The architectural outline of Aoki Second Psychiatric Hospital appeared blurry and gloomy under the shroud of the Curtain, as if soaked in a viscous liquid.
The light inside the Curtain was twisted into an ominous dark purple.
The Assistant Director waiting here was a middle-aged man wearing round-framed glasses. At this moment, he was wiping the sweat from his forehead, speaking rapidly.
"Most of the patients have already been evacuated. There might be a few scattered ones who didn't make it out in time..."
He pushed up his glasses, his voice laced with tension.
"The mission target is a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit. According to prior intelligence, it specializes in mental attacks and some sort of control-type Cursed Technique.
The Higher-ups misjudged it, mistakenly identifying it as a Grade 2... leading to the mission's failure. Mr. Mamakoyu, who came to perform the exorcism mission, was severely injured and fell into a coma as a result."
Kugisaki Nobara crossed her arms. "Another mistake by the Higher-ups? How many times does this make?"
Fushiguro Megumi didn't reply, simply staring at the building.
He could feel the fluctuations of Cursed Energy coming from inside the Curtain.
Chaotic, sticky, like countless cold tentacles writhing in the air.
This was not the presence a normal Grade 1 Cursed Spirit should have.
Itadori Yuji stepped two paces closer. "Um... is Mr. Mamakoyu really okay?"
"He has already been sent to Dr. Ieiri's treatment room," the Assistant Director hurriedly replied. "But his injuries are not light; he won't be able to participate in missions for a short while."
Zen'in Maki tightened her grip on her Cursed Tool, her gaze sweeping over the group.
"Since it's a mental type, we have to proceed with caution. If we get controlled or fall into an illusion, it'll be extremely troublesome."
Panda raised his furry paw. "I can handle close-combat cover!"
Inumaki Toge tugged at his high collar. "Salmon Roe." He could use Cursed Speech to interfere.
The discussion ended there. It was very reasonable and comprehensive.
Until Kugisaki Nobara suddenly realized something was wrong.
"Wait—"
She turned her head, her gaze sweeping through the group once, then twice, before freezing on a spot where someone was supposed to be.
"Where's Kama?"
Everyone turned their heads in unison.
Kama, who had just been with them wearing an "I'm so bored" expression, had disappeared.
The air went quiet for three seconds.
The Assistant Director cautiously raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the Curtain. "Um... someone seemed to have walked in just now..."
"Hah?!"
Kugisaki Nobara's voice raised in pitch.
Fushiguro Megumi expressionlessly raised a hand to press against his temple, already starting to get a headache.
Should I say it's to be expected of someone brought back by Gojo Satoru? Their style of doing things is so damn similar!
They're all bastards who don't care about others' feelings!
Itadori Yuji blinked. "Is Kama... impatient?"
"She just didn't have the patience to wait for us to finish discussing."
Zen'in Maki sighed and stepped toward the Curtain.
"Forget it. She's already gone inside, so let's follow. We can't let her deal with it alone."
Panda trotted to catch up. "But is this really okay? What about the tactics..."
"Tactics?"
Zen'in Maki didn't even turn her head.
"Do you think someone who can blast a ten-meter crater on the Playground with a single arrow needs our tactics?"
Panda thought about the hole just now and shut his mouth.
Fair enough.
She really doesn't need them.
About five minutes after they entered the Curtain, Gojo Satoru's figure suddenly appeared outside the hospital.
He wanted to reach out and take off his blindfold, but paused when his fingers touched it, ultimately pulling his hand back.
His voice was a bit cold as he asked the slightly nervous Assistant Director next to him, "How long have they been inside?"
The Assistant Director wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly glanced down at his watch. "About five minutes and forty-two seconds."
Gojo Satoru clicked his tongue, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and stopped talking.
The anger in his heart, however, gradually grew.
Those damn Rotten Oranges, they actually dared to do this kind of thing to plot against him?
Even without taking off his blindfold, he could tell that what was inside this hospital was not a so-called Grade 1 Cursed Spirit at all, but a genuine Special Grade!
And it wasn't the kind that was just a few tiers stronger than a normal Special Grade; it had the strength of at least four of Sukuna's Fingers.
This Curtain had also been assimilated by that Cursed Spirit's Domain, forbidding anyone from entering or exiting.
Including him.
Even if he wanted to force his way in, it would take quite a bit of effort.
And during this time, he could only hope that his group of students would be safe and sound.
If any one of them met with an accident, he would definitely go and eradicate those Rotten Oranges!
In reality, however, Gojo Satoru had truly misunderstood the Higher-ups this time.
Although the Higher-ups calling him to issue an emergency mission was indeed to send him away, it was so that Itadori Yuji and the others would go execute the mission.
They only had one goal, and that was to let Itadori Yuji die here.
Therefore, they specifically instructed Masamichi Yaga to dispatch Itadori Yuji.
But they also hadn't expected that Masamichi Yaga wouldn't do as they wished and let Itadori Yuji go alone.
Instead, he chose to deploy everyone.
Furthermore, those old fogeys genuinely didn't know about the Cursed Spirit in this hospital being a Special Grade.
Because a few minutes ago, the Cursed Spirit in this hospital was still a Grade 1.
Time rewinded to five minutes ago, as everyone entered the hospital.
Kama walked alone through the hospital, sensing the lingering aura of the Black Holy Grail.
She muttered with some dissatisfaction:
"Is this Cursed Spirit a product of the Black Holy Grail? Has it already begun to adapt to the rules of this world and utilize them?"
"Ah, what a pain."
"Can't it just show up on its own and let me destroy it?"
When Kama followed the aura of the Black Holy Grail and found the room covered in traces of its Magical Energy.
The place had long been empty, leaving behind only a few ridiculously mangled corpses.
The split smiles on the corpses seemed to be mocking Kama's current predicament.
She looked at the empty room, the corners of her lips curling into a smile, and said softly:
"Heh... to actually dare to play tricks on me, very well..."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hospital.
"This place..." Kugisaki Nobara clicked her tongue, "is even more disgusting than I imagined."
The black and white Shikigami walked alongside Fushiguro Megumi, their ears pricked up, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
Itadori Yuji took a deep breath. "It feels so oppressive."
Inumaki Toge nodded, his fingers already resting on his collar.
He also felt that abnormal sense of oppression.
It was like something was constantly hammering against the inside of their skulls.
The group slowly advanced down the corridor.
The internal structure of the hospital was more complex than imagined.
Rustling sounds came from behind some doors, as if someone was dragging something inside.
Occasionally, muffled whimpers could be heard.
But when the doors were opened, there was nothing there.
Fushiguro Megumi suddenly stopped walking.
"Something's not right."
He lowered his voice.
"We're... going in circles."
Kugisaki Nobara looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"This wall."
Fushiguro Megumi pointed to the wall on the right, which had a scratch on it left by him when he passed by earlier. "We already passed by here just now."
"It's the Cursed Spirit's ability." Zen'in Maki tightened her grip on her Cursed Tool. "It's interfering with our perception, or directly distorting space."
As soon as she finished speaking, a door at the end of the corridor suddenly creaked open on its own.
Inside the door, it was pitch black.
Everyone could feel that something was slowly crawling out from inside.
"It's here," Fushiguro Megumi shouted in a low voice.
The Divine Dogs let out a threatening low growl, lowering their bodies.
In the darkness, a twisted figure gradually emerged.
The thing generally maintained a humanoid shape, but its joints were all reversed, its limbs contorted at impossible angles as it crawled on the ground.
Its skin displayed a corpse-like livid gray, covered densely with mouths that constantly opened and closed.
Every mouth was writhing, emitting chaotic, meaningless whispers.
Those whispers drilled into their ears, turning into sharp noise that frantically assaulted their brains.
"Ugh..." Kugisaki Nobara let out a muffled groan, covering her ears.
Itadori Yuji also furrowed his brows tightly, his temples throbbing.
Zen'in Maki gritted her teeth, forcefully suppressing the wave of dizziness. "Don't listen! Focus your attention!"
But it was already too late.
The densely packed eyes on top of that Cursed Spirit's head suddenly all turned toward them.
The next moment—
"Hee."
All the mouths grinned at the same time, revealing jagged, uneven fangs.
A shrill, manic laughter rang out!
"Boom—!"
The mental shockwave expanded outward in visible ripples!
The group only felt their vision go dark, their bodies staggering backward uncontrollably.
Fushiguro Megumi bit the tip of his tongue to barely stay awake, his hands rapidly forming Hand signs: "Nue!"
Lightning crackled!
A massive owl Shikigami burst through the air, its sharp talons wrapped in lightning as it viciously clawed at the Cursed Spirit!
The Cursed Spirit's twisted body evaded the strike with bizarre flexibility, and with a backhanded swipe—
"Slash!"
Five deep, bone-revealing wounds appeared on Nue's wings!
The Shikigami let out an agonizing shriek, forced to dissipate.
"How is that possible?!" Fushiguro Megumi's pupils shrank.
Nue's defense isn't weak, yet it was so easily torn apart...!
"Careful! There's something wrong with it!"
Zen'in Maki had already rushed forward, her Tachi drawing a sharp arc, slashing straight for the Cursed Spirit's neck!