A sharp chill spread through the hall as the temperature dropped rapidly.
A man with a noticeable strand of hair hanging over his forehead appeared before everyone, and beside him stood a pure white cursed spirit.
(This was the special grade ice-type curse from more than ten years ago that once tried to challenge three special grade sorcerers.)
"Geto-senpai!"
Haibara, who had been sitting on the ground, struggled to his feet and hurried toward the senior he respected the most.
"You really saved us, Geto."
Nanami finally relaxed. That volcano-headed curse was extremely strong, and Nanami had already used up a lot of energy. If his ally had not arrived, he would have likely been seriously injured even if he survived.
"Seeing how much you've grown really makes me happy. Fighting curses of this level together, sorcerers risking everything to protect each other… there's nothing more moving than that."
Suguru gently patted Haibara's shoulder and a genuine smile appeared on his face. Even though he had not witnessed the earlier battle himself, he could easily guess what had happened.
Sure enough, after he stopped paying attention to those monkeys, the world had become much more beautiful.
Whoosh!
But just as everyone was talking, the frozen statue began to melt.
The next second heat burst out like a volcanic eruption, and the entire ice sculpture turned into steam and vanished.
"A curse… special grade sorcerer Suguru Geto?"
After Jogo broke free he did not rush forward recklessly as usual. Instead he looked at the pure white cursed spirit beside Suguru and spoke with suspicion.
Before the plan began, Kenjaku had explained the current situation of the jujutsu world to them. That included information about the special grade sorcerers. Seeing someone confidently controlling such a powerful cursed spirit made it hard not to connect him with Cursed Spirit Manipulation and that man.
"You know quite a lot."
Suguru's answer made Jogo's expression stiffen.
'Another special grade sorcerer…'
For a moment, Jogo felt uncertain. After all, the last special grade he had fought had almost beaten him to death.
"But it doesn't matter who you are!"
Following only a brief thought Jogo's confident expression returned. He was now carrying the lives of Mahito and Dagon with him. No matter what, he would not retreat.
The surrounding temperature kept rising as steam poured out from the small volcano on his head, showing his burning anger.
"We can continue catching up later. You all don't need to go further down. Find somewhere to rest. Leave this to us."
Suguru ignored the overwhelming cursed energy coming from Jogo and turned his head, smiling gently at the younger sorcerers.
"Rainbow Dragon."
Crash!
The next instant, the sound of glass shattering echoed as a white-colored dragon burst through space and slammed into Jogo, smashing him through a nearby window.
After being strengthened by Suguru's cursed energy, even Rainbow Dragon, which would normally be easily destroyed by Jogo, became incredibly fierce.
* * *
Outside the hall.
"I heard from Satoru that your technique seems to have a huge attack range. It would be better if we fight outside."
High in the air Suguru sat on the back of a manta ray-like curse. Resting his chin on one hand, he calmly explained.
He looked completely relaxed, as if he were just playing a casual game with Jogo.
"How dare you look down on me…"
Jogo's head burst into flames in anger as he raised his hand, preparing to burn the dragon holding him to ashes.
But just as he was about to activate his technique, the dragon suddenly sank into space and disappeared.
At the same time the air below split open. A gigantic fist burst out from the void and struck Jogo, sending his falling body flying high into the sky again.
"Pfft!"
Although he clenched his teeth tightly, blood still leaked out from between them.
'So this is Cursed Spirit Manipulation…'
The endless chain of unpredictable attacks made Jogo's single eye turn bloodshot.
"AHH!"
He roared in the air as cursed energy exploded outward like a tidal wave and the temperature rose dramatically. Dozens, even hundreds of fireballs formed around him and blasted outward in every direction.
"That bastard actually dared…"
High above, the smile disappeared from Suguru's face. It wasn't just the nearby buildings that might still have people inside. His juniors were also not far from here. If this curse kept using such large-scale attacks, sooner or later it would affect them.
"Junrin."
Suguru lifted a finger.
The ice-type special grade cursed spirit floating beside him spread its shoulders and unleashed a wave of extreme cold. Frost instantly covered everything around them, including Jogo.
The entire space was sealed inside a giant coffin of ice.
Hiss!
The fireballs Jogo launched slammed against the frozen walls, creating clouds of steam, but they failed to melt the ice completely.
'My technique has terrible compatibility with this…'
Standing on the frozen ground, the ice beneath Jogo's feet slowly melted with each step.
"I'd like to keep playing a bit longer, but it seems you're not very good at games."
Suguru landed on the ground and raised his right hand, shaping his fingers like a gun. Someone who casually used massive area attacks like that should be eliminated quickly.
He flicked his finger.
Several small cursed spirits wrapped in his cursed energy shot out like bullets.
Boom!
As soon as those curses approached Jogo, the intense heat burned them up and they exploded.
"I will kill you here."
Wave after wave of scorching heat poured from Jogo's body. Even the air itself seemed to burn.
"Then do your best, special grade curse."
Suguru paused for a moment, surprised. That determination to face death was exactly the same as when sorcerers faced powerful enemies.
"I'm not just a curse. I have a name. It's Jogo."
This was his final bit of pride.
From the ground below, more than a dozen pillars of fire burst upward, breaking through the frozen prison. The place turned into a living hell.
Jogo extended his hand downward, and a tiny fireball floated beneath his palm. It was only the size of a ping-pong ball, but it contained terrifying cursed energy.
"I'll remember that."
Suguru raised a finger. At its tip a distorted sphere of cursed energy formed, created from an unknown cursed spirit.
* * *
Meanwhile, back in the hall.
"If Geto is confident, then we should withdraw for now."
Nanami supported Haibara as he prepared to lead the students away from the battlefield.
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed. Massive vines burst from somewhere and blocked every exit. Even the windows were sealed.
"That curse?!"
Nanami immediately recognized it. It was the same curse that had once rescued the stitched-face curse.
"Pay for what you've done, foolish humans."
The ground cracked apart, and Hanami rose up on a mass of vines.
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!