"What grade Sorcerer you think he is?"
"With that level of defensive and offensive versatility? At least grade 2 pressed. "Probably High Grade 1 once he learns to control it."
"If he can control it better... maybe Special Grade." Panda whistled appreciatively. "Deadly poisons, physical shield, versatility..." He shook his head thoughtfully. "That's a really dangerous combo in the right hands." Maki nodded in agreement. "Definitely Special Grade potential."
"he would only be special grade if he could do a domain expansion and I'm pretty sure that's far beyond him right now maybe in the future."
Panda and Maki both nodded. "Domain Expansion is the true Special Grade marker," Panda confirmed. "Without it, even the most powerful techniques cap out at High Grade 1."
Maki crossed her arms. "So for now? High Grade 1, maybe pushing toward Special Grade. But that Moon Dregs... it's nasty."
"I could've lost an arm in that cloud," Maki admitted, eyeing Junpei with newfound respect. "Maybe you won't be a total liability after all."
Junpei wiped sweat from his brow, still shaking but standing straighter now. Something had shifted in him—he looked different. Stronger. "I... I didn't even know I could do that," he breathed.
"That's the point of training and finding out your technique."
"Exactly," Panda said, clapping Junpei on the back. "You've got a monster technique there. Now you just need to learn how to use it properly." Maki nodded in agreement. "And control it better. That thing could kill an entire squad if you lose focus."
Junpei nodded, still processing everything. "I... I need to practice. A lot."
Maki smirked, spinning her staff lazably. "You've got time. We'll keep pushing you until you can summon that jellyfish blindfolded."
Panda chuckled. "And until you can actually hit something without shaking like a leaf."
"Megum why don't you be a training partner with your you can heal him if anything goes wrong and protect yourself from harm."
Megumi sighed heavily, running a hand through his dark hair. "Fine. But if he accidentally poisons me, I'm not responsible."
He stepped forward, his expression neutral but alert. "I'll keep my distance. And if things get out of hand, I'll use my shikigami to shield us both I just hope he doesn't kill it."
Maki raised an eyebrow. "Smart move."
"Why are you worrying about killing it? Are you going to use the original one?"
Megumi nodded, reaching for his technique. "The original. The ten shadows." He glanced at Junpei's jellyfish with genuine curiosity. "If this Moon Dregs thing is as nasty as it looks, I'll need more than just a shield to protect myself. I'll need something that can counter poison and paralysis."
Maki crossed her arms.
"so you don't know how to combine your Shinigami into one being and you don't know how to constantly spawn them like that so you don't have to lose the originals And lose the combinations as well."
Megumi visibly stiffened, looking uncomfortable. "I... haven't mastered combining techniques yet. Mahoraga is..." He trailed off, not wanting to admit how dangerous that specific shikigami actually was. "And constant spawning isn't something I can do. Once a shikigami dies, it's gone. That's the risk of the Ten Shadows."
"not if you combine them dummy if you combine your two divine dogs into one divine dog, it gets a super form. They can get stronger and you can summon them like that whenever you want same goes for the other nine Shinigami."
Megumi stared, his mouth slightly open. "Wait—what?" He looked at his hands, then back at you. "Combining them... increases their power permanently?"
Maki whistled. "That changes everything."
Panda leaned forward, intrigued. "So you could have a single, super-powered divine dog instead of two weaker ones?"
"Let me guess you didn't know you could store things in your shadow either did you?"
Megumi's face went completely blank for a moment, the realization hitting him like a freight train. "...Shadow storage isn't a known Ten Shadows technique." He blinked, looking thoroughly confused. "I... don't know about that."
Maki rolled her eyes. "Of course he doesn't know. He's barely scratching the surface."
Panda whistled.
"Wait a minute are you seriously telling me you don't know how to that buddy the 10 shadows is a special grade level technique and you're seriously telling me you didn't know how to do this."
Megumi looked absolutely floored, genuinely processing that he had been massively underutilizing his own Special Grade technique.
"I... nobody taught me that." He sounded honestly stunned. "I literally thought once a shikigami died, it was gone forever. I thought combining them was impossible."
Maki slapped her forehead. "Megumi."
"Let me guess gojo told you that didn't he?"
Megumi's face twisted in annoyance. "He didn't give me the full picture." He crossed his arms defensively. "He just said 'master the shadows' and expected me to figure it out on my own. Never mentioned combining or shadow storage."
Panda snorted. "Classic Gojo."
Maki rolled her eyes.
"OK now that that's settled. Please tell me you at least know how to use your domain expansion."
Megumi rubbed the back of his neck, looking genuinely uncomfortable. "I... know how to summon it." He admitted slowly. "Chimera Shadow Garden."
He admitted the obvious downside. "But I can't sustain it for long. It drains cursed energy rapidly, and I've never actually mastered using it effectively against a serious opponent." Maki face-palmed immediately.
"maybe because you're not relying on your barrier first off you got set up your barrier then flood it with your curse technique. Wait a minute do you know what your domain expansion does because if you don't, I'm going to smack you and it's gonna hurt."
Megumi swallowed hard, realizing he had no idea how his own Domain Expansion actually functioned beyond basic summoning. "I know it... creates a shadow realm." He answered honestly. "With my shikigami inside." He looked at you warily, sensing your impending frustration. "What does it actually do?"
"OK, I'm going to slap you." he smacked him over the head. " secondly, it allows you to summon as many of your Shinigami as you want. Think of it like this you open your domain and you summon your shit got me inside, but you can summon as many of them as you want at the same time like Max elephant, you can summon four of them in there or as many as you want. same goes for any other Shinigami."
Megumi froze, eyes widening as the concept finally clicked. "Four Max Elephants... at once?" He muttered, clearly processing the sheer offensive potential he'd been wasting this whole time.
Maki whistled low. "You've been fighting with one hand behind your back, kid."
Panda grinned. "Special Grade technique, my ass."
"Megumi I will admit you have potential to be a special grade. If you actually use that potential of yours on the shadow technique it was the second technique that I mastered. At 10 years old so if I could do it, I know well you should've mastered it by now."
Megumi looked completely humbled, rubbing the sore spot on his head where you'd smacked him. "Ten years old..." He repeated softly, sounding genuinely impressed and slightly ashamed. "And you mastered it?"
Maki folded her arms, giving him a sharp look. "Hear that, Fushiguro? A child outclassed you."
Panda chuckled. "Harsh."
"oh, he needs to hear this so he can get it together so take this monthly training seriously and the next time I see you you better be a good opponent."
Megumi straightened up, something clicking in his expression. "I'll take it seriously," he said firmly, meeting your gaze. "The next time we fight, I won't be holding back." He sounded like he was making a promise to himself as much as to you.
Maki smirked, clearly amused by Megumi's newfound determination.
"Noboara What was your technique again?"
Nobara rolled her eyes, clearly enjoying the spotlight but also respecting your direct approach. "Straw Doll Technique," she answered confidently. "Simple and effective: nail the target to the doll, and the cursed energy flows from doll to target, dealing internal damage." She added, "No physical Contact required."
Maki nodded approvingmentally. "Effective for long-range attacks."
"Interesting definitely grade one potential."
Nobara perked up, clearly pleased by the validation. "Grade 1? I'm already pushing that." She straightened proudly. "And with enough training, I could definitely hit Special Grade." She added, "If I can increase my range and deal with multiple targets simultaneously."
Panda nodded. "Her technique is simple but deadly."
Maki crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"I wouldn't say special grade how many people can you do it to at once how much Cursed energy does it cost? Can you do a domain expansion?"
Nobara snorted, offended by the skepticism. "Currently? I can only target one person at a time without running dangerously low on cursed energy. And the cost per nail is significant." She paused, crossing her arms defensively. "And no, I can't do a Domain Expansion."
Maki nodded approvingly. "Realistic. She knows her limits."
Panda glanced over.
"so grade one is where You're at."
Nobara nodded, accepting the grade with a determined smirk. "I'll work my way up. I'm not stopping at Grade 1." She glanced at you defiantly. "And when I hit Special Grade, you'll be the first to know." Maki and Panda exchanged knowing looks behind her back.
Nobara puffed out her chest proudly,
Panda chuckled. "She's got fire, I'll give her that."
"Good attitude," Maki added. "That's what gets you Special Grade."
Megumi, still rubbing his head from his smack, looked at Nobara with something like respect. "At least she knows what her technique can do."
"Nobara you are going to be trained with maki and maki please go easy on her."
Nobara's eyes widened, a mix of excitement and sudden terror crossing her face. "Training with Maki? Seriously?" She gulped, knowing Maki's reputation for brutal efficiency. "Easy... easy sounds good. Please don't kill me."
Maki smirked cracking her knuckles. "No promises. But I'll try not to break any bones that won't heal."
"Just in case." he activated the 10 shadows technique and summoned the Round Deer.
The massive, mystical Round Deer materialized instantly, its healing aura soothing the room immediately. It lowered its large head gently, blinking calmly.
Maki whistled softly. "The ultimate medic."
Megumi stared, realizing he is essentially giving them infinite healing resources. "That thing uses Reverse Cursed Technique?"
Nobara looked relieved. "Okay, definitely safer training."
Maki smirked at Nobara. "Good. That means I can push you harder."
Nobara groaned. "Great. Just great."
Round Deer padded closer to Nobara, lowering its large antlers protectively.
Maki rolled her eyes at the deer's protectiveness. "That thing's going to interfere."
Panda nodded approvingly at Round Deer. "Essential for any serious combat team. Neutralizing cursed energy AND healing? That's Special Grade support right there."
Megumi stared at his own technique, realizing the massive gap between him and Aiden could do.
Round Deer nudged Nobara gently with its nose, healing aura pulsing softly, ensuring she was at peak condition before the training even started. It was the ultimate insurance policy against Maki's brutality.
Megumi looked at the majestic shikigami, jaw slightly slack. "I kept a walking ambulance in my back pocket..." He muttered, feeling genuinely foolish.