Inumaki had arrived at the battlefield early with Kusakabe and Panda.
Only now did he unleash what could be called a finishing move.
Earlier, when they had been ganging up on "Brain," Zen'in Mirai had been right by its side.
Only Inumaki's Cursed Speech had any chance of briefly stopping Mirai from acting. Otherwise, even if they managed to seize the Prison Realm,
—as the monster who personally sealed Satoru Gojo—there was no way he would let them take the cursed tool.
And with two opponents far beyond special grade…
With only "semi–Grade 1" strength, even if he risked severe injury, Inumaki could at most restrain one of them for a moment.
On top of that, Mirai's intangibility technique…
Even before the battle began, Inumaki had been assigned the role of keeping watch over Zen'in Mirai.
"Convergence. Piercing Blood!"
"Blood Manipulation: Flowing Scale—Maximum Output!"
The crimson markings on Choso and Kamo's faces deepened and lengthened.
They pushed their potential to the absolute limit, maximizing their power!
Two scarlet beams, surpassing the speed of sound, shot toward either side of Mirai's head!
Especially Choso's attack—within that compressed stream of blood was a deadly toxin that even Reverse Cursed Technique couldn't quickly heal!
A pincer attack from both sides—while from the front came Yuki's reinforced iron fist.
"—Pfft!"
Before Mirai was even hit, Inumaki suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, gravely injured!
The backlash was far more severe than he had anticipated!
Having once trained with Satoru Gojo, Inumaki's pupils shrank—
Because in the instant he fell, he also saw Yuki being blasted backward, coughing blood!
How is that possible?!
Every jujutsu sorcerer present trembled, their pupils shaking violently.
It felt as if a heavy stone had been dropped into their chests—their breathing grew labored.
That was Cursed Speech!
Zen'in Mirai hadn't even been immobilized for a mere fraction of a second?!
He had served as a teacher at Jujutsu High—there was no way he didn't understand Inumaki's technique!
In fact, since the technique activation had skipped the usual explanation step, its power should have been even stronger!
Even if Mirai had reinforced his ears and brain with cursed energy in advance—
it shouldn't have resulted in zero effect!
Looking at Zen'in Mirai standing there completely unharmed,
a deep terror rose in everyone's eyes.
A monster.
Activating Reverse Cursed Technique, Yuki Tsukumo stood back up, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. Her expression was extremely grim.
Zen'in Mirai was far stronger than she had imagined.
Being the closest, she had roughly figured out why Cursed Speech didn't work.
According to their plan—
The moment Inumaki's technique immobilized Mirai, Yuki—who had already activated a Simple Domain—would land a decisive punch to his brain, preventing him from using his technique.
Even if Mirai had prepared against Cursed Speech and covered his ears with cursed energy,
he should still have been frozen for at least a fraction of a second.
They had even accounted for the possibility that Mirai, being so strong, might only manage a slight tilt of his head.
That was why the two Blood Manipulation attacks were there—to prevent that scenario.
But from her close-range observation, Yuki realized—
It wasn't that Cursed Speech hadn't worked.
"Two different worlds."
Todo spoke in a low voice, his expression extremely serious.
"Not only can my technique not detect the conditions to activate on him—Inumaki's can't either."
"…Sound… can't pass between worlds."
The others repeated the words in a daze, their expressions growing even uglier.
"Troublesome."
Staring at Mirai's crimson eyes, Yuki frowned deeply.
Across from them, Mirai remained calm.
Everything was under control.
Confidence was fine.
But arrogance was not.
Having power far beyond everyone else—and a technique with unmatched potential—
pride was natural.
But arrogance?
That wasn't disrespect toward the enemy—it was disrespect toward oneself.
That was something even "2.5 Gojo" had taught him in the manga.
Mirai had no intention of playing the fool.
Now that he understood all of their techniques, how could he possibly fall for them again?
As his crimson gaze focused, ripples spread through the void—
"—Snap!"
Panda's severed arm fell. Todo's technique activated!
First, Panda moved to shield Inumaki's head. Then Todo rescued him in time.
Collapsed on the ground, Inumaki narrowly escaped death.
"Maki!"
Todo shouted. Still stiff, Maki threw the Dragon Bone cursed tool in her hand to him.
Not just Mai… Mirai had truly intended to kill Inumaki just now…
Conflicted emotions churned within Maki, her resolve wavering.
Todo didn't hesitate.
The moment he caught the weapon, cursed energy surged through him!
He arched back and hurled it—
The Dragon Bone shot forward like a fired bullet, tearing through the air in transparent shockwaves, aimed straight at Mirai's chest!
Without Domain amplification, such an attack wasn't even worth dodging.
So this was their backup plan…
Mirai watched the incoming weapon, faint ripples forming in the void.
Just as he expected—
In the next instant!
Todo couldn't swap positions with Mirai—but he could swap the cursed tool with a sorcerer!
A surprise attack!
…Hm?
Mirai's crimson pupils dimmed for a split second. The surging void suddenly stilled.
He had assumed Todo would swap Yuki with the weapon—
letting her attack head-on with Star Rage or even deploy her Domain.
But instead—
"BROTHER!!!"
"—AAAH!!"
Yuji Itadori, covered in blood, was swapped into position!
Black and red energy surged wildly—his cursed energy rising to its absolute peak!
The mysterious sorcerer occupying Suguru Geto's body… and Zen'in Mirai…
Their attitude toward Yuji—or rather, Sukuna within him—
They had no intent to kill him for now.
There were two pieces of evidence:
First, the recorded conversation from the exchange event.
Second, Yuji had faced both of them alone earlier—and still survived.
Todo's eyes flickered.
In those brief ten seconds of communication, he had already processed all the information.
They had a chance.
That was his conclusion—combining Yuki, and everyone's techniques.
"BLACK FLASH!!!"
Pure physical damage alone couldn't penetrate the void.
But Yuji's all-out punch—
The ground beneath Mirai's feet shattered into a deep crater!
Debris and dust exploded upward, obscuring Mirai's vision completely!
Yuji released a fragment of rubble infused with cursed energy from his palm—it dropped less than half a meter in front of Mirai.
"—Snap!"
A Simple Domain with a two-meter radius unfolded!
A terrifying punch, empowered by imaginary mass, slammed straight toward Mirai!
"Star Rage!"
"I see."
Mirai's expression remained calm.
The void erupted.
"BOOM!!!"
Crimson, pipe-like structures descended layer upon layer.
The punch imbued with imaginary mass was indeed powerful—
But from the void surged roots and vines, wave after wave, each stronger than the last!
Yuki's iron fist pierced through layers of resistance—
But it cost her the most precious thing:
Time.
That extra fraction of a second—
was enough.
Mirai even had the leisure to smile faintly at her.
"Not a bad plan. Too bad your strength falls short."
"Is that so?!"
Yuki grinned ferociously, swinging her fist—while scattering a handful of nails!
"Clink—clatter!"
"Straw Doll Technique!"
The cursed energy imbued into the nails by Nobara—
became precise coordinates for Todo's swaps!
"—Snap!"
Yuki appeared behind Mirai in an instant, avoiding the countless roots!
At the same time—
Overwhelming cursed energy swept across the battlefield!
"Domain Expansion—Star Rage Arena!!!"
"BOOOOM!!!"
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