Those Laobusi Higher-ups

High in the air, an enormous beast coiled and circled, completely capturing everyone's attention.

It resembled an ancient Chinese dragon, its long, powerful body covered in snow-white scales that gleamed cold and hard beneath the gloomy daylight.

Its dragon eyes were striking and eerie, rings set against bright yellow, cold and deathly still, radiating a lofty savagery. The tissues inside its body and the depths of its mouth were a rich green.

It circled through the sky, elegant yet immensely intimidating. Thick, concentrated cursed energy surrounded it, pressing the nearby air into near stillness. Whenever it swept overhead, the wind pressure it stirred sent the forest trees rustling loudly.

The three looked up at the eerie, imposing white dragon, the corners of their eyes twitching involuntarily.

Silence hung in the air.

Suguru Geto's composure vanished completely. His expression grew grave, his Adam's apple bobbing as he spoke in a dry voice full of disbelief. "...This is what the higher-ups called a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit?"

No sooner had he spoken than Satoru Gojo gave a soft scoff beside him. "Grade 1? This is Special Grade."

Those two short words instantly established how dangerous the situation was.

At the sight, Qingxiao could not help cursing inwardly.

Are you kidding me? This is a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit?

Those Laobusi higher-ups are screwing with us again.

It's clearly a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, yet they dared report it as Grade 1. Are they trying to get all three of us killed out here in the mountains?

Qingxiao remained calm and steady on the surface, without the slightest trace of panic. He was very confident in his own strength. Even against an enemy far stronger than anticipated, he would not consider backing down.

Far from being afraid, the fighting spirit that had lain dormant in his chest for so long roared to life, spreading through his veins to his entire body.

He knew all too well the value of fighting above his level. A Special Grade Cursed Spirit with extremely high defense, flight, and some independent intelligence was a rare opportunity for practical combat, far better for honing his strength than dull basic training or crushing low-level cursed spirits.

Qingxiao lowered his eyes slightly, suppressing the emotions surging within him. His fingers tightened a little, and the aura around him quietly settled.

So what if they lied about its grade?

We're already here. Then let's fight.

Finish this quickly. The sooner it's dealt with, the sooner we can return to Jujutsu High.

The image of Shoko seeing him off in the morning breeze flashed unbidden through his mind, along with her gentle words: "Come back soon."

No dragging this out, and definitely no mishaps.

The Rainbow Dragon overhead seemed to sense their hostility. Its yellow, ringed pupils contracted, instantly locking onto the three on the ground.

It possessed considerable intelligence. Rather than charging mindlessly like a low-level cursed spirit, it slowly coiled and cruised high above, looking down at the ground.

Its green mouth opened slightly, thick cursed energy gathering and churning in its throat, radiating danger.

Suguru Geto's expression turned solemn. He immediately entered combat mode, his hands rapidly forming seals. As cursed energy surged, several avian cursed spirits were summoned. They flapped their wings and took to the air, moving to surround and pin down the Rainbow Dragon.

But the next second, a piercing crash erupted through the mountains.

The Rainbow Dragon swayed its body slightly, meeting the charge head-on with its snow-white scales. Suguru Geto's cursed spirits struck it, only to scatter tiny sparks without leaving so much as a shallow scratch.

Its hard scales were like a Special Grade Cursed Tool. These few low-level cursed spirits could not even breach its defenses.

"It really does live up to being a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. If Geto can capture the Rainbow Dragon, his strength will probably improve a lot."

Qingxiao's pupils contracted slightly, his heart growing heavy. He tensed every muscle, cursed energy circulating around him.

With a low shout, Qingxiao shattered the ground beneath his feet and shot forward. His sharp gaze swept across every joint between the dragon's scales. He struck with incredible speed, sending sparks flying.

What was going on?

The instant his fist struck the dragon's body, it felt like hitting metal, hard enough to jar him to the bone. The dragon's entire body formed a seamless whole, as though it had no weaknesses at all.

The dragon's tail swept toward Qingxiao with a rush of wind, its bones as hard as iron. Qingxiao crossed his arms to block.

Bam-!

An enormous recoil erupted instantly. Qingxiao was smashed hard to the ground, his legs plowing furrows several meters long through the soil. His arms ached and tingled with numbness.

He knew full well that this was the toughest fight he had faced since entering the profession, bar none.

His opponent had no obvious weaknesses, held the advantage of altitude, and could anticipate tactics. It was far harder to deal with than a mindlessly ferocious Special Grade Cursed Spirit.

The instant Qingxiao landed, a streak of azure swept across the sky.

"Move."

Satoru Gojo's voice rang out. He had remained suspended in midair throughout, the absolute defense of Limitless leaving him unafraid of the Rainbow Dragon's attacks.

After several probing attacks and close-range charges were quietly neutralized by an invisible barrier, the Rainbow Dragon knew that the white-haired boy's defense was a wall it could not overcome. Every attack against him was rendered meaningless, unable to inflict any damage at all.

The Rainbow Dragon completely abandoned its attacks on Satoru Gojo, directing its entire offensive toward the other two present.

But even with Limitless, Satoru Gojo could not take it easy now.

Cursed energy gathered at his fingertips, and he fired a precisely aimed Blue at the Rainbow Dragon's eyes. Yet the Rainbow Dragon deftly twisted aside to evade it. Blue grazed its scales, merely lifting patches of them without inflicting any real damage.

"Tch, its hide's way too thick." Satoru Gojo clicked his tongue, his tone unusually serious.