The mission had arrived suddenly, and Gojo—of course—was nowhere to be found.
"He's probably off drinking bubble tea or modeling sunglasses for some cursed fashion magazine," Nobara muttered.
Megumi sighed. "He said it was a 'meeting with the higher-ups.' Whatever that means."
Yuji shrugged. "Guess it's just us three this time."
The location was grim. An abandoned juvenile detention center on the outskirts of Tokyo. Rumor had it that the facility had been overflowing with cursed energy ever since three inmates mysteriously vanished inside it last week—without a trace, only blackened claw marks left behind.
As the trio approached the rusted gates, a cold wind blew through, thick with tension. The air itself felt heavy.
"Typical cursed place," Nobara said.
"I'll take point," Megumi instructed. "We move together. Stay alert."
Inside, it was worse.
The walls were rotted with spiritual decay. Whispers curled through the halls like smoke. The building had no lights—only flickering reflections of cursed energy.
Suddenly—crash!
A curse burst from the ceiling and lunged straight at them.
It had dozens of limbs, all flailing madly.
"Scatter!" Megumi shouted.
The trio broke apart, but the curse's wild attacks pushed Nobara down a separate corridor—collapsing the debris behind her.
"Nobara!" Yuji shouted.
"I'm fine!" her voice echoed from beyond the rubble. "I'll handle myself!"
Megumi and Yuji pressed forward, but then…
Something worse arrived.
A figure stepped out from the far shadows. Pale white skin like dry ash. Veins etched across its body like cursed tattoos. Its face—twisted, demonic, with black eyes and blood-red pupils.
Its presence was suffocating.
"A Special Grade…" Megumi muttered. "Already?"
It didn't wait.
The White Curse launched itself forward like a thunderbolt. Megumi reacted—his hand forming seals.
"Divine Dogs!"
Two shikigami burst from his side, jaws snapping. But the curse tore through them like paper.
Yuji charged in next, fists blazing with cursed energy.
He swung hard. His punch connected—but it barely made the creature flinch.
"Not good," Yuji muttered.
The curse raised its hand and unleashed a blast of raw cursed energy. It hit both of them like a truck, flinging them into opposite walls.
Megumi coughed blood, eyes narrowed.
Yuji stood back up—barely. "Damn… this one's not just strong, it's like—smart."
The curse tilted its head and grinned.
Meanwhile…
Nobara had regained her footing, stalking the shadows of the isolated hallway with her hammer drawn.
"Where are you freaks?" she whispered.
A cursed spirit lunged from the wall—she dodged and countered with a nail.
"Straw Doll Technique: Resonance!"
It exploded in mist.
She smirked. "One down."
But her smile faded. She could still hear fighting deeper in the facility. Yuji and Megumi were facing something much worse.
"I need to get back."
Back at the main corridor, the fight raged.
Yuji and Megumi were being pushed further and further back. The White Curse's movements were too sharp, too brutal.
Megumi prepared another seal—desperation creeping into his voice.
"Max Elephant—!"
Before he could finish summoning, the curse pounced—claws bared.
It was about to rip through him—
Until Yuji tackled the curse mid-air, both of them crashing into the far wall.
"Go!" Yuji shouted. "Get that summon ready!"
Megumi nodded and leapt back.
The curse growled. Then it began to laugh.
Low. Guttural. And cold.
It flexed its claws.
Yuji stood up again, blood dripping from his lip, fists raised.
"I'm not dying here," he whispered.
"Not today."
__
To be continued...