Curse Returns: Eight Extraordinary Skills? I lack nothing.

It wasn't that Kusakabe actively blocked it; it was his domain that blocked it for him.

Domain setting - Any attacks from enemies entering the area will be automatically analyzed and countered by the system.

This is Kusakabe Atsuya's domain characteristic: fully automatic interception.

Nanami did not back down.

He channeled his magical power into the blade, reactivating the weakness detection of the broken blade. He quickly searched for the frequency and rhythm of the domain's counterattack, trying to find that barely perceptible pause during the intervals between counterattacks.

The area under the sun has no gaps.

Every slash is automatically blocked, and no matter how fast Nanami's attack speed is, the domain can react within absolute speed.

Sweat trickled down Nanami's forehead.

However, fine beads of sweat also appeared on his forehead, which was slightly sunburned.

Fully automated counterattacks come at a cost.

Maintaining this program requires a huge amount of magical power, and the output of magical power in the lower part of the sun is already close to its limit. If it continues, the automatic counterattack speed of the domain will slow down.

That will be Nanami's chance.

A knife.

Two cuts.

Four cuts.

Ten cuts.

The two swords clashed repeatedly in the night, the clanging sounds exploding like firecrackers across the training ground.

The 500,000 viewers in the live stream didn't dare to breathe.

The sorcerers in the stands were also whispering among themselves.

"Nanami is getting faster and faster. Kusakabe is forced to defend passively within the domain. At this rate, he won't be able to hold on—"

"But Kusakabe's counter-attack program is almost perfect; Nanami hasn't been able to touch him even once. It's perfect on a defensive level."

"Don't forget, Nanami also has Black Flash."

"The problem is that Nanami has no room to unleash Black Flash. Every time he swings his sword, it is blocked. He doesn't even have a chance to charge up his power."

Finally, after the sixteenth exchange of blows, Nanami suddenly widened the distance between them.

Their feet slid several meters across the ground, leaving two long skid marks.

He looked up at the sunbeams, his breathing noticeably rapid.

Kusakabe wasn't in much better shape; his suit was soaked with sweat and clung to his body, and his bow tie was askew.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

Open at the same time.

"Let's call it a draw."

"draw."

The referee paused for a moment, looked at the two players' condition, and then raised his flag.

"Seventh match – a draw!"

Enthusiastic applause and bursts of laughter erupted from the stands.

This is the kind of battle they want to see.

It wasn't a one-sided crushing victory, nor a swift defeat, but rather a closely contested battle.

Kusakabe took two steps toward Nanami and extended his hand.

Nanami looked at him and reached out to shake his hand.

"I won't hold back next time." Kusakabe chuckled.

"I didn't put it in either," Nanami said calmly.

Kusakabe paused for a moment, then laughed even harder.

"You little rascal, you're really stubborn."

"I learned it from you."

Higashido Aoi let out a loud laugh from the corner.

Zenji Naoya leaned against the railing of the stands, his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought, but his expression was better than before he went on stage—a loss is a loss, and at least he recognized the gap between them.

Kusakabe walked to the rest area, opened his wine gourd, tilted his head back and took a big gulp, wiped his mouth, and turned to look at Xia Youjie sitting in the Panxing Sect area.

Xia Youjie maintained his calm expression, even giving a slight smile.

Kusakabe did not respond.

He patted Nanami on the shoulder and went back to his seat.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Ijin's Descent

Chapter Three: The First-Class Battle (Continued)

After the draw between Nanami and Kusakabe, the atmosphere in the stands was incredibly heated.

But the host didn't give the audience a chance to catch their breath.

"Next—at the request of the overseas observation group, two additional Level 1 Spellcaster performance matches will be added temporarily."

He held up the match list in his hand.

"In the first match, the free sorcerer Mingming will face off against Zenin Naohito, the head of the Zenin family."

The moment he finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in uproar.

"Sister Mingming is talking to the head of the Zen Temple?"

"What kind of battle is this, gods fighting?"

"No, didn't the old man from Zhili already fight a defensive battle?"

"It's an exhibition match, so it doesn't count towards the final score; it's just pure competition."

"That's good enough! These two are both veterans!"

Mingming walked out of the rest area.

Her combat suit gleamed with a dark purple sheen under the lights, her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she carried her signature battle axe in her hand.

Their pace was neither hurried nor slow, as if they were taking a stroll.

Zenji Naokijin emerged from the other side.

The old man was dressed in a dark kimono, wearing wooden clogs, with a sake gourd at his waist, and carrying nothing in his hands.

They don't look like they're here to fight; they look more like they're here to admire the flowers.

The two stood in the center of the field.

The Naobi looked Mingming up and down and then smiled.

"I thought they would send a young man, but I didn't expect it to be you."

Mingming smiled too.

"What, does the old man think I'm too old?"

"No, no. You are Gojo Satoru's senior, how could I possibly have the right to look down on you?"

The Gibi man uncorked the gourd and took a sip.

"Then shall we stop here?"

Mingming gripped the handle of the battle axe and gently turned it halfway around.

"Sure. But—"

She paused, then her smile deepened.

“Appearance fees will be calculated separately.”

The Naobi people were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Alright! I'll treat you to drinks for a month!"

The referee raised his hand.

"Ready, go!"

The Jibi people made the first move.

The projection spell was activated instantly, and his figure vanished from the spot, so fast that it left no afterimage.

One twenty-fourth of a second.

At this time scale, all of Mingming's actions seemed to be in slow motion to him.

He appeared on Mingming's right, his palm touching her shoulder.

If you touch her, you can freeze her for a second.

One second is enough for him to do a lot of things.

However, fate did not allow it to be hidden.

She didn't even look in the direction of the Jibi people.

He held the axe horizontally to his side and swung it out at an incredible angle.

The direction—is exactly where the Nakabi man's palm landed.

The Naobi's pupils contracted.

This woman's prediction...

He stopped, then activated the projection spell again, his figure flashing behind Mingming.

This time, instead of touching her with his palm, he kicked her behind the knee.

Mingming still did not turn back.