For a brief moment,
The street went silent.
A fragile pause hung in the air after the strike.
Just seconds earlier, Utahime had unleashed a devastating Black Flash, her blade cleaving through the cursed spirit's flesh with explosive precision.
The attack had severed the cursed spirit's arm.
The slash across its neck had been shallow, but it was enough to save the middle-aged man from certain death.
But,
It hadn't killed the cursed spirit.
A low, distorted rumble rose from the cursed spirit's chest.
Then it roared.
The roar shook the empty streets of Kyoto District Five, echoing off broken storefronts and shattered windows.
Its glowing eyes slowly turned.
And locked onto Shinji Ino.
A cold shiver crawled up Shinji's spine.
Utahime stood calmly in front of him, posture steady, eyes narrowed as she analyzed the creature with the sharp instincts of an experienced sorcerer.
That strike should have taken its head clean off…
Her gaze hardened.
But it survived.
The cursed spirit's body trembled violently.
Then,
Something strange happened.
The severed arm lying on the pavement twitched.
Utahime's eyes widened slightly.
The limb convulsed.
The cursed spirit's flesh bubbled and warped grotesquely.
Bone cracked.
The muscle twisted.
Within seconds,
The severed arm began transforming.
A new cursed spirit was emerging from the discarded severed limb.
At the same time,
The original cursed spirit's shoulder erupted in movement.
Bone fragments cracked together.
Tendons stretched.
And with a sickening sound,
A new arm burst from the stump.
Utahime stared at the phenomenon.
"Did it just…"
Her mind raced.
Performed Reverse Cursed Technique?
She dismissed the thought immediately.
No.
Cursed spirits of this level shouldn't possess such refined control over cursed energy.
Her expression darkened.
"This could be something else, probably rapid regeneration." Utahime thought to herself
And worse,
She glanced at the creature emerging from the severed limb.
"It can multiply."
Utahime's thoughts sharpened instantly.
Three lives.
Shinji, the gravely injured man. and the unconscious girl trapped beneath the collapsed debris.
All of them inside an active cursed zone with a regenerating cursed spirit.
The situation was deteriorating fast.
She moved without hesitation.
Utahime knelt and gently transferred the injured man into Shinji's arms.
"Shinji," she said.
Her tone remained calm—but urgency threaded through every word.
"I'm going to be honest with you."
Shinji blinked.
"The situation we're in right now… is not in our favor."
His chest tightened.
"We don't have much time," she continued. "And I'm going to need your help."
Before Shinji could reply,
A sudden shriek tore through the air.
The newborn cursed spirit that emerged from the cursed spirit's severed arm launched itself forward.
Its grotesque body stretched unnaturally as its circular jaw opened wide.
Rows of jagged teeth twisted outward like a spinning saw.
The creature lunged directly for Utahime's head.
Fast.
Far too fast.
But Utahime was faster.
A flash of cursed energy erupted from her blade.
BLACK FLASH!!
The movement was so quick that Shinji didn't even see the swing.
One moment, the monster was attacking—
The next,
Utahime stood several meters away.
Her sword lowered.
Silence fell.
Then—
Thud.
Something heavy struck the pavement behind her.
Shinji slowly turned.
The cursed spirit's head rolled across the street.
Its body collapsed seconds later.
Cleanly decapitated.
Shinji's eyes widened in disbelief.
Utahime spoke calmly, as if nothing unusual had happened.
"No time to explain everything."
She turned towards him.
"Listen carefully."
Her gaze was firm.
"You're taking the survivors and getting out of this district."
Shinji froze.
"…What?"
"I'll hold the cursed spirits here," Utahime added
"But—" Shinji said, with hesitation creeping into his voice
"Shinji." Utahime cuts in
Her voice softened slightly.
"You're the only one who can get them out safely."
She gestured to the injured man.
"I can't protect civilians and fight that powerful cursed spirit at the same time."
Behind them—
Something moved.
The pieces of the original cursed spirit's decapitated body and head began crawling across the ground.
Slowly—
The scattered flesh began reassembling itself.
Utahime noticed instantly.
Her expression darkened.
"It's reforming already…" She thought to herself.
There was no time left.
She placed the injured man onto Shinji's back.
"Once you reach the edge of the Curtain, the Kyoto Support medical team will be waiting."
"This man won't survive if he doesn't get treatment soon."
Shinji clenched his jaw.
He knew she was right.
"…Okay."
He adjusted the man's weight.
Then paused.
"…Take care of yourself, Sensei."
Utahime blinked.
But Shinji was already running.
His footsteps faded into the ruined streets as he carried the injured man toward the edge of the district.
For a moment—
Utahime stood there silently.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Sensei, huh?"
Her eyes shifted toward the monster reforming itself behind her.
"I guess that means you've already made up your mind to enroll at Kyoto Jujutsu High."
Her smile disappeared.
Utahime stepped forward.
Placing herself between the unconscious girl and the mutating cursed spirit.
The cursed spirit's body finished reforming.
Its size doubled.
Bones cracked outward.
Flesh expanded grotesquely.
Its mouth opened wide—
And it roared once again, but this time, terrifyingly loud.
The ground trembled.
Utahime stood her ground, unwavering, and tightened her grip on her weapon as cursed energy surged around her.
"Well then…"
Her eyes sharpened.
"Let's finish this."
*****
Several kilometers away —
Engines roared through Kyoto's evening streets.
A convoy from the Kyoto Jujutsu Support Division raced toward Kyoto District Five.
Inside one of the vehicles sat Momo Nishimiya, Kasumi Miwa, and Mai Zenin.
Across from them stood the deputy officer of the Kyoto Support Division—
Kaori Atazawa.
Weapons were being loaded.
Cursed tools distributed.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle was tense.
Kaori finally spoke.
"Utahime has already engaged the target inside Kyoto District Five."
Her voice was calm.
But her eyes were sharp.
"We are moving in as reinforcement."
Outside the windows—
The city lights blurred past.
Because inside the Curtain, at Kyoto District Five
A battle was already unfolding.
A battle that might determine who survives the night.
And deep within Kyoto District Five—
A monstrous roar shook the streets once more.
Utahime stood alone before the towering cursed spirit.
Her blade raised.
The unconscious girl still lying behind her.
And somewhere in the distance—
Shinji was still running, heading towards the exit of the curtain.