Domain

If [Maximum Technique] was the ultimate expression of every cursed technique outside of a domain...

Then a [domain] was the lifelong goal every jujutsu sorcerer pursued!

So-called [Domain Expansion] involved a jujutsu sorcerer or cursed spirit expending an enormous amount of cursed energy to construct an innate domain imbued with a cursed technique around them.

Within the domain, the caster received corresponding buffs, while their cursed technique gained a guaranteed-hit effect.

In other words, absolute home-field advantage!

So why had Shinji called what lay before him a pseudo-domain?

Because only cursed energy existed here, with no cursed technique whatsoever.

Simply put, it was like building a house without putting any guards or traps inside.

When outsiders entered, they would, at worst, be unfamiliar with their surroundings, but they would face no danger.

If the owner wanted to kill an intruder, they would have to go over and do it themselves.

A true domain, meanwhile, was like a fully armed fortress. With just a flick of a finger, its guns and cannons would roar, blasting intruders to pieces.

Perhaps that analogy wasn't entirely accurate, but it captured the general idea.

After confirming this, Shinji let out a huge sigh of relief.

After all, he had no desire to enter a true domain and fight a [special grade cursed spirit].

That would mean his current chances of winning were less than ten percent.

Perhaps even lower!

"I need to find that idiot Hidan as soon as possible."

Shinji muttered to himself, then immediately picked up speed and began racing through the area.

After turning into yet another cave, he suddenly stopped, his expression frighteningly cold.

A dismembered body had been embedded in the wall, its pieces arranged in their proper positions.

The torso was above, the legs below, and the arms on either side. Only the head was missing.

A humanoid creature sat beneath the wall.

Although this cursed spirit had a human shape, a single glance made it clear that it wasn't human.

It stood two and a half meters tall, with an inhumanly muscular physique, deathly pale skin, and four jarring eyes on its forehead.

Its round head had no hair, nor did it have ears or a nose.

Its appearance alone would have been enough to make ninety-nine percent of children cry.

More importantly, it was sitting on a rock, holding the Bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe Shinji had made for Hidan in its right hand while repeatedly tossing and catching a human head with its left. It seemed to be in a good mood, thoroughly enjoying itself.

Apparently noticing Shinji's arrival, the bald, four-eyed cursed spirit stopped what it was doing and gripped Hidan's head.

At the same time, Hidan's tightly shut eyes snapped open!

Upon seeing who had arrived, he said without hesitation, "Help me slaughter this bastard. Preferably cut him into eighteen pieces. I'll owe you one!"

For someone as stubbornly prideful as Hidan to say "I'll owe you one," he clearly had to be furious!

Even when Shinji had taken a punishment in his place and made him the Bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe, Hidan had never said anything like that.

[Your bond-linked character Hidan has issued you a quest!]

Quest: [An eye for an eye]

Objective: Eliminate [Special Grade Cursed Spirit-Greed] and cut it into eighteen pieces.

Rewards: Black Flash, Cursed Soul Points ×5000, Bond Points +100.

PS: As the saying goes, even beating a dog means answering to its owner. Someone has bullied your dog. Do as you see fit.

Shinji nodded solemnly. "All right!"

Even without this quest from the system, he would have killed this monstrosity to avenge Hidan.

After all, only he was allowed to scold or beat his own dog. No one else could so much as touch him!

And this thing had gone so far as to take Hidan apart and mount him on the wall like a specimen in such a humiliating fashion,

Then toss his head around like a ball. "Even I haven't tried playing with him like that!"

Shinji seemed to have been swallowed whole by darkness, leaving only his terrifying eyes glowing red.

Knowing that a [special grade cursed spirit] was far more terrifying than the small fry he had faced before, he prepared to get serious.

The familiar blood-colored markings abruptly appeared...

But this time, the markings were no longer merely shaped like an X.

A hollow circle had appeared at the intersection of the X-shaped markings. The upper branches extended vertically to his hairline, while the lower ends stretched straight down across his eyes to his cheeks.

"Flowing Scarlet Scales: Load!"

As an enhanced version of [Flowing Red Scale], [Flowing Scarlet Scales: Load] provided an even more terrifying improvement to every aspect of his physical abilities.

And more importantly...

"Watch out! This monster is fast!"

Hidan barely managed to get that warning out before the bald, four-eyed cursed spirit pressed him into the wall like a mural.

Then the bald, four-eyed cursed spirit appeared before Shinji at incredible speed, bringing the Bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe down toward his head!

That speed had made Hidan suffer terribly.

But Shinji not only reacted calmly, he even pinpointed the opening in his opponent's defenses and struck first at an even greater speed!

Thump...

BOOM!!!

The bald, four-eyed cursed spirit instantly flew backward even faster than it had come. First, it was embedded in the wall like Hidan, then it crashed straight through.

A terrifying, sunken fist mark had caved in its entire chest!

"I can freely manipulate every component of my blood to strengthen any part of my body. Naturally, that includes my eyes."

"Don't lump me in with that idiot hanging on the wall!"

(Hidan: Well, fucking thank you!)

Cursed technique disclosure complete!

Disclosing information about one's cursed technique during battle could increase its effectiveness and power.

Clatter...

The bald, four-eyed cursed spirit rose expressionlessly from the rubble. Its caved-in chest returned to normal almost in the blink of an eye.

Reverse Cursed Technique-Healing!

By using cursed energy to heal, even regrowing severed limbs or producing a new heart was possible!

Unless its true core was destroyed, even cutting off its head or blowing apart its heart would accomplish nothing. (That's how it works here. Don't argue.)

That was precisely what made a [special grade cursed spirit] so terrifying!

Compared to that, Shinji honestly felt that his own immortality was ridiculously weak.

No wonder Hidan had lost so badly.

Bzzzt...

The bald, four-eyed cursed spirit suddenly opened its mouth wide, immediately firing an orange-yellow wave of light.

BOOM!

The blast gouged a trench more than two meters wide and over thirty meters long into the ground it struck.

Having used his speed to dodge, Shinji couldn't help remarking, "You can cause this much destruction just by releasing cursed energy. If you're allowed to keep growing, you'll really become something else."

(PS: I got up a little after seven this morning to make New Year's visits and didn't get home until evening. Then I had to write, and I have to get up early again tomorrow. I'm really exhausted. Since I'm laying it on this thick, could you please bookmark the story, send some votes, and keep reading~ Pretty please!)