Not long after Eichi entered the cave, a dark shadow locked onto him.
As he advanced, Eichi swept the flashlight across the cave, carefully observing his surroundings.
"Strange, something just swam past."
The next moment, arcs of electricity crackled across Eichi's body.
The surrounding darkness was instantly dispelled, revealing a figure lurking in the shadows.
"A Shadow Crocodile?"
Eichi saw the creature creeping up behind him and raised his hand, preparing to unleash lightning.
But he suddenly stopped.
Swoosh.
The Shadow Crocodile struck.
Eichi leaped back, shining the flashlight at his left hand as he moved.
Splat.
The sound of tearing flesh rang out.
The Shadow Crocodile's claws had grazed his left arm, ripping a small chunk of flesh.
Eichi activated Reverse Cursed Technique.
Within his shadow, Mahoraga began adapting.
According to both Shijima Naji and Jujutsu Headquarters, Shadow Crocodiles had both Clones and a main body.
Since the one before him was a relatively weak Clone, it was better to let Mahoraga adapt now. That way, he could reduce the adaptation time later when facing the true body.
The Clone's attack methods were similar to the main body's.
Positive energy from the Reverse Cursed Technique surged toward the wound, countering the curse at the site.
"The curse is interfering with healing? Fortunately, it's a shallow wound."
Eichi increased the Reverse Cursed Technique's output, and the wound closed quickly.
While dodging, Eichi once again shone his flashlight, casting the shadow of his left arm toward the Shadow Crocodile.
Splat.
Ding.
The wheel turned.
The curse of the Shadow Crocodile was successfully adapted to.
Not long after, the sound of the wheel turning echoed again.
"Huh?"
Eichi sensed a change in his shadow. Mahoraga transmitted a method for resisting the Shadow Crocodile's shadow-based attacks.
When the Shadow Crocodile bit at his shadow a second time, Eichi noticed it seemed to move on its own, dodging instinctively.
It reminded him of Tom from the cartoons, leaping skyward after being pricked.
His shadow reacted. It felt... alive.
Mahoraga transmitted usable methods for countering shadow-based attacks, strengthen the shadow's defense with Cursed Energy, or embed a Shikigami within the shadow to retaliate when bitten.
Eichi casually unleashed lightning and exorcised the still-attacking Shadow Crocodile.
He then looked at his shadow, falling into thought.
Moments later, more Shadow Crocodiles appeared in his line of sight.
"Tsk. You all have no idea how to lay low. Guess I'll clean you up first."
Electricity coursed over Eichi's body as he dashed forward, wiping out Shadow Crocodiles one after another.
Soon, he reached the depths of the cave—the Shadow Crocodile's lair.
"This should be the place."
He spotted the remnants of a broken Seal in the center and a katana lying abandoned nearby.
The Jujutsu Sorcerer sent by Headquarters had likely died here.
Eichi looked up at the cave walls, the ceiling, the floor, Shadow Crocodiles filled every corner.
"There really are a lot of them."
From within Eichi's shadow, Mahoraga rose slowly.
The Sword of Exorcism was swung, carving deep gashes across the stone walls.
Soon, the lower-ranked Shadow Crocodiles—around Grade 2 or 3—scattered and fled, only to be replaced by Rank 1 and higher-grade Clones surrounding Eichi and Mahoraga.
"So this is it. All those were just warm-ups for the Rank 1 Clones."
The lightning, which had dimmed to mere illumination, flared again.
Battle resumed.
Eichi and Mahoraga, both protecting their shadows with Cursed Energy, had high resistance to shadow-based attacks.
Shadow Crocodiles fell one after another beneath their attacks.
"The previous Grade 1 Sorcerer must've died because he didn't know how to protect his shadow."
Eichi thought to himself.
Suddenly, a massive shadow slithered out from the well at the center. The true master of the cave had awakened.
"That's the main body?"
Eichi looked at the enormous Cursed Spirit, surprised.
Tens of meters long.
Petal-like fins extended from its lower body, and its jaws didn't open vertically but split sideways.
Its body was covered with numerous eyes, some already shut.
Mahoraga skewered another Shadow Crocodile with a strike.
Eichi noticed one more eye on the main body slowly close.
"So that's it. Those eyes are the enslaved Cursed Spirits it's absorbed."
A golden piece appeared in Eichi's hand.
[Spiritual Base: Shadow.]
A cloaked female figure draped in a purple robe appeared at Eichi's side.
"Medea, deal with the small fry. Mahoraga, focus on the main body."
Medea's robe unfurled into wings.
A barrage of magical bombardments launched at the Shadow Crocodiles on the walls.
One lunged toward Medea's shadow, but bit into a Barrier.
Medea had used a Barrier Technique to isolate her shadow.
"So that's another method."
Mahoraga left the scattered Clones and charged at the massive main body.
The Shadow Crocodile opened its sideways maw, unleashing a strange sound that echoed in Eichi's ears.
The next moment, the cave was shrouded in shadows.
Purgatory Shadow Hell.
"A Domain. Fallen Blossom Emotion."
Fallen Blossom Emotion, a defensive Technique passed down through the Big Three Families, allows one to release Cursed Energy as a counter when the Domain's sure-hit effect lands.
Naobito had given Eichi the usage method directly, so Eichi had studied and mastered it alongside his Shikigami and Barrier Techniques.
He had a strong foundation and excellent talent. With instruction, he picked up skills quickly.
Within the Domain, the Shadow Crocodile continuously bit at Mahoraga's shadow, trying to tear it apart.
But Mahoraga had already adapted to the Clone's shadow attacks, so the main body's assault barely left a mark.
Ding.
The wheel turned. Mahoraga adapted to the main body's technique.
Its frenzied attacks no longer had any effect.
Ding.
Not long after, the wheel turned again.
Mahoraga raised both hands, and its shadow followed the same motion.
Then, Mahoraga's shadow pried open the Shadow Crocodile's massive jaws.
Fallen Blossom Emotion was still active.
But the Shadow Crocodile had focused most of its attacks on Mahoraga, so Eichi hadn't been hit much.
At that moment, Eichi had a reckless idea.
He deactivated Fallen Blossom Emotion.
Immediately after, the Domain's sure-hit attack landed on his shadow.
"Hmph."
Heavy. The damage wasn't on the same level as before.
Even with his body protected by Cursed Energy, Eichi sustained injuries.
But he grinned.
Seconds later, more attacks struck his shadow.
For the first time, Eichi could feel his shadow so clearly.
Under the Domain's influence, it felt like a tangible limb, something his brain could fully perceive.
His thoughts raced.
Ten Shadows Technique. Barrier Techniques. And this Domain filled with shadow-based phenomena.
"Haha. Hahahaha. So this is what a shadow really is?!"
It felt like his brain was on fire.
Eichi had the sudden urge to dig his fingers into his temples to cool his mind down.
"I'm so high right now."
With a solid foundation, high talent, and the perfect opportunity...
Eichi evolved.
Domain Expansion: Abyssal Dark Garden.
His shadow surged wildly, transforming into an endless abyss that swallowed everything.
Within the abyss, a nest of countless Shikigami stirred.
"Come on. Devour each other, Shadow Crocodiles!"
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)