Because of Panda's unique nature, he was not a living biological panda but a special Cursed Corpse created by Masamichi Yaga with three independent cores. Simply beheading him would not completely eliminate him. This was also why Mahito could use Idle Transfiguration without hesitation. A Cursed Corpse could not be turned into a Cursed Spirit.
Panda did not even have time to react. His severed head was completely incapable of speaking.
Under Ultimate Mechamaru's gaze, "Inumaki" thrust his hand into the opening at Panda's neck, pushing through the cotton stuffing inside. In the next instant, after a violent surge of Cursed Energy, numerous spikes burst outward from within Panda's body. His form went completely still.
It was not that Mahito had reshaped his hand into a weapon. The core was what housed Panda's soul, and Mahito had used Idle Transfiguration to directly destroy it.
After finishing this, Mahito slowly walked toward Panda's fallen head. He intended to destroy the final core as well.
Just as Mahito picked up Panda's head, preparing to crush it, the heavily damaged Ultimate Mechamaru spoke.
"You broke the agreement and attacked me."
"Oh? You're still functioning," Mahito replied calmly. He crushed the core inside Panda's head without hesitation, then stepped on Ultimate Mechamaru's face. "That's not accurate. I did not break our agreement. What I destroyed was only your puppet. I did not attack a Kyoto Jujutsu High sorcerer directly. So, goodbye."
With that, Mahito crushed Ultimate Mechamaru's only remaining intact head.
"Damn it!"
Far away, inside a hidden base in Kyoto, Kokichi Muta slammed his fist against the bathtub in fury, ignoring the strain it put on his frail body. Blood seeped from his bandage wrapped palms.
Kokichi Muta understood that the situation had already exceeded his expectations. Events were unfolding in a direction he could no longer predict.
Thinking of Kasumi Miwa's safety, he intended to contact Satoru Gojo immediately and reveal the deal he had made with Geto. But when his hand hovered over the phone, he hesitated.
If he exposed himself now, it would be a true violation of the Binding Vow he had made with Geto. Unlike Mahito's technical loophole of destroying only a puppet, this would be a direct breach.
And Panda was already dead. As an accomplice, would he ever be forgiven?
Perhaps Geto and Mahito would still honor their promise. Their target was not Miwa. She would be safe. She had to be.
In the end, selfishness won. Kokichi Muta chose not to break the agreement.
Humans were selfish. Pure selflessness did not exist.
However, as Kokichi himself had said, Mahito did have a Binding Vow with him. That meant Mahito still had to be cautious when directly facing someone from Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Mahito had already passed along detailed information about the Kyoto side's Cursed Techniques to Hanami. As long as he eliminated the unstable variable, Megumi Fushiguro, the rest, even Aoi Todo, could be dealt with using a single Domain Expansion.
Before that, however, Mahito was closer to the Storage. He planned to retrieve the necessary items first and then go after Megumi Fushiguro.
As he approached the Storage, Mahito sensed something unusual. He could clearly feel a Cursed Energy presence nearby.
That made no sense. Logically, no one should be guarding the entrance at this time.
Had Masamichi Yaga entered the Curtain and deduced that Tengen was the true target? Had he come here directly to guard the area?
Mahito dismissed the idea almost immediately. Yaga should not have been able to arrive this quickly.
When Mahito descended the stairs, he finally saw the person waiting there.
This was someone he truly did not expect.
"Honestly, I'm surprised to see anyone here," Mahito said, spreading his hands.
Yuki Tsukumo immediately sensed the thick smell of blood clinging to Mahito, who was wearing Inumaki's appearance. She also detected lingering Cursed Residue from multiple individuals. Her expression hardened.
"The commotion outside was your doing, wasn't it?" she said. "You surprise me as well. You're the first Cursed Spirit I've seen who can disguise itself as a human and speak so naturally."
Mahito answered calmly. "Then how about letting me pass? I'm in a bit of a hurry. Don't misunderstand. I'm not here for Tengen. I just need to retrieve something from the Storage. I'll leave once I'm finished."
Hearing Inumaki's voice speak so fluidly for so long created a strange sense of dissonance for Yuki Tsukumo.
The Cursed Spirit before her also reminded her of something Satoru Gojo had once asked her. Was there a method to turn non sorcerers into Cursed Spirits through a Cursed Technique, or through the ability of a Cursed Spirit?
Yuki had returned to Japan specifically to meet Lord Tengen and consult her about this matter. Tengen was the only being capable of the Merging. At the same time, Yuki's concerns about Tengen's Merging ability were exactly why she was standing here now.
Seeing Yuki remain silent, Mahito already understood her answer.
But he did not believe he would lose.
This was not the original manga's timeline. His Cursed Technique was still unknown to Jujutsu High. There was no way Yuki Tsukumo could understand its true nature.
Mahito decided to strike first. Time was limited. It was only a matter of time before Satoru Gojo broke through the Curtain.
Without hesitation, Mahito activated Idle Transfiguration at full output and slashed forward with clawed fingers.
Compared to a Grade 1 sorcerer like Nanami, Yuki Tsukumo's reaction speed was on an entirely different level. Even so, she was startled by Mahito's terrifying speed.
Although she reacted, three deep bloody gashes tore across her chest. Blood sprayed across her sleeveless top.
After just one exchange, Yuki's expression changed.
The Cursed Spirit before her was stronger than any she had ever encountered. Even among Special Grade Cursed Spirits, it stood on a completely different level.
Yuki Tsukumo shouted,
"Hōrin!"
...
Read advance chapters on p@treon
[email protected]/guilt_free_daoist
Join disc0rd link in synopsis.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.