Special grade cursed spirit

July 2018, Eishu Juvenile Detention Center, West Tokyo City.

A somewhat frail, middle-aged man wearing glasses addressed Yuanfang and the others:

"Non-sorcerers spotted the cursed womb of a special grade imaginary vengeful spirit above the sports field.

Our 'Window' confirmed the cursed womb roughly three hours ago. Once evacuation was ninety percent complete, we sealed off the facility based on the situation at the scene.

All residents within a five-hundred-meter radius have been evacuated."

When he finished, Itadori asked in confusion:

"Mr. Ijichi, I have a question. What's 'Window'?"

"'Window' refers to people affiliated with Jujutsu High who can see curses, but aren't sorcerers!"

"Oh!"

Itadori nodded in understanding, and Ijichi continued explaining the situation.

"Five inmates are currently still in the second dormitory, along with the cursed womb.

If the cursed womb completes its metamorphosis, we predict it will become a special grade cursed spirit!"

Hearing that it was special grade, Megumi Fushiguro, Nobara Kugisaki, and Itadori were all a little shocked.

After all, Yuanfang had already explained the strength of grade one through special grade to them in class.

"Yuanfang should be able to handle it, right?"

Itadori couldn't help looking at Yuanfang. Yuanfang was the strongest among them. If even he couldn't handle it, wouldn't going inside put them all in danger?

Megumi Fushiguro and Kugisaki also turned to Yuanfang.

"I haven't dealt with one before. Teacher Gojo was supposed to come today, but unfortunately, he's away on business!"

A hint of unease appeared in Yuanfang's eyes. He didn't seem very confident that he could defeat a special grade cursed spirit.

Seeing this, Itadori and the other two grew even more worried.

"Unfortunately, being understaffed is the norm in this line of work. We often receive assignments beyond our capabilities.

But this is an exceptional emergency. You must not fight. If you encounter a special grade, you have only two options: flee or die.

Don't forget, your only mission is to locate and rescue survivors!"

Ijichi warned them with a stern expression. He didn't want them throwing their lives away out of arrogance.

"Right, don't worry. Let's head inside!"

With the three looking even more solemn, Yuanfang led them inside as though they were about to face a formidable enemy.

As they entered the building, Yuanfang instructed Megumi Fushiguro:

"Bring out your shikigami and keep watch!"

"Right!"

Megumi Fushiguro nodded and formed a hand sign. A white, dog-shaped shikigami suddenly appeared like a ghost.

"It's so pretty!"

Itadori couldn't resist patting the shikigami's head!

Beside him, Kugisaki looked disdainful. At a time this dangerous, this idiot was still thinking about petting a dog. He wasn't taking this seriously at all.

Creak!

The door swung open, and Yuanfang led them swiftly inside like an arrow loosed from a bow.

"Yuanfang, this is bad! This is an innate domain created with cursed energy!"

Seeing the tangled, chaotic interior that no longer resembled a dormitory at all, Megumi Fushiguro knew it had to be a domain. Its immense size stirred even greater fear deep inside him!

Then, as though something had occurred to him, he turned and shouted:

"Where's the door?"

Equally shocked, Itadori and Kugisaki looked behind them. The door had disappeared without a trace, as though it had evaporated!

"The door's gone!"

"Yuanfang, why? Didn't we just come in through here?"

Because Yuanfang had taught them the basics so well, both knew they were now inside an innate domain. They weren't as ignorant as they had been in the original story.

Instead, they were extremely tense, unsure how to respond.

"Don't worry. Megumi's shikigami remembers the way we came. Let's keep going!"

Yuanfang spoke calmly, a faint smile on his face.

His words immediately reassured the three, easing their nerves.

"This domain is enormous!"

Itadori couldn't help marveling as he looked around while walking. This was his first time seeing such a spectacular domain!

"Your cursed technique is amazing, Yuanfang!"

Kugisaki spoke with a captivated expression, her curiosity growing stronger. How exactly did he do it?

Within ten meters of Yuanfang, the surroundings instantly returned to their original state, as though they stood inside a domain cut off from the world.

Megumi Fushiguro kept nodding in agreement beside them.

He knew full well that a domain needed to be countered with another domain. Other cursed techniques were practically useless.

Yuanfang's cursed technique was like a domain, yet consumed far less energy than a real one. It was incredibly powerful.

"Looks like we're too late!"

Yuanfang paid little attention to Kugisaki's praise. His gaze settled on several figures lying ahead!

At the sight, Itadori and the other two were overcome with mixed emotions. The bodies were in a truly horrific state.

Unlike in the original story, however, they hadn't seen that mother sobbing her heart out, so Itadori didn't bring up taking the bodies away.

"Careful. It's here!"

Yuanfang looked toward a corner and warned them.

There, Megumi Fushiguro's shikigami was embedded firmly in the wall, already dead.

A cursed spirit with bluish-gray skin, a human upper body, a lower body encased in a brown substance, and a grotesque face was staring fixedly at them.

At the sight, Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Kugisaki felt their scalps prickle. This thing had killed the shikigami without a sound, and none of them had noticed.

Its strength was far beyond theirs. It was definitely special grade. The pressure it exerted was overwhelming.

"I'll hold it off. Get out of here!"

Seeing the three frozen in place, hardly daring to breathe, Yuanfang spoke gently.

"No, we can't do that! We'll fight it with you!"

Megumi Fushiguro immediately rejected Yuanfang's suggestion.

Although he knew Yuanfang was strong, the cursed spirit's overwhelming presence made him doubt whether Yuanfang could beat it.

"That's right. We'll stay and fight it with you!"

Kugisaki raised her little hammer with a slightly trembling hand as she spoke.

"Yeah, Yuanfang. We can't leave you here alone!"

Itadori also drew the knife Satoru Gojo had given him, ready to fight at any moment.

"You know how my cursed technique works. Staying won't do any good!"

Hearing his words, the three hesitated. After all, they already understood Yuanfang's cursed technique.

Of the three, only Itadori, who carried a cursed object, would probably be of any use. The other two would be completely neutralized.

Without their cursed techniques or the ability to release cursed energy, they couldn't hurt the cursed spirit at all.

"I'll stay, Yuanfang. You two go ahead. If it comes down to it, I'll let Sukuna out!"

Itadori had thought of an alternative plan and felt it was the better option.

Bang!

As Megumi Fushiguro considered their options, he silently cheered Yuanfang on.