Third Person POV

"Now that you've finished the basics of your training, I think it's time for the proper application."

Itadori Yuji, the boy everyone believed to be dead, followed Gojo through the dimly lit cave. The air was cool but slightly damp. it was slightly uncomfortable for the nose.

"I won't be able to lead you this time," Gojo continued. "But don't worry. I've called in someone you can trust."

Inside stood a blonde man, his posture composed and professional. Without hesitation, Gojo threw an arm around the man's shoulders.

"This is Nanami Kento, the ex-salaryman jujutsu sorcerer!"

"Please don't call me that," Nanami replied flatly, brushing Gojo's arm off.

Yuji blinked in confusion. "Ex-salaryman? Why didn't you just become a jujutsu sorcerer from the start?"

It was a reasonable question, and Yuji's curiosity was written plainly on his face

Nanami adjusted his tie, his gaze steady but polite. "We should introduce ourselves properly first. Nice to meet you, Itadori-kun." He gave a small bow.

Yuji quickly straightened up and bowed in return. "Oh! Nice to meet you too!"

Nanami nodded, then continued, "I studied at Jujutsu Tech. What I learned there is that jujutsu sorcerers are shit. Then I worked at a typical company, and what I learned there is that work is shit. If both are equally shit, I'll take the one I'm better suited for. That's the only reason I came back."

Yuji stared at him, stunned by the bluntness of the explanation. After a moment, he managed a simple response.

"...That's dark."

Nanami adjusted his tie, his tone remaining calm but firm. "Itadori-kun, please don't believe I share the same mindset as Gojou-san. I do trust and have faith in him."

Gojo, who had been casually observing the conversation, couldn't hide the smug expression spreading across his face. Being praised by his junior seemed to inflate his ego even more.

"But," Nanami continued, his voice cutting through the moment, "I do not respect him."

Gojo's smug expression faltered slightly, though he didn't seem particularly offended.

"This conversation is dragging on," Nanami went on his tone growing sharper. "In short, I don't recognize you as a sorcerer, either. Even if you do carry the bomb we know as Sukuna, please make an effort to prove that you are useful."

Yuji clenched his fists, lowering his gaze. His voice, however, was resolute. "Lately, I've been forced to realize how weak and useless I am. But I'll become strong. I have to be strong, or I won't be able to choose how I die."

Gojo's lips curled into a smile.

Yuji raised his head, determination shining in his eyes. "I'll make you recognize me, even without that advice. Just give me a bit more time."

Nanami didn't flinch, his expression as stoic as ever. "Say that to the higher-ups, not me."

"Oh, right..." Yuji mumbled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

Clap!

The sharp sound of Gojo clapping his hands brought their attention back to him. He stepped forward, his usual playful grin back in place. "Alright, alright, let's refocus. Time to talk about the real reason we're here."

The shift in tone was immediate as Gojo began explaining their mission.

"There's been a series of murders at Kinema Cinema," he said, his voice taking on a rare seriousness. "There's a high possibility it's caused by cursed energy. Your task is to investigate the cause and, if necessary, exorcise the curse."

Nanami gave a small nod, already focused. "Understood."

Yuji clenched his fists, a mix of nervousness and determination flickering in his expression. "Got it. Let's do this."

With the briefing complete, Nanami and Yuji set off for the crime scene.

The theater loomed before them, its once-vibrant marquee now darkened, the area cordoned off with yellow tape.

Inside, the air was heavy, not just with the staleness of the room but with a palpable sense of unease. Bloodstains marked the ground where the victims had fallen, and the faint scent of iron lingered in the air.

"This is an active crime scene," Nanami remarked as they stepped inside, careful not to disturb the evidence.

He turned to Yuji. "Can you see it? This is the residual taint of cursed energy."

Yuji squinted, scanning the area. "No, I can't see anything."

"That's because you're not trying to see it. We typically perceive curses naturally, but residuals are different. When a cursed technique is used, it leaves traces behind. Those traces are what we call residual energy. It's much fainter than cursed spirits, so focus your vision and look closely."

Yuji took a deep breath, his brows furrowed in concentration. Slowly, faint wisps of distorted air began to appear in his field of vision, swirling like smoke. The residual energy twisted unnaturally, glowing faintly and leading away from the scene.

"Hmm… I see it now."

Nanami nodded approvingly. "Good. Let's follow them."

Yuji grinned, eager to act. "Yeah! Let's go all out!"

Nanami shot him a flat look. "No. Where moderate effort will suffice, use moderate effort."

"Ah…" Yuji deflated slightly, scratching his head. "Right."

The two began following the trail of residual energy, which led them toward a staircase at the back of the theater.

"There wasn't anything on the surveillance cameras, right?" Yuji asked, his voice breaking the silence.

"Right," Nanami replied without looking back. "There was only one young man aside from the victims."

"So a cursed spirit was behind it?"

"Most likely," Nanami said, his tone even.

Cursed spirits cannot be seen by ordinary humans. Their presence exists outside the realm of normal perception. This also extends to technology—surveillance cameras, no matter how advanced, cannot capture a cursed spirit.

Yuji and Nanami made their way to the rooftop, following the trail of residual energy.

"There's a small chance the young man could have done it, but identifying him is the police's…" Nanami trailed off.

From the shadows of the rooftop, a grotesque figure emerged—a cursed spirit. Its misshapen body twisted unnaturally, with a bulbous head and spindly limbs that moved in unsettling jerks.

"Lu… Lu… Lu… Lunchbox!"

Yuji is ready to fight. But nanami stopped him.

"Stop. I'll take care of this one. You handle the one over there." Nanami pointed at the curse hiding in the corner. It was peeking from behind the wall.

"Good detergent… good detergent…"

Nanami adjusted his glasses, his tone firm. "If you decide you can't beat it, please call me."

"Aren't you taking me a bit too lightly here?"

"It's not a matter of underestimating you or not. I am an adult, and you are a child. I have a duty to prioritize your life over my own."

Nanami stood his ground as the larger curse lunged at him, its claws tearing through the air in wild, erratic arcs. He stepped aside calmly, dodging each attack without breaking a sweat.

"My cursed technique allows me to forcibly create a weak point on any opponent. Seven to three. Striking the point at that ratio when you draw a line along the target's length causes a critical hit. That allows me to deal a fair amount of damage to those ranked higher than me… and if their cursed energy is weak, I can cut them in two, even with a blunt blade."

"Grr… Grr…"

Nanami remained unfazed, effortlesly dodging every strike of the cursed spirit. He glanced toward Yuji. "Are you listening, Itadori-kun?"

"Are you listening, Itadori-kun?"

"Huh? You were talking to me?!"

Distracted, Yuji didn't notice the smaller curse lunging at him until it was too late. It slammed into him, throwing him back into the rooftop fence with a loud crash.

"Gah… Ow…"

"Focus, Itadori-kun," Nanami said, his tone as composed as ever, even as the curse prepared another assault.

Yuji managed a weak glare. "Is it really okay to reveal your technique like that?"

Nanami adjusted his grip on his weapon, "It's no problem to reveal that technique to this opponent. Also, all the better if revealing it misleads them."

Yuji's thoughts raced. I want to focus on the curse, but it feels like I should be listening to what Nanami's saying. His eyes darted between Nanami and the smaller cursed spirit. The explanation seems important, but the cursed spirit is still attacking.

Nanami, noticing Yuji's internal struggle, continued, "There is merit to it. 'Revealing one's hand' is a pact that increases the effectiveness of one's technique. Like so."

The curse charged at him with a guttural roar. Nanami moved with calculated precision, raising his blade. With a single, deliberate strike, he bisected the curse cleanly.

From behind, Yuji stood in stunned silence. His eyes widened as he took in what had just happened. Not only was the blade Nanami used completely wrapped up, but he had also used the back of it to slice through the curse as if it were paper.

"That was amazing," Yuji murmured, his awe palpable.

"Grrr…"

Nanami's voice cut through the moment. "Itadori-kun, behind you."

"Huh?"

The curse wasted no time, lunging at Yuji with its gnarled fists raised.

Yuji barely managed to block the incoming punch, gritting his teeth against the force. "Ah! Ugh! Ngh… Ugh…"

"I don't like you looking away."

Yuji growled in frustration. "Who's the one distracting me here?!"

Nanami watched with faint amusement, pushing his glasses up his nose. "A fair point, Itadori-kun. Perhaps I should let you focus now."

Yuji's expression shifted; his playful frustration replaced by a steely determination. He took a deep breath, letting his cursed energy envelop his fists. The faint crackle of energy surged around his hand like a thin aura, flickering as if alive.

He locked eyes with the cursed spirit, its grotesque form snarling and preparing to attack again.

Yuji dashed forward.

"Take this!" he roared, launching a punch directly at the curse.

After training with Gojo for half a month, he finally managed to develop his own unique fighting technique. It was born out of his inefficiency in controlling cursed energy—an unintended result of his lack of precision. But in reality, it gave rise to something entirely new.

When his punch connected, the first impact carried a little cursed energy in it. However, because his cursed energy couldn't synchronize perfectly with the speed and force of his attacks, it lagged slightly behind. This delay caused the cursed energy to hit as a second wave, following right after the initial punch.

The result? A double-layered attack.

This irregular flow created an unpredictable and devastating technique.

"Divergent Fist."

Thud

The second impact was devastating. The delayed energy created a shockwave that tore through the curse's body, blasting a hole clean through its chest.

Nanami, observing from the sidelines, raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed.

"His raw strength alone is superhuman," Nanami thought. "The initial blow carries little cursed energy, but even that is already 120% of the output of an average sorcerer's strike. But then… the real blow follows. A delayed wave of cursed energy slams into the target, creating an overwhelming double impact."

For those hit by it, it must be an unpleasant feeling. The first strike is enough to destabilize their body—bone fractures, internal damage—but the delayed cursed energy surging through the same point adds an unbearable shock, amplifying the pain and destruction.

Nanami who saw Yuji in a new light, finally understand why Gojo send Itadori Yuji to him. His talent is raw and unrefined, but with enough guidance, it will bloom into something extraordinary

Yuji clenched his fists, the lingering cursed energy around his knuckles dissipating as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow.

But just as Yuji moved to end the fight, Nanami's eyes widened slightly.

"Itadori-kun! Don't finish it yet!"

Yuji froze mid-strike, his fist inches from the cursed spirit. "Huh? Why?"

Nanami's eyes narrowed as he studied the cursed spirit. His tone was calm but serious. "Please listen calmly... what we've been fighting is probably—"

.

.

"They're human," Shoko Ieri's voice came through the phone.

Next to her, the twisted remains of the cursed spirit lay on the operating table. Its body had been carefully bisected, revealing warped organs and muscles that pulsed unnaturally.

"No, I suppose I should call them former humans," she added, "They're the same as the three from the theater incident."

"If that was all, I would have noticed at the start. The two we fought were full of cursed energy, like cursed spirits."

"You'll have to ask the culprit about their technique for a full explanation." She glanced at the exposed brain and then added, "But we found evidence that their brain stems were tampered with—most likely to create confusion and impair consciousness. Their state isn't natural. They're victims, manipulated into becoming something monstrous."

"If their brains were tampered with… could that also mean they were modified to use cursed energy?"

"It's possible. The relationship between the brain and cursed energy is still a black box to us. But from what I've seen, whoever did this has an advanced understanding of the connection."

Nanami processed her words silently, his eyes narrowing in thought.

"There's been a case like this in the past," Shoko added. "Three or four years ago, if I remember right... Oh, wait, is Itadori listening?"

Before ending the call, Shoko needed to make sure of something.

"Oh, yeah..." Yuji's voice came through, soft and strained. His usual energy was gone, replaced by an unsettling quiet.

From his tone, it was clear his state of mind wasn't in the best place.

"To sum it up, these guys died of shock from having their bodies modified," Shoko explained, "You didn't kill them, so don't get the wrong idea about that."

There was a pause.

"Right..." Yuji muttered, though the weight in his voice lingered.

"Well, I think that's it."

With that, Shoko ended the call. She stared at her phone for a moment before pressing another button and dialing again.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

After a few beep, the line connected.

"Gojo," Shoko began as soon as the call connected.

"Shoko? What's wrong?" Gojo's usual carefree tone came through, but Shoko could tell he was paying attention.

"The cursed spirits Nanami and Itadori fought—it's the same case as the one from four years ago."

"Four years ago?"

Sighing, Shoko sent a picture over.

Even though cursed spirits were invisible to normal humans, including cameras and electronic devices, this case was different. These cursed spirits weren't typical. They were once human—ordinary people transformed into monstrous forms.

There was a brief silence on Gojo's end, his usual nonchalance giving way to something more serious. "Four years ago, huh? That makes things... tricky."

"So?" Shoko pressed. "Are you going to tell her?"

Gojo didn't answer immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice carried an uncharacteristic hesitation. "I'm not sure. It could go two ways... and I'm not sure which one's worse."

"Then try to restrain her if it comes to that," Shoko said firmly.

Gojo chuckled, the sound light but hollow. "Haha, who do you think I am?"

That's what worried her…. She sighed. "Just… make sure there aren't any more casualties."

The call ended, leaving Shoko alone with her thoughts.

Her gaze shifted to the body on the operating table—the warped, grotesque remains of what had once been human.

In more ways than one, this situation worried her.

She knew firsthand how destructive that girl could become once she lost her reason. Shoko had seen it during that incident. Back then, Gojo had managed to stop her before it escalated further. If he hadn't, Kyoto high would have been mourning one of their own.

Thankfully, it hadn't come to that.

Shoko also understood why Shiki had joined Jujutsu High.

But what scared her most was the thought of her going overboard again.

"I just hope… that Shiki can hold herself together." Shoko muttered to herself; her voice barely audibles over the hum of the equipment.

.

.

Third Person POV

Back at the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School. Kugisaki ponders over which drink to get.

"Hmm… Mm"

After pondering for a few second, Kugisaki finally decided on which drink she want, and several other.

"Couldn't they put in a few more vending machines?!"

"Of course they can't," Megumi replied, standing a few steps behind her. "There are only so many workers who can come here in the first place."

"Yeah, well, this place is huge. It wouldn't kill them to make it a bit more convenient. Seriously, we're in the middle of nowhere."

Megumi sighed. He couldn't exactly argue with her. The school's vast layout made it inconvenient to get around, especially for something as small as grabbing a drink

"But again, sparring with Shiki-senpai is definitely torture," Kugisaki muttered as she stretched her arm, wincing. "Ow, ow."

Over the past two weeks, the second-years had been heavily involved in their training, but working with Shiki was a whole different level of grueling.

You had to push all your senses to their absolute limit just to barely keep up—and even then, survival wasn't guaranteed.

Megumi doesn't know if they getting used to it is a good or a bad thing.

"I mean, I get that she's strong," Kugisaki continued, cracking her neck. "But does she have to look at us like we're nothing but moving targets?"

"She treats everyone that way. Don't take it personally," Megumi replied, picking up one of the drinks she had set aside.

"Yeah, but she could at least say something encouraging once in a while. Even Maki-san isn't that cold."

Before Megumi could respond, the sound of footsteps caught their attention. Both turned to see who was approaching.

A man and a girl were heading their way.

"Isnt that..." megumi saw the girl with dark green hair. Her face was familiar, altough they were twin, the difference was clear.

"What are you doing here, Zenin-senpai?" Megumi ask the girl.

"Oh, she's one, too? They do seem similar. Are they sisters?" Kugisaki asked, narrowing her eyes at the approaching pair.

"They're twins," Megumi replied flatly.

"Don't call me that, Fushiguro-kun. You make me sound the same as Maki. Call me Mai," the girl said with a sly smile.

"So, these are the pinch-hitters for Okkotsu and the third-years?" the man said, his tone dismissive. It was Megumi's first time seeing him.

"We came here with the principal because we were worried about you," Mai added, her voice carrying a mocking edge. "Your classmate died, right? Was that rough? Or did you think nothing of it?"

Both Kugisaki and Megumi stiffened, clearly not liking the way she phrased it.

"What are you trying to say?" Megumi asked, his tone low and steady.

"It's okay. Some things are hard to say out loud, so I'll say it for you," Mai continued, her smile sharpening. "'Vessel' makes it sound nice, but it just means he was a half-curse monster. Having such a tainted, inhuman being beside you, brazenly calling himself a jujutsu sorcerer, must have been revolting, right? Aren't you feeling better now that he's dead?"

Their eyes darkened, but neither said a word.

"Mai, don't bring up such pointless topics," the man interjected "I'm only here to see if Shiki decided to participate in the event. While I'm at it, I could also take a look at these two to see if they're fit to take Okkotsu's place. That's all I want to know."

"You... Don't you learn from what happened last time because of your antics?" Mai said, exasperation clear in her tone.

"Nonsense. It's because of Okkotsu's boring answer that that happened," the man retorted with a smirk.

Kugisaki leaned closer to Megumi, her voice barely a whisper. "What do they mean by that?"

Megumi shook his head slightly, "I don't know."

The man then turned his attention to Megumi, a sudden grin splitting his face.

"Fushiguro, was it? What kind of woman is your type?"

"Huh?" Megumi blinked, caught completely off guard by the sudden question. "Why do I have to talk about my taste in women with a guy I just met?"

"Hm? Fine then, my name is…"

.

.

Shiki POV

"Huh? Where are the first-years?" Panda asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

We wandered through the forest, the air cool and still. After wrapping up our training, we decided to take a break—me, Maki, Panda, and Inumaki.

After hours of grueling training, the four of us decided to take a much-needed break.

"On errands," I replied,

"Bonito flakes," Inumaki added, nodding.

"Ahh… Will they be okay?" Panda asked, his voice tinged with genuine concern.

"They're not three years old. They can handle an errand run," Maki said, brushing off Panda's concern.

"Huh? Why?" I frowned. why would the principal of Kyoto even bother coming here?

"To go over the Exchange Event," Panda said, glancing at me with a corncered look. "Shiki, you really should pay attention, you know."

They have to go over the Exchange Event first? I thought, feeling a bit puzzled. Wasn't the whole thing supposed to be carried out directly? At least, that was the impression I had.

"Tuna," Inumaki agreed.

I didn't answer. I didn't care. It's not like I was planning to join the Exchange Event anyway.

"But that's not the problem," Panda cut in, his tone more serious now. "Satoru's fighting with the higher-ups because they sent the first-years on that special-grade case, right? And the principal of Kyoto is one of those higher-ups, isn't he? So if they run into each other…"

"The first-year they were targeting, Itadori, is dead," Maki said bluntly. "I doubt they care about the other two anymore. Besides, the old man from Kyoto won't cause a scene in broad daylight."

"An instructor might have his position to worry about, but that's not the case for the students."

"Are you saying Mai is coming?" Maki asked, her voice edged with irritation.

"It's just a guess. Students aren't necessary for the meeting. But still… they love harassing us, don't they? Both Todo and Mai."

The mention of Todo made my brow twitch. The thought of him showing up… what's the probability? Maybe… 20%? Without Yuta around, it was probably even lower.

Still, it would be better if he didn't show up at all.

.

.

Third person POV

"Todo Aoi! Kyoto, third-year, Introduction over. Now we're friends. Hurry up and answer. If you prefer men, that's fine, too."

On the other side of the school, Todo Aoi towered over both Kugisaki and Megumi, his booming voice cutting through the tense air like a hammer.

Beside her were Zenin Mai, the sister of Zenin maki.

Kugisaki blinked, stunned. "What kind of introduction is that?!" she exclaimed, taking a half-step back as if Toudou's energy physically pushed her.

"A person's fetishes reflect everything about them. People with boring taste in women are boring people themselves! And I hate boring men! Who knows what I might do if my last Exchange Event ends up boring me?"

Megumi, stunned by his question, sighed. "Do you even hear yourself?"

Todo ignored their reactions entirely. "Don't dodge the question. It's important! What kind of women—or men—do you like?"

Megumi glanced around, assessing his surroundings. There was no way out. Kugisaki was currently unarmed, and engaging Todo head-on wasn't an option he wanted to take. With no escape from the situation, Megumi realized he had no choice but to answer the ridiculous question.

"What kind of woman is my type?" Megumi thought. Until now, he had never seriously considered it.

But two faces quickly came to mind: Tsumiki and Shiki.

Choosing his words carefully, Megumi finally responded. "I don't have a particular preference. As long as she has unshakable character, I won't ask for more."

For some reason, Megumi felt oddly satisfied with his answer.

"Not a bad answer," Kugisaki said, smirking. "If you'd said something like 'big boobs,' I'd have killed you."

"Shut up."

A single tear slid down Todo's cheek.

"Haa… I knew it."

He let out a disappointed sigh.

"You're boring, Fushiguro."

In an instant, Todo vanished from his spot, reappearing right in front of Megumi and throwing a lariat.

Megumi managed to block just in time, but the difference in strength was clear. Todo's raw power forced its way through, sending Megumi flying across the courtyard.

"Ah… Fushiguro!" Kugisaki exclaimed, startled by the sudden attack. She instinctively moved to help him, but before she could get far, Mai grabbed her arm from behind, stopping her.

"Oh, dear… Poor Fushiguro-kun," Mai said with a mocking tone. "Even a talented second-grade jujutsu sorcerer is nothing more than a first-year against the top-grade Todo-senpai. I'll have to comfort him later."

Kugisaki glared at Mai. "I thought you two were similar, but that's not the case at all. Maki-san's a hundred times prettier."

"Hm?" Mai raised an eyebrow.

"Are you not sleeping enough? You've got open pores."

"Ngh… I'll teach you…" Mai muttered through gritted teeth, then she pointed her gun at Kugisaki's stomach. "… how to speak to others."

.

.

Meanwhile, across the courtyard, after being thrown across the courtyard by Todo's overwhelming strength, Megumi groaned as he tried to get back on his feet.

'Tch… That was way too much power,' he thought, forcing himself to his feet with a pained groan.

"I knew at first glance that you were a boring guy. But you shouldn't judge a person by their looks, right?" Todo said with a mocking grin. "So I went out of my way to ask you… but you just trampled on my kindness."

Before Megumi could react, Todo grabbed him by the neck with one hand and slammed him into the wall, pinning him firmly.

"Kugh…" Megumi winced but didn't show any fear. "Is your brain as much of a pineapple as your head?"

The name "Todo Aoi" echoed in his mind, growing more familiar the more he repeated it in his thoughts.

'Todo… That Todo?'

'The one involved in last year's unprecedented jujutsu terror attack caused by the curse user Geto - the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons from Kyoto to Shinjuku? The one who exorcized a special-grade and five first-grade cursed spirits by himself when the parade appeared in Kyoto'

'That Todo?'

His mind raced. Though there were several first-grade sorcerers capable of defeating a second-grade sorcerer, what made Todo stand out was far more impressive.

"I heard you don't use cursed techniques," Megumi muttered, narrowing his eyes at the man towering over him.

Todo smirked, his expression casual yet confident. "Huh? Oh, that rumor's false. I used them against the special-grade."

Megumi's thoughts froze for a moment. 'He doesn't use them against first-grades?! Is he a monster?!'

Pushing aside his disbelief, Megumi quickly checked his condition. Both of his arms were fine, though they ached from the earlier impact. Fortunately, he had managed to block the attack using cursed energy just in time, mitigating most of the damage.

He flexed his fingers, testing their range of motion, and noticed something surprising. His bones felt... sturdier.

'Is it because of the training?' he wondered, a flicker of relief crossing his mind. Megumi couldn't help but feel silently grateful that all his effort to survive against Shiki-senpai's relentless sparring seemed to be paying off.

"For now, its okay to consider the person in front of me enemy right?"

Without hesitation, he called forth his shikigami.

"Nue… plus Gama."

Using his Extension Technique, Megumi combined Nue and Toad into a single shikigami summon. By overlapping their shadows in sequence, the fusion took form—a winged toad with the agility of Nue and the weight of Gama.

'I'm up against a hardcore close-range fighter. I'll keep my distance and restrain him!'

Even after all the brutal training with Shiki-senpai, Megumi wasn't confident he could win against someone like Todo in close combat. The sheer gap in strength was obvious. All he could do now was maximize his advantage in numbers and coordination.

The winged toad leapt into action, its wings flaring wide as it soared above, scanning for an opening to restrain Todo. With a swift lunge, it dove toward the towering man, shadows and wings closing in.

But Todo's reaction was instantaneous. He swatted the toad aside with a brutal backhand, sending it spiraling into the ground. Before Megumi could recover, Todo vanished from his sight and reappeared behind him in an instant.

'He's fast! Megumi's eyes widened. That wasn't his full speed earlier?!'

Todo's voice boomed, laced with mockery. "Flimsy and shallow… Both your body and your taste in women!"

With surprising ease, Todo lifted Megumi over his head, his massive hands locking firmly around him as he prepared to slam him into the ground.

But Megumi wasn't defenseless. In that split second, he pushed his cursed energy into his core and twisted his body, kicking off Todo's chest to launch himself backward. The move created just enough distance to escape Todo's grip, and Megumi landed on the ground in a crouch, slightly out of breath.

After all, with the relentless training—and borderline torture—he'd endured under Shiki, something like this was second nature to him. If he couldn't manage at least this much, he wouldn't have survived her "lessons."

"Oh?" Todo's expression shifted; his eyes gleaming with intrigue as he straightened.

Without wasting any time, Megumi retaliated. He darted forward, feinting with his left hand while summoning a small shikigami shadow at his feet. The small winged toad, coiled his tongue around Todo's ankle for a fraction of a second, slowing him just enough for Megumi to land a quick strike to Todo's ribs with a cursed energy-enhanced palm thrust.

Sadly, it wasn't enough.

Todo barely flinched from Megumi's strike. With a speed that felt almost surreal, he grabbed Megumi by the head, his massive hand wrapping around his skull like a vice.

"Nice try," Todo sneered, his grin widening as he effortlessly slammed Megumi into the ground.

The impact sent shockwaves through the ground making a crack, pain shot through his body, and his vision blurred momentarily from the force.

Before Megumi could recover, Todo didn't relent. He hoisted Megumi up again, this time driving a heavy knee into his stomach. The blow forced the air out of Megumi's lungs, leaving him gasping and staggered.

'Damn it! Megumi winced, his mind racing as his body screamed in pain. 'His durability and power is insane!'

In a split second decision, Megumi called forth another shikigami to restraint todo just enough to give him any room to breath.

Then a white serpent coiled around todo body, but he managed to easily ripped it apart.

But that enough time give enough time for megumi to escape.

"You're boring! I barely feel any intention to fight," Todo scoffed, his voice booming as he shrugged off the remnants of Megumi's shikigami.

Megumi staggered a few steps back, breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow. His heart pounded in his chest.

For some reason, Todo's words struck a chord within Megumi. He wasn't one to be prideful, nor did he ever seek validation through combat. Yet, hearing those words now, a mix of frustration and something deeper stirred within him.

"I've been holding back, and you're so proud? If you're going to insist like that… then I'll show you something not so boring," Megumi said, his voice steady despite his battered state.

Todo grinned, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Ah… Fufufu… Bring it!"

Just then, Megumi felt a strange sense of deja vu. Time seemed to slow as he noticed movement from the side.

A fist came out of nowhere, landing directly on Todo's face. The force sent Todo's head snapping to the side.

"Todo Aoi," a sharp voice called out.

Megumi blinked; his vision still hazy from the beating he'd taken.

Shiki stood a few steps away, her expression a strange mix of irritation and confusion, as if questioning both Todo's presence and the circumstances that brought her here.

"What are you doing here, bastard?"

[END]

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That's it for the chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it!

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[Thanks for Reading!]