Individual Battles (2)

The next morning, the individual battles officially began.

The venue was the largest dojo in the school. Teachers from both sides sat along the edges, while a large area had been cleared in the center. Once everyone had arrived, Gakuganji and Yaga Masamichi each gave a speech, briefly explained the rules, and the individual battles began.

"First match: Shen Yuanyi versus Kasumi Miwa."

Despite staying up late playing games, Shen Yuanyi was still full of energy as he walked to the center of the field. Kasumi Miwa took a deep breath to psych herself up before stepping forward as well. After they exchanged bows, the match officially began.

Both used Cursed Blades. Kasumi Miwa looked somewhat nervous, but Shen Yuanyi did not immediately end the match with his technique. Instead, he assumed a stance and gestured for her to attack.

Kasumi Miwa gathered her courage and charged at him with her sword. As Shen Yuanyi countered each move, he also observed her techniques. His own blade work—or swordsmanship—was actually rather eclectic. Most of what he had learned at first came from Maki, while everything afterward had been developed and mastered through training and actual combat.

Kasumi Miwa's swordsmanship, on the other hand, had the shape of a proper system. This school seemed to be called the New Shadow Style. Atsuya Kusakabe, the second-year homeroom teacher, also seemed to be a user of this style, and he was quite strong.

It was said that during the Heian Period, a powerful sorcerer named Ashiya Sadatsuna had invented a "Simple Domain" to prevent his disciples from being harmed by Cursed Spirits and Curse Users. This school had been passed down for a long time. Aside from sword techniques, it also had methods for combining Cursed Energy with cursed tools.

After deliberately exchanging more than a dozen moves with Kasumi Miwa, Shen Yuanyi realized that she was still far from proficient. Her strength and Cursed Energy were both lacking as well. As a result, even if her sword techniques were passable, she probably would not last more than one or two moves against a truly powerful opponent.

Of course, the people Shen Yuanyi used as comparisons were hardly ordinary. By the general standards of sorcerers, Kasumi Miwa was actually decent. With Atsuya Kusakabe already having become a First Grade Sorcerer, perhaps Kasumi Miwa might achieve something in the future as well.

But she was still far too weak right now. Shen Yuanyi's blade followed an opening in Kasumi Miwa's attack and closed in before her face, forcing her to defend. The swift slashes that followed immediately drove her into danger.

After sweeping Kasumi Miwa off her feet, Shen Yuanyi compared their respective sword paths in his mind as he said to the girl getting back up, "Your sword is too slow. It has no power, and you have no conviction."

Seeing Kasumi Miwa's baffled expression, Shen Yuanyi explained in a good mood, "Put simply, you lack the will to cut down your enemies. Even if you're holding a Wooden Sword and know you can't kill your opponent, when you pick up a sword, you need to understand clearly that what you're holding is a weapon! A weapon that can take lives! You need to be prepared to fight."

"Why did you come to Jujutsu High? Or rather, why did you enter the Jujutsu World?"

Kasumi Miwa, who had been panting and had finally managed to catch her breath under Shen Yuanyi's pressure, froze for a moment before obediently answering, "Because I'm poor. I have two younger brothers at home, so I became a sorcerer."

Shen Yuanyi understood. Ordinary people had no way to deal with so-called curses, but as long as humanity's negative emotions remained, these things would never disappear. Thus, the government and other higher-ups actually knew about the Jujutsu World. They merely concealed it from the public to avoid causing panic and creating even more curses.

Sorcerers were always in short supply. This profession, especially exorcising Cursed Spirits, was extremely dangerous, so the salary and rewards were high. Unfortunately, it could not be made public; otherwise, their social standing would be quite high as well.

Naturally, the higher a sorcerer's rank, the more money they could earn. Kasumi Miwa's answer did not surprise Shen Yuanyi. She was not from a sorcerer family, nor did she seem like someone like Todo, who craved battle and passion, or someone like Okkotsu, who had a story of his own.

There was nothing wrong with that reason, but it had one flaw. Shen Yuanyi raised the blade in his hand and pointed it at Kasumi Miwa. "You have no reason or resolve that compels you to grow stronger. Right now, all you're thinking about is making money as a sorcerer. Have you ever considered that one day, you might encounter a Cursed Spirit far beyond your ability and suddenly die?"

Before the stunned Kasumi Miwa could say anything, Shen Yuanyi continued, "So you do have a reason to become stronger. Whether it's for more money or because you don't want to die so easily on a mission, you need the resolve to give everything you have to kill your enemy."

Kasumi Miwa stared at her reflection in the blade, lost in thought for a moment. Then Shen Yuanyi said, "One move. You only have one chance left. Show me your resolve."

When Kasumi Miwa looked up, she saw Shen Yuanyi holding an opening stance almost identical to the one she had used earlier. She inwardly lamented, What kind of monster is this now?! But those emotions came and went quickly.

Just as Shen Yuanyi had said, she had never possessed much awareness of what being a sorcerer truly meant. At school, she trained hard with Maki Zenin, Momo Nishimiya, and the others. The missions she occasionally went on had been dangerous too, but honestly, nothing had been too outrageous.

If she encountered an absurd enemy like him in the future, how long could she hold out? Perhaps she would die the moment they fought. Then what would happen to her family? She might never see Maki Zenin, Momo, Mechamaru, and her other Jujutsu High companions again.

Slowly sheathed alongside her reflection, Kasumi Miwa's blade settled into its scabbard as she assumed a sword-drawing stance. Having calmed herself, she sensed the Cursed Energy flowing within the sheath. Everything within a nearby radius became crystal clear in her mind. Whatever stepped into that range would draw a thunderous slash from her.

New Shadow Style, Simple Domain.

New Shadow Style, Sword Drawing.

"So that's the Simple Domain? And this sword-drawing technique is interesting too. You coat the blade in Cursed Energy, circulate it within the sheath to accelerate it, and when it leaves the scabbard, it becomes incredibly fast?"

Shen Yuanyi sheathed his own sword and assumed a sword-drawing stance as well. He could not imitate that Simple Domain for the moment, though. At times like this, he could not help but marvel at how useful Gojo-sensei's Six Eyes were. If one could easily see through another person's technique and Cursed Energy flow, then surely something like this could be learned after watching it a few times?

"Let's see how fast my sword can be without using my technique!"

Shen Yuanyi stared at Kasumi Miwa, who was poised to strike. The Cursed Energy flowing over his sheathed blade grew faster and faster, until it looked as though the entire sword was wreathed in surging blue flames.

"Clang!"

A piercing sound of metal scraping against metal rang out. Shen Yuanyi vanished from where he stood, and the blade that had already left its sheath appeared before Kasumi Miwa. The instant Shen Yuanyi "touched" her Simple Domain, Kasumi Miwa's sword automatically lashed out with a slash as swift and violent as lightning.

Only then, seeing Kasumi Miwa's sword-drawing slash filled with killing intent and sharp sword force, did Shen Yuanyi feel that it was somewhat presentable.

In a contest of such high-speed sword-drawing slashes, their attacks should have collided. Then one blade would have been cut apart, deciding the winner.

Yet Shen Yuanyi did not do that. At the instant their blades were about to collide, he slightly shifted his edge. The two swords passed each other, and Shen Yuanyi flipped and twisted his Cursed Blade.

Caught by that sudden change, the high-speed blade instantly slipped out of control. Kasumi Miwa's sword flew from her hand, spinning as it shot to the side.

Then a hand reached down from the air and accurately caught the hilt, pulling the sword back. Kasumi Miwa stared at her empty hand, let out a long breath, and bowed to Shen Yuanyi. "Thank you."

Yaga Masamichi then announced the result of the first match. "First match: Shen Yuanyi wins. Tokyo Jujutsu High gains one point."

After returning to their seats—or rather, everyone else was kneeling on the floor—Shen Yuanyi sat cross-legged instead, unused to that posture.

Watching Kasumi Miwa return to the other side and get comforted by the others, Maki sighed. "So there are normal people over in Kyoto after all."

Yaga Masamichi then announced the next match: Panda versus Maki Zenin.

Maki Zenin's technique was no secret, especially since her sister was here. Her technique was called the Construction Technique. It allowed her to create matter from nothing, and the objects she created would not disappear after the technique ended.

When Shen Yuanyi had first heard of this technique, he could only marvel at how incredible sorcerers were. Sure enough, every technique was more outrageous than the last.

Unfortunately, for various reasons of her own, the amount of matter Maki Zenin could construct each day was limited—roughly one bullet. Combined with the revolver she used, this Cursed Energy bullet could be hidden among the six rounds, catching an enemy off guard.

Then the battle began. Panda immediately gave his opponent a surprise. Beneath that adorable appearance was impressive close-range combat ability. More importantly, while the dojo gave Maki Zenin an advantage, it also placed her at a great disadvantage.

Panda's massive body was not just for show. Reinforced by Cursed Energy, he endured several of Maki Zenin's bullets while retaining his fighting ability. Though they were not live rounds, Maki Zenin's close-combat ability was much poorer. Once Panda got close, she was constantly in danger.

The decisive move finally came. After Panda caught an opening in Maki Zenin's defense, she played along and struck Panda's core with that Cursed Energy bullet. She had obtained that information by taking several injuries.

But Panda was not merely Panda. He had three cores. When Panda switched into Gorilla Mode, the conditions of victory were decided.

"Second match: Panda wins. Tokyo Jujutsu High, two points."

"Panda's the best!"

"Tuna mayo!"

Panda scratched his head and chuckled amid everyone's cheers, while the mood on Kyoto's side was somewhat subdued. After Momo Nishimiya and Kasumi Miwa comforted Maki Zenin, Kamo Noritoshi spoke up. "Just give it your all from here on. Don't blame yourself..."

"Third round: Inumaki Toge versus Ultimate Mechamaru."

Ultimate Mechamaru stepped forward. "I'm up."

After taking the field, Inumaki Toge politely said, "Kelp," though naturally, his opponent did not understand. Then, at the signal to begin, Ultimate Mechamaru suddenly fired a number of small spheres from both hands.

Those spheres were aimed at the ground. Upon striking it, they shattered and released clouds of smoke. With a flicker, Ultimate Mechamaru vanished into the rising smoke.

"Blow away!"

At Inumaki Toge's Cursed Speech command, a fierce gust of wind sprang up from nowhere within the room, threatening to scatter the smoke. Just then, a flash of red light lit up within the haze, followed by a blazing pillar of fire shooting toward him.

Inumaki Toge swiftly dodged. Ultimate Mechamaru continued concealing himself through various means, bombarding Inumaki Toge from afar in an attempt to wear him down until he reached his limit.

Inumaki Toge realized that as well. So, he tried to avoid using his technique as much as possible, instead focusing on locating Ultimate Mechamaru quickly.

This training hall truly had been reinforced by advanced Barrier Technique. Even under Ultimate Mechamaru's relentless bombardment, it still retained its basic shape.

In the end, when Inumaki Toge's voice had already grown hoarse and distorted, seemingly close to its limit, he finally found Ultimate Mechamaru. The tools he had used to conceal himself had all run out, and with the Cursed Speech User's target clearly fixed on him, Ultimate Mechamaru alone probably would not withstand more than a few attacks.

Left with no choice, Ultimate Mechamaru chose to forfeit. He had put enormous effort into this puppet body, after all. Surrendering now would at least save the puppet.

If the environment had been different, I might've been able to fight... Ultimate Mechamaru thought as he returned to his seat.

The moment Inumaki Toge returned, everyone immediately crowded around to check on him, and the throat medicine they had prepared was promptly handed over.

The situation was basically settled. Tokyo had already earned three points; at worst, they would draw. As long as they won one more match, the victor of this Exchange Event would once again be Tokyo Jujutsu High.

At that moment, Zenin Maki raised her head. "It should be my turn." Sure enough, Yaga Masamichi then announced the next match: Zenin Maki versus Momo Nishimiya.

The final result went without saying. Flying through the air near the ceiling, Momo Nishimiya kept trying to attack Zenin Maki with wind blades stirred up by her broom, but Zenin Maki blocked every one of them with slashes guided by her animalistic instincts.

Then, using the layout of the room, Zenin Maki rapidly ran along the walls, leapt into the air, and knocked Momo Nishimiya down. What followed was the cruel sight of an "adult" bullying a "child."

"Zenin Maki wins. Tokyo gains another point."

"Woohoo!"

Shen Yuanyi and Panda had intended to give Zenin Maki an exaggerated welcome back, but under the near-murderous look in her eyes, they sheepishly kept their mouths shut.

"Next is Okkotsu Yuta versus Kamo Noritoshi."