In the pitch-black forest, cursed energy flared brilliantly. The air split apart with a jagged tear, and from within, two massive claws gripped the edges of the rift and pulled outward.
A hideous head emerged.
"ROAR—!!"
The sheer cursed pressure instantly obliterated the weaker spirits swarming nearby.
This, too, was a Semi-Special Grade. Against one such as this, Geto had no need to use his true Special Grade spirits. That would be overkill.
The moment his summoned curse appeared, it lunged forward with its claws at the Monkey King.
"GRRRRAAAAH—!!"
The white-furred ape snarled with startling human-like rage. A burst of cursed energy exploded from its body, filling the air for dozens of meters.
Seeing that, Jinsuke grabbed both Nanami and Riko by the collars, dragging them back to safety.
A black sphere suddenly enclosed Geto and the Monkey King.
"A Domain Expansion!?" Riko's face went pale. For a curse to wield a Domain — it was something far beyond what they could ever handle.
Nanami's expression hardened as well. A spirit this dangerous, and the higher-ups had only sent him—a semi-Grade 1—and Riko, a Grade 2? Were they insane?
Or… had they known, and deliberately assigned them under a capable supervisor?
"…More like a prototype" Jinsuke muttered, setting the two down. He eyed the black orb quietly.
"So this is a Domain… you can't sense anything from inside."
Still, he could feel the strength of it. A half-formed shell, nothing more.The Monkey King's luck was rotten — it was on the brink of evolving into a true Special Grade, only to be caught by Geto, wielder of the Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique.
That technique's ceiling was terrifyingly high. If only Geto were more cautious… with time, he could have become the strongest sorcerer alive.
After all, theoretically, even the Death Paintings, the Four Calamities, or Sukuna himself… all could fall under his control. Even Tengen's ultimate evolutionary form was, at its core, still a cursed being.
If Geto had chosen patience, he could have devoured nearly every curse on the planet — barring monsters like Sukuna.
"What a waste…" Jinsuke thought, just as cracks spread across the black sphere.
"BANG!!"
The Domain shattered. The Monkey King staggered out, coughing blood, its face twisted in fury.
"As a semi-Special Grade, you were strong enough" Geto said casually, smiling faintly.
At his side stood a plump-faced spirit with flowing hair, hands tucked into wide sleeves, eyes forever squinting with a comedic cheer.
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit — Tamamo-no-Mae Incarnate.
A Domain-wielding curse was nothing to scoff at. Perfect for adding to his collection.
"ROOOAR!!"
The Monkey King bellowed, eyes blazing with hatred. It had only wanted to hole up in the mountains, evolving slowly into a true Special Grade. Why did they have to stop it?
With a desperate roar, it turned — not toward Geto, but toward Nanami, Riko, and Jinsuke.
Its sharp instincts screamed. If it couldn't defeat Geto, then it would take hostages. Those three knew him. Their lives could buy its survival.
The three-meter giant dropped onto all fours and charged.
Nanami stiffened, blade tightening in his hand. But then he saw Riko immediately dart behind Jinsuke for cover. His lips thinned, and he sheathed his knife. He knew his limits. Against this monster, their only hope was their teacher.
No matter how fast the curse was, it couldn't outrun Jinsuke.
"So you think I'm the soft target?"Jinsuke's lips curved as he calmly drew the crimson three-section staff from his hip.
He'd only intended to watch. But this monkey had gotten far too full of itself.
Just like certain sorcerers, it looked down on anyone without cursed energy.
The ape's claws gleamed as they slashed toward his throat.But instead of fear, it saw the man open his arms as though to embrace death—smiling.
That savage grin sent a primal chill through the curse's heart.
"Wait! Don't kill it!!" Geto shouted suddenly, face paling when he saw the weapon in Jinsuke's hand.
The Special Grade Cursed Tool: Playful Cloud. Worth five billion yen.
This was supposed to be his prize!
"CRACK!!"
A single brutal impact.
The Monkey King's vision spun. Memories flashed — its early days as a weak Grade 4, frolicking freely in the mountains. Its loneliness drove it toward the human village below, searching for playmates. But humans feared it.
Stories spread. Darker, more twisted with each retelling.And as the fear grew, so did it—gaining strength, spawning kin.
It never understood why. Why they painted it as a monster when it had done nothing wrong?
With its power, hatred bloomed. It turned that fear back on them, sending its brood to devour a handful of villagers every few years.
If they feared it so much… then it would give them a reason.
"…Grrrhh…"
Its body was fading. It realized—it was already dead.
Its last glance fell on the man who struck it down. His eyes were utterly flat. No sorrow. No joy. As if he'd merely swatted a fly.
"This one… he's the true monster."
"Gulp."
"U-uncle… it's… dead?" Riko peeked out from behind him, swallowing hard as she stared at the collapsing body.
This old man… was terrifying.
Jinsuke casually shook Playful Cloud, flicking off the blood.
"What else did you expect?" he said flatly.
It had been right in his face. Was he supposed to just… let it choke him out? That would've been embarrassing.
"Hey! You bastard—!!"
Geto's face twisted. Just like that, his prize had been stolen. The audacity!
And this, after he'd almost thanked the man!
"Oh, my bad, kid"
Jinsuke said with a shrug.
"Forgot you could absorb these things. Didn't expect it to be that fragile."
But then—his face stiffened.
From deep within, his scripture trembled violently.
A hidden suction force stirred silently, pulling in the dissipating energy of the Monkey King's death.
Heat surged into his body, flowing straight into the fifth gate of the Eight Gates Formation — The Gate of Limit.
His body roared with new strength.
The Scripture's display shifted:
[Gate of Limit – 1% → 4%]
Jinsuke's lips twitched.
"…What!? You had this feature all along, and you didn't say anything!?"