Chapter 06

When Itadori asked Satoru Gojo himself for a manual on the use of cursed energy, he didn't expect to receive something so soon.

However, not everything was perfect; the book provided by Gojo could not be described as a manual but rather, more accurately, a history book.

Being able to read its entire contents in just a few hours, Yuji noticed that it only covered what cursed energy was used for and included a few technical examples of how to use it.

But he wouldn't complain about that. Technical details, no matter how minimal, would already be a great help to him.

A manual would be preferable, but in the end, Itadori didn't believe he could use cursed energy in a fight so soon.

However, to survive his battle against the special grade curse, maybe he could at least protect his body with a layer of energy.

Even if he couldn't control it properly, he hoped to at least be able to cover his body by expelling some of this energy, even if crudely.

Maybe then he would have some chance against the special grade curse.

Standing in his dormitory, Itadori had his hands together in front of his abdomen, his breathing slow but deep.

In his former life, he had learned to meditate as a form of internal regulation. It helped him get used to zero gravity in space and stay calm in risky situations.

At the moment, he used it to discern the cursed energy being pumped through his body, in which he was making considerable progress.

He had already been able to use cursed energy perception to the point of discerning energy remnants, which by itself, was great progress.

At that moment, he was trying to release that energy traveling through his body somehow.

But something was impeding his progress, something he couldn't identify.

As an adult, he had excellent control over his emotions, and he didn't believe he needed to undergo the same training as Yuji, but still, something was preventing his release of cursed energy.

'Could it be Sukuna?'

Frowning, he considered this idea. Unlike the original Itadori, he was treating Sukuna with the minimum possible respect, trying to prevent any communication through the appearance of his mouths.

To be honest, Itadori didn't like Sukuna at all. As a spectator, he could appreciate him as a great villain, but now, in Itadori's skin, he could only despise him.

Of course, he could respect him as a powerful being and even fear his strength, but he couldn't help but see him as a nuisance.

Having someone who would take any chance to screw him over sharing the same body was not something a completely sane person would like.

In Itadori's eyes, Sukuna was nothing more than a tool that, over time, would provide him with enough power to comfortably sit at the top along with the strongest.

He had no intention of letting him take control or making him an ally.

He just wanted to collect all his fingers and find a way to assimilate all his power and cursed technique. If he could, he wouldn't hesitate to find a way to destroy Sukuna's soul.

But if that wasn't possible, he wouldn't mind keeping Sukuna trapped until his death.

He didn't like this choice of words, but at the moment, it was the best he could think of.

Sukuna was his stepping stone.

.

Gathered in a forest near the reformatory where the cursed womb had emerged, Itadori watched the building from a distance with a glint in his eyes.

He could see the powerful cursed energy emanating from every corner of the reformatory but noticed a greater concentration in what could be either the gymnasium or the school's swimming pool.

He understood that this was likely where the special grade curse was.

If possible, he wanted to increase Megumi and Nobara's caution about it, or everything would repeat itself in the end.

Ijichi Kyotaka, the assistant director of Jujutsu High, made sure to relay the collected details and briefly explain the curse grades.

Itadori already knew all of this and didn't worry much about his explanation, focusing more on devising a way to confront the powerful curse they would eventually face.

Moving to the reformatory entrance, the group stopped in front of the door to listen to Ijichi's final words before departing.

"That which frightens more than the darkness... is darker than black. Purify this impurity."

Walking along the outer corridors, Itadori looked up to see a black curtain emerge, covering the entire reformatory territory.

'This is interesting, though it doesn't serve much purpose other than hiding this kind of problem from non-sorcerers.'

"Divine Dogs!"

Making a sign with his hands, a shadow emerged from Megumi's back, a figure forming from the darkness to reveal a large white wolf.

"He will alert us when something dangerous approaches."

Itadori and Nobara nodded in confirmation, the group reaching the door leading inside the reformatory and entering at once.

"Let's go!"

Entering the building, the group was surprised when a chaotic vision of pipes and buildings appeared before their eyes.

This made them all go on full alert.

"I read about this." Itadori, who observed the surroundings attentively, immediately turned to see the entrance door disappear after something distorted the space in front of him, being replaced by an infinity of pipes.

"You read that book?" Megumi, seeing that the door had disappeared, frowned in concern. "The one Sensei Gojo gave you?"

Nodding in agreement, Itadori swallowed hard. Even knowing what would happen, he couldn't help but feel nervous. If his idea didn't work, the chance of ending up dead or giving control to Sukuna was high.

"An expansion of his innate domain. I read that only powerful and experienced sorcerers can do it, so I believe the curse did it involuntarily."

Megumi agreed, his head turning to the darkness of a corridor.

"Was there anything else in that book?"

Itadori scratched his chin, looking thoughtful for a moment.

"Regarding innate domains, no. Just that they could be expanded, nothing too deep or technical."

"Hey, hey! Why do you two seem so calm?! The door disappeared!"

Nobara, who seemed the only one nervous about the situation, asked with worry on her face, making Megumi and Itadori turn to her.

"My divine dog remembers the scent of the exit."

"Good dog! Such a lovely dog!"

Nobara, who seemed to change her attitude in the blink of an eye, moved to pet the wolf.

"Anyway, we should move. The last thing we should do is stay in the same place for too long." Ignoring Nobara's silly attitude, Itadori took the lead. He disliked such behavior, but in that situation, knowing the danger he was in, he couldn't be as relaxed as he wanted.

"Damn... You just got your powers, and you're already acting like an expert." Nobara commented with a bit of irritation in her brows.

Itadori didn't respond immediately, focusing on the path. "Actually, I'm nervous."

"..."

As the three walked, Megumi observed Itadori's attitude with an indifferent expression. Since Sukuna had taken control, Itadori acted seriously most of the time. Even his expression had changed, and Megumi could no longer see that ignorant glint in his eyes.

'It's as if the awareness of his execution had completely changed him.'

With his eyes turning to the ground, Megumi let out a quick sigh. 'But in the end, that's good. It means his mentality is strong enough to survive in this world.'

'Sensei Gojo has high expectations for him, and honestly, I do too. He seems to be hardworking enough, even asking for books to study cursed energy.'

As Itadori walked at a normal but cautious pace, Megumi looked at his back.

'I know it's only a matter of time until he can learn energy manipulation.'

As the three opened a door that led directly to the reformatory's swimming area, the group immediately noticed some deformed bodies inside the empty pool.

"Damn, this is crap."

Jumping into the pool, the three walked until they were in front of the bodies.

Itadori had been through a lot in his former life, but seeing bodies in such mutilated states was not something he had witnessed before.

Killing curses was a different thing; he saw most of them as irrational creatures intending to harm anything in front of their eyes.

But regarding humans, the situation was different. It would be a lie to say he didn't feel a bit shaken by such a sight.

Moving to stand in front of what remained of the best-preserved body, Itadori grabbed the name tag on his uniform and tore it off, putting it in his pocket.

He hadn't cared much for the woman looking for her son, but he could still hear her say his name.

This was like a promise made to himself at that moment.

If he could get out of that place alive, then he would personally deliver it to that woman.

"Megumi, keep the wolf close to you."

As Itadori stood up, he couldn't help but notice when an energy signature appeared near them, his eyes immediately fixing on Nobara while he awaited the beginning of everything.

"I believe this is the place where the special grade curse is keeping its prey."

!

"Uh?"

Nobara, who seemed distracted by Itadori's attitude toward the body of that woman's son, murmured in confusion when she felt the ground under her feet soften, her body sinking before she could try to escape.

"Kugisaki!"

Megumi quickly noticed, but he wasn't fast enough to reach her.

Fortunately, Itadori had been waiting for this all along, his body passing by Megumi and reaching Nobara before her legs sank completely, grabbing her arm and throwing her away from that dark shadow that suddenly appeared.

"Fushiguro, fall back!"

With Itadori's shout, Megumi immediately retreated with a jump when the special grade curse suddenly appeared in front of him, the divine wolf immediately advancing towards it to attack, only to be repelled by a slap.

'Damn! Trying to defeat this creature with this power gap...'

Landing next to a confused Nobara, Itadori drew his blade as he positioned himself.

'Coming to this world must have really driven me crazy!'