"Are you serious…"
Everyone inside the hall wore grim expressions.
It could speak human language. It had intelligence and had even sealed the escape routes beforehand. On top of that, the cursed energy it released was terrifying.
If nothing unexpected happened, the special grade curse in front of them was even stronger than the one Nanami had just defeated.
What made things worse was that both Nanami and Megumi were currently suffering from technique burnout after using Domain Expansion, and no one knew when their techniques would recover.
Megumi's eyes constantly scanned the surroundings as he searched for a chance to win or escape. At the same time, he seemed to be considering whether he should release that thing.
"Nanami-san, Haibara-san, and Megumi should focus on recovering. Leave the rest to us."
Just then, Maki stepped forward decisively with her naginata resting on her shoulder.
"I'm still fine too."
Nobara followed right behind her.
The only two girls among the Tokyo Jujutsu High students now stood in front of the men. Among the five sorcerers present, only the two of them had barely consumed any energy in the previous battle.
"Forests. Earth. Oceans… all things that nurture life cry out because of humanity's existence."
Hanami spread her arms and spoke slowly, explaining the reason for her birth and humanity's sins.
Even though no one understood her strange language, the meaning appeared directly in their minds as words.
"What does that have to do with me!"
Nobara answered by firing a cursed nail straight at her. Other people's suffering was not a reason to vent anger on her.
Clang!
Hanami didn't dodge.
When the nail hit her body, it sounded like metal striking steel. After the sharp sound, it fell to the ground.
"My turn!"
Maki rushed forward with her naginata. Spinning once, the blade slashed directly toward Hanami's forehead.
But Hanami simply raised her hand and caught the blade. No matter how much strength Maki used, she could not pull it free.
The gap between a disaster-class curse and a newly promoted semi-grade 1 sorcerer was like an abyss.
"Tch!"
Unwilling to accept it, Maki twisted her body and kicked Hanami's face with a whip kick. Her foot struck the two right-angled branches above the curse's eyes.
Caught off guard, Hanami loosened her grip.
Taking the chance, Maki swung her naginata diagonally and cut into the curse's shoulder. Although the blade only sank in a little, it still managed to injure Hanami's tough body.
"Disgusting humans…"
"That's your weak spot, right?!"
Hanami was about to use her technique to counterattack when Nobara suddenly jumped up with her weapon. Anyone could see it. The branches above the curse's eyes were clearly weaker than the rest of her body.
"Straw Doll Technique!"
At such close range, Nobara fired a nail directly at those branches.
Boom!
Cursed energy flashed across the nail and blew off a small piece of the branch.
Boom!
But in the next moment, several vines burst from the ground. They wrapped around both girls and slammed them into the ceiling, pinning them there.
Hanami's damaged branch instantly regenerated under cursed energy. Simultaneously, she bent her knees, preparing to leap up and attack them.
"Look over here!"
A shout suddenly rang out.
Hanami turned her head.
Haibara was sprinting straight toward her.
"Rude human."
Hanami extended a finger, and vines shot out from the ground to attack him.
But Haibara was a proficient physical-combat sorcerer. He easily dodged the slow vines and continued charging forward.
"Then I'll start with you—"
Hanami clenched her fist and prepared to fight him.
Then she paused.
'Wait… where did the other two go?'
The other sorcerers who were supposed to be with Haibara had disappeared.
"Your vines are huge. But in such a narrow place, they also block your own vision." Megumi's voice came from behind.
Just as Hanami tried to turn, Haibara took a deep breath.
"Mirror Binding Technique!"
His technique became stronger the closer he was to the target. Now he was only a few steps away from Hanami, and the effect increased dramatically.
Even with the huge power difference, Hanami's movements slowed several times. Behind her, Megumi's fist was already flying toward her body.
Nanami's earlier words echoed in his mind.
'If you want to recover your burnt-out technique quickly, the only way is Black Flash. So you must try.'
Don't calculate. Don't think. Just follow the rhythm of your attack.
"Black Flash!"
The punch struck Hanami's waist.
Space twisted violently.
Megumi had finally landed his first Black Flash, blasting Hanami's entire body flying.
On the other side, Nanami, who had also triggered another Black Flash, rescued the two girls pinned to the ceiling.
The only injured one was Haibara, who fell to his knees coughing blood.
"Maki-senpai!"
The extreme boost from the Black Flash instantly restored Megumi's burnt-out technique. From his shadow rose his usual pair of tonfas, and along with them was a three-section staff.
The Fushiguro family's inherited special grade cursed tool: Playful Cloud.
It had originally been given to Megumi by Toji. But he never liked using it, so he immediately tossed it to the person with the strongest physical ability.
Maki.
"With this, things might finally get interesting. You're the best nephew ever."
She caught it with a grin. With a special grade cursed tool like this, her combat strength would rise even higher.
"Go!"
The three of them attacked Hanami together.
Boom!
Hanami unleashed more than ten vines. Most of them shot toward Nanami, forcing him back dozens of meters.
Her plan was simple. First restrain the strongest sorcerer, then deal with the others.
But…
"Straw Doll Technique: Resonance!"
Behind everyone, Nobara had already placed a straw doll on the broken piece of Hanami's branch from earlier. Then she drove a nail into it.
The technique activated through the branch. The cursed energy traced back to its source and struck Hanami directly.
Her body trembled.
At the same moment, Megumi and Maki attacked the branches above the curse's eyes together, smashing Hanami to the ground.
But just as they tried to finish her off, Hanami grabbed their weapons and threw them away. She also knocked Nobara aside before she could use her technique again.
Then vines rose from the ground and destroyed the broken branch fragment.
Hanami slowly stood up once more.
The two branches were only slightly damaged before they regenerated under cursed energy. This entire round of attacks had barely caused any real damage.
"Damn it…"
Hanami's durability was absurd. Her regeneration ability surpassed everyone's expectations.
"I already understand your techniques. Now accept judgment."
Hanami's voice carried no anger or frustration. She had never truly taken their attacks seriously.
Boom!
Suddenly, another loud explosion echoed. The massive vine blocking the staircase entrance was kicked open, creating a hole.
"Playing games without inviting me?"
From the smoke came a voice that alone was enough to make everyone feel relieved.
"Dad?!"
Megumi's eyes widened.
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