"Be careful."
Chisong Lingmei's voice broke the tension. She had sensed the monster's movement and warned the others, but when she turned, it was still standing in place. Then, without warning, the towering creature surged forward, crashing through the debris.
Ishizaka Kazuo reflexively prepared to push his Technique to its limit, but what happened next stunned everyone.
The monster charged—then, like a corrupted video skipping frames, it snapped back to its original position. It charged again, and again it glitched back, trapped in a loop.
"What… is this?" Chisong Lingmei muttered. "Is this really a Special Grade?"
The monster, once relentless, was now no more than a glitching puppet caught in a time loop.
Kamihara Hajime walked over silently. Only fragments of human appearance remained on the monster—torn clothing, warped skin, barbed claws and scales, a tail strong enough to fracture concrete, and bone spurs lining its body. Its sheer physical strength alone had been devastating, even without the use of any Technique.
"Report the situation," Hajime said calmly.
Lingmei quickly composed herself and relayed the details. Her Technique, Real Game, gave her an exceptional memory, and she recited everything with precision.
As Hajime listened, his eyes remained on the creature, his thoughts turning. This one was different—similar in nature to the Cat Demon and Tengu fusions, but closer to the original template. More human.
He released the Technique binding the monster.
The instant the loop ended, the monster lunged, but Hajime moved first. He met the charge head-on, crashing into it. The impact cracked stone pillars. Then, with a metallic grinding, three ethereal blades manifested and pinned the creature to the ground.
"Time Wheel Spin."
Forming a precise mudra, Hajime activated his Technique again, this time controlling the process with delicate precision. Slowly, the monster's enormous frame shrank. It began to speak—coherent words, not guttural roars.
"Hiss... Where is this?"
To everyone's disbelief, the monster had regained self-awareness.
Hajime had confirmed his suspicion. By accelerating the transformation, he had brought the host's consciousness back. Though still monstrous in form, the being was thinking again—like a cursed fusion version of a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
This one had fused not with an unawakened human but a Spellcaster—something even the higher-ups hadn't achieved. Hajime noted the implications. Perhaps this was what the higher-ups termed a "Perfect Adapter."
The restrained monster—now identifying himself as Hansen—stared blankly as reality returned to him. The pain was real, but so was the rush of newfound power. He tore the blades from his body, healing slowly—not through Reverse Cursed Technique, but sheer regenerative force.
But as he turned to flee, he exhaled a dense cloud of violet smoke, obscuring vision with a haunting shimmer.
Hajime didn't give chase immediately. A thinking monster was always more dangerous. It had retained enough human awareness to retreat, unlike the rampaging beasts before.
As Hansen dashed away, Hajime simply warned, "Be careful of the gas," then vanished.
Seconds later, a thunderous crash echoed. The ceiling burst open, and Hansen's body slammed into the ground, coughing blood. A massive gash cleaved through his torso. Hajime dropped in from above, Totsuka-no-Tsurugi in hand.
Despite his wounds, Hansen began regenerating again—slowly but surely. Hajime watched him rise, his monstrous form barely holding onto its humanity.
He pondered: could beings like this even be called human anymore?
Humans didn't heal like this. Humans didn't wield time-based Techniques, or slice through steel, or control space. And yet… Mahito looked human too, didn't he?
As Hansen stood, Hajime felt a subtle shift. The monster's Cursed Energy flared. With a crack of joints, Hansen lunged.
Hajime caught the wind of the attack. In one swift motion, he drove Totsuka-no-Tsurugi into Hansen's gut—but Hansen ignored the pain and lashed out with his other clawed hand.
Hajime responded instantly, drawing Onikiri from the descending black mist. With a backward slash, he severed Hansen's hand, then kicked the monster away. Onikiri cleaved the air, blocking an invisible attack to his side.
"You figured it out already?" Hansen grunted.
"You attacked my shoulder," Hajime said, his voice steady. "Then a mirror strike followed from the same angle. Your Technique—some kind of delayed reflection?"
"Close," Hansen muttered. "It's called 'Ghost in the Mirror.' When I strike, a mirrored version of the same attack launches from a nearby space. It doesn't need to connect. It just... happens."
Hajime didn't reply. He had heard enough to estimate the threat level. And with battle, estimates were all he needed.
Hansen suddenly grabbed a nearby concrete block laced with exposed rebar and hurled it toward Hajime. At the same moment, he activated his Technique again, hiding behind the obstructing debris.
"You probably think I have to hit you for the effect to trigger. But now, with your vision blocked, I'll use your own sword to finish you!"
In an instant, Hansen thrust Totsuka-no-Tsurugi from his position, confident the mirror would do the rest.
But Hajime was no longer there.
"Oh?" Hajime's voice came from behind him. "Your Technique has decent range. That's rare."
Hansen froze, a chill crawling up his back. Before he could turn, he collapsed. His balance failed—his limbs no longer attached.
Hajime calmly retrieved his blades. Onikiri remained clean. Totsuka-no-Tsurugi glowed faintly.
Then, activating Amber, Hajime sealed the fallen Spellcaster—a Technique that could restrain or preserve, and in this case, it served to suppress Hansen entirely.
His severed limbs reverted. The Cursed Energy stopped flowing. All attacks ceased. Hansen, defeated, could only watch in stunned silence.
Hajime called out to the others. "I've restrained him. Keep watch until the others arrive. He's still useful. I'm leaving now."
He placed a hand on each of their shoulders, channeling Reverse Cursed Technique to heal their injuries, then disappeared.
"...He's so strong, and honestly, kinda cool-looking too," Tachikawa Hiromi said, feeling the effects of the healing wash over him.
Chisong Lingmei rolled her eyes, but in truth, she quietly agreed.
"Let's just make sure this guy doesn't go anywhere."
---
Send Powerstones 🥀