A cursed spirit suddenly appeared between Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro, and we were instantly pinned down, unable to move.
Oh, except for me.
But seriously, it was so ugly, and it got right up in our faces straight away. Boohoo, my eyes had been defiled...
Seeing that the cursed spirit's attention was focused on Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro, I decided to sacrifice myself and take it on alone.
"[Compression]!"
Watching the cursed spirit struggle under the compressed space before quickly breaking free, I gauged the backlash I'd suffered and taunted it. "That's it? Looks like that's all you've got."
"[Restraint]."
This time, I increased my cursed energy output. Sure enough, the cursed spirit was frozen in place. It looked like it wouldn't be breaking free anytime soon.
Now, it was time to show off.
"Megumi, take Yuji and Nobara and get out of here." I smiled disdainfully. "As for this small fry, leave it to me."
"What are you saying? I can't leave you here alone! I..."
Yuji Itadori hurriedly protested.
Just then, bang-!
The cursed spirit spat out a huge blast of cursed energy. I hastily rolled out of the way, and when I saw it was about to break free of its restraints, I turned and shouted, "Did you forget that you absolutely cannot let Ryomen Sukuna out?!"
"Trust me. Go! Fushiguro, please!" As I spoke, I hit it with another Restraint.
"Damn it... Yuji, we're going to find Nobara." Megumi Fushiguro gritted his teeth, summoned the Divine Dogs, and dragged Yuji Itadori away.
"Awoo, awoo-" Hurry, hurry.
"No, let go of me! Hey-!"
Takechi, you'd better come back alive.
Once I was sure they'd gone far enough, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now, let's see what you've got. You'll be a souvenir of my very first cursed spirit exorcism!"
"[Netherworld Crossing Guide]!"
Although it hadn't awakened yet, I felt the power of curses surge inside my body. I figured this would be enough.
Seeing that I paid it no mind at all, the cursed spirit angrily tore apart its shorts, leaving only a strip of cloth covering its crotch.
[That's so disgusting! When I get back, I need to look at Satoru Gojo and the others to cleanse my eyes!]
[Uh... Host, maybe you should focus on the fight. It looks even angrier now...]
"Roar-!"
A barrier of cursed energy erupted from the cursed spirit, surging wildly outward.
"[Break]!"
The cursed spirit's barrier shattered at my command, but the residual force still sent me staggering back a few steps.
What power. With my physical constitution, a solid hit from that would probably kill me outright.
Seeing that I hadn't suffered a scratch, the cursed spirit flew into a rage. It quickly formed a massive ball of cursed energy in its palm and hurled it at me.
I copied it, forming an even larger ball of cursed energy in my hand and throwing it out to clash with its attack.
Boom-!
The surrounding walls collapsed with the blast. I stood atop the highest point, the cursed spirit pinned beneath my foot.
"Ah~ So you really are weak."
Sensing the cursed spirit stir faintly, I was about to deliver another command with Cursed Speech when Xiao Ba interrupted me.
[Wait, Host.]
[What's wrong, Xiao Ba?]
Sensing the shift in Takechi's mood, Xiao Ba secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The look in its host's eyes just now had been terrifying, like... like a lunatic without any emotions.
[Don't exorcise it yet, Host.]
[Detected: Host has completed the main quest: prevent Yuji Itadori and Ryomen Sukuna from establishing a Binding Vow.] [Quest reward will now be issued: Reverse Cursed Technique proficiency, 15%. Please check.]
Feeling the newly acquired knowledge of Reverse Cursed Technique in my mind, I tried circulating it as instructed. Sure enough, the internal injuries from the backlash and the residual shock were healed.
This really was good stuff. With this, Mom would never have to worry about me being too fragile again.
[Of course, Host. You can now try weakening the cursed spirit under your foot and fighting it while using Reverse Cursed Technique. By repeatedly approaching death and healing yourself, you can increase your proficiency.]
[Once your proficiency is high enough, Reverse Cursed Technique will be able to run twenty-four hours a day without stopping. You'll even be able to revive yourself if you kick the bucket.]
[All right, but... shouldn't I heal it first? It can't fight in this state...]
*[...]*
[Xiao Ba, shouldn't you give me a sealing technique?]
*[...]*
[Ding! Host has been detected to have passed the beginner phase. All currently available system functions are now unlocked.] [Ding! The technique roulette is now unlocked. One draw has been awarded. Current draws available: 3.]
[Yay! Let's draw!]
In the end, our poor cursed spirit was still forced to get up and serve as my sparring partner.
Because...
"[Soul Sealing], [Reverse Cursed Technique]."
Soul Sealing, as its name suggested, sealed the target's soul, limiting the strength of both its body and soul while also sealing away most of its cursed energy.
"Come on, weakling. Hit me~"
"Roar-!" The cursed spirit formed a ball of cursed energy, but it was clearly weaker than before.
"Oh dear, oh dear, is that all you've got?" A single command of Cursed Speech dispersed it. "[Disperse]."
"Roar-!!" It hurled another ball of cursed energy.
"What are you roaring for? A special grade cursed spirit that can't even talk? You're a disgrace to cursed spirits everywhere!" I effortlessly dispersed that one too.
"Roar, roar, roar-!!!" Realizing it couldn't beat me in a contest of cursed energy, the cursed spirit charged in for hand-to-hand combat.
I chose to take the punch head-on.
"Pfft!"
I spat out a mouthful of blood as Reverse Cursed Technique circulated frantically through my body.
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth. In that brief moment, my internal injuries had already healed.
I was just about to hit back.
[Host, actually, you'd learn faster if you lay down and let it beat you...] Xiao Ba's voice grew fainter and fainter, full of guilt.
[Hmm?] I was starting to feel murderous.
[Ahem, well, you need to get close to death, right? You could wait until you're nearly beaten to death before activating it... That way... it'd help you understand it better...]
Noticing my expression grow darker and darker, Xiao Ba's survival instincts kicked into overdrive.
[But I can turn on damage reduction for you! You'd barely feel any pain!]
I gritted my teeth. [Fine. We'll do it your way...]
And so, a girl with an extremely weak will to live lay on the ground, repeatedly getting blasted away and coughing up blood, only to recharge fully, lie back down, and get blasted away again.
Finally...
[Ding! Reverse Cursed Technique proficiency: 20%.]
[Ding! Reverse Cursed Technique proficiency: 25%.]
[Ding! Reverse Cursed Technique proficiency: 30%.]
[All right, Host, you can kill it now. You've reached the current limit. To improve any further, you'll have to wait until you encounter something stronger.]
[So you're saying I have to get beaten up again?]
[Ahem, yes, Host.]
*[...]*
After the last round, I deliberately left my injuries unhealed, because I didn't want to reveal that I'd learned Reverse Cursed Technique yet. It wasn't that I didn't trust Megumi Fushiguro and the others; I simply preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble. If the higher-ups found out, Brain would find out too, and that would put me at a serious disadvantage later.
After extracting Sukuna's Finger from the cursed spirit's body, I exorcised it with a single blow. Then I pretended to be gravely injured and on the verge of death (actually, I really was on the verge of death; Reverse Cursed Technique was the only thing keeping me from kicking the bucket).
I forced myself to head out and reunite with Megumi Fushiguro and the others.
Before you continue