Was Womb Profusion Kenjaku's Domain, or was it Suguru's?
Since arriving in this world, Eichi had pondered this question more than once.
After enrolling at Tokyo Jujutsu High last year, he'd paid close attention to any clues while studying various Shikigami and Barrier Techniques.
The name Kenjaku originated from a Buddhist artifact used in combat.
It carried connotations of salvation and subjugation.
No wonder Yuki had once complained that, despite having a name meant to save sentient beings, his actions were nothing but evil. Truly ironic.
The "Womb" in Womb Profusion also originated from Esoteric Buddhism.
According to Esoteric Buddhist doctrine, everything in the world is a manifestation of Mahavairocana, and the Vajradhatu and Garbhadhatu are two transformations of this world.
One represents wisdom. The other, rationality.
Among these, the Garbhadhatu served as the prototype for Kenjaku's Domain.
The meaning of "womb" is to contain all beings, like children nurtured in a mother's womb.
And the large tree covered in twisted faces at the center of Womb Profusion was Gege's representation of the Garbhadhatu.
After understanding the origin of the terms Kenjaku and Womb, looking back at Kenjaku's life.
His actions over a thousand years, repeatedly turning powerful individuals and Cursed Spirits into Cursed Objects and reincarnating them into the present era through vessels—could this be seen as turning those people into "fetuses" and rebirthing them in a new world?
And Kenjaku's ultimate goal:
To assimilate Tengen with all non-sorcerers in Japan and give birth to a Cursed Spirit carrying the Cursed Energy of 100 million people.
That, too, echoed the concept of a "womb nurturing all things."
In truth, Kenjaku's entire life was encapsulated in those two words—Womb Profusion.
The moment Eichi saw Kenjaku form a hand seal, he felt a chill in his gut.
"Domain Expansion, Womb Profusion."
"Domain Expansion, Abyssal Dark Shadow Garden."
A massive tree covered in twisted faces burst up from beneath Kenjaku's feet.
The two Divine Dogs pursuing him were instantly twisted and torn apart.
Eichi's shadow rapidly expanded into a black abyss, and countless Shikigami crawled out from it.
"Oh?"
Kenjaku narrowed his eyes.
When he saw Eichi activating his Domain, he had initially planned to use the characteristics of his open-ended Domain to directly break through the outer shell of Eichi's Domain.
That would have shattered it and triggered Cursed Technique Burnout.
But Eichi didn't fully expand his Domain. Instead, just like Megumi, he used an incomplete Domain to neutralize Kenjaku's guaranteed-hit effect.
That caught Kenjaku off guard.
The abyss-like shadow spread across the ground, and from within it, Shikigami continuously emerged, attacking all enemies in the area.
Even Qiongqi, who had previously been severely wounded and unable to be summoned, was once again called out within the Domain.
"So that's your plan. You want to eliminate the Bone Woman and Jorōgumo first. I won't let you."
The Anti-Gravity Mechanism activated, halting all Shikigami trying to approach him, including Toads and Rabbit Escapes.
"Still need time to break your opponent's Domain?"
"Then I'll just break you directly."
Kenjaku charged into the abyss-covered ground.
Invisible attacks tore through Eichi's Shikigami one after another.
Bang.
Kenjaku looked strangely at Eichi, who had just taken a clean headshot.
He hadn't expected the decapitation attempt to go so smoothly.
But the next moment, the Eichi in front of him turned into a puddle of shadow.
"A shadow?"
"Yes, it's a shadow."
Eichi's voice came from behind him.
At the same time, Mahoraga's towering figure appeared.
In a life-or-death battle, there was no room for restraint or decorum.
Having summoned Mahoraga again, Eichi launched a surprise attack without hesitation.
Bang.
Kenjaku was sent flying dozens of meters by Mahoraga's punch, his right arm shattered by the immense force.
Reverse Cursed Technique activated, and his injuries rapidly healed.
Mahoraga, however, gave him no time.
The Sword of Exorcism carved a massive wound into Kenjaku's body.
"This much positive energy... no wonder it can one-shot a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. If I were a Cursed Spirit, I would've been completely erased."
Kenjaku couldn't help but comment.
Mahoraga ignored the remark and unleashed a barrage of strikes aimed at vital points.
Meanwhile, Eichi had Qiongqi clamp its jaws down on Jorōgumo's massive spider abdomen.
Her lower half struck back wildly, her body twisting in pain as she tried to shake Qiongqi off.
Artoria didn't miss the chance. With Mana Burst enhancing her speed, she rushed the Jorōgumo.
The holy sword cleaved through.
Unable to dodge in time, the Jorōgumo was cut down.
"This is really becoming a pain."
Kenjaku was in a sorry state, constantly dodging Mahoraga's relentless attacks.
The current situation was clearly unfavorable.
"I've bought enough time. Time to retreat."
Kenjaku pulled out the last Cursed Object in his possession.
"I didn't think I'd have to use you after all."
The Cursed Object, shaped like a small white snake, began to expand rapidly, transforming into an enormous eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent.
The Yamata no Orochi's eight heads spewed terrifying waves of Cursed Energy.
In an instant, everyone present was engulfed in the storm of its attack.
"What the hell is that?"
This Cursed Spirit was even stronger than Jogo.
Eichi had seen the strength of Sukuna's fingers and could estimate Sukuna's power to be in the 8 to 9 finger range.
So when this Cursed Spirit began wreaking havoc, he quickly gauged its level.
"But it's fine. Mahoraga will win."
He wondered if the phrase "will win" held some special magic in this world.
Because right after he said it, a miraculous scene unfolded.
The Sword of Exorcism struck one of the Yamata no Orochi's heads, and the head began to turn to ash and disintegrate.
Eichi had just begun to show a smile of victory, when the snake head struck by the sword snapped off at the base.
By severing its own head, Yamata no Orochi avoided being erased by the Sword of Exorcism.
Mahoraga stood 5 meters tall, already a giant.
But in front of the Yamata no Orochi, it looked like a child.
All eight snake heads lunged toward Mahoraga.
Mahoraga dodged nimbly, using the Sword of Exorcism to force the serpent to sever its own heads again and again, avoiding direct erasure.
Clang.
Mahoraga began to adapt to the Yamata no Orochi.
But the Yamata no Orochi was also starting to adapt to Mahoraga.
Just as Sukuna had said before, Mahoraga was similar in nature to the Yamata no Orochi.
"An incomplete Yamata no Orochi still isn't a match for Mahoraga?"
While Eichi and Artoria were focused on the Yamata no Orochi, Kenjaku successfully slipped away from the battlefield.
Now, standing at the edge of Tokyo Jujutsu High's Barrier, he looked back at the fight between the Cursed Spirit and the Shikigami.
In this contest of mutual adaptation, Mahoraga, designed to specialize in fighting Cursed Spirits, had gained the clear advantage.
"Whatever. I've achieved my goal of stalling for time. Now I just need to wait for news from Fushiguro Toji."
With that, Kenjaku pressed his hand to the outer Barrier of Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Soon, he opened a passage through it.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)