"Mr. Geto Suguru, that's not a very funny joke."
En leaned on his black cane, his other hand discreetly shielding Junpei and the unconscious Fushiguro behind him.
"I'm just a merchant trying to make a little profit, but you..."
En adjusted his glasses, the gaze behind the lenses sharp as a blade.
"...are the most evil curse user of all, plotting to overthrow the entire Jujutsu world."
"A name is just a label."
Kenjaku didn't get angry; he simply maintained that same smile—one that felt as warm as a spring breeze, yet sent chills down the spine.
He slowly raised his hand, the wide sleeves of his monk's habit fluttering in the wind.
"Whether a merchant or a curse user..."
"...in the coming new era, only the strong will have the right to define their identity."
Kenjaku's gaze swept past En, looking toward the restless darkness deep within the cavern.
"Mr. En, you took that finger just now, didn't you?"
"That was an offering for Sukuna."
"I know."
Kenjaku nodded.
"But not just anyone is qualified to present a gift to the 'King of Curses'."
"If your strength doesn't match your ambition, then the chips in your hand will become your death warrant."
Before the words had even faded...
Kenjaku flicked his finger.
*Vwoom—*
A ripple of obscure cursed energy instantly swept through the entire cavern.
It was as if the gates of hell had been flung open.
"Screee—!!!"
"Roar—!!!"
The countless low-level curses that had been hiding underground, scared off by the previous battle, now seemed to answer a frantic summons.
They swarmed out from the cracks in the walls, the pits in the ground, and every dark corner.
Tens... hundreds... thousands!
A black mass like a bursting dam's flood, carrying a suffocating malice, swept toward En and the others.
This was Kenjaku's greeting—the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.
"There are too many!"
Junpei's face turned pale instantly as he watched the overwhelming tide of curses.
It was a nightmare for any trypophobe.
Furthermore, every curse's eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty red light; they had clearly been strengthened.
"Boss! What do we do?!"
Junpei instinctively looked at En.
En didn't move.
He stood silently, watching the black tide that was about to swallow them, then tilted his head slightly to look back at Junpei and the prone Fushiguro Megumi.
"Junpei."
En's voice was terrifyingly calm, showing no signs of being intimidated by the horrific sight.
"Do you remember what I told you in the car?"
"Huh?" Junpei blinked, startled.
"A true employee must learn how to share their boss's burdens."
En slammed the Golden Order into the ground.
*Thump!*
An invisible shockwave rippled out with him at the center, momentarily forcing back the lead curses.
"Listen up, Yoshino Junpei!"
En's tone became stern and unquestionable.
"This is your permanent employment exam!"
He grabbed the unconscious Fushiguro Megumi and tossed him toward Junpei like a sandbag.
"Protect him!"
"Until I deal with that big guy, don't let any of those filthy things touch you!"
"Can you do it?!"
Junpei caught Fushiguro, his legs shaking as he looked at the tsunami of curses.
It wasn't even a matter of whether he could do it or not.
People were going to die!
But...
Junpei glanced at En's back as he stood at the forefront.
His back wasn't particularly broad, but it stood like a mountain, blocking the most terrifying pressure coming from Kenjaku.
"...Yes!!"
Junpei bit his lip, desperation replacing his fear.
"Moon Dregs!!"
The massive jellyfish shikigami appeared out of thin air, but this time, it didn't float in the sky.
Junpei formed a seal with his hands, pouring out his cursed energy.
"Form Variation: Poison Fortress!"
The giant jellyfish crashed onto the ground instantly, its tentacles weaving and hardening to form a hemispherical transparent barrier, shielding Junpei and Fushiguro tightly inside.
*Sizzle—*
Curses that charged into the barrier were immediately corroded by the poison on the tentacles' surface, letting out agonizing shrieks.
"Oh?"
In the distance, Kenjaku raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"Was that one... also raised from scratch?"
"His use of a shikigami is quite interesting."
"However..."
Kenjaku's gaze returned to En.
"What I want to see is what you're really made of."
"Go."
Kenjaku waved his hand.
Within the tide of curses, several massive entities—clearly at the Grade 1 level—roared as they bypassed Junpei's defense and lunged straight for En!
These were elites controlled by Kenjaku's Cursed Spirit Manipulation.
A monstrous winged bird, a giant ape covered in stone armor, and a shadow demon lurking underground.
Three Grade 1 curses attacked from three sides!
Combined with the overwhelming fodder, it was a checkmate.
"Heh."
En watched the approaching monsters, an elegant yet cold curve playing on his lips.
He didn't retreat.
He didn't even draw his sword.
He simply gripped his black gentleman's cane with one hand and casually walked forward as if attending a dinner party.
The bird curse struck first, its sharp claws whistling through the air as they lunged for En's head.
En didn't even look; he casually parried upward with his cane.
*Clang!!*
Despite being a blunt instrument, it produced the crisp ring of clashing metal.
The bird's talons, strong enough to crush a tank, were firmly blocked by the slender cane, unable to move an inch further.
Simultaneously...
the shaft of the Golden Order vibrated slightly.
An invisible ripple was swallowed by the cane.
"Roar!!"
The stone ape followed immediately after, its millstone-sized fist slamming toward En's chest.
En flicked his wrist, holding the cane horizontally across his chest.
*Boom!!!*
The dull impact sent a tremor through the surrounding air.
En's feet sank three inches into the ground, but his body remained motionless.
The cane vibrated again, a dark light flickering across its surface.
"Is this all?"
En adjusted his glasses, his tone dismissive.
"If it's just trash like this, it isn't even worth the interest to make me draw my blade."
"Then let's raise the stakes."
Kenjaku laughed.
He pointed a finger at En.
This time, the curse he released felt completely different.
*Boom!*
A Quasi-Special Grade Imaginary Vengeful Spirit with three heads and a body wreathed in eerie green ghost-fire crawled out from the shadow behind Kenjaku.
It ignored Junpei and locked onto En.
The sheer pressure made the air feel scorched.
"Now that's more like it."
En's fingers tightened slightly around his cane.
He could feel the 'debt' within the cane hungering for more impact.
*Phew...*
En understood that he had only just reached Special Grade, whereas Kenjaku was many levels above him.
To win, he had to make use of every bit of power at his disposal.
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