Crimson Tides (Malereader X JJK)

Chapter ~ 20

*CLAP*

Acting quickly, I clasp my hands together, grabbing ahold of my blood and hardening it into spikes, piercing through the horde of fodder curses 'I'll have to look into partially manifesting my shikigami in the future.'

I attempt to catch The Showman off guard yet for some reason my fist phases through his chest "Wha-?" 

*WHAM*

A sudden impact landed on my gut, sending me rolling back 'That's annoying...'

"(Y/n)! Did you notice it?" Nobara said suddenly, shocking me "Whenever the curse becomes intangible his cursed energy messes up with the air of the domain."

I look to my side, noticing I was knocked closer to her "Good observation. Think that'll help us at all though?" 

Readying her weapon, Nobara glared at the curse who began laughing at us "Not that alone. The best thing we can hope for is that it's detectable whenever he becomes tangible again."

Nodding along, I hop to my feet getting into a stance "He's able to turn specific parts of his body tangible whenever he wants as well." I stare him down clicking my tongue in annoyance 'He's weak but for some reason, I keep getting distracted.'

The Showman walks forward slowly, grinning like a madman "You guys are pathetic. I'll admit. It's easy to fall for your tricks."

"Stop with all that talk." I say, cutting him off "Nobara, try to use that strawdoll thingy on his cursed energy."

Nobara looked at me in disbelief "I can't do that!? I need a piece of my opponent for that to work!"

"Why not? Cursed energy is a part of us. Grasp it and hit it." I say, moving closer to the curse. Focusing cursed energy on my eyes, I see a flare-up of energy 'Now!' 

The second he attempts to send a punch I meet it head-on with my own, shattering his wrist. My next attempts to attack him have proved worthless as my fist harmlessly phases through him.

'There was a flare again!' An intrigued grin slithers on my face as I weave the curse's poor attempt at striking me before quickly retaliating with a backhand to its jaw 'Now!'

My follow-up attack, being a punch to the liver, phases through his body once more 'Predictable!'

I snap my fingers just as he phases back into my plane and sweep his legs from underneath him. Nobara attempts to hit him with a nail but I snap my fingers once more and as expected he phases back out, causing the nail to hit the floor.

From the side of my eye, I see Nobara watching me, confused 'She's understanding my actions partly. I didn't expect her to catch on so quickly.' Unsure, She readies her hammer and nail again and aims at the curse

*SNAP*

*PING*

My grin widens as Nobara's nail lands, followed by the curse screaming in pain yet shockingly the curse phases out just as my foot was about to make contact with his head 'Oh wow!' I say mentally, mildly impressed 'I expected a lot less from him.'

Nobara snapped her fingers and her cursed energy surged followed by a large explosion coming out from the torso of the curse

I reel my fist back, sensing the domain quake before driving it into his face 'So if it's making contact with him during the shift it goes along with him...' My extended fist unravels and I grasp his neck tightly, soon the air around me becomes colder and I drive my knee into his gut, and the air returns to normal.

A loud ping sounds out and I'm brought back to the cold air I watch as a nail flies through us both. Suddenly a black mass slams into my gut, coming from the curse and sending me tumbling out of the realm.