Chapter 40

Gojo saw the attack coming but didn't flich and continued his action. ' The red threads made by the reverse cursed technique aren't reinforced with domain amplification, as such, they can't break through the my neutral cursed technique. ' Was the deduction he had made when Hanami was saved.' Otherwise, she could have sacrificed her for a chance to kill him ', remarked Gojo in his head, ' A small and insignificant chance that it. ' He mused basically certain that she couldn't dodge, block, or escape.

Suddenly, he picked a reaction off a small talisman, the kind used for sealing and barriers.

Shinju had also predicted that he wouldn't flinch in front of her sudden attack. That's why she also used a talisman, but unlike the ones that hold normal shekigami and barrier, this one is one-time consumables that can use the cursed technique of a tamed shekigami instantaneously.

Gojo was sure that the kick would hit, but the moment he sensed the existence of a talisman, barley 0.001 second later, the cursed technique inside it was activated and she shifted one metre away from him in the direction of the red threads.

Gojo Satoru's demeanor shifted momentarily as he registered the unexpected turn of events. Annoyance tinged with mild surprise flickered across his usually composed expression. His blue eyes widened ever so slightly, betraying a fleeting moment of astonishment at Shinju's swift evasion using the talisman.

The annoyance stemmed from his initial certainty of victory upon Shinju's demise. He had meticulously planned his strategy, banking on eliminating Shinju to cripple the other curses and facilitate their extermination. This unforeseen dodge disrupted his calculated expectations, leaving a trace of vexation in his mind.

Moreover, Gojo couldn't help but feel mildly surprised at the sheer speed and precision with which Shinju activated the talisman. His understanding of talisman activation, particularly one as intricate as this, led him to assess the skill and expertise required to execute it in mere milliseconds. He acknowledged that it demanded an exceptional level of proficiency in manipulating cursed energy and techniques, a level of mastery far beyond what was typical even among expert sorcerers skilled in talisman craft.

Despite the surprise and annoyance simmering within him, Gojo's reaction was fleeting. He swiftly returned to his unwavering focus, recalibrating his strategy in response to this unexpected display of skill from his opponent. The brief interruption only served to reinforce his resolve to handle the situation with even more precision and calculated prowess.

' If she has more than those, then she will be annoying to kill, but... ' Gojo stared at her as she absorbed the new threads, a quick look at the people and he saw that even after she absorbed all the red threads, they are alive with just a slight mental fatigue.

During that time, Jogo, Hanami, and Choso quickly regrouped with her. They were focused on him and ready to fight.

" So, how is fighting against the strongest? " Asked Jogo without taking his eyes away from him.

" The six eyes are indeed fascinating, but the way he uses them is even more amazing. He may have used the accumulation of the Gojo clan to stand at the top, but the accumulation is worthless if he no one can truly use it and go beyond. " Answered Shinju at that moment.

" Never thought you will talk highly of someone, If I didn't know better, I would have believed you are a curse user, not a cursed spirit. " Said Choso sarcastically.

" I have many sides. You simply aren't good enough to explore them. " Replied Shinju calmly.

" Ohy! " Responded Choso with a small tick in his forehead.

" Ohh well, you guys really like fun... " Said Gojo while looking at them before fixing his eyes on her. The fight that they just had is still fresh in his mind, yet it simply had a striking similarities that he could hardly forget.

Once when he was a kid, he was invited into a shrine and had met a Himemiko, he saw her dance, the way she stood, the way she talked, her very aura, it was one of strength and wisdom.

To this day, he still remembers the times that were passed there and why was a Himemiko called a Himemiko. That's why he couldn't help but be serious, for she was a little bit too similar.

After barely a second, he asked the doubt that he had in his heart. " You, were you a Himemiko in your life? "

Shinju raised an eyebrow before giving a small giggle, ' It took a while for him to ask. Now, I can start the third part of the plan. Mahito should be here in ten seconds,' While thinking in her heart, she began the third part. " Oh my, are you curious about the source of my existence? Well, since you are handsome, I can give you some hints. "

In a voice filled with enigmatic poise, Shinju responded to Gojo's question with a riddle, her words laden with layers of meaning that resonated with both her tormentors and her own tragic past:

"Within the bounds of time's elusive grasp,

Lies a tale of retribution, shadows of the past.

Born from the petals of a forsaken shrine,

Echoes of despair in every whispered line.

Beneath the sakura's weeping embrace,

Lies the truth of an ancient, spectral grace.

Torn asunder by hands that sought its doom,

A rebirth forged within a crimson gloom.

A flower once adored, now in cursed embrace,

Found solace in vengeance, a cruel twist of fate.

In shadows' depths, where crimson threads entwine,

Resides the heart of a Himemiko's design."

With an air of mystery and a hint of subtle irony, Shinju wove a cryptic narrative that served as a dual revelation. To the cursed spirits who had once cruelly sacrificed her, her words served as a haunting reminder of their vile deeds, their betrayal, and her transformation into a vessel of revenge.

Simultaneously, the riddle bore the weight of Shinju's own tragic existence—a Himemiko once subjected to unspeakable torment, her life marred by suffering, eventually twisted into a curse seeking retribution against those who had wronged her.

The riddle spoke in metaphors and allegories, intertwining her past and her present, offering Gojo a glimpse into the depth of her history while shrouding it in layers of enigma, leaving its true essence hidden within the delicate intricacies of her words.