"Six Paths? I remember your name was... uh… what was it again?"
Shoko frowned and pinched her chin in confusion as she tried to recall Mukuro's full name but came up blank.
"It's not a name, it's an ability," Suguru explained calmly. "Mukuro is… a special case. Not only does he have extraordinary physical talent, he also possesses six different powers. You could think of them as techniques."
He paused and added, "Techniques that can be activated without using cursed energy."
He'd known Mukuro for nearly ten years and had long been aware of those strange, unfathomable powers of his. The boy had always kept them under wraps, though. Suguru hadn't expected him to reveal them so openly now.
Still, that might actually be a good thing. If Mukuro was confident enough to speak about them in public, it meant he had grown strong enough to no longer fear anything.
"What?! One person has six techniques, and he doesn't even need cursed energy to use them?!" Shoko bit down so hard on her cigarette that she didn't notice it snap in half.
"Heavenly Restriction granting that kind of physical ability… and his power comes from his eyes, huh."
Satoru, with his Six Eyes, immediately noticed the strange fluctuation of energy emanating from Mukuro's right eye. It was similar to cursed energy, but stronger, denser, more refined.
"He really is an impressive newcomer," he admitted softly, pushing up his sunglasses.
It was as close to praise as one could get from him, an acknowledgment of true strength.
"Nanami! Fushiguro! A little help here!"
Right then, Haibara, who had been fighting curses on the second floor, leapt from the hallway down to the ground. Several grade 2 and grade 3 curses trailed after him.
"This could be your chance to get promoted to grade 2, Haibara," Nanami said dryly, tightening the tie wrapped around his fist as he walked toward him.
That kind of large-scale attack from before was only useful against much weaker curses or for demolishing buildings.
"I know, I know! But there's way too many of them!" Haibara called back, bracing himself. With Nanami joining the fray, he turned and began exchanging blows with the approaching curses, his fists bursting with cursed energy.
So this was what it felt like, to fight side by side with comrades who shared his resolve. His blood was boiling with excitement.
"Watch out!"
Nanami's warning came just as the building beside them collapsed. From within the rubble, a massive curse, its body towering over ten meters, crawled out.
"Take out the weakest ones first!"
The creature roared and, in the same instant, hurled a fist packed with cursed energy straight toward Haibara, who was still fighting below.
It was intelligent, capable of thought. Its power was close to grade 1. Once that punch landed, Haibara would either die or be crippled.
Mukuro gripped his trident and began walking toward them. If he wanted to, he could end the curse before its attack connected.
"Rainbow Dragon."
But before he could act, Suguru moved first. A black void opened behind him, and from it, a huge white dragon burst forth with a deafening roar.
The dragon lunged, biting through the curse's arm mid-swing, then flinging the entire body across the field.
And as Mukuro joined the fight, the remaining curses, ones that even Nanami struggled to clean up, fell one after another, as if he were slicing through paper. Just like the grade 1 curse earlier, not a single one could withstand even one exchange with him.
"As expected of you, Geto-senpai! Thank you so much, or I'd be dead by now!"
Haibara wiped the sweat from his forehead and ran up to Suguru, his face full of admiration as he expressed his gratitude.
"It's nothing," Suguru replied, patting the boy on the shoulder. "Exorcising curses is dangerous work. You're still at the start of your career. Mistakes are normal, but always remember to stay safe."
He smiled softly, like an older brother. To him, aside from Mukuro, both of these kids were juniors who needed guidance and protection. Helping the weak wasn't something reserved only for ordinary people; even cute underclassmen were included in that duty.
"Yes! I'll do my best!" Haibara exclaimed, clenching his fists, his spirits renewed.
"Before that, let's get your hands treated." Suguru noticed the blood seeping from Haibara's knuckles. Clearly, fighting grade 2 curses with just cursed energy fists had taken a toll.
He pulled the boy over to where Shoko was standing and gestured at the injury.
"Huh? This kind of wound? It'll heal in a couple of days at most," Shoko muttered, though she still reached out and placed her hand over his fists.
"Hey, Fushiguro, do you think I should get myself a weapon too?" Nanami asked from behind, looking toward Mukuro.
For weaker curses, he could clear them out by shaking the space itself. But against larger or stronger ones, those closer to his own level, his cursed energy punches, even wrapped with a tie, just didn't feel strong enough. And to be honest, it hurt.
The person before him, however, was an expert in weapon use. He could ask for his opinion.
"For you, no," Mukuro responded as his trident faded into thin air. "A weapon like mine wouldn't suit you. It's harder to master, and it doesn't match your technique."
Nanami's technique allowed him to imbue cursed energy into whatever weapon he held, but sharp weapons were immediately off the table. Swords, spears, and other bladed arms all required time and discipline to wield properly. Not everyone was born with perfect control over their body like he and his brother.
"Try using blunt weapons instead," Mukuro suggested. "They're easier to handle, and with your technique, they might even work better."
Unlike cutting or stabbing, blunt weapons focused on impact. Even if a single strike to the weak point couldn't finish a curse, the cursed energy damage from a solid hit would still linger.
"Blunt weapons, huh…" Nanami rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Eh? What's this?" Haibara suddenly cried out in surprise.
"What happened?"
The two of them stepped closer, only to see that the wounds on his fists had already healed completely.
"That's amazing! It felt like a bunch of tiny bugs crawled over my hands for a second, and then bam! It's all better!"
Haibara stared at his hands in disbelief. The cuts were gone, and he couldn't even feel the ache anymore.
"Some kind of technique?" Nanami murmured, visibly impressed despite the small wound.
"This is Reversed Cursed Technique," Suguru explained for the two juniors. "There are only a handful of people in the entire jujutsu world who can use it. Shoko's probably the best at it in the world."
"Seriously, how does she even do that?" Satoru sighed, sounding genuinely envious.
Even though he'd seen her use it countless times, he still couldn't figure it out. For all their reputation as the 'strongest duo,' neither he nor Suguru had yet grasped the true secret behind it.
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