I opened my eyes seeing the ceiling of my room and let out a relaxed sigh. It almost seemed like I needed to remind myself these days that I really am home.

Honestly, after the events of that hell at Urasato, I just want to stay in bed covered by the warm blanket. It was so cozy...

But my brain was fully awake and noise.

Well, damn. Guess, I'm getting up.

I throw the blanket off me, like ripping off an bandaid, and welcome the morning cold.

Even as I sit up and push my legs off the side of the bed, letting my feet be warmed up by the carpet, my mind couldn't help but go back to the mission two days ago.

And the final engagement of it.

Two Days Ago

"Hello, miko! Told ya I'd be bac-" Fuhengi said with a wide grin the stretched over his face.

"Domain Expansion." Yeah, I'm just throwing the killer move from the get go. Fuck prolonging this, or listening to a monologue or pre-battle banter. "Bestowing Kagu-"

My Domain covered the world.

"Hollow Wicker Basket."

The world I was creating broke.

"Well, that was quite rude. Don't you think so, young lady?" Iyashi said, as he held his arms in front of himself, hands clamped together.

I felt something like a sharp mental push, as the barrier that I made cracked at the stems.

I knew of the Anti-Domain Technique, obviously. Unlike Simple Domain which created a hole in the opponent's Domain to create a space where the barrier's guaranteed-hit can't touch, Hollow Wicker Basket made a hole by attacking the Domain's barrier itself, thus neutralizing the guaranteed-hit.

But as I never experienced it before, it ended up breaking Bestowing Kagura's barrier, stopping it from being completed. Shit. Was Hollow Wicker Basket that strong? How's it prototype? Maybe because Simple Domain turned out to be easier to use?

I grabbed my weapon, my naginata that I took from the chopper to help me stand.

Fuhengi laughed. "Yeah, sorry. Not gonna be that easy." He swing his sword low and took a stance.

I felt dizzy for a microsecond. Blood dripping down my nose. Shit, thought I had more in me before that became an issue.

"It's a shame only you came to confront us, but this does work out better." Iyashi said, as he relaxed his posture, holding his hands behind his back like a priest.

My instincts screamed as I felt hundreds of moving Cursed Energy signatures moving right at us. Cursed Spirits of Giant Ants, Mini-Wyverns (real life Pseudodragons?) and Lizardmen.

They were moving fast. All the Cursed Spirits were moving faster than a second ago, almost as if they were holding back till now. From the roaring wind, they were closing in on the speed of sound.

Someone's back appeared in front of us, in front of me.

A barrier sprung up, as all the Cursed Spirits froze in place, unable to move forward.

"Wow, you guys are hyping yourselves up too much." Satoru said as stopped every Cursed with an expanded Limitless barrier. When did he learn to do that? No, that's good.

I took a breath to center myself and apply RCT to my brain. Focus, rethink, re-plan, act.

"Do you truly have to fight us?" Iyashi said politely. "There's no reason for us to be enemies. You humans don't have to fear the future." He held a hand to his chest. "Just as you create us, you can now ascend and join us."

"Pfft, hahaha, are you for real?" Satoru laughed out loud.

"Yeah, no, no." I spoke up as I went and stood next to Satoru. "We are not having this conversation, there's no philosophical debate going on here. We're just going to kill you. Will-O-Wisp." Hundreds of spheres of Cursed Energy rose all around me. "Go!" I shouted.

My guns fired, and as if the sound of bulleting firing was the starting pistol of a race, everyone moved. The Will-O-Wisp were a storm, as they engaged with the flying Curses, ramming into and through them.

"KKKREEEEEEAAAAAAA!" Birdman dashed forward, the Cursed Energy pouring from him was overwhelming, almost a detriment to him. But that also allowed him to attack with absolute feral ferocity to expend all the Cursed Energy I added to him.

The ground exploded beneath Suguru as dozens-No. Since I last saw him, he had added more Cursed Spirits under his command. Hundreds of Cursed Spirits burst from Suguru's shadow meeting the Ten Treasures' Cursed Spirit army.

Birdman and Suguru's Curses engaged the ground Curses, the Lizardmen, the Naga and the normal Goblin variety. Our numbers might be smaller, but the quality was higher, thus the massacre of the enemy Cursed Spirits was massive.

One of Suguru's Curses held a particular feel to him, as he looked like a humaniod fishman. He was a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. He even held the symbol of the Mirror of the Shore. His shadow contained another Special Grade Cursed Spirit from the feel of it.

"Fisherman. Hiding Darkness." The female green Cursed Spirit, Meguru said melancholically.

"You!" Naoya looked insulted. "You seriously captured one of them."

"They are powerful Curses, that are better used like this. I'm not gonna disregarded them as an option, when having them can help us." Suguru pointed out.

"Can you begin to understand what an insult they-Wait, 'they'?" Naoya said.

Two blur moved toward us. Fisherman rang his bell and a barrier formed capturing Endless Two and Snake Skin into his and Hiding Darkness's Domain.

"Thats!"

"Yo, Naoya! Let it be, we can talk about this after dealing with this party." Naobito grinned.

"Well said." Fuhengi spoke, and all attention was on him. His body suddenly seemed... wispy? Ephemeral. Not as solid as before.

He vanished.

My eyes widened as I barely saw him move-

Satoru met Fuhengi's slash with a punch, as the Special Grade Samurai Curse was sudden solid and dense again, with his sword blazing with heavy Cursed Energy.

"You stopped it!" Fuhengi laughed. "Another Gojo."

"I'm not just any Gojo." Satoru's Limitless violently pressed back against Fuhengi, that found himself being pushed away, his feet leaving deep trails from failing against his opponent's relentless charge. "I'm Gojo Satoru."

"Wonderful." He grinned as his sword was covered in a barrier. Domain Amplification.

Satoru dashed to the side, avoiding the slash that now could move forward, as they two battled among themselves.

Present Time

I found myself in the kitchen. I didn't feel like breakfast.

The place felt... not cold but chilly this early in the morning. I could see the sky lighting up with the dawn, becoming bluer.

So quiet this early. Is it the weekend today? No one was up yet, although I think I saw my grandma walking about.

So what should I get?

Should I... I mean, this is really early, and I should have 90 minutes before getting it.

But I felt like nescafé. I can just fix any drowsiness that comes later with RCT. Superpower for mundane use for the win.

I put on a coffee pan and filled it with milk. Yeah, I don't add water to my nescafé. Just 100% milk.

I prepared my cup with three spoons of sugar and half a spoon of nescafé.

As I waited for the milk to boil, my mind returned once more to the final fight.

Two Day s Ago

I assessed the situation. Right now Satoru took on Fuhengi. That's one of the Special Grades' leader down, or soon to be.

That left Meguru, Iyashi, Colony and Goblin Maker. The last one was still producing Cursed Spirits.

Right, I knew which one to take out first. Even if Meguru can revive them, I'm sure she needs a lot of Cursed Energy to manage that.

We won't give her time.

"Naobito-sama, Naoya, can you take care of the beemaker? Mana with me, we'll deal with the Goblin Maker." I asked, but it was more of a plan on what I'd do.

"Oh? And what about them?" Naobito gestured to Iyashi and Meguru and stood back.

"Mei, you got this?" I said to the Will-O-Wisp next to me transmitted my voice to the Will-O-Wisp I left at Mei's side.

"Got them in my sight." Mei's voice answered back.

And now there were rapid fire of 30mm shells Cursed Bullets raining on the two Special Grades, along with multiple Cursed Missiles.

A large number of Curses went to defend their leaders and creators. They were made into swiss cheese. The Curses that could fly went after the chopper.

Problem is, it wasn't just a normal chopper. It was a Cursed Tool Helicopter.

Two, it was piloted by Mei Mei.

The number of crows that Mei Mei had gathered through out her travel to get here, and since she was here was massive. This would obviously tax her energy reserve, but it just gave one order to the crows she captured along the way.

To follow her.

That minimized the Cursed Energy cost of her Technique. She knew I would refill her up, even above 100% when she arrived. Thus she was confident in her combat capacity, and she showed it.

Her cyclone murder of crows mercilessly stabbed and pierced through any Cursed Spirit that got too close to her. Add in that the chopper was now a Cursed Tool, and it was not a simple vehicle to attack.

The Cursed Helicopter no longer needed fuel if it didn't have any. It didn't turn or pivot in that slow way a chopper flew in. Rather it was like, well-excusing the circumstances but it was the best example-a bee in flight. It would move erratically from side to side, changing directions on the fly and zigzagging easily across the sky without losing speed.

Of course, Iyashi and Meguru didn't die from the air-to-ground assult. That would have been too easy.

"Rewinding Journey." Meguru cast her Technique in a wide bubble encompassing her and Iyashi who had a hand on her shoulder, likely a condition to not be affected by her power.

All the bullets and missiles that came close to Meguru and Iyashi slowed down. It was almost a mirror of Satoru's Limitless. Looking at the heat of the bullets and the flames of the missiles and how they moved, it seemed that Meguru's field slowed down time around them, to the point that objects heading toward them seemed to not be moving forward.

I took out one of the gun strapped to my legs, and fired at Meguru. These guns were different to my machine guns, the shotguns and everything I've used so far. These Cursed Tools were made by being saturated with Positive Energy.

The bullet flew true, moving through Meguru's field, enough to alarm her as she noticed and set her sight on me. Sadly the field was strong enough that the bullet filled with Positive Energy ran out before it could finish crossing the field.

I clicked my tongue. Damn. Worth a shot though.

I set my sight on Goblin Maker and dashed toward him. Time to deny the enemy their main assets, making their soldiers.

Meguru seemed to do, or say something in panic.

And suddenly a Domain exploded from where Fisherman and Hiding Darkness were fighting Snake Skin and Endless Two.

Present Time

That was crazy. I thought in recall.

I let out a sigh as I watched sun rise from the roof of the kitchen building. Superhuman physique was neat in letting me just jump and go to high places like that.

The nescafé cup was still letting out some gentle steam. It was more than half empty. I moved the liquid in it, letting it swirl around a bit.

I thought to savor it a bit more, but the want for indulgence was gone. I drink the whole thing, and set the cup down next to me as I wondered what to do today.

Hmm, usually I'd have my day planned out in advance.

My clan members were starting to move out and about from what I could see, from where I was sitting. The elders mostly as the younger ones would take the chance to be lazy if they can.

Huh, my parents were up yet. At least I couldn't see them. Guess they were sleeping in.

...Or getting busy. I blushed and grimaced at the thought.

Yeah, they wanted to "surprise" me, but honestly who were they fooling.

But yay, good for them, I guess. Although, heh, it's pretty cool to think that I'll have a little brother or sister to look after someday.

Hmm, I should go do my morning training. I've been lazing out too much right now.

TwoDay s Ago

Preta Twisted Reflection.

Tiryagyoni Downward Spiral.

The Domains of Endless Two and Snake Skin respectively.

The world around us looked like it was made of mirror.

And I don't mean a mirror funhouse.

I mean everything was now made of mirrors.

The ground, the trees, even every blade of grass. A pond nearby had its very water be made of liquid mirror.

And then there was the sky.

...It wasn't made of mirrors, and I genuinely wish it did.

There was a swirling spiral of swamp acid acting at the sky, with bodies falling from it. Snakes of all sizes, shapes, be it half-human, half-serpent Naga, or disturbing things were it was a snakehead with human legs.

Not all of them looked alive, some were half-melted by acid, some were zombies, others were people with snakes bursting from holes in their bodies. It seemed like very person, every victim of Snake Skin was used as material here.

And in the eyes of the sky whirlpool was a giant eight-headed snake. Ten guesses on who that is? Snake Skin really has a lot of self confidence.

Instantly I created a Simple Domain, while focusing on what the enemy was doing.

"Dammit!" Suguru cursed, as he summoned his Kuchisake-Onna next to him.

Fisherman looked like he went through a cheese grater. He was even missing an arm. Suguru called him back.

Hiding Darkness was nowhere in sight.

"Well done, Endless Two, Snake Skin. One of our brothers returned to us." Meguru thanked them and held her hands in prayer. I felt her Cursed Energy build up, and knew what was coming.

Yeah, fuck dealing with her later. She dies now.

I dashed forward, only to instantly have to slash something from the side.

A black snake fell to my spear, dispersing into Cursed Energy right away, from the sheer Positive Energy of my naginata's blade.

But it was where the Snake Cursed Spirit came from that was the problem.

The mirrors.

From every reflective surface the Snake Curses, black and white, were launched like bullets at us.

Naobito, Naoya and Mana all managed their own Simple Domains.

Kuchisake-Onna's Simple Domain meant Suguru would be unharmed until someone answered her question, so even if the snakes passed her barriers they would just flop down harmlessly onto the ground. And then be absorbed into the mirrors again.

Mei Mei wasn't caught in the Domains, which is a good thing, and Satoru and Fuhengi weren't around.

Domains. Plural.

Somehow both Special Grade Cursed Spirits learned to utilize a Domain in the small time between when we last fought them and now.

Somehow the Domains weren't in conflict with each other, but seamlessly merged to act together. A synergy likely born from the origin of the Cursed Spirits as they were both members of the Ten Treasures.

But what's Snake Skin's move in this then? He's just up there, staring at us menacingly.

I shouldn't have thought that. I should not have thought that.

Because the instant I thought that Murphy decided I was having it too easy, as acid streams were blasted from the mirrors like pressurized hose.

Everyone was now on the move.

The double attack of snakes and acid, or even acid snakes, managed to overwhelm Kuchisake-Onna's Simple Domain that Suguru had to dismiss her and summoned a giant worm with a green beak to hide in. The Zenin Head and kid had to be constantly on the move. Even without the guaranteed hit of the Domain, the attacks themselves were too dangerous.

I was constantly moving, not given time to think, only react.

I felt a Bee Curse land on me and stab its thorn-Reverse Cursed Technique rushed through me, flushing anything out, destroying the Bee.

I looked toward Colony to see it laughing manically.

I focused on my guns. I need to use them up. I was pulling my focus on too many things.

"Maximum Output: Gathering Hallowed Belt!" I incinerated any Snake Curse that appeared near me. No, with my range I erase any for a dozen meters, giving myself and my companion a chance to catch out breath. Suguru was fine, so I could focus on other things, as Mana, Naobito and Naoya landed next to me.

"What's," Mana panted. "The plan, Utahime-senpai."

I gathered all my weapons that weren't the Healing Guns.

I focused on disassembling the metals and remaking them, letting my instincts from all the gun manuals I read and Cursed Energy guide the process.

I was breaking down all the weapons, even the empty tube of the missile launcher. I kept it with me, as even without a missile it was still a Cursed Tool and I could probably bash something with it in an emergency.

I felt a sharp migraine hit me. My nose bled again.

"Utahime-sama!" Mana cried out as she came close to help me.

"Oi! Don't you dare croak on us!" Naoya shouted in panic.

"Hey kid, what hit you?" Naobito blinked at my sudden fatigue. "Actually what are you doing? I didn't think this was part of your Technique."

I held a hand up for Mana to stop and let me focus.

I recalled some of my Will-O-Wisps to recharge myself as I used RCT again, while keeping up my focus on the metal bending.

"I'm gonna blow them the fuck up." I growled.

The more I kept up with the metal bending, creating a larger gun cannon, while melting and combining the bullets into one giant ammunition, the more the headache increased, my head heating up.

It felt like I was pushing my Innate Technique into a way it shouldn't be used. Or maybe I was pushing it too fast?

Like Naobito said, what does metal bending-slash-weapon mixing and creation have to do with Solo Forbidden Area, which is about amplifying Cursed Energy.

I buffing ambient Cursed Energy to create Will-O-Wisps, autonomous Cursed Energy spheres under my control.

I was reshaping the Will-O-Wisps into cloak to cover guns so I can telekinetically move them around.

I was telekinetically pushing, pulling, disassembling and reshaping the weapons to create something new.

How many steps removed from my original Technique was that!? No wonder my brain was overheating. I pushed my Technique too far away from what it was.

But I couldn't stop now. I'll stop later.

I felt my nose bleed again. Along with my eyes.

And the Technique didn't click in place, it heavy clanked down. But for now I was done with that.

I tried to think of a name.

"GET FUCKED!" I fired.

The exploding boom and shockwave deafened me and knocked me back.

No. It deafened and knock me and my companions back.

The Special Grade Curses felt terror. They had pushed me too far, and I pushed back.

Then my eyes widened in dread as I saw the liquid mirror of the pond rise up to make a wide sheet to block the giant cannon shot.

I acted on instinct.

I grabbed the Zenin trio and dashed away. I didn't think on why I did.

My subconscious likely knew. It didn't make sense that Endless Two would create a thin mirror sheet to block the, however many millimeter sized, Cursed Cannon Round. Endless Two's Technique within the Domain expanded to moving its snakes through the mirror.

It could also move Snake Skin's acid blasts.

So why not other things?

The ground where we had stood exploded as the giant cannon bullet burst out of it.

Endless Two was laughing manically at the reversal.

The Cursed Canon Round still had my Cursed Energy. It still was under my control.

"I said, GET. FUCKED!" So I took control of the bullet and launched it upwards at the 'sky'.

Snake Skin cried out in shock.

I felt dizzy, blood was pouring out of my ears in addition to nose and eyes now.

"Mana!" I threw her my naginata. She caught it. "Kill the bitch!"

I tried to point at Goblin Maker, but I couldn't see, as I had to focus on RCT while maintaining Gathering Hallowed Belt.

Mana started running.

Naoya sounded like he was going to protest.

Then the Domain cracked, its barrier breaking inward as Satoru crashed in while punching Fuhengi in the face.

Present

As I finished my last push up, I stood up and stretched, letting out a moan as I was pleasantly sour.

Alright, time to take a shower.

Walking through the clan compound, I couldn't help but frown at how relatively quiet it was. There were people out and about but still not too many.

I should go check up on the kids.

I turned a corner and saw granny once again. I waved at her as I went about my way, and she waved back. She really warms my heart whenever I see her and her smile.

I went to the showers first, as I stank.

The cold water felt like a comfort after a few seconds as my body adjusted to them. The sound of the water hitting the tiles was deafening, and the drops of water hitting my head was refreshing as usual. The whole experience was nice and relaxing, letting the mind wonder and innovate. It's were shower thoughts come from.

My eyes snapped open, as I turned off the water, and used Cursed Energy to dry my self as I moved to put my clothes on.

Why didn't I remember this till now?

My grandmother in this life had died when I was five. Why the hell would she be walking around the clan ground?

An intruder sneaked in and got passed the wards.

Twoday Ago

Too many things happened at once.

Satoru crashed into the Domains with Fuhengi.

I managed to heal myself to focus and saw my naginata stabbed in the ground where Colony had been standing.

"She obviously meant Goblin Maker, you imbecile!" Shouted Naoya.

"Sorry, Naoya-sama! I'm sorry, Utahime-sama!" Mana cried out in panic.

"Good job, Mana! One down!" I shouted to encourage her, and shut up Naoya. "We need to focus! Satoru! Get the naginata!"

Satoru grinned as the spear flew into his hands. The spear and Cursed Energy Sword of Fuhengi was instantly in a deadlock, with the Cursed Spirit feeling weakened just from proximity to the spear pouring out Positive Energy.

"You guys didn't forget the fun of Blue, did you!" Satoru raised a hand, while pushing back Fuhengi with my naginata, and created a blue sphere of attraction.

I dashed to Suguru, passing by Naobito who looked at me. I gestured to Goblin Maker with my head and he nodded. He signaled for his kids to follow him and they did.

Endless Two tried to stop us, but Satoru started rampaging with multiple Blue spheres that it was damaging the Domain.

Domain. Singular. Snake Skin was dead. For now.

"Suguru!" I called out.

He emerged from the giant worm as it was dismissed.

"Hey," he said, looking winded as he started to sweat. I healed and buffed him. "Thanks." He smiled before looking at the battlefield and grimacing. "This isn't looking good. We're winning against their numbers, but not fast enough."

"I needed you to keep the Cursed Spirit army able to continue, but I'm afraid I can't stay long. I'm gonna go take care of the main two. Do you have something that can help Mana and the other, take down Goblin Maker?"

Sugur thought for a moment, before quickly nodding.

"Yeah, yeah something comes to mind." Suguru recalled a Cursed Spirit that was out fighting, dismissing it and making it appear from his shadow. "Airavata." He called out.

It was a Cursed Spirit that looked like an elephant with light blue fur, light brown skin, sitting cross legged while hovering in the air.

I buffed it.

Rather than grow in size, its strength seems to concentrate inwards.

It let out a roar, as it pointed it index and middle finger upward... then started going crazy bringing them down.

Giant destructive pillars of light exploded from the ground where Airavata pointed, and coming down from the sky. The pillar were as wide as small building, numerous and relentless.

"Keep up and good work!" I threw Suguru and thumbs up. I didn't look back to see him give me one too.

The Kuchisake-Onna was right next to him with her Simple Domain as they flew on a manta ray.

I ran toward Meguru and Iyashi, as I had to take them out in all the chaos before they can react.

"Domain Expansion." I deployed my Domain again, pushing against Endless Two's Domain and destabilizing it, as mine was more sophisticated.

Iyashi will naturally try to override me again. So it was time to do it. Do the legendary thing like I mean it. Like I will succeed.

Open Domain.

Sukuna's Binding Vow for an Open Domain was to make an escape clause for his Domain. A limited range of 200 meters.

Okay, fine.

I vow that an Open Domain of mine will offer an escape clause to my opponents. At... Fuck it! Half my current range.

That should do it!

"Bestowing-"

"Hollow Wicker Basket." Iyashi cast the Anti-Domain Technique again.

It didn't work. In fact, it felt like my Domain deployed slower, giving Iyashi a better chance at attacking the barrier.

Meguru was protecting herself and Iyashi from the random acts of sky and earth lightning with her slow motion barrier.

Still, this time I anticipated my Domain's cancelling so I had the healing readying.

I felt it. How the barriers interacted in that small moment. How it felt to have my Domain's barrier attacked.

So as I ran toward Meguru and Iyashi I brought my hand together in a clamp.

"Hollow Wicker Basket."

The world shattered like glass as Preta Twisted Reflection and Endless Two reappeared.

In his Domain all the mirrors were him.

Without the Domain, the single mirror and guardian that stood in front of it were back.

Before they could gather themselves, I had a handgun pulled out and fired a Positive Energy bullet.

Crack!

The mirror shattered and Endless Two died.

"Returning Asura." Meguru spoke, activating her Technique to bring back one of her dead comrades.

That was fast. I couldn't help but think. Too fast. She was gathering energy true but at the rate she was going it should have taken longer.

A Domain expanded.

Hiding Darkness's Domain, Naraka Downfall.

The world was shadow and darkness.

"Hollow Wicker Basket." I cast the Technique once more, and felt myself hit a much stronger brick wall.

I was safe from the Domain's guaranteed hit, but the Domain's barrier held.

"I'm afraid it won't be that easy." Iyashi smiled. I felt Hiding Darkness in his shadow.

Somehow, somehow he was empowering it. I thought his shtick was only in manipulating the souls of humans into Cursed Spirits. If he can boost Cursed Spirits as well? He's going to Proto-Mahito closer to straight-up Mahito territory.

I switched to Domain Amplification as had to get close to pummel that goat asshole in the face-

"AAAAAAH!" Mana screamed.

My head snapped to see one of the giant flying Ant Cursed Spirits had struck her... and melted upon her like a slime. It was trying to devour and convert her into a Cursed Spirit.

The Ant Curses held Goblin Maker's Innate Technique!

I pulled out my Healing Gun and fired.

"Did you just shoot your teammate!?" Satoru cried out as he landed next to me.

The moment the bullet touched Mana, it lost all momentum and fell to the ground. All the Positive Energy however was now inside her, and it surged and burst all over her body covering her, incinerating the Slime Ant Curse right away.

"I heal with bullets." I told him and he guffawed. "Fuhengi?" I asked.

"Gone." Satoru frowned.

"Gone?" I furrowed my brows.

"Yeah. I did get a kill shot at him, but at the last second..." He shook his head. "I'm sure of it. I didn't kill him. His body just broke down and he was gone."

"Right." Okay, need some breathing room to dissect that.

Satoru and I jumped away as Hiding Darkness sprang from the shadows around us. With Domain Amplification utilized by Satoru and I we didn't get hit, but still had to move and dodge.

"Satoru, do you know something that can beat Wicker Basket?" I cried out while trying to slash at Hiding Darkness. As everywhere was dark it could instantly vanish away into safety.

"Have a better Domain!" He said back.

Then I heard Naoya shout, and saw he was covered in multiple Slime Ant Curses, while Goblin Maker was trapped in a frame by Naobito.

I shot him. Multiple times just in case.

The Positive Energy erupted out of Naoya, healing him and killing the Curses.

Suguru then decided to pull double duty, besides holding off the majority of the Grade 1 Cursed Spirit mooks present, but thrusting his hand forward and dominating group of Ant Cursed Spirits making them into one black sphere of Cursed Energy.

A Pelican Cursed Spirit burst out of Suguru's shadow, holding him contain in its mouth and fly upward. Suguru had some space to absorb those Ant Cursed Spirits and utilize them.

I realized with worry that just like in Endless Two's Domain, not just the Domain owner can move through their specialized material. Other Curses could as well. Other Curses could move through shadows too.

Everyone was managing thus far, but the Domain needed to be taken down.

"Deal with Iyashi, I'll deal with the barrier. Spear!" I said and ran toward where the Zenin trio where.

"Gotcha!" Satoru dashed forward after throwing my naginata back to me, much to the panic of Iyashi.

All around me Curses were falling. From my Will-O-Wisps that were active even now. From Suguru's Curses. From Mana and Naoya taking their attention off Naobito while he dealt with Goblin Maker.

"Naobito-san!" I shouted, getting his attention.

I pulled back some of my Will-O-Wisps back into my body. Not to transform the reverse the energy to RCT. No, I condensed into my body to reinforce it and amplified it.

I burst forward into motion, letting the naginata's Positive Energy wrap around me. The energy covered me as I moved like an arrow, almost making me look like a bullet train. Any Curse that was in my path was squashed like bugs on a speeding car's windshield.

Naobito saw me and grinned, he positioned the frame in my path.

Goblin Maker flew out as the second ended. My spear stabbed him in the chest. Goblin Maker disappeared.

Something is wrong. I instantly thought. It wasn't that I didn't stab the Special Grade Curse. My spear did reach him, I saw him get stabbed.

But there was no resistance to the thrust.

I was sure of it. I know the feel of it. My spear stabbed forward and went through him but...

That's just it. Goblin Maker's body was gelatinous. He can adjust or change his shape as he wanted, he just looked like a giant goblin.

So where did he vanish to? I wasn't in direct contact with him, so I don't know how Meguru's link was involved.

Where's Satoru?

There was an energy disturbance at where Satoru's Limitless met Meguru's slow-mo field. A disturbance that cause a crack to appear across the space of the Domain. It looked like at first Satoru was pushing into her field by brute force. Then his eyes widened as the time field changed and... Satoru jumped back. His Cursed Energy noticeably depleted when that shouldn't be the case.

I felt Meguru use Positive Energy somehow without harming herself. Maybe a Cursed Spirit's own Reversed Cursed Energy can't harm it? Regardless, if that's the case then she must have somehow sped up time Satoru's time use up more Cursed Energy... while pushing back with slow-motion against his forward momentum.

H...How can she have that level of skill? Unless with her Link, she learns from the other Ten Treasures Cursed Spirits-

Then the Domain's barrier crashed inward, as to my horror I saw Mei Mei's Cursed Helicopter crashing into the barrier, with Fuhengi on top of it.

Mei Mei jumped out of the chopper as she detonated a self-destruct function in it.

The loud explosion caused the dark Domain to light up and I saw Hiding Darkness.

I pointed at him. Gathering my Cursed Energy, creating a Will-O-Wisp, then reversed the energy making a ball of Positive Energy.

"Converge. Passion. Unravel." I chanted. "Idol Scorn."

The last of Positive Energy exploded forward in a blink of an eye, Hiding Darkness didn't have time to react or retreat. The laser pierced through him and the hit was real as it screamed in agony as it disintegrated.

The Domain shattered and was gone. The village returned.

Looking at Satoru, I saw his frowning, even thought Meguru looked horrified. Iyashi wasn't around anymore. Or Satoru won? Then why was he frowning? Or was Meguru only acting horrified?

Then I looked up at the sound of blade clashing. I looked to the sky to see Fuhengi burst through the flames charred by still full of battlelust.

Mei exchanging blows with Fuhengi with her knife. I didn't have time to question how he came back to life to begin with so quickly, as I grabbed my spear and ran to aid her.

"Cursed Technique: Dancing Devas." Meguru smiled, victorious.

Suddenly Fuhengi close in on Mei, letting her stab him in the throat-And was instantly replaced by Goblin Maker.

My eyes widened as the Cursed Spirit let itself lose its shape and surged forward like a blanket to cover Mei's body.

"MEI!" I screamed.

"KKKRRREEEEAAAAA!" Birdman ran past me and flew to Mei, but Fuhengi burst into motion faster than sound, appearing in front of it, and backhanding the Cursed Technique construct.

"Domain Expansion," Meguru words were the spell of doom. "Spinning Samsara."

Satoru left his engagement with Meguru and dashed toward us.

I ran forward to engage Fuhengi, spear raise to throw...

And did the last thing the Ten Treasures Curses expected.

I throw the naginata to Birdman. It wasn't a Cursed Spirit. It was a being made of living being into a humanoid fighter capable of using Cursed Energy. It was alive, thus the moment Birdman grabbed the naginata, it's body was healed.

"Solo Forbidden Area!" Then I healed Birdman back to full health and buffed him again and again.

Birdman exploded into motion forward. Cursed Energy pouring out of him and covering him.

Mei's arm that wasn't grabbed by the gelatinous Goblin Maker was pointed at Birdman.

Its form was covered in Cursed Energy like a cocoon as it flew.

In the next instant that Cursed Energy exploded higher before being absorbed by Birdman once more.

Goblin Maker's body popped like a balloon as something rammed through and out of him.

Birdman, looking like a full fledged Tengu with four wings held his master in his arms. The naginata was handed to Mei, who took it and the Positive Energy within it surged through her and wiped away any foreign Cursed Energy or influence by Goblin Maker.

And me?

I lunged toward Fuhengi with my fist pulled back and all my energy and rage gathered into it.

Fuhengi brought his sword down for a swing.

"Converge. Wishes. Deliver." I held nothing back. At the moment of contact I announced. "Idol Impact!"

Black Flash.

My fist didn't just break Fuhengi's blade. The Cursed Energy exploded forward as a beam of retribution going through Fuhengi, right at Meguru and over taking her and her field.

For a while the Cursed Energy Punch Beam washed over Meguru's time field.

I didn't hold back the energy, I amplified the Cursed Energy within me, and then delivered it to the beam over and over and over again, till her field broke under the strain and the last and main link, the respawn point of the Ten Treasures Cursed Spirit was gone.

We won!

Now

I followed the trail of granny.

Yet after the first time I found her, it was like chasing a shadow. Weird that the sun was in the sky, almost noon, but... it felt like things were darker somehow. Like someone putting a film over things. A barrier?

I ran at her. Seeing the intruder's silhouette just around the corner, just at the end of a hall, over and over again.

Eventually I cornered them in the training ground.

"End of the line." I said to the figure that no longer was a hunched over elderly. Rather she was a young woman who stood up straight. "Who are you?"

"Really?" The girl said with an annoyed voice. Her head slightly turned but not enough to show me her featured, but dreadfully she looked and sounded familiar. "You're really gonna keep playing dumb?" Suddenly she turned to face me. "I mean more than usual."

It was me.

No, not quiet. Her face was disfigured by a scar, the one I, or Utahime in canon had.

Mostly those it was her eyes that got me. There was a narrow sharpness to them that I found uncomfortable. They weren't a different shape than mine, just... one could easily see the personality of the person possessing these eyes was more haughty and condescending. Too confident and had none of the... the me I usually saw in the mirror.

"So who are you? A Curse User with a shapeshifting Technique-?" I began to asked before groaned in frustration and cut me off.

"Oh come on! You don't have the luxury to keep deluding yourself." Said other me frowning disapprovingly. It was a look I've never seen in this life. At least from anyone I cared about. It reminded me more of the disappointed teachers, parents or relatives of my past life.

I think I'm gonna call her Dark Utahime out of spite. Kurohime!

"Very mature." She said making me blink at that.

"You-" I began to ask only for her to cut me off again.

"Well given what this place is and what we are. Yes!" Kurohime said, pointing at herself and me.

"Look, rather than dance around whatever this is-" I began to say, only for Kurohime to interrupt me again.

"How did the battle at Urasato end?"

I blinked at that question, trying to process it's relevance. It felt... weird. Like there was a fog in my mind, as if I wasn't awake yet.

Which blatantly didn't make since, as I woke up early, had something with caffeine and worked out.

"We beat the Ten Treasures Cursed Spirits. Mei was almost in a bad point that was very touch and go. Birdman rescued her, or should it be Tenguman now?" I jokingly wondered. Kurohime didn't laugh. I frowned but continued. "All ten Curses are down and accounted for. I killed Fuhengi and Meguru with my last attack at the end." I finished summarizing how things ended.

"And when was this?"

"Two days ago."

"Really? What happened yesterday?" Asked Kurohime.

"...Huh?"

"Yesterday. Big day after such a big event. Surely you can remember it. It would be very memorable in your mind, even if you didn't do anything but relaxed." Kurohime asked with a cruel smile. "Surely you remember lazing about all day yesterday or something, right?"

"No, I don't laze about. I'd do..." I frowned as I tried to recall. What did I do yesterday? "Something, even if it's reading or going to the movies."

I tried to think, but I shouldn't dismiss the threat in front of me. I don't know what trick Kurohime could be play. I need to-

"Do as you have always done, Utahime. Trust me and remember!"

Her words resonated with something deep inside me. No, as if her voice was coming from within me and...

That's not how the battle ended.

Today Earlier

Mei fell through the sky, exchanging blow with her blade-knife against Fuhengi's great sword.

I didn't have time to question how he came back to life to begin with so quickly, as I grabbed my spear and ran to aid her.

"Cursed Technique: Dancing Devas." Meguru smiled, victorious.

My head snapped to Meguru, and as I hyper-focused on her Cursed Energy, I instantly understood.

Meguru's Cursed Energy property, her Link to the other Ten Treasures Cursed Spirit was the most terrible and dangerous thing there was in this fight, or in any Cursed Spirit I could imagine.

Meguru could recall the defeated Cursed Spirit via her Link, rewinding their time and bringing them back to life. However, if you extend further on this principle, she could just take back the Cursed Energy that made up and Cursed Spirit Linked to her and store it for later use. Like carrying their soul blueprint and Cursed Energy reserves with her, and use them strategically.

Colony wasn't killed by Mana. She was unsummoned and her Cursed Energy reserves were used to bring back Fuhengi when he actually died.

I didn't kill Goblin Maker. He shaped his body to make a slit hole where I stabbed him, then was unsummoned by Meguru.

Rust Cloth wasn't there from the start, but the Cursed Spirits army along with Endless Two, Snake Skin and Colony's Cursed Spirits had a ting of Rust Cloth's Cursed Energy.

Only Hiding Darkness, Endless Two and Snake Skin were killed as their deaths happened too quickly, and were unexpected.

Could she only unsummon and summon Linked Cursed Spirits? Or can she do something more.

Suddenly Fuhengi close in on Mei, letting her stab him in the throat-And was instantly replaced by Goblin Maker.

Horror gripped my heart. Meguru can switch between any Linked Cursed Spirit.

My eyes widened as Goblin Maker let itself lose its shape and surged forward like a blanket to cover Mei's body.

"MEI!" I screamed.

"KKKRRREEEEAAAAA!" Birdman dashed next to me as we ran forward.

Fuhengi was heading to intercept us. I did the only thing I could think of to throw Fuhengi off, as well as have Birdman save Mei.

I threw my naginata to Birdman. It grabbed the spear and prepared to battle Fuhengi, as I prepared my Technique to battle the fucker hand-to-hand-

Fuhengi body turned ephemeral, and I understood then that he could use Cursed Technique Reversal.

He made his body not lock-in his density but make it a variable he controlled. Thus his speed, empowered by whatever made him, Meguru and Iyashi faster (likely involving Rust Cloth somehow), along with him making himself lighter while keeping the same mass.

Fuhengi moved much, much faster than mere super sonic speed as I appear in front of me, his blade mid-swing. A sonic boom distantly followed.

"Domain Expansion." I didn't need my Domain in its full range. I tiny Domain for me and this fucker was enough.

I felt my face be cut. I empower Birdman with my Cursed Energy, that along with the presence of Positive Energy somehow made him evolve.

My body was bursting with Positive Energy as well as I was already healing-

"Hollow Wicker Basket." My eyes widened. Arms made of solid Cursed Energy sprouted from Fuhengi's back as he formed the seal for the Anti-Domain Technique. "Who did you think Iyashi learned from?" He smirked.

On the other side of the field, Suguru's absorbing of the Ant Curses yielded fruit. His Ants were devouring othe Curses and reforging them into ones under Suguru's control. That just shot up his ability by a shit ton! It was like he was retaking the tide from the Ten Treasures.

A wave of his Ant Curses flew at super speed heading toward Mei who got caught in some of the damn Goblin Maker slime.

Satoru was trapped next to Meguru time field, losing Cursed Energy fast. It was something so unusual for him to face it was fucking up his rhythm. He would get over it and manage to win in a minute. A minute were didn't have! Satoru was forced to retreat, getting serious and about to pull something new. Hopefully.

Fuck it. I focused on just erasing the fucker, yet bits of his dense Cursed Energy was in my body, messing up my control. Making me slower. Even a second slower was death here-

"Domain Expansion," Meguru words were the spell of doom. "Spinning Samsara."

How do you describe a Domain of Time?

Satoru's Unlimited Void froze the person inside it due to overwhelming them with knowledge of everything happening in the present.

Meguru's Spinning Samsara created a sea of endless time. All of us froze as out time was slow down that even one breath was taking forever.

As long as Meguru had the Cursed Energy she can trap someone in a moment for years.

...Or accelerate time within the Domain so a year inside is a few seconds outside.

What if that's the secret to their growth? They die, they gain enlightenment via death, then spend years training inside the Domain to master their abilities. No wonder I'm having a hard time with fucking Hollow Wicker Basket!

But it must take a lot of Cursed Energy. And Fuhengi has a Cursed Energy vacuum machine on his back available.

I saw time reverse as we all of us Non-Cursed Spirits moved reverse like someone pressed the rewind button on reality. There was too much time. Too much time pressing on all of us to react, to call on our Cursed Energy, it was so slow, and I was running on embers.

I never realized as I was too busy worrying about everyone else. Too much was happening. Too much was hitting us, hitting me to stop and think. That was probably their plan.

Only Satoru could still move. Only Satoru could manage something.

"HOLLOW WICKER BASKET!" Satoru shouted and the Domain cracked and broke.

But it was too late.

All nine of the Ten Treasures Cursed Spirits were back.

"Dancing Devas."

Fuhengi was gone from in front of me.

I cast Gathering Hallowed Belt.

Iyashi was in his place, his hand covered with a heavy layer of Cursed Energy pressed forward, being sacrificed against my Curse Reversal, and his hand grabbed my neck.

I didn't hear what pompous or sanctimonious bullshit he said next.

Everything went dark.

RIGHT NOW

"Well shit." The memories hit me all at once, the moment I decided to pursue them. "So what are you suppose to be?" I asked, wary of the apparition in front of me, and yet I couldn't call on my Cursed Energy, I realized.

I raised my arms up, ready to fight regardless.

"Really? You're still gonna do that. You have to know who I am by now." Kurohime huffed in annoyance as she crossed her arms.

"You're trying to tell me, you're not the Cursed Spirit developing from my soul?" I tilted my head. I really should be feeling more hostile toward her, yet for some reason Kurohime... just annoys me, not scare me.

"No." I looked to the side and... are the shadows of the building and the walls growing longer for some reason? "But we don't have much time. Yes, time perception move faster in the mind and-slash-or soul, but it still moves."

"Well it would be helpful if you'd just talk and stop jumping around the issue of who you are?" I said, lowering my arms, but not losing my combat readiness.

Kurohime raised her arms and dropped them with a disappointed sigh.

"I really hoped you're just get who I am quickly." She scowled at me, although it looked more like a whiny pout. "I told you, I've been there with you from the start. I'm that feeling of assuredness when you face an opponent you can't beat, but feel your new idea will work. I'm inspiration that sparks when the string of your life is pulled taut by fate. I'm your oldest friend and the wisest council you always relied on." Kurohime smiled. This time... it looked like an old friend hurt that I didn't recognize them. "I'm your Instincts."

The words, the emotions in them, they tugged at my heartstring. Guilt. It ran through me now that I realized and knew, knew who she was. Because I knew it was the truth.

...And my brain couldn't not help but come up with:

"So like the Hollow from Bleach?" Okay. That's a shitty awkward thing to say after that speech.

Kurohime burst out laughing.

"Well for one thing I'm not a psychotic whiny child like the Hollow, and you're not a stoic idiot like Ichigo." She said with a chuckle.

"Thanks." I said back lamely before my shoulders feel as the reality of everything crashed down on me. "So why is this place so empty?" I said looking around. "I thought I'd see more of my friends and relative here at the end." I wondered while looking at Kurohime. "Or am I not technically dead yet?"

"It's that and you're lucky." Kurohime said with a small smile. I raised an eyebrow, as I was clueless. "You didn't have that many people that you lost in this life. A good thing." She looked slightly sad. "Although that might change soon."

Mei Mei's fate came to my mind and how I failed her. Looks like I am a normal Sorcerer after all. I'm dying with nothing but regrets.

"Right... as nice as this meeting is, I'm not sure what we do now. I mean..." I looked down on the ground, resigned. "We lost." I shook my head and looked up. "I can't think of a single way to get out of this. Reverse this. Mei is gone and I can't save..." I started to tear up as the words registered and the memory of seeing her eyes still looking at me as they were covered by Goblin Maker was burned into my mind. "What the fuck?" I cried, tears falling down my face. "I mean of all people, the first I lose is her, and... Fucking dammit!" I shouted. "I can't do anything and now I'm just suppose to die not even managing to avenge anything!" I threw my arms around.

"It's only natural you'll feel sad. She is your first friend. And she knows your worth, so of course she'll look to you for a solution even at the end." Kurohime said.

"Well I failed her!" I screamed. "I failed everyone there. It was suppose to be a task with no casualties! No deaths! That's why I went with Satoru on this battle!" My voice lowered, but the guilt and anger remained. "Before the Special Grades are done with, who knows how much damage they will wreck?"

"Well, with that attitude they were certainly be a lot of collateral." Kurohime said without a care as she began to walk around. "And your whining is certainly being counterproductive, just letting the fire be."

"And why aren't you upset? Why are you acting like you don't care!?" I shouted at her.

Suddenly Kurohime was in my face, as if teleported there.

"Because we can still win." I said with a manic smile and absolute conviction.

"H-How?" I uttered, almost hesitate of the answer. Wait. Why would I be scared now? I should be elated. My friends can still be save, right?

"You know how. You've always know what you needed to do. How to become strong but you've always rejected it!" She said.

"The hell do you mean! I train day and night like an insane woman. I literally have to schedule my social life, because that's how much I train." I said back. "And you're telling me that's not enough! What else could I've done!" I cried out.

"Yes, everything you did is commendable and forged the strength that you have. That can not be ignored or dismissed. But the last thing. The final component to make it all come together." She pressed her fingers at my temples and tapped. "Your mind."

"...What?" Fear gripped my heart and I didn't understand why.

I... know what she's talking about now, but it never scared me before. So why is it now?

"You knew what kind of world this is, yet you kept rejecting the path of power it offered you. If you had simply accepted it. Accepted that belief, you could have been invincible by now. You could have even went ahead and faced Kenjaku. But no, at every opportunity, you took the safer path. At least in your conscience so you can hold firm to the image of being a 'good person'." She spat the word out like a curse.

I stepped back from her.

"I... Look, I..." I tried to articulate my thoughts, but the simple answer was the only one I could think of, so I said it. "I don't want to become a monster, okay?!" I screamed. "And besides, shouldn't we strive to make the world what it should be, rather than accept it as what it is!"

Kurohime laughed.

"Quoting Aizen of all people? Sorry Hime, but you're not shounen enough to change how this world functions." She said with a glare. "Because you never thought about changing it. Just surviving or thriving in it. That's just being part of the system." She shrugged. "And besides, even Aizen had to play along with the rules of his universe for centuries before he tried to change them. You," she pointed at me. "Aren't playing by the rules, yet still complaining about the game."

I looked away, frowning, grimacing.

"I don't want to end up as someone despicable. Someone that would commit horrendous act while self-justifying them." I admitted my fear.

"Then don't." Kurohime said it pointedly, in that tone of pointing out something obvious. Like I was an idiot for not getting this simple answer.

"Your habits become your character, and your character becomes your destiny!" I said back, butchering that quote, but getting my point across. "Honestly, it's a fucking miracle that canon Satoru is as good of a person as he ended up being. I don't know if I have the strength of character to be the same. To still be kind at the end of that road."

Kurohime... just casually shrugged.

"You won't know." She said with a smile. "But you can't be afraid to face the future. To face who you will become." Kurohime stepped up, and stood in front of me. "You'll just have to find out when you meet them." She look behind her and down at the shadows.

They almost covered the training area we were in.

"...What do I need to do?" I said with tear framing my cheeks. Tiredness in my voice. A resignation in me... yet a resolution to live. To save them. To save Mei, save everyone that could end up dying if I wasn't there. To change this story for the better.

"I told you, dummy." She smile, a wide cheerful teeth showing smile. "You know what you have to do. You just have to accept it."

"..."

The shadows were aimed toward us. Slowly closing in. Even the sky was darkening.

"You know what to say. You know the thought, the idea. Just voice it out loud, even in your heart is enough." Kurohime came close, holding my face like a delicate thing. "If you're too shy, then I will say it." She smirked, like a teasing older sister. "I'll whisper it for you." She came close to my ear.

The shadows reached our legs and began to climb up.

Kurohime opened her mouth, and spoke the words that carved my fate.

"Stop.

"Playing.

"Human."

Meguru had smiled as she saw Iyashi reached Utahime.

Checkmate. Thought the coordinator of the Ten Treasures Cursed Spirits.

It took a lot of planning to reach this point. Fuhengi had a point, something that Iyashi confirmed by reviewing the memories of all the Sorcerers he transfigurated.

Iori Utahime was the center point to the Sorcerer's resounding successes. She healed, she empowered, she could disintegrate any and all Cursed Spirits. She was the Sorcerer's battle multiplier.

Thus if she were to fall, and even better, if she was to be 'ascended' as Iyashi insists on calling it, then that would be the point of failure for the Sorcerers.

After all, Geto Suguru would be as helpless as a child against a Cursed Spirit Utahime, and even Gojo Satoru's Techniques still used Cursed Energy.

That one point would be their win condition if they fulfilled it.

Thus like any good war general, they studied their enemy. Her bonds, her allies, their abilities, everything about the Jujutsu Sorcerer known as Iori Utahime.

From there they formulated their plan on tiring her out, and using her empathy for her comrades to force her to focus on helping them. And if they get luck enough to slay or transform one of her allies, without a chance to reverse it like that one Sorcerer she kinda managed to save, then all the better. The despair would ensure her fighting prowess dulls, and leads to her fall.

And fall she did.

Utahime should have focused on systematically slaying the Ten Treasures in order of threat to her. Iyashi, the Meguru herself and then Fuhengi. Doing so with most of their brethren on the field would ensure Fuhengi isn't power up enough from his Binding Vow.

Iyashi had improved his Cursed Technique, thus with a single touch, no time is even needed for him to transfigurate Utahime's soul into a Cursed Spirit-

Iyashi jumped away in pure unadulterated fear from Utahime.

Meguru blinked as she couldn't understand what happened.

No. Her confusion rose higher when she saw that... Iyashi had cut off his own arm to get from Utahime.

Utahime was holding onto Iyashi's arm from the wrist.

She was looking down to the ground, her hair covering her face.

Will-O-Wisps began appearing and rising in the air around Utahime. Countless, continuously without pause.

Then the telekinetically controlled spheres of Cursed Energy flew to Utahime and entered her body. Then even more were created, bigger, more condensed.

And when those were absorbed, more Will-O-Wisps were made, larger and larger. First box sized, then crate-sized, then boulder-sized.

All eyes present were wide in awe and fear as Utahime was perpetually amplifying and absorbing ambient Cursed Energy, making more then there was, seemingly indefinitely. Her Cursed Energy reserves and more so as her body condensed and empowered itself with the Cursed Energy, her output rose as well.

A Sorcerer's output does not change from birth. That was a rule of this world.

The Will-O-Wisp former more and more rapidly, before they disappeared all together as the cascading point was reached.

A surge of power erupted from Utahime as she stood before Curses and Sorcerer with Cursed Energy that engulfed them all, and was felt for miles away.

"Fight start."

Iori Utahime broke the rules of logic.

"I hereby declare." Utahime spoke for the first time. She raised her head, and Meguru felt genuine true fear for the first time of her life. Those glowing rose colored eyes looked like they glowed with the iron cold disposition of a wrathful deity. "That henceforth none shall escape my judgement." Utahime crushed Iyashi's arm, that turned to ash. "For when gods act," Utahime took her pose for her Domain Expansion. Meguru healed Iyashi, as Iyashi, Fuhengi and her readied their Anti-Domain Technique. "All mortals are impacted. None left unscathed." Utahime proclaimed her Binding Vow. Upon no one but herself, her very soul. "Domain Expansion."

""Hollow Wicker Basket!"" The three elders of the Ten Treasures Cursed Spirit acted as one.

They didn't know why Utahime would repeat an action bound for failure, but they will take advantage of it just the same.

Hiding Darkness, Endless Two, Snake Skin, and now even Rust Cloth who had returned with the deployment of Spinning Samsara, all could cast their synergetic Domains.

"Bestowing Kagura."

A torii gate appeared behind Utahime.

The world stayed the same. Cursed Spirits and Sorcerers looked around in bewilderment, unable to understand what's happening.

"W-Wait," Mana spoke. "Where's the barrier?"

"There is... no barrier." Satoru spoke up, a tremble of awe in his voice. "It's a Domain without a barrier. An Open Domain." The one of the strongest Sorcerers in the world repeated himself. The awe shaking through him was overtaking him, his emotions overwhelmed by the enlightenment he witnessed pouring from Utahime's frame.

Her expression wasn't one of serenity, but one of a resigned god laying her decree.

"Domains! Now!" Iyashi shouted. The first to regain his bearings.

Hiding Darkness, Endless Two, Snake Skin, and Rust Cloth deployed their Domains.

Naraka Downfall.

Preta Twisted Reflection.

Tiryagyoni Downward Spiral.

Inevitable Wasteland Graveyard.

Four Domains were deployed, merging together into one terrifying realm, that would bring destruction to any who set foot in it, and none of sound mind would dare think to face it. No, they would try avert it.

"Utahime! Take them out now!" Suguru had shouted. Urging her to act.

Yet Utahime's attention was on something else.

Goblin Maker and the blob of slime where Mei was.

Utahime raised her hands as if to carry someone, and the blob of slime exploded as the being within it was wretched out with overwhelming prejudice.

The person once known as Mei Mei landed in Utahime's arms, safely cloaked in her Hagoromo.

The being before her was of flesh and blood, but still transformed into a Cursed Spirit. A transfigured human.

"I'm sorry I'm late." Utahime spoke with unusual gentleness. The transfigurated Mei Mei was unconscious. She should have awakened and started to battle the Sorcerer on the orders of her new masters. But she was left asleep upon Utahime's command of her Cursed Energy.

The four Special Grade Cursed attacked the seemingly defenseless Utahime, who didn't deem to pay them attention.

The attacks of claw, acid, decay and serpents descended upon the Awakened Miko.

And were fired back at their senders.

A sphere of Cursed Energy covered Utahime so she may fix Mei Mei in peace. While the coat same coat covered the other Sorcerers.

"Father, this is..." Naoya spoke timidly, before gulping at what he witnessed.

"Falling Blossom Emotion." Zenin Naobito said calmly as he looked around, almost unable to believe his eyes. He was witnessing the birth of something new, something grand right here. "Remotely cast upon every person here."

"Th-That's... that doesn't make any sense." Naoya said, not daring to shout and express the magnitude of what it feels like to witness something that upended his understanding to Jujutsu.

Yet any attack directed at any Sorcerer was instantly stopped and, in fact, reflected back, showing this Falling Blossom Emotion was different to the standard one, taught in secret to the Three Big Sorcerer Families.

"The Soul houses our Cursed Energy, our Innate Techniques." Utahime spoke, seemingly to herself. One hand hovered and move across Mei Mei's body. Cursed Energy and Positive Energy running through the transfigured human. "The Body is then build upon the Soul, following its guidance, but where does the Mind come in? If the Soul is Innate and the Body is a reflection within the material world, then what's the Mind?" She wondered. "The Mind... is formed from the experience reflected back by life and the initial conditions given by the Soul. But the Body can also influence the Soul."

"How long are you gonna keep acting so carefree?"

Seeing their attacked having no effect, Fuhengi, along with the other Special Grades attacked physically, while Iyashi and Meguru stood back.

Thus far only one minute and thirteen seconds had passed since the four Domains have been deployed.

The four Special Grade looked around in confusion that something was attacking their Domain's barriers.

CRACK!

All four Domains broke down as their barriers were shattered to bits.

Utahime turned to the attacking Curses for the first time.

"Why are you interrupting my task?" Utahime asked with nothing but muted annoyance.

Fuhengi used his Technique Reversal to zip toward Utahime at super sonic speeds. His speed lowered as he doesn't have Rust Cloth's enhancement anymore. While Rust Cloth had circled around, having reached new heights of speed and about to reach and slash Utahime.

"And what god gave you permission to stand, mortals?" Utahime raised her voice and pointed down.

Everyone was slammed into the ground. Be it Cursed Spirit or Sorcerers alike.

"Oi! You got us too!" Naobito shouted in annoyance.

"Uhhh, Senpai! I think you need to adjust the targeting on your powers!" Satoru said as felt himself trip for a second, but easily kept standing up.

"Where was I?" Utahime focused on Mei Mei again. "Ah, right. The Mind. It's where the Soul and Body experience the world and form an identity. A Self. This isn't your Self, Mei. And you need to come back." Utahime place a hand over Mei Mei's transfigured face. "Because the Mei I know, would never let her treasures be taken away from her. To Mei Mei, her Self is her most precious treasure of all."

Utahime's Cursed Energy resonated with Mei Mei's being, as she called upon Mei's Mind that identified its own Self, the Self that had its own experience, familiar with its own Soul that was shaped different than now. The Mind resonanced with the Soul, shaping it back to what it remembered, and in doing so, the Soul shaped the Body based upon it.

Utahime removed her hand and Mei Mei's face was human again.

"Im... Impossible." Iyashi said in complete disbelief.

The pressure of Utahime's Cursed Energy upon everyone vanished.

Mei Mei's eyes flicker and then opened. She saw herself held in Utahime's arm and looked perplexed.

"I saved you, Mei Mei. What will you give me?" Utahime asked.

"A permanent discount." Mei Mei answered back. "But then I'd have to add in the penalties for being too late and letting me go through such terrible experience. I think I'll pull back my reference when the higher-ups ask me if I should recommend you for Special Grade."

Utahime smiled. Mei Mei was back.

"Kreeea!" Tenguman landed and fretted over his master.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. My, you grew stronger." Mei Mei noted in her improved Birdman.

Utahime let her friend down.

"Satoru." Utahime spoke, and Satoru appeared from a dash next to her.

"Yo!" He saluted as he turned to face the still scared Curses. "So, who are we gonna do this?"

"By protecting everyone with your Limitless." Utahime said as she strutted forward. "I'm afraid my Techniques can no longer discriminate between friend or foe."

"Utahime?" Mei Mei sounded confused at her friend's change in behavior.

Satoru placed a hand on Mei Mei's shoulder to stop her from interfering.

"You better just watch. Trust me, a whole lot happened while you were out." Satoru actually followed Utahime's advice, feeling something he never felt before. Helplessness. In that he couldn't contribute to a fight.

And absurdly it's because his ally was too strong to keep their other allies out of the collateral.

"You really turned out to be hell of a Sorcerer, Utahime." He said to himself, before placing a hand on Mei's shoulders and teleporting her and gathering the others.

Mei Mei, Suguru, Mana, Naoya and Naobito were under Satoru's Limitless dome, as they watched the battle.

Except it wasn't a battle.

The Ten Treasures Curses lead by Fuhengi charged Utahime.

Utahime disappeared from in front of Fuhengi and appeared behind him. Like a ghost she moved past the other Special Grades so fast they couldn't react to her.

Fuhengi looked down and saw his sword missing the top half of his blade. A blade made of Cursed Energy. Yet it was missing, and it was in Utahima's hand.

As Utahime passed by the other Special Grade Cursed Spirits, they all disappeared Never even noticing that the miko passed them by as they disintegrated into ash from Gathering Hallowed Belt.

When Utahime stood in front of a trembling Iyashi, every single Cursed Spirit of this entire battle sans the three elder Ten Treasures.

Even Suguru's Curses weren't untouched. Only the strongest survived, along with those not summoned, or those he called back to him, dismissing them in time.

Every other Cursed Spirit present?

Reduced to base negative emotions.

Then turned back into pure Cursed Energy and absorbed by Utahime.

Satoru grunted, feeling the pressure of Utahime's Cursed Reveral even if it wasn't aimed at him. Just from her using it, everything in her range was hit by Gathering Hallowed Belt's complete purification effect.

Normal Sorcerer would feel their Cursed Energy be erased and might even be rendered mundane humans for a while.

"W-What are you!?" Iyashi shouted at her tried to reach Utahime and use his Technique upon her once more, maybe hoping it would work.

"God."

Iyashi found the broken part of Fuhengi's blade in his chest. A hand touched his head, and the Ten Treasures leader no longer possessed a head.

Utahime carried it toward Meguru intending to beat her to death with her sibling and leader's head.

Her time field meant nothing. This time Utahime's Cursed Energy so vastly overwhelmed Meguru, that she could attack the time Technique this time and break it.

An explosion of power erupted from Fuhengi as his Binding Vow came into effect.

The more of his siblings fell, the stronger he became and the denser his Cursed Energy became, even reaching levels that were astronomical.

"This. Isn't over!" Fuhengi said, his blade reforged from the Cursed Energy surging through him. With eight out of his siblings gone, he was nearly at his full potential. And he was planning to do everything to protect Meguru so they can be brought back. "Come on! You're not gonna just stop this posturing, are you?" He said, his savage grin ever present.

"...Amusing." Utahime had a slight smile.

"AAAARGH!" Meguru cried out in pain, as a Cursed Energy Laser cut off her legs, before Cursed Energy Dagger pinned her limbs to the ground.

"Don't go anywhere." Utahime said casually as she headed toward Fuhengi.

"Hey, Satoru." Back at the observing group, Suguru spoke up. "You're seeing that?" He gestured with a look toward the downed Meguru. The Ten Treasures Coordinator began to gather her Cursed Energy for her next move. Maybe deploying a Domain, maybe cast another Technique.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm seeing it." Satoru nodded and agreed. That bitch was way too annoying. They were gonna take her out while Utahime played with the samurai.

"You're not going alone." Mei Mei stepped up to the duo. "Here. I can lend you this for ten million dollars per use." She held Utahime naginata. Tenguman hand it on him before hand.

"I'm, not rich. Like at all." Suguru said in a panic.

"Holy shit, she really brought you back, like completely and all, body and soul." Satoru said in astonishment. "Fuck it. I'll pay for it. You can pay be back later, Suguru."

"In what world am I making ten million dollars!?" Suguru cried out.

"HAhahahaha, oi, you're not thinking of having fun by yourselves, are you?" Naobito spoke up laughing.

"Father!-I mean, Naobito-sama, please for the love of god let's not piss off Utahime-sama as she is right now and stay out of her range like she wanted us to." Mana was so overwhelmed by everything, she spoke up.

Naoya looked at her with perplexed astonished outrage, but couldn't verbalize it. Naobito just laughed at her having a spine now.

After Mana's insistence the Zenin Head and Heir, and Mei Mei moved out of the Awakened Miko's range.

The sound of battle and explosion echoed in the desolate village.

Although calling it a fight felt too charitable to Fuhengi.

The Samurai Cursed Spirit was dodging tower-sized beams of light from the building-sized sphere Will-O-Wisps held up far in the sky.

A sword made out of Cursed Energy, a copy of his own was clashing with him. Utahime didn't even deem to fight him herself, just letting Fuhengi battle the telekinetic great sword while dodging orbital bombardments.

"Fight me, dammit!" Fuhengi shouted in frustration. Yes, he was being overwhelmed with Utahime actually battling himself self, just his constructs. Yes, he would likely be destroyed, but he wanted his opponent, his seemingly greatest opponent and likely last to take this fight to the death seriously.

Fuhengi saw Satoru and Suguru teleport above the downed Meguru.

He activated his Curse Reversal to blitz pass Utahime.

Fuhengi neared Utahime's side.

With a swing of her arm, she backhanded the Samurai Cursed Spirit breaking his weapon and armor and leaving the crack along his body.

"Domain Expansion!" Meguru pushed herself back her limit. Working with what energy she had upon seeing the naginata of Positive Energy descend toward her in the hands of the Cursed Spirit Manipulation User. "Spinning Samsa-"

Utahime pointed behind her.

The barrier of Meguru's Domain crumbled before it could finish forming.

Meguru looked upon the torii gate still in place from whence Utahime first deployed her Domain.

No. Her Domain which was still active till now.

Meguru lowered her head as she understood, she and her siblings, rather than fell a Sorcerer, awakened a Goddess.

The spear plunged through her back. A hand grasped her head, and her body stretched and crumbled down into a black sphere of Cursed Energy.

Fuhengi stopped in the middle of the battle. He looked at where his sister once was and saw she was gone.

He lowered his head in remorse.

"Has your will extinguished?" Utahime asked.

Fuhengi kept quiet for a moment, then raised his head.

"...Nay." His eyes glowed red, the broken spinning dhrama wheel shattered behind him and became part of his reforged sword. "My brothers and sisters are all gone. I am now alone. I know what awaits me at your hands, Annihilation Princess." He chuckled.

Cursed Energy began to congregate upon his body, as if starting a sequence that would lead to the momentary formation of a super dense body like a dwarf star. Yet it never got that far. After a while Utahime simply stopped Cursed Energy from reaching or heading toward him. Fuhengi understood that was her letting him have his last stand as a warrior. He bowed his head in appreciation.

"And yet you won't escape to keep their memories alive." Utahime said.

"Ha! I'm not a human to be so obsessed with life." Fuhengi broke his sword and absorbed it into his body, letting all that Cursed Energy be focused upon his being. The dhrama wheel pieced moved along his body till they reached his hands and formed a gauntlet fist over them. "Right here and now shall be the apogee of the tale of Fuhengi. Maybe I shall do the impossible like you did and defeat you. Maybe I will face an inevitable fate, yet I will still face it just the same!"

Fuhengi gathered all his remaining Cursed Energy into his fist as it shined with crimson light, as it condensed more and more Cursed Energy while becoming heavier and heavier.

He pulled his fist to the side, to take a ready stance to dash to his death.

Utahime held her hand up next to her.

Fuhengi's eyes widened as he saw a colossal amount of Cursed Energy gather above Utahime's hand in a sphere. Forming more Cursed Energy from her prepetual ability. Gathering then compress and amplify.

Gathering then compress and amplify. Over and over again.

The ball looked like a newborn sun of Cursed Energy.

Then Utahime crushed it in her hand, absorbing that force into her fist.

"God Blow." She spoke the name of this Maximum Technique, for her opponent will not learn it otherwise.

"Immutable Oni." The Samurai Cursed Spirit said back.

No more words were needed.

Fuhengi used his Curse Technique Reversal to launch himself forward. With the Cursed Energy amount he had, once he returned to his super-dense state, he achieved speeded upward of 10 Mach.

Yet Utahime could still perceive him, react to him.

Both Cursed Spirit and Sorcerer punched forward.

A samurai punching to bury his enemy into the ground. A miko punching to launch her enemy into the heavens.

The two fists collided.

One of immense density and one of immeasurable Cursed Energy.

A clash so loud it echoed for valleys and mountain ranges.

The conclusion was inevitable, as Utahime continuously amplified her God Blow even while firing it.

The miko's attack engulfed Fuhengi in a beam of pure distilled energy. Fuhengi kept his grin till the end, for he had become part of the legend of a new Goddess.

Then he felt her fist blow apart his arm from the contact, and collide with his jaw.

Utahime's uppercut completed its motion. Her beam firing high into the evening sky, carrying the unbreakable body of the Cursed Spirit with the symbol of Sword Eight-Hands Long. The beam rose higher, and higher past the layers of atmospheres, as the pressure and force of the beam, with Utahime no longer having to restrict herself just letting go.

The Samurai Cursed Spirit's body broke and incinerated. The Cursed Energy blast let out a roaring boom heard for miles out, and even be seen from space for a single moment.

Upon the day, in a small rural village on the island of Kyushu, Japan's fourth Special Grade Sorcerer was born.

Iori Utahime.