The sharp, ear-piercing sound of shattering glass echoed as the barrier surrounding Tokyo Jujutsu High—reputed to be impenetrable even for Special Grade Cursed Spirits—was forced open.
A massive rift, tens of meters long, was torn into the sky!
Freezing winds and heavy snow poured into the school grounds through the crack.
Along with it came a sickening, terrifying pressure of cursed energy that felt as if it could freeze one's very soul!
"Screech!"
A Special Grade Pelican Cursed Spirit, as massive as a moving island, slowly descended from that pitch-black rift.
Its gargantuan shadow instantly enveloped the first-year classroom area, completely blotting out what little moonlight remained.
"They're here."
Standing in the middle of the training field, Yuta Okkotsu snapped his head up, his clear eyes fixed on the Special Grade Cursed Spirit in the sky.
His hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his katana, his knuckles turning white from the strain.
"So that's... the man known as the Most Evil Curse User?"
Maki gripped her polearm tightly. Through her special glasses, she could clearly see the dense, black residual dregs of cursed energy radiating from the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, thick enough to drip like ink.
But what made her heart race even more was the man standing on the back of that spirit.
Suguru Geto.
He wore his signature gojo-kesa with his hair tied in a man-bun, a gentle yet spine-chilling smile playing on his lips.
He looked down upon the first-year trio standing ready below (Yuta Okkotsu was currently positioned in the core protection spot further back), his eyes devoid of any emotion.
Like a high-and-mighty god, he was looking down at ants attempting to block his path.
"Oh my, what a nostalgic sight."
Suguru Geto leapt down from the back of the Special Grade Pelican Cursed Spirit, landing lightly on the snow less than ten meters away from Maki and the others.
He scanned the familiar buildings around him, his tone tinged with a hint of sentimentality.
"It's a pity this place will soon be reduced to ruins."
Geto's gaze eventually moved past Maki, Toge, and Panda, landing on Yuta Okkotsu in the back.
A cruel arc curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Finally we meet, Yuta Okkotsu."
"To get my hands on that lovely little monster inside you, I went to great lengths to prepare this grand Night Parade of a Hundred Demons."
Hearing Geto's blatant declaration of his intent to plunder, Yuta's body trembled slightly.
But before he could even draw his sword, Maki had already stepped in front of him without hesitation.
"If you want him, you'll have to go through us first!"
Maki stared coldly at Suguru Geto, her polearm already in an offensive stance.
Though she knew she was facing a true Special Grade Curse User and that the gap in their strength was like heaven and earth, there wasn't a trace of retreat in her eyes.
After all, she was a student personally trained by Instructor Yoru!
"Salmon!"
Toge Inumaki pulled down his high collar, revealing the cursed speech seal on the corners of his mouth, his gaze fixed sharply on Suguru Geto.
"Roar!"
Panda let out a guttural roar, his muscles bulging as he took a combat stance.
Looking at these three young students risking their lives to shield their companion, Suguru Geto's narrow eyes flashed with a hint of complex admiration and relief in the hidden shadows.
'Satoru, that idiot, and Yoru, that freak...'
'The students you've raised are indeed quite impressive.'
Suguru Geto sighed inwardly.
However.
This play had to go on, and it had to be more convincing than anything!
He knew that in some dark corner near the school, that stitched-faced man with a millennium's worth of conspiracies in his head...
Was currently watching his every move like a venomous snake.
If he showed even a hint of hesitation or mercy, that old fox Kenjaku would never take the bait!
'To lure that old thing out completely, for the final plan devised by Yoru and Satoru...'
'I'll have to give you kids a hard time.'
Suguru Geto took a deep breath, completely suppressing all his emotions.
When he looked up again, his face was once more masked with the extreme arrogance and cold killing intent of the Most Evil Curse User.
"What a group of touching monkeys."
Suguru Geto shook his head slightly, his tone dripping with condescension.
"But did you really think a few half-wits who can't even fully control their cursed energy could stop me?"
"Aren't you overestimating yourselves a bit too much?"
Before his voice even faded!
Without Geto even lifting a hand, the space behind him suddenly distorted violently.
Immediately after.
"ROAR!!!"
Accompanied by a terrifying roar that made one's scalp tingle.
Over a dozen massive cursed spirits, reeking of malice and ranging from Semi-Grade 1 to Grade 2, surged frantically from Suguru Geto's shadow like tigers released from a cage!
These spirits came in various forms: some with sharp, scythe-like limbs, some wreathed in green poisonous flames, and others like giant balls of flesh emitting a nauseating rot.
The moment they appeared, they lunged at Maki, Toge, and Panda without hesitation!
The massive swarm of spirits instantly surrounded the first-year trio!
"Scatter!"
Facing this sudden, terrifying assault, Maki didn't panic for a second.
She shouted a command, her polearm turning into a streak of silver lightning as she slashed at a scythe-wielding spirit lunging at her!
"Clang!"
A sharp sound of metal clashing rang out.
Maki's terrifying physical strength, which had reached its peak after Instructor Yoru's hellish training, was on full display.
The scythe-wielding spirit, despite its impressive defense, was forced back several meters, a deep wound carved into its body!
However, before Maki could follow up.
Two spirits wreathed in poisonous flames had already blocked her retreat from both sides!
"[Stop!]"
In that critical moment.
A slightly raspy voice, carrying an irresistible power of law, rang out across the battlefield.
Toge Inumaki clutched his throat as the cursed speech seal on his mouth glowed brilliantly.
Under the forced suppression of his speech, the two spirits about to ambush Maki were frozen in mid-air for a fraction of a second!
"Great job, Toge!"
Panda roared, his massive frame slamming forward like a steamroller.
"Take this! Panda Iron Fist!"
"Bam! Bam!"
Two dull thuds followed.
The two frozen spirits were sent flying by Panda's monstrous strength, crashing heavily into a nearby wall.
The trio displayed exceptional tactical awareness and coordination right from the start.
But seeing this, the cold sneer on Suguru Geto's face only deepened.
"Nice teamwork."
"But the gap in strength isn't something that can be bridged by playing house with teamwork like this."
Suguru Geto slowly extended a hand, and in his palm, a sphere of black cursed energy began to condense, radiating an aura of utter despair.
"Since you're so eager to die."
"I'll grant your wish. I'll show you what a real..."
"Special Grade looks like!"
As Geto's words fell.
An overwhelming pressure, ten times more terrifying than before, crushed down on the first-year trio like a mountain!
Faced with this absolute power, what countermeasure could Maki, Toge, and Panda possibly have?
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