The midday sun filtered through the glass windows of the Star Plasma Cult base, casting dazzling spots of light onto the living room floor.
After three months away, Larue, Manami, and Negi had finally returned from their mission out of town. They met at the entrance and walked toward the living room side by side, still covered in the dust of their journey. Their Cursed Spirit storage bags were bulging, clearly indicating a fruitful trip.
Pushing open the door, they saw Nanako and Mimiko lying on the sofa; one was holding a phone playing a game, and the other was holding a tablet watching a show.
The sound of the door opening startled the two sisters. Looking up and seeing that the three cadres had returned, they instantly sprang up from the sofa, their faces filled with surprise.
Nanako rushed forward, grabbing Larue's arm, her voice crisp and clear: "Brother Larue! You're finally back! Did you bring me any gifts?"
Larue smiled and ruffled her hair, pulling an exquisite little box from his backpack:
"Of course I did. Not only for you, but also for Mimiko, and even Rin has a share."
As he spoke, he produced several gifts one after another. For Nanako, it was the latest gaming controller; for Mimiko, a limited-edition anime figurine; and for Rin, a DAT Walkman.
Manami leaned against the doorframe, watching the lively scene, and asked with a smile: "In the three months we've been gone, has anything happened at the base? Where are Geto and Miguel? Why aren't they here?"
Negi nodded in agreement, his gaze sweeping across the living room: "Yeah, we haven't seen them since we got back. They wouldn't be cooking up some plan again, would they?"
"What plans?" Mimiko pouted, her tone filled with a hint of complaint:
"They've been revolving around Rin for the past three months. Every day, they're either in the training ground teaching him Cursed Techniques or accompanying him in physical combat training. They haven't even had time to take us out to play."
Negi chimed in:
"As cadres, they should be focusing on missions, not running off to teach a kid who knows nothing." His expression was very dissatisfied, as if he felt Miguel was neglecting his proper duties.
Larue's eyes lit up, and he suggested:
"Perfect. Let's go to the training ground and see what Geto and Miguel have taught Rin."
Manami immediately agreed, with a hint of "gritted-teeth" teasing:
"We have to go! That guy Miguel has been hiding in the base playing teacher, forcing me to cover several of his missions. I'm exhausted. I need to properly 'greet' him today!"
The group walked toward the training ground chatting and laughing. Before they even got close, they felt a heart-palpitating pressure. It was the unique aura of a Special Grade Cursed Spirit—heavy and cold, making one's breathing stutter slightly.
Immediately after, a loud "boom" came from the direction of the training ground, and the ground even trembled slightly, as if heavy objects were colliding violently.
"Is this... the movement of a Special Grade Cursed Spirit?" Negi's expression shifted slightly, and he quickened his pace.
The group exchanged glances and hurriedly pushed open the door to the training ground, but the scene before them caused them to freeze in place instantly.
In the center of the arena, a massive Cursed Spirit was locked in fierce combat with a young man. That Cursed Spirit was none other than Geto Suguru's Cursed Spirit.
Its dark blue-green body was wrapped in rusted armor, and the katana in its hand was swung with such density that not even a drop of water could pass through. Every slash brought a whistling sound as it cut through the air, yet the young man nimbly dodged every attack, even managing to seize gaps to counterattack.
And that young man was Rin.
Geto Suguru and Miguel stood at the edge of the arena, both staring intently at the battle, not even noticing when people entered.
It wasn't until they felt the gazes behind them that the two turned around. Upon seeing Larue and the others, there wasn't much surprise on their faces; they had received news of the three cadres' return early on.
"You're back?" Geto Suguru nodded with a smile as a greeting. Miguel waved at Manami, teasing slightly:
"Manami, you weren't exhausted by this mission, were you?"
Manami rolled her eyes but had no heart to bicker with him; her gaze had long been firmly drawn to the battle in the arena.
The Cursed Spirit let out another roar, its katana sweeping horizontally toward Rin's waist and abdomen. But Rin tapped his toes on the ground, leaping backward lightly, while clenching his fist. Black-red Cursed Energy condensed on his fist, slamming fiercely into the Cursed Spirit's chest.
"Bang!" With a dull thud, the massive body of the Cursed Spirit was actually knocked back repeatedly by this punch, and a crack even appeared on its armor.
Relying on the self-healing ability of a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, it quickly repaired its wound, but Rin's attacks came like a tidal wave. Punches, elbow strikes, knee strikes—every blow was heavy and powerful, forcing the Cursed Spirit into passive defense.
What shocked Larue and the others even more was that Rin hadn't used any Cursed Technique from start to finish, not even activating the legendary Sharingan. He was suppressing a Special Grade Cursed Spirit entirely through physical combat!
You have to understand, even if the Cursed Spirit didn't have complex Cursed Techniques and only fought based on strength and physical durability, the title of "Special Grade" meant an absolute barrier of power.
Three months ago, Rin still needed to rely on Cursed Techniques to barely contend with a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit. Now, he could suppress a Special Grade one with just physical combat?
Larue watched the figure weaving flexibly in the arena, his mouth slightly agape, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Yet Geto Suguru and Miguel looked indifferent, as if the scene before them was to be expected. Miguel even whispered to Geto Suguru:
"The angle of that punch was a bit off. If it had been shifted slightly to the left, he would have hit the gap in the Cursed Spirit's armor."
Geto Suguru nodded in agreement: "Hmm, his reaction speed could be improved a bit more. He was half a second slow when dodging that blade just now."
Just as everyone was immersed in shock, the battle in the arena suddenly took a turn.
Under continuous defense, the Cursed Spirit finally revealed a flaw. Its sword-swinging motion slowed for a split second. Rin immediately seized the opportunity, pushed off the ground with both feet, and his body leaped up like an arrow released from a bow, arriving directly in front of the Cursed Spirit.
The Cursed Spirit's pupils constricted sharply; it wanted to raise its blade to block, but it was already too late.
Rin twisted his waist violently in mid-air, gathering all his strength into his right fist. The black-red Cursed Energy was no longer just a simple coating; it perfectly synchronized with the movement of his fist, forming an ultimate explosive force.
"Hah!" Rin roared, his fist slamming fiercely into the Cursed Spirit's face.
In the next second, a bolt of pitch-black lightning erupted from his fist, accompanied by a sharp "crackle," instantly illuminating the entire training ground. That was the move that could only be triggered when Cursed Energy and physical attacks were perfectly synchronized (with a margin of error of no more than 0.0001 seconds)—Black Flash!
"He did it!" Miguel instantly punched the air in excitement, and Geto Suguru couldn't help but smile, his eyes filled with gratification. This battle had been intended to test whether Rin could land a Black Flash in actual combat, and now, it was finally a success.
The pitch-black lightning dissipated, and the massive body of the Cursed Spirit crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a large cloud of dust, completely losing the ability to resist.
Geto Suguru raised his hand and performed Finger Seals, retracting it back into the Cursed Spirit storage space. Rin landed slowly, panting slightly, sweat rolling down his cheeks, his body bearing several small wounds sliced open by the katana.
He walked up to the group. Just as he was about to speak, Larue stepped forward first, looking at the wounds on his body, and asked with concern:
"Rin, are you okay? Are the injuries serious?"
Rin shook his head with a smile and brushed the dust off his body:
"Small issue, it's nothing." As he spoke, he raised his hand and pressed it against his wounds. Pale blue Cursed Energy flowed slowly—it was the light of the Reverse Cursed Technique. In just a few seconds, the wounds on his body completely healed, not even leaving a scar.
At this, Larue, Manami, and Negi were completely stunned. Not only could he suppress a Special Grade Cursed Spirit with physical combat, but he could also use the Reverse Cursed Technique to heal himself? In three months, he had actually grown to this extent?
Manami was the first to react. She stepped forward and patted Rin on the shoulder, her tone filled with admiration:
"Not bad, Rin! It's only been three months, and you're almost catching up to us!" Negi also nodded: "That's amazing. I still haven't learned that Black Flash move even now."
Rin scratched his head and said modestly: "It's all because Teacher Geto and Boss Miguel taught me well. I just practiced a lot."
Geto Suguru smiled and interrupted them: "Alright, don't just stand here. They just got back, so let's go to the living room to rest, and we can talk about the situation of this mission along the way."