A player in Jujutsu Kaisen

Running out of time {128}

Kenzo inhaled deeply. Suddenly, from the floor, a surge of shadowy soldiers materialized. The Dragon Monarch recognized them instantly – his own fallen soldiers, now animated puppets under Kenzo's control.

A grin stretched across the Dragon Monarch's face at the prospect. As his dragons unleashed their attacks, he prepared to block them. However, the attacks seemed to materialize only at the point of impact, bypassing any attempt at defense.

"Fascinating," the Dragon Monarch said, his voice brimming with excitement. "So, this is your little trick."

Kenzo watched as the Dragon Monarch engulfed himself in a shimmering aura of flame. Any attack, real or spectral, that dared to touch him was instantly consumed by the inferno. This would be a challenge, Kenzo thought, but he was prepared.

With a burst of speed, Kenzo launched himself at the Dragon Monarch, landing a solid punch to his face. The Dragon Monarch, surprisingly, grinned in response. He seemed to be enjoying the fight.

The clash resumed, with the Dragon Monarch now facing a double threat. He had to contend with Kenzo's relentless assault while simultaneously fending off the spectral attacks materializing around him.

Kenzo's grin widened. What seemed like the Dragon Monarch's near-unbreakable defenses were crumbling under the relentless assault of his domain's sure hits. This unexpected vulnerability sparked a thrill in Kenzo. Seizing the opportunity, he pressed the attack with renewed ferocity, raining down a barrage of blows on the Dragon Monarch without a moment's pause.

Exhaustion was a distant concern. Kenzo focused solely on inflicting maximum damage, even increasing his own mass to amplify the force of his attacks. With a final, desperate surge, he materialized a miniature black hole mere inches from the Dragon Monarch's mouth. He spared no effort, unleashing his most of his arsenal against his adversary.

The Dragon Monarch, while visibly battered, seemed to revel in the fight. He fought back with surprising vigor, despite the punishment he was enduring.

The Dragon Monarch roared with laughter, a sound that echoed through the battlefield. "Yes! Yes! This is precisely why I came! To fight, to struggle, to feel the surge of power in response to yours!" His grin stretched even wider, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Kenzo stared in disbelief. The Dragon Monarch unleashed a wave of mana so potent it caused the air to crackle. "He still has that much left?" Kenzo muttered, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. "What a monster."

Undeterred, the Dragon Monarch cauterized his wounds with a burst of flame, the stench of burning flesh filling the air. He wouldn't be slowed down by something as trivial as blood loss.

Kenzo gritted his teeth. This wasn't going as planned. He pushed his domain further, his body expanding to a size he never thought possible. Muscles strained and bones creaked under the immense pressure, but he ignored the pain. With a thunderous roar, he charged at the Dragon Monarch, a living battering ram.

The Dragon Monarch threw up his arms in a desperate attempt to block, but Kenzo's fist was an unstoppable force. It smashed through the Dragon Monarch's defenses, connecting with a sickening crunch. The Dragon Monarch staggered back, a look of surprise flashing across his face for the first time.

Meanwhile, within Hakari's domain...

Baran, the white-flame monarch, watched with narrowed eyes as Kinji Hakari danced within a swirling vortex of cursed energy. The dark energy seemed to flow in and out of Hakari's body in an unsettling rhythm.

A slow grin spread across Baran's face as realization dawned. In the four minutes and eleven seconds since Hakari had triggered this phenomenon – this "jackpot" as he called it – he had become effectively immortal.