The Cursed Spirit's grotesquely long arms lashed through the air—an unsettling sight to any ordinary viewer.
But at Kamihara Hajime's speed, everything moved in slow motion. Calm and focused, he stepped forward and caught both arms mid-swing, rendering the creature's assault completely ineffective—like a child flailing helplessly.
With a sharp pull, Hajime yanked the Cursed Spirit toward him, then delivered a crushing front kick.
The Spirit's body snapped in midair under the force. It was thrown backward, its form twisting as it flew, stirring a sharp gust through the corridor. The wall and window at the end exploded on impact, opening a jagged view of the sky.
The sheer speed and brutality of the exchange left the audience stunned. Even through a screen, the raw power displayed offered a first glimpse into the true capabilities of a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Without hesitation, Hajime blurred forward, his body trailing afterimages. Maki followed close behind, the small owl-shaped Cursed Corpse perched on her shoulder.
Their synchronized leap from the sixth floor sent a jolt of exhilaration through the viewers watching from a first-person perspective. Hajime was already on the ground, landing with practiced ease.
Maki let the owl take flight, then absorbed the landing with control and grace. She straightened and resumed the live broadcast.
The Cursed Spirit, still dazed from the earlier attack, struggled to rise—but Hajime descended like a hammer, slamming his heel into its back and driving it into the ground.
Cracks radiated from the impact. The creature's face contorted further, hideous and wild.
Hajime dodged to the side, avoiding a whip-like tongue that shot from its mouth. He had been holding back, using only basic applications of Cursed Energy. The demonstration was for the public, not a real fight.
Under normal circumstances, a Cursed Spirit of this level wouldn't have lasted a single exchange. Whether this was good or bad luck for it was up for debate.
Reduced to a glorified punching bag, the creature endured Hajime's carefully controlled blows. He limited his strength deliberately, ensuring the fight lasted longer than two minutes—for the sake of the viewers.
In the end, Hajime chose a clean conclusion. He drew Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, slicing through the Spirit in one swift, merciful motion.
To the audience, the monstrous Spirit had been helpless. For many unfamiliar with the world of Jujutsu, the sudden realization struck: perhaps these things weren't as unstoppable as they'd imagined.
Once the battle ended, the support team took over the cleanup. There was no need to continue the broadcast.
Hajime and the others signed off without fanfare. With only brief nods, they cut the link to the owl-type Cursed Corpse and ended the stream.
Unable to see the public's reaction, Hajime casually prepared to head home.
As a streamer, Hajime was far from polished, but the viewers didn't care. Even after his image disappeared from the screen, the stream's popularity only grew.
And there was no time for anyone to feel disappointed about Hajime's departure—because at that moment, Gojo Satoru appeared on screen.
---
Hajime had planned to grab a bite on the way back, but that hope died quickly. It finally hit him how massive the impact of a nationally televised live broadcast really was.
Too recognizable now, he had no choice but to return directly to Jujutsu High with Maki.
On the way back, Panda and the others urged him to watch Gojo's segment. Hajime did—and it was clear: Gojo Satoru was built for the spotlight. His presence on a live stream felt completely natural.
This time, Fushiguro Megumi accompanied him. Surprisingly, Megumi was at ease on camera, even going out of his way to interact with the audience.
The viewers were once again electrified. Gojo's battle captivated them, especially when he unveiled Cursed Technique: Reversal – Red, shaking their understanding of Jujutsu to the core.
Unlike Hajime, who had to be careful indoors, Gojo operated freely in open terrain. Buildings didn't matter. Safety regulations? Optional.
The Grade 1 Cursed Spirit Gojo faced stood no chance. He teased it first, explaining random trivia to the audience as if giving a casual lecture—then obliterated it with Red.
The spectacle was breathtaking. Superpowered hand-to-hand combat was the kind of fantasy that thrilled people, and Gojo's performance made it all feel real.
Witty, charming, endlessly confident—Gojo stole the show. He appealed to everyone.
And with a wink and stylish farewell to the camera, he ended his segment. Next in line: Yuta Okkotsu, the third Special Grade Sorcerer to join the nationwide showcase.
The public's perception of Jujutsu Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits had changed drastically in a matter of hours.
Discussions exploded online and offline alike. Curses and Jujutsu were the new obsession, overshadowing every other headline.
Though many details remained mysterious, the Sorcerers—each with their own distinct style—had quickly built passionate fan bases.
Fear of Curses still lingered, of course, but now there was a counterbalance: hope.
People began speculating: how long would any Cursed Spirit last against these three?
Some even tried to rank them in terms of power, most just guessing, though a few surprisingly accurate theories floated among the noise.
Unbeknownst to the public, some "insiders" guiding those conversations had been planted deliberately to steer opinion. Hajime knew that for a fact.
Back at Jujutsu High, he joined the debriefing. The first operation was deemed a success. The live broadcasts had significantly redirected the public's attention.
By presenting Jujutsu Sorcerers as guardians rather than shadowy figures, the public now had something else to think about when a Curse appeared—not just fear, but reassurance.
And that mattered.
This kind of hope, these so-called "heroes," were exactly what society needed in the face of supernatural threats.
There was no more hiding. With Cursed Spirits now exposed, the existence of Jujutsu Sorcerers could no longer remain a secret.
---
After the meeting, Hajime was stopped by Maki's teasing smirk.
"You looked pretty pleased when people recognized you, huh? Secretly enjoying the fame?"
Hajime rolled his eyes. "I wasn't enjoying it."
"Sure," she said. "Gojo's having the time of his life. He probably wanted to show off Purple. Next time, you take the backseat and let me be on camera. My cursed tool skills would blow them away."
Maki paused, imagining the entire nation watching her fight. The idea made her uncomfortable. Thinking about the flood of online comments, she quickly shut the thought down.
"You all can enjoy that kind of attention... not for me."
---
Later, Principal Yaga Masamichi brought up a new initiative: refining the national barrier system with the help of Master Tengen.
Despite efforts to contain the situation, the rise in Cursed Spirits couldn't be stopped completely.
The solution? Strengthen and expand barriers across the country—turning them into emergency shelters during Curse incidents.
Even if they couldn't stop high-level Spirits, the extra seconds they bought might save lives.
The source of power? That was still being debated, though it was hinted the "belief" of the people would play a role.
Hajime didn't press for details—he had his own idea.
After the meeting, he asked to speak with Yaga privately in his office.
"What's wrong, Hajime?" Yaga asked with a grin. "You've become a star like Gojo. Feeling the pressure?"
"Please don't tease me, Yaga-sensei," Hajime sighed. "I had a thought…"
Yaga leaned forward, listening.
"Cursed tools can be wielded by ordinary people," Hajime began. "They can't kill a powerful Curse—but they can buy time against low-grade ones."
Yaga nodded thoughtfully. "We've considered that. But mass-producing them isn't realistic. They require too much strength and cursed energy—especially high-grade tools. And not every citizen can wield one properly. Even Maki's strength is thanks to a Heavenly Restriction."
"I'm not suggesting we arm the public with high-grade weapons," Hajime replied. "I'm talking about simple cursed tools, enhanced charms, maybe even talismans that interfere with or slow low-grade Curses. Something that can delay or distract—not kill."
Yaga narrowed his eyes. "So, a mass-produced defense system?"
"Exactly. And I might have a way."
Hajime went on to explain: he had been working on a new barrier technique as part of mastering Domain Expansion. Though he hadn't succeeded, he'd developed a unique barrier that could rapidly accelerate certain processes inside.
"In theory, I can use this to speed up the creation of basic cursed tools. A hundredfold."
Yaga's eyes widened.
"Hmm… If Master Tengen can provide the energy source… then this could work. Those simpler tools don't need much cursed energy. And if we can truly mass-produce them…"
Yaga's face grew serious. "This could change everything. Let's get Gojo in here. We need to explore this fully."
---
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