Instead of waiting for Ryuji to leave, giving him time to recover and become even stronger, it would be better to take advantage of this opportunity and kill him right here.
"Jogo!"
Hanami and the others understood this all too well.
They couldn't help but look at Jogo.
"Yeah."
He nodded solemnly, as flames started rising from his palm once again.
"Get ready to attack!"
With those words, even Mahito, who had been losing his mind earlier, snapped back to reality and composed himself.
"Good idea!"
Ryuji, of course, saw right through Kenjaku's little ploy.
But it didn't matter much.
"Shadow Manipulation!"
The shadow under his feet began to twist and shift, forming a sharp blade that materialized in Ryuji's hand.
Without another word, he swung the blade decisively towards Kenjaku's head.
"Damn it!"
Seeing this, Kenjaku realized he had no other choice.
*Swish!*
The skull split open.
"Hm?"
Ryuji raised an eyebrow, surprised as he looked at Suguru's now-empty head.
Kenjaku had chosen to abandon Suguru's body.
Kenjaku's real form was that cursed brain. As long as that brain survived, Kenjaku could continue inhabiting other bodies. If the brain was destroyed, however, Kenjaku would die.
"Contacted target: Kenjaku! Golden Entry Triggered, would you like to load it?"
What surprised Ryuji even more was that the Kenjaku entry had only been triggered now, right at the last moment.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Suddenly, Geto's body began to swell and mutate.
"Are they going berserk?"
Geto had consumed many cursed spirits. Now that his body had lost control, the curses he had previously manipulated began to break free.
"Meteor!"
Jogo made his move.
A massive meteor appeared in the sky, descending rapidly toward Ryuji.
"Tsk."
A brainless cursed spirit, huh?
"Third Dimension!"
Ryuji first glanced toward Geto's body, using Third Dimension to send it into the dimensional space. The countless cursed spirits inside Suguru's body would be a feast, and Ryuji wasn't willing to let them go to waste.
The dimensional space was vast enough to handle them, even if they went wild within it.
After securing Geto's body, Ryuji turned his attention to the falling meteor.
"Third Dimension!"
This time, he used Third Dimension to distort space.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Under the power of the distorted space, the meteor began to crack, breaking apart piece by piece until it was completely disintegrated.
"No way!"
Jogo and the other cursed spirits were stunned.
They had hoped to kill Ryuji with that one attack, but it seemed their plans had failed.
Jogo, who was watching Ryuji, spoke seriously.
"That's why you need to die here!"
They couldn't allow Ryuji to grow any stronger.
Hanami and Mahito moved quickly, forming a triangular formation with Jogo, surrounding Ryuji.
As for Dagon…
*Puff... Puff...*
He was still in his cursed womb state.
"Did Kenjaku get away?"
Ryuji casually glanced in the direction where Kenjaku had fled.
The man had made a quick escape, true to his rat-like nature.
The Hasaba sisters had only asked for Geto's body. They didn't seem interested in killing Kenjaku, probably because they didn't know who—or what—he really was.
It didn't matter, though.
Kenjaku had triggered a golden Entry, so Ryuji wasn't in a hurry to chase him down.
Instead, he turned his attention to the cursed spirits surrounding him.
With a sudden laugh, Ryuji faced them.
"What are you laughing at?"
Jogo and the others felt disrespected by his relaxed attitude, as if he didn't take them seriously at all.
"Nothing."
Ryuji smiled, waving a hand dismissively.
"It's just funny that lowly cursed spirits would dare to stand in front of me. Hilarious, really."
"…"
The flames on Jogo's head flared up, showing signs of growing fury.
"In that case, let me show you why we're called the Disaster Cursed Spirits!"
Jogo made a series of hand seals.
"Domain Expansion – Coffin of the Iron Mountain!"
Since normal spells weren't working on Ryuji, it was time to bring out the strongest technique—a domain expansion!
"Domain Expansion – Shining Sea Of Flowers!"
Hanami followed suit, activating his own domain expansion immediately after Jogo.
In an instant, everyone was engulfed in the combined domains of Jogo and Hanami.
"I…"
Mahito hesitated.
Was this the moment to use his own domain expansion? But he hadn't mastered it yet.
Out of the four Disaster Cursed Spirits, only Dagon was still in his incomplete form, and Mahito was the only one who hadn't awakened his domain expansion.
It was frustrating, to say the least.
He had the greatest potential of them all, but that also meant awakening his domain expansion was the hardest for him.
"Tsk."
It was annoying to see everyone else using domains while he stood there, unable to do the same.
But then, Mahito smirked as a thought struck him.
"That human can't use a domain either!"
He watched Ryuji, who had shown no signs of activating a domain, and suddenly felt a bit better about the situation.
Of course, that sense of balance didn't last long.
Ryuji clasped his hands together.
"Domain Expansion – Malevolent Kitchen!"
If everyone's using their domains, it'd be rude if I didn't use mine, right?
"What!"
Jogo and Hanami were stunned.
In mere moments, Ryuji's domain had completely overridden theirs, showing that his domain was superior.
"How is that possible?!"
They could hardly believe it, but there was no time to process the shock.
Ryuji smiled faintly and flicked his fingers.
Countless slashes appeared around Jogo, Hanami, and Mahito.
"!"
With the guaranteed hit effect of the domain, the cursed spirits had no way to dodge the attack. They could only watch as the slashes tore into them.
When Ryuji finally deactivated the domain, the three Disaster Cursed Spirits lay on the ground, covered in blood.
"You bastard!"
Jogo was the only one able to stand.
"He's really gotten stronger…"
It wasn't surprising. He had probably absorbed power from cursed legends, urban myths, and more.
Ryuji grabbed Jogo's volcano-shaped head, lifting him off the ground.
"Contacted target: Jogo!
Purple Entry activated, would you like to load it?"
So, it had been triggered. But it was only a purple entry? Just like the one triggered with Hanami.
Still, conditions seemed to be met.
"Detected 10 purple entry triggered! One-time draw available, would you like to use it?"
The system prompt came again, but Ryuji ignored it for now. He could draw later.
"So, why can't cursed spirits just stay hidden? Always trying to take over the world. If you don't die, who will?"
Ryuji wasn't originally interested in these things.
But if they dared to disrupt his peaceful life, they couldn't complain when they were crushed.
"…"
Jogo said nothing, staring at Ryuji with his one remaining eye, unafraid of death.
There was nothing more to say. Next, Ryuji activated Soul Devourer.
Not far away, Hanami and Mahito were still lying on the ground, watching their comrades fall one by one.
Jogo was now in Ryuji's grasp.
Even Dagon, still in his cursed womb state, had stopped making his usual sounds.
After a long silence, fire still burned in Jogo's eyes.
"Jogo! Hanami! Mahito!"
Dagon's voice rang out.
Then—
*Boom!*
With a loud crash, Dagon emerged in his fully-formed cursed spirit body, charging directly at Ryuji in an attempt to save Jogo.
"Hmm?"
Though he didn't look at him, Ryuji immediately sensed Dagon's approach.
"Run, Dagon! Don't come any closer!"
Jogo's expression shifted as he shouted in panic.
Dagon was no match for Ryuji!
Dagon ignored Jogo's warning, his eyes filled with resolve as he continued to charge at Ryuji.
"…"
Ryuji was a bit taken aback by this.
"Why does this feel like I'm the villain?"
He couldn't help but mutter to himself.
These cursed spirits were acting so brave and fearless, like they were the heroes of the story. Were they the protagonists?
*Bang!*
Still, Ryuji casually threw Jogo at Dagon, sending him flying.
"Run, Dagon!"
Even in this state, Jogo's only concern was for Dagon's safety.
"…"
Dagon stood up again, silent.
He glanced at Hanami, Jogo, and Mahito one by one, as memories of their time together played in his mind.
It was perfect back then. If only things could have stayed that way forever.
The more he thought about it, the more determined his eyes became. He slowly raised his hands.
"Dagon! Don't! What are you doing?!"
Jogo seemed to realize what was happening and shouted in panic.
"Huh?"
Ryuji raised an eyebrow, curious. What was Dagon planning?
But it didn't matter much.
"Domain Expansion – Horizon of the Captivating Skandha!"
Dagon expanded his domain. It was a closed-off space, completely separating Jogo, Hanami, and Mahito from him.
At the same time, Dagon's voice echoed in their ears.
"Let's meet again in a hundred years, everyone!"
"…"
Looking at the barrier that now divided them, Jogo clenched his fists tightly.
"Let's go!"
He grabbed Hanami and Mahito, dragging them away.
He couldn't let Dagon's sacrifice be in vain. He had to survive and grow stronger.
"You know you can't beat me," Ryuji said, watching Dagon.
The Horizon of the Captivating Skandha truly was a beautiful domain, the sun, the ocean, the beach. It was breathtaking.
Looking at Dagon standing amidst it, Ryuji chuckled softly.
"…"
Even knowing it was futile, Dagon still stood firm. What kind of battle was this? A cursed spirit battle, indeed.
Facing Ryuji's words, Dagon didn't deny anything. His eyes burned with determination, as though he had made peace with his decision.
"Jogo said that the one laughing in the wilderness a hundred years from now doesn't have to be me. As long as it's a cursed spirit, that's enough! This is our dream, and it's alive right now!"
By the end of his speech, Dagon seemed almost ignited with passion. His entire cursed spirit form radiated a high intensity of power.
"…"
Should I add some dramatic background music to this?
Ryuji stared at Dagon, somewhat speechless. For a moment, he was lost for words.
"Surging Dead Sea Army!"
Without any more preamble, Dagon made his move. With a wave of his hand, countless invisible cursed fish spirits surged toward Ryuji.
Thanks to the domain's guaranteed hit effect, all of them were locked onto Ryuji.
"Well, alright then," Ryuji said, preparing himself.
"Let's finish this."
"Be Crushed"
The cursed speech was activated.
The invisible force of the cursed energy crushed all the cursed spirits attempting to approach him.
"Since you put it that way, if I don't respond with my strongest power, wouldn't I be letting you down?"
With that, Ryuji casually stretched his neck and cracked his knuckles.
"That's great," Dagon laughed, hearing Ryuji's words. The strongest power? Nothing could be better. But before Dagon could finish speaking, Ryuji disappeared.
*Bang!*
When he reappeared, he was already in front of Dagon.
With a single punch, Ryuji struck with overwhelming force.
This time, Dagon's body wasn't merely knocked back.
Instead, half of Dagon's body had completely disintegrated.
"Is the gap really this big?" Dagon thought, staring at where the lower half of his body used to be, his consciousness starting to blur.
The difference in strength was too vast. This wasn't an opponent they could ever defeat.
"Be careful, everyone!"
Even at the last moment, Dagon's mind was still on his comrades—Jogo, Hanami, Mahito. His final thoughts were of them, imagining their reunion in a hundred years.
The Horizon of the Captivating Skandha domain began to fade away.
"Soul Devouring!"
Chains materialized and coiled around Dagon's broken body.
"Contacted target: Dagon!
Golden Entry activated, would you like to load it?"
Another golden entry? Perfect.
Ryuji was undoubtedly pleased with the spoils of the night.
True to their name, the Disaster Cursed Spirits were leagues above ordinary special-grade curses. The battle with Kenjaku had already led him to devour several special-grade curses, but now, after taking in Dagon, he was fully sated.
"Not bad. Not bad at all."
Ryuji patted his stomach, clearly pleased with how the night had turned out.
"Did they get away?"
The domain dissipated, and Ryuji landed softly on the ground, glancing around. Jogo, Hanami, and Mahito were nowhere to be found, which didn't surprise him.
This was enough for today, so leaving the rest for later wouldn't be an issue.
"Hum~"
Not only had he obtained "Idle Transfiguration", but he had used Soul Devouring to feast, and he'd even retrieved Geto's body. The night's gains were truly substantial—golden entries from Kenjaku, Dagon, and even a purple entry from Hanami and Jogo.
Aside from Idle Transfiguration from Mahito, the other perks were still unknown.
"I'll check them out later!"
Humming to himself, Ryuji strolled off leisurely.
But—
"Is this it?"
"Such a strong cursed energy!"
"Special grade?"
Before long, a group of sorcerers had gathered in the area that had just been the battlefield.
After all, the fight hadn't exactly been subtle. The high-level jujutsu sorcerers had naturally sensed the disturbance.
In addition to Gojo, several others from Jujutsu High were present, including Nanami, Kusakabe, and even Mei Mei. Sorcerers from Kyoto Jujutsu High had also arrived.
"Was that a domain?"
As the principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High, Yoshinobu Gakuganji, while not the strongest, had enough experience to recognize the lingering traces of multiple domains in the air.
"Five domains, at least."
"Well, well, aren't you perceptive for an old man from Kyoto High!"
Gojo laughed, mocking Gakuganji as usual.
The rivalry between Kyoto and Tokyo Jujutsu High was a long-standing one, and Satoru's casual jabs at Gakuganji were just as old.
"Gojo Satoru..."
Utahime Iori, a teacher from Kyoto, frowned at Gojo's mockery. No matter what, she was still a teacher from Kyoto.
"Ohhh! Utahime, you're here too?"
Gojo grinned, waving cheerfully.
"I thought you'd be too scared to come, seeing as you're so weak!"
"…"
Utahime's brow twitched, her patience wearing thin. Gojo had been mocking her for her supposed weakness for as long as she could remember, and it still infuriated her.
If it were possible, she would have loved to punch him in the face.
"You should be careful," Gakuganji said gravely. "There were at least five special-grade curse spirits here, all capable of deploying their domains."
Special-grade curses capable of domain expansion were on a whole other level compared to those who couldn't.
"It's fine, it's fine."
Gojo waved it off, his usual care-free demeanor intact.
"No matter who they are, the outcome is always the same. Because—"
He paused for effect, flashing a confident grin.
"Because I'm the strongest."
"…"
No one objected.
Gojo was indeed arrogant, but he hadn't earned the title of the strongest sorcerer in modern history for nothing.
"The strongest, huh?"
Mei Mei murmured, repeating his words to herself. As she did, a particular face came to mind, the young man she hadn't seen in a while. She couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"It's been some time since I last saw him. I should visit soon."
With that in mind, she stretched her arms lazily.
"If that's all there is to this mess, calling me out so late at night is a waste of time. Don't you know beauty sleep is important for a lady?"
She turned to leave, the others paying little mind to her departure.
The battle had been documented, and as other sorcerers began to disperse—
"Golden entry: Anti-gravity System!"
Ryuji was unaware that several jujutsu sorcerers had gathered at the site of his battle with the Disaster Cursed Spirits.
On his way back, Ryuji had already started reviewing his spoils.
First was the golden perk triggered from Kenjaku.
"Anti-gravity System!"
It wasn't Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation, but that was fine.
The Anti-gravity System was a powerful technique that allowed control over gravitational forces. The downside, though, was that the caster couldn't move while using it; otherwise, they would also be affected by the same gravitational pull.
That drawback would be troublesome for most people.
But for Ryuji? It was nothing.
It was simply a matter of physical strength.
With Soul Devouring, Ryuji's body was constantly evolving. Eventually, whether it was ten times gravity, a hundred times, or even a thousand times, it wouldn't matter.
But for his enemies, it would be an entirely different story.
"Loading!"
Since it was a useful ability, there was no need to break it down.
"Now that I think about it, this seems to be Itadori Kaori's technique!"
Ryuji remembered that the Anti-Gravity System had originally belonged to Itadori Kaori. After Kenjaku took over her body, he inherited the technique. Being able to trigger this was an unexpected bonus.
Next was the golden perk from Dagon.
"Golden entry: Domain Expansion – Horizon of the Captivating Skandha!"
"Hmmmm?"
The most beautiful domain space, and now it was his? Not bad at all.
"Loading!"
There was a common belief in the jujutsu world that whether you were a sorcerer or a cursed spirit, you could only possess one domain expansion. Even Sukuna, the King of Curses from a thousand years ago, was limited to one.
Ryuji wondered, if he unleashed two domains in battle, how terrified his opponents would be.
He was looking forward to it.
Moreover, aside from combat, Horizon of the Captivating Skandha would make an excellent vacation spot!
"Come to think of it, Nanami mentioned he wanted to visit the beach."
Now, there was a perfect opportunity for that!
Of course, Nanami was just an afterthought. The real priority was to take his woman along.
Next, there were the purple perks he'd gotten from Hanami and Jogo. Starting with Hanami—
"Purple entry: Protector of Nature!"
"???"
Hanami, a cursed spirit born from humanity's fear of forests, loved nature more than anything. Would Ryuji share that love after loading this perk?
Yeah, right.
"Decompose!"
Useless.
Next was Jogo.
"Purple entry: One-Eye!"
"!!!"
What kind of ridiculous perk was this?
While the perk from Hanami had left Ryuji speechless, this one genuinely freaked him out.
What was the point? After loading it, he would end up with one eye. How was that useful?
According to the description, it would give him a 360-degree field of vision. Not entirely useless, but still—
"Decompose!"
Strength is temporary, but being handsome is forever.
No way was Ryuji loading that ability. He'd rather be strong and good-looking.
"Get lost, get lost! As far away as you can!"
He made a mental note. Next time he saw Jogo, he'd flatten his volcano-shaped head for giving him such a terrible perk.
*Huh!*
After decomposing those useless perks, Ryuji noticed he had a free purple entry draw available.
"I wonder what I'll get."
He had faith that the system wouldn't give him another useless perk like One-Eye or Protector Of Nature.
Then again, it was free, and considering his current haul, Ryuji couldn't really complain.
"Extract!"
Without any hesitation, Ryuji used the extraction opportunity.
Moments later, the system's response appeared.
"Extraction successful!
Obtained: Purple entry – Combat Intuition!"
As expected, the purple perk granted by the system was leagues ahead of the ones he'd triggered on his own.
"Combat Intuition: Provides an unparalleled sense of combat, allowing the user to anticipate and sense imminent danger!"
Not bad, having the ability to predict danger was a solid perk. Ryuji couldn't complain about this one.
"Loading!"
With the new ability in place, he decided to take a quick look at his character stats.
"[Talent entry system]
Host: Ryuji Hoshino
Bloodline: Human
Loaded entries: Soul Devouring [Red], Yin-Yang Eyes [Gold], Presence Concealment [Gold],Tranquility [Gold], Reverse Cursed Technique [Gold], Monster Attracting Physique [Gold], Third Dimension, Dreamwalker [Gold], Physical Strengthening [Gold], Cursed Speech [Gold], Shadow Manipulation [Gold], Malevolent Shrine [Gold], Blackbird Manipulation [Gold], Idle Transfiguration [Gold], Anti-Gravity System [Gold], Horizon of the Captivating Skandha [Gold], Iron Fist [Purple], Combat Intuition [Purple].
Points: 79,120!"
Looking at his extensive list of abilities, Ryuji felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He was growing more powerful by the day, and with each step, he was more prepared for whatever lay ahead.
But after scanning through his entries, something struck him.
"Wait a second… I think I've triggered more than 10 golden entries by now!"
After tallying it all up, Ryuji realized he'd triggered over fourteen golden entries so far. So why hadn't he received a second free golden entry draw?
Could there be a bug in the system?
His doubts were quickly dispelled as the system responded to his query.
"So that's how it works..."
After reading the system's explanation, Ryuji nodded in understanding.
The second free golden entry required twenty triggers, the third thirty, and so on, increasing by ten each time.
"I guess I hadn't paid attention before. I thought I'd get a free draw every ten triggers!"
Upon reflection, it wasn't such a big deal. The system was still generous in the grand scheme of things.
With his current arsenal, he didn't feel like he was missing out on anything. Even if there were no more draws, Ryuji was confident he could take on Satoru Gojo head-to-head if needed.
"Alright then! Time to head home!"
Ryuji decided not to dwell on the issue any longer. After all, there were two beautiful twin sisters waiting for him back at home.
Closing his system interface, Ryuji resumed his walk, ready to call it a night.
*Hum~*
Humming a cheerful tune, it was clear Ryuji was in an excellent mood as he made his way back.
Compared to Ryuji's relaxed mood, Kenjaku was filled with frustration.
Without Suguru's body, he had no choice but to return to Itadori Kaori's body. His expression was dark and gloomy.
"Damn it!"
He had completely lost the Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique.
The only thing he could be thankful for was that he was still alive.
"Rather than saying I escaped, it's more accurate to say he didn't care whether I survived or not."
Kenjaku thought back to Ryuji's indifferent gaze.
If Ryuji had wanted to kill him, he wouldn't have stood a chance.
At this moment, Kenjaku wasn't sure whether to feel grateful that Ryuji had looked down on him or humiliated by it. Either way, if Ryuji had truly wanted him dead, there would have been no escape.
"Damn it!"
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. The plan he had been working on for so long was completely ruined.
*Bang!*
At that moment, Jogo and the others returned.
They laid the exhausted Hanami and Mahito on the ground. Jogo himself knelt down.
"Dagon! Dagon is dead!"
The four Disaster Cursed Spirits had a certain connection with one another. So, Jogo knew Dagon had sacrificed himself to ensure their survival.
With his fists clenched in fury, Jogo felt the overwhelming urge to seek revenge right then and there. But reason told him that doing so would make Dagon's death meaningless.
"Jogo!" Hanami called out, looking at him with concern.
"I know!" Jogo replied in a deep voice. "I won't seek revenge now. We need to get stronger—for Dagon's sake."
"…"
Although Hanami was also saddened by Dagon's death, seeing Jogo calm down reassured him.
Mahito, who was usually loud and reckless, had been unusually quiet. He stared blankly into space, deep in thought.
Dagon's really gone?
Kenjaku didn't say anything, but he was also lost in thought.
For him, among the four Disaster Cursed Spirits, only Mahito's technique had been truly useful to his plans. As long as Mahito was alive, the death of the others didn't concern him much.
But the plan he had been working toward was based on having the Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique. Now that Suguru's body was gone, so was that technique.
Was all his planning going to fall apart because of this? No! He refused to accept that.
Kenjaku was determined to keep going. He just needed to figure out the next steps carefully.
"Hey!" Jogo, who had been silent until now, suddenly raised his head and looked at Kenjaku.
"Hm?" Kenjaku turned, surprised by Jogo's serious expression.
"You said the King of Curses, Sukuna, is incredibly powerful. Can he beat that human we fought today?"
Jogo didn't mince words, speaking directly to Kenjaku.
Kenjaku grinned, understanding Jogo's intent.
"Of course! Once the King of Curses is fully resurrected, no sorcerer, no matter how strong, will stand a chance against him!"
Kenjaku's confidence in Sukuna was absolute. Even though he couldn't defeat Ryuji, he believed that Sukuna would be an entirely different story.
"Good." Jogo's expression became resolute.
"Jogo!" Hanami and Mahito exchanged glances, understanding what Jogo was thinking.
With clenched fists, Jogo's single eye burned with the desire for revenge.
"Then we need to resurrect Sukuna. Whether for the future of cursed spirits or for Dagon, Ryuji must die!"
"…"
Hanami remained quiet, but the resolve in his expression was clear.
"The King of Curses, huh? Now that sounds fun!" Mahito finally broke his silence, laughing with excitement. His main goal was chaos, and though he had been frightened by Ryuji earlier, he had quickly recovered. The idea of resurrecting Sukuna and unleashing even more chaos was thrilling to him.
Jogo looked at Mahito, his expression serious. "Mahito, you should focus on mastering domain expansion as soon as possible. Without it, we stand no chance against Ryuji."
Mahito's smile faltered slightly, but he knew Jogo was right. If he didn't learn how to use his domain, fighting Ryuji again would be impossible.
"Got it, got it," Mahito replied, waving his hand dismissively. "I'll work on it."
Kenjaku, who had been quietly observing, just smiled. The wheels of his new plan were already turning in his mind. He would do whatever it took to resurrect Sukuna. Originally, he had planned to wait a bit longer, but now it seemed there was no more time to delay.
As Kenjaku plotted his next move, Ryuji had already made his way back home.
"Hmm?"
Ryuji raised an eyebrow as he entered the house, noticing Nanako and Mimiko had just finished washing up. They looked at him with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
"You two seem bolder than I thought," Ryuji remarked, his tone teasing. "You even washed up."
Nanako and Mimiko blushed at his words but didn't back down. They had made their decision, and there was no turning back now. As sorcerers, they were less hesitant than ordinary girls. Since they had already agreed to this, there was no point in panicking.
Instead, the two sisters exchanged glances and looked at Ryuji with a hint of joy in their eyes.
"Did you do it?" Nanako asked. "Is Geto Sama's body safe?"
"Yeah," Ryuji nodded without hesitation.
With a thought, Ryuji summoned Suguru's body from his Third dimension. The process was slow, as the dimension was now filled with thousands of cursed spirits that had gone berserk after Suguru's death. Those spirits, once controlled by Cursed Spirit Manipulation, had all lost their restraints.
For most people, those cursed spirits would be a catastrophe. For Ryuji, they were more like a stockpile of food. In fact, if he hadn't been full already, he would have considered devouring another batch of them.
With a bit of effort, Ryuji carefully released Suguru's body from Kamui, leaving the cursed spirits locked safely inside.
"Master Geto!"
Nanako and Mimiko's eyes lit up as they rushed over to Suguru's body, their faces filled with relief. Even though Suguru had been like a father to them, they understood what needed to be done.
"You should consider cremating him," Ryuji advised, his tone serious for once. "There's still someone out there who wants this body. That person has been waiting for Gojo Satoru to hesitate, hoping he wouldn't have the heart to destroy his best friend's body. But you two won't have that luxury forever."
Kenjaku had been banking on Gojo's reluctance, waiting for the right moment to strike. While Ryuji wasn't afraid of Kenjaku, he also couldn't guard Suguru's body day and night. Sure, he could keep it in Kamui indefinitely, but even that seemed a bit creepy in the long run.
"We understand," Nanako said quietly, her voice firm. Mimiko nodded in agreement. They weren't the kind to be indecisive, and cremation was an acceptable option in the modern era.
After a moment of silence, they both agreed.
The rest of the process was simple. Ryuji stored Suguru's body back in Third Dimension, planning to handle the cremation the next day.
With their emotions finally settling down, the two sisters felt a sense of calm return to the house.
"Now then," Ryuji said with a grin, looking at the sisters. "Are you ready?"
Mimiko blushed again, but Nanako raised her head boldly, meeting Ryuji's gaze.
"We're ready! Go ahead!" Nanako declared.
"S-Sister!" Mimiko stammered, surprised by how brave Nanako was.
"What's there to be afraid of?" Nanako replied confidently. "We've already come this far, there's no point in holding back now."
Nanako's sudden confidence seemed to ignite something in Mimiko, and she too straightened up, giving Ryuji a more determined look.
"And besides..." Nanako smirked playfully. "There are two of us here. Are you sure you can handle it?"
She shot Ryuji a teasing, provocative glance, clearly trying to rile him up.
Mimiko, encouraged by her sister's boldness, also gave Ryuji a playful look.
"…"
Oh? They're a lot braver than I expected, Ryuji thought to himself. But challenging me like that?
"You'll find out soon enough whether I can handle it or not."
What else could he say? There was no way he could let that challenge go unanswered.
"Contacted target: Mimiko Hasaba!
Golden entry activated, would you like to load it?"
"Contacted target: Nanako Hasaba!
Purple entry activated, would you like to load it?"
A golden entry and a purple entry, Ryuji couldn't help but smile. Tonight's gains had been more than just cursed spirits and Suguru's body.
---
The next morning, when Ryuji woke up, the first thing he did wasn't to check the new entries.
Instead, he glanced over at the exhausted Nanako and Mimiko, who were still fast asleep beside him.
Sometimes, people really don't know how brave they are until they challenge their own limits, Ryuji mused, feeling quite amused by last night's events.
He couldn't help but think of the Nakano quintuplets for some reason. How would that feel, he wondered.
"Hmph."
With a satisfied exhale, Ryuji got up and walked out of the room. Nanako and Mimiko would need some serious rest after last night. They had stayed up until four or five in the morning, and even sorcerers had their limits.
Ryuji prepared a quick breakfast for them before heading out for the day.
After all, he still had to go to school.
"Come to think of it, I'm pretty powerful, yet I'm still attending school like a normal guy. I really am a model citizen," Ryuji muttered to himself, amused by the thought.
"Ryuji!"
As soon as he stepped outside, he heard Sagiri call out to him.
Sagiri, along with her mother, Sae, were just getting ready to head to school as well. Seeing Ryuji, Sagiri waved happily.
"Good morning, Sagiri!" Ryuji smiled warmly at the young girl.
Then, he looked at Sagiri's mother, who was standing next to her.
"Good morning, Sae!"
Over the past few weeks, Ryuji had spent a lot of time with the two of them, often helping out around their house and cooking meals for them. Sagiri had grown very fond of him, and Sae… well, she seemed to enjoy his company too.
"Good morning!" Sae replied with a smile, her cheeks slightly flushed.
She had grown more comfortable around Ryuji recently. In the past, she might have felt awkward or embarrassed when greeting him, but now it seemed she didn't mind anymore.
Her smile was warm and inviting, and Ryuji couldn't help but notice how youthful she still looked, almost like Sagiri's older sister rather than her mother.
"By the way, it's been a few days since we last had dinner together," Ryuji said casually. "How about I come over tonight and cook something for you?"
Before Sae could respond, Sagiri clapped her hands excitedly.
"Yes! I love the food Ryuji makes!" she exclaimed.
Sae chuckled softly. "I suppose we'll have to take you up on that offer, then."
"Little ungrateful girl, isn't your mother's cooking delicious?"
Sae smiled as she playfully scolded her daughter, though there was no real irritation in her voice.
"It's different!" Sagiri said with a pout, holding her mother's hand affectionately.
Despite being shy and a bit introverted, Sagiri wasn't the type to lock herself in her room all day like the stereotypical anime shut-in. After spending time with her, Ryuji found her to be a cute and smart girl.
"Don't worry, I'll bring more food tonight," Ryuji said, turning to Sayo with a grin.
"Well then, I'll leave it to you, Ryuji," Sae replied, lowering her head slightly, her cheeks flushed. She wasn't foolish, she knew Ryuji's reasons for coming by. It wasn't just about the food.
Still, Sae felt a bit conflicted. She wasn't exactly at an age where she could suppress certain feelings. If it weren't impractical, she wouldn't mind spending every day with Ryuji.
"It's settled, then!" Ryuji waved as he started walking away. "I'll head to school now. See you tonight!"
"Goodbye, Ryuji!" Sagiri waved happily, her face lit up with excitement.
As Ryuji headed toward school, the system's notification rang in his mind.
"Golden entry: Binding Technique!"
On his way, Ryuji decided to review the entries he had triggered last night from the Kamo sisters.
First was the golden entry from Mimiko.
"Binding Technique, huh? Lately, the rate of techniques appearing has been pretty high."
The Binding Technique was the technique Mimiko was born with. It involved using a rope to hang a doll by its neck—typically a sunny doll, though other objects worked as well. The curse inflicted upon the doll would be reflected back on the target it represented.
It was similar to stabbing a voodoo doll.
However, the curse could backfire if the target was significantly stronger than the caster.
Nanako's technique operated similarly, though she used photographs instead of dolls. By taking a picture of her target, she could place a curse on them.
"Loading!"
While not particularly useful in direct combat, the Binding Technique could be handy in certain situations, like ambushes. It was a fun trick to have in his back pocket, so Ryuji didn't hesitate to load it.
Next, he checked the purple entry triggered from Nanako.
"Purple entry: Beauty!"
"Uh…"
Nanako's technique required taking pictures, and over time she had developed an almost supernatural ability to enhance photos. In essence, it was the power to Photoshop reality.
But for Ryuji, this ability didn't serve much of a purpose.
"Forget it, I'll break this one down."
No big loss. Besides, Nanako was someone close to him. Even if he didn't get something useful this time, there would be more opportunities in the future.
"[Talent entry system]
Host: Ryuji Hoshino
Bloodline: Human
Loaded entries: Soul Devouring [Red], Yin-Yang Eyes [Gold], Presence Concealment [Gold],Tranquility [Gold], Reverse Cursed Technique [Gold], Monster Attracting Physique [Gold], Third Dimension, Dreamwalker [Gold], Physical Strengthening [Gold], Cursed Speech [Gold], Shadow Manipulation [Gold], Malevolent Shrine [Gold], Blackbird Manipulation [Gold], Idle Transfiguration [Gold], Anti-Gravity System [Gold], Horizon of the Captivating Skandha [Gold], Binding Technique [Gold], Iron Fist [Purple], Combat Intuition [Purple].
Points: 80,120!"
Ryuji took a look at his growing list of abilities. It was starting to get packed.
Who knows? Maybe one day he'd have all gold-level skills filling every slot. Now that would be something.
Then again, Ryuji mused, not many people probably knew there were gold and red levels to these skills.
So far, the only red-level skill he had was Soul Devouring, which had been granted by the system itself. The unlimited, all-encompassing enhancement from that ability demonstrated just how overpowered a red-level entry was.
Ryuji suspected that triggering red entries on his own wasn't possible, those might only come from the system.
"Whatever, no point stressing over red entries. I'm doing fine with what I have."
Even without another red entry, the abilities he had now were more than enough to let him live freely, unconstrained by anything.
"Idle transfiguration will need proficiency," Ryuji reminded himself.
He had recently unlocked the "Idle Transfiguration" ability, which allowed him to alter souls. It would be useful if he ever needed to help someone become a sorcerer, but it wasn't something that could be done without sufficient practice.
He wasn't about to experiment recklessly on the people close to him.
"No need to rush," Ryuji thought. He had time to master it. When the moment came, altering someone's soul to give them sorcerer powers would be a simple task.
As Ryuji continued walking, he arrived at school. His thoughts were interrupted by several familiar voices calling out to him.
"Ryuji!"
"Hey, morning!"
"Good morning!"
Miura Yumiko and the others waved enthusiastically as they greeted Ryuji. Yumiko moved closer, pressing herself against him affectionately. Things had progressed between them, and now there was no need to hold back.
Yuigahama Yui, standing nearby, looked on with clear envy.
"Have you heard the rumors?" someone asked in a nearby group of students.
"My friend said he saw a terrifying monster on his way home from school yesterday!"
"Seriously?"
"I thought that was just a joke. My friend said the same thing!"
"It has to be fake, right? Monsters don't actually exist."
"Yeah, no way."
As expected, the first reaction from most students was disbelief. To ordinary people, monsters were nothing more than fictional characters from anime or novels.
But Ryuji knew better.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Looks like the curse world can't stay hidden anymore."
The fact that regular people were starting to see cursed spirits meant that things were spiraling out of control. It wasn't something that could be brushed under the rug anymore.
Erasing memories wouldn't be enough to cover this up.
"The world's going to be chaotic soon," Ryuji thought.
"It feels like the world's become so dangerous!" Yumiko commented, her voice filled with concern. She and the others knew the truth about the existence of cursed spirits. What had once felt like a normal, peaceful world now seemed filled with unseen threats.
Ordinary people had no defense against such monsters.
Hina suddenly chimed in, "You know, I've heard a lot of people at school have been taking time off lately. Some aren't feeling well, but some have just… vanished."
At first, everyone thought these disappearances were unrelated.
But now, with the presence of cursed spirits, it was obvious what had happened. Those people had probably become food for the spirits.
Ryuji crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. "There really aren't enough sorcerers around to handle this," he muttered.
Noticing the worried expressions on the girls' faces, he smiled.
"But don't worry. I'm here."
The confidence in his voice made the girls relax a bit. With Ryuji around, it felt like there was nothing to fear.
As lunchtime approached, Ryuji didn't head to the usual spot at the service club. Instead, he entered his Third dimension.
"Finally digested everything… now I can enjoy another feast."
He felt good after having fully absorbed previous cursed spirits. The space around him was filled with thousands of cursed spirits still in a frenzied state.
"Roar!"
"Boom!"
The air was thick with the enraged cries of the cursed spirits.
These spirits had been going berserk since last night, fighting one another over something. It didn't take long for Ryuji to realize what it was.
"I see."
At the center of the chaos were the two fingers of Ryomen Sukuna that Ryuji had stored here earlier.
To cursed spirits, Sukuna's fingers were an irresistible lure, a source of immense power.
Without wasting any time, Ryuji temporarily moved the two fingers out of the space.
"Roar!"
The cursed spirits, realizing that their prize had disappeared, froze in confusion. Their fighting came to an abrupt halt as they finally noticed Ryuji standing among them.
They stared at him, their gazes filled with growing hostility.
Ryuji's grin widened.
"Let's have a proper feast, then."
"Soul Devouring!"
Countless chains shot out from behind Ryuji, wrapping around the cursed spirits and pulling them toward him.
It was a scene of utter horror. One man alone, devouring tens of thousands of cursed spirits.
Once it was over, nearly an hour had passed.
He had devoured all the cursed spirits in the space, thinking they'd last him two or three times. But in reality, they were gone in one sitting.
Every time he ate and digested these cursed spirits, his power increased. But that also meant he needed more to feel full the next time.
It was a strange feeling, but Ryuji didn't dwell on it too much. At least for now, he was satisfied.
"Forget it. I'll worry about it later."
Ryuji wasn't the type to stress over things he couldn't control. He would deal with future problems when they arose.
He put Sukuna's two fingers back into the space and left, stepping out of the dimension. There was still time left before lunch break ended, so he decided to head to the service club to spend some time with the girls.
---
Meanwhile, deep within Ryomen Sukuna's domain, the King of Curses let out a booming laugh.
"Ha! Hahahaha!"
Sukuna's voice echoed through his eerie domain, his four eyes gleaming with malice. He had sensed something, something that had been missing for a long time.
The faint presence of his fingers.
Though they had disappeared again, the fact that they had surfaced, even momentarily, was enough to make Sukuna smile.
"So, my fingers weren't destroyed. They're just hidden… But no matter. As long as they still exist, it's only a matter of time."
The King of Curses smirked.
Whether they were hidden or locked away didn't matter to him. Eventually, those fingers would come back to him. And when they did, the world would tremble.
His resurrection was inevitable.