Slurp… slurp…
In one corner of Shibuya, Jinsuke and Kusakabe were busy slurping ramen inside a small shop.
"It's already been three days. Not a single trace of activity. Do you think that cursed spirit already left?" Kusakabe muttered as he ate.
The two had been sweeping the area for three days straight. Forget special grades— they hadn't even spotted a single halfway-decent curse. No incidents elsewhere either.
"Don't be in such a rush. Just think of this as a government-funded vacation. Isn't that nice?" Jinsuke replied casually, savoring his noodles.
Since all expenses on this assignment could be reimbursed, he felt no urgency at all. If not for Kusakabe watching him like a hawk, he would've already used mission funds to enjoy himself at high-class establishments.
"You've got a point. If we can't find anything soon, the higher-ups will probably cancel the mission. Might as well relax while we can." Kusakabe chuckled, then suddenly recalled a rumor.
"By the way, Jinsuke-sensei, I heard you're really interested in strong curses. You must be itching to track down this special grade, right?"
The talk around campus was that Jinsuke had no cursed energy, so he threw himself into defeating powerful cursed spirits to prove he wasn't weaker than other sorcerers. That was his reputation.
Jinsuke shrugged. "It's not that serious. I'm just a little curious how strong a special grade really is."
Of course, he knew about many special grades. But aside from Geto's avatar Tamamo-no-Mae Incarnate and Rika whom he had recently glimpsed, he had never actually encountered one in person— let alone fought one.
Suddenly, the special comms device on their table crackled to life.
"Hello? Can you hear me? Me and Mei Mei just found that special grade! We've already dropped the curtain, so everyone— ah! No! Mei Mei—!"
Static and the roar of an explosion cut the message short.
"Hey! Utahime!?" Kusakabe's expression hardened instantly. Just moments ago they had been lamenting the lack of results— and now the "good news" arrived in the worst way possible.
"Jinsuke-sensei, we need to move—huh?" When Kusakabe turned, Jinsuke was already gone.
"…Damn it. That's what you call 'just a little curious'!?" Kusakabe swore, before hurrying toward Utahime and Mei Mei's patrol area.
...
At the same time, elsewhere in Shibuya, Gojo had also heard the transmission.
But instead of rushing off, his eyes stayed fixed on the man standing before him. A touch of nostalgia flickered in his gaze.
"Do you really have to keep walking down this dark path? There's still time to turn back."
Geto smiled faintly. "Satoru, what are you saying? This is the path toward true light."
Ever since devoting himself fully to his "cause", Geto's life had become easier, his goals clearer. Expand his power. Grow his faction. And once he had enough strength, wipe out all non-sorcerers.
Only then would cursed spirits cease to exist. He believed Gojo would one day understand.
"Enough chit-chat, Satoru. I'm going to absorb that cursed spirit."
He had also heard the message over the comms. That special grade was his real target. His collection of special grades was still lacking, and this one — a rapidly evolving special grade — was vital to his plan.
"Suguru… do you really think I'll just let you go?" Gojo stood in his path, gaze sharp.
They were on opposite sides now. Geto refused to turn back, and Gojo couldn't allow him to sink further.
With a snap of his fingers, several figures appeared around them — members of Geto's faction.
"Keep him busy."
Geto's form blurred into an afterimage as he rushed toward the special grade's location.
Gojo narrowed his eyes and moved to pursue, but an attack cut him off. Geto's followers spread out, launching long-range assaults. They couldn't defeat Gojo— but they only needed to buy time.
For a brief moment, Gojo's eyes hardened with killing intent. He considered going all-out, wiping them out instantly, then chasing after Geto.
But the thought passed.
Looking at their grim, determined faces, his expression softened into a wry smile.
"So even this, you accounted for, Suguru? …But that cursed spirit— you still won't get it."
After all, Jujutsu High wasn't made of just one sorcerer.
A massive curtain sealed off part of Shibuya, keeping civilians out and minimizing panic.
BOOOOM!
Inside the curtain, fire erupted in a violent blast.
Mei Mei was flung backward, flipping in midair before landing gracefully, her axe firmly in hand.
"Mei Mei!" Utahime's face went pale with worry as she rushed forward to check on her.
"Stay back! All of you retreat!" Mei Mei barked, brows furrowed.
She gripped her massive axe tightly, eyes locked on the looming figure emerging from the flames.
"You humans… are too weak."
A towering humanoid cursed spirit at least three meters tall stepped forth, black scales plated over rippling muscle. Between the cracks of its armor-like hide, glowing veins of molten blue liquid pulsed, crackling with electricity. A long tail dragged across the ground, and instead of eyes, two inverted black horns jutted from its face.
Just by appearance alone, its strength was terrifying.
"Now… even that man would no longer be my equal."
The curse's voice rumbled with disdain.
It had already undergone one evolution. Even if "that man" appeared again, it no longer feared him. In fact, it craved another fight— to defeat him and evolve once more.
This was a special grade with exceptional talent, driven only by the instinct to grow stronger.
Mei Mei felt an uncharacteristic pang of resignation. This was far beyond their league.
She was just one Grade 1 sorcerer, supported by Utahime, a semi-Grade 1 auxiliary type, and a few Grade 2s. They wouldn't last minutes.
She had seen special grades before— but none as overwhelming as this. Only a special grade sorcerer could stand against it.
"Utahime. Prepare to retreat." Mei Mei's voice was sharp. She could stall for a few minutes at most. If reinforcements didn't arrive, she'd forfeit the commission. Money could be earned again. But if she died— who would spend it?
Utahime caught the seriousness in her tone.
From the start she had used her "Solo Forbidden Area" technique to amplify everyone's cursed energy output. But even so, it wasn't enough. The cursed spirit wasn't even trying yet. It was toying with them.
"…Understood!" Utahime nodded, face tense.
If things turned worse, retreat was their only option.