Everyone's eyes turned to Sōjun Minamoto.
Fight, fight, fight!
Although the battle between Satoru Gojo and Yuki Tsukumo was thrilling, what they really wanted to see was something raw—Sōjun Minamoto going head-to-head with a brute like Yuki Tsukumo, fists flying, bodies clashing.
Riko Amanai clung to his arm, trying to pull him up from the ground. "Go get 'em, beast Sōjun!"
The crowd joined in with cheers, several hands pushing and pulling at him. The two on the field kept throwing him invitations too.
With the atmosphere charged like this... Sōjun Minamoto felt a stir in his chest.
"Alright."
He stood, walked out from the crowd, descended the steps slowly, and made his way toward the field. Step by step, he approached the two, his presence steadily climbing—until it completely overwhelmed theirs.
Satoru Gojo and Yuki Tsukumo's expressions turned grim. Their already towering presence spiked even higher, trying to push back, barely regaining any ground.
Back when Masamichi Yaga introduced the Minamoto clan's jujutsu sorcerers, Sōjun Minamoto hadn't met them himself, but he'd heard that physical perfection and refined bearing were common external traits among them.
But that was just the body and soul. What about the Cursed Energy side?
The Minamoto clan had never produced a sorcerer capable of perfectly controlling Cursed Energy. So how did it manifest?
Now, Sōjun Minamoto could answer—
It was pressure.
A strange kind of pressure that could sway people's emotions.
The longer you spent around him, the more you'd find your emotions subtly influenced. Others assumed it was just his natural charisma, his magnetic pull on those nearby.
And he rarely accumulated this pressure.
Aside from the first time he refined his Cursed Energy—when Masamichi Yaga seemed to sense something—and the time Star Eyes first used the Mass Manipulation Technique, pushing his energy to the limit and affecting Riko Amanai, he had never shown it again, much less used it deliberately.
He was always emotionally steady.
Now, provoked by two Special Grades, he felt a slight stir—but his mind remained calm, even clearer than usual.
He stepped in front of them and stood still. Raising his hands, palms up, he squatted, pressing down on his thighs, and casually did a few stretches. A faint warmth ran through his major muscle groups. Then, without a word, he stood in silence, watching them, until their faces began to tighten under the rising pressure.
His meaning was clear. Since they'd invited him to fight, he'd go all out.
Lately, his research into the Reverse Cursed Technique had been going pretty well.
As long as they didn't die, he'd call it a light injury.
Sōjun Minamoto lowered his gaze toward the two. Seeing that they were still cautiously on guard, not making a move, he smirked.
Without warning, he threw a straight punch into the air. A black vortex, the size of a human head, instantly formed around his forearm. The blow landed on nothing, but his fist gave off the sensation of hitting something solid. Not far off, Yuki Tsukumo grunted—half an arm had clenched into a fist and struck her abdomen.
He shifted from fist to elbow and drove it horizontally. The vortex expanded on cue. Satoru Gojo staggered back several steps in response.
The three had been locked in a standoff—until Sōjun Minamoto's grin tilted upward. The other two immediately sensed danger. A vortex appeared in front of them, and a large, jointed hand slammed out of it, completely ignoring reason.
Once he got going, he always showed a bit of that "brute force."
Sōjun Minamoto recalled Suguru Geto's question from earlier—"Who do you think is stronger?" That question included him too.
Which of the three Special Grades is the strongest?
Suguru... ha.
Of course it's me. I'm the strongest.
Thinking of taking on two?
Satoru Gojo and Yuki Tsukumo exchanged a subtle glance, shadows darkening their expressions.
Fine, then.
Sōjun Minamoto didn't wait around. As long as he established his own rhythm and trapped them in it, wasn't that the surest way to victory?
And this idea of fighting two at once—wasn't that what everyone expected from the start?
The ground trembled as dust flew. Time seemed to halt. The shockwave hovered at his feet, frozen in place before it could spread.
He was already upon Yuki Tsukumo.
Her reaction was sharp—the Garuda ball expanded in front of her, but he jumped up and kicked it aside, embedding it in the ground where it temporarily stuck. Before she could respond, Sōjun Minamoto had already landed, standing inches away, face-to-face.
He opened his arms and pulled her into an embrace. Despite Yuki Tsukumo's tall frame, she looked small in his grasp. He rested his head lightly on her left shoulder, as if whispering in her ear.
It wasn't that Sōjun Minamoto was taking advantage of her. He had simply run a quick analysis—one solid punch would be enough to take down Satoru Gojo, but Yuki Tsukumo might need three or four.
Logically, Gojo should've been his first target. But the guy was too slippery, hard to land a clean hit on. Tsukumo, on the other hand, could take a hit—and that was exactly why she'd be forced to.
Sōjun Minamoto wasn't afraid of a head-on clash.
He had to eliminate one of them early. If the two were allowed to coordinate, things would get much tougher.
So he prioritized Yuki Tsukumo.
And the reason he went for a grapple kill was simple—it worked. Really well.
In a fight between Special Grades, victory or defeat can come down to seconds. A grapple restricts the opponent's movements and opens a window for offense. It's a huge time-saver… with lots of upsides.
The only downside? If the gap in strength isn't wide, you risk getting countered.
Still, Sōjun Minamoto was confident. Like he'd always said—when it comes to a head-on fight, he's never been afraid. As long as he could push through and deal actual damage, it was worth it.
With that thought, he tightened his grip even more.
Yuki Tsukumo wasn't doing well. Her arms were locked tightly to her sides, the pressure mounting. Sōjun Minamoto was trying to lift her off the ground.
She was well into her twenties—how much did she weigh with the Mass Manipulation Technique active?
Sōjun Minamoto figured he was qualified to ask, because he had already lifted her. Her feet were completely off the ground.
Yuki Tsukumo grit her teeth in frustration. She hadn't even had a chance to fight back, and she was already restrained?
And in this way, no less?
It wasn't that she was embarrassed—it's just… with so many people watching, didn't she have any pride?
But with her feet off the ground, there was no way to build momentum. She quickly calmed down. She tried to visualize her own mass, weighing herself down so he wouldn't be able to lift her... Damn it!
She cursed inwardly.
At the same time, she imagined his mass—trying to throw him off-balance in return.
Sōjun Minamoto noticed the change, but didn't care. This was a contest of brute strength. His arms were starting to tremble, and the muscles burned, but he hadn't reached his limit yet.
He could keep going for a while.
But for Yuki Tsukumo, if she couldn't break free soon... she'd be done for.
Though it seemed drawn out, only a few moments had passed.
Satoru Gojo had just finished using the Reverse Cursed Technique to heal his arm.
Compared to the others, he really was more fragile physically. One elbow from Yuki Tsukumo had sent him reeling, and just after healing, Sōjun Minamoto got him again.
He was a little annoyed. Activating Six Eyes at full power, his blue eyes shimmered with a glow.
He began forming hand signs, fingers shifting rapidly as he muttered under his breath:
"Nine Ropes... Polarized Light... Crow and Declaration... Between Front and Back..."
Finally, he pointed his finger like a blade at Sōjun Minamoto. A soft purple sphere of light condensed at his fingertip.
A sudden wave of danger prickled the skin at the back of Sōjun Minamoto's neck.
He saw Yuki Tsukumo on the verge of collapsing—but he had to let her go. He had underestimated Gojo's recovery.
After his fight with Toji Fushiguro, the constant self-healing from brain damage due to automated techniques, plus injuries from missions…
He'd definitely toughened up.
Sōjun Minamoto released her and felt lighter, leaping two steps back. The sense of danger vanished instantly.
Yuki Tsukumo dropped to one knee, her breathing ragged. She looked up, eyes fierce, then reached up and brushed the lobe of her left ear…
"Shame. That was close." Sōjun Minamoto looked at the two of them with a hint of emotion. Everyone had progressed so fast. The intel he'd collected on them was outdated before he knew it.
Satoru Gojo released the [Purple] from his hand. Hearing that, he replied lightly, "Doesn't matter. Once we beat you down, it won't be 'close' at all."
That full-sequence Hollow Technique had drained him too. Since his goal had been achieved and the hit wasn't guaranteed, it could wait.
There was still a tough fight ahead.
"How about we call it here? End it now?" Sōjun Minamoto spread his hands, eyes reflecting the two of them, a light smile on his face.
"No way I'm letting this slide. You bastard, if I don't beat you today, I'll reverse my name…" Yuki Tsukumo stood up, voice catching halfway before she raised it again. "Anyway, there's no way we're stopping now!"
"Running off after getting your hits in—that's just low," Satoru Gojo added.
Oh?
Looks like he pissed them both off.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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