Chapter 117: Well-Deserved

Yuji's body moved before he could think.

The Wind Sword in his hand swept upward.

Steel flashed. A gale followed.

The curse dropping from above shrieked as the invisible current wrapped around the edge and tore through it. Half of its arm came apart in a spray of black blood and severed flesh, splattering across the floorboards.

Yuji kicked off the ground and leaped aside.

A heartbeat later, the curse crashed down where he had been standing.

It was hideous.

Its upper body vaguely resembled a person, but its lower half was swollen and warped like a scorpion's. Crooked limbs scraped against the floor. Its jaw opened and closed with a wet clicking sound, repeating broken words in a voice like something leaking from a corpse.

"Receipt... do you... need... one...?"

Yuji tightened both hands around the sword hilt.

"A curse showed up this fast?"

The curse lunged.

Yuji felt the Wind Sword tremble faintly in his grip.

It was not speaking, but the sensation was clear. The sword was telling him how to swing.

So he did.

Yuji stepped into the attack and slashed forward.

The air split.

A crescent-shaped wind slash tore out from the sword's edge and crossed the corridor faster than the curse could react. It cleaved straight through the center of the curse's body.

The thing froze in place.

Then its two halves slid apart and collapsed to the floor.

Yuji stared.

Then he looked down at the sword in his hand, eyes bright.

"This sword is insane. Was that sword energy just now? That was way too cool..."

Before he could finish marveling, something changed inside him.

Heat spread through his limbs. His muscles tightened, then strengthened, as if weeks of brutal training had been compressed into a single breath. His body felt lighter. Denser. Sharper.

At the same time, the faint Cursed Energy inside him rose slightly, like a trickle becoming a narrow stream.

Yuji blinked.

"Huh? My body feels stronger." He looked inward almost by instinct. "Was that you too, Asuramaru?"

Asuramaru's voice rang out in his mind, calm and faintly impatient.

"Don't make such a fuss. That is one of my abilities. The power gained from hunting curses can be converted into Feedback. In other words, as long as you kill enough curses, you can grow stronger quickly."

Yuji's face lit up.

"That's amazing!"

Inside him, Sukuna had heard every word.

The King of Curses fell silent.

Then the corner of his mouth slowly curled upward.

He had seen Asuramaru's Domain record the dead. He had watched it replicate Gojo Satoru himself. That alone had already been absurd enough.

But this?

A power that strengthened the wielder through killing curses?

No wonder the legend said that whoever earned Asuramaru's recognition was destined to become the strongest of all time.

It was not an exaggeration.

It was well-deserved.

Outside the abandoned building, Satoru Gojo had witnessed the exchange through his Six Eyes.

He had reached almost the same conclusion as Sukuna.

Yuji Itadori was going to become strong.

Terrifyingly strong.

If this continued, he might become the strongest student in history. Perhaps, one day, he might even be able to change the jujutsu world itself.

Inside the building, Yuji flexed his fingers and tested his body. The improvement was noticeable, but not overwhelming.

Still, growth was growth.

And if this was only from a weak curse, then what about stronger ones?

Asuramaru spoke again.

"There are two more curses on the third floor."

"Thanks, Asuramaru."

Following his guidance, Yuji rushed through the corridors and climbed to the third floor. Dust rose beneath his shoes. Broken doors hung open along the hallway, revealing empty rooms swallowed by gloom.

At the far end, he stopped before a wall.

On the other side, Nobara Kugisaki was in trouble.

A frog-like curse with thin, dangling limbs had a young child in its grasp. One of its long fingers pressed against the child's throat, the nail just sharp enough to draw blood.

The curse's ugly mouth stretched wide in a mocking grin.

Nobara stood in front of it, hammer in hand, her expression dark.

"Damn it..."

At most, it was a Grade 4. Maybe Grade 3 if she was being generous.

Normally, it would not have been a problem.

But the hostage changed everything.

If she attacked carelessly, the child could die.

If she surrendered, both of them would die.

Her grip tightened around the hammer until her knuckles paled.

On the other side of the wall, Asuramaru's voice sounded in Yuji's mind.

"The curse is directly beyond this wall. Do it."

"Okay!"

Yuji gripped the sword in both hands and thrust forward.

The Wind Sword punched through the wall.

The gale wrapped around it followed a fraction of a second later, ripping through plaster, wood, and the curse's body in one clean burst. The frog-like curse barely had time to widen its eyes before it was shredded apart.

Black blood and scraps of flesh splattered across the room.

The child dropped.

Nobara moved immediately and caught them.

Yuji pulled the sword free and stepped through the broken wall.

Once again, that strengthening sensation rushed through him.

His body improved.

His Cursed Energy rose.

It was not dramatic, but it was unmistakable. Like each curse slain became a step beneath his feet.

Yuji could not help smiling.

Getting stronger feels way too satisfying.

Nobara, who had just released a breath of relief, looked up and saw his grin.

Her good mood vanished.

"Why are you smiling like a creep?"

Yuji stiffened.

Nobara looked away and added, quieter this time, "But... thanks."

Yuji scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed.

After making sure the child was unharmed, the two escorted them out of the building.

Gojo and Megumi were waiting outside.

When Gojo saw them return safely with the child, he lifted a hand in greeting.

"Congratulations on exorcising the curse and coming back with a prize."

"Gojo-sensei, stop joking. Just now, I..."

Yuji almost blurted everything out by habit.

Gojo's smile faded just enough for his tone to become serious.

"Yuji."

Yuji stopped.

"I already know what happened. You don't need to say anything else."

Megumi and Nobara both glanced at him.

Their curiosity was obvious.

But before either of them could ask, Gojo clapped his hands together and beamed.

"All right, let's happily escort our little friend home."

Everyone's attention shifted to the child.

Yuji crouched down in front of them and gave a gentle smile.

"Do you remember where your home is?"

The child was still pale, their voice trembling.

"Y... yes..."

They gave directions in a halting voice, and the group set off.

By dusk, they had finally returned the child safely home.

On the walk back, the setting sun stretched their shadows along the street. The day's tension gradually loosened, replaced by the ordinary noise of the city.

Gojo suddenly smiled.

"How about we grab dinner? My treat."

Yuji's hand shot up.

"Steak!"

Nobara followed immediately.

"Absolutely steak."

Megumi, standing slightly behind them, was already scrolling through his phone.

"There are a few places nearby with balanced menus. If we consider price, seating, and nutrition..."

Gojo glanced at him once.

Then he looked away.

"Don't mind Megumi. Let's go."

"Hey."

They walked beneath the sunset, bickering as they went.

Yuji and Nobara argued over restaurants. Gojo kept making things worse on purpose. Megumi pretended not to care, though he still followed them without complaint.

Inside the sword, Asuramaru looked at his panel, considering what to unlock next.

If events continued as expected, a Special Grade Cursed Spirit would appear soon.

After a brief moment of thought, he made his decision.

"System, unlock Seal."

[Ding! 50,000 emotion points consumed. Template ability: Seal has been unlocked!]

[Seal: Slain powerful beings can be sealed into masks and summoned again.]

Asuramaru's eyes narrowed with satisfaction.

The previous world had been thrilling, tragic, and exhausting.

This world, by comparison, felt almost like a vacation.

A vacation that happened to include collecting cursed spirit souvenirs.

Several days passed.

After dinner that night, Yuji and the others returned to Tokyo Jujutsu High and began a brief period of theoretical study.

For Yuji, it was painfully boring.

For Nobara, it was tolerable only because she refused to look like she was struggling.

For Megumi, it was routine.

For Asuramaru, it confirmed his earlier suspicion.

This school really is ridiculous.

Time slipped by quickly.

Eventually, the three first-years received a new assignment.

Their destination was the West Tokyo Juvenile Detention Center.

The moment Asuramaru heard the mission details, he knew the plot had begun.

This was no ordinary assignment.

Gojo was absent.

A Special Grade Cursed Spirit was inside.

And the higher-ups had sent three first-years.

It was not a mission.

It was murder by borrowed knife.

Asuramaru's crimson eyes chilled.

"Sure enough," he murmured, "it would be cleaner to kill off those disgusting old fools."

.....

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