A massive torrent of information was violently forced into Geto Suguru's mind.
In an instant, his thoughts fractured, dizziness overwhelming him as his consciousness faltered. At the same time, every cursed spirit within his domain had its soul torn apart. They dissolved into pools of black fluid that seeped into the ground.
Watching this unfold, Gojo Satoru grew certain that Suguru had been struck and could no longer maintain his Domain Expansion.
As expected, my domain technique reigns supreme.
Satisfied, Satoru dispelled his technique. Given Suguru's condition, he would likely need two or three days to recover from the mental overload.
Suguru stood motionless, eyes vacant and unfocused.
A wicked grin spread across Satoru's face.
He slipped a crayon from his pocket and leaned in, hands hovering near Suguru's face.
Should I draw a turtle, give him panda eyes, or maybe a dramatic scar?
Just as Satoru relaxed his guard, a glimmer of awareness flashed through Suguru's seemingly empty gaze.
Without warning, an octopus shaped cursed spirit burst out from behind Satoru. Its eight tentacles lashed forward, binding him in an instant.
Within a domain, the sure hit effect was absolute. Even Satoru, caught off guard, was struck.
The cursed spirit could restrain him only briefly, but that moment was enough.
Suguru moved.
In one swift motion, he snatched the crayon from Satoru's hand and scribbled furiously across his face.
Bang.
The octopus curse exploded into fragments, unable to withstand Satoru's power. Suguru had already leapt back, widening the distance between them.
Satoru's jaw tightened as he stared at Suguru, who was barely containing his laughter.
He pulled out a mirror.
His reflection showed mismatched eyeshadow, bright blush, and lips coated in bold red lipstick.
It was outrageous.
"Geto Suguru!"
Suguru doubled over. "Sorry, sorry. I could not help it."
"You're dead!"
They clashed again.
Fortunately, the barrier shell of the domain was sturdy enough to contain the shockwaves of their battle. Otherwise, Tokyo Jujutsu High would have been reduced to rubble, and Yaga Masamichi would likely have lost years of his life from sheer stress.
After a long and exhausting exchange, both domains were lifted.
Satoru and Suguru lay sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily.
Satoru finally understood how Suguru had endured Unlimited Void.
Suguru's Domain Expansion, Myriad Phenomena, manifested countless cursed spirits spiritually linked to him. Within the domain, those spirits were effectively extensions of his body.
When Satoru unleashed Unlimited Void, the technique targeted not only Suguru, but every cursed spirit connected to him.
Suguru simply redirected the burden.
The cursed spirits absorbed the infinite information in his place. In truth, Unlimited Void had already struck him. However, while they were connected in essence, their pain was not shared. The spirits were destroyed, their minds burned out, while Suguru merely feigned mental collapse to trick Satoru into lowering his guard.
Satoru clicked his tongue. "You can use your cursed spirits to tank my domain. That is practically a perfect counter."
Suguru shrugged. "Unlimited Void keeps flooding the target with information. I just keep creating more spirits to take the hit."
He exhaled slowly. "In the end, our domains restrict each other. It is a stalemate."
Satoru suddenly sat up. "By the way, do you think Shion has mastered his domain yet?"
Suguru paused. "Hard to say. But if we both have, he cannot be far behind."
Satoru's eyes lit up. "Then we should teach our dear older brother a lesson before he figures it out."
Suguru waved dismissively. "That sounds childish."
Satoru narrowed his eyes. "Picture this. Unlimited Void freezes him in place. We can do whatever we want."
Suguru's ears twitched.
Satoru continued smoothly. "Then you summon your octopus curse and hang him upside down."
Suguru extended his hand at once. "Deal."
They shook hands, faces solemn as though sealing a sacred pact.
The next day, once their cursed techniques had fully recovered, the two headed straight for their brother's residence.
Satoru called out sweetly, "Bro, are you home?"
The door creaked open.
Standing there was Gojo Shion.
He regarded Satoru with open disdain. "Spit it out."
Satoru chuckled. "Suguru and I have been slacking lately. We thought we would spar with you."
Shion raised a brow. "So you are volunteering for a beating."
Satoru and Suguru only smiled.
Shion's sharp gaze lingered on them. He immediately sensed something was off.
So they have both mastered it.
A faint glimmer crossed his azure eyes. Satoru and Suguru instinctively looked away.
"Scared, Bro?" Satoru taunted.
Shion scoffed lightly. As the older twin, indulging his foolish younger brother was practically a duty.
"Fine. Follow me."
He turned toward the training grounds. Behind him, Satoru and Suguru exchanged triumphant looks.
At the center of the field, Shion stood calmly with his hands behind his back.
"Come on. Both of you at once."
"Oh?" Satoru grinned.
The two formed hand signs simultaneously.
"Domain Expansion, Unlimited Void."
"Domain Expansion, Myriad Phenomena."
The world distorted.
Shion was dragged into overlapping domains.
To his left stretched an endless abyss of dark infinity. To his right rose a grotesque throne surrounded by swarming cursed spirits.
Caught between them, Shion regarded the pair with mild exasperation.
Satoru spread his arms dramatically, grin nearly splitting his face. "Bro, feel despair."
Suguru tried to suppress his smile, but anticipation flickered clearly in his eyes.
"I will freeze him first," Satoru said. "Then you suspend him."
"No problem."
They prepared to activate their techniques.
Shion covered his face briefly, as if embarrassed on their behalf.
"You think expanding your domains is enough to challenge me? Have I grown weak, or have you grown arrogant?"
A chill ran down both their spines.
"Now!" Satoru snapped.
They activated their techniques without hesitation.
At that exact moment, Shion formed a seal.
His right hand clenched into a fist at his waist. His left hand bent the ring and little fingers inward, while the remaining three fingers stood upright, pointing toward the sky.
The Great Freedom Seal.
Shion opened his blue eyes.
His voice resonated through the overlapping domains, calm and absolute.
"Domain Expansion, Throne of Stillborn Stars."
---