Chapter 185: A Shinigami's Battle is a Battle of Spiritual Pressure
The [Limitless Cursed Technique] is not invincible.
Emiya Shirou, possessing memories of his past life, understood this truth very well.
Whether it was Special Grade Cursed Tools like the [Prison Realm] or the [Inverted Spear of Heaven]—which could seal or nullify cursed energy—or Domain Expansion and its derivative, Domain Amplification... or even Sukuna, who, backed by a mountain of buffs, finally used [Mahoraga] to adapt to Gojo Satoru's [Limitless], learning and applying that bypass method to his own slashing technique to develop the "World-Cutting Slash"...
...All of these could breach the [Limitless] and crack Zeno's Tortoise.
Shirou knew this clearly. However, that didn't mean the [Limitless] was weak. On the contrary, in battles between opponents of the same level, or even in fights where a lower-level fighter challenged a higher one, the role of the [Limitless] remained irreplaceable and immense. It was the reason why Gojo Satoru—despite having less cursed energy than "monsters" like Sukuna or Okkotsu Yuta—could still achieve narrow defeats or overwhelming victories.
The mechanics of the [Limitless] were simply too broken.
If Emiya Shirou truly chose to turn the [Pandora's Box] of the Prisma Illya world into a Cursed Spirit after returning to the Type-Moon world, then facing a [Pandora's Box] with enough cursed energy to create an entire world, the mechanics of the [Limitless] were one of the few methods he could think of to use.
As long as [Pandora's Box] couldn't bypass the [Limitless], Shirou would have ample time and opportunity to use [Pseudo-Atum] to seize its soul. This was precisely why Shirou had entered another Binding Vow with Gojo Satoru: to exchange it for this battle.
Because within Okkotsu Yuta's domain, [Authentic Mutual Love], Gojo Satoru's [Limitless] didn't exist at all; Gojo had never allowed Okkotsu to copy his technique.
Of course, it wasn't that Gojo was being stingy. It was because within Okkotsu's domain, while all copied techniques are turned into katanas—allowing him to use them without time limits and granting them a "sure-hit" effect—there was a major catch. Until Okkotsu actually picks up a sword, even he doesn't know which technique it corresponds to. Furthermore, each sword can only be used once; once spent, he has to randomly select a new one.
This was why Okkotsu rarely copied techniques in the past. His domain's effect was far too random. If his repertoire of copied techniques grew too large, he wouldn't know what he was grabbing in the heat of battle. Conversely, if he only copied one type of technique, then even if the number of katanas in the domain remained the same, he would know they all carried that specific technique without even picking them up.
With that restriction in place, combined with the fact that the [Six Eyes] is not a technique but a physical trait (meaning it cannot be copied by Okkotsu's Mimicry), and the fact that the [Limitless] is essentially unusable without the microscopic insight provided by the [Six Eyes]... Gojo Satoru hadn't given his biological samples to Okkotsu to avoid "polluting" the boy's technique inventory.
However, this also thwarted Shirou's plan to simply watch Okkotsu's domain and project Gojo's technique along with it.
While Gojo Satoru was using the pre-duel preparation time to explain the situation regarding Fushiguro Toji to Megumi, Emiya Shirou had used that same time to confirm things with Okkotsu. Having found a way to bypass the limitations of Projection Magecraft (which also cannot project physical traits), Shirou arrived at the present moment.
But now...
Shirou, who had deliberately avoided projecting [Rule Breaker] to dispel the [Limitless], felt a wave of disappointment after truly experiencing the technique. The actual effect of the [Limitless] was far worse than he had imagined.
"You really are something, Emiya."
What Shirou could feel, Gojo Satoru—as the user of the [Limitless]—could naturally feel as well. That was why he had chosen to retreat so hastily during their initial clash.
After recovering his composure, Gojo spoke in wonder: "I thought if you wanted to break my [Limitless], you'd need to use that Cursed Tool similar to the [Inverted Spear of Heaven] that you used to help me out of the [Prison Realm].
I didn't expect you to use this method. It was indeed an oversight on my part."
As he spoke, Gojo began readjusting his [Limitless] from "automatic" back to "manual." "Ever since I switched the 'stopping force' of the technique from manual to automatic, I truly forgot the simplest principle—
—And that is: no matter what the technique is, it requires the consumption of Cursed Energy."
Indeed, Emiya Shirou's method for breaking the [Limitless] was that simple. It wasn't some special ability; he simply used the high stats provided by [Pseudo-Anubis] to make his attack exceed the "upper limit" of the [Limitless]. Naturally, this caused Gojo's cursed energy output to fail to keep up with the attack's force, causing the technique to collapse automatically.
After all, Gojo's "infinite" cursed energy was actually a "pseudo-infinite" state achieved through the meticulous energy manipulation of the [Six Eyes], where his consumption rate was lower than his natural recovery rate. The raw power of [Pseudo-Anubis] undoubtedly
forced Gojo's output higher, throwing the balance between consumption and recovery out of whack.
"But my strength isn't just reflected in the defense of the [Limitless]!"
The setback didn't dampen Gojo's fighting spirit. On the contrary, just like when he encountered Fushiguro Toji years ago, the presence of a powerful enemy that required his full attention made him excited.
"Watch out, Emiya! The techniques I'm going to use next won't be as 'gentle' as this defense!
If you're not careful, while you might not die, you'd better be mentally prepared to lie in a hospital bed for a few months!"
Defense was useless? Then he would attack! Gojo had switched from automatic back to manual specifically to free up the portion of cursed energy that was constantly being consumed, further increasing his upcoming output.
However...
"Is that so? Then, Gojo... you should prepare to lie on the ground for a while."
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