His attention shifted back to the interior of Jujutsu High.
The presences of Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara had settled into their respective dormitories. After a day of training and the evening's false alarm, all three had fallen into a deep sleep, displaying the resilience unique to youth.
Maki, Panda, and Inumaki Toge were also resting in the second-year dorms, their presences steady and undisturbed.
With Gojo Satoru away, the entire campus felt noticeably quieter. Yet that very silence made it easier for hidden dangers to reveal themselves.
The mountain wind swept through the grounds, carrying the distant hoot of an owl.
The night passed without incident.
Warm morning sunlight streamed through the window, filling the room with a gentle glow.
Sol opened his eyes. A faint glimmer flashed through them before disappearing as he rose from bed.
The moment he opened his door, he was greeted by Itadori's energetic voice.
"Morning, Sol! They've got tamagoyaki in the cafeteria today!"
His pink hair was slightly messy, but his enthusiasm was as strong as ever.
Nobara peeked out from behind him and rolled her eyes.
"Food is all you ever think about. Morning, Sol."
At the far end of the corridor, Megumi Fushiguro emerged from his room and offered a silent nod.
The four headed to the cafeteria together.
After spending the past several days fighting and training side by side, an unspoken bond had formed between them.
Itadori remained as lively as ever, though a subtle change occasionally appeared in his eyes when he looked at Sol. It was no longer just admiration for strength, but also gratitude and reassurance born from trust.
Megumi and Nobara, meanwhile, remained outwardly composed.
Breakfast passed in a relaxed atmosphere. With the second-years occupied elsewhere and Gojo absent, things had been relatively peaceful.
That peace lasted until the end of their morning classes.
An assistant supervisor hurried over, his expression unusually serious.
"First-years, there's an urgent mission."
He handed them a document.
"An abnormal concentration of cursed energy has been detected in a town roughly thirty kilometers from here. The threat level is estimated to be at least semi-grade 1, and it's showing signs of expansion."
His voice lowered further.
"There are many residents in the surrounding area. You need to deal with it immediately."
Megumi accepted the report and quickly scanned its contents.
"Semi-grade 1?" he said, frowning. "Just the four of us?"
The assistant supervisor wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"There aren't enough available sorcerers at the moment. Gojo Satoru is away, and the second-years are already deployed on separate assignments."
After a brief pause, he continued.
"Headquarters reviewed your previous missions and determined that handling a semi-grade 1 cursed spirit should be within acceptable risk parameters. Mr. Ijichi will provide support from outside the operation zone."
Nobara tightened her grip on her hammer.
"Finally, a real mission."
Itadori grinned and cracked his knuckles.
"Sounds good to me!"
Sol glanced over the location and map attached to the report but remained silent.
A semi-grade 1 mission?
Was it really that straightforward?
Not long afterward, the assistant supervisor's vehicle delivered them near their destination.
The town appeared somewhat rundown, with only a handful of pedestrians scattered throughout the streets.
A subtle sense of oppression lingered in the air.
It wasn't physical coldness.
It was something heavier.
Something foul.
"The Veil has already been deployed."
Assistant Supervisor Ijichi Kiyotaka pointed toward the dim barrier covering part of the town.
"According to Window observations, the cursed spirit's core presence is located within the old shopping district. Based on current readings, it's classified as semi-grade 1."
His expression grew serious.
"Please proceed with caution. If the situation becomes unmanageable, retreat immediately and request reinforcements."
"Got it!" Itadori responded as he pushed open the car door.
Megumi quietly surveyed the surrounding terrain, searching for anything useful.
Nobara inspected the nails and hammer in her toolkit.
Sol exited last, his gaze sweeping across the barrier.
He sensed nothing particularly threatening.
One after another, the four entered the Veil.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
The air became heavy, and the surroundings dimmed as though evening had arrived hours early.
Most of the storefronts were shuttered.
The few civilians still outside moved quickly and nervously. Though unable to perceive the Veil, they instinctively felt that something was wrong.
"Should we split up?" Itadori asked quietly. "Or stay together?"
"The area isn't large," Megumi replied. "We'll search faster as a group. Stay alert and watch for cursed energy traces."
Nobara nodded, tightening her grip on her hammer.
Sol naturally had no objections and followed slightly behind the group.
The old shopping district wasn't particularly large.
Before long, they detected a significant concentration of cursed energy near the entrance of an abandoned arcade.
"It's inside."
Megumi immediately formed the hand sign to summon his shikigami.
Itadori charged forward and pulled open the rusted iron gate.
Screeeech!
The harsh metallic sound echoed through the silent street.
The interior was in complete disarray.
Broken arcade machines flickered with unstable sparks.
Tables and chairs lay overturned.
Dust filled the air alongside a nauseating stench of blood and decay.
At the center of the arcade stood a massive cursed spirit.
Its body was formed from discarded plastic, twisted metal, and murky cursed energy.
It lacked any stable shape.
Dozens of plastic tubes and tangled wires extended from its body like tentacles, lashing wildly in every direction while producing sharp crackling sounds.
"That's our target!"
Itadori launched forward immediately, cursed energy flowing into his fists.
"Divine Dogs!"
Megumi summoned his shikigami.
The black and white Divine Dogs burst from the shadows and attacked the cursed spirit's flank.
Meanwhile, Nobara moved into position, searching for the ideal angle to strike.
The battle erupted instantly.
The cursed spirit's tentacles whipped through the air with considerable force, though their attacks lacked coordination.
Itadori weaved between them with surprising agility, landing heavy punches against the creature's main body.
Megumi's Divine Dogs restrained several tentacles at once, limiting its movement.
At the same time, Nobara's nails repeatedly struck crucial points where cursed energy flowed through the creature's body.
Each successful hit drew a shrill scream from the cursed spirit.
Sol remained near the entrance.
He did not directly intervene.
Instead, his gaze followed the trio's movements throughout the fight.
Itadori's cursed energy control had improved noticeably, though his transitions after explosive bursts still lacked refinement.
Megumi's control over his shikigami had become more polished, but there was still room for greater precision.
Nobara's ability to identify weaknesses was excellent, yet her cursed energy efficiency and stamina required further development.
Every flaw was plainly visible to him.
The battle continued for several minutes.
Under the trio's coordinated assault, the cursed spirit gradually slowed.
The debris composing its body was continuously destroyed and stripped away.
Its cursed energy fluctuations weakened with each passing moment.
"This is it!"
Itadori seized the opening.
Concentrating cursed energy into his right fist, he leaped into the air and drove his punch toward the cursed spirit's flickering core, a mass of shattered display screens embedded within its body.
Pfft!
His fist pierced through the screens.
Violent cursed energy erupted into the core.
The cursed spirit released a piercing scream.
Its enormous body convulsed violently.
Then it suddenly expanded.
And exploded.
===
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