Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Zenin Toji
"Cursed users?"
Nanami assessed the two figures emerging from the alley, sensing the Cursed Energy radiating from them.
"Huh!? Even an old lady like her can fight?" Itadori Yuji stared in disbelief at the white-haired woman, who looked frail enough to need a cane just to walk.
"Kid, don't underestimate the elderly."
Despite her age, the white-haired woman, known as Granny Ogami, clearly didn't appreciate others commenting on it.
As if to prove her vitality, she tossed her cane aside and pressed her hands together. "Grandson."
"I know, Grandma."
Her grandson, Ebinara Jinji, quickly stepped in front of her, shielding her while taking a defensive stance.
Granny Ogami immediately began muttering an incantation under her breath, her voice quick and quiet.
"Is this… a Séance Technique?"
Looking at the old white-haired man being protected, Nanami Kento frowned as he tried to figure things out. Thanks to his familiarity with his junior, Ino Takuma, he had some understanding of Séance techniques. Without hesitation, he ordered, "Itadori, Fushiguro, focus on attacking that old woman first."
"Got it!"
"Understood."
Itadori Yuji immediately charged at Ebinara Jinji, who had taken a defensive stance.
At the same time, Fushiguro Megumi launched an attack from another direction while commanding the swift Divine Dog to circle behind the old woman, Taigami-ba.
Itadori Yuji threw a punch at Ebinara Jinji, who quickly raised his arm to block. But just as their fists were about to clash, Itadori suddenly changed his move—turning his fist into an open palm, he grabbed the man's wrist and used his strength to yank him forward.
The force pulled Ebinara Jinji toward the pink-haired boy, but instead of resisting, he went with it and used his shoulder to ram straight into Itadori Yuji.
However, at that moment, Itadori suddenly let go, spun around, and slipped past him. In that instant, the path was completely exposed.
Without slowing down, Itadori Yuji sprinted straight toward the white-haired old woman. Ebinara Jinji quickly tried to turn and stop him, but another figure stepped in his way.
A dull blade wrapped in white bandages swung down from Nanami Kento's hand, slicing precisely into the man's right forearm, cutting off his entire wrist.
Blood splattered onto Nanami Kento's cheek, but he didn't hesitate—his next strike came immediately, slashing horizontally toward his enemy's waist.
To avoid being cut in half, Ebinara Jinji had no choice but to use his remaining left hand to block, but the cost was losing that hand as well. At the same time, a powerful kick sent him flying.
"Ugh!"
Like a kite with a broken string, Ebinara Jinji was flung backward, crashing hard onto the ground and skidding several meters before finally stopping. His back was scraped raw from the impact, and his white T-shirt was stained red with blood.
Despite the serious injuries, he didn't let out a single scream—just gritted his teeth and let out a muffled groan.
Meanwhile, the old woman he had been protecting now faced attacks from both Itadori Yuji and Fushiguro Megumi.
Divine Dog's massive claws, capable of harming even special-grade curses, were naturally devastating against an elderly, frail woman.
Deep claw marks immediately tore through Taigami-ba's back. The pain forced her to stop chanting her Séance technique, and she stumbled forward, eyes wide with shock.
Right in front of her was Itadori Yuji's fist, layered with compressed cursed energy.
His punch slammed into her stomach, and the energy erupted, blasting straight through her body from front to back.
At that moment, Itadori Yuji locked eyes with the old woman.
A strange smile spread across Taigami-ba's wrinkled face, her deep lines folding together like a blooming flower.
Before their confused eyes, her body suddenly started melting, its color fading to white.
A small paper doll, the size of a palm, floated gently in the air.
"What!?"
"A paper doll?"
Fushiguro Megumi's eyes widened in shock. "A disposable substitution-type cursed tool?"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from a nearby rooftop.
"Grandson! Now!"
She had likely been chanting her Séance technique since before the substitute and Ebinara Jinji even appeared.
Hearing her signal, Ebinara Jinji finally opened his mouth and bit down on a small glass bottle he had been holding between his teeth. He crushed it with his jaws, swallowing both the glass shards and whatever was inside.
"Zenin Toji!"
On the rooftop, Ogami clasped her hands together and called out a name.
A strange phenomenon occurred. The heavily injured Ebinara Jinji suddenly stiffened and, like a puppet, stood straight up from the ground.
His severed hands had somehow regrown, but it wasn't from using Reversed Cursed Technique.
"Is this the effect of the Séance technique?" Nanami Kento gripped his blade tightly, keeping a wary eye on the revived, head-hanging man.
Itadori Yuji and Fushiguro Megumi quickly stepped back, standing on guard.
Suddenly, Ebinara Jinji's figure vanished from their sight.
"What!?" The three of them broke into a cold sweat.
The sound of something cutting through the air came from the side. Fushiguro Megumi turned his head sharply, only to be struck by the back of a fist, sending him flying.
Itadori Yuji reacted even faster. The moment he realized someone had appeared between him and Fushiguro, he turned and swung his fist.
But before his punch could land, his balance was suddenly disrupted by a sweeping kick. His body lifted off the ground, and in the next moment, a large hand grabbed his face and slammed him hard into the ground.
The road trembled as cracks spread outward. Itadori Yuji, hit with full force, rolled his eyes back and coughed up blood, staining Ebinara Jinji's hand red.
"Itadori! Fushiguro!"
Nanami Kento roared, slashing down with his blade. But Ebinara Jinji, now moving completely differently, casually raised his hand to block the attack, then grabbed Nanami's sword hand. With his free left hand, he clenched his fist and punched Nanami in the stomach, forcing him to let go of his weapon.
With his sword taken away, Nanami had no choice but to retreat and put some distance between them. Ebinara Jinji caught the falling blade and immediately swung it down at Itadori, who was still on the ground.
At the last moment, Itadori rolled away, barely dodging the attack.
"…What the hell is going on?" The three of them quickly adjusted their breathing, regaining their stance.
"How does it feel, boy?" An old, smug voice called out from above.
Ebinara Jinji slowly lifted his head. Half of his face had completely changed, now resembling someone else. Black, messy hair fell over his forehead, but it couldn't hide the sharp gleam in his dark eyes.
"It feels amazing, Grandma."
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