We have been able to witness a number of strange and varied cursed techniques, but Hakari’s one of the most unique in concept with also the biggest payoff. Hajime knows the time limit for this form and understands he can wait the four minutes and eleven seconds for it to wear off and attempt to kill him. However, Hajime finds waiting to be boring, but will he be able to kill Hakari in his unkillable state?
RELATED: Jujutsu Kaisen: Gojo Satoru’s Unlimited Void Domain Expansion, Explained
A Sorcerer’s Brawl
It’s still unclear why the cursed energy users in Jujutsu Kaisen are called sorcerers when the majority of their fights involve hand to hand combat and weapon play but there are certainly no complaints about it. Gege Akutami displays a masterful understanding of martial arts combat as each character in Jujutsu Kaisen is a martial arts master and this is of course true for Hajime and Hakari too.
Running across the cargo bay Hakari comes across a giant metal storage container and punches it so hard that he ends up launching it as a projectile at Hajime. Hajime is impressed but unfazed by this display of strength Hajime punched the storage container back which leads to a wild game of tennis with a giant several-ton-pound storage container.
Eventually they pummel the storage container into a flat crumpled piece of sheet metal. However, when Hakari strikes it again, Hajime leaps over the container, rips the metal door off its hinges, and slams it against Hakari’s head. Jujutsu Kaisen is clearly not for the squeamish or faint of heart as this chapter displays some very disturbing images of blood, bones, and guts.
RELATED: Jujutsu Kaisen: Megumi Fushiguro’s Half-Baked Domain Expansion, Chimera Shadow Garden, Explained
The first time in this chapter we are exposed to these dark images is when we see half of the skin ripped off Hakari’s face from the metal door, exposing his skull and muscle tissue. Hakari heals from the attack and looks excited about the brawl, but then readers are treated to some good exposition from Hajime explaining more information about how cursed energy works.
According to Hajime, cursed energy originated from one’s stomach area, but the operation of reversing that cursed energy into positive energy happens in the brain. Thus, if he kills Hakari by destroying his brain before he can perform the reverse cursed technique to heal himself he will be able to kill him.
He pinpoints the lightning in his brain - something only he can do thanks to being able to always hit even without a domain expansion - in order to destroy it. Hakari survives though, through the act of healing his brain while it’s being destroyed at the same time. Hakari deduces the technique must not be able to be used again for a certain amount of time, so he goes on the offensive. Little does he know he is wrong.
Lightning Strikes Twice
Kashimo Hajime technique works by building up cursed energy like an electrical charge. He separates the charges and transfers the positive ones when he strikes his opponent and stores the negative charge in him. This allows his attack to never miss as the negative charge is drawn to the positive energy within his enemy and thus will always track them to land. While being one of the strongest cursed techniques we have seen thus far, once he discharges the energy he needs to build it up again.
However, Hajime is capable of storing the energy not just in his body but also in the staff he carries. When Hakari struck him earlier in the battle several chapters ago his staff was left planted into the ground it was accumulating a charge. Hajime then retrieves the stored electical energy from the staff, and it rushes toward him but as it does, it pierces through Hakari’s body as he is in the path of lightning. With Hakari now standing between Hajime and the staff, the lightning pierces his body destroying half of his midsection right as the time limit ends on his unkillable state. Thus, Hakari is incapable of using the reverse cursed technique to heal himself.
Jujutsu Kaisen has spectacular action choreography, as has already been stated, and it cannot be expressed enough how well the action panels are drawn and depicted in this battle. The combat flows well panel to panel so fast and the blows and form are depicted so well.
RELATED: Jujutsu Kaisen: Why Gojo Satoru May Not be The Strongest Character In The Series
In conjunction, the tactics and strategy used by Hajime are exceptional. Hakari comes across as a raw natural talent working off pure power, but Hajime uses his mind and knowledge of how cursed energy functions to dictate the flow of the battle, lead Hakari into a false sense of comfort, and then deliver a debilitating blow. This chapter depicts Hajime as one of the smartest characters in the series, which leads to an outstanding victory, that is to say if the fight was ending there.
The last couple of panels show blood trickling out of Hakari’s mouth with his guts spilling out of his body, but his hands and posture set up to activate his domain expansion. Hajime is stunned, unable to process the idea that even in this state Hakari is still able to keep battling. The chapter ends with the last panel having the words “Idle Death Gamble", the name of Hakari’s domain expansion written across it.
There is not much to say about this chapter that has not already been said. It was a fast-paced action-packed chapter that was entertaining from the first page up until the very last panel. Readers will find themselves flipping through it so fast, but then see something so remarkable they need to stop and do a reread to understand what had just transpired. The conclusion of this battle should be coming up next chapter and readers are more than likely breathing heavily in anticipation to see what will happen in this battle of deadly sorcerers.
Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami is serialized by Shounen Jump and their next chapter releases on Sunday, June 26.
MORE: Boruto Chapter 71: What To Expect From The Chapter
