JJK: Chapter 39/40

Chapter 39: Vow of Victory

The Giant Elephant and the Shadow Servants were still holding back Mahoraga, while Eichi observed every change on the battlefield, making the appropriate responses as quickly as possible.

The Cursed Energy stored in the Holy Grail was continuously drawn out by Eichi to compensate for his consumption.

Another Shadow Servant, Archer, was summoned.

Suddenly, Eichi felt his Cursed Energy consumption sharply increase by a large margin.

A hint of a smile appeared on his lips.

The moment of the decisive battle had arrived.

In the next second, Eichi took a deep breath and then vanished into the darkness.

The chaotic battle continued.

Mahoraga's powerful adaptability had carried it from being suppressed at the beginning to now fighting with ease.

It seemed it would not be long before Mahoraga adapted to and overcame the current situation.

However, Eichi would not give it that chance.

Finding an opportunity, he emerged from Berserker's shadow.

Appearing suddenly, Eichi held nothing back. His right leg, strengthened by Cursed Energy, kicked Mahoraga's calf with full force.

Black Flash.

Crack.

The sound of bones cracking rang out.

But it was Eichi's.

Intense pain shot from his foot, but under the effect of Reverse Cursed Technique, the injury quickly healed.

The attack worked. Mahoraga, struck in the calf, staggered and lost its balance.

Lancer stepped in and thrust his spear with full force toward Mahoraga's right shoulder.

Mahoraga swung the Sword of Exorcism, but Lancer showed no sign of dodging.

The spearhead pierced Mahoraga's shoulder. It was clear that Lancer, with only Grade 1 strength, was not enough to truly injure Mahoraga.

The Sword of Exorcism cut into Lancer's body, but because Mahoraga had lost balance, it could not exert proper force and failed to cut Lancer in half.

Whoosh.

A pitch-black arrow struck Mahoraga's right shoulder, denting the skin.

Whoosh.

A second arrow followed, striking the tail of the first.

Puff.

A tiny wound, not even a minor injury, appeared on Mahoraga's shoulder.

Lancer immediately followed up.

Tracking that tiny wound, Lancer successfully pierced his spear into Mahoraga's right shoulder joint, breaking through a single point to affect a larger area.

The spearhead jammed the joint, making it difficult for Mahoraga to exert force with its right hand.

Then Lancer directly wrapped up Mahoraga's right arm.

Eichi returned behind the Giant Elephant through the shadow.

Regaining his stance, he raised his right hand marked with a Command Seal. Cursed Energy surged as he began to summon.

At the same time, Berserker seized the opening, gripping his axe-sword with both hands and bringing it down with full force toward Mahoraga's left arm.

Puff.

Under Berserker's full-power strike, burning Cursed Energy, the axe-sword cut into Mahoraga's left arm.

But it only cut in.

Mahoraga had already adapted to slashes.

In the previous battle with Toji, it had completed its adaptation to cutting attacks.

Although Berserker's slash contained Cursed Energy and differed from Toji's attack, it was still a slash.

Therefore, the damage from Berserker's full-power strike was very small.

Even so, the immense force interrupted Mahoraga's attempt to regain balance.

Mahoraga exerted force, and the foot Eichi had kicked earlier stomped heavily onto the ground.

Mahoraga began to stabilize its center of gravity.

Eichi's initial command, to give Mahoraga no chance to breathe, was faithfully executed by the Giant Elephant.

The Giant Elephant lifted its upper body with its two front legs.

Then it charged at Mahoraga.

The Cursed Energy within Eichi's body poured out frantically and recklessly, and the energy stored in the Holy Grail for many years surged into him like a floodgate opening.

Under the impact of the rampant Cursed Energy, his body endured immense pressure.

Ding.

The wheel on Mahoraga's head rotated. This time, it adapted to the Giant Elephant's strength.

Unable to interfere with Mahoraga through brute force, the Giant Elephant raised its trunk and began to gather power.

At the same time, Berserker abandoned his weapon, grabbed Mahoraga's left hand, and pulled back forcefully, trying to drag it down.

However, having adapted to the Giant Elephant's strength, Mahoraga was not significantly affected.

Its powerful recovery completed the healing of its shoulder injury, and Lancer's spear fell to the ground.

The figure of a Heroic Spirit appeared before Eichi.

A massive amount of Cursed Energy was instantly output, then instantly replenished.

The huge flow crashed through Eichi's body like a flood.

Unable to bear it, his body began to burst with blood.

Splat.

Mahoraga's Sword of Exorcism in its right hand struck Lancer again. The immense force, which even Archer's arrows could not halt, forced Lancer to withdraw from the fight.

However, as Mahoraga dealt with Lancer, the Piercing Ox arrived.

A terrifying charge, fully wound up, struck Mahoraga's waist, and Berserker also vanished at this moment.

The long-distance acceleration gave the Piercing Ox immense power, and Mahoraga was knocked dozens of meters away.

The sharp horns pierced into Mahoraga, and tremendous force transmitted through them.

Although the body did not break, the impact dealt heavy damage to the spine and internal parts.

With its waist injured, Mahoraga temporarily lost control of its lower body.

Because Eichi had used the Piercing Ox against it in earlier battles, he had been prepared for this strike to be ineffective.

Fortunately, it still had some effect.

Previously, Mahoraga had too many things to adapt to, and the Piercing Ox's attack, which appeared only once, was not among the highest priorities.

Moreover, Eichi had canceled the taming ritual shortly after the Piercing Ox's strike. Being shut down and awaiting the next summon, Mahoraga had not completed its adaptation to the Piercing Ox.

The Giant Elephant completed its charge then, caught up, and began releasing water blades with full force.

Unlike the usual wide, flood-like spray, this attack consisted of compressed, small water blades.

Although Eichi did not understand water-related techniques, with Blood Manipulation as a reference, some simple methods were still easy to employ.

The water blades targeted Mahoraga's right hand, attempting to disable the Sword of Exorcism, which dealt higher damage.

Unfortunately, Mahoraga's defense was too high, and with only a few seconds of charge, the blades could not cut through.

However, they at least caused the Sword of Exorcism, which was striking at the Piercing Ox, to veer off by a few degrees.

The Piercing Ox was not to be outdone. It opened its large mouth, bit Mahoraga's waist, and tore with force, preventing recovery from the waist injury.

The young girl in front of Eichi, Artoria, raised the longsword in her hand.

Golden magical energy surrounded her, and the radiance on the blade gathered continuously.

"By my Command Seal, Saber, release your Noble Phantasm with full power."

"Again, by my Command Seal, Saber, annihilate the enemy before you."

"Finally, by my Command Seal, Saber, bring me victory."

Three Command Seals vanished in an instant, and golden radiance surged, illuminating the entire world. Night instantly became like day.

Ding, the wheel rotated, and Mahoraga completed its adaptation to the Giant Elephant's water blades.

Eichi finally had enough energy to begin healing his blood-soaked body with Reverse Cursed Technique.

Mahoraga sensed the immense threat not far away.

Its left fist smashed full force into the Piercing Ox's head.

Crack.

The sound of a skull cracking rang out, and the Piercing Ox was instantly severely wounded.

Eichi canceled the Piercing Ox's summon, preventing it from being completely destroyed.

At the same time, he took out a new Heroic Spirit chess piece, preparing to fill its vacancy.

Mahoraga's waist injury rapidly recovered after the Piercing Ox disappeared, and its lower body, which had been uncontrollable, began to regain sensation.

The Giant Elephant's trunk and snake tail attacked Mahoraga's arms from left and right.

After the Piercing Ox disappeared, Mahoraga rotated its body, and the Sword of Exorcism drew a massive sword light.

This strike simultaneously severed the Giant Elephant's trunk and the head of the great snake on its tail.

The Giant Elephant used its final means, pressing forward recklessly to suppress Mahoraga, whose lower body still could not exert full force.

But this caused no trouble for Mahoraga, which had already adapted to the Giant Elephant's strength.

It swung its arms repeatedly, iron-like fists leaving wounds all over the Giant Elephant, and the Sword of Exorcism carved hideous gashes into its head.

A golden chess piece in Eichi's hand transformed into a pitch-black figure and flew into the sky, robes spreading into wings.

The Black Divine Dog materialized from spirit form and bit Mahoraga's leg, only to be kicked away.

The moment the figure flew into the air, Eichi canceled the Giant Elephant's summon.

Whether for Shikigami or Cursed Spirits, the head is a very important part.

He worried that the Giant Elephant, constantly struck in the head, would be completely destroyed.

"Divine Dogs."

Eichi formed the Divine Dogs hand sign.

Beside him, Artoria's longsword was already raised high.

In just a few seconds, the Grade 1 strength Black Divine Dog, two Grade 1 Shadow Servants, and two Special Grade Chimeras were all defeated by Mahoraga.

And Mahoraga had completed several adaptations.

But Eichi did not panic, because the moment of victory had arrived.

Sensing the immense destructive attack ahead, Mahoraga bent its legs and leaped into the air.

If the attack could not be stopped, then escape its area of effect.

At that moment, a pitch-black figure appeared silently.

The Black Divine Dog shot in like black lightning, and its sharp claws struck Mahoraga just as it leaped.

Due to the Black Divine Dog's powerful stealth, Mahoraga had allowed it to approach quite close before sensing it.

At the same time, several pitch-black arrows also struck Mahoraga.

Mahoraga swung a punch at the Black Divine Dog.

The Black Divine Dog did not dodge, continuing to interfere with its movements.

The Semi-Special Grade Black Divine Dog was blasted away like a cannonball, but its objective had been achieved.

The sudden interference greatly slowed Mahoraga, which had been preparing to dodge Artoria's Noble Phantasm by moving, and another attack descended at that moment.

The magician who had flown into the sky released Cursed Energy with full force.

There was no intricate manipulation, no varied techniques, just a simple, almost self-destructive continuous barrage of Cursed Energy cannons poured down on Mahoraga.

The immense impact pushed Mahoraga, which had just left the ground and was interfered with by arrows and the Black Divine Dog, back down.

Mahoraga began to adapt again, but this time it ran out of time.

In front of it, Artoria had already aimed and swung the divine weapon in her hand with all her might.

"EX-CALIBUUURRRRR."

The hundred-meter distance vanished in an instant. A golden torrent enveloped Mahoraga, and the brilliant light, like stars, transformed into a towering pillar that rose from the ground.

The curtain was torn apart the moment it touched the pillar of light.

The radiance of King Arthur, Artoria, appeared in this world for the first time.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 40: The Joy of Training

"It is finally over."

His exhausted body could not hide Eichi's inner joy.

Before the battle, he had repeatedly practiced with his Spirit Base shadow.

Finally, he obtained a key piece of data, it would take 6 to 7 seconds from summoning the Spirit Base shadow to the completion of its Noble Phantasm.

This meant that for those 6 to 7 seconds, he had to ensure Mahoraga could not interfere with him or the Spirit Base shadow unleashing its Noble Phantasm.

This gave Eichi a massive headache.

Even the strongest Qiongqi could not hold Mahoraga for 7 seconds under its fierce assault, 3 seconds was uncertain.

After all, for those 7 seconds, Qiongqi could not retreat a single step while covering Eichi and Artoria.

After repeated simulations and practice, Eichi prepared this subjugation plan.

A group assault, and one where they fought to the death to win.

If one Shikigami or Shadow Servant could desperately hold it back for 1 second, Eichi would extend that time to 2 or 3 seconds through cooperation among the Shikigami. Everything was to buy enough time.

For the first 3 seconds, he originally planned to break Mahoraga's balance with a sneak attack, then have the Giant Elephant and two Shadow Servants give their all to prevent it from regaining balance, thus buying enough time.

This did cause Mahoraga some trouble, but only a little, far from his expectations.

Next, Eichi managed to buy those 7 seconds within 7 seconds, at the cost of himself and Caster sustaining two minor injuries, three Shikigami being severely injured, and two Shadow Servants being killed in action.

Although it was somewhat tragic, at least the two goals set before the battle were achieved.

First, prevent Mahoraga from interfering with the summoning of the Spirit Base shadow and the release of the Noble Phantasm.

Second, ensure Mahoraga was within Artoria's maximum range when the Noble Phantasm was unleashed.

Artoria would find the angle of the Noble Phantasm's attack herself. The key was not to exceed the range.

To be honest, if Caster had not successfully obstructed Mahoraga in the last half-second, Eichi would have had to go in himself.

He would have had to entangle it for the last half-second with a self-sacrificing attack, then have the Shadow Servant Archer carry him away from Mahoraga.

However, this also risked losing the Archer piece, because if someone had to hold it until the very last moment of the Noble Phantasm's release, then Eichi's remaining option would be Archer. But he could not guarantee that the System's piece would not be destroyed by Artoria's Noble Phantasm.

If, after staking everything, he still failed to subjugate it this time, then he would only be able to wait a dozen years to invest in the polar bears and go watch their weapon experiments.

Fortunately, Eichi succeeded.

Dragging his weary body, he rode on Qiongqi's back and left the mountains.

Although the battle had not lasted long, it placed a huge burden on his body.

It was like someone who usually does not exercise or work out going to the gym for the first time and overtraining.

Such an approach would overwhelm the body, causing anything from general soreness to muscle strains.

Eichi was in that state now.

Although he had a strong physique, he had been operating his Cursed Energy at overload to subjugate Mahoraga.

Landing in a remote area, Eichi canceled Qiongqi's summoning to let it rest, then released a large number of Rabbit Escape for vigilance.

After resting for a while, his condition recovered significantly.

His physical injuries healed under the effect of Reverse Cursed Technique.

The mental fatigue caused by over-activating his Cursed Energy also eased.

Once his condition improved, he did not rush home, but eagerly summoned Mahoraga.

He was like a child who had finally received a long-desired toy.

Eichi circled Mahoraga, touching here and looking there, having a great time.

"Next is the most important ability test."

Eichi raised his hand, and a tiny bolt of lightning flew from his fingers, striking Mahoraga.

This was Nue's lightning.

The user of the Ten Shadows Technique can use the abilities of their Shikigami. In the original work, Sukuna, when fighting Gojo Satoru, used Max Elephant's water manipulation, referencing Blood Manipulation, to unleash the Ten Shadows version of Piercing Blood.

Although he did not know why Megumi did not use it, was it because he did not have enough Cursed Energy?

After all, Megumi did give the impression of being low on mana.

Suddenly, a thought popped into Eichi's mind.

Could it be that Gege only thought of this usage later?

Eichi, deep in thought, frowned because the solution Mahoraga provided was too simple, so simple that he was a bit speechless.

Strengthen defense with Cursed Energy.

"Mahoraga, why do you defend against lightning like that?"

The next moment, Mahoraga gave an answer that made Eichi not know whether to laugh or cry.

The attack was too weak, no threat, simple defensive measures were sufficient.

Eichi shook his head helplessly. Mahoraga was his Shikigami, his companion, and he did not want to harm it unnecessarily.

This was also why the attack he just released was so weak.

He only wanted to know how Mahoraga adapted to and broke Nue's lightning, not to harm it.

"What if the lightning attack just now was strengthened a hundredfold?"

Mahoraga fell into thought.

Soon, a new solution appeared in Eichi's mind.

Modify the body surface with Cursed Energy to form a special insulating fat layer, while filling the body with Cursed Energy so the blocked lightning scatters in all directions.

"That feels so familiar."

Eichi stroked his chin.

"I remember now, is that not an electric eel?"

He slapped his forehead.

As a child, he had been curious why electric eels could electrocute other fish but not themselves. Later, when he asked someone, the answer he got was very similar to this.

"What if it is a thousand times stronger?"

Mahoraga provided the answer.

Modify itself to adapt to lightning to a certain extent, while diverting most of the current into the ground.

"A lightning rod?"

Soon, another solution appeared in Eichi's mind.

"A Faraday cage?"

A Faraday cage is a metal enclosure that prevents electromagnetic fields from entering from the outside or escaping from the inside.

The reason Eichi knew this was because a relative in his previous life was driving outside and was struck by lightning.

However, his relative was completely fine.

After returning to the village, he told everyone about it, believing he was blessed by heaven.

Later, a research team came to the village, and a doctor told him it was a Faraday cage.

The lightning was blocked by the car's external metal shell. As long as he did not open the window or touch anything, he would be fine.

Thus, this unsolved mystery in the village was resolved.

"Show me, let me try it."

Somewhat curious, Eichi asked Mahoraga to experiment according to the method it provided.

Soon, Mahoraga's figure changed slightly.

It seemed to have gotten a little fatter.

Eichi reached out and touched it.

Earlier, Mahoraga's body had felt like solid muscle, but now the texture had changed quite a bit.

Its skin was even smoother.

Eichi raised his hand, charged up, and unleashed lightning.

This time, it was not a casual flick like an electric arc, but a highly destructive bolt unleashed after serious charging.

Blinding lightning struck Mahoraga, yet its body showed no change.

The lightning that struck it began to spread around it.

Mahoraga was not harmed.

"Interesting."

"If the enemy is the Giant Elephant, how would you adapt to and defeat it?"

Eichi continued to ask.

Because it had just fought the Giant Elephant, Mahoraga's mind had recorded its data, so this time Eichi did not need to summon the Giant Elephant to fight it.

After a while, Mahoraga's body changed again.

It became more angular, and its muscles were like rocks all over its body.

Its hands also became sharper.

"I see, there is not just one solution, and they can be stacked."

Mahoraga gave its answer through action.

Strengthen its physical body to suppress the Giant Elephant in close combat.

This was the fastest way to adapt to the situation and break free of the Giant Elephant's entanglement.

Enhance its perception to calmly deal with the snake tail's attacks.

This was the simplest and most direct way to adapt to the Giant Elephant's attacks by changing itself.

Without the restraint of the snake tail, the Giant Elephant would be too clumsy and could only be toyed with to death by Mahoraga.

Eichi recalled its strike just now, which severed the elephant's trunk and the snake tail's head in one slash. So that was the result of enhanced perception.

Track and break the snake tail's attack trajectory, then cut it off.

Soon, Eichi discovered something interesting again.

Mahoraga's answer regarding how to "defeat" the Giant Elephant had layers.

The first method was to change the Cursed Technique's output, letting its Cursed Energy adhere to the Giant Elephant's wounds to suppress regeneration.

The second method was to strengthen the penetration of the Sword of Exorcism with lightning.

By striking vital points, the Giant Elephant would be annihilated before it could use Reverse Cursed Technique.

Yes, Mahoraga used Nue's lightning.

At the same time, Eichi also found that after Mahoraga took the Giant Elephant as an imaginary enemy, the changes made to cope with lightning were canceled.

"Mahoraga can use my abilities."

However, recalling that Mahoraga also used Sukuna's slashes in the manga, it was no longer surprising.

By now, Eichi had a sufficient understanding of Mahoraga's abilities.

The strongest Shikigami that can gain resistance to enemies and devise effective ways to strike them by analyzing their attacks.

When Mahoraga is first summoned, it is like a hero without equipment.

Afterward, it changes itself to adapt to the attacks it receives.

This feels like playing a game and choosing a tank character with unique mechanics. If the opponent has high physical damage, build armor. If they have high magical damage, build magic resistance.

Once the opponent's attacks become ineffective, Mahoraga will find ways to deal effective damage to the enemy based on the situation.

It can tank, it can deal damage, and it is a natural counter to Cursed Spirits. Given enough time, it can counter almost anything.

Eichi found that although Mahoraga's adaptability has an upper limit, this upper limit can be increased.

Under his command, Mahoraga began actively analyzing and mastering the Giant Elephant's water manipulation.

Eichi's smile grew wider.

After adapting to Ten Shadows abilities, it provided even more methods for adapting to and defeating the Giant Elephant as an enemy.

This feels like those game heroes that grow by stacking layers. Mahoraga can continuously record, analyze, and input the attacks it receives into its database.

The more Techniques and countermeasures stored in the database, the faster it will adapt to new enemies in the future, and the more methods it will have to defeat them.

Eichi looked at Mahoraga with satisfaction.

Such a Shikigami, with a high starting point, capable of continued growth and becoming stronger, and also allowing its master to experience the joy of nurturing, was truly perfect.

(To be continued.)