"I'll do my best with Suguru Geto's mission."
At the entrance of the subway station, not far from the Zen'in class and Kenmyo.
"If I don't complete it, I'll get scolded."
At this moment, a red Cursed Spirit resembling a combination of Squidward and a tentacle monster was timidly hiding behind a pillar, cautiously observing the situation over there.
"But… that human is so terrifying."
The small octopus, about one meter tall, was very short, with large eyes, and looked inexplicably ugly-cute.
At first glance, it seemed similar to the monsters formed by modified humans outside, but there was actually a world of difference.
"Even more terrifying than an angry Jogo."
This little octopus was covered in a lot of mucus, wetting the ground, but it was actually its cold sweat.
This guy was already starting to chicken out.
But no matter how useless or cowardly it looked, it was a genuine Special Grade Cursed Spirit, completely unlike the trashy old woman, Ogami, who devoured people whole.
It had always maintained its most primitive Cursed Womb form, having been born only a few decades ago, not yet fifty years, and was congenitally flawed, which gave people the illusion that it was weak.
And from its monologue just now, it should be clear that it was Dagon, the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, sent by Suguru Geto to investigate anomalies.
The terrifying human Dagon referred to was Kenmyo.
Jogo was Dagon's companion, a Cursed Spirit friend; they had been together since Dagon gained consciousness.
So, if you judged this Cursed Spirit by its appearance and thought it was a mere minion, you'd realize your mistake when it ripped off your head to kick around like a ball.
This thing was a Cursed Spirit born from humanity's fear of the ocean, essentially symbolizing the element of [Water].
Strictly speaking, Dagon's potential might even be higher than Kenmei's Ryu; the ocean is vast and boundless, nurturing life, and in some sense, represents infinity.
It also possessed the 'dignity of life,' which was this Cursed Spirit's true growth attribute, giving it extremely high potential.
If given another thousand years, it would certainly become an incredible Super Cursed Spirit.
But right now, it just looked like a Cursed Spirit with underdeveloped cerebellum, not very intelligent.
"I need to go back quickly and tell Suguru Geto."
Dagon cheered itself on.
"I must complete this mission."
Perhaps Dagon was so cowardly that it panicked, or something else, but it had been concealing its aura perfectly until now, and the barrier suddenly fluctuated.
"And also, to make Jogo and Hanami look at me with new eyes."
"And remind them to be careful of this human."
"He's very terrifying."
Although it was just a fleeting moment, Kenmyo still caught this trace of leaked aura.
"Who?"
After Kenmyo disarmed Fushiguro Toji, he originally intended to give this rebellious guy a good beating to show him who was Boss.
But then he suddenly felt a gaze from an unknown direction, and this amount of Cursed Energy indicated it wasn't human, but a Cursed Spirit.
Kenmyo clearly sensed something different within it, carrying a hint of malice. Although it had suppressed its aura to the extreme and hidden itself very well,
it still couldn't completely suppress the fleeting malice of that monstrous thing. He was always particularly sensitive to such negative emotions.
Kenmyo released his spiritual energy in a pulse-like fashion from his body, covering all areas within approximately three hundred meters around him.
Kenmyo patted Fushiguro Toji's shoulder, telling his little brother to wait.
"Buddy, I'm a bit busy right now."
Kenmyo wasn't incapable of a larger range, but this method was more cost-effective.
Three hundred meters allowed him to fully replicate the entire route map of the surrounding area in a 3D holographic manner in his mind.
The mall had seven floors, but Fushiguro Toji had destroyed half of it, turning it into ruins, so he only needed to investigate half of it plus the surrounding areas.
It wasn't those few strange-looking minions.
Several human-modified Cursed Spirits appeared in Kenmyo's line of sight, wandering the streets, searching for potential human survivors.
"Found it."
He saw a sneaky figure behind a pillar at the entrance of the subway station not far from him, and that thing seemed not very intelligent.
When hiding itself, it had left one tentacle exposed, making it hard not to be discovered.
"Special Grade?"
Kenmyo was stunned, somewhat disbelieving the result of his investigation; that silly, clumsy thing was actually a Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
And it was of the upper-middle level within Type B, not even on the same dimension as the Cursed Spirit the old woman had turned into earlier.
"But why is it so weak?"
The Cursed Spirit Kenmyo found looked somewhat like it had Down syndrome from its face.
"Is it a mentally challenged Cursed Spirit?"
All signs indicated that the cause of this incident was several Special Grade Cursed Spirits causing trouble, meaning that Cursed Spirit might hold a relatively important position in this plan and truly know the mastermind.
After all, Special Grade Cursed Spirits weren't common, especially those above B-grade.
"The number of enemies, their locations, and so on—all information that can be obtained from him."
Thinking this, Kenmyo gripped the bottom end of Playful Cloud, and the entire three-section staff instantly transformed into a straight pole, which he then hurled fiercely in the direction of the Cursed Spirit.
"Who says a three-section staff can't be used as a javelin?"
Not only that, but Playful Cloud, having left his hand, did not fly aimlessly like rootless duckweed but followed a predetermined trajectory.
At the same time, a long, slender, snow-white chain was continuously extending from the bottom end of the staff, trailing behind and bound to it.
Kenmyo used an ice chain, imitating Fushiguro Toji's Special Grade Cursed Tool, Chain of a Thousand Miles. Who said it could only be tied behind Heavenly Restriction and not behind a three-section staff?
The fiercely launched Playful Cloud, though a staff, could incredibly create a piercing, sharp whistle in the intense friction with the air, just like a blade!
Just hearing the shriek was enough to make one tremble with fear, let alone trying to deal with the attack.
Although Kenmyo was using a three-section staff for the first time, under the passive effect of [Imperial Martial Saint], all weapons could be wielded proficiently the moment they were touched, as if they were extensions of his own arm.
The explosive force generated when Kenmyo swung the three-section staff was extraordinary, stirring up a gust of wind.
Damn, it even felt like the staff was flying directly at their heads, aiming for their skulls.
"What's going on?"
"Why can't I move?"
Meanwhile, Dagon, who was preparing to flee, suddenly felt a piercing pain. A red-lacquered staff, seemingly from nowhere, had directly pierced its body, creating a large hole.
Dagon spat out black blood, unaware that its situation was already quite dangerous.
"Ugh."
It realized it was too late to resist. The three-section staff didn't just pierce its body; the three foremost sections coiled around its neck like a giant python, making it impossible to breathe.
"Hit!"
Upon feeling the sensation from the end of the chain, Kenmyo no longer hesitated and pulled it back directly.
Immediately, Dagon felt an unimaginable immense force, like a small boat in a huge wave, completely unable to resist its fate. It was directly pulled from a distance in a circling motion.
The poor Cursed Spirit crashed through many buildings along the way.
By the time Dagon was visible to Kenmyo and the others, its body was already bruised and swollen, its already small frame puffed up from the impacts.
"A Cursed Spirit?"
What truly surprised these people was Kenmyo's unusual action, which only resulted in pulling back a Cursed Spirit.
And the Cursed Spirit, tightly bound and pulled back, even gave off a pitiable feeling.
Its large eyes were already welling up with tears, looking especially wronged, and tears immediately streamed down, falling onto the ground.
This appearance in no way suggested power.
Kenmyo sensed the strange looks and immediately understood that this guy had concealed its aura too well, making them think he was bullying the weak.
"This guy is..."
So Kenmyo kicked the Cursed Spirit, which was feigning helplessness but deserved to be torn to shreds, making it reveal its true aura to the others.
The little octopus's belly was fiercely kicked by Kenmyo, and it felt an incredibly strong oppressive force inside its body.
"Ugh."
It actually vomited out hundreds of human corpses, reduced to skeletons, varying in size. Some still had undigested clothes and unique personal features like jewelry, suggesting they were missing Jujutsu Sorcerer.
"It actually ate so many people."
These bones, given the Cursed Spirit's digestive capacity, probably amounted to just one meal.
Upon releasing these, Dagon's Cursed Technique that had been concealing its body also failed, and its originally immensely powerful Cursed Energy directly erupted.
That extremely powerful and ominous aura made everyone in the Zen'in class involuntarily step back a few paces.
Kenmyo, holding the chain and stepping on the little octopus's head, presented the feigning Cursed Spirit to the crowd.
"Now, do you still think it's weak and pitiful?"
"Moreover, it must have a very significant connection to the mastermind behind this incident."
First, there's a prerequisite: this guy is definitely capable of opening a Domain.
It possesses this power, but due to its timid nature, it doesn't dare to use it, and that is also true.
To force this guy's ability out, Kenmyo still needed verification.
That's why arriving at another timeline where everything resets to zero is truly frustrating.
If Kenmyo were in his own timeline, he definitely wouldn't need to personally test things out; he has so many subordinates.
However, he had a good idea.
Kenmyo had been active since earlier, even helping them suppress the Heavenly Restraints Tyrant.
He was their benefactor.
Now it was time for these people to take action, after all, he couldn't handle everything for them.
Kenmyo wasn't their nanny, nor was he related to them.
Thinking this, he glanced at Dagon, who was pinned beneath his foot, and showed a meaningful smile.
Kenmyo simply removed his restraints and took away the chains.
"Cursed Spirit, seeing how pitiful you are, I'll give you a chance."
"Defeat all five of them, and I'll let you go."
Note that it was five; Kenmyo included Fushiguro Toji in the count.
This meant that the fate of this Cursed Spirit was sealed from the start; Kenmyo never intended for it to live.
It was simply Kenmyo's malicious personality at work.
There is no need for mercy toward Cursed Spirits.
Only dead Cursed Spirits are good Cursed Spirits.
"This guy definitely knows a lot of things you want to know."
Kenmyo forcefully stepped on Dagon's head while looking at the four people nearby.
"Ask whatever you want."
Before he finished speaking, Kenmyo immediately kicked the Cursed Spirit beneath his foot toward the four of them, treating it like a soccer ball.
"Don't be polite with me."
"Heh ha ha ha ha!"
Zen'in Naobito, who had been silent for a long time, let out a hearty laugh. A glass-like object, resembling a photo of the small octopus, appeared in his hand.
"You should have said so earlier. Then this old man won't be polite."
Zen'in Naobito then smashed the glass object in his hand directly with his fist, and the photo frame shattered into a large pile of fragments.
And the old man, Zen'in Naobito, instantly appeared next to Dagon. It felt as if he had practically teleported in front of the Cursed Spirit the moment he smashed the photo glass.
The Cursed Spirit, which hadn't been particularly battered, took the full force of his punch and was sent flying backward, crashing into the wall and forming a huge indentation.
Blood was drawn from the Cursed Spirit's back, and a slow stream of blackish-purple blood slid down to the ground.
Zen'in Naobito clenched his fist and spoke to the Cursed Spirit lying motionless on the ground.
"Cursed Spirit, tell us the number of people, the location, and the place, all of it."
This move by Zen'in Naobito stunned the three juniors.
"Otherwise, this old man can't promise to be as gentle as that young man."
"When did that happen?"
Neither Maki Zen'in nor Fushiguro Megumi saw it clearly; they only saw the stinky old man pull out a glass photo frame with the Cursed Spirit's image printed inside.
They couldn't clearly see the trajectory of the old man's punch at all. Although it wasn't as fast as Kenmyo's attack, it was still incredibly fast for them.
Zen'in Naobito also had another nickname: besides being the Strongest Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer, he was also the fastest man besides Gojo Satoru.
At least the old man was quite satisfied with these two titles.
"This old man's Cursed Technique is quite interesting."
That level of speed wasn't due to martial arts, but rather his Jujutsu.
Kenmyo figured it out, but he needed to watch a few more times to determine the specific Cursed Technique.
"Are they starting to get serious over there?"
Kenmyo saw the Cursed Spirit, knocked down by a single punch, now starting to tremble all over.
"I'm going to die."
Dagon curled up on the ground, large teardrops falling one by one.
It looked at the humans before it. Every single one was smiling, staring at it mockingly.
"I, Dagon... cannot die."
"I still need to live to see them."
The figures of its friends appeared in Dagon's mind, and it trembled all over.
However, that trembling wasn't fear; rather, something inside it seemed ready to burst out from the Cursed Womb.
"Stop calling me a Cursed Spirit."
"Tear—"
A blood-soaked arm reached out from the small octopus Cursed Spirit's mouth, and then its entire mouth stretched open to the maximum, as if being pulled apart by two hands.
Finally, to everyone's surprise, a completely new Cursed Spirit appeared before them.
"My name is..."
Completely different from before, a heavier pressure was now released upon everyone. This Cursed Spirit had been completely reborn.
Its physique was lean, its height instantly grew to nearly two meters, and its whole body was covered in bright red armor, similar in color to a ripe lobster. Its head, however, remained unchanged—still an octopus head with several suction cups.
"My name is Dagon."
The overall aesthetic changed instantly; it was completely different from the comical style of before.
The entire Cursed Spirit Dagon had straightened up, looking extremely powerful as it floated in the air.
It raised its left index finger, and above the finger, a constantly spinning water sphere appeared.
"I knew a Special Grade Cursed Spirit wouldn't be that weak."
Zen'in Naobito puffed out his beard and snorted coldly.
"So that was the Cursed Womb form just now."
"Die! All of you."
Although the water sphere in Dagon's hand didn't look very large, it weighed tens of tons. Using this Cursed Technique in such a confined space would crush all of them.
"Dare to get my clothes wet? I'll kill you."
Suddenly, a voice rang out next to Dagon's ear, carrying a chilling killing intent that felt like it would drag it straight to hell.
The courage and confidence it had just barely managed to muster, intending to eliminate the terrifying human along with the others,
had now completely disintegrated.
Although Dagon had fully entered its liberated state, upon hearing that voice, it immediately backed down.
"Yes."
Understandably, Kenmyo's terror must have penetrated Dagon's very core, as just a single sentence nearly caused it to break down.
Dagon swallowed hard, forcibly suppressing the Cursed Technique that was about to be released.
Kenmyo didn't want his perfectly fine clothes to get soaking wet. If Dagon truly intended to drop that thing,
then Kenmyo would twist its neck at the same moment it released the attack.
"Quite sensible."
Taking advantage of the moment the Cursed Technique vanished, Nanami Kento, who had been silent for a long time, rushed forward.
"Ten Strokes Cursed Method."
Because he was facing a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, Nanami Kento immediately used the short sword strapped to his back.
He displayed extremely high mobility, leaping high from the ground and arriving behind the Cursed Spirit at an equally rapid speed.
"Even against a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, my Cursed Technique can forcibly create a weakness on the enemy."
Dark green Cursed Energy was attached to the short sword in Nanami Kento's hand, possessing devastating destructive power.
He had already spotted the one-seventh point on the Cursed Spirit's body, the location revealed by his Cursed Technique. Hitting that spot would instantly double the destructive power in a critical hit.
"Waraku Waraku!"
Dagon protected its head with both hands and directly endured the strike.
"Got him."
Even the usually serious Nanami Kento felt a sense of joy that the opponent was about to fall, given the smooth feeling of the strike.
"What is this guy laughing at?"
But suddenly, Nanami Kento seemed to see the Cursed Spirit smiling in his line of sight, though he didn't have time to react.
Nanami Kento suddenly realized that the surrounding environment had changed; it was no longer the dilapidated interior of the mall.
Instead, it was the ocean, and his nose could smell the sea breeze carrying a hint of rotten seafood, along with very humid and sticky air.
At this moment, everyone—including Zen'in Naobito, Fushiguro Megumi, Fushiguro Toji, and Kenmyo—was transported to a location featuring the ocean and a beach.
This earth-shattering change immediately made them realize the power that only Special Grades could wield.
That was the Domain.
Dagon was already gone.
Moreover, beneath Nanami Kento in the air, a hundred-meter-long Deep Sea Giant Shark emerged from the ocean, opening its massive jaw, ready to swallow him whole.
"You're quite clever, Cursed Spirit."
Kenmyo's treatment was truly worlds apart from that of the others.
Their side looked like they were filming The Meg, while Kenmyo's side looked like a relaxing vacation spot.
Beach chairs, sun umbrellas, coconut juice, sunglasses—everything was fully provided. There was even a barbecue grill not far away.
There was also a watermelon nearby.
Several skewers of sea fish were prepared and roasting over the fire.
If Kenmyo were in the mood, he and Fushiguro Toji could even play beach volleyball there.
Fortunately, Dagon's friends had always been sunbathing and playing volleyball inside its Domain, so these facilities were already present.
Preparing them wasn't abrupt either.
To provide such thoughtful service to a human—with a place to lie down, drinks, and food, all prepared—
one truly didn't know whether to call Dagon's service attentive or shamefully cowardly.
This was the first time Kenmyo had encountered a Cursed Spirit so willing to serve a human.
It was simply the shame of the Cursed Spirits.
The Battle Power Ranking Light Novel is about to enter the top ten.