Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1... Mei's Cursed Energy aura kept rising, and some of the ordinary people in the dojo who weren't Jujutsu Sorcerers were already finding it hard to breathe under the pressure.
"You've completely fallen to the Evil Path. Let me put you out of your misery."
After speaking, Utata charged straight toward Isayama Mei.
The dojo space was too small. If Byakuei was released here, the structure would be destroyed instantly.
So Utata chose to engage in close combat first and drag the battle outside.
"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure."
A Jujutsu Sorcerer from the Isayama Family, guarding Naraku, immediately deployed a barrier when the fight began.
Bang.
Utata grabbed Mei's arm and slammed her out of the dojo with an iron mountain lean.
Eichi, watching all of this through the shadows, understood Utata's intention clearly.
The courtyard walls, under the trees, the dojo... every shadow in the open space began to ripple, then surged toward Mei like a tide.
"All of you, die!"
Cursed Energy from the Sesshoseki continued pouring out of Mei.
But it was nothing more than a final struggle.
"Byakuei."
Seeing Mei trapped in the swamp of shadows, unable to move, Utata released Inugami Byakuei without hesitation.
It was like Mei had been hit by a speeding train. It felt as if every bone in her body had shattered.
The Sesshoseki tried to heal her, but the rate of healing couldn't keep up with the speed of injury.
Medea dispelled her spirit form and appeared at Mei's side.
Sensing the highest concentration of Cursed Energy in her body, Medea calmly plunged her hand into Mei's chest.
Soon, she extracted a red stone that emitted a stream of resentful Cursed Energy.
The Sesshoseki.
The battle had started quickly and ended just as fast.
Outside the dojo, Isayama Yomi pushed a wheelchair, bringing Naraku to Utata's side.
Ever since Naraku had retired due to injury, this upright friend had given him a growing sense of security.
The two, having often fought side by side, had developed a deep friendship.
One was a scholar, the other a warrior. Together, they upheld the Jujutsu world of the Tohoku Region.
Sometimes, Naraku even wanted to say to Utata, "Brother, you smell so good."
But when he looked at Utata's solid build and compared it to his own now-thin body after years of injury, he didn't dare make that joke.
Behind Naraku, the thirty-something Jujutsu Sorcerer carried Yu with one hand like a chicken.
This young man had disliked Yu from the moment he arrogantly claimed the title of Family Head, so he wasn't holding back at all.
"If you hadn't let your desires consume you and tortured me for pleasure, things might have ended differently."
"Your mistake was not finishing me off when you had the chance."
Looking at Mei lying on the ground with empty eyes, Naraku shook his head.
"Take her away. Get every last accomplice out of her."
"Understood."
Naraku's confidant nodded, then lifted Yu and Mei, one in each hand, and left the scene.
Next, the Isayama Family would undergo a full internal purge.
The Grand Elder was already thinking of how to distance himself from Yu.
Resistance? It didn't exist.
Almost all the powerful Jujutsu Sorcerers in the Family supported Naraku. People like the Grand Elder, who relied only on talk, had few supporters beyond those with vested interests.
In a hidden hideout, Sanzu Kawa lay on a bed in pain.
"Damn it. What kind of power was that? It's similar to Reverse Cursed Technique, but even stronger."
The Holy Sword's energy had inflicted immense damage on him.
'Looks like your little cat failed.'
Tamamo-no-Mae's voice echoed in Sanzu Kawa's mind.
"What happened?"
'I can't sense the Sesshoseki on that girl anymore. Not only did she fail to take control of the Isayama Family, she's now a prisoner. Your judgment was clearly off.'
Tamamo-no-Mae's tone held a trace of disappointment.
Sanzu Kawa slammed his fist into the wall in anger.
He had been planning for days and even took part personally.
He had expected to trade one Sesshoseki to gain three in return.
Instead, he had only secured one.
All that effort for days, and he ended up seriously injured.
Worse, he had previously known the location of the remaining Sesshoseki, but now he had lost track of one.
This entire ordeal had been a complete loss.
"What should I do next?"
Sanzu Kawa gritted his teeth.
'Have you run out of options?'
Tamamo-no-Mae easily sensed the growing panic in his heart.
"I can only lay low for now and wait for those annoying people to leave before making another move."
Listening to her, Sanzu Kawa couldn't help but feel uneasy.
'Is that so…'
Tamamo-no-Mae sighed quietly.
"Don't worry. For the sake of your parents, I'll gather all the Sesshoseki for you."
Sanzu Kawa tried to appease her.
'No.'
Her cold reply made his heart sink.
'You no longer have a chance. After this incident, if they hide the Sesshoseki, how long do you think it will take to find it?'
If the Sesshoseki taken from Mei was in Eichi's hands, then no one would know where he might hide it.
Finding it again would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
'And you saw Tsuchimiya Utata's state. Last time you fought, the Sesshoseki's erosion on him was almost negligible. Now he knows your methods. It'll be even harder to take his.'
Tamamo-no-Mae's voice was calm, but each word struck harder than the last.
"So... what are you trying to say?"
Sanzu Kawa's anxiety deepened.
'You can't fulfill the agreement anymore. From now on, leave everything to me.'
His heart clenched.
He didn't believe Tamamo-no-Mae's "leave it to me" was said with any kindness.
Sure enough, in the next moment, Cursed Energy surged from the Sesshoseki embedded in his body, flooding him.
The incarnation began.
At first, Tamamo-no-Mae had avoided incarnation because she was unfamiliar with the world after a thousand years. She needed a pawn to gather the Sesshoseki while she observed from the shadows.
Now she had learned enough.
And Sanzu Kawa had failed too many times.
Tamamo-no-Mae had run out of patience.
"Agh!"
Sanzu Kawa screamed in pain.
His physical body began to change. His skin turned fairer, and his figure grew taller.
"At last... answer me one question... Tamamo-no-Mae..."
(To be continued.)