Strong Special Grade!

"Slurp, slurp..."

In Shibuya, Shinsuke Zenin and Kusakabe were slurping noodles at a ramen shop.

"It's been three days, and there's been no sign of anything. Do you think that Cursed Spirit has already left?"

Kusakabe grumbled while eating.

They had scoured the area for three days, but not only had they not found a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, they hadn't even found a decent Cursed Spirit.

There was no activity elsewhere either.

"Don't be so impatient. Can't you just consider it a few days of paid vacation?"

Shinsuke Zenin slurped his noodles with relish. Since all expenses for the next few days were reimbursable, he wasn't in a hurry at all.

In fact, if Kusakabe hadn't been following him, he would have definitely used the company funds for some high-end entertainment.

"That's true. I estimate that if we don't find it soon, the higher-ups will recall the mission. I should take this opportunity to relax."

"Oh right, Teacher Shinsuke, I heard you're very interested in powerful Cursed Spirits. You must really want to find this Special Grade Cursed Spirit, right?"

Kusakabe suddenly remembered rumors he'd heard at school.

The strongest impression Shinsuke Zenin left on everyone at Jujutsu High was... his passion for exorcising powerful Cursed Spirits.

Rumor had it that Teacher Shinsuke Zenin had no Cursed Energy, which was why he was so eager to prove himself by defeating powerful Cursed Spirits, proving that even without Cursed Energy, he was no weaker than other Jujutsu Sorcerers!

"It's alright. I'm just a bit curious about how strong a Special Grade Cursed Spirit is,"

Shinsuke Zenin said casually.

He knew of many Special Grade Cursed Spirits, but so far, besides Suguru Geto's Tamamo-no-Mae Incarnation and Rika, whom he'd seen not long ago, he hadn't personally encountered any other Special Grade, let alone fought one.

"Hello, hello, can all teachers hear me? Meimei-nee and I have found that Special Grade Cursed Spirit. We've already put down our tabs, so please, all teachers... Ah! No! Meimei-nee! Zzzzt..."

The voice from the specially made walkie-talkie on the table was cut off halfway through by a booming sound from the other end.

"Hey! Utahime!?"

Kusakabe's expression instantly turned serious. Just as he was saying they hadn't found anything for so long, they immediately received "good news."

"Teacher Shinsuke, we have to go! Huh? Teacher Shinsuke?"

By the time Kusakabe reacted, the person beside him had already vanished.

"Damn it, is this what you call 'a bit curious'?" Kusakabe exclaimed in shock.

However, there was no time for him to dwell on it, and he immediately set off towards the area Utahime and the others were patrolling.

Meanwhile.

Elsewhere in Shibuya, Satoru Gojo also received the message from the walkie-talkie.

However, instead of rushing over immediately, he gazed at the man before him, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Are you really going to see this through to the end?"

"There's still hope if you turn back now."

"Satoru, what are you talking about? My path is the one that leads to enlightenment,"

Suguru Geto said with a faint smile.

Since he'd gotten busy with his own endeavors, he felt he was living more and more easily, with clear goals every day.

Expand the influence, expand the influence, and expand the influence some more.

Once he possessed enough power, he would be able to eliminate all non-sorcerers in the world in one fell swoop.

At that time, he would truly realize his wish that Cursed Spirits would no longer appear in the world, and he believed Satoru Gojo would eventually understand him.

"Alright, Satoru, our idle chat ends here. I'm going to absorb that Cursed Spirit."

Suguru Geto had naturally heard the voice from Satoru Gojo's walkie-talkie just now.

That Cursed Spirit was his main target.

He didn't have many Special Grade Cursed Spirits. He had to get his hands on this rapidly growing Special Grade Cursed Spirit; it was crucial for his upcoming plans.

"Suguru, do you really think I'll let you go?"

Satoru Gojo blocked Suguru Geto's path, staring at him.

Regardless of their relationship, they were now adversaries.

If Suguru Geto refused to turn back, he couldn't just let the other man continue down the wrong path.

"Snap!"

Suguru Geto snapped his fingers, and several figures appeared around them, all members of Suguru's gang.

He knew Satoru Gojo wouldn't let him go easily, so he had prepared for this.

"Just hold him off."

With that, Suguru Geto's figure turned into an afterimage as he rushed towards the Special Grade Cursed Spirit.

Satoru Gojo's eyes narrowed, wanting to pursue him, but he was interrupted by an attack the next second.

The members of Suguru's gang spread out, engaging Satoru Gojo in long-range attacks.

They didn't need to defeat the opponent, nor could they defeat the opponent. They only needed to stall Satoru Gojo for a little while.

Seeing this, Satoru Gojo had a murderous intent for a brief moment.

He wanted to go all out, kill these people, and then catch up to Geto Suguru.

But that thought vanished just as quickly.

Looking at the few people with solemn expressions, Satoru Gojo's expression suddenly relaxed. "Suguru, you calculated even this to perfection, huh?"

"However, you probably won't get that Cursed Spirit."

Geto Suguru had calculated Satoru Gojo perfectly, and Satoru Gojo chose to trust the others.

Jujutsu High wasn't just him, after all...

A massive curtain enveloped a section of Shibuya, preventing ordinary people from entering while also reducing panic.

"BOOM--!!"

Inside the curtain, a huge burst of fire erupted.

Meimei was sent flying backward from the center of the explosion, stabilizing herself with a backflip.

"Meimei-senpai!"

Utahime's face was tense, her eyes filled with worry. She rushed forward anxiously, wanting to check if Meimei was injured.

"Don't come any closer! Everyone, fall back!"

Meimei frowned slightly and shouted loudly.

She gripped a giant axe with one hand, her gaze fixed on the tall figure faintly visible within the flames.

"Human, you are too weak."

A humanoid Cursed Spirit, at least three meters tall, emerged from the flames. Black scales covered its firm muscles, and blue molten liquid flowed through the gaps in the scales, occasionally crackling with lightning. A long tail dragged on the ground behind it.

Two black, backward-growing horns replaced where its eyes should be. Just by its appearance, this guy gave off an aura of terrifying strength.

"Now, even that guy is no match for me."

The Cursed Spirit sensed the auras of the people around it, which felt exceptionally weak.

It had already evolved once. Even if that man from last time came, it would fear nothing.

It now only craved a fight with that man, to defeat him, and evolve to the next stage.

This was a Special Grade Cursed Spirit with extremely high talent, who only wished to become stronger.

Meimei felt like abandoning her post. This guy was clearly not someone they could handle.

Just her, a Grade 1 Sorcerer, along with Utahime, an auxiliary Quasi-Grade 1 Sorcerer, and some Grade 2 Sorcerers, probably couldn't hold this guy off for more than a few minutes.

She had encountered more than one Special Grade Cursed Spirit, but none were as powerful as the one before her.

A Cursed Spirit of this level would require at least a Special Grade Sorcerer to deal with.

"Utahime, prepare to retreat."

Meimei made up her mind. She would stall for a few minutes. If the others didn't arrive, she wouldn't take this reward. Money could be earned again, but if she lost her life, who would spend her money?

Hearing the tone of Meimei's voice, Utahime also realized the power of the entity before them.

From the moment she encountered the Cursed Spirit, she had used her Cursed Technique, "Solo Forbidden Area," which could temporarily enhance the Cursed Energy output of any Sorcerer within a certain range.

Even so, they were completely outmatched.

She could even feel that the Cursed Spirit wasn't fighting seriously, merely toying with them.

"I understand!" Utahime nodded.

If the situation turned dire, they could only retreat first.