Under Broly's relentless actions, the cursed spirit in the shape of a frog abruptly stopped spinning before suddenly being launched into the sky.
The speed of its ascent generated a sonic boom, echoing with an ear-splitting intensity that filled the area. The immense force elicited a gut-wrenching scream from the curse.
The frog tore through the roof of the Detention Center, even shattering the barriers of the domain itself. Moments later, as if the universe had decided to erase its existence, the cursed spirit crashed violently outside the domain's boundaries.
When the dust finally settled, all that remained of the colossal frog was a mangled, unrecognizable heap of crushed flesh.
Broly lowered his gaze to his hands.
"Just as I predicted... Exactly the same."
What we call "power." It didn't matter what world it came from. Whether it was Chakra in Naruto, Ki in Dragon Ball, or cursed energy in this universe... at the end of the day, it was all the same.
A manifestation of energy.
And in the right hands, that energy could destroy anything.
"Broly, did you really anticipate all of this?" Chu Mengxi asked with a smile as she kept a watchful eye on the remaining mushroom-shaped curses.
Before he could answer, Vermouth interjected playfully, "I'm sure he did, didn't you?"
Broly turned his gaze to the two women.
They were a stark contrast. Chu Mengxi, clad in her school uniform, radiated an aura of purity. Vermouth, on the other hand, with her black leather jacket, sunglasses, and confident demeanor, exuded seductive power.
One was like a fresh flower; the other, a blazing fire.
And then there was Nobara, still sitting on the ground, paralyzed in shock.
Faced with Chu Mengxi and Vermouth's teasing questions, Broly simply shrugged. He neither confirmed nor denied their assumptions.
It was clear the two of them knew something more. Since arriving in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, they'd picked up on signs of cursed spirits plotting to attack Nobara.
Chu Mengxi and Vermouth weren't the type to let such things slide, so they'd joined the battle without hesitation. Now, with everything unfolding according to plan, their satisfied glances at Broly spoke volumes.
"Nothing less than I'd expect from Broly!" Chu Mengxi exclaimed, admiration clear in her voice.
Vermouth smirked mischievously.
Broly, however, had no idea what they were thinking—and he preferred not to know. If he found out, it might leave him feeling a little uncomfortable.
After all, even he wasn't entirely sure of everything that had just happened. He'd simply followed his instincts.
But there wasn't time to dwell on it. Ignoring their looks and comments, he refocused on the remaining mushrooms. There was still work to be done.
The main target is the Special-Grade cursed spirit, he thought, clenching his fists. The giant frog hadn't been enough. There were still other creatures that needed to be eliminated.
Just as he was about to move, Chu Mengxi and Vermouth stepped in unison, raising their hands to block his path.
"Broly, leave these cursed mushrooms to us. Trust us," they said in perfect sync.
Broly stopped in his tracks, studying them silently for a moment.
Finally, he raised an eyebrow. "...Give me a reason."
"..."
Chu Mengxi and Vermouth exchanged glances, seemingly communicating without words. Then, Chu Mengxi took the lead.
"Neither of us has much experience with these kinds of things. These mushroom-shaped cursed spirits aren't very strong, so they'd make good practice for us."
Vermouth nodded. While she was experienced in combat, facing supernatural creatures like these curses was an entirely different challenge. Compared to ordinary humans, these curses were on a completely different level.
After hearing their explanation, Broly shrugged and stepped back to where Nobara was, crossing his arms.
"Go ahead, fight to your heart's content," he said indifferently.
That simple statement lit a fire in the two women.
With Broly's approval, there was nothing stopping them.
They turned to face the mushroom-like curses.
The curses, despite lacking true intelligence, couldn't hide their violent nature. After witnessing Broly's effortless defeat of the frog spirit, their movements had grown more cautious, yet they remained primal creatures.
Their rage consumed them, and with a roar, they charged.
"Is that all you've got?!" Chu Mengxi and Vermouth shouted in unison, confidently advancing toward the creatures.
Broly stood in silence, an immovable force, both a shield and a backup. Chu Mengxi and Vermouth, facing cursed spirits for the first time, showed no signs of fear.
Meanwhile, Nobara, who had regained some of her strength, struggled to get to her feet. She wobbled a bit before murmuring, "Will those two really be okay…?"
Without taking his eyes off the fight, Broly replied calmly, "Of course they'll be fine. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to them."
He extended a hand to her, his movements unhurried.
Nobara hesitated for a moment before finally taking Broly's hand and standing up. As she did, she noticed his thick, slightly swollen fingers.
Her mind flashed back to the earlier scene, where he had hurled the frog spirit like it was a toy. The memory made her lips twitch into an involuntary grimace.
"What... a monster," she murmured, unable to suppress her amazement.
That damned frog had been at least a Grade 2 curse.
At her best, she wouldn't have stood a chance against it. But for Broly, it had been nothing more than a plaything to dispose of effortlessly.
She glanced sideways at him, her thoughts swirling with everything she had just witnessed.
"No wonder he's considered such a powerful figure in the group... His strength is overwhelming."
Even as she firmly believed in Broly's power, she couldn't help but wonder how he would compare to a Special-Grade cursed spirit.
After all, her perspective was still limited; she'd only just joined the group.
As her thoughts wandered, her attention returned to Broly, who was entirely focused on the battle unfolding in front of him.
________
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