Shiromuku flickered and appeared behind Renji, her face hidden by the heavy white cotton hood tilted slightly downward, her distorted gaze fixed intently on the top of Renji's head.
"There are a few more workshops. The aura of a Cursed Spirit up ahead is very obvious, it should be the humans killed by the curse in this factory. Let's just fight our way through." Renji said, ignoring Shiromuku behind him.
Even if this thing went berserk, he still had other means.
Suguru frowned as he looked at Shiromuku's back.
A Grade 1 Cursed Spirit that was already faintly stepping into the realm of a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. Moreover, being able to understand the summoner's verbal commands indicated self-awareness and the ability to think. This red rope... perhaps only Renji could keep it under control.
"Let's keep going." Suguru ultimately said nothing more, condensing his thoughts into a few simple words.
The two of them walked forward. Along the way, the Cursed Spirits that originally wanted to attack the two of them looked warily at the three-meter-tall giant floating behind Renji. They lacked independent consciousness but possessed instinct, their souls told them they would die.
All living things have genes to seek benefit and avoid harm, and Cursed Spirits are naturally no exception.
Soon, the two reached a workshop for storing strong acid tanks. The workshop was large, with nothing but a ten-meter-high tank in the middle.
"What a thick stench. It smells like smelly socks that haven't been washed for three days were put in a pickle jar, taken out and thrown into a trash heap, and then steamed in a pot. Tsk." Suguru covered his nose and looked toward the acid tank.
"The fact that you can describe it like that is also pretty insane, okay?" Renji's lips twitched slightly.
Should he expect nothing less from a Jujutsu Sorcerer with Cursed Spirit Manipulation?
Usually, absorbing Cursed Spirits meant enduring all sorts of strange tastes. He could actually break down the components of the smell.
Suguru made a hand sign.
Cursed Spirit Manipulation: Rotten Eel!
A long eel emitting a rotting stench slithered out from beside Suguru's feet. Its two eyes flipped up and down irregularly before it swam toward the acid tank.
This was a Grade 3 Cursed Spirit Suguru had absorbed in passing during a mission, used to help him perform tasks in harsh environments.
The moment the Rotten Eel's head touched the acid tank, a human arm reached out from inside the acid tank, grabbed the Rotten Eel, and pulled it inside violently, ignoring its frantic struggles.
"It's inside!"
Rainbow Dragon instantly flew out from behind Suguru. Rainbow Dragon's scales were extremely hard. In the range from Grade 1 to Semi-Special Grade, no Cursed Spirit could break its defense with pure strength.
Boom!
Splash!
The acid, which had turned black from sitting, mixed with Cursed Energy and instantly corroded the ground, dissolving a dark, gaping hole. Inside the huge acid tank, a rat's head topped with a human head looked at Renji and Suguru.
"Fresh humans... rot away!"
The rat Cursed Spirit's cheeks puffed out, and it instantly spat a mouthful of crimson acid that reeked of decay. Anyone hit by this would be in for a rough time.
Boom!
Shiromuku flickered and crashed into the red acid. The terrifying liquid emitted thick white vapor upon contact with her body, but it didn't corrode her clothes at all.
"Roar!"
Before the rat Cursed Spirit could react, the newly summoned Rainbow Dragon took advantage of it's lack of awareness and immediately descended from the sky, swallowing the entire acid tank along with the rat Cursed Spirit.
Boom!
"Was it exorcised? No! Wait! Renji, jump!"
Suguru exerted force with his feet and immediately jumped up to grab a rotting water pipe overhead.
Renji also leaped lightly onto a window above.
Rumble!
A large amount of emerald green acid gushed out from the Rainbow Dragon's mouth. Thick white vapor continuously rose from its mouth and the ground was already covered in foul-smelling acid, making it impossible to land.
The next second, acid dripped from the Rainbow Dragon's lower jaw.
Crack!
Rip!
The rat Cursed Spirit's two hands forcibly tore an opening in the Rainbow Dragon's lower jaw to let itself out. If the strong acid hadn't corroded the Rainbow Dragon's mouth, it was unlikely that this creature's strength could have torn it even slightly.
"Okkotsu, don't be careless. It's a Special Grade Cursed Spirit." Suguru said, standing steadily as two Bird-type Cursed Spirits appeared beneath his feet for support.
The rat Cursed Spirit stood up like a human.
The human head atop the grey, rotting skull made a distorted sound. "Healthy humans, you are qualified to be corroded by me. I was born from humanity's fear of Corrosion. My name... is Fushoku."
"Shiromuku, go, give him a slap. For a Cursed Spirit, you've been rambling for so long. Are we fighting or not?" Renji said coldly.
"Darling!"
Shiromuku's figure vanished from behind Renji, appearing behind Fushoku in just a single moment.
Boom!
Scratch marks suddenly appeared on the acid-covered ground. That was Shiromuku's attack—it had been dodged.
"You humans are truly despicable. Whether it's the guys I've eaten or you, die feeling honored." Fushoku's voice sounded from all directions.
Splash!
Countless emerald green acid spheres shot out from the ground around Shiromuku.
Then, Shiromuku's body was seen wrapped in the emerald green acid. Fushoku's human head emerged from the acid on the ground.
Acid Cage!
The rat head let out a strange, squeaky laugh.
[Ding! Cursed Technique : Acid Cage detected.]
[Ding! Copy activated. Host has obtained Cursed Technique: Acid Cage (3/3)]
Renji wasn't idling either. He instantly jumped down from the window.
Projection Sorcery!
Renji's body flickered out. Within one second, he performed twenty-four movements and arrived behind Fushoku, his fist infused with Cursed Energy held high.
"I saw everything." Fushoku said with an unfriendly tone.
The tail hanging in the acid had just begun to lift a bit when—
Crack!
Fushoku was turned into a man-sized transparent photograph standing in place. As Renji's fist fell, the photograph shattered, and Fushoku flew backward like a cannonball. Its massive body smashed through the factory walls and it only came to a halt against a thick steel plate after breaking through six walls.
"Projection Sorcery? Isn't that..." Suguru was somewhat confused.
That Cursed Technique clearly belonged to the Zenin clan. It was the Cursed Technique used by the current head of the Zenin clan, and his son, Naoya, who had provoked Renji.
Could it be...
During that competition, he secretly learned it?
To learn a Cursed Technique, one must thoroughly understand its principles and master its extensions.
"For real? I swear, no matter what Okkotsu uses next time, I won't be surprised." Suguru took a sharp breath, once again feeling that Renji's talent was otherworldly.
(End of Chapter)
New Book
One Piece: Rule Breaker
Transmigrating to the world of One Piece and becoming the orphaned son of a Marine Rear Admiral, Tatsuki awakens the [Scummiest Justice System].
With it, he can become stronger by violating Marines' regulations.
[Ding! Host was called out by Head Instructor Zephyr at the opening ceremony for wearing a crooked tie]
[Violation Points +1000!]
"Kuzan, how can justice be superficial? Come with me to the Pleasure District and experience the hardships of life."
[Ding! Leading a future Marine Admiral astray and sneaking out of the base late at night!]
[Violation Points +1000!]
"Sakazuki, what do you know about absolute justice? It's nipping all evil in the bud."
[Ding! You have subverted the future Marine Admiral's ideology!]
[Violation Points +3000!]
The use of these Violation Points?
Upgrading skills!
[Violation Points –600,000! Conqueror's Haki upgraded to Advanced level!]
Upgrading stats!
[Violation Points –100,000! Physique increased to 70!]
Spinning the wheel!
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining Senzu Bean ×3!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a Logia Devil Fruit!]