Just as Toge Inumaki used Cursed Speech to assist Maki Zenin in swiftly eliminating the curse—
Several figures were hidden in the forest not far away.
They were:
Mai Zenin
Mechamaru
Kasumi Miwa
Clearly, they had witnessed everything.
Mai whispered to her teammates:
"Using a curse to test their techniques was the right call."
"That white-haired kid's ability is Cursed Speech."
"In simple terms—his words trigger forced effects."
"Good thing we didn't attack directly."
"If we'd rushed in blindly… we might've been wiped out instantly."
Mechamaru's cold voice followed:
"Once you understand that kind of technique, it's far less dangerous."
"We'll pressure him with long-range attacks."
"Force him to use it repeatedly and drain his cursed energy."
Miwa raised her hand hesitantly.
"Um… what about me?"
"I don't have any ranged attacks…"
Mai smirked.
"You'll be our backup."
"Let's move. Stay on them. Prepare to strike."
Above the Forest
Momo Nishimiya hovered in the sky—
Riding her broom—
Observing everything below.
Using her phone—
She relayed real-time intel to her teammates.
Meanwhile — Tokiya Shingen
Tokiya Shingen perched atop a tall tree—
Hidden by dense foliage—
Watching Momo in the sky.
"Oh right… she can fly."
"Not very strong though."
"I didn't bring Zhumie…"
"But let's see if I can shoot her down anyway."
"If the enemy has vision—first thing you do is remove it."
He raised two fingers—
Cursed energy gathered—
Condensing into a bright point of light.
Direct cursed energy blasts weren't ideal—
They lacked efficiency compared to techniques—
But for probing or suppressing weaker targets—
They worked.
Shingen didn't intend to eliminate her outright.
Destroy the broom… that's enough.
He aimed carefully.
"Bang."
Time Wheel — Forward.
In the Sky
Momo suddenly sensed a fluctuation.
"A curse…?"
She scanned below—
And spotted the source.
"Someone's attacking from range?"
"Trying to catch me off guard?"
She moved to dodge—
Confident.
But—
A violent gust swept past.
Her broom—
Snapped.
"…What?!"
She lost balance instantly—
Plummeting toward the ground.
She stared upward—
At the faint residual cursed energy.
"I didn't even see the attack…"
"Was it that fast?!"
"His technique… speed-based!"
"I need to report this—"
She barely managed to land using tree cover—
Pulled out her phone—
And then—
A figure stepped out from the forest.
Tokiya Shingen Appears
Shingen looked at her—
Leaning against a tree—
Injured ankle.
He whistled.
"Didn't expect that to work."
"Well—might as well finish this."
"You—"
Before she could react—
Her vision blurred.
Darkness.
By the time she lost consciousness—
Her phone was already in Shingen's hand.
He casually struck her neck—
Then lifted her—
And hung her on a low branch.
"Someone'll come get you."
Sure enough—
Officials soon arrived—
Removing her from the match.
Observation Room
Mei Mei chuckled.
"His speed is impressive."
"Instantly shot down an airborne target…"
"And eliminated her before she could even report."
Gojo Satoru grinned.
"Of course."
"He's my student."
"Give him a few more missions…"
"He'll qualify for Grade 1."
Mei Mei's eyes flickered with interest.
"If you need help… call me."
"You always pay well."
"Deal!" Gojo gave a thumbs-up.
Then turned back to watch—
Maki and Inumaki—
Under attack.
Back to the Forest
After eliminating the curse—
Maki and Inumaki pressed forward.
Suddenly—
Maki stopped.
Raised her hand.
"Something's off."
"Inumaki—be careful."
"We might be—"
CRACK—
Before she could finish—
Trees snapped.
A stream of fire tore through their previous position.
More followed—
Covering their escape routes.
Inumaki reacted immediately:
"Extinguish."
The flames shrank—
Vanished mid-air.
At the same time—
Maki swung her naginata—
Deflecting a bullet.
"…Mai."
"Inumaki—don't lose sight of them."
"They already know your technique."
She vanished into the forest—
Charging toward the attackers.
Inumaki followed.
Kyoto Team
Retreating—
Mai and her group grew tense.
Momo was gone.
No contact.
She's been eliminated…
Without aerial support—
Tracking Maki was difficult.
Her cursed energy was too faint.
They relied on environmental cues—
Barely.
"We need to eliminate the Cursed Speech user first…"
Then—
A rock shot toward them—
Whistling through the air.
Mechamaru intercepted—
Shattering it instantly.
Then—
Maki stepped out ahead.
Blocking their path.
Grinning—
Naginata resting on her shoulder.
"Running already?"
"Starting trouble and then fleeing isn't a good look."
Mechamaru transformed—
Arm becoming a cannon—
Blades extending from the other.
"Mai. Miwa."
"Go eliminate the Cursed Speech user."
"Even at the cost of one of you."
"I'll hold her here."
"If you fail—I retreat."
"You do the same."
Maki watched them split—
Clearly annoyed.
"I mean—"
BOOM.
A massive explosion interrupted everything.
All eyes turned.
A gigantic figure—
Emerging through dust and broken trees.
Meanwhile — Tokiya Shingen
After eliminating Momo—
Shingen moved toward the center.
His speed through the forest—
Almost animalistic.
Suddenly—
He dropped backward—
At an impossible angle.
A blood-red blade sliced past—
Severing branches above.
"Nice reflexes."
Noritoshi Kamo stepped out.
Shingen smiled.
"Of course."
"You're just too slow."
He shifted slightly—
Dodging the returning attack.
Kamo caught the spinning blood blade.
"Blood Manipulation."
The inherited technique of the Kamo clan.
Versatile.
Deadly.
He attacked again—
While drawing his bow.
Shingen spoke casually:
"By the way…"
"Your flying teammate—Momo?"
"I already took her out."
"…What?"
The blood blade and arrows arrived—
Too late.
Time Wheel — Divine Speed Slash.
A flash.
Gone.
The blood blade collapsed.
The arrows—
Cleanly severed.
Kamo froze.
"What… was that?"
"When did he—?"
He immediately switched tactics.
Blood Manipulation — Flowing Red Scale.
His body enhanced—
Speed, strength, reaction—
All boosted.
"That speed…"
"Beyond perception."
"If he attacked directly…"
"I'd already be out."
"But he didn't…"
"…He's underestimating me."
He prepared defensive blood threads—
Crimson Binding — Defense.
A net—
Surrounding him.
"If I can stall him for a moment—"
"I can counterattack."
Then—
Another explosion.
A monstrous presence—
Far away.
Kamo frowned.
But Shingen—
Already knew.
Rika… lost control.
"Yuta's in trouble."
His expression changed.
No more playing.
He raised his blade.
"Sorry."
"My teammate needs help."
Kamo blinked—
Shingen was already in front of him.
Impact.
Pain exploded in his abdomen.
His defenses—
Shattered instantly.
Blood constructs—
Collapsed.
He fell—
Unable to move.
Shingen patted his shoulder—
Knocking him down fully.
"That strike was fast."
"I avoided anything fatal."
"You'll be fine."
"Just wait for recovery."
Then—
He vanished.
Aftermath
Kamo lay there—
Expression shifting—
Then finally—
He exhaled.
"…I lost."
Tokiya Shingen (Moving)
He thought briefly:
That blood net… not bad.
If it had slowed me—
He might've caught an opening.
But—
Too slow.
Result
Noritoshi Kamo — Eliminated.