The 5th Special Grade | Jujutsu Kaisen

The battlefield bore the marks of chaos

-smoldering craters, broken trees, and the acrid scent of cursed energy lingering in the air. Furōkawa and Emilia faced Gunnr together, their battered forms standing as the only defiance against the Valkyrie of War.

Gunnr, unflinching and composed, stood with her massive bow at the ready, another cursed energy arrow shimmering as she pulled back the string.

"You've fought well for humans," Gunnr said calmly, her voice betraying no strain despite the intensity of the battle.

"But this ends now."

The arrow launched with a deafening crack, streaking toward Furōkawa and Emilia like a bolt of lightning.

"Down!" Emilia shouted, tackling Furō out of the way. The arrow struck where they had been standing, erupting in a massive explosion of cursed energy.

The shockwave hurled both of them into the wreckage of a broken tree, coughing and groaning from the impact.

"We're not doing enough damage," Furō muttered, struggling to his feet. His cursed energy reserves were nearly halved, and his injuries slowed him further. "She's just too strong!"

Emilia stood, wiping blood from her split lip, her muscles rippling with cursed energy. "We're close," she said, her voice resolute. "But you're holding back. If we don't push harder, she's going to pick us off."

Furō hesitated, gripping Onamazu. He'd been fighting at his limit, but it wasn't enough. He knew the truth-there was no way to win unless he broke the vow.

The thought made his chest tighten.

The last time he pushed past his limits, the damage nearly killed him. The pain scared him.

"You're thinking too much," Emilia said sharply, snapping him out of his hesitation. Her piercing blue eyes met his. "Break the vow, Furō. You're not going to survive this fight unless you do."

Furō clenched his fists, his pride and desperation warring within him. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But if I end up dying, you're paying for the funeral."

He planted his feet and summoned his cursed energy, muttering under his breath. The air around him shifted as a massive surge of power erupted from his body. The limiter shattered, and his cursed energy roared to life, burning brighter and stronger than before.

Emilia shielded her eyes from the violent burst of energy. "Now that's more like it."

Furo smirked, despite the pain already tearing through his body. His Kasei Umi technique flared to 130%, the toxic mist thickening into a deadly storm that churned and hissed around him. "All right, Gunnr. Let's finish this."

Gunnr's face made a curious expression for the first time as she raised her bow, firing another arrow. But this time, Furō batted it away with ease, his Oryx axe form slicing through the projectile. The explosion that followed barely phased him as he charged forward.

Emilia followed closely, her enhanced strength and speed adding relentless pressure to Gunnr's defenses. The two attacked in tandem, forcing the Valkyrie back step by step.

Furō launched a Spear of Putrefaction, the toxic weapon streaking toward Gunnr. She stimulated the spear by deflecting it with her bow, causing it to make a minor explosion, and shards of corrosive energy were sent slicing through her armor. Emilia seized the opening, landing a devastating punch that cracked Gunn's chest plate and sent her crashing into the ground.

For the first time, Gunnr was visibly injured, blood seeping from cuts and her breathing heavier. She staggered to her feet, glaring at the two sorcerers.

"You're stronger than I anticipated," she admitted, her voice colder now, laced with frustration. "But this isn't over."

Gunnr raised her head to the sky and shouted, her voice echoing across the battlefield.

"Eir!"

The air grew still for a moment before a chilling wave of cursed energy washed over the area. Furō and Emilia froze, their expressions darkening as they felt the immense power rapidly approaching.

From the edge of the clearing, a second figure appeared. Eir, clad in flowing silver armor adorned with intricate designs, strode forward with an air of quiet menace. Her braided hair shimmered like spun moonlight, and in her hands, she carried a glaive glowing with cursed energy. The most notable were the earrings she wore, that glowed softly.

"Apologies for the delay, Gunnr," Eir said, her voice smooth and unnervingly calm.

Her piercing gaze locked onto Furō and Emilia. "You've held your own well, but now this ends."

Gunnr smiled faintly as she stood beside Eir, her bow still at the ready. "It seems we're even now."

Furō's grip on Onamazu tightened as he suppressed a wave of pain coursing through his body. "A second one?" he muttered through gritted teeth.

Emilia stepped forward, her expression resolute despite the overwhelming odds. "Focus, Furō. We take them down together."

The air between the four combatants crackled with tension, the battlefield bracing for the eruption of cursed energy.