Ch.42 Blooming Black Flash

However, Kokun was still a seasoned jujutsu sorcerer, a professional terrorist. His professional instincts were no joke.

At the critical moment, he ducked to avoid the sweeping cursed energy slash from Akira's sword, and in a swift motion, kicked two combatants toward Akira.

There was no way Akira would take them head-on. He had already seen Kokun's "Killer Queen" hand gesture—a technique that had no limit on range or number and could detonate at will.

The human bombs exploded on impact, with the blast wave halting Akira's advance while leaving Kokun unaffected.

Kokun raised his right thumb, aiming it at Nanami Kento, and his left thumb at Akira. As soon as any human bombs came close enough, no matter what the two of them did—whether they dodged or blocked—he could detonate them instantly.

Because the cursed energy had been planted in advance and stored, Kokun had no need to worry about running out of energy.

This was his true power and the trump card that he and Bayer had spent ten years refining.

As long as the enemy couldn't instantly annihilate the human bombs, they would be caught in their rhythm.

Whether facing a single opponent or multiple enemies.

They weren't concerned about reinforcements because they had complete confidence in their strength and strategy.

——Nanami Kento, within range!

After Bayer sacrificed a third of his weapons to slow down Nanami's advance, the reinforcements arrived.

——Cursed energy release, technique activation!

Something unexpected happened. Nanami Kento, unlike Akira, did not dodge in time but instead swung his blade directly into the chest of the approaching human bomb.

Kokun didn't understand why Nanami would do this, but this "mistake" was exactly what he had hoped for.

If you want to hit the bomb, then I'll oblige, Kokun thought.

But just as Kokun was about to press his thumb and trigger the explosion, a dark, red-black energy flashed in the night.

It looked like lightning, with the force of a storm.

This was the distortion caused by cursed energy perfectly synced with a physical strike.

"Black Flash!" Kokun's face twisted in shock.

"No, it's not just Black Flash!" Bayer, who was closer, saw it more clearly. Nanami's blunt sword had struck the 7:3 ratio point on the chest of the combatant.

It was a combination of the "Ratio Technique" and "Black Flash."

The critical hit effect, combined with the 2.5x multiplier from the Black Flash, made Nanami's strike over ten times stronger.

In just one blow, the unfortunate combatant exploded.

Literally exploded.

Flesh and blood flew everywhere.

Cursed techniques and cursed energy both require a vessel. Kokun's bombs needed a certain amount of mass and density to function, and when Nanami obliterated the body, the cursed energy scattered with it, dissipating the explosive curse.

The reason Akira rated Nanami as "Special Grade in close combat" was precisely because he could perfectly combine jujutsu with Black Flash, delivering devastating power.

"He got it on the first try, not bad."

Nanami's voice was as calm as ever, carrying that signature stoicism.

The more composed he appeared, the more it highlighted the enemy's failure, which only made them more enraged.

"It's just a Black Flash," Kokun growled. "Let's see how many times you can pull that off—attack!"

With fewer combatants remaining, Bayer's control over them became even more precise, their movements quicker and more refined.

Facing the second wave of attacks, Nanami handled it even more calmly, swinging his sword again.

Ratio Technique!

Black Flash!

Another hit, another explosion!

Exactly like before.

"Impossible!!" Kokun was losing his mind.

"There's nothing impossible about it. Consecutively using Black Flash isn't hard. After landing a Black Flash, a sorcerer enters a state similar to an athlete's 'Zone.' The cursed energy flows as naturally as breathing, and you feel like everything around you revolves around your center."

As if to prove the point, Nanami swung his sword for a third time.

Black Flash, once again.

The third combatant exploded into pieces.

"Friendly reminder, Nanami-sensei holds the record for the most consecutive Black Flashes—four times in one day. The only reason he hasn't done more is that he hasn't had enough targets. Who knows, today he might break that record."

While the enemies' attention was completely focused on Nanami, Akira successfully bypassed the combatants and closed in on Kokun.

"That doesn't really matter," Nanami said, completely uninterested in breaking any records.

After all, he had set the record himself, and besides, consecutive Black Flashes didn't necessarily mean anything. Any enemy Nanami needed four consecutive Black Flashes to defeat, Gojo Satoru could take down with a single blow. Comparisons like that were meaningless.

"Akira, we don't know how long I can stay in this state, so let's make the most of it."

Hearing Nanami's words, Akira even gave up the chance to sneak attack Kokun, focusing instead on sensing Nanami's cursed energy flow and trying to feel the special state he was in.

It's said that athletes can enter a shared "Zone" together, where one person's heightened state elevates the whole team.

Akira wasn't sure if that was true, but this opportunity was right in front of him, so why not try?

In his mind, Nanami's teachings flashed like a revolving lantern:

—Treat cursed energy like air, like blood, and let it flow through your body.

—Empty your mind. Don't force yourself to think, or there will be delays. Let it come naturally; learn to rely on instinct.

—If you have to think, think about being faster, higher, and stronger. Imagine your future self.

—Forget tactics, strategies, and counters. Pursue pure strength!

Normally, Akira wouldn't be able to do this.

He was the type who could never sit still, always worrying, always overthinking.

But now, seeing Nanami demonstrate it in person, watching him shatter the enemy's plans again and again, witnessing the perfect synchronization of body and cursed energy, Akira felt like he could do it.

Akira took a deep breath, his focus sharpening.

Still not enough.

He could still feel the discord between his cursed energy and his body!

He could still sense his limits!

Was this the end?

No, not yet!

He hadn't truly pushed himself to the brink, hadn't squeezed out every ounce of his potential.

Akira didn't have the innate talent of a jujutsu sorcerer. Stepping into this dangerous world had been thanks to the system's gift.

Though he kept telling himself it was part of him, deep down, he always felt a sense of distance.

It was something that appeared out of nowhere, not the purest form of strength.

Pure strength doesn't rely on external tools—it comes from refining oneself and drawing out one's potential.

If there's no jujutsu, then push your cursed energy further.

If there's not enough energy, then concentrate it even more.

If that's still not enough, then draw from your blood, your mind, everything you can muster.

Don't think about anything else. Don't worry about what comes after. Just one moment is all you need.

Extract your essence and surpass your limits.

Akira poured all his will into a single strike!

He felt something crack, shatter even. But he couldn't care less—not the sword slipping from his hand, nor Bai'er's gunfire, nor Kokun's counterattack. His entire focus was on his right fist.

Cursed energy burned like fire, growing hotter, its color deepening.

When the red hue of the cursed energy faded completely, when the flames turned entirely black, everything before his fist distorted.

Air, dust, cursed energy, even space itself.

Where the blackness passed, all resistance was futile.

A black flower, in full bloom!

PS: The combination of Nanami's technique and Black Flash is a personal creative twist. Theoretically, it seems possible. Based on the original story, Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerers are either extremely specialized or well-rounded without any weaknesses.