Chapter 4
The air was getting heavy.
He never noticed this before, and yet, the air was heavy, their surroundings were getting darker as they went up. "This… isn't a second grade anymore, is it?" he whispered.
His father shook his head to it. "No, not in the least bit, it's evolved recently."
"What happens if it gets stronger?"
"A few things, most of the time, a curse can be bounded to the area where it was created or 'born' in a sense. However, there are special grade as well as weak curses that and move about this world on a whim without restrictions. Those are the ones we really need to stop when we see them. But these ones here, have the chance to become such a thing. After all, a lot of curse energy comes from hospital."
"Really? Hospitals?!"
His father nodded as he explained. People go to the hospital all the time, and yet, not everyone gets to leave. Humans are full of resentment as to why they are there, the illness they have or what may have happened to someone near and dear to them. "They are breeding grounds for curses since that's what they are forged from, negative emotions of humans. I still don't know the full story about them either, but I know they harm people for their own amusement. So, I'll return the favor but worst."
Kiyoshi paused. "How could you do something like that?"
His father forced a smile. "You'll see soon enough, I also haven't done this since I became a dragon too…"
They paused. The stairs that led up to the second floor have come to an end, but… Kiyoshi felt a little sick. Like his head was in a vice!
"Ugh, there's a lot up here, isn't there?"
His father paused and smelt the air again, Kiyoshi froze as a serpent like tongue came out between his lips. He hasn't seen his father do that before!
"There are eight." He said bluntly. "One is on the brink of a semi special first grade curse. I'll take that one, you handle the rest."
"Seven?! You want me to handle seven?!" Kiyoshi demanded, but then smiled. "I gladly accept!"
He opened the door a crack and peered into the room.
Kiyoshi froze as he heard a young child crying.
"Please! I want to go home! Let me go!"
"Dad…" Kiyoshi whispered.
His father sighed. "Sorry, you will have to sit this one out. There's a child involve now."
He hung back and watched as his father entered the room. He cased no aura so the curses assumed he was human and took interest. Some licked them lips, others were picking their places to strike, but the one who commanded them all. Sat contently with a child in its arms. He teased his father, by slowly dragging his claw across the child's cheek, drawing blood.
This is how a curse can act?
Then again, he has seen Sukuna when he was merciless. Even willing to consume the flesh of a monk who saw him as a great being and protector.
Then again, he didn't keep it down...
Kiyoshi continued to watch as the curses began to pick their spots. One dared to lunge at his father, only to be caught. His father had this curse by the face and then…
CRUSH!
Just breaking its face, he killed it!
"Whoa…"
But that wasn't it, he unfurled his extra arms, his lower eyes opened as he gave off a demonic growl.
The curses still had no idea what he was, and continued to come at him. Yet, when more of them became crushed, they started to panic. He could only marvel as his father moved effortlessly throughout the space, no matter the curse, he caught and killed it instantly. Until one remained.
The strongest in the room that held the child.
After witnessing what had happened, the curse looked concerned and yet. Kept a firm hold on the boy. The child sniveled and begged for his life. "Mister, please… help me!"
"It's going to be okay, I won't let this thing hurt you any longer…"
It was an odd stand off. His father was circling the curse and the curse was circling him. Neither one making a move.
'You know, for a jujutsu sorcerer, they have something known as a an 'acceptable loss'' he remembered his uncle Suiryu saying one day. 'Basically, it's the permission slip a sorcerer has to kill people as long as they take down the greater monster. So if it was Sukuna, you're damn right they will sacrifice a city to take him out… but your father isn't like that. I had that mindset before, but now, I try to be more cautious.'
That what his father was trying doing, preventing the boy from being harmed any farther and yet, he child is being used as a hostage. It would be simple for a sorcerer to kill the child and the curse at once, but it defeats the purpose doesn't it?
Despite all his power, he could easily do that. But then, what would be the point of coming here to help that boy in need? His father knows his strength, he knows what he can do and yet, he is pacing himself accordingly.
The curse, suddenly shrieked!
It was deafening and yet, his father didn't recoil from it!
Kiyoshi felt dizzy alone from the scream and then, it tried to escape with the child in hand!
"NO!" Kiyoshi shouted, in his haste he used what water he had and made a smoke screen. The whole room became misty and no one could see properly… well… he could. The curse appeared lost, the child managed to squirm out from its grasp and hid in the mist. Kiyoshi was quick to grab the child and get him to the stairs. "Wait here," he whispered.
The boy merely nodded as Kiyoshi went back in, yet, the mist had vanished!
He closed the door to ensure the curse wouldn't escape, but when he turned he froze.
Why… why did his father have half of the monster kicking out from his mouth?!