A Smurf Appears in the Starter Zone

The familiar office building.

Hell yeah, that familiar feeling. I was back, truly back. This was what a modern city should look like. The old map was still more fun.

With his back to Xia Xia, Izumino was up to his filthy tricks. He had just finished a hunt and was now savoring the screams and wails his prey had let out during the chase.

This wild man had gone demonic. A demon of a man.

Oh, it's you, old man. The first goblin you meet as a beginner: pure evil, no tragic backstory, no chance of redemption. The ultimate bit player who only drops gold and +1 merit when killed.

"Domain Expansion: Death-Bound Curse."

He opened straight with an octagonal cage. Now that Xia Xia had the cursed energy reserves of a standard Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer, with Grade 2 jujutsu control and cursed energy efficiency, life was finally looking up.

Although it had neither a sure-kill nor a sure-hit effect, and it was still the standard closed-barrier type, this was genuinely a Domain Expansion.

It actually wasn't that useless. The domain's effect wasn't limited to what he had told Hajime Kashimo-killing every living thing inside through cursed execution after Xia Xia died. It had an additional effect.

If Xia Xia survived, won the fight, and killed his opponent completely within the domain, the domain would contract, then combine the cursed energy scattered during battle with the opponent's corpse and remains to forge a fine blade.

As for how it worked, this was a domain evolved from [Demon-Repelling Edge], after all. At its core, it was still a barrier for forging blades? The postmortem cursed execution was more like an established custom among swordsmiths: when an Amabuki swordsmith died, the unused blanks would also be buried with him.

Seen that way, the Amabuki swordsmiths always upheld the fundamental principle of "putting people first." Any opponent who caught their eye was suitable material for a blade.

Once an opponent entered the domain, he became a blade blank awaiting forging. Taking a life was not the objective, but a means-a necessary step in crafting a good blade that fit the hand.

Just as alchemy had always preached, only by killing metal could it become a greater material. To bear a soul and life, it had to be reshaped through fire.

Izumino struggled.

Although this self-taught jujutsu sorcerer knew nothing about advanced techniques such as Domain Expansion, that did nothing to stop him from fearing the unknown space he had been dragged into.

The more he struggled, the harder it became to move. Like a fly caught in a spiderweb, or a living person sinking into a swamp or quicksand, every struggle tightened his restraints until he could no longer move at all.

Dark, silent, yet scorching. Some unknown, sinister secret weighed on the dim air. There was even a faint scent of incense and fine timber, somewhat like the smell inside a shrine or temple, yet entirely different.

Xia Xia reached out and grasped the back of his neck.

He chanted:

"Orichalcum." "Tamahagane." "Earth-Covered Gilding."

"Sword Guard."

The next instant, something incomprehensibly horrifying happened. Izumino's struggles ceased in a flash, and a terrible, baffling reverence appeared on his face, as though a fanatic had seen an image of the god he worshipped.

Blood flowed from all seven openings of Izumino's head, but he no longer resisted. Nothing remained in his heart but a pure sense of glory.

Even if his aptitude was so low that he could probably become only an inferior "Shadow-Forged Blade," even if he was rotten wood unfit for carving, that great being had still bestowed his mercy upon him! What an honor! What a precious blessing!

The human body trembled, twisted, and melted. Under the influence of cursed energy, the once-bloodthirsty murderer became a fine metal ingot, gradually taking the shape of a long blade beneath the hammer blows of invisible fire.

The blade was ink-black and unadorned, like a shadow, but its sword guard was extravagantly ornate, resembling fine gold. The hilt, by contrast, was clean and simple, with the texture of sandalwood.

In the blink of an eye, a living person had been forged into a blade. All the cruelty and elegance of the Amabuki family were embodied in that freshly made cursed tool.

True gold would always shine. Thanks to jujutsu, everyone could discover their own worth. (?)

"Marvelous."

Xia Xia grasped the blade floating in midair. He felt not the slightest guilt over taking a life. Instead, he admired the masterpiece he had just completed.

The blade's information had appeared in his mind as the domain dissipated.

Its name was "Toyama Izumino," the old man's actual full name. Nothing special.

Its effect as a cursed tool was to make the blade completely invisible during a slash, corresponding to Izumino's bizarre Innate Cursed Technique, "Invisible Hand."

Turning trash into treasure.

More interestingly, every Demon Blade forged in this manner could be stored inside Xia Xia's shadow, taking up no space whatsoever. The only unknown was whether these freshly forged cursed tools would reset along with the simulation. If they didn't, Xia Xia would have his own Gate of Babylon to play with.

"OK, my hand equipment slot is finally filled. Let's get grinding!"

He jogged toward the abandoned shopping center and headed straight for the elevator shaft, unable to suppress his urge to farm achievements. The Snake-Fish Cursed Spirit might not have been high-level, but it was still a mechanics-based monster. If he remembered correctly, it could ignore spatial restrictions and travel through dark places...

Five minutes later, Xia Xia walked out carrying a delicate little dagger, courtesy of the Snake-Fish Cursed Spirit's voluntary contribution.

Rather than a dagger, it was really more of a throwing knife.

"Shadow Fish": could be controlled in dark places, moving freely to attack. Its flight distance and damage varied with the user's cursed energy strength. Maximum control range: five meters. Automatically returned if it traveled too far.

Not bad.

But it wasn't as powerful as he had imagined. Five meters wasn't particularly far. It could circle him to defend automatically, but its practicality and damage were somewhat limited by the blade's size. It was suited only to sneak attacks, and using it demanded considerable tactical thinking.

Got it. Punish recovery frames and counterattack, watch the timing on phasing, and always be ready for the Simo five-jump combo. ()

Tossing the dagger into the shadow beneath his feet, Xia Xia headed toward the city center. If he remembered correctly, that was where he had seen Hajime Kashimo last time.

Since neither Izumino nor the Snake-Fish Cursed Spirit had dragged him into a prolonged fight-both had fallen to a single move-Xia Xia had plenty of time. He took a bottle of soda from a nearby convenience store and strolled along, leisurely sipping it.

What, don't you want to have a furious, all-out brawl with Hajime Kashimo?

He couldn't.

He was nothing but a blank slate. With Amabuki Xia Xia's cursed technique and domain, he could certainly trade his life for Hajime Kashimo's. And then what?

After that trade, his save would reset immediately. Even if he killed Hajime Kashimo, there would be no second payout. The simulator only counted first-kill achievements. A complete waste of time.

Better to wait.

For whom?

For the people from Jujutsu High. For Kinji Hakari. That would be a new point of entry into the plot. He could refresh Cause-and-Effect Reversal and pull off something big, or stake his life on a fight to see whether he could get Kinji Hakari's first-kill reward...

As long as he waited, things would become fun. As long as he waited, more interesting things would happen!

Wishful thinking.

Looking at the person who suddenly flashed before him with a thunderous leap, Xia Xia felt his heart jolt.

Holy crap, who's this? An electric mouse? Why are you so damn bright? How many times do I have to tell you not to use high beams when passing another car? Have you got any decency? Any manners?

Who the fuck are you?

Xia Xia had forgotten one thing.

Back then, he had been a small fry at the bottom of Grade 2. Nobody would take him seriously. He could run around all he liked; a minor character like him was nothing.

Things were different now. He had just unleashed a cursed technique and expanded a domain, causing a huge commotion. Anyone with a little strength who wasn't deaf or blind would come take a look.

Especially a certain battle maniac.

The streak of lightning Xia Xia had once desperately chased, trying to keep it from leaving, had now come specifically for him.

What lesson did this story teach? You couldn't focus solely on chasing someone; you had to find ways to improve yourself. How did that saying go? "Peach and plum trees say nothing, yet a path forms beneath them." Look at that: he hadn't gone to the mountain, but the mountain had come to him!

But right now, Xia Xia only wanted to laugh.

As he laughed, his fists clenched.

He had developed a condition that made him want to laugh whenever he saw Hajime Kashimo's face. Watching this episode as a kid had taught him master-level Hollow Wicker Basket. Kashimo the Fraud really was a character who demanded too much execution.

"You..."

Hajime Kashimo had just tried to start a conversation.

"What the fuck are you staring at???"

Xia Xia opened with zero startup frames. Pointing with both hands, he launched into a rap, spewing fragrant obscenities, every word sweeter than honey.

Hajime Kashimo had no idea what had happened or why the other man was so hostile. But that wouldn't stop this killing god from teaching an ill-mannered junior a thing or two about respecting his elders and caring for the young. Only death could teach respect for the strong.

Just another point.

He had grown rather impatient inside this barrier. It was all garbage: newly awakened, self-taught jujutsu sorcerers everywhere, or nameless extras from who knew where. People like these couldn't excite Hajime Kashimo.

He had nearly gathered enough points. After that, he would challenge the so-called King of Curses. Hopefully, the legendary Ryomen Sukuna wouldn't disappoint him.

Oh, the immediate priority was getting rid of this minor character before him. Although stronger than the weeds around him, he seemed to be only a standard Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer.

He would send his flesh flying. As the price for offending him, the young man would experience annihilation by lightning.

The Thunder God narrowed his eyes, murderous intent surging.

But the young man before him was faster, his hands racing through the motions to unleash his cursed technique, followed by barrier technique hand signs so swift that nobody could escape:

"Domain Expansion: Death-Bound Curse!"

"Dom... Hollow Wicker Basket!!!"

Damn it, I underestimated him. So you're a jujutsu sorcerer of this caliber? Quite an accomplished young man.

But it's fine. I'll win.

Kids, I've activated Hollow Wicker Basket. His domain's sure-hit effect won't work. Watch me kill him right inside his own domain. Now that's how the strong think.

Watch closely and learn. I'll teach you live how to smash a domain head-on. Just kill the opponent before the domain's attack arrives. Strike fast, and look cool doing it.

Kids, watch me set up Positive and Negative Charges. Once I've marked him, I can just watch and wait for my opening. Auto-aim headlock loaded. Isn't this better than some domain's sure-hit effect? No cursed technique burnout, either. I can keep using it.

Knowing Domain Expansion doesn't make you strong. Does anyone get it?

"Just give me a quick death."

Hajime Kashimo, who should have been the victor, fell.

Hajime Kashimo's cause of death was simple: he had raised his hand to punish Xia Xia's recovery frames and instantly killed him, then died to the domain's cursed execution.

He hadn't activated Mythical Beast Amber. Forgot.

Who could have guessed this guy's domain was a deathrattle skill? So underhanded. Fine, you win, you win.

This Xia Xia knew neither swordsmanship nor any lethal martial arts, but the domain was still the same domain. The canonical Hajime Kashimo, who couldn't use Domain Expansion, was still judged the weaker party. With no one to answer his cries, he died inside the domain and became a burial offering.

"Talk!"

"Keep talking!"

Inside the pure-white space, Xia Xia laughed at the settlement screen. Although he had still been instantly killed and still gained practically nothing, seeing Hajime Kashimo's miserable death was like drinking fine wine.

"I'm going to die first. You figure it out." Even now, the words "Forget about Megumi Fushiguro" kept gaining weight. The self-destructing kid packed enormous power!

Any other Special Grade Sorcerer capable of opening a domain might really have speedrun him without taking a scratch. After all, aside from his Domain Expansion, Xia Xia himself was still fairly weak-but luckily, it was Hajime Kashimo who had come.

As long as it was the main-timeline Hajime Kashimo, there was no chance.

Anyone from Special Grade upward could break this garbage domain. But you alone, Hajime Kashimo-you, the strongest Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer, the human vessel of Hollow Wicker Basket-couldn't!

Only you, Hajime Kashimo, get trapped in my sixty-second no-substitution lock. Even if you win, you still have to die. How is that not profound love? How is that not an ocean of hatred and a sky of passion? Amabuki's education wins. Tormenting an old man over four hundred years old-no martial honor at all.

I say smurfs deserve to get one-shot.