Simultaneously, just when Lorien was observing the unfolding situation from a considerable distance, enough time has passed for a mutation to occur with Maki and Yuta.

Currently, it seemed that the duo was no longer inside the elementary school. Instead, they found themselves trapped within the stomach of an enormous cursed spirit that materialized during the brief window of time when Lorien was lost in contemplation.

Once it appeared, this immense cursed spirit, roughly a quarter the size of the entire school, swiftly launched a surprise attack, flinging the pair into the air and promptly gulping them down.

Incapable of reacting or creating a counter-attack while being in mid-air, they ended up in their present, dire predicament.

"Shit! Shit!"

Stomping her feet in sheer frustration, Maki couldn't help but feel exasperated as she realized her weapon had been left outside.

"Let us out, damn it!!"

Screaming in anger, her furious shout filled with unrestrained anger was potent enough to rouse Yuta from the disorientation caused by their unexpected fall.

"Where are we?"

"We're in that curse's stomach! You shouldn't be passing out over this."

"You mean it ate us?!"

"That's right! I thought you were being protected by your curse?!"

"Even I don't know what makes rika-chan come out! And more importantly, what do we do now?!"

"After time passes and the veil goes away, help will come for us."

As she uttered these words, Maki couldn't help but feel even more vexed while envisioning Gojo's face upon rescuing them.

"This is embarrassing! Shit!"

However, just as she was expressing her frustration, the voice of a child sounded in front of her instantly attracting the attention of the two.

"Please! He's about to die!" Cried the older child who was still awake as he cradled a younger, visibly weaker child in his lap.

Seeing this, Yuta couldn't help but feel a surge of relief as he recalled his instructor previously mentioning the disappearance of two children.

It's just that unfortunately, his elation was short-lived as Maki quickly doused it after assessing the children's condition.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"This is not good, look closer, the big one's obviously been affected by the curse, both of them could die at any moment."

Alarmed by her words, Yuta instantly leaped to his feet, demanding to know their next course of action.

"What do we do?!"

However, in her mounting frustration, Maki snapped back.

"There's nothing we can do!"

Saying this, one could hear her voice faltering as her expression turned despondent.

"We can only wait for help! Not everyone has resistance to curses like you do!"

It's just that by the time she finished speaking, her body swayed precariously from side to side as she struggled to keep herself standing, however, that was to no avail as moments later she succumbed and collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

"Zen'in-san?!!"

Alarmed, Yuta instantly hurried to her side to assess her condition, and it didn't take more than a couple of glances for him to notice the wound that appeared on her thigh.

"What's with this wound? Are you cursed?!"

However, just as Yuta was wrestling with his confusion and anxiety, the older child who had called out earlier spoke up once more.

"Is she going to die?"

"Please, save us, Mister!"

Reaching here, the kid was finally overwhelmed with emotion, as he finally broke down in tears, sobbing loudly.

"Please!"

Witnessing this, Yuta clutched his own clothing, his expression fraught with unease as he replied.

"You keep asking, but I can't..."

However, before he could complete his sentence, Maki, who had been lying on the ground, abruptly sprang up and seized Yuta by his clothing, hoisting him into the air while shouting at him.

"Seriously, why did you come to Jujutsu High?!"

"What do you want to do?! What do you want to have?! What do you want to achieve?!"

Hearing those questions, Yuta's eyes couldn't help but mist as he responded.

"I don't want anyone to get hurt anymore, I tried to lock myself away and disappear, but I was told it's lonely being all by myself, and I couldn't argue."

Reaching this point, Yuta gritted his teeth and spoke with resolve.

"I want to interact with someone! I want to be needed by someone! I want the confidence to say that it's okay that I'm alive!"

Hearing this, Maki's voice softened as she spoke.

"Then exorcise them, Exorcise curses, Exorcice them over and over, Confidence and friends will all come to you after that; That's the kind of place Jujutsu Hight is!!"

However, that was all she could say before passing out again, unable to hold herself up any longer.

It's just that this was enough to solidify Yuta's resolve as he took the ring he had been wearing as a necklace and wore it.

"Rika-chan"

[What?]

"Lend me your strength."

The instant these words were spoken, the curse 'Rika' erupted from the mouth of the cursed spirit that had swallowed Yuta and Maki as she then tore its head off with a single strike and proceeded to assault its body relentlessly, causing blood to splatter everywhere.

Meanwhile, standing outside the barrier, Gojo immediately sensed the sudden surge of cursed energy as he observed the immense power being unleashed.

"Now that's terrifying."

Unable to hold back, a smirk appeared on Gojo's face as he mused.

"So this is the full picture of Orimoto Rika, the special-grade cursed apparition?"

"Hahahaha, So scary."

However, just as Gojo was chuckling lightly, a voice suddenly sounded beside him.

"Quite the interesting sight, isn't it?"

It's just that before Gojo could fully react, something more outrageous than someone appearing silently next to him without him noticing occurred.

As upon hearing the voice, Gojo felt someone tapping on his shoulder completely ignoring the passive 'infinity' technique around him.

"However, your technique is a bit more interesting!"