Year 2003.
Geto Suguru began a relentless routine of honing himself alongside his new weapon.
Whenever he wasn’t assigned to exorcise cursed spirits, he buried himself in tireless training sessions.
Within a mere six months, Suguru’s rate of growth was nothing short of astonishing.
That sword gradually became an indispensable companion on every single exorcism trip he took.
Its power was truly terrifying.
Against cursed spirits below Grade 2, Suguru needed only a single, decisive swing; the icy edge of the blade tore them into nothingness before they could even materialize a defense.
Occasionally, a few comical situations occurred: he intended to hold back so he could absorb an entire swarm of low-grade spirits, but the blade was simply too sharp, accidentally “wiping out” the entire group in a single beat.
Even against higher-grade opponents, though he couldn’t execute an instant kill, every strike he delivered now carried immense weight.
Suguru’s tactics also grew increasingly refined.
He would launch his captured cursed spirits into battle first to weaken the enemy, then step in personally with his sword, exploiting the slimmest openings to finish and cleanse them.
There was a strange phenomenon that Suguru himself wasn’t entirely certain about.
Was it because he had grown accustomed to that repulsive taste, or did this sword possess a special property?
The cursed spirit spheres defeated beneath its blade seemed to become slightly easier to swallow.
It was by no means delicious, but that haunting, nauseating taste like a “vomit-soaked rag” had softened, leaving behind only a bitter astringency akin to a heavy dose of medicine.
This sword was truly a fascinating treasure.
Even if it accidentally chipped or broke, as long as Suguru poured a certain amount of cursed energy into it, it would restore itself to its original state.
Nevertheless, he always cared for it with extreme meticulousness, unconsciously coming to view the blade as a silent partner.
On occasion, Suguru thought he felt peculiar vibrations humming from the hilt, but he brushed them aside, assuming they were mere illusions brought on by overtraining.
One afternoon, while Suguru was engrossed in his practice in the yard, his mother walked over with a gentle smile: “Suguru, he’s here to see you.” “Yes Mom, I’m coming right in.”
Suguru’s heart tightened slightly with anticipation.
The jujutsu sorcerer he had been waiting for all this time had finally returned to the village.
In this remote area, telephones were a luxury; all communication between them over the past months had been maintained solely through slow, handwritten letters.
After hastily wiping away his sweat and straightening his attire, Suguru stepped into the living room.
His father was seated, conversing with a man of remarkably distinct appearance: tall and muscular, sporting a sharp buzz cut with clean-shaven accent lines behind his ears, alongside a meticulously groomed beard.
That was Yaga Masamichi—a teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
“Is that you, Suguru?
I apologize for taking until now to drop by.”
“It’s no trouble at all, Yaga-sensei.
Thank you for making the long journey here.”
Yaga looked at the young pupil whose potential he had discovered during a mission in the village.
He was not only a guide, but also the person who had mapped out the path ahead for Suguru, awaiting the day he reached sixteen to officially step into the world of professional sorcerers.
“You haven’t been neglecting your training lately, have you?” Yaga asked, his gaze probing yet warm.
“Of course not!
I’ve already captured a powerful ‘army.’ Would you like to take a look, Sensei?” Suguru offered excitedly.
“Let’s save that for later.
Today, I brought something far more important.”
Yaga placed an official document on the table.
Suguru held his breath, his hands trembling slightly as he received it and opened it right away.
It was an application for the Grade 1 Sorcerer Promotion Exam.
Becoming Grade 1 meant his status and compensation would transform completely; he would be able to take far better care of his parents and provide them with a prosperous life.
“The condition to pass is that you must independently exorcise twenty Grade 1 cursed spirits.
I will be your direct supervisor,” Yaga stated sternly.
“It seems you aren’t feeling any fear?”
Suguru looked up, his eyes burning with resolve: “I’ve waited for this day for far too long.
When can we start?”
“I originally planned to give you three days to prepare, but seeing how impatient you are, I suppose I should change my mind.
We depart tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir!
Thank you, Sensei!”
Holding the file containing information on his targets, Suguru couldn’t hide his excitement.
As for Yaga, looking at this polite and sensible boy, he smiled softly to himself.
For a long time, he had viewed Suguru like his own son—a young sprout he was willing to devote all his heart to protecting and guiding.
.
.
.
“I’m off, Mom and Dad.
Please take care of yourselves at home.”
“Whatever you do, be cautious.
Safety comes first.”
“That’s right.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t reach Grade 1, what matters is that you come back safe and sound.”
Under the shade of the eaves, Suguru’s parents continued to shower him with reminders.
His father turned, bowing respectfully to the tall man: “Lord Yaga, we leave our boy in your capable hands.”
“Yes, please rest assured,” Yaga nodded solemnly.
Teacher and student left the village while early morning mist still hung over the leaves.
Since the locations of the twenty targets were scattered across the Kanto region, and to avoid drawing unwanted attention from non-sorcerers or alerting the cursed spirits, Yaga suggested traveling on foot rather than riding the pelican cursed spirit.
Suguru’s luggage was extremely light: a small backpack containing a few sets of clothes, while at his hip rested the carefully wrapped Katana, radiating a quiet and dignified presence.
Yaga’s eyes shifted to the blade, and he asked out of curiosity: “Oh?
When did you switch to using a sword?
I didn’t see it the last time I visited.”
“Ah, yes.
I actually stumbled upon this one by chance.
It felt quite comfortable in my hands, and it seems to be a good cursed tool,” Suguru said naturally as he unbuckled the sword to hand it to his teacher for inspection.
Yaga took it, lightly turning it over to admire the craftsmanship.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted.
This appearance…
could it be a Soul Slayer Blade?
As an instructor at Jujutsu High, Yaga was naturally no stranger to the name currently taking the sorcery world by storm.
He had once undertaken a mission alongside a Kamo family member who had unlocked Shikai, witnessing its destructive power firsthand.
Rumors regarding the mysterious blacksmith and the astronomical price tag to own such a weapon remained a hot topic.
Yaga himself had longed for one, but his teacher’s salary went straight into materials for his cursed corpses—how could he afford a artifact worth as much as a mansion?
“You said you…
found it?” Yaga asked again, his voice trembling slightly.
“Yes, purely by accident while I was out fishing,” Suguru answered truthfully.
Yaga let out a sigh of relief, chuckling at his own paranoia.
It must be a replica.
Something worth a fortune—what kind of fool would throw it away on the street for someone to pick up?
Little did he know that such a “fool” actually existed, and ironically enough, it was the very higher-ups who rode roughshod over him every single day.
Had he known the truth, Yaga’s groomed beard might have stood straight on end from pure rage.
“It is indeed a fine weapon,” Yaga returned the blade, pushing those distant thoughts aside.
“I look forward to seeing how you combine close-quarters combat with cursed spirit manipulation.”
Leaving behind speculation about the sword’s origin, teacher and student immersed themselves in tactical discussions, stepping firmly toward their very first target.
Before long, the salty scent of sea air grew thick.
Before them lay the lair of their first target: A Grade 1 cursed spirit in the form of a shark, an entity that had spread terror among fishermen and tourists along this coastline.
Yaga stood solemnly, softly chanting to erect a barrier: “Emerging from darkness, blacker than night, cleanse all impurities.”
A curtain as dark as ink poured down from above, covering a vast stretch of the shore and isolating it completely from the human world.
“Be careful, Suguru.
If anything goes wrong, I will step in immediately.”
“Please don’t worry, Sensei,” Suguru replied, his expression unruffled.
He summoned his giant pelican cursed spirit, leaped onto its back, and soared out over the vast sea.
From high above, Suguru narrowed his eyes to focus his senses.
The thick trail of the monster’s residue lurked somewhere beneath the coral reefs.
He commanded the pelican to halt, hovering directly above the predator’s location.
Now…
how to lure it up?
Usually, live bait was required, but there were only he and Sensei Yaga here.
That left only a second method: making it feel threatened.
Suguru spread his palm, and a squid-like cursed spirit—a trophy from a fishing trip—appeared.
Following the direction of his finger, the squid dove into the water like a torpedo, bringing a violent explosive force with it.
BOOM!
A murky explosion echoed from the depths, throwing up a towering column of white foam.
“Here it comes.”
Feeling its territory violated, the shark burst wildly out of the water.
It bore the frame of a massive white shark, yet warped and hideous, its head covered in sharp spikes while six glowing red eyes bulged out in fury.
The explosion had caused its jaws to bleed, making it look all the more menacing.
It lunged straight at Suguru.
“My, my, quite hot-tempered, aren’t we?” Suguru leaned slightly, guiding the pelican to dodge the bite by a hair’s breadth.
The monster grew even more enraged; it dived, swimming in tight circles at extreme speed to form a fierce whirlpool.
“Fairly clever.
Are you planning to use spray to blind me?” Suguru muttered.
Amidst the endless churning waves, the shark suddenly lunged out from behind.
Its biting force was enough to crush an armored vessel.
Down on the shore, Yaga instinctively tightened his fists as he saw Suguru remaining completely motionless.
Yet at the split second those jagged, saw-like jaws were about to snap shut, a rigid object blocked them mid-bite.
It was Suguru’s Katana.
“You’ve dirtied my sword.
Punishment is in order.”
Seizing the opening, Suguru summoned a stingray cursed spirit directly inside the enemy’s mouth and detonated it.
The internal shockwave heavily damaged the shark, sending its entire body into convulsions.
Refusing to let it drop back into the water, Suguru drew his blade and executed a decisive horizontal slash.
A silver gleam flashed, and the monster’s massive body was split in two, shattering into fragments of cursed energy.
“Oh dear…
I overdid it again.”
Suguru looked at the blade in his hand and let out a soft sigh.
Ever since acquiring this sharp “partner,” his speed had progressed so rapidly that he himself found it difficult to measure his output.
This feeling was no different than playing Pokémon—encountering a rare legendary, only to accidentally land a critical hit and knock it out cold.
“Oh well, no matter.
It wasn’t strong enough to enrich my collection anyway.” Despite a hint of regret, Suguru flashed a gentle smile, sheathed his sword, and flew back toward Yaga.
Witnessing the performance, Yaga couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.
This boy is only thirteen years old…
what kind of genius is he?
In the sorcery world, names like the Gojo family’s “Six Eyes and Limitless” or the Zenin family’s “Ten Shadows Technique” were always viewed as unapproachable pinnacles.
But those were heirs carrying the bloodlines of the Three Great Families, nurtured by thousands of years of history.
Is this generation…
producing monsters that are simply too extraordinary?
Yaga wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, a mixture of pride and apprehension swelling within his chest.
“Failing to capture it won’t affect your exam score at all,” Yaga offered reassurances upon seeing Suguru’s regretful expression.
“Would you like to rest a bit before we continue?”
“There’s no need, Sensei.
I’m still full of energy.
Let’s keep going!” Suguru replied with a radiant smile, brimming with the confidence of a youth conquering new heights.
Over three grueling days, teacher and student moved continuously across multiple locations.
The tally of defeated targets reached nineteen.
Following the “incidents” early on, Suguru took the lesson to heart and began exercising restraint over his blade’s power.
Thanks to this, his collection of cursed spirits had enriched significantly with fascinating utility:
Elastic Ice Cursed Spirit: A strange gelatinous mass capable of absorbing kinetic impact from close-quarters physical attacks.
Stingray Cursed Spirit: Possessed agile flight capabilities, helping him expand his aerial combat range.
Tapeworm Cursed Spirit: A thread-like spirit specifically used for binding and immobilizing enemy movements.
“Only one target left.
Once this one is done, you can take a nice, long rest,” Yaga said, his voice carrying clear satisfaction.
“You’ve done exceptionally well, Suguru.
This last one shouldn’t pose much of a problem for you either.”
Teacher and student halted before a dark cave entrance.
A chill emanated from within, making the surrounding air feel dreary.
Yaga quickly chanted to cast a “Curtain” over the entrance before stepping inside with Suguru.
The faint light from outside was gradually devoured by the deep gloom of the stone cavern.
“Sensei, doesn’t it feel a bit strange?” Suguru paused, his eyes narrowing as he observed the eerie silence of the cave.
“Is something wrong?” Yaga stopped, looking around alertly.
“This cave doesn’t have a single low-grade cursed spirit.
Normally, this only happens when an overwhelming presence occupies the domain.
But according to intelligence reports, the target here is just an ordinary Grade 1; there’s no reason for it to exert such pressure.”
Yaga was caught off guard.
Suguru’s keen intuition surpassed his own years in the profession.
Just as he was about to suggest retreating to double-check the information, Suguru offered a faint smile, pointing toward a dark corner: “Ah, perhaps I was being overly sensitive.
There it is.”
From the shadows, a hideously shaped cursed spirit crawled forth.
It bore the body of a colossal insect with a maw lined with rings of razor-sharp teeth.
Even more repulsive, deep inside that throat sat a pale human face, devoid of eyes and nose, emitting strange wails.
“Go!” At their master’s command, the army of cursed spirits Suguru had captured over the past three days surged forth like a wave, charging straight at the target.
Yet, when they were mere meters away from the insect, all of them were abruptly stopped mid-air as if slamming into an invisible wall.
“Oh?
A spatial barrier ability?” Suguru gasped with interest.
A rare defensive trait!
His eyes shone brightly; he no longer wanted to cleanse it—he wanted to capture it.
Suguru drew his sword and stepped forward with steady paces.
Through the collisions of his minion spirits, he quickly deduced the rule: this barrier didn’t cover the entire space, but existed as invisible panels blocking the path.
If one knew how to maneuver around them, gaps remained.
Seeing its prey approach, the insect spirit opened its jagged mouth wide, waiting for Suguru to fall into its trap and be devoured.
But Suguru was faster.
At the exact moment before impact, he summoned the Stingray spirit as a foothold beneath his feet, borrowing the momentum to leap and switch directions mid-air.
“Strike!”
The silver blade swung down in a fatal arc against the soft segment of the insect’s body.
The monster shrieked in agony as its spatial barrier shattered like glass.
Refusing to miss the window, Suguru extended his hand, channeling cursed energy to condense it into a dense black sphere.
Gulp…
“Still as bitter as ever.” Suguru grimaced, wiping his mouth.
But then he smiled with satisfaction.
“Regardless, this ability isn’t bad at all.”
Geto walked over to Yaga, who patted his shoulder.
“Well done.
Congratulations, you are officially Grade 1.”
“It’s all thanks to your guidance, Sensei.”
Geto couldn’t suppress his joy.
He had finally reached the goal he had longed for.
“Alright, let’s head back.”
“Yes, sir.”
However, before stepping out, Geto accidentally noticed a dragon statue placed in a corner of the cavern.
“Are you asking about that?
Local residents often erect statues like that for worship, praying for peace.”
Yet both teacher and student felt something amiss.
From within the statue, a thick trail of cursed energy residue gushed forth, spreading across the entire cavern.
Then the statue began to crack, exposing the form of a white dragon.
Its eyes bulged outward, its pupils rippling with strange, concentric rings.
“ROAR—!”
I see.
Yaga understood immediately.
This was the reason the entire cave lacked low-grade spirits—that dragon had monopolized the entire domain.
“Its power…
is Special Grade.” He swallowed hard.
Cursed spirits were formed from human negative emotions.
In sparsely populated areas, it was exceedingly difficult for an overly powerful cursed spirit to manifest—yet that dragon statue explained everything.
When locals came here, they brought all their gloom and frustration, projecting it into the vessel.
Even people who had moved away could continue projecting cursed energy from afar whenever they offered prayers.
Over the years, that stone dragon had absorbed it all.
“Retreat immediately.
Right now, we are no match for it.”
Yaga made the wisest decision possible.
“Special Grade” was simply the highest tier in headquarters’ ranking system—yet there were cursed spirits categorized as Special Grade simply because the scale lacked any higher rank to place them.
He summoned three Cathys—cursed corpses crafted by his own hands, resembling sun bears mixed with Kappas, possessing formidable leaping power and heavy fists.
Suguru also immediately summoned his swarm of spirits.
The Rainbow Dragon seemed to take it as a provocation.
It let out a furious roar and lunged straight toward the duo.
The Cathys and cursed spirits rushed out to block—but the kinetic force was too immense; they were thrown aside, slamming into the stone walls.
Teacher and student seized the chance to dash toward the cave exit.
However, the shockwave from the impact caused the cavern to shake—massive boulders crashed down.
“Suguru, watch out!”
Yaga managed to call out his cursed corpse Tsukamoto, instantly pulling Suguru back before a falling boulder could crush him.
Both were safe—but the massive rocks had completely sealed off the cavern entrance.
“Damn it.
We’re trapped.”
“This cave has only one entrance, the very one we just came through.”
“Suguru, can you break the rocks?
I’ll hold it off.”
“It won’t work, Sensei.
That dragon is too dangerous—breaking through the rocks takes time.
The most viable way now is to defeat it first before we can make our exit.”
Yaga broke into a cold sweat.
This Rainbow Dragon exceeded his calculations.
Because he hadn’t anticipated facing a Special Grade spirit, he hadn’t brought enough powerful cursed corpses.
“Let’s attack together.” Yaga summoned all his remaining Cathys.
Suguru also called out all the Grade 1 cursed spirits he had captured over the past few days.
“Stay close to me.
Whenever an opening appears, aim straight for its head.”
“Understood.”
Yaga charged first.
He split his Cathys into three prongs—one from the left, one from the right, one following him closely—forcing the Rainbow Dragon to divide its focus.
Suguru called forth the insect spirit, creating steps of invisible spatial panels mid-air.
Yaga understood the intent instantly, using them as footholds to alter his attack trajectory continuously.
A few Cathys managed to latch onto the Rainbow Dragon.
“Forgive me.”
Yaga whispered to his corpses—then boom.
The cursed corpses detonated simultaneously.
The force was by no means small.
Yet as the smoke cleared, the Rainbow Dragon suffered only minor scratches, growling furiously within the haze.
Instantly, it was bound tight by the tapeworm spirit.
Geto, riding on the back of his flying stingray spirit, charged from behind—assuming his stance before slashing straight down at its head.
CLANG!
The blade struck the scales, ringing out with the sound of metal on metal.
“Damn it.
First time encountering a spirit this tough.”
Teacher and student took turns trying every strategy—yet its durability didn’t decline in the slightest.
Both were gasping for air.
“Nothing’s working.”
“Is this the true strength of a Special Grade cursed spirit…”
It seemed they had hit a dead end.
“Suguru, run.
I’ll hold it off—long enough for you to clear an exit.”
“I can’t, Sensei.
It’s too strong, you’ll die!”
“It’s the only way!
Do you want us both to die here?!” Yaga barked, his voice leaving no room for hesitation.
“Go!
You’re still a child—your time hasn’t come yet.”
Suguru burst into tears.
“Go, Suguru!”
He ran.
Yaga turned back to face the Rainbow Dragon.
“To teach a child like you,” he murmured softly, “I am already deeply content.”
He poured every remaining Cathy and Tsukamoto into the fray.
“Holding it off should be enough.
Yaga lunged—but this time, the Rainbow Dragon read his moves.
It coiled its body, tanking the full force of the explosions.
Then, as the smoke cleared, it lunged forward, sinking its teeth deep into one of his arms.
Agony tore through him.
But he didn’t cry out.
If he screamed, Suguru would hear it.
He suppressed the pain, using every ounce of his remaining strength to pin its horn down.
But the Rainbow Dragon was relentless—it exerted force, slamming him violently against the stone wall.
Yaga coughed up blood.
His bones were shattered.
He could no longer move.
“Damn it…
is this as far as I go?”
At least…
Suguru had likely escaped safely.
The Rainbow Dragon approached slowly, intending to finish the job.
But a figure plunged down from above, swinging a sword straight at its head.
“You fool!” Yaga screamed.
“Why are you still here?!
Why didn’t you run?!”
“How could I run?!” Suguru stood tall, his voice unyielding.
“I became a sorcerer to protect people.
We are leaving this place together!”
He summoned all his remaining cursed spirits, charging straight at the dragon.
But the beast remained too formidable—a single tail sweep blew them all away.
Suguru seized the fraction of a second, intending to drive his blade straight into its eye.
But the dragon dodged, inhaling sharply—he was swept up by the force, slammed hard onto the ground, motionless.
“Suguru!”
Yaga screamed his name.
The Rainbow Dragon slowly turned its head toward him.
He could no longer move.
If it lunged, death was absolute.
It really is over this time.
Yaga closed his eyes, awaiting the approaching end.
Yet that lunging strike—never reached him.
Suguru had gotten back on his feet.
He ran his hand along the flat edge of his Katana, his voice echoing across the cavern:
“Hoero (Roar), Zabimaru!”
.
.
.
The moment the collision sent Suguru flying—
BOOM!!!
His body slammed hard onto the ground.
Bones…
shattered.
Unable to move.
His breathing fragmented.
His vision stained red.
“…Damn it…”
Consciousness flickered.
Am I… really this weak?
What have I been striving for all this time…?
A patch of darkness devoured him.
Then—
“Hey, kid.”
A voice resounded.
“Want power?”
Suguru’s eyelids flickered slightly.
Blurry…
Before him stood a bizarre creature.
Body of a baboon, white fur with black stripes.
A bright red face.
Its tail… was a squirming snake.
“…A cursed spirit?”
“Don’t lump us in with that trash.”
The snake spoke, its voice cold as ice.
“We… have been by your side for a very long time.”
Suguru’s consciousness drifted.
Yet his mind remained functional.
A deduction flashed through his thoughts—
“You two… are inside my sword?”
“We are the sword.
Or call it a Soul Slayer Blade.”
The surrounding space seemed to vibrate at those words.
“…What is a Soul Slayer Blade?”
“That… you will understand later.”
The voice turned deep.
“Right now—you are about to die.”
“And we… do not have time.”
A beat of silence.
Then—
“Listen carefully, Master.”
Heavy pressure weighed down.
“If you want our power—”
“Then you must step toward the peak alongside us.”
“The Strongest.”
There was no alternative.
Suguru tightened his grip on his fading consciousness.
“…I accept.”
“I will become the strongest.”
A smile appeared on the creature’s face.
“Then—”
“Carve this name into your soul.”
.
.
“Hoero (Roar) — Zabimaru!”
From the moment Suguru shouted the blade’s name, the Soul Slayer Blade transformed.
The blade expanded, growing broad and square, before separating into six articulated segments—each bearing a row of razor-sharp raised teeth.
Yaga watched from behind, his mouth agape.
So it was true… it really is…
The wounds on Suguru’s body began to knit closed.
He felt a newfound power surge into every muscle fiber—then charged straight toward the Rainbow Dragon.
Every strike from Zabimaru was razor-sharp and heavy.
The scales that were once impenetrable were now easily pierced.
“ROAR—!”
The Rainbow Dragon shrieked in pain, soaring high up—trying to escape his reach.
Yet Suguru saw right through it.
“Zabimaru!”
The blade segments detached, extending into a long whip-like sword.
He poured force into his swing—the segmented blades wrapped tightly around the dragon’s body, constricting down, slamming it hard onto the cavern floor.
Suguru didn’t waste the opening.
He struck repeatedly—the whip-sword with its sharp teeth sliced deep into every unarmored gap between the scales.
The Rainbow Dragon collapsed, unconscious.
“It’s over.”
Suguru extended his hand to absorb it.
The dragon’s cursed energy sphere rolled toward him—he swallowed it down.
Oh.
The familiar repulsive taste was gone.
In its place was a strange flavor—cool, refreshing, and light.
“Tastes quite like peppermint candy,” he blinked.
“Did you two do this, Zabimaru?”
“Consider it a reward for using us well,” the snake’s voice sounded, carrying a hint of satisfaction.
“Thank you.”
Geto released Shikai.
Zabimaru retracted, returning to its ordinary Katana form, resting quietly at his waist.
He ran straight over to Yaga.
“Sensei, are you alright?”
“My bones are broken,” Yaga exhaled weakly, his voice raspy.
“But at least I’m alive.”
Suguru said no more.
He summoned the newly captured Rainbow Dragon—it had become far more submissive, lowering its head to await commands.
He gently placed Yaga on its back, then ordered it to clear the cave entrance and carry them up into the sky.
A strong gust of wind rushed in as they broke free into the open air.
“Given the urgency, flying was mandatory, wasn’t it, Sensei?”
“I will take full responsibility for that.
Thank you.” Yaga closed his eyes, leaning against the dragon’s neck.
“Yes, sir.”
A moment of quiet passed—filled only by the sound of the wind.
“Even though we faced a life-and-death moment today…” Yaga spoke softly without opening his eyes, “I think we gained things that were well worth it: this Rainbow Dragon, and…”
Suguru looked down at his waist.
The Katana lay still, ordinary as ever.
Yet he knew—it was no longer empty inside.
“…Zabimaru.”