"It got away, I couldn't keep it here."
The hand with which Renji held his blade let out the cracking sound of grinding bones. He had struck Fushoku's hind leg, and that human-like thigh had already been crushed into the purple blood of a Cursed Spirit by Renji's powerful Cursed Energy.
Suguru's face was pale. "No, Okkotsu, I was the one who held you back. If it had been just you alone, you definitely could have killed it. I can't feel its Cursed Energy anymore. As expected, it has some means of hiding its presence."
Renji furrowed his brows and gently stroked the Golden Cross on his chest which had lost its luster. The gold on it was now dull and dim. Holding it in his hand, there was only pure weight without the usual feeling of being filled with Cursed Energy.
This was the first time Renji had lost a Domain battle. But he currently did not possess a Domain.
If he had to use God's Punishment every time a random Domain like this appeared, wouldn't he be forced to wait for it to recharge before he could even step out the door?
If he encountered two enemies with Domains at the same time, would he just have to take a beating?
"Okkotsu, this Shoko behind me... is she your Cursed Technique?" Suguru panted heavily.
He had been trapped in a cage and simply couldn't summon other Cursed Spirits. From the moment he first made a move, that Cursed Spirit had been staring at his every action.
Fushoku seemed to be confronting Renji, but in reality, it had been watching Suguru's movements. It hadn't forgotten Rainbow Dragon.
The Shoko behind Suguru was expressionless, silently using Reverse Cursed Technique to expel the corrosive Cursed Energy from Geto's body.
"Yes, my Cursed Technique." Renji nodded.
A minute later, Shoko withdrew her hand and walked behind Renji.
Seeing all of this, Suguru couldn't help but ask, "Why does it look like that?"
"Hmm... after a while, it should take on your appearance." Renji rubbed his chin, his eyes fixed on the cave entrance.
"Is it a pseudo-shikigami or something made based on the people around you?" Suguru reacted.
Remembering that it was Renji using such a strange Cursed Technique, he instantly calmed down.
"That's right."
Renji was just worrying about how to explain it. Fortunately, there was the honor student Suguru. Otherwise, explaining would have been far too much effort, and he might even have been considered a pervert.
Shoko reached out and placed her hand on Renji. In a single instant, she merged into Renji's body, and the Cursed Technique was deactivated.
"Geto, I want to learn Simple Domain. Next time I encounter a Domain like that, I'll definitely shatter it." Renji's tone was calm, with no hint of resentment in his voice.
"Simple Domain? I can teach you right now. It's just that I might not be as easy to understand as a teacher." Suguru smiled faintly.
...
Tonight was destined to be an unforgettable night.
Inside a small izakaya on the edge of Iwate Prefecture.
Naobito pulled aside the curtain.
"Boss, a glass of vintage liquor." Naobito chuckled, his left hand casually rubbing his beard.
The owner of the izakaya was an old man with multicolored hair, wearing round glasses and a shirt that actually featured the logo of a currently popular anime.
"I was wondering which old fossil would know how to drink like this, specifically asking for wine from over fifty years ago. I can't even bring myself to drink that little bit, much less sell it."
The old man pulled out a ceramic wine jar covered in yellow earth from under the liquor cabinet and placed it on the counter.
"Earthen wine, it's got more kick than that trash in your gourd. Drink this."
The old man knocked away the layer of earth, carefully peeled off the dried mud, and removed the newspaper covering the bottle's mouth, placing it on the table.
"So, what is it? An old fossil like you wouldn't come here for no reason."
The old man picked up a rag and wiped a nearby photo frame. There were two people in the frame, a man and a woman. The man was Harada Jotaro, and the woman was Harada Yoshiko. The photo was black and white and looked quite old.
"Jotaro, I need you to do me a favor." Naobito dropped his jovial attitude, his voice turning cold.
The old man blew at the brightly colored hair on top of his head. "Go out and turn left, the bus stop is over there."
The corner of Naobito's lips twitched slightly.
This old man was as stubborn as ever.
"Stop joking, this is very important. If you don't take action, no one will be able to exorcise that thing." Naobito sighed.
Harada Jotaro wiped his hands. He thought about it carefully. If nothing was wrong, why would a guy like Naobito leave that den of monsters and demons known as the Zenin clan to see him?
"You have one minute."
"Why?"
"Because it's almost nine o'clock, and I'm closing up."
Naobito then took a deep breath.
"The Special Grade twin Cursed Spirit that killed thirty-five First-Grade Sorcerers back then, Fushoku, has been reborn. It is gradually adapting to the modern world. The Cursed Energy it carries can mask its tracks. Unless you're face-to-face, it's impossible to detect. If left unchecked, the corrosion syndrome will spread again."
As soon as Naobito finished speaking, Harada Jotaro immediately jumped out from behind the bar.
"You're saying... that Cursed Spirit born fifty years ago from rotting corpses and plague has been born again?" Harada Jotaro frowned.
"Exactly. And..."
Before Naobito could finish, he sensed Cursed Energy at the door and immediately turned around.
Knock... Knock...
"Clan head, urgent intelligence!" Jinta's voice sounded anxious.
"Come in and speak, Jinta." Naobito said.
The door was pushed open.
"Clan head, we just received a report from an assistant of the Iwate Jujutsu Supervisor Association. Three hours ago, a heavily decomposed male corpse damaged by a Cursed Spirit was discovered. First-Grade Sorcerer Geto Suguru and Special Grade Sorcerer Okkotsu Renji from Tokyo Jujutsu High went to investigate and found that Cursed Spirit at the Iwate Chemical Plant..."
"A fierce battle ensued. Geto sustained minor injuries, and Okkotsu sustained slight injuries. The Cursed Spirit escaped. Furthermore, that Cursed Spirit is a Special Grade with Domain capabilities, specifically Fushoku."