The Battle Ends, and a New Plan

Suguru Geto was undoubtedly a true genius at close-quarters combat.

After acquiring Playful Cloud, Suguru Geto had sought out his previous coaches in fighting, sanda, and other disciplines to ask about using a Three-Section Staff, but he had failed to find a suitable teacher.

After all, the Three-Section Staff was far too niche, and it was all too easy to strike yourself while practicing.

That really hurt.

Why did you ask how Eiji knew?

Because when Suguru Geto came to Eiji for treatment after getting injured by Playful Cloud, Eiji had given it a few swings himself.

Even so, Suguru Geto had still learned a thing or two.

With only some basic moves taught by a martial arts coach and a few scenes from movies, he had brought his Three-Section Staff skills to a modest level.

Given a few more years of practice, he would surely master it.

Incidentally, Suguru Geto had also become a fan of Jet Li. Eiji recalled that the superstar seemed to have used a Three-Section Staff before, so he went looking.

And he had actually found a disc of him using Shaolin Nunchaku.

After watching it, Suguru Geto had become a fan as well.

Clang, clang, bam.

Another strike lashed across Kuchisake-onna. Suguru Geto gripped one end segment in his left hand and the middle segment in his right, whipping the upper segment back and forth with both hands.

The unending shadows of the staff and its unpredictable attacks left Kuchisake-onna unable to defend herself.

His right hand reached forward and seized the front short segment.

Suguru Geto used the upper and lower segments like short spears, thrusting them out again and again.

The short staffs continuously struck Kuchisake-onna's body, making her scream repeatedly.

The relentless attacks made Suguru Geto's arms ache. He stepped forward with his right foot, channeling power from his legs through his waist and into his right hand as he thrust with all his might.

Kuchisake-onna was sent flying again by the tremendous force carried by Playful Cloud.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

More than a dozen pairs of scissors flew out from around Kuchisake-onna.

Suguru Geto grasped the middle short segment with both hands and spun it forcefully.

The chain drove the upper and lower segments into a whirling fan, knocking every pair of scissors away.

"Aaaah! Die!"

Kuchisake-onna roared as a massive pair of scissors more than ten meters long descended from above.

The blades opened, then snapped shut in an instant, trying to cut Suguru Geto in half.

"Good."

There was not the slightest trace of fear on Suguru Geto's face. He even let out a hearty laugh.

Grasping one short segment in his right hand, Suguru Geto swung Playful Cloud with all his strength.

Crack.

The sound of metal breaking rang out as Playful Cloud shattered both blades of the scissors.

The enormous scissors crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Suguru Geto burst from the dust and launched another attack on Kuchisake-onna.

Kuchisake-onna drove the scissors in her hands into the ground, and then pairs of scissors emerged one after another from the earth.

Sharp blades filled the space around Kuchisake-onna.

"Oh? I see. A forest made of scissors? Long weapons like spears and Three-Section Staffs really are difficult to use in complicated terrain like a forest."

Suguru Geto expressed his approval of Kuchisake-onna's move.

"But these things are useless against Playful Cloud!"

Suguru Geto flung Playful Cloud upward.

His right hand, gripping the tail end, smashed Playful Cloud viciously into the ground.

Bang.

The immense force smashed a deep crater into the earth.

Playful Cloud did not lose momentum, carving a wound through the ground along the path of Suguru Geto's swing.

Countless fragments of rock shot toward Kuchisake-onna like cannonballs.

Kuchisake-onna swept both hands out, summoning a mass of scissors before herself to block the flying stones.

Without pausing to see whether the stone barrage had worked, Suguru Geto followed immediately after it was launched.

Facing the wall formed of countless scissors,

Suguru Geto swung Playful Cloud with all his strength again.

Crack.

The wall collapsed.

Reflected in the shattered scissors were Kuchisake-onna's terrified face and Suguru Geto's wide grin.

Boom!

Playful Cloud came crashing down, but Kuchisake-onna no longer had the strength to dodge.

"Is this the end?"

Lying on the ground, unable to muster even a shred of strength, Kuchisake-onna looked at the man who had yet to have his fill with terror.

"Well, I suppose this works. It's been a long time since I've fought this enjoyably."

Suguru Geto lightly flicked Playful Cloud.

The Three-Section Staff instantly folded together, and Suguru Geto held it in his left hand.

Suguru Geto's fingers were long enough that he could easily hold the folded Three-Section Staff.

He raised his right hand, and a black vortex appeared. Without the slightest resistance, Kuchisake-onna was turned into a Cursed Spirit Jade by Suguru Geto.

Eiji even saw a trace of relief in Kuchisake-onna's eyes.

Suguru Geto tilted back his head and swallowed the Cursed Spirit Jade, then covered his mouth tightly with his right hand.

Before long, Kuchisake-onna was fully digested and absorbed by Suguru Geto, becoming a Cursed Spirit under his command.

Once everything was over, Suguru Geto walked over to the convoy.

Waiting there were Qiongqi, Little Black, the Special Grade Demon Cursed Spirit, Eiji gazing up at the sky, research assistants whose eyes were filled with envious admiration, and several Old Professors gathered together in animated discussion.

"It's over. What do we do next?"

After smiling and nodding to the assistants staring at him with admiration, Suguru Geto turned to ask Eiji about the next arrangements.

"Go collect the commission payment from the Assistant Supervisor first, then find that car."

As he spoke, Eiji pointed to a black sedan behind the convoy.

"The driver will take you to the food street near your home. Eat, then head home on your own."

"What about you?"

Suguru Geto nodded in understanding.

"I'll send these people back first, have a late-night meal at the research institute, then go home."

The two had been busy since noon and had yet to eat dinner.

"Got it. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

The two waved goodbye.

Soon, the small convoy set off back toward the research institute.

Eiji stared out the window in boredom, his thoughts beginning to wander.

Suguru Geto should be nearing his peak by now, right?

Based on the information revealed from various angles in the story, Suguru Geto had unleashed more than six thousand Cursed Spirits during the Night of a Hundred Demons.

Each of the two battlefields had a Special Grade Cursed Spirit leading it, with more than ten Grade 1 Cursed Spirits serving as the main force.

Suguru Geto himself, when heading to Tokyo Jujutsu High, had brought along the Special Grade Imaginary Vengeful Spirit, Incarnated Tamamo-no-Mae, as well as the remaining four thousand-odd Cursed Spirits.

When he clashed beams with Yuta Okkotsu at the end, he had even used Maximum Technique to fuse 4,461 Cursed Spirits in one go.

In other words, peak Suguru Geto possessed at least three Special Grade Cursed Spirits and dozens of Grade 1 Cursed Spirits?

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

But when Eiji considered the lineup of the Jujutsu World, he felt that this force really was not enough.

Aoi Todo alone could take down five Grade 1 Cursed Spirits and one Special Grade Cursed Spirit.

There was Mei Mei, powerful enough to exorcise Special Grade Cursed Spirits; Kusokabe, who was likely even stronger than Mei Mei; and outstanding Grade 1 and Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerers like Nanami.

Thinking about it that way, two Special Grade Cursed Spirits and twenty or thirty Grade 1 Cursed Spirits really were not much to look at.

Suguru Geto now possessed three high-end combatants: the Special Grade Demon Cursed Spirit, Rainbow Dragon, and Kuchisake-onna.

He also had more than ten Grade 1 Cursed Spirits, with his total number of Cursed Spirits exceeding one thousand.

He was already capable of launching a small-scale Night of a Hundred Demons.

But Eiji was not weak either. He had Little Black, nearly Special Grade; Qiongqi, a Special Grade; Little White, a Grade 1; multiple Grade 1 Shadow Servants; and a second Special Grade Chimera Beast that would soon be complete.

"Tch. But looking at our raw strength, it seems I'm a little weaker. No, bringing Mahoraga under control needs to be put on the agenda."

With Toji's help last time, Eiji had successfully tested Mahoraga's strength. Ever since then, Eiji had been devising a plan to bring Mahoraga under control.

Eiji believed that it would not be long before the strongest Shikigami completely became his power.