Chapter 2

Nobara grits her teeth, her grip tightening on the handle of her hammer as the curse spirit continues its relentless assault. She ducks and weaves, narrowly avoiding the creature's snapping jaws and lashing tendrils.

"Those nails..." Nobara calls out, her eyes locked on the curse spirit. "I'd take them out if I were you."

At her words, the nails embedded in the curse spirit's form emit a faint, buzzing sound. Nobara's lips curl into a determined grin.

"My curse energy is gonna flow through them," she declares, and with a flick of her wrist, a beam of crackling curse energy lancing out from each nail.

The curse spirit writhes and twists, its unearthly screech echoing through the crumbling building as the curse energy tears through its form. Nobara watches, her expression grim, as the creature's body disintegrates, the nails' curse energy overwhelming it.

With a final, agonized wail, the curse spirit collapses, its essence dispersing into the air. Nobara sighs heavily, her shoulders slumping slightly as the adrenaline begins to wear off.

She turns, her gaze sweeping the darkened hallway, searching for any sign of her teammates. The sound of muffled crashes and the faint crackle of fire in the distance slowly withers out.

Nobara's grip tightens on her hammer, and she sets off, her footsteps echoing through the abandoned building as she makes her way deeper into the heart of the curse-infested structure.

Nobara's grip tightened around the handle of her hammer as she heard a faint sound echoing through the darkened hallway. Her footsteps slowed, and she strained to listen, her senses heightened.

A muffled whimper reached her ears, and Nobara's eyes narrowed. Carefully, she crept forward, her steps silent as she navigated the crumbling building.

Turning a corner, Nobara's breath caught in her throat. There, huddled in the shadows, was a child – a young boy, his eyes wide with terror, trembling uncontrollably.

But it was the sight of the curse looming over the child that made Nobara's heart race. The ugly as fuck form of the curse spirit towered above the boy, its gaping maw mere inches from the child's face.

Nobara's grip tightened on her hammer as she realized the curse was holding the kid hostage.

Nobara's eyes widened as she realized the curse could think. She watched in horror as the towering spirit's gaze shifted, its malevolent attention now fixed solely on the trembling child.

"Crap, crap, crap," Nobara muttered under her breath, her mind racing to find a way to save the boy. She couldn't risk a direct attack, not with the child so close to the curse's grasp.

Nobara's grip tightened on her hammer as she frantically scanned the area, searching for any possible opening or distraction. She had to act quickly, but any misstep could put the child in mortal danger.

The curse's presence seemed to fill the air, its dark energy palpable as it loomed over the helpless boy. Nobara could feel the weight of its gaze, the malice radiating from its form.

"Think, Nobara, think!" she hissed, her mind whirring as she tried to formulate a plan. The curse wasn't even powerful, a grade four or a lower grade three at best.

Suddenly, an idea struck her. A brilliant, albeit risky, plan began to take shape in her mind. Nobara's lips curled into a determined grin as she tightened her grip on her hammer.

Before Nobara or the curse could make any move, something flew past them in a blur of motion. Kagatsuchi Kamo swiftly cleaned his floor and came to check on Nobara's progress.

Kamo moved with blinding speed, snatching the trembling child from the curse's grasp before it could react. The curse spirit let out a guttural roar, its claws swiping at the empty air where the boy had been just moments before.

Kamo landed a safe distance away, the child cradled protectively in his arms. He turned to Nobara, a cocky grin spreading across his face.

Nobara stared at him, her expression a mixture of surprise and relief. "So fast..." she murmured, her grip on her hammer loosening slightly.

"Hey, I wasn't late now, was I?" Kamo quipped, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous gleam.

The curse spirit stood dumbfounded, its malformed features twisted in confusion as it stared at Kagurabachi. The boy's sudden rescue had caught the creature off guard, and it hesitated, its gaping maw hanging open.

Nobara's grip tightened on her hammer as she seized the opportunity. With a swift, practiced motion, she whipped her arm forward, sending two of her signature nail projectiles hurtling through the air.

The nails sliced through the curse spirit's head, piercing its twisted visage with a sickening crunch. The creature let out a guttural, agonized screech as it recoiled, its form beginning to disintegrate.

Nobara's lips curled into a triumphant grin. "Now, would you look at that?" she quipped, her tone laced with a hint of satisfaction.

The curse spirit thrashed and convulsed, its essence unraveling as Nobara's curse energy tore through its being. In a matter of moments, the creature's form crumbled, dissipating into the air with a final, agonized wail.

Kagurabachi stood, the trembling child still cradled in his arms, a smug expression plastered across his face. "Heh, I guess I arrived just in time, huh?" he said, his voice dripping with self-assurance.

Nobara shot him a pointed look, her brow arched in annoyance "I had that thing exactly where I wanted." she retorted, her grip on her hammer loosening as the adrenaline began to wear off.

Nobara's brow furrowed as she studied Kagurabachi Kamo, the child still cradled in his arms. "Besides, how do you even move that fast?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of begrudging curiosity.

Kamo's grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hehehe, trade secret," he replied, his voice dripping with mischief.

Nobara's lips thinned, and she opened her mouth to retort, but her attention was drawn to the trembling child. The boy's wide, fearful eyes were fixed on the two jujutsu sorcerers, his small frame shaking uncontrollably.

Nobara's expression softened, and she stepped forward, her grip on her hammer loosening. "Hey kid, it's alright now, ok." she said, her voice surprisingly gentle.