I Died in a Knife Fight and Reincarnated into Jujutsu Kaisen

The curse struck the ground with the force of a missile, sending shockwaves rippling through the tile floor. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface, and a cloud of dust spiralled outward, momentarily obscuring the air. Yuji reacted instinctively, diving to the side and rolling back to his feet, his heart racing as his eyes locked onto the figure that emerged from the debris.

It stood before him, an unsettling presence that was far from enormous or grotesque. Instead, it exuded a sense of wrongness that sent a chill down his spine. Its limbs were unnaturally elongated, and its skin bore an unsettlingly smooth texture, like polished marble. Where a human face should have been, there was only a mask painted with a sinister, permanent grin that showcased sharp, jagged teeth, giving it an air of malevolence.

Yuji glanced over his shoulder, finding Alex standing motionless, arms crossed against his chest, his gaze unwavering as he observed the unfolding chaos. The calm detachment on Alex's face was infuriating.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Yuji snapped, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "You're not gonna help?"

Alex remained silent, his focus trained on the curse's erratic movements as if he were merely watching a slow-motion film.

"Go ahead. Let's see what you've got," Alex finally said, the hint of a challenge in his voice.

Yuji scoffed, determination bubbling within him. "Tch. Fine."

With that, the curse lunged, propelled by a wild, primal instinct. Yuji braced himself and met it head-on. The clash of fists against claws erupted into a blur of motion, each strike carrying the weight of Yuji's resolve. He ducked a vicious swipe meant to tear through him, landing a solid punch into the creature's gut. To his dismay, it barely flinched, its expression unchanging.

The curse retaliated with ferocity, its claws raking across Yuji's arm. Pain exploded as blood sprayed from the wound, but he grits his teeth, refusing to back down. He pressed forward, his strikes becoming heavier and more desperate, fueled by both adrenaline and a flicker of fear. The creature was quick, displaying an unsettling intelligence, each movement calculated and vicious.

A sudden knee collided with Yuji's ribs, the impact forcing the air from his lungs. He gasped, stumbling back as his vision momentarily blurred. He fought to regain his composure, determination hardening in his chest.

But then, the curse hissed, preparing to lunge at him once more. Suddenly, it stopped mid-air, its leap interrupted. Yuji watched in awe as its body twisted unnaturally, propelled by a sudden vector redirection that jerked it off course. The creature crashed violently into the wall, the impact echoing like a gunshot through the room.

Alex had moved.

His steps were slow and deliberate as he approached the fallen creature, each footfall calculated and confident. Yuji stood there, breathing heavily, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. "Thanks for the backup," he managed to say, a mix of relief and gratitude in his voice.

Alex didn't reply. His eyes remained glued to the curse, deep in thought, as if he were calculating his next move with the precision of a chess master.

The creature screeched and lunged again with no hesitation now, just rage.

Alex shifted his weight, stepped into its path, and caught its outstretched arm. With a single, sickening twist and precision, he snapped the joint backwards.

The curse howled.

Alex didn't let go.

He broke the limb again, this time higher, and wrenched the jagged bone free from beneath the skin.

Blood was sprayed in thick, dark pulses.

Without a word, Alex drove the sharpened bone into the curse's throat.

The shriek died mid-breath. A wet, gurgling sound replaced it.

The curse flailed, twitching violently.

Yuji stepped back, watching silently.

Alex pressed forward and twisted the makeshift weapon deeper until the neck bent at an unnatural angle.

Then he let go.

The body crumpled.

But even as it hit the floor, something rippled beneath its skin.

The wound at its throat sealed.

Its shattered bones snapped back into place.

In seconds, the curse rose slower, angrier, but very much alive.

Yuji widened his eyes. "You've got to be kidding me."

Alex's expression didn't change.

The curse lunged again, blood bubbling from its grin.

Alex moved. He grabbed both of the curse's arms mid-attack.

Muscles shifted in his forearms. Vectors locked.

Then he pulled.

There was no scream, just tearing.

With a crack like thunder, Alex ripped the curse clean in half from the shoulders down.

Black blood sprayed across the floor and walls. The top half of the curse still twitched for a moment before falling limp.

Yuji stared. "...Jesus."

Alex let the twitching pieces drop.

"This time," he muttered, "stay dead."

For a moment, the only sound was Yuji's ragged breathing.

"That was brutal," Yuji muttered.

Alex exhaled. "You were slipping."

"Yeah," Yuji admitted. "It was fast. Smarter than I expected."

They stood over the broken corpse, blood pooling beneath it.

Alex nudged the head with his boot. "It's done."

Yuji rubbed his sore arm. "Was that the main one?"

"Probably."