HRU: Chapter 154/155

Chapter 154: Has Ryūjin Jakka Awakened?
"All Things in the Universe, Turn to Ashes!"

As Satoshi spoke those words, Ryūjin Jakka stirred once more.

However, the appearance of Ryūjin Jakka didn't mark a turning point for Satoshi.

Within the Coffin of the Iron Mountain, Ryūjin Jakka was no different from Sode no Shirayuki without her Shikai.

Satoshi had already anticipated this scenario, but when it actually happened, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Ryūjin Jakka, such a powerful Zanpakutō had fallen to this state.

On the opposite side, Jogo felt a fatal sense of crisis the moment Satoshi released his Zanpakutō, so he instinctively chose to defend first.

But what surprised him was that the weapon Satoshi took out appeared completely ordinary.

Though confused, Jogo still pressed the advantage.

He knew that this Domain wasn't his own power, so it could vanish at any time.

He had to finish this fight before the Domain collapsed.

Now that he held the upper hand, he had to seize the opportunity.

Waves of searing flames continued to pour out from Jogo's arms. With the Domain's guaranteed hit ability, every attack struck Satoshi directly.

However, due to Ryūjin Jakka's presence, Satoshi appeared noticeably calmer while defending.

After all, Ryūjin Jakka was a fire-type Zanpakutō, while Sode no Shirayuki was ice-type. In this fire-heavy Domain, Ryūjin Jakka was naturally more adaptable.

But being pummeled like this repeatedly, Satoshi's irritation grew.

It was embarrassing, owning the most offensive Zanpakutō, yet forced into a purely defensive role.

Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Hohō weren't suitable right now.

His Zanpakutō was uncooperative.

Although Satoshi's overall strength far surpassed the current Jogo, for a host of reasons, he had been suppressed throughout the entire battle.

"Ryūjin Jakka, are you really satisfied just passively defending like this? Doesn't this insult your status?"

But Ryūjin Jakka remained silent.

Satoshi closed in and slashed horizontally, sending Jogo flying. Then, without hesitation, he thrust Ryūjin Jakka into the ground.

If Ryūjin Jakka refused to cooperate, there was no point in holding onto it.

After that, Satoshi prepared to rely solely on Hakuda and Shunpo. He'd fight Jogo directly, exchanging blows, even if it meant injury for injury. He would defeat him in this Domain.

...

The spectators watching the projection felt a wave of disappointment.

The plan Tengen had devised didn't seem to have any effect on Satoshi's Ryūjin Jakka.

"Lord Tengen, is this cursed spirit really effective against Ryūjin Jakka?" Yuki bit her lip, visibly displeased.

Toji and Satoru nodded in agreement. They couldn't understand why Tengen had such an odd idea.

Satoshi had already abandoned using Ryūjin Jakka. In that case, how could he possibly activate its technique?

Still, Tengen remained composed.

She showed no signs of concern over Satoshi's actions and continued watching the battle unfold, as though still waiting for the true outcome.

…

Inside the coffin of Iron Mountain, the battle between Jogo and Satoshi raged violently.

The two were locked in a dead-even fight.

Satoshi's Hakuda strikes landed with force, and Jogo's flame attacks continued to hit. Both exchanged injuries, battling fiercely without pause.

…

Satoru and Toji were tempted to intervene.

Tengen calmly extended a hand to stop them.

"If Satoshi knew about this, do you think he'd want you to interfere? Trust me, Satoshi wouldn't want to miss this opportunity."

"Besides, given his current state, even if a cursed spirit were to enter this Domain, both sides would take heavy damage."

"So, what are you really worried about?"

Tengen smiled calmly and added, "Don't you believe in Satoshi's victory?"

Tengen's words left Satoru and Toji silent. Their initial thoughts dissipated. After all, nothing Tengen had done so far had harmed Satoshi.

Though still uneasy, they could only place their hopes on Satoshi using this battle to truly awaken Ryūjin Jakka's technique.

Because they knew just how much Satoshi longed to master it.

...

A punch.

A kick.

A burst of flame.

A surge of cursed energy.

Jogo and Satoshi had been clashing for a long time.

With neither Satoru nor Toji stepping in for support, Satoshi realized something was off.

Tengen shouldn't be this hostile toward him.

Moreover, it was unlikely Tengen would stall Toji and Satoru this long without reason…

So clearly, this wasn't a suppression—it might be a test.

And if he passed it, there might be something to gain.

That was the only explanation that made sense now.

As the battle raged, Satoshi began reviewing the events leading up to this moment.

Yuki hadn't greeted him in person…

Jogo's Cursed Womb had appeared inexplicably in the Tombs of the Star…

The entire space had been specifically built to seal Sode no Shirayuki's abilities…

Toji and Satoru had been detained for an unusually long time…

The Coffin of the Iron Mountain had appeared without warning…

Tengen…

Given all of this, it seemed that Tengen bore no hostility toward him. If anything, everything Tengen did was likely beneficial.

What was he missing?

Satoshi thought back to the complaints he'd made to Yuki about his Zanpakutō.

I can't awaken Ryūjin Jakka's technique. If I had better control, I definitely could've defeated Kaori Itadori…

In the midst of the fight, Satoshi caught sight of Ryūjin Jakka stuck into the ground.

Did Tengen design all of this to deepen his bond with Ryūjin Jakka?

As his Six Eyes scanned Ryūjin Jakka, Satoshi was shocked to feel the fire within it suddenly surge.

He looked around and noticed the volcanic walls had begun to dim.

Ryūjin Jakka is absorbing the power of the Coffin of the Iron Mountain?

At that moment, Satoshi felt a faint response from Ryūjin Jakka.

It had been so long… Getting even a small reaction from Ryūjin Jakka was already a massive step forward.

The last time it had responded was the day it was first forged…

(To be continued.)

Chapter 155: Shikai

When Satoshi picked up Ryūjin Jakka again, a satisfied smile appeared on Tengen's face. The others also showed a hint of anticipation.

Everything was unfolding according to the plan. Perhaps, just as Tengen had envisioned, Satoshi would truly awaken Ryūjin Jakka's technique through this battle.

At the same time, everyone wondered—what kind of ability did this long-anticipated Zanpakutō truly possess?

...

"Ryūjin Jakka!"

Satoshi gripped the Zanpakutō tightly. The once-warm hilt began to heat up.

The sense of alienation from the world that he'd always felt completely disappeared this time.

In that moment, Ryūjin Jakka seemed to fully integrate into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Ryūjin Jakka has awakened!

Satoshi felt a surge of satisfaction in his heart. After being tempered by the fire energy of this world, Ryūjin Jakka was finally able to express its will.

Flames? Who was their true origin?

Jogo was indeed powerful, but Ryūjin Jakka would show everyone who truly reigned over fire.

...

Ember Insects.

Inside the Domain, Jogo launched his technique again. Based on previous experience, he still didn't take the Zanpakutō in Satoshi's hand seriously.

His earlier fear of Ryūjin Jakka had completely faded.

After all, Ryūjin Jakka had looked powerful on the surface but weak in essence. To Jogo, it was just a decorative weapon, full of flash but lacking any real substance.

So he made no adjustment to his attack.

However, right at the moment he initiated the technique, he heard Satoshi repeat the release phrase he'd whispered before.

"All Things in the Universe, Turn to Ashes"

Jogo sneered when he saw that Satoshi didn't even attempt to resist. A sinister grin stretched across his face, revealing rows of blackened teeth.

"I win."

The swarm of burning insects rushed straight toward Satoshi.

In Jogo's mind, everything was over. The exchange earlier had exhausted the youth in front of him. He was convinced Satoshi couldn't rise again.

He had finally won before the Domain collapsed.

...

The overwhelming fire attack struck Satoshi head-on. Yuto and Geto revealed faint expressions of pity.

In their eyes, Satoshi no longer had any chance of victory.

But anticipation still flickered on the faces of Satoru and Toji. They both realized something about Ryūjin Jakka must have changed, otherwise Satoshi wouldn't have made such a choice.

The moment the Ember Insects hit Satoshi, a violent explosion erupted. Thick, black smoke completely engulfed him.

No one knew what state Satoshi was in now.

The scene fell into silence, the tension thick in the air—only Tengen smiled faintly.

She could feel the fire surging through the space. It was unlike Jogo's fire. It was a flame that did not belong to this world.

...

Within the black fog, tiny sparks of flame flickered into view.

The spectators suddenly felt the temperature rise sharply. The entire Tombs of the Star seemed wrapped in a wave of invisible fire.

"What just happened?"

Geto wiped the sweat from his brow. The hall, which had previously been cool, now felt like a furnace.

Yuto furrowed his brow. His perception was keener than Geto's. He instantly sensed the change occurring in Satoshi, along with that mysterious fire element. He understood that the shift inside the Tombs of the Star was caused by Satoshi's clash with Jogo.

Toji and Satoru exchanged surprised glances. They knew this power well.

It was the same fire that had appeared when Satoshi first forged Ryūjin Jakka.

Did this mean Satoshi's control over Ryūjin Jakka had taken a step forward?

If Ryūjin Jakka released even a fraction of its full power, it would be enough for Satoshi to claim victory.

Yuki's face lit up with excitement. At least, all her efforts weren't in vain. She had truly helped Satoshi.

Seeing this scene, Tengen's expression grew even more satisfied.

Everyone was eagerly awaiting the outcome… everyone except Jogo, who was now nothing more than a tool being used to pressure Satoshi into growth.

...

Jogo never imagined that his first battle after birth would be this brutal.

He hadn't eaten any humans, hadn't killed anyone, hadn't even had the chance to indulge in a single wicked impulse. Yet he was already facing such a cruel end.

At this moment, even though he still held the upper hand on the battlefield, as time seemed to freeze, countless thoughts flooded his mind.

It felt like his life was about to end before it had even begun.

What memories did he have to cling to?

None.

A life without meaning. For a cursed spirit, that was true tragedy.

His short-lived existence would end without even leaving behind memories. Right now, Jogo had only one thought, if there were a next time, he'd run the moment he saw that kid.

I'm a special-grade cursed spirit. Why can't I even defeat a child?

I manipulate both earth and fire. So why am I afraid of fire?

Yes. Jogo was afraid.

He hadn't even seen the true flames yet, but he could feel the deadly threat radiating from the specks of fire in the black mist.

He knew if he took one more attack, he'd be burned to ashes.

So this is the real power of fire?

"It's over..."

Jogo murmured to himself, giving up all resistance. Facing an attack that hadn't even fully taken form, he had already lost the will to fight.

...

Suddenly, flames burst from the black fog like fireworks.

A burning sword emerged before everyone's eyes, engulfed in dancing flames. Though both Satoshi and Jogo controlled fire, the flames on Jogo's side looked rigid and lifeless, while the fire on Ryūjin Jakka's blade flowed with a wild, living grace.

Flowing Blade-like Flame.

In that instant, everyone finally understood why this Zanpakutō had such a poetic name.

Everyone present realized the battle was already decided.

Satoshi had mastered Ryūjin Jakka.

Jogo was no longer his match.

There was only one outcome waiting for Jogo—death.

He would become the first Special Grade Cursed Spirit to be purified by Satoshi.

(To be continued.)