"Human! You're strong! But you're still no match for me!"
The Cursed Spirit roared as the wounds covering its body rapidly healed.
At the same time, thunder boomed between its scales. "Go to hell!"
He swung the thunder sword, and a thunder dragon surged through the clouds before crashing down like divine punishment, blasting toward Shinsuke Zenin.
The power of the lightning was not to be underestimated. Shinsuke Zenin kept dodging. Given his physical strength, even taking the lightning head-on would not cause him any serious harm, but there was no need for that.
Watching the arrogant Cursed Spirit, he pondered how he could kill it in a single blow.
This Cursed Spirit was no weaker than the Four Calamities. Its talent was comparable to Mahito's, and it had even mastered Lightning Power.
If it continued growing, it might one day reach Sukuna's level.
After all, Cursed Spirits that wholeheartedly desired to become stronger were rare.
"What a nuisance."
Shinsuke Zenin was already getting impatient. Normally, he might have had some fun playing with this Cursed Spirit.
But now, Geto Suguru and Satoru Gojo could arrive at any moment.
By then, it would be difficult to claim the kill.
Glancing at Play Cloud in his hand, Shinsuke Zenin felt somewhat regretful. If he had known, he would have plucked a few more Cursed Tools from Toji.
Play Cloud's strength was indeed off the charts, but against an opponent with such high defense, speed, and recovery, he still needed to use the Soul Liberation Blade to kill it instantly.
"Hahahahaha! Human! You know how powerful I am now, don't you?"
"A mere sorcerer is nothing but a tool for me to grow stronger! And you, a guy who can't even use a Cursed Technique, can't help me at all! Just resign yourself to death!"
The Cursed Spirit did not want to remain entangled with the man before it.
"Domain Expansion!"
"Calamitous God Thunder Hall!"
Using the surrounding buildings as its vessel, the Cursed Spirit activated its Domain and enveloped Shinsuke Zenin.
Endless lightning rampaged through the Domain. Something resembling a heavenly gate appeared within it, while the Cursed Spirit stood below and roused countless bolts of thunder to roar.
"Using the floors as the Domain barrier? Not too stupid, I suppose."
Shinsuke Zenin gazed at the lightning filling the sky without the slightest hint of tension.
If he wanted, he could leave the floor immediately and escape the opponent's Domain.
The Domain was powerful, but it could not trap him, and its sure-hit effect was useless against him as well.
If the opponent had not used the floors as its shell, its Domain would not have been able to drag him inside at all.
"I know you're special, so I'll kill you before you can escape."
The entire Domain was filled with lightning. The moment the opponent took a single step, the lightning would engulf him, unless he endured its damage and forced his way out.
Looking at the Cursed Spirit, which seemed certain of victory, Shinsuke Zenin smiled faintly. "Saying you're not too stupid doesn't mean you're not stupid."
He could simply jump out of the Domain, wait for it to end and for the opponent to enter a Cursed Technique burnout state, then slowly deal with it.
Without its Cursed Technique, did the opponent really think it could defeat him with nothing but physical combat?
"You can keep up with my speed because of this Cursed Technique that lets you use lightning, right?
I should warn you: aside from speed, your physical combat ability is no different from that of a newborn baby in front of me."
The moment his voice fell, Shinsuke Zenin's figure appeared before the Cursed Spirit, lightning crackling across his body.
"How is that possible?!"
The Cursed Spirit's pupils shrank. The man had actually dared to endure its lightning head-on!
Clutching Play Cloud, Shinsuke Zenin bared a vicious grin. "I forgot to tell you—my body has pretty good resistance to Cursed Techniques."
"Boom—!!"
Play Cloud swung, sending the Cursed Spirit flying.
The surrounding lightning surged toward him in a frenzy, but most of it was blocked by Play Cloud. Only a small portion struck his body.
The powerful resistance granted by Heavenly Restriction left him completely unaffected.
Only his clothes were shredded by the lightning, which made him somewhat uncomfortable.
"You should be the first person to get beaten up inside his own Domain."
Shinsuke Zenin attacked again, brutally pummeling the opponent.
The opponent was gradually unable to keep up with his speed and could only focus on dodging.
Its body's recovery speed was beginning to fall behind the rate at which it was being injured.
"Crack, crack."
Outside.
Kusakabe was wielding a long blade and hacking at the barrier.
The moment the Cursed Spirit activated its Domain, he had taken action.
The Domain was extremely sturdy from within, but much more fragile from the outside.
"Teacher Shinsuke! Hang on! I'll get you out immediately!"
"Bang—!"
With his final strike, Kusakabe shattered the Domain barrier. "Teacher Shinsuke! Holy—!"
The instant the barrier opened, a three-meter-tall figure flew toward him. He hurriedly dodged aside.
"Rumble—!!"
The Cursed Spirit's figure was blasted into another building, causing the floors to tilt and threatening to collapse at any moment.
"It's Kusakabe. Thanks for opening its Domain."
Shinsuke Zenin walked out of the building with his upper body bare, Play Cloud slung over his shoulder, and thanked him.
If the other man had not opened the Domain from outside, he might already have killed this Cursed Spirit.
But Kusakabe had meant well, so Shinsuke Zenin did not take it to heart.
"Gulp... Teacher Shinsuke, do you... need my help?"
The corner of Kusakabe's eye twitched slightly. Judging from the scene, it did not seem as though he was needed.
"I'm fine. Leave it to me. Just wait a little."
"Crash, crash."
The Cursed Spirit rose once more. In that brief moment, its injuries had almost completely recovered, making it seem like an indestructible cockroach.
"Human!!"
The Cursed Spirit stared at Shinsuke Zenin, its expression filled with excitement. As it was continuously beaten, it had sensed the direction in which it needed to evolve.
It had figured it out. It lacked neither a Cursed Technique nor Cursed Energy. What it lacked now was a perfect physical body of extreme power.
If it possessed the opponent's physical strength and combined it with the use of various Cursed Techniques, it should be able to become the strongest!
As it thought this, the Cursed Spirit felt more Cursed Energy surge within its body. Six wings resembling cicada wings suddenly grew from its back, golden lightning patterns forming at their tips and crackling with electricity.
The armor covering its body contracted, and its frame seemed to shrink slightly. The muscles throughout its body became even denser.
It was stronger now!
"Boom—!"
The six wings behind it suddenly flapped. Dragging lightning behind it, the Cursed Spirit clenched its fist and punched toward Shinsuke Zenin.
Although it could not use its Cursed Technique, its Cursed Energy had recovered considerably. Having evolved to a new stage, its speed and strength had both increased.
"Clang!!"
Its fist slammed violently into Play Cloud, erupting in a burst of black-and-red lightning.
Shinsuke Zenin frowned slightly as the impact forced him back several meters.
Looking at the broken section of Play Cloud, Shinsuke Zenin immediately felt pained. This was a Cursed Tool worth five hundred million.
"Hahahahaha! This power! It's wonderful!"
Seeing that it had finally knocked its opponent back, the Cursed Spirit laughed maniacally.
It had assumed that this human could not help it become stronger, but it seemed it had been wrong. As long as something could make it feel pressured, it could become stronger!
"How is that possible?!"
Kusakabe, who had already run back to Utahime and the others, was utterly shocked. "How could a Cursed Spirit use Black Flash?!"
Wasn't that just way too absurd?
"What do we do now? Why hasn't that bastard Gojo arrived yet?!"
Utahime immediately grew tense again.
"Looks like I arrived at exactly the right time."
Geto Suguru's figure appeared on the other side. Seeing the Cursed Spirit's current form, he was overjoyed. "It's become even stronger! I knew I hadn't misjudged you. My grand plan depends on you!"
Geto Suguru had a feeling that as long as he could absorb this Cursed Spirit, his plan would already be more than halfway to success.
Before you continue