The tall and powerful figure before her gave Maki a sense of security she could not put into words.
Icicles rained down, yet not one could touch the man standing in front of her.
With a single sweep of his hand, his fist shadows formed a shield, blocking the deadly ice spikes that could have pierced their bodies.
"It's really bad! Please save me, save the Zenin family!"
The moment Toji appeared, Ogi felt as if salvation had descended upon him.
He completely forgot what Toji had done to him before, forgot how he had always ignored and despised him. At this moment, all he wanted was for Toji to save him, no matter the cost.
"Pathetic."
Toji turned around, scooped Maki and Mai into his arms, one on each side, then kicked Ogi with a single strike, sending him crashing into the inner room.
Even looking at that man for a single second dirtied the eyes.
"Toji-san…"
Maki felt as if she were dreaming. She had thought of Toji, and then Toji actually appeared before her.
The impact made her heart race violently. For the first time, she felt everything around her come alive.
Toji let out a sigh as he glanced at the two little girls.
They were only a year older than his own son, and he could not bear to watch them die before his eyes. Otherwise, he would have gladly let Ogi be turned into a sieve by Uraume's ice cones.
"All right, find a place to hide. This battle is not something you two brats can take part in."
He flicked his wrists, tossing Maki and Mai into the inner room.
A tough battle was about to begin.
Toji placed his hands gently on the hilts of Katen Kyōkotsu's blades, his eyes fixed on Uraume floating in the sky. For the first time in a long while, a glimmer of light stirred in his otherwise lifeless gaze.
The Curse User before him was powerful, worthy of a fight.
"Toji, you're here! You really saved my life."
While Uraume's attention was elsewhere, Naoya used Projection Sorcery to break free of the frost that bound him. Seeing Toji appear, he realized instantly why Uraume had been distracted.
As for what Toji had just done to Ogi, Naoya pretended not to notice.
At this critical moment, if Toji did not take action, the entire Zenin family might truly be destroyed.
Toji nodded lightly, stepping forward with his right foot.
In Naoya's eyes, only an afterimage remained. In the next instant, Toji was already beside Naobito. With a single punch, he shattered the frost encasing him, pulling him back from the brink of death.
"Phew…"
"Toji, I knew you would be the first to come."
Naobito spoke calmly. He knew that Toji had only just left earlier, otherwise the Zenin family might have suffered utter destruction today.
"Toji, you really still care about the Zenin family."
Naobito tried to play the emotional card, but Toji was unmoved.
"I'm only concerned about issues involving the Star Plasma Vessel. This has nothing to do with your family, so don't flatter yourselves."
He shrugged casually.
Naobito sighed at his bluntness. He had only been testing the waters.
"The person before us seems to be here for the Star Plasma Vessel as well."
"So this time, we may really only be able to rely on you."
Naobito didn't know Uraume's true purpose, but that didn't stop him from deliberately tying her intentions to the Star Plasma Vessel.
Otherwise, if she proved too difficult, he worried that Toji might simply walk away.
Toji sighed.
"I understand. I'll take action. Contact the Yorozuya and the Gojo family. Call in Yuto and Jogo as well. With your strength, don't risk yourself trying to guard the Star Plasma Vessel."
Naobito's face stiffened, helplessness etched across his features.
Naoya looked at his father, utterly bewildered. He had thought this Curse User's target was the Zenin family. But no, she was here for the Star Plasma Vessel.
Why was the Star Plasma Vessel in their home?
Naoya was speechless. He understood his strength well enough. How could the Zenin family possibly protect someone as important as the Star Plasma Vessel?
It was the truth of the saying: a man without power should not carry treasures.
If you don't have the skill, don't take the responsibility.
Since the Zenin family was guarding the Star Plasma Vessel, Jinichi and Toji should never have been sent away to support the Kamo family.
Their defenses were already too weak.
If not for Toji's arrival, the Zenin family would already have been wiped out by this Curse User.
This was Domain Expansion.
So far, only three living people were known to wield it: Lady Tengen, the mysterious woman who attacked Satoshi nine years ago, and Yuki.
Now, suddenly, a Curse User had appeared who could not only manipulate ice but also cast Domain Expansion. This was nothing short of overwhelming.
"Toji, can you handle her?"
Naoya asked, his voice heavy with worry.
In his mind, if Toji could not defeat this enemy, it would be better to simply flee. Neither the Star Plasma Vessel nor the Zenin family was worth dying for.
Toji raised an eyebrow and let out a chuckle.
"I feel like Katen and Kyokotsu are itching for a fight too."
"But it's not your time yet."
He nodded slightly to Naoya, then stepped forward, walking toward the center of the battlefield.
Although Toji did not know this Curse User's origin, his instincts told him she was connected to the mysterious woman who had attacked Satoshi nine years ago.
Now that they had crossed paths, he would deal with her, on Satoshi's behalf.
(To be continued.)
***
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