No!
This absolutely cannot be allowed to happen!
In Yuji Itadori eyes reflected Tokisaki Kurumi final smile as he roared in his heart.
"Sukuna! Are you done yet?! Sukuna————!"
"In the domain of Nightmare, anyone without enough cursed energy will fall unconscious."
Sukuna voice, rarely, carried a trace of helplessness as he said powerlessly, "Even if you completely relinquish your body's control to me, the moment I go out there, I'd just end up unconscious as well."
"Isn't there any other way? Anything at all!"
"What kind of way do you want?"
"A way to resolve this situation!"
"How absurd, brat." Sukuna voice grew even weaker. "All misfortunes are caused by one's own lack of power. If you're weak, there is no solution."
"But... but..." Yuji Itadori gritted his teeth. "I can't just stand by and watch Kurumi be killed!"
"If you can't bear to watch your comrade be killed..."
As if he had lost even the strength to speak, Sukuna voice gradually faded, leaving only his final words:
"Then just close your eyes."
Even the greatest Jujutsu Sorcerer in history, the so-called King of Curses, couldn't think of any solution.
A deep sorrow rose in Yuji Itadori heart.
As he watched Nightmare step closer and closer to Tokisaki Kurumi, Yuji Itadori wanted to shut his eyes tightly.
But his body was under control, and he couldn't even make this tiny movement.
"Pshhk—!"
Under the despairing gazes of Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro, Nightmare formed her hand into a claw and pierced through Tokisaki Kurumi chest.
Warm blood splattered across the green grass, seeping deeply into the soil.
Her complexion gradually turned pale, and the light in her eyes slowly faded.
As Nightmare pulled her hand from Kurumi body, the girl, having lost all balance and strength, collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
Blood trickled from the corners of her mouth, eventually covering that final smile which had remained even in death.
"What a pain. Even if she was just a betraying clone, killing myself with my own hands... I still can't get used to it."
Nightmare shook off the blood on her hand and tossed the still-beating heart next to Tokisaki Kurumi corpse.
"But now, the troublesome matter is finally resolved."
"Ku... rumi..."
Megumi Fushiguro pupils trembled as he witnessed his comrade's death.
A black emotion surged in his heart like a dark tide.
Why is it always the kind people who suffer misfortune?
Megumi Fushiguro couldn't help but wonder.
Even though Tokisaki Kurumi true identity was a clone of Nightmare, once he understood the reason for her betrayal, his feelings toward her hadn't wavered in the slightest.
Nightmare—this era's most wicked Jujutsu Sorcerer, a butcher with the blood of thousands on her hands, a demon born from the deepest nightmare—was undoubtedly a monster.
But Tokisaki Kurumi...
She was the only sliver of kindness left in Nightmare heart.
She was so gentle.
Like an older sister to everyone, she always offered quiet care and support, whether in studies or in life.
Even though they had only known each other for a month, Megumi Fushiguro had already accepted her in his heart as a true comrade.
Perhaps it was because, in Tokisaki Kurumi, he saw the shadow of his own sister, Fushiguro Tsumiki.
But both Fushiguro Tsumiki and Tokisaki Kurumi had been relentlessly hunted by cruel fate.
Now, the death of his comrade was like the spark that ignited a long-fused bomb, causing Megumi Fushiguro long-suppressed emotions to explode completely.
Why?
Why does the world always treat kind people so cruelly?
Can someone please tell me—why!!!
"Crack..."
The sound of his pupils shattering echoed.
In Megumi Fushiguro eyes, everything turned blood red.
Was it because the City of Time Devourers was still active?
No, perhaps the whole world had been dyed red.
By the flames of rage.
His eyes bloodshot, Megumi Fushiguro gaze was like that of a beast craving flesh, staring intently at Nightmare, as if he wanted to dig her flesh out with his eyes alone.
"What a terrifying gaze."
Perhaps it was because the fury and hatred in his eyes were so intense, Nightmare attention was drawn toward him.
Yet, facing such a devouring stare, she felt no fear. Instead, she walked over with a charming smile.
"Who would have thought that this betraying clone of mine had actually... made a real friend in this short time."
Nightmare examined Megumi Fushiguro expression and chuckled softly,
"But what can you do for her?"
Now that the betraying clone had been dealt with, there was no reason to stay any longer.
The blood-red barrier dissipated, allowing the desolate moonlight to once again shine down on the earth.
"Relax. I'll keep my promise. I won't kill you."
The shadow at Nightmare feet began to writhe, gradually swallowing her within.
"Cherish your lives. After all, she traded hers for yours."
With that, her figure completely vanished from the spot.
More than ten seconds passed before the binding restrictions finally ended.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Yuji Itadori dropped to his knees, pounding the ground in frustration.
"We... couldn't do anything..."
He had once believed that no matter what difficulty he encountered, he could overcome it through sheer effort.
But when his comrade was in danger, he couldn't even get the chance to struggle.
Was it because of the restrictions?
No. Ultimately, it was because he was too weak.
Restrictions weren't unbreakable.
Although forcibly breaking them would bring unknown consequences, as long as one had enough strength and didn't fear the price, they could still be shattered.
Yet, he couldn't even break the restriction itself.
"Sukuna..."
Yuji Itadori voice was hoarse, as if suppressing some overwhelming emotion.
"Nightmare is your enemy too, isn't she?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me how to gain power."
Yuji Itadori eyes were pitch black, like a black hole devouring everything, as he murmured,
"This is the first time I've wanted to kill someone this badly."
"Don't act like we're close. Just because you ask, I'm supposed to teach you?"
Sukuna sneered disdainfully.
But then, he suddenly changed his tone and said:
"Though, teaching you a thing or two wouldn't hurt... If you want to gain strength quickly, then start by learning about more advanced forms of restriction."
Sukuna didn't like this guy who imprisoned his soul.
Not just because Yuji Itadori body was his cage, but because he disliked the guy's personality.
However... now, he was starting to find him a bit more tolerable.
And the brat wasn't wrong. Nightmare was his enemy—an enemy he vowed to destroy.
For Sukuna to grow stronger, there were only two paths:
First, devour more of his fingers.
Second, make his host stronger.
Of course, his teachings wouldn't be free.
He could easily set up traps during training, preparing for the day he might truly gain freedom.
Even though Nightmare was his enemy, that didn't mean he and Yuji Itadori were allies.
"Ding ding ding————!"
Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro both fell silent, not saying another word.
No one knew how much time had passed when suddenly, the cell phone left behind by Tokisaki Kurumi began to ring.
Megumi Fushiguro, being closer, picked up the phone.
And when he saw the caller ID, a vein bulged on his forehead.
"Hello, Gojo-sensei."
Despite picking up the call, his voice was surprisingly calm—so calm that there wasn't a hint of emotion in it.
"Huh? Fushiguro? Why are you the one answering the phone?"
Satoru Gojo laid-back voice came from the other end, urging, "Where's Tokisaki? Hand the phone to her. She called me so many times—she must have had something important to say. I've got a lot I want to tell her too."
After silently listening to Gojo words, Megumi Fushiguro finally spoke.
"Tokisaki... is dead."
"...Huh?" Gojo froze. "What did you say?"
"I said Tokisaki is dead," Fushiguro repeated calmly. "We just encountered a Nightmare. All those calls she made to you—they were cries for help."
There was silence on the other end of the line.
It was as if Gojo had not expected such a thing to happen and didn't know how to respond.
"What about the others? How are the others doing?"
After a long pause, Gojo voice came through again.
This time, the usual lightheartedness in his tone was completely gone, replaced by a weariness and solemnity rarely heard by Fushiguro.
"I'm still here, and so is Itadori. Nobara's not with us, but she should be fine."
"Where are you right now? I'll be there immediately."
Fushiguro quickly told him their general location.
Half a minute later, Satoru Gojo appeared at their side.
"Tell me everything. From the beginning to the end."
At Gojo request, Fushiguro and Itadori took turns explaining the events that had transpired.
Gojo listened silently until the end, then let out a deep sigh.
"Gojo-sensei, what were you doing just now?" Fushiguro asked calmly.
"I was in a meeting with those old farts from the Jujutsu world," Gojo said as he rubbed his forehead. "Before she left this morning, Tokisaki left a note. It contained all the intel she had on the Nightmare."
In truth, even until now, Gojo had never fully trusted this mysterious student whose origins were unclear.
The feeling was mutual—Tokisaki hadn't trusted him either. That's why she hadn't shared the Nightmare information with him sooner.
It was precisely because of this that Gojo had been so shocked when he received the note this morning—shocked by how detailed the Nightmare abilities were.
The contents were so shocking that even someone as powerful as Satoru Gojo, the strongest of his generation, felt the situation was extremely troublesome.
For the first time in his life, he felt that maybe—just maybe—this time he truly wouldn't be able to handle it.
That's why, despite his usual disdain for the upper echelons of the Jujutsu world, he had no choice but to seek their help and convene an emergency high-level meeting.
"Sorry. I was still arguing with those old guys until just now and didn't notice the calls." Gojo sighed again.
"I didn't mean to blame you, Gojo-sensei," Fushiguro shook his head. "If anyone is to blame, it's me for being too weak."
Earlier, when Gojo hadn't answered his phone, Fushiguro had been anxious and even harbored some resentment.
But that was wrong.
Gojo wasn't their babysitter—he couldn't be expected to watch over them every second of the day.
If blame must be laid on someone, it should be on those of them who lacked the power to prevent such a tragedy.
"Are you okay, Megumi?"
Seeing Fushiguro acting overly calm, Gojo brows furrowed in concern.
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I'm still standing here, aren't I?" Fushiguro forced a smile. "But Tokisaki is gone forever. So Gojo-sensei, instead of worrying about me right now, shouldn't you be thinking about how to avenge her?"
"I will."
Hearing this, Gojo didn't say anything more. He just nodded. "Let's talk in more detail after we get back."
With that, he looked over at the unconscious forms of Choso, Eso, and Kechizu not far away.
From Yuji Itadori earlier account, he had already deduced that these three were the first to third Cursed Womb: Death Paintings, which had been stolen a few days prior.
He walked over and rudely woke the three of them up.
"G-Satoru Gojo!"
Upon seeing the face of the one who woke him, Choso immediately became alert and wary.
"So you do know me."
Seeing Choso's reaction, a certain guess in Gojo mind was confirmed.
As a Cursed Object who had only possessed a body for a few days, the fact that Choso knew his appearance and information meant only one thing—he had to have been stolen by that mysterious group of Cursed Spirits and Cursed Users.
Gojo took out his phone and found a photo in his album, then held it up to Choso.
"Answer one question, and I might consider not sealing you."
He pointed to the person on the screen and asked seriously, "Do you know this man?"
"I do..."
Choso didn't hesitate and immediately answered, "A cursed user—Suguru Geto."
Upon hearing Choso's response, Gojo expression deepened.
That day, after receiving a so-called "hint" from the Nightmare, he had immediately gone to the site where he had buried Suguru Geto.
At first glance, there had been nothing unusual.
But Gojo knew that the Nightmare wouldn't say anything meaningless.
So, just to be sure, he had dug up Geto grave—and opened the coffin.
Suguru Geto body... was no longer inside.
"Nightmare... Suguru Geto... a mysterious organization..."
One problem after another piled up before Satoru Gojo, making him feel the full weight of the pressure on his shoulders.
"Things are really getting more and more complicated."