"What is more terrifying than death?"
"It's watching something happen and being powerless to stop it."
Eichi's fist could have landed on Naoya Zenin's handsome face half a second earlier.
But Eichi deliberately slowed down, allowing Naoya Zenin to widen his eyes and watch Eichi's fist approach him little by little.
Bang.
The moment the freeze was lifted, Eichi's fist landed on Naoya Zenin's face.
Naoya Zenin, hit, was slammed to the ground like a basketball and bounced up fiercely.
Blood flowed from his nose and mouth.
"Cough, cough, how is this possible? How could you keep up with my speed?"
Naoya Zenin clutched his bleeding nose, looking at Eichi with a face full of disbelief.
"What's impossible about it? Your speed is still far from Toji's."
Eichi's face was full of mockery.
Actually, although Toji's speed could effectively counter Projection Sorcery, it couldn't exceed Projection Sorcery.
But it didn't matter, because saying so would greatly damage Naoya Zenin's mindset.
Sure enough, when "the opponent can keep up with my speed" and "how is it that man" appeared simultaneously in Naoya Zenin's mind.
Naoya Zenin recalled the fear of being dominated by Toji.
He subconsciously categorized Eichi into the terrifying category as well.
"Young Master Naoya, let us handle this."
Ranta Zenin, whose eyes were bleeding, and Futo Zenin, who was badly injured, appeared before Naoya Zenin.
"Tsk, as expected of the Zenin Family, they train their dogs well."
The performance of Ranta Zenin and Futo Zenin perfectly demonstrated the definition of loyal dogs.
This time it was a combined attack from all three.
Ranta Zenin, ignoring the immense pain in his eyes, activated his Technique again.
Futo Zenin also launched an attack without hesitation.
Only, compared to the powerful attacks before, this attack was clearly all bark and no bite.
The next moment, Futo Zenin's actions were explained.
Using Futo Zenin's cover, Naoya Zenin rushed into Eichi's inner circle.
But it was meaningless.
Eichi reached out and grabbed Naoya Zenin's neck, then turned and threw Naoya Zenin into the cage created by Ranta Zenin's Technique.
Pfft.
Black Divine Dog appeared from Eichi's shadow.
Claws swung, and three bloody wounds appeared on Futo Zenin's body.
"Young Master Naoya."
Seeing that his Cursed Spell had actually attacked Naoya Zenin.
Ranta Zenin immediately deactivated his Technique.
Eichi punched Naoya Zenin in the face again.
Before Naoya Zenin could be sent flying by Eichi's attack.
Eichi reached out and grabbed Naoya Zenin's collar, pulling him back.
Bang, slap!
A right hook landed on Naoya Zenin's face, and Eichi's right hand, turning from a fist to a palm, delivered another slap.
Bang bang slap, bang bang slap.
Eichi was hitting with a rhythm.
Naoya Zenin's originally handsome face was turned into a pig's head under Eichi's fists.
"Hmm?"
While Eichi was in the middle of his rampage, a subtle Cursed Energy caught Eichi's attention.
Eichi's movements slowed for a moment.
Ranta Zenin seized the opportunity to activate his Technique.
Eichi's movements were momentarily frozen for less than half a second, then he forcibly broke through the cage created by Ranta Zenin with Cursed Energy.
However, this half-second also allowed Naoya Zenin to escape Eichi's clutches.
"Na, Young Master Naoya, you go first."
Ranta Zenin's eyes were bleeding, with crimson bloodshot veins almost covering his entire eye.
Futo Zenin, with several wounds on his body, silently stood in front of Naoya Zenin.
"Why does something feel off?"
"Wasn't the script before about a rich scoundrel bringing his servants to bully me, the protagonist who used to be a good-for-nothing?"
"Logically, shouldn't this be the time for me, the righteous one, to counter-kill this young master and receive applause?"
"Why does this scene make me feel like I'm the villain?"
Looking at the two servants who planned to cover Naoya Zenin's escape with their lives, and Naoya Zenin, looking miserable behind his servants.
The more Eichi looked, the more he felt something was wrong.
Futo Zenin rushed forward again, attacking Eichi with a desperate resolve.
Ranta Zenin's bloodshot eyes could no longer fully open.
But he still persisted in charging at Eichi, wanting to use his body to hold Eichi back and buy Naoya Zenin time to escape.
"Tsk."
Eichi pouted unhappily.
Before, seeing Megumi Fushiguro, Itadori, and Nobara go crazy felt quite exciting.
When it's his turn… it seems okay too.
At least, seeing Naoya Zenin, a guy who isn't a good person now or in the future, in such a pathetic state, felt pretty good inside.
Why should villains get to do as they please, while good people can only be bullied?
Clearly, good people are the most terrifying when they go crazy.
But now is not the time to ponder this.
Lightning coursed through Eichi's body.
The strengthened Eichi threw Ranta Zenin and Futo Zenin out of the building, one in each hand.
Following closely behind them was their beloved Young Master Naoya.
The three rolled together in the snow.
Eichi appeared in front of the three, a massive shadow completely engulfing their figures.
Giant Elephant.
Because Round Deer was fused into the Giant Elephant's body, Eichi now summoned the Giant Elephant when using Reverse Cursed Technique.
He could actually use it himself, but it was less efficient and a bit tiring.
Under the healing of Reverse Cursed Technique, the three's injuries quickly recovered.
"What do you want to do?"
Naoya Zenin looked at the behemoth in front of him in terror.
The four-meter-tall Giant Elephant brought immense pressure to the few people.
"I'll give you a chance."
Zenin Eichi revealed a gentle smile.
But in the eyes of Ranta Zenin and others, this smile was like the devil's grin.
"I'll give you a chance to defeat Mahoraga."
"What did you say?"
Naoya Zenin showed an incredulous expression.
Mahoraga.
That was a legend that only appeared in historical chronicles.
Eichi clenched his fists in front of him.
"Furu-be, Yurayura…"
"Stop, do you want to die?!"
Naoya Zenin screamed in terror.
In the Zenin Family's history, the purpose of every Ten Shadows Technique user summoning Mahoraga was only one.
To perish together with the enemy.
At this moment, Naoya Zenin's heart was filled with fear.
Compared to the answer that Eichi had already tamed Mahoraga, Naoya Zenin was more willing to believe that Eichi intended to self-detonate, taking him, the young master of the Zenin Family, with him.
This was his last shred of self-respect.
However, Murphy's Law tells us that what people fear most is what will happen.
"Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga."
As Eichi's voice fell, a terrifying figure appeared behind Eichi.
Mahoraga.
That was the Shikigami revered as a legend by the Zenin Family because it fought the Gojo Family's Six Eyes to the death, and it was also the inner belief of every Zenin Family member.
They believed that as long as Mahoraga existed, the Zenin Family would always be at the pinnacle of the Jujutsu World.
But at this moment, the existence they worshipped bared its fangs at them.
"Just don't kill them."
After saying this to Mahoraga, Eichi turned and left the scene.
Mahoraga's lips curled into a chilling smile.
Eichi no longer paid attention to Mahoraga's actions, but after walking a few hundred meters, he looked towards an inconspicuous corner.
"Still not coming out?"
"Hahaha, as expected of a Genius who can tame Mahoraga."
An old man dressed in a yukata with a haori over it appeared from the corner.
The current Zenin Family Head, Naobito Zenin.
Perhaps out of concern for his son, when Eichi was having fun beating Naoya Zenin earlier, Naobito Zenin, who had been hiding his presence, accidentally exposed his Qi.
Although very faint and fleeting, it was still captured by Eichi and Mahoraga.
"Aren't you cold?"
"This level is nothing, glug glug."
Naobito Zenin smiled, pulled out a sake gourd, and took a sip.
"I know a good izakaya, want to sit for a bit?"
"That's great, lead the way, kid."
Naobito Zenin smiled and agreed to Eichi's suggestion.
He was fond of sake, and sitting down to talk suited his wishes perfectly.
Eichi, hearing Naobito Zenin's reply, also showed a satisfied smile.
Actually, this choice was easy to make.
Mahoraga on the left, izakaya on the right, old man, pick one.
Naobito Zenin being able to become the Zenin Family Head naturally meant he was no pushover; he saw this very clearly.
He could have easily beaten Naoya Zenin and the others with his fists earlier, so why bother summoning Mahoraga?
This Mahoraga was clearly summoned for him to see.
But Naobito Zenin didn't care.
Eichi had no intention of killing them, so letting Naoya Zenin suffer a bit was fine.
Naoya Zenin had had things too easy for too long and never knew what humility was.
Moreover, since Eichi was willing to talk, it meant Eichi definitely had something he wanted.
It's not scary when a person has conditions, it's scary when a person doesn't mention any conditions.
Thus, a strange scene unfolded.
Two hostile, or at least currently hostile, people walked to the drinking table, chatting and laughing.