In Danger, Arriving!

The cursed spirit walked step by step towards Mei Mei, its lips curling into a grin, reveling in the pleasure brought by its power.

"Human, entertain me to your heart's content."

"BOOM--!"

The cursed spirit's legs exerted force, cracking the ground, and its entire body turned into an afterimage, shooting towards Mei Mei.

It formed a fist with one hand, and dazzling lightning erupted from its knuckles, terrifyingly potent.

"I hope the others arrive soon."

Mei Mei gripped her axe and met the attack.

There's no choice, I just have to brace myself.

"CLANG!!"

The axe and fist collided, emitting a crisp sound. Lightning surged from the fist, and with just one blow, half of Mei Mei's body went numb.

The immense power sent her flying back again.

I'm completely outmatched!

Mei Mei's face turned somewhat pale, her breathing shallow.

Feeling the numbness spreading through her body, she knew it would be too late if she didn't run now.

The opponent was far beyond her capabilities, whether in physical combat or any other aspect.

"What? Human! Already giving up! I haven't even used my full strength yet!"

The cursed spirit gave her no chance to catch her breath, its lightning-wrapped fist striking again.

Mei Mei could only parry with her axe, while secretly activating her cursed technique, Black Bird Manipulation.

"Human, your physical combat skills are quite good. Hurry up and show me your cursed technique!"

The cursed spirit's expression was slightly manic. It had a hobby of observing others' cursed techniques to perfect its own evolution.

"My cursed technique is super weak, but if you want to see it, it's not impossible."

Mei Mei parried the opponent's attacks with her axe, grumbling.

If her cursed technique wasn't so weak, why would she have trained her physical combat skills so rigorously?

However, even though her cursed technique was weak, it wasn't entirely without a signature move.

After one exchange, Mei Mei quickly pushed back and snapped her fingers with one hand, "Kamikaze!"

"SWOOSH!!"

A crow shot out like a bullet towards the cursed spirit's head, its speed almost exceeding the speed of sound.

Sensing the movement from behind, the cursed spirit instinctively shifted to the side.

"BANG!"

The crow struck, its terrifying power blowing off half of the cursed spirit's head.

If the cursed spirit hadn't instinctively turned its head, this strike would have been a headshot.

Seeing this, Mei Mei looked regretful. "So close. But this should make things much easier, right?"

She was confident in her self-destructing crow technique. If the opponent had been an ordinary Special Grade, they probably would have been exorcised by now.

Unfortunately, this opponent was not simple.

"Hahahaha!"

"Human! You actually managed to injure me!"

The cursed spirit became instantly excited. The half-destroyed head rapidly regenerated, and it condensed a cross-shaped lightning sword in its hand, composed of pure lightning element.

The surging lightning between its black scales grew brighter, its terrifying cursed energy making it hard to breathe.

This is no longer a game...

Mei Mei frowned. Cursed spirits naturally had strong regenerative abilities, and this was a Special Grade. She couldn't even scratch it.

Even if all the Grade 1 sorcerers came, it would be useless. This cursed spirit could only be dealt with by a Special Grade.

"Uta-hime! Retreat!"

Mei Mei retreated rapidly, preparing to withdraw. What was money compared to her life?

"Human, where do you think you're going?"

The cursed spirit's towering figure appeared behind Mei Mei like lightning. It raised the lightning sword in its hand, a cruel smile twisting its lips.

Playing with it, it could afford to hold back. But if she tried to run, there would only be one outcome.

"Mei Mei-nee!"

Uta-hime's pupils contracted, her heart skipping a beat. How could they possibly defeat such a powerful cursed spirit!

"Sigh... I haven't saved enough money yet..."

Meimei had no time to react. Watching the Thunder Sword descend, she felt a pang of regret.

She hadn't saved enough money, but it should be enough for her brother for a lifetime. At least, her brother wouldn't have to worry.

"Finally found you."

A figure appeared above the curse spirit as if teleporting. He gripped the Special Grade cursed tool, Cloud Wanderer, in one hand, the veins on his arm bulging like coiled dragons. He smashed it down towards the curse spirit.

"Hm?!"

The curse spirit suddenly sensed danger and turned its head sharply.

What greeted it was a crimson staff.

"Boom--!!"

Its body couldn't react in time. It was sent flying like a bow, crashing into a tall building and destroying every structure in its path.

"Another blooming maiden almost met her end. Are you alright?"

Zen'in Shinsuke looked at Meimei, who could barely lift her axe, and asked.

"Hoo... I'm fine for now. I almost died. If they don't raise the reward this time, they'll hear from me and the school."

Meimei struggled to get up, her body still tingling.

"Meimei-nee! Are you okay!"

Utahime rushed over, supporting Meimei with a face full of worry.

"Little Utahime, don't worry about me."

Meimei leaned on Utahime's shoulder, comforting her.

"You two should get away from here. Leave this to me."

Zen'in Shinsuke looked at the curse spirit rising from the ruins, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

He finally caught a Special Grade, and not just any ordinary one.

"Be careful, this curse spirit isn't simple!" Meimei quickly warned.

"So you have no cursed energy. No wonder I didn't sense you."

The curse spirit walked out of the ruins, the shredded flesh on its head beginning to regenerate. After being smashed twice on the head, it was getting angry.

"Human with no cursed energy, have you thought about how you want to die?"

The curse spirit gripped the Thunder Sword in its hand and swung it fiercely. A bolt of lightning split from the sword and struck towards Zen'in Shinsuke.

"Boom!"

Zen'in Shinsuke casually swung Cloud Wanderer, shattering the lightning.

"Another curse spirit that looks down on people."

Zen'in Shinsuke brought Cloud Wanderer together, forming a staff, and then turned into an afterimage, charging towards the curse spirit.

If he killed it too late, someone else might snatch it away. He didn't want the prey he had in sight to escape.

"Hmph! Your speed is the only thing that's decent."

The curse spirit snorted, lightning erupting all over its body as it engaged Zen'in Shinsuke.

Two afterimages continuously collided, erupting with violent tremors. They fought from the ground to the air, and from the air back to the ground.

"Gulp."

"Meimei-nee, should we help him?"

Iori Utahime swallowed, looking at Zen'in Shinsuke, who was fighting evenly with this powerful Special Grade curse spirit, and felt a sense of shock.

Was this aloof uncle really this strong?

"How can we help? Your cursed technique is useless against him."

Meimei shot her a look.

The opponent had no cursed energy, so Utahime's support cursed technique wouldn't work. She was injured now and couldn't help him either.

As for the other sorcerers below Grade 2, it would be good if they didn't get in the way.

"That's true."

Utahime realized that this aloof uncle had no cursed energy.

"Speaking of which, wasn't Kusakabe-sensei supposed to be in the same group as him? Why isn't he here yet?"

"Haa... haa... haa... Finally made it!"

Just as Utahime was wondering, Kusakabe arrived, panting heavily.

He had driven recklessly and then run to get here so quickly. Seeing Zen'in Shinsuke already fighting the Special Grade curse spirit, he couldn't help but mutter:

"Did Shinsuke-sensei fly here?"

"How is it? Utahime, Meimei, are you two alright?"

Kusakabe looked at the two of them and asked.

"If Teacher Jin Sakai had been even a second later, you wouldn't have seen us."

The songstress briefly recounted the situation.

"Is this cursed spirit that strong?"

Kusukabe watched Jin Sakai of the Zenin clan, who attacked with a smile like a madman, and the Special Grade cursed spirit, who was struggling to fend him off, and fell into thought.

"By the way, Teacher Jin Sakai just wanted to kill the cursed spirit, right?"

What rumor could prove himself? This scene looked like someone trying to prove themselves?