Chapter 127: Rapid Changes

Chapter 127: Rapid Changes

As Sukuna’s word "Qikuo" slipped out, Tiger Stick, Fushiguro, and Nailsaki’s minds suddenly exploded with a surge of memories.

These were memories from long ago, when the three of them had gone to the Youth Palace to exorcise a Special Grade Curse Spirit.

In the original memory, they had encountered a Grade 1 Curse Spirit. It had taken some effort, but there were no significant issues. Now, another memory surfaced.

...

Jousho waved the finger of Sukuna in his hand, a gentle smile on his face.

"It’s been a while, Sukuna."

The mouth on Tiger Stick's cheek opened slightly. "About a thousand years, Jousho."

"I can only talk to you now while the hourglass is causing chaos at the high school, so we should make the most of this time," Jousho’s voice was soft, but his words were rapid.

"The body you chose for me is strange; I can’t suppress the will of its container."

Sukuna’s eyes shifted, cold and distant. "What are you up to?"

"I didn’t expect this. Tiger Stick is the reincarnation of your younger brother, chosen specifically to maximize your power. His body and your soul are extremely compatible. I did this for your benefit."

Jousho’s gentle response was questionable in its truth.

Sukuna understood that Jousho was wary of him, and Jousho knew that Sukuna’s questions were merely to gain leverage. The two old souls were well aware of each other’s thoughts.

"I don’t want a mediocre body without techniques. The boy over there is barely suitable for me."

Sukuna’s eyes fixed on Fushiguro, filled with a possessive desire.

"Ten Shadows? That’s a high-end product that can rival the unbound. As compensation, I can give it to you, but I can’t prepare the 'bath' ritual for you now. Fushiguro’s soul is stable, so we need to wait for the right moment."

Jousho nodded in agreement. The two of them casually discussed the three as if they were mere prey.

Tiger Stick and Nailsaki were about to act but were stopped by Fushiguro, who was sweating profusely.

"This man is a traitorous Special Grade Curse Sorcerer—Akutaro. We have no chance of winning."

The word "Special Grade" silenced the two. The three of them could only watch Akutaro warily, preparing to flee.

"Before that, I will place a binding on you, which will limit your self-awareness and control. In return, you can accumulate strength to gain some autonomy. When the time comes, act accordingly."

"Agreed."

Sukuna agreed succinctly. The binding was established, and the eyes and mouth on Tiger Stick's face went silent.

Only then did Jousho turn his attention to the three, his smile widening.

"Three of you, as your enemy, I could kill you. However, I can give you a chance to live. Enter a pact with me."

"When you hear Sukuna say 'Qikuo,' Tiger Stick will swap bodies with Sukuna for a minute, and Fushiguro will attack the nearest companion—except Tiger Stick, of course, as he is Sukuna’s vessel."

"And as for you..." Jousho glanced at Nailsaki, who seemed to be caught up in the storm unintentionally. "You just need to not resist."

"How about it, do you agree?"

"I won’t agree!" Tiger Stick firmly resisted, but the next moment, a Curse Spirit appeared, tearing Nailsaki’s arm apart. Blood spurted onto the ground.

Nailsaki’s face was pale, but he gritted his teeth and didn’t scream, only letting out a "tch."

Fushiguro’s expression was grave as he shook his head at Tiger Stick. "We have no choice."

"Trust Teacher Itadori and Teacher Luk. They will turn the tide."

...

Gojo’s figure darted through the crowd at high speed. The number of deformed humans rapidly decreased until they were all gone. He panted, finally stopping.

"Phew~ Phew~"

Since receiving the notification, he had been trapped by a sturdy "Tent." The opponent must have set very strict conditions, and the interference from the deformed humans delayed him.

After catching his breath, he rushed toward the tent, intending to break through by force.

This incident confirmed that there was a mole in the upper echelons. It was a ploy to draw him away, and the same likely happened to Luk. The Curse Spirits must have gone to great lengths to free the two Sukunas.

The black curtain disintegrated under the curse power, and Gojo, without hesitation, charged out, only to be met with a shocking scene.

"Full Elephant!"

Fushiguro’s eyes were lifeless as he cast the Ten Shadows spell. A massive elephant-type shikigami descended, about to crush Nailsaki, who didn’t move, abandoning his curse power defense.

Tiger Stick’s body was covered in dark and ominous curse symbols. His cruel eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he held a bag, rapidly swallowing the finger tied to it.

There was no time to hesitate; he had to stop the Full Elephant attack immediately.

"Gojo."

A soft voice halted him mid-air. Even with the warning, hearing his friend’s voice again sent waves of shock through him.

In that split second of hesitation, the Full Elephant crushed Nailsaki, causing a strong gust of wind and dust.

"No!"

Fushiguro, now awake, screamed in anguish, his eyes wide with despair. The act of killing his teammate had left him in a state of mental turmoil.

This was the moment!

Sukuna, possessing Tiger Stick, finished swallowing the last finger and charged at Fushiguro, aiming to transfer to his body during the mental turmoil and obtain the Ten Shadows spell!

"I won’t let you succeed."

Gojo’s face was filled with killing intent as he raised his hand and unleashed a full-power Blue. The momentary lapse had cost a student’s life, and now he was consumed by self-blame and infinite rage toward the enemy.

A massive gravitational pull centered on him, dragging all enemies—real, Kagemi, Rimi, and Sukuna—toward him.

"Domain Expansion—Garbha Universal!"

A non-enclosed barrier of the same type as Sukuna’s descended. On the countless piles of infant remains, Jousho, in Akutaro’s body, smiled wildly. The gravity spell interfered with the suction.

He blocked Gojo, gently waving at him.

"Gojo, don’t be so hasty. Play with me a bit."

"Don’t use Akutaro’s body to talk to me." Gojo’s eyes were cold, and he simultaneously activated the spell rotation and spell reversal.

The intense energy fluctuation made Jinsu's eyelid twitch. After a moment of hesitation, he steeled himself and stepped forward to block it.

...

Meanwhile, the real person riding on Hana's shoulder suddenly spoke up.

"Run."

"What?"

Hana was momentarily confused. Shouldn't they help Sukuna defeat Gojo?

"Run, Hana."

Looking at Jinsu, who had activated his domain to delay Gojo, the real person's face was grave. "With Sukuna's dual personalities unsealed, our mission is complete. Don't look back; hide our presence and run."

"I was born from human malice towards humans, so I understand Jinsu's intentions. Curse Spirit Manipulation, hah. Jinsu never saw us as comrades but as prey to be devoured!"

Hana was not skilled in combat and was weakened from the destruction of his clone. Engaging in the battle would mean death, and even if they won, Jinsu would not spare them. It was best to leave now.

"Don't return to the Life Domain we created with curse energy; Jinsu knows about it. Find a new place."

"I understand."

Compared to the treacherous Jinsu, who had sent them to their deaths multiple times, the real person, a leader of natural disasters, was more trustworthy. She enveloped both of them and dove underground.

After distancing themselves from the battlefield, they did not resurface.

"We should be safe here."

Feeling the forest's aura, Hana sighed in relief. This was her ideal environment.

The real person nodded. "Hide our presence. We'll use this place as a base. I'll create a clone to scout the battlefield."

"Wait, real person, someone is entering the forest."

"Are they approaching us or wandering around?"

"Neither, they're teleporting."

...

Not far away, Nanami Kenjirou took a deep breath and instinctively stepped between the charging Sukuna and Fushiguro Megumi.

Sukuna was the King of Curses, and he was just a Level 1 Curse Technician. He knew he couldn't stop Sukuna or protect Fushiguro. But Fushiguro was a student, a fifteen-year-old child, and he was an adult.

People only truly understand themselves in the face of death.

Malaysia, the beach, a house, a bookstore. Ignoring the heavy workload, he would stroll on the beach and leisurely read books under the lamplight...

Images flashed through his mind, finally settling on the bakery clerk who had smiled and thanked him after he casually exorcised a curse.

Though dull and uneventful, my life had some meaning, right?

Nanami Kenjirou decisively swung his cleaver, the Ten-Stroke Curse Technique marking a 3-7 line on the King of Curses' body. Black curse energy surged from his blade.

Black Flash!

Sukuna sneered. With nineteen fingers, the King of Curses was far beyond Nanami's capabilities. Even the Black Flash was ineffective. A hand with an attached slashing technique easily split his curse tool in two and was about to slice through Nanami's body.

In his eyes, the sharp hand grew larger.

Nanami's vision darkened and then brightened. He felt the sensation of stepping on sand and looked around in shock.

An endless blue sea, a picturesque landscape, and a sky clear as a sapphire.

"Is this... heaven?"

Nanami's poker face crumbled, and he exhaled in relief, feeling a sense of peace from within.

"Finally, I'm free."

Finally free from the heavy life...

But what about Fushiguro? His opponent is Sukuna, and can Gojo handle Sukuna and so many other powerful enemies alone? Where is Luk? Is that plant-like curse spirit blocking his presence?

Shaking his head, Nanami pushed these worries aside.

"Since I'm dead, I might as well enjoy it."

He looked around, and his body suddenly stiffened. He saw a girl with an awkward expression and stammered, "Nailaki, how long have you been listening?"

"Um... since you asked if this was heaven."

Nanami: "So, is this heaven?"

"I don't think so."

Nailaki pointed to a place where a palace stood, out of place in the beautiful natural scenery.

The palace was gilded and extravagantly decorated. A couplet was written on the gate in flowing calligraphy.

Upper line: Last year I slacked off, this year I slacked off, and next year I'll slack off too.

Lower line: This year I slacked off, next year I'll slack off, and the year after that I'll slack off again.

Horizontal inscription: Year after year, there's always fish.

Nailaki/Nanami: ...This style feels familiar.

...

Sukuna's handblade missed, and he paused briefly.

"Space manipulation, tsk. I didn't think modern curse technicians still inherited such troublesome techniques."

His four eyes scanned the area, and he quickly spotted a boy with aqua hair standing at the edge of the battlefield, watching the fight leisurely.

I'll kill the one who teleported Fushiguro first!

He continued charging towards the dazed Fushiguro, knowing it would be harder to suppress his soul once he regained his senses. He needed to take the initiative.

But just as they were about to collide, a powerful kick sent him flying.

Sukuna narrowed his eyes, staring at the blonde woman who had appeared, his killing intent boiling.

"Are you the legendary Sukuna?" The blonde woman's face showed a mix of curiosity as she spoke.

"What type of woman do you like?"

Sukuna licked his lips, ready to tear the woman apart. The "taste" he referred to was clearly not literal.

At that moment, the woman suddenly disappeared and reappeared next to the aqua-haired boy.

"Hey, hey, I was saving someone! What are you doing, you little brat?"

The boy rolled his eyes. "Shut up and watch the show!"

You're just a minor character who doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Promised update (￣3￣)╭

What does it mean to be trustworthy? Tactical lean.jpg

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end