Chapter 28 – Domain Expansion, Evolution!
"Human! You are strong! But still, you are no match for me!"
The cursed spirit roared, its wounds knitting together as it advanced. Lightning crackled between its scales. "Die!" It brandished its blade and the clouds above churned, summoning dragon-like arcs of lightning that crackled like divine punishment, crashing downward toward Shinsuke.
Shinsuke darted and dodged. With his body strength, he could probably tank the strikes without immediate mortal damage—but that was unnecessary. He was thinking instead how to land a single decisive blow.
This cursed spirit was no lesser than the Four Disaster Curses. Born with talent on par with the "True Man" and wielding lightning, its potential was terrifying. If left unchecked, one day it could reach the level of Sukuna. Very few cursed spirits ever pursued strength so relentlessly.
"This is troublesome."
Shinsuke felt a twinge of impatience. Normally he might toy with such an opponent. But not now—Geto Suguru or Gojo Satoru could arrive any moment. At that point, the spoils would be harder to claim.
He glanced down at Playful Cloud in his hand. Maybe he should've snagged a few more cursed tools from Toji earlier. Playful Cloud was strong, but in face of high defenses, speed, and rapid regeneration, what he really needed was the Soul Liberation Blade to decisively kill this kind of opponent.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Human! Feel my power now!"
The cursed spirit jeered, its voice wild. "You, with no cursed energy, you are nothing but a tool in my evolution! You cannot even help me, you don't even know any cursed technique! You might as well prepare to die!"
With that, it declared: "Domain Expansion!"
"Wazutsushin Raiden-Den!"
Using nearby buildings as structural anchors, it manifested a Domain that enveloped Shinsuke. Endless thunder raged within the realm. A gigantic gate of lightning—like the door to the heavens—opened above, lightning dragons roaring to life at its command.
"Setting up the Domain barrier using the buildings isn't the worst idea," Shinsuke observed, calm in his stance. He wasn't panicked. If he wished, he could exit the floor structure and leave the Domain. Although the Domain was powerful, its "guaranteed hit" effect did nothing against him.
If not for the fact the cursed spirit used the buildings as the shell, its Domain wouldn't be able to contain him.
"I know you are special. So before you even think about escaping, I'll kill you."
Inside the Domain, lightning surged. Any move by the cursed spirit would draw it into the storm unless it could withstand immense lightning damage and throw off Shinsuke's assault.
The spirit seemed confident, believing it had the upper hand.
Shinsuke's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You're not too dumb—but don't pretend you're smart."
He could just wait the Domain out, let its effects fade, force the cursed spirit into its technique's cooldown, then pick apart its weakened form.
"No cursed technique? Then maybe this is your end." He approached at blistering speed, leaving streaks of crackling energy in his wake.
"What?!"
The cursed spirit's eyes flickered in alarm—it did not expect him to absorb or stand against its thunder.
Clenching Playful Cloud, Shinsuke said with vicious satisfaction, "I forgot to mention—my body resists techniques rather well."
BOOM!!
He swung Playful Cloud, hurling the cursed spirit through the air. Lightning rushed after, but most was blocked by the staff; only a sliver of electricity grazed Shinsuke.
The strength granted by heaven and the binding bonds made his body almost immune.
Though his clothes were torn to shreds, the pain was superficial.
"You're probably the first one I've seen get hit inside your own domain."
Shinsuke launched another strike, overwhelming the cursed spirit. Its speed lagged; it was reduced to evasion and retreat. Its regeneration started to lag behind the injuries.
Crack! Crack!
Outside the barrier, Kusakabe had drawn a long blade, hacking at the Domain's edges.
The Domain was strong, but its outer shell was weaker.
"Hang in there Shinsuke-sensei! I'm coming to pull you out!"
BANG–!
With a final slash, Kusakabe shattered the Domain's barrier.
"Shinsuke-sensei! Holy—!"
The moment the barrier broke, a massive three-meter figure was hurled straight at him. Kusakabe barely managed to sidestep before it smashed into the street.
BOOM!
The cursed spirit's body crashed into another building, sending cracks spider-webbing through its structure until the whole floor tilted, on the verge of collapse.
From the rubble, Zen'in Shinsuke emerged shirtless, Playful Cloud resting casually on his shoulder. "Ah, Kusakabe-sensei. Thanks for breaking the Domain."
Had the barrier not been destroyed from the outside, he might have already finished off the cursed spirit—but Kusakabe meant well, so Shinsuke let it slide.
"Gulp… Shinsuke-sensei, uh… need my help?" Kusakabe asked, his eye twitching. The scene before him suggested quite the opposite.
"No need. Leave it to me. Just wait."
Clatter—!
From within the ruins, the cursed spirit rose once more. Its injuries, even those from moments ago, had healed almost completely. It was like watching an immortal cockroach.
"Human!!"
Its eyes gleamed with feverish excitement. Through its beatings, it had sensed the path to evolution.
It already had cursed energy. It already had techniques. What it lacked was the perfect body—an indestructible vessel.
If I could possess his body's strength… with my techniques, I would become the strongest.
Its form shifted. Power surged. Six wings sprouted from its back, thin like cicada wings, but etched with golden lightning veins sparking with energy.
The armor across its body tightened, compressing into denser plating. Its frame grew slightly smaller, yet the muscles became compact and solid.
It had evolved.
BOOM!
The six wings snapped open, hurling it forward like a thunderbolt. Lightning crackled around its fist as it struck straight at Shinsuke.
Though it still lacked a refined technique, its cursed energy had surged back, and its speed and power had skyrocketed with this evolution.
CLANG!!
Its punch met Playful Cloud head-on, releasing an explosion of black-red lightning.
Shinsuke frowned as he was forced several meters back. He glanced down at his weapon—Playful Cloud had snapped off a section.
His heart clenched. That cursed tool had been worth five hundred million yen.
"HAHAHAHA! This power—magnificent!"
The cursed spirit's laughter was manic. It had believed the human useless to its growth, but now it realized the opposite: As long as I feel pressure, I can grow stronger!
"What the hell…!?"
Kusakabe, having retreated back near Utahime and the others, was pale with disbelief. "Did that cursed spirit just… trigger Black Flash?!"
That was insanity. A cursed spirit using Black Flash was beyond comprehension.
Utahime bit her lip. "Now what? Why hasn't Gojo shown up yet?!"
"Looks like I've arrived just in time."
From the far side of the battlefield, Suguru Geto appeared. His eyes lit up at the cursed spirit's evolved form.
"It's even stronger now! I knew I wasn't wrong about you… My grand plan will succeed—with you as the cornerstone!"
For the first time, he felt it: absorbing this cursed spirit would mean his dream was already half fulfilled.