Inside the abandoned building, dust filled the air.
The cunning cursed spirit was not dead.
Although its claws had been shattered by the rebound force earlier, it slowly crawled out of the cracked wall. Its twisted face showed both fear and resentment.
The attack it had just experienced—
It was like striking an immovable mountain.
No.
Something even more absolute than that.
"GRAAAH—!"
The cursed spirit roared.
But it no longer dared to attack Yagami Sora at close range.
Instead, it opened its enormous mouth.
A sphere of dark purple cursed energy condensed rapidly between its jaws.
A ranged attack.
"If I can't touch you… then I'll blast you apart!"
The dense ball of cursed energy shot forward like a cannon shell.
"Kugisaki!" Yuji Itadori shouted instinctively.
"That's a direct cursed-energy blast!"
"Move!" Nobara Kugisaki yelled.
But Yagami Sora didn't move.
Not even a single step.
"Boring."
He spoke calmly.
The moment the cursed-energy sphere reached roughly a foot in front of him—
Something strange happened.
The projectile suddenly changed direction.
Like a soccer ball kicked mid-air.
But faster.
Much faster.
The cursed-energy blast reversed trajectory at double its original speed.
BOOM—!!!
The attack slammed directly back into the cursed spirit's open mouth.
A dull explosion echoed through the corridor.
The spirit's head burst apart like a smashed melon.
Black blood splattered across the walls.
Nobara's jaw dropped.
"W-what kind of technique is that?!"
Reflecting the enemy's attack back at them?
That was absurd.
But before they could relax—
The headless cursed spirit was still moving.
Its body swelled grotesquely.
From the torn flesh burst countless writhing tentacles.
Within seconds, the entire room was covered in a dense web of black limbs.
Its final desperation.
"Watch out!"
Yuji slashed several tentacles apart with Slaughter Demon, but more immediately replaced them.
One of the tentacles suddenly darted forward—
And wrapped around Nobara's ankle.
"Ah!"
She was yanked into the air.
"Let go, you disgusting thing!"
She swung her hammer wildly.
But the tentacles were unnaturally tough.
They wouldn't break.
More tentacles coiled upward around her body.
Trying to crush her.
"Kugisaki!"
Yuji rushed forward—
But several tentacles wrapped around him as well, restraining his movement.
The mutilated cursed spirit let out a grotesque laugh.
"Hehehe…"
It intended to devour the girl first and absorb her cursed energy.
Then—
A calm voice echoed through the room.
"I already told you."
"These are just small fry."
Yagami Sora stood calmly in the middle of the writhing tentacle forest.
Every tentacle that approached him was immediately pushed away by an invisible force.
None could even touch his body.
He slowly raised his right hand.
His index finger pointed directly at the core hidden deep within the cursed spirit's tentacle mass.
"Since you enjoy playing with tentacles…"
"I'll give you a quick death."
Sora inhaled slowly.
The surrounding air began to move violently.
Pressure gathered toward a single point—
The tip of his finger.
Atmospheric pressure condensed to its extreme limit.
Although it didn't reach the temperature required to form plasma—
The compressed air alone was already powerful enough to pierce steel.
"Vector Air Cannon."
BANG.
A sharp cracking sound rang out.
The compressed air shot forward like a sniper round.
A transparent ripple tore through the air across dozens of meters.
THUD.
No resistance.
The compressed-air projectile pierced directly into the cursed spirit's core.
But the attack didn't simply puncture it.
The extreme pressure detonated inside the body.
A violent cavitation effect erupted within the cursed spirit.
BOOM!
The upper half of its body exploded instantly.
The countless tentacles lost all strength and collapsed limply.
Nobara fell from mid-air.
"Ah!"
She squeezed her eyes shut.
But the impact never came.
Instead—
A strong arm caught her.
She opened her eyes.
Yagami Sora was holding her in a princess carry.
Their eyes met.
"Are you alright?" he asked calmly.
Nobara's face turned bright red instantly.
"I-I'm fine!"
"Put me down!"
She jumped away the moment her feet touched the ground.
Her heart was racing.
Damn it… how can this guy show off so effortlessly?!
Meanwhile Yuji broke free from the withered tentacles and ran over.
"That was incredible!"
"How did you do that?"
"It exploded instantly!"
"Just compressed air," Sora replied casually.
"As simple as flicking someone's forehead."
Nobara adjusted her clothes and looked at him again.
Her expression had changed.
Before, she had only thought he was arrogant.
Now—
She understood something.
This was the power of a Special Grade-level sorcerer.
That relaxed control…
It was almost suffocating.
Sora ignored their reactions.
Instead he looked toward the sky outside the broken window.
The sun was beginning to set.
Deep in his eyes—
A faint seriousness appeared.
Because he knew what was coming next.
The Juvenile Detention Center.
A Special Grade Cursed Womb.
The disaster that had nearly wiped out the original first-year team.
"I wonder if you'll still be smiling like this then."
Sora thought silently.
But it didn't matter.
This time—
He was here.
No one would have to die.
"Alright."
"Mission complete."
Sora clapped his hands lightly.
"Let's go. Gojo-sensei is probably waiting outside."
"And I'm starving."
The three of them exited the abandoned building.
The setting sun cast long shadows behind them.
Outside, Satoru Gojo sat casually on the stone steps.
Seeing them emerge unharmed, he smiled.
"Looks like everything went smoothly."
"That's right!" Nobara said proudly.
"This lady showed off her skills!"
"You were almost eaten…" Yuji muttered quietly.
"What did you say?!" Nobara raised her hammer.
"Alright, alright," Gojo laughed.
"Since everyone worked hard today…"
"Let's go get a big dinner."
"I want sushi!" Nobara shouted.
"I want steak!" Yuji said.
"Whatever," Sora replied.
Watching the two argue, a faint smile appeared on his face.
This feeling…
It wasn't bad.
Was this what people called companionship?
He glanced back once more at the silent abandoned building.
The real challenge was still ahead.
But this time—
He already knew the script.
"Yagami! Hurry up!"
"Or I'll eat your portion!" Yuji shouted from ahead.
"Coming."
With his hands in his pockets, Yagami Sora walked after them.