"Jacob's Ladder!!!"
For an instant, the entire barrier was flooded with holy light.
A celestial diagram adorned with golden scales illuminated the sky itself!
The sacred radiance gradually condensed—
Until only a single pillar of light remained, piercing through heaven and earth while pinning Sukuna firmly in place!
"Give Megumi back to me!!!"
Alongside Hana Kurusu's desperate scream, wave after wave of purifying light erupted to their limit!
It was divine light connecting heaven and hell alike!
As though the soul itself were being sliced apart and thrown into boiling oil—
An agony that scorched the spirit itself!
"AAARGH!!!"
Even someone as mentally indomitable as Sukuna, after surviving a thousand years, let out a howl of pain!
Beneath the holy light, thick black smoke began pouring from Megumi's entire body!
His body twisted violently, while the black markings on his face slowly began to fade!
Just as Sukuna prepared to imitate Megumi's tone and mannerisms to trick Hana into lowering her guard—
The descending holy light suddenly vanished midair!
BOOM!!!
A tremendous crash echoed from the ground below.
Within the crater lay Hana, curled up and coughing blood.
Sukuna raised his head and looked toward the indifferent figure standing in the sky as black markings instantly spread across his body once more.
"So it really is you, Zenin Mirai."
The moment that foul-mouthed cursed spirit intervened earlier, Sukuna had already realized this man was using him as part of some larger scheme.
So Mirai's sudden arrival to save the situation did not surprise him much.
Much less make him feel grateful.
High above the battlefield—
Floating slightly behind Mirai stood Uro, now appointed by White Zetsu as the president's secretary.
Her head was lowered respectfully, standing half a step behind him.
In her hand she carried a blood-soaked body—
Tsumiki's unconscious form, life or death uncertain.
Sukuna cared nothing for that lovestruck lunatic obsessed with him.
But deep within the darkness, Megumi's submerged soul silently shed tears of despair.
As if sensing the eagerness hidden in Sukuna's gaze, Mirai spoke calmly:
"Get lost."
"In your current state, you're not even worthy of making me fight seriously."
Like master, like subordinate.
Anyone capable of raising such an unbearably foul-mouthed cursed spirit clearly wasn't much better themselves.
"Heh."
Those familiar arrogant words caused Sukuna to sneer repeatedly.
The vessel bent down, forming a familiar hand sign as violent cursed energy gathered!
Shadows boiled while murderous intent surged skyward.
"You're merely fortunate enough to have been born in an era without me, mortal—"
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted as the glass windows across an entire thirty-story building shattered one after another!
Sukuna had only just taken over this body.
Megumi's soul had not yet fully sunk into darkness.
Even with the accumulated power of sixteen fingers, Sukuna could currently draw out only the equivalent of four or five fingers' worth of strength.
And for Mirai…
That amount of power meant absolutely nothing.
Atop the rooftop—
Mirai stepped on half of Sukuna's face with one foot, his eyes utterly cold.
"Understand your place, idiot."
"You haven't even regained your full power yet. What gave you the confidence to act so arrogantly in front of me?"
BOOM!
The crushing force beneath his foot gradually intensified as half of Sukuna's face sank into the crater below, blood pouring from his mouth!
Reacting a moment too late, Uro hurriedly descended and obediently stood beside Mirai once more.
Looking at the King of Curses, the monster who had terrorized an entire era a thousand years ago—
Reduced to such a miserable state—
Uro trembled in fear and lowered her head even further.
After a thousand years—
Sukuna was tasting humiliation for the very first time.
And in his fury, he laughed instead.
"Ahahaha… now this is insane!"
At the instant Mirai moved earlier, Sukuna had been completely unable to react.
And the moment he coughed blood from the blow, Sukuna sharply realized—
This vessel's soul was violently rejecting him.
With half his head buried in rubble, Sukuna slammed both hands against the ground as cursed energy surged!
"Spiderweb!"
BOOM!!!
A catastrophic roar shook the earth as terrifying slashes tore from the rooftop all the way through the streets below!
Unable to resist the crushing pressure on his face, Sukuna instead destroyed the ground beneath him!
The skyscraper collapsed layer by layer, and all four figures fell from the rooftop to the streets below!
Bathed in Angel's holy light while overwhelming malice surged skyward—
The disturbance acted like a beacon, causing everyone nearby to rush toward the battlefield without pause.
Higuruma, Takaba, Maki, Yuta, and the others all regrouped the moment Angel fell.
After pulling the heavily injured Hana from the crater, Yuta used Reverse Cursed Technique to heal Yuji's severe wounds.
On a distant street, the Tokyo Jujutsu High group gathered together.
"Don't do anything reckless!"
Maki grabbed Yuji before he could charge forward and spoke gravely:
"That's not a battle you can participate in right now. If you go up there, the only outcome is death."
Blood still stained his face as Yuji shouted anxiously:
"But Megumi—"
"Calm down, Yuji!"
Nobara immediately cut in beside him.
"Now that Sukuna's moved into Megumi's body, those two monsters probably won't hold back against you anymore."
"Maki-senpai's right. Going up there now would just get you killed for nothing."
Yuji clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his flesh.
Tears mixed with blood slid down his face as he lowered his head helplessly.
"Then… what do we do?"
"What about Megumi…"
"Wait."
Yuta answered with a single word as he silently drew the katana from his back, remaining on guard.
Watching the collapsing skyscrapers in the distance, they realized waiting was their only option now.
Cursed energy raged wildly!
From within the exploding clouds of dust, a violent figure suddenly burst forth!
His bare upper body covered in black markings, Sukuna laughed maniacally.
"HAHAHA, COME ON!"
"Let me have a taste of this magnificent feast ahead of time!"
Without hesitation, Sukuna unleashed the strongest attack he could currently muster straight at Mirai!
Mirai frowned slightly, the patience in his eyes nearly exhausted.
BOOM!!!
The earth shattered as slabs of stone exploded apart one after another!
The exact same scene repeated itself.
Sukuna—currently capable of using only about five fingers' worth of strength—
Was stomped into the ground once more, utterly unable to move!
Mirai coldly looked down at half of Sukuna's face and spoke indifferently:
"So because you know I won't kill you right now, that's what gives you the courage to act without restraint?"
"If you enjoy this feeling of humiliation so much, then I'll indulge you."
A crimson glow flowed through his eyes as dense blood-red force exploded outward!
BOOM!
Sukuna, who had been struggling violently moments before, suddenly trembled.
His legs.
His arms.
All four limbs exploded into bloody fragments.
Only his head remained intact—
And even that was still being ground beneath Mirai's foot.
Reverse Cursed Technique activated immediately, writhing flesh beginning to regenerate—
BOOM!
Mirai lazily pointed toward each of Sukuna's severed limbs one after another.
"Tell me—"
"Do you regenerate faster, or do I blow you apart faster?"
"I gave you the chance to preserve your dignity, yet you refused it."
"If you enjoy this feeling so much, then stay down there a little longer."
Sneaking a glance at the King of Curses' twisted expression, Uro swallowed nervously several times.
Thinking back on the decision she had made before…
Choosing to submit had truly been the correct choice.
"You know, King of Curses…"
A mocking smile curled onto Mirai's lips.
"Trying not to accidentally crush your head while stepping on it actually takes quite a delicate amount of control."
BOOM!!!
Mirai pressed down slightly harder with his foot, forcing Sukuna's face even deeper into the ground!
"Pfft!"
Sukuna spat out another mouthful of blood, yet a savage bloody grin spread across his face instead.
His maddened voice rumbled through dirt and rubble.
"This is your last chance to enjoy yourself, Zenin Mirai!"
"So savor it while you can!!!"
At the very same moment—
A killing intent so dense it felt tangible descended from the sky above!
"Ice Formation Technique!"
"Maximum Output: Frost Calm!!!"
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