JJK: Chapter 33/34

Chapter 33: Angry Onee-san

"She's too ugly, I can't bring myself to do it. The brothers in the comments are truly brave warriors."

He looked at Kuchisake-onna's large mouth, ripped to her ears and filled with sharp teeth after her bandages came undone, her skin like a withered tree, and her eyes full of killing intent.

At this moment, Eichi held the utmost respect for those brave warriors who dared to lay hands on imaginary Cursed Spirits like Kuchisake-onna and the Eight-Foot-Tall Woman.

Immediately after, Eichi drew his sword from his shadow and swung upward, deflecting Kuchisake-onna's large scissors.

To Eichi's surprise, Kuchisake-onna immediately abandoned the large scissors and instead pulled out a mini pair of scissors, slightly smaller than ordinary household scissors, and aimed them at the area below Eichi's abdomen.

"Onee-san where did I offend you for you to be so ruthless?"

Imaginary Cursed Spirits are Cursed Spirits formed from the convergence of people's thoughts about an existing concept. As Eichi stood behind Kuchisake-onna, the strange thoughts he had about her, the real entity, naturally converged upon her.

At this moment, even Kuchisake-onna, who was not very intelligent, felt the emotion called anger.

Eichi retreated several steps, then threw his scabbard at Kuchisake-onna.

She tilted her head, dodging the scabbard, then opened her fanged mouth and lunged to bite Eichi.

At the same time, two large pairs of scissors appeared beside her, one on the left and one on the right, aiming to cut Eichi's arms.

Eichi ducked forward, dodging both pairs of scissors, and thrust his sword into Kuchisake-onna's abdomen.

She grabbed the sword with both hands and bit toward Eichi's shoulder.

Bang.

Before her fangs reached him, Eichi moved first.

A powerful headbutt slammed into Kuchisake-onna's chin.

With teeth that were astonishingly strong, she did not get to taste Eichi. Instead, she bit her own tongue.

Blood flowed from her mouth.

Eichi, feeling a bit dizzy, retreated to regain his composure.

Kuchisake-onna, clutching her mouth, was about to give chase when she felt a chilling killing intent.

She leaped sideways as dark claws struck from the shadows.

Splat.

Although she dodged immediately, Kuchisake-onna still could not evade the Black Divine Dog's attack.

Three horizontal wounds, spanning her entire back, appeared on her body, and a large amount of purplish-black blood spurted from the wounds.

On the other side, Qiongqi, who had been sitting next to the research team, also flew in front of Eichi.

Only a few seconds passed from the Simple Domain being canceled to Kuchisake-onna falling into a desperate situation.

"Wait, Eichi."

Eichi turned to look.

The Special Grade Cursed Spirit's body was covered in black mist. The scissors' attacks, after breaking through the mist, lacked sufficient power and only left a few shallow wounds on her.

Suguru, nearby, was in a similar state.

Several beetle and centipede-shaped Cursed Spirits were coiled around him, blocking the scissors' attacks.

Suddenly seeing so many insects crawling on Suguru, Eichi had goosebumps for a moment.

"What is it?"

That feeling dissipated considerably after the centipedes vanished.

"Give me that, it's a good chance to try it out."

Suguru looked at Kuchisake-onna with interest.

This Cursed Spirit would be perfect for some practice.

"That? No problem."

After a brief thought, Eichi knew what Suguru was referring to.

He bent down and retrieved a cursed tool from his shadow. It was entirely red with black spiral patterns and connected in the middle by a chain.

Special Grade cursed tool, Playful Cloud.

Playful Cloud was Suguru's dream weapon.

After experiencing its power, he was very satisfied with the strong and forceful feeling it brought.

He had been practicing with Playful Cloud for the past few months.

Now was a good time for a real combat test.

Using a Domain consumes a huge amount of Cursed Energy. A normal person can only activate a Domain once a day. Even if Kuchisake-onna's was a Simple Domain, she probably could not use it continuously.

Without her Domain, Kuchisake-onna was just a slightly stronger Grade 1 Cursed Spirit, an enemy that could make Suguru's blood boil but would not be too dangerous.

Moreover, even if she could activate the Simple Domain a second time in a short period, it would not matter. Eichi had already seen its coverage area.

All Suguru had to do was remain silent once caught inside, then wait for Eichi to break the Simple Domain from the outside.

"Catch."

Eichi tossed it with one hand, and Playful Cloud arced through the air, landing in Suguru's hand.

He grabbed the short sticks on both ends, one in each hand, and charged toward Kuchisake-onna.

The Black Divine Dog, which had been entangled with her, immediately withdrew from the battle upon seeing this.

The moment Suguru and Kuchisake-onna engaged, Eichi and his shikigami adjusted their positions.

Eichi jumped onto a nearby wall, a spot that was both outside Kuchisake-onna's Domain coverage and allowed him to support Suguru at any time.

Qiongqi found a rooftop from which he could protect both the research team and Eichi at any moment and landed there.

The Black Divine Dog, meanwhile, went with the Special Grade Cursed Spirit to retrieve the experimental equipment.

Seeing Suguru charging, Kuchisake-onna enlarged the scissors in her hand and met him head-on.

Clang.

The sound of metal clashing rang out.

She was forced to retreat repeatedly by the immense power transmitted through Playful Cloud.

Realizing that close combat was disadvantageous, Kuchisake-onna wanted to create distance.

She turned her body, hiding her left hand behind her back, and a second pair of scissors appeared in her hand.

Crack.

Whoosh.

The sound of bones breaking came as her right arm fractured under Playful Cloud's attack, but her left hand instantly thrust out.

A slender, sharp pair of scissors aimed directly at Suguru's heart.

Seeing this, Suguru hastily raised a section of Playful Cloud to block.

Rip.

After the slender, sharp scissors were blocked by Playful Cloud, the attack slid from Suguru's heart to his shoulder.

Suguru immediately used the momentum to twist and spin his body.

Kuchisake-onna's attack missed, and Suguru, using the spinning motion, released the other end of Playful Cloud with his right hand.

He swung Playful Cloud with full force with his left hand.

The fully swung Playful Cloud, carrying immense power, struck her freshly fractured right arm.

The immense force directly broke her right arm, and then, with undiminished power, landed on her torso.

Kuchisake-onna's body instantly folded at the waist, and the entire Cursed Spirit became a cannonball flying deep into the alley.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

She flew dozens of meters, breaking through three walls before stopping.

"Luckily, no one lives here, otherwise it would be bad if she hit someone."

Watching Suguru, who was clearly high on adrenaline, Eichi shook his head helplessly.

Because they knew the target's information, the two deliberately led Kuchisake-onna to a deserted area.

This way, they could both protect the public and facilitate the research team's activities without being discovered or disturbed.

Click, click.

It took a while for Kuchisake-onna to recover on the ground.

Suguru silently watched as she restored her twisted body to its original state.

She was not yet at a point where she could be subdued, so there was no rush.

Watching her stand up, Suguru's lips curled into a smile.

Eichi, noticing this, said nothing.

Swallowing Cursed Spirits, surrounded by a bunch of twisted, sanity-draining monsters, and having to act like a good boy in public, it would be strange if he did not feel stressed.

So Eichi just quietly handled crowd control. As for telling Suguru to go easy?

The kid had accumulated so much pressure. What is wrong with letting him vent?

The "Jutsu" in Jujutsu Sorcerer is the "Jutsu" of "curse." Cursed Energy can only be gathered when it contains negative emotions.

This is why Yuji Itadori, when receiving instruction from Satoru, failed to unleash Cursed Energy with a full-power strike at him.

He had no malice or negative emotions toward Satoru at the time, so he naturally could not use Cursed Energy.

A significant reason why most Jujutsu Sorcerers are crazy is because of this.

How can anyone not go crazy, let alone Jujutsu Sorcerers who are constantly in negative and extreme emotional states?

(To be continued.)

Chapter 34: The End of the Battle and New Plans

When it comes to close-quarters combat, Suguru is undoubtedly a true genius.

After acquiring Playful Cloud, he sought out his former combat and sanda coaches to learn how to use a three-section staff, but he could not find a suitable teacher.

After all, the three-section staff is a niche weapon, and it is far too easy to hit yourself while practicing.

That pain is very real.

Why does Eichi know?

Because when Suguru came to Eichi for treatment after injuries from Playful Cloud, Eichi tried a few swings himself.

Even so, Suguru still managed to grasp some of the dao.

Relying only on basic moves taught by a martial arts coach and a few scenes from movies, he achieved minor accomplishment with the three-section staff.

He believes that with a few more years of practice, he will reach major accomplishment.

Clink, clink, bang.

Another strike landed on Kuchisake-onna. Suguru's left hand gripped one end of the staff, his right hand held the middle section, and he used both hands to vigorously whip the upper section.

The continuous staff shadows and unpredictable lines made it impossible for her to parry.

He slid his right hand forward to grip the front short section.

Suguru continuously thrust the upper and lower short sections like short spears.

The short staff strikes landed over and over, forcing cries from Kuchisake-onna.

The sustained attacks made Suguru's arms ache. He stepped forward with his right foot, driving power from his legs to his waist, then to his right hand, and thrust with full force.

Kuchisake-onna was sent flying again by the immense power of Playful Cloud.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

A dozen scissors flew out from around her.

Suguru grabbed the middle short staff with both hands and spun it vigorously.

The chain pulled the upper and lower sections into a whirling fan that deflected all the scissors.

"Ah ah ah! Die!"

Kuchisake-onna roared, and a giant pair of scissors, tens of meters long, descended from the sky.

The blades opened, then snapped shut, aiming to cut Suguru in half.

"Good timing."

Suguru showed no fear, even laughing.

Gripping one short staff in his right hand, he swung Playful Cloud with all his might.

Crack.

Metal split. The two blades of the scissors shattered under Playful Cloud.

The giant scissors crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Suguru shot out of the dust and attacked again.

Kuchisake-onna plunged her scissors into the ground, and then more scissors emerged one after another.

Sharp blades surrounded her like a forest.

"Oh? I see, a forest of scissors. Indeed, long weapons like spears and three-section staffs are difficult to wield in complex terrain such as a forest."

Suguru expressed his admiration for her choice.

"But these things are useless against Playful Cloud."

He swung upward.

His right hand, gripping the end, smashed Playful Cloud down fiercely.

Bang.

The impact opened a deep pit in the ground.

Playful Cloud's momentum did not slow, carving a wound through earth in the direction of his swing.

Countless shattered stones blasted toward Kuchisake-onna like cannonballs.

She waved her hands, and a dense wall of scissors rose to block the flying stones.

Suguru did not pause to check the result. The instant the stones were launched, he followed in behind them.

Facing the wall of scissors, he swung Playful Cloud with full force again.

Crack.

The wall collapsed.

Reflected in the shards were Kuchisake-onna's terrified face and Suguru's grin.

Boom.

Playful Cloud smashed down, and she no longer had the strength to dodge.

"Is this the end?"

Lying on the ground, utterly drained, she stared in fear at the man who had not yet had his fill.

"Well, that works too. It has been a long time since I had such a satisfying fight."

Suguru gently flicked Playful Cloud.

The three sections folded instantly and rested in his left hand.

His fingers were long, allowing him to hold the folded staff perfectly.

He raised his right hand, and a black vortex appeared. Without resistance, Kuchisake-onna was transformed into a Cursed Spirit Orb.

Eichi even caught a hint of relief in her eyes.

Suguru tilted his head back and swallowed the Cursed Spirit Orb, then covered his mouth tightly with his right hand.

Soon, she was completely digested and absorbed, becoming a Cursed Spirit under his command.

After everything ended, Suguru returned to the convoy.

Waiting there were Qiongqi, the Black Divine Dog, a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, Eichi looking up at the sky, research assistants with envious, adoring eyes, and several old professors deep in discussion.

"It's over. What do we do next?"

Smiling and nodding at the assistants gawking at him, Suguru turned to ask Eichi about the next steps.

"First, go find the Assistant Supervisor to collect the commission, then find that car."

Eichi pointed to a black sedan at the back of the convoy.

"The driver will take you to the food street near your home. Go home after dinner."

"What about you?"

Suguru nodded in understanding.

"I will send these people back first, then have a late-night snack at the institute before going home."

The two had been busy since noon and had not eaten yet.

"I understand. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

They waved.

Soon, the small convoy began its trip back to the institute.

Eichi looked out the window, bored, his thoughts drifting.

Suguru should be nearing his peak now, right?

According to information revealed from various angles in the plot, during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons he released over six thousand Cursed Spirits.

On the two battlefields, each had a Special Grade Cursed Spirit as the leader and more than ten Grade 1 Cursed Spirits as the main force.

Heading to Tokyo Jujutsu High, he brought a Special Grade imaginary vengeful spirit, the Incarnation of Tamamo-no-Mae, and the remaining four thousand plus Cursed Spirits.

Finally, while clashing with Yuta, he even used Limitless Cursed Technique to fuse 4461 Cursed Spirits in one go.

This means that at his peak, Suguru had at least three or more Special Grade Cursed Spirits and dozens of Grade 1 Cursed Spirits, right?

Even thinking about it is terrifying.

However, considering the Jujutsu World's lineup, that power still might not be enough.

Todo Aoi alone could take down five Grade 1 Cursed Spirits and one Special Grade.

There is Mei Mei, who can exorcise Special Grades, Kusakabe, suspected to be stronger than Mei Mei, and other excellent Grade 1 and Grade 2 sorcerers like Nanami.

Thinking this way, two Special Grades and twenty to thirty Grade 1s are really not enough.

Right now, Suguru has three high-end combatants, the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, Rainbow Dragon, and Kuchisake-onna.

His number of Grade 1 Cursed Spirits has surpassed ten, and his total Cursed Spirits exceed one thousand.

He can already launch a small-scale Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.

However, I am not weak either, the semi-Special Grade Black Divine Dog, the Special Grade Qiongqi, the Grade 1 White Divine Dog, multiple Grade 1 Shadow Servants, and a second Special Grade Chimera that is about to succeed.

"Tsk, but on paper, my strength seems a bit weaker. No, the subjugation of Mahoraga must be put on the agenda."

Last time, with Toji's help, Eichi successfully probed Mahoraga's strength, and since then he has been planning how to subjugate it.

Eichi believes it will not be long before this strongest Shikigami completely becomes his power.

(To be continued.)