So this was the Cursed Spirit that gave her that chilling sensation?
As Amber stepped into the alley, she immediately realized she had entered a space completely different from the outside.
Having read the original work, she knew very well—she had stepped into an unformed Domain.
Which meant that sinister, cold aura belonged to a Special Grade Cursed Spirit?
But why would a Special Grade suddenly appear here?
In Amber's understanding, Cursed Spirits were born from the accumulation of negative emotions. An ordinary residential area like this, a common back alley—it shouldn't be the kind of place that could foster a Special Grade, right?
Turning these thoughts over in her mind, Amber surveyed the Domain's interior.
It was a generic high-rise office building.
If Cursed Spirits really were born from negative emotions, could this place be conjured from the collective resentment of overworked office drones?
'Perfect timing.'
Dark Amber spoke up: 'A fight right after arriving? Isn't this a great chance to test your own power?'
It was true. She no longer had the fully mastered Sword Heart and Sword Form Sword Soul from Fu Hua's body. Her own Sword Heart was only at the first stage.
Besides, she wasn't particularly keen on pulling some OOC move like Seele's Sword God toss, unless she was truly backed into a corner.
Thinking this, Amber materialized the equipped Undine's Tale into her hands. The massive scythe already towered over the girl's own height.
Wielding such an enormous weapon with that slender frame seemed like a huge 'moe' point to Amber, but…
She didn't know how to use a scythe.
If she had mastered Sword Soul, it wouldn't matter if it was a scythe—even a napkin would obey her will effortlessly. But sadly, she hadn't. So after a few clumsy, awkward swings with the utterly unwieldy giant weapon, she frustratedly dismissed it back.
Putting that aside, Amber focused on sensing the power within her body.
Seele's primary power came from her innate Stigmata, and this Stigmata was also present on Amber's body—not only present, but it had undergone significant localization.
Simply put, Amber's cursed energy didn't require her to feel any negative emotions herself; the Stigmata on her chest handled that entirely.
Her Innate Technique, however, was straightforward and simple: Quantumization.
Having an Innate Technique was a good thing. After all, she didn't want to end up like a certain jock who fought through the entire series relying mostly on Black Flash.
But there was no helping it. The reason sorcerers were said to be a profession heavily reliant on talent was precisely because an Innate Technique couldn't be learned. It all depended on your birthright. If you were born without one, then barring special circumstances, you were doomed to mediocrity.
It wasn't that those without an Innate Technique were necessarily weak, but their ceiling was definitely fixed.
And it didn't stop there. Having an Innate Technique didn't mean you could use it. The prerequisite for using a technique was possessing the brain structure of a jujutsu sorcerer.
For example, Junpei had an Innate Technique but lacked the proper brain structure. It was only after Mahito modified him that he could use it.
But still…
Quantumization… how exactly was she supposed to use that?
Amber was completely clueless. She could only walk through the office building, pondering with her 'untainted-by-knowledge' brain.
Dark Amber didn't share this trouble. Why did Fu Hua always see her as a threat?
The Lahmu had many flaws, but that didn't mean they lacked strengths. One of the main ones was that they were born with an innate mastery over their own bodies and power—knowledge from birth, coupled with a violent and negativity-filled nature.
For Dark Amber, the moment she gained control of the body, she could unleash its full power. Amber stood no chance against her in that regard.
Fortunately, even though she was still confused about her own technique, her training in the Taixu Sword Qi meant Amber at least had no problems utilizing cursed energy.
Just as she was thinking this, as if the Cursed Spirit had sensed the girl posed little threat, a tremendous crashing sound exploded beside Amber.
The corridor wall beside her shattered, and a pale, powerful hand shot from the dust and debris, aiming straight for the girl's head.
Having trained for a solid month, Amber wasn't about to be hit by an attack like this.
Her body moved on instinct. As she dodged, Amber prepared to teach this Cursed Spirit a lesson, but suddenly, she heard another set of footsteps rushing closer.
"Watch out!"
A blade's gleam flashed before Amber's eyes, severing the pale arm cleanly. Amber instinctively looked and saw a girl with long blue hair and a strangely cut fringe, her face pale, sheathing a katana. The girl then grabbed Amber's arm and pulled her, breaking into a run down the hall.
Miwa's heart was practically leaping out of her chest.
She was just a third-grade sorcerer from Kyoto Jujutsu High. This was a rare trip home from school, and she never expected to accidentally wander into the incomplete Domain of a Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
If she was regretful, she was utterly, completely regretful.
A large part of her family's income came from her earnings. If she died here, her younger siblings would face dire straits, unable to make ends meet. That was a scenario she absolutely could not bear to see!
But… she also couldn't just stand by and watch a girl, no older than her own siblings, get killed by a Cursed Spirit!
'Please, let Todo and the others get here quickly…!'
Miwa was frantic inside. Knowing the vast difference in power, she didn't even dare hope they could escape the Special Grade's Domain. She just prayed she could hold out until backup arrived.
'Todo's handshake event shouldn't be too far from here… They have to make it in time!'
"Um…!"
Amber, running alongside her, didn't know what the other girl was thinking, but seeing her panicked state gave her a good idea. "Miss, what are we…"
"Don't worry! I'll get you out of here!"
Miwa realized her own demeanor was probably scaring the girl, making her anxious too. She forced a brave front, turning back to offer a reassuring smile, hoping to instill some confidence.
But that one glance back nearly scared her soul out of her body.
The severed pale arms weren't regenerating, but more had sprouted, chasing close behind them, on the verge of grabbing the girl.
Seeing this, she skidded to a halt, yanked the girl behind her, and drew the katana at her waist. With a few swift swings, she cut down the approaching limbs.
This self-appointed protective act touched Amber. In her previous world, as the Phoenix Celestial, she had been everyone's pillar and hope. She'd never been protected like this before. But… this Special Grade Cursed Spirit seemed incredibly weak in her eyes.
Before Miwa could even catch her breath, a tremor ran through the floor beneath them, followed immediately by the heart-dropping sensation of weightlessness.
She looked down and finally understood. The arms were just a feint to stop them. The real killing blow was the massive, gaping maw now directly beneath their feet.
'—I'm gonna die!'
Miwa was so tense she didn't even have time to shut her eyes. But the sight that filled her vision the next moment wasn't the interior of the Cursed Spirit's mouth. Instead, it was the figure of the scythe-wielding girl, silhouetted against a spray of bursting flesh and blood.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.