47 Chapter 28. The Power of the Spirit (Part 5)

Every story, no matter how harrowing, begins with the ordinary: a typical morning breeze, a routine breakfast, familiar paths, and well-known faces. It was just another day for the students and teachers at Satozakura High School, similar to countless others. Yet, it's precisely these normal days that can turn tragic in an instant when you find yourself amidst an ordinary life, laughing and chatting with friends, only to suddenly be thrust into a room filled with unconscious teenagers.

A dark-haired teen with bangs obscuring his right eye turned to a fellow senior student, one of only two people still conscious in the hall, and asked, "Was it you who left this at my house?"

Confused, the senior student standing on the podium replied, "What are you talking about? What is this?! What have you done, you bastard?" panic setting in as he noticed a peculiar black rash spreading across his hand.

"You didn't answer," Junpei stated coldly, unfazed by the lack of response. "But I didn't expect you to. Either way, you're going to die, whether you answer me or not. I can't be sure if you're lying... And yes, you've earned this fate."

This is a textbook case of self-deception. If Junpei truly intends to kill his tormentor, he'll be crossing a moral boundary. Despite the loss of someone very dear to him, his determination is shaky, not as steadfast as he wishes.

"Perhaps you'll express some regret before your end?" Junpei suggested, gesturing so his shikigami lifted the senior student off the ground.

"I'm... sorry," the boy managed, blood trailing from his lips.

"That's it?" Junpei asked, his voice dripping with scorn.

Observing from the safety of a balcony, hidden from view by [Conspiracy], I was struck by the immense power of negative emotions, capable of completely overwhelming reason. This explains Junpei's confrontation over "Sukuna's Finger" with someone not even a sorcerer. However, I'm not here to pass judgment or interfere. After all, I'm not here to lecture him on morals. More importantly, someone is about to step in who can dispel such foolishness...

The silence was shattered by the sound of doors flinging open, as Yuji made a dramatic entrance.

"What are you doing, Junpei?!" Yuji bellowed, taking in the sight of numerous bodies scattered around, a battered teenager hanging in mid-air by shikigami, and Junpei, standing at the center of this chaos.

"Mind your own business... Sorcerer," Junpei replied icily.

…

From my vantage point as an observer, I was profoundly struck by Yuji Itadori's resilience—or more accurately, the resilience imparted to him by Sukuna. While it's known that sorcerers can resist toxins to varying degrees, Yuji showcased a complete immunity to Junpei's poison-manipulating technique. Meanwhile, my protégé struggled against Junpei's shikigami, "Moon Dreg." Yet, the bearer of Sukuna's power quickly adapted, skillfully avoiding direct confrontations with the shikigami.

As Itadori, leveraging his remarkable physical capabilities, endeavored to dissuade Junpei from pursuing his vengeful path and descending further into darkness and isolation, my attention was riveted on a curse named Mahito. Employing [Conspiracy], I remained concealed, fully aware that Mahito could detect the presence of living souls nearby. Thus, I chose not to approach and maintained a cautious distance, positioning myself atop the roof of the school's opposite wing.

"I'm uncertain of your motives, Junpei, but I acknowledge their existence. Yet, do you truly intend to go to such lengths that you'd forsake not only your own life but also the lives of countless innocents?" I pondered internally.

"Their innocence is debatable... What utter nonsense?!!" Junpei retorted loudly.

"Claiming human hearts are mere fabrications..." Yuji, positioned across from Junpei, endeavored to maintain his composure. "Could you affirm such a statement while looking someone in the eye?"

"People lack hearts..." came Junpei's shaky reply.

"This argument again?!" Yuji interjected.

"People lack hearts!" Junpei erupted, overwhelmed by emotion. "And if they did possess hearts... If indeed they did... Are you implying that both my mother and I... My mother! Were cursed by these so-called human hearts?"

Observing the young man's tear-stained face, I realized that I felt no inner turmoil. There was no sympathy for the anguish I had caused him, nor sorrow for witnessing someone lose the person dearest to them... It dawned on me that I might have lost touch with what it means to have parents, given that I unhesitatingly chose this course of action.

"This is all too much..." Tears cascaded down Junpei's cheeks. "So, it doesn't matter to me anymore! I no longer care about distinguishing right from wrong!"

In that moment, Junpei's shikigami evolved, sprouting a sharp extension that swiftly impaled Yuji's shoulder.

"Why didn't you evade?" Junpei faltered.

"Forgive me. I was engrossed in grave matters, oblivious to everything else," Yuji, moving with labored steps and his clothes stained with blood, approached his friend. "Share with me what transpired, and I vow to do all within my power to ensure you aren't cursed."

As I observed the unfolding drama from a distance, I was gripped by a thought both naively hopeful and soothing: "No matter if I can rid myself of all curses once and for all, or what dangers it may entail, I am determined to save these kids from being sacrificed to the 'cruel reality' or the nightmares conjured by this accursed writer!" The difference between reading a manga and actually living within its pages is vast. This may sound like stating the obvious, but often, the simplest truths can unravel the most intricate dilemmas...

"Junpei, would you consider coming with me to the magic school? It's a place where exceptional teachers and dependable allies await you... Together, we can surely uncover who cursed your mother, alright? I promise you..." It was at this moment that Yuji's expression took on a sudden shift. "And who are you?"

Making his way down from the upper floor of the school, a man with long, gray hair and matching eyes, his face etched with scars, appeared.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, vessel of Sukuna," he said somberly, his hand transforming into a massive claw in an instant and pinning Yuji against the wall.

"Mahito, stop!" Junpei yelled out in panic.

"Run, Junpei! I'm not sure how you're connected to this person, but please, run!" Yuji's voice was tinged with desperation.

"Itadori, stay calm. Mahito isn't..."

Before Junpei could complete his thought, I made my move! With a burst of energy, I charged, cutting across the schoolyard and through a window near Yuji. In an instant, I whisked past Junpei and delivered a powerful strike to Mahito, sending him hurtling through the air. The force was so great that the villain was not only ejected from the premises but also managed to demolish a staircase and walls in his wake, shaking the very foundation of the building.

"Senpai?" Yuji uttered in astonishment.

"Grab Junpei and leave this place," I commanded, knowing full well Yuji might protest but not waiting to hear it, I pursued Mahito.

Arriving at the school's backyard, the scene of my impact awaited: a modest crater where Mahito's body had landed, yet the cursed spirit was conspicuously absent.

"You shouldn't be here," a voice chimed in from my side.

As I turned, there was Mahito, perched atop the roof of a shed likely for storing sports gear. Despite my thwarting his scheme, no sign of anger or frustration marred his expression; rather, he looked at me with a peculiar interest, as if I were a curious animal.

"And you too," I refrained from charging blindly into conflict, instead taking a moment to survey the surroundings for any other formidable presence. My recollection reminded me that at the onset of this incident, Kenjaku was also around. This ancient trickster prefers to keep his existence under wraps, yet I pondered, if Mahito proved to be a genuine threat, would he still choose obscurity?

"You sorcerers are quite the spectacle," Mahito chuckled, his laughter echoing around us.

"I fail to find humor in this situation," I responded, brushing off his comment while keeping my focus on the cursed spirit before me.

"'And you too,'" Mahito mocked, imitating my tone and demeanor. "Is there anything less exciting you could say? That's precisely why it's amusing."

"Once more, I find no amusement here," I replied, feeling only Mahito's presence and allowing myself a moment of relaxation.

"You're rather uninteresting," came his taunt from directly behind me.

Aspect Two: Fire Armor!

Leveraging my advanced [Danger Sense], I activated an "Aspect" of my abilities, enveloping myself in protective fire armor. Almost immediately, Mahito's fist collided with the fiery barrier. The impact hurled me through the air, smashing me into the shed where Mahito had been perched just moments before.

"That's odd…" I could hear Mahito's puzzled voice.

"Resorting to surprise attacks is exceedingly dull," I retorted as I emerged from the rubble, my words dripping with sarcasm while Mahito observed me keenly.

"Is this your cursed technique?" Mahito inquired, curiosity piqued.

"Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't. Or perhaps, mind your own business," I countered, deliberately keeping him in the dark.

"Another sorcerer once eagerly shared his technique with me," Mahito noted, visibly annoyed as he crossed his arms.

"Listen up, monstrosity," I called out to Mahito, now a silhouette against the clouds. "I'm taking the initiative."

With that declaration, I fortified my "Fire Armor" and lunged at the curse. Trailing blazes behind me, I swiftly closed the gap between us and aimed a wide swing at his side with my right hand. Mahito, however, quickly dodged, avoiding my attack.

Aspect Three: Conjure Flames!

Without giving Mahito a chance to distance himself, I conjured a blazing sword in my right hand and struck swiftly across his chest. The attack left a long, diagonal slash across the curse's torso. Rather than bleeding, the cut sealed almost immediately with a brown crust, evidence of the intense heat of my flames.

"How fascinating!" Mahito exclaimed, unfazed. "It's unfortunate that your efforts have no effect on..."

The curse hadn't finished its sentence before it found itself coughing up its own blood. Mahito contorted in pain, his hand hastily covering his mouth to stifle another surge of nausea. "Did you have something to say?" I couldn't hide my satisfaction at seeing this tormentor in such a pitiable state.

"I can alter the form of my soul... So why?" Mahito murmured to himself in confusion and distress.

"Accusing me of being dull while you muse over such somber inquiries..." I mocked lightly, stepping closer to confront the curse directly. With another swift motion, my sword struck at Mahito once more.

Reacting immediately, Mahito shifted into a childlike figure, dodging to the side with agility. I pressed on without delay, though my enhanced abilities were still recharging. Thus, I depended solely on my physical prowess, which, despite its strength, was barely a match for a special grade curse fueled by cursed energy. Predictably, my subsequent attack missed Mahito, who seized the moment to counter. Transforming again, he assumed the form of an adult with legs mimicking those of a cloven-footed beast, a change that drastically increased his speed. In an instant, his hoof-like appendages struck me in the abdomen, nearly overcoming my "Fire Armor" and sending me crashing through a school wall.

Dragging my sword against the ground, I managed to counteract the momentum of Mahito's attack, halting myself in the center of the schoolyard. Observing Mahito as he emerged from the wreckage my body had created, he was in the midst of yet another transformation. His hands morphed into various weapons—swords, whips, and even hammers as large as his own form.

"I sought entertainment by coming here," Mahito declared, a grin of satisfaction spreading across his face. "It's regrettable that Sukuna's vessel escaped with that fool, but as the saying goes, the appetizer precedes the main dish."

As Mahito gloated, my attention was drawn to the unhealed wound on his chest. Despite his myriad transformations, it remained... My flames had always had the capability to damage souls, bolstering my confidence in my ability to vanquish this fiend. Evidently, advancing to the next Sequence had amplified my powers. If my suspicions were correct, this confrontation might be simpler than anticipated.

"Why do you all revel in such grandiosity?" I inquired, a familiar warmth surging within me as I assumed a fighting stance.

"Would a silent battle be of any interest?" Mahito responded, tilting his head, perplexed by the notion.

"Certainly, to defeat a vile creature like yourself in utter silence," I concluded, "would indeed be far too monotonous."