Chapter 6: With This Shadow… I Challenge You
"To protect… you must first dirty your hands."
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Tsumiki trembled.
She was holding Sukuna's cursed finger in her hands.
Her body wouldn't stop shaking.
The cursed energy aura was so dense the air itself seemed to burn her skin.
Two curses stood before her.
One was special grade, humanoid: tall, pale white, faceless and eyeless, utterly still… yet radiating violence.
At its side: a semi–grade 2 curse, a blue iguana-shaped beast with four eyes, a long tongue, and a tail sharp as a blade slicing the air.
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BAM!
The door shattered.
Megumi and Kuro stormed into the room.
Megumi saw Tsumiki, her frozen expression.
He didn't hesitate.
—Kuro, you take the lizard!
—Got it!
Megumi rushed the special grade, pulling a cursed knife from his shadow, his gaze cold.
—You won't touch her!
---
Kuro, meanwhile, faced the iguana.
—You're mine, mutant lizard.
The beast opened its maw.
A white sphere formed—pure compressed ice.
ZAAAK!
The frozen ray shot forward.
Kuro ducked, rolled, darted side to side, closing the gap.
—It's time…
His shadow spread beneath the curse.
The Cursed Eye lit up, glowing red.
The shadow stirred, alive, tense.
Kuro stood his ground.
—With this shadow… I challenge you.
The curse turned its four eyes on him, seething with fury.
The ritual had begun.
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[Shadow and Light Ritual – Challenge Invocation]
Kuro can transform a curse into a shikigami only if he defeats it directly in combat during a ritual sealed by his shadow. The combat begins with the words: "With this shadow, I challenge you."
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Kuro's shadow rose like a black spear.
The iguana lunged with claws ready to slash.
CLASH!
Kuro and the beast collided.
Its body was as cold as solid ice.
Claws tore into Kuro's arm, leaving cuts, but he didn't back down.
The shadow shielded him.
Kuro twisted and drove his fist into its snout.
The creature shrieked, swinging its tail—Kuro barely ducked.
—You've got power… but no will!
He leapt again, his shadow propelling him like a projectile.
His knee smashed into its scaled chest.
BOOM!
The iguana crashed back, stunned.
—Come on, shadow, accept it already!
The curse rose, eyes burning, unleashing a chilling roar.
The ritual continued.
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"The worst curses… are those born from human resentment."
---
One hour earlier.
The school had been quiet.
Too quiet.
In a forgotten corner of the old building, far from bright classrooms and noisy halls…
Three figures met in silence.
The air was colder there.
Time itself seemed to slow.
Tsukino pulled something from her pocket.
Wrapped in dark cloth.
Small as a finger.
But its aura… unsettling.
—You have it? asked Hanabira with a nervous smile.
Even she wasn't sure of what they were doing.
Tsukino nodded.
She opened her hand.
The object throbbed.
—What is that? whispered Nao, uneasy.
—Not sure, Tsukino said. The old man in the alley claimed it had power. A cursed relic, maybe centuries old. And the way it moves… there must be something inside.
Hanabira leaned closer.
—What if it's a mummy's finger?
—I don't care what it is, Tsukino spat, anger restrained. Today Tsumiki pays.
Nao narrowed her eyes.
—All this… over jealousy?
—Jealousy? Hanabira scoffed. Have you seen her? Everyone praises her like she's perfect. Kuro and Megumi follow her everywhere!
—And you know what they say, added Tsukino. That the three of them are "special." Different.
—They're nothing but lucky, Hanabira muttered. And today… their luck ends.
Nao hesitated.
Then sighed.
—You're sure Kuro and Megumi aren't around?
—Confirmed, Hanabira said. They're in the north wing looking for a teacher.
Tsukino lifted the cursed object.
The black spiral etched at its end seemed to writhe… even untouched.
—Then it's time to begin.
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"Not every curse screams. Some smile before they kill."
---
Megumi stood before Tsumiki.
His body ached, his breath ragged, but his will unbroken.
Before him, the special grade—eyeless, pale, overwhelming—spoke.
—Oh… a sorcerer. Quite young, it said in a calm, refined voice. Allow me to introduce myself. Gojūtei. I only seek Sukuna's finger.
Tsumiki shuddered.
Megumi clenched his fists.
—And if you get it… you'll leave in peace? he asked, steady.
Gojūtei smiled.
Not mockery—something worse: serenity.
—Of course. I do not wish to kill. Only to acquire. Give me the finger, and no one need suffer. What say you, sorcerer?
Megumi swallowed.
Every nerve screamed not to trust.
But he knew he couldn't face a special grade head-on without a plan.
> "What if he's telling the truth?"
He glanced at Tsumiki. Then at the finger.
—This… is what you want? he said, raising it slowly.
Gojūtei nodded politely.
—Exactly. You need not die today.
But Megumi kept it in hand.
—And what guarantee do I have… you won't harm anyone else?
Silence.
The tension was unbearable.
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CRACK!
A desk flew across the room, smashing into the semi–grade 2 iguana.
Kuro panted, body covered in frost, his arm purple with cold burns.
Still trembling… but still standing.
—Shut up, lizard!
The beast screeched, bruised, dragging a broken leg.
Kuro advanced, his shadow alive beneath him.
> "Now or never."
He clenched his fist, cursed energy surging.
Production at full throttle.
The shadow erupted behind him like a black explosion.
—WITH THIS SHADOW… I CLAIM YOU!
BAM!
His fist smashed into the curse's skull.
The impact split it open.
The creature convulsed… then dissolved into shadows.
Kuro's shadow absorbed it.
And stilled.
The ritual succeeded.
Kuro had gained his first shikigami.
He dropped to his knees, gasping.
—Your name… Rekka.
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"Not all monsters come to devour. Some… come to reclaim what they believe theirs."
---
Kuro drew a deep breath.
His shadow quivered.
From it… Rekka emerged.
The iguana—once an enemy—now towered as an ally.
Larger, stronger, stabilized by the ritual.
A grade 2 shikigami.
—Rekka, Kuro whispered.
Charge it to the max. Fire to kill.
The shikigami raised its head. Its four eyes glowed.
Its jaws parted, cold energy gathering.
A piercing whistle filled the library.
Across the room, Gojūtei turned his head.
—Oh? Now you're shooting in earnest?
ZAAAK!
The ice beam fired.
It struck the curse's arm, freezing it solid.
CRACK!
The frost shattered.
Gojūtei leapt forward like a projectile.
—Move! Megumi yelled, pulling Tsumiki aside.
They fled down a side corridor as the ground quaked under the curse's steps.
—Tsumiki, hide and call Gojo! Now!
—Yes!
She broke off, sprinting through the ruined shelves.
Megumi and Kuro charged the opposite way.
—Megumi, toss me the finger! Kuro shouted.
Megumi unwrapped the relic and hurled it.
Kuro caught it mid-run and sealed it into his shadow.
—They won't have it.
CRASH!
The wall before them burst apart.
Gojūtei emerged from the dust, walking unharmed.
—I see you have initiative. Intriguing.
ZAAK!
Rekka unleashed another blast.
Gojūtei twisted, dodging with inhuman grace.
Megumi raised his hands.
The Divine Dogs materialized, flanking the enemy.
—Kuro! Together!
Kuro nodded.
He, Rekka, and the dogs charged in unison, surrounding Gojūtei.
—For Tsumiki… for the finger… this is for us!
The library shook as their assault began.
A battle against a special grade had ignited.
And there was no turning back.
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End of Chapter 6