Chapter 76 — The Celestial Star Forge
Early the next morning, inside a training room at Tokyo Jujutsu High—
Ren sat on one side of the room, while Yuki Tsukumo and Utahime Iori sat across from him, watching intently.
Ren formed hand seals and began another attempt at Domain Expansion.
Just like the hundreds—no, thousands—of times before, he first constructed a barrier.
Then, he tried to pour his innate domain into it.
—
Boom!
Just like every previous attempt—
the barrier shattered instantly.
A violent, invisible shockwave erupted outward.
Utahime let out a startled cry as the force sent her flying backward.
Yuki casually waved one hand, dispersing the raging energy in front of her as if it were nothing. At the same time, she reached back with her other hand and grabbed Utahime, pulling her safely back.
"…What is this?"
Even she couldn't hide the flicker of surprise in her eyes.
When she herself had first learned Domain Expansion, she had failed countless times.
But never—
not once—
had a failed domain caused such a violent phenomenon.
Never had it interfered with reality to this extent.
Ren lowered his hands, his face filled with frustration.
"…That's how it always goes. Another failure…"
Yuki fell silent for a moment, deep in thought.
Then she began questioning him.
Back and forth they went—every question probing his understanding of barrier techniques, testing the foundation of his knowledge.
Half an hour passed.
Suddenly—
her expression darkened.
"Who taught you this?" she demanded sharply.
Ren and Utahime exchanged glances.
"…N-no one," Ren admitted awkwardly. "I learned it myself."
Could it be… the problem really lies in my barrier technique?
Ren looked at Yuki with undisguised hope, waiting for her to point out the crucial flaw.
But instead—
Yuki casually brushed back her hair, tilted her head up, and flashed a bright smile.
"I knew it," she said lightly. "Since when did Jujutsu High's teaching reach this level?"
"Your knowledge, understanding, and grasp of barrier techniques—honestly, they're already on par with a special grade."
"…What?"
Ren and Utahime Iori exchanged a glance.
Both silently exhaled.
This woman… is really something else.
But then—
Ren's confusion returned.
If the barrier isn't the problem… then what is?
"The theory's fine," Yuki said, resting her chin on one hand, thinking aloud. "Then could it be…"
"…a problem with execution?"
She looked at Ren again.
"Try again. This time, just construct the barrier. Don't inject your innate domain until I say so."
Ren formed hand seals once more.
The barrier began to take shape.
Yuki stood up and circled around him, pacing left and right, observing closely, her sharp eyes scanning every detail.
After several rounds, she finally stopped.
"Looks fine," she said. "Now—inject your innate domain."
Ren nodded.
Boom!
The barrier shattered instantly.
A violent pressure wave burst outward once again.
Yuki waved it away effortlessly, while Utahime—this time prepared—gathered her cursed energy and barely managed to hold her ground.
"The theory's correct. Your level is already sufficient for Domain Expansion," Yuki muttered, analyzing the situation. "And your execution is also fine."
"Then… why can't I expand a domain?" Ren asked, completely puzzled.
"Yeah," Yuki echoed, rubbing her chin. "Why not?"
…Wait.
Ren stared at her in disbelief.
You're the teacher—why are you asking me?!
Even Utahime's expression turned strange.
"Cough, cough." Yuki cleared her throat, pretending nothing was wrong.
"Anyway," she concluded, "Ren's barrier technique is not just fine—it's excellent."
"As for what exactly is going wrong… I can't figure it out immediately."
She clapped her hands once.
"So—let's try something more practical."
"Practical?"
"Mm." She nodded. "I'll let you personally experience a successful Domain Expansion."
"With your talent, maybe you'll grasp something from it."
Before Ren could react—
Yuki grabbed his shoulder and leapt straight out the classroom window.
They dropped toward the training grounds below.
Utahime hurried after them, climbing onto the windowsill—
—but Yuki glanced up, brushing back her golden hair with a grin.
"Utahime, you don't need to come."
"…Huh?"
"When I expand my domain," Yuki said, her expression suddenly serious, "I can only protect one person at most."
"Anyone else…"
"…will die."
Standing at the center of the field, Yuki pressed one hand onto Ren's shoulder.
With the other, she formed a seal.
Her eyes sharpened.
"Domain Expansion—Celestial Star Forge."
In an instant—
the world changed.
The sunlit field vanished.
The green grass and running track disappeared.
In their place—
an endless void of darkness.
Within that void floated countless pale, lifeless stars—
and pitch-black singularities, darker than darkness itself.
—
As Ren stared into this boundless, silent abyss—
a chilling cold surged from deep within his soul.
At the same time—
an immeasurable weight seemed to press down from above, crushing his very existence.
"This is my domain," Yuki said in the darkness, her hand tightening slightly on his shoulder. "Celestial Star Forge."
"The effect of this domain…"
"…is to grant the space within it infinite imaginary mass."
"Everything inside this domain…"
"…is crushed, pulverized, and erased the moment it manifests."
"The only exceptions—are me…"
"…and anything I'm touching."
As she spoke, she casually reached out with her free hand—
and plucked a single strand of hair from Ren's head.
The slight sting snapped him back to attention.
Yuki placed the black strand on her palm—
and blew on it gently.
Whoosh.
The hair drifted away—
curled slightly—
and then—
vanished.
Completely.
Ren's eyes widened.
So fast.
Even with cursed energy focused into his vision, he hadn't seen a single moment of destruction.
And more than that—
so absolute.
There was no debris.
No fragments.
No trace whatsoever.
It was simply—
gone.
As if crushed beyond molecules… beyond atoms… into nothingness.
Ren's eyelid twitched.
That meant—
the moment he left Yuki's touch—
he would be erased just as completely.
Not even a strand of hair would remain.
Compared to the special grade cursed spirit from the exchange event—
if that creature had possessed a domain like this—
he wouldn't have had even the slightest chance of survival.
So this is it…
A special grade sorcerer.
Stronger—far stronger—than a special grade curse.
Ren had no doubt—
the woman beside him could annihilate such a curse with overwhelming ease.
"As expected," Yuki said, as if reading his thoughts.
She turned to him, smiling.
"Alright, Ren."
"Get ready."
"I'm about to let go."
"…Huh?!"