Curse Reply: After choosing Nawa, the cursed spirit cursed me for being cruel.

Duanmu Yan stared at the detector, his brain racing.

It's not unusual for cursed spirits to gather, but this clear-cut hierarchical distribution, especially the lack of an intermediate level, seems somewhat contrived.

He recalled some fragmented information about Jujutsu Kaisen that he had glimpsed online before his transmigration.

The spirits of curses... can devour each other.

Chapter 7 Strike the snake at its seven-inch mark

The spirits of curses... can devour each other.

For cursed spirits born from negative emotions, devouring their own kind, especially those with clear consciousness, is like forcibly digesting a deadly poison. This can easily lead to confusion, collapse, or even being devoured in return.

Therefore, unless in extreme circumstances or for exceptional individuals, very few cursed spirits would choose this extremely risky path of evolution.

of course there are exceptions.

For example, the fingers of Ryomen Sukuna, a top-grade cursed object, might be an unparalleled tonic and key to evolution for cursed spirits, enough to offset or even ignore the side effects of devouring their own kind.

But those kinds of things are rare and hard to come by.

“It doesn’t have something like Su Nuo’s fingers,” Duanmu Yan calmly assessed.

If so, this bat spirit wouldn't just be summoning low-level spirits here, and its recovery speed should be much faster.

"So, what does it mean by gathering so many cannon fodder...?"

This near-Special Grade Cursed Spirit may be using some method to relatively safely digest these lower-level Cursed Spirits in order to heal its injuries, or even... attempt to reach a higher level.

After all, devouring a low-level cursed spirit that is unconscious or has weak consciousness is probably much less risky than devouring one of the same level.

"It seems that I don't have much time left."

……

Deep inside the water treatment plant.

The bat spirit vibrated its tattered wings as it scanned the area below.

The writhing, low-level cursed spirits gathered in greater numbers, almost filling the bottom of the pool and the surrounding open space, emanating an aura of chaos and fear that pleased them.

It nodded slowly, seemingly satisfied with the efficiency.

The last time it was active in the world, it was just a level one cursed spirit born from humanity's aversion to noise. In the hundreds of years since it was exorcised and disappeared, the human world has been turned upside down.

Various noises have nurtured countless new aversions and irritability towards "noise." When these massive tides of negative emotions regroup, they not only push it to the threshold of near-superior level, but also endow it with new abilities.

"Hehehe... It seems that humans have created quite a few interesting new things over the past few centuries. Sooner or later, I, the great one, will become a true Special Grade and reign supreme over this noisy and delicious world!"

It opened its huge mouth, and a very low-frequency sound wave emanated from its throat, spreading out silently.

This is infrasound, which can penetrate barriers and directly affect the internal organs and brain of living organisms, triggering strong nausea, fear, and the instinct to obey.

The lower-level cursed spirits below became even more agitated, as if driven by an invisible whip, and converged on its location even more frantically.

Next, it will use ultrasound, whose high-frequency vibrations are enough to instantly destroy the already fragile consciousness structure of these low-level cursed spirits, turning them into the purest negative energy and cursed power for it to absorb.

However, just as it was about to switch the sound wave frequency, it sensed something unusual.

A negligible aura of cursed power remained at a fixed location on the outskirts of the factory, unlike other cursed spirits which were driven closer by infrasound.

It was too weak, so weak that it hadn't even bothered to pay attention to it before, thinking it was just a particularly trashy level four cursed spirit that could barely move.

But just as it began to have doubts, that faint, flickering curse suddenly exploded like a lit powder keg without warning!

The feeling was like a small sun suddenly illuminating the darkness!

"what?!"

The bat spirit turned its head in horror, staring intently at the direction from which the aura erupted.

However, the attack was faster than its sight!

Boom! Boom!

Two giant, spiraling, fiery fists, like drills, tore through the air and struck it with astonishing speed from the left and right.

"Roar--!!!"

The violent explosion was accompanied by the cracking sound of bones shattering and the hissing sound of flesh burning.

The bat-like cursed spirit screamed as it was struck down from mid-air, its massive body crashing heavily into the pile of low-level cursed spirits below, crushing several unlucky creatures that couldn't dodge in time.

The already severe wound on his chest burst open again, gushing out purplish-black blood. The newly hit area was charred black, and a piercing pain shot through him.

The most critical part was the wings, which were already riddled with holes, and now the bones at the joints seemed to have cracked, making movement extremely sluggish.

It struggled to its feet from the pile of cursed spirits, shaking off the limbs and slime clinging to its body. Its eyes were filled with raging fury and a hint of surprise as it looked in the direction from which the attack had come.

There, the red energy vortex was slowly dissipating.

A figure entirely in deep red stepped out from within.

"You can't even see tomorrow, yet you keep talking about someday?"

Before he finished speaking, Duanmu Yan's right arm, which had been poised to strike, suddenly swung out! The Melting Scale Blade in his hand shone brightly!

"Fierce Flame Slash!"

Two intersecting crescent-shaped, blazing sword energies detached from the blade, tearing through the rain and the pervasive gloom, and with even greater speed than the previous spiral punch, precisely slashed at the bat spirit's tattered wings!

The bat spirit's pupils constricted as it tried to dodge, but the intense pain in its chest, abdomen, and wings hampered its reaction, and the crowd of low-level spirits below also hindered its movement.

laugh!laugh!

Flesh and blood were cut by the high-temperature blade, and two sword energies struck solidly at the weakest joints and periosteum of its wings!

"Aaaaaahh ...

A howl ten times more horrific than before echoed throughout the abandoned factory area. Its massive fleshy wings had been almost completely severed from the root, with only a pitiful bit of skin, flesh, and tendons clinging to them, drooping helplessly. Dark purple blood gushed out like a fountain, sizzling and emitting thick smoke and a foul stench as it was burned by the high temperature of the sword energy.

Its massive body completely lost its balance and crashed to its knees, barely able to support itself with its thick forelimbs, its eyes bloodshot with rage.

Duanmu Yan flicked the Melting Scale Blade, its blade pointing at the prey that could no longer take flight.

"Strike the snake at its vital spot; strike the bat...strike its wings first."

The bat spirit was briefly panicked by the severe pain and sudden loss of balance caused by the severe damage to its wings. But what terrified it even more was the next move of the red-armored monster.

It wasn't given any chance to breathe!

After cutting off the opponent's mobility with a single strike, Duanmu Yan stomped his foot, cracking the ground, and his crimson figure shot forward like a cannonball.

The Molten Scale Blade dragged along his side, its blade scraping against the ground.

"Roar!"

The bat spirit endured the excruciating pain, slamming its thick forelimbs into the ground to shake off several obstructing low-level spirits. At the same time, it opened its massive mouth, no longer releasing the infrasound of summoning, but a high-frequency ultrasonic cannon condensed to the point that the air was visibly distorted, which blasted straight at the charging Duanmu Yan!

This is its ability to destroy the consciousness of low-level cursed spirits. Now it uses it as a high-energy shockwave. Wherever it passes, the ground rocks turn into dust silently, and even the air emits a shriek of unbearable pressure.

Chapter 8 The Technique Revealed

Duanmu Yan's charging momentum did not diminish. He suddenly raised the dragging Melting Scale Blade, and the heavy blade blocked the path of the ultrasonic cannon perfectly!

"clang--!!!"

A deafening roar, a mixture of metallic crackling and high-frequency noise, exploded! The Molten Scale Blade trembled violently, and the intense fluctuations of its cursed power sent several nearby low-level cursed spirits flying and torn to shreds.

Duanmu Yan's momentum was halted, and his feet dug two deep furrows in the ground, but he stood firmly.

The eyes behind the goggles remained expressionless, as if he had merely deflected a harmless attack.

The red light flashed rapidly in the eyes of the bat-cursed spirit, and it was terrified.

Its ultrasonic cannon, powerful enough to tear steel, was actually blocked by the opponent with a knife?!

Moreover, it could sense that although the opponent's total magical power was far less than its own, a quasi-special-grade level, every attack, whether it was the Flame Fist or the Sword Qi just now, contained a force that seemed capable of completely melting its body, which was composed of negative emotions.

That wasn't just high-temperature flames; it was more like a kind of essential restraint!

What made it even more anxious and fearful was the low-level cursed spirits below that it had forcibly gathered using infrasound.

The intense fluctuations of magical power and terrifying pressure generated by its battle with the armored monster caused the already chaotic group of cursed spirits to become completely agitated!

Fear, the instinctive fear of a stronger being, overwhelmed obedience to the bat spirit.

Some low-level cursed spirits on the periphery began to emit meaningless hissing and secretly crawled backward, trying to escape this area that was about to become a slaughterhouse.

A chain reaction began to occur, with more and more cursed spirits becoming agitated, and the converging tide showing signs of collapsing.

"Damn it!" The bat spirit was both shocked and furious. If it let this group of "storage food" get away, where would it find so many low-level spirits in such a short time?

Recovery from his injuries will be a long way off, and any talk of revenge is out of the question!

This red monster, we must not only kill it, but also destroy its foundation!

"Come back, everyone! Kill this man!!"

It could no longer care about anything else and let out a roar containing violent curse power, trying to regain control of the situation.

Meanwhile, with its remaining usable forelimbs and claws, carrying a foul stench and residual immense strength, it fiercely clawed at Duanmu Yan, who had just taken down the ultrasonic cannon, attempting to force him back and buy itself time to regroup and regain control of the cursed spirits.

Its ferocious eyes were fixed on Duanmu Yan, filled with resentment and rage, and a hint of deep fear—a fear it itself was unwilling to admit—of the red armor and the power it contained. This human… must die!

The howl of the bat-like cursed spirit, carrying violent waves of cursed power, forcefully poured into the chaotic consciousness of the restless low-level cursed spirit below.

Fear and coercive commands clashed fiercely, and ultimately, the deep-seated fear of the strong and the forceful application of the techniques temporarily prevailed.

A large number of low-level cursed spirits emitted chaotic hisses, changed their target, and surged towards the red armor that emanated a chilling aura, like a turbid tide.

At the same time, the bat spirit, enduring the excruciating pain and backlash that felt like its consciousness was being torn apart, opened its massive maw and inhaled sharply!

Several level-three and level-two cursed spirits that were close to it screamed in agony, their bodies twisted, and they were forcibly swallowed into its belly as turbid streams of cursed power!

This is like drinking poison to quench thirst, but if it doesn't receive proper nourishment, it will be beaten to death!

The low-level cursed spirits that surged in like a tide temporarily held back Duanmu Yan. Their weak attacks couldn't even leave scratches on the armor, but their sheer number did create an obstacle.

A fierce and resolute glint flashed in the eyes of the Bat Curse Spirit, who decided to gamble everything!

"...caused by hatred to make a sound, and by fear to scream..."

"My curse is 'discordant sound'! Reveal my technique, proclaim my curse, and those who hear this sound will have their flesh and blood disintegrate, and their souls tremble!"