The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons had begun. Though not the exact blueprint as in the anime, the original essence hasn't changed.
Across both Shinjuku and Kyoto, thousands of curses had been unleashed into the streets by Geto. Emergency barriers had been erected, evacuation procedures activated, and nearly every available jujutsu sorcerer had been deployed to contain the disaster.
The sky itself seemed heavier than usual, as though the accumulated malice of countless curses had stained the atmosphere.
Yet despite the chaos that was beginning to unfold, I wasn't standing on the front lines; instead, I sat on the roof of a nearby building beside Shoko Ieiri.
Shoko is a tall woman with long brown hair that extends past her shoulders. She has soft brown eyes with dark lines under them, making it appear as if she's underslept. She has thick eyebrows and a mole underneath her right eye.
The woman had already finished another packet of cigarettes while she was observing the fight below. Hands off to her; she is a steam engine.
At this point, I was beginning to wonder whether her cursed technique repaired her lungs faster than she could destroy them. A trail of smoke drifted into the night sky as she lit another cigarette without hesitation.
The sounds of distant explosions echoed through the city. Every sorceress has already started taking down the curse.
The war had started.
Shoko took a long drag before looking sideways at me. "Why aren't you on the front line?"
Her tone wasn't accusatory or anything; she was just curious about why Naoya, whom she thought would be leading the battle, was with her in the emergency medical shelters.
The curses had already been released, but reports of civilian casualties or the Sorceress hadn't started flooding in yet. It was the calm before the storm. The moment where everyone held their breath before the bloodshed truly began.
I shrugged. "I like saving sentient beings more than killing mindless beasts."
Shoko raised an eyebrow. "That's a strange answer from a sorcerer."
"Maybe." I looked toward the distant skyline where flashes of cursed energy occasionally illuminated the darkness. "And the big guns haven't arrived yet, so I am also waiting for them to make my move; till then I plan to save life here."
Just as I said that, a building opposite of me started shaking. I sensed the curse energy emitting that of grade 1. "Though it seems that won't be possible."
Before I step out of the building, I turn to Shoko and say, "By the way, smoking is injurious to health, and smoking causes cancer."
"I remember you stealing a stick from my box," she countered.
---
I came to where a lot of low-ranking Jujutsu sorcerers were fighting a grade 1 curse, and they were losing.
Losing is an understatement; it seems like they all are going to die. From the injury and bleeding.
"Die, you fucker."
"Target its left leg."
"Its regeneration is not giving us an opening."
Commands and coordinates are flying left and right to take down the curse. They all are trying their best to hold the thing off until someone strong comes.
For those who didn't know Curse rank, it goes like this: Grade 4, Grade 3, Semi-Grade 2, Grade 2, Semi-Grade 1, Grade 1, and Special Grade. Of course this ranking also applied for Jujutsu Sorcerers.
There is also a ranking called "Special Grade 1" for Jujutsu Sorcerers, not the official one, but instead it is something of an independent assessment, like Naobita is a Special Grade 1, but his official ranking is a Grade 1.
And the power level for each ranking is as follows: for a grade 4, a wooden bat is enough, the weakest. Grade 3: If you have a handgun, you can rest easy. for a grade 2 close call with a shotgun. Grade 1: Even a tank might be insufficient. For a special grade, cluster bombs might work.
There are special cases in which one might identify as special grade even though the physical strength is not that great. And even the ranking itself is rather inflexible, as Gojo is not someone other special grades can take on. But that is the current, official ranking.
"Retreat!" I commanded, stepping onto the front line.
Hearing my voice, the sorcerers turned to see me. They didn't hesitate, immediately nodding and falling back. As they retreated, I activated my Reverse Cursed Technique, flooding the area with restorative energy to heal their wounds.
"Now, let's get to work."
~~~