For high-grade Cursed Spirits formed from densely concentrated Cursed Energy, minor piercing damage could heal almost instantly.
After regenerating, the Skeleton Woman dropped back to the ground. The surrounding corpses began to tear apart with wet, cracking sounds as one pitch-black skeleton after another crawled out of them, closing in on the three.
Satoru Gojo let out a scornful laugh.
"Oh? Playing clones right in front of me? There's only one skeleton here that can actually activate a technique.
Cursed Technique Lapse—[Blue]!"
A blue orb appeared to Satoru Gojo's left, instantly pinning the Skeleton Woman against the wall. At the same time, Suguru Geto wiped out the remaining skeletons with Rainbow Dragon.
Akira Zenin settled into his stance and focused his mind.
"Water Spirit
Ford Feathers
Netherworld Torrent
[Impurity] — Ink Abyss."
Water, heavily clouded by dense Cursed Energy, spread outward from the shadow beneath Akira Zenin's feet. From within the shadow of the water, more water surged forth again and again, repeating until a blackened zone formed around them, with a slow, swirling vortex at its center.
"Is this… the embryonic form of a Domain?"
Suguru Geto's eyes widened in shock.
Satoru Gojo immediately dismissed the idea.
"It's just one way of expanding a technique. There's no Barrier involved. More importantly, playing with shadows doesn't suit Akira's style. This doesn't look like the Domain he'd be born with.
Heh. What a waste."
From within the blackened area, several enormous columns of water packed with Cursed Energy burst upward. The Skeleton Woman dodged the first few, but the following strikes hit her in rapid succession, smashing her body apart under the overwhelming force.
"Right. This is a failed product from my earlier research into Domains," Akira Zenin said calmly. "I figured it would be a waste to throw it away, so I repurposed it into this.
Still, this Cursed Spirit feels like it doesn't know how to use a technique at all. It keeps relying on its body to tank attacks, and it's not very agile either."
As the Skeleton Woman's head continued to snarl and thrash, Satoru Gojo reached out and dragged it aside. With his other hand, wrapped in [Blue], he crushed the body that had just begun to regenerate.
"Geto, want to absorb it? This one looks pretty decent.
Though Cursed Spirits don't exactly taste good, right?"
Suguru Geto walked over in silence and answered without a second's hesitation.
"Like a rag wiped through vomit."
Perhaps because he possessed [Cursed Spirit Manipulation], he could faintly sense the pain and despair hidden within the Skeleton Woman's howls.
Suguru Geto stopped using [Cursed Spirit Manipulation], placed his hand gently on top of her skull, and lightly stroked it. Several bone spikes suddenly burst out, piercing straight through his hand, yet his expression never changed.
"Forget it, Satoru. Let her go properly."
Satoru Gojo nodded. A blue point appeared inside the Skeleton Woman's body, and her entire skull collapsed inward until it disappeared completely.
Seeing that Suguru Geto's mood had darkened, Satoru Gojo's expression grew serious as well. He didn't ask why Suguru Geto had given up on absorbing her.
"Your hand's fine, right? I didn't expect you to be that impulsive. What if that thing could use a technique through its head?"
Suguru Geto shook his head.
"It's fine. I protected the bones with Cursed Energy. This kind of injury just needs Shoko to patch it up when we get back."
Akira Zenin walked over.
"Did you forget about me?"
He silently chanted, 'Round Deer,' then placed his hand on Suguru Geto's shoulder. As the positive energy generated by the Reverse Cursed Technique flowed in, Suguru Geto's hand gradually healed.
"The Ten Shadows Techniques really are versatile. At this rate, Shoko's going to be out of a job."
Akira Zenin shrugged.
"We hardly ever get hurt on missions. She just wants to stay at the school now and doesn't even feel like coming along anymore. Besides, I don't actually understand medical theory. I just brute-force it and let miracles happen. In any case, you can never have too many med kits."
Suguru Geto shook his head, recalling the days when he was still inexperienced with [Cursed Spirit Manipulation], before he had any stockpile, when he had to subdue Cursed Spirits alone using nothing but hand-to-hand combat.
"When we do missions together and exorcise curses, it feels like we're just messing around. There's not even a hint of tension."
Satoru Gojo pushed up his sunglasses.
"Well, obviously. After all, we're the strongest."
…
Wrapped in a light haze, the three returned to Tokyo Jujutsu High. They could have gotten back much earlier, but Satoru Gojo insisted on dragging the other two to try a so-called "once-in-a-lifetime delicacy"—buttered potatoes.
They hadn't expected a random street snack to be that popular. Exhausted adults after a full day of work stood in line with their kids, the queue folding back on itself twice. It took over an hour before the three of them finally got their food.
When they reached the school gates, Utahime, dressed in a red-and-white shrine maiden outfit, was holding Shoko Ieiri's hand.
"I'll be graduating soon. You really need to smoke less. Even if you can use the Reverse Cursed Technique, it still takes a lot out of you."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Shoko Ieiri nodded halfheartedly. She and Utahime actually got along pretty well, but every time they met, Utahime would nag her about quitting smoking and drinking.
Shoko subconsciously pulled out a cigarette, then immediately switched it for a lollipop after noticing someone's gaze.
"Well, if it isn't Utahime. Going on a mission by yourself? Have the old guys finally gone senile? Don't tell me you're going to cry out there."
Utahime's face turned bright red as she stiffly twisted her neck, joints cracking audibly.
"Gojo! Can you show some respect to your senior for once?!"
Satoru Gojo flashed a grin.
"Raging cotton candy."
Suguru Geto smoothly followed up.
"Savage dandelion."
"Furious fluffball."
"Noisy soap bubble."
Being mocked nonstop, Utahime's face flushed completely red, steam practically rising from her head as she transformed into a full-fledged steam princess.
Just as her anger meter kept climbing, she suddenly noticed Akira Zenin nodding off beside the other two. As part of the trio, he hadn't joined in on mocking his senior at all.
Waaah… that was so touching.
Of course, everything was relative. Standing next to Satoru Gojo, anyone would look gentle and well-mannered. Akira Zenin was probably just too sleepy to bother joining in.
"Akira Zenin!"
Startled by the sudden shout, Akira Zenin jolted awake, dark circles under his eyes as he struggled to take in what was happening.
"Huh? Utahime-senpai, what's wrong?"
Senpai! Just listen to that! What a title! There was absolutely no way those words would ever come out of the white-haired demon or the weird-bangs guy. Aside from Shoko, only Akira Zenin would talk like that.
"Oh, it's nothing, nothing. You look so tired, so your senior brought you something nice."
Utahime tossed a can toward Akira Zenin.
'Hmm… coffee. Pretty sweet and low on caffeine, but better than nothing, I guess.'
After thanking her, Akira Zenin gulped the drink down in one go. Suguru Geto propped his chin on his hand, looking puzzled.
"Akira, does that actually work? I thought coffee only helps if you're not already exhausted. If you drink it when you're sleepy, doesn't it stop working?"
Satoru Gojo nodded vigorously.
"Exactly. That's for stacking armor, not restoring HP. Weak people really don't think things through."
Akira Zenin summoned [Divine Dogs] and had them toss the can into the trash.
"Maybe it's just psychological. Anyway, I've grown to like the taste of coffee. Preferably without sugar."
"Exactly! Sweet stuff is the worst!"
Finding another ally against sweets besides Shoko, Utahime chimed in enthusiastically.
"But senpai, are you really okay going on a mission alone?"
"It's fine. I'm just investigating something. And I'm not going by myself."
Shoko quietly walked over.
"Utahime-senpai, you've got a call. Mei-san has been waiting for you for quite a while."
"!!!"