As the three new Special Grade spirits materialized, that same twisted, manic grin spread across Mahito's face.
Todo gritted his teeth, his muscles tensing. "I'll stall those three Tengu. Nanami-senpai, Mei Mei-senpai—you two focus everything on Mahito!"
Nanami shook his head firmly. "No. You cannot handle three Special Grades alone. Retiring to a defensive position is the most rational move."
"I'm afraid the choice isn't yours to make!"
Mahito let out a sharp cackle. High above, the three Tengu began weaving signs in perfect unison, a bizarre, oscillating cursed energy rippling through the air.
The creatures opened their beaked maws, emitting a distorted, rasping chant that chilled the bone.
"Domain Expansion: Magatsu-Gate of the Three Phases!"
Cursed energy surged like a massive black curtain, dropping from the sky and swallowing Nanami and Mei Mei whole before the others could even blink.
"Nanami-senpai!"
"Mei Mei-senpai!"
"Sister!"
Mahito licked a smear of blood from his palm. "The woman with the highest combat output and the man with the tactical brain are officially off the board. As for the rest of you... you're my new toys."
"Tch!"
Todo's jaw tightened. With Nanami and Mei Mei dragged into the domain, facing Mahito alone was a tall order. He turned his head.
"Brother! Lend me your strength!"
"Eh? Me?" Yuji pointed to himself, stunned. "This is a Special Grade. Aren't you worried I'll just be a liability?"
Todo gave a boisterous, confident laugh. "My eye for character is never wrong! Besides, our fighting styles are identical, and my technique works best when there are multiple targets to juggle!"
Facing the earnest invitation of his self-proclaimed brother—and fueled by a desperate urge to wipe that smirk off Mahito's face—Yuji didn't hesitate. He stepped up beside Todo, his fists glowing.
"Let's do this, Brother! Have faith in Nanami and Mei Mei. They'll crush those birds in no time!"
"Hell yeah!"
The two lunged at Mahito, a flurry of cursed-energy-reinforced punches leading the way. Mahito, ever the playful sadist, met them head-on.
Meanwhile, the swarm of Transfigured Humans and lesser curses began their assault on the remaining sorcerers.
"Seance Technique: Xiezhi!"
"Augmentation Technique: Pulse!"
"Divine Dogs! Guard Kugisaki!"
Nobara roared over the din, "Shut up! Stop looking down on me! I can hold my own!"
The Kyoto students were locked in a desperate melee. Mai's Construction, Momo's Tool Manipulation, Mechamaru's Puppet Manipulation, Noritoshi's Blood Manipulation, and Miwa's New Shadow Style all went into full effect. They weren't slaughtering Grade 1s with the ease of Todo, but they were holding their ground.
The only one left in a bind was Ui Ui. Because his "Space Projection" technique was so powerful, the Binding Vows attached to it were equally restrictive. He required the explicit permission of his sister, Mei Mei, to utilize his cursed energy. Now, he was forced to stand awkwardly behind the group, unable to contribute a single strike.
Inside the Magatsu-Gate of the Three Phases
The moment they were pulled into the barrier, Nanami and Mei Mei simultaneously activated their "Simple Domains."
Simple Domain—the "Domain for the Weak"—was a technique developed over centuries to neutralize the "sure-hit" effects of an opponent's territory. Within their small circles of protection, the two sorcerers quickly scanned their surroundings.
The world had become a moonlit forest. Three towering Torii gates loomed over them. Perched atop the gates were the three Tengu. On the left sat the Akatengu; on the right, the Karasutengu. In the center sat the largest and most oppressive of the three: the Daitengu.
Mei Mei rolled her neck, a predatory smile on her lips. "This looks like it might actually be a challenge."
Nanami remained clinical. "At least it isn't a domain on the level of Souma Gojo's. A composite domain generated by three separate spirits must have a fundamental structural weakness."
"True," Mei Mei chuckled. "Though we haven't even seen the effect yet."
As if on cue, the three Tengu began to shriek. The sound evolved into a haunting, discordant melody—at times a flute, at times a child's sob, and at times the roar of a starving demon.
Nanami and Mei Mei frowned, covering their ears. It was futile. The sound bypassed the physical ear, vibrating directly against the soul.
"Dizziness... a sensory disruption technique based on auditory hallucinations," Nanami noted.
Using their Simple Domains to dampen the effect, they flooded their own ears with cursed energy to drown out the noise.
"If I listen to that much longer, I might actually lose my mind," Mei Mei said, hefting her axe. She leaped into the air, bringing the blade down on the central Daitengu.
The Daitengu met the axe with a direct punch, the sheer force of the impact sending Mei Mei skidding back through the air.
She landed, her eyes narrowing. "Something's wrong. It wasn't nearly this strong outside the domain."
The two exchanged a silent look and moved in tandem.
"Watch where I strike!" Nanami called out.
He swung his shortsword. The 7:3 Ratio Technique didn't just mark a weak point for him; it exposed the flaw for anyone with the skill to see it. His blade struck a critical point on the Daitengu, and Mei Mei followed up immediately, her axe slamming into the exact same spot.
SCREECH—!
The Daitengu roared in pain. It flapped its wings, becoming a blur as it delivered two separate, bone-crushing punches to Nanami and Mei Mei.
THUD! THUD!
They were sent tumbling across the grass, regaining their footing with a grimace.
"Too strong..." Nanami muttered.
He watched the Daitengu return to its perch. "Change targets."
They launched an assault on the Akatengu, only to be repelled with the same overwhelming force. They pivoted to the Karasutengu—the smallest of the three—but the result was identical. A brutal, crushing defeat.
The chanting never stopped. The demonic melody was beginning to erode their Simple Domains. If they didn't break out soon, the hallucinations would take hold, and they would be carved up where they stood.
Despite the dire circumstances, the expressions of the two adults remained eerily calm.
"Did you notice?" Mei Mei asked.
"Yes. The output of each Tengu is identical."
"And when we attack one, the other two remain completely motionless."
"Exactly," Nanami finished. "The total power of the three is being funneled into whichever one is currently engaged. When we fight one, we are effectively fighting all three combined."
"So, the solution?"
"Attack all three simultaneously. To protect themselves, the energy will be forced to redistribute, weakening them individually."
"Two people against three targets. I see why the domain only took us and left Todo out."
"Fortunately, there is a loophole. My technique can count as a third person."
"Black Bird Manipulation?"
"Precisely."
"Then let's begin."
Their conversation was brief and efficient, dissecting a Special Grade domain in mere seconds. Even after being tossed around and battered, neither had lost their composure for a single heartbeat.
Nanami unwrapped the tie from his neck and wound it tightly around his palm. "I suppose it's time for some overtime."
Binding Vow: Overtime. Cursed energy flooded his frame.
Mei Mei gave a light, airy laugh. "I suppose I should put in a little effort myself. After all, Souma Gojo paid me a very handsome retainer."
"Souma-senpai again?"
"Mhm."
"A truly... reliable man."
In the next instant, they vanished.
Mei Mei swung her axe, the edge wreathed in black lightning, aiming directly for the Karasutengu's head. Simultaneously, a crow streaked through the air like a guided missile, hitting supersonic speeds as it made a suicide run toward the Akatengu.
"Black Bird Manipulation: Bird Strike!"
Sensing the pincer movement, the Daitengu looked left and right, its energy wavering.
"Where are you looking?"
The voice was flat, devoid of emotion. Nanami appeared directly in front of the Daitengu.
"Ratio Technique!"
His shortsword, trailing sparks of Black Flash, bit deep into the exposed imaginary weak point.
SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!
Three sounds of rending flesh echoed at once.
Nanami and Mei Mei crossed paths in the center of the grove. Behind them, the three Torii gates and the bodies of the Tengu shattered like fragile glass.
The Magatsu-Gate was broken.
The group outside looked on in awe as the black curtain dissolved. Nanami and Mei Mei stepped out of the dissipating smoke, side-by-side. Their expressions were calm, their gait steady.
A man of quiet strength and a woman of sharp intellect—two silhouettes that radiated absolute reliability.
"So... cool!"
Todo slapped Yuji on the shoulder. "Hey! Brother! Do you see that?"
"That right there... that is the allure of maturity!"
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