Yuji and Shōkera engaged in a fierce brawl by a small river that cut across the competition grounds.
Shōkera, dressed in black priestly robes, surrounded them with his Shōkera Swarm.
"Divergent Fist."
Yuji's eyes were vacant, as if his mind was completely empty, with all his attention focused on controlling his Cursed Energy.
His fists, wrapped in a large amount of Cursed Energy, continuously attacked Shōkera's entire body.
Shōkera sometimes wielded his long cross spear and sometimes counterattacked with his fists.
Bang.
Yuji's right fist and Shōkera's left fist collided violently.
Just as Shōkera smugly thought of saying something, a sudden increase in power from the fist sent him flying.
"Still have strength? No, that's not right."
Shōkera noticed a slight abnormality.
At first, he thought that Yuji's powerful physique was due to a Heavenly Restriction, so each of his attacks contained a large amount of physical strength with a small amount of Cursed Energy.
But the recent clash of fists made Shōkera realize something was wrong.
"I see. That expression, and that sudden secondary Cursed Energy impact."
Shōkera pointed his long spear at Yuji.
"You're a beginner, aren't you? Due to your unfamiliarity with Cursed Energy control and your physique being far superior to an ordinary person's, your Cursed Energy is a beat slower than your punch."
Shōkera looked directly into Yuji's eyes.
"How amazing. Just like what my teacher said."
Yuji, who was about to attack, suddenly widened his eyes.
"Is that so?"
Shōkera grinned, already having a method to deal with Yuji in his mind.
'Compared to this brat, that guy over there needs more vigilance.'
Shōkera squinted at Todo, who was standing not far away with his arms crossed.
That strong physique, sharp gaze, and terrifying aura.
He looked stronger than the simple-minded pink-haired guy in front of him in every way.
'Is that guy waiting for me to show a weakness, letting this new guy use his life to create an opportunity for him to defeat me?'
A thousand years ago, such situations were not uncommon.
Back then, servants and subordinates were not treated as "people" by their Jujutsu Sorcerer masters.
In fact, in their eyes, dying for a Jujutsu Sorcerer master of a great family was a great honor.
A thousand years ago, not only were Curse Users far more vicious than in modern times, but Jujutsu Sorcerers were the same.
'I won't give you a chance.'
Just as Shōkera was thinking about whether to eliminate Todo first, Yuji, who had waited for a long time, made his move.
He did not understand those so-called standoffs or searching for weaknesses in aura.
He felt that since Shōkera was standing still, he had given him the first move.
No matter the situation, just throw a punch first, and if there was a problem, ask while fighting.
"Are you in such a hurry to show loyalty to your master? Then I'll kill you first."
Shōkera used his spear to block Yuji's punch, then immediately released the force to prevent the second stage damage of Divergent Fist from landing.
"What are you talking about?"
Yuji looked at Shōkera with a bewildered expression, and his left hand threw another punch.
"Don't move!"
'Can't move?'
The sudden Cursed Speech rendered Shōkera immobile, and Yuji's fist landed on his proud, handsome face.
Bang.
Shōkera was sent flying by Yuji, whom he had looked down upon.
"Huh? Inumaki-senpai."
Yuji turned to look at Toge and Noritoshi, who had arrived behind him.
"Convergence: Piercing Blood!"
Seeing the enemy sent flying, Noritoshi immediately clasped his hands together and aimed at Shōkera.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Todo appeared behind Noritoshi at some point, and a terrifying aura pressed down on him.
"Todo! That's the enemy!"
"I know."
Noritoshi fell silent. He had not expected Todo to answer so directly.
This made Noritoshi, who usually spoke in roundabout ways like everyone else in his family, a bit unaccustomed.
"Reason?"
Noritoshi opened his eyes and looked directly at Todo, who was much taller than him.
"My brother is at a critical stage of his evolution right now. You two are not allowed to interfere, understand?!"
Todo shouted with a powerful aura.
...
"I understand, but if Yuji dies, you will bear inescapable responsibility."
"Hmph. My brother won't die."
After speaking, Todo returned to Yuji's side.
"Inumaki, let's go deal with those bugs."
Noritoshi turned to Toge.
"Salmon."
"?"
Toge nodded, expressing his agreement, but Noritoshi, who had not studied Inumaki's language, could not understand.
Seeing Noritoshi's bewildered expression, Toge immediately started fumbling for his phone.
Because all the Tokyo Jujutsu High students had studied Inumaki's language, and they had been together for a long time and developed tacit understanding.
So Toge had almost forgotten his communication problem and thought of himself as a normal person.
"I'll knock them to the ground, and you finish them off."
A gentle electronic voice emerged from the phone.
"I understand."
Noritoshi nodded.
A very reasonable division of labor.
"Fall!"
Cursed Speech activated, and the Shōkera Swarm, which had been flying in the sky watching the show, was instantly suppressed by the Cursed Speech.
"Blood Manipulation: Slicing Exorcism."
Bloody flying wheels flew toward the Shōkera Swarm, which was suppressed by Cursed Speech and had difficulty moving, and these insect-shaped shikigami fell like harvested wheat.
Before the battle began, Shōkera felt that there were too few enemies, so he wanted to personally send them to their master.
This meant that the Shōkera Swarm had not made a move.
He had not expected them to be severely wounded now.
"Damn it!"
Shōkera, who was wary of Todo while also suppressing Yuji, instantly became anxious.
"Immediately send those two to their master!"
"Yes, Lord Shōkera!"
The Shōkera Swarm spread their insect wings and extended their sharp blades, attacking Toge and Noritoshi.
However, at that moment, a terrifying aura appeared behind him.
"Nani?"
Shōkera turned his head in disbelief, and what met his eyes was a Black Flash.
"Black Flash!"
Yuji's fist once again struck Shōkera's face, and at the same time, his body seemed to have flipped some kind of switch.
"Pfft, cough, cough."
Shōkera's face was twisted and deformed, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood.
"Again. Again."
Shōkera's anger toward Yuji, this brat who kept hitting him in the face, had reached its peak.
Puff, puff.
Insect-like features appeared on Shōkera's body one by one.
The enraged Shōkera revealed the true form of his insect-type shikigami.
"I've decided. A scoundrel like you doesn't deserve salvation from the master. I will personally cast you into hell!"
Shōkera flapped his insect wings and flew toward Yuji.
After a brief and intense exchange, Black Flash once again appeared on Yuji's fist.
Bang, splat.
Yuji's Black Flash heavily struck Shōkera's body.
Under the Black Flash, Shōkera's shell shattered, creating a squishy, bursting sensation like an insect being squashed by a slipper.
But Yuji was not unscathed.
After revealing his true form, Shōkera had more limbs and a highly venomous stinger.
At the same time he was struck by Black Flash, Shōkera's stinger pierced Yuji's body.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)