Chapter 262 The Moment Cursed Knew Fear

After listening to Tsunade's words, Ryan scratched the back of his head and laughed sheepishly. "Haha! I overdid it by accident," he admitted with a grin. "Next time we meet a cursed spirit, I'll make it up to you!"

Meanwhile, standing atop a tall building in the distance, Jogo was utterly dumbfounded. His eyes were wide with disbelief, his mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed.

"What… what the hell was that?" he muttered, his voice trembling.

He couldn't believe what he had seen. The entity that had appeared moments ago—its malevolent aura alone was enough to confirm its Vengeful Spirit, Kuchisake-Onna. While not on par with a special-grade curse, it was still formidable. Any average sorcerer would have to expend significant effort to deal with it, likely risking their life in the process.

But this man—this stranger—had annihilated it instantly. Effortlessly.

Jogo's fists clenched as his mind spun. "How...?" The question echoed in his head, an empty void of confusion. "What the hell did he do? I didn't even see what ability he used!"

The scene replayed in his head: the cursed spirit, eradicated in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace. It wasn't just overwhelming power—it was the sheer unpredictability of the technique that unnerved him.

After a moment of tense contemplation, Jogo's resolve settled. His lips twisted into a grim line as he muttered under his breath, "If we're gonna face him, it'll have to be with everyone. I can't take him on alone. If I try, I'll die. And it won't be a quick or painless one."

He turned his back on the scene, ready to leave, but as his feet shifted, something made him pause. Slowly, he glanced back over his shoulder at the street below. His heart skipped a beat.

His body froze, rooted in place as he stared at the figure, still standing there.

The man—the stranger who had unleashed that terrifying power—was gone. Disappeared without a trace. Only two women remained, standing there as if nothing had happened.

Jogo's blood ran cold, his mind struggling to grasp what had just happened. "When…? When did he leave? I didn't even sense it!"

His legs felt heavy, his instincts urging him to flee. Whoever this man was, he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Jogo's instincts kicked into overdrive, but before he could act on them, something froze him in place, his body rigid with shock. 

Less than two meters behind him stood Ryan, silent and unmoving, watching him with an unreadable expression.

Jogo's chest tightened as his heart began to race, pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his ribcage. Nervousness and fear clawed at him—emotions he wasn't even sure he should have as an accursed spirit. Yet here they were, overtaking him in a way he couldn't control. His heart thudded wildly in his chest, each beat echoing like a drum.

Ryan tilted his head slightly, studying Jogo with an almost casual interest. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made Jogo's skin crawl.

"That cursed spirit just now," Ryan said, his tone cold but curious. "Did you summon it?" He paused, then added with a smirk, "Got anything else to show me?"

He wasn't asking out of concern—no, Ryan's gaze gleamed with something far more calculating. He was looking for more challenges and more points to rack up in whatever twisted game he was playing.

Jogo's mind raced as panic crept in, desperately urging him to act. Resist! Fight! You can't afford to hesitate! The words echoed in his skull, the weight of them pressing him into action. He knew the stakes—doing nothing now meant death, and not a quick one at that.

"Ember Insects!" Jogo snarled, his voice raw with the rush of panic and frustration. With a primal scream, he summoned a swarm of Insects bursting from his mouth. Their wings moved with lightning speed, a chorus of screeching, writhing flying stingers as they surged toward Ryan.

The moment the swarm reached its target, Jogo's heart beat faster, anticipation surging. The explosions—would obliterate everything in its path. It was supposed to. He'd used this technique countless times, and each time, it had brought devastation.

But this time... nothing.

Jogo's breath hitched in disbelief as he watched, frozen in horror. The swarm—the countless flying insects that should have ignited with furious flame—vanished into thin air, without so much as a puff of smoke or a shred of debris. His insects were simply gone, erased as though they had never existed.

For a moment, the world seemed to pause around him. What... what just happened? His pulse thundered in his ears, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and dread. His eyes darted around, scanning the area for any sign of his explosive insects, but there was nothing. Not a trace. The attack, which should have been overwhelming, had evaporated like a dream.

His chest tightened. How? How could this be possible? He had summoned so many and poured his cursed energy into them, yet they were gone in the blink of an eye.

"This… this can't be happening!" Jogo stammered, stumbling backward. Fear gripped him tighter as his mind tried to process the impossible.

Ryan, however, remained eerily calm. He didn't flinch, didn't even blink. Instead, he let out a soft chuckle, his demeanor one of quiet satisfaction.

"Interesting," Ryan mused, more to himself than to Jogo. "This ability really is convenient. No matter what comes my way, I can just shrink it down and store it away in my space. And when I need it…" He trailed off, a grin spreading across his face. "I can release it whenever I like."

Jogo felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. He had no idea what Ryan had done, but it was terrifyingly efficient. Every attack, every effort to resist—it all vanished without a trace.

Ryan's gaze settled back on Jogo, his eyes gleaming with dangerous intent. "Got anything else? Or are we done here?"

Jogo swallowed hard, his confidence shattered. Whatever this man was, he wasn't just powerful—he was unstoppable.

The moment Jogo realized that his previous attack had vanished without a trace, he instinctively stumbled back, panic setting in. His mind raced as his chest heaved with shallow breaths, and then, in a burst of desperation, he made his decision.

"I have to use all my strength!" he muttered, his voice trembling with fear. "Otherwise…" His eyes widened as a horrifying realization struck him. "I'm going to die!"

For the first time, the specter of his own death loomed vividly in his mind. The overwhelming power of the opponent before him made it clear—dealing with him was as effortless as a human stepping on an ant.

"Domain Expansion!" Jogo roared, his voice cracking with both fury and terror. "Coffin of the Iron Mountain!!!"

The walking volcano-cursed spirit unleashed his ultimate move, his most powerful domain spreading outward with an intensity that should have been unstoppable. Lava and molten rock erupted from the very earth beneath him, the fiery abyss of a volcanic landscape materializing in an instant. Jagged stones, red-hot from the core of the earth, rose like sharp spikes around him. The air grew thick with heat, suffocating and dangerous. Within this volatile domain, Jogo could manipulate the very volcano at will, and any intruder would be reduced to ash in seconds.

It should have been an inescapable hell.

But before even a single second had passed, it was gone.

The flames, the molten stones—everything—flickered out like a dying ember. The oppressive heat vanished. The very domain Jogo had woven with his immense cursed energy dissipated in an instant, leaving no trace of its fury.

Jogo's eyes widened in disbelief. His domain—his ultimate weapon—had been erased as if it had never existed.

"What… what happened?" he stammered, looking down at his trembling hands as if they held the answer. He could still feel the power surging within him, proof that he had indeed achieved Domain Expansion. And yet, the technique had simply… vanished.

Jogo's mind reeled in disbelief, his voice trembling with confusion. "I used it. I know I did," he muttered, glancing around frantically. "But where… where did it go?"

Jogo's body sagged, the weight of his failure crashing down on him. Despair took hold, and his heart felt as if it were being crushed under the enormity of his helplessness.

Meanwhile, Ryan stood calmly, his demeanor entirely composed. A faint smile played on his lips as he marveled at the power of his Kokugan, its abilities far exceeding even his expectations.

"This is truly remarkable," Ryan mused aloud, his tone one of quiet satisfaction. He glanced at Jogo, his opponent now a pitiful figure of confusion and fear. "It doesn't matter what kind of ability they use. All I have to do is shrink it down and store it in the Sukunahikona."

He paused, letting his words linger in the air before continuing with chilling detachment.

"Strong or weak, it makes no difference to me anymore."

Ryan's gaze never wavered as he observed the broken spirit before him, his power now far beyond the comprehension of his enemies.

Across from him, Jogo was at his breaking point.

The special grade cursed spirit had unleashed everything it had, pouring its full strength into the battle. Yet, none of its attacks had any effect. Nothing worked.

Jogo's mind spiraled into despair. What's the point of my existence if all my attacks are useless?

He gritted his teeth, his fists clenching tightly as he glared at Ryan, barely able to contain the growing frustration that twisted his insides. "What the hell...?" Jogo growled under his breath, his voice laced with disbelief and anger. "Why is this happening?"

Ryan stood there, calm and unaffected, as if the chaos around him was nothing more than a passing breeze.

Jogo snarled, his patience wearing thin. "You think you've won?" he sneered, his eyes flashing with fury. "Do you really believe you've beaten me?"

Ryan didn't flinch. "You're just wasting your energy. You should have realized that by now."

"Wasting my energy?" Jogo spat, his whole body trembling with rage. "You're not even worthy of my time! I'll crush you like the insect you are!"

The volcanic heat that radiated from Jogo flared up, his cursed energy reaching an explosive peak, but it still seemed to have no effect. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath. "What is this... why can't I touch you?"

Ryan's voice remained as calm as ever. "Your strength means nothing if you don't understand how to wield it."

Jogo's eyes narrowed, a dangerous smile curling on his lips despite the frustration building inside him. "Hah... is that what you think?"

He clenched his fists, rage, and humiliation rising in him. "I'll burn this whole place to the ground if I have to! You won't walk away from this!"

Ryan observed the defeated spirit with a calm and calculating gaze. After a brief moment of thought, one of his eyes shifted into the vibrant glow of a Rinnegan. Ryan activated the King of Hell, his eyes narrowing as the ritual-like summons surged through the air. A dark, ominous presence materialized before him, a powerful force at his beck and call. The King of Hell loomed large, its massive form towering with an intimidating aura, and it let out a low, rumbling growl as its piercing gaze fell upon Jogo.

Jogo froze, confusion flashing across his face. But then, as if something clicked, he dropped to his knees, his fiery spirit still burning beneath the surface despite the control.

"Master!" Jogo growled, his voice dripping with a mixture of grudging respect and defiance. "I'm at your service... for now. You better not waste me."

Ryan gave a small, amused smirk, his gaze unwavering. "Not bad," he remarked, considering Jogo's response. "You're still a bit too full of yourself for a servant."

Jogo snorted, his pride is unshaken even in this state. "Yeah, I'll follow you for now. But don't think for a second that means I'm weak."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "You're special-grade, after all. You'll make a decent pawn—maybe a vanguard. Or just a muscle to handle the dirty work."

Jogo glared, his eyes burning with the same intensity. "As long as I'm not your errand boy, I'll play along, for now."

Without further words, Ryan turned and began walking away. Jogo obediently followed behind step by step, like a shadow.

The entire battle had taken less than a minute.

Meanwhile, the two Tsunades, who had been waiting nearby, noticed Ryan's sudden disappearance and began searching for him. When he returned, Jogo in tow, both of them stared in confusion.

Ryan glanced at Jogo, who stood quietly behind him, still radiating the pride of a special-grade curse despite his current servitude. "Well, Jogo here's no slouch," Ryan said with a smirk. "He knows a thing or two about cursed spirits. He'll be helping us track down others and gather any intel on sorcerers we might need. Seems like he's not too bad when it comes to finding things."

"Don't get too cocky, human," he muttered, though his voice was laced with reluctant compliance. "I'm not doing this out of kindness."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "A cursed spirit helping us out? What's the catch?"

Ryan shrugged nonchalantly. "He's not doing it for free. But I figure if he's going to be following orders, he might as well be useful."

Road to Ninja Tsunade crossed her arms and gave Jogo a skeptical look. "So you're our... guide? Lead us to the other cursed spirits and give us the rundown on the sorcerers?"

Jogo huffed. "You're asking for a lot, lady. But fine, I'll point you in the right direction—just don't make me regret it."

Tsunade smirked, clearly amused by Jogo's reluctance. "You'll regret it as soon as you realize I can still handle myself," she teased, her eyes glinting with challenge.

Ryan watched their exchange with mild interest before turning back to Jogo. "Alright, no more chatter. We've got work to do. Lead the way."

With a begrudging nod, Jogo stepped forward. "You'd better keep up," he warned, his voice dark with the undertones of both annoyance and barely-contained amusement. Despite his situation, there was still something dangerous lurking behind his words.

Ryan smirked, arms crossed, as the group moved forward into the unknown. "I'm sure we will," he replied, knowing that with Jogo on their side—reluctantly or not—they had a powerful ally.

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