Tora gripped the tree branch tighter, his body trembling under the crushing weight of cursed energy surging from the heart of the domain. Beside him, Rainbow Dragon let out a low hiss, its obsidian-like eyes glinting with the same sharp wariness.
"This… isn't a normal fight," Tora muttered, his voice nearly drowned out by the roar of curses reverberating within the domain.
From a distance, the darkness looked alive. Thousands of indistinct shadows churned within it, like an ocean of creatures awaiting their master's command.
Then, the voice came.
"Gojo Satoru…" Shinzo spoke from within the domain, his voice calm, yet every syllable echoed like an ancient cursed incantation. "Here… I am the power that governs all."
Ten Chimera Agito in the front line moved in perfect unison. The ground beneath them split, the air trembled, and their spiritual pressure was enough to make even first-grade sorcerers fall to their knees in fear.
Gojo, however, only smiled. He casually lowered his hand, brushing the dust off his sleeve.
"Interesting." He tilted his head slightly, his gaze piercing the layered darkness. "Well then… let's begin."
Two Chimera Agito lunged, their cracked jaws splitting wide, revealing rows of dagger-like teeth. They moved like lightning, creating waves of pressure that tore through the air.
Gojo simply stepped forward once—
and the world collapsed around them.
BZZZT!
Infinity stopped the two Agito in an instant, freezing them midair, trapped in an unreachable distance.
Gojo looked at them casually and smirked. "Hmmm… Strange. Why doesn't your domain have the guaranteed-hit effect?"
With a slight twitch of his fingers, both Agito shattered, exploding into fragments of curses that dissolved into the pitch-black air.
But even before they completely vanished—new shadows moved.
Six more Chimera leapt from every direction, while a massive beast at the edge of the domain swung its whip-like arm, unleashing a cursed slash that tore through space itself.
Tora held his breath. "How…? Inside Shinzo Zen'in's domain, there's no guaranteed-hit effect? Did he… bind it with a Binding Vow?"
Rainbow Dragon growled softly on his shoulder, as if it shared the same thought.
_______
Shinzo Zen'in
From the center of his domain, Shinzo observed sharply.
"Dance, Gojo Satoru… Show me the strength of this new generation."
He snapped his fingers. In an instant, the black shadows on the ground rose, shaping themselves into cursed spears that shot toward Gojo from every direction.
Gojo chuckled lightly. "Good. Now this is starting to get fun."
With a quick motion, he raised his hand—Infinity thickened around him, forming an invisible fortress. The cursed spears stopped mere centimeters away, as if reality itself rejected them.
"Well then… my turn."
Gojo snapped his fingers.
WHOOOM!!!
A surge of blue energy erupted from his body, forcing dozens of Chimera back. Shinzo merely narrowed his eyes, unfazed.
"I see…" he murmured coldly. "But here… you will not win, Gojo."
The colossal shadow at the edge of the domain swung its whip-like arm once more. This time, its slash pierced through Infinity.
Gojo turned, his eyes widening slightly. "Hoh…?"
Tora almost fell off his branch. "It… pierced Infinity?! How…!?"
Shinzo's cold smile deepened.
"Inside my domain… even your concept of distance can be broken."
Gojo went silent for a moment, then let out a small laugh.
"Heh… now I'm really interested."
________
Tora's eyes trembled as he witnessed it all, a mix of awe and fear swirling inside him.
"Damn it… I need to know—Is this because of Shinzo's Binding Vow… or is this the nature of his domain?"
Rainbow Dragon hissed softly, agreeing with its master.
_______
Tora's View
Tora held his breath. From atop the high branch, his eyes followed Shinzo Zen'in as he suddenly shot forward. His movements were too fast for ordinary eyes, his body like a shadow streaking across space, tearing through the darkness of his own domain.
BOOOM!!
The ground shattered as Shinzo struck Gojo Satoru with a punch infused with Domain Amplification.
Gojo raised his arm to block the strike—but shockingly, the punch connected. Infinity… was negated.
Tora's eyes widened.
"Why…? How is Shinzo able to use Domain Amplification while still maintaining his Ten Shadows technique?"
Rainbow Dragon beside him hissed again, confused.
Tora focused intently. The Chimera resembling Agito didn't vanish even while Shinzo used amplification. They moved freely, circling their master like a living army.
"Are… they part of the domain itself?" Tora muttered, his mind racing.
He recalled another battle—the only one he could compare this to.
"Sukuna… He used Domain Amplification to fight Gojo Satoru in close combat at Shinjuku," Tora whispered in awe. "Just like Jogo and Hanami… he nullified Infinity with amplification. But… they couldn't use their cursed techniques while doing it."
He bit his lip.
"…Sukuna's innate technique was embedded in his domain, allowing him to switch seamlessly between it and amplification. His cursed energy control was perfect."
Tora's gaze sharpened, watching Shinzo relentlessly press Gojo with terrifying speed. Every strike carried amplification, while dozens of Chimera attacked simultaneously, forcing Gojo to defend from every angle.
Tora shivered.
"If Sukuna could use amplification within his domain… then Shinzo…"
He swallowed hard.
"Shinzo can really do the same… Thank god Kenjaku didn't revive him in Shinjuku…"
Gojo blocked another punch, but a massive Chimera swept its tail, forcing him back. In a blink, Shinzo reappeared in front of him, his fist cloaked in amplification, striking the air inches from Gojo's face.
BANG!!!
The shockwave obliterated the ground around them.
Tora clenched his fists.
"Shinzo… this isn't just ordinary amplification. He's fused it with his domain. Those Chimera… they're part of the laws he created. They don't need manual control… because they're extensions of his will!"
Rainbow Dragon growled low, confirming Tora's fear.
And down below… Gojo finally chuckled, even as a thin line of blood dripped from his lip.
"Interesting…" he said softly, his grin widening.
"Looks like I can't hold back anymore."
_______
Tora held his breath even tighter. The branch beneath him shook as if it could feel the clash below. The cursed energy inside the domain was suffocating, pressing down on his chest.
Rainbow Dragon coiled around the tree trunk, its scales trembling faintly, its eyes reflecting the terrifying battlefield.
Gojo Satoru wiped the blood from his lip. He laughed quietly, like a man who had finally found a worthy challenge.
"Alright, Shinzo… if that's how you want it…"
Shinzo stood unwavering in the heart of his Chimera army, his gaze sharp, cold, and absolute.
"Prove it to me, Gojo Satoru. Are you truly… the strongest?"
_______
Relentless Blows
BOOM!
Shinzo dashed in again, his fist cloaked in Domain Amplification. Gojo deflected it with one hand, but a wolf-like Chimera with armored scales lunged from his right, forcing him to pivot and kick it into cursed mist.
But before the mist even faded, two more wolf-shaped Chimera struck from above.
Gojo glanced up, his smirk returning.
"Too slow."
BZZZT!
Infinity expanded, stopping a scorpion-tailed Chimera's deadly stinger. But Shinzo was already behind him. Another punch landed—amplification bypassing Infinity once more.
BANG!!!
Gojo staggered back several steps. Black dust swirled around them, a storm of cursed energy so intense that Tora could barely see.
"He's pushing him… Gojo Satoru is actually being forced on the defensive," Tora whispered, his eyes wide.
_______
Tora's Analysis
Rainbow Dragon hissed softly, its claws gripping Tora's shoulder protectively, as if shielding him from the suffocating energy radiating even outside the domain.
Tora furrowed his brow.
"If Shinzo can combine amplification with his domain's laws, then every strike is a real threat… even to Infinity."
He clenched his fist.
"Those Chimera… they aren't ordinary shikigami. They're manifestations of his domain's rules. As long as Shinzo is here, their number is infinite."
He looked at Rainbow Dragon, who growled back at him.
"This… isn't a technique you can learn. This is pure, absolute mastery of cursed energy."
Rainbow Dragon roared low in agreement.
_______
Shinzo raised both hands, and ten Chimera lunged from every direction.
Gojo only stood there, his grin sharp.
"In that case… I'll hit back."
He raised his hand, blue energy gathering in his palm.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: RED."
WHOOOOOM!!!
The crimson blast tore forward, obliterating six Chimera in one go. Their bodies disintegrated into black shadows that spiraled back into the ground—only to be reborn instantly behind Shinzo.
Tora's horror deepened.
"Even RED can't stop them… they just come back like they never died!"
Shinzo gave a faint nod.
"In the Mourning Palace… death is only a brief pause."
Gojo wiped the blood from his cheek and laughed.
"Hahaha… good. Now this is getting fun."
He spread his arms wide, his eyes glowing bright blue.
"Let's see who lasts longer."
And in an instant, the clash exploded again, the domain trembling as if the entire world was about to collapse.