The most recent chapter of Jujutsu Kaisen was a fast-paced, action paced, and intense roller coaster and this chapter just continues the ride. Last we left off, Hakari was effectively dying. His innards were spinning out of his body and the entire left side of his lower torso was removed with the ribcage exposed. It was not looking good the for the guy, yet even in those dire circumstances he was able to activate the domain expansion. However, what good will it do a man dying?
Hakari’s Domain expansion requires him to get rolls like a pachinko. However, in order for that to happen he has to actually play the game within his domain expansion. Basically, with opening the domain expansion being his final move, He is betting his entire chance of survival on the first roll. Is this how it ends?
The Luckiest Man Alive
Obviously not. It is unclear why authors continue to do these death fakeouts when its obvious the character is going to survive but Gege has done plenty of them with Hakari at this point. According to the blurb at the bottom there was also an increased chance of hidden probability in his this roll, which is why Hakari was able to pull off the jackpot. He compliments Hajime for his ability to bring him near death nearly twice in a single day, which is not something he's ever had happened to him. After some slick comments about manga, he then proceeds to change the area by shifting the location of his domain expansion to it being over the pier and then closing it so Hajime descends into the ocean water.
Hajime's electricity is not a cursed technique. It's just an inherent property his cursed energy has, similar to how Hakari's was described to be rough like sandpaper. This means his cursed energy will always behave like electricity long as he has it flowing. I read this part as thinking of Hajime like a toaster dropped in water. Soon as the liquid gets in the circuits all the electricity starts to discharge and flow out. Kashimo releases any of his cursed energy while in the water without carefully controlling it, then all of it will leak out, and that is what Hakari was betting on. What he was not expecting is a bunch of cursed spirits popping out of the water for Kashimo to use as platforms to fight Hakari. Hakari defeats the cursed spirits and knocks him back into the water with a strong kick, something Kashimo would only be able to survive if he reinforces his body with cursed energy.
Hakari's Luck Runs Out
Soon as Kashimo lands back in the water his cursed energy begins to leak out causing the salt. He tries to suppress, but Hakari is able to observe the boiling water and dying fish from above as he hovers over the ocean by gripping onto a cursed spirit. So Far Gege has made it a point to make Hakari come across as a thug of sorts with insane levels of cursed energy and natural talent, but he's also portrayed him as someone who is incredibly cool and the way he looks over the water adds to it.
Hakari says he will knock Kashimo back down if he comes up again, but then his eyes start to roll towards the back of his head as he loses his grip on the cursed spirit and falls into the sea. Kashimo allowed a small amount of his cursed energy to heat up the water and create chlorine gas. The gas emitted from the electrified salt water got into Kashimo's body and slowly started to kill him even while he was in his unkillalble state. Poisons is apparently one of the two ways to kill someone with reverse cursed technique as its more difficult and requires fine control to perform it. With Hakari falling into the water and beginning to drown Kashimo believes he has finally won.
However, Hakari's luck has not run out. Even in this state, his body is able to naturally perform reversed cursed technique even when he is unconscious. Hakari's weighs his options deciding if he should go back to the surface or cast his domain expansion but ultimately decides to simply brawl it out in the water. After an exchange of blows, Kashimo has no choice but to release his cursed energy. So he grabs Hakari, knowing that once he releases it all it will surge wildly out all at once, and then it does cause a giant explosion while he grabs Hakari's arm. This moment looks stunning in the manga, and I am certain it will be groundbreaking when it happens in the anime.
Hakari and Kashimo both cement himself as two of the coolest side characters in the entire show. Kashimo's tactial prowess and mastery of cursed energy is on full display in this chapter along with his immense cursed energy. In contrast, Hakari's insane potential makes him so fun and exciting to watch, and its fun to see him utilize strategy in this chapter as well rather than his raw power and aggressive tactics. The battle was good, Gege does fight scenes amazingly and I am exctited to see if his final gambit pulled off.
Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami is serialized by Shounen Jump and their next chapter releases on Sunday, June 26.