Jujutsu Kaisen: Yearning to Become an Immortal God

"[Hei] squad member. Special Grade 1 Sorcerer. Ogi Zenin."

"Please enlighten me!"

Special Grade 1 Sorcerer! This was a rank above a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer yet below a Special Grade Sorcerer. The original work had made it clear: Special Grade Sorcerers were exceptional throughout Jujutsu Society, while Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers were the backbone of sorcerers. Special Grade 1 Sorcerers stood above even them—the true "limit of ordinary humans."

And now, the "limit of ordinary humans" stood before Mahito.

Mahito abruptly raised his blade, but before it could fall, Ogi Zenin drifted backward like a breeze. Mist Cutter grazed the corner of Ogi Zenin's stool, yet failed to harm him in the slightest.

Mahito stepped forward fiercely and switched Cursed Techniques. Tsukumogami Manipulation!

Mist Cutter let out a piercing shriek, and a streak of silver flashed across heaven and earth like a meteor cutting through the night.

Ogi Zenin's expression was solemn. His feet remained rooted in place as the katana in his hand moved with effortless precision, lightly striking Mist Cutter's blade. The force that should have cut him diagonally in half swept past his side instead, leaving a clear gash carved into the Zenin compound. A bright spark burst through the torrential rain.

Five consecutive strikes. Five consecutive blocks. Mahito and Ogi Zenin exchanged blades at incredibly close range, sparks flashing around them. They were like swordplay actors on a stage—each blade tip aimed directly at the other's vital point, only to be blocked at the crucial moment with impeccable coordination.

Mahito's mismatched eyes grew brighter and brighter, shining like those of a demon god amid the nighttime storm. Flecks of flame spread across Ogi Zenin's katana, until a stream of fire truly wrapped around the entire blade. The flames vaporized the raindrops, clouds of mist enveloping them both. Though they fought beneath the downpour, the temperature between them rose ever higher until waves of fire burst outward!

Cursed Technique Release: Flame!

Ogi Zenin's Cursed Technique Release was Flame Release. He could wrap flames around blades to increase the power of his slashes and extend their attack range. He could have released the flames directly and burned Mahito to death, but he did not dare. Chojuro Zenin's fate after using a direct attack-type technique was laid bare before him. He feared that the moment he released the flames, they would rebound upon himself.

But being unable to attack directly did not mean he could not enhance the power of his slashes!

Ogi Zenin swung his katana with all his strength, the fire on its tip dancing like lively spirits. Mahito wielded Mist Cutter in wide, powerful arcs. Mist Cutter was already an unimaginably long greatblade, with a reach comparable to a spear. At first, Ogi Zenin could still close in to the range of his katana, but as time passed, his steps retreated one by one. He was being driven back. Mahito's rapid growth was overwhelming his technique, forcing him to retreat and block.

Mahito had initially wielded his blade one-handed, but later he used both hands. Several times, the blade tip nearly reached Ogi Zenin's vital points. Amid silver light and flames, their figures intertwined at high speed, their movements growing faster and faster. Lightning flashed, and only two entwined streaks of light remained in the storm—Mahito's Mist Cutter and Ogi Zenin's katana.

After their final clash, Mahito and Ogi Zenin both leaped backward, breaking away from the close-range blade exchange. Mahito called out, "Impressive! Ogi Zenin, I'll admit it—your close-quarters swordsmanship surpasses mine."

He meant it sincerely. Before this, he had never encountered a swordsman as powerful as Ogi Zenin. Mist Cutter's attack range vastly exceeded that of Ogi Zenin's katana, and it possessed the trait of cutting anything. Anyone who saw that disparity would know that Ogi Zenin was at an overwhelming disadvantage. Yet even now, Ogi Zenin remained composed.

This was the weight of a Special Grade 1 Sorcerer. Mahito felt it firsthand.

Ogi Zenin slowly sheathed his katana. His waist bent low, one hand gripping the scabbard while the other rested on the hilt. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, his bangs fluttering in the wind and rain as he assumed an Iai stance.

A drop of blood suddenly drifted away. A thin bloody gash appeared on Ogi Zenin's cheek, quickly buried beneath raindrops. Mahito's rapid growth had truly threatened his life.

Too fast. Mahito's growth rate was far too fast. Ogi Zenin was secretly alarmed.

Ogi Zenin knew that he had actually lost the previous exchange. It was not because Mahito's rapid growth had already crushed him, but for a more concrete reason—his opponent's physical abilities were simply too high!

In the end, technique existed to compensate for one's lack of strength. Yet the other's physical abilities had already surpassed anything technique could make up for. Ogi Zenin could often predict Mahito's attack trajectory. He could even predict where Mist Cutter's tip would ultimately land. Yet he was the first to fail to endure.

When Mahito's neural reactions exceeded the speed of his draw, how could he continue fighting him?

Mahito's physical abilities had always been higher than his, and his growth rate exceeded Ogi Zenin's imagination. At this rate, he would only be worn down to death! He had to be faster—faster, faster!

With absolute speed, he would deliver the decisive blow!

"You're the surprising one." Ogi Zenin kept his eyes closed and said coldly, "I never expected a mere Cursed Spirit to wield such exquisite swordsmanship. I thought that as long as I sealed the Tsukumogami in your hand, I could kill you with ease. Yet you managed to fight me to this point."

Mahito truly felt as if he were fighting a boss. He knew Ogi Zenin. Ogi Zenin had appeared in the original work, but he had been a genuine clown there, and so Mahito had never taken him seriously.

His gaze had always been fixed on the Zenin Clan head. Other than the clan head, he had thought he would encounter no obstacles. The truth proved that people portrayed as clowns in the original work were not necessarily clowns. If he fought based solely on impressions, he would eventually suffer for it.

Fortunately, it was not too late to realize that now!

Mahito watched Ogi Zenin's movements and keenly sensed that the Cursed Energy perception he had spread outward was slowly contracting. A thin layer of Cursed Energy flowed over Ogi Zenin's body.

Mahito actually knew this move. It was a secret technique that only the Big Three Families were qualified to learn, called Falling Blossom Emotion. It was a technique for countering Domains, allowing the Cursed Energy wrapped around one's body to attack whatever came into contact with it. Ogi Zenin had applied it to Iai, making ample preparations to unleash his full strength.

This was the ultimate preemptive strike. Every attack would be cut down by his slash before it reached him! Whether Cursed Energy or blade, as long as it entered this range, he was invincible!

Mahito instinctively realized that victory or defeat would be decided in the next clash. How could he break this ultimate preemptive strike? The original work had already provided the answer. With greater speed and greater strength—break it through brute force!

Mahito slowly breathed, his Cursed Energy perception contracting with his breath. In an instant, his perception swept across all the terrain of the Zenin Clan, then drew back to his surroundings. Mimicking Ogi Zenin, he slowly lowered his body and placed Mist Cutter at his waist.

He had thrown away the scabbard long ago, yet at this moment, it seemed as if he had truly sheathed Mist Cutter. He lowered his head and closed his demon-god-like mismatched eyes. Everything in the world faded away, leaving only Ogi Zenin before him.

"There's something you misunderstand." As Mahito exhaled, he suddenly said, "I've never studied swordsmanship. The reason you think my swordsmanship is exquisite is because... I just learned it from [Kukuru Unit] and you."

Ogi Zenin's heart jolted slightly. In that instant, his mind wavered. At precisely that moment, Mahito drew his blade.

Mahito pressed his lips together and moved without a sound, but the Mist Cutter in his hand let out a clear cry. As it swung out, it burst forth with an arcing blade gleam. Mahito and Mist Cutter entered Ogi Zenin's Falling Blossom Emotion range.

If this had been swordsmanship without any Cursed Energy, Ogi Zenin would already have lost. But at this moment, Cursed Energy filled the space around them. When Mahito moved, Ogi Zenin moved at the same time. Ogi Zenin himself had not reacted at all, but the Cursed Energy he had arranged around his body reacted for him. His automatic counterattack technique forcibly moved his hand.

Big Three Families secret technique: Falling Blossom Emotion! Both of them stomped down and drew their blades— Iai! Slash!

When both sides moved at once, the test was simply whose movement was faster! Iai was a sword technique with no path of retreat. It had no follow-up and no defense. Once unleashed, it only advanced forward. Just as Mahito had said, this strike would decide life and death! And naturally, the faster one was—Mahito.

I won—! Mahito roared inwardly.

"Cursed Spirit, where do you think you are? You fell for it!" someone suddenly shouted.

Both blades had already swung out, but suddenly one side was frozen in place. Mahito was immobilized in the critical motion of swinging his blade. Though he had raised his hand, it was as if countless threads had wrapped around it. His blood seemed to have been infused with mercury, and his body became motionless like a statue.

—Kamui!

This was a jujutsu formed through sight. Any target caught in its gaze would fall into a fixed state, unable to move, as if suppressed by the pressure of some great being. It truly lived up to the name Kamui.

It was simple and straightforward, yet extremely practical. As long as one stared at the enemy, the duration of immobilization varied according to the enemy's strength. Even an enemy with monstrous strength would be delayed for at least an instant.

At a moment when both sides had used Iai, that single instant was enough to determine life and death! "Don't blame me for fighting dirty, Lord of Curses." Ogi Zenin sighed softly.

Ogi Zenin passed by Mahito. A stream of fire swept through, and a crack silently appeared across Mahito's neck. It suddenly widened, spraying blood like a fountain! Half of Mahito's neck had been severed—a fatal wound without question.

"Nicely done, Ranta!" someone praised loudly.

Zenin Ranta confirmed that half of Mahito's neck had indeed been cut away before closing his eyes and canceling his Cursed Technique. He could not help but grin.

"No, I didn't do anything. It was Lord Ogi—" he said eagerly, but before he could finish, Ogi Zenin's head fell silently to the ground.

With half his neck severed, Mahito swung down the remainder of his Iai slash with a backhanded motion. Mist Cutter precisely sliced through Ogi Zenin's neck. Ogi Zenin's body remained standing as his head slowly slid down. The cut surface of his neck was mirror-smooth and calm, until half a second later, when a huge spray of blood erupted.

The torrential rain crashed down as Ogi Zenin's head struck the ground. Even at the end, his eyes remained closed, as though he were still savoring the insight he had gained from that Iai exchange. Ogi Zenin died.

Zenin Ranta's voice stopped abruptly, the last trailing note sharp and piercing like a bird's cry.

Mahito held Mist Cutter in one hand and raised the other to restore his half-severed neck. Idle Transfiguration activated soundlessly, and the wound healed at a visible speed. He moved his neck slightly, and there was no longer any stiffness.

He hoisted Mist Cutter onto his shoulder again and faced everyone in [Hei]. "Next," he said.

Blood Emperor's Long Night, the Karma Demon Treads On

"Lord Ogi—!" Zenin Ranta wailed loudly. Without hesitation, he used his Innate Technique again. "Cursed Spirit... I'll kill you—!" —Kamui!

Lightning flashed in the sky, and the curtain of rain obscured everyone's sight. Only a silver arc appeared in the darkness. Before Kamui could activate, Mahito hurled Mirokuji Kirigiri from his hand, like Odin casting Gungnir!

Zenin Ranta activated Kamui and stared at Mahito, but in the next instant, Mist Cutter's blade gleam filled his vision.

"Ranta!" A squad member yanked Ranta aside. Mist Cutter's blade gleam swept past Ranta's ear, interrupting the technique he had just released. Mahito leaped fiercely, reaching Ranta's side in a single instant. No one had reacted to that step. Just moments ago, half of Mahito's neck had been cut through, and everyone believed he was dead. No one could have expected him to survive even that.

Mahito raised one hand, his palm covering Zenin Ranta's entire face. At that moment, Ranta's whole field of vision contained only the lines of that palm. He felt like a monkey trapped in Buddha's hand.

"Don't even think about it!" A deep voice boomed as tremendous force struck Mahito's forearm. Mahito's forearm snapped on impact, the explosion scattering the rain curtain as though a massive whale had let out an abyssal cry beneath the deep sea.

The person pulling Ranta away struck at the critical moment. Rather than use Cursed Technique Release, he simply threw a punch, smashing Mahito's outstretched forearm. Mahito's attack speed was beyond question, yet this man had accurately seized that instant to strike. His sharp gaze was like an eagle hunting rabbits from high in the sky.

Mahito's eyes shifted sideways. Beneath the straw hat, his mismatched eyes glimmered faintly through the rain. A burly middle-aged man appeared before him. He had wild long hair cascading down his back past his waist, each strand standing erect like a boar's bristles. He stood over two meters tall, as solid as a brown bear, every muscle taut like stone.

A conspicuous cross-shaped scar marked his forehead. Beneath his thick eyebrows were eyes brimming with immense authority. Those eyes stared straight into Mahito's demon-god-like mismatched gaze without evasion or fear.

"[Hei] squad member. Special Grade 1 Sorcerer. Jinichi Zenin."

"Cursed Spirit, I will not give you another chance. Receive the fury of the Zenin!"

Jinichi Zenin grabbed his own kimono and tore it apart with nothing but the strength of his fingers. Rather than discard the shredded garment, he wrapped it around his waist and tied the sleeves into a tight knot.

His exposed upper body was covered in thick chest hair, his muscles knotted and dense. Torrential rain poured over him as if wind and rain were striking a rocky mountain. He stood upright and looked down at Mahito like a massive mountain looking down upon an ant at its feet.

A second Special Grade 1 Sorcerer!

The Zenin Clan had four Special Grade 1 Sorcerers in total, and now they had finally appeared before Mahito one by one. This meant that Mahito had nearly fought his way through the Zenin Clan alone. Mahito raised his hand, and Idle Transfiguration healed his broken forearm again. He spread and clenched his fingers; the healed hand showed no discomfort whatsoever.

"I'm looking forward to it," Mahito said.

Jinichi Zenin let out a wild roar! The enormous bellow scattered the rain around them, sound waves spreading endlessly in every direction and swallowing Mahito in an instant. Amid his roar, Jinichi Zenin raised his fist. In the downpour, his muscles surged. The moment he lifted his hand, every muscle in his body had activated. Mahito could see the lines of muscles on Jinichi Zenin's body racing like roaring rivers, ultimately converging into his fist.

Then Jinichi Zenin swung that fist viciously, smashing it toward Mahito. One strike!

Mahito immediately tried to dodge. Just seeing the rising and falling muscles of Jinichi Zenin's body made it clear that he could not take that powerful fist head-on. Yet the moment he raised his foot, his body stiffened.

—Kamui!

The Ranta who had just been saved did not flee in fear. His eyes locked onto Mahito as he used all his strength to maintain the Cursed Technique, freezing Mahito in place at the critical moment.

Jinichi Zenin's fist smashed into Mahito's face. The straw hat was blasted away, and nearly all of Mahito's facial features caved in. The immense force pierced through his brain, turning it into pulp. His body flew backward uncontrollably. The enormous impact had made it impossible for him to remain standing; he was about to be launched away like a cannonball.

But Jinichi Zenin would not allow it!

Kamui's effective range was within Zenin Ranta's field of vision. If Mahito flew backward from the impact, he would leave Ranta's sight in that instant, and Kamui on Mahito would immediately be released. Having finally seized this opportunity, how could Jinichi Zenin let Mahito escape so easily?

The moment Mahito's feet left the ground from the impact, Jinichi Zenin grabbed him. One hand seized Mahito by the collar while the other smashed down again! One strike! Two strikes!

Ten strikes! Twenty strikes! Barrage of fists!

Jinichi Zenin continued his relentless pummeling amid his roars. His fists rained down upon Mahito like the storm falling from the sky. Mahito was battered at will by Jinichi Zenin's fists like a wooden post. Every hit produced a huge explosive sound from his body, until the accumulated detonations of flesh became endless, like roaring ocean waves.

Yet it was Jinichi Zenin, the attacker, whose expression changed!

Mahito still retained a human shape even now. Though his flesh had become a bloody mess and his once-neat kimono and haori had been shredded by the barrage like tattered rags blowing in the wind, and though his straw hat had vanished somewhere, his flesh always returned to normal after each explosion. Amid Jinichi Zenin's barrage, he bitterly waited for a chance to recover.

Mahito's body shook violently. Blood vessels suddenly surfaced in Ranta's pupils, and his hands unconsciously reached out. This was not a hand sign but an instinctive action. His Kamui Cursed Technique was one of the rare techniques that could remain active without hand signs. There was only one reason he had made this movement instinctively:

Zenin Ranta shouted, "Lord Jinichi! Don't stop the barrage! This Cursed Spirit is still struggling. He... he's still struggling!"

The observing squad members were stunned. One could not help shouting, "What nonsense are you saying? Even a Special Grade Cursed Spirit with extraordinary regenerative ability would surely die in that situation!"

Only Jinichi Zenin, who was still throwing punches, knew that Ranta was right. Mahito was not dead. Not only was he alive, but his recovery speed had accelerated. This Cursed Spirit that had nearly torn through the Zenin Clan had not yet grown into its complete form. He was still adapting. Still growing!

One of Zenin Ranta's eyes suddenly burst, blood flowing from its corner. He screamed, but did not shift his gaze from Mahito. Kamui remained active.

Jinichi Zenin could not help turning to look at Zenin Ranta.

Zenin Ranta's Kamui Cursed Technique was indeed outstanding—practical and simple to activate, with considerable potential whether used for support or as the main offense. Yet even such an excellent technique was not invincible. Kamui could not handle opponents whose level surpassed his too greatly. In the original work,

when facing an enemy at the level of the Heavenly Tyrant, his final outcome was for both eyes to burst. After exhausting all his strength, he died from the backlash of overusing his Cursed Technique.

Now, Zenin Ranta had fallen into the same fate as in the original work. He had used all his strength to restrict Mahito's movements, but as Mahito's resistance increased, his eyes could no longer bear the burden. They first filled with blood, then burst. If he did not release the Cursed Technique, only death from its backlash awaited him, just as in the original work!

But how could he release the Cursed Technique at a time like this?

Zenin Ranta roared with all his strength, "Lord Jinichi, don't worry about me! Now, kill this Cursed Spirit like this! It's still growing. At a visible rate! Before it keeps growing, we absolutely must—!"

Zenin Ranta's other eye swelled as well, on the verge of bursting. But Jinichi Zenin had already turned back and swung his fist again. The barrage had not stopped. It would not stop!

In the time Zenin Ranta had bought with his life, he would kill the Cursed Spirit before him! Jinichi Zenin had made his resolve.

A Cursed Spirit's regenerative power had limits, even for a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. The King of Curses before him had surpassed every Cursed Spirit recorded in history, but even so, he had limits. Jinichi Zenin firmly believed that.

Therefore, what he had to do was simple. With violence, he would utterly blast him to death!

Jinichi Zenin roared loudly. Amid that roar, his Cursed Energy boiled to its limit, then beyond it! Though torrential rain fell and lightning flashed overhead, at this moment he could hear neither rain nor thunder. Though he was roaring at the top of his lungs, the lake in his heart was calm as a mirror.

With his companions dying one after another and the junior he valued most using his own life to buy time, he finally entered the state he had long dreamed of.

He sensed the Cursed Energy Core within his body pulsating like a heart. With each pulse, ripples of Cursed Energy spread through his entire body. Every bone, every drop of blood, every inch of muscle evolved to a higher level in those waves of Cursed Energy, like seeds sprouting after spring rain and transforming into newborn plants.

In that brief pause, he attained enlightenment.

Despite having no visual-type technique whatsoever, he saw the flow of Cursed Energy within the Cursed Spirit before him. Though the Cursed Spirit's exterior was miserable, like a lump of minced meat, the flow of Cursed Energy inside remained steady as ever. Jinichi Zenin immediately realized that no matter how damaged the Cursed Spirit's body appeared, it was meaningless to him.

Jinichi Zenin did not know why this was so, but he knew what he had to do.

Cut off his Cursed Energy flow, and victory would be assured! Come, this will be my final strike!

Jinichi Zenin suddenly paused for an instant. One hand gripped Mahito's body tightly, his fingertips digging into Mahito's flesh. His other hand did not attack immediately, instead bending at his waist. In that instant, his muscles relaxed to the utmost, then tensed to the utmost. In that release and tension, he awakened.

—Black! Flash!

This was the legendary supreme technique of Jujutsu Sorcerers. In theory, every Jujutsu Sorcerer could land one. Once used, it was practically a guaranteed kill—a spatial distortion produced within 0.000001 seconds by the discrepancy between physical impact and Cursed Energy impact, its power averaging 2.5 times that of a normal strike!

Jinichi Zenin did not even aim for Mahito's face. His Black Flash struck Mahito directly in the chest. Before Black Flash completely landed on Mahito's body, Mahito's Cursed Energy flow had already been severed. Chunks of flesh scattered uncontrollably. When Jinichi Zenin's Black Flash struck, Mahito's entire body exploded. Blood, flesh, and bones burst apart like fireworks dispersing across the night sky.

An explosive dispersal!

Amid the blood and flesh, Jinichi Zenin slowly exhaled.

But he did not immediately lower his guard. Ogi Zenin had also believed it was over, then carelessly closed his eyes to reflect on his Iai slash, only to be caught off guard by Mahito's resurrection. Jinichi Zenin would not make the same mistake. He stood in place, cautiously watching the blood and flesh on the ground.

Zenin Ranta also did not dare relax. He maintained Kamui and stared fixedly at the flesh beneath his feet without moving. One of his eyes had already been ruined, but he watched the flesh on the ground with the resolve to destroy his other eye as well.

The remaining squad members did not let down their guard either. They coldly observed their surroundings, maintaining zanshin.

Rain continued falling from the night sky without end. Lightning flashed and thunder roared overhead. The [Hei] members maintained their vigilance for thirty seconds before slowly relaxing.