Fushiguro Megumi watched the scene before him in disbelief.
The Special Grade Cursed Spirit seemed to have seen something incomprehensible; it froze in place, even letting out a threatening low growl.
"Lynn... How did you get in?"
Fushiguro Megumi's voice was a bit dry. How did he get in? This was the Innate Domain of a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, and even the exit was sealed shut!
"As expected, this Cursed Spirit, which possesses strength but lacks intelligence, is instinctively wary of an ordinary person like me who carries the weight of rules."
Lynn didn't look at the Special Grade Cursed Spirit right in front of him. Instead, he turned around and quietly gazed at Fushiguro Megumi. "It's just a small function of that card."
"Since you've already torn up that business card, it means you're about to make a deal with me."
Lynn extended a finger and shook it gently. "I can help you resolve your current predicament and save the lives of both you and that boy with the severed hand. In return, you must pay a price."
"Wh... What price?" Fushiguro Megumi asked, panting.
Lynn pointed at the shadow beneath Fushiguro Megumi's feet. "I want you to unconditionally summon a certain Shikigami for my use on a future day when I need it. No matter what that Shikigami is, even if it's that... big guy you were planning to summon."
Fushiguro Megumi's pupils shrank.
This guy... he really knows about Mahoraga's existence!
"Roar—!!"
The ignored Special Grade Cursed Spirit finally reached its limit.
It roared and lunged forward, its pale palm carrying Cursed Energy capable of slicing through steel, aimed straight for the back of Lynn's head. It moved so fast that it left afterimages in the air.
"Watch out behind you!!" Fushiguro Megumi shouted, instinctively moving to form a hand sign.
However, Lynn didn't even turn his head. He just looked at Fushiguro Megumi, waiting for an answer.
"Is it a deal?"
The lethal gale had already ruffled Lynn's hair, and the Special Grade Cursed Spirit's claws were only centimeters away from his neck.
"Deal!!" Fushiguro Megumi roared. No matter the price, as long as he could save Itadori and Kugisaki!
At that exact moment, Lynn snapped his fingers.
"The contract is established."
[Transaction complete!]
[Item obtained: Requisition rights for one of Fushiguro Megumi's Shikigami.]
[System valuation: 5,000 points.]
[Current balance: 5,570 points]
Boom—!
There was no sound of Cursed Energy colliding in an explosion; only a dull metallic clashing sound echoed throughout the domain.
Fushiguro Megumi's eyes widened.
Countless golden chains appeared out of thin air, like living pythons. In an instant, they pierced through the Special Grade Cursed Spirit's chest, limbs, and head, pinning it frozen in mid-air!
Those weren't chains made of Cursed Energy; the aura flowing over them was ancient and majestic. That was... "Rules."
In this world called "jujutsu kaisen," a "Binding Vow" is an absolute law. Lynn's cheat was the ability to weaponize such laws.
"According to the rules of Exchange No. 8: Any creditor of a debtor shall have their life and property absolutely protected by the Exchange until the debt is paid in full."
Lynn turned around, his black folding fan snapping open with a "clack," blocking the Special Grade Cursed Spirit's twisted, struggling face.
"This kid currently owes me a huge sum. Until he pays it back..."
"I cannot die."
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—
The golden chains tightened further, and the Special Grade Cursed Spirit let out a shrill scream. Its massive Cursed Energy was completely unmovable in the face of "Rules."
"Wh... What kind of Cursed Technique is this?" Fushiguro Megumi watched in a daze.
No hand signs, no incantations—with just a single sentence and a snap of his fingers, the Special Grade Cursed Spirit that had driven him to despair was pinned to the wall like a hanging painting?
"It's just a businessman's means of self-protection."
Lynn closed his folding fan. Although he appeared calm and composed on the surface, his hand hidden in his sleeve was actually trembling slightly.
This was the first time he had used the highest-level [Forced Breach of Contract] function. Looking at the deducted points, his heart bled.
[Warning! Lethal-grade attack detected!]
[Triggering "Creditor Protection Mechanism" requires points: 5,000 points per 5 minutes.]
"Five minutes."
Lynn turned his head to look at Fushiguro Megumi. "I can only keep it immobilized for five minutes. Take that girl who fell into the pit and get out."
"As for this one with the severed hand, leave him here. I have something to say to him."
"But you..." Fushiguro Megumi hesitated. "You're alone..."
"Get out."
Lynn's voice suddenly turned cold and brooked no argument. "Don't make me lose money."
Fushiguro Megumi gritted his teeth and gave Lynn a deep look. Though that back looked slender, at this moment, it seemed incredibly tall.
"I understand! Thank you!"
Fushiguro Megumi turned and rushed into the depths of the darkness. Although his Divine Dog: Totality was dead, he had other Shikigami he could use to find Kugisaki.
Watching Fushiguro Megumi leave, Lynn finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his profound facade instantly half-collapsed.
"Cough, cough..."
He covered his mouth and coughed twice, his palms drenched in cold sweat. "Damn... acting cool is really exhausting. This Special Grade is tougher than I thought; 5,000 points could only lock it down for five minutes."
He looked up at the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, which, despite being pinned, was still struggling frantically, trying to break the chains with brute force.
Cracks had already begun to appear on the golden chains.
"Is it about to break free already?"
Lynn didn't run.
"Since I've already spent the money, I have to make some profit back."
Lynn pulled out the colorful "Rubik's Cube" from his robe—Gojo's Sealing Box (Imitation). Although it was just a fake used to scare people, its core material was still a special crystal capable of containing Cursed Energy.
This imitation was also the source of his confidence in coming here today to resolve the issue.
Lynn had always been someone who acted only after a plan was set.
He walked up to the Special Grade Cursed Spirit and raised the cube.
"With this, the plan is perfectly complete."
"A Special Grade Cursed Spirit... I wonder how many points it can sell for, hehehe..."
However, just then.
A spine-chilling chill suddenly surged from behind. It wasn't the pressure of the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, but the even purer, more evil aura of the King of Curses.
"Interesting."
A lazy and arrogant voice echoed within the empty domain.
"To think someone could use something as boring as a 'contract' to suppress the instincts of the soul."
Lynn's hand froze in mid-air.
He slowly turned his head.
On a pipe not far away, Itadori Yuji, who had been missing a hand, had stood up at some point. The tattoos on his body had turned into black stripes, his severed hand had regenerated, and a pair of compound eyes had appeared beneath his regular ones.
Ryomen Sukuna.
"Itadori must have handed his body over to Sukuna before losing consciousness. He's just making more trouble..."
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Lynn's temple.
The disruption of his plan caused a moment of panic, but he quickly calmed down, his mind racing.
Sukuna was looking at Lynn and the golden chains trapping the Special Grade Cursed Spirit with great interest.
"Hey, brat."
Sukuna grinned, revealing a cruel smile. "Your Cursed Technique is quite interesting."
_______
We've already received 6 reviews, so I'll be posting 3 chapters today. Also, regarding the energy stones, please don't hesitate to support me.