"You humans are strong… but you are still not my match!"
The cursed spirit roared, wounds knitting together as arcs of lightning flickered violently across its armored scales.
"Die!"
It swung its thunderblade, and from the clouds above surged a thunder-dragon, descending like divine punishment upon Jinsuke.
The falling lightning was devastating. Jinsuke dodged nimbly—his body strong enough to withstand the bolts head-on, but there was no need to take pointless damage.
Eyes narrowing at the arrogant cursed spirit, he began thinking: how to kill it in one blow.
This cursed spirit was no weaker than the Four Calamities, and its talent rivaled Mahito —commanding thunder itself. If it continued to evolve, one day it could even reach Sukuna's level.
After all, few curses truly craved growth this much.
"…Troublesome."
Jinsuke's patience was running thin. Ordinarily, he might have toyed with such prey for a while. But Geto and Gojo could arrive at any moment.
If that happened, he might lose the right to finish the kill.
He glanced at the Playful Cloud in his grip, sighing. If only he had plundered a few more cursed tools from Toji…
Playful Cloud's strength was over the standard, yes — but against an enemy with high defense, terrifying speed, and absurd regeneration, only the Split Soul Katana could guarantee a clean kill.
"Ahahaha! Human! Do you see now how hopeless it is?"
"You're nothing but a stepping stone for my evolution! And you—who don't even wield cursed techniques—are utterly worthless! You can't even help me grow! Just die already!"
The cursed spirit was done playing around.
"Domain Expansion — Wrathful Thunder Palace!"
Using the surrounding skyscrapers as the barrier, the cursed spirit's domain enclosed Jinsuke. Endless thunder crashed wildly within, and a titanic "Heaven's Gate" loomed above the cursed spirit as lightning roared down around him.
"Using the buildings as the barrier… not the dumbest idea."
Jinsuke's face remained calm, even amused.
If he wanted, he could step out of the domain right now. The guaranteed-hit effect meant nothing against him.
Had the spirit not used the towers as anchors, it wouldn't even have been able to drag him inside.
"I know you're special. That's why—I'll kill you before you can escape."
The cursed spirit grinned. Within this realm of thunder, every step Jinsuke took would call down a barrage of bolts.
But Jinsuke only smiled back.
"Saying you're 'not too dumb' doesn't mean you're smart."
He could simply wait outside for the domain to collapse and its caster to fall into burnout. Then he could leisurely finish the job. But he wasn't in the mood.
"The only reason you can keep up with me… is because of that lightning technique of yours, isn't it?Here's a reminder—aside from your speed, your martial arts compared to mine are like a newborn child's."
The instant the words left his mouth, Jinsuke's figure appeared right in front of the cursed spirit, lightning trailing across his body.
"What?!"
The spirit's eyes widened. He was tanking its thunder head-on?!
Jinsuke's veins bulged as he gripped Playful Cloud, lips twisting into a savage grin.
"Forgot to tell you—my body's resistance to cursed techniques is pretty damn high."
BOOM!!
Playful Cloud smashed into the cursed spirit, sending it flying. The lightning-filled domain swarmed toward him, but most bolts were blocked by his swinging staff. The few that did land scattered harmlessly across his body.
The Heavenly Restriction's monstrous resistance made him nearly immune.
His only complaint—his clothes were shredded into rags.
"Be proud. You're the first to get beaten in your own domain."
Jinsuke vanished and reappeared again, mercilessly pummeling the spirit.Its regeneration couldn't keep pace. Wounds piled faster than they could close.
Outside the domain—
Kusakabe was hacking furiously at the barrier with his blade. The moment the cursed spirit had expanded its domain, he had acted.
The domain was nearly impenetrable from within, but from outside it was far more fragile.
"Hang on, Sensei! I'll get you out!"
CRACK—!
With one final strike, the barrier shattered. But as the wall collapsed, a three-meter-tall figure came hurtling toward him.
"Sensei—shit!!"
He barely leapt aside as the cursed spirit smashed through a building, collapsing it in an avalanche of steel and glass.
"Much obliged, Ino. Thanks for cracking it open."Jinsuke emerged from the ruins shirtless, Playful Cloud resting across his shoulder. If Kusakabe hadn't intervened, he might have already finished the spirit inside. Still, he wasn't about to complain.
"…Sensei, do you… even need my help?" Kusakabe twitched, watching Jinsuke standing unscathed.
"No need. Just wait there."
The cursed spirit rose once again, body already mended. Like an unkillable cockroach, its laughter rang out: "Human!!"
But this time, there was excitement in its eyes. Being beaten, it had found the path of evolution. Yes… what it lacked wasn't cursed energy, nor techniques.
It was the perfect body.
If it could claim Jinsuke's flesh and merge it with its arsenal of techniques — would it not become the strongest?
With a roar, its back split open. Six wings like cicada's grew, their edges traced with golden lightning.The armored body condensed, muscles tightening, frame shrinking but far more compact.It had evolved.
BOOM—!
The six wings snapped open, hurling it forward like a thunderbolt. Its punch slammed into Playful Cloud, black-red lightning exploding across the battlefield.
Jinsuke's body skidded several meters back, brows furrowed as he glanced at his staff.A section of Playful Cloud had cracked. A cursed tool worth five hundred million yen… damaged.
"Ahahahaha! This power—! It's perfect!" The cursed spirit's laughter was manic. At first, it thought this human couldn't make it stronger. But no — anything that pushed it to the brink would trigger its evolution.
"…Impossible." Kusakabe's jaw dropped. "That cursed spirit… used Black Flash?!"
That was insanity.
"Now what? Why isn't Gojo here yet?!" Utahime's voice trembled.
And then—
"Seems I arrived just in time."
From the other side, Geto stepped into view. His eyes gleamed with ecstasy as he gazed upon the cursed spirit's new form.
"Stronger again… hah. I knew it. You are the key. With you, my grand plan is already half-complete!"