From the very beginning, the match presented completely different styles.
The Kyoto School clearly came prepared.
Under Kamo Kenji's calm command, they quickly formed a rigorously structured formation that balanced offense and defense.
Kamo had not inherited the "Blood Manipulation," but instead displayed a secret Kamo family technique called "Shadow Binding"—capable of precisely controlling shadows within a certain range, transforming them into flexible tendrils for restraint and interference. They could even condense into simple shadow constructs for ambushes or defense, making them extremely threatening in the forest environment where light and shadow intertwined.
They adopted a steady and methodical strategy, efficiently clearing Cursed Spirits along their path while vigilantly observing their surroundings. Clearly, they viewed "eliminating opponents" to gain high points as the key to turning the tide of battle.
However, Tokyo School's operational method completely upended their expectations.
Tokyo School had no formation whatsoever. Their tactic consisted of only two words: crushing.
"Suguru! Two o'clock direction, behind the dead tree, two Grade 2s, a bunch of Grade 3s! Go get your meal!"
Gojo Satoru's voice echoed through the forest without restraint, even carrying a lazy teasing tone. The Six Eyes granted him omnidirectional, dead-angle-free超-distance vision, like the most efficient battlefield radar, clearly bringing the flow of Cursed Energy, terrain details, and even every opponent's subtle movements within an enormous range under his control, instantly completing analysis and issuing optimal commands.
"Satoru, could your word choice be slightly more appropriate?"
Geto Suguru responded helplessly, though his hands moved as fast as lightning.
Several ferocious-looking Cursed Spirits emitting ominous auras roared out from the shadows behind him at his summons, pouncing precisely on the location Gojo indicated, tearing apart and absorbing those Cursed Spirits with devastating force.
At the same time, expressionlessly and almost mechanically, he pulled out two more fruit candies from his pocket, quickly unwrapped them, and popped them into his mouth. His chewing movements carried a nearly tragic calmness.
The scene of "flowing like water while controlling an army of Cursed Spirits in high-intensity combat while frantically eating candy to combat the terrible taste of Cursed Spirit orbs" created an extremely bizarre comedic contrast.
"Wow! Found a small cluster of Grade 2 Cursed Spirits! Suguru, your 'dessert' is here!"
"Shut up, Satoru. If you mention 'sweet' one more time, I'm going to throw up..."
Their method of advancement was simple, brutal, and efficient to the point of despair. Gojo Satoru was the omniscient command tower with complete map vision; Geto Suguru was a mobile artillery platform and purifier with unlimited ammunition; and Mukyoku Nagi was like an omnipresent precision force field controller.
There were also constant reports from Mei Mei's black birds.
A Kyoto School student, seizing an opening, attempted to launch a long-range technique from the dense canopy, disrupting Geto Suguru who was subjugating Cursed Spirits.
A faint glimmer flashed in Nagi's Vermilion Eyes. Without even turning around, he casually raised his hand in that direction—
"Congeal"!
The whistling technique seemed to instantly collide with an invisible yet absolutely solid wall, forcibly frozen in mid-air. After struggling and flickering several times, it helplessly dissipated.
Another student, relying on agile movements and familiarity with the environment, used the cover of tree trunks and shadows to silently approach Ieiri Shoko at the side-rear of the formation, who seemed most in need of protection.
However, his trajectory had long been perceived by the Vermilion Eyes.
Nagi's footsteps shifted nimbly, the "Flash" technique activated slightly, and his figure silently intercepted the person's advance route like a phantom.
The force field of "Slow" quietly expanded. The student suddenly felt as if he had plunged headfirst into extremely viscous honey. Every movement became incredibly difficult and sluggish. Before he could react, Nagi's precise and swift hand chop had already landed lightly on the side of his neck. His vision went black, and he collapsed softly to the ground.
[One member of Kyoto School eliminated. Tokyo School points +100] The referee's cold broadcast sounded at the right time, echoing through the forest.
"Nice, Nagi! Free hundred points! Kyoto School is really hospitable!" Gojo Satoru let out a loud whistle, his tone filled with maximum mockery.
Nagi did not respond. His cold gaze had already locked onto Kamo Kenji in the distance, who was attempting to weave a shadow network using "Shadow Binding" to restrict the movement of one of Geto Suguru's main Cursed Spirits.
Kamo immediately felt a cold, almost tangible killing intent lock onto him. Without hesitation, he abandoned his offensive, fully manipulating the shadows to retract and forming layer upon layer of twisted shields around himself.
The next moment, dust lightly rose from where Nagi had been standing, and his figure vanished. Almost simultaneously, he appeared above Kamo's side as if teleporting, a fierce and swift downward chop accompanied by the sharp whistle of tearing air!
Kamo's pupils contracted sharply. He exerted all his strength to condense the shadows overhead into a solid black shield!
*Bang!*
A muffled sound! The shadow shield trembled violently, ripples spreading, nearly collapsing!
Kamo was shaken by that enormous force until his blood and energy churned. He staggered back several steps before barely managing to steady himself, his arm holding the hand seal numb with waves of sensation. His heart was shocked: Such terrifying power and speed! Moreover, that strike seemed to completely see through the weakest node of my shadow defense?!
Nagi landed lightly without any pause, once again closing in like a shadow.
Kamo was forced into complete defense, using all the exquisite variations of "Shadow Binding" for defensive parrying. He no longer had the energy to command the team, let alone organize an effective offense.
His technique appeared clumsy and extremely frustrated in the face of Nagi's terrifyingly predictive insight and mysteriously unpredictable force field control.
Nishimura Kenta had been working hard to find opportunities amidst the chaotic battle.
He watched Mukyoku Nagi like a cold god of death on the battlefield, easily neutralizing various attacks while strolling leisurely, precisely eliminating opponents, and even single-handedly suppressing Senior Kamo, one of the Big Three Families. The shock in his heart was beyond measure.
He gritted his teeth. Seizing a moment when Nagi had just neutralized an attack and his figure seemed slightly stalled, he quickly formed hand seals and executed his unique technique, "Qi Pulse Manipulation Bullet"—capable of highly compressing his own Cursed Energy and shooting it out rapidly like an invisible cannonball with extreme penetrating power that was difficult to detect.
However, the moment his Cursed Energy completed condensing and his hand seal had not yet fully formed, Nagi seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. Without turning around, he simply waved his hand backward casually—
"Slow"!
Nishimura felt that the invisible air bullet he had shot with all his might seemed to crash into endless, layer upon layer of soft barriers. Its speed plummeted exponentially, and the kinetic energy it contained was rapidly attenuated and dissipated. By the time it finally crossed that brief yet chasm-like distance and reached Nagi's back, it had been reduced to a breeze that couldn't even lift the corner of his clothes.
Only then did Nagi slowly turn around, those calm, ripple-less Vermilion Eyes gazing indifferently at Nishimura.
There was no contempt in those eyes, no anger, not even focus—only an absolute sense of control that made one feel bone-chilling cold from the depths of their heart, as if looking at an insignificant pebble that had moved slightly.
Nishimura instantly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, cold sweat immediately soaking his back.
He felt that all his intentions, all his action routes, even his next thought, had already been completely seen through by those bottomless eyes.
He stood frozen in place, his clenched fists trembling slightly. The courage he had just mustered deflated like a punctured balloon, and he even lost the strength to raise his hand again.
Nagi did not attack him. He merely glanced at him indifferently, then turned away as if he had lost interest, continuing to patrol the battlefield and deal with trivial matters from other directions. That complete disregard made Nishimura feel far more powerless and defeated than a clean defeat would have.
The full-field position broadcast every ten minutes was virtually meaningless to Tokyo School—it even became a precise signal for their reverse hunting.
Gojo Satoru could always lock onto the unlucky prey faster and more accurately based on the broadcast, followed by Geto Suguru's saturated Cursed Spirit strikes and Mukyoku Nagi's precise eliminations.
For Kyoto School, this broadcast was like a death knell. Each time it sounded meant their position was exposed, followed by precise strikes that were difficult to resist. Panic emotions continuously spread.
The group battle had completely devolved into a one-sided slaughter.
The terrifying coordination and overwhelming strength displayed by the Tokyo School trio mercilessly destroyed all of Kyoto School's tactical concepts and rule calculations. They seemed to not care at all whether the rules were favorable to them or what schemes the opponent had. They simply pushed through with pure, despair-inducing power, crushing all obstacles.
Gojo Satoru even arrogantly shouted toward the depths of the forest: "Hey—Kyoto—got any other tricks? Hurry up and show them all to me! Otherwise, it's too boring!"
The only response was the continuous broadcast of Kyoto School students being eliminated and the increasingly frequent, mechanical sound of Geto Suguru unwrapping candy wrappers.
[Current Score: Tokyo School, 1850 points; Kyoto School, 320 points] The referee's broadcast sounded again, announcing the massive point difference.
And Tokyo School had all six members intact, their score leading by an absolute advantage.