inconvenient fights

note:(I apologize for the lack of new chapters over the past few days. I was unwell and unable to work on the novel)

As Rin walked through a cliff, singing and humming some modern music, she suddenly heard the sounds of fighting in the distance. Curious, she decided to follow the noise and see what was happening.

When she reached the scene, she noticed two sorcerers engaged in a fierce battle with two Grade 1 cursed spirits. One of the sorcerers, a tall man with short, spiky hair, shouted to his companion, "Buy me some time, I'll end one of them!"

"You better do it fast," the other sorcerer, a lean woman with long, flowing hair, sighed as she started forming hand signs. She unleashed her power, placing her hands on the ground. "Earth Spikes!" she commanded. A series of sharp spikes erupted from the earth, piercing through the cursed spirits and immobilizing them for a few precious seconds.

"Get out of the way!" the first sorcerer yelled as he finished his preparations. His eyes glowed with a fierce determination. "Cursed Technique Amplification: Wind Scythe!"

He unleashed a powerful gust of wind, sharp as blades, that cut through the air towards the cursed spirits. The wind scythe sliced through one of the spirits, causing it to shriek in pain and fury.

Rin watched with interest, her eyes narrowing as she analyzed their techniques and strategies. She could see the precision and power behind their attacks, but she also noticed the strain it was putting on them. The cursed spirits were relentless, their grotesque forms regenerating even as they were damaged.

"This is getting interesting," Rin muttered to herself. She considered joining the fight, testing her own abilities against these Grade 1 cursed spirits. But for now, she decided to observe a little longer, curious to see how the sorcerers would handle the situation.

After the wind scythe hit one of the cursed spirits, the woman quickly followed up by forming two massive stone hands that squished the cursed spirit into oblivion. "Just one more and this annoying mission will end," the man said as he manipulated the air around him, focusing it into his hand.

"Let's end th—" Before the woman could finish her sentence, her head flew off her body, ripped apart in an instant. The man stood there in shock but quickly regained his composure, trying to determine who had the ability to do this.

A one-eyed man, hiding in the shadows, had been observing the scene. He had grown bored and decided to act, killing the woman with his invisible silk control curse technique. As he appeared in front of the man, the sorcerer recognized him instantly—the professional killer curse user, One-Eyed King of the Shadows.

"You're... the One-Eyed King," the man stammered, his voice trembling.

The One-Eyed King smirked, his single eye gleaming with malevolent amusement. "Indeed. You should be honored to die by my hand."

The man clenched his fists, his cursed energy flaring as he prepared for a desperate fight. "I won't go down without a fight!"

Meanwhile, Rin's interest peaked. She had never heard of the One-Eyed King, but this was an opportunity to see a truly formidable opponent in action. To her disappointment, the fight was over in just a few seconds. The one-eyed man ripped apart the sorcerer's hands and ended his life instantly, displaying lethal precision and overwhelming power.

"The one who was watching, I'll give you three seconds," the eye-patched man said, his voice cold and authoritative.

Rin stepped forward without hesitation, a smirk playing on her lips. "You caught me," she said, her tone laced with confidence. "For the people who don't understand what real jujutsu is, you might seem like an insanely strong person... But," Rin continued mockingly, "in reality, you are pathetic."

The One-Eyed King's expression darkened, his single eye narrowing as he assessed her. "Bold words from someone who has yet to face me," he replied, his voice dripping with menace. "Let's see if you can back them up."

Rin's eyes gleamed with determination as she prepared for the impending battle. "Oh, I can back them up," she said, her tone unwavering. "And I'll enjoy proving you wrong."

The air around them grew tense as they both readied their cursed energy. Rin's icy aura began to permeate the area, the temperature dropping rapidly. The One-Eyed King remained unfazed, his silk threads coiling around him like serpents.

In a swift and calculated move, the One-Eyed King's invisible silk threads attacked Rin with terrifying speed, aiming to pierce her heart. Simultaneously, the previous Grade 1 curse spirit launched a surprise attack from behind.

Rin, with a confident smirk on her face, swiftly wrapped her body in a protective shroud of Domain Amplification. The technique significantly weakened the silk threads, reducing their deadly impact to a mere whisper. With a deft motion, she caught the threads in her hand, their once-lethal force rendered harmless.

"Is that all you've got?" Rin taunted, her eyes gleaming with amusement. She turned her attention to the Grade 1 curse spirit, now approaching from behind. With a quick pivot, she unleashed a powerful blast of icy energy, freezing the curse spirit in its tracks. The creature's grotesque form became encased in a layer of crystalline ice, immobilizing it completely.

The One-Eyed King narrowed his eye, clearly frustrated by Rin's display of skill. "You think you're clever?" he spat, his voice laced with venom. "You're just delaying the inevitable."

However, beneath his bravado, the One-Eyed King was truly worried. His attack, which had the power to instantly kill a semi-grade 1 curse, had been severely weakened. The ease with which he had killed the two Grade 1 sorcerers earlier was due to their exhaustion after fighting all day. He had merely followed them, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. He had initially thought Rin was foolish to defend herself with mere cursed energy, but it was becoming clear that her technique was far from ordinary.

The cursed spirit cracked the ice and attacked with a liquid swamp, a dark, viscous mass spreading quickly to engulf Rin. Without missing a beat, Rin countered it, her eyes narrowing in determination. She summoned a wave of frost, her cursed energy swirling around her. The frost rapidly froze the swamp, turning the liquid into solid ice. The cursed spirit's movements slowed as the ice crept over its form, encasing it once more.

With a calm and focused demeanor, Rin advanced on the immobilized spirit. Her fist glowed with cursed energy, the power coursing through her as she prepared to strike. She punched the frozen curse, her hand enhanced with an intense surge of cursed energy. The impact shattered the ice and the spirit within it, fragments of crystalline ice scattering around her.

"Is that all you've got?" Rin taunted, her voice dripping with confidence. She turned her gaze back to the One-Eyed King.

Before the One-Eyed King could react, Rin didn't give him time. As he stood there, surprised by her swift action, she chanted, "Ice Formation: Ice Fall."

In an instant, the temperature plummeted, and massive shards of ice began to materialize above the One-Eyed King. The air crackled with cursed energy as the icy formations grew, sharp and jagged, poised to strike. Rin's control over her technique was precise and deadly, the icy barrage descending upon her foe with relentless force.

The One-Eyed King tried to summon his silk threads to defend himself, but the sheer speed and intensity of Rin's attack overwhelmed him. The ice shards crashed down, piercing through his defenses and pinning him to the ground. He struggled against the cold, his movements growing slower as the ice seeped into his limbs.

Rin approached him, her steps measured and confident. "Pathetic," she repeated.

"So, what's the reason you killed those sorcerers? And what's with this nickname? Do you think you're Kaneki or something?" Rin asked curiously, her tone almost mocking.

The One-Eyed King glared at her, defiance still flickering in his eye. "Do you think I will tell yo--" His words were cut off abruptly as he gasped in shock, feeling the sharp, icy nails piercing through his heart.

"Don't worry, I'm not interested at all. I don't really care," Rin said coldly, her expression indifferent. She withdrew her hand, letting the lifeless body of the One-Eyed King slump to the ground.

With a final glance at the scene, Rin turned and walked away, leaving his dead body behind. Her thoughts were already moving forward, considering her next steps.

"This is a big city, isn't it?" Rin said to herself while exploring the bustling streets, enjoying the various foods the city had to offer. The vibrant energy of the city was a stark contrast to the icy isolation of her training grounds.

Suddenly, she sensed several high cursed energy reserves in the distance. Intrigued, she decided to take a look, weaving her way through the crowded streets toward the source of the powerful energies.

As she got closer, the air grew heavier with the presence of cursed energy. Rin's curiosity was piqued. She moved stealthily, blending into the shadows, until she reached an old, abandoned building where the energy seemed to be concentrated.

Peeking inside, she noticed about fifteen sorcerers gathered in what seemed to be a serious meeting. One sorcerer stood out among the rest, radiating a different, more powerful aura. Rin concluded that this was an important gathering, given the typically low number of sorcerers. The building itself, despite its dilapidated exterior, had remnants of luxurious decor, hinting at its former grandeur.

Rin strained to hear their conversation, catching snippets of their discussion.

"We can't let this go unchecked..."

"...potential threat to all of us..."

Rin's interest deepened. Whatever they were discussing had to be significant if it warranted such a gathering of powerful sorcerers. She inched closer, trying to get a better view without revealing her presence. Her mind raced with possibilities, her instincts telling her that this meeting could provide valuable information or opportunities for her own goals. The thought of gaining an advantage or uncovering a hidden secret spurred her curiosity further.

Just as she positioned herself behind a large oak tree, an unexpected force struck her. Rin felt a punch so fast that she didn't even have time to react. The impact sent her hurtling through the air, crashing through numerous trees and rocks in her path. Each collision was a jarring blow, the sound of splintering wood and crumbling stone echoing in her ears. Finally, she came to a halt, her body aching from the multiple impacts.

"Huh? What just happened?" Rin muttered to herself with a frustrated tone. She hated getting punched in the face, but at least she had managed to defend herself with cursed energy from the after impact.

Suddenly, a green flash appeared in front of her, punching her in the stomach. The force of the blow made her gasp for air. "You survived my punch? That's surprising," the assailant remarked with a smirk.

"Damn, I cannot react. He is so fast. Is it a teleporting cursed technique?" Rin thought to herself as she coughed up blood. The realization of her opponent's speed and power ignited a fierce determination within her. She needed to strategize quickly if she wanted to turn the tide in her favor.

The moment she saw the green flash, she instantly activated her cursed technique, chanting, "Ice Formation: Frost Calm." An icy mist billowed forth, enveloping her opponent. The freezing fog quickly condensed into thick layers of ice, immobilizing the figure.

To her surprise, while the figure was caught off guard and momentarily shocked, he didn't panic. Seizing the opportunity, Rin appeared in front of him as fast as she could. With her short hair partially covering one eye, she thrust her icy sharp nails towards the man's heart, aiming to pierce his chest and end the battle swiftly.

Rin's icy sharp nails closed in on the man's chest, but just before they made contact, she felt a powerful surge of cursed energy. The ice encasing the man shattered into countless fragments, the shockwave pushing Rin back.

"Impressive technique," the man said, his voice calm and composed despite the situation. "But you'll need more than that to defeat me." He moved with blinding speed, his green aura flaring up as he launched another attack.

Rin barely had time to react, instinctively raising an ice barrier to absorb the brunt of the blow. The impact sent her skidding backward, her feet digging into the ground as she struggled to maintain her footing.

"Who is this guy?" she thought, her mind racing. "I need to figure out his weakness and fast."

Drawing on her cursed energy, Rin created a circle of ice spikes around her, hoping to buy herself some time. She focused on her surroundings, searching for any clue that might give her an advantage.

"Come on, Rin," she muttered to herself. "Think. There has to be a way to slow him down."

The man smirked, clearly enjoying the challenge. "You're resourceful, I'll give you that," he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "But let's see how you handle this!"

He vanished in another green flash, reappearing inside the circle of ice spikes. Rin reacted instantly, swinging her arm to send a wave of ice shards at him, but he effortlessly dodged them, closing the distance between them in an instant.

In that split second, Rin saw an opening. Summoning her cursed energy, she formed an ice sword in her hand and thrust it towards his midsection. The man's eyes widened in surprise as the blade made contact, piercing through his defenses and slashing his hand.

Rin twisted the sword, her expression cold and determined. "Got you, bastard," she said, her voice steady. "You will regret ever putting your hand on my face."

The man staggered back, clutching his wound. "Not bad," he admitted, his voice strained as he used reverse cursed technique to heal. Smoke appeared on his wound as it mended, the process almost instantaneous.

Rin's eyes widened as she observed the healing smoke. "Tsk, tsk, reverse curse technique really? This is going to be a pain in the ass," she cursed under her breath.

The man smirked, his confidence returning as the wound fully healed. "You're skilled, that's really impressive for your age," he said, his tone now mocking.

As he spoke, his voice appeared behind Rin, his hand landing on her shoulder. "Can you keep up with me, though?" he asked mockingly.

Rin reacted instantly, grabbing his hand and attempting to slash him with her sharp nails. They engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand combat, both manipulating cursed energy in their strikes and defenses. Despite Rin's determination and skill, the man's experience and superior speed gradually overwhelmed her.

Their movements were a blur within the mist-filled arena as Rin struggled to anticipate and counter his attacks. The man's strikes landed with precision, exploiting every opening in Rin's defenses. She fought valiantly, but the disparity in their abilities became increasingly evident.

In a decisive moment, the man delivered a swift blow that knocked Rin off balance. She staggered back, breathing heavily as she tried to regain her footing. The man stood before her, a knowing smile on his face.

"Not bad, kid," he remarked, his voice laced with amusement. "But you still have much to learn."

Rin clenched her fists, frustration and determination burning in her eyes. "Do you have no shame, bullying a little cute girl?" she retorted, her voice sharp with defiance.

"When you're putting your life on the line in every fight, there are no privileges based on gender, especially in this world, little cute girl," the man responded with a chuckle.

As Rin heard his words, a sense of urgency and determination surged within her. She knew this opponent was a special grade, likely far beyond her current capabilities. The other sorcerers were gathering around them, adding to the pressure of the situation.

"I need to find a way to survive," Rin thought to herself, swiftly forming a hand sign and assuming a squatting position. With resolve in her voice, she shouted, "Domain Expansion: Seas of the Crystal Forest!"

Instantly, a powerful surge of cursed energy emanated from Rin, enveloping the area around them. The misty landscape transformed into a vast expanse of crystalline trees and shimmering ice. A moon-like orb of icy energy floated behind her, enhancing her abilities within the domain.

The other sorcerers gathered around paused in awe as they witnessed Rin's domain taking shape. From the outside, they could see a small orb forming around Rin and the man trapped inside.

The man who had mocked her earlier now regarded her with cautious respect, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"I'm really impressed; you achieved Domain Expansion, an ability most sorcerers will struggle and never be able to make it in their entire life. The true power of jujutsu," he said, genuinely amazed.

"And it's a lethal one too? Most people in this era choose to make a non-lethal one with a bunch of rules because it's easier to obtain. And at your young age, too. Really impressive," he continued.

Rin smirked, though she was keenly aware of the challenges that still lay ahead. "Are you going to open your domain or what? If not You might die," she warned jokingly, knowing full well that even within her domain, she might still be at a disadvantage. She was acutely aware of the possibility of experiencing Dagon treatment.

Without giving him time to breathe, she clapped her hands, forming a hand sign to activate her domain's sure-hit effect. From her previous tests, she knew that 50% of sorcerers would freeze to death the moment they entered her domain, while 49% would start getting frozen slowly. However, the fact that her domain had no effect on him at all indicated just how strong the man was.

"Ice Formation: Ice Fall!" she shouted with a smirk on her face.