That afternoon, Megumi sat on the edge of the field, staring blankly as Yuji sparred with Panda-senpai and Inumaki-senpai.
He felt lost.
Yuji's strength was already quasi-grade 1… practically touching grade 1.
Meanwhile, he was still Grade 2, with no real improvement.
Even knowing this was Gojo-sensei forcing Yuji's growth so he could face threats from both Curses and Jujutsu Sorcerers, Megumi couldn't help feeling anxious.
His fingers clenched unconsciously.
The Exchange Event was barely half a month away.
He'd worked hard to tame Max Elephant and was skilled with every shikigami he owned, yet he lacked a truly powerful trump card.
No matter which shikigami he summoned, it would struggle against a sorcerer like Yuji.
When Gojo-sensei mentioned tonight's special training, Megumi almost asked to join but bit the words back.
Yuji's opponents were all Grade 1 Curses; he wasn't sure his presence would help rather than hinder.
He lowered his gaze to the shadow at his feet.
He had to grow stronger… in his own way.
How could the Ten Shadows Technique advance? Gojo had once said that when a shikigami died, its power would be inherited by the others, raising individual might… but he didn't want any of them to die. Surely there was another way?
Megumi's eyes darkened; his hands tightened, a fierce resistance welling inside.
"What're you brooding about, Fushiguro? You look so serious."
Yuji, fresh from the match, walked over, sat beside him, and offered a bottle of water.
His caring smile could loosen anyone's tension.
"If something's bugging you, spit it out—let's figure it out together. Don't carry it alone."
"And if it's real trouble, there's still us—and Sukuna and Gojo-sensei. We'll find a solution together."
Megumi blinked.
He hesitated, then took the proffered bottle.
He was used to thinking alone, yet Yuji's words cracked that habit slightly.
Thinking of his Cursed Technique, he finally voiced the problem.
Sukuna, lounging in the Inner World, rubbed his chin and opened a mouth to join the chat.
"Shouldn't be. If you only get stronger when they croak, that's pretty stupid."
Sukuna's sudden voice startled Megumi; Yuji quickly scanned the area to make sure no one else heard.
Sukuna went on, unconcerned.
"If that were true, a Shikigami User would stay home having his spirits kill each other all day."
"If the dead grow stronger, the survivors can't be weaker… Are you sure there's no other method?"
Megumi stared at Sukuna, stunned.
Right… if even 'failure' and death made shikigami stronger, surviving and winning couldn't leave them weaker!
A surge of hope rippled through him; his heart began to race.
His pulse pounded; darkness in his pupils shimmered with light.
He refocused on his shadow, clasped his hands, and formed a sign.
A black and a white Divine Dog slipped from the shadow, low growls echoing as they turned to their master.
The Divine Dogs had been with him from the start—family as much as shikigami.
The ones he knew best—
Megumi released the seal, fingers interlaced anew.
Under Cursed Energy, a new sign formed automatically.
[Gé].
He voiced it softly; dark-blue sparks flashed in his clear black eyes.
Cursed Energy surged, blue-black aura rising over him and both dogs.
The black and white dogs howled, shadows merging into a single flow.
The shadow swelled, and a huge wolf—half black, half white—stepped out, claws digging into the ground before Megumi.
Its massive frame and razor-sharp claws radiated overwhelming power.
The wolf lowered its head, nuzzled Megumi's ear, and gave a soft whine.
Golden eyes shone with tender affection.
Divine Dog – Kon.
The name surfaced in his mind; Megumi reached out and stroked the wolf's forehead.
The unfamiliar yet real touch, and the familiar fondness he felt, anchored his drifting heart.
"Kon…"
he whispered; the huge wolf barked back, nudging his chest like the original dogs used to.
Megumi flung his arms around Kon, fingers sinking into thick fur, trembling slightly.
He pressed his forehead to Kon's neck, breath gradually calming… Thank goodness… he wouldn't lose the Divine Dogs—wouldn't lose any shikigami ever again… [It's over…]
Sukuna muttered inwardly, watching the huge wolf.
Its black-and-white coat looked anything but soft.
[My White Divine Dog is gone…?]
Will I still have fluffy fur to pet?
[…Yuji, you think this big guy can change back?]
A wolf this huge clearly isn't great for petting.
Feeling he'd lost his fluffy toy, Sukuna sighed in melancholy… Meanwhile, Megumi, elated by the new sign and Kon, couldn't contain himself.
He even phoned Gojo.
His calm tone barely hid his excitement.
"I have a new Divine Dog."
Five seconds of silence on the line.
Then came Gojo's sympathetic voice.
"…My condolences."
Megumi: "…"
???
Condolences??
—Want me to beat you till you need condolences?
"My Divine Dogs are all fine!"
Megumi's voice cracked with irritation.
He knew Gojo assumed a death had birthed the new shikigami, and he itched to punch the man.
"Oh~, great!~"
Gojo's usual cheer returned instantly.
"You tamed another one? So you can get the same type again?"
Megumi exhaled, easing his stomachache from the rage.
Then, with calm pride, he told his teacher about mastering the new sign "Gé."
Unlike the familiar "+", "Gé" was pure evolution: Kon, born from the fusion of both dogs, was more than five times stronger than the two combined.
Even Yuji asked to spar with Kon.
Megumi tensed—what if his wolf got hurt?
Kon volunteered, stepping forward to fight Yuji.
Megumi watched, stunned, as Kon held its own against Yuji.
—Meaning Kon's single combat power exceeded an ordinary Grade 1 Curse.
Relief flooded him.
Eyes shining, he watched Kon fight, fists clenched at his sides.
Deep blue pupils sparkled with delight.
Great… he'd finally found a new path for a Shikigami User—his own path!
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