The clash between Mishizani and Leon had already lasted for more than ten minutes.
It was a purely physical battle of endurance, and yet both men remained standing like unyielding mountains, neither showing the slightest sign of faltering.
Strike after strike came without pause or hesitation, and at their terrifying speed, they had already exchanged well over a thousand blows, and yet neither of them had suffered any truly significant injuries worth mentioning.
Their level existed on an entirely different plane compared to the rest of the warriors—
so much so that both of them had consciously refrained from unleashing their domains.
'Perhaps each of them believes he can defeat the other without using his domain, saving that cursed energy for the battles that still remain ahead.'
However, activating a domain at such a moment would inevitably leave them vulnerable to interference from an external domain, while also draining their reserves far earlier than either of them could afford.
Mishizani paused for a brief moment, then looked directly at Leon and asked in a calm and composed tone:
"What is it that drives you to fight?"
Leon smiled broadly, answering without the slightest hesitation, his voice filled with unshakable confidence:
"Do I really need a reason to defend my clan?"
Mishizani shot him a look filled with visible disgust before replying:
"Even if that means wiping out another clan? People you have absolutely no connection to whatsoever?"
(Although he didn't truly need to ask, Mishizani wanted to understand the nature of the warrior standing before him—whether he would remain consistent with his ideals, or crumble under them.)
Leon responded in a calm yet firm voice, his expression unwavering:
"We warriors are raised to protect our loved ones, and to answer the call of battle when it comes.
It is true that I do not know any of the people I am facing right now… and perhaps I have no real connection to any of you.
In fact, I have never made an enemy in my entire life.
But the reality is that we are now standing in the heart of a battlefield, and nothing will change that.
No words, no reasoning, no hesitation will make us withdraw from what has already begun.
We all understand that wars are often born from the personal interests of those in power… and yet we choose to ignore that truth, because we are warriors.
The moment war is declared, it becomes a declaration of mutual destruction.
From that point onward, our families, and every single member of our clans, are placed in danger.
And I… will destroy any trace of a threat that dares to approach them."
He lifted his head slightly before adding, with a composed certainty:
"I am right, and you are right. But we will never know who is more justified until one of us falls. In the end, both of us are simply fighting to protect the ones we love."
Mishizani did not respond. He simply allowed a faint smile to appear on his face.
Leon smiled back.
For the second time on that very same day, Leon decided to use his cursed technique.
— O Heart of the Lion! — release your power and let everyone here hear your roar once more!
He raised his sword toward the sky, and the blade erupted with blinding sunlight.
Merely looking at it directly was enough to shatter one's focus and distort their vision entirely.
At the exact same moment, Mishizani assumed the same stance he had used against the clan leaders earlier, then thrust his sword forward as he unleashed his own cursed technique:
"Infinite Sword Spiral!"
(Does he intend to kill me before the light reaches him?)
But—
Leon's technique activated instantly as well, enveloping his entire body in radiant light rather than acting as a simple external attack.
Both of them moved—
And struck at the exact same instant.
In the blink of an eye—
Leon collapsed to the ground, his body completely severed into pieces.
No one could understand what had just occurred.
How had Mishizani managed to bypass the technique-nullifying effect of Leon's light?
With his final breaths, Leon spoke in a broken and fading voice:
"How…?
The only state in which my sword has no effect… is when the heart is truly pure…
How is it possible… that it is you?!"
(I never sensed anything from Mishizani before… how can his heart be pure after all the people he has killed?)
Mishizani said nothing.
He simply looked at Leon with a deep sense of respect, then turned away and walked off.
The clan leaders had fallen… Leon had fallen… and nearly half of the Zinin army had been wiped out.
The losses were devastating, enough to force them into retreat.
Wild cheers and triumphant roars from the Sghawara clan erupted across the battlefield, echoing like a clear declaration of victory—
Until—
From the very heart of the battlefield, rising from pools of blood and lifeless bodies…
Something that should never have been summoned… was called forth.
The War General— Mahoraga!
He emerged from the shadows like an ominous entity, dragging everyone present on the battlefield into the terrifying ritual of his subjugation.
It was nothing short of collective suicide on the part of the Zinin commander.
Mahoraga's existence, along with the true nature of his power, remained a complete mystery to everyone at that time… a forbidden technique that had yet to be revealed.
No one understood what was happening, but Mishizani felt danger for the first time in his life
—a presence so overwhelming that it shook him to his very core.
On the other side of the battlefield—
Sukuna lifted his head, slowly opened his eyes, and allowed a wicked grin to spread across his face:
"Looks like someone worthy of a real fight has finally joined them…"
Despite being heavily exhausted from the continuous battles, from using his cursed technique twice, and from activating Reverse Cursed Technique, Mishizani released every last drop of energy he had left.
In a single instant, he charged toward Mahoraga and sliced off his head with one decisive strike.
Everyone smiled, believing that the battle had finally come to an end…
Until—
Mahoraga struck him with a terrifying punch, sending his body flying high into the air.
And at that moment…
The firstwheel began to turn.
Announcing thebeginningoftheend.
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