Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

[ UNDER REPAIR, ROAD CLOSED! ]

Bright barriers and danger signs blocked the way.

This wasn't Daiki's first encounter with such a situation. In the past, he would've immediately taken a detour when faced with these barriers. After all, renovation sites often posed various risks.

One could end up crushed by collapsing construction materials or severely injured by an inattentive construction vehicle. He had even witnessed a dilapidated building collapse unexpectedly.

Previously, he would've simply blamed such incidents on shoddy construction. Now, he realized it might have been because he "couldn't see". Neither Evil Spirits nor Cursed Spirits are visible to everyone.

Only those with Spiritual Sight can faintly perceive Evil Spirits. Those who can see Cursed Spirits earn the title of "Window" in the Jujutsu World. Most people are essentially "blind" to these phenomena. Even if killed by a Cursed Spirit, they'd assume they were hit by a runaway vehicle.

Daiki placed one hand on the barrier and effortlessly vaulted over it.

The Cursed Energy from the Special-Grade Cursed Object, Sukuna's Finger, stored in his Collection Space, could be used to nourish and strengthen his physical body. This constant infusion of Cursed Energy was steadily enhancing his physical abilities.

His already well-conditioned physique grew increasingly powerful and agile.

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Meanwhile, in the area sealed off by the barriers, the fully armed Public Safety Devil Hunters Division carefully searched for traces.

"Himeno, you're in luck! If we manage to capture this ghost demon, you might get a powerful ability after contracting with it."

The squad leader of the Devil Hunters Division recalled information about Ghost Demon Contractors, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Huh?" Himeno, the newcomer, looked utterly bewildered.

After undergoing advanced training from the Public Safety Devil Hunters Division, she had transformed completely. Though still at an ordinary person's level, her physical abilities surpassed the average. Moreover, she possessed knowledge about Demons that most people lacked.

In her mind, Demons were creatures that devoured humans whole. Contracting with a Demon allowed one to summon it in dangerous situations. However, each summoning came at a price.

The cost ranged from an insignificant strand of hair to vital bodily organs. Worse still, the price was entirely determined by the Demon's whim — an extremely unfair arrangement.

As if sensing Himeno's thoughts, the one-armed, one-eyed squad leader smiled and said, "You're quite fortunate. Ghost demons are special. Our intel suggests that contracting with a ghost demon grants you a supernatural ability you can use frequently. Interestingly, this ghost demon's contract price follows a pattern. For the first contract, she always demands the contractor's eyeball."

"Eyeball!"

Himeno's heart skipped a beat. Her left hand unconsciously rose to touch her eye.

"That's... not so bad..." She forced an extremely strained smile.

For ordinary people, this price was too steep. However, members of the Public Safety Devil Hunters Division constantly teetered on the edge of death. Casualties occurred on almost every mission.

Exchanging an eyeball for permanent supernatural abilities? Ninety-nine percent of the Devil Hunters Division members would jump at the chance. But for a newcomer like Himeno, it was still a bit too much.

"Matsushita, what's the situation on your end?" The squad leader used the walkie-talkie to check in with the surveillance personnel.

"All normal. The ghost demon's contractor is emotionally sta — He's standing up... No... The ghost demon is devouring his body..."

In the surveillance personnel's field of vision, a middle-aged man with a tattered coat and unkempt facial hair suddenly stood. His left sleeve went limp, quickly followed by his right.

"Take it all! As long as you can kill everyone, take it all!" The man's expression was frenzied as he shouted skyward.

In an instant, the middle-aged man vanished completely. Only his tattered coat and dirty clothes remained, spread on the ground.

The squad leader next to Himeno blanched. Before he could issue an order, the sound of bones cracking crackled through the walkie-talkie.

"Everyone, attention! The ghost demon has gone berserk!"

As the order was transmitted, a wordless panic instantly gripped the area.

"Report! Ghost demon appeared in Area A, she's... she's vanished!"

No sooner had the words been uttered than the Public Safety Devil Hunters Division squad in Area A went silent.

Himeno and her colleagues were stunned. They hadn't fully grasped the implications of "vanished". What followed was even more chilling as the remaining team members successively fell out of contact.

The entire process occurred without the slightest disturbance. It was as if the members of the Devil Hunters Division were blind to the ghost demon's presence.

"Could this ghost demon be invisible?" Himeno swallowed hard, her hands tightly gripping the dagger at her waist.

Crack—

The hair on her body stood on end. The crisp sound of breaking bones seemed to emanate from her own body. However, that was merely an illusion brought on by her extreme tension.

In reality, a member of the Demon Hunter Division nearby had their neck twisted.

Crack—

Another bone-breaking sound echoed.

Both the squad leader and Himeno's faces turned ashen. They couldn't see the ghost demon at all!

۞ Hellhound Demon ۞

The squad leader suddenly roared. His other arm vanished into thin air.

In its wake, a ferocious-looking, enormous Hellhound Demon materialized.

But mere seconds after its appearance, its four legs left the ground. It was then strangled to death before everyone's eyes.

Witnessing this scene, the members of the Public Safety Devil Hunters Division were paralyzed with fear. The sight of everyone scattering in panic made Himeno's heart plummet.

On her first day on the job, was this how she would die? She hadn't even said a proper goodbye to her father and sister.

Suddenly, an eerie chill enveloped her body. An irresistible force descended upon her neck.

Just as it was about to snap her neck, a calm voice rang out like a thunderclap:

۞ Domain Expansion ⟴ Malevolent Shrine! ۞

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T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!

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