The curses swarmed Jasmine in endless waves, surging toward her like a tide.
They varied in appearance, each more grotesque than the last, testing the limits of human aesthetics and revulsion alike.
But Jasmine was unfazed. As the battle raged on, her mind, body, and spirit sharpened to a singular focus, with black lightning erupting around her with every strike.
Each punch sent gusts rippling through the air, every blow lethal, and no matter how many curses approached, none could withstand her attacks.
Another crackling Black Flash erupted as Jasmine landed yet another devastating blow.
By now, she'd unleashed the Black Flash over ten times.
Only seasoned jujutsu sorcerers would recognize how utterly astounding this feat was.
In the original story, Nanami Kento held the record, striking four consecutive Black Flashes—a record then broken by the protagonist, Itadori Yuji.
But now, Jasmine had struck over a dozen Black Flashes, and it was clear this wasn't her limit.
With a swift kick to her opponent's leg, she forced it to kneel, following up with an elbow that smashed into its face.
Black-red lightning pierced the creature's skull, tearing upward into the sky as translucent shockwaves expanded outward from her elbow.
"Black Flash!"
In truth, Bajiquan also included techniques involving a spear. Grandmaster Li Shuwen, a master of Bajiquan, even possessed the class attribute of Lancer. However, Jasmine hadn't learned the spear form.
Baobhan Sith had decided it wasn't… auspicious.
The other reason? Baobhan Sith's spiritual form as an Archer had a particular distaste for Lancers. Being pierced by a lance was excruciating!
As Jasmine steadily reduced the horde of curses, a figure lurking in the shadows grew increasingly anxious.
This wasn't going according to plan at all!
It had only devised this scheme after carefully analyzing Jasmine's curse technique. To its understanding, Jasmine's technique had almost no offensive capability, and considering her youth, she couldn't possibly have any real combat strength. She could only function as a support, like Ieiri Shoko.
A fighter as powerful as Tristan would keep a girl like Jasmine nearby solely for her support abilities. After all, Tristan hardly needed help on the battlefield.
If it were in her position, Jasmine would be studying her curse technique, practicing only a few self-defense techniques.
But what Jasmine displayed now was far from "a few techniques"!
Nearly every strike she threw was a Black Flash, a feat even it couldn't comprehend.
"No! This can't continue. Those three won't be able to hold off Tristan for much longer. If she makes it back here, it'll be too late!"
It knew Tristan hadn't stopped hunting for it. Once she found it, no amount of defensive measures would save it.
What baffled it was why Tristan seemed to know so much about it, why she harbored such hatred, so determined to see it dead.
After all, it didn't even know her!
Leaving this country and lying low until Tristan either lost interest or died of old age would be the best option, but it was unwilling to leave!
For over a thousand years, it had prepared its grand plan.
And in this era, the pieces had finally aligned, presenting a rare chance to realize that plan. It couldn't abandon this opportunity because of one person.
It couldn't bear the thought of waiting another millennium!
Gritting its teeth, the hidden figure pulled out a fist-sized, cocoon-like black object from its sleeve and threw it toward Jasmine.
Huff… huff…
Jasmine steadied herself, slowing her rapid breaths after the intense fight. Around her, a mound of colorful curses lay in a grotesque heap.
Luckily, she'd changed into shorts and a t-shirt earlier, to avoid getting her skirt dirty; fighting in that would have been far messier.
After confirming that the curses were all dead, Jasmine returned to the taxi.
She had tried her best to keep the battle away from the car, but there were too many curses, and some damage was inevitable. Several parts of the cab were now smashed or scratched.
At least the things she'd bought earlier today were still intact in the back seat, giving her a bit of relief.
Though… she felt bad for the driver…
Speaking of which, was he alright?
Earlier, she'd been too preoccupied to check, but now she found herself growing concerned for him.
She couldn't exactly drive the taxi away, and carrying all these bags on foot was impractical.
"Should I go find Sister? But that might trouble her…"
She wavered, uncertain.
Suddenly, a surge of cursed energy, thick and dark like sludge, caught Jasmine's attention.
She took a few steps back, turning to look to the side, and there, she saw a white figure.
A powerful, muscular body, skin gray-white like plaster, and an aura of unrelenting malice toward humanity.
"A Special Grade curse…"
Sweat dripped from Jasmine's forehead, her pale lips trembling slightly.
When Itadori Yuji had just started his training as a sorcerer, someone had explained to him the different grades of cursed spirits.
"Assuming ordinary weapons worked on curses… Grade 4? You could handle it with a wooden bat. Grade 3? A handgun should do. Grade 2? A shotgun would barely suffice. Grade 1? A tank might not be enough. But Special Grade? You'd need a bombardment of cluster bombs."
Sure, in the anime, Itadori's second mission threw him against a Special Grade curse, but in reality, Special Grades were exceedingly rare. Jasmine had never encountered one in all her years of training.
This was her first time seeing a true Special Grade curse, and the overwhelming malice emanating from it was on a completely different level from anything she'd faced before.
"Can I… actually handle a Special Grade curse?"
The moment her eyes registered the threat, Jasmine instinctively took her Bajiquan stance, sweat dripping from her brow and down her face.
She had once faced a Grade 1 curse, which had been a tough fight—even with Baobhan Sith nearby.
Though her sister had told her countless times she wouldn't intervene unless Jasmine was about to die, just having Baobhan Sith there had filled her with absolute confidence, an unwavering sense of safety.
But now, her sister wasn't here…
"No, that's wrong!"
Jasmine shook her head vigorously, scattering beads of sweat that hit the ground.
She had studied jujutsu so that one day, she could stand by Baobhan Sith's side.
So she couldn't keep relying on her sister's protection forever!
Her gaze fixed on the strangely-moving Special Grade curse, and the brilliant gold in her eyes shone with nothing but the purest resolve.
"I will defeat you!"
To show my sister how far I've come!