Shuten Doji

A Jujutsu Sorcerer commanding thousands of Cursed Spirits could stir up trouble all too easily. Even if most of those Cursed Spirits were low-grade, they were more than deadly enough in a place packed with ordinary people like Shinjuku.

Geto Suguru's declaration had thoroughly rattled every faction. Before the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons he announced had even begun, preparations were already underway in both locations.

The most obvious change was the tightened security inspections. Most Curse Users had cases hanging over their heads, and some of the more brazen ones had even been on wanted lists for a long time.

To prevent those Curse Users from causing trouble ahead of time, they could only resort to such clumsy measures. Besides, figuring out a reason to lock down the area once the Cursed Spirits attacked would also be troublesome.

Shinjuku and Kyoto were not small places that could simply be sealed off at will. Setting up a barrier would settle things quickly enough, but that was a headache for the higher-ups and the authorities. What did it have to do with Shen Yuanyi?

In truth, though everyone was tense, the Jujutsu Sorcerers were not worried about the final victory. Even the higher-ups who did not get along with Gojo Satoru would never doubt his title as "the strongest."

Unfortunately, there was only one Gojo Satoru. No... perhaps fortunately, there was only one Gojo Satoru. The higher-ups who had been crushed so thoroughly by him probably thought even one was already too many.

What concerned them most was how to minimize the losses, as well as the unknown trump cards on Geto Suguru's side. In fact, if not for Geto Suguru's past at Jujutsu High, he would never have been allowed to continue stirring up trouble until now.

Back then, Gojo Satoru had not exorcised Geto Suguru, while Tsukumo Yuki, one of the three Special Grade Sorcerers, had spent most of her time away from Japan. Could those long-established factions have exorcised Geto Suguru without relying on Gojo Satoru? They could have. After all, not every Jujutsu Sorcerer was as impossible to deal with as Gojo Satoru.

But in the end, they concluded that it was not worth the cost. Geto Suguru had set up some kind of religion to cause trouble, but Japan had its own national conditions. It was merely a cult.

Geto Suguru only used that organization to gather Cursed Spirits and recruit companions. What he had done was still less serious than the Curse User groups of the past, which was why the jujutsu higher-ups had not assembled forces to destroy Geto Suguru's faction.

But they had not expected him to come knocking first. Like a murder notice, he had even told them where and when he would strike. He was truly audacious...

On the evening of the twenty-fourth, Shinjuku, once crowded with people, was now desolate, with only Jujutsu Sorcerers on the streets. Nearly everyone at the school capable of fighting had come, except Okkotsu Yuta and Maki.

Okkotsu was absent because of Rika. If a Curse User ambushed him and caused him to lose control, he would not distinguish between friend and foe. It would be a disaster for both sides.

As for Maki, the battlefield was too complicated. She relied on her glasses to see Cursed Spirits, and if her Cursed Tool was damaged in the melee, she would be placed at too great a disadvantage and might end up in danger. So the two of them had been left at Jujutsu High.

Even Gen Naine had come with the others. According to Nanami-senpai, she had improved quickly as well. Gojo Satoru had also brought bad news: Dojigiri, the blade confiscated earlier, had been discovered missing. Based on their judgment, Geto Suguru's side had most likely stolen it.

"Don't tell me he already has a way to revive Shuten Doji? There's no information on this Imaginary Vengeful Spirit. It could be a real pain to deal with."

Hearing Shen Yuanyi's complaint, Gojo Satoru rested both hands behind his head and said casually, "Then leave it to me when the time comes. Hmm... Genichi, you're not trying to slack off, are you? Didn't you take down a Special Grade Cursed Spirit last time?"

"Haha... the capable should work harder."

"That's not what you said last time. Anyway, be more careful this time. He must be planning something..."

Before he finished speaking, Gojo Satoru suddenly looked toward the horizon. "They're here." A vast mass of shadows had appeared in that direction. Not only in the sky—Cursed Spirits of all kinds were surging toward them across the ground as well. Watching the Cursed Spirits pour in like a black tide, most of the Jujutsu Sorcerers present felt their scalps go numb.

How many people would ever witness a scene like this? Not to mention that among them were presences with terrifying auras. The surrounding Cursed Spirits deliberately kept their distance from them. Gojo Satoru then turned to look at the top of a distant high-rise. "That attention-seeking guy isn't even on the battlefield."

At the top of the building, Miguel stood with another man and woman, looking in Gojo Satoru's direction. "We need to hold Gojo Satoru back. I hope Geto finishes his work quickly. Is the Imaginary Vengeful Spirit—Shuten Doji—ready?"

The man beside him had three Cursed Blades hanging at his waist: Dojigiri, Onikiri, and Kumo-kiri. Hearing this, he looked toward Nanami Kento, Gen Naine, and the other Jujutsu Sorcerers nearby, then nodded. "Yeah. We'll follow the plan in a moment. Send Cursed Spirits and the others to draw their attention, then I'll wait for a chance to launch a sneak attack. As long as Shuten Doji is restored, this mission will become much easier. We might even be able to cripple them badly right here."

Miguel took out a whip made from numerous rope-like strands woven from something resembling hair, then leaped down toward the ground. "Then let's begin!"

Shen Yuanyi climbed to a higher position, from where he could take in nearly the entire battlefield. There were not only Jujutsu Sorcerers from Jujutsu High here, but also many unfamiliar faces. Some Jujutsu Sorcerers from Jujutsu High had gone to support Kyoto as well. For instance, Nanami Kento had remained in Shinjuku, while Mei Mei had gone to Kyoto. Similar arrangements had been made elsewhere too.

The densely packed Cursed Spirits soon collided with the Jujutsu Sorcerers. Just as Principal Yaga had said, most of these Cursed Spirits were Grade 2 or lower trash. Those above that naturally had designated people to handle them. What they needed to watch out for were the high-grade Cursed Spirits; often, a weaker Jujutsu Sorcerer could die at their hands in a single exchange.

Shen Yuanyi stood on high ground, supporting the others with long-range attacks. A single arrow was enough to eliminate weaker Cursed Spirits. He was also deliberately controlling his use of Cursed Energy, trying to sustain the fight for as long as possible and leave room for unforeseen circumstances. Sometimes, merely wounding a Cursed Spirit to coordinate with someone else was enough.

Meanwhile, Ijichi suddenly hurried over to Gojo Satoru. "Gojo-san, there's some information I believe I must report to you. It concerns the matter you asked me to investigate earlier."

After hearing him out, Gojo Satoru thought for a moment before suddenly calling out, "Panda, Toge, Genichi!"

Panda and Inumaki Toge, who were closer, looked over. "What is it, Gojo-sensei?" Gojo Satoru reached out and pulled the two of them over. As he drew obscure runes beneath their feet, he spoke quickly, "Geto is at Jujutsu High right now! I'll send you back first."

Boom!

With a tremendous crash, a "small mountain" rose from a nearby street. It was a Cursed Spirit whose body was made of stone, and Jujutsu Sorcerers could vaguely be seen around it, struggling to fight it.

Then a figure dropped from the sky and split most of its head apart with a single slash. Gojo Satoru seemed to hear a roar, and an eerie presence immediately rose from that spot, instantly overwhelming the aura of the enormous stone Cursed Spirit.

Gojo Satoru also saw Shen Yuanyi leap down from his elevated position and vanish from sight. He was surely rushing there. At the same time, a dark-skinned figure in white clothing, clearly a foreigner, appeared on Gojo Satoru's side.

Gojo Satoru did not wait for Shen Yuanyi. Forming a hand seal, he said, "Go back first and protect Okkotsu and Maki. I'll deal with this freak and return immediately." With that, he suddenly clapped his hands together. Panda and Inumaki Toge instantly vanished from within the circular rune formation, leaving behind only a sunken, cracked pit in the ground.

Moments earlier, Shen Yuanyi had immediately noticed the commotion after hearing the loud noise from that direction. That's Nanami-senpai? As Nanami Kento swiftly killed the Cursed Spirit, Shen Yuanyi also helped resolve the danger facing Jujutsu Sorcerers in two other locations.

Then Nanami Kento's roar pulled his attention back. When Shen Yuanyi looked over, he saw a Curse User who had somehow appeared behind Gen Naine not far away. She stared in disbelief at the blade protruding through her chest.

The black patterns on it began writhing like living creatures after touching her blood, then slipped into her body in the blink of an eye.

"Dojigiri."

As Gen Naine's consciousness began to scatter, one final thought flashed through her mind. Then, she seemed to hear wild laughter ringing faintly in her ears. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nanami-senpai rushing toward her.

The moment Shen Yuanyi saw the Curse User ambush Gen Naine, he knew something was wrong. That strike had not hit her heart. By all rights, if she were sent to Ieiri Shoko in the rear quickly enough, she could still be saved. Yet for some reason, Shen Yuanyi's heart began pounding wildly.

"That presence... Dojigiri, Shuten Doji, a descendant of the Gen Family!"

These clues flashed through Shen Yuanyi's mind as he leaped into the air, linking themselves together. Then he cursed, "Damn it, I'm too late. No... it's not too late yet!"

Arriving there in an instant, Shen Yuanyi saw twisted ecstasy filling Gen Naine's slightly raised eyes. Red light gleamed within them. That presence, like a sea beneath dense storm clouds, with violent winds rising before a savage tempest broke loose, could never have belonged to Gen Naine herself.

Wheel of Time: Reverse

The moment the Cursed Technique Reversal touched the current "Gen Naine," Shen Yuanyi knew that his attempt to reverse her to her previous state had failed. The existence inside Gen Naine was obstructing his technique. That being had already become one with Gen Naine.

The oppressive force of its aura far surpassed that dice Cursed Spirit from before. That one had also been a Special Grade Cursed Spirit! If Shen Yuanyi wanted to reverse Gen Naine to how she had been moments ago, he would inevitably have to touch that being and reverse it as well.

This opponent is anything but ordinary. With my current strength, reversing both of them back to their previous state is practically impossible. I need another way.

Right, the soul! Gen Naine's technique allows her soul to leave her body while retaining its state. If I reverse only the state of her soul, then exorcise the curse that stole her body, she might be able to return to normal.

With that thought, Shen Yuanyi did his utmost to shift the target of his technique from "Gen Naine" as a whole to her soul. This was much easier. Feeling his technique activate successfully, he soon saw Gen Naine's mist-like white figure appear beside him, staring in shock at the other version of herself.

That "Gen Naine" raised her head. Crimson markings emerged across her face, and her originally black hair was dyed red. The being then took a deep breath, revealing an intoxicated expression, before opening all five eyes at once. Besides her original pair, an eye grew from each side of her forehead and above her brow. Each contained three scarlet pupils.

Her original body began expanding with explosive cracks of bone and joints, only stopping once she stood over two meters tall. She stroked one of the five horns growing from her head, her greedy gaze sweeping across everything around her. "I have returned to the world of men. How wonderful~" Then her howling Cursed Energy, along with her commanding roar, spread in all directions.

"I am the King of a Hundred Demons—Shuten Doji! Offer all that you have unto me!"