Jujutsu Kaisen: Purple

Chapter 19: The Shinjuku Slaughter

Ayato froze; a tall man possessing black shoulder-length hair and dark green eyes walked past him, slowly bringing a plague doctor mask to his face.

"Leave this one to me."

A transparent, dark green light engulfed the sorcerer.

Custom Binding Vow: Obstructive Masquerade.

Four whip-like blades erupted from Shinji's right palm as he sprinted in the cursed spirit's direction. A distorted roar thundered throughout the street, followed by a skeletal arm wrecking a car while sweeping towards the man. The sorcerer sprang into the air. He snapped his fingers and fired a barrage of sharp rosemary needles into the monster's eyes. The skeleton screeched, shielding its blood-stained skull using its hands.

Upon landing, an army of creatures akin to mutated ants ambushed Shinji. He hopped backwards and swung his right arm — the herbal blades slashing them to gory ribbons — before pulverising the surviving swarms with his bare fists. A gigantic jaw swooped down on the man from behind — subsequently obliterated by an immense flash of mint-coloured light.

Burnt bone shards showered the street as the mask's murky panes vaguely reflected a familiar figure; Shinji removed his mask, his pupils fixed on the special-grade curse named 'Shousa'.

You're next.

On a nearby road, Shira dipped one of her throwing knives in a glass vial containing a green liquid. She clicked the plastic lid shut and hurled the weapon at a cursed spirit comparable to a beetle. Moments later, the knife flew back into the girl's hand.

Inherited Family Technique...

An outbreak of blisters plagued the beast. In a state of oblivion, it dove towards the sorcerer.

Herbal Alchemy.

The creature's body burst like a blood-filled balloon — painting the street purple. Shira smiled vindictively and scanned her surroundings.

That should've been the last curse in the area.

A noose shot towards the girl's neck. She turned her head and lurched backwards as a jet of purple flames appeared in front of her; Kana stood further down the road, five burning candles resting on the ground around her.

"Be careful, Shira!" warned the purple-haired woman. "That one's a special-grade!"

An eerie entity with frayed, black hair strewn over its face stepped into view from behind an abandoned car.

"It saddens me that you're still alive, Candlelight Sorcerer."

Near Omekaido Overbridge, a collection of reptilian curses chased after a young woman. She stepped on an amputated arm while running and slipped, twisting her ankle. The woman collapsed.

"S-someone, please help!" she screamed — the creatures less than three metres away.

A miniature explosion mutilated the monsters. The woman's eyes slammed shut as disintegrating flesh fragments and evaporating blood beads garnished the ground. Upon reopening them, she saw an upturned hand held out in front of her.

"I'm glad I made it in time," asserted Hinotori, bearing a heroic smile. "You're safe now."

The woman blinked. "Th-thank y—" Blood spilt from her mouth before landing on the sorcerer's shoes. She clutched her throat, coughing relentlessly.

Mizuki rushed to Hinotori's side. He gave the woman a worried glance and transferred his vision to the sharp-toothed sorcerer.

"What happened to—"

The blue-haired boy paused, noticing his friend's harrowed expression. He traced Hinotori's gaze to a syringe sticking out the back of the woman's right calf.

...Huh?

The woman's head snapped backwards as her eyeballs exploded — dyeing the road red. She struck the asphalt, her body wilting like a withered flower. Mizuki and Hinotori stared at the ground. Silence.

"Woah, you guys look like you've just seen a ghost!"

The two sorcerers turned their heads: a profusion of dead people quilled with medical needles decorated the street — Kezume standing in their centre.

"Did you miss me?"

Yukari bolted out of a building.

"I cleared the—"

His eyes widened, spotting the apparition.

Wait... what?

A jade-green parasol illuminated the teenager's peripheral vision. He flinched before leaping sideways. The boy landed multiple metres down the road, his sight set on a turquoise-haired man laughing obnoxiously.

"We meet again, Yukari Tsumeyami!"

The teenager frowned. "You guys take care of the special-grade," he instructed, projecting his voice towards his teammates; a disdainful look developed on the boy's face as he made eye contact with Sayume.

"I'll get rid of the weaker one."

Mrs Yokiuji and Ms Yamakado stood on a rooftop — the former holding a megaphone imbued with cursed energy.

"Attention, everyone! The majority of you will survive as long as you remain calm and follow my instructions!"

The woman's words echoed across the city.

"You're currently involved in what we suspect is a terrorist attack against Shinjuku. There's no time to explain, but we urge anyone listening to stay indoors and avoid the streets at all costs. If you notice or experience any type of paranormal phenomena, flee to a safer location immediately!"

Mrs Yokiuji cleared her throat, her face lined with stress marks.

"To all Jujutsu High students: this curtain seems to retain a condition that prevents people from leaving in exchange for allowing anyone to enter. Until the caster is eliminated, you have no choice but to fight. Shinji, Ayato, Kana, Shira, Hinotori, Mizuki, and Yukari..."

The woman's tone grew more stern.

"...Defend Shinjuku with your lives!"

A series of serpentine creatures phased through the rooftop door; Ms Yamakado turned around and gasped.

Distant shrieking prompted the sorcerers to look up: two familiar figures plummeted down the side of a building before crashing into the pavement.

That evening... we truly grasped the unbridled horrors human beings are capable of inflicting on one another.