Chapter Twenty Five: Right Before the Showdown— I
Nobara cursed under her breath as she slapped yet another mosquito against her skin, leaving a smudge of blood in its place. The relentless buzzing of the tiny pests was driving her insane, a constant reminder of how much she hated the countryside. "These creatures are really bothersome," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else, as she flicked the dead mosquito off her hand.
She sat there, perched on the weathered stone steps of an ancient shrine, her hammer swinging idly in one hand while the other brought a half-eaten burger to her mouth. The shrine was a relic of a forgotten time, its once-grand architecture now faded and worn. The moss-covered stones and the creeping vines that snaked their way up the crumbling walls were a testament to how long it had been since anyone had truly cared for this place. It was eerily silent, the kind of silence that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, as if the very air was holding its breath.
Her grandmother, a retired Jujutsu sorcerer whose power and wisdom were renowned, had insisted that Nobara guard this ancient, decrepit place. Apparently, the shrine housed some cursed objects of great significance—artifacts that, if left unguarded, might attract cursed spirits with a thirst for chaos. Nobara, however, couldn't care less. She had been dragged away from the excitement of the city, away from her friends and the thrill of battle, only to be stuck here, babysitting a bunch of dusty old relics.
"Tch," she scoffed, taking another bite of her burger. The bread was dry, the meat lukewarm, but she barely noticed. Her mind was too consumed with thoughts of what she was missing. The so-called "Culling Games" had begun, a chaotic free-for-all where sorcerers clashed in deadly combat, and yet here she was, stuck in her stupid village. The fact that it had been declared a zone only added to her frustration. She could almost hear the cheers, the roars of the crowd, and the thunderous clashes of cursed energy in the city far away. Her friends must be having the time of their lives, she thought bitterly, while she was left to rot in this godforsaken place.
She swung her hammer absentmindedly, the heavy head of it tracing lazy arcs in the air as she sat there, brooding. The shrine loomed behind her like a silent guardian, its stone steps slick with moisture from the encroaching twilight. Shadows gathered around her, deepening the sense of isolation that clung to the old place like a shroud. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, the remnants of the forest that surrounded the village pressing in on all sides. It felt like the world itself was closing in on her, suffocating her with its quiet, oppressive presence.
Tch. Another slap. Another mosquito dead. "Damn it, why are there so many of these stupid little creatures?" she cursed, frustration edging into her voice. "This isn't even the season yet."
It was then that she heard it—a noise, faint but distinct, cutting through the silence like a knife. Nobara paused, her hand frozen in mid-swing as she strained to listen. The sound was faint at first, almost like the rustling of leaves, but then it grew louder, more distinct. A low hum, growing steadily in volume, accompanied by the soft, rhythmic patter of footsteps on the forest floor.
She turned her head, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the shadows at the edge of the shrine's clearing. "Huh?" She blinked, her gaze sharpening as she focused on the source of the noise. What she saw made her blood run cold—a horde of mosquitoes, hundreds of them, swarming together in a thick, writhing cloud. They moved as one, a living wave of wings and buzzing, surging forward with an eerie, unnatural purpose.
"That's new," she muttered, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and unease. This was no ordinary swarm. There was something… wrong about it. The way they moved, the way they seemed to be drawn to the shrine, it was as if they were being controlled, guided by something far more sinister.
Then she heard it—the unmistakable sound of footsteps, deliberate and heavy, echoing through the forest. They were drawing closer, the sound growing louder with each passing second. Nobara's heart pounded in her chest as she stood up, her grip tightening on her hammer. Who the hell was out here in the middle of nowhere?
"A tourist? A villager? A sorcerer…?" she wondered aloud, her voice barely above a whisper.
But even as the thoughts crossed her mind, a chill ran down her spine. No. This wasn't a lost traveler or a curious local. The aura that accompanied those footsteps was different, wrong in a way that made her skin crawl. No. No fucking way.
Then, through the trees, a figure emerged. Nobara's breath caught in her throat as she laid eyes on the newcomer. It was a woman—or at least, it resembled one. Her figure was tall and slender, draped in a tattered dress that clung to her body like a second skin. But that was where the resemblance to anything human ended. Her skin was an unnatural shade of grey, mottled and slick, like the carapace of an insect. Her eyes, large and bulbous, gleamed with a malevolent light, and from her back sprouted a pair of thin, translucent wings that buzzed with an eerie, hypnotic rhythm.
Nobara's lips curled into a grin, a wild, reckless excitement bubbling up inside her. She had been itching for a fight, and it looked like fate had finally thrown her a bone. "A cursed spirit?!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with anticipation as she took a step forward, hammer at the ready. "Oh, yeah!"
The woman's lips twisted into a sneer, revealing rows of needle-like teeth. "Move aside, human," she hissed, her voice a sickly, buzzing drone that sent shivers down Nobara's spine. "Or I'll kill you where you stand."
Nobara felt her pulse quicken, adrenaline flooding her veins. There was no fear in her eyes, only a fierce determination. "Why, bitch?" she shot back, her voice laced with challenge. "Why do you want to go in?"
The cursed spirit's sneer deepened, her eyes narrowing as she looked down at Nobara with a mix of disdain and hunger. "You foolish human," she spat, her wings buzzing furiously as she hovered just above the ground. "There is something valuable in that shrine that I desire."
Nobara's grin widened, her heart pounding with excitement. "And my name is not 'bitch,'" the spirit continued, her voice dripping with venom. "It's Mosquito Girl."
"Yeah, well," Nobara replied, her hammer spinning in her hand as she sized up her opponent. "You're still a bitch to me."
Mosquito Girl's eyes blazed with fury at the insult, and with a shriek of rage, she launched herself at Nobara. The air around them seemed to thicken with cursed energy as the battle began in earnest, a clash of wills and power that would shake the very foundations of the ancient shrine.
Nobara swung her hammer with all her might, aiming for Mosquito Girl's head, but the cursed spirit was fast—too fast. She darted to the side, her wings buzzing as she evaded the attack with ease. In the blink of an eye, she was behind Nobara, her long, clawed fingers slashing at her back.
Nobara barely had time to react, twisting her body just in time to avoid the worst of the blow. But Mosquito Girl was relentless, her attacks coming in a flurry of strikes and bites, each one aimed with deadly precision. Her wings buzzed louder, the sound grating on Nobara's nerves as she struggled to keep up with the spirit's speed.
"Too slow, human," Mosquito Girl taunted, her voice a cruel, mocking drone as she struck again, her claws raking across Nobara's arm. Blood splattered on the stone steps, the wound stinging as it began to ooze down her skin. "Is this really all you've got?"
"Shut the hell up!" Nobara spat, swinging her hammer in a wide arc, hoping to catch the spirit off guard. But Mosquito Girl was already gone, a blur of motion that left Nobara swinging at empty air.
"You're pathetic," Mosquito Girl sneered, hovering just out of reach, her eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "Do you really think you can beat me?"
Nobara gritted her teeth, pain and frustration mingling in her chest as she struggled to keep up with the spirit's relentless assault. Every time she tried to land a hit, Mosquito Girl was already gone, her movements too fast, too fluid. And with each missed strike, Nobara could feel herself getting weaker. The cursed spirit's mosquito swarm had found their mark, tiny needles piercing her skin as they drained her blood, leaving her dizzy and light-headed.
But Nobara wasn't one to back down. Not now. Not ever. The thought of retreating never crossed her mind. Instead, a savage determination blazed within her, driving her forward even as her body screamed in protest. Every muscle in her body ached, her vision swam with the loss of blood, and the relentless buzzing of those cursed mosquitoes gnawed at her sanity. But none of that mattered. All that mattered was the fight.
With a defiant roar, she lunged at Mosquito Girl, her hammer cutting through the air with all the force she could muster. But even as she moved, she knew—deep down in the pit of her stomach—that she was too slow. The cursed spirit darted to the side with inhuman speed, her wings a blur as she effortlessly avoided the attack.
"You're pathetic," Mosquito Girl sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. She hovered just out of reach, her eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "Do you really think you can beat me? A mere human like you?"
Nobara spat on the ground, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. The blood loss was getting to her, making her feel light-headed, but she refused to let it show. "Shut up," she growled, her voice low and dangerous. "I'm not done yet."
"Oh? You still have some fight left in you?" Mosquito Girl's grin widened, her needle-like teeth gleaming in the dim light. "Good. I do so enjoy playing with my food."
With a shriek, Mosquito Girl dove at Nobara, her claws extended, ready to tear her apart. Nobara barely had time to react, raising her hammer just in time to block the attack. The impact rattled through her bones, nearly knocking her off balance, but she held firm, gritting her teeth as she shoved Mosquito Girl back.
But the cursed spirit was relentless. She came at Nobara again and again, her movements a blur of speed and violence. Nobara fought back with everything she had, swinging her hammer in wide arcs, trying to keep the spirit at bay. But for every strike she landed, Mosquito Girl landed two more. Claws raked across her skin, drawing blood with every swipe. The swarm of mosquitoes buzzed around her, their tiny bodies biting and stinging, draining more and more of her strength with each passing second.
Nobara could feel herself weakening, her limbs growing heavy, her movements sluggish. She was running out of time, out of energy. But she refused to give up. Not now. Not when she was so close.
She needed a plan. A strategy. Something that would turn the tide in her favor. But what? Mosquito Girl was too fast, too strong. And those damn mosquitoes were sapping her strength, leaving her with less and less energy to fight back. She needed to think, to come up with something—anything—that would give her the upper hand.
And then it hit her. The mosquitoes. Mosquito Girl was controlling them, using them to drain her blood, to weaken her. But if she could take out the swarm, then maybe—just maybe—she'd have a chance. It was a long shot, a desperate gamble, but it was all she had left.
With renewed determination, Nobara tightened her grip on her hammer and focused her cursed energy. She couldn't take down Mosquito Girl directly, not yet. But she could take out the mosquitoes. She had to.
"Alright, bitch," Nobara hissed through gritted teeth. "Let's see how you like this."
She flung a handful of nails into the air, each one crackling with cursed energy. They shot towards the swarm, slicing through the air like deadly darts. Mosquito Girl's eyes widened in surprise as the nails found their mark, piercing through the tiny bodies of the mosquitoes with pinpoint accuracy.
The swarm buzzed louder, the collective cry of the dying insects filling the air as they fell to the ground, twitching and lifeless. Nobara didn't stop there. She kept throwing nails, each one infused with as much cursed energy as she could muster, tearing through the swarm with ruthless precision.
Mosquito Girl let out a furious scream as her control over the swarm began to wane. "You insolent human!" she shrieked, her voice a mix of rage and disbelief. "You'll pay for that!"
But Nobara didn't back down. She pressed her advantage, continuing to attack the swarm until there was nothing left but a pile of dead mosquitoes at her feet. Without the swarm to back her up, Mosquito Girl's power was significantly diminished.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Nobara taunted, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
Mosquito Girl's eyes blazed with fury, her wings buzzing erratically as she hovered in the air. "You… You'll regret this!" she hissed, but Nobara could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
"Come on, then!" Nobara challenged, raising her hammer. "Let's finish this!"
With a final, blood-curdling scream, Mosquito Girl lunged at Nobara, her claws outstretched, ready to deliver the killing blow. But Nobara was ready. She sidestepped the attack, her movements quicker and more precise now that the swarm was gone. She could see the cracks in Mosquito Girl's defense, the openings that hadn't been there before. And she knew exactly how to exploit them.
Nobara swung her hammer with all her might, the head of it glowing with cursed energy. It connected with Mosquito Girl's torso with a sickening crunch, the force of the blow sending the cursed spirit crashing to the ground.
Mosquito Girl let out a strangled cry, her wings twitching feebly as she struggled to get back up. But Nobara wasn't about to give her the chance. She raised her hammer one last time, her eyes blazing with determination as she brought it down with all the strength she had left.
The ground shook as the hammer connected, the cursed energy exploding outwards in a shockwave that sent dust and debris flying. When the dust settled, Mosquito Girl was gone, her body reduced to nothing more than a twisted, smoking ruin.
Nobara stood over the remains, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. She was bruised, battered, and covered in blood, but she was alive. And more importantly, she had won.
A grin spread across Nobara's bloodied face as she stood victorious, the remnants of the cursed spirit scattered at her feet. Her body was aching, her clothes were torn, and she was covered in a mix of her own blood and that of her enemy's. But despite all the pain, the exhaustion, and the bruises, she felt a surge of triumph. She had done it. She had faced down a Special Grade cursed spirit and come out on top.
She was already picturing how she would brag about this to Yuji, Megumi, and the others. They'd be impressed. They'd have to be. She, the country girl, had taken on a monster and won. The thought sent a fresh wave of adrenaline through her, and she couldn't help but let out a laugh, short and sharp, like the crack of a whip.
But before she could revel in her victory any further, something caught her attention. The air around her grew colder, the atmosphere thick with an almost tangible sense of dread. Nobara's grin faded, her body tensing instinctively as she sensed a new presence.
Above her, hovering in the darkening sky, was something that sent a shiver down her spine. A small, round figure, its body glowing with a sickly yellow light, floated high above the village. It was unmistakable—the cursed spirit Kogane, Kenjaku's assistant in the Culling Games.
Kogane's voice, shrill and unnerving, echoed through the village, reverberating off the ancient shrine walls and filling the air with a sense of foreboding. "Attention Players! The epic battle to the death between the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna, and Satoru Gojo will be held in Shinjuku on December 26th! Be ready to witness this exciting battle!"
Nobara's heart skipped a beat. The words hung in the air like a death sentence, heavy and terrifying. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her mind racing to comprehend the announcement.
Gojo-sensei… was going to fight Sukuna? The King of Curses himself?
She felt the ground sway beneath her feet, the magnitude of what Kogane had just said hitting her like a freight train. This wasn't just some fight. This was a battle between titans, a clash that could reshape the very fabric of their world. And it was happening soon.
Nobara stared up at the sky, her body frozen, her thoughts a chaotic whirl of fear and anger. This couldn't be real. It felt like some kind of nightmare, the kind you wake up from in a cold sweat. But the presence of Kogane was all too real, and so were the stakes.
"Fuck," Nobara muttered, the word slipping out before she could stop it. The fight she had just won suddenly seemed insignificant, a mere prelude to the horrors that lay ahead. What the hell was she supposed to do now?
Her victory had been sweet, but it had also been short-lived. The world was about to be thrown into chaos once again, and this time, she wasn't sure if they would survive it.
TBC
Author Note: I hope you liked this chapter. I know that I am missing some characters from the manga, so please, tell me which ones. And do tell which fights you want to see before the showdown.
Till next time!