6 Chapter 06

When Itadori asked Satoru Gojo himself for a manual on the use of cursed energy, he didn't expect to receive something so soon.

But, as not everything was flowers, the book provided by Gojo could not be described as a manual, but rather as a history book.

Being able to read its entire contents in just a few hours, Yuji noticed that it contained only what energy was used for, and a few technical examples of how to use it.

But he wouldn't complain about that. Technical details, no matter how small, would be a great help to him. 

A manual would have been preferable, but in the end, Itadori didn't believe he could use cursed energy in a fight so soon.

But to survive his battle against the special grade curse, perhaps he would at least be able to protect his body with a layer of energy.

Even if he couldn't control it properly, he hoped that he would at least be able to cover his body by expelling some of this energy, however roughly.

Maybe then he would stand a chance against the special class curse.

Standing in his dormitory, Itadori had his hands together in front of his abdomen, his breathing slow but deep.

In his old life, he had learned to meditate as a form of internal regulation. It helped him to get used to the zero gravity of space, and to stay calm in risky situations.

At the moment, he was using it to discern the cursed energy being pumped through his body, which was making considerable progress.

He had already been able to use cursed energy perception to the point of being able to discern remnants of energy, which in itself was great progress.

At that moment, he was trying to somehow release the energy that was traveling through his body.

But something was hindering his progress, something he couldn't identify.

As a grown man, he had great control of his own emotions, he didn't think he would have to go through the same training as Yuji, but even so, there was something that wouldn't allow him to release the cursed energy.

'Is it Sukuna?'

Frowning, he considered this idea. Unlike the original Itadori, he was treating Sukuna with as little respect as possible, trying to prevent any kind of communication through the appearance of their mouths.

To be honest, Itadori didn't like Sukuna at all. As a spectator, he could appreciate him as a great villain, but now as Itadori, he could only despise him.

Of course, he could respect him as a powerful being, and even fear his strength, but he couldn't help seeing him as a nuisance.

Having someone who would take the slightest chance to fuck you while sharing the same body as yourself was not something a completely sane person would want.

In Itadori's eyes, Sukuna was nothing more than a tool that, over time, would give him enough power to sit comfortably at the top alongside the strongest.

He had no intention of letting him take control, nor of making him an ally.

He just wanted to collect all he fingers and find a way to assimilate all he power and cursed technique. If he succeeded, he wouldn't think twice about finding a way to destroy Sukuna's soul.

But if that wasn't possible, he wouldn't mind leaving Sukuna in prison until the day he died.

He didn't like this choice of words, but at the moment, it was the best he could think of.

Sukuna was his springboard.

.

Gathered in a forest near the reformatory where the cursed womb had appeared, Itadori observed the building in the distance with a gleam in his eye.

He could see the powerful cursing energy emerging from every corner of the reformatory, but he could perceive a greater concentration in what could be either the gymnasium or the school swimming pool.

He understood that this was the place where the special-grade curse would most likely be.

If possible, he would like to increase Megumi and Nobara's caution about this, or everything would repeat itself in the end.

Ijichi Kyotaka, the assistant principal of Jujutsu High, made a point of going over the details collected, as well as giving a brief explanation of the curse classes.

Itadori already knew all this, and didn't bother much with his explanation, focusing more on devising a way to counter the powerful curse they would eventually face.

Moving to the entrance of the reformatory, the group stopped in front of the door to listen to Ijichi's last words before leaving.

"That which frightens more than darkness... Is darker than black. Purify that impurity."

Walking through the corridors outside, Itadori turned to the sky to see a black curtain appear, covering the entire grounds of the reformatory.

"That's interesting, although it doesn't serve much purpose apart from hiding this kind of problem from non-sorcerers.

"Divine Dogs!"

Signaling with her hands, a shadow emerged from Megumi's back, a figure forming out of the darkness to reveal a large white wolf.

"It will warn us when something dangerous is approaching."

Itadori and Nobara nodded in confirmation, the group reaching the door that led inside the reformatory and entering at once.

"Let's go!"

Upon entering the building, the group was surprised when a chaotic sight of pipes and buildings appeared before their eyes.

This put them all on full alert.

"I read about that." Itadori, who had been observing his surroundings carefully, immediately turned to see the entrance door disappear and then something distorted the space in front of him, replaced by a multitude of tubes.

"Did you read that book?" Megumi, seeing that the door had disappeared, frowned in concern. "The one Sensei Gojo gave you?"

Nodding in agreement, Itadori swallowed. Even though he knew what would happen, he couldn't stop himself from getting nervous. If his idea didn't work, the chances of him ending up dead, or ceding control to Sukuna, were high.

"An expansion of his innate mastery. I've read that only powerful and experienced wizards are able to do it, so I believe the curse did it involuntarily."

Megumi agreed, her head turning towards the darkness of a corridor.

"Was there anything else in that book?"

Itadori scratched his chin, looking thoughtful for a moment.

"As far as innate domains are concerned, no. Just that they could be expanded, nothing too deep or technical."

"Hey, hey! Why do you two look so calm?! The door's gone!"

Nobara, who seemed the only one nervous about the situation, asked with concern on her face, causing Megumi and Itadori to turn away.

"My divine dog remembers the smell of the exit."

"Good doggy! What a lovely dog!"

Nobara, who seemed to change her attitude in the blink of an eye, moved to stroke the wolf.

"Anyway, we should move, the last thing we should do is stay in one place for too long." Ignoring Nobara's silly attitude, Itadori put himself at the head of the group. He disliked this kind of attitude, but in that situation, knowing the danger he was in, he couldn't be as relaxed as he would have liked.

"Damn... You just got your powers and you're already acting like an expert." Nobara commented with a little irritation pulsing in her eyebrows.

Itadori didn't answer right away, focusing on the road. "Actually, I'm nervous."

"..."

As the three of them walked, Megumi observed Itadori's attitude with an indifferent expression. Ever since Sukuna had taken control, Itadori had acted seriously in most cases. Even his expression had changed, and Megumi could no longer see that ignorant glint in his eyes.

"It's as if the awareness of his execution had changed him completely."'

With her eyes turned to the ground, Megumi let out a quick sigh. 'But in the end, that's good. It means that your mentality is strong enough to survive in this world.

'Sensei Gojo has high expectations of him, and frankly, I think I do too. He seems to be trying hard enough, even asking for books to study the cursed energy.'

With Itadori walking at an ordinary but cautious pace, Megumi looked at his back.

'I know it will only be a matter of time before he can learn energy manipulation.'

With the three of them opening a door that led straight into the swimming area of the reformatory, the group immediately noticed some deformed bodies in the empty interior of the pool.

"Damn, that sucks."

Jumping into the pool, the three of them walked until they were in front of the bodies.

Itadori had been through a lot in his old life, but seeing bodies in such a mutilated state was not something he had witnessed before.

Killing curses was a different matter, they saw most of them as irrational creatures intent on harming anything that came their way.

But when it came to humans, the situation was different. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't a little shaken by such a sight.

Moving in front of what was left of the body in better condition, Itadori grabbed the name on his uniform and tore it off in one go, putting it in his own pocket.

He hadn't cared much for the woman who was trying to find out if her son was all right, but he was still able to hear her say his name.

It was like a promise he made to himself at that moment.

If he was able to get out of that place alive, then he would hand it over to that woman himself.

"Megumi, keep the wolf close to you."

As Itadori stood up, he couldn't help but notice when an energy signature appeared near them, his eyes immediately settling on Nobara as he waited for it all to begin.

"I believe we are in the place where the special grade curse is guarding its fangs."

!

"Uh?"

Nobara, who seemed distracted by Itadori's attitude towards the body of the woman's son, muttered in confusion as she felt the ground beneath her feet soften, her body sinking before she could try to escape.

"Kugisaki!"

Megumi was quick to notice, but he wasn't fast enough to catch up.

Fortunately, Itadori had been waiting for this all along, his body passing Megumi and reaching Nobara before her legs sank completely, grabbing her by the arm and throwing her away from the dark shadow that had suddenly appeared.

"Fushiguro, back off!"

At Itadori's shout, Megumi immediately jumped back as the special grade curse suddenly appeared in front of her, the divine wolf immediately advancing towards her to attack her, only to be repelled by a slap.

'Damn! Trying to beat that creature with that difference in power...'

Landing next to a confused Nobara, Itadori drew his blade as he positioned himself. 

'Coming to this world must have really driven me crazy!'