I'll kick your kimono apart at the seams

In exchange for reduced cursed energy output efficiency for a while afterward, my cursed energy would actively cooperate with me in this fight, providing fully automatic defense and offense.

His cursed energy control was still crude even with that, but it was enough.

"Sorry for the wait."

Dai Li stepped forward, his aura surging.

To a Jujutsu Sorcerer like Suguru Geto, he was now wrapped in a massive amount of cursed energy, a far cry from the thin layer he had worn before.

"Your cursed energy has skyrocketed. Even your whole demeanor looks different now. Or am I imagining it?"

"That's the fighting spirit inside me itching for a fight, Suguru Geto."

Still, his total cursed energy had yet to reach Special Grade levels. Suguru Geto simply watched Dai Li with interest.

"Looks like you have the kind of cursed technique that stores cursed energy."

"But that doesn't matter."

"Chitchat's over, Dai Li."

Suguru Geto summoned several centipede-shaped cursed spirits.

"Go."

He intended to test Dai Li's abilities first.

The orange centipedes scuttled toward him at incredible speed, trying to coil around his arms.

Dai Li gave a soft snort and threw a punch, then his cursed energy wrapped around it and surged outward.

The centipedes were instantly pulverized by his cursed energy.

What a boring little test. These cursed spirits are probably only Grade 2. I can smash them with one punch now.

"What an odd way to control cursed energy. Did you figure that out yourself?"

Suguru Geto was puzzled. That method of cursed energy control was certainly uncommon.

"Never mind. I'll test you myself."

With that, Suguru Geto stepped forward and launched a kick straight at Dai Li's abdomen.

Dai Li's reaction speed hadn't improved much along with his cursed energy, and the kick landed squarely.

"Tch."

He really knows his stuff.

Pain shot through Dai Li as the impact drove him back several meters, but his cursed energy had protected him automatically.

The fully automatic cursed energy defense was smarter than he had expected. Even though he hadn't reacted himself, it had concentrated most of his cursed energy around his abdomen the moment Suguru Geto kicked.

"That flying kick nearly split my Li-Ning gear at the seams."

"I have no idea what you mean, but I'll take it as a compliment."

Just as I thought. Automatic output?

Suguru Geto truly lived up to his status as a Special Grade Sorcerer. A single probing strike had revealed how Dai Li controlled his cursed energy.

"Enough talking!"

Dai Li threw a punch. Reinforced by cursed energy, his speed was leagues beyond what it had been.

But to Suguru Geto, whose hand-to-hand combat skills were the strongest among the Special Grades, he was still far too green.

Geto countered smoothly, suddenly trapping the fist aimed at his face between his arms before wrenching hard.

He sent Dai Li crashing to the ground with a shoulder throw.

"You're full of openings."

"Because it was a feint."

Dai Li sprang to his feet with a kip-up and planted a kick straight in Suguru Geto's abdomen.

"That's payback for earlier."

Dai Li's kick sent Suguru Geto flying as well.

Dai Li had a rough idea of Suguru Geto's fighting temperament, and had deliberately slowed his punch at the last moment.

Rather than angering Suguru Geto, Dai Li's surprise attack piqued his interest. While still flying backward, he summoned three Worm Cursed Spirits.

The three cursed spirits attacked one after another from behind Geto, resembling disgusting tentacles.

Dai Li didn't panic. He immediately unleashed a large amount of cursed energy and destroyed all three with a few punches.

This guy must have plenty of disgusting cursed spirits like these. I'd better watch out.

"It seems I underestimated you."

Suguru Geto immediately adjusted his approach and charged at Dai Li.

He hadn't even erected a Curtain, and not because he had forgotten.

Although there was practically no chance of finding another Jujutsu Sorcerer in such a remote place, an assistant supervisor could still notice a Curtain. But Suguru Geto was confident he could end this fight before any other Jujutsu Sorcerers arrived, even if Window discovered him.

That was his pride as a Special Grade Sorcerer.

Dai Li focused intensely, planning to dodge before Suguru Geto's attack reached him.

Suguru Geto first used two cursed spirits as bait to draw Dai Li's attention, then sent a punch slicing through the air.

Dai Li had only destroyed one of the rapidly approaching cursed spirits when he tried to eliminate the other...

Suguru Geto's powerful attack was already upon him.

With no choice, he switched to defense.

He crossed his arms and barely blocked the punch, but the remaining cursed spirit ran behind him and clawed his back.

"Gah..."

I can't see it, but I can definitely feel that agonizing tearing pain in my back. This bastard...

Suguru Geto had no intention of letting him catch his breath. His leg snapped upward, kicking toward the right side of Dai Li's head.

Dai Li couldn't withstand that kick. It sent him flying dozens of meters before he finally slammed into a tree.

Suguru Geto's attacks were terrifying. Dai Li's body was already struggling, and the tree he had crashed into was smashed to pieces.

Clearly, his physical conditioning was holding him back.

"Damn it, again!"

"Again!"

Dai Li activated his cursed technique, Life and Binding, once more.

I've got plenty of cursed energy this time. Even if the activation cost increases, my current reserves can still handle it.

Once my cursed energy increases, I'll make another Binding Vow to refill it completely.

[Warning! The host has reached the limit for increasing cursed energy within a short period! Continuing will exceed the body's capacity and cause the entire body to burst apart.]

Dai Li knew that directly increasing his cursed energy was the most cost-effective option. After all, plenty of Jujutsu Sorcerers had ordinary physiques and used cursed energy to reinforce their bodies. Monstrous cursed energy would also give them monstrous physical stats.

But a Binding Vow isn't such an inconvenient thing!

I'm the one with a loan-based cursed technique!

If I can't increase my maximum cursed energy directly, I'll change my cursed energy output instead!

First, in exchange for being unable to recover cursed energy for a month, I'll raise my cursed energy output to 300% of its original level for a while!

Then I'll make another Binding Vow: my cursed energy won't recover automatically during the month after next, either. In exchange, it'll replenish automatically during the coming fight, up to the total amount I would recover in an entire month.

"What's going on with that cursed energy?!"

"Was that not all the cursed energy he had stored?"

Even Suguru Geto was surprised now. After all, this amount of cursed energy far surpassed that of an ordinary Grade 1 Sorcerer.

He had no choice but to get serious, since he had no idea how much more cursed energy Dai Li had in reserve.

An elongated purple cursed spirit with a face resembling a baby's suddenly appeared beside Suguru Geto, and he pulled something out of it.

The Special Grade Cursed Tool-Playful Cloud.

Though it had no special cursed technique of its own, the stronger its wielder, the greater the power the cursed tool could unleash.

"Don't get my hopes up too much, Dai Li."

Suguru Geto now held Playful Cloud. Judging by his grip, he was clearly extremely proficient with the three-section staff.

Seeing Suguru Geto draw Playful Cloud put Dai Li under some pressure. It meant Geto was getting serious. Dai Li instantly shifted into combat mode and launched a flying kick.

"I'll kick your kimono apart at the seams!"

Dai Li roared.

This kick clearly carried an enormous amount of cursed energy. With his cursed energy now replenishing automatically, Dai Li didn't have to fear instantly exhausting his reserves, so he poured a massive amount into the attack.

With my cursed energy output tripled, this kick is on a whole different level. If he keeps underestimating me...

But he's already brought out Playful Cloud. I'd better rein this move in a little and avoid leaving an opening.

He's so fast!

Dodging would be a stretch, so...

Suguru Geto didn't dodge. The kick landed squarely on his body.

The ground heaved upward, dirt flew, and thick clouds of dust billowed out in an instant.