staggered, Takashi pressed the advantage. And again, with a swift and powerful kick, his cursed energy turned black as he sent Jogo crashing to the ground, the force of the blow creating a huge crater beneath him.

Takashi stood over the fallen Jogo, panting heavily and covered in sweat and dirt. He could feel the exhaustion and pain catching up to him as he fell out of the state of highness he was in.

"Will.. will you hear me out now, Jogo?" Takashi said while catching his breath.

As Jogo lay defeated on the ground, he glared at Takashi with a mix of rage and astonishment. The brat's display of power had caught him off guard, and he struggled to comprehend how this human could have bested him.

"Speak your mind quickly," Jogo grumbled, his voice weakened by his injuries. "I won't entertain you for long."

Takashi took a moment to catch his breath before speaking. He knew he had to choose his words carefully to avoid further provoking the proud cursed spirit.

"I don't want to fight you to death, Jogo," Takashi began, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "I understand your hatred for humans, but have you ever thought about what will happen after ridding them from the Earth?"

Jogo's fiery glare intensified, his pride preventing him from acknowledging any potential consequences beyond his desire to make cursed spirits the true humans.

"After getting rid of humans, what's left is a world filled with cursed spirits, right?" Takashi continued, trying to reason with Jogo. "But then, there will be nothing to balance cursed spirits, and chaos will ensue. The very existence of humans maintains an equilibrium in the world of curses."

Jogo's crimson eye twitched as he spoke up in anger. "So what?! Why should I tolerate the existence of you false humans? Your pretentious emotions, mere acts to hide your true nature, pollute this very world! Humans are nothing but pretenders, shrouded in lies and false emotions!

The fake ones, the humans who deny their true nature, are but parasites feeding off their own deceptions. But we, cursed spirits are the true humans! In this world of falsehoods and pretenses, cursed spirits are the genuine beings, unafraid to embrace their true nature. We are the ones destined to inherit this earth!"

Takashi listened to Jogo's passionate outburst, understanding the depth of resentment and anger that fueled the cursed spirit's beliefs. He knew that trying to reason with someone so deeply entrenched in their convictions would be challenging, but he would try his best.

"I can sense your frustration, Jogo," Takashi replied calmly, trying to keep the conversation from escalating further. "You believe that cursed spirits are the true humans, free from the shackles of pretense and deception. But I think there's more to it than just being 'true' humans or 'false' humans."

He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Humans, cursed spirits, we all have our flaws and complexities. We're not defined solely by our abilities or nature, but also by our choices and actions."

"Throughout history, humans have indeed caused harm and suffering to each other," Takashi continued, "but there have also been those who have shown kindness, compassion, and the willingness to understand and learn from each other."

He took a step closer to Jogo, trying to bridge the gap between them with his words. "Although I don't think it's possible to create a world where cursed spirits and humans can coexist peacefully, I believe that it's not neccesary to always antagonize each other."

Takashi's heartfelt words seemed to resonate with Jogo, albeit slightly. The flames in Jogo's eyes wavered as he listened to Takashi's perspective.

"You humans... you're so full of contradictions," Jogo muttered, his fiery form flickering. "I have witnessed both the worst and the best in your kind."

Takashi nodded, understanding Jogo's sentiment. "Yes, humans are complex beings, capable of both darkness and light. But isn't that what makes us unique? It's our choices and actions that define who we are, not just our abilities or origins."

"By denying that complexity, you're limiting yourself and your potential for growth," Takashi continued, taking a step closer to Jogo. "Instead of viewing humans as false and cursed spirits as true, why not strive to understand each other?"

Jogo remained silent for a moment, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

"Why are you trying so hard to reason with me?" Jogo finally asked, his tone less hostile but still guarded.

"Actually, there is no grand reason, I just got carried away, haha." Takashi replied, as his eyes widened when he realized he forgotten about his task. "Uhmm, actually, I have a proposition for you, Jogo."

Takashi took a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing. "My proposition is simple: join forces with me and my academy."

Jogo's eyes narrowed as he considered the offer. "Why would I join a human academy? What do you have to offer me?"

Takashi smiled, knowing he had to be persuasive. "The Cursed Yokai Academy is not a human academy. Actually, it is solely for cursed spirits."

There was a silence as Jogo absorbed his words, "Huh? That's ridiculous. An academy for cursed spirits? Add to that, its founder is a human?" Jogo said with a dumbfounded look.

"Well, yeah, I have my reasons to make such a place, which I won't divulge in, so let's put that aside. So, what do you say?"

"I'll give you credit for this intriguing idea, human.. no, Takashi, was it?" Jogo said, his voice gruff as he recalled Takashi's name. "I'll consider joining it after hearing your terms and benefits. But if it turns out to be nothing but a farce, I'll burn you to ashes."

"Sure, the only things I want from you is to protect the academy no matter what, and teaching the cursed spirits." Takashi took a breath as he continued, "As for your benefits, I am willing to give you my full support for your beliefs if you are still holding onto them after a year. Additionally, you will receive many benefits as long as you stay at the academy."

Jogo grunted, still skeptical but intrigued by the offer. "Very well. I'll accept your proposition, Takashi. For now. But remember, I won't hesitate to turn against you if I sense any deception."

"I understand," Takashi nodded, relieved that Jogo was willing to give it a chance. "Welcome to the Cursed Yokai Academy, Jogo. I hope this turns out to be a beneficial alliance for both of us."

With that, Takashi extended his hand, a gesture of acceptance and camaraderie. Jogo eyed the outstretched hand before hesitantly reaching out to shake it.

[Congratulations for completing the task!]

...

Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter, this took a bit out of me.