The disturbance grew clearer as Sora stepped deeper into the forest.
Leaves rustled softly under his feet while his eyes scanned the shadows between the trees.
The cursed energy was strange.
At first glance, it wasn't particularly overwhelming. Rough, jagged, but not too dense.
"...Semi Grade 2 maybe," Sora murmured.
Annoying, but manageable.
A low scraping sound came from the trunk of a nearby tree.
Sora turned.
For a moment he saw nothing.
Then the bark shifted.
No. Something detached itself from the bark.
A creature slowly crawled down the tree trunk.
It looked like an enormous gecko.
Its body was long and lean, covered in pale gray skin that blended almost perfectly with the tree. Four limbs clung to the bark with wide, sticky pads. Its head was triangular, and its slit-like eyes glowed faintly with dull cursed energy.
The creature's long tail twitched slowly.
Sora tilted his head.
"…A lizard?"
The curse opened its mouth slightly.
A dry, rasping hiss echoed through the clearing.
Its tongue flicked out once.
Sora sighed.
Liquid metal slid out from his sleeves and gathered around his fists.
The curse didn't move immediately.
It watched him.
Still.
Sora narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Cautious type and a ambush predator. Great."
The moment stretched.
Then—
The creature vanished.
Sora's instincts screamed.
He twisted sideways just as a gray blur shot past him.
CRACK.
The tree behind him split where the creature's claws struck.
Sora jumped back.
"…Fuck its fast."
The gecko clung to another tree now, upside down, its head turning slowly to look at him.
Its tongue flicked again.
Sora rolled his shoulders.
"Alright."
Metal flowed over his forearms, forming thin gauntlets.
"Let's test something."
He stepped forward.
The gecko moved again.
This time Sora was ready.
He swung his arm.
The metal extended mid-swing, forming a blunt blade that cut through the air.
The curse twisted away, its body bending unnaturally around the strike.
But Sora followed immediately with a second punch.
The gauntlet smashed into its side.
THUD.
The creature flew sideways and slammed into the ground before rolling and leaping back onto a rock.
Sora blinked.
"…That felt lighter than expected."
The gecko crouched low.
Its tail swayed slowly.
Its eyes never left him.
Sora could feel its cursed energy again.
Still the same.
Not particularly dense.
Definitely around Semi Grade 2.
But his instinct or sixth sense nagged at him.
Blaring. Telling him that something was not right.
"Whatever."
He dashed forward.
The metal threads inside his arms tightened around his tendons, reinforcing the movement.
His speed increased sharply.
The gecko lunged at the same time.
Claws met metal.
CLANG.
Sora blocked the strike with his gauntlet and immediately kicked toward its chest.
The curse twisted midair, the kick grazing its side instead of landing cleanly.
It retaliated instantly.
Its tail whipped forward like a spear.
Sora barely ducked under it.
The tail smashed into the ground behind him, leaving a deep crack in the soil.
Sora glanced back at the damage.
"…Okay."
That was stronger than expected.
But still manageable.
He stepped forward again.
This time he feinted high.
The gecko moved to dodge—
And Sora's fist shot upward from below.
The metal gauntlet smashed into its jaw.
BANG.
The creature was thrown backward again, tumbling across the ground before skidding to a stop.
Sora exhaled slowly.
"Still standing?"
The gecko rose again.
Its body bent slightly as it adjusted its stance.
Then it began circling him slowly.
Its tongue flicked out again.
Watching.
Studying.
Sora frowned.
"…Persistent bastard."
He flexed his fingers.
The metal around his arms shifted slightly.
Inside his muscles, the thin internal reinforcements tightened.
"Fine then."
He lowered his stance.
"Let's finish this."
Across from him, the gecko curse's eyes gleamed faintly.
Its cursed energy rippled again.
Still subtle.
Still misleading.
Sora didn't realize it yet.
But the creature in front of him wasn't a Semi Grade 2 at all.
The forest clearing fell silent.
Sora and the gecko curse circled each other slowly.
The creature's tail swayed lazily behind it, its wide feet gripping the bark of a nearby tree. Its dull eyes never left Sora.
Sora exhaled slowly.
"Cockroach like vermin…"
The metal threads inside his arms tightened again, reinforcing the tendons around his elbows and wrists. The thin gauntlets around his forearms shifted slightly as he adjusted his stance.
One clean hit, he thought. That should end it.
The curse crouched.
For a brief second—
Nothing moved.
Then the world blurred.
The gecko launched forward with explosive speed.
Sora reacted instantly. His arm came up, metal expanding to intercept the incoming claws.
But just as the strike was about to land—
The curse's energy changed.
It surged.
What had felt like the rough pressure of a Semi Grade 2 suddenly exploded into something far more terrifying.
Sora's eyes widened.
What—?
The claws crashed into his defense.
CLANG.
The impact sent a violent shock through his arm.
His metal gauntlet cracked.
Sora staggered back.
"That's—!"
The gecko twisted midair and struck again.
This time its claws glowed faintly with condensed cursed energy.
Sora raised both arms, forcing more liquid metal to surge forward.
"Block—!"
The strike tore through the metal.
Not completely—but enough.
The claws cut across Sora's torso before he could move away.
A sharp line of pain shot through his body.
He jumped back immediately, sliding across the dirt before catching his balance.
For a moment, everything felt still.
Then the pain arrived fully.
Sora looked down.
A long gash stretched across his side, his shirt torn open where the claws had passed.
"…Ah."
His breathing became uneven.
Across the clearing, the gecko landed silently on a tree trunk.
Its head tilted.
Watching him.
Sora slowly stepped back.
Cold realization settled in his mind.
That wasn't Semi Grade 2.
His heart began pounding faster.
The cursed energy he felt now was completely different.
It was compressed.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
"…Semi Grade 1?" he muttered.
The gecko's tongue flicked out again.
As if confirming the thought.
Fear crept into Sora's chest.
Not the frantic panic of someone helpless—
But the sharp, clear fear of someone who understood exactly how dangerous the situation had become.
His grip tightened.
Liquid metal gathered around his hands again, though his reserves were far lower than before.
I misjudged it.
The creature shifted its stance again.
Its muscles tensed.
Preparing for another attack.
Sora swallowed slowly.
"…That almost killed me."
The gash along his side burned.
He forced a small amount of reverse cursed energy toward the wound, just enough to slow the bleeding.
Not enough to fully heal.
His reserves were too low for that.
Across from him, the gecko crouched again.
This time its energy rippled more openly.
It was no longer hiding.
The forest clearing was silent except for the faint rustling of leaves.
Sora stood several steps back, his breathing uneven. One hand pressed lightly against the gash along his side while he kept his eyes fixed on the gecko curse clinging to the tree.
The creature remained motionless.
Its pale body blended almost perfectly with the bark, but its eyes gleamed faintly with cursed energy.
Now that its power was no longer hidden, the pressure it emitted felt heavy.
Semi Grade 1…
Sora exhaled slowly.
Running would have been the logical choice.
But before either side moved—
A dark shape passed overhead.
A crow.
Then another.
And another.
Sora frowned slightly.
"…Crows?"
They gathered on the branches surrounding the clearing, watching silently.
The gecko curse shifted uneasily.
A moment later—
A figure stepped out from behind the trees.
She walked calmly into the clearing, her long silver hair swaying gently infront of her. Her black uniform coat draped neatly over her shoulders, and her posture carried a quiet confidence.
Her eyes swept across the clearing once.
First the curse.
Then Sora.
Recognition struck Sora immediately.
Mei Mei
One of the well-known independent sorcerers who often worked with both Tokyo and Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Most importantly. The great groomer.
Mei Mei tilted her head slightly as she looked at Sora's wound.
"…You look like you barely survived."
Her tone was calm, almost analytical.
Sora straightened a little.
"…Something like that."
The crows shifted slightly on the branches above them, their eyes locked onto the curse.
Mei Mei glanced upward briefly.
Then back at the creature.
"A semi–grade one hiding its energy signature."
She sighed softly.
"That explains why I was given this mission."
Sora blinked.
"Mission?"
Mei Mei rested one hand on her hip casually. Ignoring him.
Her eyes turned to the gecko curse.
The creature hissed softly, clearly aware that the balance of the situation had changed.
Sora slowly stepped farther back.
The difference in presence between them was obvious.
Even standing near her, he could feel how refined and controlled her cursed energy was compared to his own.
Mei Mei adjusted the sleeve of her coat slightly.
"Anyway."
She spoke, acknowledging him.
Her gaze sharpened as it locked onto the curse.
"You've already done enough."
One of the crows above shifted its wings.
Mei Mei took a single step forward.
"You should rest."
Her tone was calm but absolute.
"Leave the rest to me."