Chapter 23: Rivers of Blood
In the darkness, the originally spacious hallway of the Ishigami house, besides the dense spider webs, was covered with Cursed Spirits. At the same time, numerous tentacles stretched out from the bloated bodies of those Cursed Spirits, thrashing wildly.
The rotting bodies of the Cursed Spirits emitted a foul, poisonous gas. They were multicolored, Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 2—Cursed Spirits of all different grades were present, a complete frenzy of demons.
The number was extraordinarily large. This was illogical; any fool would know that someone must have deliberately placed so many Cursed Spirits here. Now, it was even questionable whether the people who answered the phone earlier were Ishigami Yu's parents themselves.
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The screams and unique slicing sounds of the Chainsword echoed throughout the room and even reached outside the villa. Inside, rivers of blood flowed, similar to a bloodbath from hell.
Hikigaya Hachiman grabbed the head of a Cursed Spirit with one hand and, with a slight squeeze, crushed the skull with his bare hand. His other hand, holding the sword, wielded the sharp chainblade to execute the Emperor's wrath, wantonly tearing apart the Cursed Spirit's torso and disemboweling it.
Under the influence of the Black Rage, Hikigaya Hachiman deeply enjoyed the violent sensation of the electric saw ripping open the Cursed Spirits' bodies. It reminded him of piloting a landing craft directly into a scrap-built Ork warship and engaging in boarding actions, fighting dozens at once.
Only someone like Hikigaya Hachiman dared to single-handedly clear a Cursed Spirit dungeon of this Hell difficulty. An ordinary Grade 1 Sorcerer would have likely been overwhelmed. Leaving aside the number of Grade 1 Cursed Spirits, the quantity of Grade 2 Cursed Spirits was already astonishing. But for Hikigaya Hachiman, it was simply a matter of one extra swing.
Cursed Spirits with twisted and hideous faces, sensing a fresh source of blood and nourishment, rushed forward in a continuous frenzy.
"Buzz~"
A ringing sound of a blade transmitted through the foul air thick with the aura of Cursed Spirits. A materialized, crimson red energy blade floated in mid-air.
Hikigaya Hachiman bent down, grabbed the greatsword, and instantly exerted force to unleash the energy outwards. Several beautiful red arc-shaped light circles spread out from his sides, diffusing in all directions.
Like a merciless Death Halo enveloping the heads of the Cursed Spirits, those covered by the halo were shredded as if thrown into a meat grinder.
Severed limbs flew, and blood surged violently.
As the energy blades shot out, the area around Hikigaya Hachiman was completely cleared. The Cursed Spirits near him were all instantly slain, meeting a miserable end in one second.
Yet, the surrounding walls showed not a single sword mark, illustrating his astonishing control.
Violet-black blood gushed out like a torrent from the severed Cursed Spirits' torsos, and the flood of blood stained everything around.
Hikigaya Hachiman was a master swordsman. Thanks to the Blood Angels Primarch, Sanguinius, he had also studied martial arts under Lion El'Jonson, so his martial style carried elements of the Lion's as well.
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"The occupants of this house are still alive."
Hikigaya Hachiman discovered three cocoon-like objects. When the cocoons were peeled open, he found human occupants, likely Ishigami Yu's family.
This was also the reason Hikigaya Hachiman had notified the Sorcerer Association: because ordinary people were injured, ambulances and police cars would cordon off the entire complex later.
Hikigaya Hachiman had already sensed the location of that huge creature; it should be in Ishigami Yu's room.
Hikigaya Hachiman paused his steps. Although very faint, he heard it.
The ceiling slab above suddenly collapsed over a large area. Amidst the fragments of reinforced concrete and steel, several razor-sharp spikes mixed with a beast's roar descended.
Clearly, the Cursed Spirit above was angered by Hikigaya Hachiman's wanton slaughter of the lesser Cursed Spirits and was preparing to personally step on and crush this vile little bug.
However, the anticipated scenario of crushing the hateful bug with a single stomp did not occur.
Instead, the Cursed Spirit's vision was completely covered by a red, bloody light, immediately followed by the massive pain of its torso being torn apart.
The blood-red light shot straight into the night sky!
The merciless sword shadow, one swing tearing through the air, completely shattered the Cursed Spirit's body along with the rooftop.
Such a terrifying slash relied entirely on Hikigaya Hachiman's own physical capabilities.
Although Hikigaya Hachiman's physical fitness was far inferior to when he was fighting the Bloodthirster Ka'bandha, withstanding a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit's attack was still easy and stress-free.
When the smoke and dust cleared, the terrifying Cursed Spirit revealed its mutilated body.
One-third of its torso had completely vanished into the air, leaving behind only bloody and festering wounds. The corrosive blood sizzled as it eroded the surrounding ground.
The enraged Cursed Spirit wildly roared at Hikigaya Hachiman. Even in its impotent rage, the Cursed Spirit could not conceal a hint of fear in its roar.
Hikigaya Hachiman perceived that the Sorcerer Association's advance team seemed to have almost arrived.
He was already accustomed to the delayed arrival of friendly forces.
But just as Hikigaya Hachiman intended to quickly finish off the Cursed Spirit before him, the creature suddenly roared skyward, and its bestial eyes instantly became even darker green.
Concurrently, a visible green aurora-like light covered the entire surrounding sky as the Cursed Spirit roared, unleashing a massive Cursed Energy storm that swept the area. The [Curtain] shattered immediately under the force of this power.
"Innate Domain?"
That was an ability only Special Grade Cursed Spirits should possess. How could a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit have it?
Hikigaya Hachiman's vision was completely transformed into an unfamiliar world isolated from reality, formed by the fusion of spider silk, foam, and dark green poisonous gas.
The Jujutsu world has a saying that when facing an [Innate Domain], resistance is futile, as only a Domain can counter a Domain.
But this theory did not hold true for Hikigaya Hachiman, as he possessed powerful spiritual energy capable of suppressing Cursed Energy.
But just as Hikigaya Hachiman was about to take countermeasures, the illusory scene before him vanished entirely.
"Hmm?"
When Hikigaya Hachiman returned to reality, the terrifyingly powerful Cursed Spirit had already left, leaving behind only the devastation of the ruins.
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Meanwhile, in another luxurious villa within the same complex where the Cursed Spirit had appeared.
The green-haired girl whom Hikigaya Hachiman had briefly encountered in the underground parking lot was crouching in her backyard garden, so she did not hear the urgent calls of the maid anxiously telling her to evacuate.
Mutsumi Wakaba looked somewhat forlornly at the small cucumbers she had planted, which were growing very vigorously.
"Soyo."
Mutsumi Wakaba was merely poor at expressing her emotions, not devoid of them.
Thinking of Sayoko and Soyo, Mutsumi Wakaba, caught between the two of them, felt a wave of sadness.
"Hmm?"
The dejected Mutsumi Wakaba suddenly had her attention drawn to several gem-like objects twinkling with a green light.
But when she saw the true form of those objects, Mutsumi Wakaba's pupils constricted.
It was a giant spider, larger than an adult Alaskan Malamute. The emerald-like glow came from its eyes.
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