Stupid mantis

Author note: I'm at chapter 30 now. So I thought I'd give a chapter in celebration.

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POV Ryoko, slightly in the past. 

Utahime? Iori? Well, sensei left after decisively defeating me in our little projection scuffle. And I stayed around for a little bit to mope over my loss. 

But after planning how I would defeat sensei next time, I found her phone. She had left it under her desk. Don't ask why I was looking there. 

Deciding to catch up to sensei and give her back her phone before she got to the teachers dormitory (which was literally just a house, there was three teachers in total so yeah). 

After running at a decent pace (with curse energy enhancement), I saw sensei's bright red big skirt thing. But I saw another thing that was red, which was a lot more concerning. Iori's blood was spilling out in droves from her arm. 

Although I couldn't see much else besides the red, I figured something must be attacking her. Not thinking about whether or not it was a good idea to fight with something that could severely injure an experienced sorcerer, I eventually saw the hulking figure of a giant mantis. 

Freezing in place for but a moment because of my concern for sensei's life. Right before Iori collapsed from blood loss, I dove past the cursed spirit standing over her body. 

But, as I grabbed Iori, something horrifying happened to me. The curse's eyes followed my high speed dive with only minor effort. But, that didn't stop me from using my cursed technique on Iori. 

In an instant, sensei was healed back to peak condition. Keeping Iori close to me, I looked ahead towards the mantis curse. 

And I was absolutely terrified by the sheer aura of power it was emanating. Far above anyone I had ever seen, even if you combined everything else together it would only be slightly weaker. 

This… was a special grade curse for sure. And I wasn't quite sure how to handle this. Perhaps I could use reemergence to warn past Iori so this never happens? 

As I was considering my options, Iori jumped out of my princess carry with a bright res blush I doubted she knew she had and would fervently deny. 

"Um, you forgot your phone. Nice case by the way." I didn't even look at Iori while I said this, instead staring at the curse in front of us. 

Suddenly, Iori leaned over to my ear and began to whisper hastily into my ear. Feeling the heat on her cheek, I didn't manage to pay much attention. Simply understanding that it can detect lies and wants to know about my curse technique. 

The mantis spoke, "What is your cursed technique, Ryoko Jikan?"

Still rooted to my spot, I opened my mouth after a moment of thought. "My cursed technique? You just saw it in action didn't you?"

The mantis scraped its scythes together while making an odd cricketing sound. The aura the mantis exuded doubled in size, making me sweat more intensely than before. 

"You wanna know my technique, huh?" I said with false bravado. Attempting to buy mire time for my thoughts. 

This thing was a monster. Undoubtedly it was special grade. The mantis curse suddenly approached me at a fast speed, not so much I couldn't react but still quite fast. 

"Here, I'll tell you a use of it. Kicking mantis ass." The false bravado made another showing.

Entering into the most basic of the basic jujutsu stances Iori had taught me earlier today, I managed to barely dodge a scythe that could cut Iori's arm into two. My training with Kamo and getting beaten by Todo playing a major role in my weaves. 

Internally relieved I had spared with Kamo earlier, as without it I wouldn't have been able to even perceive this half assed blow. 

The mantis retreated back to its position a few meters away before it came in for another attack. This one I dodged as well. Oddly not following up on its strikes which I would not be able to dodge at such close range. And instead opting to retreat, I realized two things. 

This mantis curse was one of three things. A.) It was extremely un-durable. Or B.) It had taken a binding vow of some sort for such high attacking power. Or C.) The worst option, it was playing with me. 

And two, I had a technique that would work perfectly for any of the above. A secret heritage passed down from generation to generation. 

Iori, who was standing by me amazed at how I could dodge such high speed attacks, was caught off guard when I threw her over my shoulder. 

"I'll tell you another use of my technique-"

It was time to use the secret Joe-star technique. 

RUN. FOR. YOUR. LIFE. 

"Running."

Turning around I began to sprint at full speed. Much to the shock of the mantis creature who stood still for many moments after I ran. 

Giving me what I thought to be a reasonable head start, and I was not planning to lose it. The mantis shook out of its shock and began to chase me, closing in on me at an extremely fast speed.

From my 5 second head start, it would take the mantis only a second and a half to catch me. Fast, but not unbeatably fast. 

Right now I need to assess what I had. I have Iori, but as condescending as it sounded, she wasn't of much use right now. 

I had reemergence and its ability to heal, but I didn't want to use reemergence unless it was absolutely necessary. 

I had my cursed energy, but other than enhancing me I didn't see how it could be much of a use. 

Iori had taught me about Te- Master Tengen, so backup should be on the way. And if everyone in this school jumped this mantis then we would undoubtedly win. 

And finally, I had the fact that the mantis was after my technique's information rather than straight up killing me. For some reason. 

And with all these pieces of information and abilities I had, I could survive. I could wait for backup or find the backup myself. 

A sudden gust of wind knocked me off my feet and sent me tumbling and Iori on my shoulder was no exception. Both of us crashed to the ground in tandem, with Iori managing to roll to lessen the damage while I face planted. 

Randomly rolling like action movie protagonists do once on the ground to one of my sides. I lucked out as I had dodged the scythe of the mantis curse. As instead of my heart being pierced it was the floor. 

Leaping to my feet the mantis retreated three meters before it attacked again. Barely dodging the attack like usual, me and  the mantis curse played this game of cat and mouse for a little while longer, roughly a second or two. Until I was dodging its attacks far more proficiently than before. 

The mantis curse was now fuming, and it got ready to attack once more. Before a brilliant idea occurred to it. 

Turning its head towards Iori, who was attempting to do… something? Why the fuck was she dancing? 

The mantis curse shot forward at Iori, its scythe wrapping around her neck. Iori couldn't even react to its speed, and was now being used as a barging piece. 

"So… tell me again Ryoko, what was your cursed technique?"

Closing my eyes in defeat, thought about the pros and cons of my next set of actions. 

"If I tell you, you would kill Iori anyway. And if I don't tell you, you would kill Iori. So, can we make a binding vow?" I said in response. 

The mantis chirped happily, it had finally gotten me to reveal my cursed technique. Iori attempted to shout something, but was quickly stopped by me. 

"It's fine, Iori."

Now, it was time to do a little bit of word play. so it should not know the divine technique of gaslighting.

"I, Ryoko Jikan, will tell you about my cursed technique, in exchange, whatever your name is, shall not kill nor harm Utahime Iori (Iori Utahime in this universe) for the rest of time."

"I agree!"

Sucking in a deep breath of air, I began my sentence with a cocky smirk that intensified at the end. "My cursed technique's main component is 'Reemergence'. Deal completed."

The mantis stood, rooted in its spot for nearly half a minute, as Iori continued to dance frantically, before it screeched in rage and charged at me with reckless abandon. 

'The sparks of black-

"You think you're so smart?!! Well you forgot to include yourself in the deal!" The mantis screeched as it dashed towards me. 

Blinded by its rage, the mantis left itself wide open for an attack. This creature had threatened to kill Iori, and I WOULD return that ten fold. 

I don't make empty promises. 

Pulling my arm back as far as it could go, I closed my eyes for the briefest of moments. Preparing myself for the strike to come. Opening my eyes the moment before the curse would slice me in two, cursed energy flooded out of me. 

Shooting my arm forward at a phenomenal pace that not even the mantis curse could see, let alone myself, my fist met mantis face. 

Or rather, mantis brains. 

The world paused around me for a split second, as I saw the beautiful sight of black sparks engulfing the mantis curses head. 

-don't choose who to bless'.