Chapter 246: Shōko Wants to Try It Too?

As a member of the trio alongside Satoru and Suguru, it was no secret that Shōko also wielded a Zanpakutō.

After all, Minazuki's appearance was even more eye-catching than Satoru's Senbonzakura or Suguru's Hōzukimaru.

It had become Shōko's exclusive mount. Many had seen her soaring across the skies of Tokyo on Minazuki's back.

"I want to give it a try too."

Shōko sighed and reluctantly released her Zanpakutō, Minazuki.

Unlike combat-oriented sorcerers like Satoru and Suguru, she served more as a logistical and support unit. Minazuki's function leaned heavily toward healing.

That was why she lacked confidence in handling something like Sukuna's finger.

Still, while her direct combat ability was lacking, she had her own method in mind to destroy it.

A method completely different from those of Satoru and Suguru.

She possessed the Reverse Cursed Technique, which neither of them had fully mastered. More importantly, she could externally output the positive energy it generated.

Since cursed spirits were composed of negative energy, the positive energy produced by the Reverse Cursed Technique was lethal to them.

Shōko intended to use that energy, channeled through Minazuki's healing properties, to try dissolving Ryomen Sukuna's finger.

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The massive green manta ray, Minazuki, swallowed Sukuna's finger and floated silently in the air.

Shōko stood behind her, gripping Minazuki's slender tail with one hand. She directed the positive energy within her body through that tail and into Minazuki. Their combined power focused on Sukuna's finger.

Brilliant green light radiated from Minazuki's body, and the crowd couldn't help but feel awestruck by the sight.

This was the power of the Reverse Cursed Technique.

Under Shōko and Minazuki's influence, minor internal injuries in nearby observers began to heal on their own.

They actually went with that method. Maybe it really could work.

Yaga Masamichi was stunned when he realized what Shōko was doing.

Others in history had mastered the Reverse Cursed Technique, such as Inamichi—but Shōko's version was different. She and Minazuki could release the technique's energy with zero loss in efficiency.

While this positive energy was miraculous for healing the living, it was a deadly poison to cursed spirits.

Maybe it could really corrode Sukuna's finger.

Zenin Ogi and Kamo Kaname's expressions darkened once more. With each new person who stepped forward, their faces changed so frequently one might think they were trained in Sichuan opera.

After five minutes of silence, Shōko finally let go of Minazuki's tail and shook her head bitterly.

Minazuki, hovering weakly in the air, looked exhausted. Her large round eyes were dim and sluggish.

It was clear that both Shōko and Minazuki had depleted their cursed energy completely.

"Urk—"

Minazuki opened her mouth wide and spat out Sukuna's finger.

That moment signified Shōko's failure.

But Ogi and Kaname showed no joy.

Because that finger… looked different.

Tiny cracks lined its surface—barely visible, but undeniably there.

What did this mean?

It meant that Shōko and Minazuki's method had worked.

The surface had only been lightly corroded this time, but what if Shōko's cursed energy were stronger?

What if she were given more time?

It was now evident—Shōko possessed the power to erase Sukuna's finger.

This wasn't theory. This was real.

But was this truly due to Shōko's Reverse Cursed Technique?

After all, in Jujutsu history, many sorcerers had mastered the Reverse Cursed Technique and tried this before.

And all had failed.

Some of them were far more powerful than Shōko. So why was she the only one showing results?

Why was it only Shōko's energy that left signs of corrosion?

The question lingered in everyone's mind.

And then, as they watched her gently sheath Minazuki, their thoughts were blown wide open.

Minazuki dissolved into a stream of bright green light and disappeared into the scabbard.

A collective sense of awe spread across the crowd.

For most of them, it was the first time witnessing Minazuki being recalled. It was also the first time they truly understood what a Zanpakutō was.

Until now, they had assumed the giant green manta ray was just a cursed spirit under Shōko's control.

But it wasn't. It was her Zanpakutō.

That revelation shook them.

Wasn't a Zanpakutō supposed to be a weapon?

Senbonzakura turned into cherry blossoms—yes, but it was still a sword at its core.

Hōzukimaru changed into a spear—still within the realm of Cursed Tools.

But Minazuki?

What even was this?

How could a Zanpakutō take the form of what looked like a cursed spirit?

They didn't know what else to call Minazuki, so they kept referring to her as a cursed spirit out of habit.

A Cursed Tool turned into a cursed spirit.

At that moment, those with knowledge of the Zanpakutō nine years ago suddenly remembered something.

When Satoshi forged his Zanpakutō, he used a special kind of Cursed Tool.

What exactly did that mean?

And when he forged Ryūjin Jakka, he even incorporated Cursed Objects.

Was this fusion of Cursed Object and Cursed Tool the reason Satoshi's Zanpakutō had evolved into such forms?

No one knew.

But as Shōko and the others released their Zanpakutō one by one, everyone at the venue and those watching the livestream had come to the same realization.

These Cursed Tools called Zanpakutō were anything but ordinary.

They weren't something just anyone could access.

Now it was clear why sorcerers as powerful as Satoru and Suguru still carried these plain-looking swords at their waist.

Because beneath that simplicity… was extraordinary power.

Because the Zanpakutō that had remained dormant for nine years could actually hurt Ryomen Sukuna.

(To be continued.)