The terrifying high temperature not only turned all the Curses that had gathered on the school rooftop into ashes but also reduced the ground to scorched earth. Along with the rising thick smoke, the air for hundreds of meters around became intensely hot.
"Roar—!"
After all this, the Horned Dragon that had been circling in the air finally descended again and landed next to Itadori and Fushiguro.
"Thanks for your effort. Although the technique just now eliminated most of the Curses, there should still be a few stragglers nearby. I'll leave it to you and the Tail-fire Tiger to finish them off." Seiya leaped off the dragon's head, first reaching out to stroke the Horned Dragon's horn before turning to give it a command.
Hearing Seiya's instruction, the Horned Dragon nodded humanely, let out a dragon's roar, and flew off again.
"I am Megumi Fushiguro, a Grade 2 Sorcerer from Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu High School. Are you from Kyoto Prefectural Jujutsu High School?" Japan currently only had these two Jujutsu educational institutions, and Seiya's age seemed similar to his own. Since Fushiguro had never met Seiya at the Tokyo school, he naturally assumed Seiya was a student at the Kyoto school.
"Jujutsu High School? Sorcerer? What are you talking about? My name is Wenren Seiya, and I'm not from any Jujutsu High School you mentioned. I'm a student at Suginami High School. If you don't believe me, you can ask the idiot next to you. I've been going to the same school as this guy from middle school to high school."
Seiya, of course, knew about Jujutsu High and Curses, but he chose to act ignorant. The reason was simple: he couldn't easily explain his Shikigami and abilities. Most Sorcerers in the Jujutsu world have masters or mentors, especially the Big Three families, whose legacies are long-standing. Before today, Seiya had no contact with other Sorcerers. If he knew about Jujutsu High and Curses without guidance, it would be too strange. Self-awakened Sorcerers are not unheard of, and that was the role Seiya decided to play.
"You're not a Jujutsu High student, and you haven't received any systematic instruction, yet you can command such a Shikigami and master such a powerful Cursed Technique?"
Hearing Seiya's words, Fushiguro was stunned, especially when Itadori nodded and confirmed that Seiya wasn't lying and that they had been hanging out together since middle school. The black-haired boy froze, speechless.
Fushiguro had assumed Seiya was a student from the Kyoto Jujutsu High, or perhaps a genius from one of the Sorcerer families. After all, the strength Seiya just displayed, combined with his age, put him at the level of a genius like Aoi Todo, if not the monsters like Gojo-sensei and Okkotsu-senpai. But the truth, according to Itadori, was that Seiya hadn't received any systematic teaching or training. From middle school to high school, he and Yuji Itadori had been fighting all over the place, even earning quite a reputation among the local delinquents.
Fushiguro didn't think Seiya was lying, as his best friend Itadori was right there, and the truth of Seiya's claims could be easily verified with a little investigation. However, Fushiguro found it difficult to accept that Seiya, without any formal instruction or training, was already this strong. If he were to receive systematic teaching and training, wouldn't he become the fifth Special Grade Sorcerer in just a few years?
"Seiya, when did you get so strong? Fushiguro said before that only Curses can fight Curses. Quick, tell me, how do you become one of you... um... Sorcerers. Yes, how do you become a Sorcerer?"
Seeing his best friend display such overwhelming power, Itadori was naturally deeply affected. Especially when Sasaki-senpai and Iguchi-senpai were in danger, Itadori felt a deep sense of powerlessness. His grandfather had just told him to help those in need within his capability, but he couldn't even protect the senpais who were in danger because of him. If Seiya could become a Sorcerer like Fushiguro, Itadori believed he also had a chance. He eagerly questioned his friend for the secret.
"How to become a Sorcerer? If you're talking about that supernatural power, I'm not entirely sure how I got it myself. One night, I was attacked by those things... um... the 'Curses' this guy mentioned. I was fighting it, but I found that no matter how hard I punched it, it just wouldn't die. Finally, after hitting the so-called Curse for a long time, I suddenly felt a new power inside me, and then I killed it..."
Seiya's description was incredibly simple, but Fushiguro was speechless. He knew that Seiya's situation was likely a case of self-awakening Cursed Energy through contact with a Curse, and then instinctively using that power to kill the Cursed Spirit. The reason Fushiguro was speechless was because Seiya's actions were unbelievable. When a normal person suddenly sees a supernatural creature like a Curse, shouldn't their first instinct be to run? Seiya's immediate action was to punch it. Is that the normal thought process for a human?
"Well, I honestly didn't think there were supernatural beings in this world at first. I ran into it while taking a walk in the park. I thought someone was trying to play a trick, so I was going to go over there and teach them a lesson."
Hearing the real reason, Fushiguro was even more exasperated.
"So, if I also find a Curse and beat it up... I mean, fight it, maybe I can also get that Cursed Energy you're talking about?" Seiya's experience of awakening Cursed Energy seemed ridiculous to Fushiguro, yet Itadori had an "ah-ha!" expression and looked eager to try it out immediately.
"Whether you can awaken Cursed Energy depends on talent, and fighting a Curse as a normal person is just too dangerous..." As a Sorcerer, Fushiguro felt it was necessary to explain the danger of Curses to Itadori and warn him not to seek trouble. However, Itadori clearly wasn't listening to his heartfelt advice, already rolling up his sleeves and preparing to search the school for any leftover Curses.