Yuta Okkotsu picked up the strange finger from the snow and examined it closely.
Although he couldn't identify it at first, he sensed an immense amount of cursed energy hidden within, and a deep, malevolent force lurking in its core.
Yuta frowned, thoughtful.
He was in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, an area far from dense populations.
Logically, cursed spirits are born from cursed energy released by humans, so the more people in an area, the more and stronger the curses that appear. Yet here was a top-tier spirit whose intelligence and strength far exceeded ordinary cursed spirits. Her presence was unusual given the sparse surroundings.
"It looks like the Snow Woman became so powerful by absorbing the energy from this finger," Yuta muttered. "Something this dangerous needs to be sealed away."
He wrapped the finger in a talisman and headed back to Tokyo as quickly as possible.
When Yuta handed the relic to Shion, the older sorcerer's eyes widened.
"Sukuna's Finger?"
Yuta blinked in confusion. "Sukuna? Who's that?"
Shion nodded and began to explain.
"Ryomen Sukuna was known as the King of Curses a thousand years ago. That name wasn't his real one, but his appearance resembled the ancient demon called Ryomen Sukuna, so that's what people called him."
Shion's voice turned solemn. "He was terrifyingly powerful. He could wield multiple cursed tools at once while forming hand seals. His cursed energy was nearly limitless, and he could even unleash Domain Expansions. In history, he was considered the strongest sorcerer, feared by sorcerers and cursed alike."
"A thousand years ago was the sorcery world's most perilous era," Shion continued. "Even when sorcerers fought with everything they had, they were defeated again and again."
"After Sukuna's death, sorcerers discovered his worldly remains could not be destroyed. The only way to prevent his full return was to seal his twenty fingers, each containing immense cursed energy."
He paused, his eyes sharp. "Even in death, Sukuna remains a nightmare for the sorcery world."
Yuta was stunned. He had never imagined that the finger he found held such ancient and dangerous history.
"So… Master," Yuta asked tentatively, "if all twenty of Sukuna's fingers were resurrected, who is stronger, you or him?"
At this point, Yuta was no longer a novice in sorcery. In eight years under Shion's guidance, he had learned a great deal about cursed energy, combat, and his own potential. Shion was known for having near-limitless cursed power and mastery of sorcery techniques, and was respected as one of the strongest in the modern era — arguably unmatched among his peers.
Shion smiled wryly and offered an ambiguous answer.
"Well… no one truly knows for sure," he said with a shrug, sounding almost like someone recalling a familiar comparison.
Inside, he did not want to make claims that could become the sort of boastful prophecy one might regret later.
Yuta's eyes sparkled with excitement. "So Master would definitely win, right?"
Shion broke out in a cold sweat.
Please, not this kind of flag!
---
Fushiguro Household — Late Afternoon
Tsumiki, now in her third year of junior high, hurried down the hallway toward her father's room.
Pushing the door open, she found Toji relaxing in front of the television. Beside him, Megumi Fushiguro was hunched over a pile of sorcery textbooks, trying to catch up after falling behind in his training.
"Dad!" Tsumiki called.
Toji leapt to his feet. "Sweetheart! You're home early! How were your exams? Hungry? Do you want fruit? I even bought new clothes for you—"
Tsumiki rolled her eyes.
Who's your real daughter, anyway? she thought.
She smiled sweetly anyway. "Dad, about that place you mentioned before — Eighty-Eight Bridges — someone from class is planning a trip there."
Toji's smile froze. "And what about you? Are you going?"
"They invited me," Tsumiki said, "but I know cursed spirits exist, and they're dangerous. Besides, you've warned me many times, so I refused."
She hesitated. "Still, I tried to persuade them, but they wouldn't listen. I couldn't explain exactly why cursed spirits are dangerous though."
"Dad, do you know anyone involved with sorcery? Maybe you could contact them and ask them to check the place out before the others go."
Toji let out a relieved breath and ruffled her hair. "Don't worry. I'll handle it. Now go do your homework!"
"Okay!"
Watching her walk away, Toji sighed before suddenly turning stern.
"You really think Shion can foresee the future?" he asked aloud.
Immediately his eyes went cold, and lethal intent flickered across his face, prompting a small shiver from Megumi.
"How dare you endanger my daughter! You're asking for death!" Toji roared.
Megumi instinctively formed a small ball of cursed energy, which expanded into a loyal combat partner — a small crafted guardian spirit that wrapped around him protectively.
Toji blinked in surprise. He knew this spirit was one Megumi had created himself, a trained assistant named ChuChu.
"Why did you summon Tools?" Toji asked.
Megumi stretched and grinned, "To exorcise cursed spirits and protect world peace!"
Megumi stood up with a fierce gleam in his eyes.
"I want to go too!"
"You?" Toji blinked, taken aback.
Megumi's cursed energy pulsed strongly. "Don't underestimate me. I'm already a Level Three sorcerer, almost Level Two. I might even be stronger than you!"
Toji scratched his head, thinking it over. With him there, the others should remain safe, so he reluctantly nodded.
"Alright then, I'll show you the ropes."