"Merging" is not "dying." Master Tengen is me, and I am Master Tengen!
Riko Amanai had been using this mantra to comfort herself for a long time.
However, now that the time for the "merger" was actually approaching, she felt an inexplicable wave of irritability.
"Riko? Riko?"
"Huh?"
Riko snapped out of it, looking up to see her teacher and classmates staring at her with confusion.
"I'm so sorry, Sensei!"
The teacher touched Riko's forehead. "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
Riko laughed awkwardly. "Just some family issues. I got distracted."
"Is that so?"
The teacher patted Riko's head. "Riko, you seem very off today. Is everything really okay at home?"
Riko returned to her usual cheerful demeanor and shook her head.
"I'm fine! Don't worry, Sensei!"
...
Satoru looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, unable to suppress a yawn.
"So boring."
Souma flicked his foolish little brother on the forehead. "Boredom means nothing is happening. That's a good thing."
"Good thing?"
Satoru's face fell. "Bro, do you really think letting Tengen merge with Riko Amanai is a good thing?"
"What's this? You only met her once, and you're already attached?"
Souma teased.
Satoru blushed. "Shut up! I just find it hard to accept!"
"Why should that old hag sacrifice an innocent person just for some so-called 'greater good' with a single word?"
Geto spoke calmly from the side. "Master Tengen specializes in barrier techniques. At least ninety percent of the barriers in the jujutsu world are maintained and strengthened by him."
"If Master Tengen fails to evolve and his barriers lose control, the entire jujutsu society will collapse. Chaos will follow."
"Merging with the Star Plasma Vessel is for the greater good."
"Tch."
Satoru rolled his eyes. "I hate righteous arguments and big principles!"
"Whether it's Tengen's safety or the stability of the jujutsu world, what does any of that have to do with Riko Amanai? Just because she's a Star Plasma Vessel, she has to bear all of this alone?"
"It's disgusting!"
"Bro, what do you think?"
Souma didn't answer.
Satoru froze, then sat up from his lounge chair. "Hey! Bro, don't tell me you think like Suguru? That's not like you!"
Geto also cast a questioning glance, wanting to know Souma's stance.
Souma ignored the topic entirely and said something completely unrelated. "Reverse Cursed Technique is a bit hard. Do you guys think I should try suicide to learn it?"
"..."
"Wait!"
Geto suddenly frowned. "Souma! Satoru! Go to the school immediately. Riko is in danger. Two of the surveillance curses I planted have been exorcised!"
The group moved instantly.
Geto went to check the location where his curses were destroyed. Souma and Satoru were responsible for Riko.
Misato Kuroi tried to follow them, but she barely took two steps before Souma grabbed her by the collar.
"Eh?"
"Leave Riko to Satoru. You stay with me. I'm worried those guys might try a diversion tactic and kidnap you while we're gone."
"Satoru, you go ahead!"
Satoru nodded and teleported away toward Riko's school.
Kuroi lowered her head dejectedly, feeling like a burden.
"Don't make that face."
Souma comforted her. "You are Riko's only family. She's going to need you to take care of her in the future."
"Eh???"
Kuroi's eyes widened. "What... what did you say?"
Souma grinned. "Shh! Nothing's set in stone yet!"
Despite the ambiguity, Kuroi felt a surge of hope and excitement.
...
Geto followed the intelligence from his curses to a long corridor.
As soon as he stepped in, a figure blocked his path.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Kenji Nakamura."
The old man smiled, holding a talisman between his fingers. Cursed energy dripped from it like water, forming a puddle of shadow on the ground.
Then, several curses crawled out of the shadow.
Geto watched with interest. "A technique that controls curses? Looks like we're the same type of sorcerer!"
As he spoke, Geto didn't use any hand signs or tools. With just a thought, two much stronger curses emerged from his own shadow.
Nakamura's eyelid twitched.
Cursed Spirit Manipulation. The ultra-rare innate technique. Undoubtedly the strongest among shikigami/curse user types.
Even knowing his technique was far inferior, Nakamura didn't panic. In fact, he was confident.
Because his greatest strength wasn't controlling curses, but taijutsu!
And sorcerers who controlled curses were, without exception, physically weak. Like squishy mages.
He summoned two curses immediately to create the illusion that he isn't good at close combat!
Nakamura's eyes gleamed. He had already simulated the battle in his mind—closing the distance, bypassing the curses, and killing Geto in one strike.
Yes! Perfect! Everything is under control!
The advantage is mine!
The next moment, Geto attacked.
A massive sandworm filled the entire corridor, its abyssal mouth lined with razor-sharp teeth lunging at Nakamura!
BANG!!!
The battle seemed to end quickly.
Geto relaxed his stance. "That's done. Time to regroup with Souma and Satoru."
CRASH!
Suddenly, the window to his upper right shattered.
Nakamura had burst out of the window the moment the sandworm attacked, clinging to the outer wall. Now, sensing Geto relaxing, he smashed back in!
Holding a short blade, aiming for a one-hit kill!
However, Geto seemed to expect this. He sidestepped the attack effortlessly, and a cursed tool suddenly appeared in his hands.
"That is... Playful Cloud!"
Nakamura turned pale with shock. He never expected to encounter the legendary Special Grade tool here.
Geto chuckled. "This is its first combat test. You're lucky!"
Stomping his left foot, Geto closed the distance instantly. The three-section staff danced like a butterfly of death!
"Impossible? Your taijutsu..." SPLAT!
"Hm? Tasuke? Tasuke! Is that you!"
"Compared to me, who could see things normal people couldn't, Mom and Dad always liked my excellent younger brother more. Only you, Tasuke, stayed by my side!"
"By the way, Tasuke, we haven't seen each other in fifty years, right? Ever since you died..."
"Ah... these scenes... it's a revolving lantern (life flashing before eyes)!"
The vision of the yellow Shiba Inu "Tasuke" vanished, replaced by a black-and-red three-section staff swinging with the force of a sonic boom!