2 - Mysterious Man

*Ding*

A new message lit up Itadori's phone screen, indicating his next assignment: attending a meeting at a specific location alongside fellow Bounty-Hunters.

He belonged to an organization named "Q," which operated with a straightforward approach—offering bounties for tasks completed, with prices as the sole consideration. However, the path that had shaped Itadori into the person he had become was far from simple. After his grandfather's passing, he crossed paths with an elderly mentor who sensed a unique power within him. This encounter led to intensive training and an introduction to various aspects of the world, including assassination organizations and more.

In simple terms, Yuji Itadori inherited the legacy of the elderly mentor.

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Upon his arrival at the designated location, Yuji encountered a cube-shaped building. Upon entering, he found himself face to face with a counter, behind which stood a man who inquired, "Your name?"

"Yuji Itadori," he answered.

Just beside the counter, Yuji saw several doors and hallways. The man behind the counter instructed him, "Go to the door on the far right."

Yuji questioned, "What's my objective here?

"…"

"Alright, I'll give you a quick rundown, so listen carefully. This is a competition where multiple participants battle it out. They can either fight each other or face off against cursed spirits—no holds barred. Your main objective is to come out as the winner. The champion of this competition stands to win not just a substantial amount, but a massive cash prize. Plus, there's an audience watching for entertainment, so make sure to put on a show, as it can work to your advantage. However, be cautious because if viewers heavily dislike a competitor, they might get disqualified from further participation," the man explained.

There are absolutely no rules when it comes to the fights; everything is fair game, and I mean absolutely everything," the man emphasized.

He continued to provide additional details, all of which Yuji attentively listened to. Given Yuji's need for money, it was only natural for him to decide to participate.

After entering the designated door, Yuji stepped into the dressing room as explained earlier. He didn't require a change of clothes, as he was already appropriately dressed. In front of him, a sizable screen showcased an arena with a crowd of spectators, similar to a UFC stadium. This was the arena where Yuji would be participating in the fights. All that remained was for the host to announce his name and call him into action.

…..—

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN THIS CORNER, WE HAVE YUJI ITADORI~ FACING OFF AGAINST THE GRASSHOPPER CURSE!" The host's voice resounded through the arena as Yuji made his way through the door located in front of the one he had entered earlier.

BOOM, BOOM-CLAP-BOOM,BOOM-CLAP (Sound)

As Yuji stepped onto the stage, the spotlight focused on him, and the audience erupted in cheers. Despite being a newcomer, it was only natural for the crowd to support him, as no one wanted a curse to win; curses were seen as the literal enemies of humanity.

Yuji stood within the vast ring, his opponent, the curse, situated opposite him, securely restrained until the fight officially started.

"ARE YOU READY FOR THIS EPIC BATTLE!!"

[ AHHHHH (Sound of the viewers)

"Very well, let the game commence... START!" The host proclaimed before leaving the stage. It appeared that the hosts were not allowed within the ring, as it posed too great a risk.

The curse stood on two legs and used its other four legs as arms. It resembled a big grasshopper.

"Are you smart? Because I am," the grasshopper asked in a robotic voice.

"Are you?" Itadori questioned

"Yes, I'm smart. Are you smart too?" the grasshopper inquired.

"I don't know, it seems like you should figure that out. How about less talking and more action?" Itadori responded.

"Smart people talk a lot. Talking is good; talking is smart," the grasshopper replied.

"Smart people tend to talk less, and they certainly don't boast about being smart." Itadori said.

The grasshopper fell silent, acknowledging that Itadori had a point. "Less talking... Yes," it conceded.

it dashed toward Itadori and swung its two "hands" (using the term hands for simplicity)

Itadori made a slight adjustment in his posture, effectively dodging the initial attack. However, the grasshopper was relentless, swinging its hands again. Thankfully, Itadori managed to avoid this second strike as well.

Without hesitation, Itadori sprang into action, pulling out his knife and sending a slashing motion toward the grasshopper while silently whispering "Indigo Wave." The creature narrowly evaded the attack but not entirely unharmed. Itadori's strike grazed the side of its hand, inflicting some damage.

"Huh?" The grasshopper exclaimed as it noticed something unusual. The area where it had been hit seemed to be immobile. It quickly understood the situation. "I understand. That slash stops all movement and cursed energy at the place where I'm hit, but I can counter this by controlling my Cursed Energy."

"It seems you're not just here for show; you've proven your intelligence... for the average person THAT IS!" Itadori responded.

*Kugh* ( stab sound )

The grasshopper let out a startled cry. 'W-what happened? Out of nowhere, something struck me. I can't identify it, but it feels like a surge of energy. I-I'm going to explode!'

*BOOM*

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS INCREDIBLE! WHAT JUST HAPPENED? DOES ANYONE HAVE AN EXPLANATION?"

Out of nowhere, the Cursed Spirit detonated. Itadori calmly walked away as if nothing had occurred.

"T-THE WINNER OF THIS FIGHT... IS YUJI ITADORI!" The host announced, declaring Itadori as the victor.

——————

In the midst of the crowd, a man with relatively long hair tied into a ponytail sat. He wore a quirky smile on his face as he watched the fight. "Interesting," he whispered.

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Chapter 2 END

Who is the mysterious man? 😳 Well, keep reading to find out! See you all in the next one ✌️