Natsuki had discovered something interesting.
Every time he exorcised a Cursed Spirit, the visual power of his Sharingan grew slightly stronger.
The increase was tiny, but it was definitely there.
“So that means…”
Standing before the apartment window, Natsuki watched the tomoe slowly revolve within his crimson eyes.
“I don’t need to experience some extreme emotional trauma.”
“As long as I keep hunting Cursed Spirits, I can steadily evolve my Sharingan into the Mangekyō… and eventually the Eternal Mangekyō?”
The realization sent his heart racing.
Dual Kamui was one of the most versatile space-time techniques imaginable.
Intangibility could render most attacks useless, while the Kamui dimension offered both offense and defense.
Even against some of the most absurd divine techniques, it would still give him a chance to fight back.
More importantly…
“The Eternal Mangekyō doesn’t carry the risk of blindness.”
A smile tugged at Natsuki’s lips.
He deactivated his Sharingan and picked up his phone to check the day’s schedule.
He was supposed to travel to Sendai for a signing event for No Game No Life: Zero.
Dengeki Bunko had arranged the trip, and it would be the first public appearance of the author known as Natsuki.
As a writer of “healing” stories, Natsuki had previously refused to show his face.
He might possess [Peak Human Physique], but even the strongest pair of fists could only fend off so many furious readers at once.
“Sendai…”
Something suddenly occurred to him.
“Miyagi Prefecture… Sugisawa Third High School…”
Unless he remembered incorrectly, that was the school Itadori Yuji attended.
One of Ryomen Sukuna’s fingers, a Special Grade cursed object, had been stored there.
“Interesting.”
Natsuki packed his things and left.
…
The shinkansen raced across the countryside.
Natsuki sat beside the window, watching the scenery pass as he sorted through everything he knew.
Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses from a thousand years ago.
His twenty fingers had survived as Special Grade cursed objects and were now scattered across the country, each one containing an enormous amount of cursed energy.
“Sukuna with the power of one finger…”
Natsuki considered how strong that would make him.
“Probably not too dangerous.”
With his current abilities—[Peak Human Physique], Hamon, Projection Magecraft, and the two-tomoe Sharingan—his odds of winning were high.
More importantly…
“It would be a good opportunity to test how strong I really am.”
The train soon arrived at Sendai Station.
Natsuki followed the signs toward the signing venue through the flow of passengers.
He checked the time.
Two in the afternoon.
The event would begin at three and probably end sometime in the evening.
Afterward, he could visit the school and take a look.
The signing was being held inside a convention center beside the municipal library. A long line had already formed outside.
Most of the readers were young, mainly high school and university students.
“Is Natsuki-sensei really coming?”
“I heard he’s really young!”
“I wonder whether he’s handsome…”
Excited whispers spread through the crowd.
Natsuki entered through the staff passage and headed backstage, where his editor, Kagurazaka Ayame, came to meet him.
“Are you ready, Natsuki-kun?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s begin.”
She led him toward the signing table.
The curtain opened.
The moment the readers saw him, they fell silent.
He was so young and absurdly handsome!
“Is he really the author?”
“He looks like a high school student…”
“This is like watching an idol step into real life!”
The commotion quickly spread throughout the venue.
Natsuki took his seat with a smile.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Natsuki.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
The signing began.
Readers approached one by one, and Natsuki exchanged a few words with each of them as he signed their books.
The atmosphere remained warm and friendly throughout the event.
Plenty of hotheaded fans online had threatened to confront him in person, but once they actually stood in front of him, every last one of them politely called him Natsuki-sensei.
…
The signing did not end until late afternoon.
Rather than return home immediately, Natsuki grabbed a quick meal at a nearby restaurant before heading toward Sugisawa Third High School.
…
Inside the Curtain, Fushiguro Megumi knelt on one knee, his body covered in injuries.
A pink-haired boy stood before him, his mouth twisted into an unnaturally wide grin as black markings spread across his face.
“Brat…”
‘Itadori Yuji’ licked his lips.
“That last attack of yours actually hurt.”
Megumi gritted his teeth.
He had never expected the mission to turn out like this.
He had only come to retrieve a Special Grade cursed object, but in order to defeat the Cursed Spirit, Itadori Yuji had swallowed the finger himself.
Ryomen Sukuna had awakened inside him.
Even with the power of only one finger, the King of Curses was still terrifying.
“Tch.”
Sukuna rolled his wrist.
“This body isn’t bad.”
He looked at Megumi.
“You’re a jujutsu sorcerer, aren’t you?”
“Come on. Entertain me.”
Before the last word had even left his mouth, he vanished.
He appeared directly in front of Megumi.
‘Too fast!’
Megumi barely managed to retreat, but Sukuna’s fist was faster.
Bam!
The blow slammed into his abdomen.
Megumi coughed up blood.
“Too slow.” Sukuna sneered.
“Is this really the best modern sorcerers can do?”
Megumi wiped the blood from his mouth and formed a hand seal.
“Divine Dogs!”
The black and white shikigami burst from his shadow and lunged at Sukuna.
“Shikigami?”
Sukuna raised an eyebrow, mildly intrigued.
The Ten Shadows Technique…
He casually swept one hand aside.
Cursed energy erupted outward, blasting both Divine Dogs away instantly.
“Boring.”
He walked toward Megumi one step at a time.
“Don’t you have anything better?”
Megumi drew a deep breath, his eyes hardening with resolve.
He formed another hand seal, but this one was completely different.
“Furube…”
He was about to summon Mahoraga.
Even if it meant dying with Sukuna, he would destroy him here!
Before he could finish the incantation, however, a teasing voice interrupted him.
“Hey, Fushiguro.”
Megumi was covered in wounds, while Sukuna still controlled Itadori’s body.
“You really don’t handle pressure well, do you?”
Natsuki walked over and gave Megumi a light pat on the shoulder.
“You were seriously about to use your ultimate move right away?”
Megumi stared at him.
“Amamiya? Why are you…?”
“I happened to be nearby.”
Natsuki turned toward Sukuna.
“So this is the legendary King of Curses?”
He looked him over.
“Honestly, you don’t seem that impressive.”
Sukuna narrowed his eyes.
“Another fool eager to die?”
“We’ll see who dies first.”
Natsuki raised his right hand.
“Trace on.”
Kanshou and Bakuya formed instantly.
Sensing the enormous power flowing from Natsuki, Sukuna suddenly smiled.
“Now this is interesting.”
“Let me see what you’re capable of.”
He disappeared.
A moment later, he reappeared on Natsuki’s left, swinging a knife-hand strike toward his neck.
But Natsuki was faster.
His two-tomoe Sharingan had already followed the movement, and his twin blades crossed to block.
Clang—!
The sound of metal striking metal exploded through the air.
Cursed energy and magical energy collided, sending a violent shockwave rolling outward.
“Oh?”
Sukuna looked mildly surprised.
“You can actually keep up with me?”
“You call that speed?”
Natsuki twisted his wrists, reversing the angle of his blades.
“Triple-Linked Crane Wings!”
Black and white arcs spread outward like a pair of wings.
Sukuna leaped back, but one of his sleeves was still sliced away.
“Tch.”
He glanced at the torn fabric.
“Not bad.”
“But…”
Sukuna formed a hand seal.
“Dismantle!”
An invisible slash tore through the air.
Natsuki’s Sharingan spun, he clearly saw the flow of cursed energy and twisted aside.
The slash passed his shoulder and shattered the wall behind him.
“You dodged it?”
Sukuna raised an eyebrow.
“You can see my technique?”
“Perfectly.”
Natsuki flashed him a grin.
“So this is all you can do with one finger?”
He launched himself forward and his twin blades became a blur.
Sukuna turned his hands into blades and met every strike head-on.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The collisions came like a downpour.
Megumi watched in stunned disbelief.
Natsuki was fighting Sukuna head-on!
And even more astonishingly… He was gradually gaining the upper hand.