"It's a barrier," Fushiguro Megumi's face tightened. Just as Hayashi predicted—cursed spirits had invaded.
Yuji Itadori smashed his fists together, cursed energy flaring around them. "Fushiguro, let's go!"
Nobara Kugisaki pulled her silver hammer from her waist, quietly impressed. Hayashi wasn't kidding—she'd doubted it, but here it was, unfolding.
Maki Zenin poised her pole naginata. "Enemy numbers are unknown. Stay sharp."
"But with all of us here, how much confidence do they have?" Panda scratched his head. They were a full crew—mostly unscathed, in top shape.
Attacking now? Pretty dumb move.
"Don't get cocky. We don't know their strength. Good news—Todo Aoi and Hayashi are here," Maki said, banking hard on Hayashi. This ambush? They'd pull through.
Thanks to Hayashi's earlier Black Steel rampage, the area was wide open—better sightlines.
From the distant trees, a cursed spirit emerged—antlers sprouting from its head, draped in thick brown fur.
An invisible menace radiated from it, heavy and oppressive.
Rumble, rumble~
On the other side, the ground quaked. Eyes turned—a massive tree branch erupted from the forest, blotting out the sky.
It stabbed upward, forty or fifty meters high. At its peak stood a white humanoid cursed spirit, branches curling from its forehead.
"Hahaha, quite the crowd! I'll make some nice coat racks today. Hm? No Gojo Satoru? Shame," a bald curse user in butcher's garb strode out, axe in hand, greed glinting in his eyes.
Overhead, a winged cursed spirit streaked by—too fast for most to track.
"They brought a decent crew, but not overwhelming," Hayashi exhaled. If this was it, manageable.
Maybe Mahito and Geto Suguru held back—testing the waters, not going all-in.
Wipe out the students? Perfect. Can't? Kill a few—still a win.
Good thing Jogo wasn't here. If he was, only Todo could avoid instant death. Everyone else? Toast.
Hayashi couldn't shield them all, but he'd protect who he could. That's why he'd herded them together—easier to guard.
Split up, with unknown enemy numbers? Risky as hell—ripe for getting picked off.
This was a probe—for them and for Hayashi. Take him out here, and their plans would glide smoother.
Fail? Mahito and Geto would rethink—maybe play it safer against Gojo and Hayashi.
"That brat's Hayashi?" The crocodile-headed cursed spirit lumbered forward.
"You saw the pics. Stop asking dumb questions," the antlered spirit—Lumi—shot a glance at Barb Croc, closing in too.
"Just double-checking. Let's take him first," Barb Croc chuckled.
Tokyo and Kyoto students rallied together, striking combat poses.
They weren't greenhorns. After a quick scan, it clicked—these were all cursed spirits, and not the weak kind.
"Same plan as me—I'll take you out first," Hayashi sneered, turning to the students. "That bald curse user's yours. Should be easy, right?"
"Whoa, Hayashi, you're not taking all four solo, are you?" Yuji gawked. They had over a dozen here—handling one guy was cake.
Then, a scene no one would forget unfolded.
Hayashi raised a hand, brushing back his black bangs. "I planned to blend in as a regular jujutsu sorcerer, but all I got was distance. Screw it—I'm the strongest sorcerer at Jujutsu High. I'm done pretending!"
Before anyone could reply, his eyes sharpened.
"Crimson Armor!"
Red-glowing cursed energy morphed into Crimson Armor, coating every inch of him. Compared to the basic version, this one oozed raw pressure.
Clad in it, Hayashi charged Barb Croc under stunned stares.
"So fast!"
Barb Croc jolted. Hayashi left a cratered footprint, rocketing forward like a cannonball.
In that instant, Barb Croc's arms swelled—hardening into steel-like slabs, meeting Hayashi head-on.
"Azure Black Flash!"
Hayashi unleashed everything. Cursed energy blazed like fire, near-tangible.
A fist loaded with power smashed Barb Croc's right arm.
The moment they clashed, azure sparked with black—erupting.
Boom!
"What is this!?"
The blast shredded Barb Croc's arm. Tough? Solid? Didn't matter—Azure Black Flash tore through.
Joking aside, unless Barb Croc matched Jogo's level, no chance against that punch.
The spirit reeled, blasted back, smashing through tree after tree. A hundred-plus meters later, it skidded, gouging a trench.
"Still human?" Mai's jaw dropped, words failing her shock.
"Maybe not anymore…" Maki muttered, glasses nearly slipping off.
"I think he's human," Fushiguro said, sweat beading.
"You think that's human?" Panda's mouth twitched. "He's less human than me."
"So cool…" Nishimiya's eyes sparkled. He'd saved her—unforgettable.
"New idol alert!" Miwa shot up a hand, planting her flag.
"Jujutsu High's strongest?" Noritoshi's fire fizzled out. Hayashi had been toying with him.
If Hayashi had used this earlier, Noritoshi wouldn't have lasted five seconds.
Nobara: "Knew he was off. Total poser—nailed it."
She flashed back to the detention center. Had Hayashi held back then—or not?
This guy—living with them daily, all harmless—finally showing his true power?