Ultimate Man [JJK X SOL]: Loading Golden Entries at The Start Chapter 96: Yuki-Onna

"Keng! Keng! Keng!"

With each swing of the giant axe, sparks flew in all directions.

It felt as if sothing invisible in the wind and snow was constantly attacking, striking at unknown targets.

"This domain's guaranteed hit effect is really troubleso!"

As she resisted the unavoidable damage from the domain, i i was able to keep her composure.

In the sky, a crow circled overhead.

This was i i's Black Bird Manipulation technique. While not a powerful ability in itself, it allowed her to control the crow and share its vision.

The reason i i had beco a first-grade sorcerer wasn't just because of her techniques but due to her exceptional physical strength.

The two-handed axe she wielded wasn't just for show either it was a genuine, special-grade magic tool.

"Found it!"

Through the crow's eyes, i i finally spotted a weak point in the domain.

With a powerful swing of her axe again, she unleashed her move.

"Kamikaze!"

This was a lethal move that i i had developed using the Black Bird Manipulation technique. By burning the crow's cursed energy, it would launch a suicidal attack. If it connected, it could even destroy a special-grade cursed spirit instantly!

"Boom!"

Following i i's command, the crow ignited, its body ablaze with cursed energy. It charged at the weak point she had pinpointed.

The impact was so powerful that it sent a large gust of wind rippling through the area.

"Hah!"

Feeling the wind and snow around her finally start to calm, i i breathed a sigh of relief.

"Looks like the reward will be higher this ti."

Training these crows one by one had been painful, and losing one was costly.

She hadn't expected her opponent to be not only a special-grade cursed spirit, but also one capable of deploying a domain.

The payout for this job was clearly going to be insufficient, and i i was already planning to demand more from the Curse Master.

"Hum~"

Feeling good about the prospect of extra money, she began humming a little tune.

But just as she relaxed...

"Bang!"

A sudden strike from behind sent her flying.

"What?!"

She was shocked. The cursed spirit wasn't dead yet?

The wind and snow, which had previously stopped, resud. The air in this domain wasn't just cold it was as sharp as knives.

i i's back was now injured, putting her in an even worse state.

Despite the pain, her survival instincts kicked in, and she quickly swung her two-handed battle axe.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

She managed to block the snow attacking her from all directions, but barely. Her strength was waning, and the situation grew more desperate by the second.

"If this drags on, I'm going to die!"

i i was no fool. She knew that continuing this fight would an her death.

Even her Kamikaze attack hadn't been enough to finish off the enemy.

And now, trapped within the cursed spirit's domain, escape wasn't an option.

"Hehehe!"

A cold laugh echoed through the wind and snow.

i i saw a humanoid figure slowly erge.

This was the master of the domain.

"Yuki-onna?"

Because of her preparation for this job, i had studied several urban legends. It seed her opponent was the cursed spirit Yuki-onna, a snow woman from those very legends, now fused with a cursed spirit.

i i noticed that one of the Yuki-onna's arms was twisted—damage likely caused by her Kamikaze attack. Unfortunately, it hadn't been enough to kill her.

With the Yuki-onna's appearance, the wind and snow intensified, growing more violent.

The cursed spirit looked at i i, who was struggling to defend herself, with a contemptuous smile.

It was as if she was watching an insect fight a losing battle.

"Am I really going to die?"

The wounds on i i's body multiplied, her strength waned, and her vision blurred.

It dawned on her that death might be inevitable this ti.

"Damn, I won't even get my reward!"

Even in such a dire situation, money was still on her mind. Typical of i i.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, i i noticed that the wind and snow around her were weakening.

She looked at the Yuki-onna, confused. Could the cursed spirit be showing rcy? No way. That was impossible.

So, was soone else coming?

At the sa ti, the Yuki-onna turned her head, also sensing the presence of another human entering the domain.

"Is this a domain?"

This was Ryuji's first ti seeing a fully ford domain. He had seen half-finished attempts before, but nothing like this.

The sudden voice made both i and the Yuki-onna look over in surprise.

Soon, Ryuji stepped into view.

He glanced at the Yuki-onna first, showing no particular surprise.

Then his gaze fell on i i, who was kneeling, barely holding herself up with her axe.

"Hmm?"

i i? One of the few morable characters from "Jujutsu Kaisen". Of course, Ryuji recognized her from the ani.

However, i i's current state was far from good. She was covered in wounds, and her clothes were torn.

"I have to admit, the battle axe really stands out," Ryuji thought, his gaze lingering.

"If you stare any longer, I'm going to charge you."

Despite her injuries, i i managed to crack a joke, noticing where Ryuji's eyes had wandered. She didn't seem too bothered.

"Of course, for a cute guy like you, I might even give a discount!"

"..."

Ryuji grinned. Was he being flirted with? This was exactly like i i's character from the ani.

"Shua!"

The snowstorm suddenly intensified again, this ti targeting Ryuji.

"Watch out, this domain is trickier than it looks!" i i warned, her teasing tone fading as the fight resud.

Ryuji remained silent.

The shadow beneath him began to rise, forming a black curtain that blocked all the wind and snow.

When the curtain fell, Ryuji was still smiling.

"If it's a domain, then let's fight domain with domain."

With that, Ryuji raised his hands, intertwining his fingers.

"What…?"

i i's eyes widened in disbelief. Could this kid actually cast a domain?

Though she wasn't inexperienced, seeing soone so young casting a domain was shocking.

The Yuki-onna, too, seed to sense the shift. The snowstorm beca more frantic, as if in a desperate attempt to stop Ryuji.

But his smile remained unchanged.

Slowly, he muttered a few words.

"Domain Expansion – Malevolent Shrine !"

"Boom!"

At the sa mont, a massive shrine rose from the ground behind Ryuji.

A blood-red aura spread, swallowing the Yuki-onna's domain entirely.

"What is this...?"

Even the Yuki-onna, a special-grade cursed spirit, couldn't hide her shock.

i i, anwhile, relaxed.

Although she didn't have a domain of her own, she understood the basics: in a domain duel, the stronger domain would completely overpower the weaker one.

It was obvious now that Ryuji's domain was superior.

The Yuki-onna's domain collapsed and was instantly shattered.

"This is… unexpected!"

Not only had i i not expected a young sorcerer to appear, but she certainly hadn't expected him to have such a powerful domain.

"You seem nervous!"

Ryuji was clearly enjoying himself. He raised one hand and pointed it at the Yuki-onna.

"Don't worry, the pain will only last a mont."

"Cleave!"

With a flick of his wrist, the slashing technique activated. Dozens of cursed energy blades rained down like a storm on the Yuki-onna.

Even in the domain, where dodging and resisting was impossible, the Yuki-onna could do nothing but take the hits.

"Shua! Shua! Shua!"

The technique was relentless. As expected from sothing that could overpower Gojo's Limitless, the sheer destructive force was on full display.

The Yuki-onna, a special-grade cursed spirit, was utterly overwheld.

"It's over!"

Ryuji didn't kill her outright, though. Instead, he activated his Soul Devouring ability.

"Swish!"

A dark chain shot out, dragging the nearly-dead Yuki-onna into a dinsional rift.

"As expected!"

Patting his slightly full stomach, Ryuji grinned.

"Only special-grade cursed spirits can help improve now."

With the Yuki-onna gone, the domain dissolved.

The surroundings returned to normal, and the snowstorm vanished completely.

"I'm alive!"

i i, who had regained so strength, stood up, resting her axe on her shoulder with a relaxed smile.

There was nothing quite like surviving a close call.

After all, dead people can't make money.

"You must be that prodigy sorcerer Ryuji, the one Gojo ntioned."

i i had already pieced together who he was.

After all, she'd been there when Gojo had talked about him.

"You've heard of ?"

Ryuji raised an eyebrow.

"Just a bit. Seems like Gojo might have underestimated you. You're more than just a genius."

A so-called "genius" was just soone with potential yet to be realized. But Ryuji had clearly surpassed that stage.

"My na's i i, first-grade sorcerer!" she said with a sly smile, blinking at him playfully.

Despite her battered appearance, she still had an air of charm about her.

Ryuji raised an eyebrow, took off his coat, and handed it to her.

"Need this?"

"Perfect timing!"

Her clothes were torn in multiple places. Aside from money, i i didn't have many other obsessions.

After slipping on the coat, i i smiled and said, "So, how'd you enjoy the show?"

"...?"

What? This woman—she was really bold.

Ryuji was a bit surprised but wasn't one to back down from a challenge.

He seed to be thinking for a mont, then nodded confidently and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Not bad at all!"

"..."

i i fell silent for a mont, not expecting such a straightforward answer from him.

"This is the first ti soone's gotten a good look at like this. So... how much are you willing to pay?"

Of course, leave it to i to bring money into this situation.

Ryuji, unfazed, teased back.

"How about we find a room and discuss the price?"

"Tch!"

Though he looked young, Ryuji had the attitude of soone experienced with won.

A scoundrel, no doubt.

"Yeah, I think we can skip the room part!"

It wasn't a huge deal, but the thought of getting a room with a guy she'd just t for the first ti? Even i i wasn't that carefree.

"The bounty for this exorcism is thirty million yen from the higher-ups. But since we're dealing with a special-grade spirit that could expand a domain, I'm planning to ask for an extra ten million. Since you helped out, how about we split it fifty-fifty?"

i i didn't plan to take all the credit for herself. After all, there was a good chance they might work together again in the future.

"You know, if it weren't for , you'd be dead right now. Shouldn't the reward be mine?"

Ryuji wasn't all that concerned about the money, but seeing i i's reaction made him want to push her buttons a bit.

"..."

Her face went blank for a mont, then she turned to him with a fake smile.

"You know, you're not as cute as I first thought!"

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