Innate Technique: Limited Burst
Limited Burst—Limit: A suppressed state where all Cursed Energy is ultra-compressed and stored within the body. This allows the user to completely hide their Cursed Energy signature; even advanced Barrier Techniques cannot detect them in this state.
Limited Burst—Release: An unleashed state where the technique removes the shackles on the user's Cursed Energy. This high-quality energy surge drastically increases physical capabilities, dynamic vision, and reaction speed. Simultaneously, the user's total Cursed Energy reserves and output are significantly boosted.
There is a balanced ratio between the duration and intensity of the Limit and Release states. Switching between states requires a specific incantation and a set amount of time. The longer the user remains in the Limit state, the longer the Release can last—or, alternatively, the more explosive the power boost becomes if used for a shorter duration.
In a state of Full Release, prioritized for high-quality amplification rather than duration, Grade 3 Sorcerer Yu Haibara can reach a level of power rivaling a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit.
"So, that's how it works. Because Senpai told me last month about the Goodwill Event, I've stayed in the Limit state for quite a long time. Should I switch to Release now?" Yu Haibara explained his technique to the group before turning to Hasegumo for guidance.
"We haven't spotted the enemy yet, so the timing is up to you. Regardless, I won't let any enemy touch you before you've finished your transition," Hasegumo said. His voice wasn't loud, but his calm tone instantly put Haibara at ease.
"Understood! I'll stay as I am for now then. Maintaining the Limit state for a long time enhances the eventual effect, but if I cycle through the states too quickly, the quality of the Cursed Energy drops even if the volume remains high," Haibara explained.
I see. So my guess was right, Mei Mei thought, glancing at Haibara. He was undetectable because of his Innate Technique. But this guy... She shifted her gaze to Hasegumo. He hides his presence through sheer, absolute control over his energy.
As they spoke, the sky within the Curtain grew even darker, as if a localized malice were staring down at them from the void.
"I can't see anything at all," Haibara said, holding up a hand and finding he couldn't even see the outline of his own palm.
"Same here," Kento Nanami muttered, drawing his blunt cleaver and shifting into a defensive stance.
"Don't be so tense. There isn't a single living thing within several hundred meters," Hasegumo's voice drifted through the dark with a magical, grounding quality. Hearing this, Nanami wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers and let out a soft sigh of relief.
"You can still see?" Mei Mei asked. By sharing the vision of her crows, which possessed natural night vision, she could see the surroundings clearly. Just as Hasegumo said, the area was silent and empty.
In Mei Mei's shared vision, she could see Haibara and Nanami standing stiffly, clearly unnerved by the total sensory deprivation. Hasegumo, however, was as relaxed as ever. He stood in a loose, casual posture that could snap into an offensive or defensive strike at any second, seemingly entirely unaffected by the pitch-black environment.
"Ah, yeah," Hasegumo said, scratching the back of his head casually. "For some reason, I can see everything perfectly in this darkness."
Mei Mei didn't know Hasegumo's full story, and Hasegumo himself was realizing this ability for the first time. Usually, humans are never in complete darkness; there's always a candle, a lamp, or a sliver of moonlight. Navigating by faint light is something any human can do.
But Hasegumo was different. His body represented the absolute pinnacle of human evolution.
The perfect height, god-tier strength and speed, three incredibly flexible limbs (for now), an inhumanly long breath-holding capacity, and staggering senses of smell and hearing. He possessed a recovery rate that could erase physical and mental fatigue with a single nap, and the potential for perfect control over both physical force and Cursed Energy.
The ability to see in the dark was merely a trivial byproduct of being the Ultimate Apex Predator.
Despite this, all Hasegumo could do was provide intel. Since he couldn't sense any Cursed Energy fluctuations from an enemy, he wasn't sure what their next move should be.
"Um, Mei Mei-san," Hasegumo began.
"Just Mei Mei is fine." Even Mei Mei maintained a level of respect when dealing with a powerhouse.
"Mei Mei, what should we do next?" The "simple-minded" Hasegumo chose to defer to their external brain.
Mei Mei tossed two flashlights toward Nanami and Haibara. "First, you two who can't see should use these. You won't be able to react to an enemy otherwise."
"Is Mei Mei-senpai basically Doraemon?" Haibara and Nanami flicked on the lights, and the oppressive darkness before them was instantly banished. Having such a prepared senior was deeply reassuring.
"Sorcerers like us," Mei Mei said, patting the pouch at her waist, "have to consider every possible contingency before a mission."
She then glanced at Hasegumo, who carried absolutely nothing and wore only his school uniform. "Or, you can possess enough raw power to simply ignore the environment's obstacles."
"Heh, well, I'm not that strong," Hasegumo said, giving an embarrassed grin at the perceived compliment.
Was that actually a compliment? Mei Mei-senpai still feels much more reliable, Nanami thought to himself, comparing the two.
One day, I'm going to be as strong as Gumo-senpai, Haibara thought, his heart full of conviction.
"In this situation, the priority is to find out why the Curtain is so dark," Mei Mei said, brushing her hair back—a beautiful gesture only Hasegumo could appreciate, as the other two were scanning the floor with their lights.
"Based on the evil Cursed Energy fluctuations I'm sensing, my guess is that this is the manifestation of a Special Grade Cursed Spirit's Innate Domain. However, there are other possibilities. For instance, we might have been encased in a second Curtain after entering the first. Everyone, spread out and check for any Cursed Tools being used as a medium for a 'Binding Vow Curtain.' If we can't find anything like that, we'll focus on tracking the curse itself."
The three boys agreed without hesitation and fanned out to begin the search.
The Nightmare Bat
A Special Grade Cursed Spirit born from the collective human fear of darkness and bats. It thrives in the dark and loathes light. It possesses an innate ability to hide its Cursed Energy signature within shadows. While hidden, it becomes a literal silhouette, undetectable to living beings, but it cannot launch attacks in this state.
Innate Technique: Nocturnal Flurry. The curse transforms its Cursed Energy into a swarm of small bats to ambush enemies. When attacked, it can also disperse its body into a swarm of bats to negate damage.
As the group searched, an invisible silhouette slowly crept up behind Kento Nanami.
In the creature's perception, Nanami was the weakest of the group. While Haibara appeared to have zero Cursed Energy, the monster felt an inexplicable pressure from him, making it hesitant to strike. Instinct told it to start with the easy prey.
"Nanami, behind you!"
Hasegumo, being the closest, sensed the shift first. The moment the Nightmare Bat launched its ambush, its Cursed Energy exploded out of hiding.
The curse's left claw lunged from behind Nanami, aiming for his lower abdomen in a bid to disembowel him.
However, the time it took for Hasegumo's voice to reach Nanami's ears and be processed by his brain was far slower than Nanami's own survival instincts. In that moment of crisis, Nanami relied on pure reflex, twisting his body and swinging his blade.
Slash!
The Nightmare Bat retreated instantly. The left claw, severed by the Ratio Technique, dissolved into several small bats that fluttered away. An instant later, the curse vanished back into the shadows, disappearing from their senses.
Drip. Drip. Pain jolted Nanami's brain, and the sound of blood hitting the floor echoed like a death knell. But he didn't feel fear; he simply reported his status to his allies with chilling composure.
"The enemy's Cursed Energy defense is average. I can break through it with the Ratio Technique. Also, I have a puncture wound in my left side. It missed the organs. I can still fight."
The group quickly closed ranks.
"Igei... Musou..." Haibara began the incantation to enter his Release state. His Cursed Energy began to climb visibly.
Mei Mei reached into the air and pulled out a massive battle-axe. It was a "Noxian Might" moment if ever there was one.
Clang! Sensing the gathering power, the Nightmare Bat tried another ambush, but it was intercepted by a lightning-fast punch from Hasegumo. Black Flash triggered instantly, shattering the curse's right arm.
But in the next heartbeat, the severed arm transformed into bats and scattered. Hasegumo lunged to follow up, but the beast vanished into the shadows once more.
By the time Haibara finished his incantation and entered Full Release, the Nightmare Bat had gone completely to ground.
"It's smart. It won't come out if we stay grouped up," Hasegumo noted, frustrated.
"We don't have a reliable way to force it out. We have to split up to bait it, then exorcise it when it strikes. We need to do it before Haibara's Release timer runs out," Mei Mei said, her mind calculating the odds in an instant. "Nanami and I will be one group. Haibara and Gumo, you each move solo."
"Can you handle it, Haibara?" Nanami asked. He knew the enemy was dangerous and worried that a fellow Grade 3 wouldn't be able to cope.
"Don't worry! I can at least stall it!"
Haibara had never maintained a Limit state for a full week before. Normally, staying in that state required immense mental energy to keep the technique active, and it left him unable to see curses. Before coming to Jujutsu High, he never had the luxury of a safe environment to store that much power.
But in his current Release state, he felt invincible. He was certain he could take this thing.
Mei Mei and Hasegumo couldn't accurately gauge Haibara's ceiling yet. Real combat wasn't just about Cursed Energy volume; it was about battle IQ, physical stats, output efficiency, and creative thinking. They could only estimate that his current energy was at the Grade 1 level, meaning he wouldn't be insta-killed by a Special Grade.
As long as he could hold out for a few seconds, either of them could rush to his aid. It was a calculated risk.
The moment the groups moved a hundred meters apart, the Nightmare Bat reappeared. Using its keen sense of smell, it targeted the "weakest" member of the trio: Haibara.
But "weak" was relative. Haibara was no longer a soft target.
Coming for me? Haibara dodged a swipe, his mind racing. I just need to pin it down. That bat-splitting move must cost a lot of energy. If I deal enough damage to force it to keep regenerating, it'll eventually run out of juice to stay hidden.
However, the group had overlooked one critical factor. While Mei Mei (via crows) and Hasegumo could see in the dark, Haibara and Nanami had to hold a flashlight in one hand to track the enemy. In a high-intensity melee, the extra weight and the distraction of the beam were a fatal handicap.
As the others sensed the surge and rushed toward him, Haibara had already engaged.
He dodged a strike and swung his flashlight to illuminate the beast's movements. Simultaneously, he threw a punch from under his arm, trying to catch the curse off guard.
But the Nightmare Bat, a creature of the dark, saw his movements with perfect clarity. It didn't get hit; instead, it lunged under the light, its left claw reaching for Haibara's left hand while its right targeted his stomach.
Haibara caught the movement in his peripheral vision. Despite his power, his lack of experience led to a fatal error. He chose to ignore the low-threat attack on his left, simply twisting to avoid it, while focusing his energy into his right hand to intercept the lethal strike at his abdomen.
His right fist connected with the curse's claw. For a brief, fleeting moment, Haibara felt a surge of pride. A Special Grade is only this much?
His punch shattered the curse's forearm. At the same time, the left claw whizzed past him.
Wait. The curse's goal wasn't his hand. It was the flashlight.
CRUNCH.
Oh no, Hasegumo thought. He wasn't close enough yet. He had seen the curse's intent the moment it moved, but he wasn't the one fighting it.
Am I really this weak? Sorry, Senpai... I guess this is as far as I go.
As the light died, a "Revolving Lantern" flickered through Haibara's mind. He didn't feel regret at his impending death, only a crushing sense of guilt for his own weakness and an apology to his mentor.
The Nightmare Bat was already behind him, its claw aimed at the back of Haibara's skull. Enveloped in darkness, Haibara couldn't track it.
One down, the curse thought.
Hasegumo, seeing Haibara's mistake, had already entered the state of Shindigunken, his mind overclocking to find a way to save him.
Dammit, I'm not fast enough! I have no long-range attacks! How do I save him?!
Why is it targeting Haibara? I'm the one with the lowest energy signature right now.
Wait... it understands us. It can hear us.
The next second, a voice boomed through the darkness, causing the Nightmare Bat to retract its claws in a panic. It instantly dissolved into shadows, trying to flee.
"Domain Expansion: Enra Kyouten!"
Hasegumo had reached a point close enough to be a threat. Between his massive surge of Cursed Energy and the declaration of a Domain, the curse—which clearly understood human speech and the terror of a Domain—chose self-preservation over the kill.
Nanami's flashlight beam finally cut through the distance, illuminating the area.
Mei Mei stared through her crows, her eyes wide. He has a Domain?! Did he just reach the absolute pinnacle of the jujutsu world?
But... nothing happened.
Hasegumo stood next to Haibara, instantly reeling in his Cursed Energy back to his usual suppressed state.
"Phew... that worked. Scared him off."
"Huh?" Haibara gasped, still reeling from the shadow of death.
As Mei Mei and Nanami approached, Hasegumo explained. "I was bluffing. On the way here, I realized why it went for Haibara. It clearly knows he's the 'weakest' based on our talk, which means it understands us. I figured a bluff was the only way to make it hesitate."
He gave a small, relieved laugh. "I can't use a Domain Expansion yet. That thing was a total sucker."
You never stop surprising me, Senpai, Nanami thought, his respect for Hasegumo shifting again.
He's a reliable man indeed, Mei Mei thought, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Thank you for saving my life, Senpai," Haibara said, his voice shaky but steadying.
"We can't split up again. Plus, Haibara's Release is almost up. We need a new plan to finish this," Hasegumo said. His mental sprint seemed to have exhausted his brainpower; he couldn't think of a follow-up. He turned back to his "external brain." "Mei Mei, what do you say?"